Mark and Melissa

Okay, so Mark and I went to this documentary film (at Celebration North) this week called “Call and Response” that was about slavery around the world today and how there are exponentially more slaves in the world today (a great many of them sex slaves–and so many of these little girls no older than my own daughter) than in the past when slavery was legal in America and other countries. And let me tell you, it is keeping me up at night. My mind is racing with the possibilities of what can be done for these children forced to live the horrible existence of human commodity for someone’s financial gain.

Recently I read a book compiled of slave accounts–these being written mostly by American slaves during the 1800’s. Ever since I traveled to Virginia with Mark several years ago, and came across a book called “The Slave Narratives” I have been interested in the history of slavery and what slaves conditions were, in their own words. A strikingly sad situation that we can now look back on and say “I’m glad that’s over.” But after watching this movie and hearing a quote from one of the modern day “abolitionists” about there being “no need to feel wistful about the past [wishing you had a part in the Civil Rights movement of the '60s because of the great a noble cause it was] because the opportunity still exists today. The slaves of today need justice and freedom…but they have no voice of their own.”

Wow, I am undone.

If, in the span of a lifetime we in America have witnessed the downfall of Jim Crow and the raising of one of its past victims to the highest seat of power in our land, what could be possible for those without a voice today all across the world who so desperately need someone to care? As I watched this film and saw the little girls, I couldn’t help but see the face of my own daughter. And I realized that for me to do nothing is unthinkable.

There was once a man walking along the beach just as low tide was showing itself on the shoreline. The beach was mostly abandoned, but the man did notice a small girl walking up and down the shore. As he got closer the man could see that the girl was picking up beached starfish throwing them into the water before they dried out and died. The man looked about the shoreline–there hundreds of starfish on that beach as far as the eye could see. The girl seemed to be hardly making a dent. The man couldn’t stop himself from asking the question of her “Little girl, there are hundreds of starfish on this beach. How can you make a difference?” The little girl calmly looked up at the man as she held up a bright red starfish, “It makes a difference to this one.” she said, and flung it into the sea.

Skittle Face

As many of you know we don’t really celebrate Halloween. But we love to have fun (and eat candy, of course!). So this year, being that Savannah is now old enough to appreciate one, (and, well the rest of us are too) we had a bon-fire out at my parent’s house in Caledonia. With us, my parents and my sister Krista it was a very fun and relaxing time roasting S’mores over the fire and watching for shooting stars. Along with the necessary candy (as seen in the Skittles face photo) we had a pizza dinner and then went out to enjoy the fire. Our hearty bon-fire, smoked-sausage-smelling hair and coats after the night was over (mmm…smoked sausage! LOL!) were the lasting evidence of a great, smoky, evening had by all.

Since I volunteered that day to help out in Savannah’s class with the games for their Harvest Party, Savannah and I had already had our fill of pumpkin bowling. It was a great game that the kids really loved playing and barely wanted to stop at the end of the party. But I feel that next year, we will need to add this fun game to our festivities at the bon-fire.

We are heading to Chicago’s Chinatown on Friday for the Dragon Boat races. I’m LOL that the last post was for the dragon boat festival last year. We’re heading to the windy city with a few other families from our local Chinese Culture and expect that we will have a fun time. Of course we will be frequenting Lao Sichuan restaurant. Savannah is looking forward to the tipping head aka the Mayan Waterpark in Elmhurst.

Updated with some photos.  Cirque Shanghai made a special appearance and they were simply amazing.  We all had fun at the Mayan Waterpark and are exhausted.

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This past weekend we went down to Chinatown in Chicago for the annual Dragonboat Races. This was the first time we’ve been to this event  and we had a lot of fun. We came a night early and stayed at a hotel that had an indoor waterpark for Savannah. She loved it!

This year Dragonboat festival fell on June 19, but the races in Chicago were on the 21st of July. Chinatown was a-buzz with lots of different things to do and see because of the races. There were lots of vendors with samples, performers and art booths. One booth for Saint Alp Teahouse gave out free samples of their tea creations. The green tea and milk drink was so good we went and visited their store on Archer to get a small cup to go–so refreshing. The shop was so cool. Very hip and modern, just like their drink ideas–combining the awesome tea of China with the idea of mixed coffee type drinks of America. This was a fun new find for us.

The races were fun to watch and cheer for. I’ve posted some pictures to the website of the races.

Of course, we ate at our favorite restaurant Lao Sze Chuan for lunch which was a special treat. And we stocked up on tea again for the year. It was a beautiful day in the windy city–not too hot and some lovely wind. We thoroughly enjoyed ourselves.  Unless we are out of town next year (crossed fingers that we will be in China) we will surely not miss this event in Chinatown next year.