So one of the extensions I use with Google Chrome is a tool bar I can hide or show called "stumble upon". I click the button, and am taken to a random site that it thinks I might like. I found two I am really enjoying.
Good Morning & Good Night: It's one man's hodgepodge of cool quotes, photos, videos and such. So random, and yet, so much inspiration can be found.
How to Answer the 64 Toughest Interview Questions: It's actually a whole book, online, that you can download and read for free. Its on a site called Scribd which I haven't completely figured out yet. But it might be interesting.
Oh, and here is one more stumble: Need a break... Draw some flowers!
Wednesday, August 25, 2010
Saturday, August 21, 2010
The Other Things
After you review the post written just before this one, I thought you might be interested to know the things I did in the last 4 years that weren't on that list that have added "color" to my life. Many of these are things I never would have thought of doing. Some I should have had on my list before, I just forgot them. All are part of what makes me who I am today!!!
- Became a CERT Volunteer--Community Emergency Response Team.... I can now officially decided if you are a critically injured person, or if you're too far gone.
- I'm a HAM--That's right... I am a licensed Amateur Radio Operator
- Trained Storm Spotter--Theoretically, I have the training to say when a tornado is about to happen. I can't say that I could actually do it though.
- Joined a Bible Study--Became part of a group of women I didn't really know. Formed lifetime friendships, and changed my spiritual life forever.
- Created a ministry--Adopt a Block didn't even exist when I wrote that list.
- Walked away from a job--left a job with nothing behind it. God provided
- Told a guy I had feelings for him--It didn't work out the way I wanted it to. But I am glad I did it.
- Became an Aunt--I LOVE that little guy. <3
- Learned how to flirt--"Hi Handsome!"
- Attended my first Giant's home game and first Giant's game in MO!
- Moved--5 TIMES
Times Gone By
I was trying to find my blog the other day--nevermind what it says about me as a blogger that I had to Google my blog name to try to find it--and came across something I did in 2006.
My life was SO different then. It was from the site 43 things.
I posted 31 things on my "Life List" I was amused by some, depressed by others. I figured I'd update it here on my blog.
My life was SO different then. It was from the site 43 things.
I posted 31 things on my "Life List" I was amused by some, depressed by others. I figured I'd update it here on my blog.
MurphyGrl's Life List
1. Visit every continent
No progress
2. Get married!!
Nope.
3. Be a mom
Still not--but I'm going to be a godmother soon... a step closer?
4. Be more humble
Need improvement still
5. Pray more
Needs work
6. Read the Bible more
Have good times and bad
7. Read all the books I own
Getting closer, but keep buying more books!
8. Raise my credit score
Haven't accomplished this
9. Be more effective at sharing my faith
Have made improvements here!
10. Finish what I start
Still suck at this! But some improvements too.
11. Go to a rodeo
Been to BUNCHES!!
12. Visit Colorado
MISSION ACCOMPLISHED!
13. See the sun set on the Atlantic
Not yet.
14. See the sun rise on the Pacific
Not yet
15. Enjoy a day with my mom
Much harder than it sounds. But it has happened!
16. Sky dive
Might take this off the list.
17. Swim with dolphins
Oh, I SO still want this!
18. Name a star after someone
Maybe someday.
19. Learn morse code
. . . - - - . . .
20. buy a house
nope
21. go on cruise
nope
22. Visit all 50 states
I'm at 52% .
23. Learn how to snowboard
Still interested
24. Learn to ski
Not interested anymore
25. Ride a mechanical bull
DID IT! Never want to do it again.
26. Get a cowboy hat
I now own 2!!
27. Be a 5 gal. blood donor I stopped somewhere after 2 gallons. Need to regroup.
28. Go to Canada
Need to renew passport!
29. Become a freelancer
Been doing it a little, could kick this into high gear!
30. Reduce the paper pile at home
Ugh.
31. Take dance lessons
Hm.... maybe time to buy a DVD.
Wednesday, July 28, 2010
A new direction
Did you know it's hard to blog when you're depressed? Well, sometimes when your mood and thoughts are dark, it just doesn't feel like a good thing to broadcast all that junk out there into the inter-webs. It takes a lot of mental energy to think and write. Thus, for a long time now, there has been silence on this blog. But NOW it's time for a new direction.
I am happy to say I am about 2 months off my anti-depressant, and all signs point to full recovery! My sleeping and eating are normal, my moods seem good, as do my interactions with people. I'm getting things done, and not napping my days away. Tasks large and small no longer seem daunting or overwhelming. I am back!
Over the next few posts I might try to articulate the stuff that is behind. But really, I'm more focused right now on what's ahead! See, something very exciting is happening in my life right now.
For two years, I've been leading a ministry team at church called Adopt-A-Block, patterned after the original ministry at the Los Angeles International Church (aka The Dream Center). Our group of roughly 30 volunteers has been serving an area of 8-10 blocks close to our church, doing mowing, painting, cleaning, leaf raking, etc, and visiting the people who live in those homes. But we want to do MORE. We have a vision to cover the WHOLE Grant Beach Neighborhood. That's roughly 100 blocks from Chestnut Expressway to Commercial Street and from Booneville Ave to Kansas Expressway. (The picture to the left shows the area the church sits on in blue, the area we are active in in yellow, and the black line shows the borders of the area we want to cover.)
At our last Adopt a Block, our new pastor visited and experienced the ministry. In God's amazing timing, that happened to be the weekend Pastor Jeff had planned to preach about being missional and reaching out into the community. Pastor shared our larger vision with the congregation and this time people CAUGHT IT.
What I mean by "this time" is it's not like this was the first time Adopt a Block had been talked about. It's been featured many times, in various ways over the last couple years. And usually we get a couple people who come out to try out the ministry from it, but there hasn't been much growth.
But this time it was different. People are responding like I've not seen before. We have no idea what the actual turn out will be, but the response has been really.... Overwhelming... Amazing... FUN!!!
And thus, I spend a lot of my "free time" working on, thinking about, and planning for AAB. So, you can expect a lot of posts about that, and about my thoughts on outreach in general in the near future.
But of course there will be random doses of news, pop culture and life stories, too, cause that's just how I roll.
I am happy to say I am about 2 months off my anti-depressant, and all signs point to full recovery! My sleeping and eating are normal, my moods seem good, as do my interactions with people. I'm getting things done, and not napping my days away. Tasks large and small no longer seem daunting or overwhelming. I am back!
Over the next few posts I might try to articulate the stuff that is behind. But really, I'm more focused right now on what's ahead! See, something very exciting is happening in my life right now.
At our last Adopt a Block, our new pastor visited and experienced the ministry. In God's amazing timing, that happened to be the weekend Pastor Jeff had planned to preach about being missional and reaching out into the community. Pastor shared our larger vision with the congregation and this time people CAUGHT IT.
What I mean by "this time" is it's not like this was the first time Adopt a Block had been talked about. It's been featured many times, in various ways over the last couple years. And usually we get a couple people who come out to try out the ministry from it, but there hasn't been much growth.
But this time it was different. People are responding like I've not seen before. We have no idea what the actual turn out will be, but the response has been really.... Overwhelming... Amazing... FUN!!!
And thus, I spend a lot of my "free time" working on, thinking about, and planning for AAB. So, you can expect a lot of posts about that, and about my thoughts on outreach in general in the near future.
But of course there will be random doses of news, pop culture and life stories, too, cause that's just how I roll.
Monday, January 18, 2010
Intelligent, Intentional Giving in Times of Disaster
I've had several discussions lately with people about how to know if you can trust a charity or how to know your money is doing what you want it to do for Haiti. Having worked for an NGO charity for several years, I hope I can offer you some perspective that will help you as you make decisions about what you do with your donations, not only of your money, but your time.
"How can I trust that the group I give money to will use it for the project I intend it to?"
There are organizations out there who research and hold charities accountable, and give ratings based on strict standards of criteria. I would start with Charity Navigator, where you can look up most charities and see not only the rating CN gives, but also specific information about what the organization does. Right now Charity Navigator has a page specific to Haiti that talks about issues unique to this situation and also lists organizations working in Haiti who are already rated by CN. Additionally, a good charity will put their financial statements online if they are being really transparent so you can see what percentage of the money coming in is going directly to the program you donate to.
"Why can I only give cash? Didn't the Haitians lose everything? Don't they need [supplies, clothes, stuffed animals, etc....]
Some people feel skeptical about giving cash, and with reports of scammers and fraud and corruption that is completely understandable and valid. But there are ways to make sure you invest wisely in a worthwhile group, and there are good reasons that they ask you to give cash.
There are two big reasons cash is better than individual donations. One is most charities have partnerships with corporations, and can purchase things in mass quantities for MUCH cheaper than what an individual can pay for them in individual quantities. Sometimes companies, say "SO and SO Bottling Company," will donate a truckload of bottled water, but it costs the organization about $5000 to pick it up, truck it, and then more to ship it overseas.
The second reason they ask for cash is that individual donations take so much time to sort through. In order to get them ready to be shipped every individual donation has to be sorted (say you sent food, soap, water, clothes) into their respective categories, then palletized and wrapped and loaded. That takes A LOT more time (usually time donated by volunteers) and right now time is a precious commodity. Empowering an organization to purchase what is needed is more effective in part because it is faster.
You may think it practical to collect a box of supplies and send it directly to Haiti. Logistics are a HUGE issue in disasters, and more so in Haiti than in any disaster I've seen before this. While the need there is desperate, much of the need is not because of a lack of supply to meet the need, but lack of adequate venues to transport and distribute. The airport is in ruins, as is the port, and roads are clogged with debris. Fuel is in critical shortage. Supplies are bottle-necking for lack of ways to distribute. The airports in Haiti are completely backed up with emergency supplies and personnel. Sending a box of supplies is sure to not get to those who need it, because there is no one on the receiving end to coordinate and distribute them. If no one on the ground can take responsibility for delivering them, they just become part of the problem rather than a part of the solution.
Now if you REALLY feel the need to collect something, the best way to go about it is to call the charity you wish to donate to and find out what the greatest needs are... Could be diapers, formula, tents, blankets or something else. Then hold a drive for that product and find out how the charity wants to receive it. They will probably prefer that the donations be palletized by kind (all one size diaper together on on pallet, all one kind of food together) and shrink wrapped. If you REALLY want to bless a charity, if you can additionally raise the money that it will cost them to come pick it up, that is a GREAT thing to do. But many groups will pick up large donations even without that.
About Used Clothes
Used clothes are VERY hard for NGOs to process in times of disaster. This is because everything that comes in has to be sorted by size and gender, folded and boxed. And despite most people's good intentions, much of what gets donated are stained, torn or otherwise unusable. I could tell you some horror stories of donations I have seen. A humorous example was this see-through, neon-yellow, leopard-printed leotard with a black feather collar that someone donated for victims of Katrina, pictured to the right. In the photo my friend Ethan is trying it on. Can you see a disaster victim being handed that in their time of need?
If you want to be truly effective, take your used clothes, hold a rummage sale and donate the proceeds to a charity of choice. That organization can use it to get in-kind donations of new clothing, or other needed supplies in large quantities. It will go much farther than your pair of used jeans or sweatshirt could by itself.
A quick word about restricted vs. unrestricted giving
One last thing I would ask you to consider is unrestricted giving. That is, if you say "Please use this for Haiti" the organization has to use it for Haiti, and if they have integrity, they will and do, it's called restricted giving. But many of these organizations have to pay the bills, and are incurring greater costs as they work longer hours, and use more electricity, fuel, man hours and supplies. When you give unrestricted funds it helps them cover not just the projects they do, but the costs they have in doing them. Yes, they will help Haiti, but they also have to pay the bills. You will be a great blessing to them if you help them do that. And if you have done proper research about the group you give to, you should feel comfortable to know they will use the money you give them wisely and with great care.
I hope this information has been helpful to some of you. If you have questions or comments, please share! :-)
By Judi Murphy, all rights reserved
"How can I trust that the group I give money to will use it for the project I intend it to?"
There are organizations out there who research and hold charities accountable, and give ratings based on strict standards of criteria. I would start with Charity Navigator, where you can look up most charities and see not only the rating CN gives, but also specific information about what the organization does. Right now Charity Navigator has a page specific to Haiti that talks about issues unique to this situation and also lists organizations working in Haiti who are already rated by CN. Additionally, a good charity will put their financial statements online if they are being really transparent so you can see what percentage of the money coming in is going directly to the program you donate to.
"Why can I only give cash? Didn't the Haitians lose everything? Don't they need [supplies, clothes, stuffed animals, etc....]
Some people feel skeptical about giving cash, and with reports of scammers and fraud and corruption that is completely understandable and valid. But there are ways to make sure you invest wisely in a worthwhile group, and there are good reasons that they ask you to give cash.
There are two big reasons cash is better than individual donations. One is most charities have partnerships with corporations, and can purchase things in mass quantities for MUCH cheaper than what an individual can pay for them in individual quantities. Sometimes companies, say "SO and SO Bottling Company," will donate a truckload of bottled water, but it costs the organization about $5000 to pick it up, truck it, and then more to ship it overseas.
The second reason they ask for cash is that individual donations take so much time to sort through. In order to get them ready to be shipped every individual donation has to be sorted (say you sent food, soap, water, clothes) into their respective categories, then palletized and wrapped and loaded. That takes A LOT more time (usually time donated by volunteers) and right now time is a precious commodity. Empowering an organization to purchase what is needed is more effective in part because it is faster.
You may think it practical to collect a box of supplies and send it directly to Haiti. Logistics are a HUGE issue in disasters, and more so in Haiti than in any disaster I've seen before this. While the need there is desperate, much of the need is not because of a lack of supply to meet the need, but lack of adequate venues to transport and distribute. The airport is in ruins, as is the port, and roads are clogged with debris. Fuel is in critical shortage. Supplies are bottle-necking for lack of ways to distribute. The airports in Haiti are completely backed up with emergency supplies and personnel. Sending a box of supplies is sure to not get to those who need it, because there is no one on the receiving end to coordinate and distribute them. If no one on the ground can take responsibility for delivering them, they just become part of the problem rather than a part of the solution.
Now if you REALLY feel the need to collect something, the best way to go about it is to call the charity you wish to donate to and find out what the greatest needs are... Could be diapers, formula, tents, blankets or something else. Then hold a drive for that product and find out how the charity wants to receive it. They will probably prefer that the donations be palletized by kind (all one size diaper together on on pallet, all one kind of food together) and shrink wrapped. If you REALLY want to bless a charity, if you can additionally raise the money that it will cost them to come pick it up, that is a GREAT thing to do. But many groups will pick up large donations even without that.
About Used Clothes
If you want to be truly effective, take your used clothes, hold a rummage sale and donate the proceeds to a charity of choice. That organization can use it to get in-kind donations of new clothing, or other needed supplies in large quantities. It will go much farther than your pair of used jeans or sweatshirt could by itself.
A quick word about restricted vs. unrestricted giving
One last thing I would ask you to consider is unrestricted giving. That is, if you say "Please use this for Haiti" the organization has to use it for Haiti, and if they have integrity, they will and do, it's called restricted giving. But many of these organizations have to pay the bills, and are incurring greater costs as they work longer hours, and use more electricity, fuel, man hours and supplies. When you give unrestricted funds it helps them cover not just the projects they do, but the costs they have in doing them. Yes, they will help Haiti, but they also have to pay the bills. You will be a great blessing to them if you help them do that. And if you have done proper research about the group you give to, you should feel comfortable to know they will use the money you give them wisely and with great care.
I hope this information has been helpful to some of you. If you have questions or comments, please share! :-)
By Judi Murphy, all rights reserved
Wednesday, January 6, 2010
Big Picture
I am kind of a dichotomy. Most of the time, I am more of a big picture person. But unfortunately I don't live there. I also have a tendency to look at the details. I can undermine my good intentions of a "big picture" project and bog it down in figuring out the details. One of my leadership development goals this year is to increase my ability to find and position people around me who can help make the details feel doable so I don't lose momentum.
In general, being a better leader is a big goal for me this year. And for now, at least for the next two months or so, I have a lot of time on my hands to read, listen to podcasts and in general attempt to implement some new ideas.
Some of the resources I am pulling from include:
There are a few others at home that I have in the cue, but I am starting with these this week.
What are resources you use to develop your leadership skills? Who do you look to for wisdom and guidance?
And speaking of Big Picture... I am also committed to reading the entire Bible in 90 days! I won't get all the nuance of the 1-year plan, but I think sometimes we need to back up and get the 30,000 foot view, and not just the up-close look. Anyone want to join me? Here is a guide I am using: The 90 Day Experience. Leave a comment if you're going to do it so we can encourage each other!
In general, being a better leader is a big goal for me this year. And for now, at least for the next two months or so, I have a lot of time on my hands to read, listen to podcasts and in general attempt to implement some new ideas.
Some of the resources I am pulling from include:
- Andy Stanley's Leadership Podcast
- Lincoln on Leadership by Donald T Phillips
- Lead Like Jesus by Ken Blanchard/Phil Hodges
There are a few others at home that I have in the cue, but I am starting with these this week.
What are resources you use to develop your leadership skills? Who do you look to for wisdom and guidance?
And speaking of Big Picture... I am also committed to reading the entire Bible in 90 days! I won't get all the nuance of the 1-year plan, but I think sometimes we need to back up and get the 30,000 foot view, and not just the up-close look. Anyone want to join me? Here is a guide I am using: The 90 Day Experience. Leave a comment if you're going to do it so we can encourage each other!
Tuesday, January 5, 2010
Book Suggestion: Living Oprah by Robyn Okrant
I haven't worked it all out yet, but it is my intention to have features on this blog that will touch on things like what I'm reading/watching/listening to, photos I've taken or see that I like, thoughts on the Bible study I'm in, musings about Adopt a Block, etc.
I hope to have a schedule of sorts to keep it all on track and balanced. But for today I w
ant to share something really neat. You may have seen this recently on TV, it's been covered pretty extensively. There is a new book out called "Living Oprah," and I can't wait to read it! "Why are you telling me about a book you haven't even read," you may ask. Well, that's the fun part.
I heard about the author, Robyn Okrant, a.k.a. LO (At first Robyn attempted to be as anonymous as possible, so to her readers she was only known as LO, for Living Oprah), back in 2008. At the time LO was starting on the journey of "Living Oprah" for a year, trying to implement every suggestion or piece of advice from Oprah through her TV show, magazine and web site. LO was regularly blogging about the experience (at her site LivingOprah.com) and I became an avid reader of the blog. I rejoiced with her when she achieved "S" shapes (you'll hav
e to read the book to find out what that means). I read with interest as she tried "Hands on Philanthropy" and cringed when she had to attend a Celine Dion concert. I felt nervous for her when Oprah's "Favorite Things" episode rolled around, worried about what Oprah might tell her to buy.... In a word, I felt invested in her project.
Here's a fun video that shows a little more about the year of Living Oprah:
What I love about it is that this hasn't been some attention getting scheme by an Oprah-crazed fan. Nor was she a sarcastic naysayer of Oprah or celebdom (yeah, I just made that word up). Her purpose, as she told a columnist for the Chicago Tribune was to "comment on commercialism and self-reliance, on media and its impact on women, and maybe learn something about herself in the process." She didn't even mean to write a book! She was planning to maybe get some material for a one-woman show out of it (she's an actress, too, btw).
When 2009 rolled in and the project was over, LO stopped blogging and decided to write a book digesting her revelations from her year of LO. I was amazed to find I missed her blog, a lot!
Now the book is out and Robyn is all over the TV... I've seen her on Today, Fox & Friends, HLN Showbiz Tonight, and she's been on lots of others, too. I'm crossing my fingers for an appearance on Ellen, and of course, on Oprah. I can't help but wonder what the Queen of talk is thinking about all of this. But for me, it kinda feels like I'm routing on a friend as I watch her navigate all the media attention. Weird, considering I've never even MET her.
But, I am excited to read this book, and I would recommend it, sight unseen, to anyone who has ever found themselves buying something or trying something simply because you saw it on TV, in a movie, on the radio or in a magazine. I may not have read the book (YET) but I've read the blog from start to finish. I think you'll enjoy her witty style, and her honesty and genuine earnestness. And I think we can all learn a lot about ourselves from Robyn's experiment.
Congratulations LO! So happy for you to be finished and enjoying the fruits of your labor.
I hope to have a schedule of sorts to keep it all on track and balanced. But for today I w
ant to share something really neat. You may have seen this recently on TV, it's been covered pretty extensively. There is a new book out called "Living Oprah," and I can't wait to read it! "Why are you telling me about a book you haven't even read," you may ask. Well, that's the fun part.I heard about the author, Robyn Okrant, a.k.a. LO (At first Robyn attempted to be as anonymous as possible, so to her readers she was only known as LO, for Living Oprah), back in 2008. At the time LO was starting on the journey of "Living Oprah" for a year, trying to implement every suggestion or piece of advice from Oprah through her TV show, magazine and web site. LO was regularly blogging about the experience (at her site LivingOprah.com) and I became an avid reader of the blog. I rejoiced with her when she achieved "S" shapes (you'll hav
e to read the book to find out what that means). I read with interest as she tried "Hands on Philanthropy" and cringed when she had to attend a Celine Dion concert. I felt nervous for her when Oprah's "Favorite Things" episode rolled around, worried about what Oprah might tell her to buy.... In a word, I felt invested in her project.Here's a fun video that shows a little more about the year of Living Oprah:
What I love about it is that this hasn't been some attention getting scheme by an Oprah-crazed fan. Nor was she a sarcastic naysayer of Oprah or celebdom (yeah, I just made that word up). Her purpose, as she told a columnist for the Chicago Tribune was to "comment on commercialism and self-reliance, on media and its impact on women, and maybe learn something about herself in the process." She didn't even mean to write a book! She was planning to maybe get some material for a one-woman show out of it (she's an actress, too, btw).
When 2009 rolled in and the project was over, LO stopped blogging and decided to write a book digesting her revelations from her year of LO. I was amazed to find I missed her blog, a lot!
Now the book is out and Robyn is all over the TV... I've seen her on Today, Fox & Friends, HLN Showbiz Tonight, and she's been on lots of others, too. I'm crossing my fingers for an appearance on Ellen, and of course, on Oprah. I can't help but wonder what the Queen of talk is thinking about all of this. But for me, it kinda feels like I'm routing on a friend as I watch her navigate all the media attention. Weird, considering I've never even MET her.
But, I am excited to read this book, and I would recommend it, sight unseen, to anyone who has ever found themselves buying something or trying something simply because you saw it on TV, in a movie, on the radio or in a magazine. I may not have read the book (YET) but I've read the blog from start to finish. I think you'll enjoy her witty style, and her honesty and genuine earnestness. And I think we can all learn a lot about ourselves from Robyn's experiment.
Congratulations LO! So happy for you to be finished and enjoying the fruits of your labor.
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