Thankful Thoughts

This is a challenge to each of you to have thankful thoughts today. Yes, it is easy to generalize them into five major ones, but be specific. Think about January 2011. What happened that month? Did you go skiing, make and keep some resolutions or invite friends for dinner? Recall that specific time and savor it. Do you remember a funny or special thing that happened during this experience of yours? Re-enjoy it.

Look at the pictures you took. How silly you look in your camp outfit and so does everyone else. Be thankful for cameras that bring it all back to living color downloaded in seconds on our computers without having to wait for the developing.

Do the same with February, March and so on. Each hour of today dwell on a different time, event or month of the year. At the end of the day, you will really be thankful for 2011. If a bad or sad time comes to your mind, think about it and how you grew from the experience.

Next think about where these blessings came from. The Lord gave them to us. Thank Him and pray to have many more. Thankful thoughts will bring you joy and peace. You will look forward to next year with relish. Now go eat your turkey and rue the day.

Zambia Scholarship Fund

I attended a free concert of Peter Breinholt. It was to benefit the Zambia Scholarship Fund, which I had never heard of. Hey, it was FREE so I went, but I received so much more. Many in attendance were the generous contributors to the cause. They seemed excited to be a part of something so valuable. Letters from the children were there for the reading. A young man from Zambia going to college spoke of his appreciation for the fund. (photos from website)

In order for African children to go to school they must pay their own way. Few communities are able or willing to pay an elementary school teacher's salary of $100 to keep a school consistently running. For a small amount we can be the means of giving an education to the children of Zambia. This non-governmental organization (NGO) that puts 100% of its funds back into the cause has published a book telling of its history called Foreign Flowers. I picked up the amazing book, read it and want to pass it along to as many people as possible.

There are many ngo's that claim to be non-profit, but in reality make and keep the big bucks, which are used for their generous salaries and posh offices. Finding a non-profit you can trust that gives ninety plus percent to the cause is difficult.

"Zambia's Scholarship Fund was founded by Peggy Rogers in 2000 after returning from a visit to Zambia to reunite with an African friend from college.

Peggy saw the poverty and need for education up close. She learned that Zambians desperately desire to obtain an education because they know that is the best way to raise themselves out of poverty.

Peggy started saving her own money to provide scholarships to Zambian students and started rallying others to her cause. She continues to run the program today which has now helped thousands of students. As Founder and President, Peggy insists that 100% of all donations go to help Zambians in need."

To find out more go to Zambiascholarshipfund.org. This woman is a giant 'Three Bags Full' Winner.