Business and Community Development

Chilliwack - a place in MONOPOLY?

Tana Plewes - Possibility.ca (Possibility.ca) — Tue, 12 Jan 2010 19:05:06 -0800

Chilliwack has been selected as one of 65 cities to be eligible for a place on the Canadian Edition of Monopoly.

Vote every day from today until Feb. 7 at http://www.facebook.com/l/85ef5;www.monopolyvote.ca Let's make it happen. Spread the word!

If you're willing to help Chilliwack become a legacy please set a daily reminder in your calendar to help tip us into the lead in this fun spirited competition.

Thanks so much guys!

Tana

Sincerely,

Happy New Year!

Tana Plewes - Possibility.ca (Possibility.ca) — Fri, 01 Jan 2010 17:17:30 -0800

Wishing all the extraordinary people in the Active Rain network (and those who have not yet discovered this virtual reality) all the best for a healthy, happy and prosperous 2010...and beyond.

To your success,

Sincerely,

I'd like to teach...the world to sing...in perfect har-mo-ny...

Tana Plewes - Possibility.ca (Possibility.ca) — Fri, 02 Oct 2009 01:37:02 -0700

This is your opportunity to lead the change you want to see in the world.

Google is funding social innovation and change projects. Check it out! Over 150,000 public suggestions about how to make our world a better place were received. Vote for one of the top finalists.

http://www.project10tothe100.com/index.html

Sincerely,

Pop Quiz! Can you name your EDO?

Tana Plewes - Possibility.ca (Possibility.ca) — Fri, 02 Oct 2009 01:18:07 -0700

Real estate is your livelihood...and hopefully your passion.

Do you know the name of the economic development officer in your community? Can you name his/her favorite restaurant? How long has he/she been in your community? What do they do for recreation? How do they enjoy time away from work?

You can answer these questions, yes? Great!

No? Enough said. Get on the phone and introduce yourself.

Sincerely,

This sentence will keep you cool during ANY crisis...

Tana Plewes - Possibility.ca (Possibility.ca) — Tue, 31 Mar 2009 09:50:35 -0700

In these days of diminished savings and investment accounts, foreclosures, job loss, elevated gang warfare, public shootings and clinical depression...less is more. So here goes...

"When emotion goes up intelligence goes down".

Ahhh...logic that resonates through my body...like only the truth can. I originally heard this sentence from Blair Singer, author of Sales Dogs, during a workshop I attended a few years ago. Short - sweet - memorable.

When life reaches out to bite you in the a** take 10 deep breathes while repeating this phrase to yourself. I guarantee the fog in your mind will clear and your natural ability to deal with whatever circumstance is before you will take over.

It's as welcoming as the North Star in a lonely, dark night...guide me home!

When you've regained your composure...come back to Active Rain and check out Wordless Wednesday! Images that remind us what life's all about...a brighter future to live into.

Sincerely,

Time management strategies in cyber-space - please show me HOW!!!

Tana Plewes - Possibility.ca (Possibility.ca) — Fri, 13 Feb 2009 15:55:05 -0800

I've learned so much about social media since joining Active Rain. It's opened up a whole new world. A/R members (and staff) are so generous...sharing tips, tools and short cuts that save non-techies like me months of precious time and mind-bending frustration. I've connected with so many kindred spirits. It's really quite astonishing!

Having said that...I feel compelled to ask...

Am I the only one who can whittle away an entire day trying to figure out how to use all the applications that are available to me?

Reading, commenting, chatting, video conferencing, blogging, Twitter, Facebook, Active Rain, outside blogging, Skype, Linked In, website updates, etc...etc...

Obviously, many of you have devised time management systems and strategies that enable you to maintain productivity in your "physical reality"...haven't you?

How do you prevent social networking from cutting into relationships with children, spouces, parents, friends and family...I'm talking about the balancing act...is there a balanced way to multi-task in cyber space?

What do you do to HAVE IT ALL? Do tell! What works? What doesn't work?

I have no interest in becoming a talking head - spreading one-way wisdom - neither reading or commenting on other people's blogs. What attracts me to this medium is the opportunity to connect with like minded people and a passion for writing...the Law of Attraction...in terms of ancient wisdom, specialized knowledge, social causes, business transactions of mutual benefit and human interest stories.

As they say in the funnies "Holy over-loaded circuitry Batman!"

Sincerely,

Online Introduction to the Landmark Forum (Link)

Tana Plewes - Possibility.ca (Possibility.ca) — Sun, 08 Feb 2009 22:52:04 -0800

Thank you Liz and Charles for creating this group.

For those who are unfamiliar with the Landmark Forum you can get the full low down by watching a video introduction from the comfort of your computer.

Simply visit www.LandmarkEducation.com and click on the graphic that says Online Introduction to the Landmark Forum.

My husband, children and I got so much out of it that I don't know where/how to begin sharing about it. Here's a tiny sample of what we've accomplished since doing the Forum in January 2004.

We saved our dying marriage (we've been together since 1985 and were on the verge of separation when we did the Forum).
My husband closed one business that drained him and open a new one that excites him.
I reactivated a business I once loved but had shelved when my marriage was tanking.
I lost 30 lbs, learned to run and ran a 5 km race with my young son.
I got my motor cycle licence.
I road the California Screemer at Disneyland and the roller coaster at Circus Circus in Vegas (this was never gonna happen!)
My husband decided he wanted to help people in Southeast Asia impacted by the Tsunami. He did! 448 families in Indonesia now have homes as a direct result of this course. (Photos available in my first blog post).
I studied Mandarin to test the theory "anything is possible"...figuring Chinese would be IMPOSSIBLE to learn. Anything IS possible!
I could go on and on...

Nothing could be more effective to "brace youself" for the challenges of a Global Financial Crisis. As they say at Nike..."Just Do It!"

Sincerely,

My midlife crisis - holy sh*t!

Tana Plewes - Possibility.ca (Possibility.ca) — Fri, 02 Jan 2009 12:44:09 -0800

It's time for me to look back...way back...so I can look forward with total clarity. My mid-life crisis has officially arrived! :-)

Roller Bay on Hope Island, British Columbia, 1982

My favorite place in the world. This image doesn't hold a candle to the sound of the waves as they tumble over the pea gravel and fall back into the sea.

The rhythmic sound is hypnotizing.

In 1982 this prairie girl moth-balled her designer wardrobe in favor of one-piece Stanfield's underwear, heavy wool pants & sweater, Snyder's gum boots and Helly Hansen raingear. I headed for the west coast of Vancouver Island where I lived and worked on the ocean for two years on the M/V "Bonnie May" (wheel house pictured far right).

Right is a Grade A Geoduck ready for live export. Far right shows how they were crated, stacked and tarped to stay fresh.

We harvested exotic seafood species for Asian export markets. We harvested geoducks (pronounced gooey-duck), which are giant clams and sea urchins. The work challenged me (physically and mentally) beyond anything I had ever experienced. It was a time for extremes ranging from awful to awesome.

I had left a budding retail management career in Regina, Saskatchewan to immerse myself in gale and storm forced winds, mechanical issues, perishable cargo and close quarter living with no amenities or privacy. These harsh days were contrasted by inspirational and breathtaking moments that words simply can't describe...left is a photo of my first encounter trying to remove an octopus from the deck! Those suction cups are relentless!

It was an invigorating lifestyle. I survived two hurricane force storms (but that's another blog), one complete loss of cargo/revenue/payroll and was once stranded with no access to supplies for six days. I could ramble on and on...for me this was life on the edge!

The M/V "Bonnie May", a 38' Sealander Sea Truck. That tiny wheelhouse was home from 1992-1994. Crew size ranged from 2-4 sardines people.

By age 22 I became interested in a relationship. My heart's desire didn't appear to reside in the remote inlets of northern Vancouver Island. My standards and ideals drove me to relocate to the mainland where I attended college. I wanted to become more "professional".

I married Randy at 27 and delivered our first baby at 30. My life and my body were no longer just about me. I drove my car and lived my life with more caution. I had others to think about. I had a reason to be less selfish and more responsible. As I became more professional in my career I began dabbling on the shoreline of the marine industry. In other words my career moved from the water (marine operations) onto the beach (administration). Since then I've moved farther and farther away from the ocean...figuratively and literally.

Mesa, Arizona, February 28, 1990...making our golf cart getaway...

On the night I created the draft of this blog I noticed that I no longer work with any marine-based clients. I have become disconnected from the industry I once wanted to know everything about.

By age 40 I was convinced my husband was the source of my life not working out as planned. When I completed the Landmark Forum in 2004 (www.landmarkeducation.com) I discovered that I had, in fact, exercised excellent judgement in choosing Randy as my partner. My dissatisfaction wasn't his fault. At some point I had simply stopped planning my life and began living from my circumstances. I'd lost track of my earlies dreams.

I've seen glimpses of the disconnect between my intentions and my actions before. It rises to the surface during the occasional personal development workshop exercise. In a financial workshop last year I discovered that I don't even own the "Top 5 Assets" I most value in terms of personal enjoyment and recreation. Missing are my kayak, Sea-Doo and motor sailor - even though I have without question earned enough income in my life to own them all by now.

So here I sit on January 2, 2009...a brand new year...asking myself...

What is it I think I can't have?
What actions am I not taking?
Why do I do what I do?
Who am I doing it for? (The irony is no one really even knows what I do anyway).
What is the impact on me?...on others?
Do I have the courage to resurrect my original hopes and dreams?
What is it that I want to create for myself (my kids are now 13 & 15)?
How do my family's needs and priorities converge with my personal desires?
Do I have the courage to create from nothing - NOW - at age 45?

(More evidence of mid-life crisis...the lease is up on my car next month and I want something sporty and fun!)

This photo of Randy was taken in July, 1986. We were visiting Galiano Island (southern Gulf Islands just north of the San Juan Islands).

I'm grateful to be married to a flexible guy like Randy. He's usually the first to say "let's do it"...regardless of what IT is! The challenge for me lies in identifying and expressing what it is that I really want to experience in this lifetime.

If you have any insights for this square peg...I'm all ears. In the meantime, I invite you to share reflections from your past and tell us about your mid-life crisis. If you need more space for your share - add a link to your blog!

I hereby declare 2009 as the "Year of Alignment"...between my thoughts, words and actions.

Happy New Year!

Sincerely,

High performers have THIS in common...

Tana Plewes - Possibility.ca (Possibility.ca) — Sun, 30 Nov 2008 04:06:03 -0800

Have you ever wondered why some folks rise to the top of their game in a downturned economy while the majority lose the ground they gained when times were good?

Consider that you already have all the tools, skills, intellect and resources you need to be a top performer in good times and bad times. Yet can you honestly claim you are using 100% of your potential?

In tough times you can’t afford to settle for anything less than full power.

High performers, professional athletes and achievers have one thing in common. They all practice and have a Coach to support that practice. Coaching extracts the brilliance and expertise from you, rather than pours more information in or tells you what to do.

Successful people hire a Coach to help them reach a goal, find their edge, solve a problem or capitalize on an opportunity.

Coaching works when these two factors are present:

1. You are willing to learn, grow, and take action.

2. There is a gap between where you are now and where you want to be.

How does it work?

A coach will help you to commit yourself fully and take action consistent with what it is that you want for yourself and for your life.

When you have a coach, you will reach beyond your comfort zone.

Having a coach may be your clearest pathway to having the life you most desire and deserve.

How does coaching work?

Coaching is a SIX month support structure that will alter your life FOREVER!

Each month is designed to help you find your flow...and the design contains a hidden benefit.

Have you ever dreamed of having more vacations and personal time off each year? There’s a SECRET embedded in the design of our coaching system. It will have you fulfill on your goal to have more time available for what really matters.

What’s the RESULT?

Professional development, mastery, advancement, dreams, recognition.

Personal relationships, clarity, desires, dreams, completions.

Are all coaches created equal? Not a chance!

Our coaches are double certified and offer three unique styles of coaching:

Relationship (what matters most)
Business (rooted in project management - plan your work and work your plan)
Executive (for those who deal with multiple stakeholders)

YOUR first breakthrough will occur the moment you register.

Stop procrastinating...set aside your worries, ya but's and concerns...disappear your conversation about money (so you can make more of it)...stop kidding yourself about having no time...this IS your life. Use it or loose it.

What is it that you think you can't have?
What actions are you not taking?

Invest $4,200 (plus tax) TODAY and your life will look significantly different in SIX MONTHS.

It's that simple.

Dare to be extraordinary. Call us NOW!

Sincerely,

Furnished suite available for rent Jan 1st (Chilliwack, BC, Canada)

Tana Plewes - Possibility.ca (Possibility.ca) — Thu, 27 Nov 2008 20:22:40 -0800

FURNISHED 1 bedroom + studio suite, tastefully furnished, bright & spacious. Located in Sardis available January 1st. Short term rental at $350/week. Outdoor recreation and nearby destinations abound.

Private entrance with covered patio, fireplace, full-sized kitchen with dishwasher, full bath, great office space, cable, utilities, and DSL Internet. Non-smoking, small pet negotiable with prior approval.

Rent may be further discounted for fixed, longer term stays. Perfect for the business executive who's tired of hotel rooms or home owners waiting for occupancy dates.

To view our online photo gallery of this suite visit http://www.possibility.ca/rental.htm.

Your home away from home is close to lots of great activities and destinations:

miles of riverside walking trails
world famous fishing/hiking/climbing
Cultus Lake (7 min)
Harrison Hot Springs (30 mins)
Chilliwack Lake (40 mins)
Ski Hemlock Valley (60 min)
Ski Manning Park (90 mins)
Travel to Vancouver (90 min)
Seattle (2 hrs)
Ski Whistler/Blackcomb (3 hrs)

For more information on Chilliwack, including job opportunities, recreation and amenities visit http://www.LiveWorkPlayProsper.com and click on "move to Chilliwack".

For more information on the furnished suite call (604) 824-1460 for details.

Click here to check out more outdoor tourism activities at http://www.thegreatoutside.com

Visit Liz Moras' Localism Blog for great photos of the Rotary Trails.

Sincerely,

I have a CONFESSION to Make (3 lessons learned in my first week on Active Rain)

Tana Plewes - Possibility.ca (Possibility.ca) — Sat, 15 Nov 2008 15:06:49 -0800

What a thrill ride my first week on Active Rain has been...a full range of ups and downs. First let me get my confession out of the way so I can clear my head space...then I'll share a valuable lesson I've learned in my first week on Active Rain.

To anyone who actually clicked on my 4th post (4 Simple Truths about Change) - I have a confession to make. It's not good...(as if you didn't already know that)...and I apologize. The good news is that I see what went wrong...

I wrote my first 3 posts on Active Rain from my heart...the 4th I wrote from my head. I get the difference it makes to you, the reader, and for me as the writer. HUGE!

My first post on Active Rain - Our Life Changing Trip to Tsunami Ravaged Indonesia

This was a story, a personal experience, I was excited to write. I learned patience (for my technical incompetence)...and how to upload photos. I received generous amounts of encouragement from you. It was a pleasurable experience for me.

When does individual private email become spam? My second post on AR

This was a cry for help to "the universe"...not knowing what I'd done wrong in responding to people's comments...uncertain where to find information...or even what to search for. The "AR universe" responded with practical tips and understanding in generous proportions. I was very impressed (I think I was expecting a slap on the wrist and harsh words about my IQ).

The 10 Most ADMIRABLE characteristics of a real estate PROFESSIONAL

The comments I'd received from readers in response to my first two posts inspired me to write this. It is a compilation of all the characterstics I experienced through the Active Rain community. It was a spontaneous, natural expression. When I started to receive congratulations for being "featured" I had no idea what people were talking about. When Liz taught me how to review my stats I sure noticed a spike in clicks, views and comments as a result of being featured.

The koodos I received made me feel like the bar had somehow been raised...now I should strive to do a good job. I got all brainy about it. My 4th post was something to be worked on. That's why 4 Simple Truths About CHANGE is not an interesting read. The content is sound but the expression is dry.

My advise to Newbies is this -

Always write from your HEART as if you're talking and sharing with your best friend around the kitchen table...
The best way to get to know people is to visit the blogs/profiles of the people who comment on your blog. Like attracts like so the experienced bloggers will find you and draw you into conversation through their comments.
If you really want to improve your traffic and visibility - ask at least one person whose opinion your respect to give you honest feedback on your posts. Then shut up and listen!

In my first week on Active Rain I discovered WHY so many people love it here! Not only do we GET TO BE OURSELVES here...the interaction only really works when we ARE BEING OURSELVES!

What a cool community!

Sincerely,

4 Simple Truths About CHANGE

Tana Plewes - Possibility.ca (Possibility.ca) — Fri, 14 Nov 2008 13:07:32 -0800

Lately, do you feel as though the entire system universe is working against you and your business?

Today's paradigm shift has been triggered by many factors; government, a shift in public policy, environmental concerns, global economic crisis...and what a whopper this one is! What's the bottom line? The rules of the game have changed.

As I see it there are 4 Simple Truths About Change...

1. Old strategies become useless. Experiencing a paradigm shift is like venturing into a cold, dense fog on the open sea. In one moment all that was once visible to you is replaced by uncertainty. You cannot see what lies ahead or beside you and you are powerless to go back from where you came. The skills and strategies that gave you a sense of pride and accomplishment just weeks ago have now become questionable. Your very existence is suspended in a surreal state and your mind begins to fabricate it's own version of reality...to explain your circumstance and make sense of it all. As Charlie Brown so eloquently says, "Ahhhh!!!"

2. The human condition is engaged. Policy makers in government believe their decisions and actions are serving the greater good. Those of us in business tend to think that government is intentionally throwing more hurdles in our path. In reality the emotional reactions, fears and frustrations we experience are not reserved solely for us. Reaction is triggered in everyone clinging to the old paradigm. The tighter you cling, the worse you feel.

3. It's like a turbulent sea that heaves us off our intended course. You may think that others around you have greater stability...when in fact their experience may be strikingly similar to your own. In the face of risk and vulnerability we tend to become inwardly focused. Our nature is to form assumptions and expectations of what can and cannot be achieved. When others fail to meet our expectations, animosity builds, tempers ignite, introverts withdraw and important relationships deteriorate. Without conscious intention we segregate into camps of "us" and "them". Reconciliation of our differing perspectives appears futile, frustrating and pointless. This is the world of survival...the downward spiral...reaction mode at its finest.

When you look at your situation through the radar a new perspective comes into view. There's a pattern here...with grid lines and everything! Your course becomes clearer...the fog begins to lift. Here, have a look. Can you see your location?

4. New skills and strategies must quickly be developed. The new measure of leadership and managerial skill is about anticipating the future and boldly venturing into the realm of the unknown with intentionality. No longer willing to stay adrift you set out to chart your course. Those who have developed a competency to embrace change find it thrilling and adventurous to be on this cutting edge. They understand that new opportunities must be created. In times of change risk IS the only certainty. Now is the perfect time to redefine one's self and bid farewell to complacency, denial, resistance and procrastination in favour of new empowering skills:

foresight
strategy
creativity
resilience
intuitive wisdom
continuous action, and
exceptional communication skills

These are the skills to practice, refine and master in the 21st century...we're back to the basics. It's not rocket science. It's who we're being and how we handle our inner voice in the face of challenge and uncertainty that really determines how the future turns out.

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NOW is the best time to re-engineer your future. A professional athlete would never think of competing without a coach. In tough economic times can you afford not to have a coach?

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* The image of the New Measure of Managerial Skill is from page 27 of Joel Arthur Barker's book Paradigms: The Business of Discovering the Future.

Sincerely,

The 10 most ADMIRABLE characteristics of a real estate PROFESSIONAL.

Tana Plewes - Possibility.ca (Possibility.ca) — Wed, 12 Nov 2008 10:23:51 -0800

People on Active Rain have been so generous and gracious with me as I develop this brand new skill (to me) called "Blogging". To express my gratitude I thought I'd share my experience of what I've learned about you and who you've been for me these past few days...

The 10 most admirable characteristics of a real estate professional. Yes, I'm talking about YOU! :-)

1. Your products and services are tangible; grounded in reality like the salt of the Earth.

2. You are focused and goal oriented.

3. You have a sense of humour; you're able to laugh with me as we share and laugh at ourselves.

4. You are motivated to find and keep your edge in order to stand out from the crowd.

5. You are coachable; open to consider new ways to ensure products stand out while equally committing yourself to service excellence.

6. You are knowledgeable about details such as home design, how a house is situated on a lot and the practicalities of micro and macro economics.

7. You are dialed-in; you know what's going on in your community, who's coming, who's going, where the opportunities and threats are coming from.

8. You are up-to-date on building construction, new technologies and how to sell the benefits of new and emerging technologies to others.

9. There is a magical flow about you; your career, home and relationships ALL appear to be working.

10. There is a calmness and ease to your demeanour, making your client's everyday frustrations and worries disappear...poof!

What inspires me about Blogging is the ability to share knowledge and ideas, contribute to others in a meaningful way, test new ideas in a dynamic environment and meet new friends, clients and associates. This is the perfect medium for me to learn, grow and express myself through writing...I love writing...and I love to read what YOU write!

I plan to hang out in the coaching & personal development groups, marketing forums as well as travel and personal sharing. I'm not quite sure how to explain Active Rain to my husband and two children. They think I'm sitting at my desk, in a comfy chair or at the kitchen table clicking on my laptop...they don't understand that I've really entered a whole new world! I feel like Wendy in Peter Pan...my family thinks I'm in my room...really I'm in Neverland. :-)

To your unprecedented success in the face of a shifting, global economy!

Tana

www.possibility.ca

Sincerely,

My first post on Active Rain - Our Life Changing Trip to Tsunami Ravaged Indonesia

Tana Plewes - Possibility.ca (Possibility.ca) — Sun, 09 Nov 2008 18:30:17 -0800

Wow! It really takes something to overcome fears of technology and navigate volumes of information to create a first Blog. I spent hours signing up, creating a profile and my first post two days ago. The post was similar to this one except I lost it 30 seconds before hitting post (I could have cried). I'm back! I now know how to save a post as a Draft! I feel as though I've arrived! Thank you, Liz, for your guidance and patience. I've always wanted to share this life altering experience as a photo journal...and now I really am!!!

It all started on Boxing Day, 2004. My husband, Randy, and I stood in front of our livingroom TV in disbelief. We were watching panic stricken video clips and rising death tolls as news of the catastrophic Tsunami that devastated Southeast Asia spread throughout the world.

It was one of those eerie moments in life when live news coverage makes time stand still...Elvis' death...the day John Lennon died...Princess Diana's collision...the disintegration of the Space Shuttle Challenger a mere 73 seconds after liftoff...the day the Twin Towers fell. The event itself occurs outside your everyday life, yet your reality is forever altered.

There was something different about this situation...we could both feel it. Suddenly the difference became audible. I heard my husband declare, "I don't know when...I don't know how...but I'm going to do something to help". Indeed, Randy did make a difference. In February, 2008 I accompanied him on a trip to Indonesia. He was conducting the final inspection on the construction of 448 homes he had supplied to the Tsunami ravaged regions of Indonesia through Save the Children USA. These are only a few of the photos we took to document our trip...

This 300' x 80' ship is dry docked in the middle of a residential neighbourhood - 5 km inland - deposited there by the Tsunam (you are looking at the 80' stern). Though I had seen pictures from Randy's previous trips, I was left speechless for several hours after seeing it firsthand. The mind simply can't comprehend events of this magnitude. Remarkably, all 55 crew members survived but a large number of homes were flattened on impact. You can see glimpses of palm trees and foundations beneath the hull in some of our other shots. The dead are buried in a mass grave yard in Banda Aceh - a memorial enshrined by an artistically designed fence around the perimeter of the site.

We were privileged to attend a Save the Children event where a brand new school was officially dedicated. These children, beautifully donned in ceremonial costumes, performed a welcome dance for this senior political figure who attended the dedication...

This man had been imprisoned and tortured during the civil conflict that preceded the Tsunami - for being the leader of a rebel party. He's blind in one eye as a result of his imprisonment. His party is now in power. It was a weird feeling when he arrived, escorted by truckloads of armed men. It left me wondering...where and when will his enemies strike next...today...here?

The coastal areas are peppered with new homes and construction sites. Plywood and 2x4's are carried by hand on motorcycles. It's a sight to see. The villages where you see the children are residents of the new Save the Children projects. This is just one of the villages that Randy, Britco and Save the Children collaborated to repopulate.

These small wood homes were pre-cut in a Britco factory created in Hope, British Columbia, specifically for this project. They are elevated about 4' off the ground to protect against tsunamis and flooding. The British Columbia wood had to be specially treated for termites.

The kids loved following us around, having their pictures taken. Pretty soon they were parroting the English words "Thank you" as I expressed my gratitude for each opportunity to preserve our experience. The people were so beautiful and surprisingly happy. Given the magnitide of death and devistation I guess I expected a sullen heaviness. Not so!

These locally made, hand crafted products are in a gift shop started by Save the Children's Livelihood division. Local women strip the leaves off a certain kind of plant (I forget the name) to create woven crafts. Save the Children has been teaching local women to add move value and marketability to their goods by creating more intricate products and enhancing designs with color dyes, weaving looms, etc. Since this project started the women in the village have gone from earning $5,000 rupiah per day (roughly $5) to earning $20,000 rupiah ($20), a rather handsome income by Indonesian standards. On the day of our visit the staff was optimistic about a meeting they'd had that morning with a representative of A Thousand Villages. If an exporting deal was negotiated it would open up additional opportunities for participants of the micro-enterprise development project. The woven soccer ball was commissioned by a famous soccer player who contributes to this project (sorry, I don't follow the sport so don't recall his name). He was expected to visit within the next two days.

We had to battle this intimidating, 8 legged creature for territory in our hotel room in Bireun, a village several hours outside of Banda Aceh. See his eyes? Laying in bed...wondering if he'd entered our room alone or with buddies made for a rather sleepless night! Looking at this photo still give me the creeps...

This photo is so typical of family life in the devout Muslim city of Banda Aceh...Isn't she fabulous?

When the business portion of our trip ended we travelled to Bali to celebrate our 18^th wedding anniversary. No spiders in our luxury resort hotel in Kuta! The religion, culture and art of Bali is completely different than the island of Sumatra. It's hard to believe they are located in the same country. I will create a future post to share the beauty of Ubud and Bali as vacation destinations.

I simply don't have words to express how this trip inspired a deep sense of gratitude - for family, health and home - not to mention a whole new appreciation of the man I married in 1990!

Sincerely,