(c) Sara Rosso

Have you seen these little delights? Move over, cupcakes - Macarons are here! These little French pastries have been popping up all over my internet feeds for a while now and, even though I had no idea what they would taste like, I knew I had to have some.

Bakeries all over the New York City area have started serving the treats - two layers with thin, crunchy crust protecting a moist almond meringue, sandwiching a ganache,  jam, or cream center. Sounds lovely, doesn't it? YES IT DOES!

You know what makes it lovelier? It's gluten free! That's right, macarons are traditionally made with almond flour, making this trendy treat perfectly safe for our friends who stay away from gluten...including my dear boyfriend!

Poor Nickolaus was diagnosed with Celiacs Disease over 15 years ago and, even though gluten free diets are much more popular now, he still misses out on so many of the lovely things I get to eat.

And thus, the Prerna and Nickolaus Macron Crawl Extravaganza was born! With stops at Payard, Mille Feuille, Bosie Tea Parlor, and La Maison du Chocolat we got to experience the magic of macarons.

First Stop!
Francois Payard
116 W. Houston St

Nick's pick: Raspberry Lychee
My pick: Chocolate

Granted, these were our first macarons ever, but we both thought they were fantastic! A great balance of crunchy crust and chewy cookie. You could appreciate the flavor both in the cookie and in the filling. I think Nick was surprised that I didn't pick a more exotic flavor, but I'm happy to report that both of our picks were delish!

Stop Two!
Mille-Feuille
552 Laguardia Pl

Nick's pick: Cheesecake
My pick: Passion Fruit

These macarons were definitely good, although we both agreed that we liked Payard's better. Nick wasn't a fan of the Passion Fruit, but I think that has more to do with the fruit itself than the macaron. These macarons were definitely the chewiest that we tried, and while I do appreciate that quality in my sweets, I think macarons need that thin crispy crust to seal the deal.

Third Stop!
Bosie Tea Parlor
10 Morton St

Nick's pick: Eggnog
My pick: Maple Bacon

Bosie definitely had the most creative flavors. I liked the texture and taste of both of the macarons we tried, but I wasn't a fan of the fact they kept them in a refrigerated case. The temperature made them a little weird to eat and the fillings were so cold that it was actually distracting! We ended up taking a few macrons from Bosie home for my mom, and definitely liked them better at room temp.

Last Stop!
La Maison du Chocolat
30 Rockefeller Plz

My pick: Pistachio
Nick's pick: Milk chocolate

I kind of felt like it was cheating because they actually fly their macarons in from France, but they were in amazing condition after surviving that trip! I don't know why I expected different from a place whose name translates to House of Chocolate, but I was thrown off by the fact that the pistachio macaron had chocolate ganache filling. Nick definitely loved them though! I think the milk chocolate was his favorite of the night.


We were only able to make it to four places to try eight macarons, mostly because we were trekking around Manhattan in the freezing cold, but it was definitely worth it. They were delicious treats, and unleashing my inner foodie was so much fun!

(c) Amy Rubin Flett - Pinwheel Designs

It's a new year and it's time to bring the blog back!

I started Crafts Service a long time ago with the idea of blogging about crafting, community service, and food...and it never really worked out. I mostly blogged about my life and musings. It sometimes, but rarely touched on the three...Which is fine, but not what I had intended. And that's part of the reason why I'm resurrecting this blog. Intention.

Scrapbooker Ali Edwards has a concept of one little word - each year, picking a word to be your catalyst. For 2012, I pick

in·ten·tion \in-ˈten(t)-shən\
1: a determination to act in a certain way
2: the product of attention directed to an object of knowledge

This year I want my actions to be more focused, more purposeful...especially in regards to crafting, community service, and nourishment - not only for my body, but also my mind and soul - and I have some resolutions for each.

Crafting:
I've been a paper crafter for a few years now, and I want to continue learning and growing as an artist.
This year...

• All of my gifts will have a handmade element, even if it's just a cute tag or a beautifully addressed envelope.
• I will organize my crafting supplies. Because I don't have a lot of space, everything gets packed away and I barely even remember what I have. I want to fix that system, not only to have things in order, but also to have them accessible.
• I will continue with 52 Weeks of Mail - sending at least one card or package every week.

Service:
After finishing up my AmeriCorps terms, I've definitely had a lack of service in my life, and I need it back!
This year...

• I'm working with the Interfaith Youth Core as a member of their Alumni Speakers Bureau, helping to spread the awesomeness of interfaith community service. As in the past, I want to put a lot of thought and work into my speaking engagements.
• I'm blogging at Masculinity U, an initiative started by some friends of mine geared toward engaging young men in redefining masculinity and encouraging them in taking an equal role in ending gender violence. I wasn't quite sure how my voice would fit when they asked me to write for them, but I decided to take on a column applauding real men on the work they have done towards ending gender violence.

Nourishment:
I've definitely neglected feeding my body and my mind recently.
This year...

• I will be more mindful of my food choices. I have no intention of cutting out things I love, but I want to make healthier choices that I still enjoy. I plan to cook more. I will drink more water and less of other junk.
• I will move more. I'm not going to be concerned with keeping up a gym schedule, and I may just cancel my gym membership altogether because, let's be honest, I'm not really using it. What I do want to do is be more active. I want to stretch. I want to want to move. I want it to feel good. Losing weight will, I'm sure, be a bonus, but it's not my immediate goal. I found the Couch to 5K program, which I think is perfect for me - I even found a treadmill version, which will probably come in handy this winter.
• I will remain active with my Move More, Eat Well challenge. I think having a community will keep me going, and documenting my journey will keep me accountable.
• I will read more. I think I say this every year, but this time I really do have more time and no excuse not to. After college, I've found that fiction doesn't really appeal to me anymore, but that's not reason to not enjoy the wonderful work of nonfiction! Thanks to a friend, I've joined an interfaith book club and I think it's a great way to start the year.

It's going to be a good year. I can feel it! I hope you'll follow along!

Blog for Choice

Today is the 37th anniversary of Roe v. Wade, and the 5th Annual Blog for Choice Day. This year's question, as posed by NARAL, is What does Trust Women mean to you?,in reference to the pin that Dr. Tiller often wore.



Abortion aside, choice is something that is very important to me. I like knowing that I am in charge of my life, both in the moment and in terms of my future path.

I've made a lot of choices in recent years. I chose to go to Syracuse University, where I chose to major in International Relations and Political Science, and I chose to be involved with Res Life, The Vagina Monologues, Alpha Phi Omega, and Habitat. I have chosen to have long hair, to have six piercings in my ears, and to wear contact lenses. And I made all of those choices because someone let me.

Why was I allowed? Because I was trusted to do what was right for my own life. Did I make mistakes? Hell yes! But my decisions were respected. The respect from my family, my friends, my society, and my government gave me the opportunity to paint my own picture.

As an adult, I am respected enough to be able to choose my own career, car, home. And I am glad that right now my decisions about my body are respected. It says that I am acknowledged as an intelligent person, one with the ability to understand my situation and choose the best path.

I am very confident in my own decision making skills. I think I'm able to look at my own situation, understand the problem and possible solutions, and choose the best course of action.

So what does it mean when people try to restrict access to abortion? It means they don't trust us, which means they don't respect our intelligence and our ability to do the right thing. And that makes me angry.

To trust us is to respect us, to let us make the decisions about our own lives, to let us choose.

Your Mission, Should You Choose To Accept It

Part of my job with Volunteer Services includes faith outreach. In fact, that's a major reason why I applied for and picked this position. But having been there for several months now, I've come to realize that while the intentions are there, the money isn't, so I haven't done a whole lot of actual reaching out to new faith groups. However, every now and then, they reach out to me.

Last a week I was forwarded an email from a woman from United Methodist Church who is organizing a District Youth Retreat for this spring. As she explained, "Our theme for the retreat is So You Think You Can Praise?!. We will be doing various workshops on different ways to praise the Lord, and it was suggested that one of the workshops be on praising the Lord through mission work."

Cool, I thought. I really identified with the designated theme because I believe wholeheartedly that there are so many different ways to express faith. Personally, I express my faith through what Hinduism calls Karma Yoga, basically, community service. And that's exactly what Habitat's mission is.

Habitat is a partnership founded on common ground -- bridging theological differences by putting love into action. Everyone can use the hammer as an instrument to manifest God's love.

Habitat founder Millard Fuller calls this concept "the theology of the hammer," explaining, "we may disagree on all sorts of other things... but we can agree on the idea of building homes with God's people in need, and in doing so using biblical economics: no profit and no interest.

Habitat for Humanity welcomes all people to build with us in partnership. "The Bible teaches that God is the God of the whole crowd," explains Fuller. "God's love leaves nobody out, and my love should not either. This understanding drives 'the theology of the hammer' around the world, steadily building more and more houses in more and more countries.

I'm pretty familiar with the concept of The Theology of the Hammer. I identify with it strongly and continue to work with Habitat because of it. I've written several applications and essays on the topic. I even did a presentation on it en español for a class in college. So I was pretty surprised when my boss turned around and asked me

Are you comfortable doing this?

At first I didn't understand her. I do speaking engagements all the time! At least a couple of times a week I'm out on the worksite in the morning giving a speech to a volunteer group. I've made presentations at many companies and schools, speaking to people of all ages. I couldn't figure out why she thought it might make me uncomfortable.

And then it dawned on me. I'm not a Methodist. I'm not even Christian. She wasn't asking if I would have stage fright; she was asking if I was even capable of speaking to Methodist youth about mission work.

Well, I think I am. They may do it in the name of God and Christ, and I may do it in the name of human spirit, but we're still all doing the same thing with the same purpose: service to our human family is the right thing to do. It's what strengthens us as individuals and as a group. It's the ground that Habitat stands on. It's why I'm an AmeriCorps member. It's the common thread that runs through most people.

So, yes, I will be speaking to a group of people about a principle of the faith that they hold and I do not. But the fact remains: the Theology of the Hammer binds us all.

Reading Rainbow

As previously mentioned, one of my new resolutions is to read more. I used to devour books, and I simply didn't have the time to read for pleasure while I was in college. And now I've just fallen out of the habit of reading. So my solution is to simply make myself. My goal is to read for at least an hour every day, and so far it's been pretty good.

I'm currently in the middle of three different books. I didn't read like this in high school, but this seems to be working for me, so I'm sticking to it. I think the combination of books is what's keeping me interested. With a good variety, I always have something on hand that I'm in the mood for, so I'm not diverting from my goal due to lack of interest.

Currently reading:

The Lovely Bones by Alice Sebold

When we first meet 14-year-old Susie Salmon, she is already in heaven. This was before milk carton photos and public service announcements, she tells us; back in 1973, when Susie mysteriously disappeared, people still believed these things didn't happen.
In the sweet, untroubled voice of a precocious teenage girl, Susie relates the awful events of her death and her own adjustment to the strange new place she finds herself. It looks a lot like her school playground, with the good kind of swing sets.
With love, longing, and a growing understanding, Susie watches her family as they cope with their grief, her father embarks on a search for the killer, her sister undertakes a feat of amazing daring, her little brother builds a fort in her honor and begin the difficult process of healing.
In the hands of a brilliant novelist, the author narrates the THE LOVELY BONES through the eyes of her winning young heroine. This story of seemingly unbearable tragedy is transformed into a suspenseful and touching story about family, memory, love, heaven, and living.

Good Without God: What a Billion Nonreligious People Do Believe by Greg Epstein

With the current state of the economy, the ongoing wars that rage across the globe, and the unsettling changes to the earth's climate, questions about the role of God and religion in world affairs have never been more relevant or felt more powerfully. Many of us are searching for a place where we can find not only facts and scientific reason but also hope and the moral courage needed to overcome such challenges. For some, answers to the most challenging questions are found in the divine. For others, including the New Atheists, religion has no place in the world and is, in fact, an "enemy."
But in Good Without God, Greg Epstein presents another, more balanced and inclusive response: Humanism. With a focus on the positive, he highlights humanity's potential for goodness and the ways in which Humanists lead lives of purpose and compassion. Humanism can offer the sense of community we want and often need in good times and bad, as we celebrate marriages and the birth of our children, and as we care for those who are elderly or sick. In short, Humanism teaches us that we can lead good and moral lives without supernaturalism, without higher powers ... without God.
In this constructive response not only to his fellow atheists Richard Dawkins, Christopher Hitchens, and Sam Harris but also to contemporary religious leaders such as Rick Warren and Jim Wallis, Epstein makes a bold claim for what nonbelievers do share and believe. At a time when the debate about morality rages more fiercely than ever—and when millions are searching for something they can put their faith in—Humanism offers a comfort and hope that affirms our ability to live ethical lives of personal fulfillment, aspiring together for the greater good of all.

Wolf at the Table: A Memoir of My Father by Augusten Burroughs

“As a little boy, I had a dream that my father had taken me to the woods where there was a dead body. He buried it and told me I must never tell. It was the only thing we’d ever done together as father and son, and I promised not to tell. But unlike most dreams, the memory of this one never left me. And sometimes…I wasn’t altogether sure about one thing: was it just a dream?”When Augusten Burroughs was small, his father was a shadowy presence in his life: a form on the stairs, a cough from the basement, a silent figure smoking a cigarette in the dark. As Augusten grew older, something sinister within his father began to unfurl. Something dark and secretive that could not be named. Betrayal after shocking betrayal ensued, and Augusten’s childhood was over. The kind of father he wanted didn’t exist for him. This father was distant, aloof, uninterested…And then the “games” began. With A Wolf at the Table, Augusten Burroughs makes a quantum leap into untapped emotional terrain: the radical pendulum swing between love and hate, the unspeakably terrifying relationship between father and son. Told with scorching honesty and penetrating insight, it is a story for anyone who has ever longed for unconditional love from a parent. Though harrowing and brutal, A Wolf at the Table will ultimately leave you buoyed with the profound joy of simply being alive. It’s a memoir of stunning psychological cruelty and the redemptive power of hope.

With a combination of a popular novel, nonfiction, and a memoir, I'm whipping through my reading. And I'm really excited about it!

Coming up on the list:
A Lesson Before Dying By Ernest J. Gaines
Angela's Ashes By Frank McCourt
Animal, Vegetable, Miracle: A Year of Food Life By Barbara Kingsolver
Bowling Alone By Robert Putnam
The Case for God By Karen Armstrong
Cheating on the Sisterhood: Infidelity and Feminism By Lauren Rosewarne
Dreaming in Hindi By Katherine Russell Rich
The Jefferson Bible By Thomas Jefferson
Jesus : A Story of Enlightenment By Deepak Chopra
Laid: Young People's Experiences with Sex in an Easy-Access Culture By Shannon T. Boodram
Let Your Life Speak By Parker Palmer
The Prophet By Kahlil Gibran
The Purity Myth By Jessica Valenti
Religious Literacy : What Every American Needs to Know--And Doesn't By Stephen Prothero
Shattered Dreams: My Life as a Polygamist's Wife By Irene Spencer
Smashed: Story of a Drunken Girlhood By Koren Zailckas
The Spiral Staircase : My Climb out of Darkness By Karen Armstrong
The Third Jesus: The Christ We Cannot Ignore By Deepak Chopra
Three Cups of Tea By Greg Mortenson and David Oliver Relin
Wake Up : A Life of the Buddha By Jack Kerouac
You Shall Know Our Velocity By Dave Eggers

That should keep me occupied for a while! Let me know what you're reading, what you thought of the books on my list, and if you have any suggestions!

Slash It

Yesterday I came across some news about a New York City H&M that has been doing something that I think is pretty terrible. According to a  New York Times article, "at the back entrance on 35th Street, awaiting trash haulers, were bags of garments that appear to have never been worn. And to make sure that they never would be worn or sold, someone had slashed most of them with box cutters or razors, a familiar sight outside H & M’s back door."

I was pretty horrified about this. Working with Habitat, sharing property with a food pantry and a soup kitchen, and dealing with countless people looking for assistance, I'm well aware of the need in the area. I see no need for H&M to not only throw away, but deliberately ruin their unsold clothing. Donation is so simple and in the quantities available from such a large retailer, it could have an incredible impact.

But that was about it for me. I thought "How terrible!" and posted a link on Facebook, and moved on. That is, until my friend Beth read the article. I had mentioned in my post that the article made me mad, and she responded with "And it should make you mad!!!!! Thanks for posting. I know where I won't be shopping."

It was a pretty simple comment, and one that would be expected from Beth, but it caught me off guard. I know where I won't be shopping. She made it clear that she wasn't just going to say "That sucks," and let it go. She was going to do something. But she wasn't organizing a big protest. She was simply making a personal choice. She disagreed with the store's practices, so she was going to stop shopping there.

It seems obvious, but how many of us actually make and stick to such choices? Nike was using Third World child labor, but people were still buying their sneakers. Walmart wreaks havoc on the global economy, but so many of us still shop there. And H&M has some really awesome stuff, so I'm sure that even the majority of the people who have come across this story will continue to shop there.

But I won't. It's a small impact, I know. One that the corporation won't even feel. But it's not about them. It's about me. This year I want to be more conscious of my own actions, to do things with intention and purpose. It might not be easy, and it will take some self control, but for the time being I'll be staying away from H&M because I can and I think I should. And I want to.

I Resolve

1. No more Road Raging.
I get really angry while driving. I mean, I do all of my driving here, on Long Island, where people drive like crazy nutters, so it's not really all that surprising. But it's really not worth getting so worked up over. I've noticed that when I take the time to yell and gesticulate about the guy who just cut me off, it ruins my mood and puts me in a really negative mindset that I have trouble getting off of. So instead I'll just sigh and let it go. Unless someone's life is in danger, it's all okay.

2. No more texting while driving.
I'm really guilty of this one. I didn't start doing it until a few months ago, and I'm pretty good at watching both the phone and the road. I've never even come close to being in a dangerous situation because of it. But I think that has a lot to do with luck. Also, I think that texting while driving should be illegal, so on principle, I'm going to stop.

3. Staying out of Walmart.
I am well aware of the terrible effect of Walmart on our global economy, and I never used to shop there because there weren't any around. But now I live directly across the street from one, and I find myself popping in out of convenience. That's no good. I can drive the extra ten minutes to Target.

4. Blogging more.
I have so many good ideas and topics to blog about! I just keep putting them off, telling myself I'll type it up later...and then I feel like it's no longer relevant. My new goal is to follow up on my ideas as soon as I can, and to be more regular with my updates.

5. Being more conscious of what I eat.
I've been a vegetarian for a little more than a month now. I've been a veggie before, but it's never really lasted long. I tend to eat mostly vegetarian food anyway, but I do still like some meat dishes. Every once in a while I think that meat is pretty gross and don't want to be eating it, and I end up sticking with vegetarianism for a month or so. Right now I'm doing well without the meat, but I'm not promising to stick to that. I am promising to realize what I'm ingesting and why.

6. Rolling with the punches.
I'm a planner. I like to know what's going on and how it's all going to happen. I'm a list queen. But it got to the point where I was getting anxious and/or angry when things were deviating from the plan or chaotic in general. I realized that I can't take myself so seriously. Things are probably going to work out just fine without me freaking out about it. Of course I still like to know where I'm going and how to get there, but I don't want to let all of those Murphy's Law occurrences ruin my fun.

7. Reading.
I used to read like a fiend, and then when I went to college I found that I didn't have any time for pleasure reading. During my four years at SU the only thing I read besides my text books was Harry Potter. I have a huge stack of books that I really want to read, but I never seem to get around to them. I want to make more time for reading. I want to make the decision to read one of my books rather than watching something on Hulu.

Gleetastic!

Inspired by this post, I wanted to post my top ten favorite performances on Glee during this first half of the first season.  The list actually features a dozen numbers, but I'm okay with that.

Honorable Mention. "Single Ladies" from "Preggers"




The cast doesn't actually sing this song, so I don't want to include it in my top ten, but it definitely deserves a shout out because it is just plain fabulous.  Kurt rocks that dance better than any YouTuber and Tina and Brittany make for some fabulous backup girls.  Plus, this dance leads to Kurt "auditioning" for the football team and the delicious scene where the jocks do the dance out on the field in the middle of a game.

10. "Jump" from Mattress



Come on, don't you wish you and your 11 best friends got to wear comfy pajamas, jump around on giant mattresses, sing a fun song, and be on tv?  Because I most certainly do.  This one makes the list just because it's probably the most awesome thing to happen in those kids' lives!

9. "Endless Love" from "Ballad


If only because Mr. Schuster's facial expressions are totally priceless, this duet needs to be on the list.

8. "Push It" from Showmance



Hot damn!  That is one scandalous number!  The Glee kids performed this at a school assembly in an attempt to get some new members.  Definitely a better option than Mr. Schuster's choice of "Le Freak."  To be honest, that's probably a little more raunchy than I would have been comfortable with performing, but kudos to the club for doing what they thought needed to be done for the survival of their group.

7. "Bust Your Windows" from Acafellas




I would venture to say that this is Glee's most get it number.  Mercedes totally rocks it with her belting, her moves, and an overall sense of fierceness.

6. "Keep Holding On" from Throwdown




I think this was the first tear-jerker of the season.  In fact, I teared up watching this number as a preview on Hulu before the episode even aired.  It was an incredibly emotional hour: Finn struggles with his waffling feelings for Quinn and Rachel, the drama increases between Will and Terry at their fake OB/GYN appointment, and Quinn's pregnancy is revealed to the entire school.  The culmination of the episode with this number was very intense.  Even the choreography lends itself to displaying the Quinn-Finn-Rachel love triangle.  Quinn's tearful sigh, closing out not only the song but the episode, leaves you thrilled to see how the story unfolds.  

5. "Ride With Me" from Throwdown



I picked this one for the nostalgia factor.  Some of my favorite memories from high school are of just hanging out with my friends around the piano and belting out some good tunes.  This number really displays the true essence of Glee Club: it's fun!
 
4. "Lean on Me" from Ballad



The "aww" factor in this number just can't be ignored.  It's incredible the way this group of a dozen misfits bands together to take care of each other.

3. "Proud Mary" from Wheels


This one is just all around amazing.  The lyrics are meaningful, especiallly for this group that's just trying to keep it all together.  The vocals are incredible, and it's awesome that Artie, Mercedes, and Tina get to take the lead on this one.  And,  best of all, they are all in wheel chairs!  The choreography in this number is probably ten times better than anything they've ever done on their feet. 

2. "Halo/Walking on Sunshine" and "It's My Life/Confessions Pt II" from Vitamin D






I couldn't decide between these two, so they are tied for second.  Vitamin D was probably my favorite episode because everyone was acting so nutty, and the resulting numbers were absolutely incredible.  I don't even like "Halo" but the girls' rendition is stellar, especially in combination with the cheeriness of "Walking on Sunshine."  Plus I love the adorable yellow dresses!

The boys' number is kickass!  While Finn does look like a crazed maniac because he's hopped up on Pseudoephedrine, it's totally made up for by banging moves of Other Asian (Did you know his name is Mike Chang?) and Artie's smooth stylings.

1. "Dancing With Myself" from Wheels



It's no secret that Artie is my favorite character.  I definitely think that his brand of awkward is the most endearing.  On top of that his voice is awesome, and his looks are not too shabby either.  I absolutely loved this Artie-centric episode which offered hilarity in the form of juicy discoveries in addition to a lesson about maintaining a sense of community duty.  Artie's solo is really touching, pushing a formerly background character into the spotlight, and giving us cause to root for him instead of just cringing when he gets shoved in a porta potty. Plus this is the first glimpse we get at one of my favorite ships, Artie and Tina. Super special bonus: This was the first time I noticed that Artie's wheels light up, à la L.A. Lights, when he rolls around.

Renewal

One of the sad realities of Habitat for Humanity is that sometimes families are unable to stay in their homes.  Sometimes life circumstances get the best of them and they can no longer afford the mortgage.  Sometimes they choose to stop making payments.  At our affiliate, these former Habitat homes are typically cleaned up and rehabbed a little bit before being sold, but recently the decision was made to rehab one for a new Habitat family.

It was our first time doing that, and from a Family Services standpoint, we weren't quite sure how to go about it.  At our affiliate the wallraising and the key ceremony are the two most important days for our family.  But since this house already had walls, we needed to think of a new way to make it special.

I came up with the name: Renewal. It's only one word, but it carries so much in its meaning and connotation.  It definitely set the stage for a good event.

At wallraisings, volunteers typically write their sentiments on the studs.  We didn't have exposed studs, but we still wanted to give people the opportunity to leave special messages for the family.  We decided to roll with the season, and brought a small fir tree with ornaments that people could write on.  It looked cute, was perfect for December, and will certainly be special when the family gets to plant it in their yard.

But the best part of this Renewal was most definitely the family.  They are the most gracious couple I have ever had the pleasure of meeting.  Both husband and wife come from very humble backgrounds and could not be more thankful that they are receiving the opportunity to be homeowners.

From the moment she stepped onto the site Antonia was squealing with joy, hugging everyone in sight and exclaiming about how perfect everything was going to be.  Robert stood in more quiet contemplation, soaking it all in.  When we started, Robert offered the opening prayer, repeatedly voicing his gratefulness that the people of Habitat exist and work hard daily to make home ownership a reality for low income families. 

It's so interesting to me to see how different homesteaders react emotionally to the Habitat process.

There are tears, there are smiles.  Some are talkative, some can't find the right words.  The common thread is that they are all thankful, but the pure joy displayed by Antonia and Robert was definitely my favorite Habitat aura thus far.  Their presence at their Renewal certainly helped to renew my dedication to my service this year.

Stick it to Stupak

As a young American, the health care bill is really important to me.  As someone who is currently dealing with no longer being covered by my parents' insurance policies and trying to figure out my own, the health care bill is really important to me.  As a woman who cares about having control over my own body , the health care bill is really important to me.

There are so many issues at hand with this health care bill.  Our lives are literally on the line, so it is no wonder that people are scared and worried.  It's especially scary because it's just not feasible for the average citizen to wrap his or her mind around the entirety of this bill, no way to read every page and provision, no way to understand every proposed amendment.

Still, several issues have managed to make their way to the forefront because of their partisan and controversial nature.  I am not registered with an political party because I am unable to align myself enough with any one to justify doing that, but I am very sure of my thoughts on many of the issues being currently discussed by our Senators today.

When the bill went through Congress, Congressmen Stupak (D-MI) introduced an amendment that was subsequently accepted by Congress.  To overgeneralize, this amendment bans any coverage of abortion in the public option and also stops those who receive a federal subsidy from getting an insurance plan that covers abortion.  What it comes down to is a huge, likely impossible, hurdle for many women to get an abortion in America.  Is that fair?  Me thinks no.

So I decided to do something about it.  I, like many people, am often angered by the actions of our politicians.  I talk about what I wish Congresswoman Soandso had done or how I wish Senator Fillintheblank had voted.  But I, like most people, never told my Congressperson or Senator that.  I came to realize today that this was silly and Senators Gillibrand and Schumer should know exactly what I thought about Stupak and his ideas.

I was super nervous at first, but I called the general operator that can connect you with any Congressional office.  She told me that the line at Senator Gillibrand's office was busy but offered me the direct number so I could call myself, and then proceeded to also give me the number for Senator Schumer.  This woman was totally awesome and, without actually saying it, totally encouraged me to continue on my mission.

I called Gillibrand first because I knew that she is very set on preventing Stupak-esque language from entering this health care bill.  I was put on hold and after a few minutes a young sounding aide answered and listened to me talk about how this health care bill is really important to me as a young American woman and he assured me that the Senator is working hard to make sure my voice and opinion is heard, at which point I asked him to thank her and wished him a great day.  Not only was it easy, it was super exciting!  When I put down the phone I had such a rush!

Unfortunately, Senator Schumer's office had a busy signal that I could not get past even though I called repeatedly throughout the day.  Still, I am happy that I did something rather than sitting idly by, hoping Congress does not take away my reproductive rights.