It’s February [of course] and many associate the month of February with love. We inadvertently fell into the love trap this month as well. Sorry!  But I promise, not in a gushy, St. Valentine’s sort of way...no Hallmark moments running amuck. Instead attribute’s writers somehow decided to focus on “loving thyself”: From comparing yourself to, or envying others, to loving yourself enough NOT to take the baggage accumulated during your 20’s with you into your 30’s, even buying diamonds from a company that protects the people mining them and the earth, to loving people in general. You’ll see, there are many forms of love...choose one or all.

Today is January 15th, 2010.  On Tuesday, January 12th a major earthquake hit the island nation of Haiti.  I wouldn't normally write an update on this section, mid-month, but this is so close in many ways.  I live in Southwest Florida--Haiti is closer to me than driving to Orlando.  There is also a huge Haitian population across South Florida.

You do not know this about me but I have a huge heart for children.  I cannot handle seeing a child suffer, do without or knowing they do not have parents.  And, knowing the already large number of parentless children that exist in Haiti has been added to (under the circumstance), is breaking my heart.  In addition to this, and the fact that the orphanages in and around Port au Prince are in crumbles, is the fact that the government building which housed the government run adoption agency and all the paperwork for adoptions in process and all the legal documents for all the children, are now destroyed; the agents working the cases are, sadly, under the rubble as well.  This is so concerning.

The first thing I put out on our social networks after all this occurred was "please pray for the people of Haiti...especially the children." I was watching our local news earlier tonight and a young local Haitian boy was asked what he felt was the biggest need for his home country. His response, "they need prayer because it will lift them up."  Amazing! And heartfelt. As you are considering whether or not to donate to the relief funds...please don't forget that there is one completely free thing you can do for the people of Haiti...pray for them.

Thank you and God bless!

Stacey Louiso