Right now I cannot tell you how very excited I am about the MANY things in the works all around me. Lately, people have come into my life who inspire me greatly and have once again renewed my belief in creating amazing change in the world. During the past two weeks my family has been blessed with the presence of an incredible child from Taiwan. Sweet Oliver was only here for 15 days. He left yesterday to go back home to his family in Taiwan, though truth be told I would have loved him to just stay here with us forever. I was definitely doing the “Ugly Cry” as I drove away from that airport.
He was a perfect match with our family and our children. He taught us many many things about ourselves, our family unit and each other. I am so excited to see what transpires with this new relationship over the years. As my “wise beyond his years” son Cameron said to me yesterday while leaving the airport, “Don’t be sad Mom. Remember, this is only the beginning of our journey with Oliver.” He was so right and that statement was so true.
I have also been more than inspired by a local physician here in the Tri-City Area, Dr. Dree Stryker. Let me tell you folks, this woman and her passion give me something to shoot for. Not only does she have PASSION for helping others but perhaps the THING I LOVE MOST about her is that she puts her thoughts, goals and passion into ACTION. She has helped build schools, clinics and sustained health care in Haiti and Nigeria over the past several years. She has taken her children with her so that they too could be a part of giving back and helping others much less fortunate. Lots of us sit around and blog great ideas for helping our community and our world. Lots of us sit around cooking dinner and drinking wine with friends and discuss going to India, Haiti or Africa and creating change abroad. Lots of us try to figure out how we can truly make a difference both here in America and all across the globe. However, few tend to put it into action. Dree just returned home last night from Haiti and although she was exhausted, covered in hundreds of mosquito bites and her body was crying out for sleep, she called another team meeting and shared some of the unbelievable experiences from her journey. I am still buzzing with excitement at being a part of this group.
THIS TEAM, this INCREDIBLE team of people is going to knock your socks off. Much much more to come on that later. For now, just knowing that I am surrounded by the greatness and many gifts of others is a natural high that is indescribable. I cannot wait to join them in Haiti. I cannot wait to cuddle and bless the children. I cannot wait to help rebuild. I cannot wait to pitch in where I am needed. I cannot wait to photograph them and I cannot wait to put my camera in the hands of these children so that they can capture their world as they see it. But, MOST OF ALL, I cannot wait to “BE A PART OF SOMETHING GREATER THAN MYSELF.”
Much Much More to come on Dr. Dree Stryker and the amazing team of people she continues to put together. I cannot wait to share.
For now, I will share some images of my Sweet Oliver Li. He was funny, crazy intelligent, willing to try anything new and just SO EXCITED to be here and have this opportunity. We already miss you Oliver. Skype us soon!
ENJOY!
~N
by Nichol Krupp
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