monique

Gotta love the wonders of the internet.

You've read in previous posts about a woman from the Netherlands who discovered the story of hearing impaired Moses (on this very blog) and who made it possible for him for receive donated hearing aids.

This same woman, Monique, will be traveling to the orphanage later this month! After a flurry of emails, some q & a, and the ironing out of some logistics, Monique will be spending her holiday (late July to late August) teaching music to the children at St. Mary Kevin. How lucky they are. How lucky she is!

It's time to introduce this special woman. I have never met her; we've only communicated online. But already she is a member of the Change the Truth family, and soon enough she will undoubtedly navigate her way into the hearts of the kids at SMK. Monique will not only help begin to teach the marching band members how to read music, she will introduce the recorder to younger kids, she will introduce her beloved saxophone to the band, and she will (if she can find a big enough box!) also introduce the tuba. She will also give the keyboard CTT purchased a good workout.

August will be the month of music at SMK. I am so grateful that Monique found us. There will be much more to come as she begins her month-long adventure - but for now - please meet Monique:

"Hi, my name is Monique Udo and I live in Amsterdam, the Netherlands. I am a saxophone player and music teacher and the last 10 years I have dedicated myself more and more to music projects with children who grow up in less privileged circumstances.

I have worked in so called ‘black schools’ and with children in a centre for asylum seekers. It was there that I met very gifted children with a hunger for expressing themselves through music and dance. I loved working with them and started to realize fully how music can make a change for these children.

In December 2008 I accompanied my mother to Tulip Garden, an orphanage for children with HIV/AIDS in India. I took some flutes with me and for 10 days, I made music with the children: playing the flute, singing and drumming on buckets. After that, I knew I wanted to continue doing this. The joy that the music brought to this children and the eagerness they embraced it with was wonderful.

In 2009 I started the foundation “Muziek voor Kinderen” (Dutch for “Music for Children”). I organized a benefit concert with my Dutch pupils to raise money to buy instruments for the children in India, took a sabbatical from my job at the music school and went to Tulip Garden to stay there for four months. I bought keyboards, guitars, a saxophone, more recorders, melodica’s (blowing piano’s), and a small drum. I taught the children to play on the instruments and formed a music group of 18 children. With that group we give performances in other orphanages or hostels for children in the neighbourhood every time I’m there. I try to visit them at least once a year to keep them going. Luckily, I found a student who comes to teach keyboard every week, so now, after one year of playing the keyboard, some boys are playing the latest hits from the Indian movies!

Since I started these music projects, I’ve been searching the internet to find organizations who are doing something similar to what I’m doing. I came in contact with several organizations and orphanages where the children are brought up with music. I visited several of them and we are exchanging experiences, instruments and we help each other to realize projects.

When I came across the website of CTT during one of my surfing sessions, I immediately was very enthusiastic of what I read. I felt I would like to come over and give my share of changing the truth for the children at SMK. Soon after mailing with Gloria and Melissa it became clear to me that I would travel to Uganda in my summer holiday. From Melissa I got many good suggestions of which music activities could be done with the children so I know I will get busy over there. I’m looking forward to it!"


These are pictures from some of Monique's past projects. Soon we'll see our own kids in her photographs!

antwain

Is it possible that this is the same boy?

The answer is probably: yes and no.

Some of you may remember the slightly stubborn 11 year-old who proclaimed in front of a big crowd at the 3rd Annual CTT event that he was NOT excited about moving to Uganda. Personally, I don't remember seeing Antwain smile all that much during the moving process. It had to have been pretty overwhelming and scary.

He had to get all of his personal items into one piece of luggage. That's a lot of downsizing, especially for an American kid who has lots of things. He had to say goodbye to his friends and his family, his house, his school, Chipotle, beef jerkey, his bike, his Wii.

Antwain has been living in Uganda now for 10 months with his mom, CTT's amazing orphanage social worker and liaison. He just celebrated his 12th birthday. He has transformed from a kid to a young man in Ugandan, and I, for one, hope he writes a book about his experience one day.

Melissa wrote this about Antwain on her blog recently:

"One of Antwain’s greatest loves is playing the drums. His skills have really improved considerably since arriving in Uganda. He is confident and talented and content as he drums away to a rhythm that was I swear was born inside of him…the tall drum being his favorite to play.

As I was walking through the school the other day, I came upon an impromptu dance and drumming session with some of the children. My boy was leading the drumming troops as many girls practiced their dance movements. I could not see a trace of little boy in him at that moment, which made me a little sad but also extremely proud."

Antwain, I hope at the very least you're keeping a journal so that the book I'm hoping for is in the works!

more pics from the 4th annual ctt event

downsizing

“What are you gonna do with all your stuff?”

That’s the question most people ask right off the bat. When we tell them we are moving. When we tell them we are moving to a condo. A condo that has roughly 1600 square feet.

They swipe their arm across their forehead as if there’s sweat accumulating on the brow. They utter “whew” or “oh, man” or just shake their head. They look worried. They look worried as they look around our house. Our house that is 5500 square feet.

Eddie and I decided a couple years ago to downsize (or as some people our age like to say: rightsize). The search for a smaller place ended last month when we found what we’d been looking for: a sweet and airy two bedroom condo just north of where we live now.



We have spent the past few weeks weighing the pros and cons of holding onto certain things. Some of those things have found their way to our curb with “free to whoever wants me” status. Some have been donated to good causes, some have been tagged for storage. Over the course of the next few months, some things will be sold, more given away. A lot of our things have sentimental value, of course, and they are the things that will move with us to our new home.

One of the lessons I have learned from my trips to Uganda has been this: they are just things, and we will be perfectly happy to have fewer of them.

(Yes, I will have to keep repeating my new mantra as I sort through our stuff. Repeat. Wipe the sweat that has accumulated on my own brow. Sort. Repeat.)

It’s exciting and kind of liberating, though, to step into this next chapter of our lives.

Stuff: beware!

sam-dog

I think Sam must have heard us. Or at least sensed the vibe. (Since he can hardly hear, the latter is more probable.)

A few weeks ago, Eddie and I were having a certain conversation about our dog that we could never have about a human family member. You know, the one that includes words like "put" and "down".

Sam was bumping into chairs and tables, cabinets and door jambs. He tumbled off the bed a couple times and even fell down a flight of stairs. He couldn't hear us when we called him. He had trouble walking. He was having a lot of accidents in the house. He was, well, acting his age. In August, he will be 17.

(That's 119.)

We had decided not to take him to the groomer anymore. That experience was getting to be pure torture for him, and we have been trying to make his golden years as comfortable as possible. But with the heat of summer bearing down, we finally gave him a Xanax and subjected him to the scissors. His long lock and curls were replaced with a crew cut.



He came home looking like a pup.

Maybe we started treating him differently? I don't know, but suddenly he didn't bump into stuff as much (had it been the hair hanging down over his eyes?) He started to seem a little more perky.

A few weeks later, and I swear... he actually has a little spring in his step! We took him to the vet for a check-up and were told that his heart is strong, his kidney and liver are functioning well, and in spite of the fact that his vision and hearing are severely impaired, he has some muscle atrophy in his hind legs and there are a couple skin tumors on his haunches, he was pronounced "engaged and curious" just like a youthful dog would be.

They say Bichons believe they are cats. Maybe the nine lives thing is part of the gig?

Whatever the case may be, Sam has sort of sprung back to life. He still sleeps through most of the day and has stiff legs when we wake him for his walks, but when he is up and around, he seems to be telling us, "hey, I'm not so sure I liked that conversation you were having about me a few weeks ago."

More power to you, Sam-dog. We are listening. And we are amazed and in awe of you.

[These beautiful photos were taken by Max, who happened to be in Kansas City when the crew cut occurred.]

working

I am working on a commission for KU Hospital. The challenge is to portray the flavor of the 39th Street neighborhood. So that's where I've been hanging out lately. It's a fun project because of the free reign I have, and because I am finally using my new camera. Yay! The finished installation will consist of three panels that are 12" high and 80" long. Here are some of the images I've been making for the piece. They are a departure from what I normally do; that makes it a nice challenge.

a very good photo by a very good sister

This has got to be one of my favorite pictures ever. It was taken this past weekend by my sister.

Eddie and I wanted to show her the Bloch Building at the Nelson-Atkins Museum. We didn't make it over there during the day on Sunday, which was our original plan, but we did go later that evening. Eddie and I walked on ahead, up the hill toward one of the five freestanding “lenses” that emerge from the ground. Bobbie stayed back, walking more slowly. She glanced up and saw us holding hands as we walked toward the light of the lens. She whipped out her iPhone and took this picture with her Hipstamatic application.

It was such a nice surprise! I love it.

installation shots and some shoutouts

The CTT Friendraiser/Fundraiser was a success due in large part to the help of about 30 volunteers and the attendance of approximately 400 supporters.

From the registration table all the way through checkout, kids and adults alike gave their time and energy to make sure the evening turned out well. I can’t thank these generous and hard working people enough. Special kudos to Kathy Tracy, Sondra Atherly, Jennifer Smith, Susie Corbin and Jeff Mildner for heading up their sections.

The doll artists who donated their time and talent are to be congratulated and also thanked. Most everyone who saw the show and bid on the dolls felt this was an even stronger showing than the 2010 collection.

I’d also like to thank Lynne Melcher, our filmmaker, whose movie “Changes” was a huge hit as the centerpiece of the evening. This film will be used often in future presentations,; its value to CTT is immeasurable.

My husband Eddie, my sister Bobbie and my dear friend Carol all worked hard to make sure last minute details came together and I didn’t fall apart.

And finally, to all the people who crowded into the Leedy-Voulkos Art Center to be part of our 4th annual event: webale nnyo! (thanks in Lugandan) You are what makes this whole thing work. Your generous bids and donations go a long way toward helping the children at St. Mary Kevin Orphanage. As I said in my remarks Friday night, many of you are getting to know some of the children, even if at a distance: Issy, Willy, Brian, Ivan, Douglas, Rosette and Nicky are just some of the names I hear rolling off your tongues as if you have met them. That has been my hope all along: for you to come to know these children.

We certainly celebrated them on Friday night. I hope they felt all the love streaming in their direction.











THANK YOU ALL FOR BEING A DOLL!!

first installment of pics from ctt event!

Great pictures by CTT's good friend Michael Spillers.

team reunion

Pictures and details about the fantastic, stupendous 4th annual Change the Truth Friendraiser/Fundraiser will be posted soon. In the meantime, I wanted to share this picture that was taken at our team reunion Saturday afternoon. It's always great fun to be together again. I love these people so much.

Front row from left to right:

Eddie Feinstein, Suzanne Garr, Jeff Mildner, (me), Avis Smith, Jane Voorhees

Back row:

Jennifer Smith, Emily Collins, Carol Joseph, Lynne Melcher, David Muhammed

"changes"

That's the title of the new Change the Truth movie, which will have its first screening tomorrow night at the Friendraiser/Fundraiser. Be sure you're there by 8:00 for the 8:05 showing. The film is only 14 minutes long, but in it Lynne Melcher (cinematographer, producer and editor) manages to splendidly tell the story of the children and how they have been helped thus far by CTT.

Lynne has once again created a magnificent film. It's moving, informative, sweet and beautiful. I got to shoot some footage for it since Lynne did not go to the orphanage this past year. I used my Canon 5D, and though I was and still am a raw beginner, it was great fun to play filmmaker for a little while. Lynne has set the film to great music, the script is crisp and the editing is really impressive.

I hope you'll get to watch it tomorrow night. If you can't make it and would like to order a copy, please let me know. The DVD sells for $15.

Bravo to Lynne! CTT is incredibly lucky to have a friend like her.

I am grateful to her for pouring her heart into her fourth CTT film. I know she does it because she loves the children at St. Mary Kevin Orphanage. Could there be a better reason?