Category: Holiday

A Belated Merry Christmas and Happy New Year

by billy, posted in Holiday, Reflection

Well, 2018 was a full year, and largely it was a year with very little blogging or writing. I’m hoping to change that in 2019, and that includes sharing a few posts in the weeks ahead that I had hoped to share in the past.

The year was incredibly full for us as we witnessed our daughter growing and celebrating her second year of life on the earth. We spent a little less than half the year on the move, and had the privilege of seeing many old friends and making some new ones along the way.

And wow, were there some amazing moments in 2018! In February, I witnessed Jamie share her story of why she is so passionate about addressing extreme poverty…with leaders from all over the world who are part of the ONE campaign started by Bono. Jamie addressed a crowd of more than 200 leaders, and as she shared her story it was truly inspiring. I wept with joy and pride as I heard her share her passion in front of such a large crowd of leaders.

In April we took our first extended international vacation with Sylvia. Nuru was invited to participate in the Skoll World Forum in Oxford, and so Jamie and Sylvia traveled with me and we planned a little European vacation on the heels of the forum. We spent time in Paris, London, and Amsterdam, and were able to see some friends in Amsterdam along the way too! And, Sylvia ran all over the Gardens of Versailles while we were in Paris. Such fun times!

Lots more traveling took place throughout the year, and we were incredibly grateful to be able to connect with friends in Boston, San Francisco, Chicago, DC, Columbus, Portland, and Denver among other places.

Jamie and I have both had the blessing of being able to work helping people. Jamie has continued working at HealthWorks supporting patients in aquatic rehabilitation and leading aquatic fitness classes as well.  In addition, she has been moving forward with ONE, and was instrumental in getting others around our state involved with the movement.

We continue working to inspire others in confronting the crisis of extreme poverty and joining our efforts at Nuru. This year, Nuru was able to exit its second country project, and as an organization, we celebrated ten years of changing lives in remote, rural areas.

We also completed another Marine Corps Marathon this year. This time, Jamie’s dad joined us too! Honestly, if it had not been for his accountability for us, I’m afraid our training would have been hijacked by our travel this year. At sixty-two, Jamie’s dad nailed a bucket list project, and it was pretty awesome that he and Jamie were able to finish the race side-by-side.

And of course, we have been enjoying every day with Sylvia in our life. She is such a precious gift, and it has been wonderful to witness her growth and development. She has seen more of the world than either Jamie or I had ever dreamed of seeing in all of our years growing up. And she spreads joy everywhere she goes. Right now, a few of her favorite things include Pitzi (Pizza), Moana, and eating gummy snacks that Pa (my dad) supplies to her.

But the year wasn’t all fun times. In March, I had laser vein ablation surgery done on my left leg. It was a problem that I had honestly hoped would clear up with exercise and dietary changes. Not that I have ever been incredibly unhealthy, but I just hoped that making some changes would do the trick. Unfortunately, my physician and the specialist I saw told me that’s not exactly how these things work, but that I was “a good candidate for surgery.” I always knew I had potential 😉 The surgery has helped clear up a massive protrusion of veins in my calf, and I have significantly reduced swelling in my left leg and ankle as a result, and now, a few months away from the surgery, I’m getting stronger and I’m moving better too!

If there were one word to describe this last year, I think I would choose the word “full.” The year was full of blessings and unexpected gifts and joys, and honestly, I think if we look closely at every year, we will witness something similar. Each year has its own fulness, but our Creator equips us with everything we need to overcome and to thrive.

As we wind up 2018 and look toward 2019, I’m praying that you will be able to take some time to consider just how full your year was as well, and that you will savor that fullness in the year ahead. Thanks so much for being part of our lives and part of the adventure we have been called to! May you experience fullness in all that you do!

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year

by billy, posted in Holiday, Reflection, Uncategorized

 

“But Mary treasured up all these things, pondering them in her heart.”~Luke 2:19

Well, 2017 is nearly over, and it has been quite a whirlwind. Every year, I strive to write some kind of retrospective on the year. Sometimes it makes an appearance in a Christmas letter, and other times it ends up being a blog post (which have declined in frequency in general in 2017—sorry!) to be shared online.

Where to begin? We have been witness to incredible blessings in 2017. God gave us the incredible joy of watching our daughter grow and explore this beautiful world. Sylvia’s birth and growth have definitely shifted our daily rhythms. We explore more, and we try to savor the little things a bit more than we probably have in the past. It has been amazing to see this little girl grow and learn and gaze upon the world with wide-eyed wonder, and fill her little heart with love, goodness, and discovery. She really brings out the best in everyone she comes in contact with, and that is a beautiful gift.IMG_2570

We were on the move a lot this year as well. Sylvia now has 26 states under her belt, she

has explored five national parks, and has been on 30 flights. She (and we) have been diligent to be outside together for an average of an hour a day, and we go on almost daily walks together. There’s a 3.3 mile loop near our house that has become our walking/running circuit when we are home, so I guess we are always ready for a 5K walk/run. 😉 I also worked to be more disciplined about taking vacation this year (I’m terrible at it but improving), and we were able to see some amazing sights during our travels; including sunrise in Glacier National Park. Sylvia also dipped her feet in both the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans during her first year of life too! One of my biggest joys with Sylvia this year had to be walking into our garden together, picking tomatoes off the vine, and sitting in our yard and eating them. Often the most joyful moments are the simple ones.

IMG_3047I finished a one year program for nonprofit leaders at Harvard’s Kennedy School of Government in May, and was invited back to campus this past fall to contribute to the learning of the incoming class.  I also accepted an invitation to become a member of Forbes Coaches Council and have contributed to a handful of articles online. In addition, we are continuing to expand our impact at Nuru. It’s hard to believe it has been 10 years since Jake and I first met up to discuss his idea for addressing extreme poverty in some of the toughest places on earth, and, thanks to your support, Nuru is now in three countries and has gone from an idea to an organization benefitting more than 120,000 people.

IMG_2736Jamie started back to work at Healthworks in February after her maternity leave. She’s an incredibly gifted and compassionate aquatic rehabilitation therapist, and it is a delight to see her serve so many and help people improve their wellbeing as she works with them in the pool. She has continued serving as a Congressional District Leader for the ONE Campaign (Bono’s poverty fighting advocacy organization) and during the ONE Summit this February worlds collided as she introduced the keynote for the event, Jake Harriman, CEO and Founder of Nuru International! When she’s not fighting poverty or improving lives at Healthworks, she’s caring so sweetly for our little girl!

Our hearts have been so full this year. My mind is flooded with details around memories throughout the year that I just can’t fit into a short letter. There has been so much goodness we have been able to savor, so much to be grateful to God for. Our friendship with you sits at the top of that list. We have been so privileged to have wonderful people like you in our life; praying for us, encouraging us, laughing with us, and shaping new memories with us.

My prayer is that 2018 will find each of us celebrating the little blessings that make appearances in our lives each day, and that we will grow in our gratitude, our generosity, and our care for one another. May we each do our part to love well in a world that could use more love, more grace, and more peace. And, like Mary in the Gospels, may each of us treasure up the stories and memories we are sharing and creating, pondering them in our hearts.DSC_0300

Merry Christmas and have a happy new year!

Reflection: Veterans Day 2017

by billy, posted in Holiday, People, Reflection

Each year on or around Veterans Day (and many other holidays) I like to pause to reflect on the day–its meaning and how and why the day is observed in our culture. Since the advent of social media, Veterans Day in particular becomes a day for a collective pause. I see updated profile photos of many of my friends as they take time to remember with pride their own time of service and the people they had the opportunity to serve with. Families take time to remember and honor their relatives who made commitments of service to this country. For those who have retired, who are no longer alive, and for those who are still serving, the rest of the nation turns its eyes, thoughts, and attention to the incredible acts of service of these men and women.

Over the course of my adult life, I have had the privilege of serving in various roles with and learning from many veterans. First and foremost would likely be my Uncle Bill. who served in the Army long before I was ever born. My Uncle Bill has always demonstrated the value of serving others first. He and his late wife always practiced hospitality and generosity when we would visit his house, and even today, I know that none of his family or friends ever lack when their is a need. When I go back home, I always strive to make time to visit him and listen to the amazing stories of service and witness the example of this 82 year old relative.

In addition to Uncle Bill, another veteran I had the privilege of learning from and being mentored by was the late Chief of my tribe, Joseph Raincrow Neale. Okima (which I always called him out of respect). He served in the US Navy during WWII, and was not only an incredible spiritual leader and mentor, but was a wonderful role model with regard to service, discipline, respect, and honor. He was hard but fair, stern but compassionate, and resolute but gracious. He taught me much about what it means to give of one’s self and to never relent when it comes to hard work. He also demonstrated one of the most wonderful relationships with Jesus that I had ever seen. He set the standard for what it means to be a human being. He was a real human being.

And over the last ten years or so I’ve had the privilege of working directly with a friend of mine from my freshman year of college, a fellow West Virginian, who felt a strong call to serve, transferred from WVU to the United States Naval Academy, and served as a Force Reconnaissance Marine before launching an organization dedicated to eradicating extreme poverty and making this world more stable and safe for everyone, Nuru International. Jake has done an incredible job of bringing together a team from both the civilian and veteran community who are fiercely committed to servant leadership and bringing meaningful choices to our global neighbors.

Across every area of my life, I have had the privilege of rubbing shoulders with a number of veteran men and women, and I am constantly impressed with the discipline, courage, commitment, and tenacity that each one of them continues to bring into their daily lives. Whether it is my friend Marta who recently transitioned out and is looking for new opportunities to serve, my friend Raphael who is steadily reminding fellow Americans that their citizenship demands service, or my friend Matt who works two jobs to support his family and provide a future of hard fought freedom for his children, they each continue to bring a steadfast and resilient commitment to service and overcoming challenges into every area of their life–and exhorting others to do the same.

On Veterans Day, we remember the fallen, those who are still down range, and those who have transitioned into so-called ‘normal’ life. Businesses and individuals offer their thanks for service and applause for sacrifices that only a small percentage are willing and able to make, but I wonder if there is a stronger and more meaningful gesture. What if more of this world operated by a code of honor? What if more men and women chose to live their lives with an others first mentality? What if we chose sacrifice-over self indulgence? What if we chose to emulate the example of those few who have set aside their own comfort for the sake of their fellow humans? To me, I feel like that would be the best gesture of gratitude that could be bestowed upon those who have served, those who have fallen, and those who are still down range. In fact, earlier today, my friend Jake actually mentioned a similar idea via social media, “Look the veteran you care for the most in the eye and tell him or her that you won’t let his or her sacrifice be for nothing.”

May we each aspire to live courageous lives of sacrifice, service, courage, and commitment, and may we demonstrate honor and respect as we seek to build a better world, together.