calling all cave men

February 4 @ 9:30 am - 11:30 am

Come explore what’s underneath the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center with your tween and learn about the cave environment that is the Edwards Aquifer. Squeeze through a tight passage as you experience the path water follows as it travels underground and encounter the crawly critters that call the cave home. Registration is required and space is limited; register here. $15.00 per adult, $10.00 per child (scholarships available)

re-enactment in Fort Dobbs NC

Fort Dobbs State Historic Site at 438 Fort Dobbs Road in Statesville will present a free program on musket and cannon firing and 18th century military camp life 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Feb. 27 and 10 a.m.-3 p.m. Feb. 28.

Fort Dobbs and local settlers were attacked by dozens of warriors during the Anglo-Cherokee War on Feb. 27, 1760. The 256th anniversary program will feature living history interpreters portraying provincial solders and settlers. A special evening musket firing demonstration also will be held at 6:30 p.m. Feb. 27. Details: 704-873-5882 or visit www.fortdobbs.org.

Celebrate African-American history

“Preserve the Family,” a program featuring the Stinson, Grier and Nelson families, will be presented 2:30-5 p.m. Feb. 27 at Cornelius town hall.
As part of the Cornelius Black History Month celebration, the program will feature memorabilia, live performances, children’s activities and refreshments. Admission is free, and the program is open to the public in collaboration with the Smithville Community Coaltion.
The Cornelius Arts Center also will host a Black History Month Art Party. Students of all ages can enjoy free arts and crafts projects inspired by famous African-Americans.

Car show

Sons of the American Legion Post 321 and Huntersville Parks & Recreation will sponsor a Top Deck Car Show 9 a.m.-1 p.m. March 19 on the top deck of the Town Center parking garage.
All makes, models and years are welcome. Award categories include Best in Show, Best in Show Car, Top 3 Car, Best in Show Truck and Top 3 Truck. Registration is $10 per vehicle, and preregistration is required at www.huntersville.org/parks or in person at 105 Gilead Road on the third floor. Registration closes at 5 p.m. March 11.

Read more here: http://www.charlotteobserver.com/news/local/community/lake-norman-mooresville/article61083782.html#storylink=cpy

Read more here: http://www.charlotteobserver.com/news/local/community/lake-norman-mooresville/article61083782.html#storylink=cpy

Colorado Career Fairs

Thursday, January 26, 2017, 11am – 2pm

Embassy Suites 4444 Havana Street Denver, CO 80239 What to expect... You'll meet face-to-face with hiring decision-makers from some of the areas top employers. Dress professionally and bring plenty of resumes, because they're here to hire. Walk in and start interviewing, it's that simple. Save time,… https://choicecareerfairs.com/b/denver https://www.colorado.gov/pacific/cdle/jobfairs-events https://www.eventbrite.com/d/co--denver/job-fairs/ http://jobfairsin.com/colorado

Military Hiring Fair

Hiring Our Heroes Military Hiring Fair Monday, March 20, 2017 9:30AM – 2PM Toyota Center 1510 Polk St. Houston, TX 77002 Register at www.HiringOurHeroes.org

THE GREATER AUSTIN CAREER FAIR
Tuesday, January 31, 2017
11:00am to 2:00pm
Norris Conference Center
2525 W Anderson Ln
Austin, TX 78757

MEET FACE TO FACE WITH SOME OF THE BEST EMPLOYERS IN GREATER AUSTIN...

POSITIONS WILL BE AVAILABLE IN: Accounting, Administrative, Customer Service, Engineering, Financial Services, Food Services, Healthcare, Home Improvement, IT, Management, Manufacturing, Retail, Sales, Transportation/Drivers, Warehouse and many others...

SNAP info all States

https://www.fns.usda.gov/snap/apply

Honoring a great American Hero

share your epiphany

Epiphany is a religious observation of the visit of three kings following a star that lead to the new king of the Jews. According to Matthew 2:11 they offered him gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh.

gold represents nobility
frankincense as incense in worship,
and myrrh as anointing oil.

The epiphany  of the three kings was like, wow, things are not always what we expect. You can't judge a book by the cover, we don't know what we don't know until we have our own epiphany.

I especially like Miriam Websters definition: a (1) :  a usually sudden manifestation or perception of the essential nature or meaning of something (2) :  an intuitive grasp of reality through something (as an event) usually simple and striking (3) :  an illuminating discovery, realization, or disclosure.

We, at Call Mom , indulge in epiphanies when our moms discover that no amount of pain, suffering, emotions, reasoning, logic, manipulation can will a person into being responsible. They are gone. We cut our losses, deal with what's left, like dollars and cents, get our dignity (gold) back, count our blessings of being delivered from slavery by forgiving them and ourselfs (frankincense) by receiving support (myrrh) to dress the wounds for the healing process.

We love the illuminating epiphanies after all cares of emotions have whirled away and we again have faith in Heaven on Earth.

http://www.crystalrivers.com/poetry/rumi.html

save our kids

https://changingmindsnow.org/stories

circulating and networking fun

Homeschool Meetup (free)
Jan 19, 1-2:30PM
Leander Library
512-259-5259

Culture Nights (free)
Jan 25, 6:30-8:30PM
AGE Cafeteria
http://www.austinpowwow.net/events/culture-nights/

The Thing in Grandma"s Closet ($12)
Jan 28, 2:00PM
The Long Center
http://pollyannatheatrecompany.org/

Parenting classes (english and spanish) free
6207 Sheridan Ave
http://blog.anybabycan.org/or 512-454-3743

you need a free car seat?
https://www.austintexas.gov/department/ems-community-outreach
or 512-972-7233

Diaper Bank
http://nationaldiaperbanknetwork.org/need-diapers-now/

anything else?

https://www.healthychildren.org

unable to make friends?

During a parent teacher conference my sons grade school teacher beamed on how proud she was of my son. He is so quiet and reserved, what did he do? She glowed with pride and stated emphatically that my son was the only one when not even his friends stood up for a big kid on the school ground when he was bullied. Yup that's my little dynamo. It's his DNA to get off the School bus at age 6 and instead of going home walks to a neighbors house and tells the Skoal chewing  larger than life dad, that he was mistaken when he yelled obscenities at a kid in the neighborhood because the dad did not hear the whole story.

After inquiring more about the kid my son defended, we learned a bit of family history by inviting the kid over some time later for pizza. The conclusion was, that they had moved from out of State, felt new, isolated, and had a hard time being accepted. So, what's the big deal in reaching out to the parents to help the kid? Throw someone a rope to pull themselves up. What if  it were you that needed someone in your corner? On the other hand, it is not perceived as a weakness to ask for help either.    

 for 2017 be friendly

Treasures Charity Resale Shop, Round Rock

open to the public with clothing and furniture available to clients by voucher.

• Food Pantry
• Coats for kids
• Computers for kids
• Community Gardens
• Computer skills training
• Financial Assistance
• Voucher Center

1099 E Main Street
Round Rock, TX 78664
512-244-2431

http://austincreativereuse.org/ Austin 2^nd hand craft supplies

free to the public lectures K-12

March 24, 7:00 PM, UT Welch Hall

The life and Death of Lucy (not Lucy Ball)
Forty years after researchers discovered Lucy, an early human ancestor who lived 3.2 million years ago, scientists think they now know how she died.

April 28
The Amazing World of Bees

for more info go to: http://www.esi.utexas.edu/outreach/k12-resources/

Popular Summer Camp options

YMCA (at your location) they offer financial assistance

Multicultural Camps usually offer bi-lingual immersion including customs, etiquette, music etc. relative to that country.

http://immersionisland.org/language-immersion-camps/kids-camps

http://www.asianamericancc.com/activities.htm

Camp Agape for 7-12 year olds who suffered the loss of a loved one (free) TX

http://www.campagapetexas.org/contact-us/

bocc@brentwoodoaks.org

or

visit the free Camp Fair Sat. Jan 21^st at the Palmer Events Center where you can gather information from over 100 local and national camps for your child 3-18. You can enter to win a free camp as well while there.

leaving 2016 in the dust

While reviewing the Call Mom journey from our humble beginnings 10 some years ago we are in blissful awe of what we got to experience along the way by the Grace of God. From empowering startup food banks and thrift stores around the country and beyond, to the ever evolving school supply, book, and coat drive, irrigation pumps for women in rural areas to cultivate community gardens, livestock to orphanages, scholarships for the under-served, ever expanding resources, cultural immersions and partnering with generous souls etc. pales in comparison to our biggest success, the one on one human connection, the grassroots communities. When we can talk (not text or email) woman to woman, single parent to single parent, we can draw from our combined experiences to recover the hidden brilliance in our moms without the one winner-only-mentality. We love to hear your stories that are being cultivated from devastating heartbreak to "believing is seeing”. You are the peat-moss, you have the seed, and we just water with abundant living water and watch the dream become a reality.

Here are some seeds for 2017 that produce a sweet harvest:

truth

honor

integrity

humility                  

gratitude

forgiveness 
authenticity

pull the weeds:

ego vulgaris

greed altissima

gossip hybridum

judging bulleyana

2017 is going to be a fabulous year! Make your life sparkle.