Ups & downs at Bosom Buddies
Have actually been feeling a bit like bouncing bosoms... sometimes up, sometimes down, sometimes perky, often saggy!
Running a NPO is a major learning curve for me, I learn so much about people and myself. The lessons are tough and I am clearly slow in learning some of them as God sees fit to repeat them again and again!
Oh well, character building blah blah hey?
Let me start with the downs and get the moaning out the way.
Disappointment! I am very bad at dealing with disappointment. They say somewhere in Proverbs... hope defers makes the heart sick and its very true. For the past 2 or 3 weeks some people have let me down so badly and just disappeared from the help radar. People get busy, bored, distracted etc and they then don't feel like or are unable to help with BB. Of course BB runs on which means poephead me cannot get bored, distracted, busy ect and land up running on my own. It's not so much the work load (am hard working busy bee) as the loneliness and discouragement that comes from working alone. I care about the people that help me and I don't want to piss anyone off so I carefully ask and pussyfoot and send many, many (unanswered) texts to which people don't reply. So I get hurt and cross and then they get cross if I get cross. Stupid huh? Anyway, bottom line is we are all getting together to discuss who wants to stay on board, areas of responsibility, communication and just a general strat session. Hope I don't cry!
Clothing from Somerset West and the mothers in my area has been slow. I don't understand how people have got so blind to the needs of other new mothers in our community right under our noses. Come on girls, these are our sistas! We share a bond, let's share whatever else we can with these moms. (do have lovely awesome exceptions which will thank in a bit!)
And now for the Babies and Moms
Ah, the reason for all of the above. Precious special delicious people who I love, love. LOVE! Hospital still going well of course. Ashamed to say still haven't started Saturdays but promise, sometime in October, will literally take that leap of faith and JUST DO IT! Lots of baby boys been born lately. Unfortunately many very prem babies but only 1 stillbirth since I last wrote. Once again gave her a beautiful gift pack from Bridgette with a few extras added in. The moms have been well and pretty positive.
On Thursday we had a HIV pos mom who was cup feeding her newborn daughter (drastically reduces chance of babe getting HIV if not breastfed) and she was so positive and strong. When we prayed for her she just broke down and cried and suddenly her brave exterior crumbled. She was beautiful and I am always so proud of these strong African woman. We are a major bunch of wussies compared to them as 3 of the ladies who had delivered that morning were leaving at noon just a few hours later. One lady had a babe dressed in pink from head to toe and it was in fact, her 4th son. She was desperate for a daughter and had believed this little boy to be her girly. At least we could give him a blue outfit although she was clearly disappointed. Hope she gets a bunch of granddaughters one day! A little prem girl from the previous week had died but I wasn't surprised, that poor little scrap of person was the thinnest, smallest saddest individual I have ever seen. I remember praying for her and just not knowing what to say. It sounds harsh that the babies under 28 weeks are not assisted in any way but realistically, the problems that many prem babies have later, compounded with a mother without support or finances is just too tough. Plus any disability in the African culture is often barely tolerated. It's just SO sad.
Anyway, in general things going well and everyone stoked to receive their bags which are looking gorgeous thanks to Jeanine & Rosalie and all other kind sewing ladies.
All my grateful thank yous!
In the week of been on my lonesome ownsome and being all bratty, God comes through like he always does and I get such awesome much needed stuff. When I packed on Wednesday I had 2 vests left and was actually about to buy for the next week. Now my box is full and I cannot even close the "boy" box. Blankets are very low but I am buying fleece today for Gina and Yolandie to sew. Granny Lesley is back from holiday so will also make for us.
Carice & Andre van Selm who gave me a massive box of beautiful clean pressed clothing. (the bigger stuff I pass on to other charities so hope its cool?)
The moms from the Breastfeeding Clinic at Vergelegen Hospital who left me clothes and products. (thanks to Leanna & Erica for collecting)
My gorg & glam always generous friend Colleen Gast who gave me loads of lovely clothes from Dylan.
Illora & Klaus who give me cash from time to time and gave me a bag of lovely baby clothing.
Nikki Richards who always buys us pads.
Ilse Badenhorst who has given lots of things to the moms and who is now giving us a monthly financial contribution.
Pippa & Chris Hechter and Pippa's mom who gave us cash and products. Pippa you know how desperate we are for moola so yay!
Anne Green from my neighborhood who also donated clothes
Adrienne Liebenberg from our church for products and cards
Warren at Dischem once again for 2 big boxes of various goods plus nappies
Emilie & Storm Webster for more nuts and for coming along to the hospital
Elzabeth for 6 knitted teddies
Enid Ryall, Daphne Veer and the other ladies from the old age home in Tokai for the precious knitted little jerseys and booties
Suzie from church who gives quietly and faithfully all the time
Frank Land from the Invisible Card Co for supplying cardboard for the cards
Dezi & Verna, 2 dynamic older ladies from my church for baby clothes and prayer.
Lynn, Millie & Bridgette from USA who gave me masses of beautiful-makes-me-cry baby clothes and goods from the US and UK. I wish you could see what you mean to these mothers and to me. Love you!
Marietta from my church for her gorg clothing she donated. Ek is life vir jou my mooi vriendin!
Chantelle & Nikki, pretty sisters from Somerset West who gave me bigger clothing. I gave to Agape (for disabled kids) in Grabouw
Pat van Zyl, Hannah's granny who knitted me funky hats and booties
Pippa Pringle for loads of beautiful baby clothes from son James
Marvelous Martha, my good friend for the 10 babygros she bought
Jenny & Tim Norris who gave BB a financial contribution
Sister Tertia for collecting baby clothes from Lynn & Millie
Thanks very kind lovely best friend donors, cannot do this without all of you. Because you bless us, you too will be blessed, that's just how life works!
Running a NPO is a major learning curve for me, I learn so much about people and myself. The lessons are tough and I am clearly slow in learning some of them as God sees fit to repeat them again and again!
Oh well, character building blah blah hey?
Let me start with the downs and get the moaning out the way.
Disappointment! I am very bad at dealing with disappointment. They say somewhere in Proverbs... hope defers makes the heart sick and its very true. For the past 2 or 3 weeks some people have let me down so badly and just disappeared from the help radar. People get busy, bored, distracted etc and they then don't feel like or are unable to help with BB. Of course BB runs on which means poephead me cannot get bored, distracted, busy ect and land up running on my own. It's not so much the work load (am hard working busy bee) as the loneliness and discouragement that comes from working alone. I care about the people that help me and I don't want to piss anyone off so I carefully ask and pussyfoot and send many, many (unanswered) texts to which people don't reply. So I get hurt and cross and then they get cross if I get cross. Stupid huh? Anyway, bottom line is we are all getting together to discuss who wants to stay on board, areas of responsibility, communication and just a general strat session. Hope I don't cry!
Clothing from Somerset West and the mothers in my area has been slow. I don't understand how people have got so blind to the needs of other new mothers in our community right under our noses. Come on girls, these are our sistas! We share a bond, let's share whatever else we can with these moms. (do have lovely awesome exceptions which will thank in a bit!)
And now for the Babies and Moms
Ah, the reason for all of the above. Precious special delicious people who I love, love. LOVE! Hospital still going well of course. Ashamed to say still haven't started Saturdays but promise, sometime in October, will literally take that leap of faith and JUST DO IT! Lots of baby boys been born lately. Unfortunately many very prem babies but only 1 stillbirth since I last wrote. Once again gave her a beautiful gift pack from Bridgette with a few extras added in. The moms have been well and pretty positive.
On Thursday we had a HIV pos mom who was cup feeding her newborn daughter (drastically reduces chance of babe getting HIV if not breastfed) and she was so positive and strong. When we prayed for her she just broke down and cried and suddenly her brave exterior crumbled. She was beautiful and I am always so proud of these strong African woman. We are a major bunch of wussies compared to them as 3 of the ladies who had delivered that morning were leaving at noon just a few hours later. One lady had a babe dressed in pink from head to toe and it was in fact, her 4th son. She was desperate for a daughter and had believed this little boy to be her girly. At least we could give him a blue outfit although she was clearly disappointed. Hope she gets a bunch of granddaughters one day! A little prem girl from the previous week had died but I wasn't surprised, that poor little scrap of person was the thinnest, smallest saddest individual I have ever seen. I remember praying for her and just not knowing what to say. It sounds harsh that the babies under 28 weeks are not assisted in any way but realistically, the problems that many prem babies have later, compounded with a mother without support or finances is just too tough. Plus any disability in the African culture is often barely tolerated. It's just SO sad.
Anyway, in general things going well and everyone stoked to receive their bags which are looking gorgeous thanks to Jeanine & Rosalie and all other kind sewing ladies.
All my grateful thank yous!
In the week of been on my lonesome ownsome and being all bratty, God comes through like he always does and I get such awesome much needed stuff. When I packed on Wednesday I had 2 vests left and was actually about to buy for the next week. Now my box is full and I cannot even close the "boy" box. Blankets are very low but I am buying fleece today for Gina and Yolandie to sew. Granny Lesley is back from holiday so will also make for us.
Carice & Andre van Selm who gave me a massive box of beautiful clean pressed clothing. (the bigger stuff I pass on to other charities so hope its cool?)
The moms from the Breastfeeding Clinic at Vergelegen Hospital who left me clothes and products. (thanks to Leanna & Erica for collecting)
My gorg & glam always generous friend Colleen Gast who gave me loads of lovely clothes from Dylan.
Illora & Klaus who give me cash from time to time and gave me a bag of lovely baby clothing.
Nikki Richards who always buys us pads.
Ilse Badenhorst who has given lots of things to the moms and who is now giving us a monthly financial contribution.
Pippa & Chris Hechter and Pippa's mom who gave us cash and products. Pippa you know how desperate we are for moola so yay!
Anne Green from my neighborhood who also donated clothes
Adrienne Liebenberg from our church for products and cards
Warren at Dischem once again for 2 big boxes of various goods plus nappies
Emilie & Storm Webster for more nuts and for coming along to the hospital
Elzabeth for 6 knitted teddies
Enid Ryall, Daphne Veer and the other ladies from the old age home in Tokai for the precious knitted little jerseys and booties
Suzie from church who gives quietly and faithfully all the time
Frank Land from the Invisible Card Co for supplying cardboard for the cards
Dezi & Verna, 2 dynamic older ladies from my church for baby clothes and prayer.
Lynn, Millie & Bridgette from USA who gave me masses of beautiful-makes-me-cry baby clothes and goods from the US and UK. I wish you could see what you mean to these mothers and to me. Love you!
Marietta from my church for her gorg clothing she donated. Ek is life vir jou my mooi vriendin!
Chantelle & Nikki, pretty sisters from Somerset West who gave me bigger clothing. I gave to Agape (for disabled kids) in Grabouw
Pat van Zyl, Hannah's granny who knitted me funky hats and booties
Pippa Pringle for loads of beautiful baby clothes from son James
Marvelous Martha, my good friend for the 10 babygros she bought
Jenny & Tim Norris who gave BB a financial contribution
Sister Tertia for collecting baby clothes from Lynn & Millie
Thanks very kind lovely best friend donors, cannot do this without all of you. Because you bless us, you too will be blessed, that's just how life works!
posted by Melanie at 5:12 PM
7 Comments:
Mel, I have popped over for the first time forom Tertia. Idea: I used to work for Smith and Nephew. they have a staff shop. They are based in Durban and Jhb. They sell the Dr Whites at R1.00 a packet. why not see if you can clear them out, as they never appear to sell the stock in the staff shop. hope this is a good tip.
xx Coral
Mel, I have a crafty vlog and a lot of my visitors are bag sewers would you be interested in having them send your diaperbags? Also I was looking fdor a place to send my clothdiapers too I guess they would be usefull woudln't they?
Did you ever receive my box? It was sent at least a month ago to the address in Northern California (end of August, early September). I assumed from one of your posts below that it was perhaps the box that was too big to be brought back to SAf, so was shipped? I would have shipped it directly to SAf, but the cost of $125.00 was prohibitive, especially since it was only $14.00 to N. Cal. Anyway, I hope it's in your hands by now.
I have been very busy lately - work and 3-(almost) 2 year olds has been trying. However, I've finished with my 5th blanket and hope to get my 6th done before ... Thanksgiving!
It sounds like your "ups" are high. Hope they stay that way.
Mellie - I am SO impressed by your blog and what you are doing. You are going to heaven! Hopefully we do get to have lunch and have a little (lot) of wine soon. Well Done Mellie - we have come a looooooong way since the Highstead! smooch! xxxxxxxxxxxxx
Mel, You are doing such an amazing job. I wish I were in SA so I could come by and help you out. I pray you find the help you need for your continued success.
Blessings in abundance.
Tina
Hi Melanie,
My name's Meg. I've popped over from Tertia too. Love what you're doing.
I have an idea for a very small contribution. I would love to create a children's story in Word, and email it to you to print out and give to the mothers. I would use some clipart & write the story myself.
Would that be useful? Are they generally literate? (if they're literate in Afrikaans but not English, maybe some nice person could translate it!!!) Would it be OK for you to print it out & staple it or would the paper etc. eat further into your resources?
Take care,
Meg.
Wow! I just came across your blog, you have had a huge impact on me! Do you take donations of baby clothes for moms in need? If so, maybe you could leave some info on your blog site for people to donate or get in contact with you. Just a thought.
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