Not Forgotten

I know... I'm sorry. We haven't been keeping up this blog very well. BUT I haven't forgotten. If you haven't read previous blog posts, most of the founders of My Family Butterfly are traveling abroad this summer to learn more about families all over the world. Personally, I will be traveling to Iceland to learn more about where my family comes from as well as doing a research project on family structure. Which means I won't be able to do much with this while I'm abroad. However, if you would like to follow my Icleandic family adventure, you are welcome to follow my temporary blog at http://elskaalltaf.blogspot.com (Elska Alltaf means love always).
Just wanted to check in quickly before I leave to let you all know about my upcoming opportunity and let you know your not forgotten.

Back to the Roots

It's been a long week.
But at the end of the week, I get to go home and see my family. It's just my Mama and my Brudda, and yet, they remind me constantly how important family is.
My Mom raised my brother and me by herself after my father lost a battle with cancer. Never have a met a woman with such strength, beauty and inspiration.
My Mother is a constant reminder of love and family. Thanks to her, I am constantly aware of the importance of and the influence of family in my life.
Family in whatever context you find it is an incredible support of your life. Remember to appreciate what you are given, and support the giving to others.

Like a Child- The Joy of Giving

Last Sunday I went to an extended family event for my cousin's new baby boy. I always love seeing family. My niece was there too and she taught me something very simple. She is two, but she is a great example. She found some flower stickers and brought them to me to help her peel them off.

I thought that she wanted me to stick them on her, but instead she first gave one to me. And then she said "I want to go give one to the little girl!" and ran over and gave it to a little 1 year old girl. Then she took one and put it on my cousin's little baby boy. Then she came and got one for my other little cousins. One at a time she would come back and get a sticker and get SO excited about sharing the stickers with everyone else. She is so selfless. It just made me think about how service should not be a burden, but rather something that we are excited to do. Sometimes we need two year olds to remind us that...

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Liberia a la Family

I second Michelle's apologies- this whole college thing can be mighty pesky sometimes :]

As she mentioned, I'm traveling to Africa this summer, and I'd like to elaborate on that.

I'm spending time outside of Monrovia, the capital of Liberia, located in West Africa.

The country has been in and out of war since 1989; a series of power struggles between the oppressive dictator Charles Taylor and rebel forces claimed the lives of over 200,000 people before peace and democracy found the country in 2003.

In addition to lives lost, many people were injured, and without proper medical care they struggle to survive the long lasting effects. Many children were orphaned by the fighting, and it is not uncommon to find siblings raising one another. While there, we will be working to provide assistance to a disabled center, medical assistance for families as it can be provided, and the promotion of a livestock program aimed at rebuilding the country with a kind of "pay it forward" attitude. 

Liberians have one of the strongest senses of family that I have ever heard of. A friend of mine travelled to the country last year- she is an honorary sister at the mission that she stayed with and we will be working with this year. Every person in the country is your brother or your sister, and you aim to treat them as such, with love and respect.

This attitude of all encompassing family was very well demonstrated by the women of the country- fighting for one another's children as if they were there own.

Everyone deserves to have a family, and sometimes in the absence of one, individuals can step up and provide this for you.

Afsökun (an excuse)

First, let me apologize. We we're so good at keeping up the blog every day and then something happened. It's called finals and summer preparations. We got behind... sorry :( We are still college students after-all.

Plus, with the plans we have this summer, we'll have a lot of exciting things to blog about later. We're traveling all over the world to learn more about families. Laura is going to Africa and I'm going to Iceland.
I'm going to Iceland on an internship to do a sociological research project on family interactions and family structure in Iceland.

I'll also be learning more about my own family. My ancestors came from Iceland and I'll be living and working where they once did.
I'm very excited to learn more about the families in Iceland and then to be able to blog about it when I get back (and hopefully some while I'm there)

I'm also learning as much of the language as I can. Here's a little phrase so you can learn some too:
Ég elska fjölskyldu mína (I love my family) 

Happy Birthday Josh!

Today would be Josh's 18th birthday. Josh is a huge part of our inspiration for doing this. He died in a car crash when he was 16. It's crazy to think that he would be graduating this year and then maybe coming out to college here with me. But it's okay, because he's watching over his family now. Happy Birthday Josh! Hope you're enjoying your angel food birthday cake ;)