family | steadily skipping stones

Jul 6

Sue Takamoto: on the Nozomi Project

moving the podcast – interview from December 9, 2014

This past April, Sue’s husband headed out yet again to help with earthquake recovery, this time Kumamoto, Japan. I really admire Sue and her husband for their commitment and good hearts!

When I checked the links for the podcast notes, I ended up buying myself a pair of earrings – a treat for myself, but also a tiny little way that I can help too. I can’t wait to be able to tell people the story behind them, why they are a very special piece of jewelry!

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Episode 33. Sue Plumb Takamoto shares the inspiring story of the Nozomi Project, an organization that employs and nurtures women affected by the tsunami that devastated Ishinomaki, Japan in 2011.

“That’s why we’re here. That’s God’s heart, is to love people who are having challenges. And we’re all broken people, in reality, and God loves to make beauty from brokenness.”

0:00 ~ missionaries in Japan
5:00 ~ how God inspired the Nozomi Project
14:15 ~ lasting impact of the tsunami
19:25 ~ a survivor community as much as a job
27:20 ~ being a business with a Christian foundation
29:30 ~ building beauty from destruction
37:15 ~ how to help

Connect with Sue
on the website NozomiProject.com
on Twitter @NozomiProject
on Facebook Nozomi Project
on Pinterest Nozomi Project

Clicky Clicky!
Asian Access
Be One Tohoku Aid
Starfish Project
Yuko’s Jewelry
Burying and Rebuilding (hamster and new house post)
Roger Lowther Article in Japan Harvest Magazine
Sue’s blog- The Takameter

Nozomi Project Photos:

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Nozomi Project: beauty from brokenness (video):

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Jul 4

Carolyn Congelosi: Horse Expert and Owner of Watermark Farm

moving the podcast – interview from December 2, 2014

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Episode 32. Walk with us as Carolyn Congelosi takes me on a walking tour of her business, Watermark Farm. Listen in as she educates me on horses, show training, and what it takes to run a horse farm.

“They awe me every day. I love it, I love being here. There’s not a day that I would not want to be around them and help them and work with them and take care of them. And love them. It really fills me, fills my soul for sure.”

0:00 ~ welcome to Watermark Farm
5:10 ~ competing and the horse show community
9:55 ~ being a trainer and starting a horse farm
15:05 ~ horses as pets and athletes
20:10 ~ meet Nikki and Markie (horses are big)
26:55 ~ a normal day at the farm…is hard work
32:05 ~ “find something you like to do and do it”

Connect with Carolyn
on Facebook Watermark Farm, LLC

Clicky Clicky!
A Visit to Watermark Farm (with pictures!)
Super Cute video of a horse in the water

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Jun 24

Alaina and Peyton: The Suicide Awareness Project

moving the podcast – interview from June 10, 2014

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Episode 28. Alaina and Peyton are working on a school project about suicide awareness, a subject which, in Alaina’s words, “a lot of people don’t like to talk about because it’s a harsh topic. So we figured, why not us?” Listen in as they talk about their project, what it means to them and why they care so much.

“How much can a school do to prevent cancer? But there’s still support and awareness about it. You can’t prevent it. You can’t prevent cancer. You can’t prevent somebody from committing suicide. But you can raise awareness.”

0:00 ~ we never hear about it
11:05 ~ What should the school do?
13:25 ~ “those who suffer”
16:15 ~ the deep effects of suicide
22:10 ~ Can it be prevented?
27:00 ~ spreading awareness

Clicky Clicky!
Letter Alaina and Peyton posted on the blog
American Foundation for Suicide Prevention
Out of the Darkness walks
National Suicide Prevention Lifeline
If you see suicidal thoughts posted on social media.
Suicide Hotlines by State

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Jun 20

2 Comments

Debbie Deming: on Furniture Tipping

moving the podcast – interview from May 20, 2014

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Episode 26. Debbie and I talk about the startlingly high number of children who are killed or injured by furniture tipping over on them. Debbie shares her personal story of loss, and talks about the organization she and her husband founded to prevent other people from losing the children they love.

“It just didn’t feel right to live with that knowledge and let other parents who don’t know the dangers just go about their life, and just hope that they’re not the next ones.”

0:00 ~ Safe and Sound with Amaya
4:00 ~ an accident waiting to happen
9:55 ~ we don’t see the danger
14:35 ~ tipping is totally preventable
19:10 ~ hot pink pinkies
24:10 ~ a difficult thing to live with
28:15 ~ Why not protect your kids?

Connect with Debbie:
at Safe and Sound with Amaya
on Facebook

Clicky Clicky!
The Tipping Point – Consumer Product Safety Commission Report
Safe Kids Coalition
National Head Start Association
Article on Syracuse.com
Huffington Post Article

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