Bo Peep Blog

I read a lot.  Like, a lot.  I spend time here because I don’t have room on my bookshelves for all the books I have read – since the books I have bought but haven’t read yet take up 6 shelves and counting.  It’s a bit of a problem, but one that I am always prepared to admit to.  (Hello, my name is Sarah and I am a bookaholic.)

Last night I finished reading one of the most inspirational books I have read in a long time.  It’s called “Three Cups of Tea” and is written by Greg Mortensen and David Oliver Relin.  It tells the true story of Mortensen, who upon descending K2 after a failed summit, lost his way and ended up in the small village of Korphe in Northern Pakistan.  After spending time in the village and witnessing the severe poverty of the people (but coupled with amazing courage and patience), he returns home to the US with the plans of building a school for the villagers’ children – who were studying outside with the help of  a part-time teacher.  It takes a while, but through a few fortuitous twists of fate, he raises the $12,000 needed and returns to Pakistan to build the school.  Word eventually gets out and after 10 years, he had managed to build more than 50 schools in some extremely remote places.  Without government help – and occasionally with a fatwa looming over his head.

The man’s courage and stubbornness are truly inspirational.  I know there is poverty in this country and this city – but our children – and our girls in particular – are never denied the chance at an education.  With education comes power and choice; Mortensen’s chosen tools to fight the “war on terror” in Pakistan and Afghanistan.

So I visited the website and ordered 5 books for my friends to help spread the word (and get them 7% of the proceeds through amazon, who I don’t normally support because they’re not a Canadian company) and then visited the sister site, Pennies for Peace.  I have facebooked some of my local teacher friends and hope that my community can contribute to this program next school year.

People with fire in their bellies are always an inspiration to me.

The internet is a wonderful place.  It keeps me informed, keeps me connected, finds me new friends, helps my daughter with school projects and most frequently of all, helps me spend my money.  Through Baby Rabies, a blog I follow, I found Lisa Leonard and her marvelous creations.  Having just spent more money than I had planned on hubby’s birthday/Father’s Day extravaganza (a weekend to be dreaded around here…birthday is June 19, Father’s Day usually the same day or the day after), I browsed, shopped and ordered from Lisa last night – and justified it by saying that my birthday is next month.  By the time my design is made, shipped and unpacked, it is likely to be the Big Day, and so I have just performed another wifely service; hubby will not have to spend any time AT ALL deciding what to get me.  He already got it!  Win, win, yes?

My birthday present!