Jacque Hubbs

One day you finally knew what you had to do, and began, though the voices around you kept shouting their bad advice -- though the whole house began to tremble and you felt the old tug at your ankles. "Mend my life!" each voice cried.

But you didn't stop.

You knew what you had to do, though the wind pried with its stiff fingers at the very foundations, though their melancholy was terrible.

It was already late enough, and a wild night, and the road full of fallen branches and stones.

But little by little, as you left their voice behind, the stars began to burn through the sheets of clouds, and there was a new voice which you slowly recognized as your own, that kept you company as you strode deeper and deeper into the world, determined to do the only thing you could do -- determined to save the only life that you could save.

~ Mary Oliver "The Journey"

I love this one and thought you would too. Thanks for reading. All the love.

This year the girls and I are also accompanying two other families, four kids, that need some help with their supplies. Our church, Peace Lutheran in Washington, Missouri and a grass-root group that I run called Moms on a Mission have made the commitment to take care of these kid's B2S needs and I'm so lucky that we get to shop with them! The girls are really into the idea of sharing the experience—the highlights of which always seem to be the new backpack, a first-day-of-school outfit and new shoes. Oh, and a haircut! Those things were always a big deal to me as a kid, they were the changes that eased the transition back into a daily schedule, homework and fall sports.

Aside from supply shopping, I go on an organization spree this time of year. I remove every item from each kid's room, sort it and give the girls a chance to decide if the items are keepers or go in the donate pile. Then we re-organize what's left, deep clean the rooms and put it all back neat and tidy.

I also go through their entire wardrobe, purging what's too small or unused. Aside from satisfying the obvious organizer's itch, this also gives me a good idea of what they actually need in terms of clothes for the coming school year.

Then I do outerwear—shoes and winter boots, jackets, coats and snow-pants... These get used seldomly and are outgrown so quickly! This lets me know if they'll need this stuff while it's 107 in Missouri—plenty of time to get it before it's actually needed. We gift the lightly-used outgrown ones to other families using our local Buy Nothing group.

Lastly, I hit sports gear. Cleats, shin-guards, practice swimsuits, swim-caps, gym-bag toiletries, etc.

For me, it's particularly important to physically lay my hands on the stuff and to let the kids make their own decisions as to whether it fits into, "This Great Turning—Hopeless to Happiness," that we have embarked on as a team. If it doesn't, we let it go—and that is good for some serious joy, my friends.

Just let it go.

OK, here come some affiliate links for your back-to-school shopping needs. Mama has to pay the bills. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases—but you don't pay any extra at all. In fact, in some cases, you'll SAVE money using my links. If you need it anyway—I've picked some good stuff and you'll be helping me earn a living while I write my first novel. Thanks!

Foldable Lap Desk

Custom Stickers—Put Their Name on Everything!

Don't forget the teachers, Gift-A-Snack to stock up their food stash.

Rainbow Recycled #2 Pencils—I think I had something like these as a kid. You had me at rainbow.

OK, that's all. Thanks for sticking it out through the links, you're awesome! Thanks for reading. All the love and happiness!

Kindness and joy,

A little bit of Christmas cheer replenished my soul, fed my senses and reminded me of why I'm here—at just the spot on the calendar that we are all farthest from it.

This is a poem I wrote a while ago for a contest, I was reminded of it this week and thought I'd share—Merry Christmas in July!

Photo Credit, Ryan McKenna

Our Christmas Story

the lights and the tree will sparkle and shine the house smells of Mom's roast, hot cider, crisp pine and oh, the music—you know the words—sing!

each Christmas story is a unique and delicate snowflake twinkling diamonds dancing through shafts of bright sunlight memories and traditions—comfort, warmth, familiarity years pass, faces change, the pages of our story turn we'll mourn the missing—and no, it won't be the same our stories forever intersect and disconnect—by chance or choice our Christmas story is family, faith and love without bounds joy, nostalgia and even mourning rooted so deep it's interwoven overlapping layers, always pure on recollection—freshly fallen snow

Shop the Christmas in July Sale!

And now, yes I have to include some affiliate links for awesome Christmas stuff that's on SALE until 7/31. Thanks for helping me pay the bills while I write my first novel, as an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

Smart Christmas Lights We have these lights in Lily's room as "gamer lights" and around my vanity. They work with an app and Alexa, you can set the colors and they'll dance with your music! Get them before midnight on the 31st at 17% off.

Face Mask Santa Beards I really hope we aren't masking at Christmas, but these might make it worth it. Get them here 17% off until midnight on 7/31.

Dimmable 3D LED Curtain String These are 30% off through the 31st of July and going in my kitchen window this Christmas. Super cute. Get them here.

Tiffany Style Stained Glass Christmas Tree I have a thing for Tiffany style table lamps and this one is beautiful and 30% off for Christmas in July. Get it here.

Pajamagram Matching Family PJs OK, these aren't on sale—but the girls and I got a matching ones last year and they are the best jammies ever! Get them here.

Ok, that's it. Thanks for staying through the links. You're awesome.

Poem originally submitted for the 2022 Candelight Press Christmas card contest which called for a poem on the subject of Christmas Stories that was no longer than 16 lines including stanza and line breaks. Fun one!

Thanks for reading. All the love.

I am so winning at this parenting thing!

Thanks for reading. All the love.

Do you need to hear those powerful words? If you haven’t heard them today - let me have the absolute pleasure of telling you that you belong.

Find mindfulness in this concept right here and now. Wherever you are, embrace the freedom and joy of being present, cared for and loved. Breathe deep. Own the space you take up. Feel your worth.

Do you doubt it? Don't! You are unique—the only you in the wide world. That means no one else can do exactly what you can do... in exactly the same way. That's power. Your power. Go on and be you bravely. Boldly. Kindly. And if you need a tribe, I promise, I'll add you to mine. Reach out anytime.

How do you feel about belonging in this weird new world we find ourselves in? It's harder now, right?

What groups, places, people... or even thoughts and memories make you feel that sense of community? A place that’s free from “trouble and worry.”

For me, the sandy white beach on the shore of northern Lake Michigan can be one of those physical places. I can escape the hellish summer heat in Missouri. Relaxing in an adirondack chair next to my Mama with a glass of ice-cold wine. My girls tempting the waves to touch their little toes and squealing with shocked delight at the cold of the water. My own fidgeting toes clenching and releasing foot-fists in the sun-warmed sand. The breeze off of the lake is refreshingly cool, smells pure and clean—and serves to keep the mosquitos away. The soft shhhhhhh of the wind through the beach grass fades in and out with the advance and retreat of the waves. I belong here, the surf thundering in my ears while I smile, sip my wine and watch the sun slowly dip into the sea.

My flower-girls, Lily and Rosie on the Lake Michigan shore.

We can feel that sense of belonging in a memory too, a headspace we can cultivate and retreat to at will. I can go back to the memory of a 1980s era family Christmas, a foundational and favorite one. I can see the rainbow Christmas tree lights reflecting off of my shiny new "Star Bike." (Dad had found it on the curb, out with the trash, and made it new again. It was red and covered with sparkling, silver star decals. This was the equivalent of my own "Official Red Ryder carbine action two-hundred shot range model air rifle." And if you don't get that reference we can't be friends... just kidding!)

I can feel the sharp pine needles stuck in the soft shag, my tiny fingers absently weaving in and out of the carpet loops—sitting cross legged on the floor, waiting my turn to open presents. I can smell Mom's roast, apple pie and a crackling wood fire. The TV flickers through "It's a Wonderful Life", claymation "Rudolph" and "A Charlie Brown Christmas". Mom lets me taste her crisp, bubbly champagne and it crackles in my nose. Poncho, the dog, tears up the wrapping paper alongside us and everyone is laughing. At the deep and beating heart of this memory, sprinkled over it, I hear the most joyful sound! Twinkling and delicate, like sunlit flakes of gold... yet brighter and bigger than the background voices of Frank Sinatra and Nat King Cole—is my great-grandma Mimi's classic "Mimi Mouse" giggle. It's the netting that holds together the memory of this this last Christmas before Alzheimer's took her mind from us.

I'm there. I belong.

My great-grandmother, Hildegard Weiherman, better known as "Mom" and always "Mimi" to me.

When depression knocks on my door or anxiety is keeping me up—recalling a sense of belonging and connection is a gift for my soul. Cherish those past belonging moments, let them be a sanctuary when you need one. You still belong, even as the membership in your tribe evolves—love them hard while you have them.

Thanks for reading.

Kindness and Joy,

Jacque

Song Lyrics: You belong among the wildflowers You belong on a boat out at sea Sail away, kill off the hours You belong somewhere you feel free

Sail away, go find a lover Go away somewhere bright and new I’d see no other That compares with you

You belong among the wildflowers You belong on a boat out at sea You belong with your love on your arm You belong somewhere you feel free

Run away, go find a lover Run away, let your heart be your guide You deserve the deepest of cover You belong in that home by and by

You belong among the wildflowers You belong somewhere close to me (close to me) Far away from your trouble and worry You belong somewhere you feel free

now I am empty      how can empty be enough

now I am afraid      how can afraid be enough

the unknown looms      here, at the center of the wheel      which spoke will I travel across      toe to toe, my arms out at my sides for balance      or are they wings

choices have consequences      choosing to break the wheel      to remove the yoke      choosing joy      choosing light

light has consequences for darkness      chases it, forces it back      pours over it, liquid and warm      a fierce, line of infantry before which      the inky dark retreats, runs away, defeated

here in the light, i am enough      for now      for me      but the darkness is out there      it will come back

next time I will be ready for it      maybe that's enough

the darkness is fear      fear that's always hungry      with sharp teeth and clear eyes      it waits      draws near      attacks vulnerability

the darkness is grief       like a wave      a tsunami      made of stone, not water      it slams into me      pulls me under      I gasp and grapple      only pulling myself up enough to stay alive      alive but dead      dead inside grief's dark center

what's in that center      bravery or cowardice      is it braver to let go      or to fight      to stay in the pain      or honor the vow

i need to wake up now      i am no coward      the monster is the coward 

i can identify the monster      it attacks when i am sad      thrives on my pain      accepts neither blame nor responsibility      it is inhuman, thriving in the darkness

the monster can not know love because      love isn't dark, it embraces light      fear can’t hold out against love      love is slow to anger and quick to forgive      it doesn’t punish

why did you think you could punish me      who the hell do you think you are      i am not your child

you know what i am though      i am enough

Thanks for reading.

Kindness and Joy, Jacque

And, if you let it, a new beginning.

Thanks for reading.

Kindness and Joy, Jacque

Thanks for reading.

Kindness and Joy, Jacque

Contact me or visit my online stores My Mom Brand and My Bear Brands for more.

...and that’s why we, as fundraising professionals, have to be great storytellers. Now, let’s look at the story of 2020… not even the whole thing, just the first half. Even the best raconteur among us couldn’t make this stuff up—continent-wide fires, almost-wars, political unrest, a global pandemic, a global shutdown, no school and a boil-over of hundreds of years of racial injustice. Not to mention the fact that in the US, it’s an election year—which can have its own effect on fundraising without all the rest of this madness.

Yet, with all this change, our jobs—as development and fundraising experts—remain the same… or maybe they’re even more important now. Our tribes linger in a state of uncertainty as we’ve rounded the corner that is the halfway point of the longest… year… ever. Our human narrative has been disrupted—and we don’t like it. As the world grapples with the question, “where do we go from here?” Our ready-made answers fail us, because none of us know what this “next normal” has in store for our agencies. (And yes, I write “next normal” because things are still very much in flux—we haven’t even seen a glimpse of the “new normal” yet.)

The answer for us, as fundraisers… no, as humans—whose fates are intertwined together—is this: We need a narrative. We need to channel our inner storytellers into fierce, fiery advocates for our causes that cannot be ignored.

Problem solved, right? Except that this crazy 2020 story has also completely changed how we reach our audience. Events, open-houses and donor meetings have to evolve to a digital space right now. Evolve and adapt, not be canceled. And when we do reach our people, we also need messaging that has adapted to, understands and supports this next human narrative.

Empathy is even more important on a digital platform where it can be easy to misinterpret tone and intent. We are sure to have donors and volunteers who’ve lost their jobs or taken pay cuts, some who are ill and others who are caring for ill family members. Our digital message can’t be oblivious to the fact that the 2020 story may have made life harder for both the people and communities we serve and those we depend on to keep serving.

Use your digital resources wisely and please, for the sake of your cause—don’t shoot before you aim. Now is the time for a new strategic plan, with new digital-first marketing to hit your fundraising goals along with buy-in from all of your stakeholders. And I mean all of them… this is their story too and your message is only as strong as the weakest person telling it.

Once you’ve laid that groundwork for your “next normal” you’re ready to come out swinging with a digital strategy that includes a plan for your website, social media, blog/article writing, emails, digital events, donor meetings and more – integrated together to tell your story and ready to execute with measurable KPIs that support the overall goals of the organization. Test, measure and monitor your marketing constantly and be ready to adapt to change quickly.

So, we embark on a new narrative.

As fundraisers, we need to grasp hands, lean-in and take a step forward in faith, knowing that our budget must serve our mission and never the other way around.

We will lead our donor base into a new, digital-first narrative—one that we will create together. It’s time to take that fiery passion for your cause online. You’ve got this. Go tell a new story.

Thanks for reading.

Kindness and Joy, Jacque