Adversity to Adventure

I often go out to schools to talk to children about walking in someone else's shoes, about my journey as an author, seeing another point of view and about looking at the Flip Side. I really love my job. As a former Elementary School Teacher, I am enjoying teaching children again and sharing my passion for writing and looking at the Flip Side.


After my presentations, the children are very excited about me as an author and how they relate to my stories. Many schools send me packets of letters from the children that touch me and make me laugh. I often receive an email or two from kids who really connected and feel the need to further communicate with me. Many will say that they want to be writers someday and share some personal experiences. I LOVE to receive letters from the children.

Last week I visited a school of near 400 kids. I had a great visit. When I shared that I was a twin, a young lady raised her hand to share that she is a twin as well and her brother was in the front row. I acknowledged what we had in common and moved on. Later that day, after I got home, I received an email from this young lady, "S. the Twin".

hi I have been looking at you're websites and on one there were no comments so I felt the need to write something so that's me S. the twin with the green headband my email is xxxxxxxxxxxxxx

p.s. I LOVE WRITEING TOO BUT AS YOU CAN SEE I'M BAD AT SPELLING.

S.

I was delighted to hear from her. I wrote her back (and told her that her spelling wasn't as bad as she thinks) and I told her that I was so happy that she had written to me.

About a week later, I got another email from "S. the twin" (cute). It touched me right down to my smallest heart string. I shared it with my husband and later my family at our Easter dinner. It touched everyone. It was the epitome of what Flip Side Stories is all about and further what "Just Because" is all about. Let me share:

"thanks so much for emailing me it really means allot I actually love writing I have written tons of story's that i think you might like but I still love you're story's because of the message its suppose to send I think I might be good at writeing story's like that because when I was two my parents got divorced and my mom was the custodeal parent we went to salivation army for most of our clothes and we went to the good fellows this is because there were two two year-olds one four year-old and another 6 year-old and my poor mom was a stay at home mom who had just recently at the time gotten a job as a waitress but we never knew anything was ever wrong because she always said it's going to be an adventure just like when we lost our house and had to move thats what she said its going to be an adventure but we got through every thing we may not had everything we wanted but we sure did have lots of love and thats what it's all about. 
 love,S.                                                  
p.s. we did finally find out about the it's going to be an adventure my sister C."

She and her family are an example to be followed. She saw herself in the second family in "Just Because". She could relate and see the FLip Side of a difficult situation with the help of her brave mother. I can't thank her enough for sharing her story.

Because of her story, I have decided to create a place for kids to share their stories and their connections with Flip Side Stories. I will share their stories and how they saw the Flip Side of Adversity.

I will share this blog post with her.  If you would like to leave her a comment, she will see this. I am sure she would love to hear from you. Thank you.

The Year on the Flip Side

By Amber Housey

Underwear or an Ipod?

These gifts are for one family.

The holiday season is upon us. I have been blessed with a wonderful family, wonderful husband and awesome kids. We have a warm and cozy home filled with love and food.  We have two adorable dogs and a carnival fish that has beaten the odds (I can't say the same for the second fish since it launched itself out of the bowl to its death on the first day). My husband has a job and my book is coming out soon.

I am not bragging about my blessings, I am acknowledging them outloud because I believe for every blessing we have, it is not only important to be thankful for them but to try to share them when and where you can. My husband founded a charity called Building Bridges to give his friends, family and strangers a place to give back. We have made this a mission in our family.

As I lead the holiday gifting program this year, I read the stories of the families we are adopting out and count my own blessings. The struggles some people have....a lot of people have are heart-wrenching. It humbles me.  Leading the holiday gifting program is a lot of work but the thought of giving someone hope at this time of the year drives me.

Sometimes the family's wish lists are long and they ask for things we might think are too extravagant. Just think, if someone asked you what you wanted for Christmas, would you ask for underwear or a hat even if you needed it?

This is Santa we are talking about. The kids are being asked what they want from Santa, the man in the red suit who makes Christmas magical. If its not Santa or Christmas,  it's the magic of the holiday they are celebrating where wishes come true.

We all have wants and if there's a slight chance to get something we want, then why not ask? Who better to ask than Santa. We don't sit on Santa's lap and say, "Well, within my economic bracket, I think it is appropriate for me to ask for..."

Heck no! "Santa Baby, slip a sable under the tree, for me."

It seems the more money and things we have, the more we want, too. Do we need it? Do we deserve it? Do we expect it? The families who don't have a lot want nice things too.  Imagine watching tv and seeing things you would love to have and knowing you will likely never have those things...and knowing a lot of people will be getting them.

These families have no idea how generous our volunteers will be when they are making their lists. Actually, it is difficult to actually get them to write down things they want. They are embarrassed.  They think they will be getting one thing off of their list. Every year, the coordinator who I work with at the school says the families are brought to tears by the generosity of our volunteers . They are so overwhelmed and grateful. They have called us angels on many occasions.

We can't judge people by their economic background, their color, their race, their religion, their wants or their needs. What everyone does deserve is hope and kindness.

Everyone and every situation has more than one side. This is my side and my view of their side as I have experienced it through the gifting program. I am not assuming I know what anyone is feeling but sharing my thoughts. My intention is not to insult but to shed light. This is how I value the good things in my life. This is how I give back.

This year,  walk in someone else's shoes. Give hope, love and cheer. It will come back ten-fold.