This sign was made for me by my father when I was 8 years old and learning how to write in cursive. I wasn't really sure how I was going to get all of the curly ques going in my name. The other reason that I got a sign for my bedroom door was because of all those little trinket key chains, bike license plates etc which have children's names on them but never had mine and if they did it was always spelled wrong or at least not they way I spell my name. Dad made me this sign so that I could properly identify myself with my very own sign.
All these years and all over the world, I've carried this sign with me. Now it takes a humble place on a shelf in my office but it's always a reminder of that special time.
The last few months have had me thinking about where I am in my life and more importantly how I can make a positive impact on the planet and the people who live in it. After I read the book Half the Sky, I realized that it didn't take much to make a great difference in another's life. I have been blessed with a wonderful music writing career which pays some royalties. I decided to take my royalities and sponsor as many women as I could with Women for Women.
Over the holidays, envelopes started arriving with the names and short bios of the women I have sponsored. Two are from Africa, 3 are from Afghanistan, and one is from Bosnia. As I read through their stories all have endured great hardship and have many children. I was amazed that the greatest luxury in their lives is having well water for their communities. The most shocking piece of news is out of the 6 women who I now call sisters only one can write her name.
These women do not know what their name looks like written down. They can not write their names. This question keeps coming at me, How do you prove you exist if you can't read or write your name? Though these women come from different countries on different continents, they have one thing in common and that is they are muslims and have muslim names. In Islam, they use the Arabic language regardless of nationality.
For 23 years, I've been married to "This man from Lebanon". Early on we decided that we wanted our children to be fluent in Arabic and not to feel like strangers in their own family. So I learned Arabic along with the children. Life uses our gifts in interesting ways. Maybe I really learned Arabic so that I could write these brave women's names.
On this very snowy day I am pulling out my embroidery thread and will write their names on a little banner or maybe I will make them a little purse and send it to them via Women for Women. I haven't decided how I will design this project. I do know that along with the education my donation is giving them I want them to know and see their names, and to know that I see them and that they exist.
To be continued………
Much of the US is in snow today. So I wish you a happy snow day or just a happy day wherever you are.
A Place Like This 
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