Change One Christmas Rice Project

Dear Friends--

We wanted to write to you briefly about Change One's Christmas rice project. Over the past year, the price of rice has doubled in Sierra Leone. This dramatic price increase on the staple food has created new challenges for individuals and families who are already living in strained financial situations. For Christmas this year, we would like to purchase several large bags of rice for distribution in some of the refugee and war wounded communities. A 110-pound bag of rice currently costs about $40 and, we would like to purchase as many bags as possible. We will be raising money over the next month for this Christmas gift to our brothers and sisters in Freetown.

If you are interested in making a donation toward this project, please send a check to Change One, PO Box 82044, Columbus, Ohio 43202, include a note that designates your gift to "Christmas Rice." Or if you see us around and want to give us a cash or check, feel free to do that as well. Every dollar is valuable and no gift is too small!

Thanks!
Keith & Laura Padgett
Change One International

Movember!

I wanted to help pass the word along about a good cause. Some of my friends and co-workers are growing moustaches for Movember (the month formerly known as November) to help the fight against prostate cancer. I'm helping raise funds and awareness because I think it is important to help men understand their own health issues by being proactive in the fight against prostate cancer. I know there are many worthy causes raising money this time of year, so our team would really appreciate it if you would consider donating $5, $10, $20 (or more, if you want!) to this cause.

Prostate cancer is the most common non-skin cancer in the US with one in six American men developing the disease and more than 28,000 men dying of the disease every year. Prostate cancer is 90% curable if detected and treated early!

To donate you can either:

1. Click this link https://www.movember.com/us/donate/donate-details.php?action=sponsorlink&rego=1773931&country=us and donate online using your credit card or PayPal account

2. If you see me around, feel free to give me a check (payable to the Prostate Cancer Foundation) or cash, and I'll be sure it gets where it needs to go!

3. Write a check payable to the 'Prostate Cancer Foundation', referencing my Registration Number 1773931 and mailing it to:

Prostate Cancer Foundation

Attn: Movember

1250 Fourth St

Santa Monica, CA, 90401

(All donations are tax-deductible to the extent permitted by law)

The money raised by Movember is donated directly to the Prostate Cancer Foundation which will use the funds for high-impact research to find better treatments and a cure for prostate cancer.

Thanks so much for your time and consideration! If you know of any one else that might be interested in supporting prostate cancer research, please feel free to pass this along.

More information is available at http://www.movember.com/

A Hike in the Hock

A couple weeks ago, Karen and I decided to take a journey into the Hocking Hills. We drove down some beautiful country roads, which made me feel close to my Monroe County roots! We couldn't have asked for a nicer day--the weather was so beautiful. We stopped for a bit at a place called Cantwell Cliffs, and then went on to see the Rock House.


We hiked a 2 1/2 mile trail around a place called Conkles Hollow. It was quite a hike! And the best part about it...we wore flip-flops! I wonder if people thought we were a couple of silly city girls traipsing around the wilderness in flip-flops. I've walked worse paths in Sierra Leone in flip-flops before, though, so I didn't feel so bad about it. But, still, probably not the brightest idea we've ever had...there were some rather precarious parts of the trail.

Ben

Benjamin Ryan Weber was born to my brother and sister-in-law on July 2, 2008.

We got to visit him in the hospital on his birthday. (Keith looks pretty good with a baby, doesn't he?)


Big sister Grace and the baby:

Here's auntie with Ben in September. We bonded.

my new hair

Cider Makin'

We had a fun weekend making apple cider back home with my family. Apple cider has been a long-standing family tradition from my grandparents, which has been revived over the past couple of years, since the discovery and purchase of a used cider press. My brother and his wife had their 3 kids with him for the weekend, so that made it extra fun.

I've included some pictures below to show the guys hard at work. I even took a couple turns at the apple grinding part--that gym membership sure paid off!


Grandma Snider's job was filling the jugs. I think we had close to 30 gallons by the end of it.

Grace wanted a turn at the crank, too: Here's Keith taking his turn:
And finally, a short video of the process:

Beautiful Salone