fresh

I have to write about this while it's fresh on my mind and heart.

My friend Liza, who I've mentioned before, is on staff at the DC CASA for children's office.
I was turned down to be a CASA in the Fairfax office here a few months ago and decided that I should take some more time to really really think about whether that was something God was calling me to do or something I wanted to do.  And in the meantime Liza has made sure that I know the door is open at the DC office.

I'm still praying, I haven't really landed on a side and I'm guessing I already know the answer but just don't like it.

Because I couldn't be there doing hands on advocating work for abused kids myself, I have made it my mission to pray for Liza, her staff members and her cases passionately.  I pray in my quiet times, I pray while I run, I pray while I cook, etc.  I almost feel like I'm attacking the battle with her sometimes while I pray.
There are some fun stories from that but I'll save them for another time.

Tonight I had been invited by Liza to join her for the CASA's Christmas party.
You could pick up the Christmas wish list of a CASA child, you could meet some other CASA supporters and eat some yummy treats.

Boy o boy was I OUT of my little mommy world.
I was rubbing shoulders with interns who wanted to conquer the world (love that enthusiasm!!!), high court judges, powerful attorneys, CASA board members, CASA volunteers and other people that I couldn't even accurately describe how far apart our worlds are here on this little 'ol blog.

And I loved it.
I love getting out of my world.
I wish the three worlds that mixed tonight (corporate America, stay-at-home mommies and nonprofits) would come together more often. (I am not exaggerating when I say I was probably the only stay-at-homer there, but still, because I was there, my world was represented ;-)

Corporate America, the $.
Stay-at-home mommies, the fresh understanding of what kids need.
Non-profits, the glue between the two.

I know, beyond a doubt, that's not 'the' answer to anything.  That's not what I was excited about or thinking about.
I just wonder how much more could be done, on top of what's being done, if those worlds all set out to work together regularly.
I don't even know what it would look like....I'm just observing that there is a gap somewhere and I'll bet satan is using that gap to keep more work from being done.

Now I'm home and all dreamy about what I could do for CASA without being a CASA.
There's got to be something.
I don't know what exactly but I do know that I have a passion about believers being involved in organizations like this.
CASA would not exists if it were a religious organization.  It's government funded (only a tinsy bit, but still, it is) and reaches farther because of it.
So, because it can not be a Christian organization then I am passionate about Christians being IN it and being the CASA's and stepping up to advocate for these kids to the courts.

I have questions like, how could a local church partner with a CASA office?
How could I support the volunteers who are CASA's?
How can I support the staff?
How can I help spread the word about being a CASA?

ya know, light, fluffy, airy type of thoughts.


sidenote:  I totally got to see a little bit of this conference too and now I'm bummed that I didn't know it was coming!!!  I'm pretty sure I would have tried really really hard to go!

being in this city is still astounding me.
I drove by the National Monument, parked in an underground parking garage, went into the Ronald Reagan building, passed a TEDWomen conference and went up the elevator for my party.

like, that's not something you do every day!

no wonder I'm all dreamy!