Today is Giving Tuesday

Giving Tuesday, the Tuesday directly following Thanksgiving, marks the beginning of the winter season and is an opportunity to bring attention to the global refugee crisis and how you can help out those in need this season.

This time of the year is always a time when the most vulnerable are left even more vulnerable as temperatures drop and they’re left exposed to the harsh realities of winter. I’m thinking of refugee families who have been forced to flee with little more than the clothes on their backs. Now is the time, more than ever, that they need our help in order to survive and hopefully get to a place where they can resettle and start a new life.

This Giving Tuesday, I’m joining USA for UNHCR in helping support displaced families through the harsh winter ahead. As families brace for freezing cold temperatures and heavy snow, winter survival kits can provide the warmth, safety and hope that they need. If you are able to help in even the slightest, your compassionate gift will be matched $1-for-$1 to provide comfort, warmth and peace during a displaced family’s greatest time of need.

If you can, please click here to donate and help give the gift of hope and warmth by raising enough to provide 3,200 winter survival kits. Together we can help those who are battling a crisis they didn’t have a hand in starting; who are left defenseless and fighting for their lives and the lives of their family in order to make it through the winter months; who have the same rights as we all do and deserve the chance to make a better life for themselves.

Thank you for taking the time to read this and for doing what you can. And as always, thank you to USA for UNHCR for constantly fighting for those who need it most.

(above photo courtesy of USA for UNHCR)

A Gay Love Success Story

Yesterday we received a message from a sweet reader named Derek who shared a very touching story with us:

“Hey Guys! I wanted to share with you this gay love success story. I’m sure you don’t recall but you made a significant impact on mine and Nick’s (now my husband!) relationship 4 years ago. We had broken up and Nick reached out to you 2 looking for some guidance. You said that sometimes all we need is space to put things into perspective and you shared some of the struggles you 2 endured throughout your relationship—it was profoundly helpful for him and myself so thank you again! Well this was us on 11.13.21 in our matching custom-made tuxes and Pride Chucks making it official! Just wanted to share and let you know that you sharing your life and love helped us grow too. We so appreciate it. Love wins always! ❤️🧡💛💚💙💜🖤”

I share it for no other reason than to hopefully inspire people that are going through a similarly hard time to know that it won’t always be this way. Sometimes a little space is all you need to realize how much you truly mean to one another. I know it sounds cliche, but it worked wonders for us and it confirmed we 100% didn’t want to live without each other for one more day.

We feel honored to be even a small part of Derek and Nick’s beautiful story, and wish them many more years of love and happiness and all the ups and downs that come with sharing a life with someone.

Congratulations to the grooms!!! xo

Winter Wonderland

As I was going through some old photos this morning, I found this one my mom took back in the 70’s. It’s of her church down the street from her childhood home in upstate New York, and it has me dreaming of a white Christmas this year, something that only happens once in a blue moon here in Tennessee.

Doesn’t the idea of a small-town, snowy Christmas sound so idyllic? The freezing cold air, the crunch of the snow beneath your feet, the wool scarf around your neck to keep you warm. Sigh. We can dream, can’t we?

Happy Wednesday xoxo