THE BASICS

Yesterday during breakfast we were talking to our kids again about the devastation in Haiti. I know I tend to look at pictures of a disaster like this and the main thing I see is the physical destruction: the hospitals, homes, hotels and other buildings damaged beyond repair or leveled.

What we don't see quite as often is the incredible human toll and suffering. We do hear about number of dead, but the ones I feel the worst for are those left alive, injured and unable to get the medical care they need, or those physically uninjured, but who have lost loved ones to death or separation. It makes my heart hurt for them.

As we explained a watered-down version of this to our children, we started also listing all the things we had that we were so grateful for. One of my sons said, "yeah, if I could raise a thousand dollars, I would buy a bunch of Ipods to send to those people in Haiti." We chuckled, and commended him on the kind thought and then I said to him, "you know, I think right now those people would rather have food, water and their family all safe." He paused and said thoughtfully, "Hmm...yeah."

It's so amazing the basics that I live with every single day that I almost always take for granted. Clean water, healthy and even delicious food, a warm home, and most importantly--my husband and boys around me healthy (ish), safe, and alive! What a blessing! It's sad that it takes other people losing all those things for me to recognize and be grateful for those basic blessings.

The other sad thing is that there are probably millions of people on this earth who live their whole lives without these basics that I take for granted, not just people who have been through a natural disaster like this earthquake. I am so rich.

If you haven't donated yet to the disaster relief, my church, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints has set up an excellent donation site here, where ALL the proceeds go to the disaster relief. Or ask at work: we are donating through my husband's work because they are matching donations. Even if you can only donate $5 or $10, everything helps!

As a side note: I'm so grateful to live in a country where there are so many who want to help others. I see so much goodness and generosity--it's awesome!