Christmas Cards, Killer Whales, and Cows

"I feel the same way about the news, it is the same thing over and over again that is all negative about our country. I think that maybe we, as Americans, are hopefully starting to really learn what is important in life besides money, and to be more thankful for our health, who, and what we have. Maybe adversity is part of a plan for each of us to live more harmoniously later when the economy is better. The news should focus more on what positive sacrifices that other people are giving to help those who are less fortunate."

"Andy,

What a beautiful message! I am going to relay it to my family, and I hope that they will agree with me and want to buy a cow for Christmas!

May I copy and paste your email and send it on to my email list? I imagine I know a lot of people who would love to buy a cow?

Merry Christmas! and Happy New Year!

Thank you for all you do!

Rhonda"

"Excellent!"

"Hey Andy -
Thanks again for your great messages!

Just to let you know - buying a cow is a great idea, one that has actually been around for a while. And while most of us COULD come up with $500, not all Americans can swing that much. But there are less expensive alternatives (sheep, goats, etc.) that accomplish the same goal. the Heifer project has lots of ideas!
http://www.heifer.org/site/c.edJRKQNiFiG/b.204586/k.9430/Gift_Catalog.htm?msource=kw883&gclid=CK3Ehqj51JcCFRKLxwodtFAuDw

Thank you for getting the ball rolling! And Merry Christmas!
Blessings,
Carolyn"

"Andy,

I'm forwarding your email with the wonderful story about Jane & the cow. Hopefully, it will produce more additions to the herd.

Also, I gave up TV and all network news 5 years ago. I don't own a TV and the only newspaper I read is "The Vail Daily", basically local resort news. My life is immeasurably less stressful & happier because of it. Also, I feel that I'm better informed in that I have all that time to read, listen to tapes and think clear thoughts. I think this is one of the most positive & powerful things you can do for your beloved children - and for yourself! Keep up the good work.

Very Merry Christmas to you, Polly, Austin and Adam!

Sincerely,
BetsyB"

"My pastor has been talking about Christmas Chaos, Sunday he talked about the thread that holds the Christmas story together, "Don't be Afraid"! Said To Mary, to Joseph, to the shepherds, our perspective can be "adjusted" by the media; think of how afraid Mary was when she "lost" Jesus in the temple. Only a soverign Saviour could honestly say he was doing the right thing to his Mother. Merry Christmas"

"The story about the cows is wonderful and I don't want to take anything away from it. But, I would like to make folks aware that Heifer International, based in Arkansas, has been providing cows, goats, chickens, lamas, rabbits, water buffalo, etc., all around the world for decades helping people become more self-sufficient. Check them out!"

"Andy, what a great bit of "real news" that empowers and uplifts! (A friend of mine always wanted to start a "New News" station that did just that...hey ever thought of being a news anchor?) I bet you wouldn't do a fast on THAT kind of news!

Have a wonderful blessed and peaceful Christmas to you and yours - and to all of you reading this - just substitute the holiday of your choice, the vibe and wishes are real regardless of what we call it! :)"

"There's an old saying, "Great minds think alike," that came to mind when I read about your 'news fast.' I, too, have been keeping myself from the general news media, for about a year, but more strictly since September of this year. Doctors ordered less stress for me, and the first thing I did was 'unplug' from all the so-called 'news' that invades the privacy of my home. I feel SO much better!
Our family has been sending out gift animals as part of our Christmas tradition for several years now. It's one of the highlights of the season to choose a country and the appropriate animals for families there - we plan to continue this into future generations!"

"Thanks for sharing this story with us."

"Hefer International is another good organization--cows, sheep, chicken, all kinds of farm animals can be 'purchased' for people all over the world.
Love the whale story!"

"Good day Andy!

Thank you for sharing the cow story, a beautiful message indeed.

Like yourself I gave up the news, and newspapers several years ago - it was one of the best things I did.

It is much easier to stay focused on what is possible and not to get sucked into unnecessary drama.

Merry Christmas to you and yours. All the best to 2009.

Lynette
http://www.thepowerisinyourhands.com"

"Great story. Heifer Project International is a nonprofit organization (www.heifer.org) that began after WWII by making livestock available to people who need livestock to feed themselves and their families. It is still the "give a cow" business, but is also works very hard to promote agroecology, gender equity, animal well-being, and more. You give so much more than a cow when you give to Heifer Project International.
Check it out."

"Andy,Andy,Andy:

Several years ago Tom and I went to a hoity toity nine-course dinner at Clos Vougeout in the Burgundy region of France. I was seated next to a gentleman who said there were only two types of people in the worth spending time with. (I didn't tell him he'd ended his sentence in a preposition)...The two types of people were (1) those who make you laugh and (2) those from whom you learn something.

Your latest blog reminded me of that conversation. You always make me laugh, and I always learn from you.

Thank you, Andy, for taking the time to share all your news, but especially the cow story.

May I have permission to reprint that part of your blog in "Atmore News"? If I hurry I can get it in Wednesday's edition (Christmas Eve).

You are a generous, compassionate, funny man. I'm glad you chose to STAY and write in Alabama. I consider you one of our finest writers. Your humanity never fails to astound me.

Cows for Christmas, who knew?!

BIG CHRISTMAS HUG to you and yours!

Bon in Atmore"

"I am tremendously enjoying your blog and the little pieces of wisdom that have come from you, Andy.

I am glad you talked about the news fast. I used to be on a news diet and then "fell of the wagon" - so to speak. I was a happier and more productive person on the diet. Need to pick it up again. It's easy after a short time.

Merry Christmas and a blessed 2009 to you and you family. You have been an important part my life and I thank you for what you have brought to me.

Klaus Schneegans
from snow covered Minnesota"

"With all the "stuff" going on and with what you are missing (or not missing) in the news (I agree with the negativity perpetuation factor), you shared a beautiful story about the perpetuation of good things....truly one good thing (Love for people) leading to another good thing (milk/sustenance for self-support)leading to another good thing (providing an income stream from human effort which positively impacts others) to another good thing ....the sharing of this story which gives me a reason to get out of bed, be grateful for every day, love the good people of the world, and to try and understand and love those who are a bit more challenging to love. You, Andy, create no such challenge. May the spirit of Christmas flourish in and around you...Thanks for the message..from another snow covered destination in Minnesota"

"Great message regardless of the time of year. I could not agree with you more regarding the news. Think about this, if someone watched 30 minutes less news and used that time to pursue something of value, they would spend 22 eight hour days studying to become better at something. 182 hours a year! Not to mention being less depressed by what you are missing."

"Thanks again Andy. I agree about the news - what I put into my mind affects who I am. So I'll keep reading your work. You certainly raise the bar on what's possible for us individually and collectively. Each of us can certainly do something to make a difference every day. Merry Christmas to you and your family."

"Funny "coincidence" that I should read Andy's email the same day as I read the article on the following link
http://www.NaturalNews.com/025126.html"

"Andy:
Thank you so much for the beautiful story of Jane's cow. You are so right in saying the money you saved might have gone for another shirt, latte, etc. Something we'd never miss can make a huge difference in their lives. And think how lucky the cow is -- it didn't get eaten, and gets to join a family and live a long life with them for many years!

Even those of us being squeezed financially right now are 100 times better off than so many around the world. Thank you for reminding us of the true spirit of this Christmas season. A blessed Christmas to you and your family."

"Andy,

I do enjoy reading your blogs. I was drawn to this one in particular because of your cow story. I had my own "cow experience" last Christmas season which resulted in my drafting a screenplay about the impact one animal can have on both the donor of such a gift and the recipient. Keep up the great work, but don't work too hard. Merry Christmas."

"Thanks Andy, I really needed a message like that today. I pray that God continues to bless you, your family and especially Kim and other missionaries like her.

Kevin Adcock
SCPC Youth Ministry"

"Now that's what I'm talking about. If it wasn't illegal, it would be quite enjoyably to put tape over a lot of mouths and just listen to this man.
Thank you Andy and have a
Very Merry Christmas"

"MOO!"

"What ever became of Purity? Did she return to her birth family?"

"Andy, I grew up on a dairy farm in northern Wisconsin and cows have always been a love of mine, so your message about purchasing cows for people in Africa was especially heart-warming.
Thanks for the bits and pieces you share on your blog. I so enjoy your thoughts!
Christmas Blessings to your and your family!"

"Thank you Mr. Andrews for the message above. Please forgive me for adding to my message apart from the wonderful message above but I was introduced to your book "The Travelers Gift" a couple of days ago and I must say with much gratefulness the wonderful impact it had in my heart. I am new to your site/material and thankfully so, the timing could not be more applicable for me and my family.

Merry Christmas Mr. Andrews.


LG"

"Andy,

Merry Christmas!

I remember several years ago when Austin was a little boy. He was up on stage with you and Polly, and out of his mouth came the word "HOPE". Thank you for sharing the cow story and for the hope you have given to many in Africa and around the world.

Congratulations on your tremendous success as a writer, speaker, and teacher. I wish you, Polly, and the boys the very best for 2009.

Joe"

"Andyman,

Thanks for the blog regarding the "newsfast". I began this practice with one monor modification several months ago after initially trying it in the aftermath of 9/11. It's my opinion that "the news" largely exists to titillate viewers/readers. Media mogels decide that the most extreme, negative, and evil stuff gets news consumers' attention.

With focus on the negatives which excist and will always exist, they never balance with any form of lighter, bright news- it's al,ost as rare asd a retraction for a factual error. News depresses too much when it's negative.

My modification is that I will peruse a news magazine weekly for the distilled commentary and filtering of the sensationalism from "breaking news" events.

I am touched and honored as your friend to know that you and Polly have joined with hundreds of others to share with Kenyans in buying cows! What a tremndous blessing. It reminds me of the old adage to teach someone to fish rather tyhan giving them a fish.

Keep up the good work!! Grace and Peace, Alan"

"Andy, I have to tell you I was so excited when I finally got a chance to read your blog. It started sounding familiar to me and then I realized that you were referring to the very place where I had asked my wife Roxie to marry me. Her parents had served as missionaries to East Africa for 30 years. Roxie had returned to serve there and I went to visit her (then just a friend) and by the time I left two weeks later, I had asked her to marry me. She has many fond memories of Brackenhurst and I have to confess…she married me on condition that I take her back there someday. It is truly a small small world.
Andy, the cow idea is tremendous! Roxie and I were most impressed by Jane’s pastor. His advice and actions are not always the case. It was a great recommendation. Thank you for sharing your Christmas story with all of us. Oh....and I got my "Guided Traveler Experience" set. They are wonderful! Thank you so much."

"Andy, As a friend of Kim, Jim, and Mary, I want to personally thank you for sharing Jane's story. When my wife and I first heard about the first cow that was purchased, We HAD to get involved. By then, some 40 cows had been purchased for Bishop Edwin's orphanage and pastors. Ginger and I made our first trip to Kenya in 2007 where we met Jane and many recipients of "American Milking Cows"(as they say). We thought we would look for other areas to help these wonderful people but to our surprise, they could not stop thanking us (Americans) for giving them cows. One thing I might add is for each cow that is purchased and given to a deserving person, the cows are bred to keep the milk flowing. The first 2 calves go back to the 1600+ orphans to grow the herd, or sold to provide food and clothing, and the remaining calves may be kept by the owner of the cow. Wow, I just realized I'm writing to a Best Selling Author,....how intimidating. Happy New Year!"

"Andy,

Thanks for the great story! You always inspire me! Speaking of Christmas cards, the one I sent you guys came back to me, so Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to you, Polly, Austin and Adam! I will have to recheck my address for you guys!

Looking forward to reading the next blog!

God Bless,

Alisha"

"Hi, Andy! As you and Robert know, I did write about Cows for Kenya in my New Year's Eve column for "Atmore News." It can be viewed at:http://www.atmorenews.com/?p=2205

We used the photo from Kenya and also a great one of you from your web site.

My high school class (from the Jurassic Age) is buying at least one cow, and now several other old codgers who also graduated from Escambia County High "back in the day" are collecting for their own cows.

I sent out dozens of email to Air Force friends. I think it's safe to say we're about to have our own little herd of cows headed to Kenya. . . And all because one amazing human being took the time to share this uplifting story.

Love and Happy New Year to you, Polly, and the boys!

Bon in 'Bama"

"Thank you for the beautiful message of how to truly demonstrate loving our neighbors as ourselves by sharing a gift that provides/ sustains physical life for so many."

"Thanks for the wonderful story.

I am going through a period of discernment having lost my job 2 weeks before Christmas and your story definitely puts things into perspective. Things are never as bad as our mind trys to tell us they are.

Due to the holidays I have taken the last few weeks to heal and fill my mind with positive thoughts. I had read The Traveler's Gift earlier this year so then I saw Island of Saints a few days ago I picked it up. I finished it in a day and as my 12 year old says "Daddy can read fast when he wants to!" It was a wonderful book and struck home with me.

Being a Marketing Professional I have gone through these periods before and each time I learn something new. The first time it was to overcome pride. The second was to always have and attitude of graditude. This time I think the message is forgiveness of others and myself.

I have read other treads in your blog and understand your ties to the Coast having been born and raised in Louisiana. Early in my career I heard the call of "success" and moved to Cincinnati to work for P&G. I loved the job but my wife longed to return home to Louisiana which we did and I am forever grateful. My ancestors came with d'Iberville when he landed on Santa Rosa Island and were some of the original settlers of Mobile.

Now I am working on forgiveness. I think I can forgive a lot of things but their is one person that I will have to work on a bit more. If I can forgive Nick Saban for leaving LSU I think I will have it mastered! :) You have to have a little sense of humor!

Thanks for helping people put things into perspective particularly in these uncertain economic times."

"For me this is a very touching story, first I am from Atlanta and had heard it before but not with the information to follow through and second because my middle child, Joseph left our house this morning with his wife and two daughters, both under two, for what could be a very long time. By now they are probably back in Greenville SC to hopefully wrap up their last 25% of support to go off with New Tribe Missions in the mountain jungles of Papa New Guinea for 15-20 years. Their sort term (2-year) purpose is to develop a written language and the long term purpose is to build a self-sustaining, bible believing church.

A special thanks Andy for your down-home hospitality to Scott whom you met at Sam's this past week. I'd been telling him how nice you are and you came through as a good witness."

"i am a self proclaimed political talk radio addictic. i was reading you blog last night at work and thought how close it hit to home. this mornin i watched my local news as i was making breakfast. the national news came on and they started to interview anne colter and her new book.hen the news man said somehing that just pissed me off to no end. thankfully you words came to meso i simply turned the channel and continued to eat breakfast. i am now sitting a my computer watching the dogs next door being teased by a squirrel, how would some one notice the hummor in that and not look at it and think how loud the dogs are barking if they are mad? thank you for your words, God always seems to send me a word or sermon that i am needing to hear. its like he knows my future or something? keep it up brother."

"Hi Andy, and Greetings from Nashville, TN!

I met you at the MVH Mega Speakers Event in LA back in November. I'm the gal who was glad not to need an interpreter when I heard the sound of your sweet, southern accent. You were great and so funny! I had never heard you speak before then. You were mesmerizing. Since then I have listened to The Traveler's Gift over and over, each time hearing something new that I have needed to hear!

I too, like Ron R. (#37) lost my job a few days before Christmas and now I have been blessed with the "opportunity" to reflect and go out and find another way to be a blessing in someone's life...again. I refuse to be a party to the media's hysteria during this time of 'economical shifting' in our history. This too will pass and we will learn from it like we have in the past. It's so easy to get depressed listening to the networks and papers spewing their despairing rhetoric and I made the choice to "just say no" a long time ago.

Doors are closing for a lot us right now, but just like Jane's cow, now we have the opportunity to make the difference God needs and wants us to make elsewhere and in other ways.

Andy, keep that inspiration coming! Good words at a Great time."

"Just to let you know, I updated my "Cows for Kenya" story in Atmore News today.
Today's article is titled "Beautiful Bovines Bound for Kenya," and you can read it at:

http://www.atmorenews.com/?page_id=572

In a separate sidebar, I invited people to visit your web site and blog.

As you know so well, children die every day of starvation in Africa, not just during the holidays. Thanks for allowing us all be a tiny part of this Cow Movement, Andy.

My best to Polly and the boys.

~Bon"

"I am with you on the news fast! I must admit, I am not much for National news, but I did get a little "caught up" in the election process! Then the "best thing happened!" Our cable was turned off! Yes, my husband and I work in real estate and due to the economy (which I believe is FAR more due to the media than anyone can imagine - or will admit!) and so the first thing to go was cable. Two weeks before the election! We were still able to watch the fuzzy local channels, but knowing that it was all toxic anyway, chose not to bother with the rest. After hearing me daily talk about how powerful what we put into our minds is, my hubby even gave up talk radio! Whew! Miracles never cease! I sincerely believe that what the world needs now is "hope" and the news isn't offering that! But stories like yours do! Thanks so much for them! I will someday do my part in doing the same "in a big way". In the meantime, I'll do it one tweet, one blog, one "example" at a time!"

"My daughter loves her For Christ's Sake Buy a Cow t-shirt!

Any idea just how many cows were bought from the blog entry? I hope it was a whole herd....or if that's not a lot.....then a whole bunch of herds.

Thanks for sharing about this ministry. My family enjoyed contributing and buying a cow that meant so much..."

"Hi Andy hope you don't mind my responding to Heather O'Sullivan Canney #42. Hi Heather...I just want you to know that your message touched me in a great way. Those of us that have given up cable and things like that due to the lack of funds did not give up our ability to care for others and to have hope for the future. I may not be in a position to buy a cow at this time in my life but I shared the message just as you did and I know that cows were purchased! Hope is a wonderful thing and I am grateful for the ability to receive Andy's messages and share them with others. Thank you"

"great message Andy thanks for sharing"