I deeply believe that one day, when we die most likely, we’ll be called upon to give an accounting of our actions, words and deeds.

My big mouth will certainly take some explaining. I’m working on it.

I do feel it behooves me to teach this belief to my children. I feel that we aren’t on this planet for a very long time, even if we live to be 100 years old, that’s barely a blink in eternity.

We need to do something, to stand for something, and to help in some way.

I absolutely love reading and learning about others and their amazing ideas. Take this guy who invented the solar flashlight. There’s an idea whose time has come. And it even ties in the Haitian and Rwandan orphanages in this case.

It’s not just the adoption of children that’s important and necessary but what about providing for the needs of others? Or taking care of the environment?

I’m so clueless about technology and engineering. This man spent a great deal of money and time, frustration and reward to make this solar flashlight a reality. The New York Times wrote an article detailing his journey.

I’m faced with a houseful of children who’ve spent most of their lives in survival mode. I have precious few years left with them to teach so much. Manners alone take years to implement into their lives, academic success is a struggle, expressing normal feelings and a concern for others must quickly be instilled in them.

On top of the usual parenting necessities I want to teach them about taking care of the environment, the joy of growing one’s food, eating and cooking whole grains and nutritious foods while also creating a fulfilling life that I believe only comes from helping others.

Being obsessed or overly concerned with meeting my own needs and material desires would be an exercise in futility as I doubt I’d ever be satisfied. That’s human nature; we were designed to look outside ourselves.

I want to teach my kids that if they are always involved in a project, they’ll never be bored. Mindless TV, a party lifestyle, keeping up with the Joneses, or any other endeavor that lacks substance just won’t fly on the happiness scale.

"You will find, as you look back upon your life, that the moments that stand out are the moments when you have done things for others."

Henry Drummond