Every year since I was young I have given up something or promised “to do” something for Lent.  Lent is the period of 40 days before Easter (not including Sundays), and it starts with Ash Wednesday, which this year is today, February 13th.  The purpose of giving something up is to be focused less on this world and to prepare our hearts to welcome the risen Christ.  In previous years I have committed to daily Bible reading, given up swearing (not this year, sorry), and one year I even gave up sugar.

A couple of weeks ago, at my yearly checkup, my doctor recommended I give up diet soda (not for Lent, just because it’s not good for me).  I cut back, but had not actually quit yet.  Then, yesterday I saw another blogger say that she was committing to drinking only water in order to bring attention to the plight of people throughout the world who do not have access to clean, safe water.

I felt a mental nudge on reading this, so I decided to write this blog post.  I am committing to drinking only water for Lent.  I will, however, be allowing myself one glass of iced tea a day, and a glass of wine on my birthday (which always falls during Lent) and other special occasions.  I will be collecting the money I have saved by not drinking soda and donating it to WaterAid.

Did you know that nearly 800 million people do not have access to it and 2.5 billion have nowhere safe and clean to go to the toilet?  WaterAid works with local organizations, using practical, sustainable solutions to provide safe water, effective sanitation and hygiene education to the poorest people in developing countries.

I have estimated I will save about $25, which when donated to WaterAid, will pay for one person in one of the world’s poorest countries to gain access to safe, clean water and sanitation for life.

Update: It’s Easter Sunday and although I didn’t totally give up my diet soda, I did drink more than 8 glasses of water every day.  I made my donation of $25 today to WaterAid.

In addition, during the month of February, when you donate, WaterAid will give you the option of either printing a valentine or having one mailed to the recipient of your choice, informing them of your gift on their behalf.  What a thoughtful gift for your favorite valentine!!  Check out all the options available here.

What are you giving up/ committing to for Lent?  How can you turn your introspection outwards?  Let me know your plans in the comments below.  

When we moved into this house in 1993, we never dreamed of the “joys” that come with an older house.  Built in 1952, with a flat roof and a slab foundation, the houses in our neighborhood were slapped up quickly to accommodate those flush with money after WWII ended.  They were never intended to last.  Old house = old pipes = plumbing problems.

We’d lived here less than 5 years before it happened.  The laundry sink backed up.  Not too big a deal.  Except that the laundry sink, garage sink, kitchen sink and back bathroom shower are all connected.  For the first day we tried using drain cleaner, but that didn’t really help.  Then Art bailed all the water out of the garage sink and snaked out the cleanout under it.  That worked for a little while, but after the first load of laundry we were backed up again.  So I got the bright idea to try to snake out the cleanout under the laundry sink while Art was at the gym. I put a bucket under it to catch the excess water, then poured the water into the back toilet, but I accidentally flushed the plug for the cleanout.  Which, of course, made the back toilet unusable until Art could take it apart and get the plug out.

After that we decided it would probably be a good idea to call a plumber (you think?).  The next day when the plumbing professional arrived, I explained to him the steps we had already taken.  I give the man a lot of credit for never even cracking a smile.  He asked me if we had a cleanout in the backyard.  I wasn’t positive of the exact location, but I took him out to the back patio.  Fortunately, he found the cleanout easily and brought in a giant electric snake.  It ran for 5 minutes or so and I could see the black goo in the garage sink slowly receding.

Once the drain was clear, the plumber plugged the sink and filled it near the top with water.  Then he reached in and pulled out the plug.  “Come look at this,” he called me with a big smile plastered across his face.  I walked over to the sink and peered inside.  “Look at that vortex!!” he crowed.  Love that plumber!!

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