Bella and Beau in Banff

Late last month Isabella and her hubby Jacob went on a vacay to Canada. Bella came back with so many outrageously spectacular photos. She let me air-drop 79 to my cell last night and here are the best of the lot.

April 2026 Donations

Both Hands

One of Bella and her husband's friends are looking to adopt and so they have the equivalent of a GoFundMe on something called Both Hands. Both Hands is a Christian organisation, which for me is a bit of a turn off, since Christian can often be code for "we only like our own kind" and those types of Christians can be hateful or unaccepting toward people of different genders, backgrounds, sexual identity, and beliefs. But...I do like the idea of helping a young couple adopt a child since I'm very pro-adoption, so I decided to overlook their Christianity and, like Christ, do the right thing. I figure if they are pals of a wonderful woman like Isabella then they must be decent and kind people. I really hope these two kids can get set up with a sweet little one (or big one, if they want an older child) and together create a bigger, happier family. Fingers crossed for Ryan and Mandee!

About Both Hands

We've found the easiest way to explain the concept of Both Hands is to tell how we started, so here it is in a nutshell from our founder, JT Olson...

"Almost twenty years ago, I served on the board for Bethany Christian Services in Nashville and was responsible for an annual golf fundraiser where we sent letters asking for sponsorship while we golfed. A few days before the event, my friend sent my sponsorship letter back to me and scribbled on it, "JT, if you were working on a widow's house I might sponsor you, but you're just golfing. Nice cause, but not my money."

I'll admit I was a bit surprised, but I called him and we had a good laugh about it. His idea never left me. A few years later, one of my friends came up to me in church and told me he was adopting four orphans from Moldova. Since I had adopted, I knew it was expensive. I asked how much he needed to raise. He replied, "About $65,000." He had no clue how he was going to do it, but knew it was God's calling.

Long story short, we gathered about a dozen of our friends and found a widow's home to work on. All of us sent out letters asking for sponsorship while we worked, with the proceeds going towards my friend's adoption. We ended up raising about $55,000. Soon after, another friend asked to do a project for his adoption.

Fast forward twenty years and I think our numbers say it all. In 2008, I left my job to start Both Hands full-time. Mark Twain said, "The two most important days in a person's life are the day they were born and the day they find out why." That day I found out why. If you're interested in partnering to make an impact in any way, feel free to contact us. Let's do more for orphans, widows and adoptive families!"

Please join me in the Low Budget Philanthropy movement and help out your community and beyond in the simplest way - donating any amount to whatever charity or organisation that you care about!

On the Late Train to Antwerp

At hour 37 of being awake, Bella and I were finally in Belgium and traveling from Brussels to Antwerp by rail. In an effort to mark the occasion of finally reaching our country's destination, we took turns snapping photos of one another using the portrait mode on my iPhone. Clearly the ones of Bella are the best and they showcase her immense beauty. But the prize for best hair goes to me - thirty-seven hours across an ocean and through two countries, plus the winds of Dublin, and my coiffe held up like Jack Lord's on the old Hawaii Five-O series. That fucker did not move!

The Pelgrimstraat Flat

Aside from the winding wooden steps leading to the apartment that were tiny as hell and quite treacherous, this was one of the nicest Airbnbs I've ever visited.

(above photo taken by Isabella)

My room

Bella's room up in the loft

Summer 2024 Posties!

I'm fairly certain that the recipients, aside from Amy, all think these postcards are odd and my musings are weird and unfunny, but I for one think I'm a goofy riot. You decide for yourself, dear reader.