Amy Haba... Ambassador House of Peace...

Amy Haba
Ambassador, House of Peace


Amy is an Ambassador for the House of Peace. She also serves on the Executive Committee for Global Peace Concert.

Amy grew up in Metro Detroit. A native to Michigan, she loves water. She grew up near Lake St. Clair, which is shared with Ontario, Canada and the Walpole Indian Reservation.
At a young age she could remember many summer days, driving over several bridges that cross the Clinton River which empties into Lake St. Clair. The smell was nothing less then that of hot raw sewage. The first time that smell ever overcame her, she asked, "Mom what is that smell?" Her mother's reply would linger even now, "It's the river, Amy." Even then, a part of her knew she'd one day work to save it. In later years this same river, would take away the lake she loved, the place her dad took her to see Haley's Comet and for many family outings! Many parts of this Michigan lake shore became forbidden from swimmers and fishermen alike. It was discovered, after twenty years that the state permit for operating the largest plant in a neighboring county, a two-mile long underground sewage storage basin had expired in 1978 and had never been renewed. They were in serious violation of the Clean Water Laws, not including the one billion gallons of raw sewage that was dumped into our water.

Amy became a team member for the local Clean Water Action. She, along with other team members would canvas neighborhoods in the surrounding areas. They'd enter with the hope to create awareness about the issues with their local lakes and water ways. In addition she learned that sometimes the unseen water could be far more contaminated. During one normal canvas of a local neighborhood, she quickly learned of a landfill that was never properly capped. In just a few streets she met three families who had a child fighting the same type of cancer. They believed, as many did the landfill leaked into the ground water causing these diseases.

"Their soft little heads and big smiles were filled with such hope, while behind them their parents' eyes welled with tears. I still think of them and pray their hope prevailed." She says, "It was the most eye-awakening moment in my young life. I wanted to mend it all right then, all of it instantly! I realized I couldn't, and that is where most would give up, but you can't. Even if you're just buying an item that supports cancer research or a local environmental awareness - EVERYTHING counts."

At 21, Amy gave birth to twin boys, 10 weeks early. There she stood watching her babies fighting for life, while so many times we forget the value of taking a single breath. Amy, along with their father, Rich stood beside them all the while, afraid and begging for a miracle. Too small to be held, they would whisper, "You can do this boys, you can do this!" They knew the boys could hear them. Ian tried so hard, but his tiny little body just couldn't match his determination. At five days old, Amy and Rick finally held his little body.
Today, ten and a half years later Dakota is the tallest boy in his class, plays football, loves nature, and his video games, and shows no signs of his early arrival.
In the 10 years since Ian and Dakota entered our world, Amy and Rich tried again and again to grow their family. "Where I was once so angry, asking why me, why us? I have turned it all around. Knowing what we know now, it's medically impossible Dakota is here. Not a day goes by where I don't just stand in awe of him." She says with teary eyes. They have also realized they were granted an unexpected gift during this long life lesson in grief and loss. "After Ian there were so many times we felt completely alone. Losing your child is not the natural course of nature. Everyone was at a loss for words. Those closest to us were experiencing their own grief as well." Amy finally found a website that completely reached her, and healed her and Rich in such a way, they found themselves reaching out to others, to heal them.
"This is what life should be about, reaching out to one-another. No one should ever have to feel alone. All it takes is a little more attention, asking yourself how would you feel? What would you need? Take out the garbage for your elderly neighbor in the winter. Make a meal for a sick friend. Just simply sit in silence, without comparison or hollow words, just sit and be with someone who needs to know even in the silence, they're not alone. All we have to do is just become more aware. Imagine the difference." She says with hopeful eyes.
Amy was brought up to love this planet and the people on it. Whether it was spending time with her grandpa picking strawberries, or watching her mom tend to flowers her own mother planted. Amy's father cared so much about his children's education he ran and was elected trustee of their school district, as well as being the President of his VVA Chapter. His mother, Amy's grandmother through-out her life has painted nature onto canvas. In so many ways, she has been shown the true beauty this world has to offer. Her artist soul was constantly cherished and encouraged to blossom by her entire family.
"It takes a village to raise a child or an entire family, and I am all the better for it! I want this for my son, and my grandchildren. I believe so deeply the belief of thinking ahead seven generations. I will do my part to ensure the generations to come, can do more then just look at the water, or see the world through pictures. They will be able to jump right in and feel the ebb and flow of this beautiful planet!" She says with complete belief.
Amy grows all her own herbs. Belonging to an unofficial group of neighbors and friends who share what they grow organically amongst each other and donate the rest. She also is a big believer in environmentally safe products, especially after her son had an allergic reaction to a well known freshening agent. She says, "After that experience and living along the river, I am very aware of what I use. If it is not healthy for us and our environment, I won't use it!"
Amy is in the process of creating a site that teaches each of us how to become more environmentally smart through the use of products, plants and foods we could easily incorporate into our everyday lives.
Currently Amy, her husband Rich, and their son Dakota live along the St. Joseph River in Indiana. They share a 165 year old farm house with their "furry kids", Sammy (Samuel Adams), Sasha, Nemma, Padfoot, Yonva and Lily-Lu. She says the land captured her and the home welcomed them. She instantly knew they found a place that had always been cherished by the families who have called it home. Living in the center of a large Amish community, they appreciate the reminder to slow down and nurture their surroundings.

Quote:
"Whatever is material shape, past, future, present, subjective or objective, gross or subtle, mean or excellent, whether it is far or near - all material shape should be seen by perfect intuitive wisdom as it really is: "This is not mine, this I am not, this is not my self." Whatever is feeling, whatever is perception, whatever are habitual tendencies, whatever is consciousness, past, future, present, subjective or objective, gross or subtle, mean or excellent, whether it is far or near - all should be seen by perfect intuitive wisdom as it really is: "This is not mine, this I am not, this is not my self."
Zen Quotes by Buddha Gautama (born 563 B.C.)

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