Reflections on a Saturday...

Our church is all about outreach.  If you've followed this blog for any time at all, then you know this already.  One of the things we are going to do to reach out globally is a monthly flea market.  So today was the first stab at this little undertaking.

First of all, I am well aware that it's no "little" thing.  There's all the collecting of stuff.  There's the sorting.  Pricing.  Setting up.  Etc. Etc. Etc.  But our church is filled with people who love to give so the team was large for this project.

It was a HUGE success!  I am still no fan of trying to make money 25 cents at a time.  And I really hate it when someone seems to want to bargain down a nickel or so.  But this was a slightly different flavor.  People knew it was for girls in Belize today.  So, in some cases, people even donated EXTRA money than their treasures cost!  I loved that!

Perhaps my favorite story of the day, though came from this little guy.  I do not know him, but isn't he cute??  He came to my table with his two quarters in hand to buy this train.  He was holding it as if he just bought pure gold.  So I walked over and asked him if I could take his picture with it.  He agreed.

I said, "You and Thomas smile!"  He stopped.  Looked at the train.  Looked at me.  Then said:

"He IS smiling already!"

I replied, "OK, you smile then!"  And this is the precious little picture I got.  His Grandmother came over to me just after this little photo exchange and told me that he started preK this week.  When his mother asked him how the first day went, he replied:

"I TOLD Miss A [his teacher] the whole alphabet, my name AND I counted for her AND she still wouldn't let me come home!"  I almost laughed until I cried right there.  I LOVE that little spirit!

On another "garage sale" note.  I was taking money and this lady walked up and said, "Aren't you Susan?"  While checking my mental filing cabinet and trying to figure out WHO she was, I said "yes".  She then said, "I used to cut your hair."  As it registered that she is the lady that cut my hair more than a year ago and I haven't been  back, I wanted to CRAWL UNDER the MONEY TABLE!  No.  I wanted to PAY HER to take her stuff.

Am I the only one who hates to switch hair dressers and feels like it's close to divorce?

The rest of the day has been pretty quiet.  Football is playing in the background.  I'm trying to get the kitchen back together and the boxes put away.  And all is well in our world.

Hope yours is also well!

More "Where We've Been..."

And for part II of our time away, the kids and I headed over to Ohio to celebrate my Grandmother's upcoming 90th birthday! On our way over, we stopped to pick up my Mom and DS 2.
We had a lovely "pizza buffet" out at my Aunt Sandy's our first night in town. I'm telling ya' this crew can put away some pizza! It's always so fun going out there and hanging out at her place in the country. Relaxing and filled with fun and laughter.
DH flew his own plane up on Friday to join us. He spent time taking everyone who wanted to go for a short ride around the city and country. Here you see DS 3 and my brother SQUEEZED into the back ready for flight!

Here's the crew meeting the plane after a flight. I think in all there were four flights that day filled with happy passengers!

And later that evening, we gathered back out at Aunt Sandy's for Hot Dog cookout and more visiting.

Now one of the things we love to do when visiting our hometown is to go to the cemetary. It's just so inviting and interesting. We visit the graves of our family members that have gone on before us. This year, we found something new waiting for us there...DSs 2 and 3 thought it was a HOOT and decided to model the sign for us. For those of you who can't make this photo bigger, let me tell you the sign says: "Special Offer: Buy one grave, get the second grave free." So here the boys are showing you who ended up with the FREE one:

On Sunday, we met at a local park for the picnic to celebrate my Grandmother's upcoming 90th birthday. Here is a picture of her immediate family with children, grandchildren, and great grandchildren....This is only a fraction of the people who attended this special event for this very special lady.
Here's my grandmother, in the chair with her sister.
Here is another treat we got over the weekend...we got to my brother Dan's new GF. It's so neat to see the two of them enjoy each other and be so happy!

So there you have it....Parts 1 and 2 of "Where We've Been...". Hope all's well in blogger land!

As Another Week Closes...

What an interesting week we've had!

After driving back from our trip to the beach last Saturday, it was pretty much back to the daily "summer grind".

LG began Dance Camp. One of our goals is to help her find ways to move and avoid being sedentary. She LOVES the stage and performance, so this seemed like a logical choice. It has been so positive for her. The week culminates in a mini-show that all the campers put on for their parents. There is no question that she loves performing and all that goes with it. So, I'd say it was a great match!

DS 3 and I drove to Miami last night to pick up my DS 2 and his GF and a crew that has been on the mission field in Nicaragua. They had plenty of room for either bodies or luggage, but not both. So, DS 3 and I carried the luggage home and they carried all the youth home.

For us, this is a 3 and 1/2 hour trip to that airport. DS 3 drove and did a great job. I told him I did not want him driving in Miami, but he did fine all the way to the airport.

When we arrived at the airport, I realized that we also needed to figure in the customs process. UGH! It wasn't long before we saw ONE youth come out and he basically said, "(Your son) had to get the full search. So they are back there." This youth was meeting his Aunt at the airport and that's why he came out.

So we waited. DS 3 and I had a great time making up stories about each person who came through the customs hall. We decided what country each one had been visiting and their business there. It was profiling at it's finest! But made for some good laughs between the two of us.

DS 2 and crew came out not long after we saw Youth 1. They were tired and worn and the kids were demanding Chick-Fil-A of all places. Thank goodness for GPS! We found one and took them to supper.

One other experience made my week interesting. I went to volunteer in my friend Debra's summer school class of 7 preK Autistic children. These kids range where they are on the Autism spectrum, but honestly most are significantly non-verbal and others are quite physical.

I was only in there an hour while another teacher modeled a lesson, an aide helped all the kids bathroom and/or change diapers, and Debra, a teen volunteer and I helped kids sit in their chairs as they learned to reply with a yes/no to a question. Then I helped them walk to lunch. It took all I had just to hold two kids hands and get them to lunch!

I have to say it was a very humbling experience! These children are precious. They are time intensive and needy in a different sort of way. It is evident that most, if not all, would benefit from a 1:1 aide. That simply isn't going to happen.

It was an important reminder why I don't have my Exceptional Student Education certification. It's simply not my calling. And it's also a reminder just how special each person who has the will, passion, and stamina to work with them is a special gift for that child.

That's it from my neck of the woods!

When Summer comes...

May 12th was the last time I blogged. I don't know what is wrong with me. Well...I do know some of it. I'm busy. Life is changing. Nothing horrible or life-changing...just changing and I guess I don't deal as well with change as I used to. Anyway, it's not an excuse...My DS 3 gives me the "nudge" every so often. And I really WANT to catch up on it. So here's my first summer attempt to do so:

Although life is changing at home as the kids grow and change and as we prepare for LG's adoption, the biggest change for me this year is at work. My boss, who I have worked with for the past 9 years, will be working at a different school in the Fall. I've known it since March when he announced it, but June brought with it a reality that was very hard to take.

As I've processed my career and the people I've worked with and for, he's definitely at the top! I've worked for 11 principals in 25 years. That's a lot of personalities and people. Since I've done it before, then it should be "no big deal"...but, at our school, we are a family. So it's kind of like a family member moving away and preparing for one that you don't know. As I've reflected over the past nine years, I can honestly say I've grown more professionally than ever before under his leadership. For that, I will remain forever grateful!

In other "start the summer" news...DS 4 graduated from 5th grade. Here he is...my long haired lover from Liverpool(Can anyone else hear Jimmy Osmond singing that song?)...seriously, he's my soon-to-be-middle-schooler. To say it's hard to believe is an understatement. I'm proud as a peacock of all my kids and so glad this one has hit this milestone! On the LG front...her Mother has surrendered her rights and we will begin the process for adoption very soon. This is a little different than it is in some states. We will maintain contact with her family even as she becomes a part of ours. This means navigating the waters is quite interesting.

Her summer started off with an exciting event...her first dance recital! Here she is ready to go. It was fun to watch her on the stage! She LOVES IT! Her Grandmother and bioMom were there to watch it with us. I think she liked that. Honestly, though, I think nothing pleases her more than having DS 3 watch her. These two are like two peas in a pod. They think alike. They process alike. They have some of the same quirks and the same sense of humor. It's fun to watch them develop their sibling relationship. Here they are after the recital...

The day after the recital, DS 3, LG and I headed up to Panama City (a 7 hour drive from here) for a week on the beach with 14 members of our family. We were happy to see DS 2 and his GF up there (even if it's only for a few hours). These two are spending this week in Nicaragua on a mission trip. This is their second time in Nica in just over three months. To say their hearts beat for this place is an understatement. DS 3 and I will go pick them up Thursday at the airport. It will be exciting to hear the latest update on their work there.

I forgot that I had a LOVELY "Girls Night Out" with two of my dearest friends, Debra and Sandy. We went to see Comedian Chonda Pierce. She's an absolute riot! We laughed. We cried. We enjoyed our time to escape a bit...I'm so thankful for all of my friends who bring me such joy on a regular basis!

Back to "beach news"...this trip was with my Dad, StepMom, two Brothers, SIL, two nieces and a nephew, my Mom, and my crew. DH flew my Dad up on the second day. He stayed with us a few days and flew back to work. It was very relaxing and "tar-ball" free...as all week long people were worried about the oil spill hitting the beach. The best part was our nightly trek out to the sand to watch the sunset. BEAUTIFUL! And relaxing!!


Seven days later, we came home. No one was lobster-looking thanks to the 200 cans of Sunscreen we purchased!

It was fun to see DS 1 (who was unable to join us) on the way back. We stopped and had lunch with him and retrieved my Mom's dog. He was an awesome dog-sitter for the week.

As summer has ramped up into full gear...I find myself reflective. I am counting my blessings!

I hope this summer you find time to also count yours!

Happy Mother's Day...

Wow! It's definitely been a Mother's Day Celebration to remember! DS 3, LG and I went to Tampa last night to take my Mom out to celebrate. Here we are at Outback Steakhouse...one of my favorite places:


LG wanted us to take this picture outside....I thought it was sweet!

When I got back home, DS 4 surprised me with this cake he decorated just for me. He and DS 2 worked together to get up to the store where they were decorating them and have it done. I LOVE IT!

Since I forgot to take a picture of DS 4 WITH the cake...here we are at church this morning...


Here is LG giving me her sweet gift...a decorated pen and holder that I will treasure. It came with a beautiful card that she made. So very sweet!

And here's DSs 2 and 3 and I at church together this morning.



It took us a couple of tries to find a restaurant since a couple of our favs were closed...but we met DS 1 at Red Lobster and had a lovely meal together.

DS 3 and I finished the afternoon with a trip to Goodwill (where he picked up some "new" vinyl records and I searched for treasures) and then Target.

I'd say it rounded out pretty well! I love my guys and my gal so much! It's a treasure to be their Mom!

There's Often No Convincing them...

When you're a kid, you don't believe it. Even my adult children don't always understand it. There is nothing like the worry a Mother feels when her chicks are not in the nest...and she's not sure where they are!

DS 4 has hit the lovely middle school ages (for the record, these are not my favorite)...today he's out playing and I cannot find him. So here I sit. Worried sick. Blogging to pass the time while I wait. DSs 2 and 3 are out looking for him again. While they may necessarily understand what it does to me or why...they at least have reached the place where they know it's in the "Mother DNA".

It's always at these times I feel the urge to call my own Mother and ask her forgiveness for all the nights I came home a bit late and didn't call. I know she had her moments of panic.

I think it's how we're wired. And no amount of rewiring is going to change it.



{Edited to add: We found him. Actually, his brothers did. Still he doesn't get it. My only hope is that someday he will.}

Silly Bandz are...

Silly!

I remember seeing these on the office supply store shelves not long ago. I eyed them with my "teacher eye" thinkng I might think of something to do with them in the classroom. BUT I looked at them, thought they were overpriced, and continued my shopping journey.

Fast forward a few months and they started showing up on DS 3's wrist after school. It seems the high schoolers started wearing them and trading them at lunch each day. Now they've trickled into the elementary school and kids are wearing them by the armfulls!

Today as I bought a set for DS 4 and LG, I thought "I can't believe I'm doing this...giving in to the fad." While in the store, another Mother saw me and said, "You aren't by chance here for shape bracelets?" I told her we were and she said, "Let me guess, they're out TOO." I said, "No, they have them right there." And she sighed a huge sigh of relief as she told me that they'd been to multiple drug stores looking. I couldn't believe it!

But then I remembered all the fads I've seen come and go...jelly bracelets, beanie babies, and trading cards of all sorts.

Although I think they are silly, they will be fond memories for these kids someday when they recall trading them. Now if we could just find a different set or two to trade!

Shine on Me Sunshine!

I think it's finally going to start warming up here in Southwest Florida! I have to say that we are used to sweatbeads rolling down our foreheads in the mid to late afternoons by now. This year, we're still in long sleeves and jackets! It's nuts.

We had a busy weekend at our house. I know, you're suprised, right? Those of you who read this blog regularly know that's pretty much the MO of our lives. Here's an update:

Friday night I went on a sunset boatride in honor of a colleague who died in the Fall. She really wanted people to have a party and celebrate her life, so that's what they did. It was a nice tribute to her. But, I have to say, it was COLD on the water! I kept telling myself that I weathered several scenic boat tours in Alaska in much colder weather. Still, I was thankful for the bottom floor of the boat (which was enclosed). There were about 50 of us there. I am so thankful for the "family-like" atmosphere in which I work! It is a very special group of people who truly care about one another.

Also Friday night was the funeral for our friend who died last week. I did not get to go, but they webcasted it, so I was able to watch it on Saturday. What an amazing turnout for her celebration of life! There were more than 1000 people there. I know it may sound strange, but I often wonder if these people with large funeral attendance really knew the impact their life had on the world. My guess is that very few of them would guess that so many people would turn out at their funeral and in many cases, they'd never be able to predict the kind words or special rememberances that are given as people talk about a life well-lived.

Saturday, DS 2 left for Nicaragua. He is there this week with a team of college students on a mission project. They are working in a dump, doing a VBS, and playing with kids in an orphanage there. Please be praying for their mission and trip in general. It is so exciting to watch your children catch that fire and desire to get out and help others!

Saturday afternoon DH and I threw a picnic for LG's family--including her siblings, an aunt, their grandmother, and other foster parents. It was LG's older brother's birthday, so it was quite special. He is such a great young man. He's the one that started my affinity for this family. I taught him in 2nd grade and mentored him throughout his remaining elementary school years.

The pictures above show some of the kids enjoying each other's company. It was a special time for LG. I asked her to name her favorite part when we were done and she said, "EVERYTHING!"

DS 1 is coming home this week for Spring Break. I am excited to have him around for a few days. We finally went and bought a futon so he would have a place to sleep at the house! DH and DS 3 helped put it together yesterday. I had to laugh because LG was picking music from DS 3's iPod to entertain them while putting it all together. I heard many songs flowing out of that room, but my favorite still has to be the themesong from Cheers...when they started singing at the top of their lungs:

Sometimes you wanna go....

Where everybody knows your na-ame!

And they're always glad you ca-ame!...

Cracked me UP!

In the midst of futon assembly, DS 4 came running from the backyard demanding everyone stop and come see what was there. Remember when I told you last week that I don't spend enough time there? Well, just LOOK at what he wanted us to see...

This giant little guy is about 3 and a half feet long. He was sunning right at the edge of our backyard and the pond! Of course, I am praying that this is all the further he comes...but I WILL be watching before I just up and go enjoy the beauty that is back there!

So that's an update from our neck of the woods! I hope you all have a fabulous week!

Deep Thoughts for a Wednesday....

This morning DS 4, LG and I were on the way to work, DS 4 and I had an interesting conversation:

As we passed under the interstate, DS 4 said, "Mom, you know how homeless people sometimes crawl up in the slope of the bridge and sleep?"

I said, "Yes."

He said, "I don't think you could get a peaceful night's sleep like that. I mean it must be so loud. I wonder how many of them go deaf or at least hard of hearing."

I told him that I wasn't sure about that, but I was sure it would be hard to sleep with traffic passing overhead.

Then he said, "I wonder what dreams they had as children. I mean it must be really sad to be homeless and know that they probably dreamed big when they were little."

Yes, son, that is quite sad.

I teared up...not so much because of broken dreams of the homeless...but because this young man has such a heart of compassion!

The song that is making it's way through my heart and mind today is Leeland and Brandon Heath: Follow You.

Leeland - Follow You with special guest Brandon Heath (official video) from Provident Label Group on Vimeo.

I know it's not Wednesday, but....

I wanted to be a bit more "wordless" today! Here are a couple of pics that make me smile:

:

More Stories from "The Lot"

As I work in our school's parking lot each morning, I get to have conversation with kids and parents. But the best conversations are from the patrols who serve there with me!

Today A asked us all, "Have you ever tried to predict your future?"

Some answered, "Yes." Some answered "No." And others said, "HUH!?!"

He continued, "I did it the other day. And it told me that I am going to be a dentist." I confess at this moment, I noticed the spaces between his own teeth and I thought, "That's a good thing." Never wanting to leave us hanging, and not missing ONE breath, A continued: "And then I tried to predict my salary. And do you know what it told me I would make? 2000 dollars a.....YEAR!"

He paused here to wait for my "Wow!" And when I was still trying to process that he thought he just told me he was going to make a million dollars a year, he said, "I mean do you understand what that means? I am going to be a SPECIAL dentist!" (As my mind went right to missional work--he went on....) "I mean I might be like THE personal dentist to the President!"

Not wanting to burst this young man's bubble, I said, "Yeah, you could be the President's personal dentist. And I am pretty sure they make MORE than 2000 dollars a year."

He shouted, "All RIGHT!"

I think A's going to have a great day basking in his prediction. I know I'm going to have a great day just thinking about the innocence and dreams of young children.

I hope you have a great day too!

Kids say the cutest things!

School started back on Monday. I love this time of year! It's the time when we get to usher new "little people" into their "home away from home" for the next few years. Kindergarteners are often wide-eyed and eager. Would that we could all get a spark of that once-in-a-while.

This morning, I was walking through the halls to do my "rounds"...making sure everyone was where they needed to go. This darling little girl with pigtails and beads all over her head was "late". So, I told her to come with me to get a late slip in the office.

She said, "Is we going to play games?" I said, "No, we're just going to go tell the office you're here and then you get to go to class to play." She said, "OK."

I asked her name and she replied, "T____ B____." Because her name sounded familiar to me, I said, "Do you have a sister?" She asked, "A bigger one?" I said, "Yes." She replied, "Yeah." I said, "What's your sister's name?"

She hesitated. She stopped. She put her finger on her head like she was thinking hard.

I was thinking, "Good night, SURELY she knows her sister's name!?!?!" She finally said, "I can't remember her name, but she sits next to me every Sunday in church!"

I finally figured it out...she doesn't have a "sister" as in a human relative, but in her church they call all the ladies, "Sister so-and-so". I have to say it gave me a chuckle!

After we got her late slip, she said, "Are we all done?" I said, "Yes, we're done." She said, "Whew! I thought I was going to get a SHOT!"

I really wanted to reply, "No way, Sister!"

What's a Little Wind?

We reached the festival grounds early Saturday morning. The sun was hidden behind the clouds, but we knew it wouldn’t be long before it popped through and stayed for all to enjoy. The wind blew as if to cry out to all who were outside, “I AM March!” Still, the vendors set up their wares and their information tables ready to serve the community and enjoy a beautiful spring day together with outside.

We were armed with seed packets, seed pots, and the beads and stickers to decorate them. We set up our information booth, with three display boards, just in case adults had questions about our church. This was just one of many of our church’s spring outreach events here in the community.

The wind doesn’t really gust here much in March. Really, it rarely gusts on a day when it’s pretty and sunny outside. We do live in hurricane alley! We get our all day wind gusts from June 1st through November. Not March. This day, though, was different. It didn’t just blow a little every now and then. It BLEW steady all day long with several bursts of air that were like those we get when a hurricane looms. (We later learned there were bursts of up to 42 mph. at times.)

It wasn’t long before one of our display boards blew over. Good grief it almost flattened a silver-haired festival attendee! All I could think was “Thank GOD it missed her! We’d have had to pay more than our entrance fee to this festival for THAT fiasco!” We shuffled things around, rescued some of the cool things that we have to share, and reorganized again trying to beat the wind at her game.

It wasn’t long until we removed the “event-required” plastic table covers from our tables. They were annoying anyone who stood near as they flapped around their legs. Then we made a run to a near-by church member’s house to get heavy glass bowls to replace our plastic craft containers that kept blowing off the tables. Each adjustment made the presentation look a bit more sparse when compared with the initial look, while also making everything less palatable for workers and visitors.

Our seed pots, which were made of pressed cardboard, blew easily out of kids’ hands as they tried to decorate. I can’t tell you how many flower shaped sticker backs have now blown into the cow pasture despite our best efforts to peel and throw away immediately! One little girl saw a bead fly and said, “Oh no! What if an animal eats it?”

Another little boy, whose Mother told me was Jewish, sat on the ground and picked up hundreds of tiny little beads after they flew with a huge gust of wind. She told me this was his mitzvah or “good deed” for the day. Maybe, but honestly, I sensed that he may also fall somewhere on the Autism spectrum. Still, he painstakingly picked up every. Single. Bead. I was thankful.

Many vendors experienced broken and/or bent tents/coverings and badly damaged displays. Some lost fliers in the wind gusts. Others were simply frustrated. By 3:00pm it seemed that many of them had had enough and they packed up to head home. We followed as soon as we saw that there really weren’t more than five vendors left at the event.

You might read this and think, “Wow, why DID you stay out there?” or “Why are you telling me this?” Here’s why:

Despite the wind changing our display and the procedure for completing the craft we had planned, and running into a few other little hurdles that had to be overcome, we still were able to talk to more than 200 people that day! We handed out bags of scrapbooking stickers to adults and made the craft with the kids.

When we asked the children passing by, “Do you want to make a flower pot craft?” or “Would you like some bubbles and a Frisbee?” Several people wanted to know “How much does it cost?” We said, “Nothing. It’s free!” They wondered “why?” We were able to say, “Because we want to show kindness to people in the community. It’s our way of saying, ‘God loves you’.” And they would reply, “WOW! Thank you! It’s so neat that you are staying despite all this wind.”

When I was home later that afternoon, wind burned and tired, I thought about these words from Matthew 7:23-25

"Therefore everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is
like a wise man who built his house on the rock. 25The rain came down, the
streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house; yet it did not
fall, because it had its foundation on the rock.”

And to that, I say: “What’s a little wind?”

When "Normal"...isn't!

The teacher called me yesterday and told me that she received an email from the school registrar. She’d been concerned about a student who has not missed a day this year and suddenly has been out for three days. The boy’s Dad is a bit different and makes them toe the line, and then some. In fact, it’s caused concern in the past. The boy, his brother and their Dad are considered “homeless”—although they do have a roof over their head.

The email read something like this: “The boys’ Dad took them to see their Mom in another city about three hours away this past Friday. He told the Mom he’d return for them on Sunday. He didn’t come. On Monday he still didn’t come. By Tuesday, he called and told her he wasn’t coming. She’d have to figure out what to do with them.” Abandoned, in a way. Just. Like. That.

******
He entered our school yesterday; a Kindergarten student who was quite reluctant to be here. There was concern among the staff because he’s living with his “cousin” who is also in one of our K classes. The cousin is rather unstable and a bit whiny. This new boy arrived and the struggle began.

He kicked. He flailed. He cried. He screamed. He broke things. He made it quite clear he did not want to be here. He made it less than an hour and was sent home because he simply disrupted the entire campus.

All I can think is, “He’s FIVE!” Later I learned that his Mom’s in jail. Dad is living with a Stepmother and he, too, has “issues”.

*****
She came to me a few days ago with huge crocodile tears in her eyes. She was visibly shaken and angry. When I asked what was wrong--words flew out of her mouth. It was a “he said/she said” school bus story-knot that I could barely follow.

It turned out there had been a referral for her behavior the day before. She was to take it home and have it signed. Instead, she tore it to shreds. One adult at the school put the shreds into an envelope and explained that she WOULD take it home and show her Mother.

She was scared. Except it wasn’t the normal kind of scared. It was true FEAR. Besides, it was her Mother who told her, “If someone hits you, you stand up and hit ‘em back!” It’s a survival skill she’ll need for her neighborhood and probably for the rest of her life.

I wonder just how you draw that line when they have to learn to survive in a world that I have only briefly glimpsed. It’s a fine line, for sure.
*****
Her Mother dropped her off yesterday in the wrong uniform. It’s not the first time. It won’t be the last. She is dirty and unkempt. Her long blonde hair appears to have been un-brushed for days.

Her teacher saw her in the hallway and asked where she was going. The girl replied, “I have to go get a uniform shirt.” The teacher said, “Where are your shirts? Don’t you have five?” The girl sheepishly responded, “Yeah, I have them, but some are at my Grandma’s and none are clean at my house.”

As the girl headed toward the uniform loan closet, the teacher shook her head and said, “One of our suitcase kids.” She never knows where she’ll be staying from night to night.
*****
He comes to school with his two brothers. They are 10, 7, and 6. There are four MORE brothers (4 and under) at home. Seven boys! They live in a two room hotel room where Dad does caretaking for the manager. The boys sleep on army cots that can be easily folded and stored during the day. They have been given many things by people at the school and in the community. Still, they struggle.

The oldest boy (remember he’s 10) sometimes misses school because it’s his day to “babysit. his siblings.” Babysit? Four young children? That’s right. Babysit.

The three school-aged children are part of a program where they take food home every Friday. A HUGE bag of food! Yet, they have told adults at the school that each family member has to rotate a night going without food so that there is enough to stretch out for the week. When it’s “your night’ not to eat…you are famished by the time you get to school the next day.
****

These vignettes are not "race specific". In fact, of the families discussed above, there are four different ethnicities represented. I could go on and on with these stories. They are part of my everyday life. And these are just a few of which I am aware. They break my heart. Here’s the thing that just rolls over and over in my head, though.

It’s “normal” for them. They don’t know any different type of life.

I can tell you that one thing I have learned in my time working with this population: just because I have a “different” normal, doesn’t make mine more right and theirs wrong. Initially, while working in the inner city of Tampa (which was MUCH rougher than where I am now), I learned that I wasn’t there to “save kids”. I wasn’t there to “rescue them” from their environment, their dysfunctional families, their upbringing. I was there to show them how to be the best young man or woman they could be. I was there to give them educational skills and strategies that would help them.

Some will leave it. No doubt. Some will not. Helping them means giving them tools for survival and hope for their future no matter where that happens to be.

For me, it is my calling. It is what I was designed to do. Every day I am thankful that I have the chance to hug a child that may not have been hugged that day. I have the opportunity to speak positive words into their lives. I have a chance to show them unconditional love. I get to smile with them, laugh with them, and talk with them. I am able to wipe away tears. I get to assure them when they're mad that I still care for them. I get to teach them. I am blessed to work in a place with so many adults who share that calling. It's quite special to me.

For me, there's nothing more normal than that!

Reflections

We took DS 2 out for Sushi for his birthday. It was all you can eat. Well...they may change that rule after MY family ate there, cause I am fairly certain that the restaurant LOST money on this crew. DS 1 at 45 pieces. DS 2--our birthday boy--at ONE HUNDRED pieces! DS 3 didn't do too bad with 61. And I'm pretty sure DS 4 was also somewhere around the 40 - 50 mark! Don't know about DH's count...

It was GREAT fun!

When he heard I was a bit sappy about my DS 2 turning 19, DS 4 said to me today: "Don't worry Mom! I'm not going anywhere. I told you I was planning to go to college online. I'll live at home forever."

I said, "yeah, but what happens when you want to get married?"

He said (without missing a beat), "I'll do online dating!" Uh. OK...

But will there be "online marrying" by then????

You gotta love 'em...

The Mission Field

A couple from our church left Monday for full time mission work in Belize. Their story is an amazing one.

Nelson's Dad and StepMother have already been in Belize for eight years. They care for girls who have been abused in horrible ways. Our church found the Dad and StepMother a little over a year ago and linked up with them to help out where and when we could. His Dad had been praying for Nelson and his wife to come to Belize to help out in the mission. Nelson said he'd help by building a website for his Dad from his home in New York. In the meantime, Nelson and his wife moved to Florida and happened to come in to our church one day. Imagine their surprise when a photo of Nelson's Dad appeared on the screen!

After Nelson shared this story on Sunday, my DS 2 said he wanted to go back to Belize. He and DS 1 were there on a mission trip a few years ago. And he said, "Mom, have you ever even been on a mission trip?" I replied, "You mean out of the country?" I told him that I had not been out of the country on a mission. He said, "Awww, Mom, you HAVE to go!" I told him I might someday. But I also reminded him that I AM on a mission field every single day!

I choose to work at my specific school. Is it the "worst" school in our town as far as poverty and need goes? No. But it's one of the schools with a very high percentage of students and families in need.

I've been sharing about E. For those of you who have been curious, the goose was simply a connection from home. He actually never "used" it here at school. He simply threw it when the teacher tried to give it to him.

He is from a family that may not be considered "in need" by most. I mean they have financial resources and are well-groomed. Yet it's obvious that Mom, who is quite pregnant, is tired. In fact, I'd go so far as to say she's quite worn out!

Yesterday, I sat in a conference with another Mom who by all outward appearances wouldn't "look" like someone who has great needs. Yet the story she told was about her daughter who has been abused in ways that I cannot repeat here. Suffice it to say, this little girl has a seriously LONG road to healing ahead of her.

Last week, there was the Grandma who does live government check to government check and didn't know how she was going to get school supplies for her little girl.

And, there's the family of NINE grandchildren who have been raised by Grandma and Grandpa who were removed from the home just before school started. While I know several kids in the family, two of them simply stole my heart. I've been mentoring one since he was in second grade. He's in fifth grade this year. Last week he asked me if I'd seen his sister, who is in first grade. You see they were separated in the foster care system and he was so worried about her.

Now, he's been moved from the shelter to an Uncle's house and is no longer at our school. When he left, he asked me to promise to keep my eye on her when she comes. His sister showed up for the first time yesterday with her foster Mom.

And when I think of each of these cases and so many others that I simply cannot relate here a thought occurs to me. While I know it's not some exotic place, I can confidently say, "Yes, I've been on the mission field!"

Where's your mission?