Week of September 17-21, 2007

Daily Hum-Drum

Just a typical week for us--Dylan had a football game Monday night. They played Springville so and whupped 'em 52-0! Go Cougars!!! Dylan got a lot of playing time but no interceptions, pancake blocks are knock-down-drag-out tackles. His friends played great, too and since Jeff offered to do the carpool for the girls so I could attend I sat next to some friends of ours whose son just came back to public school this year from homeschool. He is a VERY sweet boy and a starting offensive linemen. He played baseball on Dylan's team in the Spring so we got to know them fairly well.

Both girls had dance Monday/Tuesday and because of their victory the night before, Coach didn't make the boys practice so when I picked Dylan up from school, he and another friend of his wanted to go fishing. I dropped them off at Shadow Lake. One of these days, that boy is going to turn into a fish, I think!

Wednesday the kids went to church. Brooke is doing AWANA and Kayti is in the Middle School Youth Group at Northpark but Dylan wanted to visit his old friends at Clearview so Jeff and I were running around most of the night.

Thursday, I felt icky all day. I have somehow developed chronic insomnia. I've always been a little more nocturnal than most people but here lately I can NOT get to sleep earlier than 2:30 a.m. for anything! And then, of course, I don't want to get up in the mornings but I have to so...I've been trying some natural remedies to try and help me get to sleep--dimming the lights a few hours before, taking a warm bath, drinking milk, etc. Nothing is working. I don't want to have to start taking sleep aids so please pray for me!

But I feel a LOT better today. We had co-op this morning and then the girls and I took off for lunch and shopping! We got some books from Teaching Things (one of which I am going to try and take back--it's not what I really want after getting it home and looking at it further), Brooke got some ballet shoes at Whoopsie Daisy and we got material and a pattern to make their 50's outfits for the Hop next month. We also stopped by the library to check out a few things, return a few things and make some copies.

Jeff took Dylan and his friend "night fishing" and since they'll be gone all evening, I told the girls they could have a guest over to spend the night. Bri is due here any minute! We'll probably order a pizza, they checked out a movie from the library and we may play some board games and do our toes! In the morning I am dropping Bri off at the school for a field trip (why on Saturday, I've no idea? Just doing what her mom asked me to do!) and then Brooke has track and I'm going to help my cousin clean some houses that her husband built. Tomorrow night it's ROLL TIDE again!

We lead pretty exciting lives, huh? LOL

What God is teaching me

For the past year or so, God has really been teaching me a thing or two (hundred!) about people. I've been contemplating relationships and psychology a lot lately and Monday morning, my devotional was specifically about just that--people!

We tend to treat our human relationships as inconveniences and sometimes they feel like that! But people are very important to God. When Joshua succeeded Moses as the leader of Israel, God commanded him "Arise, go over this Jordan, you and all this people"

Sometimes, especially when a group has a terrible track record, it's easy to question why God still cares for some people. They complain, they disobey and ignore and indulge in sin and not just occassionally but repeatedly. It's easy to get a high and mighty attitude until someone points out the plank in your eye! And when that happens, well, it's like the old addage--the bigger they are, the harder they fall. Believe me, I know this first-hand!

In God's way of doing things, people are NEVER a means to an end--they are they end. Do we treat the people in our lives as inconveniences? Usually! But we need to remember to treat them as important individuals that we need and love and not just our children, friends and family--it's usually (strong emphasis on usually!) pretty easy to do that. But have you ever thought about loving that person or persons that is HARD to love.

I had that experience this summer. Actually with several people. I really wanted to work this summer and make some extra money and as usual, God went over and above my expectations and actually dropped a great job in my lap! He found something that utilized my talents and interests and I didn't even have to go looking for it, they called me! So my friend, Lynne and I spent the summer running a Summer Day Camp. Lynne was pretty much the site director as she has MUCH MORE diplomacy than I could ever muster! LOL And diplomacy is needed when working with inner city families. (actually--ANY families!) My primary responsibility was planning curriculum and activities, etc. But we both ended up pretty much "job sharing" ALL the responsibilities so that we could both better manage the Camp and our own families.

I was excited and thrilled to first get the job but within a few weeks I quickly discovered it was way more work than I ever thought it would be. Not that I couldn't handle it, I just really didn't want to. I had not expected it to be full-time and it turned out to be MORE than full-time. I had to put in way more hours than I ever thought and not just at the Camp. It drained on me physically, mentally and especially emotionally. And I'm sure it drained on Lynne as well.

Many people asked me how I could do that kind of job--working with minority, inner city people. It was hard but not because of the race or socio-economic status of these people. Not even because it was a slightly different culture (remember, I lived in the "hood" for awhile! lol) but looking back and especially after this devotion, I realized that I treated many of these people as inconveniences even though they were true blessings. Oh I was never rude to them. But my heart was, shall we say, "less than pure" when it came to my feelings.

It's not that I didn't realize what jewels a few of these kids were. But I got so bogged down in the day-to-day stuff that I didn't get time to realize what gifts were in front of me. That's often the way it is with the gifts of God, isn't it?

So I thought I might share a few of the "blessings" that I was fortunate enough to receive this summer and I can only pray that I made as much of an impression on them as they made on me. I would love to show you pictures, but unfortunately, the organization that we worked for has a problem with that--it's against their policy or something to do with legality so I can't. But trust me, they are as beautiful inside as out. Also, all names have been changed.


"Joe" is a charmer! He loved to go around singing and not the typical r&b hip hop stuff his peers liked to scream but he would seranade me almost daily with the Temptations! He said that was his special song for all the "ladies". He loved to please, he was smart and had great manners and was definitely one of my favorites among the group of 70+ kids.


"Jacob" is very affectionate, always hugging, always very well behaved. Whenever Lynne or I or any of the counselors needed anything--Justin was right there, ready, willing and able to not only help but to please.

"Ruby" really fits her name. She is a "jewel" in every aspect. I do not have the words to describe what I feel for this child and I can't go into a lot of detail about why I do. All I can say is that she has overcome many difficulties and I just pray that she continues to stay tough, stay loving and keep whatever it is inside of her that wants to be the best she can be.


And last but not least, is "David" I wish you could see his amazing smile! I promise, you never saw that kid when he wasn't smiling and you definitely could not walk past him without giving him a "big hug" as he would always say as he was hugging me. I could be having the absolutely WORST day ever and all it would take is Dex walking up to me with a smile and a hug! I don't think there is a purer soul alive on this Earth. And I mean that!

Of course, there were many more children who were unique and blessings themselves and I'm not sure exactly what it is that made these four stand out to me. I'm sure I'm not the only person (at least, I certainly hope not!) on this earth that knows what treasures they are but if I am, what an honor and a privelege to be the only one!

Will I do it again next summer? I don't know what God's plans for me are next year. So far, He seems to be telling me "no". But if He does lead me back, I promise I am going to have a much better perspective.

The rest of my Bible reading this week reaffirms what God has been telling my heart about people. There are all kinds of relationships. Within a family, there is parent-child, husband-wife, grandparent-grandchild, aunts/uncles/cousins. Every family tends to have a nutcase in it (mine there are several, or rather we all take turns wearing the title!). There are lifelong friends, temporary acquaintances and fleeting encounters.

But nothing is an accident. God brings everyone into contact with us for a reason. We just need to take the time and stop to ask Him what it is He wants us to do for or get from (or both) that relationship. Though it's never too late to realize when you've been blessed, as in my case with my Summer kids, it's also been my experience that the sooner we realize it, the better.

Blessings for a great week!