Tuesday, November 11, 2014
Bathroom Concerts
Thursday, November 6, 2014
Hello, Grace!
When I moved to Sun Valley last year my study Bible was lost in the move. I've searched for it and unfortunately it's still missing. While on fall break visiting friends I went to the Christian bookstore. I had about $30 to spend and as you know, that doesn't give you many options while picking out Bibles, but I was hoping I could find a study Bible in my price range.
Unfortunately, the Bibles were, well, Bible prices and double my price range. While I was standing in the aisle I was praying and asking God what I should do. I didn't have money to get a more expensive Bible, but I really felt I needed to get a study Bible. I have a few compact Bibles in different versions, but the study Bible was one I've been thinking about for my personal devotion time. I was about to just give up and leave the store figuring this wasn't the time to get a study Bible when an employee asked if I needed help. I explained I was looking for a study Bible and I only had $30 to spend. He giggled knowing the price of the Bibles. He then remembered a study Bible was on sale, but couldn't remember the price. We went to the other aisle only to find out the sale ended a few days earlier. He then tried to sell me other Bibles (out of my price range) and electronic options. I explained I lived in a place where internet isn't as strong as other areas, so an internet Bible isn't going to work. I also explained I was a missionary and unable to spend more than $30. He said he was sorry, but there was nothing he could do to help me when all of a sudden a woman apologizes for listening to our conversation and asked if she could transfer her store reward coupon of 30% off to me. She explained she didn't have the coupon with her, but asked if she could use her store reward card to look up her account. The employee had her go around the counter to use his computer to look up her account.
My hopes were up and I was thanking God for sending this woman to help. I watched her sign in and see "Hello, Grace!" on the computer screen. I thank God for Grace and the grace He's given me. When the employee notices her 30% coupon had expired and was no longer available. I went from very excited to understanding this just wasn't the time to get a study Bible. Then the employee says, "Wait, you have another coupon of spend $50 and get $20 off." The study Bible I was holding was $50. I was able to get my study Bible and I'm so thankful for Grace and God's grace!
Unfortunately, the Bibles were, well, Bible prices and double my price range. While I was standing in the aisle I was praying and asking God what I should do. I didn't have money to get a more expensive Bible, but I really felt I needed to get a study Bible. I have a few compact Bibles in different versions, but the study Bible was one I've been thinking about for my personal devotion time. I was about to just give up and leave the store figuring this wasn't the time to get a study Bible when an employee asked if I needed help. I explained I was looking for a study Bible and I only had $30 to spend. He giggled knowing the price of the Bibles. He then remembered a study Bible was on sale, but couldn't remember the price. We went to the other aisle only to find out the sale ended a few days earlier. He then tried to sell me other Bibles (out of my price range) and electronic options. I explained I lived in a place where internet isn't as strong as other areas, so an internet Bible isn't going to work. I also explained I was a missionary and unable to spend more than $30. He said he was sorry, but there was nothing he could do to help me when all of a sudden a woman apologizes for listening to our conversation and asked if she could transfer her store reward coupon of 30% off to me. She explained she didn't have the coupon with her, but asked if she could use her store reward card to look up her account. The employee had her go around the counter to use his computer to look up her account.
My hopes were up and I was thanking God for sending this woman to help. I watched her sign in and see "Hello, Grace!" on the computer screen. I thank God for Grace and the grace He's given me. When the employee notices her 30% coupon had expired and was no longer available. I went from very excited to understanding this just wasn't the time to get a study Bible. Then the employee says, "Wait, you have another coupon of spend $50 and get $20 off." The study Bible I was holding was $50. I was able to get my study Bible and I'm so thankful for Grace and God's grace!
Tuesday, September 23, 2014
We Are Dorm Moms
In the mix of daily life as a Dorm Mom I've been thinking of different things I could share in my blog. Last year I shared three things on the third (or close to the third) of every month. Considering this is September 23rd and the last time I posted something was in July, I'm guessing this year's blogging will be a little different.
While sharing a cup of coffee with the Dorm Mom Squad (the name we've given ourselves... I'm still working on DMS capes!) we started talking about all the different jobs we have as Dorm Moms. We quickly realized we had something going on here and in twenty minutes we had over 80 job titles and characteristics we possess as Dorm Moms.
Without further adieu the list of all the jobs Dorm Moms possess:
This list may be long and often times we're more than one job at the same time while some jobs are more often than others, but we are always #1 and #83 and here to love on these children.
While sharing a cup of coffee with the Dorm Mom Squad (the name we've given ourselves... I'm still working on DMS capes!) we started talking about all the different jobs we have as Dorm Moms. We quickly realized we had something going on here and in twenty minutes we had over 80 job titles and characteristics we possess as Dorm Moms.
Without further adieu the list of all the jobs Dorm Moms possess:
- Parent
- Counselor
- Warden
- Security
- Maid
- Laundry Mat
- Life Coach
- Interior Decorators
- Artists
- Coaches
- Personal trainers
- Police officers
- Ninjas
- Health Inspectors
- Nurses
- Teachers
- Tutors
- Sunday School Teacher/Youth Leader
- Chefs
- Dishwashers
- Taxis/Chauffer
- Waitresses
- Alarm Clocks
- Amusement Park Attendants
- Judges
- Jury
- Lawyer
- Court Reporter
- Hair Stylist
- Cosmetologists/Manicurists
- Babysitters
- Managers
- Liaison
- Maintenance
- Plumbers
- Fashion Police
- Seamstress
- Comedians
- Box Office/ Concession Stand
- Lost and Found
- P.E. Coach
- Personal Shopper
- Etiquette Coach
- Photographers
- Referees
- Gardeners
- Hall Monitor
- Professional Organizer
- Superheroes
- Healers
- Trash Man
- Donation Collecting Center
- Advocates
- Public Speakers
- Secretaries
- Party Planners
- Banker/Accountant
- Search and Rescue
- Storytellers
- Librarians
- Accountability Partners
- Gift Giver
- Administrative Assistant
- Drug Store
- Clothing Store
- Activities Director
- Exterminators
- Probation Officers
- Entertainers
- Travel Agents
- Safety Inspector
- Bookstore
- Missionaries
- Dictionary
- Loud Speaker
- Stop Watch
- Pack Mule
- Magician
- Arcade Attendants
- Time Management Specialist
- Housing Authority
- Sleep Specialist
- Disciple Makers
This list may be long and often times we're more than one job at the same time while some jobs are more often than others, but we are always #1 and #83 and here to love on these children.
Saturday, July 26, 2014
2014 Summer Presentation
The following is my speech. I was going to edit it to make it easier to read as it is written for me to read and add my own influx and pauses, but as it's nearing midnight and I'd like to post this before going to bed tonight. The following is as I gave it this past summer at 13 churches and for some of the 19 presentations (the other presentations included a slide show and a wool presentation). Also note the Navajo is written phonetically so I can attempt to pronounce it simi-correctly... my apologies to any Navajo who may be reading this blog!
Yaa-te a-ben-eh. Alice yen-ish-yeh. A-héeh-hé na-ha nee-ya-nee-ge. T’ah-a quo-de-go de-né bé-zad ba-a-sin.
Which means: Hello, good morning. My name is Alice. Thank you, I’m glad to be here. This is all I know in the Navajo language.
As you can see I don’t know very much Navajo, but what I do know is at 19 years old I felt God asking me to go. I didn’t know where, but to go. I had just started attending a new church and there was a missions team that was going to a small island off of Australia where a family was translating the Bible. I remember a conversation I had with my then boyfriend about how it’s great and all it is to go half way around the world, but what about the people right here in America? Shouldn’t we help our close neighbors first? Of course we prayed for the team and supported them in their fundraising, but we weren’t going to go.
One would think if we weren’t going to go half way around the world we would start spreading the Good News to our local neighbors, but convinced my boyfriend at the time was leading me in the right direction I followed his lead in not doing anything. For the next six years we focused on making money and planning our future of a lavish, comfortable lifestyle. We had opportunities to feed the homeless, but we didn’t take the opportunity. We had the opportunity to help kids in a rough neighborhood, but we didn’t take the opportunity. We had the opportunity to spread the Good News to our neighbors right here in America, but we didn’t take the opportunity.
Six years later God to call me again and this time the opportunity to go didn’t involve my boyfriend.I went to Japan and God called and tugged at my heart to go... go share His word and make disciples. I called my boyfriend from Japan and told him what God told me. He said we’d listen to God and go, but we’d talk more about it when I got back. When I returned to America the concluding conversation was my boyfriend, and the man I was going to marry, wasn’t going to go, but I could if I wanted. I was confused - how could I be a missionary half way around the world, but my husband would be here in America? God was asking for an answer and I felt I had to tell God, “No, I wouldn’t go.”
Life seemed to go back to normal and we were on our track to our lavish, comfortable lifestyle.
What I didn’t expect was my boyfriend to break up with me and eventually marry his other girlfriend. Our plans were shattered. Wait a minute... MY plans were shattered. I didn’t know what to do. All my plans were wrapped up around my now ex-boyfriend. I didn’t know what to do or where to go. God asked me if I trusted him. Knowing I had other options, but they weren’t good options, I knew all I could do was trust in God. I heard Him ask me to go and this time there was nothing to stop me. I’m going to go where God leads and - at that point - all the doors were wide open and I was in contact with a school in Japan to teach English! My plan was to go back to Japan. I had interviews and all was on track. I was following God and I was headed to Japan.
While finishing my Sociology degree - which oddly enough included a class in Native American history - I found out I didn’t get the job in Japan. I was crushed and wondered if it was something I said during my last interview. I couldn’t pin-point anything in particular, but I must have said something wrong. My mentor told me I could have gone in there and clucked like a chicken and if that is where God wanted me I’d get that job.
I prayed and asked God what was going on and where did He want me to go? I was confused and hurt. After all, I was following Him and trusting God with everything. God just said to wait. The thing was I had no other plan and I still needed to live, and not doing anything wouldn’t help me to eat. God said wait and provided a secretary position in the meantime. I accepted it and recognized God has a plan and although I may not know what that plan is His plan is far greater than any lavish, comfortable plan I can create myself.
I asked God what I should do to get ready for His plan and he said, “Wait.” So I waited, but I didn’t just sit around doing nothing. I worked as the secretary and did little things God would ask me to do. I asked God multiple times a day what I should do and He’d show me. In conversations I’d ask God if I should say something and He’d tell me to stay quiet or to speak. God was training me to listen to Him and I was being trained to follow in every step, thought and word I spoke. For three years I did this without knowing God’s plan.
Then one day my sister showed me a job opening at an Indian school as a dorm parent. I was cautious about the job because I didn’t want to get my hopes up again. I read through the job description and asked God to show me why I wouldn’t get this job - what was the thing I wouldn't be able to do or something I couldn’t do for a long time and find joy and fulfillment. I read through the job description and couldn’t find anything. I filled out the application and a month later I was in Sun Valley, Arizona getting ready for my girls to arrive at the boarding school where the kids only go home every other weekend.
I am now a dorm parent to Navajo girls from 1st grade to 5th grade. I wake them up in the mornings and lead them through our daily devotion of learning about God and trusting Him for all our needs. I help them to understand the donations of clothes, toiletries and toys we receive is a way God provides for our needs. I help the girls with their long, long hair by making many braids and ponytails. After breakfast I send the girls off to school and then start two loads of laundry. After school I give the girls snack and help with homework. We then have free time to play in the dorm, play on the playground or just let my girls be creative. After dinner we have an activity. Then it’s time for showers and bedtime, but not before prayers with Miss Alice - my favorite part of the day because I get to spend one on one time with the girls while we pray and talk with God.
Every day is filled with activities which keeps us busy, but there are always opportunities to share God’s love with the girls. Sometimes it’s as simple as a hug or the rare occurrence of spending one on one time. Other times the opportunity comes in an unexpected way like in the story of Megumi. Megumi came to the school with a history any adult would struggle to cope with, but at nine years old she’s doing the best she can to cope with life altering experiences. Unfortunately her behavior is unacceptable and is causing problems in the dorm. I continually give her grace - getting what you don’t deserve - to show her true love and ask God to give me ways to show her His love through me. I ask God for the one on one time she seeks - even though at the time I had nine other girls to look after.
This particular week had been especially difficult because of Megumi’s attitude and behavior. In addition to her bad attitude she had been refusing to eat for a few days and I couldn’t figure out why. I figured she’d eventually get hungry enough and eat when she’s ready. When she was struggling with her homework one night, and on the verge of giving up, her roommate was cleaning their room and left maybe a half dozen of Megumi’s things to put away after cleaning everything else up without being asked. When Megumi finished her homework I told her she needed to finish cleaning her room and then take a shower. Megumi looked me squarely in the face and said, “I’d rather sit on my bed and cry.” Then proceeded to go into her room and cry on her bed.
I left her to cry on her bed while the other girls finished a movie. At this point I wasn’t concerned about her crying herself to sleep because she could shower in the morning and she obviously needed the extra sleep. What I didn’t expect was for Megumi to start crying louder. When I tried to talk with her she just cried louder. I stood down the hall to keep an eye on the other girls watching a movie while keeping an ear out for Megumi crying on her bed. Megumi then went into a tantrum and started to kick the wall. I stood at her door, just out of sight, to make sure she wasn’t going to harm herself or the wall. She then got out of her bed and cried and threw a tantrum in her closet. She tried to be as disruptive as possible to get the attention of the other girls. She got louder and started tearing her closet apart by throwing her clothes and hangers. I let her know that her behavior was not okay and if she continued she’d have a consequence. She didn’t say anything, but the look on her face showed me she didn’t care.
When the girls movie was coming to an end I quickly realized if Megumi knew she had an audience this would be a lot longer of a tantrum than it needed to be - as if it wasn't already long enough. I went into her room and told her to get on her bed and she needed to be quiet. She again gave me a look of "I don't care!" and threw in a look of "I'm not moving!" I picked her up and put her on her bed - thank you Jesus for the strength! By the time the girls were finished with their movie and were sent to bed Megumi's tantrum had stopped and she had fallen asleep. At this point I wasn't going to push the shower and figured she can shower and clean her room tomorrow morning when I wake her up before the other girls.
The following morning I went into her room and told her she needed to shower and clean her room. She got up and got moving. I left her to get myself ready before the other girls needed to get up. When I went back into the hall to wake the other girls up Megumi was dressed and selectively picking up her room. I wasn't going to force another tantrum and just let her be, but I realized she hadn't taken a shower. I let her know I appreciated her getting up, dressed and cleaning her room, but she forgot to shower. She just huffed at me and crawled on her bed. I wasn't going to play her game and left her room to get the other girls on task of getting ready.
A little while later I was thinking how great it was to have all the girls ready for school and we were going to be early for breakfast - we tend to be a little late in the mornings - but then I realized I hadn't seen Megumi in awhile. Another child peeks into her room and tells me Megumi is asleep on her bed. So much for going to breakfast early! I went in and tried to wake her, but she wouldn’t move. I called the other dorm mom for help in taking my other girls to breakfast while I dealt with Megumi (who was now awake, but not moving).
With the other girls off to breakfast I sat on the edge of Megumi's bed and remind her how I can't help her if she doesn't talk to me. She still refused to talk to me. I told her I'm going to my apartment and she can come talk to me when she's ready, but if she's not ready in the next 10 minutes it will be too late for breakfast. As I'm walking out of the room she told me she needed to return something to me. Not having a clue what she was talking about I told her that was fine - I'd be in my apartment. As I walked down the hall I hear her getting up and moving around. I got to my apartment and tried to look busy, but still tried to figure out what she needed to return to me.
She came into my apartment and I stopped what I was "doing" to see her place an ace wrap bandage on my desk. She then says, "I stole this from you." Not sure what to say, and bewildered as to when she took the wrap and even why, I just looked at her. Her eyes welled up with tears and she began to quietly cry. I knew in this moment her odd behavior in the previous week was associated with this ace wrap she had stolen from my apartment. I knew I had every right to chew her up and spit her out. After all it had been two weeks since the girls had been under a ban of not having access to my apartment for taking things that didn’t belong to them. I started to think of all the things I could punish her with... no special activities, extra chores, 100 sentences... no make that 100 paragraphs!I then realized the guilt this child had been carrying and all she's done to shake it away only to have it weigh heavier and heavier upon her tiny nine year old shoulders. I then thought of God's mercy - not giving us what we do deserve - and opened my mouth to hear the still calm words flow from my mouth, "I'm sad you stole from me, but I forgive you. I love you, Megumi."
Through her tears I can tell she doesn't believe me. She's waiting for her consequence of a punishment. But, today, there is no punishment for she has been given mercy.
My attention is then drawn away by the office calling and needing my attention. When I return to Megumi I find her in the bathroom scrubbing the sink as if she's punishing herself and needing penitence for her action. I repeat myself, "I forgive you. I love you, Megumi." Her tears well up again. I repeat myself, "I love you.” Her tears flow down her cheeks.
We begin to walk to breakfast and I put my arm around her slumped shoulders and repeat to her, "I love you, Megumi." I can feel her shoulders lift and she looks at me with an expression I'll never forget. An expression of understanding that although I had every right to punish her until I couldn't think of anything else to punish her with, I forgive her and it's time to move on.
A few nights later we're at our mid-week kid's program and the topic of the night was mercy. When given the definition and asked what it's called I see Megumi's little hand raise up ready to share what this very personal life lesson she's just learned she says, "When we don't get what we deserve it's called MERCY!"
I thank God I was able to be used as a personal lesson for this little girl, but in addition to her lesson I learned what it's like to extend mercy.
By the way, for those who do not know Megumi is the Japanese name for the American name Grace or blessing. What a blessing it was to have Megumi in my care this past school year... even through the rough times she was still a blessing I got to extend grace upon!
Living in the desert in a community dependent on donations of consumable items, as well as being dependent on those who participate in our Faithful 5,000 program (which pays the bills like keeping the electricity on) and the support of short term missions groups, which we call Work and Witness teams, to help maintain the campus can seem as though we’re in a place more decollate than we already are. Our water is unsafe to drink and we have to daily get drinking water from the filtered faucet about a football field away from the dorms. When showering the water may suddenly stop running and you pray this doesn’t happen while washing your hair! The dorm has bugs and critters and using traps becomes useless because you spend your day catching bugs and critters. You give up the fight and learn to live with the bugs and critters - although my rule is if it doesn’t touch me it can live, but if it touches me it must be killed!
Even with the unsafe water and the bugs and critters - Sun Valley Indian School is a much better environment than where these kids come from - we covet prayers for these children. When the kids go home every other weekend some are unsure of where they are staying and if they will get to see their parents or if they will be left to the care of others - which may or may not include meals and an unshared bed. While away from school some kids attend traditional ceremonies which expose them to spiritual warfare.
For many families education is of little cultural importance. Students in reservation public schools routinely drop out before finishing their basic education. Sun Valley provides a safe, structured Christian foundation. Some families see the value of Sun Valley Indian School, but are unable to provide tuition for their children to attend. The Child Sponsorship program assists these families to send their children to our school. Fifty dollars a month provides the students a quality education, a safe environment: emotionally, physically and spiritually.
I couldn’t imagine being any other place than right where I am right now. I’ve learned when God says, “Go” and I don’t obey I miss out. There are some days more rough than others and it can make having fun difficult, but I know I’m here to love on these girls just like God loves me.
Yaa-te a-ben-eh. Alice yen-ish-yeh. A-héeh-hé na-ha nee-ya-nee-ge. T’ah-a quo-de-go de-né bé-zad ba-a-sin.
Which means: Hello, good morning. My name is Alice. Thank you, I’m glad to be here. This is all I know in the Navajo language.
As you can see I don’t know very much Navajo, but what I do know is at 19 years old I felt God asking me to go. I didn’t know where, but to go. I had just started attending a new church and there was a missions team that was going to a small island off of Australia where a family was translating the Bible. I remember a conversation I had with my then boyfriend about how it’s great and all it is to go half way around the world, but what about the people right here in America? Shouldn’t we help our close neighbors first? Of course we prayed for the team and supported them in their fundraising, but we weren’t going to go.
One would think if we weren’t going to go half way around the world we would start spreading the Good News to our local neighbors, but convinced my boyfriend at the time was leading me in the right direction I followed his lead in not doing anything. For the next six years we focused on making money and planning our future of a lavish, comfortable lifestyle. We had opportunities to feed the homeless, but we didn’t take the opportunity. We had the opportunity to help kids in a rough neighborhood, but we didn’t take the opportunity. We had the opportunity to spread the Good News to our neighbors right here in America, but we didn’t take the opportunity.
Six years later God to call me again and this time the opportunity to go didn’t involve my boyfriend.I went to Japan and God called and tugged at my heart to go... go share His word and make disciples. I called my boyfriend from Japan and told him what God told me. He said we’d listen to God and go, but we’d talk more about it when I got back. When I returned to America the concluding conversation was my boyfriend, and the man I was going to marry, wasn’t going to go, but I could if I wanted. I was confused - how could I be a missionary half way around the world, but my husband would be here in America? God was asking for an answer and I felt I had to tell God, “No, I wouldn’t go.”
Life seemed to go back to normal and we were on our track to our lavish, comfortable lifestyle.
What I didn’t expect was my boyfriend to break up with me and eventually marry his other girlfriend. Our plans were shattered. Wait a minute... MY plans were shattered. I didn’t know what to do. All my plans were wrapped up around my now ex-boyfriend. I didn’t know what to do or where to go. God asked me if I trusted him. Knowing I had other options, but they weren’t good options, I knew all I could do was trust in God. I heard Him ask me to go and this time there was nothing to stop me. I’m going to go where God leads and - at that point - all the doors were wide open and I was in contact with a school in Japan to teach English! My plan was to go back to Japan. I had interviews and all was on track. I was following God and I was headed to Japan.
While finishing my Sociology degree - which oddly enough included a class in Native American history - I found out I didn’t get the job in Japan. I was crushed and wondered if it was something I said during my last interview. I couldn’t pin-point anything in particular, but I must have said something wrong. My mentor told me I could have gone in there and clucked like a chicken and if that is where God wanted me I’d get that job.
I prayed and asked God what was going on and where did He want me to go? I was confused and hurt. After all, I was following Him and trusting God with everything. God just said to wait. The thing was I had no other plan and I still needed to live, and not doing anything wouldn’t help me to eat. God said wait and provided a secretary position in the meantime. I accepted it and recognized God has a plan and although I may not know what that plan is His plan is far greater than any lavish, comfortable plan I can create myself.
I asked God what I should do to get ready for His plan and he said, “Wait.” So I waited, but I didn’t just sit around doing nothing. I worked as the secretary and did little things God would ask me to do. I asked God multiple times a day what I should do and He’d show me. In conversations I’d ask God if I should say something and He’d tell me to stay quiet or to speak. God was training me to listen to Him and I was being trained to follow in every step, thought and word I spoke. For three years I did this without knowing God’s plan.
Then one day my sister showed me a job opening at an Indian school as a dorm parent. I was cautious about the job because I didn’t want to get my hopes up again. I read through the job description and asked God to show me why I wouldn’t get this job - what was the thing I wouldn't be able to do or something I couldn’t do for a long time and find joy and fulfillment. I read through the job description and couldn’t find anything. I filled out the application and a month later I was in Sun Valley, Arizona getting ready for my girls to arrive at the boarding school where the kids only go home every other weekend.
I am now a dorm parent to Navajo girls from 1st grade to 5th grade. I wake them up in the mornings and lead them through our daily devotion of learning about God and trusting Him for all our needs. I help them to understand the donations of clothes, toiletries and toys we receive is a way God provides for our needs. I help the girls with their long, long hair by making many braids and ponytails. After breakfast I send the girls off to school and then start two loads of laundry. After school I give the girls snack and help with homework. We then have free time to play in the dorm, play on the playground or just let my girls be creative. After dinner we have an activity. Then it’s time for showers and bedtime, but not before prayers with Miss Alice - my favorite part of the day because I get to spend one on one time with the girls while we pray and talk with God.
Every day is filled with activities which keeps us busy, but there are always opportunities to share God’s love with the girls. Sometimes it’s as simple as a hug or the rare occurrence of spending one on one time. Other times the opportunity comes in an unexpected way like in the story of Megumi. Megumi came to the school with a history any adult would struggle to cope with, but at nine years old she’s doing the best she can to cope with life altering experiences. Unfortunately her behavior is unacceptable and is causing problems in the dorm. I continually give her grace - getting what you don’t deserve - to show her true love and ask God to give me ways to show her His love through me. I ask God for the one on one time she seeks - even though at the time I had nine other girls to look after.
This particular week had been especially difficult because of Megumi’s attitude and behavior. In addition to her bad attitude she had been refusing to eat for a few days and I couldn’t figure out why. I figured she’d eventually get hungry enough and eat when she’s ready. When she was struggling with her homework one night, and on the verge of giving up, her roommate was cleaning their room and left maybe a half dozen of Megumi’s things to put away after cleaning everything else up without being asked. When Megumi finished her homework I told her she needed to finish cleaning her room and then take a shower. Megumi looked me squarely in the face and said, “I’d rather sit on my bed and cry.” Then proceeded to go into her room and cry on her bed.
I left her to cry on her bed while the other girls finished a movie. At this point I wasn’t concerned about her crying herself to sleep because she could shower in the morning and she obviously needed the extra sleep. What I didn’t expect was for Megumi to start crying louder. When I tried to talk with her she just cried louder. I stood down the hall to keep an eye on the other girls watching a movie while keeping an ear out for Megumi crying on her bed. Megumi then went into a tantrum and started to kick the wall. I stood at her door, just out of sight, to make sure she wasn’t going to harm herself or the wall. She then got out of her bed and cried and threw a tantrum in her closet. She tried to be as disruptive as possible to get the attention of the other girls. She got louder and started tearing her closet apart by throwing her clothes and hangers. I let her know that her behavior was not okay and if she continued she’d have a consequence. She didn’t say anything, but the look on her face showed me she didn’t care.
When the girls movie was coming to an end I quickly realized if Megumi knew she had an audience this would be a lot longer of a tantrum than it needed to be - as if it wasn't already long enough. I went into her room and told her to get on her bed and she needed to be quiet. She again gave me a look of "I don't care!" and threw in a look of "I'm not moving!" I picked her up and put her on her bed - thank you Jesus for the strength! By the time the girls were finished with their movie and were sent to bed Megumi's tantrum had stopped and she had fallen asleep. At this point I wasn't going to push the shower and figured she can shower and clean her room tomorrow morning when I wake her up before the other girls.
The following morning I went into her room and told her she needed to shower and clean her room. She got up and got moving. I left her to get myself ready before the other girls needed to get up. When I went back into the hall to wake the other girls up Megumi was dressed and selectively picking up her room. I wasn't going to force another tantrum and just let her be, but I realized she hadn't taken a shower. I let her know I appreciated her getting up, dressed and cleaning her room, but she forgot to shower. She just huffed at me and crawled on her bed. I wasn't going to play her game and left her room to get the other girls on task of getting ready.
A little while later I was thinking how great it was to have all the girls ready for school and we were going to be early for breakfast - we tend to be a little late in the mornings - but then I realized I hadn't seen Megumi in awhile. Another child peeks into her room and tells me Megumi is asleep on her bed. So much for going to breakfast early! I went in and tried to wake her, but she wouldn’t move. I called the other dorm mom for help in taking my other girls to breakfast while I dealt with Megumi (who was now awake, but not moving).
With the other girls off to breakfast I sat on the edge of Megumi's bed and remind her how I can't help her if she doesn't talk to me. She still refused to talk to me. I told her I'm going to my apartment and she can come talk to me when she's ready, but if she's not ready in the next 10 minutes it will be too late for breakfast. As I'm walking out of the room she told me she needed to return something to me. Not having a clue what she was talking about I told her that was fine - I'd be in my apartment. As I walked down the hall I hear her getting up and moving around. I got to my apartment and tried to look busy, but still tried to figure out what she needed to return to me.
She came into my apartment and I stopped what I was "doing" to see her place an ace wrap bandage on my desk. She then says, "I stole this from you." Not sure what to say, and bewildered as to when she took the wrap and even why, I just looked at her. Her eyes welled up with tears and she began to quietly cry. I knew in this moment her odd behavior in the previous week was associated with this ace wrap she had stolen from my apartment. I knew I had every right to chew her up and spit her out. After all it had been two weeks since the girls had been under a ban of not having access to my apartment for taking things that didn’t belong to them. I started to think of all the things I could punish her with... no special activities, extra chores, 100 sentences... no make that 100 paragraphs!I then realized the guilt this child had been carrying and all she's done to shake it away only to have it weigh heavier and heavier upon her tiny nine year old shoulders. I then thought of God's mercy - not giving us what we do deserve - and opened my mouth to hear the still calm words flow from my mouth, "I'm sad you stole from me, but I forgive you. I love you, Megumi."
Through her tears I can tell she doesn't believe me. She's waiting for her consequence of a punishment. But, today, there is no punishment for she has been given mercy.
My attention is then drawn away by the office calling and needing my attention. When I return to Megumi I find her in the bathroom scrubbing the sink as if she's punishing herself and needing penitence for her action. I repeat myself, "I forgive you. I love you, Megumi." Her tears well up again. I repeat myself, "I love you.” Her tears flow down her cheeks.
We begin to walk to breakfast and I put my arm around her slumped shoulders and repeat to her, "I love you, Megumi." I can feel her shoulders lift and she looks at me with an expression I'll never forget. An expression of understanding that although I had every right to punish her until I couldn't think of anything else to punish her with, I forgive her and it's time to move on.
A few nights later we're at our mid-week kid's program and the topic of the night was mercy. When given the definition and asked what it's called I see Megumi's little hand raise up ready to share what this very personal life lesson she's just learned she says, "When we don't get what we deserve it's called MERCY!"
I thank God I was able to be used as a personal lesson for this little girl, but in addition to her lesson I learned what it's like to extend mercy.
By the way, for those who do not know Megumi is the Japanese name for the American name Grace or blessing. What a blessing it was to have Megumi in my care this past school year... even through the rough times she was still a blessing I got to extend grace upon!
Living in the desert in a community dependent on donations of consumable items, as well as being dependent on those who participate in our Faithful 5,000 program (which pays the bills like keeping the electricity on) and the support of short term missions groups, which we call Work and Witness teams, to help maintain the campus can seem as though we’re in a place more decollate than we already are. Our water is unsafe to drink and we have to daily get drinking water from the filtered faucet about a football field away from the dorms. When showering the water may suddenly stop running and you pray this doesn’t happen while washing your hair! The dorm has bugs and critters and using traps becomes useless because you spend your day catching bugs and critters. You give up the fight and learn to live with the bugs and critters - although my rule is if it doesn’t touch me it can live, but if it touches me it must be killed!
Even with the unsafe water and the bugs and critters - Sun Valley Indian School is a much better environment than where these kids come from - we covet prayers for these children. When the kids go home every other weekend some are unsure of where they are staying and if they will get to see their parents or if they will be left to the care of others - which may or may not include meals and an unshared bed. While away from school some kids attend traditional ceremonies which expose them to spiritual warfare.
For many families education is of little cultural importance. Students in reservation public schools routinely drop out before finishing their basic education. Sun Valley provides a safe, structured Christian foundation. Some families see the value of Sun Valley Indian School, but are unable to provide tuition for their children to attend. The Child Sponsorship program assists these families to send their children to our school. Fifty dollars a month provides the students a quality education, a safe environment: emotionally, physically and spiritually.
I couldn’t imagine being any other place than right where I am right now. I’ve learned when God says, “Go” and I don’t obey I miss out. There are some days more rough than others and it can make having fun difficult, but I know I’m here to love on these girls just like God loves me.
Thank you for your time.
Sunday, May 4, 2014
Goat, Sheep and a Llama
In my backyard is the goat, sheep and llama field. It's sectioned off to confine them in three sections: the barn, around the barn and then the field. During the night they are confined to the barn, but during the day they can be out around the barn or the field depending on if the second gate is open.
I was told by the animal caretaker when I have left over food I'm not going to eat I can toss it over the fence and when they are out in the field they will come eat it up. Sometimes they will be in the field right by my back porch and I'll hand feed them through the fence, but most of the time they are not in that section of the field or are confined to the around the barn section.
Today I saw they were in the around the barn section, but had some stale bread to toss into the field. As I was tossing the bread a gust of wind picked up and the plastic bag went over the fence. I wasn't prepared to go into the field as I was in my lazy day clothes of a tank top, yoga pants and flip flops. I couldn't just leave the bag and contemplated going back in to change when I noticed the gate to the filed was open. I didn't want to chance the goat, sheep and llama coming around and eating the bag, so off I went... flip flops and all.
Let me tell you if you haven't walked in a field in flip flops consider yourself lucky. In order to get to where I tossed the food over the fence I had to walk all the way around to the outside gate and then through the filed of stickers, goat heads (aka bull heads) and goat, sheep and llama poop. I did my best to walk around or over, but there were some areas it was unavoidable. Gross!
I finally get over to the bag and pick it up. I figured I'd hand feed the goat, sheep and llama what was left in the bag when I got back over to the around the barn section. What I didn't expect was for the wind to again pick up and blow the bread out of my hands. I walked to the gate and all of a sudden was surrounded by the goat and sheep. The llama is timid and I'm thankful because she freaks me out. She's not only taller than I am, but I imagine her strength is greater than mine as well and I really don't want to know what it would be like to wrestle with a llama. I know this could be an irrational fear of mine, but it's what goes through my mind every time she comes near. So, here I am surrounded by the sheep and goat and she's getting closer to get a snack. I try to move, but the goat is refusing to let me move. Finally I swoosh my arms and the sheep are startled and move from behind me and I'm able to get around the goat.
I'm headed to the gate to go back to my apartment when I realized I now have the entire herd right behind me and I'm not sure I can get out the gate without one of them getting loose. Remember I'm in flip flops and not willing to chase after a goat or sheep. I then get the brilliant idea to try and outsmart them. I'll walk into the field and then turn and leave hoping they won't follow. Well, they outsmarted me by now nuzzling me as I walk and moving closer to me. I'm out of bread and I don't know how to shake the goat, sheep and llama. I then remembered the food I had originally tossed into the field. So I head back to that spot. I'm now leading the goat, sheep and llama through the field. I felt like shepherd leading the flock - when in reality I'm just trying to outsmart these animals to get back inside so I'm no longer outside in a field in flip flops and lazy day clothes.
We finally reach the food and the goat, sheep and llama go for the food and I'm able to make my escape. When I came back to my porch the goat and llama followed me along the fence hoping for more food. All the while I'm now talking with my newly bonded animal friends that I'll have more next week. Hopefully it won't be a windy day.
I was told by the animal caretaker when I have left over food I'm not going to eat I can toss it over the fence and when they are out in the field they will come eat it up. Sometimes they will be in the field right by my back porch and I'll hand feed them through the fence, but most of the time they are not in that section of the field or are confined to the around the barn section.
Today I saw they were in the around the barn section, but had some stale bread to toss into the field. As I was tossing the bread a gust of wind picked up and the plastic bag went over the fence. I wasn't prepared to go into the field as I was in my lazy day clothes of a tank top, yoga pants and flip flops. I couldn't just leave the bag and contemplated going back in to change when I noticed the gate to the filed was open. I didn't want to chance the goat, sheep and llama coming around and eating the bag, so off I went... flip flops and all.
Let me tell you if you haven't walked in a field in flip flops consider yourself lucky. In order to get to where I tossed the food over the fence I had to walk all the way around to the outside gate and then through the filed of stickers, goat heads (aka bull heads) and goat, sheep and llama poop. I did my best to walk around or over, but there were some areas it was unavoidable. Gross!
I finally get over to the bag and pick it up. I figured I'd hand feed the goat, sheep and llama what was left in the bag when I got back over to the around the barn section. What I didn't expect was for the wind to again pick up and blow the bread out of my hands. I walked to the gate and all of a sudden was surrounded by the goat and sheep. The llama is timid and I'm thankful because she freaks me out. She's not only taller than I am, but I imagine her strength is greater than mine as well and I really don't want to know what it would be like to wrestle with a llama. I know this could be an irrational fear of mine, but it's what goes through my mind every time she comes near. So, here I am surrounded by the sheep and goat and she's getting closer to get a snack. I try to move, but the goat is refusing to let me move. Finally I swoosh my arms and the sheep are startled and move from behind me and I'm able to get around the goat.
I'm headed to the gate to go back to my apartment when I realized I now have the entire herd right behind me and I'm not sure I can get out the gate without one of them getting loose. Remember I'm in flip flops and not willing to chase after a goat or sheep. I then get the brilliant idea to try and outsmart them. I'll walk into the field and then turn and leave hoping they won't follow. Well, they outsmarted me by now nuzzling me as I walk and moving closer to me. I'm out of bread and I don't know how to shake the goat, sheep and llama. I then remembered the food I had originally tossed into the field. So I head back to that spot. I'm now leading the goat, sheep and llama through the field. I felt like shepherd leading the flock - when in reality I'm just trying to outsmart these animals to get back inside so I'm no longer outside in a field in flip flops and lazy day clothes.
We finally reach the food and the goat, sheep and llama go for the food and I'm able to make my escape. When I came back to my porch the goat and llama followed me along the fence hoping for more food. All the while I'm now talking with my newly bonded animal friends that I'll have more next week. Hopefully it won't be a windy day.
My new friend - even though she's still timid to come around
and I'm irrationally afraid of her.
Friday, April 4, 2014
Technical Difficulties
Have you ever had a time where everything that possibly could go wrong has gone wrong? Well, that's my life right now with anything technical.
As if my Cricut not working with my laptop and updating my laptop causes my programs to stop working and need the aid of Apple Care to help me (thankfully they gave me an extended warranty at no charge). Then after all that was settled my Cricut decided to break completely to the point where I have to send it in for repair, but the e-mail with the shipping label doesn't come until twice as long as they said it would.
In the meantime my car has decided to act up and after many hours of testing it's determined it's the alternator. Because you know, I have an extra few hundred dollars laying around unspoken for an alternator. I hardly use my car because of time and the fact I don't have money to shop, but I do need to get groceries and a few items from Walmart on my monthly visit. It's not until I have to either get a ride from a friend or ask a friend to jump start my car that I realize how precious getting off campus even for a few hours can be so relaxing.
While filming a video for the school talent show my camera decided to die. It was dropped three years ago and has worked fine ever since - that is until we're in the middle of filming on a time crunched day.
Well, as if that wasn't enough we had a storm pass through and cause a power outage. The day was really windy and a cold wind at that. In the evening the wind was super crazy and led to a power outage and then it started to snow. I wasn't thinking as I was getting ready for bed and didn't unplug my computer charger from the wall. By morning it was dead. I used the little battery left on my laptop to order a new one, but it won't get here for a week. In the meantime I'm learning just how much I use my laptop. No internet, no newsletter, no blog, no Pinterest, no Facebook, no music, etc.
I went to the office to use the school computer to check my e-mail. I got the shipping labels to send the Cricut in only to not be able to open the file. At this point I'm not sure if I should laugh or cry. I sent an e-mail to the IT guy to see if he could help, but I wasn't holding my breath with all the technical difficulties I have encountered lately.
Then, as the week of technical difficulties (more like month, but this week everything has come to a head) comes to an end the girls decided they just wanted to campout and watch a movie. I couldn't be more grateful - until the TV and DVD player aren't working. I tried everything I knew to get that silly thing to work, but it wouldn't work. Meanwhile I have a group of girls anxiously waiting for the movie and a swarm of ants must have been unleashed in the living room because all my girls had ants in their pants. I was about to lose it, but fortunately was able to get ahold of the IT guy who was able to come and fix the TV and DVD player and start the movie.
In the end the IT guy was able to print the labels and the Cricut will be shipped out on Monday. I was able to order a new (generic) power cord that will hopefully be here by the end of next week and in the meantime I found a coworker who also owns a Mac (which most of the campus doesn't own) and allowed me to borrow her cord for the evening to send out my newsletter and update this blog. My computer programs were updated after a week of figuring out what the problem was and Apple was able to figure it all out after a few days (which was crazy, but at this point I'm glad it was fixed without having to pay for the programs). Unfortunately my car is currently dead, but I am grateful I have friends who will let me tag along on their shopping trips. As far as my camera, well, I can't think about it right now. I have so many other things going on I'm just not going to think of the loss of my camera. The good news was we were able to use another dorm parent's camera to finish the video and now I just need the power cord to finish editing the video over spring break.
I'm learning just how much I'm dependent on technology and living in the middle of nowhere I feel like I'm more dependent on technology than I've ever been (although I'm not fully sure that's the case), but I do know not having technology puts a huge monkey wrench to my day. I would take pictures to physically show what has been going on, but my hair on the floor isn't pretty.
As if my Cricut not working with my laptop and updating my laptop causes my programs to stop working and need the aid of Apple Care to help me (thankfully they gave me an extended warranty at no charge). Then after all that was settled my Cricut decided to break completely to the point where I have to send it in for repair, but the e-mail with the shipping label doesn't come until twice as long as they said it would.
In the meantime my car has decided to act up and after many hours of testing it's determined it's the alternator. Because you know, I have an extra few hundred dollars laying around unspoken for an alternator. I hardly use my car because of time and the fact I don't have money to shop, but I do need to get groceries and a few items from Walmart on my monthly visit. It's not until I have to either get a ride from a friend or ask a friend to jump start my car that I realize how precious getting off campus even for a few hours can be so relaxing.
While filming a video for the school talent show my camera decided to die. It was dropped three years ago and has worked fine ever since - that is until we're in the middle of filming on a time crunched day.
Well, as if that wasn't enough we had a storm pass through and cause a power outage. The day was really windy and a cold wind at that. In the evening the wind was super crazy and led to a power outage and then it started to snow. I wasn't thinking as I was getting ready for bed and didn't unplug my computer charger from the wall. By morning it was dead. I used the little battery left on my laptop to order a new one, but it won't get here for a week. In the meantime I'm learning just how much I use my laptop. No internet, no newsletter, no blog, no Pinterest, no Facebook, no music, etc.
I went to the office to use the school computer to check my e-mail. I got the shipping labels to send the Cricut in only to not be able to open the file. At this point I'm not sure if I should laugh or cry. I sent an e-mail to the IT guy to see if he could help, but I wasn't holding my breath with all the technical difficulties I have encountered lately.
Then, as the week of technical difficulties (more like month, but this week everything has come to a head) comes to an end the girls decided they just wanted to campout and watch a movie. I couldn't be more grateful - until the TV and DVD player aren't working. I tried everything I knew to get that silly thing to work, but it wouldn't work. Meanwhile I have a group of girls anxiously waiting for the movie and a swarm of ants must have been unleashed in the living room because all my girls had ants in their pants. I was about to lose it, but fortunately was able to get ahold of the IT guy who was able to come and fix the TV and DVD player and start the movie.
In the end the IT guy was able to print the labels and the Cricut will be shipped out on Monday. I was able to order a new (generic) power cord that will hopefully be here by the end of next week and in the meantime I found a coworker who also owns a Mac (which most of the campus doesn't own) and allowed me to borrow her cord for the evening to send out my newsletter and update this blog. My computer programs were updated after a week of figuring out what the problem was and Apple was able to figure it all out after a few days (which was crazy, but at this point I'm glad it was fixed without having to pay for the programs). Unfortunately my car is currently dead, but I am grateful I have friends who will let me tag along on their shopping trips. As far as my camera, well, I can't think about it right now. I have so many other things going on I'm just not going to think of the loss of my camera. The good news was we were able to use another dorm parent's camera to finish the video and now I just need the power cord to finish editing the video over spring break.
I'm learning just how much I'm dependent on technology and living in the middle of nowhere I feel like I'm more dependent on technology than I've ever been (although I'm not fully sure that's the case), but I do know not having technology puts a huge monkey wrench to my day. I would take pictures to physically show what has been going on, but my hair on the floor isn't pretty.
Monday, March 3, 2014
March Already... here's 24 facts
It's March? What happened to this year. It seemed like it was just yesterday I was at my sister's ringing in the new year by going to bed early only to be woken up by her neighbors screaming and yelling for an hour. Fascinating new year's eve plans, right?
As if it wasn't enough to already be March, it's the third of March and did I remember to take three pictures of the day to blog about... of course not. I was debating on snapping three pictures quickly and quietly as the girls are already in bed, but as I looked around at the loads of laundry I caught up on after being sick this weekend, the bulletin board letters I cut out with the Cricut, the 24 tights I have hung from the 6 loads of laundry I did earlier (did I mention I was sick and didn't do ANY laundry this weekend including my three loads that needed to be done for the past month because I'm constantly doing the girl's laundry and let mine go until it's absolute necessity for my laundry to be done. It's sad how much clothes I have really.) or I could turn on the hall light and take a picture of the hall that is now clean and talk about how it looked as though the girl's rooms exploded as they changed rooms this afternoon. I realized it's too late to take pictures and all I'd do is complain about being sick this weekend and playing catch-up today.
Instead I figured I'd share some interesting facts about myself. Let's go with 24 interesting facts... after all I just washed 24 tights and although I still have 27 pair in my dresser drawer I'll go with the 24 I have hanging in the doorway drying.
As if it wasn't enough to already be March, it's the third of March and did I remember to take three pictures of the day to blog about... of course not. I was debating on snapping three pictures quickly and quietly as the girls are already in bed, but as I looked around at the loads of laundry I caught up on after being sick this weekend, the bulletin board letters I cut out with the Cricut, the 24 tights I have hung from the 6 loads of laundry I did earlier (did I mention I was sick and didn't do ANY laundry this weekend including my three loads that needed to be done for the past month because I'm constantly doing the girl's laundry and let mine go until it's absolute necessity for my laundry to be done. It's sad how much clothes I have really.) or I could turn on the hall light and take a picture of the hall that is now clean and talk about how it looked as though the girl's rooms exploded as they changed rooms this afternoon. I realized it's too late to take pictures and all I'd do is complain about being sick this weekend and playing catch-up today.
Instead I figured I'd share some interesting facts about myself. Let's go with 24 interesting facts... after all I just washed 24 tights and although I still have 27 pair in my dresser drawer I'll go with the 24 I have hanging in the doorway drying.
- I own 51 pair of tights. I wear a pair every day it's cool enough to wear them (which means in the summer I don't wear them, but might wear the footless tights if I'm going out in the evening).
- I don't like to wear pants. I could go count how many skirts and dresses I own, but that would be weird, wouldn't it? But, for the sake of a number let's just say that if I own 51 pair of tights I own at least half that number in skirts and dresses.
- I color coordinate my skirts, dresses and tights. I have special cascading hangers, so each row of skirts are by color (white, pink/red, yellow/green, blue, brown, gray/black). My tights are folded and sorted by footless/regular and then by ROYGBV(brown/black) in my dresser drawer.
- I make schedules only so I know if I'm off schedule.
- I hate taking out the trash.
- I don't like being dirty or messy.
- I own almost all of the Shirley Temple movies and will watch all of them at least once a year. My favorite is either Rebecca of Sunnybrook Farm or Stowaway - I go back and forth each time I watch them. My least favorite is Blue Bird.
- I just recently bought the first two seasons of Dr. Quinn Medicine Woman. As a child when they first aired I watched every episode on the night they aired. I don't know when I missed the first episode, but I remember I missed it to watch a movie in the theater. I believe the movie we saw was either The Sandlot or 101 Dalmatians.
- My younger sister and I have decided that every 3 years we're going to watch every season of How I Met Your Mother. Although she is much better with references to the show I enjoy a good HIMYM reference. I even bought her a ducky tie for Christmas to wear during our HIMYM marathon.
- I'd like to own a pair of red boots to wear for the HIMYM marathon every 3 years.
- Although I've just mentioned four facts about movies and TV shows, I really don't like watching TV. Sure I enjoy a good game show (old game shows on GSN are the best), but it's more of a background noise as I fall asleep for a nap.
- I'm a vegetarian and although I'm not sure I'll always stay a vegetarian the thought of eating meat makes me gag a little. I don't like the smell of flesh cooking, but will cook it for others.
- I love veggie chick'n nuggets and veggie corn dogs - both are the best with ketchup and mustard.
- Every since I was little I've had a thing for Alice in Wonderland. With the name of Alice and my family being big Disney fans it was only natural I'd like Alice in Wonderland characters.
- Although I like Alice in Wonderland characters I've always thought the movie was weird.
- I don't like scary movies. I don't like the way my stomach gets turned into knots and my heart races. I'll watch scary movies if I have a hand to hold. Oh, and by scary movies it's anything with suspense (remember earlier how I mentioned I just recently got the first two seasons of Dr. Quinn? There were a few episodes where I had to turn it off and then turned it back on in segments because I was too scared - the KKK episode and the one where Dr. Mike was kidnapped by the dog soldiers are two that come to mind... and I skipped the Halloween episode completely).
- I don't mind cooking, but I'd rather cook than clean. Which is a perfect set up as the older girl's dorm mom would rather clean than cook. Stay here weekends are smooth sailing with us doing what we don't mind as the other does what we'd rather not be doing.
- I like surprises, but I don't like waiting for them. If someone says they have a surprise for me I'd like the surprise to come within the next 20 minutes.
- Although it is the weirdest thing to look out my window and see the llama, sheep and goat I think I'm going to miss them if I ever move.
- I miss the beach even though I don't like the sand, sun or ocean. What do I miss... the view, the ocean breeze, the sounds. I love how the reflection of the moon on the ocean looks as though there was a bottle of glitter spilled out over the waves.
- Twenty four facts are easy to come up with... it's the interesting part I'm struggling with right about now. I hope you haven't noticed and found this to be a bore.
- When I was younger I had constant ear infections. If it wasn't one ear it was the other and often it was both ears at one time. Learning to speak with constant ear infections gave me a speech disorder. I had a friend named Joseph, but pronounced his name as Jo-fus. My spelling was not much better than my speech. I was always at the bottom of the reading groups and I hated to read. My second grade teacher told me I was stupid and would never learn (ridiculous, right?). That summer my mom spent the summer working with me and my speech improved (She's a trained ESL teacher and used her skills to help me form my mouth to make correct sounds). Once I was able to understand the letters and the proper sounds they make I went from being in the bottom reading group to the top reading group after just one summer. I still struggle with some sounds, but I talk fast so no one knows I can't pronounce certain sounds (I would note the sounds, but I don't want people seeking out the sounds I still struggle with today).
- It took me ten years to complete my bachelors degree. I went to four schools in two states. Although the student loan that accumulated over the years is not pleasant I wouldn't trade the memories and life experiences for anything... well, maybe that hefty student loan.
- Every time I reflect on my life I think how crazy my life is and the adventure it has been to get to this point in time. However, I wouldn't change a thing. The mistakes I've made have made me stronger and wiser. The life experiences I've gone through have done just the same. Sure there are a few things I wish I noticed earlier, but the timing wouldn't be right. I'd be too immature to move on to the next life event or I'd miss out on the way things have worked out to bring me right where I am at any part of my life. I get excited to think of what more I will experience and I'm all the more excited for who I get to experience it with. Life isn't about what I do, but who's along for the ride and who is impacted.
Well, there you have it 24 random facts in a very random order. I'll try to remember the pictures in April... oh my this school year is flying by! Thanks for coming along for the ride - I hope you were positively impacted. ;)
Tuesday, February 4, 2014
Cold, Organization and SOAP: normal things around here.
It's Just A Santa Ana
On the last go home weekend for the kids S (the older girls dorm mom), L (the assistant dorm mom) and I made plans to go out to dinner after the girls went home. S and L went to the store (45 minutes away) to get their shopping done while the girls were at school. When they returned they told me we couldn’t go out because it was too windy. They explained the trucks were waving as if they were going to tip over and it was hard to keep the car on the road. From the way they explained the wind I’m thinking we’re getting ready for a tornado or something.
I braced myself as I went to pick my girls up from school and there were strong winds, but I thought, “This isn’t worse than a Santa Ana.” I looked up how strong the winds were and they were 25mph with gusts of 35mph. Santa Ana winds are in the 40mph range... this is just a mild Santa Ana wind and not worth canceling our plans.
When I told S and L we could still go out and I would drive they told me they were staying in and they got snacks and a new movie while they were at the store. We ended up watching two movies and making beanies. Although I’m not supposed to tell anyone, S (who is not a crafter) made a beautiful beanie. So, please keep this talent of hers between us. ;)
Last night while walking to dinner it started snowing. I had my winter coat on, but forgot my beanie. It was cold, but I figured if I had my beanie I wouldn’t be so cold.
This morning there was snow on the ground and I remembered my beanie, however, I was still cold. While walking back from taking the girls to school I ran into S and I told her how cold I was even with a beanie. She responds with, “This, oh, it’s just a Santa Ana. This is nothing!” S is from Pheonix, but spent two years in Michigan and is very aware of cold weather.
Touché, S. This is just a Santa Ana wind to your cold Michigan weather.
The Mom White Board
I don't know why it's taken me seven months to get a white board, but boy am I glad I did! I don't know what I did before! With nine girls it's hard to keep track of consequences and rewards. I forget which girls owe me time from open gym or who has to go to bed early or who did extra reading so she gets another stamp on her reading chart. I tried writing things down on pieces of paper, but I wouldn't have a pen near by or the piece of paper would be lost or I'd forget to toss the note and think it was new. Finally I realized I just needed a white board that I could write down the week's schedule and jot down these things that needed to be jotted down. This has been so wonderful! The girls will even come in and remind me of how much time they owe me for not getting their shoes on when told. I'm sure this novelty will wear off, but it sure is helpful!
I have the special activities I transfer from the calendar, but weeks like this where two basketball games were moved or canceled it was nice to just erase and write in the new info. I can also jot down the activities we normally don't have (like the concert and games) that I need to remember. I think as far as things I've bought this has to be one of the greatest investments I've made as a dorm mom. I'm sure every mom out there is thinking, "Duh, you should have gotten this in August!" But, I'm just now joining the white board band wagon and I'm going to enjoy not racking my brain for who's doing what and who needs what.
SOAP Journal
Each morning the girls get ready and then meet in their living room (as opposed to my apartment living room) for SOAP journals. I learned this technique for devotions while I was in college and I like the way it's laid out and easy to remember what to do. SOAP is an acrostic for Scripture, Observation, Application and Prayer. We use the Jesus Calling for Kids daily devotional and while I'm reading the devotion the girls write down the verses in the margin before deciding which verse to focus on. The devotion also helps the girls to understand the verses and the overall topic of the day. I like Jesus Calling for Kids because it puts the devotion into things they can relate to. Often times they will be encouraged to think about their relationships with their friends or parents (I add in dorm parents as that's who they encounter on a daily basis), school, sports and other things that they can relate to. It's really a good daily devotional on it's own, but I like the SOAP method because it gives the girls a chance to personalize what they've just heard. They can choose to show me their journal entry or close it and put their pencil in the spiral which lets me know they don't want me to read their entry for that day.
I wrote out what their page should look like along with explaining what each step meant and hung it in their living room. It took the girls a while to understand what Observation and Application meant, but most have a handle on it now and are able to do their SOAP Journals without help. I do get a lot of "What does this word mean?" questions. My favorite is when one girl asked what testicles means. Baffled and unsure what to say I asked her to show me the word. When I told her it was actually treasure (from Matthew 6:20) she looks at me and says, "Oh, I know what it means now!" Although we've had very candid talks on the birds and the bees being caught off guard was a bit shocking - especially when we're in the middle of our morning devotion time.
The older girls breeze through their SOAP Journals while the first and second graders struggle a bit more. I have one first grader who struggles with writing. When the first grader sat next to me one day I noticed she wrote "God loves me." under her Observation and "I love God." under her Application after spending a significant time writing out the Bible verse I asked her to explain to me what the verse meant. She told me she didn't know. We worked through it verbally and then I asked her what she was going to do to apply this to her life. She again looked at me with a blank stare and said she didn't know. I asked her questions of different ways she could think or act and she responded by adding her own ways to apply the verse to her life. The next day she sat next to me again and I noticed she did the same "God loves me." and "I love God." response after spending a long time writing out the verse. I told her she needed to write out more and to tell me about the verse for "O" and then what she's going to do in "A." She started to cry and told me that it takes too long to write it all out. I told her that this is a time for her to be personal with God and to be honest. I explained that writing "God loves me." and "I love God" is a good start, but she needed to relate to the verse and listen to what God was saying in the verse. I then told her that if it would help she could just write where the verse is found and not write out the whole scripture this way she'd have more time to write "O," "A," "P." She agreed that would help her. The following day she wrote out the most honest, beautiful "O," "A," "P" I had read from the girls. I told her that it wasn't a matter of racing to finish, but to be real with God. If there is one thing I pray these girls take away from this year with me it's to be real with God. Be honest with God and let God guide you.
Thursday, January 9, 2014
Dresses and A Hair Cut
Dresses
My girls were given dresses for Christmas by a friend of mine. For some this is their first dress, for some this is their first new dress with tags from the store, but for all these are special dresses. I gave them to the girls last Wednesday when they saw one in a box and told the others what they saw. I realized this is the last Sunday they will be at the school before they go home for Christmas break and therefore their last Sunday to all wear their dresses at the same time before Christmas. The girls have begged to wear them each day, but I've had to tell them to keep them hung in their closet until Sunday. Last Friday we went to the store so they could pick out tights to wear with their new dresses for this Sunday (another gift by a friend of my mom's). Can YOU imagine the shopping trip with 8 of the 9 girls (one went home for the weekend)??? Fortunately Wal-Mart has the carts with the double seat for older kids and my friend was able to go with us. Between the two carts we were able to get all 8 girls (including the one almost as tall as I am) in both carts by putting the four smaller girls in the baskets. Besides picking out their tights the girls favorite part of the evening was the race between the two carts in the parking lot. Unfortunately my cart lost even when I asked the two older girls to get out and help push. I guess that's what happens when you race with someone with really long legs. Finally, Saturday night, I let the girls try on their dresses and tights so they know what to wear and how it is supposed to look for Sunday. They asked to sleep in their tights and dresses and were so saddened when I said no yet again.At 2:30am I'm awoken by the tears of my youngest. She is crying telling me she had chicken pox. I get up and turn the light on to find she not only is wearing her dress and tights, but she has her hair done up in pig tails which she is unable to do on her own. I check for chicken pox and realize she has dry skin she had scratched on her arm. I tell her it is not chicken pox. Not willing to be convinced I put lotion on her arm and the redness goes away. Still whimpering I walk her back to bed to find THREE girls with their hair done by one another and fully dressed! When I remind them they were supposed to wait until morning they said, "But Miss Alice we woke up and thought it was morning because we can't sleep!" They were so disappointed when I told them they still have 5 hours before the real morning and they needed to go to their own beds.
They've asked why I'm keeping the wrapped presents in my apartment... because you wake up in the middle of the night and dress to the nines and then are disappointed to go back to sleep for 5 hours! I can only imagine if I were to put the presents under the tree!
As far as the chicken pox scare... the older girls saw the redness on her arm and told her it was chicken pox. After tucking her back into bed (in her dress and tights) she asked, "But what are chicken pox?" I explained they were itchy red bumps and they start on your tummy and then move to your arms, legs, feet, hands and head. I think I would have preferred this health lesson to be at a time other than 2:30am, but it's never too late (or early) to learn.
The REAL Sunday morning I woke and turned on the light in the hall (the signal they are allowed to get up, but not make a lot of noise until I come to each room and turn on the bedroom lights). I figured they'd like extra time to do their hair, but wasn't sure who would be up early. When I finished my shower and getting ready myself I go down the hall and only find my youngest in bed sleeping when I turn the bedroom lights on. I finally get to the last room down the hall and find all the girls helping one another curl each other's hair. After they finished with their hair they danced around the hall in their new dresses, tights and the long stemmed fake flowers we have in a vase to decorate the hall. I heard things like, "I'm a princess!" and "I'm a ballerina!" and "I'm queen of everything!"
To say my girls are excited for their new dresses and tights would be an understatement!
Hair Cut
My hair was getting really long and with my thick hair I get headaches when my hair is too long. I wanted to cut my hair in November, but when I casually mentioned it to my girls they all shrieked with a resounding "NO" and some even cried at the thought of me cutting my long hair. I decided to wait.
Before: Long Hair
This past week I realized I'm starting to get headaches from my long hair and should get it cut. I again, casually mentioned how I'm going to get my hair cut soon to my girls. When the one who cried the most asked how short I was going to cut it I let her know, "Very short, because I'm going to give it to kids with cancer." When she found that out she was excited for me to cut my hair... awesome! Not that I was fully letting the girls determine if I'd cut my hair, but I wanted them to be okay with me going from long hair to short hair. Now, when to get my hair cut.
I had decided I'd get it done during their Saturday activity (when the kids stay at the school every other weekend the other staff takes the kids out for 5 hours on Saturday to give the dorm parents a break). Saturday morning I got a text from another staff member asking if I was going to be around to sew up a pair of pants and I told her I could do it that evening because I was getting my hair cut. She mentioned how she needed a hair cut as well, so I invited her along.
Being new to the area I didn't know where to go to get my hair cut, but saw a few places about a half hour away in the small town on the way to the larger town. When we drove by we noticed a few places other than the place I had originally thought of, but they were all closed. We knew we could get our hair cut at Wal-Mart, but we were a little hesitant to getting our hair cut at Wal-Mart. With no other options and time ticking away we knew this was where we needed to go if we were going to get our hair cut that afternoon.
I went in and mentioned how I wanted to donate it and was happy to know she knew exactly what to do in order to donate my hair (I've been to other places that had no idea and wouldn't listen to the way I told them the first cut needed to be done... talk about frustration). I told my hair stylist she didn't have to worry about going too short because I've shaved my head when my mom had cancer and I'm not worried about going from really long to really short. I could tell she was hesitant to cutting it shorter and was trying to keep some length. I figured I'd just let her do her thing and if anything I can always get it cut again another time. In the end I was pleased with her work... simple, but not bad.
After: I like the flip.
After a few days I realized the left side was about a half inch or so longer than the right side. At first I just tried to ignore it, but I couldn't. I had to do something about it, but with my limited options of hair salons I waited until I went to California for Christmas break. I'm glad I was able to get it fixed because I'm much happier with my hair now. When I was younger I never understood why people were particular on where they get their hair cut and who their hair stylist is, but now that I've had a few bad hair cuts (or a little uneven) I have a feeling I'll be coordinating break time with hair cuts from my hair stylist.
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