Saturday, November 22, 2014

Taking a Back Seat

Blogging seems to be taking a back seat to life these days. And after reading some of your blogging posts, it seems I'm not alone.

I think so many moms are now posting on Facebook, asking questions, sharing pics and stories of their day to day activities, blogging just doesn't seem as necessary. I don't post too often, but I like to read about what others are doing. I'm getting annoyed with all the videos though, I want to hear about your lives, your kids. But I can't complain because I don't post about my life or my kids! :)

So, that's why there hasn't been much activity on here lately.

Chuck still hasn't found a job. He's had a few promising interviews and now we're just waiting to hear back. Waiting can be the hardest part.

Beth is getting over a cold. It seems she always gets one this time of year, when the weather changes for real and her nose gets cold and dry. She's better today though and has gone to work, the first time she's been out of the house in 4 days.

Sharaya and Diana just went to see The Hunger Games - Mocking Jay. They both loved it! This is the first Hunger Games movie Diana hasn't seen at the premier in London. She was so disappointed she didn't get to go this time!

Sharaya and Allie went to Disney On Ice last night and had a great time. Allison sure loves her Disney! Of course, so does Sharaya. I still remember her reaction when she got her first Jasmine Barbie all those years ago!

I'm gearing up for our huge Thanksgiving outreach next week. Our church puts on a dinner for the community and we serve approx. 1400 people in three separate seatings. It's free of charge and we serve the homeless, on duty police officers, single people without family in the area, anyone who wants to come and have dinner is welcome. They sit at round tables and are served by a table host who fills their drinks, offers seconds and prays with people if they need it. I lead the Condiment team. We provide the dinner rolls, pickles, olives, cranberry sauce... then after the program is over, we wheel out huge carts of slices of pumpkin pie, complete with whipped cream!

It's an exhausting day, but oh so worth it. A lot of planning and preparation goes into it and that's what I've been busy doing lately. Between work, and laundry and dishes... :)

I think about you all so often and hope things are going well for you.

Monday, November 10, 2014

The Bluff

Chuck was gone over the weekend and Allie ended up spending the night with me on Friday. On Saturday, Diana, Allie and I went to The Bluff. A place not too far from our house, over looking Puget Sound.

We parked at the end of the street and walked down the small path that opened up to the Bluff. There was a young couple sitting on the edge with their feet dangling over the cliff.

Another group of guys showed up and it looked like maybe they were taking their Senior pictures for the yearbook.

The weather was cold, the sky was clear and it was just beautiful.

 

 

 

Wednesday, November 5, 2014

"They Remind Me of Me"

Our Sunday school class was really full this passed weekend, we had 6 students and 4 teachers! We had one 5 year old and the rest were 12, 15, 20, 21 and 30.

We had a teachers meeting last night and one of the things we talked about was possibly needing to split the class into two, younger and older. There are 2 other preschool / Kindergarten aged kids plus a 5th grade boy (I'm SO thankful they all didn't show up on Sunday!) so separating the students would give us two relatively good sized groups.

One of the teachers asked what Beth thought about having such a diverse group each week. I'd never thought to ask her so this morning I did. She was eating her bowl of Cheerios and I asked her if she liked having the different age groups in our class. She said no, that she only liked having the little kids. When I asked her why she didn't want the older kids in our class, her response surprised me. She didn't hesitate in her answer, "They remind me of me."

I'll admit I was a little stunned. All sorts of thoughts ran through my mind and then Chuck asked from the living room, "Beth do you like the little kids better because you feel more like a teacher with them?"

"Yea."

"And with the older kids, you feel like you're just a part of the class?"

"Yea."

At that point her bus arrives so I wasn't able to ask her any more, but I've been thinking about this all day. They remind me of me. I wonder if it's like watching yourself in a mirror as you go about your day, seeing everything you struggle with played out right before your eyes? Like when you watch yourself in a video and see all your inadequacies?

Do any of the other kids feel like this? What can we do to change it?? I've got to find a way to help them see themselves the way God sees them, amazing, caring, beautiful people with gifts and talents that He wants to use to bless others.