Who goes to children's homes?

Are the children here just the throw away kids that no one could take care of? Unequivocally no.  I feel extremely passionate about this.  The majority (as in I can't think of any that aren't, but maybe I'm forgetting) are kids who were dealt lots in life they didn't deserve.  Most are suffering the sins of their parents.  There are SO many hurting children in this world...and quite a few just down the road from you.  While I think international adoption is a great thing and something necessary as well, I hope people don't forget that there are so many hurting children just a few miles from you.

Some of our children are up for adoption, some are not.  Some of our children are state placed, some are privately placed.  They come from all races, all economic classes, divorced homes and married homes and various locations.  Everyone is hurting in some way.  I'm not talking the "my mom said I couldn't wear this shirt and hurt my feelings."  No, this is more the "my mom decided I wasn't important enough and instead of taking care of my most basic needs went and bought drugs instead."  We have kids who have endured abuse and neglect.  But you know what, they're still kids.  They're kids who have dreams about going to college, becoming dentists, becoming engineers...and mostly finding people who just want to love them.  Again, these are NOT throw away kids.  I hope you find some motivation to support the kids here or somewhere else there's a need.  As Christians we need to be the ones showing these kids there are people in this world who are willing to love them, encourage them, pray for them, hug them...

"Normal" Day

Okay, so life here is fun.  Crazy...fun.  At the beginning I kept thinking, okay once we just get into a rhythm and have a "normal" day then I'll feel like I have this under control.  It didn't take long to realize that there is a new standard for "normal."  Normal day here = crazy all the time.

This week we have our house of 7 boys aged 3-18.  Let me just tell you, the personalities in this house are very very different.  Here is a run down of the "day in the life" of a houseparent.  It starts at 6:00 waking up boys that have to be at school at 6:30 for before school tutoring.  That means Greg gets up those that have to go, and then I get up to hang out while he runs them up to school.

When he gets home he gets the coffee going and gets the rest of the school aged boys up.  If the 3 year old is up, I get up too, if not I go back to bed for a little bit. :-)  Greg pulls them out of bed...some are better than others about getting up.  For the record, the boys have already been threatened that if they miss the bus and Greg has to drive them, they have to pay for the gas money!

Once the big ones are off to school we have devo with the rest of the staff in the library.  Then, Greg heads to work, usually weed eating and stuff for the morning.  While he's gone I usually walk the little ones around, sometimes to the park or other times to the "pantry" to get supplies for the day.  Note: The pantry is our food storage building where I go get our groceries from.

When we get back Bethany goes down for a nap, the boys that are here find something to do...play, draw, etc.  I try and get something going for supper and we hang out until Greg gets home at lunch.  We do lunch, tidy, and send the littles off for an afternoon nap/quiet time.  Things start getting really crazy around 3:00 as people start trickling home.  Then it seems like everyone has something they have to do.  Homework, sports practice, projects, studying, chores, therapy, dr appts, banquets, etc.  It's a matter shuttling everyone where they need to be and helping people who need help all the while trying to keep the house in order and get supper on the table.

After supper, the boys finish chores, play in the backyard, finish homework, etc.  The littles go to bed around 8:00 and the big ones stay up until around 10:00.  Finally at 10:00 boys have to be in their rooms, doors closed.  Greg and I head to our room and get ready to start the whole thing over again the next day!

Like I said...fun...crazy fun!