Help Us Raise Money!!

As you know, I have been in training for the Broad Street Run in Philly. The race is Sunday May 3rd, and it actually looks like I'm going to do it! I really wasn't sure I would make it this far...

When I originally signed up to do the race, it was just for fun. However, I found out that you can also raise money for the American Cancer Society through the race. I figure, I'm already running 10 miles, might as well have a reason for it!

So, I enlisted the help of Paxton (only partly because he is way cuter than I am!) and together we are seeking to raise $1000 for the American Cancer Society. That's only 50 people donating $20 each...I think we can do it!!

Donating is really simple. All you have to do is click on this picture and donate!! Any little bit will help!

While I am running the race, Paxton is also working to raise money. Paxton will be writing books and selling them, and donating the money to our cause.

We are both VERY excited about this, and can't wait to see people's lives changed! In the last year Pax and I have both faced the prospect of losing our fathers to this horrible disease, and we want to do everything we can to help prevent others from dealing with the same thing.

Please pray about helping in any way you can. I can't wait to share God's goodness through all of this...raising the money AND giving me the strength to actually (hopefully!) accomplish this goal of 10 miles! Both seem like pretty daunting tasks, but I am learning to trust in His strength and not my own!

So much accomplished...so much left to do!

I LOVE being productive! I really love finishing tasks. That's probably why I enjoy my AIM job so much. And, now that my AIM group is gone (I still miss them!), I have had time to start on my forever long to do list. I'm trying to focus on the things that I HAVE accomplished rather than the stuff still on the list...which is somewhat difficult since the "to do" side is still much longer than the "finished" side.

So, what HAVE I accomplished? First, my newsletter. WHEW! I'm way behind on that, but I finally did finish it. I will address and stuff the envelopes tomorrow and have them in the mail. Next to my taxes, that was the biggest thing on my mind, so it feels really good to have it finished.

Going along with that, I have updated my website. It still had Linda listed as 12 years old, and she's about to turn 14! I have recently had the opportunity to speak with several potential new supporters, so I really needed to make sure everything was up to date. That also feels really good!

I am also caught up with Kids Club. I got a little behind last week with the group, and had a lot of little things to catch up on (making new name tags, updating attendance, etc). I was feeling pretty under the weather today, so I decided to show a movie at Kids Club rather than plan a lesson and have to talk too much. That left me with a good amount of time to get caught up on everything else. I already have my lesson planned for next week (at least in my head, haha), so I am feeling much less stressed about that as well.

I know it doesn't seem like much, but having even a few things FINALLY checked off my list feels really good. Of course, I still have to:

*Get the oil changed in my car
*Finalize and turn in the budget reconciliation from my AIM trip
*Pay my bills
*TAXES
*get my retirement account set up
*get Bonita an appointment for cyber school
*call about my real estate taxes (I never got my bill for them. AIM used to own the house, and they were tax exempt. While I am listed as the owner, I think they may have forgotten to change the tax exempt status. This sounds great, except I know they will figure it out eventually and then force me to pay whatever back taxes they forgot to bill me for, so I would rather just take care of it now. yuck.)
*CLEAN MY HOUSE! (Bonita and I will take care of that this weekend!)

It just feels overwhelming...but that's okay. Just take it one thing at a time...right?

Fantastic Football Fun!! (Lame title, I know, but I couldn't resist!)

This last week was such a great week! I led an AIM CBT (College Break Trip) that turned out to be my favorite group...EVER! I have to admit that I was extremely nervous about the trip before it started. It was a team of all guys, 25 of them...football players from Greenville College in Illinois. I had to lead an all guys' team!! They arrived last Saturday and were exhausted from their trip, so they didn't start out too friendly; which made me even more nervous. However, after a good night's sleep, they were completely different, and absolutely wonderful!!

They spent Monday morning cleaning the park by my house, and that was very eye opening to them. I told them that the park was nicknamed "Needle Park", and they quickly discovered why.

As they picked up needle after needle, they became more and more resolved to see God glorified in the park, which was a huge blessing to me!

The majority of their focus for the week was running a Football Camp with Cornerstone. I was hoping for at least 40 kids to come, and by the end of the week were had at least 100!! The team had a GREAT plan, but also really poured their hearts into every minute with the kids. Every single player was excited and focused on the kids the entire time during the camp, and the kids most definitely noticed. I do not think its exaggerating to say that its the best program we have ever had at Cornerstone!!

I can't think of how the week could have gone better. The Cornerstone kids had so much fun and felt loved and cared for. There were also a ton of kids that have never heard of Cornerstone that now know about the church and will hopefully start coming out. We did have several new kids show up at Kids Club last week, and I am hoping for even more next week.

Every kid was raving about the camp all week, and they were so sad to see the team leave! The kids even learned a lot about football!

To give you some insight into how much the kids loved it, Bonita spent most of today looking up Greenville College football on the internet and was so excited when she saw players she knew. She felt so special!

The best part for me, though, was getting to see the reactions of the players. As blessed at the kids felt, the players felt even more so. They counted it a privilege to get to know the kids here, and often cried as they shared how God was touching their lives through these kids. I don't know who was more upset when they left...the players or the kids. How amazing is that?!?

I am beyond impressed with the Greenville College Football Team. The players truly love the Lord and allowed Him to use them in incredible ways. They loved the kids like I have never seen before, and there was a joy and a light in their eyes that I will never forget. I am still just in awe of all of it!!!

I have no idea what next year will look like for any of us, but I (along with all of the kids!) am really praying they will come back!!

So Far So Good!

Well, our first week together has been a really great one for me and Bonita. I think she is somewhat bored at times (I am not an exciting person), but she is really liking having her own room. She is also eating better and getting more sleep, and is already noticing a difference in her attitude and outlook. And, she has been incredibly helpful around the house. She cleaned the kitchen without me even asking, and she has made her bed every morning this week. She also gets herself up and dressed for school every day. She gets ready while I'm at the gym, and every morning when I get home, she is ready for school!

I did tell her she could have a TV in her room, so hopefully that will help with the boredom soon. Next week I will be leading an AIM group that will be working at Cornerstone, so there won't be much opportunity for her to be bored next week!

I'll update more later, when I have time. I think that will be some time in the middle of April...

Another Change of Plans

Bonita has moved in!! She decided last night that with or without Linda, she still wants to live with me, so she has moved in. This is the first time in her life that she will have her own room (although she will have to share it with Gizzy at night, haha). I think she is a little nervous, but pretty excited too. I'm excited!!

I talked with their mom some more today, but she is not yet willing to do what is necessary to change Linda's behavior. Linda got in a lot of trouble at school today and their mom called me for some help. Unfortunately (for her), I can't really do anything. She is the only one with the power to discipline (I can't take the cell phone away). I am praying that she will have the courage to step up soon. She never really has with any of the other kids, and the results are obvious.

So, now I am going to focus on Bonita, and continue to really pray for Linda. I have also decided to look into Cyber School for Bonita. I have been talking to her a lot about what school is like, and its very difficult for her because of the other kids. She said that she spends most of her class time in the hall trying to do her work because the classroom is so loud and disruptive. She gets pretty good grades, but she misses a lot of school because she really doesn't like the environment. She has never once gotten in trouble at school, so I think cyber school might actually work for her. Of course, its going to require a commitment from me, but I think we can do it. I work from home during the day anyway, so I can be here while she is in "school". And, she is old enough to pretty much do it on her own, with me available when she needs help. She has been praying for the chance for years, and talked about it nonstop. I feel like she has shown a lot of maturity and good character in the last few months, so I want to give her a chance. I have been so impressed with how she has separated herself from Linda and not followed now her path, and I want to continue to encourage that. Also, I am hoping that maybe Linda will see Bonita's success and rewards and want to strive for that herself.

Of course, that won't start until the fall, so she still needs to get through this school year. Hopefully the consistency of living with me, as well as the peace that is in my house, will help her with that. I've never had just one kid around before, this could be fun! (Although there is no denying that my heart still aches for Linda. I don't even recognize her sometimes anymore...)

A Change of Plans with a Heavy Heart

The girls are not going to be moving in with me, and I'm very sad about it...although I can't really say that I'm surprised (unfortunately). They were supposed to move in last night but Linda didn't want to go to church, so they decided to wait until tonight. Then tonight I informed Linda that when she moves in I would be taking her cell phone at night (so she can't stay up all night and text her friends) and giving it back to her in the morning. That apparently was a deal breaker for her and she decided that she doesn't want to live with me. I'm not sure what she thought living with me would be like...

I tried to talk to her about it, and I explained that I was simply trying to make sure she got a good night's sleep, but she wants her phone. So, she won't be living with me. Bonita was totally fine with the rule and is now very angry with Linda. Bonita wants to live with me, but not alone (it would be VERY boring for her without Linda), so Linda's choice made Bonita's as well.

I did get the chance to have a really great conversation with Bonita after talking with Linda (Bonita and I were at Prayer Pals; I talked to Linda on the phone). A friend was borrowing my car so I decided to walk Bonita home (it was a really nice night!). While we walked we talked about the things that are going on in their family (and it is A LOT!), and how she can look to God in the midst of it. We talked about the Prodigal Son and how we can pray that Linda will come back to the Lord...and soon. My heart is so heavy right now...

But she knows that my house is always open.

I talked to their mom a little tonight as well, as she was very supportive of the idea of the girls moving in. She said that Linda is getting in trouble at school and home and really isn't listening to anyone. I tried to tell her that she still has the power...the cell phone is in her name, she can cut it off...but I don't know that she will do anything. She doesn't want her kids to be mad at her, so she is rarely willing to make the really tough decisions. I can't blame her, its not a fun place to be.

So, I'm at home alone now asking God what's next. I would put my feelings into words right now, but honestly I have way more questions than anything. And a lot of lies are floating around in my head, but I refuse to acknowledge them.

So, that was today. The icing on the cake of a pretty long and busy weekend. Some other good things are happening though...

My roommate moved out last weekend and it does really feel good to be living alone again. I have THOROUGHLY enjoyed coming home each night this week and just relaxing. I cleaned the house, which took a long time (and is still somewhat in progress...and caused an injury as Jen's metal bed collapsed on my thumb!), and I feel so much more like myself now. My house is peaceful and clean, for the first time in almost a year!

I also hosted my first (and hopefully last!) baby shower this weekend. I will try and post pictures soon, we (Shera, Bonita, Lindsay and Melissa helped a lot!) worked really hard to make it a good one! (This was the MAIN shower...the one where all the family is invited. Almost 40 people came. Whew!).

Now I have to prepare for an AIM team coming in next week (that I am VERY nervous about!). Once I get through that, I think I will be pretty good, nothing huge to prepare for other than the Broad Street Run. I can't wait until next weekend!!

Oh, and I need to get my newsletter out some time this week...