Boys and Their Toys

Jake loves his toys. He'll pick one that he'll favor for a period of time, and take it everywhere he goes. Then, once he's had his fill of that toy and another catches his eye, he'll find a new favorite. First it was his blocks, then airplane, then magna-doodle, then musical books, then singing Elmo dolls. 

Now, he's fixating on Matchbox cars. He has a whole collection handed down from Jon, and he can always be found with two tiny cars gripped tightly in each hand. He takes them in the car, he lines them up on his high chair tray during meals, and he falls asleep with them. He loves his cars. 

This past weekend, when visiting my grandparents after the blizzard, Jake had his car in tow. He also got a dollar from my grandfather. I'm not sure if he understands monetary value yet, but he values his car! 

I ended up sleeping at my grandparents house for a few days because it was closer to work and the snow doubled my commute time. Sunday night when I climbed into their guest bed, I found something hard shoved between the bed and the wall. 

This is what I dug up:

I'm still not over the preciousness of this picture. Or the owner of the car and dollar. 

I am so incredibly blessed by Jacob's presence in our family. It's the little things like Matchbox cars with crumpled up dollar bills shoved in the back that make me stop and remember what took place in my family just months ago. This boy is just so precious! 

Every once in a while, as I'm straightening up the TV room, I'll stop and realize what I'm putting away. Toy cars. Puzzles. Ni Hao Kai Lan figurines. Books. Size 3T underpants from the laundry. A few months ago, these things didn't belong in my house. Now it is just normal, and I love it. 

This Christmas Eve, as we anticipate the celebration of the birth of Jesus tomorrow with the rest of the Christian world, we also celebrate the 6 month anniversary of our new normal. June 24th, 6 months ago today, Jake came home.

Merry Christmas!

Snowed Out (Not In)

First, I have to report some exciting news. I worked my first paid shift Thursday night! It was the first time I stayed the whole 8 hour shift, and it really wasn't that bad. I was anticipating the night to drag on, but we were so busy up until 11 pm (lights out) that I really didn't get to breathe until the last hour. So much happened throughout the shift that I really can't even begin to tell you what my night was like. All I can say is that when it was hectic, it was great and hectic, and when we had 5 minutes of quiet, we appreciated it. But at the end, it was a great shift. 

In my eagerness to work and put hours in, I agreed to cover for a coworker's shift tonight, 4-12. Had I known that a blizzard was blowing through, I might have reconsidered. But the thing is, I work at a homeless shelter. They don't close for holidays or shut down for snow days. It's a 24-7 job. If I don't go in, someone else has to. So even though the weather is quite miserable and not the safest to drive in, and even though my family doesn't agree with me or support my decision, I'm working anyway. 

This is where God has me, and I have to believe that He's going to protect me, even in the snow. Yes, it's a minor inconvenience, having to drive in the windy snow and icy roads. Yes, I could easily lose control of my car or someone else could slide into me. But for lack of a better term, this is a homeless shelter's busy season. When the weather drops below 32 degrees, and we go into "Code Blue," we have to open our doors to anyone in need. Even though the snow isn't as bad as it will get within the next 24 hours, it's still a drag to have to drive through it. But I have to.

I can't even imagine what it is like for people who don't have a place to go tonight. Who aren't close enough to a homeless shelter. At least being homeless in tropical climates eliminates the possibility of freezing to death. Very few of us really know the hardships of life. I can't even imagine. What is mind boggling to me is how easily those in need are forgotten. If we, who have resources and have "enough," each contributed just a fraction of what we have, imagine the difference it could make in relieving poverty? Imagine the difference it could make in just one person's life? 

But when will it begin? Who will it start with? I don't know. But I am going to bundle up tonight and get in my car, drive slowly up Atlantic Avenue and hope that there is a parking spot cleared out for me. And if there isn't, I'll turn on my 4 wheel drive and make one. That, and pray that the snow melts soon. :-)

If you do nothing else tonight, take a minute and thank God for providing the shelter He has. Thank Him for the food you'll eat for dinner, and the warm blanket you'll wrap yourself with as you lay your head down on a fluffy pillow. Thank Him for the goodness He's shown to you in your life. And consider how you can be good stewards of the life you've been given. 

 

'Tis the Season!

Alicia sent me an email with this picture and explanation a few days ago. I thought it was pretty funny, and maybe you will too. 

So, enjoy!

“Good news is that I truly out did myself this year with my Christmas decorations.  The bad news is that I had to take him down after two days.  I had more people come screaming up to my house than ever.  Great stories.  But two things made me take it down.

 

First, the cops advised me that it would cause traffic accidents as they almost wrecked when they drove by.

 

Second, a 55 year old lady grabbed the 75 pound ladder almost killed herself putting it against my house and didn’t realize that it was fake until she climbed to the top (she was not happy).  By the way, she was one of the many people who attempted to do that.  My yard couldn’t take it either.  I have more than a few tire tracks where people literally drove up my yard.”

Christmas is next week. Time flies. Enjoy this time with the people you love. <3

More Happenings

The past couple of days have been quite exciting. I've been busy and I like it. (Unfortunately, I haven't been busy WORKING, hopefully that'll come soon!) 

Friday I got my hair cut, then took my grandfather to a doctors appointment. Then I rushed home to clean the bathroom and pack for a quick trip to Pennsylvania. I got to Wawa to get gas, and literally had to wait in line for 15 minute to get gas. I've never seen it that busy before. When I finally made it to my aunts house, my baby cousin was so excited for our "sleepover" that I barely had time to eat dinner before we were doing fun 2 year old things (namely, looking at all the pictures on my computer). My aunt and uncle snuck out for some Christmas shopping, so it was girl time in our fun "sleepover" pajamas, complete with Nick Jr. and The Backyardigans and Wonder Pets. 

(Can I just say, that is the most bizarre show ever. One of the little animals has a noticeable speech impediment. Now, I can understand that they're using that to help human children to feel more accepted with their impediments, but for those who do not, isn't it teaching them to say words incorrectly? I don't get it.)

When she finally fell asleep, I had a date with David Tutera. I just LOVE wedding shows. Enough said about that.

Saturday morning I had to wake up SUPER early to meet a friend before PBU's graduation. 

(SUPER early is anytime before 9. Unemployment has spoiled me!)

I ended up running late anyway, but managed to get to PBU early enough to score a sweet parking spot and decent seats. Then I got to see my wonderful friend SamO, for the first time in a while. We'd been trying to get together for months, but it always fell through. Last week, I got "THE" phone call. The "I GOT THE RING!" phone call. Crazy! How many conversations we had over the past few years, talking about our future weddings! I'm so happy that all those hours of day dreaming out loud will pay off for at least one of us! It was SO good to see her, and to finally meet her fiance. 

And of course, I just have to show off her bling. It's quite exquisite. 

I knew a bunch of people graduating, but I couldn't miss seeing my sweet friend Kate graduate! 

Kate and I met in our Four Gospels class with Mr. Oliff. Well, technically, we met in chapel. She sat next to me and I told her I liked her hair. Then we realized we had Oliff's class together. When we realized that she did Mercy Ships and I did YWAM, and that we were both the same age (old) and both social work majors, we were instant friends. Little did I know that day in chapel just how instrumental she would end up being in my life. From convincing me to stay in school when I wanted to drop out and go back to the mission field, to going to Shane and Shane concerts with me, and even introducing my family to international adoption, and essentially, bringing Jake into our family. She's probably the sweetest and kindest and most sincere person I know, not to mention incredibly beautiful on the inside and out. 

Ok, enough of the Hallmark-ness. 

She graduated!

I'm so proud of us for making it through! 

After graduation, her family invited me to have lunch with them. On the way to the restaurant, Kate and her sisters drove with me in my car, and her dad took us on a guided tour of his childhood neighborhood, pointing out any and all significant and memorable places and things. It was a humorous tour, to say the least, until I almost rear-ended him in a last minute decision to pull into his old church's parking lot. Thank goodness for quick break peddle reflexes! 

After lunch, I had to get back on the road to NJ to meet a friend to see the Nutcracker. My sister danced in it last year with that company, they put on a good show. Then we went to decorate the outside of his house with a billion Christmas lights and lit up animals and such. It was super cold out. I could not stop thinking about all the homeless people who had to sleep outside and potentially freeze to death, while I had a warm bed waiting for me at home. I'm always the killjoy that ends up crying about a social injustice instead of celebrating the season.

Sunday I went to a Christmas party at my pastor's house. I've discovered that I'm more comfortable "helping" at parties than socializing. I'd rather keep my eye on the kids, take out the trash, refill drinks, etc, than stumble through awkward conversation with boarder line strangers. I did know a few people, which helped, but when my pastor's wife asked me to take pictures for her, I jumped at the chance. Baby steps, right?

Today I went shopping! Not Christmas shopping, but Tiffany shopping. I realized a few days ago that I essentially need a new winter wardrobe. Mostly all of my dressier options are beat, and I am dangerously low on staple items. Off to TJ Maxx I went with my mother. It was quite a successful trip!

I try so much so often to live on enough, to not splurge and waste money and resources that are needed elsewhere. I don't get my hair cut every 6-8 weeks as recommended. More like 4-6 months. Generally speaking, I don't buy new clothes often, and when I do, it's one thing here and one thing there. And with what I do have, I still end up with entirely too much. So believe it or not, simple things like refreshing my wardrobe or getting my hair cut doesn't come that easy to me (though I love to window shop!), and I have to make a conscious effort to take care of myself. Working with kids who have next to nothing, it's easy for me to feel guilty for the resources that I have. But I think it's ok, every once in a while, to take care of yourself. 

So this post really went across the board as far as topics are concerned. But that's kinda how my life is these days! Crazy and all over the place.

My sister comes home from the Dominican Republic this week. She's been gone for 5 months. Jake is having a hard time understanding that her bed is truly her bed. He insists that it's Megan's bed. Poor kid. Our room is a disaster, it'll take every spare minute from now until she comes home to make it halfway ready for her and her luggage! But it'll be so great having her back home! 

Well, peace out for now. Remember God's goodness!

It's Official!

I have a job! 

Covenant House hired me per diem as a Youth Advisor. I'll hopefully get put on the schedule soon and the calls will start coming! 

If you aren't sure what per diem is, I'll basically work when they need me. 

I'm really excited! Hopefully it'll eventually lead to something more full-time, but in the meantime, I'm very grateful for this opportunity and want to soak up as much as I can. 

A Youth Advisor basically is available to help the kids in whatever they need. It sounds simple, but there is always something to do and someone to help, and when there isn't, there are phones to answer, messages to take, and doors to buzz! The past two weeks I've been learning the ropes of the front desk, which has been really helpful to getting ready to be a Youth Advisor. I've also started establishing rapport with the some of the Youth (and even some of their babies!), which is always awesome. 

So, it'll be fun to see where this job leads! I am glad that I went down the volunteer road first, it gave me experience and helped them, and I would recommend that path to anyone who is in a job rut, like I was. 

While I'm offering up breaking news, I might as well venture to the Grad school topic. 

I'm in the application process for the Graduate school of Monmouth University. I applied for the International and Community Development Masters of Social Work. That's a mouthfull. I am scared to death of either result that this brings, of being rejected admittance or being accepted and the course work (namely, all the reading) that will come with it. So I'm not feeling anything in particular about this decision to apply, just seeing what will happen and go from there. 

So that's my news! God is good.

Jake

I don't have anything to say, really, so here are some pictures instead!

Classic Jake face!

Jake's first Thanksgiving at Aunt Victoria and Uncle Mark's house in PA.

Our best gift yet!

Jake's first Christmas tree!

Don't you just want to eat him?

And now, my personal favorites...

Court

December 7th snuck up on me. Tomorrow is my court date for the parking ticket I got while feeding a thanksgiving dinner to homeless youth. (How could the police be so insensitive!) 

Obviously I'm not going to court over not paying a parking meter, but I haven't paid my $36 fine yet. And my court date is tomorrow at 9:30 am. So it's too late to mail it in, and I have to have it paid before 9:30 or something bad will happen, I'm sure. I've never had a parking ticket or any other run-in with the law before, so I'm a little nervous, for whatever reason, about not having the fine paid in time and not showing up in court and having a warrant out for my arrest. Over a parking ticket. 

I know, my imagination runs wild if I don't keep it under control. 

Has anyone ever gone to court over a parking ticket? What would be the point? They really should give you more time to get around to mailing in the fee, too. 15 days really isn't enough. Why am I so disorganized?!?

Happy December!