Wednesday, September 30, 2009

This is what I'll be doing for Saturdays over the next two months...

Flag football season is here! There is an incredible volunteer named John Ribbing who felt like he was called to start a free flag football league for the children in our neighborhood. Years ago he used to pick up one of the kids and drive them out to the suburbs but thought it was time for him to stop picking up kids but rather pick up volunteers and come down here. Each Saturday starting at 9:30 the fields begin to fill-up and footballs begin to get thrown. There are three age groups and about 100 kids (that number grows each week) that join the league. It's great fun for the kids, but also great experience for the coaches, refs, and down markers who are all volunteers. During each half time Coach John shares the message of Christ to the kids as well has including his own story which is quite powerful. We are so grateful for John and the army of volunteers that join us in the fall each year for flag football.
Here are a few photos for you to enjoy...


The huddle!

Jay and Derek- set, hike.

And this is what the girls do...Miss Karen is under there getting her hair braided. Stay tuned for cheerleading next week for the ladies!

Friday, September 25, 2009

soo foo

I spent the last six days back in the homeland. it's always a beautiful thing to return home to 20 years of familiarity and friends. Here's just a few things I did..

Slept in my own bed for the first time in awhile since Kelli has moved out, ran outside wherever and whenever I wanted this is such a privelege, drank coffee with numerous dear friends, ate dessert with the summer twins and laughed remembering some great times, ate out with my parents, ate out with my sister, ate out with my grandma...are you catching the pattern here...i ate out a lot, made homemade salsa with my grandma who i hadn't seen in two years, enjoyed a peaceful campsite with old camping friends, worshipped with my home church family, reunited with my BFF as she journeyd home from australia, celebrated the marriage of a beautiful couple, drove from one end of town to the other because it's not too far (right kelli?), read books and magazines at barnes and noble for two hours, went to a heart-wrenching funeral of an incredible (too) young lady, saw Kelli's new house, played a mad round of kickball with a rainbow of beautiful children at my pastor's home, slept in, watched the Ellen show (i LOVE her), played the river card game...and lost :(, and rested relaxed and was rejuvenated for what lies ahead...which is....

CRAZINESS! This season at City Mission is just plain maddness. In about the best way possible of course. We start tutoring and mentoring next week which includes incredible amount of administrative work and then bring on the kids. I've spent tons of time writing curriculum and making prepartions for the volunteer tutors and mentors to get the kids picked up and stuff going. I also had an email reminding me of how the Thanksgiving outreach and Christmas outreaches are right around the corner and need some attention as well. Oh my! Plenty of people have asked if I miss teaching yet ...and my answer is...not for one second. Just as expected this position as program director will involve plenty of teaching moments and I still get plenty of time with the kiddos. Sometimes I'm the fill-in lunch lady or recess duty friend...but full time love giver. I sometimes feel like the Grandma!

Regarldess, life is full and I am blessed and amazed at the work that is going on here. Kids are learning growing and changing and life is unfolding right before our eyes. (And faster than lightening, I can't believe it is almost October- what happened to august???)

Love to all- it was SO GREAT to see everyone at home. I am so blessed!

Wednesday, September 16, 2009

Three things I love...

about living here (among many...)

1. When you go to a store where brown folks are working they often greet with you, "Hello Miss Lady what can I help you with". I think I will name my dog Miss Lady

2. As I left this morning with my flip flops and skirt on I felt a little Fall chill in the air. For the brown folks that means bust out the coats and stocking hats. Wouldn't want to get sick

3. I can't drive down my street without stopping at minimum once usually three times to get some lovin' from the kiddos- they are so beautiful.

Friday, September 11, 2009

Basketball Camp 2009

We ended the summer with a bang and the last few days before school started we had an afternoon basketball camp ran by a former NBA star, Tim McCormick. It was a perfect day and beautifully fun event!
August 2009 Tim McCormick Basketball camp!

A community service event completely organized and ran by these two incredible young men. Way to go boys!I think Byron found a new friend. Rex was a trooper and even found himself at the swings part of the time!
Serious about the game...
Mr. Mike and Terry
The whole group. We had 80+ kids show up for this afternoon of skills, fruit, water, fun, and of course basketball!
Thanks Xavier for making this event such a success and working so hard. You did an incredible job!!
Stay tuned: Saturday, September 12 Flag football season starts!

Thursday, September 3, 2009

This is what we've been up to the last few weeks...

We had the CMA back to school parent meeting held by this incredibly beautiful and talented teaching staff. (Notice, I'm not longer a teacher- still adjusting!) Kelly (2nd-3rd), Dana (principal extraordinaire), Debra (K-1), Bob (4th-5th and ROBOTICS man!!)
All of the academy kids got these personalized cuter than ever bookbags that say City Mission on them. The boys just say City Mission with no cutesy bow. Love them! (Apparently Dana in the background loves them too :)


Tiana and McKayla getting some love (and giving as always!)

Rows and rows of backpacks. We were able to sponsor and deliver uniforms, backpacks and school supplies for about 140 kids. Praise God from whom all blessings flow for truly making this happen (it really was miraculous, down to the dollar amount!)
Hope you are well!!
(Sidenote: I'll be returning to the homeland on September 18th-24th. Can't wait to see everyone!)