JUNE

Well June has come and it almost gone and I'm no longer surprised at how fast life is going. Though, through ups and downs and really loving every single minute of it!

Here is a brief rundown:

June 1st: Went to Vegas on the best vacation ever. Of course there are no pictures because you know what they say about Vegas (actually, I took none and my fellow vacationers have a bunch of them). It was so so so much fun!!

Immediately from the airport with sparkles from Vegas in my hair I set off to church for VBS- Pandamania! There are also no pictures of this as I was in full kid mode with panda ears and hiding from 'secret Roman guards'. You missed out this year.

Then my BFF from high school got married and Joy and I got to personally attend are butts off for her wedding. We also happened to make the wedding cake and all the cupcakes too. This was a blast and the beginnings of some excitement!!

Next I met up with my college friends in the OC and laughed into the wee hours of the night over the fabulous game of 'Things'. I highly recommend. Since college four years ago, weddings and now babies too it was incredible to sit around the table with these people I hold so dear. Even more incredible to be able to sleep through the night until I wanted in the morning as the babies portion does not apply to me :). Little sleep, lots of fun- so worth it!

Under God's Canopy started at Wesley for the summer. I'm heading up the middle school crowd this summer and with some anxieties about entertaining middle schoolers from 8am-6pm ahead of time- we had an awesome first day. We did some photography, videography, dancing, skits, ice cream, crafts, catch phrase, nail polishing and just time spent together. And, they were SO GOOD. All anxieties out the window and looking forward to this week. We have 5 Wednesdays left with plenty of activites planned to keep them out of trouble. My loves...Joe Joe and Damius

A few days later on Saturday at Meldrum Park we had a Water Fun Day for the Whittier Neighborhood. We did slip n slide, water balloons, sand castles and the kids' (and volunteers!!) favorite...dump buckets of water on Jessi. Cute. Regardless though there were about 30 out who enjoyed probably the most beautiful day of the summer yet and we had a ball. I'm so thankful for the people who volunteered- I couldn't have done it without them. We have two more community events planned for the summer. So much fun and truly what makes me my heart beat!

And next up, JULY! Wedding showers, basketball camp, bachlorette parties, Wild Water West, the lake, and hopefully days full of sunshine.

xoxo

one month

One month later. One million things later. Where does the time go.

So much has happened. I'll give you a super brief rundown:

girls night with makeovers, nails, and late night viewings of Modern Family after Jessi fell asleep- happens everytime. Field trip to Auntie Annie's Pretzels, we all made and ate our own pretzel the kids had a blast. 2nd chance animals rescue to tour and play with puppies. The kids were sure the black lab Jade needed to come home with us. Though I LOVE labs, I highly disagreed (for now!). Homework, alka seltzer rockets, painting t-shirts, and cakes and goodies from so many people. 6 weeks of soccer ending with a freezing cold (on May 14th- what?!) community picnic in the park. Was a huge hit with the kids- and even caused some to hit but thats a story for another day. Completed English classes with my adults who I will miss dearly. Had my first piano recital with my students who did an awesome job!! Ran another 5K and improved my time. Celebrated my golden birthday with the best friends EVER was surprised, loved and celebrated for a whole week. I am so blessed. The list could probably go on and on. We have been on the move (as if I would have it any other way!)

However, as I was going through pictures to share I found this one:

and coudln't help but to stop and smile. I'm not even sure who took it and for some you may be thinking it's a bit odd. But, for me, I need to tatoo it to my foreheard, or I suppose my heart will do for now. I get so caught up in the busyness sometimes. I'm constantly walking circles in my house trying to keep kids in line, or wiping down the counter, or folding the blanket for the 6th time on the back of the couch. I'm writing lists, checking off lists, and squeezing out every minute of every day. But, I have to remember to stop sometimes and treasure the moments with these dear kids that have become such a constant part of my life. I need to let the garbage overflow, and not worry about the loud noises from the basement (ok, maybe thats a bit too far), but sit and really listen to his stories which will fascinate the life out of you and engage in what is important to him in that moment. Sometimes this will be the only time he's really listened to in this day, the only moment will he'll feel as important as he really is and I need to remember to embrace it as often as possible. Sometimes by 6 o clock I'm ready to rip my hair out or sometimes already have, but I just need to remember these precious moments with 'my kids' and revel in the privelege and blessing I have to work with them. After losing my precious grandmother a few weeks ago my grandpa says probably almost everytime I visit him, "We all can learn a lesson from this, even me. We just never know what will happen, what tomorrow will bring". And as I sit and hold back the tears or at least hope he can't see them with his limited vision suddenly my lists go out the window and my beeping phone seems irrelevant and I embrace the precious moments with him as he now learns to live life without his beloved.

However, if Joe Joe keeps farting while I sit next to him, I may need to listen from a distance. :)

love well xoxo, jm

Meldrum Soccer League

Thanks to a grant from the Sioux Falls Area Community Foundation we started the Meldrum Soccer League this past Saturday. When I worked in Detroit a fabulous mentor and friend, John Ribbing, started a flag football league. I've written about his program on this blog before and was one of the most popular programs for the kiddos at City Mission. I had the privelege of helping out with this program for a couple seasons and was so excited to use what I had seen and learned in Detroit in the Whittier neighborhood.

Many kids in the Whittier neighborhood don't have opportunity to be on organized sports teams. We have a beautiful park right next door to my house and I couldn't get the idea of a sports league out of my head pretty much from the day I moved in. Any day the sun is shining and you drive by Meldrum there are at least 400 kids playing at the park :). Seemed like a logical plan to get some teams going over there.

So, after writing and receiving a grant, ordering some soccer balls, rounding up the troops and of course purchasing some scooby doo snacks, the Meldrum Soccer League began. It was rainy, but I think soccer and rain just have to go together. We had about 30 kids come out, 15 volunteers and plenty of hot dogs to round out the day. The kids had a ball- literally :) and a brand new jersey thanks to Frank at Dakota Alliance soccer club. They thought this was the coolest thing ever, and they looked like the coolest things ever too.

I'm again amazed at the faithfulness of God even in what some would say are the little things- but they are big to me. What a humbling opportunity to simply play soccer and love on the Kingdom Christ has placed before us. I don't know why I'm always blown away by his faithfulness, for He has never let me down!

We have five Saturdays of soccer left, would love to have anyone join us to meet and love the kids of the Whittier neighborhood!

joy.

I have two boys that come everyday to the Powerhouse, without fail, they are here EVERYDAY. They are the kind of boys you fall in love with but need those extra prayers of patience that you request each day. Yesterday we handed out flyers together after tutoring at church for our upcoming soccer program. We split up into groups. Of course these two boys and I wound up in the same group. Don't pray for patience my friends or you'll end up in the group with the boys that you love, but pray for :). Usually by hour four with the kiddos you can imagine the state I'm in. But, as we walked the streets of the neighborhood that I'm quickly falling in love with these two boys laughed, continuously with unspeakable joy. They simply look at each other, do some sort of 6th grade boy grunt, maybe say something inappropriate- you have to pick your battles folks- and they just laugh and laugh and laugh. Like one of those good belly laughs, that doesn't end. And, suddenly those prayers for patience turn into joy and you can't help but laugh with them as you realize how full of joy they are. Suddenly I don't care that they are wrestling in the dirt (though I may have laughed at them when they rolled in the dog poop), or walking in the persons grass after asking them two million times not too, but rather I am full of the joy that comes from the smile on their face and the laugh in their belly. We're learning about the fruits of the spirit at the hosue and this was the most tangible life lesson of joy I'd seen all week. Funny how often the students become the teacher.

Picture update

Some pictures for your viewing pleasure.. (starting with now and going backwards, oops :)

St. Patricks's Day fun with some of my students. I told them all to wear green and then I forgot so baby room blanket to the rescue. They told me I looked like the King of Libya. What?! I love me a holiday celebration! (We made rainbow cupcakes)

Above: after months of painful practicing and memorizing of multiplication facts the kids earned a trip to the indoor inflatable jumping place. They had a blast. It's a great place!

<--- That kid kills me. He's a fine young man and deserved all the celebrating for the day of his birth. By his request we had another fabulous Karen ice cream cake and then also made churros (thanks fo the fabulous Rhonda)

Below: bowling. For Cindy's birthday she wanted to go to bowling. I won't tell you who seriously got a score of 6, despite the score still had a ball :). Always fun to go on field trips with these 'angels'. Shoutout to Jimmy at Eastway for hooking us up!

Cindy's birthday cake request: a tie-dye cake. Probably the most hideous cake I have ever made. I seriously considered throwing it away though time would not allow! Her immediate remark, "That is the sweetest cake I have ever seen". See why I love them!


Valentine's Day-another reason to celebrate (and pull out the streamers right Brian!?). We had heart shaped pizza and white cherry hot chocolate with strawberry dipped marshmallows all through a swirly straw. The marshmallows are still stuck in the swirly straw, yum. These kids seriously love hot chocolate.

<-- again, this boy- kills me. This is Carlos he's 1+ and the happiest baby you'll ever meet. His mom is one of my students (and one of the hippest moms ever) and also my neighbor. I couldn't have moved into a more perfect location. She walked across the street last night to deliver some fabulous Mexican treats. This was at the Valentine's Day party, hence the heart necklace. My he's quite talented don't you think. I smile so big thinking of this family :)

Posts to come: Meldrum soccer league, coming soon! Words (still) Travel (life at the jail)

Happ Wednesday!

Ticking time bomb work bag

Let's just put this out there, it's been a long long time again. I have some fabulous pictures of things that have gone on that I hope to post soon. I have been having F-U-N!! I read a quote recently that went something like this, "Those living a full life are too busy to write about it" ...I blame that one this time!

But this morning, I bring you the first edition of "what's in the work bag". I thought of this this morning as I got in my car and my bag sounded as if it were going to explode and here's why...

-Catchphrase. You kno the electronic one that beeps really fast and then buzzes cause you lose. Well, I put it in my bag this morning and hope to give it a run with my adult English students. We played Scategories (my ALL TIME FAVORITE) last week and they loved it. This may prove a little more difficult, but what great vocabulary practice right?!

-A dead fish. Yep, you read that. We've recently started a new adventure of a giant fish tank at my house one of the girls gave us. It used to be nice and peaceful sounding like a waterfall, now I have to unplug it sometimes in the evenings- especially during the bachelor. We started with three fish- lost two. Then added 4 more plus one snail (which I love), and lost 1. Well, after calling the fish store as it was D.O.A. they said bring in the body we'll give you a new one. I had already flushed it- I'm such a rookie at this game. So, they made an exception for the rookie and new fish #4 fell to the fate of the filter and was discovered sucked to it at tutoring yesterday. After shrieks and lots of disgustingness we fished (ha) it out, well as much of the body that didn't fall apart and put it in a bag and into the work bag it went this morning so the rookie gains a few points with the pet store and receives a new fish. Let's hope 3rd times a charm and this one stays alive.

-400 Farm Bureau Financial business cards. One of my dear friends is a relentless salesman (jk :) and wanted to be sure to offer my students and families I work with proper coverage if needed. This may have caused some competition to another dear friend that works there as we refer to each other as 'first friends' and therefore he thinks he has dibs on my people. However, his 400 business cards have not found there way into my work bag...hmmmm

-An apple and two oranges. This is a neccesity as if I come unprepared I will fall prey to a large bag of pretzel M&M's or sugar cookies from the cookie jar. I blame this all on Emily. Therefore, fruit in the work bag at all times. (however, sometimes fruit and the cookie jar occur simultaneously, but ya only live once!!)

-Froot loops, green construction paper, scissors and glue. To make a shamrock of course. It's St. Patricks' Day season and if you know me I love all things holiday so I pass that on to the little people in my life. Rainbows and shamrocks, just puts a smile on your face

-Files, binders, papers all the normal things that keep me on my toes and satisfy the Type A side of me that loves to make lists, organize, email and be partly administrative.

And there you have it...just a day in the life of what leaves with me in the morning for a day of adventures around Sioux Falls.

xoxoxo

Some things I love...

-These animals. Seriously, they make my heart so full. In the midst of homework arguments and discipline they really crave love and attention which comes through structure and consistency...and oatmeal raisin cookies and hot cocoa and marshmallow too :) (this was at our hotel pool Christmas party, we had a ball!!!)

-Grocery shopping. Especially Sunday afternoons when it's busy. Believe it. If someone would hire me to do their grocery shopping I'd do it full time, or heck just send me with a list. I love watching people and checking out the aisles for new found treasures. It's the little things right?

-Creating and Friday afternoons at my house. See the massive pile of stickers behind my sweet girl Cindy there. What girl has that many stickers?! I LOVE to create things, and to provide that opportunity to the kids and others in my life. A common heard mantra of mine...'Oh, we can just make that!!' Friday afternoons are like none other around here....field trips, baking, movies, and of course...creating.

-Teaching piano lessons. My students are the sweetest and it makes me proud to see them progress and learn- and seem to love it (though, i know the real trials of practicing too!)

- This song: www.youtube.com/watch?=sn2a73B0uB0 (Come Awake, by IgniterMedia)

- Diamyn's ice cream birthday cake made by the fabulous Karen Reade. This cake is fabulous all on its own but it also signifies the incredible amount of people that invest in these kids and support this program and all that goes on here. From snow shoveling, cookie baking, putting the foosball table together, practicing multiplication- we are well loved.