I never thought...

-I would live in the middle of Detroit

-I would so terribly miss my family and friends when i moved away

-I would be able to get around Metro Detroit without getting lost (give or a take a few moments...)

-I would like BBQ chicken

-I would get gas in my neighborhood, or go to Tom's Coney Island in my neighborhood by myself

-I would be so scared of a MOUSE but not the gas station or tom's

-I would be able to run over 3 miles

-I would be such a morning person (thanks dad...)

-I would be anything but a teacher

-I would be such a clean freak

-I would be caring for children in the house that I own at age 24

-I would feel so at home as the eyes stared at me walking into the nearby grocery store

-I would choose to go to bed by 9:30 (until I realized how great it feels in the morning)

And for your viewing pleasure....we had our annual fundraiser gala on Saturday night. It was a beautiful night filled with so much love and support. All the hard work paid off and on to the next big event!

Almost 9:30....i'm off :)

All Star Flag Football Game!

John Ribbing and team did it again.

We had another successful all-star flag football game at Brother Rice on Halloween. Even though it was windy and cold, everyone seemed to muster enough warmth to have a great time. Minus a few scuffles everyone played with great sportsmanship and the army of volunteers really made the day happen. We are so grateful for this program and that the main emphasis is on reading and having good grades. Though it’s called flag football league it has little to do with how good you are or how many W’s you have. But, it combines the importance of education with an enjoyable game resulting in a great day of football. The kids always love going to the real field and running for a touch down by the uprights.

Thank-you John and team from the bottom of our hearts for making this season yet another success of sharing Christ’s love, educational values, and the love of the game. We appreciate and love you!

You so gangsta

Three afternoons a week I host a time where kids can come and do homework. Not the most popular of the events we have but some students are taking advantage of it. The other day I had two that needed to be in seperate rooms from each other. So, I placed them in the oh so creatively named red room and orange room (due to the fabulous paint colors, clever huh?). So I was doing a little geomtry and went back to check on Brandon in the orange room.

Miss Jessi: You doing ok Brandon?
B: yep, I'm almost finished reading this and then need to do this questions
Miss J: Alright, I'll be right back in but if you need help holler at me
B: aaaahhhh dog, Miss Jessi, you so gansta you said HOLLA
Miss J: (laughter) right, so gansta
(as I left the room)
B: Miss Jessi is a gansta

I then removed myself to laugh even harder because it's like laughing at a baby when they do something wrong. Especially as I was setting such a great example and being gangsta, ha.

But, reality is- I think that's a South Dakota thing? Anyone? My roots have come out loud and clear and little did I know they would make me the coolest homework helper around, the gangsta.

Girls Night!

Picture this: 6 junior high girls, Miss Jessi, one small house, brownies, pizza, cookie dough, movies, music, dancing, crafting, and just a little bit of sleep.

Yep, that's what it was. Girls night at Miss Jessi's house. We spent the night laughing and dancing and eating enough for three days. All the mentoring girls were invited over for a pre night of fun before the big event the Girls Matter conference on Saturday. They slept little, I slept much (fortunately, I can sleep through anything!). But, come 7:00 on Saturday morning we were moving much more slowly than the dance moves I saw the night before. (For those of you are worried after hearing about my dance abilities at the gym, do not worry I restrained my urge to dance throughout the evening...yeah right)

We had to be out the door by 7:45 to pick up the rest of the neighborhood girls to head out to Novi for the conference. The conference was a day all about girls and empowerment. The keynote speaker reminded us that the way we play games is the way we live life. We had a blast with her and were inspired to wake up each day and remind ourselves, "I am beautiful, I am smart, I am legendary..." and so on.

Though we were sleepy from the previous nights fesitivies but the weekend was a success and there were so many beautiful moments shared with these incredible young ladies.

Stay tuned for girls night #2- if I'm really that brave!

(I hope my youth pastors wives are reading this...I've been repaid for all those hours....late at night...well worth it though, right?)

please join me...

for a little glimpse into my world

(disclaimer: this is in no way meant to be offensive or racist, just pure comedy!)

I go to Bally Total Workouts probably 5-6 times a week. It takes me about five minutes to get there, but is technically considered to be in the next Suburb over. When I get there I'm always greeted by a lovely brown skinned trainer who's arms are bigger than my legs- he's huge. Normally with a 'hey baby, you ok?' I respond with a yeah, you? and translate in my mind. He's not asking, 'you ok?' like something is wrong but rather Hi, young lady how are you? I don't miss a beat and I keep on walking usually encountering a few more, you oks.

I make my way into the aerobic room (never did I think I'd be one of those workoutters in the aerobic room...alas, thats where I am). Everybody joins in to help Rodney get everything set-up. I'm one of two white people in the room- though that doesn't even phase me anymore as it is such a common thing in my world. Before I know it Kirk Franklin is blaring through the speakers and soon set-up turns into a pre-class dance session and I busy myself with the weights and try to smoothly put a little hip and hop in my step. (you can start laughing here :)

Class has started and we do 50 bazillion jumping jacks all counted outloud (how do you count to 50 bazillion.....) and then we run up and down the three flights of stairs three times- all the while counting outloud. I'm about to die- and that's just the warm-up! Anyways, we're doing the combo schoolcraft (that's the street my school is on) workout. There are about 10 stations and between each one you do the schoolcraft. The schoolcraft though is no longer a street today but an aerobic move. Because of the poplulation this aerobic move doesn't strictly stay a move, but rather an aerobic dance move. So, here I am only white girl getting my butt kicked and trying to blend in and they bust out the DANCE MOVES?! If you know me at all you know not only do I hate dancing, but I can't dance. So my heel touch heel touch remain just that as these incredible women behind me do the schoolcraft and turn their heel touch heel touch into a beautiful expression of who they truly are. (and do they look dang good doing it!)

I somehow survived through the class probably because I was so entertained by the beauty of this culture. Incredible encouragement, some jokes, slight fear of the instructor, loud singing, and of course 'the schoolcraft'. The entire time though I wanted so badly for everyone to know I'm not just a tall white girl but that in my heart I was doing the schoolcraft too. I wish I could put a sign on my forehead proclaiming my love for the city and for this culture! I hope that instead my feeble attempts at the schoolcraft and smiles and laughs with my sista next to me it was heard loud and clear.

All that being said, I was laughing on the inside as I secretly coveted so many of the moves by the talented schoolcrafters. Also, as I walked down those same stinkin' stairs I knew that this is my culture too and these other crazies in the aerobic room are my sisters and brothers.

Just a little look...

(BRI AND DONNA COME THIS WEEKEND! YES!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!)

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!

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!