083110 Randomness

• I've been missing my long hair. Not that we had all that many conversations or anything. I just miss it being there. Just hit me a few days ago, months after whacking it all off. Its probably just about my preference to keep changing things up more than anything . . .
• Just watched the three Resident Evil movies over the last three days. Good flicks! Who doesn't love a good storyline involving an uncontainable virus that turns folks into zombies with hardcore munchies for tasty people-flesh!?
• Today we visited a pet shop just for the heck of it. Puppies are adorable. Its undeniable. 
• I've recently grown to love banana flavored slurpee's! Mmm . . .
• After some uncomfortable days of heat, the temp is back down! Its been getting cold again at night and I love it!
• I think that next week when I'm off work I might do some painting. Its been a while. But this week's creative project is to organize this crazy mess of photos I have! We still don't have any pictures up on the walls yet in the living room, so this will help that process along. Hadn't taken many pictures in a couple weeks, so today we busted out the camera. Good times! Might try to remember to take it to Round Table tomorrow for some pics of the peeps!
• I'm officially picking up one extra shift a week at work for the month of September. I hope I don't come to regret it! I doubt I will though, 'cause we need the money!
• We got some pretty awesome people in our lives. It really just continuously amazes me. We're super blessed!
• Thinking of giving my blog a make-over. Its been a while! Hm . . .

Today's Writing Prompt: Forget

What would you like to forget?

Oh . . . maybe late 2003 / early 2004.

Yep. Definitely.

Not a good time.

I'm exhausted. And so blessed.

Today I had to work by myself and the kids were sooooo hyper. Bedtimes were a nightmare. No one was in there own beds. Some kids were fighting. Others were wondering around the house. One was just laying on the floor non-compliantly. I prompted and redirected and consequenced and even begged a little. But no luck. Finally, I just gave up. The entire day had been a fight I just couldn't put up anymore. So I filled the sink with some hot water and started in on the dinner dishes. And sang my lungs out, completely ignoring the kids. And, to my surprise, within ten minutes of a rather soulful improvisational rendition of Twinkle Twinkle Little Star (lol), every child was asleep right where there were the last time I'd looked at them. Such a blessing! I was about to lose my mind!

(Then I come home to my amazing wife. And to an amazing e-mail.)

Overall, this week has been the most challenging at work so far. And because of some staffing and program related issues, the next few weeks are unlikely to be any better. Right before this week started, I agreed to pick up 16 extra hours a week, on top of my already full-time hours. The money is needed, but so is my sanity, and I don't want to work myself down to a place personally where I am not able to give my 100% to the kids. So after much consideration, I e-mailed the schedule coordinator today in hopes of renegotiating. One of the extra shifts was a first shift, right before  my usual Thursday second shifts. Thats a 7am to 11pm shift every week for a month. I'm just afraid that this, on top of my full-time hours and the Wednesday evening shifts I've picked up throughout September, will be just too much considering how chaotic the group-home has been.

Hopefully the scheduling coordinator will understand ;o /

So, yeah. I'm exhausted. But I feel blessed to be so tired! Its the kind of tired you feel because of a looong and hard weeks' work. And that's a good feeling to have from time to time!

Today's Writing Prompt: Food

Write about a food that gives you a specific emotional response.

Hobos.

That's what we used to call it when we'd throw a little bit of this and that in a sheet of foil with a hamburger patty, fold it up, and toss it over the fire to cook. Usually potatoes, green beans, carrots, sometimes corn, mushrooms and asparagus. A dash of salt and pepper. Maybe a little dab of butter.

Mmm.

When I eat them I just think about being with my family, sitting around the campfire back on their farm in Indiana. I can almost feel them around me now just thinking about it; smelling the fire smoke, hearing the crickets and frogs down by the water. And it always seemed like the stars would just shine extra bright on those nights. Big bright stars. And Dad would always sing, "Stars shining bright above me . . ."

Sigh.

Opportunity Knocks in Nasty Ways Sometimes

Today my car got all jacked-up by a kid at work. A big ding in my door needs popped out, and I have some pretty extensive scratches in my hood. There are also some deep nicks in my sunroof and the windshield.

But I didn't yell. I didn't even flinch.

He threatened to bash-in my face with the same rock he so efficiently bashed-in my car with.

But I didn't yell. I didn't even flinch.

Today ten aggressive and mentally-ill young men saw that, to some people in this world, other human beings are more important than things, even expensive things like cars. They saw that, to some people in this world, another person's emotional stability and welfare are more important than their own safety, even more important than their own face. Today three tired and worn out staff were reminded of why they are there doing what they do.

Opportunity knocks in nasty ways sometimes. Just take a deep breath. And open the door. 
Allow the God to do the rest.

Its not always easy, but it gets a little easier every time. Those around you might witness His presence in ways they've never seen before. Today I was amazed and saddened that it was an honest surprise to these children that I would care about one of them moreso than my own belongings.

Such a pity. But God showed them something unconditional today, and hopefully the impression will be a lasting one.