Last week was filled with a meeting Monday night, a meeting Tuesday at lunch, Wednesday was spent making sure I was ready for Kid's Time for Wednesday and Thursday as well as making sure the sleep over that was about to commence was planned out. Then, I hosted a sleep over for what started out as 10 girls, but ended up being 8. I had to send two home because they just weren't listening and I knew there was no way they were going to make this endeavor easy.
It turned out great. I think the girls really enjoyed and appreciated all that I had put together. Wednesday night was spent relaxing, bathing, choosing beds, making a covenant (which they did surprising well and stuck to), and watching The Blind Side. We actually didn't finish it that night because the girls said they were tired. We all know this should be translated into, "we're tired, but we want time to play around without supervision." So we stopped the movie around 10ish, went into the room, had a devotion and prayers, and I left them. Of course, I knew what was going down so I went down every so often. They did do something that reminded me of my 16th birthday, though. Just as several unsupervised girls in Leesville broke one of my mom's figurines, so to, these girls ended up breaking a lamp! Fortunately, it was not the pretty painted part nor the bulb; only the part where the light bulb screws in (sorry I'm not down with the technical jargon). This quasi-helped them to calm down and settle into their sleeping bags. They were at least not talking by 11:30 so I felt confident in going to sleep myself and thanked God for the peace.
Thursday got me up early - defined as before 8 o'clock - so I could make sure I was prepared for the day before I woke the girls up. My surprise for the day was when I woke the girls up at 8:45 I expected them to be ready for breakfast at 9. This isn't an unrealistic expectation... they all bathed the night before and they had one set of clothes to change into, there's no decision process! It only takes me 10 minutes to get up, straighten my hair, pick clothes, put them on, and be out the door. I think it took them 45 minutes... only because they all decided to shower again. This somewhat floored me, but I completely understood it. Many of the girls who stayed with us don't have access to running water daily. Or their families are so big, they may have to take turns showering only every so many days. Our little retreat center was a haven for them... it still touches my heart and gives me chills...
To continue the day, I made pancakes, eggs, and bacon for them, then we finished watching The Blind Side, discussed it and then watched Everafter. As Everafter was playing, I also had to answer the door, make sandwiches, and answer the phone. Thankfully, there was a group in that ended up helping do the sandwiches so I was able to stay with the girls and watch the movie. The one thing I would have changed was that movie. It was just too long for their attention spans, but we still ended up having a good discussion about it afterwards. I just upset when they didn't listen to my devotion... then again, we had just watched a movie and we were eating lunch and we had discussed said movie. Anyway, after that bomb we made cookies for the meal after Kid's Time for the rest of the afternoon. Then, it was Kid's Time, worship, dinner, some stayed to help clean up, and then they were gone! It was amazing and a great challenge/experience for me. I feel it was the same for the girls.
Friday... I don't really remember at this point... I just remember going to the movies with Ashley to see Inception. I know I was exhausted... and now I remember some! :) I got up and fixed oatmeal for Gabby, we had devotions and he prayed! How could I have forgotten that... Gabby prayed more open and honestly and fervently than anyone else I've ever heard. I truly felt the Spirit move. Gabby believes very strongly in the power of prayer. I do believe in the power of prayer, but I feel I'm starting to believe even more fervently because of Gabby. I did some type of work (haha) and then Friday night Ashley and I went on another "date." We went to see Eclipse the week before and then last week we saw Inception. It was an awesome movie and it's been great to have some girl time!
Saturday I got up early and fixed and almost completely country breakfast :) Grits, eggs, hashbrowns (made by Marc, one of the passer-bys), and biscuits. The only thing missing was bacon or sausage! I then laid back down for a bit then went to Hot Springs to cash some checks (woo hoo!) and get a pedicure (don't judge me... I haven't done that in a while! I enjoy loving myself every so often). I didn't get back until Kid's Time, which I participated in and then was pretty veggie the rest of the evening. Sunday wasn't too typical... I was invited by members of the group that was out there for the week to come have breakfast with them... which reminds me that I went to Makasan on Friday to practice the organ, which I ended up chickening out on playing on Sunday. The group had a music teacher and I graciously stepped down to let her do the playing for the day! The potluck lunch was pretty typical and I got invited to come back to Makasan that night to hear their speaker that was coming in. I ended up eating all my Sunday meals there :p And Leonard Ten (?) Fingers (I can't remember if it's Ten or Little) was amazing! He explained mitakuye oyasin in a way I have never heard before, which gave me new insights to the meaning... It's so much more than "all my relatives." It encompasses the relationships we not only have with each other, but also God, our creator, and earth, our mother. It was a beautiful night....
This week was spent preparing early for Wednesday and Thursday nights as well as completing research and finalizing my plans for my VBS. I can't believe it's only a little more than a week away... I'm starting to get nervous! Tuesday and Wednesday I spent all morning with the Baltimore group at the Presbyterian church next door observing and helping out with their learning camp program. I must say it was one of my favorite camps of the summer! Their interaction with the children and the joy that radiated from everyone involved was very rewarding. Everyone was tired by the end of the time together, but it was still amazing to watch and be a part of it. I have once again found a group that I will truly miss once our time together is up.
Thursday was spent making sure everything I needed put together for my mid-point Advisory Committee meeting was ready and making lunch for everyone. It went well... for the most part. I did a chicken recipe by the exact specifications the recipe called for, but it wasn't done after an hour. I was a little disappointed, but everyone was encouraging. And the meeting went well. Everyone was impressed at what I have planned. I just hope I can live up to everyone's expectations... including my own. I can't believe how big I've dreamed with this project! I hope I can pull it off. With God, I know I can...
Today was spent on research and exegesis for my sermon that's Sunday. That's right. I'm preaching again. Sunday... I just found out Thursday at my meeting. They decided to play "test the intern." I took the challenge, and I hope I can come through. I feel like I have a direction, it's just putting it on paper... and making sure it comes off the right way. Prayers would be nice :D
And now you're up to date. Tonight will be filled with some writing (maybe) some dinner before the group leaves in the morning, and maybe The Blind Side.... blessings and peace to you. Thanks for caring enough to read my long winded thoughts!
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