Of Gems and of Saints

First I will talk about my little gems. I surely am enjoying them at work! Although they do try some shennanigans! Today Reece (5) came to me and informed me that Evan (2) has his diaper and pants taken off. Sure enough, there he was with only his shirt on! Argh! I'm not sure what that was all about! Earlier he had been sticking stuff in his pants in the front and as soon as I saw it I put a stop to it, or so I thought! Then Reece informed me he had put stuff in the back to make his hienie look bigger! LOL!:) So maybe that is why his pants and diaper ended up on the floor. I gave him a good talking to! Today Reece popped the clips off of the door, then ones that hold the window in. So that came off but thankfully didn't break any glass. Evan is starting to sing along a little when I sing to them at naptime. I have certain songs that I sing every naptime and it's quite a long list because I love to sing and anyway, he has started to sing along a little with some of them! He reallly seems to like "Soon and Very Soon we are Going to See the King". Lyla loves when I sing too. I rock her in Evan's room and she falls asleep before Evan. Her little face stares up at me and watches me intently as I sing, until her dear little peepers cannot possibly be forced to stay open any longer! She is such a little doll, I love her to pieces. She is so naughty at times, but so cute you can't stay mad at her long. Her hair is long enough to comb a little now, and she's so cute with things in her hair. I often put little bows and/or clip barrettes in her hair. She loves to pull them out but I am getting across to her that it is NAUGHTY when she does that and she does it less frequently now, maybe 3 times a day instead of 15 times! When she comes to me with it in her hand, she says, "naughty" before I even say anything! Stinker, she knows better! Wednesday I had to leave at 5 sharp and her grandmother and grandfather came to take over. Lyla, as soon as she saw them at the door grabbed ahold of me like a little leech and literally hung on for dear life, as if a snake was after her! She was actually pinching, she was hanging on that tight! Then when her grandma reached to take her, she screamed and held on and her grandma had to literally tear her off of me. It was like a little tick! Oh, how it tore me up to let her there, she must have felt betrayed by me. She never hung onto me so tight before, and I know she loves her grandma. I'm not used to being preferred by her above anyone else! She always leaves me in the dust for her parents, and that is how it should be. But I'll admit it felt good to have her prefer me this once!

I found out that I must be careful what I say to Reece. He is older than his age and because he can talk so much older it's sometimes hard to be careful what you say around him. He understands so much. I mean, he is so childish at times and he bursts into tears sometimes when he as to take out the garbage, etc. But he understands alot in a conversation. Anyway, I don't remember what led up to a discussion the other day but I do know that he asked me what abortion is. So I explained that some mommies take a pill and it kills their baby before it even gets to be born. I don't remember what all I said even. It just seemed natural to tell him because I knew he'd understand. Well, I MUST not be so free in the future. I guess next time I will tell him he has to ask his parents what things mean! Because....the other day his mom was getting a little frustrated at the children and he asked her why she didn't just take the pill when she carried him????!!!!!! Imagine this is from a 5 year old's mouth!!!!!! He is way too perceptive. What other 5 year old would have thought to say that, even if he did understand what abortion is! So the mom warned me to please be careful because next time he might talk about it in school and get other parents and/or pupils upset!!!!!!!!!! Yikes!

There is a continueing problem of disprespect that Reece has. I am working on changing that. It's hard. I constantly have to be creative in punishments, because if I use the same thing alot then he starts not to care! It's exhausting, to keep thinking up new plans/punishments!

Evan is so loveable. Sometimes I think he gets pushed back the most. When Reece doesn't go to school, and even when he does, anytime he's home I tend to focus on him and help him with schoolwork. I started teaching him some music on the computer and today I taught him a song on the keyboard. Poor Evan becomes a nuisance sometimes because he wants to help and of course that means getting into things. He is not to be trusted with markers, crayons, or a pencil as he has a history of trying to create graffiti on walls!!!! So he cries when Reece gets to do things he may not do. Yet when I do help him with numbers on paper, his attention span is so short, it almost isn't worth getting stuff out to help him. But I know he has to start somewhere. I am not a school teacher for this very reason. I tend to spend more time with intellectual people and ignore the ones who aren't as bright. Poor Evan is younger, but beyond that he just is not the BRAIN that Reece is. Yet, even on the days I feel guilty like I didn't spend as much time with Evan as I should have, he comes to me saying, "I need a hug" as I'm going out the door to go home. What a precious child, he loves me anyway! He is a very cute child, so sweet when he wants to be. He's even cute when he cries. He is very gentlemanly sometimes and he is so helpful. But other times I try to get him to pick up toys or get me something and he looks at me so blankly that it's just not worth it, I just go do it myself!!!!

Wednesday night I became a member of Living Water Mennonite Fellowship. Wow, but it feels good. I had to give a testimony, which was not fun at all. People said I didn't appear nervous at all, so for that I am thankful. Rhonda and Steve and their family came, as well as my family and Grandpa Weavers. It was nice to have their support. Most of the church came up to welcome me into the church. It meant alot to me to have people come up and greet me. My dad even gave me a Bible verse from Psalm that he said reminds him of me. That was special.

Well, I have to work tomorrow. This is the second time I'm working on a Saturday for the Girdharrys. They gave me Thursday off so I could work Saturday. Lorelle was supposed to work and she forgot she was going to Iowa. So I'm working instead. It's gonna make my weekend really short but oh, well, that's how it used to be when I worked at King's. I'm still loving that I can work a normal week like others and be able to call Wednesday HUMP day and be able to rejoice when Friday comes.

I don't have to go in til 10 though, so I can't complain! In the evening I have a guinea pig supper to go to. My youth group is having one and the parents are invited. I thought that will be fun. We did not do something like that with the parents for quite some time.

Sunday I have Communion. I'm glad it's not on Easter Sunday. I never liked it on Easter because Easter is supposed to be cheery and I love feeling exhilarated about the Resurrection, not sad and gloomy because of thinking of the pain He endured on the cross! So this Sunday I can dwell on the cross and next Sunday, HALLELUJAH, I can think of the miracle of the empty tomb!!!!!! Thank you Jesus!

Sunny Glorious Days

These last few days have been so beautiful! I love spring! It is hard for me to believe that we might get a snowstorm like they say.......around the 17th. I know it could happen and I love snow....but with this beautiful weather I just want it to stay warm now.

Right now I am reading a book that I would highly recommend to everybody. It's called You Were Born for This by Bruce Wilkinson. I love his books and this one is so fantastic.

A friend I have from the shelter is in contact with me again. I am so excited about it. She had been in years ago and we'd kept in contact for several years, faithfully. Sometimes it would go 3 months til she'd reply, she was so busy with her Pentecostal church. She was a secretary and worked there during the week. She got along well with her foster mom. Then suddenly all communication stopped. I finally sent her a Christmas card and it came back with no forwarding address. I thought she was gone for good. Then about 2 weeks ago I got a letter with a picture of her. She looks the same. She is expecting her first child. I sure hope I can see her soon. She lives in York. God is so good! Can't believe I get to correspond with her again. I missed her so bad!

Another exciting thing is that I am in contact with another girl from the shelter that I had not seen for years or written to for years. She is also a dear friend. She just had her 3rd child. I text her and I've tried to visit her the last 3 months but it just didn't work out, every time I tried she had other plans. Now that she had her baby maybe I will get there soon.

Weeks just fly by. This weather makes it fly faster. On Saturday I was really happy because I was able to hang my wash out and it smelled so good. My whole closet smelled like the outside for the next two days.

Today I reserved my spot at Harvey Cedars Beach Resort for a week in July. I sure can't wait. I love that place and I believe God has some good things in store for my friends and I that week! Bring it on, Father!:)

I would like to go on a week's mission trip this year sometime with my sister. She is interested in Honduras maybe but the thing is I only have 1 week of paid vacation reserved for that and if I go that far I want to spend 2 weeks to make it worth the ticket! I have pray and see what God works out there!

My boss asked me the other day if I'm happy with my job and the pay, etc. I said I sure am, that I feel like I get treated here better than any other job I've had! She said but I haven't been here for 9 years yet! LOL! True, but so far I like it. I get get salary and I'm not sure what it is per hour because there is overtime figured in. But she said she's pretty sure I get ___ an hour and she wants me to be getting____ an hour so she called the paycheck guy. So I just got a raise! I think that God is so good again! I feel so taken care of at this place. I love the children and the job is just exactly what I have always wanted. They give me paid vacation which this is the first time in my life I have that. The pay is good. Praise Jesus!

Well, typing just doesn't go as fast when you're talking on the phone at the same time, which I have been the whole time. So if anything doesn't make sense, credit it to my poor ability to multi-task! LOL!