Staff Blog
Change is inevitable in life. Some changes are good---they are pleasant and easy to go along with. Others are hard to come to terms with--they are a challenge and they sometimes bring pain. I want to tell you about some recent changes in my life...
Many of you already know that Teacher Tammy's 8 year run at CSC and Children of Hope School has ended. She has been gone for 2 weeks--and kids and adults alike are mourning the loss.
Tammy is missed for many reasons:
Tammy was a good co-worker. She was helpful, reliable, and thorough. She was quick to jump in if something technological was going haywire---an asset on days of school programs. :) Tammy was true to her word. She promised the kids that she would take each of them out for something special before she left and SHE DID! If she had a job or a task assigned to her, you never had to worry about it getting done in an organized and timely fashion! She was hard-working and did whatever was in front of her---and did so with a smile.
But Tammy is also a good friend. She is someone I OFTEN laughed with, went on adventures with, confided in, celebrated holidays with...and the list goes on. She is a good listener and a Godly woman. She has become family to me and you can't help but miss family when they are gone!
Tammy, myself and Amy were quite the terrific trio, however, at this time, Amy and I are down to just a dynamic duo....
The upside of change:
We recently admitted a new child. She was afraid of the change, of me, of our counselor and our social worker. She was hesitant, quiet and reserved. And who wouldn't be? She knew something big was happening in her life but she had no idea what it meant.
But oh to see her now! How happy and animated and secure and playful she is! She is grateful for the life-changing experience she has had and WE are so happy to have her with us where she is safe and provided for.
God is the god of everything in our life and everything happens for His purpose and good. And that includes changes. I am happy for Tammy and all that God has in store for her back in MN. I miss her, but am grateful for her continued friendship---thank goodness for Skype! :) I am also happy about our new arrival and for her safety and health and the fact that she FINALLY gets to be a kid.
Please join with me in praying for Tammy as she transitions back to living in the US and for our newest one and all of those that will come through our doors in the future. because no matter your age or the type of change you are facing, its always easier with God.
Friends
Friendships are an important part of life at CSC. Although most of our children have siblings at CSC (about two thirds), they all seek out friends in their age group and enjoy hanging out, playing, making music and talking about life. Our kids can easily find friends who have similar backgrounds and can understand and accept what they have gone through in life. Some friendships can go on for several years, depending on how long the children stay at CSC. When a child leaves for adoption there are often sad friends left behind who wonder if they'll ever see them again. In some cases, friendships that began at CSC can pick up later on when children are placed in the same geographical area. Check out a few pictures of friends at CSC:
| Show Comments | | | Leave a Comment | | | Category: | Shelter News |
Movie Night
One of the things we often hear at CSC is laughter, and one of the best places to hear it is during a movie night.
It's hard to organize a trip to the movie theater, so often times staff will gather up a group of kids and setup the projector in the library at the school. The movie night below was a "girl's night out" that Teacher Lindsay organized. However, being the IT guy, I was allowed to attend because I had to setup the screen and projector. :)
The movie was Mr. Popper's Penguins.
It's hard to see much in the video below, but it's really fun to listen to the laughter of the kids.
| Show Comments | | | Leave a Comment | | | Category: | Staff Reflections |
The Littlest Waveboarder
Waveboarding is the cool thing to do during playtime here at CSC. Lots of the older kids got waveboards for Christmas, but recently more and more of the little kids want to try the waveboards as well. The other day I noticed this little lady trying out her older sister's waveboard in the driveway and I couldn't stop laughing - it was so cute! And she's so good at it!
| Show Comments | | | Leave a Comment | | | Category: | Shelter News |
Love is a verb
Actions speak louder than words...
I see this adage lived out every day by our workers. They care for our kids in a way that goes above and beyond what is outlined in their job description. They do their job---whether it is preparing a meal, overseeing bathtime, homework time, changing diapers, or making sure our vehicles are safe and in good running order---with heart and dedication to the ministry of CSC. They love these kids and it shows!
How our Uncles love...
Taking care of our homes
Celebrating a special day
Playing with them
Holding them---even though it means you will get sticky in the process!
Praying over them
Helping them play safely
How our Aunties love...
Helping with homework
Meeting a need
Encouraging cooperative play
Laughing with them
Being one of our children's first teachers!
Providing one-on-one attention
And the list goes on....
I believe we learn how to love and how to be kind to others from how we are loved and treated by those around us.
It warms my heart every time I see one of our kids loving another one of our kids, but what else would you expect when they have such good teachers? :)
How our kids love each other...
We love because he first loved us." 1 John 4:19
| Show Comments | | | Leave a Comment | | | Category: | Shelter News |
Snack Time
Every day after school the kids come home and eat a snack before going out to play. I was in the Eicher home today while snack was being made and thought I would show you some photos of snack time. Cheese bread is always a hit!
| Show Comments | | | Leave a Comment | | | Category: | Shelter News |
