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This week was Memorial Day weekend. I know it is a day to remember the soldiers who have fallen in the line of duty. i take the time now to thank these men and women who gave their lives for our freedom. I also would like to thank the families of these lost heroes. My prayers are with all of you this week.
For me Memorial Day has become a day were my "family" gets together for a picnic or BBQ. This year, I spent it with a part of my new family, the teen moms in a group home. When I arrived at the house, my little friend came to the door and was excitedly calling my name, I think we all look forward for me coming on Monday's. On this Monday we had a great day, swimming, and hanging out. To continue our exercise time, when I come, we did water aerobics in the pool. After the exercise was done we continued having fun, spraying each other, or at least trying to, with the fun noodles and having a blast! All of the sudden the girls star getting out the pool, they heard the "corn man's" horn and were on their way for his delicious corn. One of the young ladies bought corn for the house. It was my first time to try it and it was yummy! a mix of parmesan cheese, chili powder and lemon on sweet corn. YUMMY! After we all had our corn or mango we hung around out front enjoying our food in our suits and towels. It reminded me of when we used to run for the ice cream truck. New experiences!
Soon after, it was time to start dinner. I was so excited about getting my orange chicken mix in the mail that I planned to make dinner for the girls this Memorial Day. I started preparing the meal, then one by one each girl came up and started to help get dinner ready. Wanting to learn something new, or just be apart of something. Everyone helped out doing something, cutting broccoli, preparing the sauce mix, cooking rice, making drinks and setting the table. When dinner was ready we all sat down at the table to eat dinner together. What a great day!
After dinner, the girls were reminded where they live by having to do their chores. they don't get a break just because it is a holiday. Daily they have to do the dishes, sweep and mop floors, clean the bathrooms and take out all the trash. they never know when there will be an inspection, so they have to always be ready.
Another memorable Monday, building family memories to last a long time, that is why I do what I do!
Wednesday, May 27, 2009
Tuesday, May 19, 2009
Decisions
There is a lot of different things going on in my head about a young lady, who I will call Beth, who lives at a teen mom group home that I visit on Mondays.
Beth is soon to turn 18 and she has some decisions to make. What does she want to do? Where does she want to live? Does she want to stay at the home she is now? Deep down she wants to finish her education and at the same time move back in with her mom and get her child back. What she doesn't realize that, if she takes advantage of the programs available to her, she might have a better chance making it in the world around her.
Right now the system has failed her. She is 17 and is struggling with reading and writing. Where do they have her in school, in a life skills class and job training. She is not receiving help with her reading and writing skills, which is one of the things she needs. She has a ways to go and needs a lot of help that I believe she will not get at home. she will one of those statistics that prove we are so needed.
I struggle with what needs to happen next. I can help with her reading and spelling skills on a limited basis. I can try and help her see long term consequences to her choices today. It is times like these that I wish I was able to get a hold of her when she first arrived in the system. It is because of young people like this that we are involved. this is why we do what we do!
Beth is one out of 10,000 foster kids here in Arizona. All needing attention, all needing some one who will care and try to make changes. Will you be one to help bring change?
Beth is soon to turn 18 and she has some decisions to make. What does she want to do? Where does she want to live? Does she want to stay at the home she is now? Deep down she wants to finish her education and at the same time move back in with her mom and get her child back. What she doesn't realize that, if she takes advantage of the programs available to her, she might have a better chance making it in the world around her.
Right now the system has failed her. She is 17 and is struggling with reading and writing. Where do they have her in school, in a life skills class and job training. She is not receiving help with her reading and writing skills, which is one of the things she needs. She has a ways to go and needs a lot of help that I believe she will not get at home. she will one of those statistics that prove we are so needed.
I struggle with what needs to happen next. I can help with her reading and spelling skills on a limited basis. I can try and help her see long term consequences to her choices today. It is times like these that I wish I was able to get a hold of her when she first arrived in the system. It is because of young people like this that we are involved. this is why we do what we do!
Beth is one out of 10,000 foster kids here in Arizona. All needing attention, all needing some one who will care and try to make changes. Will you be one to help bring change?
Friday, May 15, 2009
Why We Do What We Do!
2 sisters 2 very different outcomes!
Last night I attended a high school graduation of a young lady who used to attend one of the drop in centers I ran 4 years ago. I have always said she was a bright young lady and she proved it. Thru her young life she has had to make some hard decisions. The first being to live with another family to get a better education away from the struggles of daily life amidst her family. Such a tough decision from one so young, but she did it for her future.
Now 4 years later, she is a high school graduate and next year going on to college.
Her sister on the other hand did not get out. She has been caught up in the turmoil that surrounds her environment. It is for this young lady we do what we do. To see her make changes, dream big and teach her how to achieve them. To bring her tools and hope that she is not alone. She is worth dreaming big. She is valuable. She is a vital part of our future. That the there is a bigger world out there and she can be apart of it.
There are so many young people out there like this young lady who need us to show them a different way of life and how to achieve it.
Last night I attended a high school graduation of a young lady who used to attend one of the drop in centers I ran 4 years ago. I have always said she was a bright young lady and she proved it. Thru her young life she has had to make some hard decisions. The first being to live with another family to get a better education away from the struggles of daily life amidst her family. Such a tough decision from one so young, but she did it for her future.
Now 4 years later, she is a high school graduate and next year going on to college.
Her sister on the other hand did not get out. She has been caught up in the turmoil that surrounds her environment. It is for this young lady we do what we do. To see her make changes, dream big and teach her how to achieve them. To bring her tools and hope that she is not alone. She is worth dreaming big. She is valuable. She is a vital part of our future. That the there is a bigger world out there and she can be apart of it.
There are so many young people out there like this young lady who need us to show them a different way of life and how to achieve it.
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