Camp Noah ending

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Camp Noah a little Fun!!

The kids had lots of fun they say!!


Lunch


Art


Kick ball


Music time


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A little Camp Noah

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Camp Noah-the beginning

Well after a long day our team, at least most of them, got to our church tonight. About 6 hours late. It's their travel day story of missing the morning plane and having to make their way with 18 down to Atlanta! But they got here and it was a joy to met them all! This whole adventure began because of that terrible day back in April. And while this planning process has been long and hard, it has been worth it. And now we get to met new friends and begin the final planning day before camp starts.
Let this journey begin!


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Camp Noah & Trusting

I find myself having to trust that God will take care of Camp Noah next week. I am entering into unknown territory not having any idea what to really expect. I don't know how many kids are coming. I wish I had an exact count that was at 50. But I don't. I then worry what if 100 kids showed up that Monday. Praise the Lord it they do. It's silly really. What I have learned is that God provides. My main goal is to have Camp Noah next week. Get this name out. Then next summer have another one. The one thing I have learned is I am making contact with the different recovery groups in town. I just needed about two more months!

Just as Noah trusted in God to get him through the flood, I am trusting God will get us through next week.


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Grounded

I have 6 kids in my house, from 4-17.   And with each child comes a unique discipline plan.  Some of them are easy going, and don't get into trouble too much.  Others are in trouble daily,  and other seems to bring it on in heaps at a time.  One thing is for sure, there area consequences of actions in our house.  If you break a rule, there are consequences.

Our 4 year old little boy is testing boundaries right now.  He has a little bit of an anger issue going on when he gets caught.  So we had to get really strict right now with him.  He only gets one warning.  When things calm down we will slowly release the reins.  We do spank Isaiah because he responds to that.  

Our 5 year old little girl has gotten her first grounding.  She gets time outs, and when her "fun bubble" is bursted she has huge melt downs,  I just put her in her room and let her scream, and scream...and scream!:)

Our 9 year old boy has "attitudes" that need a "time out" to calm down.  Most of the time he is really good, but every now and then he just needs a time to reflect.

Our 17 year son losses privileges.  Most of the time he doesn't even understand why, but this is normal for teenagers.  Communication is a big thing, he will lose cell phone usage, computer usage, and other things.  With him it is always hard to define what grounding is for what because he always seems to group getting into trouble all at once.  

Each of our foster boys we deal with in basic discipline, re guiding. 

For the younger kids we use time outs, a minute pre year.  

Some days this gets exhausting.  It seems I correct and guide more than I do other things.  But over all, I feel good about taking my kids out.  Most of the time they behave well.  My favorite time is when they tell me I am grounded. And I think "YES"!  I am going to my room and chill!  But never does my groundings last long!

A trick to surviving headaches with young kids!

It is no secret I get headaches.  Sometimes they are days in a row, others it is here and there.  The one bad thing is they wipe me out for the day and sometimes a day or two after.  What makes it worse is when you have little ones that you still need to keep an eye on.  Well I have figured out a trick to make me feel better and to keep them entertained!
First I have them brush me hair.  They love to do this regardless.  But it just feels good on my head.  And recently I have let them start rubbing lotion on my arms, hands, legs and feet.  They LOVE this.  I even dosed off today while they did this!  AnnieQ even did a facial.  I think that I have about 100 layers of lotion on today and am very moisturized!  And smell good!

One step closer...

In 1989 I adventured out to Denver Co. with our youth group for the National Youth Gathering for the Lutheran Church.  I had just graduated from high school and was heading toward Concordia College in Ann Arbor for nursing.  I was excited to be part of such a large group!  At one of the evening mass gatherings there were some baptisms. Something happened during that time and it was the first time I ever thought I wanted to plan one of these.  That thought took me by surprise cause I always wanted to be a nurse.  Well God continued to work great things in my life, pointed me to the places I needed to go.  And now I sit at the beginning of a district Sr. High Youth gathering.  I think I am heading in the right direction for a national one!  And while my role may have been small, I am thoroughly enjoying working for the gathering.  But next time I need office hours and an assistance!!

Update on Fostering...

As some of you know, we have two little foster boys, 9 and 4.  They are brothers, from a sibling group of 5.  We have had Brandle for over two months now.  Michael just moved in last week unexpected then.  So far the transition with Michael has been good.  The kids play well together.  Well we do have spats now and then but what siblings don't!
 Having them has helped my kids grow a little too.  When Brandle moved in Robby and Isaiah were sleeping together.  While I was fine with it, Robby was not sleeping well cause Isaiah was hogging the bed and waking him up early.  We had bunk beds and Robby didn't want anything to do with the top bunk.  But when I told them Brandle was coming, they moved to their other beds with no problems.  Now since Michael has come, Isaiah has gotten a little bit better about staying in his bed.  I had heard Michael had issues with going to bed and staying in bed in the middle of the night.  So I knew I had to go in strong with a bed time rhythm.   On day four and so far we are good.  Michael is going to sleep in his bed and Isaiah is staying in his bed for the most part after we put him there.  AnnieQ has gotten other privileges since she is about 6 months older than the boys and the only girl in the bunch!  She is sharing the room with Michael and loving it.
While having now 6 kids comes with more laundry and making more food it hasn't been over whelming.  It is like a puzzle to see with system will work.
For example...getting 8 people out of the house on a Sunday...key put out clothes the night before.  This helps the flow of everything in the morning.  Now if I was more organized I would have the shoes laid out too, but instead I am messing around on the computer:)  
So we will get through the weekend and see how things go!
Happy 4th of July!