Nov. 4, 2006 - Can't believe how long it's been since I updated this page
We've now been living in the complex for almost four months. I can't believe it's taken me this long to get back in here and post all that's been going on. 
It actually took us three months to slowly empty out the barn and out-buildings on the farm property. Man, I miss that place; the quiet pasture around the house, the birds singing right outside my window every morning, our barn cats, and of course, the slower pace of living. Well, actually...I say slower pace...but for my dh, I think it's been a slower pace for him here at the complex. No animals to feed every day, no yard to keep cared for, no barn to clean. In fact, he's sleeping on the couch right now, after a full morning of Soccer games with the kids. 
LOL!
What's been happening since we got here?
For the first few weeks we were here, (and in fact, even now) we spent a lot of time figuring out how to live as a family in a small apartment. My dh and I have had an apartment before the kids were born, but now,...well, you can imagine how different things are. We share a w/d with another family (single mom and her 3 kids) and three other women in the complex. So, instead of just being able to throw things in the wash "whenever," I now have a schedule. Now, I know for some people they have a 'wash day' anyway, but this is all new to me. 
I always tried to have a wash day on the farm, but it just never worked out...I just threw them in the machine whenever needed. I'm still always behind on the laundry, but at least now I can blame it on someone else. 
I serve mostly as a staff assistant to the director here. We have a weekly staff meeting with her, the chairman of the board, my dh and one other volunteer that lives on the property. At that time, we talk about the families living here, discuss how we can work to meet their needs (if they want us to) and talk about other business.
One of the main focuses for me has been re-vamping our food bank. The food bank is only open for a couple of hours every week, but there was alot of congestion and we never had time to really sit down and "minister" to the families coming in for food. The Lord just sorta stirred me and said, "I want you to feed them physically and spiritually, so slow things down!" And that's what we did! We changed the "system" and now spend at least 5-10 minutes with families so we can pray with them and see what other needs we can meet as a ministry. It's been awesome to see the Lord work this all out for people...and He just gets bigger and BIGGER to us every day. 
Here's the kinda thing we see most often though:
Someone will call us and say, "I've got this bunk bed set we want to donate,...so do y'all need a it?" We think..."no...we really don't NEED it
, but hey...why not?" and we take the bunk bed set. The next day we'll get a call from someone saying, "I know y'all don't offer furniture, but we could really use a set of bunk beds...would you know someone who has a set?" 
He just always knows what's coming, and prepares us for it. This sort of thing happens all the time.
Today I looked at the food bank and realized we only had about 8 boxes of food, and didn't know where the food would be coming from for the next few weeks...it was all gone! But before we left today, there had been two truckloads of food donated; one from the boy scouts and one from another fundraising event, that we weren't expecting. Woo, Hoo!!
It's so exciting to be a part of God's moving in the lives of so many people. Today, one of the ladies who came in was quiet and didn't seem to want to share much with me about her situation. I know people may not want to "open up" with me, and I usually don't push them to do so. But the Lord was insistent...He wanted me to ask her, "what else?" And when I finally asked the third time, she spilled it; she had just been diagnosed with cancer, has 4 children to support on her own, and a grandbaby...and she was terrified. 
I just wept with her, prayed with her, and promised her that He loved her and wanted to be as big in her life as she would allow Him to be.
What about the kids?
In the midst of all of the moving, school started for us. The 12yod with sn is still using a reading program on our computer and gets a tutoring every week from a teacher of the curriculum. I've really begun to be concerned about how hard it will be for her to "catch up" if she doesn't start progressing more with her reading. She's quick in most other areas, but so much of the learning I received, I did so b/c I could read...and she just isn't doing a lot of that yet. 
I'm even considering tapping into the local school system and seeing if she can get some help from the special needs coordinator. She's a sweet Christian woman who volunteers here regularly, and I know she'd be helpful. But, I'm afraid to approach her about it. Praying that one through.
My 14yos is taking a world view course that I co-op to the other hser's in our homeschool group. It's worth three credits, so it's about all he has time to do right now. He's such a pill lately, too. Just very angry all the time. He's going to youth group every week, and likes it. He's even going to the locam MBY conference in OK with them, but he's just got such a stinky attitude. And everything is such a battle...homework, chores, what he wears, where he goes. And I'm used to a little defiance, 
but lately....
I'm having him evaluated by the county learning center to determine whether or not he's up to speed in the local high school's subjects, just in case he starts to show me some maturity and wants to go out for sports with our small town high school. He's got some tremendous God-given abilities, and I know he's aching to use them. Praying about that decision, too. 
God' is really giving me some peace about him, though. My fear and faith collide daily with this kid...and God is reminding me how powerful He really is. (By the way, if you haven't seen Facing the Giants, you HAVE to go see it!)
The 8yos is a jewel. He's definitely growing through his SID, and learning how to rationalize his feeling a bit. That's a big step, too. Maintaining control of his giggling while one of the other kids gets in trouble, and not launching himself to the floor when he makes a writing mistake, are big, BIG strides for him.
So...now what?
I'm still working just a few hours a day with my business. I'm so glad it's as flexible as it is...it allows me to skip days altogether (even weeks altogether) but still make the money I need to allow me to stay home. I'm only putting in about about 3 hours a day, and only a few days a week. But it's enough to keep the checks coming.
I'm going to work harder at getting this weight off. I'm using www.vfl.com for now, but I'm also going to use the food plan I got months ago from the Six Week Body Makeover from TV. That was the most balanced plan, and the exercises he recommends were easy to work into my day, too. I'm so ready!! 
We're going on a "Violence Fast" around here for a few weeks, too. I had a pretty rough conversation with my oldest son about some people he "didn't like" and he said some pretty violent things about them. He later said he didn't really mean it, and he was tired and angry, but it got me to thinking...maybe we need a "breather." So, we're not allowing some shows and movies, games and such, for a spell. Instead, we'll check out some comedies, read more together, and try to in-put some sweetness into our days.
Dh works days now, so he's home in the evening and we love it! Now if I could just get a little more organized with meal planning, so that food's ready, even though I might be working. Committed to working on that one!
And of course, we'll keep being a part of this community, seeing God do amazing things with hurting people.
Book recommendation:
Check out Under the Overpass by Michael Jankowski (I think that's his last name). I saw him speak at a banquet last night. He spent six months living as a homeless person in several major cities in the U.S. What he discovered about the church will alarm and convict you.
Comments
Nov. 4, 2006 - Welcome back stranger!
Posted by Kristina
I am sooo glad you are blogging again! I was just thinking about you the other day - looking at your name on my friends list just waiting for you to blog and low and behold, there ya are!
Take care!
Kristina in Orlando
