Happy New Year!

I can't believe it will be a new year in two days! We had three girls leave and go home hopefully for good. We have two more that are waiting to hear when they will be going home...hopefully by next Monday. I think we might be getting a new girl soon, but I'm not sure. Christmas day was nice. Those of us that were here decided to get together for lunch; then we played Cranium, Wii, and Rockband. It was a pretty laid back day. Thank you to everyone who sent me Christmas cards and gifts. It was fun getting them, and a huge thank you to my extended family on my mom's side for the wonderful laptop! Perfect timing and you have blessed me beyond words! Now I'm trying to decide what to do New Year's Eve, since I'm not working. I still don't really know anyone outside of Grace, and so it's hard to make any plans or do anything fun unless I do it by myself. Please be praying that God will provide a friend for me outside of work.

I've had a lot of time to think since I came out here. Looking back I realize how I'm a much different person then I was at the beginning of this year. I've gone from waking up in the morning dreading going to work to waking up in the morning and asking God to help me be Christ to the teenagers and people I'm around. I've gone from taking my family for granted to appreciating them in a way I never knew was possible. I've gone from knowing God is there to seeing God in everything. I've gone from thinking I trusted God to knowing it. At the beginning of this year I would have never imagined seeing my dad in the hospital for almost a month or moving half way across a continent or having a job that I truly wanted. There are things that I'm glad to have gone through but don't want to go through them again....at least not for a long time. At the same time, I wouldn't trade these last few months for anything. It's through experiences like those that I experience and see God in a way I never saw Him before. It wasn't easy seeing my dad in a drug induced coma to where he couldn't talk to me or respond to my touch. And it wasn't easy talking to my mom about the possibility of my dad dying, or about moving away when all this was going on. Nothing in the last few months has been easy. But I serve a faithful God who will never leave me nor forsake me! Going through everything forced me to rely on God in a way I had never relied on Him before, and to trust Him in a way I had never trusted Him before. I hope and pray that I will remain faithful to Him as He has remained faithful to me. I pray that He will shine through me, and will shine into the darkness that surrounds these teens' lives. I pray that God will take away my timidity, and help me to work hard and not give up especially when times/things get hard. I still have a long ways to go in my walk with the Lord, and I look forward to where He is going to take me. It will be a hard, tough, growing, learning, and loving experience.......but with God nothing is impossible!

It was -9 degrees this morning when I went to start the car. It's FREEZING! I don't think I've ever been so cold in all my life. Still no snow, I'm guessing it's too cold to snow right now. I think I got all my Christmas shopping done, now I just have to put everything together and mail.

Please be praying for me and my coworker this week. Many of the girls are feeling stressed as some are looking at going home for good next week, and some aren't sure. One of the girls has been very angry the last few weeks. Many of the girls don't listen to us when we say that their behavior now affects their chances of going home. Pray for wisdom in dealing with each girl, for understanding, and for God's love to be evident in our relationships with these kids. We have a busy schedule this week, and sometimes that just adds to the stress. Pray that I will look to God for help, strength, and encouragement.

Let it snow, let it snow, let it snow...!

It snowed a couple inches last night. And then it got really windy in the middle of the night. The roads are a little slick, but not too horrible yet.
Last night I read the Nativity story to the girls, and then tonight (weather permitting) a lady that is mentoring one of the girls is bringing the movie The Nativity for the girls to watch, as well as some snacks. We will also be celebrating one of the girl's birthday today as well. Tomorrow is youth group, then thursday night some of the girls get to have a "reward" dinner for doing well in school, and not getting any detentions. On Thursday during the day, there is a lady coming to train us in leadership...I'm not exactly sure what all it will entail, but it should be interesting.
Next week we have a staff Christmas party on Wednesday, then a cottage Christmas party on Thursday, then a group from Omaha is coming to do a Christmas retreat over the weekend. So our weeks are filling up fast.
Our van is still broken. I'm not sure what is going to happen to it. I'm working Christmas eve and Christmas day, but it's possible we might not have any girls here those days...not sure yet. On the 21st, there is a Messiah concert here in town. I will probably be singing in the choir. I've missed the last two practices, but I'm hoping to make the last three if everything goes well. Please be praying for safety for the girls as they travel for visits, and that moods won't be too wacky between now and Christmas.

Before I moved to Nebraska, I had a lot of people ask me why I was moving here...and I still get that reaction when I tell people here that I'm from Oregon. I would like to shed some light on the subject.
First of all, I moved to Nebraska because that is where the job is. Second, when you hear God telling you to go...you go. And third, I wanted to try something new and to stretch myself. That doesn't always work when you stay in the town you grew up in. I love Dallas and Oregon and I plan on coming back and working with foster kids, but for now God has asked me to be in Nebraska. I don't know exactly for how long, but I will go where He leads. It's all about faith. When I got back from visiting in September, Mom and I spent some time that first morning just talking, and she shared some advice with me. She said that whenever I face a big decision to ask myself "Will it take more faith to go or to stay?". I knew as soon as she said that that I was to go. I love my family and friends, and I knew it would take more faith to be away from them then to be with them. And this wasn't an easy decision...especially with Dad in the hospital. There was a point when Mom and I talked about what would happen if Dad ended up dying (which he didn't--thank the Lord). I didn't think I would be able to leave at all then, but Mom pointed out that God would still be calling me to leave and to have faith in Him. I hope I don't have to face that decision for a very long time! But through this all, I have learned so much about what faith is and what it looks like. I miss my family, and when Dad ended up back in the hospital I was scared...but all I could do was pray and trust God to take care of them and me.
On a lighter note...
I've had a pretty good shift. I get off tonight. I got up at 4:30 this morning to take some of the girls to a canner. There is a portable canner that travels around the midwest that cans turkey to send out as relief food. It has been in Henderson since Monday, and all of the cottages have taken kids to go help can meat. Well, some of the girls went last night and when they got back wanted to go early this morning before school. We worked for about an hour and a half stuff cans, weighing cans, sealing cans, and stacking cans of ground turkey. It was fun and a good experience, and they had a good time. It was nice to see them willing to do something for other people, after they spend so much time on themselves. They at first complained about it, but then ended up liking it enough to get up extra early today.
With Christmas coming up, some of the girls are looking at going back home permanently, so we will probably be getting some new girls at the end of the month. I think the girls are finally getting used to me, and warming up to me. I've learned four new card games from them already, and I taught several of them how to croche (sp?). It's still a struggle sometimes, but I'm starting to get the hang of things.
This month is already filling up with things to do. A church in Omaha is sending their youth group/adult group to do a retreat for the kids. I guess they'll bring a worship band and have lessons and games for the kids. And we will be putting together several Christmas parties. I'm hoping I can convince people to go caroling with me...it's not as much fun by yourself. It is in the lower twenties today, and it snowed some last night. It was this light powdery snow, that is pretty much all melted by now. I'm pretty much the only one that wants it to snow. :-) Please keep praying for me and this ministry. I really appreciate the encouraging notes and prayers!