Reflections

My first week of working with Behavior Disorder students has been challenging, interesting and tiring. Let me see. . . I've been cussed at, threatened and had to restrain a child in my first week. I'm told it will get worse as the kids get more comfortable....Great.....!

I am so grateful for my children, as knuckleheaded as they can be! Our family isn't perfect, but at least there is some love and concern there. Just about every kid has home issues that contribute to their behavior problems. I'm sure that doesn't come as a surprise. But, there is not a kid that I don't have hope for (great grammar). I hope that many of them will return to normal classes in the future.

Speaking of my kids. My middle has been diagnosed with Asperger's Disorder. To be honest, it is a relief. She doesn't have the social debilitating issues that many people have, but it is enough that we have been concerned for awhile about her social growth. This answers a lot of questions for us! I look forward to learning how to help her!

If you've read Trish's blog, you've seen we decided to leave the church where we currently serve. This is a big step in our journey. It has been a long time coming, and if you've read here you know the many reasons. All I can say is that I have peace about it, and I look forward to what God has in store, though we have no clue what that is....

First Day Conversation

My boy had his first day of kindergarten this week. Here is an excerpt of the conversation after his first full day. . .

Me: How was your first day!

Bubba: Good.

Me: Were you nervous?

Bubba: Not really.

Me: You seemed a little scared when I dropped you off at the Gym...

Bubba: Well, maybe half- scared.

Me: Why only half-scared?

Bubba: God is with us wherever we are!

Me: Yeah, you're right dude!

(Silence)

Bubba: Does God make tornadoes?

Me: I guess so.....kind of....

Bubba: Why does God make bad stuff?

My boy has an interesting train of thought here. If God is with us during even the "bad stuff" why would he create the "bad stuff" in the first place.... not bad for a kindergartener!

I love Bubba!

First Day

This is the first day of school, both for me and my youngest. Bubba is excited and a little nervous, but overall I think he is ready for his first day of kindergarten. Kind of makes me sad to think of him as a student now. . .

I have found out some more about the students I will be working with. Most of them have severe behavior disorders. Most come from troubled families. Some have been sexually abused. Some have . . . the list could go on. My first introduction to the school system was a "restraint" class. . . nice . . .

I am going just hoping to reflect the light of Christ. Patience and tolerance with defiant kids are not strong suits of mine, but I am praying that God will give me the power and grace that are His alone to give. . .

Brat Camp

Sorry for the silence. Our internet has been down since a storm Saturday evening.

Trish and I stumbled across the reality show "Brat Camp" this past weekend. They had a marathon to get people up to date. It's about an intense wilderness camp that teaches troubled kids to be responsible and deal with their emotions in healthy ways in an intense environment. It reminded me so much of going through drug treatment as a teenager. My mom and dad should have thrown me in one of those camps. I deserved it. But I also relate to the counselors who give a large portion of their own lives to help these kids. I think that kind of sacrifice is Jesus in action in our world today... It also reminds me of the comraderie and fellowship that I experienced in NA groups for many years that I have yet to find in the institutional church. . .

Silent Fun

We just got back from taking the kids to HolidayWorld. We had a great time! I love hearing my kids laugh! I think we liked the waterpark better than the the regular rides actually. We stayed in a trailer and didn't bring a TV or radio. It was nice to have silence for awhile. You realize how addicted you are to noise when you don't have any around. I like silence. It provides space for conversations...


Now it is time to prepare for school...Part of me is excited, the other dreads it. Part of me is glad to get the kids back in a routine, the other part is going to miss the time with them.

If you get time add your list to the "Seven Great Lies of Organized Religion".

Slinky Job

In our quest to figure out a way to earn some money while not neglecting our kids and other relationships, I got a job at our local school. I am going to be a personal aid to a young man with a behavior disorder. It will be challenging.... I really don't know what to expect.... I am already praying for him though...

The upside is that we finally will have some medical benefits, and I will be off work when the kids are off school! The downside is that the pay isn't great...but I have had some thoughts about getting my Master's Degree at some point...so who knows...

We are doing the music for Vacation Bible School at our church this week. This is probably the only time I truely enjoy playing for the church. 200 screaming kids, who actually enjoy what we do! We've been singing Born To Be Wild and I'm A Believer and everyone's favorite Lions (The Slinky Song)!

Find out more about the song that won the Joh Lennon songwriting award, and happens to be one of the most powerful songs of spiritual warfare ever: The Slinky Song.

OH THEM LIONS THEY CAN EAT MY BODY, BUT THEY CAN'T SWALLOW MY SOUL. THEY KEEP ON TRYING TO CRASH MY PARTY BUT THEY CAN'T GET CONTROL.
NO WAY, BABY.

SATAN PROWLS LIKE A ROARING LION, SEEKING WHOM HE WILL DEVOUR.
YET I KNOW THAT THOUGH HE KEEPS ON TRYING, HE'S NO MATCH FOR JESUS' POWER!

EVEN DEMONS BELIEVE AND TREMBLE, BUT THEY TRY TO RUIN YOUR LIFE THE SAME. YET I KNOW THAT WHEN THE SAINTS ASSEMBLE, SATAN RUNS AT EVERY SIGN OF JESUS' NAME!