So first is was Facebook and now it's MySpace. Both of these online death traps (death traps because they suck away so much of your time) were things I swore I would not become apart of. Well, my last ounce of resistance has been stripped away. I am now a MySpace member. While Facebook is really a personal time waster, I am signing up with MySpace to connect with SO many of the youth I work with. There is a whole different dynamic you get welcomed into when you become apart of the MySpace family. Much of our youth's drama seems to get started over MySpace messages. I hope to use this outlet as a ministry tool. You are welcome to become my MySpace friend too. I only have three friends so far...
PS. I'd love to know who's actually reading my blog ramblings. If you're able to send me feedback if this helps you feel connected then please speak up! Either here or on MySpace. My username is Java Queen or you can find me under my name.
Happy Turkey Day!
Wednesday, November 21, 2007
Friday, November 2, 2007
80s prom fiesta
We had an 80s prom themed Halloween party this week and I might add you I'm pretty proud of my prom dress. Now the question of whether I would have worn my dress to prom in the 80s is questionable. I think the whole 80s prom theme was comical because most of these kids were born after the 80s. Is it true that I am actually starting to get old in these kids' eyes? (Marie, who I work with, is on the left, Guy, our year-long intern, is in the back, and I am on the right).
On another note, we are leaving for our Fall Retreat today. We are taking 14 kids up north for the weekend for a chance to connect with each other and God in the outdoors. Please pray for physical safety (including rest--if possible!), wisdom in our leadership, and soft hearts in the kids that are going.
Tuesday, October 30, 2007
Toner explosion
If it isn't bad enough that we have a copier older than me at work, it exploding on me when I tried to change the toner just equaled DISASTER. I am posting a picture of the incident to document the many challenges of my day. And yes, the day I decide to wear white was the day the copier decides to dump heaps of black ash all over me.
We recently took 14 (mainly all girls) youth to an event called "Nightmare". We traveled nearly three hours to Marshfield, WI to walk through a reality-based simulation highlighting common choices teens make and their consequences. The final room ending with Jesus on the cross and a decision to choose life. Nightmare is run by Believer's Church and is far beyond the corny and cheesy dramas you sometimes see at churches.
Our kids were drawn to the thrill of being scared and had no idea what to expect. It took over an hour and half waiting in line in what I would describe as a gross mushy swamp. It had rained for three weeks earlier and the ground was saturated with standing water. I am so glad I chose to wear mesh shoes that day!
We walked through several rooms depicting a party and then a fatal car crash, a girl who had slit her wrists, a drug room, a suicide room, a gang-related drive-by, hell, and finally Jesus on the cross. All of the rooms were intense and powerful. The event stirred up a lot of emotion and reaction from our kids. Many of them saw themselves somewhere along the way; whether it be from choices they've made or the feelings of desperation shown by the actors.
Since Marshfield, WI is a far way from home, we spent the night in good 'ol Eau Claire, WI, where I went to school. We stayed at Mark and Marcel Hulls' house where they cooked and treated us with amazing hospitality. I came home exhausted and ready for sleep and the kids came back wired and ready for more.
(some of the pictures from the event are posted in my pictures section)
Our kids were drawn to the thrill of being scared and had no idea what to expect. It took over an hour and half waiting in line in what I would describe as a gross mushy swamp. It had rained for three weeks earlier and the ground was saturated with standing water. I am so glad I chose to wear mesh shoes that day!
We walked through several rooms depicting a party and then a fatal car crash, a girl who had slit her wrists, a drug room, a suicide room, a gang-related drive-by, hell, and finally Jesus on the cross. All of the rooms were intense and powerful. The event stirred up a lot of emotion and reaction from our kids. Many of them saw themselves somewhere along the way; whether it be from choices they've made or the feelings of desperation shown by the actors.
Since Marshfield, WI is a far way from home, we spent the night in good 'ol Eau Claire, WI, where I went to school. We stayed at Mark and Marcel Hulls' house where they cooked and treated us with amazing hospitality. I came home exhausted and ready for sleep and the kids came back wired and ready for more.
(some of the pictures from the event are posted in my pictures section)
Thursday, September 27, 2007
Local spotlight
TreeHouse has been in the news. We are gearing up for our annual Women of Hope fundraiser. This year's speaker is Erin Gruwell, the featured teacher in the "Freedom Writers" movie. Check out the coverage from Kare 11.
http://www.kare11.com/news/news_article.aspx?storyid=266068
http://www.kare11.com/news/news_article.aspx?storyid=266068
Interruptions please
On Monday I had my day scheduled out to do office work. However, as I've learned quite often, planning my day out doesn't always mean it goes as scheduled.
On my way in to the office (okay, really on my way in to get coffee) I got a phone call from one of our volunteers. She said that Erica* needed to do a one-to-one because of what happened over the weekend. Erica has been in an ongoing no-speaking fight with her sister for the last two years. This is anything but simple sibling rivalry. Erica feels her sister gets special treatment from her parents and is fed up with her stuff being stolen from her room. As a result Erica is left feeling trapped in her own house because she is deeply attached to her belongings and can not depend on her parents to help.
As things have grown worse over time Erica finally decided to take things into her own hands by hiding three large chopping knives in her room as self-defense. Her regard for her sister's safety is gone and cannot see past the amount of hurt she feels from her sister to care anymore.
I sat across Erica on Monday, sharing a basket of fries and buffalo wings, and listened to another sad encounter she had with her sister. This time Erica had had enough. Now the issue was no longer keeping the knives in her room because of her sister, but wanting to use the knives to hurt herself. After two hours of talking, I drove Erica home and left that afternoon with three very sharp knives.
I never really know what my day will look like and that's the beauty of working at TreeHouse. Interruptions are looked at as annoying, but I've learned that interruptions can bring great opportunity and growth.
*Name changed to protect confidentiality
On my way in to the office (okay, really on my way in to get coffee) I got a phone call from one of our volunteers. She said that Erica* needed to do a one-to-one because of what happened over the weekend. Erica has been in an ongoing no-speaking fight with her sister for the last two years. This is anything but simple sibling rivalry. Erica feels her sister gets special treatment from her parents and is fed up with her stuff being stolen from her room. As a result Erica is left feeling trapped in her own house because she is deeply attached to her belongings and can not depend on her parents to help.
As things have grown worse over time Erica finally decided to take things into her own hands by hiding three large chopping knives in her room as self-defense. Her regard for her sister's safety is gone and cannot see past the amount of hurt she feels from her sister to care anymore.
I sat across Erica on Monday, sharing a basket of fries and buffalo wings, and listened to another sad encounter she had with her sister. This time Erica had had enough. Now the issue was no longer keeping the knives in her room because of her sister, but wanting to use the knives to hurt herself. After two hours of talking, I drove Erica home and left that afternoon with three very sharp knives.
I never really know what my day will look like and that's the beauty of working at TreeHouse. Interruptions are looked at as annoying, but I've learned that interruptions can bring great opportunity and growth.
*Name changed to protect confidentiality
Wednesday, September 19, 2007
Let's Get The Show On The Road
This entry marks the beginning of what I hope to be a beautiful friendship. I've had a lot of great moments with TreeHouse and often don't get the chance to communicate them with many people right away. My vision for this blog is to reveal a more complete and ongoing picture of what I do with my time at TreeHouse. You can look forward to stories, prayer requests, fundraising needs, pictures, and anything else that comes across my mind at the time.
Enjoy and please leave me comments!
Enjoy and please leave me comments!
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