Hallelujah!

Have you all had the Hallelujah Chorus ringing in your ears all week??? That's because all of us houseparents have been shouting it at the top of our lungs! School's finally back in session. We were told the 1st day we were here that if we could make it through the summer, we had it made. How true! The last 3 weeks have been slooooow. No campus visitors, no life guards at the pool so no swimming and all of these kids really ready for a change.



Ray's filled you in on some of our "exciting events". We have had some changes. Our first child to return to her mom. Bless the mother's heart and say a little prayer for this mom and her three challenging children. Then one of our midnight shoppers has been sent to another cottage. At this time we only have 6 girls and it is rather quiet. But I'm sure all of our bedrooms will be filled shortly. Just too many kids needing places to go to remain empty.



Monday after we got the kids off, Ray cooked us a good breakfast and then we hit it---cleaning, laundry, organizing. It felt so good. I'm behind on lots of paper work and personal organizing which I didn't have time to do when we got down here in June. So I'm really looking forward to getting it together.



Hopefully, we will have time to post more often. We love all of you - our support system. Thanks for your continued prayers and encouragement. N

AWOL

Just suppose ...you were in a foreign country (texas) and you were just sure you were doing everything "according to GOD's Will" and you are taking good care and building solid relationships with eight hispanic girls and you tuck them in bed, say their prayers, talk about the day, get a hug from the younger ones. You go to bed with visions of "stars in your crown" AND THEN AND THEN!!! About 1:00 am, one of the little ones calls your name and you" spring to the rescue" to find a border patrol officer at your door with two of your 9 year olds and one 10 year old who had evidently gone out a window,down a frontage road,over a mile, next to a busy enterstate, over a mile, to a busy Quick-sack,to get a bag of hot cheetos, confronted by a car load of girls, and a truck with one man, and finally the border patrol.............................now where do you put the stars?..............rv

SH-SH-SH

iT IS 4:00A.M. AUG. 13th AND I HAVE BEEN AWAKE ALL NIGHT. I AM TYPING IN ALL CAPS SO I CAN HEAR MYSELF. LAST WEEK WAS A DOOSY WITH LOTS OF WAR STORIES. NANCY AND I WERE SURE GOD SENT US HERE TO TEACH AND LOVE THESE CHILDREN, BUT WE HAVE BOTH HAD TO INLIST IN SPECIAL FORCES TRAINING JUST TO CATCH UP. THERE HAVE BEEN FUN MOMENTS THOUGH. lIKE THE TIME EXCUSE ME THE 12th TIME I HAD TO REMOVE A ROLL OF TP FROM A DEFIANT CHILDS "BOWL" OF BABY RUTHS. OR MAYBE THE TIME NANCY AND ONE OD THE KIDS WAS RUNNUNG IN THE RAIN AND FELL FACE DOWN IN ABOUT 8 INCHES OF WATER IN FRONT OF THE OFFICE WITH THE STAFF LOOKING OUT THE WINDOW. I CAN VERIFY ONE THING LARGE IN TEXAS......A RAIN DROP.....COVERS ABOUT THREE SQUARE FEET......DROPS AT THE VELOCITY OF A 44 MAG.....AND DOES NOT WASH OFF...........SEE YOU NEXT TIME...............ray