Well, it’s been about three weeks since the last post (about moving everybody around). Most of the girls seem to be settling into their new environments. Several of the boys have also changed cottages since then, for different reasons, and I think they are settling in, too. The kids are learning the routines and structure of the homes they have become part of and are adjusting to what is expected of them. Just as your family of origin was not exactly like those of your friends, each housemom and each cottage is a little different. So, while the rules of the program remain the same, each home has a different feel or “vibe.” But everyone, housemom and resident alike, is learning what to expect and how to relate to the new people we’re living with.
Saturday was an exciting day for all the kids and much of the staff and their families. I’m not sure whose idea it was or who initiated the plan, but Micah Brinkley contacted the houseparents and other staff several weeks ago about a special day coming up. The folks from Goodman Oaks church of Christ in Southaven, Mississippi were preparing a picnic and fun day for all the residents, staff and their families. So we all drove over to Southaven for a fun afternoon. After a delicious lunch of hot dogs, chips, cookies and other goodies, they set up a water slide (or “swip n swide,” as one of our little folks called it). The kids got to play in the water and slide down the hill for an hour or more. Then everybody cleaned up and had popsicles. It was a delightful time to visit and enjoy a beautiful afternoon in a shady park.
But the day wasn’t over. Around 4:00, we thanked our gracious hosts and headed into Memphis’ AutoZone Park to watch the Memphis Redbirds baseball team play the Nashville Sounds. It was Faith and Family Night at the stadium, which meant the crowd was likely to be better behaved and more kid-friendly than might sometimes be the case. We had a section of very good seats all to ourselves. Our own Micah Brinkley did a beautiful job of singing the National Anthem to start the evening off. The game was exciting and even went into extra innings, ending with a win for the Redbirds. And, to top it all off, there were fireworks when the game was over.
A day like that is fun for any of us. We all enjoy playing in the water, picnics in the park and a fun evening at a sporting event. But many of the kids we serve have never had a day like Saturday before and some of them would never have experienced it if not as a resident of CHI. I personally want to say how much I appreciate those who made the fun possible. The kids went to bed that night with a memory to cherish and a knowledge that someone cared about them and provided them the opportunity for a great day. Thank you, God, for putting that kind of people into the lives of these kids.
