Out of the Mouth's of Babe's

Happy Mother's Day!

I love you Momma and I wish I was with you during this weekend.  I'll see you in a couple of weeks!

This day more than past year's has made me a little emotional.  I have been more sensitive to what people say, even though they mean nothing by it.

I do not have any children but I've helped raised cousins, nieces and nephews along with the children at my community center.  Just because you can have children or do have children, that doesn't make you any more of a mother than those who can't have children or don't have children. 

Friday, as one of my co-workers were leaving, she say's, "Good-bye, have a good weekend and Happy..."  Then she tell's the other worker, Oh, I guess I can't say that to her, I was going to say Happy Mother's Day.  "Well Happy big people day" and starts talking to the other worker as they walk out the building, I guess she's a mother to many of these kids and the other one says, yeah she is, she was just out there getting onto a little kid in the park.  When they left, I just sat there and said to myself, Really, Really...why can't she just keep her mouth shut!

So when I was leaving, I have to walk by the park to get to my car.  It never fails, when I walk to my car, I get bum rushed by kids.  Well today, it was a little 5year old who is in my center.  She runs up to me and says Ms. Melissa can I go home with you and be your daughter as she holds my hand.  This little girl I believe is God sent.  Everyday she always compliments me on something, gives me a hug and says she misses me.  She's only 5 but she recognizes things that my co-workers or even the older kids don't. 

My little buddy!

So we proceed with our conversation as I'm still walking to my car...
Me: No you can't go home with me.
Her:  You don't want me to be your daughter?
Me: I would love for you to be my daughter but your mommy would be said if you went home with me and she could see you.  (Now granted, she is 1 of 7 kids) And besides, my daughter's name would be Leah.  What's your name?
Her: She says her name.
Me:  See you can't be my daughter, her name would be Leah.
Her:  Oh, my name is Leah.
Me: No it's not, you just told me your name.

Still walking to the car as she is holding my hand and we are swinging our hands.
Me: So what's your name?
Her:  The name you want your daughter.
Both: We started laughing. 

As I'm walking out in the street, I tell her that she needs to go back into the park so she won't get in trouble.  But she continues toward my car.  Again I tell her, get back in the park now.  She says, I want to go home with you.  I said you can't but I will see you on Monday okay.  She walks back into the park.  As I get in my car and start it, she runs to the fence and started talking to me.  I waved by to her.  As I looked back in the rearview mirror, she's running down the sidewalk saying Noooooo, don't go.  I took a picture but you can't see it that well.  Such a heart breaker.

Out of the mouth's of babe's...they can change your whole mood just by the simple things they say.  The Lord knew I needed that just then.  He was right on time!  Thank you Lord for my kiddos.  I thought I would share some photo's of me and some of my kiddos they took with me.



Teaching some of my older girls how to prepar Thanksgiving dinner. 
(Remind me to share the funny story about this later)

One of my kids who graduated last year, she has been in my program since she was 11 yrs old.




The kids loved taking pictures in the snow!  Who knew!

 

Seen the Red crayola by the Crayola Cafe, just had to take a picture.



Okay, this is the only one he would let me take but came out good. 
With most of my boys, I have to do surprise pics.



These are my faithful girls.  I see them everyday!



Only got on the horse because the kids wanted me too.  I was so ready to get down.  One of my boys was easing the horse because it had a attitude.

Also this past week, a mom (who all three of her kids are in my programs) came to me and said so when are you going to do things with the adults.  I said, I do have things for the adults but you all don't seem to come out.  I come out Ms. Melissa.  Yes, you do and there are about 3-5 faithful people but what about the other 130 people.  Well, Ms. Melissa, my kids never want to leave you and they always get upset when it's time for me to pick them up.  When we are at home, they always talk about you and how they need to get to the center to see you.  I want to know you like my kids know you.  I want to understand when they talk about you.  All I can say is Wow (I don't want to know me sometimes)!!  When I think I'm not making a difference and all my effort is in vain, God shows up!

I thank you Lord for my mom.  For the values she has installed in me.  I thank you Lord for my kid's mom.  Thank you for allowing their kids to participate in my programs.  Lord, I pray that I will be the light in their lives that is missing.  I pray that I will be more positive and that their environment does not effect me but that I affect it.  We are here because of you and you know the plans for my life and the kids that I see.  I pray Lord for salvation and that you will be the change in their life they need.  Thank you for loving me.

What Legacy are YOU leaving?

This song is called Legacy by Nichole Nordeman.  I heard this song for the first time last year and they played it like every 5th song on the radio it seemed like but now I barely hear it.  This song continues to come into my spirit so I thought I would share it with you.  While you listen, ask yourself "What kind of Legacy am I leaving"?

"I want to leave a legacy how will they remember me?  Did I choose to love?  Did I point to you enough to make a mark on things?  I want to leave an offering.  A child of mercy and grace who blessed your name unapologietically.  And leave that kind of legacy..."

Wow, how powerful this song is.  God left the biggest legacy and there is no way for me to fill those shoes but I should be trying.  I did walk on water once but the rain kept coming and my feet would not rise with the water.  As much as I want to leave the legacy that I walked on water, Jesus already did that.  What can I do? 

I work with kids and if you have kids, work with kids, or just around kids, you hear that saying "be careful what you say or do around kids because they pick up on everything".  Well that saying should take on a whole new meaning as Christians.  I walked on water for a little bit until the puddle got bigger but I'm not perfect.  Shhh, our secret.  I should be living a life and saying things that I would want the kids I work with to pick up on or anyone I am around.  I shouldn't be careful but be proud of what comes out of my mouth and the way I conduct my day to day life.   Here are some of my boogers now!  Okay, I should not say that.  I always try to speak positive words over my kids.  And to some people, boogers are good.  Just ask some of my kids.  They really are good kids. 

 These two ladies have really left a mark on my life.  I have learned so much from them.  They come in and give me a hug everyday and when they leave they give me a hug.  They welcome all adults that come to the community center with hugs.  The one always says.  I love you before she leaves.  And I've started saying it back to her.  Today I didn't.  Some of the older girls have noticed our sayings and have made comments.  It's so sad because you have to be SO careful when working with kids what you say or do.  If you have any suggestions on what I can say and not "cross the line", please share.  I wanted to say I love you like God loves you but I can't put God in the mix because of State and Religion.  Uggh!  They have shown me to forgive, the youngest one will always get in trouble but she is so quick to say she is sorry and when some of the older kids are mean to her and even make her cry, I've seen her give them her last cookie, minutes later.  I drop my mouth sometimes when I watch her in action and continue to point out to those kids when she shows true love and forgiveness.

 Now these are a few of my boys.  They are such good boys really.  As much as they think they are so tough, they have such a soft side of them.  They always make me smile with the silliest things they do.  I had to teach them to give Ms. Melissa "dap".

These are just some of the girls in Girl Scouts.  We went to the pumpkin patch/corn maze this past fall and we thought we entered the sour patch.  There were alot of pumpkins that were rotten and you could smell them on the hayride we went on and in the corn maze.  It was so funny because they all turned around at the same time when they smelt the smell and I had my camera just waiting.  I should have video taped what they were saying.

Anyways, there are so many opportunities for me to leave a mark and I pray that I'm leaving one that the Lord is pleased with.  I sometimes think I am but just hope that I'm planting seeds that are positive memories for the kiddos.  One day a few of the older kids said, Ms. Melissa you don't ever get mad.  You are always so happy.  One boy who's a junior this year said, yes, you are too happy.  It's not right for someone to be so happy.  They asked if I ever get mad.  I thought to myself, what life are they living.  Almost everyday, we shut down the center early because they get out of control or we are ALWAYS having heart to heart (that's what I call our important discussions) about their behavior or someone is getting pulled aside or have to write sentence but yet I don't get mad?!  Hmm, I always think I'm being to harsh on them.  I just laughed!  I asked a lady who I partner with and she said it's probably because they are used to their parents/mom's yelling and cussing at them and since I don't do any of that, they don't think I'm mad.  She said when she comes back to the community center and I'm sweating, she knows they have made me mad.  I sweat ALOT!

There are always opportunities to leave a legacy.  It doesn't have to be starting a foundation to save a 3rd world country but if you have the resources to do that.  Go for it.  I frequent a blog called Beantown Baker, Jen (I'm writing her name like I know her or that she knows I'm following her) has joined a group called Operation Baking GAL and they bake goods for our soliders.  I have thought about joining a team but may have to wait for next round.  Just a thought if yu are looking to get involved.  It could be something as little (big) as going to the local nursing home and adopting a senior citizen; reading to a 3rd grade class or being a mentor to a young person.

Something I always tell the kids...Stop and Think.  I will add on and say...and LEAVE A LEGACY!  Pray and ask God what legacy he wants you to leave and to guide you to make it happen.  Remember to do it with a Cheerful Heart!

Love ya!