Don't Judge and There is a Hope

You know that old saying "don't judge a book by its cover", well today was one of those days that I needed to be reminded of that. You see, most Sunday's I serve in LifeKIDS.tv with the toddlers {16 to 23 months}, on a GOOD day we will only have 5 crying at the same time. Today, for most of the 90 minutes that we were in there it was a good day. We only had to send one on the bye bye buggy, YAY!

There was a new couple that started serving today {Yes, fresh blood}, they were awesome! They were very sweet with the kids and it looked like they were having a good time playing with them too. I hope with us having 24 toddlers, it didn't scare them away. We had one sweet girl who was EXTRA snugly today and a question was asked about her. "Is she always like this?" I answered with a "YES". Then came the "I wonder if Mom just always holds her or if she doesn't get enough attention at home and craves it here". Well thankfully I know this child's parents and she does get enough attention...she just likes to be held, and those who don't know her are suckers for a cute little blue-eyed, blonde haired toddler raising her hands up to be held. The new ones fall for it every time :) There was nothing wrong with her question at all, she just didn't know.

It made me think though, why is this one needing to be held while this other one is playing independently? Why does this one brown-eyed boy {my child} hit others while his victims just take the beating? Why do some come in kicking and screaming while others just walk in like they own the world? I may never know. But what I do know is I have NO idea what goes on in their lives outside of our classroom.

The one who is kicking and screaming, may not get to see his parents very much and doesn't want to let go of them one more time. The one who out of nowhere will just start crying, may just need someone to play with him instead of being brushed off all the time. Life is not just hard as adults, for these kids the thought of their parents leaving them is pure TORTURE. I hurt for those kids who don't spend enough time with their parents, I hurt for their parents too. They may work 2 jobs just to pay the bills, they do it because they love their family so much, but I may never know. What I do know is that God is a God who saves, and he has put these kids in my life so I can LOVE them where they are right now. I don't know what that sweet little blue-eyed girl is going to be when she gets older, but I know God has a plan for her and right now on Sunday's his plan is for her to be in my care.

God has a plan for you too! In Jeremiah 29:11 it says, "For I know the plans I have for you," says the Lord. "They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope." These kids are our future and God has equipped me to give them hope. We may look like we are just playing with them, wiping snot, changing yucky diapers, rocking them, but we are giving them loving arms and hands and there is hope in that.

Know this, you may get annoyed by a kid at Target throwing a fit, but you DON'T know what's going on...don't judge. There is a story behind every person out there...what's the story you need to tell?

Update

Well, I just noticed that it's been almost a month since I've updated this blog. I'm so sorry to my readers.

I'll update you on what's been going on here. Well, at the beginning of May our laptop died...so that's another reason why I've been MIA. We bought a new one and it works great, I LOVE it! We celebrated Mother's Day at my parents house and Briley had her dance recital that same weekend. I'm a terrible mother...I didn't get one picture of her in her dance outfit on that day. I did film the dance so I guess that will get me some brownie points.

Mother's Day weekend I also co-coordinated our church's Child Dedications. I love doing the child dedications, such sweet families publicly promising to raise their children for God's glory! So WONDERFUL!

We ended our school year, and we've been having so much fun just hanging out and doing whatever we want. We've visited the Science Museum, The Zoo, Farmer's Market, my old Co-Workers, The Library, had park picnic with Daddy, amongst other things! Briley lost her first tooth too! She was super excited and was paid $1 for the tooth :)

We celebrated Memorial day weekend with our Lifegroup friends, which involved a very brisk swim in the pool. The kids didn't care at all! We got our fence put up and it looks so good. Briggs has given up his morning nap, so that's fun. We can now go places in the morning and have the rest of our afternoon at home before he naps in the afternoon.

That's about all for the past month! Tomorrow is my 29th birthday for the 4th time and I'm so excited to go out with my sweet husband! Dinner and a movie at the Drive-in!

Here are a few pics just for fun

Briggs and Casey 

CHEESE!!!

 

Briggs loves to swim  

Silly Sis! 

Briley's first lost tooth!

My Simple Woman's Daybook

Outside my window...It's gonna be a scorcher! I think we are supposed to break some records for the heat...I'm not ready for it to be this HOT already.

I am thinking...there are some majors changes that need to happen around here...just need to pray about where to start. 

I am thankful...for my sweet family! I had a wonderful Mother's Day yesterday and I loved being a part of child dedications this weekend and watching my sweet Briley at her dance recital!

From the learning room...My husband bought me a new Homeschool Planner and I LOVE it, so I'll be looking through it and figuring out where to start with that too!

From the kitchen...

Monday-  Waffles and Bacon

Tuesday-Grilled Chicken Salad

Wednesday- Pasta

Thursday- BBQ Pork Loin

Friday- Pizza

Saturday- Casey's Choice {I will be at a girls night}

Sunday- Baked Beef Taquitos

I am wearing...Khaki gauchos and a brown shirt with fun birds on it

I am creating...a birthday present for my sweet Cousin Tasha, she requested that I make her something! I'm also gathering up items for our Girls Night, we are making fabric flowers and rosettes...so pumped!

I am going...

Monday- Store

Tuesday- Library and it's my Mom's b-day so we will go see her and we're delivering a meal to a friend who had surgery.

Wednesday- Lifegroup

Thursday- NOWHERE!!!!

Friday- Watching a sweet little baby girl! 

Saturday- Farmer's Market and then my GIRLS NIGHT!!!

Sunday-Church

I am reading...my Bible reading plans on Youversion and some lovely blogs

I am hoping...we can find a reasonable laptop to purchase...ours went to e-Heaven

I am hearing...sweet NOTHING! 

Around the house...laundry, dishes, school etc.

One of my favorite things...I LOVE how open and honest I can be with my husband, my heart and mouth poured open last night and he loves me anyway!

Prayer Request...still need prayer for a vehicle. I'm beginning to wonder if we need to become Pastors to get some help with a car...I know, I shouldn't think like that, but it just seems to only happen to Pastors families...Please pray for our family as we make some pretty drastic changes to our lives!

Pictures for the week

Briley ready for her dance recital!

 Have a wonderful week!