Business Manager

I'm pretty sure that I NEVER thought I would ever hold a title like that. But here I am!  Crazy. 

A few weeks ago, I started working at The Dove's Nest. It is a not for profit Thrift shop, which is a supporter of MCC (Mennonite Central Committee). We send a portion of our sales to MCC, who then funds many relief efforts around the world!  They have provided clean water & wells in Jamaica, funded schooling for children, provided shelters and bedding, food and jobs in 60 different countries!!  We, as Americans, are so quick to get rid of things....then purchase more. Then get sick of it, get rid of it, & purchase more. MCC has taken Americas excess, & turned it into $$$ to provide peace & support to SO many in need!!  I'm really enjoying learning more about this ministry, & being a part of it. 

It's a pretty flexible job, and just 20 hours a week. I was really ready to do something while the kids were in school all day long!  I never thought I would desire to be a "business manager" but I'm really enjoying it so far!  (It pry sounds much more important than it really is) ;) 

SO. That's what I've been doing with myself, if anyone cared. What about you, has God taken you on any exciting journeys lately?? :)

When we cry out "Why?!?"....

We've all been there. We've all cried out to God those three little letters....

why?!?  

The moment I heard the word "cancer" was in my fathers body...the day my dear friend lost her baby boy...the day she was diagnosed with leukemia...and then sitting with her just moments before God carried her Home...the early morning hours we sat around my Dad's bed, hearing his lungs fill with fluid, and waiting....for that final breath......having to see my nephews loose not 1, not 2, not even 3, but FOUR grandparents, while they are still so young.....and now....a young man taking his own life, when there were no "warning signs", no major known struggle in his life, and a family with enough love and support that has left so many uttering that word.....why?!?

Death hurts. Death is hard. But Death is inevitable.  And when we really stop and think about it, why does it have to hurt so bad?!?  Especially when they are at PEACE with God, & won't have to deal with any more hard times life throws us. No more of satans cruel temptations we can get so tangled up in. No more sickness. No more pain......  It's hard to understand just how amazing ETERNAL LIFE can be when we have never experienced it ourselves. And it's so hard to find JOY in loosing someone because of this....

Our selfishness. 

I want them here. I want my Dad to be a part of my children's lives. I want to create more memories with them. I don't want to have to feel this hurt. I wasn't ready for them to die.....  I can't help but imagine Christ saying back to me...Yes, but I want them to experience MY joy and peace. I want them to live with Me in PARIDISE. I dont want them to hurt anymore. I was the one who created them for ____ amount of time. I want to use their life....their legacy to impact MANY!!

I can try all I want, but I will NEVER understand God's reasoning behind the heartache we all face in life. 

BUT THAT DOESNT MEAN I DONT TRUST HIM, or LOVE HIM....

When I was younger, I didn't understand my parents. Why they would say "no" to certain things, why they called me "Eric" on accident, why they made some of the decisions they did as a parent...until I became a parent myself! :) And it makes me realize that I will NEVER understand God's plan FULLY until I am in His presence, walking those glorious streets made of pure gold, and beholding the SON...who endured the most unimaginable pain that NO man can even begin to fathom. And the greatest part...is that He endured that FOR US! 

I don't know about you, but it's in these hard, confusing times that I cry out to God, & rely on HIS PEACE more than ever!!  I hate to think of how little I would truly "need" Him if there were no hard times in life. 

You may be thinking "how on EARTH can you trust God when horrible things like this happen?!?"  But you don't just trust anyone, do you?!?  No....it takes a RELATIONSHIP first. The TRUST...comes easier, then!

Just one more thing...if your still reading. If you are hurting. Depressed. Confused. Dealing with a hard illness. Have considered ending YOUR own life.....talk to someone! PLEASE!  You don't have to walk through your hurt alone.  In fact, there's a pretty good chance someone else is experiencing the same hurt you are!   I read this just this morning..."hold your hand over your heart. Feel that??  It's your heart beating. God has you here for a reason. YOU have a PURPOSE!!" Find it...and let God use it for HIS glory!

Tomorrow...

Some things will change.

Some past experiences will resurface.

Some struggles are sure to come.

But this one thing I know.... a 17 year old boy will have a HOME.  A FAMILY.

FINALLY!

For years, he basically raised himself, he never knew his father, and turned to the streets to find that "family" to fulfill that sense of belonging.  Got into some trouble, which brought him to Gateway Woods.  We were his houseparents for about 8 months, before we flipped the page to this next chapter in life. (that was 8 months ago)  He has been there since.  We prayed for a foster family for him ever since he came.  We grew frustrated that after months & months, no one would step up.  We didn't understand why he had to go through the feelings of "having no where to go"...which gives someone absolutely NO motivation to complete a program and hope to move on to life outside of placement.

What will that even LOOK like?!?

After months of adjusting to our "normal" life in our own home, with just our own family, we kept praying for a family for him. It wasn't long before God made it clear that HE wanted US to be his FAMILY.  Do I feel adequate?  NO!  Do I feel anxious?  YES!  But do we feel PEACE??  For SURE!

So TOMORROW is the day. The day we step into the unknown territory of Foster Care.  We really don't know where God will take it?!  Maybe we'll just have this boy until he graduates & be done??  Maybe we'll take others along the way, or later on??  We'll leave that decision up to God ;)  He's been pretty stinkin' good at proving to us that HE KNOWS WHAT HE'S DOING!!

And we wouldn't want to start this journey without His GRACE, & your PRAYERS!  So thanks. :)

Did you know?!?

Did you know there's an app for Blogger??

Did you know that it makes posting SO much easier, AND your pictures show up?!?!?!?

Yeah.....this idiot discovered that this morning. Oi, do I feel stupid.....

Lesson number 31,738 in patience an humility.  What can I say, I'm a slow learner....

I'm afraid so....

Tape and foil...

...it doesn't take much to entertain us around here!  This is what the Kaeb girls were up to on a cold, rainy fall night. 

Who needs "Warp My Face" anyway, when you have tape?!?

And later on, Abbi came around the corner like this, & I about died!!  :) Love her creativity....

So there you have it...a night in the crazy, quirky, Kaeb house!  

Stupid technology...

This is why my blog is so pathetic. I am a computer idiot!  Oh, sure, I know how to do all the basic stuff, and I'm not afraid to try & figure things out, but I've just wasted an hour & a half of my life!!  All because of my stubbornness!!  Determined to be able to post from my iPad or iPhone, bu I'm starting to get a little iRate!!  So iGiveup!  How do you like that, apple iDiot?  See,i cant even add a "t" to the "bu" up above.  Which is going to bug me.
After ??? Attempts to make a post including some pictures on my phone, i will have to go try this again on our stupid regular old PC.   Another day...I'm DONE for tonight.



I have the worst luck with things....seriously!


I'm gonna go have a glass of Moscatto.......

Blog = Revived!!

It's true, folks...I've decided to make another post on my long, lost, left-in-the-dust...blog!  Mainly because I miss it, and right now I have a bit more time on my hands. School is back in full swing, the wonderful yet crazy busy summer is over, and fall is kicking in!!  My favorite time of year...I just wish it lasted longer!

But I also wanted to share some news!  Some of you already know, but we are excited to begin the journey of Foster Care!  It's a bit scary, I won't lie, but we know that this is what God wants us to pursue right now, so once again, we're just trusting Him on this. :)  We have completed all the training, paperwork, inspections, etc, & our home study has been submitted!  So within a couple of weeks, we should be welcoming a 17 year old boy into our family & home. He was in the Maple House with us for over half a year, so we know him well, & the kids are excited!  Esp J...he's super "pumped" to have another guy in the house!  :)

God is good, and we trust Him to give us the love and support that "A"needs...and most of all, a family, and a father. Something he has missed his entire life. We're thankful that he knows his Heavenly Father, and made a commitment last year!  Please pray!  Pray for him & us through this transition. Pray for our kids..that they can once again welcome another teen into our home & lives. Pray for "A"'s salvation!  That he can continue to pursue his relationship with Jesus, & that he can shake off satans cruel temptations that he so ruthlessly hurls at teens today.   Pray that we can love him as our own, and that we can meet him where he needs us....this would be much more difficult if we didn't have support from our families, which were so thankful for, and  the power of prayer!!

Kristy


PS...We are  looking to purchase a double bed. If you by chance have one available, let us know!! :)

Needs

I'm sure this won't attract a huge amount of connections, since very few even follow my pathetic, spuratic blog, but here at Gateway, we are looking for 2 things right now.  A new/gently used Basketball backboard, and a 14 ft trampoline.  (mainly the mat & pad)  Both are broken/torn/ripped and in desperate need of replacement!  Before we go to the top dawgs for the budget for these things, I thought I would check with all of our connections first & see if anyone has or knows of someone getting rid of either of these!  (or if you ever see one at a garage sale??)   If so, let me know! :)  Just doing our best to save Gateway the cost of these 'unnecessary necessities' :D

Thanks a ton!  
-K