Um....

not much to say. Just trying to keep up with life right now. Praying that I find a job soon. Hopefully more to update in the coming days. Until then may God bless with what ever is going on in your life.

A long time coming...

It's been 10+ years in the making. Many drops of sweat, tears, and maybe even some blood have went into making yesterday possible and the future even more promising. The church that I grew up in for years has been planning to build, but it wasn't until 2004 that they broke ground. What you need to understand is that I am from a small community with about 100 in attendance on a given Sunday.

Yesterday the church held a dedication serves to dedicate the new multi-purpose room, pastors office, conference room, and classroom that they added onto the existing church. Many thanks were given to the number of people who put in time and energy to make this building possible. The really special part was that they honored my Dad's life and service to our church by giving my Mom a plague.

My Dad grew up in that church and so have I. The congregation is like family to me. Even more so after my Dad passed away in 2006. So here is to New Haven COB.

Congratulations, God Bless!!

Not going to catch U up...

I know it has been awhile and I am not going to catch you up, because there has been so much that has happen.

If there is anyone who is still checking this I would like to ask for prayers as I am currently looking for a job and am starting to feel the money crunch. I know that God will provide, because He is the one to closed the other doors, but I am not always good and TRUSTING so I am asking that you would join me as I pray that God will provide and soon.

I will try to be a little more regular at updating.

What a month :)

So I know it has been a month since I last posted, but it has been very busy. As my last post said I left for Florida for two weeks. Had an awsome time with my Aunt, Uncle and cousin Andrew. One of the best highlights of the trip was that I found a star fish in the ocean and brought it back to my aunt's house to dry out and while it was drying out her ancient dog EAT it yes that is what I said he eat it.

Apon returning I stayed at my moms house for a couple of days which was really nice to spend time with her. Especial because I had missed mother's day. I returned to my house on Sunday night to pack to leave for camp on Tuesday, but instead of packing I had 3 little kids over and for most of the day Monday. Having them over made a great holiday.

On Tuesday moring I left for Grace Adventures for two weeks of training before the kids came. A couple of highlights from those two weeks were, the first day had a scavenger hunt to complete and part of the hunt was using boats, lets just say a canoe pulled a paddle while two of us sat in 3 inches of water and what should have taken like 5 minutes to complete took like twenty. But remember it is the memories that we are making that counts :) A second event was just over the two weeks how our small group became very tight, as some of us had or were experiencing the same events happening in our lives and it was great to have each other to lean on.

This brings me up this last week. The first week of campers, more specifically 7-9 year olds. Throughout this week God tested my paitences and by yesturday (Friday) I was exhausted and ready for the weekend. So today I am sitting in peace and quite in my house (in GR) preparing mentally and physically for next when I get 9-11 year olds, which I am excited for.

That pretty much brings everyone up to date, and I thank everyone for following me and hopefully I will have more updates as the summer goes on. I leave you now with some pictures of the last couple of weeks.

First day of camp in cabin # 1.

r to l: Destiny, Me, Shamya

r to l: Parashya, Omaryana, Me, and Elizabeth

While at camp Shamya learned that filling a pail with sand and then dumping upside down made a sand castle. This is Shamya and her first sand castle.

No they are not 7-9 year olds, but Isaiah and Domanic were at pathfinder camp for the older kids.

Going Going Gone

All week so far I have just been fighting back checking out, but I officially can. I am packing tonight and leave in the morning to go home and then flight out Thursday at 7:00 AM. Yes I know it is early, but it will be worth it. I will arrive in sunny Florida at 9:35. So.....

Florida here I come!!!!

Kids say the darndest things (Post 1)

We had just arrived at church and were(me and some of the kids) hanging up our coats. As we were leaving the coat room the little four year-old (who's first time it was coming to church with us) said "Ms. Kali I just eat a booger." I turned to her and said, "D we need to keep that to ourselfs and not tell everyone, ok." She said "ok." Then you looks up at me and says, "it taste like sugar." What can you say... kids say the darndest things especially when it is not the time or the place.

Florida

So my roommate is returning from Florida tonight, with a nice tan I guess, but I am not jealous because I will be leaving for Florida in....

One week 2 days

for 2 weeks

Hip Hip Hooray!!!!

I AM FINISHED!!!!

It is 1:15 in the morning and I am officially

finished with the semester.

Now I can start the count down until Florida...

2 weeks and 1 day

Pics from the week (post #2)

Even though you can't tell Drew is intentlly watching a Praise Baby DVD.

It often distracts him from beinging crabby.

Isn't he just the coolest dude you have ever seen.Well he found my sunglasses on top of my head and decided to try them on.

He just thought he was all that. Isn't it the best.

Drew loves taking baths, but I am not sure who gets more wet me on the outside or him inside. Listen careful to the voice at the end and look for his reaction (it is not mine).

An email from Jamacia

So tonight I sat down to check my email and one of the emails was from my brother and in the subject it say, "underwear is important!" I open it unsure of what I might read and this is what it said...

Hey Kali I'm down in Jamaica right now. I thought that I would write you and tell you of all the great weather and fun that we are having . IT IS SWEET!!!!!!!!!!!!! But, also I need to know mom's email address. I thought that you would know and check your email the most. when you talk to mom tell her to check her email and that once you get this and email me back with her email that I will email her. Love you both talk, to you later.

I think that we are going para sailing!!!!!!!!!!!
NIC

I emailed him back and said this...

Well I am glad you are having a good time, but I am just wondering what you did with my brother. Did you drink that water???...lol Mom's email is cwiseman@edzone.net. She would enjoy hearing from you. Make sure you take lots of pictures.

Love,

Kali

Let me just tell you all it was awesome to hear from my brother, but I never expected to hear this from him. I will keep this email forever as blackmail when he doesn't want to clam me as his favorite sister.

A great evening

So today my mom was in town for a conference for work. After she got out of her conference and I got out of class we meet. We did a little shopping and then went for dinner. We dinned at Olive Garden, it was really good. While enjoying our dinner a hostist brought out this contrapsion, that neither of us knew what it was, but when the family got seated we found out. I couldn't find a picture of it but it basically looked like a mini hammock that held a car seat for a baby. When we figured it out my mom goes I need to visit the big city more often... lol. After dinner we went to Target to get a few things for my brother who is leaving Thursday morning for Jamaica. Yeah I know unfair right. Then we parted ways and headed in opposite directions. It was a great night and I am glad my mom came to GR.

Prayers for a friend of a friend

Please follow this link to see who needs your prayers...

http://hoodmama.blogspot.com/2008/04/prayers-needed-again.html

Girls Night Out

On Saturday night I went out with some friends. Megan in the picture below planned a surprise for her mom. They met another friend of Megan and her mom. I was able to meet them too. We went to dinner and then to a park because it was such a great day. Here are a few pictures from the afternoon.

First of all just to clearify we had sparkling cherry juice. This is only the second picture that Megan and I have together and we have known each other for 2 1/2 years.

From Left to Right: Libby, Megan and Kali.

What a great afternoon/evening!!!!!!

A new look...

Spring is here finally. If it stays around is anyones guess seems we live in Michigan. So I thought I would give my blog a new look.

I also have this weekend off so I think I am going to give my room a new look too. First I have to start with the dirty laundry.

Then I think I am going to risk it and at least bring up the spring/summer clothes. I might even attempt to rearrange my room too. So as you can see even though I have the weekend off I am going to be busy doing things that I don't usually have time for.

Sunday...

Well I spent Saturday evening cooking. In fact I cooked 11 pounds of chicken and diced it up, 7 pounds of noodles, and chopped up some brocolli. I made two large pans of chicken alfredo. Why you ask... for this group of kids...

Her is the gang minus 13.

The really great thing was that all the kids were able to eat as much as they wanted and the adults (who eat last) where able to eat too. Dinner went well and the kids had a great time.

In the picture you will notice to white girls, they are not usually part of our Sunday's, but they came to stay the weekend with their Aunt Noelle and I. After lunch and dropping off most of the kids at their house we brought two of the girls back to play with Noelle's nieces. Their brother was tears because he couldn't come. Noelle at the request of the kids made snicker lattes. Needless to say we found out one of the kids come out in rare form when she has caffinee and she will NEVER have caffinee again at our house :)

Inclosing it was a great weekend and below are other pictures from this weekend, enjoy.

Destiny and her lego creation.

Taylor pulling Kerby around with a raquet.

Lucy, Jessica, Taylor and Destiny all made t-shirts last night and they were in the middle of putting beads on the sleeves. Their are some true artists in this group.

Lesson 1: Mama Ain't Playin'

Mama Ain't Playin'

Looks like Mama is going to make him stand out there for a long time! Ought to be a pretty good lesson, one not easily forgotten! Don't ya think? He doesn't look very happy, like, maybe the lesson is already working, huh? We need more people like her...

If only we had more parents that weren't playin'...

Maybe we won't have so many drop outs.

Maybe we won't have so many preteens in prisons.

Maybe we won't have so many crimes.

Maybe we won't have so many premarital pregnancies.

When living in the hood....

When living in the hood of GR don't mention to your mother that you and your roommate are trying to save money so you are going to turn off your alarm system because it would save you the alarm bill and the phone bill (especially because we don't use the house phone). She might just have a cow (j/k mom). Truely she does cares and doesn't want anything to happen to me, so we will probably find another way to save money.

The end is near...

Well my mom will glad to know that today I found out that the END IS NEAR!! That is college. If all goes as planned I will graduate in 2010, not soon enough. I wish it was today that I was graduating. I learned much today in my advising appointment. I learned that one of my classes that I took MCC will fill the requirements of one of the courses I need to take at GVSU. Well any ways wanted to leave you with this picture that all to soon I will be doing...


Hallelujah Praise the Lord!!!!!!

Sunny and warm somewhere...

Yes it is sunny in MI, but it is far from warm. I wish I was somewhere that I could do this...




The turtles have to have an UVA light to keep their shells hard and the other day they were rubbing it into my face (not really). 62 more days and I will be able to do that in Sunny Florida. I can't wait.

A taste of being a single parent...

This weekend from Friday to Saturday night, 30 hours I became a single parent of 3 kids. Drew 11 months, Leah 3, and Tiesha 12. I had my work cut out for me. Tiesha was a great help this weekend, which does not allows happen, but it was diffently a blessing. Friday night she cooked dinner all by herself. She did later admitt that it was a bit to much. After dinner the kids all took baths and then we all put our pajamas on and had a pajama party. Here is a picture of the 4 of us at the pajama party.

(L to R: Me, Leah, Drew and Tiesha)

By 11:00 pm every one was in bed and so was I... thinking I might have to get up in the night with Drew I knew I need to go to bed early. Lets just say the night was very restless and it was not due to the baby. I was up 5 times with the dog. Drew woke up about 6:45am ready to begin his day. Leah followed by about 8:30am and we had to wake Tiesha up at 9:30am.

After getting dressed I had planned a few surprises for the older kids. More like time kills to get us through the day. We started out going to a clay art studio to glaze some poetry. Two hours later we were head to our next surprise. McDonalds with a play world. After eating the girls went and played for awhile. At about 2:30pm we were home and the two younger kids went straight to bed. Truthfully I was ready for bed at that time too, but I told Tiesha we would do something, just the two of us. So she decide she want acrylic nails and that is just what we did. By the time we finished the other two kids were up and it was time for supper. Once again Tiesha helped with dinner. Once dinner was over and baths were done. Mom and dad walked in the door and I was ready for my bed and as far as Sunday I did almost nothing all day just to get caught back up.

How do single parents do it??? I just don't know. It was a great weekend and if asked to do it again I would.

P.S. Does any one read this or am I just typing to type. Leave me a comment sometime if you read my blog. Thanks!