Sometimes I Write

I leave the blogosphere for a week and my blogroll disappears! What’s up with that? Now I have to go in and manually input the blogs I read…that may take awhile…be patient with me…and I apologize if I leave yours out.

I’ve been taking some time away from the sex talk to pray, talk through some things with my best friend (my husband), and rethink where I was going with that topic. I really appreciate the comments left here and the emails of encouragement and appreciation I’ve received.

Today is Monday and already it has been a busy week! Yesterday was Dry Bones Sunday at Lakewood C of C. Benny and I were introduced along with the rest of the staff, and Robbie and Matt spoke about what is happening with the ministry and thanked the Lakewood congregation for being a loving church family. Zillionare & Don (former streetkids-sort of) read the scripture readings for the day. We have 52 people here from Southern Hills, a church in Texas that is Matt’s home congregation. We also had a fundraiser lunch at Fuddruckers…that’s good food!! For every who presented their Dry Bones ticket when they ordered their meals, Fuddrucker’s gave back 20% of the bill to our ministry. I haven’t heard yet how much was “raised”. After lunch, Bob (former streetkid/now a volunteer) and I spent the afternoon and most of the evening shopping for food for this whole week. 170 people (lunch) x 3 days…plus snacks and breakfast stuff…$600.00 at Sam’s Club and Costco…2 trips with the minivan to get it all. We were TIRED!

Today we spent the morning preparing to send off the groups for the day. Making lunches, packing snacks and drinks for the streets, and clean-up took a long time but I’m glad I can help in that capacity so the rest of the team can focus on their roles. It sounds like a mom kind of job doesn’t it? 😉 This afternoon I am babysitting three little girls, then tonight I am auditioning for our Worship team. I am pretty excited about it and maybe a little nervous. I’ll let you know how it all turns out.

Tomorrow will be equally as busy as today, so it will be Wednesday before I resume the sex talk. I hope you’ll join me for the final two posts. Yes, the end is in sight! 😉 One more thing…Wednesday is our Apprenticeship evaluation meeting with the staff and action team from the Board of Directors. We would love your prayers as we talk about the next step for our family with the Dry Bones ministry.

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We just spent two wonderful days with my inlaws in Buena Vista. I LOVE that place. It was so relaxing and a good getaway time before the craziness that will be June. I spent Tuesday afternoon laying on my MIL’s couch reading 3 magazines and chatting with my FIL. I did my first Sudoku puzzle – rated medium for challenge – and it was! The kids played outside, rode the horse, and Benny gave them all rides on his mom’s motorcycle. They rode and bounced all over the property and had a blast. We played pinball, ate good food, and Margie and I even threw the softball around for awhile. I played fast pitch softball growing up and in college, and I’ve really missed it. I tried to teach her how to pitch, but I myself am terrible at it…I think they call that the blind leading the blind. No matter what I showed her and told her, she wanted to wind it up like on cartoons. I tried not to laugh – too hard. Benny joined us for awhile too. We had a lot of fun. My inlaws live about five or six miles from town and it’s pretty quiet there. We can see the Arkansas river from their front yard, and at night there are millions and millions of stars to gaze at – something I can’t do living in north central Denver. Just thinking about being in the shadow of Mt. Princeton and hanging with my inlaws for a few days relaxes me. The only thing that marred my visit was the absence of Linda. It was the first time I’ve been to Buena Vista and not seen her since we moved away from there 7 years ago. We decided very last minute to drive up there for a few days, so I didn’t get a chance to let her know I was coming. I don’t know where she was, but I left a note on her door and didn’t hear from her before we came home yesterday. (sigh) I’ll be back there in a about a week to drop Max off with the grandparents so he can attend their VBS. I’ll make it a point to see her then.

The grandparents will have Petey and Zoe while Max and I are at camp. They are also keeping them an additional 4 days camping in Red River, New Mexico. I’m so grateful the kids will all get a chance to spend some time with them without me and Benny. We’re thankful to have one set of grandparents close by and wish the others were closer and had the same opportunity to spend time with the kids. All you people who have kids AND trustworthy relatives close by – relish it! You don’t know what a blessing you have!!! One more thought on the B.V. trip. (hehehe) I caught my inlaws sneaking glances at my tattoo – I was wearing capri pants. They never commented at all, but my dear MIL did tell me she didn’t like my blue fingernails. Ha Ha She loves me anyway. This week they are “Shocker Pink” as in almost neon…very cool…and Zoe was thrilled! 😉

Today was the last day of BSF until the Fall. It was “Sharing Day” where anyone who wants to share can stand up and talk for a few minutes about what God has taught them through the study of Genesis this year. I was the first one to raise my hand and I was glad I had the chance to thank my leader and the children’s leaders who had all three of my kids in their classes. I was happy to tell everyone that my biggest lessons learned this year were perseverance on the journey, to finish what I start, and that I know my calling and I have the courage to carry it out. What a year it has been. I “became friends” with Jacob – a man I’ve struggled to understand my whole life. I didn’t want to admit that out of everyone mentioned in Genesis, I can relate to him the most. I’ll blog about that at a later date. If you’re not familiar with Bible Study Fellowship, I encourage you to check it out. It has been one of the keys to my spiritual growth over the past few years. It’s also been fun to discuss a few lessons with Adam and Annette – two friends in other states that are also in BSF.

Side note: Adam just returned from Ireland last week. Check out his blog for a few great pictures…and ask him to explain the “jump shots”. 😉

I’m off to get ready for bowling with our friends from the streets – it’s Thursday, remember? I hope you all have a blessed day, but even better than that – I hope you bless someone else today!

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I’m having a GREAT hair day, curly and wild – just like Benny likes it. My make-up is just the way I like it. I’m wearing my favorite shirt in one of my favorite colors – green. Since my eyes change colors to match my clothes and my mood (seriously) they’re bright green as well. My new thrift store treasure jeans end about six inches above my ankle leaving my tattoo in perfect view and that makes me smile. My favorite sandals expose my toes so my new silver toe rings (a gift from a funky friend) shine in the sunlight. My fingernails are Midnight blue – a little unusual even for me, but my kids love them. There is a smile plastered on my face and it’s not going anywhere today. And that’s just the tip of the iceberg. Why is any of this important?

Because I am a beautiful woman. God told me so. He said I am more than beautiful. He said, “Niki, You are ready to be who I created you to be. Nothing more. Nothing less. Before you were born, I smiled when I thought of who you would become. I was sad knowing some of the things you’d have to go through and some of the lessons you would learn the hard way, but I know you and I’m confident you’ll be someone great. As a matter of fact, I promise you that when you put your trust in me, I will finish in you what I started before you were born. I have a plan for you and you’re the only one who can fulfill it. I gave you unique gifts and abilities to accomplish the tasks I have for you. There will be days when you think your gifts are for your benefit, but you will realize that they aren’t. I put you on earth at just the right time and in just the right place, because I meant for your gifts to bless other people…The people I’ve placed in your life. You are a leader Niki. I made you that way. Sometimes it will seem that no one is following, but there is ALWAYS someone watching. Some days it will be people, some days it will just be me. I think you’re incredible and beautiful and I love it when you think so too. Your inner beauty is unmistakable when you let it shine, and your outer beauty is in the eye of the beholder…Me, Benny, and others. Wear the colors you love. Create the look you like. It’s all there as a gift to you. Don’t forget your modesty is a gift as well. Praise me with your voice, your mind, your body. Bring glory to my name by your actions, and your thoughts. Be the captivating beauty that I created you to be. Show others how to be who they were created to be. Trust in me and LIVE. Life is abundant already, enjoy it and don’t waste a single moment. Speak for me when I tell you to. No one has ever or will ever think you a timid woman. When you speak, speak kindly and firmly, and remember to ask me what to say first. Don’t forget that I am ALWAYS with you…I’m the only one who is ALWAYS with you. Put your confidence in me and I will guide you, my precious daughter. Know who you are. Know why you’re alive. Know that you’re mine. Make me proud.”

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Last night was our (Dry Bones) last time having pool night at Shakespeares at its current location. They are moving and will be closed for about 8 weeks. That means a change in venue for our Thursday Dry Bones night. The solution? Bowling. Evidently the street kids like to bowl and we were even able to secure a double-decker bus to transport them from downtown to the closest bowling alley. Well, the 2nd closest…the closest one has a dress code – no hats and other ridiculous standards I’m sure the kids couldn’t meet. It was a fun night for me and I hope everyone else that was there too. We even gathered outside and took a group picture – that was A LOT of people!

As I was driving home I was amused (not that hard) at how I’d come full circle. About a year and a half ago I attended my very first pool night. We were in Denver trying to figure out if we were going to be moving here or not. I blogged about the experience which you can read in my January 2005 archives. That night I played “Spades” with Don, Titties, and Smiley – Don was my partner. I can’t remember who won that game, but I remember the feelings I experienced that night…I was out of place. Something about the people I met that night resonated with me and I couldn’t quite nail down the reason why. Fear mixed with excitement of the future possibilities kept me alert and soaking in my surroundings. I wasn’t exactly on edge, but I was definitely alert…not knowing what to expect. Last night, on my last visit to pool night at Shakespeares before it closes it’s doors, I spent the night playing “Spades” with Don, Titties, and Nikki Wallace, my friend and DB teammate. Don was my partner again, and we won. I told Titties that the first time I met her we were doing the same thing and she smiled and said, “I know”. Smiley was never mentioned and I don’t know whatever became of him.

My feelings last night were completely different than my first experience. I was comfortable and at ease. There were lots of familiar faces around me. Don is a good card partner. Cheeto kept coming over to stand behind me and rub my shoulders. Benny and I spoke maybe 10 words to each other the whole night and that was o.k. I was with people that I have come to know and love. I was right where I was supposed to be and it felt good. I had peace amidst these misfits and throwaways of society. I am one too you know. Sure I look normal on the outside – sort of (hehehe), but I now know what I couldn’t pinpoint a year and a half ago. I am just like them. I was only a few bad decisions away from being one of them. Instead of taking one look at me and judging who I was, not giving me a chance, these kids looked past the outer and saw that I wanted to “see” them and “know” them, and some of them let me. I’ve known church people that didn’t give me that kind of chance. Back at the beginning, I had taken one look at them and wasn’t sure what to say or do, even fearing saying or doing the wrong thing and now they are my friends. They’re people…who need other people…just like me.

Yesterday there was a memorial service on the 16th street mall for Zelma, a woman who had been on the streets for what seems like forever. Robbie and Matt had the honor of speaking about her along with Rick, a wealthy businessman who had befriended Zelma over nine years ago. Zelma died from stomach cancer on April 29th in her run down little motel room. Rick passed out flyers inviting everyone to remember this woman who said “God bless you” to everyone who passed by her wheel chair – whether or not they put change in her cup. The coroner’s office was able to contact her sister out west who declined to have Zelma’s remains released to her. (Very sad!) Rick and a friend of his are taking care of the arrangements for Zelma’s remains. I am so very thankful for people like Rick who take the time to stop and treat strangers (especially the poor and homeless) like they deserve to be treated – humanely. Rick was more than that to Zelma and he is a hero in my book! Two different news crews were there to capture the story and I was able to record the broadcasts of both stations which I’ll be making copies of for the rest of the Dry Bones team. I was unable to be there, but I know it was powerful. This is a link to one of the news videos:

http://www.cbs4denver.com/video/?id=17049@kcnc.dayport.com

Food for thought: Whose hero are you being?

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I didn’t realize it until today, but one of my Dry Bones articles (actually my first and only article until this week) was posted on emergingcity.com. Here’s the link:
http://www.emergingcity.com/2006/04/my_kids_and_street_kids.html

This is another fantastic website that is worth checking out! There are several people from different organizations and ministries in Denver that have blog posts or articles posted there about the issues/friendships/and challenges of inner-city/urban life. Let me know what you think…better yet, let them know what you think. www.emergingcity.com

My family and I are traveling for the weekend so I’ll be back with an update on Tuesday. Have a great weekend everyone! (And Tricia…thank you for house sitting!)

One more thing…since it is now past midnight I can say,
HAPPY ANNIVERSARY BENNY! It’s been an amazing 13 years!

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