Smile for the Camera :)

As we enter the 3rd week of summer studies...I thought i'd share a few pictures i've taken over the past week...hope you enjoy!

They growin up!

Eatin ice cream...like always ;)

Ducez! Doesn't she have the most beautiful smile?

Lol...too cool to smile :)

God bless you all! Hope everyone had a fun and safe 4th of July!

What happens in Bible Study...stays in Bible Study

Today was the last bible study of the year, so we decided to have a party.

We ate Chipotle burritos and chips and played games like Name that Tune, Clothing Relay, Bobbing for Apples, and Food Relay. The kids really enjoyed it!

Hope you enjoy the pictures! And of course...the video :)

God bless you all!!!!!

the Diamondbacks

Today was the official start of softball. Yes, I practically coach anything I can! Today we took the girls to "opening day." It was a pretty big deal, complete with Mayor Daley and a couple of former pro baseball players.

We had a ton of fun and the girls ended up playing a "semi-real" game. A high school team and our girls played together...and you know what? They did okay. A few players really impressed me. For example...Cheyenne, Jameisha, and Kanika can all hit the ball pretty solid, while Maia is definitely going to be our short stop (she had 3 outs in the game). I think the best thing about the scrimmage is that now, Andrea and I have a better idea of where we will position the girls.

Anyways, they got to wear their uniforms (the Diamondbacks) and I took a few pictures and even recorded a couple of videos of the girls batting. Here is a video of Iris batting (yes that is one of our girls dancing at first base lol)!

God bless you all!!!

Dehumanization

Today I was sitting here, browsing around on msn.com and I saw the "Week in Pictures" link and decided to click on it. If you have never seen this before, what happens is at the end of every week about 15-20 photos are selected from around the world to be put on the week in pictures section. At the end of the section is a place where you can vote for your favorite picture.

After looking at the pictures...I realized that we as a culture are becoming dehumanized. We go so far as to look past the humanity in the pictures and think, oh wow...this is a good shot. Does anyone see the devastation in picture 12? Do you see the humanity of that young man, bleeding to death? Or do you only see a casualty of war, the color of his skin, and the country he lives in? What about picture 15? Do you only see the way the shot is a perfect capture of shading and sunlight? Or do you see the world letting these young children suffer from starvation and malnutrition? Do you see the pain in the mother's eyes as she can't even take care of her own children? Or do you just see the photographer's eyes? And what about picture 13? Do you see the clarity and color of the picture? Or do you see the filth and trash these people live in? Do you feel a sense of injustice and anger when you look at this picture and see the unsanitary conditions that these children are forced to be surrounded by?

See...I could easily vote for the best picture. Yet, I don't understand how we as a culture can sit in our comfy chairs at home, drinking our bottled water, using our laptops and be okay with voting on the best picture. Shame on us for becoming a culture desensitized and dehumanized so much that we don't even care that these pictures are taken at the expense of seeing someone's pain and grief. Shame on us that we are a culture that when we see these kinds of things, we don't even bat an eye but we continue to live our lives, our comfy and selfish lives, and think...wow, now thats a great shot. God forgive us for not following your commands...to act justly, love mercy, and walk humbly. Forgive us Lord...forgive our nation....forgive our world.


God bless you all. (and Lord have mercy on our souls)

New Pics

AmeriCorps wanted me to take pics this week! Here are some of my favorites!

Britt, Maia, and Yakira...4th grade girls

Crazy Melissa! I LOVE THIS KID!

Stetson and Jarell...Stetson is a co-worker!

Damien...such a sweet kid!

Miss Cheyenne...oh she is a mess

Chess game Keenan won!

Alisha

Bre and Mikayla

The Many Faces of My Beautiful Kids

Here are some of my wonderful kids, during our Christmas party and other December festivities! Enjoy!!!! PLEASE COMMENT! Playin in the snow! This was the first big snow of the winter!

One of our seventh grade boys!
A tutor helping out a couple of our kindergarteners!
The boy on the right is a mayor, the girl is a kindergartener!

The girl on the left is ccccrrazy! Love her tho!
Way blurry...still tryin to figure out the settings on my camera! But, cute pic!
Bible study group....5-6th grade girls....can you imagine the FUN we have? LOL

On the bus ride home...these kids are cousins!
This my girl right here...she's got an attitude but she's matured so much ova the past few months!
6th grader...all the 4th grade girls are in LOVE with him :)

This boy is ssssoooo sweet....look at that precious face!
Showin off what she got for Christmas!
Three my favorite kids...they crack me up!
Smile for the camera!
Awwww....now, this girl is amazing! Very mature for her young 13 years! She is going places someday...I promise it!

One of our mayors and our fifth graders...the mayor is an awesome Godly kid...HG 2nd year!
Two of our mayors...the one on the right is my girl, one of my favorites!
Awww....she was so happy!

Now, this one right here...she's a trip! But, shes got big goals....wants to be a Pediatrician...go ahead girl!
I promise you, you'll never find a person as HILIARIOUS as this girl....I laugh everytime she walks in the door...and she is SO LOUD...lol

Oh LORD, what can I say about him?

Now, seriously , this my girl right here! She is so so so sweet and innocent! I LOVE HER!

All the presents for the kiddos!

Her bein her silly self!
1st grader...on the bus home!
I wish this wasn't so blurry...he is a DOLL!
MY KIDS LOVE FRIED CHICKEN!

Can you spell TROUBLE! LOL