Giving All You Have

I heard something so beautiful this morning and just wanted to share it with you.

George, our director, was not at devotions or core meeting this morning. Kevin, my boss, explained to us that he was at a parole hearing for one of his long-time friends.

Turns out this long time friend is also a supporter of the Dale House. He supports the Dale House with his earnings from jail—about $2.12 every month. He sends all he can to support this place of hope, even as he sits behind bars in a place that seems hopeless. I was moved by this man’s faithfulness and example.

At the DHP, I have learned so much about celebrating small success, small victories. Here is yet another example of something small that is so powerful. How beautiful are the small gifts.

MmmBop Re-lived

In May 2008 (pictured above), one of my dreams came true and I was able to meet Hanson :)

In September 2010 I got to re-live that dream, thanks to my wonderful friend Stephanie! I played it real cool when I met them, but you better believe I was jittery with excitement on my insides! I had to text Drew to create jealousy, since he carried a hot pink Hanson wallet for about 17 years held together with staples. I got to wear an all-access pass and skip everyone in line. I felt famous myself! They did play MmmBop,(because they have to because it is forever the greatest) but also have a lot of new songs that I really liked! It really was a good show in beautiful Boulder, and fun to get to hang out with Stephanie for a night at last! (we are on different teams, therefore work opposite nights and never get to hang out!)

Just keep pedaling...

The gang before we took off!

The Dale House believes a lot in community. We live in community, we eat in community, we pray in community, we serve the Lord in community. It is absolutely fantastic. I believe the Lord created us to be in community…whether in a family community, or a friend community, it is just a beautiful thing. I don’t think I could do this job if it wasn’t for the amazing community I have around me.

One way to build our community is through “All-Staff” trips! We all hiked Pikes Peak together, and just recently we loaded all our bikes and traveled to 11,539 feet above sea level to begin a two day bike trip down the beautiful Hoosier Pass and back up the beautiful Vail Pass (80 miles total!). My legs got to a point where I honestly don’t know how they were still peddling. I think they forgot they were attached!

It was a great time to be with everyone. We started down (literally DOWN…windy roads, tanker trucks passing us, curves…you get the point) the pass “at a safe pace” according to George, who followed us in the van in case anyone had any trouble! It was a safe pace cause I held the brakes the entire time while the boys rode at a fearless 40 MPH.

We rode about 35 miles the first day down the pass, around a beautiful lake, and back to a cozy little condo where we stayed for the two nights. The ride was so beautiful. The mountains were all around us. The aspens were all changing to yellow and the weather was indescribable. The sky was Carolina blue (Go heels!). It was perfect. I mean, just check out those pictures.

Day two was a bit harder for me…cause it was almost all uphill! We woke up for Devos and breakfast at 8 and were on the road by 9:45 am. My butt was so incredible sore even though I was sporting not just one, but 2 pairs of biker shorts! We rode about 45 miles that day. Wow. To the right is a picture of people reaching the top of Vail pass where we stopped for a lunch break! To the left is a picture of Annie, Stephanie, myself, and Logan showing our bikes who’s boss. Below is all the girls (the names above plus Kallie!) at the top of Vail Pass! We made it! YAY!

My favorite part of the whole trip, besides the beauty of being outdoors, was the time we had together at the condo. We each got the opportunity to share our lives stories with each other. It was such a special time of vulnerability and acceptance. We each put ourselves out there…told about struggles, things we’re proud of, our families, our hearts…but I could feel the bond grow between us all as we did this. There is something special about honestly and vulnerability. I love the way the Lord uses it to break down barriers and build a strong community. I was amazed at almost every single life story I heard. Trouble does not escape anyone. It was such a special time with my co-workers and friends. I am so thankful that the Dale House values our lives and hearts as people. What a blessing it is to work for this amazing place that desires that I experience Christ in a full and real way.

and here are some photos just for fun :) and so you can put a face with the names I keep using!

Kevin…the training staff boss. He’s awesome. He rode the tandem bike with Nik. It was hilarious. This man can talk the entire hike up Pikes Peak and never have to stop for breathe. He can also bike at speeds of 45 MPH and it would feel like he was sleeping. Its amazing.

George, the director. He is the wisest man I know. I learn something from him every time he talks! He has taught me more of what “fear of the Lord” means. I have so much respect for this man. He can out-bike me any day. Its incredible.

Anne, the woman. Her last name is Hollar. You couldn’t have a cooler last name. She does the social work aspect of the DHP. She is also so wise and awesome at what she does. I want to be like her when I grow up. Incredible woman, incredible biker. I couldn’t keep up with her at all.

This picture was just funny to me. Annie passed out on her bike during a break. We were some tired bikers!

Brag Blog

Allan had his first medical school test last Friday. He did amazingly (I’m talking WOW here, folks) . I had no doubt he would do well, but I am proud of him for working so hard and wanting to do well. I am glad he did fantastic and proved me right again in showing that he is the smartest person I know!

Mini-reunion!

There’s no better way to make you realllllly miss a place than to reunite with the people with whom you were there with! Two friends from Honduras, Michael and Eileen, just live an hour from me in Denver and I was able to go see them this past weekend! Oh man, it was fun times! We got Mexican food to help us get a Latino fix. It was just awesome to be with them, hear about their lives, and reminisce! I am excited they live so close and hope to get to see them more! Thanks again for dinner, Michael :)

Preggars and the Pretend Professional

I recently had the awesome opportunity to take some photos of Julie and Adrian (old residents of the DHP) at the Garden of the Gods. They are expecting a baby in October and I thought it would be fun for them to have some pregnancy shots before baby AJ comes. I am not professional by any stretch of the imagination, but it was a lot of fun to be with them and pretend I was professional :) Julie was really excited and Adrian even admitting to having a good time after it was all over. Please keep these 2 in your prayers at the prepare for parenthood and baby AJ as he comes to the world soon!

Second Month Reflections

This post is a little bit over due but that’s ok :) Time really does fly by. As slowly as the days seem to go sometimes, I truly can’t believe I have already been here two months! I am so thankful for the way the Lord has remained faithful to me (duh!) and how he has allowed me to feel much for comfortable in my work and just grow in love for the residents and my co-workers.

Below are just a few pictures to represent the past month here at the Dale House!

Graffiti Falls…the kids love it! It is a small waterfall right next to a bridge. You hike about 5 minutes past the road and can spray paint and climb and play in the water! I am not sure if it is legal, but it is really cool!

A group shot after one of our softball games. The Dale House participates in sports leagues in Colorado Springs. We just finished softball! Next is football! Our team name is “The Regulators!”

Every Wednesday and Sunday night, we have things called Family Nights. Family and friends are invited to the Dale House to eat dinner and participate in the evening activity. Wednesday night activities are different every week, where as Sunday night we meet together after dinner for singing and a talk from George (the director, pictured below!) about Jesus. I could listen to that man talk all the time. He is so wise, loving, and an amazing example of Jesus! These pictures are from one family night where we had stations of yard games like cornhole!! We ended with a Limbo competition where my primary, who is about 6’2’’ won!

One of the residents emancipated this month! YAY! This means that she successfully completed the Dale House program (had a job, had enough money in the bank, finished schooling, etc.) When a resident emancipates, we have a party for them with gifts and their meal of choice. It is a really special time where all the residents and staff share memories and celebrate the resident that is emancipating! The resident receives gifts that will be helpful to them as they move onto living by themselves. Most of these kids have very little, so even plates and a microwave are awesome gifts. The most recent resident to emancipate had never had a new pair of shoes. Stephanie, her primary (pictured to the left) gave her her very own brand new pair of shoes. It was a cool experience to witness!

So…the residents like big pants! We often have to remind them to pull up their pants, which makes me hate big pants normally! However, I have a new love for them because they can provide entertainment :) Both legs in ONE pant leg :) Amazing. Oh…and they tried to skateboard like this! Hilarious!

Pictured to the right is just one photo from my photo shoot with Julie and Adrian! Check out the blog post about it!

I wish that each of you could come for a visit to be able to truly understand the DHP and the work of the Lord here. It is just really hard to explain in words but the presence of the Lord is so strong and undeniable. I am daily challenged by the kids and listening to their stories. It just amazes me the injustice faced by these kids before some of them are able to talk. Parents who don’t love them, fathers who abuse them, mothers who continuously drive across country with 3 kids selling drugs, seeing their parents get killed, joining a gang by the age of 10 and getting beat up by 8 people in order to be initiated, etc. etc. etc. It is so unfair.

I am reminded of the Lord’s love though when I see a kid singing at Family Night (an activity we have every Sunday night where we sing and George, the director, talks about Jesus), when I see a kid being proud of the pizza he has decorated and cooked for dinner, when the Dale House Regulators win their league football game, when I get to sit with my primary and listen as he pours out his heart. He has never had a job, someone to listen to him, family dinners, a reason to be proud of himself and he is broken. I feel so blessed that the Lord is allowing me to be a part of this! How cool!

Mustache Monday

                    

                        (My teammate Jesse, a resident, and me!)                       (My primary and me!)

Thanks to my brother, we were able to enjoy a day of mustaches here at the Dale House this past Monday. I’m so thankful I don’t really have a mustache. It was so hard to eat with it! My favorite part was walking around Colorado College campus because people don’t know whether to look, look away, laugh, or gag. Next up…toupee Tuesday!

                  

                 (Kallie, day-time supervisor & professional line dancer)                (Anne Hollar, my roll model)

Choosy Squirrels Choose JIF

I saw this little buddy yesterday outside the Dale House. He thought I was going to take his peanut butter and almost ran off when I was getting out my camera. Once he figured out I just wanted a picture, he continued to dig in :) About 5 minutes before I saw this little friend, I saw another squirrel eating a vanilla oreo. :) In the words of Allan “Y’all treat squirrels too well out there.”

Charleston Charm

  Last weekend, I got to go visit Allan in Charleston for a long labor day weekend and to celebrate his 24th birthday! My excitement was pretty uncontrollable and the lady next to me on the plane even told me I could get off before her because she could tell I couldn’t wait! :)

It was a good (too short) visit but I am thankful for the time! We got to hang out with his family, look at wedding dresses with his sister (who is getting married in March!!), see Allan’s school (I told Allan he would appreciate this picture in 4 years!)….

hang out with Missy Rich….(as well as the other awesome Rich sisters and our awesome waitress…)…

 

(this picture is from last year in Wilmington but our Charleston picture didn’t turn out well :(  )

visit my parents in Myrtle Beach, (they have been getting in shape after my dad’s fall!)…

                                                 

ride bikes, eat boiled peanuts (yum!), shoot bow and arrow, visit a cool park and get lots of mosquito bites :) (there are no mosquitoes in CO!)

 

                                           

 

I’m thankful for the time I did have! It was hard to leave, but the Lord continues to be faithful—giving me feelings of excitement about seeing the DHP kids when I returned and reminders of his love for me and these kids I am working with! I am super thankful for airplanes though :)