A long awaited update :)

Again, I apologize for taking so very long to update. But I do have a very wonderful excuse for why my blogging has slacked off considerably - I am now LIVING the life God was telling me all about while I was in Texas, instead of just DREAMING about it! :) And I am enjoying almost every moment of it! :)

So...work

I am at the Target in Flowery Branch, and I am thoroughly enjoying it! I am still missing all my fellow employees from the Waco Target, but I am finding my place here, and loving it! I really do love Target - it is a great company to work for! :)

So...the youth :)

By far, my favorite topic these days - just ask my mama! :)

These kids are INCREDIBLE!!! I stand amazed every day, at how quickly they have become "mine." I feel like I have known them and been a part of their lives forever, and yet it's only been less than three months that I have really been with them!

The girls and I bonded very quickly, but the boys took a little longer. I gave them their space and their time, let them know I was interested in what is going on in their lives, and that I love them just as much as the girls, prayed, and waited. The girls were huggers from the get go, and a few of the boys would hug me whenever they saw me...but there were a few holding out. On Easter Sunday, the last one that had been holding out, held his arms out when I walked up to say good morning, and my heart soared! :)

I feel like a proud mama sitting back and watching these kids, and seeing how much they've grown and changed just in the very short time I've been around to watch them! God has AMAZING things in store for these kids!

We are planning a weekend away - "Spring Renewal" - June 4th - June 6th. We're taking the kids to a cabin in Tennesse! And I am thrilled! I cannot wait to see what God does with this weekend! Yay! :) You can be praying for us as we begin to tackle the preparations for the weekend! It's gonna be great! And thank you church, for providing the funds for the trip, so that the kids can be completely blessed and unburdened as they leave for this trip, and so that all of our kids can go! Last count, we have 23 going! :D This girl is THRILLED!!! :D

The kids and I have been working for the last two months, or so, on a drama, and we finally did it yesterday morning! I'm so proud of all the hard work that all of them put into it! Countless hours that they dedicated to practicing and planning, and it all definitely paid off! I've been told it was very good, and can't wait to see the video for myself! :)

The youth house is beginning to come out of its' shell! It is looking wonderful! Papa, Nanny, Dover, Marcia, and Mama have been awesome with helping me out to get everything finished! I NEVER could have gotten this much done without them! And again, I promise that as soon as it's finished, I'll take you on a "virtual tour" of the house! :) I'm excited for you all to see it with it's "finished face!" :)

So, life is going along pretty well! I am enjoying my family, my work, my church, my youth, and my life! God has surely blessed me abundantly more than I had ever hoped He would! But I still can't wait to see what's coming next! :)

Picture of the family, taken on Easter