Harry

Harry is actually Harriet - a woman who has been in the women's house for almost two years. Everyone in the women's house has some sort of nickname, so they call Harriet: Harry or Larry. She is blooming into a beautiful young woman who radiates God's love. She has a 5-year old son, Eli, and is learning to care for him well when he comes to visit. He lives with Harriet's mother and father. Harriet has had a difficult relationship with her mother since her teen years. This past Sunday her parents came to the Betel church to visit and to pick up Eli after he had spent the weekend with his mom in the women's house. We were sitting directly behind them. Harriet's mom seemed particularly moved by the worship and started wiping away tears. Harry turned to her mom and put her arms around her and kissed her cheek. I teared up as I watched, wishing I could put my arms around my mom and give her a kiss one more time. But I was also left in wonder at how God has worked in Harry's life - how she used to wear all black and pull her hoodie over her face so you couldn't even see her. She has been plagued with bad dreams for years, but now is experiencing more and more peaceful nights. Nowadays she stands up straight, looks you in the eye, dresses nicely, hugs her mom and cares for her son. This is the life she was made for. God is faithful and good.

School stuff - I don't get it.

September has flown by - from the beginning week when we were scrambling to get all the school stuff together - mostly uniforms and gym kits. I still feel like I am punching in the dark with school stuff here.....not quite sure that I have all the information that I need. The British moms just seem to know how it all works while I am the one who has to find out stuff like Christopher didn't get a locker this year because we did not know that we had to reserve it. They gave his old locker to someone else and now he is on a waiting list. I always feel as if I am on slippery ground when they use the acronyms like GCSE's (still not sure what it stands for, but it means intense tests at the end of year 11) or PHCES (Personal heath and citizenship something). After four years I feel I have barely cracked the system and now my boys are all in different schools so that means three schools to keep up with. The schools are good - the teachers are interested and engaged and they give the kids lots of opportunity to grow in personal interests. Christopher can stay after school any day of the week and work on either art projects or computer projects. Peter has been accepted for the after school computer club. Paul's school is doing an excellent job in giving him opportunities to develop a well-rounded resume. He is part of an extend class where he mentors younger students both academically and socially. They are helping him explore the opportunities to participate in either a volunteer program or a work study program. I am impressed with their level of care and direction that the teachers give. So I am pleased with the education that they are receiving, I just wish I didn't come out looking like a ninny at times. This year I am just going to try to make sure I know which days are uniform days and which days are non-uniform days. I get a very sinking feeling in my gut when I walk Peter to school and he is the only one in his uniform. I think they do it on purpose just to keep me confused.