Cody and Jeannie.......

I knew it would happen eventually, just not so soon. I swear my Youth Group has a 2 year curse. Dave the YM before Cody and Jeannie stayed 2 years then they left. I thought that we would have one for at least 3 years this time. I am sorry to say that is not the case.

Cody and Jeannie asked if I would come down to Cody’s office before 1st service so that they could tell me something. I knew deep down in the pit of my stomach that they were going to tell me that they were moving. I had a feeling when they told me they went to Denver, that they were going to move their. But I had to hold on to what little faith I had. Even though I knew they were going to leave. So when I got to the office we all sat down, then they told me. I was and I still am devastated. I haven’t cried this hard in a long time much. They stayed down in the office with me for the whole first service, while I cried and blubbered on. I felt like an idiot. Not for trusting them, but for crying so hard. They told me they both are going back to school. It’s been a dream of theirs.

I am proud of them for following their dreams, and doing what they feel is best for their family at this time. Even if it does piss me off. You see, they were way more than just Youth Ministers to me, WAY MORE. They were an Open Heart, Confidants, and most of all best friends. They were there for me when I needed to talk, or to vent my feelings. They answered all the many questions I had, and gave me what they felt in their hearts was right also.

It’s so hard for me to let them leave. Even if they are just going to Denver and it’s (I think) about 8 hours from where I live. I cant wrap my mind around all the changes- The car rides, the inside jokes that we all made, sitting with them at service, seeing them every week at the coffee shop, playing mow and golf and scum ( card games), chatting on the internet, and much more. I can’t fully wrap my mind around it, its too much.

I don’t want to get e new YM because I know that no one could ever replace Cody and Jeannie, No-one could be a better best friend to me than they have. The new one just won’t get me. I know it. It’s too hard.

So after 1st service, we went to get coffee then they were going to announce it to the class. They combined the 2 individual classes and then told us. I knew what they reaction for some was going to be, my friend Megan took it exactly like me, and so did Candice. Oh how I love Candice. She isn’t afraid to tell it like it is. And I love that about her. She took the news pretty hard too. We went down to Cody’s office after class and just stared at the wall, all the things he did to it, and we stared at the coveted door. He has put every little drawing, picture and reminiscent that we gave him on that door. And now its going to be gone. We all just cried. It was a rough day. And it’s going to be a rough rest of the month. They leave around September 1st. Before the little “Chalupa” is born.

I am going to stop writing this soon because its still a little too much to wrap around at this point. I know that Jeannie and Cody and I will stay in touch and talk and they’ll come to visit and I’ll come to visit, but it just isn’t going to be the same not getting to see them every week. It’s just not going to be the same.

I just don’t think I can start over, and be as close to the new YM as I am with the two best Youth Ministers that anyone will ever have in the whole world. There is just no comparison.

And I am sick of everyone telling me that its going to be ok. Several people have called me this morning and told me it’s going to be ok. NO ITS NOT. At least not right now. I am sick of people telling me that we’ll get a new one. I don’t want a new one, I want Cody and Jeannie. I don’t think people realize how much they meant to me, and the Youth Group. I wish people would stop telling me how to feel, and that were going to get a new one. Because they can’t be replaced.

I probably won’t post for awhile because I am going to go to Alaska for 2 weeks, so posts will be at a minimum.

God bless.

Nanny for them No More?

Alright, I am sorry in advance if this sounds really negative. I am not in the best of moods, and you’ll see why.

Ok so today was the long awaited done with being a nanny day! And also time to get my paycheck. Now I love these girls and usually when I am just a babysitter, I don’t really care how much I get paid. But this is different, this is a Nanny JOB. Last year I got 5 an hour, which was an alright pay, not bad not the best. Erin was 1 and was in diapers and Carissa was 4 and was very hyper. The same thing stands today. Erin now 2 still in diapers and way more mobile and she destroys everything, and Carissa who is now 5 and cant sit still for more than 2 seconds. So normally one would think the pay would be the same or a little higher. Nope WRONG. Now when I got my last paycheck something was very wrong, I had worked for 23 hours and I got 8o dollars. Well if I was still getting 5 an hour I wasn’t being paid for 7 hours. I hesitated to bring that up because I didn’t want to seem greedy or selfish. But I was doing a lot more work this time around, so I decided to ask Jay when he got home. So when he was writing the check I asked him- “Now the rate is still 5 an hour right?” Now folks this took all the courage I had to ask him this. And this is what he said, and I cant believe he said this- “No Bee actually its not. Joanna and I decided to change it to 30 a day this time around. That should be fine with you.” Um actually NO. I worked some TEN HOUR DAYS. I worked so hard for your kids, I fed them, I dressed them, followed your TV rule ( ONLY 2 SHOWS) for the most part, AND I changed over 30 diapers for your kid, AND on top of all this he had said the rate was the same prior to working. He didn’t tell me the pay was different.

I am sorry that it sounds like I am a mean person, or greedy but it makes me mad. I was promised one thing and got another. And the family I work for, they are not stressed for money, pretty well off. And when my mom came to pick me up, I just started to cry. I couldn’t help it. I worked over 43 hours this week, and I got 150. All in all I worked a grand total of 66 hours for 230 dollars when I should have gotten 330. Now one hundred dollars to a 15 year old is a lot. Especially when I was promised the old rate of 5 dollars an hour. My parents told me not to Nanny for them any more. I said that’s kind of selfish. And they said, not when they have high Maintenance kids and take advantage of you, its not fair to you. And with the money I got I was going to spend it at Alaska on our vaca my grandma is taking us on. I should have just gotten a job as a bagger at a grocery store.
So tell me, what would you do, if you were in this situation?

On a good note, I am going to Teen Camp on Sunday, so pray that we get there safe. And my birthday is this Wednesday. My Sweet Sixteen!!

Thanks for listening.

And E-mail to Remember

All I have to say is wow. I just got an email from the “Small Talk in Spanish Girl” if you guys remember her. She gave me an email through the My-Space thing ( don’t worry I am very careful) and she was telling me happy b-day and that she hopes I have a good week at summer camp. She really wanted to go to camp with me, but she is going out of town to see some relatives. She was bummed out. But then she said how much she missed me. ( Hm she actually missed me!) And she said that she misses our little talks and how whenever she talked to me she felt better. She said she wanted me to know how much I helped her in this past year. And that she’d like my phone number so we could talk some more.

You see, she isn’t going to go to my High School next year. She is supposed to, but because of the swimming team she is on, she has to go to the other one. S o I never expected to hear from her again. I was shocked. The happy Kind of shocked though, I am going to miss her too. Very much. I am happy that she feels like she can talk to me. And hopefully she will for years to come.

That is one of the best Birthday Presents that I’ll ever get.

Bee

Ah Home Sweet Home

Well I have finally returned home!! And yes I am alive! I was in Cabin One with the other counselor Kate. We had 13 very energetic Jesus loving 8-11 year olds. We had one 8 year old and the oldest was supposed to be in cabin 2 but they had no more room. But I loved each and every one of them. The first day I met them they kept following me around, even when I had to go to the bathroom. They still followed me throughout the week and I had many little shadows all around me! I never expected that! This little girl named Nicole was extremely attached to me. She was a tiny little thing too- she was forty six pounds and was adorable. All the girls in my cabin always asked to sit by my and wanted me to sit with them at camp fire. They amazed me. And when I got home I didn't know what to do with myself, I had so much free time and it was weird to sleep in a really quiet room, no whispers and giggles from under the covers or a good night "I love you Bee!" from one of my girls. I never thought I would have missed it so much!

It was then I realized, Maybe I planted some awesome seeds in those kids' hearts. Some of those girls I will never see again, some I will see year after year. But all I can hope is that they find Jesus in their hearts and will live by the awesome example that we have received.

More on Camp later- I am exhausted and we are preparing for our churches annual VBS!

Peace and Love Guide you in all you do.

Super Nanny and Pre-Teen

Well folks, I have just completed 23 hours of being a nanny. Ug, I am so tired. I get their around 7:25 in the morning and I don't get to leave until 5:35. Now that is quite a long time if I do say so myself. So for now I have had all the DoodleBops, Wiggles, Lazy Town, JoJo's Circus,Dora and Diego that I can take. Now you see I "Nanny" for 2 girls. Carissa is 5 and Erin just turned 2. Yes the terrible terrible 2's. So Carissa was sitting on the couch so Erin decided she wanted Carissa to sit on the floor. She came over and pulled her off. I asked Erin to tell Carissa she was sorry. ( You see, a sorry is a BIG deal to five year olds!) Erin being this cute little innocent looking 2 year old. Says NO!! Then I thought, Is a time out really necessary for this crime? Yes ,yes it is. So I said Erin your just going to have to go sit in the naughty chair if you cant tell her you are sorry. ( Something I happened to pick up while watching Super Nanny) So she says " Hey, No no no no naughty chair" but after asking again,she still refused to say sorry. So we went to the Naughty Chair. I have never had to put either of them their in a long time, so I could tell today was going to be a rough day. Erin cried and cried. So I when to there and said-" If you tell Carissa your sorry you can come out of the Naughty chair." Now things were looking hopefull when she said ok, but she didn't, this just to get out walk to Carissa and say nothing. So I wasn't about to give up and cave, this girl was going to learn to say she was sorry. We went back and fourth for ALMOST 2 HOURS! Yeah I am not even kidding you. When she finally did say sorry we clapped and cheered "Yay for you Erin!!" But this happened again the next day. She only had to sit their for one hour this time. Now you tell me, was this a little rough of a punishment for a 2 year old?

But on the upside Carissa did keep telling me how cool I was, and that I was the "Superest Baby-Sitter in da whole wide-est world!!!" Look out Super Nanny you might be out of a job soon!

Ok so I am going to warn you their aren't going to be any posts this week because I am going to be at summer camp!! I am going to be a Counselor at our Pre-Teen camp in Idaho. So the other teens in my YG that are going to be counselors are leaving at 6 on Monday morning because the drive is almost 6 -7 hours. I am excited because I am finally going to get to be a counselor!! The only downside is I have no clue what I am going to eat when I am their. My teeth still hurt so we are just going to see how this works out. Another reason I am so excited is I am going to be the one that the kids look up to, and say I wanna be just like her when I get older- and that's cool. I hope that I am able to set a good spiritual example for these kids and to show them what it means to be a Christian, not just how to be one. I want to show them. Jesus is awesome, and can do great things with your life, and I hope that I can convey that to their hearts and open them up to Jesus. Its going to be a great week.

Please have a good week, and pray that I can be the Best example to these kids.
I'll have some stories to share with you no doubt when I get back!.

May peace and Love guide your hearts.

Brace yourself

Well I have just begun the rode that many people have traveled. Yup that's right today I got the misfortune of getting metal placed in my mouth. Ugh. I went in this morning before I had to go to work as a nanny. I got braces on both the top and the bottom. Well if that wasn't enough, both the girls that were sitting next to me were getting theirs off the same time I was getting mine on! Then I noticed almost all the kids that were their were only getting like 4 brackets on. Yeah try getting metal in your whole mouth kids, that what pain really is. And to make me feel a little better during the whole ordeal, the lady that was doing my teeth, kept saying, "Dang Faulty equipment". Well that makes me comfortable sitting here. Although I know she was joking, I don't think she wants to say that anymore .

I got green and blue. Green is my FAVORITE. I love it so much. I got a green ortho shirt too. Then for lunch I got a Jamba Juice, although my teeth hurt like crazy I managed to drink it all. Then I came home for dinner, and you'll never guess what my mom cooked for dinner-- HAMBURGERS!!! Now there is no way after getting braces anyone can eat a hamburger 6 hours later. So I cooked myself a nice looking bowel of spaghetti O'S. But it gets better. These had meatballs in them. So I tried to chew a meatball, and I ended up crying because it hurt so bad. Yes I cried over spaghetti O'S. Pathetic. But the frapuccino I am drikning right now, is making me feel a little better. And I know that the reward at the end with be straight teeth, so I guess I could hang in there for about 17 months and 30 days.