cheryl's daily brew

2009-03-08T17:33:00.000-07:00

This has been another beautiful week in CO. We have had hot days up in the 70's and the spring flowers are smiling all around town...I do love this weather here.

On tuesday of this week I had a dreaded meeting with one of our moms. She recentley re-offended and is looking at a few years, so we needed to talk to her about permanent placement for her daughter. I was not looking forward to this meeting because she has made it very clear to us that she is not going to give up any of her rights. God gave me a really great verse that morning "good people know the right things to say, but evil people only tell lies". Did you know there was a verse like that in the bible? me either. I went on that promise that God would call me good and give me the right words to say. I think He did, yeah it wasn't exactly the responce I would of wanted from her, but she understood what I was saying.
The next day I was in Denver at the womens prison that we visit there every wed. And I left feeling like I really didn't speak much, did I not do the work God asks of me to make His name great. I was mentally beating myself up because I wasn't "preaching" at the women. That night at small group the leader shared how God has been teaching him to listen, not always solve problems, but just listen to people. I was like oh wow, that is all I did all day...listened to this story about how this mom became suicidal as a teenager....this mom share funny stories about her kids and laugh at the good memories....this mom's story of how her parents decided to give her up for adoption...And I decided that day God wanted me to listen...if good people know the right words to say, then sometimes there is no words for that time...but to listen.
Life is not easy here working with the moms of NHM kids, but I am so glad to be here and to be involved in their lives right now.

2009-02-21T15:05:00.000-08:00

I had the most incredible 2 days up in the Mountains last week. Jula's family called me and invited me to join them at Keystone for a couple days, they were spending the week skiing. That was an easy decision for me....ABSOLUTELY!!

Jula was so much fun, just the most adorable little girl. It is such a privelege to spend time with her family and to be a part of her life. She asked me a question that has had me thinking about it for 2 weeks now...and considering the fact that I still don't know how to respond...I suppose I will be pondering it for days to come.

We were sitting out in the hot tub...snow falling on our faces....and she says "mommy Cheryl, how do you feel about being a princess?" I don't remember ever being asked that or even thinking of myself as a princess for that matter...I finally said "you know Jula, I don't feel very much like a princess" and she quickly said "is that because you're a queen?"

hummm...why don't I feel like a princess? ....good questions coming from a 4 year old.

2009-02-07T20:37:00.001-08:00

Today I am so thankful for my good life. This week God showed me some powerful stuff about His long arm of love. Through several places that my work led me He showed me that it is not about me saying all the right things...developing the perfect program for our moms...or always being spot on in my evaluations of what they need...its just about showing them Jesus. Being free of me so He can shine through everything I say and do. I can't change peoples lives or even give them the power to want to...but my Jesus, He does that very well. And He wants to change our mom's lives! That gets me excited.
On Monday I was waiting in the county jail to meet a new mom. As I sat there it was visiting time for the families, I watched a middle aged man visit with his wife. He sat at a booth looking at a screen, she was on the screen on a phone, there was a tiny camera at the top of his screen so she could see him. I wasn't trying to listen, but he was right there...They were talking about the kids, how they were doing in school...what clothes they needed...he talked about work...things most married couples talk about at the end of the day. This wasn't an ordinary end of the day for them though, this was the reality of their life, and it might be this way for a very long time.
There were lots of other people there trying to get information on their loved one...why they are in jail...for how long...suddenly their life is changed, and this could be the new normal for them. I sat there and thanked God that this was never normal for my family, yet I wonder why God rescued me from that.
Eventually I was called back to do an interview with a new mom. The visiting rooms were full so we had to talk on phones through a glass. We talked about life, how hard it was for her to accept her pregnancy...she went to the abortion clinic but just couldn't do it. We talked about how precious life is...she isn't sure she is worthy of the responsibility God has given her with this life...yet I reminded her it is not me but her carrying that child...and God didn't make a mistake when He gave her this child.
Last night I was blessed at a concert by one song writer that told his story. His mom was 17 years old pregnant and on the street...thinking abortion was the only option until a lady she had never met before crossed the street and told her about the love Jesus has for her. Because of that person living out Jesus I was blessed by his music last night. If you have sung songs like "I am a friend of God" or "I'm trading my sorrows", then you also have been blessed by this man's writings. His new song is about the power of one...one person showing another person Jesus can change our world.
Who are you showing Jesus this week?

2009-01-31T17:09:00.000-08:00

It was a good week for me. I was reminded of how God takes care of me and how wonderful it is to be in the place He wants me at.
I was leaving the gym at 7:15 one morning (thats right, I've been hitting the gym...getting up before 6:am, that's huge for me) and I was overwhelmed at the picture around me. The mountains are so beautiful with a nice amount of snow on them...and the sun hitting the rock was bright red. Then I started thinking about how great it is that I am here, how much I love what I get to do everyday, how great the people are that I get to work with. I like my life.

Some really great things about this week

Won tickets to Chris Tomlin concert!
Get to go to California in April for Catalyst West with NHM office staff!
My little girl Jula and her family are coming to CO to ski and invited me to join them!
Made some really good connections with people that want to help our moms re-enter.
The weather has been in the 60's the last couple days! I'm smellin' spring time...

Oh and last week I got to another fun rodeo. The funniest part of that was the bull fighters, one of the guys was from Sugarcreek OH.

Back in the saddle again...

2009-01-16T09:36:00.001-08:00

This past week was pretty tough.

I guess my job is becoming more defined, which is a good thing, but that is the cause of the heavy responsibility I feel for these moms as well. I have been trying to develop an outline of the objectives that we have for the mothers as they re-enter society. Although each case is like no other, I need to have some guideline and they need everything spelled out clearly. I add more stress to myself when I don't take the time to be sure they are hearing what I am saying...you could call it 'selective hearing' seems like we go around the same bush too many times. I struggle with defining the mission of New Horizons in wanting to see a life change in the mother, and when does the time come that I say she has proved her inability to care for her child? I am quickly being labeled as the bad guy, and that is kinda hard on my self-esteem. I guess I like to be liked more then I like to admit.

My household here (redneck cowgirls) finally had our Christmas on Tuesday night. If you see me carrying a bright red bag that boldly claims my single status, that would be compliments of rbeach. Another exciting event took place on Wednesday night, the death of Ralph...as tiny as he was (may he rest in peace) he created a mighty stir here on Bentley Dr. For several weeks now he has been busy finding many places to spread his cheer, and take things that were not intended for him to eat.

So today is a beautiful day here in Colorado. I have the day off...and that clear blue sky is beckoning me to come outside and enjoy some fresh mountain air.

Redneck Cowgirls

2009-01-10T16:19:00.000-08:00

me and my housemates at "the daddy of 'em all" Aug. 08

2009-01-10T16:10:00.000-08:00

Here goes me...blogger. I am not much of a writer, or reader for that matter. However, living so far away from my family once again makes me turn to the newest, easiest form of keeping-in-touch. Hope this means I hear from the rest of you more too.