Faith and forgiveness

Well, I thought I was still young and could go with little sleep, but those couple late nights this week wore me out. I think this is the second Saturday in a row that I'll be in bed at 9:30. John and TJ had fun ice fishing last night, and John and Matt are out again tonight. We're going to fry a bunch of fish at the potluck tomorrow. Chloe had a great time at her Galactic Getaway. So awesome that her teachers put so much work into that. What a blessing they are. We had fun at Ethen's birthday party today and then went to the movie, Alice in Wonderland, with Savanna and Isaac. The movie was cool but lacked emotion. Tonight we ate a delicious meal at First Friends for a fundraiser for their youth camp. God sat me next to Curtis, the young man with whom I had a little confrontation in the hall a couple weeks ago over his inappropriate shirt. I was very nice to him, and I hope that he appreciates my spirit of forgiveness and maybe even says sorry for his behavior someday. Yesterday we received a surprising letter in the mail from our godson, Tommy, whose official name is Manuel Olivares. He was writing from prison and spoke very eloquently about the dark life he's led since his dad died and his thought of how it could've been different if he could've stayed in Iowa. I am so grateful that he remembers us and isn't angry that we weren't as involved in his life as we would've liked to be, and I hope it's not too late. We were amazed that he remembered so much from our times together back when he was just nine. I wonder if his family in AZ is supportive and loving and encouraging. I wish he weren't so far away. I applied for us to be able to visit him, so hopefully that is approved, and we can go to Tuscon this summer. Until then, I pray that I make it a priority to write him once a week, something I should have done for the last nine years, and I kick myself for not being the godmother I shouldv'e been. I think about him every Oct on his birthday and about how his aunt would throw away the birthday gifts we'd send him because they were Jehovah's Witnesses. He wrote in his letter that he prays to God, if he exists, that this letter finds us. I hope that when he hears back from us, that his doubts of His existence are vanquished, and that when he gets out of prison in two years, that he considers moving to Marshalltown. I am going to do a little photo exhibit with a couple friends on May 1st at the Fisher Community Center and sell some greeting cards, record bowls, and baked goods to raise money for Haiti relief. I gave Grandma Betty the book of bilingual poems that my students wrote, and she said that she has been learning a lot of Spanish from it. Yesterday was Grandpa Bill's birthday, and I forgot to call or write. I need to start writing "SEND ... card TODAY" in my planner a few days before someone's birthday. Grandma Ruth always made a calendar for everyone for Christmas with photos from throught the year and everyone's birthdays on it. I wish that I would have taken time to make this for Grandpa Fred and all of our family on John's side in honor of Ruth. I want to keep in better communication with our cousins, Jessica, Mary, and Robert. I need to get their email addresses and phone numbers and be a better communicator and advocate for keeping the family together. We have seen less of each other since Grandma Dolores died. Chloe said the other day when I told her that a lady looked like Dolores, that she barely remembers her. I want to be better at keeping scrapbooks and looking at them with the kids. I made a cool flier for the Day Without Shoes walk, and now I need to think of a name for our photo exhibit and pick ten photos to display. Our friend, Brent Nuese's dad, George, passed away, and I pray that they all find comfort during this hard time. I want to get some of Tommy's school papers and things out of storage tomorrow and send them to him. I wonder what his feelings are toward his dad and his mom and if he has any contact with her. She was not involved in his life at all when we were friends with Tom, and I wonder if Tommy has any anger at his dad for his dying and not having a will...I pray that Tommy will learn from his experiences and be a better man because of the adversity he's overcome and has a wonderful future ahead of him and that we can help him in anyway we can. Maybe Mindy and Justin will take a trip to Tuscon with us to see him. I really am amazed that he remembers so much about IA. I pray that he has no hard feelings toward our lack of communication and know that we love him and knows how badly we wanted him to stay with us after Tom died. I pray that Tommy is reborn and can completely leave his dark past behind and maybe become a leader in helping other youth get away from the gang, drug, robbing, violent life. Tomorrow we are bagging rice with Kids Against Hunger for Haiti. I hope that we package thousands of meals and are able to make a difference and that people who attend learn how rewarding it is to serve others. I remember when Tommy was baptised and we gave him a Bible, and just yesterday Ms. Harris told her class that one of the jobs of a godmother is to teach her godchild about God and his love, strenth, forgiveness, and power. I hope that it's not too late for me to do that. There is a new movie coming out called Letters To God, and it looks so wonderful. I would like Tommy to hear Michael Franti's song, Hey Hey Hey, right now and know that it doesn't matter how life is today, and to hold on, have a little faith, and not let another moment slip away, and that we believe in him.