Service

     Today has been a race already.

     Church, followed by an impromptu issue with my grandparents. I got that squared away and returned to join my children at the Fall Festival.

     There is always a "jail" at the festival. My children always take great delight in having me "arrested"...

     Imagine my surprise when I was presented with a very imaginative "warrant" for my arrest.

     Sigh.

     So I hung out in "jail"... shortly after my arrival came the Pastor, an Elder, the heads of the youth group....etc.... I suggested we stay there and let the kids do all of the cleanup.

     I actually did have time to visit with a few very lovely people. Then it was time to do costumes and make up for two very giggly girls.

    I was giggling too, because they really needed to relax their faces so I could do their make up. Of course that is impossible when you realize that you have blue hair...

     One of the girls looked soooooo serious that I started giggling and really was not help at all for a few minutes.

     A van filled with teens then headed to a homeless shelter to help children create their own costumes and then give them hot dogs and candy.

     These are the kind of teenage kids I like to be around.

     Some of them may have began the day grumbling about "having" to do this event, but I can tell you they were all having a lot of fun getting ready.

      I shouldn't do it, but I do. I am at that age where I grumble about teenagers... I shake my head at the news... I make those comments about "young people"...

     Sigh.

     In honesty, when I am around these kids, I do not grumble. They are a joy.

      Perhaps all children and teens need so many people acting as "family" around them. Perhaps that is the difference. Maybe it is the simple act of giving joy...having a purpose...being needed by someone.

     These kids have a lot of fun events, but they are required to do certain service events. I would guess they would tell you that they enjoy the service events just as much as the other events.

     I only have a few more minutes to relax before the next scheduled item for the day, but it is so nice to take a moment, or five minutes to just be grateful for the joys.

      Ahhhhhh.....