See In Part

Planet Group Home

Julie — Sat, 01 Jan 2011 04:01:46 +0000

Around 10 p.m. on various nights I stroll across the front yard of a suburban residence, climb into my spaceship and hurtle along the intergalactic freeway. I emerge in La Mirada, to a house full of college women, who drink tea and talk philosophy. Sometimes it feels like I came from a different planet.

In no particular order, ten things I’m learning from working in group homes.

~ Only God can balance justice and mercy. The state of California legislates “fairness” for foster kids, not mercy or love.
~ Families are SO important. I get a warm happy feeling inside every time I see young kids with their parents.
~ At the same time, group homes CAN be a beneficial transition for kids and families, though never ideal.
~ My “stern voice” isn’t very affective. go figure.
~ I want to rely less on my stern voice and more on my knowledge of the kid, suggestions of creative behavior modifications, and eventual build up of trust, which all require time and experience.
~ When asked, “how’s work?”, if you reply that you got a bit beat up, people will think you are joking.
~ Bedtime stories, handball, thumb wrestling, and dancing to Justin Beiber are golden.
~ The Connected Child“> isn’t just helpful for parents. I plan on owning a copy soon to take notes in and loan to coworkers.
~ Ten year olds may talk tough and appear independent but that doesn’t translate into actually knowing how to cook. Result: lots of soggy rice and a learning experience, hopefully on both sides. Attachment disorder springs up in odd places.
~ Listening to the popular song, “Like a G6″ can actually lead into a conversation about the meaning of life, ultimate happiness, and the importance of knowing God… believe it!

Overall, God is FAITHFUL. He still responds to prayers for manna. Sustenance for each day, mercies for each shift. Glory to God.

Worlds collide

Julie — Wed, 29 Sep 2010 06:21:24 +0000

Discussions from a teenage group home -

coworker to resident, “What do you think should go on your resume? what are you good at?”
resident, “Having sex and making babies.”

Discussions from St Joans full of Christian college women-

“There’s a fine line between teasing and flirting don’t you think?”

tupac vs. Shakespeare

Yet some commonalities – enjoyment of cooking and good food, riding bikes….. yeah that’s all I can think of right now.

In other good news I discovered listening to chorale and classical music revives from brain from 8 hours of cussing.

These days I’m

Julie — Mon, 13 Sep 2010 23:03:41 +0000

reading:
Bonhoeffer’s Life Together (since I live with nine other women I thought it’d be appropriate.)
The Harry Potter series. (for the first time)
That Hideous Strength by C.S. Lewis

thinking:
about what it means to be a hipster christian, after stumbling upon the book by Bret McCracken and many a discussion. I resonate with some of his observations about hipster Christians but not his read of motivations or worldview.

eating:
lots of rice and bean home made burritos. Going shopping for regular cooking ingredient today. Also one of my roommates introduced me to quinoa, which is pretty great!

working:
soon at residential treatment centers for kids in foster care. It’ll be an adventure!

This is beautiful.

Julie — Sat, 11 Sep 2010 23:25:34 +0000

My cousin Pieter got married in August and his is a truly beautiful love story. He and Monica met as kids and dated since high school. As the videographer Ian Pratt wrote, “Pieter and Monica have been an inspiration and a model of purity and love to countless people who know them, myself included.” We need more inspiring stories of purity in our lives. Especially true ones. Pete and Moni are both so real and caring, I’m thrilled to see what adventures God has in store for them together. In the mean time, enjoy a glimpse into their story through this incredible summary video.

the funnies

Julie — Sat, 04 Sep 2010 23:47:52 +0000

some summer memories that make me smile….
(some only in retrospect)

Putting on green spa masks and walking through the other side of the cabin like zombies… all 14 of us.

Devouring an Adventure Mountain sundae (15 scoops of ice cream plus cookies) in 5 minutes. Exhibit A:

CCA “Julie I don’t feel so great.”
me- “I think you forgot to take your meds last night. That could be it. What are they for?”
CCA- “Oh just my seizure meds.”
“Oh. great.”

Recalling back to my childhood to help create tie-dye shirts.

Walking down the line of girls at the mud bowl with some mud in hand and giving each one black cheek streaks for fierceness. Also at the mud bowl, wearing snorkel goggles….so as not to end up with dirt in my contacts of course.

Getting out of the shower and hearing the medic’s voice say to a girl, “It’s okay I’ll get Accommodations to come right over and clean it up.”

Entering the cabin to hear everybody speaking in accents and hanging upside down. Exhibit B

Reading both rooms The Jabberwocky poem after lights out.

Reciting riddles and silly jokes on our way to the Lost Mine, head lamp at the ready.

Challenging girls to walk the tight rope without hands on the sky trail.

Sunrise affirmation by the creek and the warmth as the rays finally reached us.

Mountain Summer

Julie — Sat, 04 Sep 2010 22:49:33 +0000

I spent the summer living with teenage girls for two months. And it was an adventure! In the midst of late night spa masks, rounds of Quelf and Jenga, and more staff french fries than is healthy, I realized how easy it can be to make someone feel loved. Some of these girls had stories that hurt to hear, others struggled with split families, or just the pressures of being 15. If I just hung out and listened they would share. If I wrote them a note, I’d get long letters in return. If I encouraged them, they’d try harder. Of course not every girl responded in kind. But most seemed to blossom with just a smidgen of water. Made me realize the desperate need for love in some girls lives and encouraged me to do whatever I could to make them experience it. I honestly miss getting to go hiking, climb around on the sky trail, and play games with those girls. The drama, messy rooms, and loud screams…. not so much. Here’s a group shot from one of our weeks. Several of my 14 or so girls have yellow headbands on.

Wow…that spider is impervious!

Julie — Mon, 31 May 2010 07:52:35 +0000

…okay who really says that in real life? Apparently yours truly. (and lived to immediately realize what I’d said and regret it at the laughs from the other RAs). At least I know college taught me integration. My brain has been on the fritz since graduation. I watched Alice in Wonderland yesterday and it made me think of Machiavelli, Nietzsche, and Henry the Fifth. seriously? Fascinating stuff though. I guess my mind took graduation as an excuse to dredge up random knowledge from the last four years. Ought to make for an interesting couple of days that’s for sure.

Quintessential College moment

Julie — Wed, 21 Apr 2010 04:23:28 +0000

…striding to class as the bells ring out 5, tea in hand, scarf on, and Newman’s Idea of a University in my bag.

WIN.

Sabbath Narrative

Julie — Mon, 19 Apr 2010 07:30:21 +0000

He made a hippo.
I name it so.
Nowhere near exhausted, he rests.
I do the same, at his request.

He freed me from slavery.
I ponder this reality.
A cloud of fire hems in upon me.
Though the sky’s lit like day, I sleep in safety.

He split the waters.
Remind your sons and your daughters.
Retell this story he intoned.
I stacked the stones.

He reigns forever.
I eagerly await.
He watches us together
practice resting and feasting with full plate.
Let us never forget.

my favorite villanelle I’ve ever written… (i.e. the only)

Julie — Tue, 30 Mar 2010 02:55:39 +0000

Faith

A theological suspension
of the ethical, Kierkegaard would say.
A paradoxical intersection of faith and dimension.

A circus full of scientists test high-wire tension,
with leaps of faith by trapeze priests in wild foray.
A theological suspension.

Seeing through the double Dutch ropes with apprehension
eventually learning to leap into the space and stay –
A paradoxical intersection of faith and dimension.

Abraham journeys knowing his son is no exemption.
Raises the knife over Isaac’s bare chest to slay –
a theological suspension.

Purple juice gurgles, gripping all’s attention.
Hands clasp a crumb and unite to pray –
A paradoxical intersection of faith and dimension.

Inapplicable morals yet absolute expansion,
Resigned to belief in absurdity Abraham did not delay –
a theological suspension –
a paradoxical intersection of faith and dimension.