Dear Twin City students:

So, you are in your second full week of school. With any luck you can make it to your first break on Monday. If not, then my condolences. At my current job, I have holidays, but I have to work on them. I guess they are not really holidays, then. I do get extra pay, which is nice.
I am sure you are working diligently on all your classes, as it usually takes 3 weeks for the average student to stop working. Don't forget to do your homework. I work with guys that didn't do their homework and are now in prison. I am not saying that the two are related, nor am I saying that they are unrelated. I would recommend taking the chance.
Please be nice to your teachers. I have no doubt most of them are doing their best. If you feel that their best is not good enough, then maybe you are not good enough. Make sure you thank them often, and sincerely. You can do nothing greater for them than to show them that you truly appreciate them.
Keep doing well. And keep your head up. I mean that literally. You all know what Mr. Arnold thinks about you sleeping in class. As I am no longer there, you cannot get away with it.
That is all.

Worse than it looks

That is indeed our car. Myself, Aidan, and Addie were indeed in it at the time of the roll. And we all were completely unharmed indeed. All were quite frightened, yet nonetheless uninjured. This happened on Sunday afternoon. I have recently re-watched "The Bourne Identity" and was attempting a driving maneuver I saw in the movie when somehow something went terribly wrong. I have no idea how it could have happened--I have seen the movie at least 3 times. Part of the problem is that a Mazda MPV is not a Mini Cooper. I consider it a lesson learned.
That, of course, is not how it happened. The actual way in which it happened is much more boring and much more my fault. Thus, I am going to leave it at that. We are all still doing well. The car is still sleeping, as my son would say. The external damage is surprising minimal--several scrapes and a dent. I have no way of ascertaining if there is any damage to the frame or suspension. I am waiting to find that out.
In other news, I recently obtained a new phone. It is a Motorola Razor. It is really cool. It has about 300 features that I would probably never use, so I am not completely sure if I am going to keep it. I would like to, though, because it is so stinking cool.
Jenni and Aidan and Adelae and Sonya are all doing well. Jenni and her sister are still trying to start their business. They have sent out a cart-load of letters and are waiting to hear back from someone. Aidan is a smart as ever. He was singing an FFH song the other day. We aren't quite sure where he heard it--probably on the radio. At any rate, he knows one line and he sings it over and over again: "One day, I'll hear, the trumpet load and clear. And all together we'll fly away. . . One day, I'll hear, the trumpet . . ." You get the point. Addie has learned how to manipulate me. I cannot explain how she is able to do this, but she does. When I put her down at night, she asks for about 18 different toys and blankets that she wants in her bed. I give in to her. She has more toys on her bed than there is on an entire Caribbean island. Last night I was in my room after her bedtime. I heard her crying that she was "stinky". So I pulled her out of bed to change her to find out that she has not "stinky" at all. A few minutes later she was crying that she had to go "potty". So I pulled her out of bed and put her on the "potty". After about two seconds and no business, she tells me that she was done. When will I learn? Sonya is doing well rolling from her back to her belly. She also has become quite proficient at being a helicopter. She sits on the floor and rotates around. We think she is either going to be a gymnast, a swimmer, a volleyball player, a basketballer, or a cyclist (as she likes to lay on her back and kick her legs in the air).
No changes or major incidents at work. I have discovered, however, the secret to human nature. If the average person were on a lifeboat after being rescued from a sinking ship in the middle of the ocean, he/she would complain that the seats were too hard. If one were in the middle of the desert and some-other-one found them and offered them a drink of water, they (that is, the original one) would prefer if there was more ice. I have said before, if everyone in America owned a BMW, the one that owned one would want to be like the one that owned two. We are never content. The average person is unwilling to see the good things that are in their life. They would much rather focus on the numerous evils and injustices that have befallen them. For the average one, an injustice is anytime they are not treated as king/queen. The reason why many people study mythology is that they are researching their genealogy. We need to learn to be "guilty for all and before all." We need to learn that "before God, we are always in the wrong."
That is all.

It takes all kinds

It takes all kinds to make the world go 'round. That is how the old saying goes. That is definitely true at my workplace. The guys with whom I work all have distinct yet familiar personalities. One of the guys is a know-it-all do-it-all. He is somewhat cocky and arrogant. I have yet to find a subject on which he is not well-versed, or at least, he thinks he is not well versed. I have yet to experience a minute in which his mouth is not running. He really gets going when play a game, like basketball or rugby. He has a comment on every single play. I have yet to be able to correct him. He gets upset if anyone asks him if he has permission to do what he is doing, as though he would never do anything he is not supposed to do. He seems to think he runs the place. I am thinking of asking him for some time off in November.
Another fellow on our group annoys everyone. He is a very needy kid. Each moment of each day he is desperate for attention, so much so you would think he will shrivel up if he doesn't get it. He is always asking me for something. "Am I doing good today coach? Can I do something for extra credit? Am I having a good day? Can I get a new pair of shorts? How am I doing today?" Not a day goes by when another student on the group yells at him or gets upset at him.
One of the guys on the group is the silent, underground rebel type. He seems to think he is some kind of important person, though he will unfailingly deny it. He is another one that must get his way, or rather, must be able to think he is getting his way. He really doesn't like being told what to do. He likes to do whatever he wants, and he always seems to have permission to be doing whatever he wants.
We have all kinds on our group. Sometimes I wonder how these guys got this way. Last Saturday our guys had visits, and I began to see why some of these guys are the way they are. I believe that everybody makes their own choices, but they make their choices in response to some influence in their live. These guys have plenty of influences in their life, not many of them good. I do not think any of the guys come from a stable home. As I looked around the visitation room on Saturday, I saw many fathers and mothers, but not at the same tables. I saw many stepfathers and stepmothers. I saw little children, the progeny of the young men with whom I work. As I looked at the mothers and fathers, I saw much disappointment and disapproval. I saw high expectations that had not been met. I saw low expectations that had been met. There was much brokenness in the room. There was much hurt. I began to understand why the guys are the way they are. I began to understand why these guys have gotten themselves into so much trouble. I felt bad for them. The annoying young fellow I talked about was there with his mother and soon-to-be stepfather. His mother was a work. I believe she went through all five basic emotions at least twice throughout the two hour visit. Surely that has something to do with why the kid is the way he is. The first and last student I talked about did not have any visitors. Several students did not have any visitors, primarily because they had no one to visit them. Once again, I felt bad for these kids. By the way, they are kids. They like to think they are big tough kids, but they are not. They are kids that simply need a mother and father to love each other and love them. They may be too simplistic, but that is the way I see it. As I thought about the guys, I wondered what was going to stop the cycle from starting over again. Most of the guys have kids already. What are they going to do for them? Are their kids going to end up in the place they are in right now?
Meanwhile, in local news, we are doing well. Jenni is staying busy with work and "home" work. The kids are keeping busy keeping mom busy. Our car is falling apart. A few weeks ago I pulled out of the garage crooked and broke the passenger's side mirror. I plan on buying a new door when I get the money. This weekend, the driver's side window broke. Now I have to buy a new car. For now, we are driving without a psm (passenger's side mirror), which makes driving on I-25 really exciting, especially when I have to move left. Last night I had to duct tape the driver's side window so it would stay in place. It looks very "ghetto". I also spilt some coffee on the floor a few weeks ago. All this upsets me greatly.
Aidan is striving to do everything I do. On Monday I took the kids on a bike ride. We have one of those little trailers that I can pull behind my bike. The kids like it. The sit back there with their bucket full of toys and sing and argue. I struggle to keep my heart from bursting as I pull them and me up a decent sized hill. We all have fun. When we got back, I was pretty hot, so I was standing under a ceiling fan with my shirt off attempting to cool off. Aidan came up and needed his shirt off, because it was sweaty and he needed to cool off. Later, when I put my shirt back on, Aidan needed his shirt on, because it was no longer sweaty (those were all his exact words).
Addie is still tripping over everything. Sonya is as smiley as ever. She has learned to turned from her back to her belly. This has proved to be very exciting for us.
I have a special message for all those students at Twin City Christian School:

Ha! Ha! You guys are back in school! Enjoy all your classes!
I do hope you guys have a great year. I am going to miss all of you, except for the ones that I have never met, as I can not miss some one I do not know. Make sure you do what you are supposed to do. Life is much easier that way. Make sure you do your homework. I am not SpEAkiNg to anyone particular. I am Simply Expressing A necessary maxim: you will do better in school if you do your homework. Be easy on your teachers. They have a difficult job. Don't make it more difficult by being difficult. And finally, enjoy school. You have don't have to enjoy every part of it, but you should try to enjoy to enjoy the whole of it. After all, you could be home watching Judge Judy. I think school is much better. Good luck

That is all.

A month long week

What a week was last week! I arrived at work on Wednesday, and the my supervisor pulled me into his office. He asked me how I was doing. I told him as far as I knew I was fine. He then told me that my immediate supervisor would be out all shift. The other coach with whom I worked was leaving the company and would only be working two days, Thursday and Friday. I was going to be the only regular staff for our group. They were going to bring some other staff over to "patch the holes." So armed with that knowledge I prepared for an exciting time. And it was indeed exciting.
We had several significant "incidents" during the week. A total of 6 students were sent the program for students who are causing problems because they were causing problems. One of these students attempted to run on Friday night, but we were able to disrupt his plans. It was one exciting week. I am very glad that it is over.
The kids and Jenni are doing well. I have no new information to report on them. They are doing exactly what they are supposed to be doing.
That is all.

Some pictures

I apologize for being dilatory in posting pictures. I have no excuse. None. Not even a fake one. I was wrong in not diligently, consistently posting pictures of our beloved family. However, I do now have any excuse. Our camera has malfunctioned and is no longer capable of taking pictures. The pictures you see here are some of the last ones we were able to take before our camera . . . passed away. All we can do now is rejoice that the camera had a long and productive life, doing what it was created to do. We bid our faithful friend, "Fare thee well, as you cross that great divide."
The kids love wearing sunglasses. They do so almost all the day.
Sonya doesn't yet like them, but she will.

There is a park near our house that has a train for kids to ride. As you might imagine, Aidan loves riding it, and watching it steam (though there is no steam) by.My parents, Grammy and Pappa, bought a little pool for the kids. They love playing in it. Addie likes playing near it, and taking the water out of it.
I have nothing new or noteworthy to report. Jenni and her sister April are trying to start their own business--a medical billing and transcriptioning firm. They are in the process of sending out a cartload of letters to local doctors. We are hoping to make our first million in 6 months. If that doesn't work we will give up.
The kids are going bigger and bigger every day, as Aidan would say. Addie has developed a propensity for injury. She either bumps into a table, or falls off the coach, or smashes her fingers in a door, or pinches her hand in her sunglasses, at least once every 35 minutes. She is our little bucket of poor luck. Aidan is trying to become a photocopy of me. If I wear sandals, he wants to wear sandals. If I wear tennis shoes, he wants to wear tennis shoes. If I change clothes, he needs to change clothes, If I walk within 2 feet of the door, he asks, "Where are you going,Dad?" Every time I step outside, even if it is simply to take the trash out, he is right there with me. He is my little man. Sonya has already wrapped her little fingers around me. Nearly every time I look at her, she gives me a big smile. She is utterly adorable. Right now, however, she is screaming because she wants me to hold her, I think. Jenni is out with her mom, so I am holding down the house.
Work has been fun. I am continuing to get the hang of everything. Almost every day I encounter a new situation. Rather, I should say almost every day the students figure out a new way to trick me. It is a fun game we play. I make them upset by not letting them do something, such as setting fire to the furniture, and they attempt to make me look like a cruel fiend who violates their rights. For those who aren't aware, a right is anything you want to do. I am continuing to get bulked up. In a few short weeks I should be able to bench press our multi-passenger vehicle.
Stay in contact.
That is all.

Lockdown

Last week before I arrived at work there was a gang-related assault. One kid smashed another kid in the head with a rock. The kid that was hit went to the hospital. The kid that threw the rock was arrested and will probably serve a minimum of 5 years in an adult prison. There had been a few others gang-rumblings throughout the site. Therefore, they put the whole site on a lockdown. All educational and vocational classes were canceled. The students had to stay in their living units all day, except for meals and running and exercise. They had to run twice each day, about 3 miles each run. They also had to do two sets of 18/20's, which is 20 reps each of 18 different exercises. None of the kids on our unit had anything to do with the gang stuff, though some of them are gang members. They were too excited about being locked-down. We the staff did much of the exercises with them, as a magnanimous gesture of fraternity. It was very tiring, especially since I get tired after 3 push-ups. Henceforth, last week lasted very long. It can be pretty boring sitting around in the same room for 8 hours a day, making sure the students are not talking, or getting out of their seat without permission, or breathing too deeply. The students actually acted pretty well, though the last few hours on Saturday they became pretty hyped up. They could be off the lock-down when I get to work today, but it is not guaranteed. I could be in for another challenging week.
I have had the chance to learn some things about some of the students in my group. Most of them have some serious issues in their lives. I am doing what I can to give them good, godly advice. Most of the kids though are pretty stubborn, and have a habit of acting out whenever life is not going their way. They do not know the best way to handle challenges, which is why they are in prison in the first place. Please pray they I can be a positive influence in at least one student's life.
Meanwhile, the kids and wife are doing well at home. The kids have learned to get every single one of their toys out and over the entire house in less than fifteen seconds. They have more toys than the entire population of sierra Leone. Jenni and I (I should say primarily Jenni and not I) have to clean the house about 7 times a day. Strangely enough, it never gets old, for me at least. We have experienced very high temperatures, as has the rest of the country. We are managing, however.
Hope to hear from some of you soon.
That is all.