Watching 3 Kids

I think Drew and I have a new respect for parents after this last week. :) Drew and I were "parents" for a week to 3 kids; 9, 7, and 5. I went in a little apprehensive wondering if we would hit it off with the kids and if we could really do this for a whole week. God really taught me a lot in that week, mainly, dependence on Him. Everyday there was a schedule, people needing to be here and there, making meals for 5 people now, having to cut bread crust and fruit skins off, cleaning up dog puke, homework to be done, picking up a sick kid from school, having to find items to go in the Alphabet Jar, piano lessons to be practiced, rooms to be kept cleaned, several vitamins to be taken and to remember exactly how much of each kind, and the list could go on.....

At the beginning of each day I would beg God to give me more strength and lead me with His Holy Spirit to respond appropriately and lovingly. At the end of each day, I was thankful to Him for showing Himself to me throughout the day. I hit the pillow each night with that extremely exhausted feeling, but a good and very earned exhaustion. But every day, God would renew my strength and gave me a love for those kids. I was so thankful for Drew! He is awesome with kids and really helped me out in a thousand ways.

Highlights
- going to the grocery store and 1 of the girls dropped an entire gallon of milk on the floor. (Why I thought I would be adventurous and take 3 kids to the grocery would be a good idea, I don't know...)
- Their car alarm went off in the middle of the soccer parking lot and we couldn't get it to turn off. The girls were saying, "This is so embarrassing," while the people are staring at us.
- McDonald's Playland is really Germland.
- Hearing a 5 year old sing, "Baby, are you down, down, down, down, down," by Jay Sean.
- The doorbell ringing for 15 mins. and we didn't know it was the doorbell, until I realized there was a fish guy coming at 1:30, and that it probably was the doorbell.
- Reading "The Lion, Witch, and the Wardrobe" to the 2 girls at night before bed.
- Having the 5 yr. old, who doesn't really read, tell me he can, and he 'read' me a book before he went to bed.
- listening to the extreme excitement of getting to each new world in Mario Bros Wii.
- watching the little boy fall asleep in the car on a 5 min. trip and so I continued to drive around for another 30 mins.
- Hearing, "you guys are the best" a thousand times a day by the little guy.
- taking directions from all 3 to try and find Lebron James' house. We weren't even close to finding his house but Drew and I kept hearing, "Yeah, this looks familiar. I think we're almost there, just keep going up ahead.."
- hearing their prayers, seeing their love for the Lord, and their concern for their friends who weren't Christian.
- Drew was invited to the 5 yr. old's bday party next year :)

Those are just a few of the favorites. The kids were awesome and we were so blessed to be a part of their lives for a week. I am so thankful to God.