It is so "US"... The whole of our society of who know the definition for the acronym TGIF! "Thank God It's Friday!"

Yes, everyone seems to know this one, even those who do not share the glee of the day due to weekend work schedules; or mothers taxed at the idea of the kids being home from school for two full days...in my case, a full week too. Yes, next week is our spring break. This simply equates to a full week with four kiddos, at least two who would rather be just about anywhere but here.

Ah alas, something to look forward too!

That brings to mind, why would they think it is simply the worst place in the world to be stuck living at? After all, haven't several youth preceded them successfully? Why yes, there have been many who have come before and made it successfully through the plague of placement woes and unhappiness.

Why would they feel any differt, after all, they have grown up in a world of youth whom believe that work entails walking to the video cabinet to pick out the next interactive game to play or movie to watch!

Would it be any wonder that youth from this same generation seem to believe they should not have to partake in anything that requires physical effort for a purpose other than self gratification? Probably not! Least of all, shoveling horse manure! God forbid they should have to partake in the responsibilities of living on a farm and even more the case is made by the fact I'm not out there shoveling with them. lol

Then again, if I were they would not be getting away with taking four hours to do 30 minutes worth of work. Hence, the outcome would be 'I'm an unreasonable slave driver' and their argument that 'these are not their horses' would remain the same.

The amusing piece in this I suppose is the reality of many youth from my years before foster care who would come to me begging to do chores, pull weeds, clean house or any other form of re-payment in turn to get to go to the stable to just be around the horses, let alone the riding lessons and more. Many were no more than eight years old and demonstrated a work ethic that my current teen age foster sons would narrow by comparison too! All of whom willing said they wanted to come here, to help with the horses, including manure clean up, and absolutely loved horses.... Hmmmm..... Where then, did it go astray?

I'm not sure, but I can tell you undoubtedly every one of them who has remained in contact with us beyond their time of living with us has come back to say how easy they had it back when and they wish they could re-do it and make it different. More than one has even requested to move back. Unfortunately, that is not generally an option.

It does leave me to wonder, how did we as a society get to the point that we are now at with our youth? Was it the age of cell phones? Video games? The intensity of Gang related activity? I suppose we can contribute the outcome to a bit of each of these and so much more as our society has hit an all time low in morality, integrity and ethics. However, I have to marvel at the lack of incentive and motivation that so many of the youth today have; even far greater than their counter parts of five to ten years ago. The sad realization is how difficult it then becomes for them to survive when they venture out on their own.

What is maybe the most shocking revelation in it all is there presumption to being entitled. To what you may ask? Perhaps it is not the case in many foster homes, so I can't speak on behalf of others on a whole. But in our case, we take the boys out to dinner and other various activities on a fairly regular basis. Friday nights are pizza night. We do things such as bowling, fun trade shows for things like camping and sportsman type things. We go to local auto races, picnics in the mountains, horse shows, rodeo's, camping, boating, water skiing, water tubing, a winter family vacation in the Colorado mountains at a condo with an indoor swimming pool every December, snow tubing at the ski area this past year, horse back riding lessons if they are interested, swimming, go to the park to shoot hoops and more.

I'd love then to know how, with the amount of money spent on them and the privileges that many kids (not just foster kids) will never get a shot at; that these guys (who have been in trouble with the law, as a result have few to no choices of places to live beyond our willingness to take them in; who bring their emotional baggage, anger, resentment and hurts along with them to dish out in our direction in ample doses; have broken, destroyed and disrespected our home, property and privacy, in addition to attempting to get anyone in trouble at any opportunity) still have the audacity to believe they should not have to assist or be expected to assume full responsibility for chores that elementary age children are capable of doing???

It is a bewildering matter and if asked, many would simply cop an attitude saying something like "I don't care about those things..." To say “thank you” is in their young and unknowing minds going all out in repaying any privileges they may have received. Then again, we keep in mind they have a mind set of expectancy and entitlement of which the system and our society has created.

I laugh when I hear them say the only reason I do foster care is to have them do my chores... Considering how things used to be done when I had a life outside of four youth with broken lives, as opposed to how they are now. I find humor in their presumption it's all about money as well. Though, I can't hold any of it against them. After all, they have never had to make their own way in the world. They have never had to pay rent, utilities, phone, water, gas, maintenance, and so on. They don't have a clue what it cost per month per child to maintain the life they all become perhaps a bit too comfortable living while here.

And as stated, so many have repented of their hateful and many times hurtful comments and actions long after the fact. We have received many apologies for things they did long before while living with us. I willingly welcome their comments and presence back into the folds of the family, knowing that life has redeemed our home in their young adult eyes.

Even if not until that wonderful time in life, when they learn that perhaps they don't know everything after all, the reality of my words do finally find a place to take root in each of their minds and hearts.

Perhaps that is how it will have to be with the majority of them from this time forward. I suppose I can live with that. Even in spite of the reality that all too often it feels like we are doing for, giving to, loving and caring a houseful of ungrateful and unappreciative recipients until that day arrives, all too often not until after they no longer live with us..

Such is the life of an invested foster parent. No one ever said it was going to be easy. I take Jesus as my role model here.... He still to date, after thousands of years, continues to love, care for, listen to and answer all of us. I don't know about you, but I suppose my gratitude has been comparable to the youth we care for on more than one occasion.

In this, I am reminded once more to seek forgiveness for my presumptions, anger, attitude, emotional baggage and so much more... I am on bended knee asking humbly what it is that I can do to repay what he has offered me. Yet I know full well, there is nothing I could do in turn... His love, his gift, his life, his suffrage and his blood all came at such a high price that I would never even be able to consider approaching the foot of his throne if not for his grace and mercy.

Therefore, I am humbly reminded that what I do in service to others, be it the youth in my home or others in my community and beyond, is but a small fraction of his example. I recognize the need to maintain such humility, grace and mercy in all that I do or attempt in this life!

I really wasn't sure where this was going when I started it today, but I clearly see God had a purpose and direction in which he was taking my words and my thoughts now! Our God truly is an awesome and incredible God! I seek to recommit my life to him once more, even again... To live my life and serve in any capacity that he leads me to, is a life well spent!

I hope you are encouraged by my thoughts and words today in a way that will assist you all in facing the giants and skeletons in your own lives... Remember, nothing is too big for God!

And by the way, the bank is late! I said by noon today and here it is approaching late afternoon and no word! God's timing, not ours...

Keep visualizing and seek the promise and fulfillment in your life that God had set before you were born! He has a plan of good for you, a plan to prosper the ways of your life! Seek first the kingdom of Heaven and all else will be added! God Bless Us Everyone!

Love to all!