I'm Being A Hallowiner... um, I mean whiner ;)

KIDSCLUB MENU THIS WEEK:

CROCK POT CHICKEN PARMESAN (from Chef in Training)
2-4 boneless, skinless chicken breast halves
1/2 cup Italian Seasoned Bread Crumbs
1/4 cup Parmesan Cheese
1/4 t black pepper
1/4 t kosher salt
1 TBSP olive oil
1 egg, beaten
sliced or shredded mozzarella cheese
favorite jarred marinara sauce
serve over:
bow tie pasta (because it holds up for the trip)

Salad

Yogurt

Caramel Apple Bar (Pinterest)

Halloween Games by Martha Stewart

While the interwebs have been most inspirational this week in aiding my ability to pull together the menu and activities for the dinner and 'KidsClub'  we host at Athens Area Homeless Shelter each Thursday,  it has done nothing to help prepare my heart for the event.  Raiding the internet, grocery store and dollar store, I've been able to easily pull together resources for the provisional piece for the outreach but I am sucking wind in the relational area this week.

 Relationships are tough.  End of story.  There are expectations, hopes, misunderstandings, and  disappointments on both sides.  This is true in families, marriages, friendships, work relationships and yes, even volunteer servant relationships. 

When we first started KidsClub at the shelter over a year ago, I had expectations that everybody would love the food and the fun.  I was shocked to find out that some kids hate mac-n-cheese and grapes, some moms really want to stay on their diet and don't think gooey brownies are awesome, and sometimes gluing googley eyes on balloons isn't better than going outside to swing.  Because of my growing relationship with the residents, these things really matter to me and now when I get it wrong it hurts my heart (and often my pride).  Relationships are TOUGH.

On the flip side, relationships are so very worthwhile.  My desperate need for divine aid to be relational is a whole 'nother blog post but in preparation for the relational part of tomorrow's KidsClub I am asking for the amazing grace  of Jesus.  I pray for a mind through which Jesus thinks, a heart through which He loves and hands through which He works.  Please pray for less of me and more of Him and an AMAZING GRACE HALLOWEEN PARTY FOR ALL.  Thank you, my friends!

Peace and love from the farm today,
~L

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