Week 8

so, what happens when post-halloween sugar comas, the end of daylight savings time, and the hospitalization (don't worry, she's fine) of my trusty side-kick and reliable staff member steph all happen at the same time? well, this week happens.

something natalie told me on monday stuck with me through the entire week. she told me "we're all best friends now. we're like a family, like brothers and sisters." aside from the shock i felt from having my very sweet but very very literal friend throw out a metaphor (ok fine, simile), i felt as if we were about to experience the negative aspects of this statement in addition to the positives. and we did. the transition from becoming acquaintances to becoming a family comes with the freedom to answer honestly when someone asks you how you are doing, instead of the typical "i'm fine." this is both very hard and very beautiful, all at the same time.

that being said, we still experienced some great moments this week. on monday we decided that we would clean out the 12-passenger van we are borrowing from the daycare next door as a favor for their generosity. everyone pitched in and we cleaned it inside and out, leaving a thank you note signed by us all.

wednesday at feed the children we were again able to pack our favorite hygiene boxes (pictured below) to give out to families in need. this day we packed 200 boxes!

thursday we went back to blood:water mission to help them with their thank you card mailings. everyone sat right down and remembered their jobs from last time. we finished so quickly they didn't know what to do with us! i was so proud of everyone's focus and efficiency.

today we are being trained by lisann, the member of hillsboro presbyterian who runs Room in the Inn. for those unfamiliar, room in the inn is a program in which many churches participate during the winter. they send buses around to pick up some of our fellow nashvillians without homes, bring them back to the church, give them a hot meal and a place to stay. we have partnered with room in the inn at hillsboro and will be helping to set up the beds and tables every friday, and will hopefully be able to serve a meal at some point!

thank you to all friends, supporters, parents, and especially my wonderful program participants/new family members, i love you all dearly.

meaghan