School is in session

Yesterday, we received the green light from the county to move into the Field House.  Once again, we moved desks, bookshelves, chairs, and furniture but this time for keeps.  A little less than a year ago, we showed up for work on the new Kansas City property and operated out of one building: the Dining Hall.  School was held in makeshift classrooms with partitions, Jena's office was in the corner next to the fireplace and all phone calls, internet access, meetings, and even chapel was held in one spot.  Now, don't get me wrong, the Dining Hall is a beautiful building but it wasn't long before cabin fever set in.   

The Field House is a state of the art building.  The top floor

opens out to a view of the swimming pool.  The school occupies the third floor and the classrooms are built for teaching with white boards, washing stations for science and individual bathrooms.  The bottom two floors are home to the gymnasium complete with a full stage.  The second floor mezzanine level has a weight room and dance floor which over look the gym.  The landscape is built on a slope which allows ground access at the bottom and top floors.

It's never really been about the buildings.  Whether we occupy a shack, lodge, or new field house, it's about relationships and families.  It was a milestone day for Doulos Ministries.  If you ever make it out to Independence, MO I will gladly give you a tour of the facility!

Diary of a short week

Last week I mentioned the Kansas City Irish Fest so I thought I would share a photo taken with some good friends.  You might notice the green water fountains in the background.  It was a nice touch.  Good times.

Like many of you, it was a short work week with the Labor Day holiday.  I spent the day with Jena, Justin, Corey and Kaiden at home and it was great!  The week still seemed long though?? 

Corey had a Pop Warner football game on Saturday.  An otherwise ordinary event but during the game a stealth bomber flew over the playing field...twice.  The second flyover was at a low altitude too.  It was awesome.

We launched chapel on Thursday.  Our guest speaker did a great job and the music by the Killer B's was excellent.  The B's have updated the Facebook fan page if you'd like to see some pics:

 http://www.facebook.com/pages/Killer-Bs/62870182157?ref=ts

It was great to have NFL football back and, of course, I have to say something about those Cowboys.  How Bout Em?  I enjoyed watching a game last night with a buddy from Shelterwood.  Football: another good reason for building community.

As the Field House nears completion, landscaping/erosion control re-started last week along with the pouring of sidewalks connecting the new building to the Dining Hall and Lodges.  

There you have it.  A diary of a short week.

  

Festive Fall

Fall is probably my favorite season.  I love the cool weather, watching the boys play local football and the sense of excitement a new school year brings.   It's barely Labor Day but the season is in full swing.  Saturday morning was Corey's first football game and the parents were out in full force wearing the black and red of the Fort Osage Indians.  We have also received a great deal of rain and it makes my short morning drive through the country to Doulos resemble a scene from Ireland.  Speaking of Ireland...this weekend  happens to be the Kansas City Irish Fest in the downtown Crown Center district.  Jena and I attended last night with a few friends. We had an amazing time enjoying the live Irish bands, food and festive atmosphere.  Good times.  In fact, following church this morning I realized just how buys this weekend has been.  Thank goodness for Labor Day and a holiday from work tomorrow.  

Chapel starts up this week at Shelterwood.  I enjoy letting the creative juices flow and the kids love the real youth group feel that comes with our weekly Thursday morning chapel.  This year we have a new team of musicians.  I've lost all but one of my original members but two more have joined.  In case you're wondering, things are coming along nicely with the Shelterwood Field House and I would expect completion by the end of September.  Just in time to start using the gymnasium and weight facilities before the cold weather comes.  

 

Over The Hill

Today is August 30th, my 40th birthday.  I am officially on the "other side of the hill now" and I must say the view is not half bad.  Contrary to popular myth, I did not wake up this morning in need of a cane or adult training pants.  Didn't see any extra hair in my ears or nose.  Just another day.  That's not to say I haven't lost a step out on the basketball court or avoided crows feet around my eyes.  I am just enjoying the life I've been given.   My hope is that my spiritual growth will mirror that of my 40 year life journey.  A gradual process of learning and growing filled with gratitude and anticipation.  Sure, I can ask God to gift wrap the answer to all my needs and hand it to me on my spiritual birthday, but what fun would that be?  It would short-change me from the experience.  

It was a quiet week at Shelterwood.  All but two of the kids were home on post-summer break.  The new Leadtimers and most staff were in orientation and training all day.  It's a nice perk to avoid CPR, First Aid and Shelterwood policy training.  Important stuff but tough to endure.   Everything returns to normal on Monday, but then, what is normal at Shelterwood???  

A lazy Sunday

It's Sunday afternoon here in KC and I'm watching a Scooby-Doo marathon with Kaiden.  No, it hasn't been an all day couch-potato thing, I just happened to come across it on the Cartoon Network. Corey (pictured to the right) started Pop Warner football this past week.  Yesterday we attended an all-day scrimmage/jamboree up in Liberty.   It's great to be watching football again.  I toted Justin around and watched practice and games for 6 years and this will be Corey's 4th year.   Jena is busy with college assignments and Justin is buried up in his room somewhere under a stack of books.  Our home is once again, back to boys only.  Lauren left on Friday for GA.  I know I just said in an earlier blog that she was back.  It's complicated.  I can't say that I have any answers but we just keep moving on.

One of my favorite residents, Brian, left the program on Tuesday.  He is starting a new school year and actually lives nearby.  He was also my lead guitarist at the church and it was cool to see him this morning back at New Community Church.  Although back home with his family, the soon-to-be 18 year old, desires to stay at the church and remain on the worship band.   One more Shelterwood relationship that will extend beyond the program.  Love it when that happens.

As expected the new Leadtime class arrived this past week and the kids left Friday and Saturday for Post-Summer Break.  It should be a quiet week back at the Wood this coming week but you never know??  Just wanted to say, again, how much I appreciate the friends and family who follow our ministry and support our work at Doulos.   You make a difference!

Back in the saddle

The weather still says, "Summer time" but the schedule says otherwise.  It's back to school and time to get back in the saddle.  Next week Corey and Lauren return to middle school and Justin and Jena head to college.  A full load for Justin and a few night classes for Jena.  That means no more late nights for the kids and more sleep for me.  Hallelujah!  At Doulos, August tends to represent some transition and change too.  A few of our families have left Shelterwood in preparation of new school semesters back home.  Pretty common occurrence.  This coming Wednesday the new Leadtime class reports.  Leadtime 30, actually, if you can believe that?  The next few weeks will be filled with orientation and training for our new class but we know that no amount of training can truly prepare these young adults for a wild year in Shelterwood.  The guys and girls at Shelterwood are on house trips through next Wednesday and Post-summer Break begins next Friday.  

Following last Friday's Leadtime graduation, our big brothers and big sisters spent a few days off campus on a much deserved retreat and I enjoyed working in the guys house with the teens while they were away.   That part of my job never gets old.  No amount of policy and paperwork can replace personal time spent with the teens...plus the fact that I am still a big kid on the inside.

Jena's last day of work at Doulos was yesterday.  She is officially an employee through the end of the month but her vacation time allowed her to finish Friday.  

Back to School

You know how the grocery stores have Valentine's Day candy on display the day after Christmas? Well, in similar fashion Back To School is upon us in early August.   This weekend is "tax-free" shopping at retail stores for school supplies and back-to-school items.  Poor Justin - Target employee - was dragging himself out the door this morning ready to meet the masses.  This past week we got Corey registered for 7th grade.  A new school for Corey and the same as Lauren who will get signed up for 8th grade next week.  Jena has also decided to return part time to school and will be taking some classes on the same campus as Justin - Blue River Community College.  Kaiden finished his last day of daycare/school on Friday.  With Jena staying home Kaiden will also be staying home.  Definitely an upgrade for Kaiden.  This past week Justin and Corey drove over to Bonner Springs, KS for the annual WARP Tour -- an all day concert of modern rock bands.  They came back exhausted and red faced from the sun but had a blast.

On Friday we celebrated the Leadtime 29 graduation.  A picnic at the park followed by a ceremony in the Boy's Lodge back on campus.  9 graduates.  Lots of family and friends made the trip over to our Doulos property and it was great to honor and recognize the growth and accomplishment of our Leadtime class.