Spring is Here!

We celebrated the first day of spring by going out to Rita's for some free ice-cream! We were able to bring Mary and Jarrod along with us (Jarrod was visiting for the weekend). It was a great afternoon spent with friends. Small outings like these are memories I will treasure.

Ice-Cream on a Cold Day

Since Jarrod no longer attends S.A.Y. Yes! (read about it in the following blog) I am now able to tutor Mary at the church. God answered my prayer in a way I did not expect. Even though this transition has been painful and hard at times I am thankful for it. S.A.Y. Yes! is a place where Mary needs to be. God is at work in her life.

Mary has started to bloom. Her smile radiates in the couple of hours she is at the church. I hear laughter and I watch her play with the other girls. I saw confidence in her body language as a boy told her she looked beautiful. This is an encouraging place for her to grow socially and academically.

One cold afternoon as I was walking Mary home from S.A.Y Yes! Mary asked me out of the blue if I liked ice-cream. Of course! We started to talk about our favorite flavors and how we would have to go out for ice-cream sometime soon. Mary invited me into her apartment with a huge smile on her face. We walked into her small kitchen and Mary went straight to the freezer and gave me an ice-cream bar. She was so excited and giddy about this gesture of generosity. I gladly received the ice-cream and was richly blessed by Mary's love.

As I write this post it is a Sunday afternoon. Normally each Sunday I walk down to Mary's apartment and pick her up for church. Today I wasn't feeling well so I called Mary to tell her I wouldn't be able to pick her up. I went back to bed and later I woke up to a letter a housemate slid under my door. It was from Mary and it said:

Ms. Katheren,

I do not know how to spell your name but I hope you feel better and we can go to church next Sunday. Ok and see you tomorrow at say yes. :) Love you!!!

Oh my, my relationship with Mary means so much to me. I am so thankful for this year where I have been able to mentor and build a relationship with such a sweet girl.

A Hard Day

Jarrod.

One of my favorite kids.

I tutor him everyday at S.A.Y. Yes!

His smile lights up a room.

I receive running hugs from him.

I have watched the way he has grown since August.

I was gone for a seminary retreat in Nashville, Tennessee this last week. When I returned back to English Avenue I learned that Jarrod moved back with his mom. He no longer lives in our neighborhood. My heart broke. I was looking forward to sharing a meal with him on Saturday night. Instead I saw the requested spaghetti, green beans, and key lime pie sitting on our counter untouched. This was his reward for improving his grades at school. When I asked him what he would like to do Jarrod's response was to eat dinner at our house. Precious answer.

I am trusting. Trusting that this is where Jarrod needs to be right now. I am trusting that he is receiving the care, attention, and love he needs. I am trusting that he will discover what it means to be a good friend and to have good friends at school. I am trusting that there will be people in Decatur who will mentor him.

I look forward to Jarrod's visits in English Ave. I don't know when they will be or for how long.

In the meantime I will hold onto many of the sweet memories I have with Jarrod.

*Jarrod wrote me a card. Inside it said, "Mary was a good mom, you might be one too."

*The flower he shyly brought to our house for me.

*Pretending to be chased by aliens and wild wolves on our walks home from S.A.Y. Yes!

*Conversations like the following:
Jarrod: Miss Katherine, aren't you going home in February?
Me: Why would I go home?
Jarrod: For Valentine's Day.
Me: But that means I wouldn't be able to spend it with you.
Jarrod: Oh, good point.

and...
Me:Pluto is now called a dwarf planet.
Jarrod: Is that because dwarfs live there?

and...
Jarrod: Miss Katherine, normally I would run away from you, but today I am going to be good and walk with you.

*Today is a hard day. My first day of S.A.Y. Yes! without Jarrod. I pray that wherever he is, Jarrod feels loved and cared for and that others can enjoy his sweet laughter and loving smile.