Just Another Day in the Neighborhood...

 TRASH! I hate it! It's EVERYWHERE here. It multiplies. It oozes out of every nook and cranny. It runs into every drain and piles up in every empty space. It blows through the air. People think nothing of throwing their empty cans and bottles out their windows while driving or into the river while picnicking. It makes me sick. The kids in my neighborhood know NOT to throw anything on the ground in front of me, because I will chew them out and make them collect a bunch of trash. Occasionally since our big trash collection, they ask for a big trash bag and collect one or two. Usually on my suggestion or Annie's. But on this particular day they decided to all get together and they ended up collecting 62 bags. I finally had to tell them to stop because their wasn't any more room to place it. I was SO proud of them. I realized they were doing it for me. At first I was just amused by them. But when each child kept coming to me to report their collection and how many bags they had done or to show me the giant piece they found or to tell me the really gross thing they touched. I realized it was FOR me. They wanted to please me. They wanted my affection and affirmation for a job well done. 

 Once I finally realized that I made a big show of taking lots of pictures and affirming each one and exclaiming over each one. See that boy up away from the group by the house?? He is kind of the "bad" boy in the neighborhood, but even he collected the most bags and hung around from afar to receive my praise. God pour out your love on these kids and this sweet offering of trash.

 We opened up our yard for a rowdy game of something...not sure what. It involved a song and everyone was supposed to close their eyes...there are a few cheaters. 

 The next day, the city sent a dump truck to pick up all the bags.

 Here's Aram...proud of himself. Love this sweet kid. God has big plans for this little buddy.

The next day God asked me to watch Braden and Vera. They were such a blessing and a delight for us to have. So obedient and sweet. I couldn't have done it without my helper...Annie. She is so amazing and so good with kids.