Grace and Grit

Goodbye to a place I once called hom e Now to a new strangers place, to learn Learn how to live on my own Yet I yearned for just a stable home I had never felt so alone Accompanied by two new black garbage bags With a couple rags, and old memories Goodbye to my friends with just These two black garbage bags and some accessories " It'll be ok," my caseworker assured  As I was lured into the system Swallowed by the courts Consumed by the placements Goodbye to a place I once called my home. -  by AHTIYA As some of you may know, last year we began the process of becoming trained and cleared to house transitional youth. These are young adults who have “aged out” of foster care, who are currently experiencing homelessness. This is a group that both Josh and I have felt a call to serve and partner with for a long time. It must be so scary and lonely to turn 18 and be forced to survive in a world that offers little to no support system. I am excite...

If you were a fly on the wall tonight you would have heard some interesting conversation around our dinner table. One of our (or should I say MY) favorite games to play after dinner is trying to come up with the grossest...yet still edible...food combinations we can think of. The winner receives the satisfaction of seeing the hilarious expressions on all of the losers faces as they imagine what the winner's combination would actually taste like. ;-) *No actual octopi were harmed in the making of this cake Tonight the winning combinations were tied between Chunky Lobster Fruit Smoothies and Octopus Topped Cake with Ink Frosting. I guess we were on a seafood kick. You're welcome. Chunky Lobster Fruit Smoothie anyone? :-) Also, sometimes kids misunderstand things in very unique ways. I submit for your enjoyment the following conversation: Me - "Would you like some boysenberry jam on your toast?" *child looks at me appalled* 5 yr Old Girl - "No thank y...

Okay okay, I said when I started this blog that it would not be one of those projects that turns into a place to post pictures of food, offering nothing but someone elses' recipes (with a personal twist or two thrown in). However, my last post was a heavy one and this is a merry month so I'm going to post something just for fun! The sun has set and the fog is starting to come out at the shelter. The little ones have settled themselves in the living room with their moms and are enjoying Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer. The house is (mostly) decorated, trees and interior lights are up, hot apple cider is ready, and a big pot of chowder is on the stove simmering. This is a recipe of my mom's that we enjoyed growing up. But of all the rich soups, stews, and chowders we used to eat this was actually my least favorite. It grew on me though and now I love it! If you're in the mood for something rich and hearty you should try this! Fish Chowder 4 cups water 2 lbs...

I had the privilege of working Christmas Eve and Christmas morning at the shelter last week. Rather than switch shifts out Sunday at 7am like we managers usually do, we decided to wait until 9am so that the early morning craziness would be over and the transition would be easier. I had mixed feelings at first when I saw my schedule would fall on Christmas eve and morning. Christmas is one of those holidays that is full of tradition. Christmas Eve was always (ALWAYS) spent with my mom's side of the family at my Grandma's house. It is my favorite gathering of the season. Singing carols, opening gifts, eating Mexican food...ahh the song "Tradition" from Fiddler on the Roof comes to mind. :-) My cousin Kim and I have a running tradition of filling an old pringle can with mementos and notes each year as a make-shift mini time capsule. It's a great opportunity to catch up on the extended family's lives and encourage each other. Not to be a part of that, among other...