Loving this week!

As I continue my week of thanks....man am I blown away. There is literally so much to be thankful for that narrowing down in 5 posts is preposterous (and I can promise it would be the same for you.....even the debbie downers who feel like life is not worth living because they were dumped...money is "tight".... or you aren't getting a promotion this year for your job). Off my soap box now.

I'm about to cheat and combine 2 areas of my life that I am SOOOO thankful for. (I just couldn't narrow it down to 1 for this post)

FREEDOM: We live in a free country and I believe the men who set out to make this country free, did us a great service. Even though I can see our values changing and our government hitting the grey areas to take away these freedoms, we are still given religious freedom. That is all the freedom I need! I love this country and all that it's still worth.



KIDS: I'm referring to the 85 kids that I am in contact with on a daily basis--kids that I pour my heart and mind into daily. I spend time away from school thinking of them, laughing about our conversations and anticipating seeing them the next time. I love my job (almost all days) and the greater purpose that I'm fulfilling is worth everything.

Here's a conversation we had yesterday...which is similar to one we had a few weeks ago:

kids: Ms. Merkle, who do you live with?
me: I live with my cousin Kelly and another roommate.
kids: why?
me: because I do. what else would I do?
Kids: Why don't you live with John?
me: well, we aren't married. we can't live together yet.
Kids: why?
me: because the bible says we shouldn't do that
kids: but why do you live with your cousin? can't john just live in another bedroom
me: (lol---at this point I wanted to start with Genesis and the whole temptation model....but opted for the cheap answer) Um...that wouldnt work because Amy lives in the other bedroom.
kids: so where will Kelly live?
me: when?
kids: when john and you get married.
me: she will move out and live somewhere else.
kids: why cant she just live with you?
me: ummm....she doesn't want to--she has somewhere else she wants to live
kids: why wouldn't she want to live with you and john?

:)
I changed the subject there.....someday they will understand!! lol