It's a beautiful Saturday morning, still early - I love this time of day.  Natalie and I just shared stories of 1st grade over a cup of coffee/hot cocoa on the front porch, and now I'm here at the computer.  Dominic sifted through the pile under the tarp (which has become our garage during the construction) to find golf clubs & a small bucket of balls.  He has made a driving range out of the back yard, great morning for golf.

The picture above is from autumn 2006.  My neighborhood friends are the best, we get together monthly - Joanne has bowling planned for October.  I feel so lucky to have such great friends.  There is just something about knowing you have someone down the street or around the corner...they all were a huge support for me last year.  Wouldn't trade them for the world....

It's been a strange week.  Our church is hosting SOS, South Oakland Shelter, a traveling shelter for people without homes.  We have been up at church each night – preparing & eating dinner with our guests.  It's been amazing talking to people and learning how no one is really that far from being in that kind of situation.  I met people with college degrees, from good homes, with great attitudes -- just no job or no family or no one who cared to help.  They are so gracious to the host churches and truly value the outreach and guidance received. 

I met a guy, Will, really nice guy.  We talked each night, mostly about his daughter, Sheba, who he hasn't seen in a while or talked to in months.  He asked how old Marisa was and told me Sheba was 12.  Will shared much about how it hurts that he is “such a bad dad.”  Sheba is living with her mom and Will's grandma takes care of her sometimes too.  He talked about how he couldn't find a job, and was ashamed to come around his daughter.  He said Sheba always asks him to come to church with her - but he was too ashamed for that too.   He has just been absent from her life – because he doesn’t feel like he has anything to offer her.  

Last night when I arrived, Will was glowing.  He came up to me, "Michelle! Guess what?  I worked today!" He was just ecstatic -- telling me about how he got up at 4am so he could be the first one at the job site for 6am.  He got a ride from a church member to the bus stop and took a bus to the job.  He told me how he didn't take a lunch break because he wanted to show the supervisor how serious he was about working.  "I'm going back tomorrow, only I don't have to get up until 5am...,” he continued.  We sat together for a while.  I told him his luck was changing.  I asked if he called his daughter, he said he would because now he has something good to tell her.  

I've loved this week, meeting people who have tough lives --yet, are so hopeful and optimistic.  They have taught me much, and remind me to not take things for granted.  I've cried a few times, wanting to just say, "here - have my car, some money...” But isn’t that easy.  One thing I know I can do is pray. Especially for Will  - that God will help him stay on track and rebuild that broken relationship with Sheba.  I think about him daily now, I just wish him all the best so that things will continue to get better.

SOS has rules & requirements - there are daily drug tests, guests have to be actively looking for employment or working, etc...  We don't give out our last names or phone numbers and I know not all I'm told by people is true.  But the experience of hosting guests, whose entire lives fit in one large plastic bag, has been so meaningful to me.  It was my honor to be able to cook & clean for them, to listen to their problems and to offer a hug.

Kind of a heavy topic this morning…. This week has just touched me so, I’m just really thankful for the friends and family I have.  There are such great people in my life -- thanks.

Have a wonderful rest of the weekend, enjoy the friends who surround you – hug ‘em a little tighter next time you see them...

Always, Michelle