I posted a few days ago about my orientation at the Atlantic City Rescue Mission. Before attending I thought the ACRM was just a place that served hot meals and provided shelter to the homeless. This past Wednesday night I came to find out that it is so much more than just hot meals and shelter. While they do provide shelter for 750 single men, 75 single women, and 11 families each night, they also provide these people with healthcare (on site as well as off), counseling, support groups, and most importantly they give them hope that they will be able to return to this world as a self sufficient person. A high light for me was that the rescue mission is a faith based mission-meaning that they are supportive of a christian faith and offer chapel to their patrons 2 times a day! They also go out into the community and provide those who need it with food baskets, warm clothing, and they will even sit and pray with them if that is all they want! They provide programs for people with every need. They have work ready 120 day programs, programs to teach families how to maintain their living quarters, and manage their money and then they will place those families out in the community and give them 6months of follow up support and care if they need it to ensure they are on the right path.

My lesson learned this past wednesday night is that everybody comes from somewhere. For me, I know that we are all children of god (even if we have no blood family), and therefore need to support eachother through good times and bad. Maybe that is all someone needs just someone to sit with them and let them know that they are not on this rough road alone. I was very humbled this past week to see the shape and condition that some of these people are in, and it made me a little more thankful for the roof over my family’s head and the warm food and comfort that we sometimes take for granted. Needless to say I cannot wait to start volunteering!! I will keep you updated 🙂

This has been another busy busy week for our family. First off, I turned the big 25 on Tuesday!! Nothing fancy this year, in fact hubby worked day shift, and I worked night shift so only saw eachother for about 10 minutes the entire day while we were switching the kids between shifts 😦

Wednesday hubby worked day shift and I met up with him at work to switch the kids again because I had orientation at the Atlantic City Rescue Mission. Since we didn’t really do anything for my birthday on Tuesday, I came home later that evening to all three of my guys singing me happy birthday, with a beautiful bouquet of lillies and balloons!! Oooh and i forgot to mention that hubby got me a new pair of chocolate brown tall UGGS for my bday YAY!

Yesterday, we had a ton of errands to run including dropping our older car off at the mechanic to have some work done. We also braved the grocery store (with our two boys in tow) to stock up on some essentials for the wicked snow storm we are preparing for this weekend. And as usual every Thursday night we have a few friends over for dinner, so we did that as well!

This morning hubby had a dr. appointment, and we had to go pick up our car from the shop. Now finally we have nothing to do for the rest of the weekend, except to hope that hubby can make it home safely after work tonight!!

This past week, oh who am i kidding this past month has been exhausting-hence I have not been posting very much! Last month Ayden had his very first ear infection which I’m happy to say that they stayed away for his first 16 months…but on the other hand last friday he came down with ANOTHER ear infection on top of a stomach bug 😦 My husband on Monday wasn’t feeling well either and it turned out he had the stomach bug and was the one who gave it to our 17 month old (who said sharing was always a good thing?! lol) Naturally I was next to come down with the stomach bug over this weekend, and felt horrible. As for right now we’re all on the upside of kicking these germs out of our house, and Ayden is finishing up his antibiotic for his ear infection. The only critter in our house that hasn’t been sick through all of this is our 3 year old, and hopefully it stays that way! Until next time…

I was recently looking over a fellow friends blog, Heart, Courage & Brain, when I realized she had tagged me in a post to write down the 10 things that make me happy, YAY! There are still people who read along to my blog haha!

10 Things that make me happy (in no particular order):

10. My husband and two loving children, and watching how excited Ayden gets when his brother gets excited! I swear he’s like a carbon copy of his older brother 🙂

9. Keeping my house clean for an entire week, and staying on top of all the laundry we accumulate before it takes over our house!

8. Actually being able to watch Rachel Ray and the View in the morning while enjoying my coffee!

7. Having successful trips outside of our house with the boys (ie. a trip to the mall/restaurant without a public melt down!)

6. Driving in our new car, listening to country music with my sunroof open!!

5. Phone calls from friends to catch up

4. Thinking about the wonderful times I shared with my pop-pop, and knowing that he’s up there looking down at me and my family looking out for us!

3. Our loving and caring church family that in 1 year has made us feel like we have been there a lifetime, and who I know will do anything for us!

2. Watching how excited baby Angel gets for christmas, and santa!!

1. When Baby angel tells me “Mommy your my favoritest mommy everrrrrr!”

I will pass this along to Hayley Miller.

I feel great!
I just finished my application for becoming a volunteer at the Atlantic City Rescue Mission. I always knew they existed in the town that has provided my employment for the past 4 years or so, and I have heard in the past that they are the best rescue mission in all of South Jersey and I am ecstatic to have the oppourtunity to volunteer there. Stay tuned and I’ll let you know how it turns out!