So this week has taken an interesting turn which isn't all together bad. I worked three days this week and now am on my three days off...typically we work six days a week then we get a three day break. So working only three days makes me feel super lazy haha. We shifted our schedules around to give one of our staff members an overdue extended break. She has been working as the only primary staff at one of the cottages since April so now that we have gotten new staff fully starting this week, it was decided she needed a few extra days off...whether she wanted to or not. Which I am completely fine with giving her that break because I truly believe she needed that rest, so I just get to take a break earlier than expected and after my past three days I am NOT complaining!

After my three days off I went back on duty at Bader on Thursday night at 9:30pm and those three days were just crazy. We found out the schedule change an hour before school got out and we had to pick up the girls so we just decided that since most of the girls would be gone all weekend with home visits, it would just be easier for us to have a slumber party at our cottage with both cottage girls. It was definitely a lot of planning on our part trying to figure out what we would do, how we would figure out details, sleeping arrangements, etc. But Hannah and I completed that task and let me tell you, if you think your first few weeks are rough and crazy...you throw the monkey wrench in the middle and it creates chaos! However, it turned out to be a great weekend with the girls...sure there were those difficult moments where girls were like "I don't want all of us to be together" and "why can't they go back to their cottage" the typical teenage drama. But it was a great bonding experience and it really made me grow in how to run things...but it also makes me realize that although I am finishing up my 3rd week as staff and I have learned a lot, I still have a TON to learn about this job and these kids. I find that each day I learn something new about these girls but also myself. When you ask that simple task and they mumble or storm off to their room, you have to remember" they don't need another friend but someone who takes charge" and that is definitely a challenge for me to pull out my authority, and I know it will take quite a bit of time before that fully happens...if completely but it is definitely starting to come out. Especially when you get tired that adult firm type comes out. My second night of working this past week I was super tired, since I never sleep well my first night over at the cottage after a break. So I was super excited to get some much needed sleep and have a great weekend with the girls....well that didn't happen. Bedtime at the absolute latest for the older girls on weekends is 10:30pm which means lights out and no talking. Well I woke up to someone walking around in the room above me at Midnight and talking...let me tell you when you are awaken from a dead sleep and are already tired...you are NOT happy. Of course I had to do my job and go up and get after them and gave them consequences the next night but when you are tired and you deal with those issues and they mouth off at that time of night...well you really question why you are in this job working with teenagers. But then you cool off and see their sweeter side and you know it pays off in the end...you just need reminders...and often.

I suppose that is why we have such an amazing team that keeps one another accountable and checks in to see how you are doing in all aspects especially spiritually and emotionally. I had the opportunity today to spend the entire day with Caitlain, one of my fellow staff members and it was great to really just spend time and get to know each other and just hang out. We went to York, NE which is the closest town to Henderson where we went thrifting downtown and got to explore the town more (for my sake) and to just enjoy time outside of Henderson. Then of course we had to take our usual trip to Starbucks...because you just can't leave York without Starbucks...duh! Then we just hung out at her off duty house watched a bit of tv, relaxed with pizza and coffee and simply just chilled. It was a GREAT first day off to this break.

Aside from the opportunities to get to know my fellow staff members, I am also seeing God truly work and provide for me. As some of you may know I have been struggling financially my first month here. Really just trying to get student loans figured out on my budget, getting money for a driver's license (which hasn't happened yet) so I can get out of my Tmobile Contract with no penalty, and my Medical Insurance. Well last week God provided in my federal loans being switched to income based so I don't owe anything until February of 2014! Which is amazing but He also provided today, I received my new medical insurance which covers 80% of my medication but it is a reimbursement plan so I have been concerned about paying for my prescriptions each month and waiting to get reimbursed...well I set up my insurance at Walmart and they told me that my prescription is now HALF of what I normally paid back home! I just saved over a hundred dollars! Praise be to God! He has really shown me these past few weeks that if you do His will and follow His path He provides for you and takes care of you. Each day is a gift and serving the Lord and His plan for me is how I plan to live my life, and knowing that He is taking care of me in all the ways I need Him to is refreshing and gives me the strength to keep going and doing what I love and what He loves seeing me do with my life. Even though it is challenging most days what keeps me going is knowing that He is providing for me and that I am doing God's will and it is also what I love!

What makes it even better is that we also just hired two new staff members and so we won't be so short handed and we can start getting back to the regular schedules so nobody will be working alone anymore, which for me makes me feel loads better! I know I won't be alone for awhile seeing that I am still new, but knowing that two people will always be on duty now is definitely enough to make me feel better. I am excited to rest up these next two days and get to know my fellow staff members more that are off duty but also see what God has in store for me these next few days and weeks. It is really hard to believe that I have already been working here for 3 weeks...that is almost a month already and it is just crazy to believe it! I feel like some days I should still be in week one! And other days I feel like I have been here for years. But a day at a time is how I take it and enjoy each moment I am doing this, whether good or bad a day I know that I am doing something I love and is also pleasing God. That in itself keeps me positive and strong.