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This year, send Christmas cards to your friends and family and support the ministry of the Children's Home at the same time!
Our youth's artwork graces the beautiful cards, which also contain Christmas greetings. Click here for information on ordering cards. | |
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| UMCH e-news |
November 2009 |
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Greetings!
As we enter into the season of Thanksgiving, we at the United Methodist Children's Home thank you for remembering us with all of your prayers and gifts. The holidays can be a tough time of year for families working through hardships.
Getting in the holiday spirit? If you're feeling "elfish" and are looking for a place to share the holiday spirit with others, we have opportunities for you. We are looking for volunteer Lead Elves to help with wrapping presents for our youth and foster care children. Email the Volunteer Coordinator to find out more. Also, the children in foster care and the youth on campus have shared their Christmas wish lists with us so that we may pass them along to you. Help us make Christmas special by clicking here for their Christmas wishes. |
| Campus Update |
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Spirit-filled Halloween
Our UMCH youth helped bring smiles to the faces of the children at Our House by hosting a Halloween party for them. Our House is an early childhood education center for homeless families. Our youth shared laughter and fun while they played games, read stories and brought tasty treats for the children. It's wonderful to be a blessing to others, and playing with the children at Our House is a favorite of the UMCH youth.
After enjoying party time with the children at Our House, the youth celebrated Halloween with their own carnival here at the Decatur campus. The first holiday function of the year at the United Methodist Children's Home was a big hit thanks to the volunteers from Emory University. They brought energy, smiling faces, and a willingness to create new relationships and participate in fun activities. The students arrived prepared to help run carnival booths and dress up for our haunted path.
Our excited youth arrived early at the haunted trail and stood in the cold, wet weather, eager to enter. Once the youth entered the trail, others could hear their screams from inside. Everyone got a good scare and agreed the trail was awesome.
All enjoyed candy and games at the carnival including a basketball shootout, miniature golf, pumpkin bowling, baseball radar pitch, a ball toss game and a piņata. However, the success of both events was not measured by the amount of games, candy or the scariness of the haunted trail but by the amount of laughs and smiles witnessed at each party. Thank you to everyone who helped make this a great time for all. |
| Youth Chip in at Community Events |
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Blessed to be a Blessing
It truly is better to give than to receive, and the UMCH youth have been experiencing the blessing of giving this year. The youth began participating in volunteer service projects around the community twice a month over the summer. The experiences were so well-received that the Student Council voted to continue serving throughout the school year as well.
Our youth have helped watch and play with the children at Our House, worked together at Atlanta Community Food Bank, and served as pet handlers for a pet adoption meet and greet with Forgotten Paws Pet Rescue. They have also served at Open Hand, Books for Africa, and Keep DeKalb Beautiful. Our House is a favorite location because our youth know the impact that one loving person can have on another.
The youth truly enjoy these opportunities to contribute to the community and value their experiences. They have been able to learn more about gardening in Decatur First United Methodist Church's garden, and become more aware of animal abuse and neglect and how to properly care for pets with Forgotten Paws. They are also learning countless other skills such as teamwork and patience. We are proud of all their hard work and the significant contributions they have made to the Atlanta community! |
| The "How to" Corner |
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Enjoying the Journey
by David Burchett
Author and Speaker
One of my favorite moments happened on a family trip. Brett is several years younger than his siblings. I was addressing his older brothers' behavior when I snapped at the boys and said in my best dad voice, "You are acting like children." Brett was only five, and he thought I was including him in the accusation. He pondered the comment and then said, "But I am a children." The laughter from the backseat derailed my dad authority and it definitely lightened the moment. The family that can laugh together has a huge advantage in the journey.
I encourage parents to enjoy every phase of their children's journey. And I learned that what your children take away as favorite memories may be surprising. I asked my sons about their favorite memories of time with me. I expected that they would remember the big trips we took together or some expensive outing. I was humbled by their responses.
Firstborn son Matt: "My favorite memories are throwing the baseball/football in the front yard of our Pecan Valley house, going to baseball games and growing up around sports."
Second born son Scott: "Playing catch in the backyard for hours on end, even when your knees hurt. Going to cut down Christmas Trees every November and stopping at the Dairy Queen on the way home."
Youngest son Brett: "You coaching my sports teams and going to cut down the Christmas tree."
It was the little things that counted for them. The memories that really mattered to them were things that cost me only time. Each one of the boys felt valued when they felt I had sacrificed or made a special effort to spend time with them. I thought the big things mattered the most but I was wrong. | |
The United Methodist Children's Home is an equal opportunity employer and provider.
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