Friday, February 26, 2010

What a week!

What a week it has been! In addition to the busy schedules our families keep, we had some significant news and events here at Hope Alive.

To start the week off, one of our resident moms announced that her name was at the top of the City of Frederick subsidized housing list. She struggled with the decision she needed to make – whether to take the housing opportunity at a very affordable rent or to remain at Hope Alive to accomplish her remaining goals to ensure her future success. After feedback from the staff and weighing the pros and cons, she made the wise and difficult decision to postpone her graduation from the Hope Alive program and decline the housing opportunity she knew she wasn’t ready for. She’s accomplished so much in her six month residency at Hope Alive, but has more goals she wants to achieve!

On Wednesday morning, one of our two-year olds jumped off the bed and hit his head on the bed frame leaving an inch-long cut. His mom rushed him off to the emergency room while other mothers got her two older children breakfast and off to school. This little one braved the ER procedures to receive 3 stitches on the back of his head. I think his mother was more upset than he was!

Later that same day, one of our 8 year-olds asked if the staff could pray for her friend’s mother as she was facing surgery the next day. This young child had already asked the other moms in the house to pray for her friend’s mom too. It’s wonderful to see such a tender young heart interceding for the needs of others.

On Thursday morning, one of our resident moms called from the Frederick County court house to announce the judge is scheduling her for graduation from the drug court program and asked if she would provide her testimony to the court next month about how her life has changed. She’s ecstatic – and rightly so – that she has successfully completed four years in drug court and is now able to publicly celebrate her sobriety and life change!

And last night the emergency room had a second visit this week from Hope Alive residents. One of our moms went to the hospital late last night with an acute and extremely painful medical emergency. She was treated, released, and returned to Hope Alive about midnight thanks to the committed and attentive moms and staff caring for her.

And to end the week, one of our resident moms gave me a copy of a thank you note she wrote to a local foundation that provided a college scholarship for her full tuition this semester. In her letter expressing her gratitude for their generosity, she wrote “I hope to achieve many different goals, one being receiving my R.N. and two becoming a productive member of society.” She shared with the donors that she wants to show her children that “they can do anything that they want to in life.”

What a week. We have much to celebrate and much to be thankful for - for achievements, for successes, for sobriety, for healing, for tender hearts, and as always for God’s divine provision! Until next week …

Sue Oehmig
Founder and Executive Director

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