Happy Things

From Micah, Daniel S., Tiffany, and me . . .

• Phone calls from Chad
• "That'd be ideal!" --Caleb K., advocating me having guys' leaders' meeting [Later Micah told me that you can never tell when Asians are being sarcastic, so I asked Caleb if he were being sarcastic, and he had no recollection of making the statement. So obviously it wasn't an enduring sentiment, though it was an amusing comment when he made it.]
• Seeing Mrs. Long again . . . and her checking my ring finger: "I'm still waiting!"
• Talks with Jamie
• Accumulating over 40 character recognitions in one day
• Four-year-old Jalen telling me that he didn't have a last name
• The sound of balloons popping throughout club
• Getting to explain to Jalen why he doesn't have to go "down to the bogey man" when he dies
• "Just imagine Kendra walking up to Shaq and telling him that he's 'cute' when he's playing basketball." --Caleb K., upon hearing that Kendra thought Caleb and Micah looked "cute" playing basketball together
• Finishing breakdown in 15 minutes!!!
• Getting serenaded by Tim and Jon as I did room check. "You are My Sunshine" does not make me change my mind about giving a poor . . . Soon after, having "Daniel loves me, this I know" sung to me by Derek and Shane
• "Me, me, me!" --Jalen, in club
• Trying not to laugh at each new way Jalen would express his anger at not getting picked [It was actually quite sad]
• Having one of the kids ask if the reason we're not coming back next week is because we've got to go "tell" other people [the stories about Jesus]
• Getting to talk to parents and step-parents of club kids
• Going through hundreds of balloons
• Stanisha and Dustin squished onto Tiffany's lap
• CapriSuns flying around the van
• Elijah always being one of the first people to pray for club
• Three little heads over the prize bucket, digging for teeth and trophies