Showing posts with label Mondays with Madeleine. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Mondays with Madeleine. Show all posts
Please join Madeleine and me this Monday night the 27th for this special event. Madeleine will give her testimony covering her battle with an eating disorder and talk about the goodness of God and her restoration. We would love to see you all there.
She sits across from me. Her body engulfed in the large arm-chair with its muted colors splashed into random designs. Her course brown hair is braided loosely and hanging over her shoulder.
I want to speak, but the words aren’t coming. What do I say to her? I felt what she is feeling. I understand the overwhelming wave of emotions and hormones that accompanies being fifteen. Nothing anyone told me helped. I clenched tightly to the same “no one understands” notion.
Only turning to Jesus when I was at my lowest point rescued me. I want to hug her, but I can tell by her defensive body language that is not an option. Tears threaten to fall and her eyes give view to the unhappy state of her heart. I cannot change this. I can encourage, I can love, I can pray. But nothing more.
Life is hard. It hurts, pulls, stretches. Circumstances change but it is my decision to be grateful and at peace with where I am. With who I am. I know the truth: I am His. No matter the hardship my Saviour promised one thing...
Yes, it's true - I have moved back to the great state of Texas! Most of you probably have Facebooks and know that already, but I wanted to post it anyway!
Ever since Christmas break and being home with my family I knew that my time to return was coming close. Though I am sad that my time with the Institute in Basic Life Principles is over, I am grateful for what an impact it had on my life. Like Dr Seuss said, "Don't cry because its over. Smile because it happened" And that is exactly what I am doing... Smiling! And lots of it!
I am so glad to be back with my amazing AMAZING family. Though things are different, I kinda feel like I never even left:-)
Okay, I adore Dr. Seuss... That is not a surprise to many people, I know. :) He is just so amazin'! So this week I wanted to share some quotes from him that I especially like.
Here they are:-)
“Today you are You, that is truer than true. There is no one alive who is Youer than You.”
“Sometimes the questions are complicated and the answers are simple.”
“I have heard there are troubles of more than one kind. Some come from ahead and some come from behind. But I've bought a big bat. I'm all ready you see. Now my troubles are going to have troubles with me!”
“How did it get so late so soon? Its night before its afternoon. December is here before its June. My goodness how the time has flewn. How did it get so late so soon?”
And last, but not least...
“Today was good. Today was fun. Tomorrow is another one.”
I know this is a very bland blog-post, I apologize... But, to make up for it I have a surprise I am going to share next Monday. :):):):) I am quite excited about it, as you can probably tell:):):):):):):):):):):)
Oopsie! While journaling this morning I realized today was Monday and I hadn't prepared a post! So this just going to be a quick update on life in Indianapolis...
Everything is comparatively normal... Well, as normal as can be when packing up a 13 story hotel. Things are busy, but fun because I am spending time with people I love. I am still working in the nursery on Sunday evenings, and haven't stopped enjoying goldfish snacks with the kiddos;-)
Friday nights are craft nights with inner-city kids whose parents come to learn English. Alicia (a friend here) has done an amazing job with picking out crafts the past few weeks, and I usually do the games with the kids. It is an amazing opportunity getting to share Jesus with those children.
Well, enough talking- here are some photos!
Follow me on FaceBook or Twitter: Madeleine Bonin .... Also, for more photos check out my tumblr: MadeleineBonin.tumblr.com
Happy Monday!!!!!!!!!!!!
Achieving anything worth-while always starts with setting a goal; creating a high standard; deciding to “raise the bar”; making a commitment, etc, etc… No matter what you call it, goal setting is the first step to changing or improving any part of your life. Many of us make New Year Resolutions, but before the end of the year most of the commitments made have already been broken. It takes effort to reach a goal!!! (If it doesn’t than it obviously wasn’t that high of an aspiration anyway!) Let’s use jogging as an example: It takes more than just SAYING you will jog everyday to actually get up early and jog. It takes discipline! Oh no! I said the “d” word! :D Haha. Discipline seems to be foreign these days (at least with the teenagers)… Following through on the hard things in life is tough! However, when your goal has been attained you realize how worth it the exertion and commitment was. How many times have you felt that astounding emotion of completeness after reaching a goal?
The goals we set should be worth the hard work. Taking care of our bodies through healthy diets and exercising are good examples. There are, however, even greater and more ETERNAL ambitions to pursue; one being encouraging others. Whether they’re family, friends, or the blue haired cashier, everyone enjoys a crazy smile and enthusiastic hello. (Don’t go toooo overboard though;-)) One of the best goals to everrrr set though is that of memorizing scripture. God’s Word is eternal, completely true (2 Timothy 3:16), and provides wisdom and guidance for your everyday life. My goal this year is to memorize Proverbs. The Lord will provide the strength if you commit to memorizing His word.
Remember, make your goal reasonable. Goals are like shoes. They need to be just right for you or they won’t “fit”.If you set an impossible standard for yourself and completely flop you might never want to try again! :D It’s happened to all of us, I’m sure. Reminds me of last year…Now this wasn’t exactly unreasonable, but I remember after “partying” with another family over New Years I was exhausted! Normally this wouldn’t have been a problem, but I had just decided I wanted to commit to exercise every morning at 7… Oh boy! (This is especially hard for a night owl!) It just happened that I was going to be starting on a Saturday!!!! I remember on that VERY FIRST MORNING sleeping in till 9!!! Talk about starting off on the wrong foot! :D
Our commitments should not be too overwhelming or it’ll be like that time I tried to “diet”, but messed up so ate all the chocolate in the house out of mere frustration. :P After deciding what your commitments will be, grab your calendar and pencil in what that will mean on a day to day basis. For me- to memorize Proverbs this year- I decided to memorize three verses a day. It is simple and yet it accomplishes a lot. Momma always says, “slow and steady gets the job done.” So true!!!!
So… how are your goals? Do they need to be brushed off and re-energized? Or maybe you need to set some? Either way, it’s a brand new day! And the start of a new week!!! :D Love you all! Happy Monday everyone!
Hey everyone! This week has been hectic with helping pack ITC up, working front desk, doing all chores possible to mankind, and of course, studying. This morning at 10:30 I will be taking an important CLEP test and I would appreciate your prayers. Because I didn't have time to write this week I would like to share some photos with you! Have a fabulous Monday!
Folding hundreds of blankets!!!
There are mattresses everywhere!
The dining room is full of furniture and mattresses!
This week I want to entertain y'all with some very, uh, interesting stories I have written! :-) At Headquarters, the staff is given 5 words to learn each day. We are then expected to write a short story using our words. Once a week we have a fun vocab test, or maybe 10 minutes to speed-write using the vocabulary words given to us. It is a blast and the stories are usually pretty goofy. The best stories get acted out at lunch time for everyone :D Someday I will have to record one for you to see! But, for now, here are a couple of my goofy daily short stories:
Once upon a time, in a capacious work building somewhere in a campestral place in America, there was a certain cantankerous man who was captious, extremely capricious, and full of much careerism. He was awfully cavalier and filled with celerity to censure his co-workers and spread much canard about them, rather than just being candid with each one. When his boss attempted to castigate him for his behavior he remained catatonic and refused to capitulate to the demands for him to stop. One day, however, he attended a Basic Seminar and it changed his life. He became so drastically changed that his co-workers had cataplexy because of the difference. The end. ~~~~~~~~~~ Today at work I realized while speaking to my clientele how many cliches we Americans use on a regular basis. I started trying – in a clandestine fashion – to start using different “hello’s”, “goodbye’s”, and answers to “how are you?”, however, the result of this attempt was a clamorous phone conversation that pretty much ruined my week. So, as I was wrapping up the climactic part of my day I castigated myself by resolving to never again stray from my routine American cliches. ~~~~~ Hehe. Until next Monday... Buhbye! Madeleine :)
Life in a Hotel
I live on the 11th story of a hotel. Yes, I live here. Okay, no, it is no longer an active hotel- Telling you I have room-service and life is all fluffy for me would be like telling you I have a leprechaun named Joe in my closet… It just isn’t true… BUT it is a hotel. *Read my clarification at the bottom:-)* Thirty-year-old elevators, a service elevator (which I despise going in - it's a death in a box), a massive commercial kitchen (that I get to help in!), a beautiful lobby, and lots and lots of...chores... Why do I live here? I am serving a ministry called the Institute in Basic Life Principles for a short time. Let me show you around...
SNOW! Now that isn't something I can't enjoy in Houston
...The entrance to a happy place:D...
Small portion of the Lobby
A VERY dreary snowy day
Our vertical transportation;-)
My quaint apartment
My apartment being quaint again;-);-)
Pretty much all of us were having nervous breakdowns;-)
Teaching outside Sunday School for ages 3-8
The nursery with PRECIOUS little ones!
They love the same book...over, and over, and over:D
Some of the inter-city kids I work with:)
Being at ITC has taught me so much! I have definitely been busy with all the duties here... I have learned how to put on large conferences from the setting of tables in the beautiful ballroom, to preparing food for large crowds. I have spent many, many, hours setting up our dining halls for banquets, conferences, fundraisers, and more. We start with crisp, white, ironed table clothes. Then we place the the floral arrangements in the center of the table. The creamers are shaped into the form a flower and placed strategically on the tables. Next the china and silverware is set down and the elaborately folded napkins are laid in the center of the plates. Math is used in figuring out how to perfectly space the tables and the items on the tables.It takes long hours to get every DETAIL perfect! I had know idea how much work went into a banquet until I worked one!
As for helping in the kitchen, Andrew our culinary chef, has taught me how to slice and dice all kinds of fruits and vegetables like a professional. Considering I used to not be able to cut without fearing for the life of my fingers, this is an awesome thing;-)
When I am not running around like crazy doing those things you might just find me at the front desk manning the phones and greeting guests during busy times.
I spend my Friday nights with kids from the community teaching bible stories, verses, playing games, and of course, making crafts!
Two Sunday mornings a month I have been given the opportunity to teach Sunday school to the children of a small church near ITC. I am so grateful to be able to share my greatest joy, Jesus, with those kids.
Now, if you are trying to find me, and I am not in any of the places or doing any of the things I have already mentioned then you might check the nursery I work in every Sunday night. While adults are in choir practice I get to watch their adorable children. It's always a highlight of my week:)
In my spare time, I have become the best bed-making, blanket folding, toilet cleaning, and shower scrubbing babe in the north! Who knew that serving God here would mean doing a lot of the things I already did at home?!
Currently, since we have sold the building, I am now helping collect 210 twin size blankets, sheets, comforters, and pillows to send to the Nashville Training center. It's sad packing these items up, since this place holds so many wonderful memories. But, I know Jesus knows what He is doing!
Since I do happen to be working towards my college degree right now, I study in between all my activities. And thats it... That is what life is like when I am in Indianapolis. :D
Here is my clarification: I confuse many people when I say I live in an apartment at IBLP Headquarters in Chicago, but then talk about my wonderful times in Indianapolis... Let me make this clear for everyone, I DO live in Chicago...HOWEVER, for seven weeks last year and now for two months this year, I have had the huge blessing of staying at the IBLP Indianapolis Training Center (ITC). The ITC used to be a hotel, but when the ministry bought it they no longer used it as a "normal" hotel, but they hold events here, use it to host families in their ATI homeschooling program during events, and other things. So yeah. That is a very small itybitty piece of info on ITC.... I am moving back home to Texas (from CHICAGO) in May. Thats it for my clarification:-D
Sleepy children stumble from bed in footy pajama's wandering to the den to find Momma reading. Words like "oatmeal" and "sit-by-you" echo as rested children enter from every corner. The reading lamp is switched off and the kitchen light turned on and Momma works her magic on the oatmeal until all the little ones needs are met. Then the dead are woken (the teenagers that is), with the dreadful, and entirely too happy "Goodmorning! Goodmorning!! Goodmorning!!!!" song chirped by the chef, Momma. The day has officially begun.
Bible time for the family is set in progress. The two youngest and loudest boys begin blanket time, listening to the older siblings read God’s Word out loud. Thirty minutes later, during the ending prayer, there are whispers from Samuel, (lovingly called Sam-ul), “is it over yet? Is blanket time done?” Once given the green light, Samuel and Caden stand up and clap, then attempt to fold their blankets by wadding them into circles. The kids disperse to their assigned zones, cleaning with the help of one toddler pushing a play-school vacuum, and the other squirting and wiping everything in sight.
After all the “zones” are cleaned, lunch time comes quickly, (considering it's usually at eleven.) This is when the time of fun, whining, and sticky counters arrives. The dishes, toys, and other random objects, sprout legs and walk all by themselves to various places undoing the previous cleaning session. The result of this undoing is commonly referred to as the "disaster site." Messes are more easily created than cleaned in our family. Like stated regularly around the Bonin home, "Where there are no oxen the manger is clean" …or something like that...I forget the point of the saying altogether.
The little ones run off to the playroom where they enter their imaginary world of dinosaurs, airplanes, blocks and cars. For the middle kids the scorching 103° Texas afternoon heat is no fun, but when the trampoline, bathing suits, and cold water-hose call they answer. For two ridiculous hours this laundry-creating, wet-floor-making, frenzy continues until homemade popsicles are offered to cool down the beat red children.
Around 5 o'clock the whole neighborhood hears the good news that "Daddy's home!" as all the children, three cats, and moody dog yell "HOORAY!" Dinner has been burned black and everyone is ready to dig in. Considering no one has eaten in around half an hour (snack time was then) everyone is starving. Dinner time mess is cleaned (well, eventually). Momma and the three oldest girls don their exercise clothes and hit the neighborhood trail for an evening sweat, while Daddy and the boys workout at home with little ones jumping all around them. After showers the family is ready to wind down for bed.
Before all the lights are turned off and doors locked, the youngest four kiddos in the house climb all over Momma. In pure delight and anticipation they wait for the Dr. Suess book "Are you my Mother?" to be read to the multitude. The time finally comes for all the children to be tucked in and kissed goodnight and, FINALLY, there seems to be peace in the house... The bedrooms lights shut off and the hard working parents lay down in their room for a good night’s rest. Five seconds into the quiet however a piercing scream is heard from the youngest boy. You hear Dad yell, "Cadennnnnnn" and it is the last thing you remember before drifting off to sleep, the morning returns and the Bonin day starts over.
Follow me on FaceBook or Twitter: Madeleine Bonin .... Also, for more photos check out my tumblr: MadeleineBonin.tumblr.com
Happy Monday!!!!!!!!!!!!
Hey everyone! This week has been hectic with helping pack ITC up, working front desk, doing all chores possible to mankind, and of course, studying. This morning at 10:30 I will be taking an important CLEP test and I would appreciate your prayers. Because I didn't have time to write this week I would like to share some photos with you! Have a fabulous Monday!
Folding hundreds of blankets!!!
There are mattresses everywhere!
The ice is killer:-0
Sweetest little girl ever:D
Chairs collected from rooms all over the hotel
...The entrance to a happy place:D...
Small portion of the Lobby
A VERY dreary snowy day
Our vertical transportation;-)
My quaint apartment
Pretty much all of us were having nervous breakdowns;-)
Teaching outside Sunday School for ages 3-8
The nursery with PRECIOUS little ones!
They love the same book...over, and over, and over:D
Some of the inter-city kids I work with:)
