by Dave and Valerie Van Bebber, Houseparents
While the calendar suggests that Summer officially ends on September 22, things at the Children’s Home move into the full fall schedule after the week of the Roosevelt County Fair. As the summer drew to a close with the fair, many successes were achieved by the kids in the home; every child won an award. Whether showing chickens, hogs, or both, the NMBCH 4-H club brought home plenty of hardware. But it was not just winning ribbons and trophies that made the fair exciting. Kids from the home attended a concert, picked up loads of candy and swag from vendors, and rode the carnival rides. One of the most exciting things, though, was that both of the kids who showed hogs were able to sell them. Thanks to the hard work of many who assisted with the barn this year, the summer efforts with the animals were a tremendous success.
With the weather cooling and school starting, boots and cowboy hats are traded for book bags and school clothes. Now that the kids have moved into the swing of the fall, besides going to school, attending the ENMU home football games has become a favorite activity of some of the kids. Those kids not interested in fall sports have taken to learning how to bake cookies and decorate them with fall colors, and house parents have enjoyed decorating the cottage for the fall. The cool weather has also allowed for fires in the fire pit, giving the kids a chance to roast hot dogs and marshmallows over the flames. While daily homework keeps many kids busy, fall sports have also picked up. Some kids have had the chance not only to watch football but to actually play football. Another resident has had the chance to participate in fall sports on the sidelines, but far from being a spectator, this resident is a cheerleader.
With the change in seasons, new challenges and new opportunities are constantly emerging for the kids in the home. Creating new memories and allowing friendships established during the summer months to develop into the fall, along with physical growth, spiritual growth has been a significant focus in the cottage. The kids are now reading devotions from The Pilgrim's Progress; it is always “One more chapter, please.” Bunyan’s work remains as applicable today as it was nearly three hundred years ago. While celebrating each day with the kids and each season, house parents continually look forward to the next season, pointing the residents of the home to the creator of seasons and the one who makes all things new. So, it's goodbye to summer and hello to fall, realizing that soon Thanksgiving and Christmas are around the corner, bringing with them the excitement of that season.
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