Acade-Kids

The university where my husband works hosts an excellerated learning program for high school juniors and seniors. It's a big deal to be accepted into the Academy. Every year, we have one or two (sometimes four!) Academy students who are also members of our Church. As it is a boarding school, the leaders of the youth program take on a larger responsibility to get these students to and from meetings + activities, and so on.

Both my husband and I have worked with the Youth a great deal in our time here. And the Academy kids have been close to our hearts. Since they are far from home and family, we have opened our home to them as much as we can. Mostly, we just feed them. But we also parent them a little, and feed them some more.

Today, we had two of this year's three member Academy students over for dinner after Church (it being Fast Sunday and all). I didn't know they were coming before I left for meetings, so I didn't prepare any extra food. But it didn't matter. We had enough. I thought the meal was a little iffy. But they were so glad to have home-cooked food. And then we had lemon bars for dessert. Which were quite yummy, if I do say so myself.

Having these youth in our home is a treat. We encourage them to bring friends from the Academy.  Once, we had eight of them, with about forty-five minutes advance notice. It was a blast. I only freaked out a little bit. We played games, and told jokes, and they played with our kids and held our baby, and were so, so full of gratitude about being invited over.

These young men and women bring a good spirit with them. I love it. I mean, I stress about having enough food, and if the house is clean, and if my toddler is going to melt down and start screaming and throwing food. But I still love it. I am thankful for the opportunity to have the "Acade-Kids" in my home.

What are you blessed with today?