Days Off

Each month house parents get four consecutive days off. At this point our placed kids go to another home on campus to change up their schedule and enjoy getting to know others on campus. For the house parents this is a time to relax; kick back with little to no responsibilities and rejuvenate your mind, body, and spirit. The days leading up to our first “days off” while having kids in our home was filled with weariness, yearning for a little time to nap and just enjoy some quiet time. When the day came we took them to their home away from home and did a little skip back as I realized the freedom I now had. And then it happened. Not an hour into my joyous “days off” I began thinking, “I wonder how they are doing in school? Did he remember to turn his homework in? I hope he remembers his assignment notebook. Oh no, she left her jeans on the drier; someone’s clothes are going to be stinky. Well look, there is a football jersey still hanging up, looks like we will be getting a phone call on Friday. She would be so jealous if she knew we were having cheeseburgers without her!” I could go on and on and on. Needless to say, I thought about our kids all the time and missed them like crazy. They have completely made their way into my heart. Through the good, the bad, and the ugly I have found them to be true sons and daughters of my heart. At the end of the time away I was overjoyed to hear one rush through the door saying, “DAD! YEAH! It feels so good to be home.” And another saying, “Oh look, MY BED! WAHOO!!” Rest is good for everyone's soul. (Melissa)

3 more on the way

A neighboring couple completed their work as houseparents and move out this week. While we are sad to lose our neighbors and the relationships built with them (especially between Kaylee and their children), we are very excited that some of the children formerly living with them will be moving into our home. In about a week we will grow from 4 children to 7! We we are looking forward to experiencing life with them. So now we are really rolling with the growth of our Cookson family. We are humbled by the opportunities that God is presenting to us and how He continues to use us.

Jackson 5… +1

Two “big kids” (as Kaylee calls them) joined our family on August 10th. Out of respect for the children and their family, we won’t share all the details, but will walk you through the intake process for children coming into our home.

We start out with an intake meeting where we meet the family and go over the plan of care for each child. This is to ensure that the needs of each child are being addressed during their time at Cookson Hills. Then their family of origin brought the kids to our home and helped them unload their stuff and move into their room. After the long meeting and move in, we all went to the local Simple Simons gas station/pizza hut to pick up some sodas and pizza.

It would be great to describe the first few days with the children with words like “fantastic” and “wonderful,” but I think the best word to describe them would be awkward. I think it was awkward for everyone at some point those first few days; which is probably normal. If you think about it, it is kind of strange; you meet for a few hours then we are all living together. Some of the awkwardness could be attributed to it being our first placement and these kids had no peers to talk to and learn from in the house. As each day passed, thankfully the tension lessened as we learned about each other. And now it almost seems normal. Kaylee misses them while they are at school and mentions them in prayer every night.

The two kids seem to be adjusting well. They both are participating in sports, which has really helped them meet and form relationships with some other kids on campus. We have had some ups and downs. Melissa and I have learned to be creative with how we teach and enforce the expectations in our home. (Our training in this area has been a great help to us) As we do life together and experience their trials and victories with them they are becoming more and more comfortable with us. We took a family trip to the ballpark the other night and, even though we got rained on, it was fun.

On the 26th we added another teenager to the mix. This transition seemed much less awkward; and I really think already having other kids in the house helped. Our latest family member came in and fits right into our family. We have gotten to spend a lot of time together because we are on a break from school.

The Jackson FIVE!

We met with our social worker two weeks ago to learn about our first placed children.  The excitement was slightly overwhelming to hear the names and information on some of the kids we have been praying for since we accepted this job in March.   This week they will be joining our home and we ask that you please keep us in prayer as well as two of our first kids as we all adjust to being the “Jackson 5”. J  I am anxious and joyful to see what God has in store. Let the JOY of the Lord be our strength as we pour ourselves into what God has called us to do.  Please continue to pray for His work on the Cookson Hills campus!

Our Story Video

If you read the earlier post "how our story changed" you know that the National Missionary Convention played a big part in our move to Oklahoma. We shared that with some people who work for the convention and they asked us to tell our story on video. Those of you who attended the North American Christian Convention may have seen it during one of the sessions (we heard it was shown). They are also using it in DVD format for churches to encourage their people to attend the National Missionary Convention in 2011. We are extremely humbled and amazed that God would use our story in this way....check out the video.

Brandon & Melissa Jackson's story - 2011 NMC Promo from Jim Chamberlin on Vimeo.

Things I have learned while in Oklahoma - according to Melissa

1.     Armadillos can’t cross the road. They are much like raccoons with funerals street side.

2.     Black soled shoes can actually beginning burning your feet if you are in the sun long enough in triple digit heat.

3.     I cannot seem to be able to pronounce any towns with Native American names. My phonics skills aren’t cuttin’ it down here in this regard.

4.     A comforter can dry on the clothesline in about 20 minutes. See #2.

5.     Cave crickets, oh how I hate thee. Nothing will stop these little spawns of satan from lurking into our home.

6.     Copperhead snakes are poisonous and seem to enjoy taking up residence in our back yard.

7.     A little paint and a deep cleaning can turn a house into a home.

8.     Air conditioning is one of the best inventions of all time. Second only to the refrigerator. See #2.

9.     Toll Roads are a huge annoyance.  It cost us about $16 to go to Oklahoma City and back.  That seems a little much people.

10.  I will never complain about the BMV in Indiana or Ohio again.  Compared to the system here in Oklahoma, the BMV in IN and OH is like a drive-thru McDonalds. Here you have to go to 3 different places to complete the process and you must arrive an hour before it opens to get in line so that you can be seen that day. Example – the first day we arrived to the place to sign up to get our license we got there about 10 in the morning only to be told that we were too late. I stated… I thought you didn’t close until 3:30? There response… we do, but we already have all the people we can see today. True story.

11.  Sixty people can eat and clean up from the meal, meaning ALL dishes, sweep, set the table for the next meal, put all left overs away in about 40 minutes. Quite a circus act, but it all gets accomplished.

12.  Do NOT admit to a house full of teenage boys that you are afraid of bugs. Teenage boys might not remember to pick up their laundry, but they do NOT forget this valuable weakness.

13.  Teenage boys make great exterminators.

14.  Mazzio’s makes delicious calzones and on Thursday night, they are only $6.

15.  God is good, all the time. It is so great to be doing something He has put into place. We are so happy to be doing His work here at Cookson Hills.

Our first month at Cookson

We left Indiana and made the trip to Cookson in two days (for the sake of our little one). After battling traffic, a U-Haul truck with no air conditioning, and a sprained ankle we arrived at Cookson Hills on June 5^th. An army of people welcomed us by helping unload the truck. Less than an hour later we had a house full of boxes and were trying to decide where to start. Thankfully we had a couple of friends make the drive with us and were there to help us put things together. (Thanks again Nikki and Chad!) Settling in meant lots of painting and sprucing up of the house. Here is a before and after photo of our living room.

Living Room Before

Living Room After

When we were not unpacking or working on the house we were in orientation and training meetings and doing various activities to meet people. Everyone has been very welcoming to us and eager to help us when they can. Our new friends (and neighbors) the Kelley’s have been extremely gracious to us and have invited us along to picnics, to the pool, and other activities to show us the ropes and where the good hangout spots are located.

For the 4^th of July we went to nearby Siloam Springs, AR with several families from Cookson Hills to watch the fireworks show at the small airport. And wouldn’t you know it, Kaylee and her new friend Caroline made the newspaper!