Share with God's people who are in need. Practice hospitality.

A lot has happened in just a few short weeks.  All of my housemates are here.  I'm sort of liking my job but it's a job.  I'm still learning the city.  And I'm beginning to like Baltimore.

My housemates and I went an Orioles game last Friday night.  Unfortunately, the Orioles lost to the Red Sox.  But it was still great to hang out with my housemates in the nose bleed section.  The rest of the weekend was just a time of hanging out.

Work is stressful, frustrating, and sometimes just gratifying (ok it's only happened once).  I've found the field of Social Work is exactly how everyone has described it, lots of work.  I have my days where I feel like this is not for me and then other days where I feel like it's the most gratifying job ever.  Placing people into beds is the most stressful part of my job, but that's where the gratifying part comes into play also.  This one time, I place a gentleman and he was so thankful for that available bed that he called me several times just to thank me.  That was so great!  I felt so good at the time.  And even thinking about it now, I still get all giddy and happy about it.  That was the greatest feeling ever.  And now I feel like I'm starting to get into the routine of things.  I get all giddy when I find a client to fill a bed.  I get all giddy when things begin to fall into place.  I get all giddy when I actually feel like I'm "pretending" to help a person just by giving them resources which never feels like much.  I'm just such a young Social Worker who really doesn't know anything.  I'm just learning as I go.  But one great thing is the fact that everyone I come into contact with has been telling me what a great job I'm doing...and I don't even feel like I'm doing anything worth while half the time.  That's just the crazy life I live.  So needless to say I'm thankful to have a soft bed to fall asleep in.  I'm thankful for a warm shower.  I'm thankful for a supportive family network.  And I'm even more thankful for so much and all these years I've just been taking it for granted.  I've always known that I was so thankful for the things I've been given but not until now have I realized how important it to actually follow through with my actions.

The city!  It's been interesting.  I've adjusted pretty well to city life.  The weekends are still time for exploring but it's been fun thus far.  But luckily I enjoy just chilling here in the house too and not doing a single thing.  That's just me of course.

So basically I'm learning to live and love!

"No storm can shake my inmost calm
While to that rock I'm clinging.
Since love is lord of heaven and earth,
how can I keep from singing?"
---I just absolutely love this song and I saw it on my housemate's wall. 

Goodbye for now
Love from Balmer

Don't Stop Believing

Friday was a tough day for me at work.  Social Work is a rough field.  UGH! I felt like I should have helped this client more, but what else was I suppose to do.  Literally after she left I just broke down.  It just hit me like a ton of bricks.  What was I suppose to do?  I gave her resources for other facilities.  We contacted them there in the office.  What else could I do?  Honestly....what?  Luckily, I had a wonderful new friend who doesn't do the same type of work sit near me.  She comforted me and told me I did what I could and that's all that matters.  Ahh....life!  I'm so thankful to have the great support system full of family & friends.  I'm so thankful to have a roof over my head and food on a table.  I definitely have taken that all for granted.  So it was tough but thank goodness for co-workers who convinced me that it's ok, I did what I had to do. 

Something my housemate and I started watching is this HBO show called The Wire.  It's great so far.  We just finished season 1 and it's absolutely crazy!  It takes place here in Baltimore and for the most part many of the characters are based on real people.  So everything about this show is Baltimore.  Everytime they reference someplace we know, we just look at each other and say how weird it is because we know where they are talking about.  It's really creepy when they reference our street and neighborhood.  That's when it gets a bit shady!  But overall, the show is absolutely amazing.  They give us a perspective on what Baltimore is all about.  The first season was about the drug trafficking/distribution/use.  It was very interesting.  And unfortunately most of this show takes place in West Baltimore, and that's where we live.  Which doesn't mean that drugs are only on the West Side, they are on the East Side too (they are everywhere).  It's definitely been intersting.

Labor Day weekend hasn't been too eventful.  We've done a lot of hanging out though.  I got my membership to the free library downtown on Saturday.  It's huge and exciting!  Friday night, Aaron and I went out for Sushi.  Sunday we checked out the local park and found out there was a party going on there.  That was fun!  They had music (battle of the dj's), food, and lots of people.  Today I don't know what we'll do.  I don't have to work though that's nice. 

Well I should go and get ready for my day.  Maybe a little workout, maybe a little grocery shopping.  And then later tonight, we meet our new housemate!  Woo-Hoo!!

Lots of Love from BMore