Anxious for the Week to End
17 Nov 2009 1 Comment
in Family, Holidays, Life, Ministry
So we have a pretty busy week this week. We are getting things done for youth and having our student leadership retreat. On top of the youth stuff, I have my work things keeping me busy too. Thankfully all the sickness is gone from the house and we are all healthy! And as busy as the week is we are anxious for it to end so we can spend time with our family. Jake’s parents are coming out and we are desperate for some family time. Seems like forever since we have had any. 7 months to be exact. It isn’t easy living apart from mom, dad, grandma, grandpa, etc. But we are going to have a very thankful Thanksgiving having them here. So we will fight the busyness in the thought that we will be with family very soon!
God’s Princesses
23 Jun 2009 Leave a Comment
I get the amazing opportunity to speak with the young women in our group about God’s design and plan for their lives. I am not usually the one who does the teaching but in this vital time I find it so important to remind ladies that they are all God’s Princesses and deserve the very best He has for them.
We are smack dab in the middle of what some people would say is the dreaded “Sex Series” at youth. I however think it is one of my favorites. I know, seems strange. For me, especially after doing a survey at the beginning, it is very important to speak about. The world today has so many warped views and lies about sex that it is up to families and churches to bring out the truth. It really hurts me to see the results of our survey that 25 out of 66 students feel like it is no big deal to have sex before marriage as long as they are in love. Love, do they even really know what love is?
God has put such a burning in my heart for young women who need to find healing and freedom in knowing that HE is all they need. That when looking for acceptance and identity all that is found in Christ. I never had anyone teach me the importance of purity. I was just taught that sex is bad. There is no truth in that. But the truth needs to brought out and it is time for this generation to rise up and start living the lives they are called to live.
So please, if you think about it this week, pray for the young women who will be at youth Thursday night. Pray that they will find healing and hope. That there would be a freedom they find knowing that they are worth so much more than the world says they are.
I put together a poll, I am very interested in seeing the results, so check it out. And encourage others to take it too!
Hello Again
04 Jun 2009 Leave a Comment
So I haven’t written anything in a long time. And I mean it has been forever. I have been so busy and just haven’t had anything I really felt impressed to share.
This week it seems like I have all these random thoughts that I want to write down and share. I guess this stuff kind of comes in spurts. There is a lot I feel God is teaching me and is showing me right now. I am in a different place in my life and I am looking forward to seeing how everything is going to unfold.
So what’s going on with us right now? We just spent the evening celebrating with 8 of our students as they graduated high school. This year’s graduates really seem to be our first group of seniors. Of course that means I am very emotional as some of my kids are getting ready to move on. This is the part of our job that is really hard on me. For so long I tried not to allow myself to open up and give my heart away and I learned that I was being so selfish. I didn’t want to get hurt. And seeing these kids grow and flourish is one of the most amazing things I can be a part of. So it doesn’t so much hurt seeing them getting ready to start a new chapter in their lives as it is exciting to see what God is doing and where He is taking them. It is hard thinking I won’t have them around as much but it has been such a blessing to have them in my life. It has been an amazing journey and I have enjoyed every step of the way with them. So to you my beautiful class of 2009, I am so proud of every one of you. Go change the world!
Hannah is getting ready to have her graduation from kindergarten tomorrow. She is so excited to celebrate tomorrow. We are very excited to see her with her friends and celebrate as she passes another mile stone in her life. I can’t believe my baby is going to be a first grader! And she doesn’t let me forget it.
Elliana is being my challenge. We were doing so well with the potty training and now it is like pulling teeth trying to get her to use the toilet. She even laughed today after pooping in her pants! I couldn’t believe it. I just looked at her in shock. I went out and had her pick a new toilet hoping that would be what it would take. No luck. Now I’m out $18 and still cleaning up poop! Any suggestions?
The girls are now sharing a room as we are getting ready for Jake’s cousin Katie to come stay with us for the summer and will be in Elle’s room. She will be interning with our youth and we are so excited to have her here. We are working out some plans to take her to a few places while she is here. Should be a total blast!
So that is the update for now. Hopefully I didn’t bore anyone too much and I will try to update this thing more often. Now it is super late and I am exhausted and going to bed.
Amazing Girls
26 Jan 2009 Leave a Comment
I am so blessed to have such a great group of girls to work with. They are such a blessing to us. Last night Elena and Ashley came over and watched the girls so Jake and I could go out with some friends on a much needed date. I always know that they will be well taken care of and have a good time. Thanks girls! You are the best.
Original Twelve Retreat
08 Nov 2008 Leave a Comment
in Ministry
We have a student leadership team we call Original Twelve or OT for short. It is a group of students who are wanting to be pushed a little harder and challenged a little more. They are mostly our core students who want to help take ownership of our youth ministry. We want to challenge them to become the leaders and men and women God has called them to be. We start a new term every quarter and try to do a retreat to start it all off. This time around we went up to the Stoltzfus cabin for Friday night and Saturday to bring the group together as a team. We spent time in prayer, worship, and planning for this next year. It was a ton of fun nice to spend some time hanging out with them. They are an amazing group of young men and women and I love and respect them so much. Elliana never fails getting attention from them either.
London Mission Trip
16 Jul 2008 Leave a Comment
in Ministry
We were able to take a group of 22 over to London for a missions trip this summer. We left on July 5 crossed the pond and never looked back. We had an amazing time ministering to the people in England. 2008
01 Jan 2008 Leave a Comment
We had our youth all-nighter last night. The girls and I made it until about 10:30 p.m. Hannah was still going strong and didn’t want to leave but by then Elliana was starting to walk into walls and get a little delirious. So I opted to take them home and put them to bed. Hannah was thrilled that she got to sleep in our room because of Jake being at the church. She didn’t quite get the concept that he wasn’t coming home until we would be waking up in the morning. About 9:00 this morning Jake rolled in looking like he had been hit by a truck, or in our case a buggy, and well ready for a shower and bed. I locked the girls downstairs and he was able to sleep for a few hours. Hannah played playdough for a few hours and Elle with her new blocks. Clutter
05 Oct 2007 Leave a Comment
