The girls are unhappy with the youth group.
While the eldest was gone, the younger was telling me about how she was discouraged because the youth cell group only spent a little bit of time having a devotion, then had playtime (swimming, or ice cream, etc). At this point in her life she is very hungry spiritually, and is mature enough to realize that her needs are not currently being met. She approached the interim youth pastor and his wife with her concerns, but felt like they were happy with things the way that they are.
Then the elder came home and expressed the same thing. Her concern is that no permanent youth pastor will be hired in the two years she has left in the youth group. She is not satisfied either. She wants more and a deeper relationship with the Lord.
They see that in a lot of ways our youth group is superficial, materialistic, and cliquish. It's not that the people are not wonderful people, but I think that something is missing.
It thrills me that they are both thinking about and desiring a spiritual change, and that they have the maturity to assess the situation.
I am in prayer about this. The girls are ripe for what the Lord wants to do in their lives, but I am not sure what direction to take. I would love for them to get involved in some sort of discipleship program or a Bible study that requires something of them.
We need direction. To be honest, we have been struggling in the church for some time. If it were not for the girls, we probably would have started looking for something else. However, we are afraid that if we went to a different church, it would take too long for them to fit in and feel like a real part. After all, in three years, they both will have graduated and won't be in the youth group anymore.
We just feel so stagnate, and find it interesting that without our mentioning it, the girls feel that way as well. If we were to go somewhere else, I don't have any idea where that somewhere else could be.
All we can do right now is pray for direction, and that the desire for growth that the girls have at this time will not evaporate before a solution is reached.
Monday, July 16, 2007
Sunday, July 15, 2007
This and that
After church today, one of my daughter's friends came home with us, and in only 1 1/2 hours, the room is totally cleaned out! Clothes are distributed according to purpose, trash is thrown away, closet is clean, and drawers are organized. Thank you dear friend of my daughter.
We are going on a mission trip to Miami in a week. The whole family is going with the youth group. We got an information packet about it, sent by the folks in Miami. The schedule reads from 8:00 am to lights out at, get this, 1:00 am. We are usually in the bed at 9:00. Granted, my husband usually gets up at 4:30, but we shut down early. Most of the things we will be doing are very intense. Like street evangelism. And rallies. And door to door canvassing. I am arranging my schedule to crash when we get home.
I would like to coordinate a mission trip at my school. I have been praying about this. First, I need my husband's support, because it would involve him. Then I need to convince the principal. I think he would be all for it, because it would be a good opportunity for the students, it would cost next to nothing, and best of all, it will make the school look good.
Right now, my passion is the students at my school. I just love them. I teach 7-10 grade, so I get to know them very well. I know their parents, where they come from, and what they struggle with. I want to be the one that says or does the thing that encourages them. I want every one of them to feel like I completely believe in them and that God has a wonderful plan for them. I want to invest myself into their lives. I want to make a difference. They are my mission field. I know without a doubt that God has put me here, for this, for such a time as this.
We are going on a mission trip to Miami in a week. The whole family is going with the youth group. We got an information packet about it, sent by the folks in Miami. The schedule reads from 8:00 am to lights out at, get this, 1:00 am. We are usually in the bed at 9:00. Granted, my husband usually gets up at 4:30, but we shut down early. Most of the things we will be doing are very intense. Like street evangelism. And rallies. And door to door canvassing. I am arranging my schedule to crash when we get home.
I would like to coordinate a mission trip at my school. I have been praying about this. First, I need my husband's support, because it would involve him. Then I need to convince the principal. I think he would be all for it, because it would be a good opportunity for the students, it would cost next to nothing, and best of all, it will make the school look good.
Right now, my passion is the students at my school. I just love them. I teach 7-10 grade, so I get to know them very well. I know their parents, where they come from, and what they struggle with. I want to be the one that says or does the thing that encourages them. I want every one of them to feel like I completely believe in them and that God has a wonderful plan for them. I want to invest myself into their lives. I want to make a difference. They are my mission field. I know without a doubt that God has put me here, for this, for such a time as this.
Friday, July 13, 2007
Cleaning out
The last few days have been busy. Since my children are gone on youth trips, I decided the time had come to do some cleaning out......And once I began, I cannot quit.
My latest venture has been my younger daughter's room. She is almost 15 and a packrat. Admittedly. She would rather have teeth pulled that clean her room. In fact, I don't know if she has ever cleaned her room. She has rearranged the stuff in her room, but cleaning she just doesn't get.
Several years ago we got tired of fighting the battle, and after several warnings we grounded her from her room. Yep. We shut her door and only allowed her to enter to sleep. She couldn't remove anything from her room. It worked for a short period of time.
First I cleaned out her bathroom which adjoins her room. I'd just watched Oprah and the organizational guru. I laid out a sheet in the hall and removed EVERYTHING from the bathroom. It was fairly easy to throw away 90% of the old broken makeup, wrappers from certain personal items, and the like.
I was too optimistic about her room though. To her credit, she had clothes folded neatly in her drawer. Unfortunately, she has clothes everywhere else too. I quicky discovered that it was next to impossible to tell what pieces of paper were keepers, and what needed to be thrown away. I also had no clue about what clothes fit, were liked, and would be worn again. Not to mention the fact that I'm pretty sure she wouldn't appreciate me reading her notes, etc, to see if they are keepers.
So I decided to give her a lesson in cleaning out. I put all of her things that were not in a drawer or hanging in her closet in large trash bags... NINE of them. Ten if you count the shopping trip that had not been unpacked.
I went to Dollar General and bought baskets and bins. When she comes home, we will do it together. We will start with the drawers, then take the bags one by one. We will throw away, give away, and put away. Then, if we are still friends when it is over, we will go get some ice cream.
My latest venture has been my younger daughter's room. She is almost 15 and a packrat. Admittedly. She would rather have teeth pulled that clean her room. In fact, I don't know if she has ever cleaned her room. She has rearranged the stuff in her room, but cleaning she just doesn't get.
Several years ago we got tired of fighting the battle, and after several warnings we grounded her from her room. Yep. We shut her door and only allowed her to enter to sleep. She couldn't remove anything from her room. It worked for a short period of time.
First I cleaned out her bathroom which adjoins her room. I'd just watched Oprah and the organizational guru. I laid out a sheet in the hall and removed EVERYTHING from the bathroom. It was fairly easy to throw away 90% of the old broken makeup, wrappers from certain personal items, and the like.
I was too optimistic about her room though. To her credit, she had clothes folded neatly in her drawer. Unfortunately, she has clothes everywhere else too. I quicky discovered that it was next to impossible to tell what pieces of paper were keepers, and what needed to be thrown away. I also had no clue about what clothes fit, were liked, and would be worn again. Not to mention the fact that I'm pretty sure she wouldn't appreciate me reading her notes, etc, to see if they are keepers.
So I decided to give her a lesson in cleaning out. I put all of her things that were not in a drawer or hanging in her closet in large trash bags... NINE of them. Ten if you count the shopping trip that had not been unpacked.
I went to Dollar General and bought baskets and bins. When she comes home, we will do it together. We will start with the drawers, then take the bags one by one. We will throw away, give away, and put away. Then, if we are still friends when it is over, we will go get some ice cream.
Tuesday, July 10, 2007
The nephew
This weekend I kept my 15 month old nephew.
This may not seem like a big deal to alot of people, but my own children are 16 and almost 15. It has been a long time since my house has seen a toddler.
I have stairs. And things. Things that weren't meant to be handled or eaten.
You know, toddlers whine, and are demanding, and you can't make them happy, and they don't sleep or at least they wake up early.
Not my nephew. I was completely, wonderfully surprised. He never stopped smiling. He giggled. He followed directions. He slept until 9:00 each morning. He didn't wake up at night.
At about 8:30 at night he put his head down on the couch pillow.
"Are you ready to go night-night?" I asked.
"Night-night," he answered.
I put his pjs on him, gave him a drink of milk, and laid him down. That was it. He went to sleep. Same thing for naptime.
I don't remember it being this easy, especially at a "strange" house. He has a little plastic Minnie Mouse that he holds all the time...too cute.
He does have two faults, which I found very amusing. He doesn't like baths. The only thing that would upset him was our saying, "Are you ready for a bath?" We found it funny, so we teased him with it a little bit.
He also did not like tortillas. We went to a Mexican restaurant with him, and I tore up some soft taco for him. He would carefully remove and eat the beef, then toss the tortilla over his shoulder. And giggle.
Everyone knows when a baby giggles, everyone giggles. We giggled all weekend.
He is too cute.
This may not seem like a big deal to alot of people, but my own children are 16 and almost 15. It has been a long time since my house has seen a toddler.
I have stairs. And things. Things that weren't meant to be handled or eaten.
You know, toddlers whine, and are demanding, and you can't make them happy, and they don't sleep or at least they wake up early.
Not my nephew. I was completely, wonderfully surprised. He never stopped smiling. He giggled. He followed directions. He slept until 9:00 each morning. He didn't wake up at night.
At about 8:30 at night he put his head down on the couch pillow.
"Are you ready to go night-night?" I asked.
"Night-night," he answered.
I put his pjs on him, gave him a drink of milk, and laid him down. That was it. He went to sleep. Same thing for naptime.
I don't remember it being this easy, especially at a "strange" house. He has a little plastic Minnie Mouse that he holds all the time...too cute.
He does have two faults, which I found very amusing. He doesn't like baths. The only thing that would upset him was our saying, "Are you ready for a bath?" We found it funny, so we teased him with it a little bit.
He also did not like tortillas. We went to a Mexican restaurant with him, and I tore up some soft taco for him. He would carefully remove and eat the beef, then toss the tortilla over his shoulder. And giggle.
Everyone knows when a baby giggles, everyone giggles. We giggled all weekend.
He is too cute.
My time
Both of my daughters are gone (mostly) this week.
My oldest has gone with her uncle (my brother who is a youth pastor in another state) on a mission trip to NC. They are busy doing Upwards Basketball, backyard Bible clubs, and block parties. They are also squeezing in a Braves game and some jet skiing.
My other daughter, after filling in for her older sister babysitting at the beginning of the week, will go on a short mission mission trip with our youth. Although it takes place at a local children's home, they will be living and eating on the premises and doing odd jobs such as cleaning and painting. They will be planning activities for the children as well.
So, I am.......alone. Oh the bliss. I can do whatever I want.
I forsee DATE NIGHT!
Yesterday I cleaned my house. Maybe in the next few days I can clean out a few things.
My plan today is to find a good movie, turn it on in my room, and watch it while I clean out drawers, piles of mail, corner clutter, and a linen closet.
After my nap.
My oldest has gone with her uncle (my brother who is a youth pastor in another state) on a mission trip to NC. They are busy doing Upwards Basketball, backyard Bible clubs, and block parties. They are also squeezing in a Braves game and some jet skiing.
My other daughter, after filling in for her older sister babysitting at the beginning of the week, will go on a short mission mission trip with our youth. Although it takes place at a local children's home, they will be living and eating on the premises and doing odd jobs such as cleaning and painting. They will be planning activities for the children as well.
So, I am.......alone. Oh the bliss. I can do whatever I want.
I forsee DATE NIGHT!
Yesterday I cleaned my house. Maybe in the next few days I can clean out a few things.
My plan today is to find a good movie, turn it on in my room, and watch it while I clean out drawers, piles of mail, corner clutter, and a linen closet.
After my nap.
Thursday, July 5, 2007
Only 32 more days...
Today I am going to accomplish something.
First, I am going to clean my house...you know, dusting, mopping, bathrooms... Then, I am going to clean out my bedroom. I'm getting rid of junk, going through the clothes, and cleaning out my dresser.
Perhaps then, when I am in the quiet santuary of my room, I can look around and feel I have accomplished something.
Then, next week, maybe I will clean out the closet under the stairs, or the kitchen, or the (ugh) attic.
There are only 32 days left until I have to start back to work.
First, I am going to clean my house...you know, dusting, mopping, bathrooms... Then, I am going to clean out my bedroom. I'm getting rid of junk, going through the clothes, and cleaning out my dresser.
Perhaps then, when I am in the quiet santuary of my room, I can look around and feel I have accomplished something.
Then, next week, maybe I will clean out the closet under the stairs, or the kitchen, or the (ugh) attic.
There are only 32 days left until I have to start back to work.
Tuesday, July 3, 2007
A bunch of nothin'
I'm doin' a bunch of nothin'.
That about sums up the time I have spent at home so far this summer.
Oh, we've gone to the coast for http://eightdaysofhope.com/ hurricane cleanup, to Alaska on a cruise, and to North Georgia for a family reunion. We still plan on going to a children's home for four days to do whatever it is that they need doing and to Miami with the youth on a mission trip for a week at the end of July. Did I mention that I am keeping my 18 month old nephew for a few days?
I must report back to school on August 6, and so far all I have to show for my time at home is ... nothing.
So much for the lofty goal of cleaning out the attic (boy, I love puns!). All the chores that I had been putting off "until summertime" have yet to be done.
Do I feel guilty? A bit, but not too much. This morning I spent about an hour out back, Bible in hand. I wasn't reading it the whole time, but I must admit that it was glorious just to sit, ponder, and relax, unhindered by time and demands.
I'll enjoy it while it lasts.
That about sums up the time I have spent at home so far this summer.
Oh, we've gone to the coast for http://eightdaysofhope.com/ hurricane cleanup, to Alaska on a cruise, and to North Georgia for a family reunion. We still plan on going to a children's home for four days to do whatever it is that they need doing and to Miami with the youth on a mission trip for a week at the end of July. Did I mention that I am keeping my 18 month old nephew for a few days?
I must report back to school on August 6, and so far all I have to show for my time at home is ... nothing.
So much for the lofty goal of cleaning out the attic (boy, I love puns!). All the chores that I had been putting off "until summertime" have yet to be done.
Do I feel guilty? A bit, but not too much. This morning I spent about an hour out back, Bible in hand. I wasn't reading it the whole time, but I must admit that it was glorious just to sit, ponder, and relax, unhindered by time and demands.
I'll enjoy it while it lasts.
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