PRAYERS APPRECIATED!

Dear prayer warriors...

Wanted to let you know that our Young Life Fall Kick-Off is tomorrow, Saturday the 27th. We will start set up around 3:30 and the kids are coming at 4:30. We are soooo excited! Please pray for....

-the little tiny details that need to happen tomorrow and that we don't forget anything
-that kids would come...and that they would be excited to come to Club...and then to hear about Jesus!! :)
-Technical things...sound system, music, games running smoothly, etc.
-Clear minds...my mind is already on overload....praying for clarity in thinking as we prepare tomorrow
-That the weather would be beautiful as there is no backup rain spot

THANK YOUUUUUUU....
-Jesus for bringing us to this point and loving us more than we can imagine
-Riverview for allowing us to have this in the parking lot and the administration supporting us
-Our campaigner kids who have been passing out flyers to everyone
-the game announcer who mentioned our kick-off about 5 times tonight at the first football game
-Churches and people that have sent money to cover costs
-Tshirt lady from the community who is helping us get awesome shirts
-YOU...for your prayers.

Thank you. :)

War...round 3

There have been times when I just don’t know what to say. I think that is a good thing. Being quiet and listening is difficult for me, but it has to happen.

I haven’t written in awhile and have been aware of this. There are times when I think about updating on my life, but lately I just haven’t had the ability to write or even form clear thoughts. This is still somewhat true…warning! I’ll give it a shot.

Today was the teachers’ first day back to school and it was a good day. I’m excited about a new year and meeting my new kiddos. Also, we recently found out that our county and my school did really well on our state standardized test. That is exciting news…and we are all celebrating! God is good! Last week I went to a writing conference, so I had the opportunity to provide a 2 hour professional development today for my staff. It was fun learning how to prepare a presentation for a group of teachers. I am thankful for these professional opportunities that have been put in my path the past year.

It seems like yesterday I was making calendars of the summer months and mapping out those precious weeks. I’ll give you a quick view of what my summer looked like. I spent about 5 weeks altogether with my family…back and forth trips. During that time I studied and took the GRE (the hardest test I’ve ever experienced). I also was able to get in lots of hugs and talks with the people that I love the most in this world. I’ve always been thankful for my family, but this summer I couldn’t be more thankful for their support and love for me through good and difficult times. My little Dilly Bar started calling me “Man” and is growing like a weed. I adore him and that precious smile on his face. I love him to pieces and already miss him and my family like crazy. It is hard to believe that this is going on my 7^th year away from my family (college life and teaching). Somehow, it never gets easier. Even though it is so difficult to be away…I’m blessed to feel that way because it just shows how stinkin’ wonderful they are! :)

During the week of the Fourth of July, I spent a week at Folly Beach in South Carolina with five of my friends from Taylor. This was the second year reunion of the Taylor Elementary Education majors. It was such a refreshing and exciting week to be with these godly women and to see how God is using each of us through education all over the world!

Probably the most exciting part of this summer…and year…was the week of Young Life camp. In my previous blogs, I talked about us trying to start Young Life and some of the new things with that. Well…that was nothing compared to camp. God showed up! As if that is a surprise?! Haha. Anyways, we left with eleven kids and three of us as leaders. The entire week was a gift from God as we were able to get to build relationships with these awesome teenagers and have a ton of fun doing it (zip-line, blob, high ropes course, obstacle course, hikes, water slides, hoe-downs, sock-hops, and tons more)! Five teenagers made commitments of faith and met the King of the Universe during this week!!! The other students realized their need for Jesus more in their lives and realized that they needed to take that next step and put feet to their faith. These decisions and workings of God were by far the highlights of not only that week, or even year….but all of my time here in War.

Since that time, we have been getting things organized to kick off this fall with Club and get things moving. Our kids are on board…and I just love them so much! It is one of the best feelings in the world to have them sit around in our house and laugh…knowing that God has done amazing, awesome work to put this together. I am humbled by His favor on me and on our new start to Young Life. Please be praying for August 27—our Fall Kickoff. Then, on September 1 we are going to have our first club. Pray that we can get all of the logistics together in time and that more hearts would be exposed to the Father and His great love.

Besides getting my class on track and kicking off Young Life, I also have another big event starting; I will be taking classes to begin my Masters as a Reading Specialist. I am very excited about the learning and how it will develop and equip me more as a teacher. However, I am nervous with all of these things to juggle at one time. And…it feels like forever since I’ve been a student. Additionally, I’ve realized that my body doesn’t respond as well to no/little sleep anymore. So….I will need a new plan. ;)

My heart is overwhelmed—with almost every emotion possible, good and bad. A strange place to be. How can you be filled with joy and heartache at the same time you may ask. I am confident and content knowing that I am exactly where I am supposed to be and that God has His hand in each step. He has made that SO clear and continually shows me His face! Also, I’m filled with joy and excitement as I see God working through Young Life and in these teenagers lives. I love that I get to hang out with them and disciple them. I’m also dealing with some changes in life that have slowed me down and have been wearing on my heart. Finally, I’m anxious about starting classes on top of everything. So, if you would please pray that my heart would be able to grasp all of these things. I am clinging to my Jesus’ promises and incredibly thankful for them! Pray that I continue to seek Him for my strength. He gives strength to the weak. Also, please pray for Young Life…for the start…for the details…for wisdom…for those amazing kids to come to a loving relationship with Jesus Christ.

Thank you for your prayers and love. I know that God is going to do huge things this year, and I will try to do a better job at sharing those things with you.

Love and blessings! :)