Beloved

A Poem Inspired by Ezekiel 16

"Beloved," He calls me to the shore.

What lies of the world have led me to this,
away from my Father's eternal bliss?

He clothed me in linens and jewels and gold,
yet I handed them over to be carelessly sold.

I ran from the love who made me clean,
who put a crown on my head and made me a queen.

Alone and afraid, I've surrendered to sin,
naked and filthy; broken within.

"Beloved," He calls me closer still.

A glimmer of hope I see in plain sight,
my King has come to make me pure white.

Calling me softly, I hear His sweet song,
that whispers He's been here all along.

With each step I take in this healing water,
I hear my Father calling me farther.

The soft rolling waves rush over me,
my sins wash away, now I'm free.

His voice echoes down from the sky above,
"Beloved, be still,"
and I
wade
in
His
love.

VBS Most Memorable

I was so busy playing grown up with the my group a VBS kids, I didn't get to take pictures until the last day but here are some tidbits of the memorable moments from the week.

Theme:
It all comes back to Jesus (Australian Theme)... I had to dress up as an Aborigine and talk with a (terrible) Australian accent. Good times making a fool of myself.

Biblical Focus:
Peter and his relationship with Jesus. It was AMAZING. (Basically, I love Peter!)

Best Snack:
We made dirt cake with Oreos, chocolate pudding, and gummy worms. The kids loved beating up the Oreos.

Best Craft:
Service project, the kids wrote/decorated encouragement cards to the leaders going to youth camp.

Best Recreation:
Playing human Pacman in the sanctuary, so fun!

Best Quote:
When telling the story of Peter being freed from prison by an angel in the book of Acts, we asked our fifth and sixth graders what they would do or where would they go if they were Peter after the angel left him. Our precious Megan, just as honest as she could be responded,

"I'd hide behind a garbage can."

Smelliest, Dirtiest, Grossest Moment of the Week:
Our fifth and sixth graders won the contest of who could bring the most shoes for orphans, so they were able to squirt ketchup and mustard all over the Children's Minister, Alexis... then when she was fully covered in condiments, she attacked me. It was so gross but so funny.

Day in the Life of a Youth Group Intern

6:30: Wake up, make coffee, eat breakfast.
7:00 Prepare for and pray over Vacation Bible School Lessons
7:30 Leave the house to pick up Sydney
8:00 Get to the church and decorate room
8:15 Cut and style a wig for Children's Minister, steal cups and ziplock bags from the snack kitchen, borrow markers from the office, and paper and paint from the preschool building
8:30 Worship with all of the kids in the sanctuary... I realize I'm sitting with the wrong group of kids, and in my own confusion, I confused a kid... who then proceeded to cry because he thought he was in the wrong grade
9:00 Round up my crew. Turns out, I'd planned all the activities for the expected amount of 8 fifth and sixth graders. 21 showed up
9:00-11:30 Games, Bible Studies, Snacks (we made trail mix... half of which ended up crushed on the floor)
11:45 Closing worship. Realize about halfway through the first song, we've lost a girl. She was never found so we've assumed she left with her grandma and hope she'll be back tomorrow.
12:00 Take Samantha home after VBS is over and head straight to Double Dave's for a Watershed Student Ministry Staff lunch meeting
1:30-Discuss Youth Camp with Greg, Lacey, Nathan, Jaymes, and Stephan. This includes, organizing all of the paperwork and money turned in, finalizing the rooming and family groups, making lists of things to buy and things to do. (Camp is T-minus 5 days!!!)
6:00 FINALLY head home
6:30 Eat dinner with the family
7:00 Begin Math Homework
8:30 Take Jackson to Chick-fil-A for the Wi-Fi/change of scenery. Finish up math homework, take a section quiz
9:00 Two people from my old swim team walk in and sit in the same section as me and Jackson. Our friendship didn't end well, so I cover my face with my hair so they don't see/recognize me.
9:30 I finish my quiz but the people are still sitting in our section, so I kill time on facebook 'til they leave. (Yes, this is immature, I know!)
10:00 Leave Chick-fil-A, head home once again
10:15 Start Chapter Quiz for Math class
11:00 Finish quiz, talk to Sam on facebook
11:30 Shower
11:45 Review VBS Lesson, make a list everything I need to do tomorrow
12:00 Take a deep breath and rest my sleepy head on my pillow

Ah... an Intern's work is never done!Watershed Student Ministry College Staff
(Roller Disco Night)

Lead Me to The Cross

Since I've been home, this song has been my prayer each morning.
Thought I'd share, though those of you who read this blog have probably heard it.



and here are some thoughts on it by the singer :)

Another Break from Technology

I lost my camera.

If you keep up with this blog, you'll notice I've had a bad string of luck with technology.
First my phone in January.
Then my computer in March.
Now my beloved camera.
The summer is beginning and it's killing me not to have it. I missed some priceless kodak moments at my cousin's graduation, some creative opportunities while packing/unpacking, and various end-of-the-school-year goodbye pictures with friends in College Station.
With my Olympus gone, I'm trying to work on savoring each moment and not rely on my camera to keep it's memory. Instead of wishing I had my camera, I close my eyes, take a deep breath, and absorb every detail of the moment, thanking God for the people around me, and asking Him to help me remember as much of it as possible.

Don't get me wrong. I'm not that patient; I've already ordered a new camera on ebay and can hardly wait for it to arrive in the mail. But another break from technology has reminded me to hold on to every moment, not with pictures, but with my heart.

(corny?... maybe)

Promenade

My sister went to her first prom yesterday. (Though she's had her fair share of formals, prom just seems to be more of a milestone in one's life)
She is beautiful and thought I'd post a picture of Jill and her boyfriend, Tyler.
What a cute couple!

Happy Mutha's Day

A myriad of home videos sit in the entertainment system below our television set. One has a clip from an early Sunday morning in 1993. Mom slips quietly into my room with baby Jill in her arms and lays her down next to me in my Beauty and the Beast t-shirt and hair is curlers. I'm "waked up" by Jill's squirms and in fog reach over to give her a hug.
Mom gives me a kiss and says, "Do you know what today is?"
I yawn and reply with a grin, "Mutha's Day." (I was still working on a slight speech impediment.)

At the risk of sounding like a Hallmark card, it's been such a blessing having her as my mom these past twenty years. I may not need her to come wake me up in the morning and carry me out of bed, but I still need her. period.

Happy Mother's Day, Momma, I love you!

Mom and Me the summer before Jill was born 1992

Thanksgiving 2008