Tonight my co-small group leader Laurie and I hosted a "Girl's Night In" for our small group girls. We had the girls over to my house for a super yummy pasta dinner and to watch the movie "Up". We had 6 out of 10 of our girls show up and we had so much fun together. We are all still getting to know each other and this event was prefect to talk and just hang out. Dinner was great and the movie was so funny, i really enjoyed it! These girls are so awesome and willing to love and care for Laurie and I. It's so sweet!
I really believe in nights like tonight. It's the time we spend with youth group kids outside of youth group that counts. Showing them they are special enough for adults to make time for them. Special enough to have someone take notice of who they are and want to know them better. I really am getting my footing in this group and I feel like i have come leaps and bounds over the past few months in getting to know the kids and making sure i spend time with them outside of youth group.
I really feel the Lord has put me in this church, with this youth group and with these girls for a real and powerful purpose. And tonight i saw a glimpse of what God wants to do. I keep having to remind myself that this isn't the same group of kids i used to have, and that they will never be the girls i had before. And that things will be different and that's ok. God has a plan and I am learning with each Wednesday night and each youth event that everything is new and i need to not dwell on the past or wish for things to be the same. Because i am learning that staying the same is boring. I am so thankful for the Lord pushing me into a new world with new teens. He knew better then i did, and this is where i am needed and where God needs me to be. Here i am Lord use me in any way you wish to love these girls and to show them the love of your Son! I'm ready and I know these girls are ready to be used by you too!
Sienna LOVED playing with the "snow". She spent three hours filling cups, throwing it and making snow angels. We had so much fun together at one point Sienna runs to me and wraps her arms around my neck and said, "Momma, you are so much fun!". I almost cried. She was delighted to just be playing with paper and me. No expensive toys or high tech gagets, just confetti.
You only get to be little once, so why not let them have some fun. Try this and I promise your kids will think you are a rock star. Just make sure you have a good vacuum! hehe :)
This year I decided to do a Thankful tree for the month of November. I've done this in years past with my youth group, but never as a family. So just useing a little construction paper i put up a tree and cut out leaves. Each night at dinner time we each say what we thank God for and write it on a leaf and stick it to the tree. We have also had guests over who particapated. This has been a great way to talk to Sienna about praising the Lord in all things. At first she really didn't understand, but now she gets it and can't wait to tell us what she is thankful for. Also many nights Sienna wants to do more then one leaf, because she can't wait until tomorrow.
This project has also been a blessing for Daniel in I. In our fast paced busy world we don't stop and thank God enough. And it has really lead to some great conversations at dinner time and also made us truly thankful for all that we have.
So put up a thankful tree it's not too late! I promise you and your kids will be blessed by it.
What you will need:
Paper (any colors you wish)
Tape (like painters tape or masking tape)
Glue stick
ribbon
Sienna helped me trace her hands on the paper and I cut them all out. The we laid them out the way we liked them and taped the outer row together on the back side. Then we glued the inner layer of hands to the outer layer. Then i made a bow and glued it on, i needed to use a clothes pin to hold it until it dried. The placed on last hand in the middle of the bow.
It took us about two hours and we had a lot of fun doing it. Sienna is so proud to show people her Hand Wreath when ever they come over. So take the time to do this fun project with your kids!
Tonight all of us youth leaders were left to run Canvas as Pastor Dan had the night off. He works so hard and makes such a BIG difference in teens lives, that I am so glad he was able to have a night off. So of course since Dan wasn't their i planned a really big messy game! haha, Dan knew about it, but i'm not sure how he would have reacted if he was actually there. We played "Snow Relay". Living in southern California these teens don't get to play in the snow like teens on the east coast. So i thought i would bring a little snow fun to Canvas with a bucket of paper confetti. The teens sat in circles and were each given a cup. They had to pass confetti over there head to each other to fill a bucket. This made for great fun since the confetti did not want to stay in the cups, but rather flouted away every time they poured it. The teens had a blast! After the game was over they all enjoyed a little snow fight. It was awesome to see them play like little kids again and have so much fun at youth group. The mess was so worth it!
Pastor Scot gave a great lesson on Temptation tonight, he also showed a really hard hitting video. Check it out by clicking here.
The Battle Within week 3
Bottom Line: We are tempted to believe we know how God works and how we think we can work Him.
In the boxing world, sometimes things aren’t always what they seem. Sometimes the winner is known before anyone walks into the ring. Sometimes the outcome is pre-determined by a person who has manipulated things behind the scene. Sometimes a fighter takes a dive. Sometimes a boxer throws the fight. And if each one of us were completely honest, sometimes we try to work things as well in our fight with temptation. And who or what we are manipulating isn’t the temptation, it’s God.
Scripture References: Matthew 4:5-7; Psalm 91:12; Exodus 17:2-3
Question for the week: Are you cooperating with God or are you manipulating him?
Since having to say good bye to our old youth group, I haven't seen many of the kids. Most of them have moved away for school or work and go to school and lead very busy lives. However one of our old youth group kids attends youth group at Discovery with us now, and that has been a big blessing!
Today i got to have lunch with Kiersten, Matt, and Jessica. It was WONDERFUL. I have missed them so much and loved getting to hear all about their lives. So much has happened in just a few months and i so loved getting to catch up. I have had a few coffee dates one on one with several of the kids over the past few months. But it was so nice to go out with a group of them. I loved every moment of our time together and didn't want to leave In N Out. Just wished the time would last longer. However I know we will make time to get together soon. Hopefully more youth group alumni will be able to join us.
How do you know if you have touched teens lives? When they let you be apart of their lives even after they aren't in your youth group anymore. I love Youth Ministry!
This evening family and friends came together to celebrate the birthday of Veronique Guy. Her gentle spirit and kind heart touches so many people. I am blessed to know her and love her as a sister in Christ and as my best friend. I had the honor of photographing her and her extended family today. I think there were at least 18 people, 6 of which were children. The photo's turned out great, however i took them with Veronique's camera so she could have them right away. However when she sends me the photo's i will post them for you to see.
After our very windy photo shoot, we came inside to celebrate and enjoy some super yummy food. Donna, Noel and Peggy did an amazing job cooking up a delightful meal, of fish and shrimp taco's. DELICIOUS! The evening was spent chatting and loving on Veronique. It was so special to also get to sing "Happy Birthday" to her twin sister that is in Georgia, over the phone. I know Veronique misses her dearly on their birthday so i am glad they got to share that moment together.
Last night after an amazing message from Pastor Dan on temptation, we broke up into our small groups as usual. I have an amazing co-leader Laurie and a great group of about ten girls. We had a deep discussion on temptation and what it means to be pure. I was surprise when i saw Dan telling me to wrap it up. We almost always go over, but it's never a problem. So we finished the discussion and headed back to the youth room. Which was dark and quite, not normal at all. I open the door and hear 50+ teens and volunteers scream "Surprise!". I was shocked, i couldn't believe that the whole youth room was decorated and set up to be a Baby Shower! Gifts, cupcakes, balloons, drinks and games all to welcome Daniel and I into the Canvas Family. I tried not to cry or pee in my pants, i really needed to use the bathroom. hehe :)
I was overwhelmed by the love that this church showed to us. I just couldn't wrap my mind around the whole thing. We have been volunteering for a little over three months there, and love it. However i just couldn't believe they would go to so much trouble to make me feel loved. It was so sweet. The pastors and staff here at Discovery work so hard to make sure everyone feels loved and appreciated, which many churches forget to do. It is my hope and prayer to be able to show them all my deepest gratitude and repay them in love for their love.
Love you all!
This weekend my best friend Veronique took our family photo's and they are stunning! She is an amazing photographer and I have been abundantly blessed to have her as my friend. We spent the late afternoon taking photo's in her orchard, filled with old farm houses and beautiful trees. I am so happy we were able to take some maternity photo's as well, Veronique has an amazing talent to bring out the beauty in everything. And made me feel beautiful as well, which is hard this days. After our photo shoot, we enjoyed dinner with Veronique and her family. It was a great way to spend a Saturday night! I loved every minute of my time there, and only wish we did this more often! I love each and every photo and i hope you enjoy them as well. If you are interested in Veronique's work check out her website: www.streetpoet.org.
Behold, children are a heritage from the Lord, the fruit of the womb a reward. Like arrows in the hand of a warrior are the children of one's youth. Blessed is the man who fills his quiver with them! He shall not be put to shame when he speaks with his enemies in the gate. Psalm 127: 3-5
Today my mother in law and sisters threw me a beautiful baby shower to celebrate the up coming arrival of Eli Daniel Milner. It was wonderful to be around so many of the women i love and adore. There was great food from tea sandwiches, homemade scones, cookies and a beautiful cake. Everyone had a great time playing games and getting to chat. Sienna loved being included in all the fun and felt very much the big sister all day.
