152 posts tagged “fun”
It was a great time and I am so blessed to have the McSwains in my life. There is nothing better then good friends to share life with. So take the time to invest in great people, you will be blessed!
This year Sienna was able to be a big help. She could hang ornaments and loved that we put a little tree in her room to decorated as she wished. I love Christmas and making it last as long as possible. Plus everything seems magical when it's lit up by twinkle lights.
A thought crossed my mind as we were setting up the tree. That by the time we take these decorations down on New Years day, we will have our little boy. It was a crazy thought. It seems like we have been waiting all year for Eli's arrival and he is almost here! Super exciting, and what a special time of year to be born. I just can't wait to hold him and celebrate with everyone, that God is good and has blessed us with another child.
I hope you guys are getting down those boxes and dusting off those decorations, because Christmas is coming!
This evening we met up with a few friends at the Simi Valley Train Station to see the Christmas Train. Daniel and I used to take our nieces every year, however they have out grown it in resent years. So we thought Sienna was old enough to enjoy and love the experience. It's a free event all you do is show up at the station at the right time and a train covered in lights and decorations pulls into the station. The kids cheer and a cast of Christmas characters preform on a stage on top of the train. At the end Santa comes out and snow shoots off the train. It's fun and free!
Sienna LOVED it, pointing to everything and waving to all the characters on the train. She was a little bumbed that people were aloud on the train but she got over that when she got to say hi to Frosty the snow man and Rudolf the red nose reindeer. It was a super fun time and i can't wait to take Sienna and Eli next year.
After the train pulled out of the station to make other boys and girls happy in city's up and down the coast we had friends over for dinner. It was a chilly night so i thought a big bowl of hot chili was in order. We spent the evening chatting and eating, just the way i like it. Thank you to Dan, Kristin, Bella, Addison, and Nebraska for spending the evening with us. We love you so much!
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 :)
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!
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!
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.
A few weeks ago Daniel won a free bowling party for six people from Brunswick Bowl! It included two hours free bowling, shoes, snacks and drinks for all six people! He so graciously blessed me with using this party to celebrate my birthday. We invited a few of our closest friends and had a wonderful night. My favorite thing about the night was our friends Mary and Jeff meeting our new friends Dan and Kristin. They all got along great and it was so awesome to have them meet each other and get to hang out with both of them at the same time.
Daniel dominated as usual in bowling, just killing everyone else. I surprisingly played one of the best games of my life. I was worried that having a big belly would throw off my skill, however i had more strikes and spares then ever. Eli must be good luck :). Everyone had fun and the best part was no one had to spend any money! Thanks Daniel for being so wonderful and loving me so much and giving me your free bowling night! I love you!
Also thanks to Jeff, Mary, Dan and Kristin for loving me and for being such wonderful friends. I can't imagine my life with out you guys in it. Love you!
This is the first time i've ever carved pumpkins on Halloween. We have just been so busy this past week, there was never time. But with Halloween being on a Saturday it was something fun today in the afternoon before trick or treating. Daniel and i really enjoy the art of carving pumpkins and get really into making new and differnt designs each year, you will rarely see a regular old jack o lantern at our house. This year we each carved one pumpkin and then we did one together.
We had a great time eating monkey much and carving up some pumpkins. I hope you had a great Halloween afternoon!
