You know when you’re driving down the street and there is ONE kid’s shoe in the street or gutter on the side of the road? And you say to yourself, “How in the heck did that shoe get there? What moron parent left a shoe in the road?” Now I know where the stray shoe in the gutter comes from. My daughter, Molly has three loner shoes. I just accepted the fact that I misplaced them. And then recently I witnessed the “funny” game she plays just as the van door is about to slide closed. She will quickly throw anything that is in her tiny 2 year old hand, be it a binky, cheerio, blanket, sippy cup, or shoe out the door just before it clicks shut! Funny. What a funny game. I have never noticed this fun game because as the door is closing I am already on the other side of the car. She is sooooo funny. This fun game is kinda expensive. Gotta nip this one ASAP.

The stories are so fun to read. Keep posting, at the “Another contest” post.

We will choose the winners on September 15th.

You guys are great!!

Well, for those of you that know me, I am not an animal lover by any means. I really don’t ever want a pet. Sorry, I know that those statements for some of you grind down to your souls. I just do not have the love for animals in my heart. My kids and I were at the church playing the other day and Dylan found a chubby fuzzy caterpillar. He carried it and talked to it for the rest of the day. He asked if we could take him home….”sure?”, was my reluctant reply. He was so excited to share him with his friend Luke the next day at a play date. When we got home we made a home for him, putting leaves in a box. I thought it would be nice for Rhino the caterpillar to have a stick in his box to climb around on. Dylan was adamant NOT to have the stick because he would make a cocoon on it and he wouldn’t be able to show his friend the next day. I argued and said what are the chances! Let’s just leave the stick. So since I am bigger, we left the stick in the box. The next morning Dylan ran down stairs to get Rhino out of his box to hold…and what WERE the chances? He had made a cocoon! So the morning began with tears and heart ache. Dylan was never going to see his beloved Rhino again. I tried my best to explain the miracle of life and how Rhino would turn into a beautiful butterfly, just like in the book The Hungry Caterpillar. Somehow that made him more sad because Rhino would then be able to fly away. The tears ceased for a few minutes when the Elmo music started up in the background on Sesame Street. As the show ended and Dylan still had puffy red eyes from all the tears, he came to me and said, I think Rhino would love to have a fish friend just like Dorothy (Elmo’s fish). How could I resist? “Sure?”, was my reluctant answer. And we were off to purchase a goldfish, which shortly became 2 goldfish because Molly needed one as well! On our way home from the back seat Dylan announced, “This is the best day of my life! I never thought I would have a pet, and now I will have 4! Rhino (the caterpillar), Tinkerbell (the goldfish #1), Tito ( goldfish #2), and Scotty (his unborn baby brother!).

Pet update: Tinkerbell and Tito, didn’t make it through the day   Rhino still cocooning, and baby Scotty still in the womb.

I talked to the guys at Group, they are the ones putting on the conference I was talking about. They agreed to sponsor this “contest” and give as a Grand Prize- free registration to the Februaury Conference!! They are also nice enough to give away a dinner for two, and some Starbuck’s gift cards as other prizes.

Get thinking….
So, most of our camp seasons are coming to an end. I was wondering how you all refresh with your spouses and your families. I know we are now all gearing up for the fall. It’s just as busy. Even though our spouses may not be gone, they are not always present during the back to school season. What do you all do? Tell us funny vacation stories, encouraging stories, any way you spend your in between the seasons time together that helps you get through it all.

I know this is early planning, but I want everyone to consider this…

There is going to be a SYM/Group National Youth Ministry conference coming up.

It is in Columbus, OH Feb 27-March 2, 2009

As far as pricing–the spouse rate for NYMC is $249 per person.

I went last year, and it was AMAZING! I think this could be such a great place for all of US to connect. I would love to meet as many of you as I can and put faces with names! I am not a youth worker, but I loved being there with Jeff and doing my own thing while he went to his own break out sessions. The speakers were perfect, even for a spouse! (Kay Warren is one of the keynote speaker this year.) I loved being a part of what Jeff does and was reminded how much he loves his job and why WE do this and make the sacrifices WE do for each other all in the name of Christ and ministry (sorry to sound so cheesey).

There will be lots for spouses to do, conference wise. My very bestest friend in the whole world, Cathy Fields, is doing her 4-session track (I may even get to use the microphone once or twice in her conference). She does a great job leading us in table discussions and helps with the “I’m all alone” syndrome. I will be leading an affinity group after the tracks each day. I just get so excited thinking about all of us together chatting it up!

I know it is expensive and will take a lot of planning. Maybe some of your churches will pay for spouses? It’s worth an ask. But if not, I still think its totally worth the money! Start praying and saving!!

Anyone who has attended this conference, tell us about it!

Click below for more information on the conference:
http://www.youthministry.com/conference

Have a baby!

Don’t get too excited I am still pregnant, inching toward the finish line, but still with child. But while Jeff was away last week at his second to the last week long trip of the summer I went into pre-term labor. Everything turned out fine, but during the craziness I couldn’t get a hold of him and being in Utah, he wouldn’t have made it home in time anyway. SO…needless to say he will NOT be going to the last camp of the summer (which takes place 2 weeks before my official due date).

I feel a little bad being the reason he can’t go, but not too bad. I am pretty huge, grumpy and hot all the time. I’d like to trade that for a week at camp.

About 4 weeks ago I made a list. It looks like this:

Sunday sheets/laundry
Monday dust/laundry
Tuesday bathrooms/laundry
Wednesday kitchen/laundry
Thursday floors/laundry
Friday free day
Saturday vacuum/laundry

I thought it would be helpful for me to stay on task. I was pretty good about it the first week, maybe doing 80%. The second week I was pretty frustrated because I couldn’t keep up with the list, maybe doing 10%. The third week I just ignored the list all together, doing maybe 5%. This week each time I look at the list I laugh out loud, I expect to do maybe 0%, and then throw the frickin list away!