Summer Highs and Lows…
By Amanda on Jul 15, 2009 in Featured
At a Biblestudy I did a long time ago we did “2 Highs and a Low” each time we met. (I’m sure its not anything you haven’t heard of). It was a little corney, but a great way to start the group and remember great things about our week that are easily forgotten while getting swept away with the daily routine. I thought since summer was in full swing we could share our own “2 Highs and a Low” about how we are all surviving these crazy, busy days.
I’ll go first:
High #1: Jeff and I have made our best effort yet to put some alone time on the calendar, get a babysitter and go out on a date. It has really made me feel better about the time when he is gone.
High#2: My oldest started soccer this summer and I have had the best time going to practices and watching him while I kick the ball around with my daughter on the side lines. It has been really fun!
Low: So many of my friends have been on vacation and not around, so it has felt a little lonely, as much fun as I am having with the kids I do miss the school year routine, and predictability of my days (part of my personality).
You go…
High #1: A student in our youth group who has been struggling with self-injury gave all the stuff they use to do it to my husband I to dispose of. PRAISE GOD!!!
High#2: I just returned from a 10 day vacation where I did nothing but sit on the beach and watch my kids swim. I have an awesome tan.
and…my youngest son is getting baptised on Sunday!!!
Low: Our youth budget just took a huge cut because of a “spending freeze” at church.
Jennifer | Jul 15, 2009 | Reply
High #1: We are heading to the beach in 1 1/2 weeks-no one but my husband and our kids.
High #2: My oldest two kids have accepted Jesus into their hearts, and are very tender toward Him
High#3: God has provided an awesome couple of friends here who are in vocational ministry as well. Real depth and encouragement with these two!
Low: Things in ministry are too crazy busy and extended family doesn’t get it so take things oh so personally when we want to be alone as a family or a couple. Part of what we need to thrive–not just survive.
Diana | Jul 15, 2009 | Reply
High#1 We have twice as many kids going to camp next week then we did last year. Our group is growing and God keeps blessing.
High #2 God has finally worked it out for us to get a boys and a girls small group bible study going. A little hit and miss with kids taking summer trips , but it’s been great to see them grow and began to ask deeper questions.
Low My husband does not really get the need to spend some quality time this week since there will be none next week oh well.
Mary | Jul 15, 2009 | Reply
High #1 My fiance is at a new church this summer and the youth are really responding well to him !
High#2 I think i may have found a job after a very long and fruitless search!! THANK YOU JESUS !
low i didnt get to go on the student mission trip ( and im not sure why) the pastor decided at the last minute to remove me from the trip… this was a huge blow for me and my fiance … but the lord is faithful and has used this time for me to pray HARD CORE for the years of ministry to come at this new church…
OH! high#3 my fiance gets back tomorrow! YAY!
Katelyn | Jul 15, 2009 | Reply
high #1- I had a safe delivery and now have a beautiful one month old son
high #2- a student who has wanted nothing to do with our youth group since we got to this church in March has started coming to things and has been the last to leave because of just wanting to talk PRAISE JESUS!
Low- my mother was just admitted to the hospital for her back. She has not been able to move. She is in NJ and I am in NV. This is the farthest I have ever been from my entire family!
Corrie | Jul 15, 2009 | Reply
High #1: My husband and I are experiencing our first time with a local community service camp for our middle schoolers (we’re new to the church), and it was been AMAZING to see how two churches can team up and send kids all over the city to show God’s love! When 12- to 14-year-olds put their crazy energy into manual labor, people are surprised at how much they can get done. The kids are learning and growing each day and making a great impression on the city.
High #2: Relaxing and family time coming up! I get my husband back as MY HUSBAND and not the guy who blows an air horn while announcing the events of the day. My grandmother is coming to visit us next week; SO cool, and she’s going to teach us to make a treasured family recipe.
Low: Immediately after camp wraps up we are getting on a plane to be with family, since my husband’s uncle recently passed away. We are going to comfort Uncle’s daughter, an early-twenties only child of divorced parents, and not a believer. My husband’s family members are all Christians, and it seems the enemy may be attempting to sabotage the weekend because there is more family drama surrounding this trip than we usually have over an entire year. (Gosh, that was kind of heavy…)
Wooo, back to service camp!
Kristen | Jul 16, 2009 | Reply
High #1: My husband helped plan and organize a soccer camp that was the same weekend as our 10th anniversary. When the team picked that date he told them that he would work with them right up until the camp, and then he was taking me away for the weekend. We had a great time and we when came to pick our kids up from camp the volunteers were happy for us. It felt so good to be at a church event and have my husband sit beside me and be a dad.
High #2 For the first time in 3 years I got to go on a summer trip. I was pretty nervous. I was responsible for the students that had just graduated. We had a great time. I am excited to see what God has in store for them.
Low: A dear friend who is also a yp wife found out that her husband was having an affair with one of the volunteers. I have been consumed by this one. I am so broken for her. I am also disturbed by the number of pastors we know personally who have done this.
Ann | Jul 16, 2009 | Reply
High #1: My husband had a fabulous time in Israel, leading 14 members of our church, and I survived just fine being home with the kids. We even took a mini-vacation which I have wonderful memories of that will last for a lifetime.
High #2: Two more days until hubby takes two weeks off, and some wonderful people from our church just called us up and offered us the use of their HUGE, DELUXE camper/trailer, and we secured the ONLY site left at the best campground nearby. Looking forward to family time!
Low: I have 8 weeks to go in this pregnancy and am starting to feel irritable and uncomfortable, and fearing PPD, and now also dealing with Gestational Diabetes. Not fun! But I remind myself, “this too shall pass”.
Monica | Jul 16, 2009 | Reply
High #1: We had baby #2 six weeks ago and he is just amazing! We are loving being a family of 4. The labor was really crazy and he had to be in the NICU for a few days but God completely healed him and he is wonderful now so praise God! I just love my boys!
High #2: Camp is going well this week for our students. My husband says it’s been very smooth and God is really working in the hearts of the students. This is great news for our youth group.
Low: I miss my husband like crazy and had some really tough and lonely days this week. I can’t wait to have him home on saturday but I can’t believe I will have to do this again for 2 weeks when he goes on a missions trip to Romania in 11 days. I have fun friends and a very supportive family close by but it’s still lonely without my hubby.
angelina | Jul 16, 2009 | Reply
High #1 We had four salvations at camp. Also one student that had already been saved but was not baptized was convicted to follow in baptizum. Praise God!!!
High #2 I got to be a part of my husbands first baptizums. He did five in two days Wow!!
low :My husband and I had one of the worst fights we have had and it was right after camp:(:(
Mary | Jul 28, 2009 | Reply
HIGH #1-
We just got back from a week long missions trip to downtown Denver. I got to go along & took our 8 month old son with us. I was busy with him alot of the time, but I still left closer to God & closer to our teens.
HIGH#2-
The kids have decided to start 3 teen led ministries in our community. (Park Evangelism, Senior Living Outreach, & Prayer Walking)
LOW-
Feeling discouraged about the lack of overall commitment & passion about the ministries that go on in our church by anyone except a few people.
Claire | Jul 29, 2009 | Reply