10. My kids can use the church as their own personal play ground.

9. During the week I can stop by the church on my way here-or-there to pee or for a free cup of coffee.

8. I can “crash” any Bible study I want, and get a pretty substantial discount if it costs money.

7. When I loose my keys or kids on the church campus they always know where to return them, the High School room!

6. I can get all the free pizza I’ve ever dreamed of.

5. My kids are “allowed” to swim in the baptismal (just not on Sundays of course, that would be sacrilegious).

4. I can get all the Bibles I want.

3. When in a pinch Jeff can bring home some anointing oil to cook with and some communion wine for the guests. (not really)

2. I get to be an example of a loving family for students that might not know what that looks like.

1. My husband, kids and myself  are loved and supported by an extended family- the church.

What are some of your favorite reasons you are married to a youth pastor?

I just took 7 kids under the age of 5 to Color Me Mine (a paint your own mug place). One 5 year old boy, Two 4 year old boys, Two 2 year old girls, One 1 year old girl, tiny baby Scotty, now 9 weeks old, and 2 other now tired moms. We were soooo out-numbered.

I don’t even think I need to explain any further how those 2 hours went. I think whatever is going on in your mind is exactly what happened, if what’s going on is madness. I don’t think I need to explain all the paint all over EVERYTHING, all the broken pottery, the wrestling match between the 4 year old boys in the middle of the store, the amazing tantrums from the 2 year old girls, the baby puke mixed in with the pretty pink glaze on Papa’s Christmas mug. And I’m sure I don’t need to explain how frazzled we looked walking out, and I am certain you can imagine how relieved the store owners were  as they saw our minivans pull out of the parking lot.

Next week I will post the outcome of our masterpieces when we GO BACK to pick them up

I’m SURE it was all worth it, right?

Ladies,

You guys all know about the National Youth Workers Conference coming up at the end of February. I’m starting to put some stuff together, trying to gather my 2 thoughts. And I thought, Who better to ask than YOU!

• What would you be looking for if you were to attend the Married to a Youth Pastor track?
• What do you want to know?
• What do you want to discuss?
• Topics that hit home for you?

Just throw it out there ladies. This conference is for you too. I hope you all can come!

Thanks for you help.

Love,

Amanda

So today I was patiently, and well aware (this time) that I was sitting at a stop sign. As it was my turn to go my 8 week old baby started screaming so I (all of 3 seconds) reached back to put the binky back in his mouth and went on my way. I guess the 3 seconds made the girl behind me VERY late for wherever she was going. Because as she sped up to pass me she kindly honked and thoughtfully waved with one finger pointing up to heaven. I’m assuming it was all to remind me that the Lord loves me, right? Usually I would take great offense to these gestures, but she did have a “God Bless You” bumper sticker and a Christian fish on her bumper. Surely with all the Jesus decor she couldn’t have meant it any other way.

God Bless You too in a hurry girl!

Love,

Amanda

Nichole said something in response to a past post that I think quite often,

“We (youth pastors wives) feel guilty about wanting time with our husbands because somehow it is unspiritual or not right if time with him takes away time from church. Ugh. We sacrifice A LOT of time. I am envious of other wives who have husbands with “normal” jobs.”

I’m sure that if my husband had a “normal” job I would want this job back, but I do play the what-if game in my head sometimes.

Anyone relate.

That Nichole, she’s so smart.

I just was paralyzed for 20 minutes and was forced to watch The Home Shopping Network! I sat down to feed my baby and somehow the remote changed the channel to HSN. I have this crazy neck pain and I can’t move my right arm at the moment, and I couldn’t really unpainfully rotate my body to pick up the remote that was sitting 2 inches from my leg, so I just sat there watching “Santa’s Workshop” on The Home Shopping Network. I didn’t order anything, but I really did rationalize why I needed the 24 inch candy canes they were talking about… 30 come in a package, I could use them as tree decorations, gift toppers, place card holders at all my holiday parties, or just holiday treats for myself on a cool afternoon sipping cocoa.

I am SUPER excited for Christmas now!!!!

I love the encouragement and wisdom you guys share with one another on this blog. I know that am not the only one who has thoughts and feelings about youth ministry. Diana shared in response to a post and I thought it was packed with great wisdom and thoughtfulness….

Sometimes I just want to take a break. To find balance.
But in these times I believe God wants rest for our souls not just balance. He wants to fuel us, to refresh us with His presence. My husband and I have had the same conversation over the past three years: How do we find GOD’s PEACE in our day-to-day lives in this busy ministry life. Busyness does not equal effectiveness, right? So, what now?
Please God show us your peacefulness–

Thanks Diana, you have given me something to chew on this week…

Amanda

Yesterday I saw, what I thought, was very funny. I hope no one is offended but gets a little giggle from this.

I was at a baby botique-y store and they had this little book called porn for moms. So I had to take a peek (sorry). It had images of men with their shirts off ironing, doing the laundry, giving the kids a bath, handing over the remote, and saying things like, “What can I fix you for dinner?” I was laughing so hard.

Then I had the thought (just a thought, I’d never do it) what would a book called porn for youth pastor’s wives look like? Maybe a guy with a collared shirt on, not an old t-shirt with something silly written on it. Or a guy walking to the front door with flowers in his hand, instead of an XBOX. How about a guy walking his own kids into the child care at church. A guy saying, “Let’s go out for a fancy dinner”, instead of saying, “Come meet us for pizza. There’s about 15 slices left over!”

Ladies, are you turned on ! (hehehehe)

God has been giving me lemonade lately, and I have been turning it into lemons.

I need to change my perspective up a little bit. I’ve been so quick to become frustrated that I don’t even see the things I should be thankful for.

Like, I was so frustrated at my daughter all day for dumping syrup on her head, that I didn’t remember to be thankful for the free babysitting I received the same day.

I dismissed the super sweet card my 4 year old made for me telling me how much he loved me, but I remembered the rest of the day how he woke his sister up from a nap!

I am irritated at my husband for working late on Sundays, and I forget all the things he does say no to so that he can be with our family everyday.

I hate when I get like this.