Comments on: Another Contest!!! http://www.marriedtoayouthpastor.com/youth-ministry/another-contest.html Youth pastor's and ministers wives community and resources. Wed, 01 Feb 2012 22:07:45 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.1.4 By: Hannah http://www.marriedtoayouthpastor.com/youth-ministry/another-contest.html#comment-621 Hannah Wed, 01 Oct 2008 04:52:18 +0000 http://www.marriedtoayouthpastor.com/?p=63#comment-621 Hello Ladies, So I am actually not married to a youth pastor but I am dating one. My question is how did y'all encourage your significant other before you married? Everything physical- except handholding- is outside of the physical boundaries we've established (gotta keep it pure!) So any pointers? Thanks, Hannah Hello Ladies,

So I am actually not married to a youth pastor but I am dating one. My question is how did y’all encourage your significant other before you married? Everything physical- except handholding- is outside of the physical boundaries we’ve established (gotta keep it pure!) So any pointers?

Thanks, Hannah

]]> By: Angela http://www.marriedtoayouthpastor.com/youth-ministry/another-contest.html#comment-548 Angela Thu, 11 Sep 2008 14:29:54 +0000 http://www.marriedtoayouthpastor.com/?p=63#comment-548 I have been married to a youth pastor for a month and 3 days now, and this summer was the craziest of our lives! It started with my husband (then still my fiance) taking three summer classes to finish up his MDiv. He finished his last class on a Friday, we packed up a moving truck on Saturday, and set out on Sunday to move 1300 miles accross country for Andy to begin his first full-time youth ministry position. All the while, we were planning our wedding from long-distance. We were at our new church for about two and a half weeks before heading to my parents' house for last-minute preparations and for our wedding. Anyway, all that to say, our way of refreshing after the craziness of summer was our 10 day honeymoon in Aruba. Of course it was amazing simply because it was our honeymoon, but in addition to that, it was just so great to have nothing else to think about except what bathing suit to put on that day. We just sat in the hot tub, played in the pool, and laid on the beach all day, every day! It was fantastic!! I know Aruba won't be an option in the years to come, but I hope that we will always be able to get away together and have time to just relax, enjoy each other, and not think about anything else! I have been married to a youth pastor for a month and 3 days now, and this summer was the craziest of our lives! It started with my husband (then still my fiance) taking three summer classes to finish up his MDiv. He finished his last class on a Friday, we packed up a moving truck on Saturday, and set out on Sunday to move 1300 miles accross country for Andy to begin his first full-time youth ministry position. All the while, we were planning our wedding from long-distance. We were at our new church for about two and a half weeks before heading to my parents’ house for last-minute preparations and for our wedding. Anyway, all that to say, our way of refreshing after the craziness of summer was our 10 day honeymoon in Aruba. Of course it was amazing simply because it was our honeymoon, but in addition to that, it was just so great to have nothing else to think about except what bathing suit to put on that day. We just sat in the hot tub, played in the pool, and laid on the beach all day, every day! It was fantastic!! I know Aruba won’t be an option in the years to come, but I hope that we will always be able to get away together and have time to just relax, enjoy each other, and not think about anything else!

]]> By: Heidy http://www.marriedtoayouthpastor.com/youth-ministry/another-contest.html#comment-514 Heidy Wed, 03 Sep 2008 23:20:11 +0000 http://www.marriedtoayouthpastor.com/?p=63#comment-514 My husband and I both live far away from both of our families, so most of our vacation time we really like to reconnect with family. While we definitely think that this "reconnection" time with our families is refreshing and needed, sometimes it isn't always refreshing for us as a couple. It is also difficult to really debrief busy seasons during these times as well. We were so thankful to be able to go on a vacation this year to eastern Washington. One of our closest friends from college was getting married and it was a great excuse to visit the area and make a vaca out of it! We hiked, slept (and other stuff that married couples do), read, and debriefed the summer season as well as some very difficult things our church has been dealing with throughout our time in ministry there. It is unrealistic to think that a trip like this will be possible each year, but we are grateful for the time we had! But what about the times when you can't have special time away or extended time off? For Josh (my husband) and I, we really try to refresh and reconnect through the normal times each week. Monday night during football season we eat dinner at home together and watch Monday Night Football together (something we BOTH enjoy). Other nights, when we are feeling distant or feel disconnected, we unplug our phones and try to intentionally connect over dinner, coffee, or doing a puzzle together and listening to music (one of our favorite pasttimes!). I have learned that marriage isn't always about the extravagant, but about loving your partner through the crazies, camp seasons and fall kick-offs included! My husband and I both live far away from both of our families, so most of our vacation time we really like to reconnect with family. While we definitely think that this “reconnection” time with our families is refreshing and needed, sometimes it isn’t always refreshing for us as a couple. It is also difficult to really debrief busy seasons during these times as well.

We were so thankful to be able to go on a vacation this year to eastern Washington. One of our closest friends from college was getting married and it was a great excuse to visit the area and make a vaca out of it! We hiked, slept (and other stuff that married couples do), read, and debriefed the summer season as well as some very difficult things our church has been dealing with throughout our time in ministry there. It is unrealistic to think that a trip like this will be possible each year, but we are grateful for the time we had!

But what about the times when you can’t have special time away or extended time off? For Josh (my husband) and I, we really try to refresh and reconnect through the normal times each week. Monday night during football season we eat dinner at home together and watch Monday Night Football together (something we BOTH enjoy). Other nights, when we are feeling distant or feel disconnected, we unplug our phones and try to intentionally connect over dinner, coffee, or doing a puzzle together and listening to music (one of our favorite pasttimes!).

I have learned that marriage isn’t always about the extravagant, but about loving your partner through the crazies, camp seasons and fall kick-offs included!

]]> By: Amy http://www.marriedtoayouthpastor.com/youth-ministry/another-contest.html#comment-487 Amy Tue, 26 Aug 2008 15:08:27 +0000 http://www.marriedtoayouthpastor.com/?p=63#comment-487 It seems that the popular choice of refreshing is to get-away, and I agree that removing yourself physically is preferred, my husband & I can't afford a big vacation every year. However, we discovered a great way to vacation at home this year. Timing is everything - we both took the first week of school off from work. It's a good time for my husband to be away from the youth ministry duties, as it is easier for his youth staff to throw a Back-to-School Bash (pizza, games, fellowship) than it is to for them to plan an entire sermon-and-activities-on-Wednesday night. Plus, our own daughter started kindergarten this year, so we were able to nap every day if we wanted, together. We could go out to lunch with our friends, together. We could go work out at the gym, together. We went to church, together (at a different church). We played with our kids, together. It was awesome and so relaxing. We both actually felt rested and refreshed, ready to face church on Sunday. Timing is everything and after a long, busy summer, the first week of school is our new hide-away-at-home week. We'll do this every year, God-willing! It seems that the popular choice of refreshing is to get-away, and I agree that removing yourself physically is preferred, my husband & I can’t afford a big vacation every year. However, we discovered a great way to vacation at home this year. Timing is everything – we both took the first week of school off from work. It’s a good time for my husband to be away from the youth ministry duties, as it is easier for his youth staff to throw a Back-to-School Bash (pizza, games, fellowship) than it is to for them to plan an entire sermon-and-activities-on-Wednesday night. Plus, our own daughter started kindergarten this year, so we were able to nap every day if we wanted, together. We could go out to lunch with our friends, together. We could go work out at the gym, together. We went to church, together (at a different church). We played with our kids, together. It was awesome and so relaxing. We both actually felt rested and refreshed, ready to face church on Sunday.

Timing is everything and after a long, busy summer, the first week of school is our new hide-away-at-home week. We’ll do this every year, God-willing!

]]> By: Jessica Sheets http://www.marriedtoayouthpastor.com/youth-ministry/another-contest.html#comment-479 Jessica Sheets Sun, 24 Aug 2008 03:34:13 +0000 http://www.marriedtoayouthpastor.com/?p=63#comment-479 That was a reply to Cara. Oops! That was a reply to Cara. Oops!

]]> By: Jessica Sheets http://www.marriedtoayouthpastor.com/youth-ministry/another-contest.html#comment-478 Jessica Sheets Sun, 24 Aug 2008 03:33:27 +0000 http://www.marriedtoayouthpastor.com/?p=63#comment-478 Hey, Girl! We're trying to become debt-free, too! I understand how that makes it even more tough! Hey, Girl! We’re trying to become debt-free, too! I understand how that makes it even more tough!

]]> By: Jessica Sheets http://www.marriedtoayouthpastor.com/youth-ministry/another-contest.html#comment-469 Jessica Sheets Fri, 22 Aug 2008 04:51:04 +0000 http://www.marriedtoayouthpastor.com/?p=63#comment-469 I'm glad none of you can see my face for sharing that out-loud in blog land! I’m glad none of you can see my face for sharing that out-loud in blog land!

]]> By: Jessica Sheets http://www.marriedtoayouthpastor.com/youth-ministry/another-contest.html#comment-468 Jessica Sheets Fri, 22 Aug 2008 04:48:30 +0000 http://www.marriedtoayouthpastor.com/?p=63#comment-468 This summer was nuts when it comes to schedules! I always think this way, but I can honestly tell you that it was even more tough this year. We have only been at this church for a year so maybe that has something to do with it. This summer my husband had Senior High camp, Junior High camp, a camp speaking engagement and some vacation time all planned for the end of June through the month of July. It was crazy to even see how I was going to get to spend time with him since this would be the year my two year old and I didn't come with Daddy to camp. Because I didn't want to be alone for 8 days in a place where Wal-mart and the library was my only past time, my mom came and picked us up and took us back to Indiana the weekend before camp with plans for my hubby to pick us back up. WARNING: It gets a little steamy, but this is the important part of how to refresh! We were gone from each other for 9 days all together and it was agony. By the time my husband got home from camp, he was missing his wife so badly (ahem...yeah, you know what I'm talking about--I was just as bad) that he ordered lingerie on-line that would arrive once we were back! But he didn't stop there... He had to wait for church to be over on Sunday morning before he could get on the road to come get us. He knew he had 6+ hours of drive time and wasn't looking forward to it until an idea popped into his head. On Saturday, while we were chatting (quietly where my parents couldn't hear me or see me because I was beet red over what my husband was telling me) my husband decided that we should book a hotel for that following night when he arrived. He knew our daughter would be asleep so she wouldn't get to see him until Monday morning anyway. I started giggling, thinking he was teasing since staying at my parents would be free. It turns out that he was indeed serious and was booking the room on-line. I had to go and ask my parents if they would care if I went and met my husband at a hotel IN MY HOMETOWN where my entire family lived while Ella spent the night with them. I felt naughty just asking and giggled through the whole permission asking! My mom knowingly laughed and encouraged the clandestine meeting! So, I hurried to Wal-mart in search of something sexy, but it was hard to come by. Yeah, pretty sad when Wal-Mart was my only option. But I needn't have worried--when my husband arrived at the hotel, he had brought a gift--more lingerie. The room had a hot tub, too! I felt like I was doing something wrong...almost!:-) I'll stop there! So, even though there was still a camp speaking engagement to come, it was great to be with each other. I think this will become a regular occurrence after camp since my parents won't be surprised the next time! By the way, when the lingerie was delivered after the speaking engagement....perfect timing, we thought! This summer was nuts when it comes to schedules! I always think this way, but I can honestly tell you that it was even more tough this year. We have only been at this church for a year so maybe that has something to do with it. This summer my husband had Senior High camp, Junior High camp, a camp speaking engagement and some vacation time all planned for the end of June through the month of July. It was crazy to even see how I was going to get to spend time with him since this would be the year my two year old and I didn’t come with Daddy to camp. Because I didn’t want to be alone for 8 days in a place where Wal-mart and the library was my only past time, my mom came and picked us up and took us back to Indiana the weekend before camp with plans for my hubby to pick us back up.

WARNING: It gets a little steamy, but this is the important part of how to refresh!

We were gone from each other for 9 days all together and it was agony. By the time my husband got home from camp, he was missing his wife so badly (ahem…yeah, you know what I’m talking about–I was just as bad) that he ordered lingerie on-line that would arrive once we were back! But he didn’t stop there… He had to wait for church to be over on Sunday morning before he could get on the road to come get us. He knew he had 6+ hours of drive time and wasn’t looking forward to it until an idea popped into his head. On Saturday, while we were chatting (quietly where my parents couldn’t hear me or see me because I was beet red over what my husband was telling me) my husband decided that we should book a hotel for that following night when he arrived. He knew our daughter would be asleep so she wouldn’t get to see him until Monday morning anyway. I started giggling, thinking he was teasing since staying at my parents would be free. It turns out that he was indeed serious and was booking the room on-line. I had to go and ask my parents if they would care if I went and met my husband at a hotel IN MY HOMETOWN where my entire family lived while Ella spent the night with them. I felt naughty just asking and giggled through the whole permission asking! My mom knowingly laughed and encouraged the clandestine meeting! So, I hurried to Wal-mart in search of something sexy, but it was hard to come by. Yeah, pretty sad when Wal-Mart was my only option. But I needn’t have worried–when my husband arrived at the hotel, he had brought a gift–more lingerie. The room had a hot tub, too! I felt like I was doing something wrong…almost!:-) I’ll stop there!

So, even though there was still a camp speaking engagement to come, it was great to be with each other. I think this will become a regular occurrence after camp since my parents won’t be surprised the next time!

By the way, when the lingerie was delivered after the speaking engagement….perfect timing, we thought!

]]> By: Cara http://www.marriedtoayouthpastor.com/youth-ministry/another-contest.html#comment-465 Cara Thu, 21 Aug 2008 16:58:37 +0000 http://www.marriedtoayouthpastor.com/?p=63#comment-465 What to do we do to refreshen ourselves after a long busy summer? Pray. This is our second summer of "Camp Summers." I went to one of the camps - we took the Sr. High to that camp I worked at and did all the cool extreme things you can do at camp. Then, the last day of camp my husband left the youth (this was planned of course) and flew up to Alaska to visit some of my family and he had a few days to fish. A couple days after we got back we did a camping trip with all of the Sr. High - incoming Freshmen to outgoing Seniors. This was a great 3 days. And then what? Back to the grind? Pretty much. We're trying to become debt-free so we aren't going out to eat or going places. We're working on keeping it fun at home and doing free things in the area - for him this means: fishing. :-) Honestly, he's tired whether or not he knows it. He wants to relax at the end of the summer, but he doesn't have much time for it because he's planning the fall already. I've been praying for him and asking God to give him what he needs. I also tell my husband how impressed I am with all that he's accomplished this summer. I truly am too. I couldn't do it! I am no saint. I miss him. I want him to just spend time with me and forget about church for a little bit, but realistically there isn't time for that so I am going to keep praying - and steal him away here and there. What to do we do to refreshen ourselves after a long busy summer?

Pray.

This is our second summer of “Camp Summers.” I went to one of the camps – we took the Sr. High to that camp I worked at and did all the cool extreme things you can do at camp. Then, the last day of camp my husband left the youth (this was planned of course) and flew up to Alaska to visit some of my family and he had a few days to fish.

A couple days after we got back we did a camping trip with all of the Sr. High – incoming Freshmen to outgoing Seniors. This was a great 3 days. And then what? Back to the grind? Pretty much. We’re trying to become debt-free so we aren’t going out to eat or going places. We’re working on keeping it fun at home and doing free things in the area – for him this means: fishing. :-)

Honestly, he’s tired whether or not he knows it. He wants to relax at the end of the summer, but he doesn’t have much time for it because he’s planning the fall already. I’ve been praying for him and asking God to give him what he needs. I also tell my husband how impressed I am with all that he’s accomplished this summer. I truly am too. I couldn’t do it!

I am no saint. I miss him. I want him to just spend time with me and forget about church for a little bit, but realistically there isn’t time for that so I am going to keep praying – and steal him away here and there.

]]> By: Laura http://www.marriedtoayouthpastor.com/youth-ministry/another-contest.html#comment-464 Laura Thu, 21 Aug 2008 16:14:55 +0000 http://www.marriedtoayouthpastor.com/?p=63#comment-464 This is Laura again... just wanted to say thank you for your prayers everyone. We really appreciate it! :-) Everyone's vacations away sound great and I agree with guarding the time at home. If you can't leave town, you can make a point to leave work at work for the night (which is hard as we personally find ourselves talking about youth/church stuff a lot at home). Amber, I can't believe they scheduled camp the week before your wedding! and that YOU WENT?!! Wow! Congratulations on your marriage and welcome to the world as a youth pastor's wife (you have definitely been well "initiated" already!) This is Laura again… just wanted to say thank you for your prayers everyone. We really appreciate it! :-)
Everyone’s vacations away sound great and I agree with guarding the time at home. If you can’t leave town, you can make a point to leave work at work for the night (which is hard as we personally find ourselves talking about youth/church stuff a lot at home).

Amber,
I can’t believe they scheduled camp the week before your wedding! and that YOU WENT?!! Wow! Congratulations on your marriage and welcome to the world as a youth pastor’s wife (you have definitely been well “initiated” already!)

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