Just me

I don't know about anyone else but the holidays always bring about reflection. And one of the things I have thought about is one of the areas I have always stuggled in. I was a "Martha" born in a family of "Marys". I will never be the "funny" one, the "pretty" one, the "popular" one, the "musical" one, the "athletic" one or the "outgoing" one. Probably the best I could do was the "smart" one and even that was questionable at times! I am never the first on anyone's list to ask out to dinner or the movies and that is partly my own fault. Through my own experiences and stuggles, I have developed my own set of "rules" for myself and they include not allowing gossip when I am around and never talking to someone about an issue unless they are the person involved or seeking advice only from those in my level of leadership or above. That can make friendships interesting to say the least. There are many times when I walk in a room that conversation stops. And I can understand why people would feel that I am not the most "fun" person to be around. I also made a decision about 4-5 years ago that I would rather be respected than liked. That can be very lonely place to be but I feel like it was something I needed to do and God was calling me to a different place in my relationship with Him and with others. Since words of affirmation is my "love language" - the position that I have placed myself in doesn't necessarily lend itself to be shown love in that way very much. So it was truly a gift to get the following from one of the teens that has come to the church that we attend and the youth camp we run for the conference every summer. Our commitments with young adult ministries haven't always allowed us to have the time to invest in our youth on a weekly basis although we are doing more and more of that lately. All that to say - sometimes you wonder what impact, if any you are having. And when you aren't the "fun" one or the "cool" one - does what you do really matter. So wherever you are - if you have ever stuggled or wondered - the following is for you too. (this is all the more meaningful since this teen now goes to another church and we don't get to see each other that often)

Sandi,
At my church, one of the pastors gave us all a few challenges for the week of Thanksgiving in the last week of our "Macedonian Project" series, and one of them was to thank one person who has influenced you in your walk with God. You should feel blessed just to know that you came to my mind. =) So I just want to say thank you for all that you have done for me in the past. Thanks for all of the times that we had fun together in fellowship. I can remember numerous times when I have had so much fun with you hanging around at your house or at the church with the rest of the girls. Thanks for all of the years of camp that you organized so well. Those late nights were always awesome! Most importantly, thanks for all of the spiritual instruction you have ever given me. Even though there were other people who I got spiritual instruction from more often than from you, it seems like you were always the one to help me out the most. Even though I don't get to see you hardly at all anymore (except random times at Walmart), I will still always remember how you have helped me in my faith and helped me to grow closer to God. Thank you! =) Nicole

**If you haven't taken the chance to say thank you for someone that has impacted your life - I bet they would also think this was the greatest gift they could receive this holiday season!

Thankful!!!

This Thanksgiving I am so thankful! Thankful for so many things. And the past year has showed me that being thankful or full of joy has NOTHING to do with your circumstances and EVERYTHING to do with who God is. So this Thanksgiving I am thankful even for the situations that have caused us pain because God has and is getting glory out of them! God has been so real to us this year and my prayer would be that everyone would know that kind of relationship!
This year I am thankful for:
*My Saviour - what more can I say than that. He truly has been everything that He has promised He would be!
*My husband - we have walked through lots of things but he is the person who lives out his Christianity to me every day - from daily reading his Bible to witnessing to anyone, anywhere. To loving his wife and son in ways that are practical and meaningful!
*My son - HAPPY BIRTHDAY TY! I am so grateful that every few years we get to celebrate on Thanksgiving one of the greatest gifts that God ever gave us. Thank you for bringing fun and creativity and for showing us a different side to the world that God created and lives through you every day!!
*My parents - they truly live God's grace and His power and His peace every day of their lives and I am blessed to call them Mom & Dad.
*My siblings and extended family - you make me a better person and enrich my life in so many ways. A special salute to my Grandpa Boynton and Grandma Bedford - you model God's faithfulness for all of us!
*My friends - who are way more like family to me. You challenge me, love me, pray with and for me - I am grateful for the impact you have in my life!
*My ministries - God has given me such a passion for youth and young adults - I am thankful for those that allow me to live out that passion in ministries that I love!
*My friends and acquaintances who have walked though hard times this week - makes life all the more "real" to know that life is short and tomorrow isn't promised. To live today fully. Thankful for the ones that came through situations and are on the road to recovery. Thankful for the knowledge of those that will spend their first Thanksgiving in heaven. Thankful for the parents that spend every day caring for special children - God given and I think - so very close to the heart of God.

If you don't have anything to be "thankful" for - borrow some of mine. We always go around the table and say one thing we are thankful for. I will be remembering so many Thanksgivings from before - the first year Ty was born - straight from the hospital to the Thanksgiving meal; the year Thanksgiving was spent in MS doing hurricane relief - the tears that flowed as we stood in a destroyed neighborhood listening to my dad pray for the meal over a cell phone; this year as Dad will be on the phone praying for our meal from his own mission field. Thankful - very thankful.

More pics from the party!

Happy Birthday Ty!!

We celebrated Ty's 7th birthday with a Star Wars themed party with about 50 of our closest friends and family. Ty had a blast and I think the other kids did too as they went through JEdi Trials including Lightsaber agility practice, X wing flying practice, cleared the sector of asteroids and defeated Darth Vader. Some very good friends agreed to subject themselves to the humiliation of dressing up as Darth Vader, Luke Skywalker, Yoda, Princess Leia, and Obi Wan Kenobe. It was certainly interesting!! The kids also loved jumping in the trampoline, playing foosball and generally just having fun!!The fact that I have never watched a Star Wars movie didn't keep me from trying to have a party that seemed to make at least a little sense to all those Star Wars fanatics out there. Ty wanted a Yoda cake - can I say what a hard thing that is to do??! And thanks to our friend Genniser who attempted to be in the "spirit" of the whole thing even if he wasn't Jabba the Hutt as Ty had originally wanted him to be. Pray for Kevan and Jeffrey (Darth & Luke respectively). After having kids chase and attack you for 2 hours - I am sure they are resting up and recovering!!

We'll see!

How this goes on blogger! It figures that just when I get comfortable with yahoo 360 - something would happen! Oh well, such is life!!