This summer...

We have had a bit of a busy summer.  After we arrived back from Falls Creek, we were spending most days helping with VBS preparations.  We were gearing up for some Pandamania.  I loved seeing the stage set come together.  The ladies that organized it worked so hard.  I was in charge of a break room for the workers.  I remember having a space to get away for just a bit to grab a bite to eat, a quick coke, and a little peace before heading back to showing God's love to little people.  I was so glad to host this area for our workers.  This year they worked so hard and I loved seeing the things that some of them wrote on our prayer, praise and puns wall.  Kids say the funniest things!  There were many decisions made for Christ that week.

Preacher Man left for his South Africa on the 27th.  I decided to leave to see my parents for a while on the following Friday.  We were able to spend some very blessed time with family.  My mom-in-law was doing some amazing things to her apartment that has made it so homey.  Our visit was one of the best ones I can look back on.  My brother and sister-in-law came to visit with my niece and nephew.  She and Sweet Pea had the best time playing together.  Cutie Pie felt a little left out, but she is just a little bit older and it makes a difference.  My girls loved going to the zoo a couple times even though it was so hot and humid.  Honey Bear has definitely started calling me Ma.  My mom was called Ma by my brother for a short time and said how much it loved it because it was so cute.  I now know what my mom was talking about.  Sweet Pea has also started calling me Mom Mom.  My niece calls her mom that, so with them being around each other so much it has rubbed off.  When I make my way down there, I am able to shop and sometimes find really good deals.  So I was able to truly feel like it was a vacation while Preacher Man is gone.  Thankfully, I was able to keep up with him through social media.  When he got back in the states, he had to stay with our pastor because we forgot his house key in the house.  One HUGE detail that slipped our minds.  They graciously let him crash there till we got home the next day.  It was so exciting to have us all together and home!  We have had a good week together, but I find myself over and over feeling like I need to organize my house from top to bottom.  Some of this urge comes from both Preacher Man and myself bring stuff home and accumulating too much.  We have closets that have wood shelves but they are odd sized and not real sturdy.  I really want to get a shelving system to better help with organizing.  Ok, enough of this cleaning stuff, I will work very hard to get things paired down.  For now, I am going to look forward to each day and our up coming Student Evangelism Conference.  We have a pretty good size group going.  Thanks for sticking with me through my update...I have taken a while doing this because we were traveling.  I hope you all are doing well and enjoying the warmth before fall comes and the fridged cold of winter.

Long overdue

Consumed 2011

Praise the LORD, my soul;
all my inmost being, praise his holy name.

Psalm 103:1

I can't not sleep tonight.  It probably has a lot to do with the thoughts rolling around in my mind tonight.  Anyway, I am going to do my long overdue post about Falls Creek.  It was such an ordained time.  The Thursday night before youth camp, a friend and myself took some youth girls to the Cadillac Ranch, and the Groom Cross.  I wasn't sure what God was going to do that night.  I chose a section of scripture about unity in Christ.  I have mentioned before that we (Preacher Man and I) have wanted our group to be unified.  I have been praying they could start to see each other as someone they could go to with problems or requests and they would be there for each other.  That evening before camp was a glimpse of that dream coming true.

When we arrived at camp, we had 28 youth, 4 sponsors, and 1 outstanding cook.  There was a an anticipation from the youth that had attended before...and eagerness from the 'newbies'.  That first night the speaker dude (a title that he gave himself) told us that he would be speaking out of 1 John.  Each night he would take time in each of the chapters of 1 John and show us how vital it is to be completely consumed with Christ.  He then started to share the gospel.  We had two jr. high girls step forward and make decisions.  There was rejoicing that night.

Tuesday was hot and sunny.  It was the day for the beginning of rec and our day to do the high ropes course.  I have not observed or participated in this activity.  I am not a huge fan of height, this doesn't mean that I don't enjoy an occasional roller coaster or even attempt ropes courses.  It was interesting to observe the dynamics between two people who don't know anything about the other person.  If there wasn't complete trust, there was hesitation and fear.  (completely understandable)  After just a bit, you could see this mutual understanding that they were in this together.  I loved being there to see the silly encouragement of our high school guys quoting Nacho Libre....'you have eagle powers.'  Each night we had students making bold decisions for Christ.  There was one young man who told Preacher Man as soon as we got back he needed to be baptized, and he felt a possible call to missions.

More and more I saw our group becoming more acquainted with each other.  I know that becoming a group that relies on each other takes years, sometimes a decade.  I have seen this happening..little steps to helping them rely on each other and being thankful for each other.

As with any time you leave and go on a vacation or get away from everything and go to camp, you have to come back to reality.  This is when you have to cling to God the most.  Many of our students go into homes with no christian influence.  There parents are very dedicated to them and will do anything for them.  They just simply haven't heard or unsure of what to do.  There are still many people who haven't been talked to about Christ.  The hard work begins when our students get into old habits and we don't expect them to be perfect.  Preacher Man and I want to be there for them when they need encouragement, when they need prayer, when they need guidance, etc.  For most of my life, I have been a black and white, right and wrong, idealistic kind of person.  I have had a reset button that allows each day to be new with no mistakes.  As I grow older, I feel that this changes as with all things in life.  Change isn't easy and it can sometimes be very difficult to understand.  If I didn't have Christ in my life, I wouldn't have made it through some very tough things in the last 10 years.  I pray that for many of our students say they can look at the uncertainties ahead and know that the one constant for them is Christ. 

"Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or terrified because of them, for the LORD your God goes with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you.” Deuteronomy 31:6

DATE NIGHT!

It was one of those nights......Preacher Man went to a Men's Retreat at Falls Creek in April.  It was a very busy month for us, but I felt that he needed some guy time with some other men in the church.  While they were there, they were able to pre-screen a new movie coming out, Courageous.  Preacher Man couldn't say enough things about it, but trying very hard not to give too much of it away.  He knew there would be another screening near us that we could go to together.  Yay!  Today, we had a lady in our church bless again tonight with watching our girls all night.  She said that she thought we needed a night out before Preacher Man left for a few weeks in South Africa.  We went with our El Pastor and his espouse to dinner, the movie, and a little coffee after.  It was a wonderful evening.

Courageous was a movie about men stepping up in their family lives and truly leading their family in God's plan.  There were many more complex sides to it, but the main theme of the movie was having a resolution to have integrity, to put God's desire first, to bring his children up with God as the center of their lives.  Much like other movies produced by Sherwood Baptist, Courageous shows four different men at different stages in their lives.  Most of those men couldn't pin point a time they felt like a man for the first time.  Most didn't have a present father in their lives.  Several of those men thought that playing with their kids each week was what it meant to being a good 'enough' father.  The movie does have some action to it, there are a couple of points that you need to find some Kleenex near you.  I don't want that last statement to deter anyone from coming to see this when it comes out in theaters on September 30.

It is very difficult for me to remember back to a time when my Dad wasn't a Christian and following God.  It was around the time of Kindergarten, my Dad accepted Christ into his life and radically changed his life and my families life.  My Dad had a very rough childhood and teenage years too.  Too many things happened that shaped the angry young man he became.  When he and my mom met, he was still very angry.  It wasn't until my brother and I came into his world that he softened a bit, but when Christ entered his heart.  All those walls came tumbling down around him.  When I was a kid, there was a "Promise Keepers" movement that Dad was a part of.  I noticed a huge change in the way that he was leading by example.  When he and my Mom were new to their walk with God, I remember going to a home bible study (much like a small group) and it wasn't uncommon for us to eat dinner, and later all of us kids to fall asleep on the couches and floors while they prayed and read scripture for hours on end.  I remember many times my dad and mom trying very hard to do family devotionals with us and we would make it the longest 15-20 minutes of the evening.  It wasn't something that other 'kids' had to do with their families.  At the same time, I had many friends that didn't have their dads around all the time, or they had a stepdad.  Some of my friends told me how cool it was for my parents to still be married.  There were some statistics that were said several times about fatherless homes and the effects it has been having on drugs, gangs, alcohol, premarital pregnancy, etc.  Those similar thoughts were talked about in the 'Promise Keepers' material.  It is so crucial to the design God has made with marriage and family to have the man as the head of the household.

I pray that many people with go to see this movie and take time to take stock of their family.  Even if your kids are grown, you NEVER stop being a father or grandfather.  Even if you live away from your kids or grandkids, there are many many youth or children that don't have a father in their lives.  Mentoring and discipling other people in the faith is crucial to leaving a legacy.

P.S. I have not forgotten about the posts about camp.  It has just been a little fast around here with VBS prep and Africa prep (in other words, Brian doing the helping and I am busy at home doing my part.).  I haven't had time yet, but they will be coming soon.  God did some outstanding things during last week and I will share.

CRUNCH TIME!!

Here it is again!  One week before youth camp...Not just any youth camp...FALLS CREEK!!!  Preacher Man and I have been to this camp before many times, but NEVER with our own cabin.  I am so excited and overwhelmed with all the preparation that has to take place.  I had all these grand plans of decorations, games, etc.  To have pretty much everything ready for our Sunday night packing 'party', I will be consumed with little projects.  Oh on top of all that fun planning, we are working on selling our little blue car.  The one that I have had since I started driving.  I am finally going to let it go....I also planned a "Get-to-know-ya" fellowship for our Jr. High and Sr. High girls. this Thursday!  It should be a fun night, but not real sure how many will show up.  I hope a lot, but I don't know how many drivers I will have to help with this fun event.  Another fun activity for the week is our VBS work day is Saturday.  So I think I may be packing on Friday unless something else wiggles it way into my schedule.  I have to say that I am very thankful for one of the ladies at our church came to me a couple months ago and told me she would love to watch my little munchkins.  I know they will have a good fun time and probably won't miss us too much.  Just kidding, if you have ever been around when Preacher Man tries to leave for a bit the girls all start to cry unless they get hugs and kisses with a promise of a quick return.

I have been praying for this week at camp for some time now.  There will be quite a few girls (and guys) in a small space for a week.  Usually everyone is so busy with the three different swim areas, ropes courses, volleyball, softball, basketball, Devil's Bathtub, Mission Village, etc. that there is no time for bad attitudes or PDA with their week long crush.  I have been praying for our group, guys and girls, since the day we started at our church.  That there would one day be a time when they could break away from their cliques and be able to come to church and share their hurts and triumphs with each other.  I know that this kind of atmosphere doesn't happen overnight or even in a few years time.  We all serve the God of outstanding miracles.  I completely believe that God could do this very thing at camp.  This coming week they can all bond together as a group and see things that they never knew about someone else.  When I was in youth I remember going to camp and many of the people in my large and in charge youth group were people that I could count on for accountability, encouragement, prayer, etc.  It was something that I leaned on when times got tough to deal with and when times were good we all had celebrations.  The walk that I have seen some of our youth has been a long difficult road that many are still struggling with.  Things that in my 12-18 years I didn't have to imagine dealing with and they are facing them with God holding them.

Last year, I saw some of our students praying without ceasing for a friend of theirs.  Each night we saw him struggle with God calling him.  The last night, he gave his heart to God.  I have never seen such excitement in their faces..they felt they experienced a miracle.  This year, I would ask that your pray fervently for our youth be one.  When they get away from all the distraction of the world, they are able to focus so much on God and let all their walls down.  I pray they become one group with one focus.  As school starts back up our battle will begin.  I am praying that this Thursday we can start something new and different for our girls.  A time to welcome our new 6th grader and our graduating seniors to spend time getting to know them.  They can take this summer to teach them so much about God and what it looks like to serve Him whole heartily.  Please pray that I don't let 'MY' plans get in the way of God's greater purpose and plan for the week ahead.  I just need to sit back and let God take control of everything.

When we return from camp, I will have several posts over all the happens.  I am sure there will be many funny and miraculous stories to share.  I will just say ahead of time, thank you for praying for us during the next couple of weeks.

Cutie Pie is done with Pre-K

WE MADE IT!  There were many late mornings, some missed days, and many memories that I hope we all never forget.  This first year of Pre-K was fun.  I have to admit that we are NOT morning folks here in the Taylor house.  Cutie Pie would wake up many mornings and beg to just lay in bed for a little while longer, but once she was up and moving, she was ready to take the day on.  All of my children still take afternoon naps, so with the coming school year we are going to have to learn how to live without naps in the afternoon.  I have to say that when we all went for the end of the school year program, I could tell that Sweet Pea was ready for school next fall.  Cutie Pie sang a song and was in the slide show.  I was also very impressed with the kindergarten standing on stage and saying all the verses they memorized to go with each letter of the alphabet.  We have done some memorizing with Cutie Pie, but she doesn't have the recall yet for them.  My child wasn't graduating, but it made me excited for the future.  I really do love seeing all my kids excel at their stages of development.  Just as with many other moms, when you see your baby tackle something and they accomplish it.  The smile and satisfaction that comes across their face is unmet by anything else in the world.  There were moments this year that Cutie Pie had this experience.  When she came home for the first time and read to me and her sisters.  She didn't want to stop...although after a while she wanted to play, but she started writing words just so she could read them.  I never thought that by this time she would be reading and writing words.  Both Cutie Pie and Sweet Pea are excited about staying for lunch and the afternoon next year.  It will give me a great opportunity to have some time with Honey Bear, but it reminds me they are getting so big.

This weekend, I was able to see my cousin graduate high school.  She is at a point in her life that has so many possibilities.  I remember back to the place I was at when I graduated from school.  I knew who I wanted to be with for the rest of my life.  Many thought this was a mistake.  That I was too young to get married....I had plenty of time to get married.  I first needed experience in the world before I got married.  Just as my cousin has a plan for her life, I had a plan and calling on my life.  There are choices that she will make that are going to shape her forever.  When you are young, whether in love or just wanting to leave all that is familiar and make a different path, you think that life will always turn out just as you plan for it.  I look at the faith my parents had to have to entrust me to Preacher Man, who is seven years older than me.  I look at my girls and pray that I will have to peace and trust that my parents did with us.  I know that some day in the near future...I am told by many, "it goes faster than you think..."....Cutie Pie, Sweet Pea and Honey Bear will be hugging me on their graduation day and I will have to let go of them.  I pray for that day often.  When the children that I am putting so much time into at this stage will look at me at that stage and see that what I am telling them is for their best, not to hold them back, or make life more difficult.  Right now, Cutie Pie and the girls want to hear what I have to say.  I just pray that will continue as they grow.  Poor Preacher Man will need some prayer in the years ahead with all of us girls in the house. LOL.  I was glad to see my cousin graduate.

Here are a few pictures of the end of school for Cutie Pie and my cousin's graduation:

Cutie Pie is the second on the left.  This is her field day team.  Preacher Man was the leader and did a great job playing with them.

Cutie Pie and Mrs. Wyley--We really enjoyed her this year and I am thankful for her meek spirit and the time she took pouring into my sweet girl.

Cutie Pie on the first day of Pre-K

Cutie Pie on the last day of Pre-K.  I think that she has grown so much from the first picture.  I wish I had the same pose to show you the differences, but I think you can still tell the growth.

Some of the family with my cousin.  As with most of our pictures.  I am talking in it.  I can't stop telling people what to do.  HA!

It was truly a great last week of school for Cutie Pie and an amazing first week of summer vacation!  I know we will soon see family again in July, but first I am so looking forward to going to youth camp in June.  We have 33-35 signed up.  I don't know the exact number because I have been gone.  This is something that I never dreamed would happen with this being our first year here to have a cabin to ourselves.  I am praying that God work mightily at camp to connect our youth together and make them a united group.  

Stronger

So I am not one to usually do this, but I have felt weak all day.  I have started to feel more and more aches in the morning, not enough get-up-and-go to play with the kids, just an overall feeling of being unhealthy.  Last week, I had a friend suggest me going to the gym with her.  Sure, I was up for the free trial.  After the first workout, I felt energized, not terribly sore, and just really a different out look on things.  Today, I have been going to the gym everyday this week.  I have been looking forward to my time at the gym to unwind and to have a few minutes to just not have any obligation to anyone but me.  I think that I hit a wall today.  I spent the afternoon and evening making some pillow case dresses with a friend.  I truly enjoyed the time together, but when I started home a heaviness covered me.  I really wanted to skip out on the gym tonight.  In my mind, I thought...You haven't missed a day yet, it won't hurt this one time.....it will take you out of this crummy mood your in, it always makes you feel better and stress free.  In the past, I made excuses as to why I shouldn't make this a priority.  I feel the urgency to do this, even when I feel so weighed down.  I wasn't just feeling heavy from my health alone, it was an ache in my heart.  Tonight, when I left the gym, not feeling stress free and still a little weary, this song came on:

Hey, heard you were up all night
Thinking about how your world ain't right
And you wonder if things will ever get better
And you're asking why is it always raining on you
When all you want is just a little good news
Instead of standing there stuck out in the weather

Oh, don't hang your head
It's gonna end
God's right there
Even if it's hard to see Him
I promise you that He still cares

When the waves are taking you under
Hold on just a little bit longer
He knows that this is gonna make you stronger, stronger
The pain ain't gonna last forever
And things can only get better
Believe me
This is gonna make you stronger
Gonna make you stronger, stronger, stronger
Believe me, this is gonna make you ...

Try and do the best you can
Hold on and let Him hold your hand
And go on and fall into the arms of Jesus
Oh, lift your head it's gonna end
God's right there
Even when you just can't feel Him
I promise you that He still cares

'Cause if He started this work in your life
He will be faithful to complete it
If only you believe it
He knows how much it hurts
And I'm sure that He's gonna help you get through this

When the waves are taking you under
Hold on just a little bit longer
He knows that this is gonna make you stronger, stronger
The pain ain't gonna last forever
In time it's gonna get better
Believe me
This is gonna make you stronger

My heart aches today because we have started the big decision of estate planning.  I know that many of you may think that Preacher Man and I are not wise for doing this before now.  God has protected us till now. None the less, we have made those decisions and feel relative comfortable with them.  When this came into play a couple of weeks ago, I struggled with my feelings of ministry life and friendship.  In my limited experience as a minister's wife, I have had many close friends that have moved or time has caused us to be less close.  When looking to our future, there is no certainty of where we will be or for how long.  I knew this going into ministry.  I don't ever for one second regret following God's leading down this journey.  However, there are weak moments when I let my thoughts run away with me. (ie. over analyze, critiquing myself, etc.)  I have to check my feelings and seek God.  I have been able to witness God's moving in peoples lives.  I have seen a teen girl who would hold a grudge like no other, turn her heart over to God, and she became this vibrant young woman who completely trust God with all her life.  I have seen God take a girl who had lost family and friends, and seemed to have it all together...get on her face and cry out to God to heal her heart.  She became this power house force to make huge changes in the lives of those around her.  I have seen a teen guy who was the sports 'jock', who had a heart so cold toward God, with all his friends praying for him.  God breathed warmth into his life and I saw this guy become the most peaceful, joyful guy.  There are many more examples of God's greatness.  Just as with many christians, they struggle in our world to live for Him.  I know that I will witness many more miracles and answered prayers.  I am thankful for so many people that have passed their faith to me, shown me that in imperfection-His is glorified.  There are men like Marion Garland, who look at this girl and tell her she was beautiful (my dad told me every Sunday morning from the time I was itty bitty that I was beautiful).  He would come to our house and sit and tell us stories of his wife and him when they were first starting out with marriage, kids, everything and how God worked in their lives together.  Marion was a man that even in his twilight years would come help Preacher Man set up a canopy for a festival.  I have mentioned Mr. Boney in another post, and there are men and women that I am getting to know that will forever be etched in my story.  With each blessing, I can feel my life getting stronger.

Loads of April Pictures!!!

I have already talked about Sweet Pea's birthday party.  She wanted for the longest time an Ariel party.  I don't really like cartoon theme parties, but she really really wanted it.  I joined the fun.  We decided the closest thing we could get to her under sea castle would be the Super Park.  

Here I am setting things up and Preacher Man snapped a couple of pictures.

The cupcakes were strawberry, which she asked for.  Come to find out not many people care for the taste, but she LOVED them.  I just made 48 cupcakes and some cake pops.  We had a lot of 'cake' leftover.

Honey Bear trying to enjoy a cake pop.  She could hardly get a bite at first.

Sweet Pea, her bestest friend, & Cutie Pie  

On our way home from the party.  Cutie Pie was holding most of the balloons.  Everyone was a bit wind blown and weary, but a great day.

Cutie Pie at Discovery Science Center.  Here they were using their "grace and courtesy" while waiting for instructions from an adult. (Side note: grace and courtesy- if you were to come to CCS, you would see students silent and hands clenched behind them while walking in the halls.  When we arrived at the DSC they were very excited and loud.  When the teachers told the students to have grace and courtesy.  They all, within minutes, were trying to be still and quiet.)

Climbing on one of the exibits.  Cutie Pie and a friend were getting some of that energy out.

Bubbles, bubbles, bubbles.  The last time we came here, Cutie Pie was 3 & she got bubbles in her eyes.  They were NOT tear free.  This time she was much more careful. (as you can see...lots of concentration.)

She wanted me to take this picture of her crawling through here.  I thought it was funny because she refused to look at the camera.  She was ready for the next thing her friends had already moved on to.

This dino scared all the kids...well, at least the girls.

Cutie Pie's impression of the dino above.  It made noises and she definitely used some noise here too.

Leave it to the girls to find the stage and dress up area.  I loved seeing them trying to organize a 'play'.  I think it was about a princess walking through the forest and the changing seasons.  It was a good twenty minutes long.

The whole crew in front of one of those loud dinos.

Easter in the Park.  After lunch they were allowed to have some free time to play.  Cutie Pie and Sweet Pea had a chance to slid down the hill.

Everyone gathering for the egg hunt.

No need to run.  The eggs were labeled with their names.  

Sweet Pea helping Honey Bear get a few eggs too.  I love that she was concerned with helping her sister.

Love this picture.  Before this the other two had eggs up by their faces.  Honey Bear wants to be like them.

One quick picture before we leave.  Everyone was a bit worn out.

Easter we went as a family and saw the stations of the cross in Groom.  Sweet Pea was really concerned when she actually saw the nails in Jesus hands.  In that time there, they had some great questions and really seemed to understand a bit more about Jesus sacrifice and gift.

Recital Time!!!

Sweet Pea was feeling a bit left out.  I thought since it was a dress rehearsal, it wasn't a big deal to let her get "made up".  

Quick Pose from Cutie Pie

Waiting patiently for their practice.

They were all a bit tired at this point.  It was about 8 pm.

Waiting for the music to begin again.

Cutie Pie thinks she needs to know the words to all the songs and sing them while dancing. She ends up looking very serious because of the concentration it takes to do both of those.

Shake Your Tail Feathers.  There is a part where they swing their arms in circles and we worked on that for a while.  She was so proud here because she got it right.  I love that look of satisifation with she accomplishes something that she worked so hard on.

Yahoo! We got done at 10 pm...she was so ready for bed.

Pouty face.  All the girls that had perfect attendance got a star trophy.  She was upset for a bit, but there were reasons that we missed those classes because we were traveling with the youth or going on vacation to see Oma and Opa.  When she remembered those times, a BIG smile came on her face.  This face was a little sad for me to see, but I also remember a few of those trips and the huge blessings we were able to witness.  

One last dance for the year.  I love this picture because they were off the stage watching the older girls dance.  I hope that Cutie Pie will always love dance and stick with it.  We will see what next year brings.

Preacher Man brought his girl some tulips.  I love this picture.  He had been at a Men's Retreat at Falls Creek.  He came back refreshed and looking forward to what God is doing.

Cutie Pie with one of her friends afterward.  

Honey Bear being funny while Preacher Man was reading to the girls for bedtime.  She seems to do the funniest things when everyone else is being serious or calm.  I think she will keep it interesting.  Lately our house has been filled with lots of laughter from all the girls.  The things they say and think are so funny.  It brings back memories of things I thought at their age.  I wasn't a quizative kind of kid.  I kept in a lot of my own thoughts.  I think that is how Cutie Pie is too.  Sweet Pea loves to discover all things new.  Honey Bear just really wants to bring a smile to your face.  With three girls there is drama, but lately our lives have been filled with joy and thankfulness. (Thanks Polly Anna!)