Sometimes I Write

Remember that show in the 90’s on MTV “Road Rules”? A bunch of young adults traveling in a Winnebago across the country meeting challenges, eating at fun places, and laughing their butts off all the time, except during the occasional drama of disagreements and personality clashes?

Yeah…That’s not us – except for the drama part. Traveling long hours with three little kids stinks! Fun places to eat? Only if there’s a playland and french fries involved. Meeting challenges? How about a potty training two year old who tells us she has to pee about five minutes after we’ve left the gas station or restaurant. Oh, and we’re driving a Dodge Caravan – MUCH smaller than a Winnie! Our laughter for the day came when we heard the five year old in the back seat filming his own “Bounty baby wipes” commercial. Ofcourse we had to pull out the real video camera and have him repeat the whole thing. I wonder if a letter to Bounty is in order? As absorbent as Bounty is…they should make diapers and pull ups for long road trips!!! It was a long drive, but we did have fun singing along with Switchfoot and bobbing our heads and seat dancing with Will Smith. Sorry, no toe-tapping country this trip. Mr. and Mrs. Traveler in the little blue Taurus thought we were amusing!

Camp Cornerstone was great! I was a little nervous about being the head girl’s counselor even though I’ve been doing it for years at the high school camp. I didn’t know what to expect as far as drama/issues from the junior high girls. Except for a few situations, I found it to be just like Zenith. (I loved both weeks.) To me it was a chance to get to know more teens, encourage more counselors, hang out with my youth ministry friends, and learn how to Myachi. (more on that later.)

After camp we spent the weekend in Tulsa with old friends and Benny spoke at their church on Sunday about Dry Bones. It was amazing! The message just flowed out of him with power and passion. It was a Holy Spirit thing! He showed the video of DB from the street kid’s perspective, and everyone was visibly moved by it. What an opportunity! We were able to spread the message to more people, share our need and the ministry needs, and be blessed by this congregation we’ve never met. A few people joined our financial support team, and many more promised prayer covering for us and the ministry. God is amazing in the ways He provides for us. Even at camp we had a few of our ministry friends tell us that they’d like to be a part of our support team.
(Thank you God for putting my fears to rest. Amen.)

Sunday morning was typical for me. I was super busy getting the kids ready for church all the while wondering if what I was planning on wearing would be o.k. First of all, we have three growing kids to clothe and I’m last on the list for new clothing. Second, I’m a northern girl and I had heard that at a lot of the churches in the south women just don’t wear pants. Most of the time I have a “deal with it” attitude, but sometimes I try to please everyone else – you know – when in Rome… The funny part is that here we were sitting in services and the scripture reading up on the screen was,

“So don’t worry about having enough food or drink or clothing. Why be like the pagans who are so deeply concerned about these things? Your heavenly Father already knows your needs, and he will give you all you need from day to day if you live for him and make the kingdom of God your primary concern.” Matthew 6: 31-33

Benny and I just looked at each other and laughed. A little heavenly reminder I suppose. I have so much more I’d like to share, but my fingers are falling asleep at the keys, and Rome wasn’t built in a day. What’s with all of the Rome references? I haven’t a clue. Good night!