Today was busy.
But the most meaningful parts to me where the moments on the drive home tonight. I drove a carload of rowdy teenagers home, but had wonderful conversations with them.
Every Wednesday the teens meet in someone's home (this month Bruce and Tarra's) and we talk and read and discuss and ask questions and get out of hand. (I say we, but usually I don't take part in the last one on the list.)
All I can say is that it was just really awe-inspiring to hear their questions and see them searching for truth and trying to understand: journeying along this same path. And it doesn't matter how rowdy they are together as a group, I know that there is a little soul in that body that has a history and a future yet to be revealed. It's just easier to see that when we're having one-on-one conversations.
On the way home I had some really good chats with those in my car; the stars hanging out above us, a little Dallas Green on the stereo.
I'm really looking forward to getting to know them better.
Wednesday, April 19, 2006
Tuesday, April 18, 2006
Surprises surprises
This morning I worked at Starbucks. It was fun, as per usual. Then I walked to Kids Klub and I worked there and I found out that I now will be able to have Friday off, which is super great because I have to go to Burnaby with the youth group to be a chaperone for the Youth Rally. Before today, I couldn't have it off and I would've had to have worked until 5:30 and then somehow made it to Burnaby after the rally had already started.
Then Pete picked me up from work and he told me that he had three surprises for me. I asked if one was a puppy. He said no. I said "Is it hairspray?" (I've been out for two days). He said no. I had to wait until we got home.
Then Pete picked me up from work and he told me that he had three surprises for me. I asked if one was a puppy. He said no. I said "Is it hairspray?" (I've been out for two days). He said no. I had to wait until we got home.
A new tripod in support of my future career in photography...
A new gizmo in support of my current career in coffee (and awesome baking talent).
Annnd he bought three new frying pans and a new cheese grater, but, despite the huge excitement I know they would emit, I didn't really feel like pictures were necessary.
And after all of this I checked my email and there was the weekly newsletter from iTunes. These newsletters make me happy because they always have a free download every week. I like the free downloads because I feel like I am somehow cheating the system. It'll probably take me 6 months to have one whole mix cd. Suckersssss.
Yesterday afternoon Pete and I went down to the beach and I collected seashells and coveted everyone else's dogs. And I pet a few of them. They all looked so happy to be at the beach. I mean, who isn't?
Monday, April 17, 2006
Sunday, April 16, 2006
Wednesday, April 12, 2006
Nothing profound...
I just typed a whole new post and clicked "Publish Post" and it went to "This page cannot be displayed", which meant that I lost it.
So here's the jist of it:
1) not much is new around here.
2) last night i dreamed about blair, melissa and makena's dog hudson and we were hugging. he's great. here's a picture:
3) i uploaded some new pictures of our all nighter and of my cat.
4) and the other day i came across the following and it has changed the past few days for me:
"Spread love everywhere you go. Let no one ever come to you without leaving happier." Mother Teresa
I decided to try putting that into action and so far it's been really cool. I made a new friend, and I also had a good chat with a young girl from kids klub and she confided in me about how her dad died and she doesn't ever see her real mom and how she knows Jesus and she can talk to him even better than her own brother and that made her happy.
And it made me happy too.
So here's the jist of it:
1) not much is new around here.
2) last night i dreamed about blair, melissa and makena's dog hudson and we were hugging. he's great. here's a picture:
3) i uploaded some new pictures of our all nighter and of my cat.
4) and the other day i came across the following and it has changed the past few days for me:
"Spread love everywhere you go. Let no one ever come to you without leaving happier." Mother Teresa
I decided to try putting that into action and so far it's been really cool. I made a new friend, and I also had a good chat with a young girl from kids klub and she confided in me about how her dad died and she doesn't ever see her real mom and how she knows Jesus and she can talk to him even better than her own brother and that made her happy.
And it made me happy too.
Friday, April 07, 2006
Don't Hate, Migrate.
Marnie and James came over last night. They're both leaving and so it was a kind of going away party and kind of not. We're all going to see each other on Sunday and sporadically throughout the summer. But in any case, it called for a pancake supper and a pursuit of trivia (board game style). And then. We decided to do this:
Cancer has affected us all in one way or another. My stepmom, Dixie, was diagnosed with breast cancer a few years ago. She underwent radiation and chemotheraphy and lost all of her hair during that time. My stepbrother, Carlos, also suffered from cancer and almost lost his life to it. Thankfully they are both healthy now, but the story doesn't always end the same. Two years ago, my young cousin, Preston, lost his life to cancer, at 9-years-old.
I can think of many others that I know have been afflicted with this frightening disease, and I'm sure you can too.
The proceeds of my hair will go to Angel Hair for Kids, a charitable organization that gives wigs to financially disadvantaged children who have lost their hair due to chemotherapy and radiation, alopecia, and other medical conditions. Check out their site to see how you can help through a financial or hair donation.
Also:
- Tim is shaving his head for cancer treatment and research.
- The Breast Cancer Site - click once a day to provide free mammograms.
- Canadian Cancer Society - check to see how else you can help.
Cancer has affected us all in one way or another. My stepmom, Dixie, was diagnosed with breast cancer a few years ago. She underwent radiation and chemotheraphy and lost all of her hair during that time. My stepbrother, Carlos, also suffered from cancer and almost lost his life to it. Thankfully they are both healthy now, but the story doesn't always end the same. Two years ago, my young cousin, Preston, lost his life to cancer, at 9-years-old.
I can think of many others that I know have been afflicted with this frightening disease, and I'm sure you can too.
The proceeds of my hair will go to Angel Hair for Kids, a charitable organization that gives wigs to financially disadvantaged children who have lost their hair due to chemotherapy and radiation, alopecia, and other medical conditions. Check out their site to see how you can help through a financial or hair donation.
Also:
- Tim is shaving his head for cancer treatment and research.
- The Breast Cancer Site - click once a day to provide free mammograms.
- Canadian Cancer Society - check to see how else you can help.
Tuesday, April 04, 2006
Saturday, April 01, 2006
Something from Pete...
Thought I would post a copy of what I wrote for the bulletin at church this Sunday:
Teen Ministry Update...
Well, my experience in Victoria has been both challenging and exciting. Since moving here as the new youth minister in February, it has been a pleasure to meet so many friendly and loving people. Believe it or not, I was a little terrified at the challenge of trying to fit in and be accepted by a group of teenagers. This thought scared me until I met the kids here. I know it may sound cliché, but this is an amazing group of kids; a little out of hand at times (in my old person opinion), but very well grounded and mature for their age. They’ve made me feel welcome and accepted which I am extremely thankful for. There are currently 21 teens that have been coming to our different studies and events. It has been a challenge to try and see where I fit in with the youth and what they are already doing. There is an amazing, core group of people here that have invested their time and hearts into the teens over the past few years and I have been looking for ways in which I can become a part of that by working with them. Things are now beginning to look a little clearer andI feel as if I am beginning to find a place of purpose.
This past week I had a bunch of the Young Adults helping to re-paint and re-decorate the youth room. The newly decorated room was presented to the kids at our all-nighter/sleepover at the church building last Friday. The night went very well, and besides the lack of sleep, we all had a great time. During the evening we had a devotional where I sharedthe concept behind the stars that are painted on the wall of the teen room. Each star symbolizes one of the teens in our youth group, so each signed and decorated their own star. In the big picture of the whole universe, a star seems fairly insignificant and small, but if you take a closer look, the sun is extremely powerful and capable of sustaining life here on earth. Did you know that the sun creates enough energy every second to equal 92 billion 1 megaton nuclear bombs? This is the type of potential that I see in these kids if they continue to pursue and understand what it means to follow Christ. That is why I am here and that is what I hope to accomplish in my work with them. I would like to help them in their pursuit of that potential. Some ways in which we hope to do this are:
Monthly fun and games activity nights where they can invite friends who may not be interested in spiritual things. This is an opportunity to have fun, grow closer to one another, and shine our lights.
We will continue our Wednesday night home studies and Sunday morning Bible studies on a weekly basis. These provide a time of group sharing andgrowth for those who are interested in something more.
Something new that we are beginning is a weekly, one on one,study/mentoring with any of the teens who are interested in beginning a journey to better understand the church and what it means to followChrist.
We hope to get the kids involved with other teen groups in the city through a program called Epicenter. This is a citywide program that has many youth groups involved. There are events throughout the year that connect them with each other and with God.
Teen Ministry Update...
Well, my experience in Victoria has been both challenging and exciting. Since moving here as the new youth minister in February, it has been a pleasure to meet so many friendly and loving people. Believe it or not, I was a little terrified at the challenge of trying to fit in and be accepted by a group of teenagers. This thought scared me until I met the kids here. I know it may sound cliché, but this is an amazing group of kids; a little out of hand at times (in my old person opinion), but very well grounded and mature for their age. They’ve made me feel welcome and accepted which I am extremely thankful for. There are currently 21 teens that have been coming to our different studies and events. It has been a challenge to try and see where I fit in with the youth and what they are already doing. There is an amazing, core group of people here that have invested their time and hearts into the teens over the past few years and I have been looking for ways in which I can become a part of that by working with them. Things are now beginning to look a little clearer andI feel as if I am beginning to find a place of purpose.
This past week I had a bunch of the Young Adults helping to re-paint and re-decorate the youth room. The newly decorated room was presented to the kids at our all-nighter/sleepover at the church building last Friday. The night went very well, and besides the lack of sleep, we all had a great time. During the evening we had a devotional where I sharedthe concept behind the stars that are painted on the wall of the teen room. Each star symbolizes one of the teens in our youth group, so each signed and decorated their own star. In the big picture of the whole universe, a star seems fairly insignificant and small, but if you take a closer look, the sun is extremely powerful and capable of sustaining life here on earth. Did you know that the sun creates enough energy every second to equal 92 billion 1 megaton nuclear bombs? This is the type of potential that I see in these kids if they continue to pursue and understand what it means to follow Christ. That is why I am here and that is what I hope to accomplish in my work with them. I would like to help them in their pursuit of that potential. Some ways in which we hope to do this are:
Monthly fun and games activity nights where they can invite friends who may not be interested in spiritual things. This is an opportunity to have fun, grow closer to one another, and shine our lights.
We will continue our Wednesday night home studies and Sunday morning Bible studies on a weekly basis. These provide a time of group sharing andgrowth for those who are interested in something more.
Something new that we are beginning is a weekly, one on one,study/mentoring with any of the teens who are interested in beginning a journey to better understand the church and what it means to followChrist.
We hope to get the kids involved with other teen groups in the city through a program called Epicenter. This is a citywide program that has many youth groups involved. There are events throughout the year that connect them with each other and with God.
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