Life Unexpected

I still remember seeing Nate for the first time.  There was something about him that was over the top charming.  He liked my best friend, but it didn't matter.  I liked him more than she did!  And so for two months I chased him down.  I told him every day how much I liked him, we did life together as best friends would do, and I waited for him to figure out what I had been hoping and praying for...that he would one day like me too.  We were only Freshman in college, I never had a real boyfriend, and I had no idea what falling in love would look like.  October 17th, 1997, I gave him an ultimatum in the back stairwell of Eastern Nazarene College.  I was tired of waiting.  He had to make a choice.  Was he in or was he out?  Would he be my first real boyfriend or not?  And then he kissed me... I can't believe that we have known each other for half of our lives and today have been officially married for 14 years.  It blows my mind every time that I think about it.  I got to m

This past weekend I had the opportunity to get away for a couple of days with my Dad for a weekend of planning and dreaming for our ministries this Fall.  My Uncle's beach house was available, my Dad and I both were able to clear our calendars, so we hopped in the car and headed for a 48 hour retreat of sorts.  My intentions were to think about Youth Ministry and come up with this killer list of things that I hoped I would happen this Fall.  While I was able to spend some time dreaming and planning, I think I spent more time trying to make sense of where I am personally at. The past few months have felt as though I have been wandering in the desert.  For starters, we have been in a transition year of youth ministry.  With almost 15 seniors graduating last year, many who were leaders, we have struggled to find a rhythm this year.  Life is complicated.  Families are busy.  Youth ministry, and more importantly Jesus, doesn't always wind up at the top of people's priority l