"Did you hear Halkyard with 'Pineapple!' right out the gate?" Bring Your Teacher To Club

We've brought our moms, our dads, our grandparents, our pets and our siblings to Club. Tonight we took a risk-- we invited our teachers to Club. Not sure how many would show up, we were excited about the potential of Bring Your Favorite Teacher To Club. 

Oh my did they show up-- we had 24 teachers at Club tonight. We got each teacher to take a picture with all of the YL kids that they had as students.

Carwile

DeAtley-Kapp and Hamilton

Gunderson and Bakle

Senora Rose and Curnow

Habig and Medeiros

Feldman

Hauser

Hanes and Hodgin

Hook and Renbarger

McGrath and Butz

Shipley and Renick

Beesley and Wright

We played Anti-Pictionary-- the most frustrating and hilarious game I think I've ever witnessed. Little did the teachers know that we had told the kids they'd be drawing School, Test, Pep Rally and Summer Vacation and we told the kids to guess anything EXCEPT the right answer.

So the teachers were trying to get their 3 students to guess and they were shouting out, "Pineapple! Winter! Oh yeah, winter! Spirit! Enthusiasm! Midterm!"

Mr. Hodgin came in last, and the kids were prepared to guess his pictures as fast as possible. It was incredible.

We had the whole room competing in cups-- the best game that's ever been created. Quality and quantity of participation were through the roof. 

Our teachers and a few students competed in a slushie chugging competition-- automatic brain freeze.

Rachel Phillips delivered the Club Talk. She shared about her HS experience, how she fell in love with God in Nepal, how the Bible came alive in Israel, the way she was called to be a role model in Wyld Life and how she is now a "prisoner of Hope." I'm continually inspired, impressed and proud of this dear friend.

Tonight, surrounded by all these teachers, I felt extra lucky because I get to hang out with girls like Audrey and Cass every week. I'm so thankful that we get to do life together.

My favorite guest of the night was Mr. Hodgin. We worked together at HIJH for three years, right next door to each other, and I was so excited to reunite tonight. Hodgie is still the best and he taught me so much about loving kids, showing patience and making school a place that everyone wants to be.

"I like baby's whisper or whatever it's called."

Weekend Highlights

Pictures of Redford from my sister cause this kid is the cutest and I can't wait to spend Thanksgiving and Christmas with him

Breakfast Saturday morning with Arielle and Smooney-- what a crew

Showing up to cheer on Jenna and Taylor in their soccer game-- it was freezing and they are impressive and hardcore

Giving ourselves the freedom to just sit and watch Hulu and bracelet and talk about wedding things and not do anything too productive on Saturday afternoon

Selling old YL shirts at the Barn Party on Saturday night with Smoon and seeing the whole YL family

Making a 3 minute trip into IKEA for an ice-cream cone and a cinnamon roll right before closing

Hanging out in the Craig family kitchen Saturday night

Getting to go to church with Smooney and singing, taking notes and praying side by side

Going to breakfast with Justin and Smoon in Fortville

A birthday dinner for Linda Davis, meeting Emily's friend and supporting Kara and Nick's new found love of friendship braceleting

"I intend to be precious. I just don't have the skill set." Jen Hatmaker

I've met authors Glennon and Shauna and Bob and Don multiple times, but I've been waiting a couple years now to meet Jen Hatmaker. Tonight I finally got to see her speak in person in Indy at St. Luke's on her Moxie Matters tour with Nichole Nordeman. After reading her books, following her bible study and listening to hours of her podcast, it was so cool to see her there in the flesh, just like I'd imagined.

Session 1
Pain is one of our most excellent teachers. Tonight we're going to talk about rising back up.
The story of the Good Samaritan-- I think God told this story because pain in the common connection-- it's God's way of telling us something is wrong, it forces our attention, it's designed to protect us, lead us back to life and sometimes bring a new life.

After Brandon and I released our statement a year ago this week, we experienced a violent, terrifying reaction from our community. Rejection. Betrayal. Loss. Sorrow. 
Every single one of us will suffer on this earth. If you haven't suffered yet, just keep living. 

"God has poured out his love into our hearts through the Holy Spirit."

The only way through suffering is through it. God suffers with us for as long as it takes. The healthy way: lean in early and stay there till you really heal. 

Be kind to yourself in your grief. Surround yourself with the people and places that make you feel safe. When we're pressing towards recovery we've got to use every tool we've got. 
Prayer actually changes and heals our souls and minds-- it's been scientifically proven. It's biological and psychological and holy all at once. 

God can put broken pieces back together better than they were at first. 

Session 2

Good Samaritan part 2

Even worse than this man's physical pain was being alone on the side of the road. 

Loving God and loving others is worth 10,000 times more than self-righteous religion.

Let's clean up and care for people on the side of the road--it doesn't matter who they are. We can't pretend that we don't see each other.

In the middle of all the pain and grief that Brandon and I were experiencing last year, Nichole sent me this picture. 

In the wild, when a female elephant is giving birth or is injured, the rest of the female elephants will surround her, backs in, facing out. They'll fend off any predators in order to protect the mama and the new baby. They'll kick up dirt and make noise and say, "Don't even think about messing with her."

Then, when the new baby is born, they all trumpet in celebration of sisterhood and something beautiful that has happened. We have to have one another's backs. 

We take turns in the middle, we take turns being strong. Find your tribe. Surround them and be surrounded by them. 

There is no community like a community of women. You're going to make it. You're going to survive. Because you've got a God who loves you.

Let's be good neighbors to one another. 

p.s. Cass is the greatest Cadet Teacher of the year and she makes my 1:00-2:44 exponentially better every single day. Also, we tried out Indy Tacos today and it didn't even come close to comparing to Taco & Burrito place.

"It's from the permanent store."

HAPPY BIRTHDAY MADDIE! Today's pre-school birthday party is brought to you by IHOP pancakes with all the syrup, birthday candles and fun you can imagine. 

The birthday gang included an 8th grader, Freshmen, Sophomore, Juniors, a Senior and two adults-- she's got quite the age range of friends. Maddie is easy to celebrate because she loves her people so well and makes the rest of us feel special all year long.

Cass and I spent some cadet teaching time coloring this afternoon-- these birthdays have me back to my old coloring ways and I kind of love it.

FBC was hopping this afternoon. Due to popular demand, we played Backpack Races and the room was five levels of chaos.

Our new friend Mekailah came to FBC for the first time and made friends all over the place. I was thrilled when Hools showed up, she's back from Bama, and surprised me with my favorite vanilla latte.

It turned into Unofficial Alumni Day at FBC when I got to hang out with Gidget, Katie, Maddie the Birthday Girl, Soph and Hools. I still vividly remember when all of these girls were in Junior High themselves and I'm thrilled that I still get to be friends with them all. 

I got to hang out with Maddie and her family, one of my favorites, again after school for her birthday dinner. We went to Mama Carolla's in Broad Ripple and it was phenomenal. We finished off the night with birthday cake and singing to Madeline one more time.