"Sparkles are my arch enemy."

Today we played and evaluated the board games. #newfavoriteproject

"Special as in like a scrapbook or a flash mob?"

Dear Love Does Girls,

 

I'm so excited about our secret santa gift exchange. My person is pretty awesome and I know just what I'm going to make for them. I've loved getting to meet with all of you this semester and hearing your thoughts on this book and how it applies to your faith.

 

p.s. Don't tell anyone who you have!

 

Dear Katherine, Emma, Court, Anna and Martha,

You girls rocks. I'm glad we got to have dinner together tonight. Martha your brownies were delicious, what a good surprise. Seeing all of you was just what I needed today. Keep spreading your joy.

 

Dear 2012 CILTs,

 

Can you believe the reunion is just over a week away? I can't wait. Here are some things you can expect: q-tips, skittles, carpet, Irving, the CILT most likely to get in a fight with a deer, RFAJWD part 2 and baked oatmeal. See most of you soon!

""Oh happy day. Just because it is. So we're gonna make it the best day ever."

Highs of the Day

1. Emel telling me my dress, coat, scarf, tights combo was so cute before I walked out the door this morning

2. Getting to play with shaving cream on my desk during class because it was part of one group's board game

3. Working on special surprises for the upcoming CILT reunion



 

4. Lucy showing me her cup game turned stomp routine that's so cool
5. Getting to hang out with Kylie after school and talking about families and life and the holidays and YL together
6. Having a few girls interview Alex, Lori, Kathy and I about our favorite Christmas traditions and songs after school while we planned for Wyld Life Club

7. Picking up Grace and Katy for dinner, eating chips and salsa like its our job, hearing stories about their siblings
8. Texts with Ellie like "Love you more than Maggie loves back rubs" and "Love you more than Odle loves her Sperry's"
9. Cheering on Abby in her basketball and yelling whenever she made a basket

10. Yelling for Natalie, Anna and Chelsea in their game
11. Getting to hang out with all these girls and just be goofy together
12. Seeing Rachel Phillips, Helen and Rachel Buckingham cheering for the games

13. Sitting with Olivia in the stands
14. Finding out the FBC sweatshirts are done and I get to pick them up on Monday!

15. Saba has been on the HS Varsity dance team for two years but tonight was the first time I got to see her perform and she was awesome
16. Running into Madison and her mom in the stands at the Varsity game

17. Yards filled with Christmas lights and blow up holiday displays
18. A spontaneous three way phone call with Annie and Mags

"Everyone wants their life to count; God wants our love to multiply." Bob Goff

While shopping for CILT Reunion and Wyld Life Club supplies this afternoon I stumbled upon Crayola's newest marketing scheme. Meltdown crayons... I investigated their special canvas and crayons but they're just a regular canvas and box of crayons. Most of the people in my crafting world made this project last year, but perhaps there are still some kids out there who haven't discovered Pinterest trends like this.

I got to eat dinner with Rach and Emily tonight. I wish I could see them more often but I love when we get to grab dinner or just hang out at their house or go on a little adventure together. These are great friends and I'm so thankful for them.

Molly tagged Shelby and posted this picture on Annie's facebook wall today since Annie loves pine cones so much and maybe cried one about one because she was so sad she lost it, or happy she found it, or upset that it got smashed... it was confusing to all of us. Anyways, I thought this Daily Odd Compliment was so great that I followed the link to find more. I took the liberty of finding some of the best ones to share with you all.

Have you ever seen Kid President on You Tube? You should probably look him up. Hilarious kid who is also very lucky because he got to do a webisode interview with the one and only Bob Goff via tin can phone.

A brief recap of my favorite moments of their conversation:

Kid President: I heard you have a parade on your street every year.
Bob Goff: Yeah, we thought what if instead of just watching we're in the parade, we say everyone can be in it. You're all invited.
Pick someone who's having a really bad day and send them a Domino's pizza. Cost you $5.99 and it'll wreck their world! It would be great! Just send them a pizza.

Kid President: How can people grow up and not become boring?
Bob Goff: Particularly people who are my age but still young at heart, instead of correcting people or telling them what they are doing wrong we can inspire them!

Kid President: How can we be awesome?
Bob Goff: One of the things that occurs to me is learning how to make really good friends. The idea is to be connected. People who are young at heart get it. People who talk on cans and strings like you and me, we get it.

If you're ever in need of a little inspiration just check out @bobgoff's twitter feed:

No one is remembered for what they just planned to do.

No one grows up hoping someday they'll be typical. Get back to leading an inexplicable life.

Be the kind of light that makes people squint so hard they don't see you anymore.

The battle for our joy is usually fought on the pages of our calendars.

This is why I'm a YL leader

This week my students are working in groups to create a board game. They can make their game about a sports team, historical event, band, holiday, etc. The sky is the limit. Another teacher does this project every year but this is the first time I'm trying it out so I'm excited to see what they create. I was surprised today when one group decided to make theirs about my life. I'm excited to say the least.

One of my best friends, Fitzie, is always on the move and always seems to be far away. But today I found a long letter from her waiting on the table when I got home. I love that she always uses thick paper. I love that even though she's a serious journalist she still uses colorful pens. I love that she writes in lists. I love that even when we haven't seen each other in over a year it doesn't mean we love each other any less. I love that she's always honest, about her life or mine, and I value her opinion.

 

After being away in Mexico last week I got to come back to YL tonight. Emily, Hayden and Ali Bell came in the door a little early because Emily lost her gum an hour earlier and then found it in her hair. We slicked it up with some Crisco and scraped it out with our fingernails. She washed her hair with hand soap and was practically good as new.

Last week was all about family and rest and no real schedule but it was good to come back to these kids and find my place back in all this busyness again. I thrive when I have a project, when I can interact with people, when I feel like I'm making a difference.

I'm so thankful for these kids that are becoming the main characters of my life this year. While we were singing songs tonight I was looking at the front cover of the little songbook where it says, "HSE Young Life" and thinking that it's still a little crazy that this is happening. Crazy that this feels normal. Crazy that Chad and Kylie and Natalie and Shelby and Peyton who were my first students ever are now our YL kids. Crazy that a year ago this was something I was praying about and wishing for and now it's really happening.

 

I love that (at least so far) there aren't any seniors that will graduate this year from YL and we'll all get to keep living life together for several years. I want to keep being goofy with Madswag and Natty Brosh. I want to keep picking up girls after school and going to get fro yo and talk about the day. I want to keep having moments during Campaigners where something clicks for the first time or someone opens up that we never expected. I want to keep making God the focus of what we're doing because we all agree that's worth it.

Tonight we had kids fill out short little surveys about their experience with YL so far, we'll use their responses in a couple different ways. One question was fill in the blank:

I used to think ______________ now I think _______________.

I have to share some of their responses because they show the heart of what we're doing better than I could ever explain.

 

I used to think no one wanted to learn about God, now I think everyone wants to.

I used to think I could do everything on my own, now I think I should follow Christ.

I used to think that God wasn't always there, now I think that whenever and wherever I am he is there too.

I used to think these people would judge me, now I feel comfortable sharing anything.

I used to think YL was dumb, now I think it's cool.

 

 

I used to think I wasn't close to God, now I think I'm getting closer.

I used to think God was judgemental, now I think he is accepting.

I used to think my identity was in earthly things, now I think our identity is in Christ.

I used to think God couldn't use my because of my problems, now I think that's not true.

I used to think church was boring, now I think YL makes me day.

I used to think I wasn't worthy, now I think I deserve happiness.

 

I used to think if I sinned Jesus judged me, now I think Christ is always there for me.

I used to think YL wasn't a necessity to my week, now I think I can't miss it!

I used to think only serious church goers could be close to God, now I think anyone can be.

I used to think people would make fun of me for being religious, now I think it doesn't matter what others think.

I used to think YL wasn't going to be fun, now I think it's my home.

I used to think my life was okay with a small amount of God, now I think that God is essential to life and I'm not the same without him.

I used to think God ignored me, now I think he is working slowly.

I used to think I'm alone, now I know I have God and other supporters.

I used to think YL was fun, now I think YL is SUPER fun.

I used to think I didn't have time to learn about God, now I think you can always learn more and I"m so thankful and feel so blessed to have YL here for me.

Oh happy day- Brown Bear, Emily Face, Oh La La and Flynnigan

While I was up in MI I had plenty of time to rest and not really do much of anything. I told Katie as we were out running errands, "It's so weird that I haven't really seen anyone I know besides you guys for days." I'm used to filling my week with work and FBC and YL and play dates and dinner with friends and hanging out with my roommates. Rest was good and needed but it's also good to come back to even more people I love.

Before they headed back to college I got to hang out with two old YL girls. Taylor, a Junior out in Colorado, and Emily, a Freshmen at IU, have both been main characters of my life. Now I'm so thankful for the times when we can sit and talk together.

These two are similar in so many ways. I love that they both care so much for their friends, that they live life big and are always excited about some adventure, they want to live lives full of joy and they always brighten my day. I miss seeing them all the time but am glad they're both doing so well where they're at.

And there's nothing like a good visit from friends like Olivia and Emma. While I was organizing life back at home this pair showed up at my door for the best surprise of my day.