Languages & Dryer Sheets

I'm really digging this return to blogging deal. It has become this fun, new hobby that I actually enjoy! Who knew?!

This past month and a half has been particularly busy because a)I started my new job and b) I've been planning our wedding! In case I haven't mentioned it here, I am the youth intern at Perry Presbyterian church! The job started full-fledge June 1st with VBS in the morning and youth activities in the afternoon/evening.For VBS I was teaching and doing drama(both of which I LOVED).I was sure pooped, though. But there is nothing quite so rewarding as teaching a child about Jesus. I suppose I have known that working with children makes my heart tick, but participating in VBS vividly reinforced that truth for me. The youth group is doing a study on Tuesday nights called "Made to Make a Difference". In one of the videos we recently watched, Max Lucado, who authored the series, said, "Look for the people whose language makes the most sense to you". I speak the language of children. I love to watch them learn and grow. I love seeing that little proverbial lightbulb atop their heads go off when they finally understand something. I love watching them make discoveries. I love to watch them having fun. I LOVE children! I could write on this for hours, because they truly fascinate me, but you get it. I really believe the Lord will have me working with children in some form or fashion for the rest of my life. And I am a-O.K. with that! My favorite part of speaking their language is thinking outside of the box. Often, I will totally take myself out of the picture, and join them in the world they have created. It's pretty rad :) I mean...wait, wait. Enough of that. Alas, I must move on.

This summer, I get to learn a new language. Although the language of children makes the most sense, and I enjoy learning it, I have been given the opportunity to speak the language of teenagers. I know what you're thinking: you should be pretty familiar with that one, since you were one not too long ago! You'd think so, wouldn't you? And yet here I am racking my brain trying to figure out what life was like back then. Back then. HA! That's rich. I'm not old enough to be using that phrase. But...maybe I am!Now that I'm getting married, I suddenly feel so old. Think, Sus, think! Well, for the first half of my teen years I was homeschooled. So, I wasn't like regular middle school/highschool kids(No, this is not my confession that homeschoolers are, in fact, socially awkward or sheltered...we're not). But I was different in that I had a lot of time to do extra-curriculars, I was fairly well-rounded, and I could go to school in my pajamas. Instead of staying home for the summer, I found things to do and places to go. Thankfully, many of the kids here are homeschooled as well, and so far, they have all been extremely pleasant. So, I may or may not have been racking my brain in vain. The Lord has given me grace to relate. It has been a lot of fun.

I laugh because, in the teen/middle school years, attention from boys seems like a big deal. At last week's slumber adventure, boys were discussed at length. Throw in giggles and popcorn and it's a party! :) I'm really having a blast. But the cool thing is, these girls LOVE talking about Jesus...more than they enjoy talking about boys! They will sit with you for hours listening and asking questions. It is a humbling reminded of the blessing of being raised in a covenant home. These girls are wise beyond their years, and it is because their parents led by example.

I know I'm rambling...so I'll close with this: Things really do sink in. Whenever you work with youth, you wonder what they're absorbing. I overheard them talking the other night as I rocked on the porch, and they said this: "You know, if you put dryer sheets in your shoes they won't smell!" I laughed as I remembered that I taught them that! Silly, I know...but I felt encouraged!

Until later...thank you for stopping by!