SYATP

Have you ever thought it was a great idea to sing karaoke and once you pick the song and go on stage you get a crazy feeling in your stomach like "What was I thinking?" Well, we had a little of that this morning. Last night our Student Pastor, Matt and area youth pastors put on a rally called Ignite, to get the kids excited about the annual See You At The Pole. I have to admit I had heard about SYATP but never thought much about it since my kids were too young. This is the first year that anyone has really talked to the kids about it at all and they came home last night really excited about doing it and wanted to go this morning. You are supposed to go 30 minutes before school and gather with other students, faculty and parents to pray around the flagpole. The problem is that there was no flagpole at school. Lindsey was certain there was a flagpole behind the school in the parking lot and sure enough, on the side of a different building, was an extremely ragged, very small flag sticking out of the building. It was the building next to the school (the school is actually in a church building so I think its connected) that seems to be some kind of half-way house for men. There was a man outside taking out trash and I asked if we could use his flag. I could tell he had no idea what I was talking about but was receptive. He went inside and got the gal in charge. We explained again what we were looking for and they graciously agreed.

All the while, many of the other students were arriving in this parking lot to go into school, teachers too, the principal. It seemed as if everyone was looking over towards us to see what was going on but nobody seemed to be looking for a SYATP group. It became more and more clear that it was just us, and I could tell that the kids were disappointed and possibly ready to run. Maybe just becasue I was there with them and that is so not cool! But we hung around for awhile and finally decided to go ahead with just us.

I had asked them to each pray and I would finish up. I figured I would need to say the prayers that needed to be said in light of the circumstances that we were supposed to be there and that was fine, I figured the fact that they still wanted to do it was good enough for today. But Lindsey started and said just a perfect, beautiful, to the point, prayer to our Heavenly Father. And Kurt followed up much the same. I stood there with my teen/pre-teen children and was thrilled to hear how much the get it. They prayed for their friends, teachers, families... everybody else but themselves! It was awesome. I did wrap up, only to reword some of the things they had already said and thats it, we were done.

I am so grateful for the people in their lives that stirred this event for today. God is at work through the people in His church and I appreciate all of the efforts that were put in to last night. It was crazy, I think I heard there were about 150 students there and many adults who are involved. Very, very cool.

Update

Well, we have started the school year off with a bang. Kurt and Lindsey are getting settled in their new school and really seem to be enjoying it. It is so much more relaxed for them and more our speed! They each have only 20-25 students in their grade instead of 200! Emma is slowly, very slowly adjusting to 1st grade. I think she's doing fine with school, more having a hard time adjusting at home to being so tired from her day! Poor kid goes to bed at 7pm and is asleep by 7:02! But all in all everybody is doing well.

With the recent staff changes (Nicole quitting and Pam replacing her) my work ours are a bit different. Pam and I are each working full days at a time so we can also be home for full days. When I am there, Tuesdays and Thursdays, I answer the phones in the front office and try to answer the many random questions that come in! But my main job is still working with Ramona, our Children's Director, which I really enjoy. I am coping so much better this way than last year, working 4 hours 5 days a week. I have a new found appreciation for all of the working moms out there, that's for sure! After being a stay-at-home mom for over 12 years it was a really tough year for all of us.

Tim is busy as usual, nothing new about that. Just in new and different ways than I think he ever imagined. God (thru North Point) is launching a new campus in November and it has brought about a brand new kind of busy for Tim. He just loves it. I cannot imagine God using him in any better way. It does however come with lots of new responsibility that again, he never imagined. The 'stress' is a good kind, the kind that stretches and grows a person. It has been an interesting process that I hope and pray will continue. Please be praying for this adventure! He continues to preach every other week with Dennis until next year when the final stages of the transition take place. More on that when the time comes!

Summer is over, sniff sniff

We took the kids downtown yesterday to Chicago on the Metra. Its always an interesting place. We boarded around 9am and were surprised at how many people were drinking! Many were on their way to the Cubs game and a couple - well, weren't. But we had fun anyway. Its a change from driving at least.

Another new experience was the Chicago city bus. Cheaper than a taxi but not free! We usually take the free trolley when we're there but it didn't go to the zoo so we had to take the bus. It was pretty nice, very clean. The nice thing is that most schools have already started so there weren't a lot of people out. It was mostly people with really small kids there. Boy was it nice to have walking children! And kids that keep up and didn't throw fits, very cool. We're moving up in the world! Our only issue is having kids too 'cool' to be seen with us now. But as long as we're spending money on them we're ok.

The zoo was fun, it was a perfect day. We ate lunch there since it would have been difficult to pack a picnic. A little expensive but it balances out I guess since it is free to get into the zoo. All in all a great day for our last hoo-ha before school starts.

On that note, we have news about Kurt. He got into the same school Lindsey is going to. Last year we submitted an application to a charter school here in town called Paideia Academy for Lindsey. Basically, its a private school that is still KUSD funded. And instead of around 600 kids in the school (6th, 7th and 8th graders) there are 75. The teaching style is different too but in ways that we think will really benefit both kids. They are excited. Mostly because they think it will be easier for some reason. We have told them if they make (and keep up with) honor roll they they can get a cell phone. Something I am certain both are capable of. It was really easy to make it a God thing, you have to apply and it is lottery for the students to get in or not. So thats how we looked at it, if they get in - it must be exactly where God wants them. If not, there was nothing wrong with the other middle school that Kurt went to last year. In fact he had great teachers that he really liked and he did quite well. We just feel like we need to give this a shot.

Check out Kurt, he looks me square in the eye!

Kurt not wanting his pic taken

Lindsey almost too cool to sit by me - almost!

What a ham!

Beautiful Little Girl

Well, my girl turned 12 today. I would post a picture but it seems as if she has snuck my good camera in her bag and taken it for the day... Aaaarrrrrggggg!

I've been trying and trying to figure out how to post the song I want on here but I am too technically challenged to get it done I guess. I have done it before but it apparently was an accident. So, I'll at least post the lyrics. You'll have to make up your own tune! If someone would be willing to walk me through doing it I would greatly appreciate it!

Beautiful Little Girl
Cheri Keaggy

Beautiful little girl, discovering all the world
I wonder what she'll be
Will she take after her daddy or me?
Careful to hold her hand and help her understand
How much we love her so
And how much we'd like to help her to grow...

Chorus:
Into a woman who loves her Maker
And who knows what she's living for
So that nothing can harm or take her from You
For a woman who loves her Maker
Has a quality you can see
That will certainly mold and shape her
Into the woman she's meant to be

Beautiful little child, adorning a lovely smile
Eager to learn to fly
There's almost nothing she wouldn't try
Lord, help us do our part to give her a Godly start
Teach her what she must learn
And guide her until she's ready to turn...

Into a woman who loves her Maker
And who knows what she's living for
So that nothing can harm or take her from You
For a woman who loves her Maker
Has a quality you can see
That will certainly mold and shape her
Into the woman she's meant to be...