Sandy's Sayings

Ohhhh April

I'm reminded daily about how much I love Jr. High students. I know I'm a strange and rare breed, but so are Jr. Highers. 

Last night was our Riot Night. Riot Nights are designed for crazy fun, bring a friend, kind of nights. We do them once a month. Last night we were supposed to play the "Amazing Race." Due to bad weather we had to go to "plan b" with "Night Game Riot Nite!" Needless to say it was a crazy, dark, stormy night at the church. Jr. Highers were running up and down the hallways trying to find their leaders who were hiding in the dark. Two of my eighth grade boys would swagger their way down the hall to the Jr. High Room, playing it cool, only as eighth grade boys can do. I commented on their swagger and this one particular eighth grade boy said, "Running is for chumps!" At this line, I burst out laughing.

Although spring is in the air and we are winding down the school year, this is the time of year our eighth graders get a little antsy. Ohhh April! Most of our Jr. Highers are ready to move onto high school. They are excited, nervous, and some of them admit they are scared about new schools, new friends and moving to our high school ministry. As their pastor, I'm excited for them, but a little sad to see them go. In June, they will face a whole new world and my prayer is that we as a jr. high ministry have helped prepare them spiritually as they enter high school. They will mature and get wise to the world and will start to lose the innocence and quarkeyness (is that even a word) that I so enjoy about kids in Jr. High. 

Love Works 2012 Official Recap Video

This the video we showed at our celebration service on Sunday night.

Love Works Is Funner Than Video Games

This was our annual Love Works Weekend. We canceled church services and encourage our body to serve the community this weekend. I think this is our third Love Works Weekend. We had a ton of projects ranging from serving the homeless, doing repair and cleaning projects with different shelters, serving schools, helping out with beautifucation projects in different cities and much more.

Last night we had our celebration service where we had the opportunity to share how God moved while we served! There were some amazing stories that were told! Although, my favorite quote from the serivce came from a little boy who shared, "Love Works is funner than video games." There were some good laughs at his comment, but what this little boy was trying to say is that he had fun being the hands and feet of Jesus! He enjoyed interacting with those in need! My hope and prayer for our kids and students is they would continue to be broken–hearted over those in need and would be spurred on to continue being the hands and feet of Jesus. 

Here is a short little video our high school pastor put together for our project!

 

Dad Got A New iPad

My dad sent this video to me after I tried to sell him my iPad 2!

 

SYMC Kicks Off

 

After a great dinner with our student ministry team, it was time to head to the opening general session. A great line up for the first night: Shane and Shane, The Skit Guys, Francis Chan with his daughter Rachel.

 

It's an amazing experience to worship with 3,000 other youth workers with guys like Shane and Shane. They are one of my favorites!

Our team had a run in with the Skit Guys at dinner. Before I knew it our Jr. High Director had slid her chair just behind them and starting telling "what do you call a man with no arms/no legs" jokes. Needless to say we all had a good laugh and a few good pictures. TheSkit Guys were great sports. What I love about the Skit Guys is that they will make you laugh hard and cry hard in about 30 seconds flat! Their humor disarms you to hear truth that cuts to the core.

Francis, as usual had some great stories and tweetable moments, but in his simple way, encouraged us as youth workers. As usual, I'm still processing his session. Here are a few of my favorite quotes from Francis Chan tonight:

    "What would the transcript of your prayer life look like?"

    "Parents get on your case, and you're like, 'you're the ones that screwed your kid up!'"

    "I learned everything I needed for ministry from my youth pastor when I was a teenager."

    "If we all died right now, God would still figure out Revelation without us, so just breathe...."

Great night with lots to think about! Went over to Brian Berry's seminar, "Saying No To The Status Quo: Declaring War on Extended Adolescence." So much of what he and Francis had to say went hand in hand. Still processing that seminar! Hope to blog about it when I get home.

When I think about all that has happend today, I'm really amazed. Went to a bat factory, hung out with our team, experienced my first tornado warning, worshiped with 3000 youth workers, laughed, learned, saw the devistation and aftermath of the tornado's, prayed and prayed some more!

 

 

Fun Day at Pre–SYMC

 

Flew in yesterday to Louisville, KY. I've never been to Louisville and I'm really loving it. Took our staff on a fun outing to the Louisville Slugger Bat Factory and Museum. What a fun tour! Makes me want to pull out my dads lathe and make my own bat!! Took a few swings in the batting cage and was glad I could still hit a 45 MPH pitch!! Had my picture taken with "the great bambino" too! Fun time with our student ministry staff. 

 

The weather had turned nasty this afternoon. Huge tornado warnings where we are at. You can hear the concern in the voice of the weatherman. We've had a tornado touch down across the river from where our hotel is. Umm, I'm a Cali girl, I'm used to earthquakes, not tornado's. Where is the hotel basement! Seriously though, be praying for these folks who are being hit be huge tornado's as I type this.

 

 

 

 

Can't Wait for SYMC 2012

 

I'm a huge fan of serveral ministries that resource youth workers: Simply Youth Ministry, Youth Specialties and The Youth Cartel. I've never had the opportunity to attend an SYMConference. Today our Student Ministry Team and myself are heading to Louisville, Kentucky with about 3,000 other youth workers to be at SYMC! I'm looking forward to hanging out with our team, seeing old friends, meeting new friends learning, worship, seminars and refreshment!

 

Chicks At The Salon

 

I was at the salon the other day. This particular salon is closed on Monday's but my friend Michele sees her clients on Monday. As I walked into the salon, which is always empty on Monday, my friend Michele was so excited to show me her latest idea! Sitting in the next chair was a box of little chicks, like baby chicks! I about fell over laughing that my friend Michele would bring farm animals to her salon! I started joking with Michele that the next time I came, I'd see a cow tied to the chair! Of course, she said she had just picked them up at the feed store and couldn't leave them in the car! These chicks were adorable in their little box set up with a warming light. Much to Michele's shagrin, the owner of the salon decided to make a suprise Monday visit! This particular salon owner is very particular about her salon and the last thing she would want to see in her salon would be farm animals!!

 

Now I've known my friend Michele for about 35 years! We played on the same softball teams growing up! As the salon owner walked in, I hadn't seen Michele move that fast to hide those chicks since we played softball and she was stealing home plate! Those poor little chicks went on the fastest run of their lives as they were hidden under the office desk. The salon owner stayed around for a while and Michele did everything to keep the owner out of the main office, otherwise we might have been snacking on little chicken nuggets!

After the salon owner left, Michele and I laughed, and laughed! Best day at the salon EVER!!

iPhone Photography and The Olloclip

 

I love taking pictures. It's one of my hobbies! With the advancement of cell phone camera's and all the apps, I've really enjoyed taking pictures with my iPhone! If you enjoy all the creative apps, you might want to try the creative lens option from Olloclip for your iPhone 4/4s. The Olloclip slides onto the corner of your phone and you have three lens options: the fisheye, the macro and a wide angle! I've had a blast using all of these lenses! I became a huge Olloclip fan after dropping one of the lens attachements and it broke. Olloclip immediatly sent my a new attachement, free of charge! Thanks Olloclip! Can't wait to use the Olloclip on my trip to Louisville!