Day one.

My boyfriend Josh and I are starting something new. We are both getting up about an hour early to read our bibles and work out in the morning. He calls me to make sure I'm up. He has to get up at 5, so there is no way he gets the wake up call from me. I kind of wanted to throw my phone at 545 this morning, but I know this is going to be a great thing. If one of us doesnt get up once in a week we have to pay the other one 25 dollars, talk about motivation, especially since finances arent exactly either of our high points. If we go a month with no mishaps we get a super special date night. This could be fun. Game on.

2RC\ Bricks Chapter 2

Tom Cleggs message this week was packed full of great information,and he made me gag in the best possible way, so it doesn't get much better than that. He was talking about sin, and pig crap. Such a lovely combination. He was comparing the two. How just the though of eating pig crap for any amount of money, makes us want to gag. BUT the thought of sinning doesn't do that to us. Interesting.

As I was reading through my last 2RC\Bricks blog. I kind of have to laugh. At the end of the Bricks blog it says "good thing this was a good week because who knows whats going to happen next week." Well isn't that the truth. Yesterday appeared to be going well. The kids were mouthy and not listening as usual, but they were restrained. The lesson went as good as can be expected these days. Sarah kicked out a few kids in the beginning. One for his attitude, and three girls because of the age limit of Bricks. Apparently they were upset. When we went outside Sarah's car was scratched unlike anything I have ever seen before. It wasn't just a normal keying where there is one scratch down the side. It was scribbled on everywhere. Sarah handled it way better than I would have. I almost started crying, and it wasn't my car. I just couldn't believe that one of the kids would do this to one of us. We are pretty sure that it wasn't random because that would make no sense. We all have fairly new nice cars so it would be weird for them to target just hers. Plus one of the other girls were talking about how mad those four kids were at Sarah for kicking them out. Next comes the fear. I am scared to death of that park now. Its not like we got shot at, or any of us were physically harmed, but If the kids can destroy something that is ours, it is hard telling what else they will do. Now when we hand out fliers or have Bricks we have to have someone stand outside and watch our cars. We cant even find enough people to help us hand out fliers, let alone one to stand there and keep an eye on our stuff. I'm sure the frustration is sensed. I don't know how this is going to work out, but I'm confident that it will, whatever that means.


"There is no fear in love, but perfect love casts out fear"

Changes.

So, I have decided to make a rather unpopular decision. I am going to quit drinking, all together, at least for this time in my life. Now, this isn't because I go out and get drunk every weekend, or because I sneak vodka shots in my bedroom. It's because I refuse to be mastered by anything in any way. I am a light weight. As soon as I am done with that first drink, I begin to feel altered. I cannot have that anymore. I want to make it clear I am not judging anyone who chooses to drink.I have several friends who can have a beer and be fine. I'm not doing this because I think I'm better than anyone else. Quite the opposite actually. I just don't want anything to alter MY relationship with my Jesus. I feel as if this easily could. There is also the dreaded thing called family history. My family is filled with alcoholics and addicts. I don't want the door to be opened in my life to allow anything of the sorts to happen to me. I needed to make this decision clear to everyone to make it easier on myself.I'm clearing my mind, and making some changes.


"Everything is permissible for me—but not everything is beneficial.Everything is permissible for me—but I will not be mastered by anything."

2 RC\ Bricks Chapter 1

So I decided I'm going to start something new on my blog site. I want to do an update of what went on at church that morning and what went on at Bricks that week too. More for my own benefit to note it all down, so I dont forget a second of it.
Now that is out of the way, I shall begin.
Church this morning was really good. Rob talked about having confidence in Christ. This is something I struggle with SO much. I try to make myself good all by myself, I try to fix everything on my own. I try to make changes from the outside in, and we all know how well that works out. Nothing sticks. We are worth so much to the savior of the world. He died for us. He wants to not only be our father, but be our daddy. He wants us to come to him, and to truly and fully accept and understand our worth in him. The thing I loved the most that Rob touched on was Romans 5:8 which says while we were still sinners Christ died for us. He never asked us to be good enough first. There is nothing I can do to make God love me any more or any less. He just does. He IS love. This is beyond my understanding. My mind doesnt have the capability to fully grasp it, but this is a truth I will never stop thanking my Jesus for.

Okay..next up... Bricks. It went amazingly well today. I cannot even describe the encouragement this gave to my heart. It reminded me why we do this. It reminded me that things can go well. There werent nearly as many kids there this week, and I'm sure that had something or everything to do with it. We actually even got through a bible study today. The kids got to hear about Jesus! I almost forgot that can happen. I almost forgot that there can be a sucessful week. Thank God for the good week, because who knows what the next one will bring.

Idol. Season 7.

My favorites. David Cook and Brooke White.

The Grubb

Last night was our first Bricks at the Grubb YMCA. The night started out a little shaky. Sarah and I first had to tell three kids they couldn't come to Bricks anymore since they were under the age limit. We had let it slide for the winter, but starting this new chapter we felt it was best to really buckle down. They were somewhat upset. One more than the others. We got told a million times how "not fair" it was, amongst other insults such as twister sucking. I found myself sounding like a mom and telling the kids they need to be thankful for what they do have, they words came out of my mouth before I could even catch them, but seriously, I couldn't stand to hear them tear something down that is so precious to me. After that lovely trip to Burger King, we headed towards the Y. When we got there the person working at the front desk told us that the Y closed at 5. Which is odd since the person in charge told us we could have it until 6 or 7 every week. Surprise, we will have to be out by 5 every week. Well there goes our 4-6 Plan. So now its a little after 4 we need to get all the kids picked up, fed, and out of there by 5. Things could get interesting. We all rushed around and picked up the kids, we ate for about 40 minutes, handed out journals, and then cleaned up as quickly as possible. There is always next week for the Jesus talk. As rushed, and frustrating as Bricks could have been last night, I think this will be a night we will all remember. Its the beginning of something great. I can feel it. I think the Grubb Y is a nice home for us.

Year four, here we come.

Year Three.

Year Two.

Year One.


Year four, here we come. I cannot believe the summer is almost upon us. The days of endless planning, and of full weekends spent at the park are here. I am so excited. We start Bricks on Sunday night. We finally got a place to meet. We will call the Grubb YMCA home. There will be no more yelling over the hustle and bustle at McDonalds, or standing in line for a half hour to place our order. Twister starts the first Sunday in May. I am so ready for that to start it makes me clap with excitement (yes, sometimes I do that). As I look at the pictures that document our first three years of ministry it makes me smile. It has flown by, it has been the hardest thing I have ever undertaken, It has taken more time energy and thought than I could have ever imagined, but every moment is worth it. I wonder how this year will go? I wonder if we finally have it down? I could hardly type those words without laughing. Of course we don't have it down. There will be struggles and failures marked with great accomplishments. All that matters to me is that these kids know Jesus loves them. At the end of the day if they know that, I have accomplished my purpose. So bring it on whatever that may be, Year Four.

Favorite.

I think I found my favorite singer. People have asked me that several times, and I never quite know what to say. Now I know. I heart Tristan Prettyman.
Her new cd comes out in two weeks, April 15th. Write it on your calender, and go to the store the second it opens. Listen to her music here...

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