Our "youth" family

We've hit our big goal this week!! 34 weeks...yay!! I have officially been on bed rest for 10 weeks! Now to slowly transition back into life. By slowly, I mean turtle steps :) The most difficult part is I'm allowed a little more freedom but, the contractions are still very present. Therefore, making the freedom more painful than exciting. However, to God be all the glory for bringing us this far...He alone is worthy of our praise!

I've been pondering what to blog about this week and then it just hit me! This week I realized that although we have 2 biological children (one whom we can't wait to meet), we have been blessed for almost 10 years now with another set of 'kids'. Mind you these 'kids' are quickly becoming adults and most are too old to be our actual children, but the place they have in our hearts is so very special. These are the kids we've ministered to for the past 10 years. To think that I was 21 yrs old when we first started in youth ministry. There have been ups and downs along the way, but the blessing of watching God work in the lives of these young people has blessed us beyond words. Goodness, I get all blubbery just thinking about it (I know, I'm hormonal so bear with me).

Dave and I started out volunteering right after we were married. We came home from our honeymoon and we decided working alongside my brother in youth ministry would be a perfect fit. It was a transition from feeling like a kid myself, to taking real responsibility and pouring into the lives of these students. I will never forget one night playing a game with some of the kids and I had to reprimand someone and he turned to me and said, 'you're not a leader.' At the time I had nothing smart to say back, instead I tried my best to somehow prove that I was in fact a leader. I'm pretty sure 10 years later that my mistaken identity would no longer be an issue. I'd welcome the mistaken identity now :) There are so many stories I could share...and pictures :)

Over the years, each of these students has held a special place in our hearts. We have watched them grow in ways we never thought imaginable. The moments when you think that there is no way what you're saying or doing is making any difference and then years later you get the 'thank you' that fills your heart with pure joy. Seeing so many of these students now adults, embarking on the world and serving Christ in such amazing ways is incredible. Watching many enter the ministry, serving in local ministry and actively living a life for Christ has blessed us so very much. We are so thankful for the ministry God has called us to and that He has used us in some small way to reach students for Him.

I hope all that have crossed our path know how much we love them and that they are forever in our hearts. We hope they always remember that they are not alone in this life no matter what they face. We serve a living God who never leaves us!  It's our prayer that each of these students, some now grown and raising their own families, will always know that they are our family. Each so unique and so very loved not only by us, but by our awesome God!