Rolling Home

Emily arrived home from Alabama Sunday night at 11:00.  There was an enormous crowed gathered to welcome all the students and chaperones home, including more media coverage.

The crowd gathered to welcome them home

Parents, grandparents, siblings, friends, and supportive church members cheered and clapped as the vans drove through the human tunnel.  This mom had tears streaming down her face.  (True, it doesn’t take much to get me started crying, but this was a biggie.)  Emily even said they were so overwhelmed with the crowd that they were close to crying, too.

Rachael (right) was SO excited to have her sister home

Ok, that caption isn’t totally true, but she was definitely proud of Emily and glad to have her home – in that special way only little sisters can.

Of course, one of the first things Emily did when she got home was update her status on Facebook.  This is what she wrote:

Ive had such a life-changing weekend it’s been amazing. To the Lockhart community- you’ve been so thankful for us helping but I’m truly thankful for you for opening my eyes to everything and helping me find myself in ways I could never have imagined I cant wait to go back and help cleanup more and rebuild…..with lots and lots and lots of suncreen(:

I know this experience (and more like it) work to form Emily into the amazing young woman she is becoming.  Yes, somedays she’s still a pretty typical 14 year old, heading into high school, full of drama and everything else these wonderful teenage years bring with them.  But I know her heart is being changed with each person she meets, each day she works to help someone else, each friend she makes while serving.

And I change, too.  I’m reminded that beneath the drama of teenage angst is a young woman trying to figure out her place in this world.  Figuring out what her purpose is.  Figuring out how she can be the hands and feet of Christ.  My job is to pray for her, guide her, and give her opportunities to continue on this path.

Emily and Tim, our amazing youth pastor

Love you, Emily ❤

~mwe

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30-day Challenge to Play Well With Others – Day 9

If you didn’t catch the explanation of the 30-Day challenge, you can read about it here.

Here is the verse for day 9 of the challenge:

1 Peter 4: 9

Offer hospitality to one another without grumbling. (In context: 1 Peter: 4: 8-10)

Don’t forget to share your success and/or challenges!

~mwe

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30-day Challenge to Play Well With Others – Day 8

If you didn’t catch the explanation of the 30-Day challenge, you can read about it here.

Here is the verse for day 8 of the challenge:

Hebrews 10: 25

Let us not give up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but let us encourage one another -and all the more as you see the Day approaching. (In context: Hebrews 10: 24-26)

Don’t forget to share your success and/or challenges!

~mwe

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Remembering

Today is Memorial Day.  A day to honor those who gave the ultimate sacrifice for our country.  A day to remember.

I’m always surprised by what triggers memories.  It seems like the most obscure occurrences can catch me off guard and take me back in a split second.

I had a book when I was a child called “The Sweet Smell of Christmas.”  I was able to find the same book for my girls when they were little.  I could scratch the stickers on those pages, breathe in the artificial smell of hot chocolate, and in a second I was back in my pajamas sitting by the Christmas tree at home.

When I no more than 3 or 4 years old, we would drive to Pittsburgh to visit my great grandmother.  On the corner of her kitchen counter she had a glass jar with pink lozenges. You know those pepto-bismal colored sugar candies?  I think of that kitchen every time I see and taste them.

My dad, stationed in Germany around 1960

And yesterday I heard an armed forces medley of songs.  As soon as I heard, “Over hill, over dale, we will hit the dusty trail, as the caissons go rolling along” the tears were welling up in my eyes.  My dad was such a humble man, but he was very proud of his service in the Army.  Standing while this song played is the only time I can remember him ever seeking to be recognized.

Here’s to recognizing all those who deserved to be remembered.  May we all do something worth being remembered.

~mwe

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30-day Challenge to Play Well With Others – Day 7

If you didn’t catch the explanation of the 30-Day challenge, you can read about it here.

Here is the verse for day 7 of the challenge:

Romans 12: 16

Live in harmony with one another.  Do not be proud, but be willing to associate with people of low position.  Do not be conceited.  (In context: Romans 12:15-17)

Don’t forget to share your success and/or challenges!

~mwe

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30-day Challenge to Play Well With Others – Day 6

If you didn’t catch the explanation of the 30-Day challenge, you can read about it here.

Here is the verse for day 6 of the challenge:

Romans 12:10

Be devoted to one another in brotherly love.  Honor one another above yourselves.  (In context: Romans 12: 9-11)

Don’t forget to share your success and/or challenges!

~mwe

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30-day Challenge to Play Well With Others – Day 5

If you didn’t catch the explanation of the 30-Day challenge, you can read about it here.

Here is the verse for day 5 of the challenge:

Ephesians 4:32

Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as Christ forgave you. (In context: Ephesians 4: 31-33)

Don’t forget to share your success and/or challenges!

~mwe

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25 Ways Church is like High School

I’ve gone to church for my entire life.  Not always by my own decision, but I’m glad to say that these days I’m there because I want to be.  Churches can be funny places though.  They bring about all kinds of reactions from people  – positive and negative.  Some people love it.  Some people hate it.  Some people loved it until a person hurt them.  Some people hated it until a person loved them.

Maybe it’s because it’s the end of the school year, or maybe it’s just because my mind is an odd place, but I started thinking that church is a lot like high school.

Here are some of the reasons why …

1. The first day is scary.
2. Everyone straightens up when the person in charge walks by.
3. It’s not the real world.
4. There are the popular people that everybody knows.
5. There are the shadow people that nobody knows.
6. If you want to make friends, you need to get involved in extra-curricular activities.
7. You have to do your homework if you really want to understand what’s being talked about.
8. If you stay up too late the night before, you might fall asleep.
9. If you fall asleep you hope the person next to you gives you a nudge before you let out one of those half-snorts/half-snore things.
10. You meet people who will be life-long friends.
11. You meet people you don’t care for.
12. You’d better remember to put your phone on vibrate or you’re going to be embarrassed.
13. No matter how many times your reminded, there is always someone who forgets to put their phone on vibrate. (They are also the one who always get a call, and the one with the disco ring tone.)
14. The purpose of being there is to get you ready for the real world.
15. There are people who think they already know it all.
16. There are people who think they know nothing.
17. You only get out of it what you put into it.
18. The music geeks are always rehearsing.
19. There will be people who never talk.
20. There will be people who never stop talking.
21. You can go on cool trips with your friends.
22. Some people want to stay forever.
23. Some people can’t wait to get out and do something in the world.
24. It’s no fun when you feel like you’re always being tested.
25. It’s a great place to be when it’s filled with spirit.

You see what I mean?  What do you think?  Do you agree or disagree?  Can you think of more similarities?

~mwe

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More Rolling Students …

For those of you who read about my daughter’s youth group trip to Alabama, click here and here for  more of the news coverage.

I think it’s pretty darn cool 🙂

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30-day Challenge to Play Well With Others – Day 4

If you didn’t catch the explanation of the 30-Day challenge, you can read about it here.

Here is the verse for day 4 of the challenge:

John 13:35

By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.  (In context: John 13: 34-36)

Don’t forget to share your success and/or challenges!

~mwe

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