WINTERFEST!!!!!!!!

my family went to winterfest in arlington with the youth group from our church this weekend. it was so much fun. oh, it brought back memories and made me confident that youth ministry is my cup of tea. it is so gratifying when you can actually see the difference your encouragement and presence make unlike when you are working with adults. bret and i had alot of fun being chaperones. our kids did so great. they enjoyed the parts that they could internalize and enjoy. the other parts they just colored and enjoyed being held by really cool teenagers. the students were so kind to my kids, holding them and playing with them and keeping an eye out for them as we were in large crowds and crossing the street. i hope we get to do more things like that in the future. it was great.

bret had to leave winterfest last night for a little while to go to an anuual vm awards ceremony. they had asked him to lead the "benediction." that is quite an honor. but the greatest honor is that he was runner up for the jim clancy award (jim is the legendary director of the vm). that award is given to outstanding members each year. rookies and newbies never receive the award. bret has only been involved with the chorus for about 2 1/2 years. that is no time compared to most of the guys who have been there 20+ years. i am proud of him.

it is good to be home. we have small group tonight at from 6-8, so the girls and i get a little opportunity to rest up while the boys are at karate. bret and micah have been taking karate at our church every sunday afternoon. micah loves it--especially the fact that he gets to do it with daddy. bret is really enjoying it, too. hopefully they will both pass their belt tests next month.

bret has a birthday tomorrow. for 6 months, he is four years older than me. it makes him feel really old that he is in his 30's and i am still in my 20's. i am going to have the hardest time when i turn 30. i will probably lie about it because i have always enjoyed being one of the younger ones!!! i've got quite a bit of planning still to go for bret's birhtday. it is so hard to plan for his birthday not even a month after christmas is over. we have no money and i have already gotten him what he wanted. we'll see. hopefully i will cojme up sith something good.

we do have two datenights to look forward to next month. we haven't been on a date by ourselves since last may. we did get to go to zoe without children, (thanks to mom) but we were always with praiseteam people. out youth group is hosting an event in two weeks to provide parents a night out on the town with very inexpensive childcare. $8 for three kids and three hours verses the normal $30-$50 it would normally cost me. plus ryan and lesli have offered to watch the kids for us one night as a gift to bret for his birthday. what a great gift, huh?! we are excited!

well, hope you all have a great week. to end with the theme from winterfest this weekend, Keep your eyes on the prize--Jesus Christ. he, not our goals, desires, treasures, or dreams, is the ultimate prize. love you all,
summer