Last month of Children's Ministry

Here are some pics from my awesome kindergarteners... as well as students from my classes over the past 9 yrs!!

A few extras...

Here's a few more pics from my final day at Literacy Club! These include some pics of my cool sweatshirt they gave me!

This is me trying to hold it all together... I didn't succeed.

"Stand Out"

Our children's ministry took over the Saturday night service with a play written by some of our members, inspired by the song "Stand Out" by Tye Tribbett. It was AWESOME!!! Our children's choir, drama & dance ministry were all involved and rocked the house. I've been involved with the children's ministry for 9 yrs. now, so I've had the majority of the kids in my kindergarten class at some point... so I was bursting with pride and just overjoyed to see these kids up there dancing and singing their hearts out for Jesus!!! And of course, a few tears dropped!! I'll just go ahead and apologize for the crappy videos... but my camera sucks and I can't figure out how to keep it focused. But you get the idea!! :-)

Zoo Crew

This is a pic of some of my kids at children's church earlier this spring! We had a gorgeous day, and we were doing a lesson on how Joseph obeyed his father when he was sent to go check on his brothers out in the fields. So, I took all my little "Joseph's" on an adventure to find our brothers, which led us outside to play a few OBEYING games like Simon Says, and Red Light, Green Light!!! Fun times!!!

Saying goodbye...

It's hard to believe... but I'm speechless. I've been pondering what to write for a couple of weeks now... and for some reason the words just aren't coming. I'm not sure it's really hitting me yet. But my "lasts" are starting to come a little more rapidly, as I'm beginning to wrap things up here in Portland and August 1st is going to be here before I know it!!

At the end of the school year, we always have a big celebration for the 1-on-1 program. We invite the families and have a big dinner, cake, a picture slide show from the year's activities, praise & worship, presentation of our certificates and usually a special performance of some kind! This year we had 1st Infantry come and rap for us again, and the kids LOVED it!!

I tried to keep myself really focused on Elema, so I wouldn't dwell on my "lasts". My last meal with the kids... my last time leading praise & worship... my last time getting hugs from my girls... my last time driving the van thru the Villa... etc. Surprisingly, I held myself together WAY better than I thought I would!! Leslie made me tear up right off the bat, when I walked in with the kids and she immediately gave me a hug and started crying!!! Don't DO that to me!!!!!! I recovered quickly and made it all the way through until Omar called me up to say "goodbye" and how much he/they appreciated everything I had done over the last 9 yrs. He handed me a bag and told me to open it... it was a hoodie with our Urban Progress logo on the front, and pictures of all 3 girls that I've mentored over the last 9 yrs. It was awesome!! He asked me if I wanted to say anything, and I was doing good, so I took it and as soon as the first word came out... the tears started falling. So I got some thoughts out, but eventually gave up and gave the mic back to Omar! :-)

Omar (director) and Pastor Ron (founder)

Elema & I

The night was awesome! I made it thru the rest of the night with smiles & laughter, I said my last goodbyes, got my last few hugs... a couple of times... and made my rounds for the last time around the Villa. I got back to the church and gave Erin a hug, then Omar... then lost it again. DANG IT!!! It's funny to me, because this ministry has always been such a huge part of my life. But over the last few years, I've felt God leading me in a different direction. So I don't know... maybe I fooled myself into thinking it would easier. It helps that I'm looking forward to jumping into ministry when I get up to Port Angeles. When you're married to the youth pastor, you don't have much of a choice!! LOL!! But that's one of the reasons Chris is perfect for me... we share the same passion for kids and serving God by serving them.

So it's hard to imagine not seeing these kids again... but I do plan coming back to visit! And thanks to technology, I'll be able to keep up with my girls via email and myspace... so I'll always know what they're up to!! Change is hard sometimes... but it doesn't take away from the excitement for my future!

P.S. I held up posting this until I could get a good picture of my awesome hoodie... but I've given up on myself. So I'll post a pic of the hoodie later! :-)