Full Circle Moments

When I was younger....and today, even still....most of my closest friends were always boys.  Growing up, it was Matt and Andy.  We were like the 3 amigos!  In college, it was 2 different Craigs and Stan.  I never dated any of them; they all were like older brothers to me.  They knew me better than anyone.  They spent the night at my house.  They looked out for me.  Always.  My family loved them like their own.  Even when I started dating (which, mind you, wasn't much), my boyfriends never questioned my friendships.  I guess, subconsciously for me, it probably would've been a deal breaker, if they had. 

Earlier this week, Warren asked if he and his two best buddies (Isa and Luami) could go to dinner and a movie.  Working through the plans, we decided Chris and I would take them to Crispers for dinner before the movie...then would sit far behind them in the theater.  As it worked out, Luami was late and didn't make it til the very end of dinner.  As Chris and I looked across Crispers at Warren and Isa, we talked about how proud we were that, while most of the restaurant might've assumed they were on a date....I can almost 100% guarantee you neither of them thought of it that way.  They talked; they laughed.  They were not on their phones (except to check on Luami).  

And then when Luami joined them, and they walked over to the movie...I was reminded of my own childhood.  It was a full circle moment for me as Isa took my place...with her own Craig and Stan, in Warren and Luami (except I think Isa is more like the big sister to those two boys).  I know how much Matt, Andy, Craig (both of em) and Stan meant to me.....how much they still mean to me.  They accepted me always....they walked by my side.....they picked me up when I fell down....they listened to me....they loved me completely.  Never any strings attached. 

I'm so proud to pass the torch on to the new 3 amigos.  I love their sweet friendship, am honored to walk this road with them and can't wait to continue to see how their story unfolds.       

  

It Isn't Supposed to Be Convenient

This weekend was an inconvenience!  Harper joined the church youth group for the first (of hopefully many) Serve Saturdays.  He woke up early on a rainy, chilly Saturday morning to go pick up trash around Lake Parker.  How convenient it would've been to stay curled up, in bed, or in front of the fire, in comfy pajamas!  Instead, he rolled out of bed (albeit reluctantly), got dressed and served.  And, according to the pictures, he even had a smile on his face!  

Then Sunday, Warren participated in Fine Arts Sunday at church.  He was kind of "voluntold" that he would play congas for the Youth Choir and Kids Praise....as they both needed percussion.  It was a long morning, for sure.  He was there by 7:30, played in four services....then attended a meeting for his summer mission trip to Alaska.  And, at 1:00, we left to go to lunch.  

Saturday morning, as the youth group circled around to pray before they headed out, our Director of Missions Ministry, Forrest White, shared a few words that stayed with me long after the group prayer.  After he thanked them and told them he was proud of them for showing up, he told them that "Mission work isn't supposed to be convenient.  It isn't supposed to be easy.  You never know the difference you'll make in someone's life."  He talked with the kids about his belief that God is in every moment of mission work.  "Besides cleaning up the environment, it might be that God put you there to offer someone a smile as you're walking by.  And maybe that smile turns that person's day around." 

I've thought about Forrest's words...since he said them.  As we drove home today, we talked about the boys' weekend and the service they participated in.  We told them how proud we were of them. Warren even said he thought he might like to drum with the Youth Praise Band, on Youth Sunday, but he felt like the rehearsals were "just too much" on Sundays before Youth Group.  Since he wasn't a part of the prayer circle Saturday morning, I shared Forrest's words with him.  I told him that "service isn't supposed to be convenient."  But, it's in the inconvenience that we find the sacrifice to further God's work.  

1 Peter 4:10 says "Each of you should use whatever gifts you have received to serve others."  I'm proud of our boys.  I'm proud of our church.  I'm proud to be a part of a church that provides opportunities for our youth to serve and learn to appreciate the inconvenience as they use their gifts to serve others.  

Christmas Magic

I have waited for this day for at least 4-5 years.  I was prepared.  I had a plan.  Or so I thought.  But like most things, this day didn't go like I had planned.  

For over 10 years, the day after Thanksgiving signals to our family that Christmas is coming.  We decorate our house, our Elf on the Shelf, Drake arrives and the Christmas magic begins.  While we may snarl at Drake....and, let's be honest, curse his name trying to keep the magic alive.....we have loved (most) every minute of seeing Christmas through our boys' innocent eyes.  We've waited for years, wondering how the boys (now 15 and 12) could still truly believe.  We've questioned if they really did or not.  We've talked to friends and family, and heard more times than we can count, "I can guarantee you they don't really believe.  At least Warren doesn't.  He's probably just going along with it because he doesn't want to hurt your feelings."  Year after year, we told ourselves "This is the year.  We've got to tell Warren.  We can't let him go to high school still thinking Santa is real."  But the years came and went and the time just never presented itself.  So, year after year, we've continued to trust in the magic.  Until this year. 

A couple of nights ago, after the boys were tucked in bed (or so I thought), while brushing my teeth, Warren popped his head in and asked if I could come in and talk for a few minutes.  Of course.  Always.  He's been grappling with a few school related things, which we did talk about....before the topic quickly changed.  He started asking questions about where Chris and I were at certain times...trying to figure out how Drake could've moved, if everything his friends had told him were true.  He told me how one friend learned that Santa wasn't real when he was in the 5th grade.  And he questioned, "If Santa isn't real, how could you and Dad afford all those big gifts?"  So, I calmly walked out for just a moment....grabbed my letter (written 5 years ago, when I initially thought we'd be having this conversation) and walked back in, with Chris by my side.  

We gave the letter to Warren and watched as he read.  His eyes filled with tears and he rolled over, crying "Just leave me alone please."  Had I goofed?  After all these years, maybe he didn't really want to know the truth.  

"Buddy, why are you crying?" I asked.  "Because mom, if you and Dad are Santa, then that means you guys spend all that money on our big Santa gifts, while Harper and I hardly spend anything on you two.  So I just feel really bad."  After the tears dried, the next round of questions began.  "So, do you and Dad eat the cookies we put out for Santa?  What about the reindeer food?  How do you guys clean it out of the grass?"  I asked him if he was sure he wanted to be on "Santa's team" now, before I revealed all the secrets.  He nodded his head no....started crying again and told us he just wasn't sure about any of it.  (Let's be honest....it's a lot to take in!)

While it didn't quite go like I had planned, most things never do.  Still, I'm grateful for the time.  Even though it was well past 11:00....and I was exhausted after a big day of crafting and running Christmas errands....he and I decided we would sneak to the utility room and play some video games to help "ease the pain."  We laughed together, playing Gang Beasts and as I tucked him back in to bed....I welcomed him to "this side" of the Christmas magic and promised him it was going to be so much more fun than he could ever imagine!  

For the next couple of days, he did such a great job playing along to keep the magic alive for Harper.  Christmas Eve, after we finished Christmas with Chris' family...and when Harper wasn't around, he asked me "So do you and Dad stay up and put everything out now?"  I told him, again, that I couldn't reveal all the secrets.  He smiled a huge smile and said "But mom, I'm on your team now!"  But, when I asked him "What percent?"....he smiled and said "Maybe 60/40."  I told him I couldn't tell him until he was 100%!  

And once the magic was over....Christmas night....Warren climbed into his bed.  And with tears in his eyes, he looked away and said "But mom, I don't want to believe you and Dad are Santa.  I want to believe Santa is real."  Sweet Warren, there is always magic....when you believe!