Faithful Friday: A Fruity Family

It's always our luck that whenever we're saving for something, a higher priority comes in the picture. 

If I haven't mentioned it yet, we're planning a trip to Florida this summer. We haven't been since 2008.  Our first and last beach vacation with Austin.  There's a post or two to come about that in the future, I'm sure.  I'm still processing...searching...healing, and yet, we are looking forward to time with the family in the sand and sun.

Enter center stage, our dilapidated central air unit.

It's coughed, hiccuped and sputtered the past couple years.  We've dug our heels, slapped band-aids on it, and said many prayers.  This year, we were fearful we'd have to take the ugly, deep plunge and buy a new one.  Even though our checkbook was frantically shaking its head, "NO!"

But my hubby, ever the optimist these days, persisted.  He puttered and tinkered, and with the help of a handful of A/C friends, we have our fingers crossed it'll survive the season.  And we're hoping for forgiving summer weather!  Yea right, we live in Kentucky...

In the meantime, we'll get into a more serious savings mode for what we know will inevitably come.  Budgets will be adjusted, shoestrings will be tightened.  We told the kids to prepare to spend a lot of time at the beach this summer, because after all, once we get there that attraction is free!

My mother summed it up best and put life into perspective with a great response to my whining.  "This will be our time for new FAMILY memories!! We don't need to spend a lot to be filled full of love and laughter!! So instead of eating out, we will have fun in the kitchen cooking together!! Playing games instead of seeing whatever...soaking up Gods sunshine and beauty!"

We're blessed that she's able to go with us this year.  Our first time together on the beach, as well as Tina's first-ever trip to see the ocean.  Perspective.  There's always blessings in the bumps.
It'll all work out...  

Between my mother's wise words and my hubby's uncharacteristically calm temperament through this chaos, I had to smile.  They were teaching me JOY.  They were showing me growing fruits of their own.

He cuts off every branch in me that bears no fruit, while every branch that does bear fruit he prunes... John 15:2

It wasn't too long ago that Tim might've shown his rising blood pressure when he'd tried for the fourteenth time to get the unit going but again failed.  He might not have been the caring voice this week, reminding me it was going to be ok when it was a sticky 20 degrees hotter in the house than outside.  He might not have been the first to remind me to take our concerns together in prayer.  Subtle, yet powerful changes. 
God gifts.  One budding fruit at a time...

Nacho Usual Teen Party

My aunt was the ultimate youth leader.  Funny, cool, relatable, and extremely creative, she made learning about the Bible fun.  Aunt Becky was gifted with making you want to hang with Jesus.

Even though I wasn't officially a "teen," Becky invited me to be a part of the youth group a few years early.  Like Noah, I looked older than my age, and being a typical first-born female, was mature beyond my years.  Of course, it also helped that I had a family connection.  I didn't care how I got in, it was just great to be a part of the group.

Among my favorite youth group memories are the recreation of the Lord's supper, Luau's in the backyard, and rapping the Sunday school lessons.  I remember thinking then how much fun it would be when I was a grown-up and could host teen parties for my own church.

Fast forward many, many years later to present day. 

Last night, we were blessed to host the monthly Bible study for our kid's youth group.  Mix together a couple dozen teens and youth leaders, 2 ginormous bags of tortilla chips, a vat of nacho cheese and all the toppings, a heavy assortment of sugary sweets, a study video that asks tough spiritual questions, and you have all the ingredients for one great night.

We've come to love so many of these teens the past year and last night was a wonderful opportunity to get to know others better.  Prayers, lots of laughter, and smart conversations were shared.  Tim and I loved watching Noah and Tina interact with their friends and responding to the challenges given.  Coming off Revival, the timing was perfect to remind the teens (and us adults) to be brave and bold in continuing to share the gospel. 

"What if each of us reached just 1 person this year for Jesus?"

rang through the walls of our home and stirred our hearts.

Cleaning up a littering of plastic cups and chip crumbs, I found myself smiling as the last kid trotted out the door.  Amazed, even still, at the work God has done with our family through this church.  Grateful and blessed that Noah and Tina have solid role models, strong youth leaders, and faithful Christian friends.  Of all the gatherings we've hosted in our home over the years, this Bible study is by far at the top of our favorite's list.

And I can't help but chuckle that someone in the neighborhood called in a complaint about the crowd.  If they only knew the great things that were happening under this roof.  ...Maybe next time we'll invite them to join us!