Summer at The Heights....Here We Come!

It's hard to believe that it's mid-April already. This year has flown by...and by this year I mean August until now. It seems as though, despite graduating both high school and college, I'm destined to view my life in terms of semesters and school years. As Kyle and I both work in the school system (and very well may always), our view of the calender is slightly skewed. Anyway, all that to say: we are looking forward to having 12 weeks off this summer. No school = no work. For both of us. Hmmmm. The options were virtually endless when we began to discuss what we would do with our summer off. Go on an extended vacation. Spend a huge chunk of time at the lakehouse. Sit by the pool in our apt complex and pity those poor souls who have to work from 9-5. All those options sound really great. I mean, truly. Twelve weeks of nothing?? You've gotta be kiddin me. But we wanted something more. Sure, it would be nice to take a much needed break from the sometimes-monotony of life. But a break is not what we felt Jesus calling us to. Perhaps those twelve weeks off that He has given us come with responsibility. God, the giver of all good things, has entrusted us with 12 weeks of freedom. How could we not return them to Him? After long discussions, prayer, and consideration, we have been given the privilege of working in the student ministry at our beloved church, The Heights Baptist this summer. We could not be more thrilled. Spending a summer with teenagers seeking after the heart of God. It doesn't get much better. Maybe the best part about it for me is that I was one of those teenagers once. I grew up in this church. I came to know Christ there. I worshiped and served and grew alongside two of my best friends there. I struggled, and grieved, and battled, and rejoiced, and hoped. How amazing that God scripted this place and time, to serve alongside my husband, in a place that owns so much of my story. No one else could have written it better. When Kyle and I got married I thought it might be time to say goodbye to the Heights. Not that I didn't love it. But we were starting a new family and I thought it was important that we find a church that was the right fit for our family....together. I didn't want to be at The Heights just by default. God has a sense of humor. We tried to get away. Really, we did. We visited other churches. Many. And other Sunday school classes. But it wasn't until we visited our current Sunday School class, The Honeymooners at The Heights, that we knew we were home. Funny isn't it? But I'm so thankful. We are still not exactly sure of what our exact role will be this summer. We are not the typical college interns that come for a summer and go back to school in the fall. But we are not on staff permanently either. The truth is, we are kind of collaborating to create a position that fits us and the needs of the student ministry. It's pretty much amazing - but a little scary at the same time as we're not quite sure what to expect! We covet your prayers as we step into this new role at the beginning of June. Pray that we would be sensitive to the Holy Spirit's guidance, that we would be effective in both leadership and ministry, that we wouldn't miss a single opportunity with these kids, that we would make every minute of every day about our God, His kingdom, His glory. "...Your Name and renown are the desire of our hearts..." -Isaiah 26:8