You Know When You Get a Massage

You know you're the wife of a youth pastor when you consider a shirt-signing as good as a professional back rub.

Not that I have much to compare with. I've had one professional massage and I won it through a TV contest.  I had an amazing massage with a nice masseuse who was a also a mom and Nathan got a didn't-know-he-had-such-a-small-personal-space massage with a crunchy lady named Luna. But, that's another story.

Last week I was on the High School Mission Trip to Bliss, Idaho. We headed to this tiny town, population 318 (including the cows and goats from what I hear) to put on a "Mega Sport Camp" with soccer and VBS.  It was an amazing week with more stories of God's goodness than I could ever record. (Come this Sunday, July 24th, to the 6pm service at EBC to hear some of them--and to see photos!)

Here I am at my 'post'

My 'post' during the club was the registration table and as I was working on the slide show to view at the final closing, the teens started signing camp shirts.  Since I was on a short time allowance and I still had to still trim 23 minutes down to 6 (hey--I started at 56 minutes and was making good progress), I kept working on my slide show while the youth swarmed around me with Sharpies.  It wasn't too long until one came my way--"will you sign my shirt....can I sign yours?"  Absolutely, yes, I will sign yours.

Now, you'd think it would be easy for me to want mine signed in return...but with a stash of 15 mission trip tee's, I actually have always avoided getting my shirt signed.  Not really sure why--maybe it's the whole idea of writing on a brand new tee, or maybe I'm weird about being touched so much....not sure...I'll have to think more on why.

But for the first time, I thought to myself, 'really Kelsey, what's the big deal? Let them sign your shirt.'

So, it started.
And man, oh man.
Why have I waited so long!?
It was like a mini-back rub--that kept coming and coming. 
It felt so wonderful.
Ahh.....
yes, please sign my shirt.

Bummer, I should have started 15 years ago on this shirt signing thing.  Step aside, Luna!

PS-I did finish my slide show and "Mega" (aka Tyler) helped me trim it down to the right length!

 See, everyone is smiling!  It's a good thing!

You Know When You Wear Crushed Velvet

You know you're the wife of a youth pastor when you wear crushed velvet.

Each year on our HS Spring Retreat, the senior class has a chance to share a few words with the underclassmen. One of the seniors shared about how her mom challenged her to think and ask herself, "Will this matter in 20 years?" She often uses this reminder when dealing with different situations that seem overwhelming at the time. She concluded that most things DON'T matter 20 years from now.

Also, it is tradition to have a "Black Tie Dinner" for the evening meal. As I didn't want to purchase a new dress, I decided to dig through what was lurking in the back of the closet.  I found the dress I wore for my homecoming dance when I was a senior in high school! I thought it would be fun to show the HS girls what was being worn 'way back then.'  Guess how long ago?  Yep...20 years ago!

I shared about bringing my 20 year old dress with this senior girl and we had a laugh and a 'wow' at the connection of the concept of "20 years." 

I can't believe it's been 20 years since I wore that dress. Time flies, right!? When I look at the current students, I realize that even with two decades of fashion changes, not much differes when it comes to how a teenage girl feels on the inside. I struggled with many of the same insecurities, hopes, goals and challenges that they face today.  It's comforting to know that some things that seemed too big and insurmountable for my teenage self have either been solved or faded away with the passing of time. 
I look forward to seeing how God continues to grow and mold the young ladies I spent the weekend with, and I pray that in 20 years from now they will have stories of 'overcoming' to share with me.

And now, some photos for your viewing pleasure. 

My friends and I outside my locker during homecoming week. 

  I couldn't find a photo of me wearing my dress to the homecoming dance (maybe that's what happens when you go without a date...no photos).  But I did wear the dress later that year to a church youth group event.  Here's me with my best friend. Notice we are BOTH wearing velvet.

20 years later, realizing some things don't matter and others really do.