our home for ministry...

I'm going to admit something, and I'm not bragging when I say this: I'm a really fortunate youth minister. Matt and I live 1.8 miles from the Eastern Seaboard where we OWN our own property. We don't live in a plan where we have to pay people every month, just to have our own house, we can basically do what we want. We live right behind a church, where there is constant worship to the Lord, and hey...we can start fires in our backyard and no one calls the police or fire department! It's pretty sweet.

Matt and I hosted my annual Christmas bonfire, where we also pick a neighborhood and go Christmas caroling. The 5 days of previous rain didn't really help the initial START of the fire, but once it go going, we enjoyed some nice flames and good fellowship. (Oh, I might want to mention that it was about 60 degrees for said bonfire...not really "hot chocolate" kind of night.) It was really a blessing to me. To look out by back door this morning (above picture) to see the remenants of last night, was huge to me. I LOVE having kids at our house. It's not that big, but I love when it's filled with the kids we minister to. They were looking at all of our decorations, taking in the smells of Matt's many candles lit, and just enjoying our home. They were even taking an interest in Spencer, which totally rocks my world.

I know Matt and I are going to be here for a very long time, and I hope the carpet is worn by various students coming to and from college, just to say hi, or bring by that significant other they have met in college, or just to hang out after school. I pray, if you're a youth minister, that you''ll want the same for your home. I used to say my home is my sactuary, away from work...but I take that back now. I LOVE these kids. I hope you LOVE your kids. Honestly, this break I have from work is welcomed, but at the same time, I'm going to miss my programs and miss these kids.