Disney World!!!!!

Hello! Sorry that it has been so long since my last post. As you can probably imagine, our life is spinning out of control and most of the time we don't even know which way is up. But, the real reason I haven't posted is because I have wanted to blog about our Disney present and Chris' appreciation dinner, but have found no good way of expressing our feelings and gratitude.

Most of you know that Chris has transitioned from youth ministry to associate minister this past month. The church held an appreciation dinner/pot-luck in honor of Chris and the ministry he has done in the youth ministry. We really thought it was just a laid back pot-luck on a Sunday night. Didn't think too much would happen, probably the elders would get up and pray over us. No big deal, right? We were way wrong! We walked in to the gym to a completely decorated appreciation dinner. There were tableclothes and luminaries on every table. The luminaries were made out of copied pictures of all kinds of youth group pictures. There were old ones, new one's, family photos, etc.. They were wonderful and so much fun to look at. We looked so young! They had a special table for us in the middle of the room with a beautiful flower arrangement that had been put in a glass cookie jar for us to keep. We all ate and then Abbey got up and started introducing speakers. Ashleigh Givens spoke first. She was great and so funny. It is always fun when you can make fun of Chris! She was the female youth minister when we moved to SW. Her and Chris worked together for 5 years. Lots of funny stories! Next came Jerry Cobb. He gave the perspective of a parent of a teen. He was very gracious and thanked Chris for everything that he had done. Third was Jared Winters. Jared was a senior when we moved here and he and Chris have become the best of friends. Jared and Chris have gone to Honduras together too many times to count. Jared made us all cry and thanked me for more than I deserve! Abbey spoke last and made us cry again! She was great and thanked Chris for ministering to her and teens. As she finished up we started hearing music! It was the music for George of Jungle from WOW! Out came George! He was looking for Chris to give him a "secret package"! He found us and and presented us with a certificate for an all expense paid trip to DISNEY WORLD!!!!! We were in complete and utter shock! Actually, I think I am still in shock! Church families all donated to send all of us to Disney world! I really thought he might get a gift-certificate to Gear Head, not a trip! They completely surprised us. We had no clue! We couldn't even talk about it all evening. Every time we started, we would both start crying!



It was an incredible, once in a life time night. I can't even begin to thank everyone that put it together. Abbey worked so hard and made a perfect night. Thanks to Ashleigh, Jerry, Jerad, and Abbey for all of their nice words and encouragement. The funny thing is, we truly feel like we should be thanking everyone for allowing us to be here. We can't imagine being anywhere else. We love Southwest and everyone that is a part of it. We feel so blessed that God has let us be apart of the ministry that happens here. Thank you for loving us and blessing us! We are so excited to go to Disney!!! We are going Spring Break!

What a crazy summer!

What a crazy summer we are having. I thought I might recap June and July.

Polly:
June started with me getting a new job! I am the new FACS (family and consumer science) teacher at MacArthur Jr. High. My dream job, but one major problem....I don't have a teaching license. Luckily, there is this wonderful little program call the Non-traditional licensure program. I have a degree in FACS just not the teaching part. The NTLP allows me to start teaching while getting the teaching license. I am in the program for 2 years. 3 weeks this summer and 3 weeks next summer. Then, one Sat. a month for the next 2 school years. There is a ton of work that goes with it, but it is better than going to school full time for a year and not getting paid. I am pretty worn out, but excited too. There is another small problem with this whole FACS thing. I don't know how to sew! My focus in college was family relations, not sewing! I may need a few of you to give me a crash course this fall! This week I am cleaning out my classroom and trying to figure out what I am doing! PRAY!

Chris:
Chris is on his last official youth mission trip right now! He is spending the week with the Dry Bones ministry in Denver. It is the perfect way to end his youth ministry career. He loves this trip and this ministry. June began with the announcement of Chris' position change at SW. He is moving to Associate Minister in September. This was a really big decision that was prayed over for months. He loves youth ministry, but has been struggling with God calling him to a different ministry. His gifts have changed over the last few years, but God has been telling him to wait and be patient. I truly believe that God has prepared Chris for this position and prepared the church for Chris to be in this position. We are both going to miss youth ministry so much. It is all we have known as a married couple. The great part about this change is that he isn't leaving youth ministry because he doesn't like it anymore. He is leaving because God has prepared him for something else. This is Chris' tenth summer as a full time youth minister and in that time he has made a enormous impact in God's kingdom. I am continually amazed at how he allows God to work in him and how he allows God to change him. Please pray for him and for the teens. We have been praying for God to bring us a great new youth minister!

Jake and Isaac:
Bless them! They are hanging in there and probably have no idea how their lives are about to change. My mom (gigi) has been here for the last 2 weeks helping out with babysitting. I really don't know what we would have done with out her. The boys love when she is here and they have hardly noticed that we have been crazy. Please pray for them this fall. Isaac is starting the pre-k center. This will be his first year to be in school full time. Jake will be in the 1st grade at the International studies magnet school. I am so excited about their schools and know that is right where they need to be. Pray that they get great teachers and find some good friends!

We are blessed and are excited/nervous for what God has in store for us this year. We already told Greg Brooks that we are probably going to need our 4 free sessions at the Better Life Counseling Center! :)