Heavy.

I am feeling weighed down by things within me and around me this week,  thankful that no matter how I'm feeling I know that I have hope because God has a plan for me. I'm thankful for the people in my life who continue to show me this is true, no matter what. I can't help but smile when I think about certain folks and how they brighten my day. Lucky to have such amazing friends and family to cheer me and remind me what really matters! This post is just a few things I need to get off my chest.

Puzzled:Something has been on my mind lately with all the media buzz about certain issues in our society. What's  right or wrong is not what's important here or what puzzles me. What bothers me is the tremendous misuse of an opportunity to show God's love to others. Think about it, shouldn't we as Christians be recognizable by our love, joy, and compassion not by characteristics of judgment and hatred? Jesus gave us the command love your neighbor as yourself. When he said neighbor, he meant EVERYONE. Jesus came to save all people. There are no exceptions to his grace. Don't get me wrong, I'm not asking anyone to condone or encourage things you don't agree with. It's just my hope that Christians will love people better no matter the circumstances, because that's being Christlike.

Painful Memories:
I stayed awake early Tuesday, recalling the events of just one year ago. During those early morning hours on August 21, 2011 my twin nieces were born still. I said hello and goodbye to the precious babies in the matter of only a few minutes but it's a memory I will hold onto for a lifetime. I'd never truly known such heartbreak until that moment. I'll never forget seeing their perfect little hands and feet.  Although we still grieve for the loss of our girls Zoe Catherine and Lily Grace, it's been a year of healing. God has been working in the lives of each of my family members.

Personally, for me it's been a year of ups and downs. It's been a year of letting go of anger towards God. I had to not only learn to trust him again but to follow where he was leading me. For the longest time it felt like my heart wouldn't begin to heal but God continued to hold me and bless me. Whenever I feel disappointed or fearful because I have no clue where I'm going, I can look back on this year and see examples of God's work within me and through me and trust that my future is in his hands.

Direction:
I'm not lost but I'm not certain where I'm going. Can you relate? All I know is the the heaviness of the load is bound to change. It will get lighter then heavier then maybe even heavier before lightening. All I know is I'm not alone in carrying it and I'm so thankful for that.

I promise a lighter fluffier post in the near future :)
-KP

Feels like college.

Well, school has begun again and I wish my youth the best of luck! I hope it's a fantastic year for each and every one of them. I know they will make little moments count and find opportunities to show God's love this year. Summer faded quickly but we went out with one last, "hoorah!"

Youth Week.

What a blast! From bowling to laser tag to being locked-in; we did it all. We even hot glued a sheet to the church and projected a movie: instant outdoor movie. Why had I not heard of this before? Brilliant. The crowd favorite seemed to be our Paint War. As The Doctor would put it, somewhere along the "wibby wobbly, timey wimey" line I got the idea that it might be fun to throw paint on each other. Let's be honest, the inspiration is probably Pinterest related. The important thing is, I was right! Throwing paint on people is the best! You can't help but smile and laugh as you are splattered with vibrant colors. The end result is pretty cool too. Each person is covered with different patterns and color combinations, so artsy. I'm glad I asked my good friend to come photograph the war. She captured the moments we won't want to forget.

Funny story time. I asked one of my good guy friends to help me drive my youth to Lazer Blaze. He works with youth too and likes laser tag, so why not? I knew this might stir up some silliness from the boys in our group and I was right. After all, they've taught me a two week relationship is super serious and guys and girls are never just friends. As we were about to go into our game, one of the boys decided to be funny and point at us and say "You two should date." My response complete with serious face, "We are." My friend nodded in agreement. The look on the boy's face was priceless. I let his jaw stay dropped for five good seconds then said, "Just kidding, but that'd be cool right?" Don't mess. I can take your awkward and make it more awkward.

I love a good game of Ultimate Frisbee. It seems like I hardly ever play anymore so it felt incredible to get two games in during a week. As I ran down the field I yelled, "Feels like college!" In fact, the only time I enjoy running is during Frisbee games. I'm so happy my youth group has found a love for the game.

At our lock-in we focused for a few minutes on taking steps in the direction God wants us to go this year. Looking for opportunities to show his love to others. I had everyone write a letter to their future selves to hold themselves accountable and check in sometime this year. I was surprised at their reaction, no whining or sighs. They seemed happy to write. I'll never know what they said to themselves but I can't wait to mail those letters out in a few days, weeks, months. They'll never know when it'll arrive. I love surprise snail mail.

As I crashed into my bed Saturday morning after the lock-in, I reflected on the week. I happily planned a whole week of lively activities for teenagers. Yes, last minute changes were made and there were even misunderstandings about the rules of "Romans and Christians," but I think I can safely say that everyone learned something. Maybe it was simply a new game, or maybe it was about themselves, each other, or their relationship with God. We had a great time and bonded as a group, that's really all I could have hoped for. This group continues to impress me twice over.

I'm so lucky, 'cause my job totally rules.
-KP

Y-E-S to V-B-S!!!

Kids are incredible. I was reminded just how incredible the week of our Vacation Bible School. Now that I've had some time to recover, I'm ready to share. It was an exhausting but extremely rewarding week. From what I can tell, the consensus was that it was a success. I felt so much love and support from all the gracious volunteers that dedicated their week to teaching our kids about God's AMAZING power.

One of the reasons I enjoy my job so much is because it teaches me new things about myself with each new experience or task which I am delegated. During VBS I learned three important things: 

1. I am most certainly a bit crazy.

2. This allows me to talk to kids in a way that gives them the impression that I'm awesome.

3. When they are fooled into thinking I'm awesome, it's easier to get them to listen while I teach them about God's LOVE.

First of all, VBS is not as easy as my mentor, Pam, has always made it seem. I never realized how much preparation and coordination goes into planning a Bible school. Thank goodness I had a wonderful team of experienced VBS ladies to help guide this rookie along. Still, the stress built up and I was an emotional wreck after the first day. There was really for no reason for my emotional outburst other than exhaustion, paranoia, and a bit of unrelated drama. The day had gone well. I guess the thought of doing it four more times just seemed a little daunting.

As nervous as I was to be the "go to" person, somewhere along the line it became no longer a burden  but a blessing. By the end of the week the stress was completely gone and I was flying down a water slide yelling, "For VBS!!!!!" Seriously, there was an actual water slide. As cheesy as it sounds, I had the time of my life (cue Dirty Dancing theme song).

I'll admit I was nervous on the following Sunday. It was time to show the rest of our church family what we learned at VBS. Never in my life have I seen such a turnout on a VBS Sunday. So many kids showed up to sing their little hearts out. It was terrific. As I led the congregation through our daily lessons the kids were right there with me engaged and shining as we read our verses and talked about God's POWER! A little guy, Malachi, said it best as the kids exited the stage after their final song, "I DID GREAT!" He did do great; they all did. That little voice is something I'll hold in my heart for a long time. When I see big smiles or get running start hugs from the kids at church it makes my day brighter and everything seems that much more worth it!

Sometimes it feels like all I do is worry or anticipate. Looking back now, I feel silly for stressing. God answered my prayers and blessed me greatly in so many ways during a single week. I guess it's just another reminder that I'd be nothing without his direction and presence in my life. 

This week is Youth Week at church. Stay tuned for related post! 

-KP

I'll just blame the heat.

It's been quite eventful in the life of this rookie youth leader. Here's a few updates. Sorry, it's a lengthy one.

Vacation Bible School
     I had the unique opportunity to serve with my home church as they brought Vacation Bible School to Henryville UMC who suffered tornado damage like most of the town of Henryville and the surrounding areas in early March. The theme for VBS, "Construction Junction," was appropriate as many of the homes right next to the church were being rebuilt. It was such a blessing to spend time with about sixteen first graders and a few kindergarteners. It was heartwarming to see their delightful smiles and hear their infectious laughter. These children have been through so much, some more than others, and still have marvelous joy in their hearts. Praise God for that! I'll cherish the memories of that week and miss those kiddos like crazy! Looking forward (and a bit terrified) to be the leader at our VBS coming up in just a few short weeks. Prayers please!

ICHTHUS
      It's hard to count, but think I've been to Ichthus Music Festival around seven or eight times. Somewhere along the line I've lost my eagerness to camp out for the entire weekend. (Probably because the festival is now in summer; therefore, totally hot.) Luckily, my small group decided we would just truck down to Wilmore for one evening since Switchfoot was playing. After a near death experience in the church van and applying a healthy amount of sunscreen; my buddy Jordan and I staked out our spot while the rest of the group explored. I was not gonna miss the opportunity to see Jon Foreman sound check.
     I guess I'm a true youth leader now because the speaker of the night angered me. I didn't appreciate his topic for the young audience at Ichthus. He was focusing more on not going to hell rather than a relationship with Christ before he gave an altar call. The audience was a bunch of teenagers who are going through "teenager-y" things. I think the speaker should have used this opportunity to focus on the love and comfort that comes with a relationship with a Savior. I was thoroughly disappointed.
     Fortunately, the lead singer of Kutless gave a better message in five minutes than the speaker in thirty. I am always impressed with Kutless because they are a band that takes the time to play worship music instead of trying to sell their own songs. Switchfoot completely killed it. I had an incredible time. I was bouncing around and dancing like nobody's business. I love that band. Did I mention that I got to shake their hands? I had to sweet talk my way into the closed Artist Tent. Still got it. I acted like a real dork when I met them though. "Sorry my hands are so sweaty, sir."

SPIRIT SONG
     Well, I did it! I survived my first overnight trip. I, with the help of three other amazing adults, pulled off an fun-filled weekend trip to Kings Island. Three days at a theme park including some rockin' Christian concerts can really wear you out. It was over 100 degrees each day and there was a crazy storm but my group was still full of positive energy. I was so proud of them. They made my job a whole lot easier. I was able to see Switchfoot again and rocked out. As Jon Foreman came within five rows of me and sang to little kids and gave out high fives I turned to another leader, Derrick, and said, "Those kids don't know they are living my dream. They are living MY dream." Owl City, Red, NEEDTOBREATH, and tobyMac brought the party. It was really special to get to sing, dance, and jump around with the kiddos in my group. It was an honor to take them to some of their first concerts.
    Nothing like going to a theme park to help you discover that you're getting old. Spending time in line surrounded by junior and senior highers is just enough. What really takes the cake: the rides. THEY HURT NOW. When did this happen? Don't get me wrong, I still love roller coasters but I could not keep up like I used to. Oh, what a difference five years can make. I think I'll just blame the heat.

Until something fun happens,
KP

A Better Me. It's possible.

Summer has greeted us with a smile.

I don't know about you, but I find myself hopeful at the beginning of the summer. Even though I'm no longer a student with the summer off, I still find myself imagining all the good things the season can bring. There's time for staying up late, sleeping in, and catching up with friends. There's swimming, grass to mow, barbecuing, vacations, weddings, fireworks, blockbusters, concerts, and maybe even a little romance if we're lucky. There's so much to look forward to!

This year I decided to write out some "Summer Goals" which quickly became "Summer Guidelines", and then more just like "Suggestions for Summer". My main purpose was to find things to improve me as a person. I won't bore you with the entire list but some of these suggestions are practical, like "Learn to Cook" while some are educational, "Read each week" and "Study the Bible more" and some are more personal challenges like, "Let it go." and "Talk to God more."

It doesn't really matter what I call them; writing down these challenges is a way to keep myself accountable. As I look up at my list each day, I'm reminded to strive to be a better me. After all, it's always possible to be a better version of yourself. I have twenty-three years experience in trying to become a better version of KP and I've found I just can't do it on my own. I must trust in the Lord with all my heart and let him lead me. Most importantly, my focus and purpose for improving must be centered in his truth. That's why strengthening my relationship with God has made the list in more than one way. I hope I can hold up my end of the bargain this summer and beyond.

Do you want to be a better you? Center yourself in truth.


Let's see what we can become,
KP

I haz a stick. Summer Pup.

I want to see Miracles

Below is a link to a recording of the message I gave last Sunday. Wow, it's really weird listening to myself.  I apologize for the sniffles. That is what happens when you are super nervous and talk about emotional things.

http://soundcloud.com/kristen-perry/i-want-to-see-miracles

I never thought I could stand up in front of a congregation and give a message. It felt really good. I'm so thankful for all the support I received from family, friends, and from my congregation. Thanks for believing in me.

-KP

Where would we be without Forgiveness?

Answer: Alone and Bitter

I'm thoroughly embarrassed as I look back at the date of my last post. My, my, how time has flown by. To be honest, I've started several blog posts in the mean time that never fully came together. There was either a lack of inspiration or my writing began to get too personal. The past few months have been a roller coaster ride for this lady. Thankfully, there was lots of growth in the process. Mostly when I look back at the past few weeks there is one thing that comes to mind: Forgiveness.

People disappoint. People make mistakes. People hurt you. But, there is power in repaying these people with love and mercy. Are we not shown mercy each and every day by God? My sins are forgotten, the same sins I can't forgive myself for, simply because I asked. When I make mistakes, the last thing I need is someone to tell me about the mess I've made. So why? Why is it so hard to forgive the people who sin against us? Yes, there is always the risk of being hurt again, but forgiveness doesn't come in one form. Sometimes it creates a stronger relationship and sometimes it makes a clean break. In any form, letting go of the bitterness will set you free. Wouldn't you rather go out loving, rather than hating. Just something to think and pray about.

In other news:
Now that tax season has come and gone, it's time to make decisions about what to do with myself. I'm considering taking some classes in the fall to start work on a Masters degree. Prayers for guidance (and funds) would be much appreciated.

Oh, and I think that you should know that the entire time I wrote this post, the song from Just Friends was in my head. "Forgiveness....is more than saying sorry..."

This also happened since I've been gone.

Until next time,
KP

Pretending I'm not tired.

Two major events in one week, what was I thinking? I'm already exhausted from keeping two jobs. Tax season is both a blessing and a curse. It has brought me extra employment but a lack of free "me" time.

Last week I took on a task I've never really done before. I planned a party. Sure I was an RA in college, but those events can't compare. I was given the idea to have a decade themed dance for the youth and children. I decide to call  it a "Decade Diversion" and invite the entire church to come. Easy enough, right? Wrong. Party planning is actually quite difficult. There are decorations to consider, PG music to download, games to create, and a killer costume to find. Luckily, I have some amazing volunteers who went decoration hunting with me. My love of older music came in handy for song selections and a trip to Goodwill produced my 60s' housewife look.

The party was a great time. Everyone looked fantastic in their decade gear. It was mostly youth and a few families who came out to the party. Nevertheless, we danced and laughed. Every smile, or "Great job!" that came my way reassured me that my hard work had paid off. As we were cleaning up someone said to me, "It's a shame more people didn't come." You know, that thought had not really occurred to me. I've never been a numbers person. I'm a give it your all even if only a few people show up kind of gal. We did something out of the ordinary and there was a great turnout from the young people of our church. That's what I call success. 

The second event of the week was our 30 Hour Famine for the youth group. None of my youth had ever done a fast before. I am very proud of how (most of) the youth behaved during the 30 hours. Hunger never fails to bring out the more difficult sides of some. For the first time in my short youth leader career I felt like I had to put my foot down. I had to let the youth know what I would and would not tolerate. Guess I can be inducted into the club, "I am a youth leader that has raised my voice," now. 

The power of fasting is overlooked by a lot of Christians. It's a disciplined sacrifice for God. Giving up a few meals grounds a person. I've never come away from a fast thinking it was a waste of time. This year I thought about how God uses us for bigger things. God can take anything, as small as it may be, and make its impact spread so much farther than we can imagine. I am thankful for organizations like World Vision that put together such a wonderful program that truly makes a difference in the lives of children around the world as well as in the hearts of our youth here.

Lately I've been tired and distracted, but it just goes to show that when I set my mind to something and let God in, it will turn out just right!

-KP

We Venture Together

Taking risks and facing fears in general have been on my mind this week.

Christmas of 2010 my family decided to skip the presents and take a Caribbean cruise together. It was one of the best decisions we've ever made as a family. I can only describe it as awe-inspiring and an all around marvelous time. We were living it up, soaking in the sunshine, enjoying the entertainment, and indulging in an incredible amount of food.

Our stop in Roatan, Honduras was my favorite. The entire bunch went on an excursion to a small private island that doubled as a nature preserve complete with picturesque gardens and endangered animals.

I am wildly afraid of the ocean and all the creatures that call it home. I never venture out into the waves past my waist because I am extremely uncomfortable and anxious. I've attempted to overcome this fear many times. I even swam out to hot springs in Santorini, Greece. Sadly, my swim was accompanied with a slight panic attack.

When we arrived at the island we were told there was some coral reef about fifty feet from the dock. I was curious but had no intention of ever leaving the comfort of my sandy beach. The rest of my family rented some snorkel gear and took turns swimming out to see the "beautiful" coral.  Each came back enamored and encouraged me to take a turn. It was a once in a lifetime opportunity after all.

It was my brother, B, who finally convinced me. He assured me that he would not let anything happen to me. I put my trust in him as I lowered my self into the water from the dock. We swam out to where our feet no longer touched and my heart was racing. My eyes were wide in the goggles as I struggled to breath through the snorkel and swim at the same time. B noticed my struggle and he took my hand. Before I knew it, we had reached the coral. My family was right; it was incredibly beautiful. The vibrant colors alone were mind-blowing. The fish were each unique and to be honest, not very scary. Still, the fear began to take control of me. I was only out there in the open ocean for about five minutes but I came back with a wonderful memory. A memory of beauty supplied by God and a memory of facing one of my biggest fears. Please, please don't make me do it again.

Proof that I did it!

How quickly our roles can change. Later in the trip,  someone else was forced to face a major fear. It was my little heart's desire to go zip-lining in Belize. One problem, my big sis is not so comfortable with heights.  I could not let her pass up an opportunity to fly through the jungle. I am the baby and therefore she was obligated to make my wish come true. I'll never forget watching her go across the first wire. I was able to cheer her on like my brother had encouraged me.

Sister, facing her fear!

One of the most thrilling moments of my life!

I have fears, pretty strange fears. Doesn't everybody? "He gives strength to the weary," and sometimes we are the tools he uses. Sometimes it's by gently taking a hand and sometimes it's giving someone a good push. It's simple, we need each other. Have you encouraged someone today?

-KP

It's what you're good at.

I love being a fan. It's kind of my thing; to enthusiastically support someone or something. I am a fan of several comedians, actors, shows, and teams. But most of all, I love being a fan of bands. It is never just about liking the music. It is the sensation from learning the lyrics, belting the words in my car, and cheering loud at shows. You know the feeling!

Last weekend I was out at a show doing what fans do best. As the music played, I looked up at the singer and thought, "Wow, am I really related to this remarkably talented person?" Yep, I was at The Dead Hearts' show. My brother, B, just happens to be the lead singer and guitar player. The band is made up of a great group of men who excel in their craft. It is not difficult to love them or their captivating sound. B's musical ingenuity never ceases to impress me. For example, I cannot wrap my head around how he is able to play guitar and a harmonica at the same time. It should not be possible in real life, yet he manages to make it look easy.

I'll admit, in the past I have been insanely jealous of B's talent. When I meet his friends I often get asked if I sing or play too. My response is usually something along the lines of, "No, he used up all the musical-genius genes before I could be made." (Which usually gets me a weird look; yet I still use it every single time).

Envying my older brother is sibling rivalry at its finest. Which put simply, is just silly. As we've grown older, it has dawned on me that life is more enjoyable when I stop comparing myself to my siblings. We are shockingly alike and yet, each our own individual. I may never master an instrument or be able to write profound lyrics, but I sure can appreciate people who do. After all, one of my greatest skills (and hobbies) is being a candid fan.

I am genuinely glad we can't all sing, write, tap dance, hit home runs, paint masterpieces, teach, or perform intricate surgeries. Being humbled from time to time is a good thing. It's how we are reminded everyone is uniquely gifted. Our strengths cross and interweave to support one another. Do you know what your talents are? Find something you love, and run with it. You will be one step closer to truly loving the person God made you to be.

-KP

Check out The Dead Hearts: http://www.thedeadhearts.com/media.html

We Call it Living.

Fallon, Fish, Fundraising, and Fellowship.

It was such a wild weekend. I drove up to Indy to experience a little Super Bowl fun. Indianapolis was buzzing with excitement for the big event. Every Hoosier should give the city a hand for coming together and pulling off a great week of festivities! I was lucky enough to be at the Thursday taping of Late Night with Jimmy Fallon. His show was one of the most entertaining things I've ever been to. The day had already mostly consisted of laughing and smiling but Fallon's "Suggestion Box" bits sent me over the edge. My jaw was sore the next day from laughter. What an unforgettable experience!

If Jesus fed thousands with just a few loaves and fish, God can help me turn one car into many. I drove back just in time to get ready to take the youth to Winter Jam on Friday. I was frantically trying to find drivers as I found out more and more kids were planning to attend. Teens are notorious for last minute plans; I get that. It's what back up plans are for. Thankfully God had my back. We successfully got 22 youth to and from the concert with the help of five other wonderful adults (one of which was my dad, thanks Papa Bear). 

During the show I looked around at my group and smiled because they were so well behaved. What made me happier was seeing them really enjoy the music. Music moves me, literally. There's no option to stand still. Youth being able to throw aside pride and just dance and praise Jesus is incredible.

Zombie KP barely made it to bible study on Saturday morning. Our topic woke me right up (along with coffee from the shop we meet at). We were discussing Jonah. I don't care if it only says "fish," Jonah was swallowed by a whale, a WHALE. It just so happens that I am absolutely terrified of whales to the point where the sight of one can make me nauseous. Needless to say I was distracted but my group and I focused in on Jonah's prayer in Chapter 2. Although there is great praise for God, there is no indication of guilt or understanding of why he was cast into the sea.  If we don't acknowledge our faults how can we grow? How can we fulfill God's plans for us?

The rest of Saturday consisted of shopping, shopping, and more shopping for the various sub sandwich ingredients for the youth fundraiser. I'll admit I am not exactly skilled in the ways of food preparation. I owe many thanks to my mom for taking on the task with me and for her patience. Making the subs Sunday went smoother than expected. The older youth stepped up and were leaders while the younger youth were just as hardworking. Once again, I took a step back and thanked God for such a special group of young people.

It was great to end the weekend watching some good ol' competitive football with friends. Go Giants! It's weekends like these that make me enjoy this thing we call "Living."

-KP

Don't Fear the Laundry Room

It was Monday afternoon. We were about to leave to take my grandma to an appointment and get some lunch. Just as I was settling into the car my dad yelled from the house, "Look, Gracie is up the street!"

My dog had broken out of her electric fence and was headed toward the busy roads we live near. My mom drove up the street to try and coax her to go "bye-bye". There was no way that dog was giving up her new found freedom. I jumped out and told my mom to get Grandma to her appointment. I'd stay behind and get the dog home safe. I called my dad and told him to bring up a car so we could work together. For about forty-five minutes we followed, chased, called, and begged her. Apparently, this was an exciting game for the dog. Gracie also knew she was in trouble and was attempting to avoid punishment as long as she could. To say I became frustrated is an understatement. The words under my breath became more and more offensive. To make matters worse, I'd fallen and could feel the effects of it on my knee and back.

Part of me wanted to give up and just let her try and make her way back home on her own. At the same time I was terrified of the danger she was in. Several times she was inches away from getting hit by a car. Would I witness my dog's death that day? Angry and scared, it was only in-between breaks of my profanity that I whispered, "Lord, please. Please." About an hour after we began, with the help of a kind lady, Gracie was caught. She was safe again, muddying up my backseat. With a sigh of relief, I scolded her. She was sentenced to a prolonged stay in the laundry room. As she sat quietly shut off from the rest of the house, I could finally relax. Then my dad said something that really struck me.

"All that time we were just trying to save her life."

His statement makes me think about our own freedom. Free will can be so dangerous. Are we ignoring or even toying with God as we run away from a Savior? Our Father just wants to save us from this world, but especially from ourselves. Luckily, no matter how far we stray, God will never give up.

Amazingly enough, there is no laundry room. How lucky we are that even after all the worry and frustration we cause, there is no punishment. We continue to receive God's unfailing love.

The hour long chase in the cool winter air was worth it because my Gracie's life was saved. Are you allowing yourself the same?

-KP

In unrelated news, It's my brother's birthday! Happy Birthday B!



How can I stay mad at this face?



It doesn't matter if...

...you are almost 18. You cannot date my friends.

Well, I suspected it might happen. Okay, I completely saw it coming. I invited two of my good friends to come play worship music at my New Years Eve lock-in. Did I mention my friends are two very handsome, Christian, 22 year old men? So, I can't really blame the teenage girls for swooning and talking to me about the guys weeks later. I was the exact same way in high school. I even find myself still falling into the trap every now and then. We females are almost programed to fall for cute guys playing and singing about Jesus. Admit it, a guitar can really do something for a guy. But a love for Christ, now that's just sexy. Sorry ladies, both those boys are in committed relationships, not to mention too old for you (at least in this stage of life). I promise, there are going to be plenty of guitar-wielding Prince Charmings to fall for in your future.

Speaking of the NYE lock-in, it went along quite smoothly. I enjoyed leading our group through their first Romans and Christians game experience. It was fun to see them figure it out and develop strategies. Being a veteran myself, I couldn't help but play a little trick on my group. If you've never experienced this game all you need to know is that you have three roles: Roman Soldiers, Christians, and Roman Christians. The game is played in almost complete darkness. The goal is to get Christians together to "build a church." Roman Soldiers' role is to capture Christians and escort them to jail. Roman Christians are the double agents. They act as soldiers but secretly help the Christians out of jail to find one another. To stir things up a bit I decided to write "Roman Soldier" on all the strips the youth would draw from. Like any other, I started the game by yelling, "GAME ON!" Wayne's World, anyone? I began to giggle as they all confronted each other and confusion started to take over. I only let it go on for about three minutes because my laughter caused suspicion. The simple joys of being a youth leader; you get what you can get!

Until something amusing happens,
-KP

Here's to Happy Beginnings!

It is difficult for me to put down in words how lucky I feel to be where I am at. After graduating college, I had little success in finding a gratifying job or one that fit my specific interests in Marketing. It was hard to keep my head up and salvage my depleting self-worth. I nearly gave up hope completely when my family suffered through a tragedy together. I felt tested and most of all, cheated. I questioned daily whether or not it was worth trying to be a good person. Being good was not a common trait I recognized in the successful students who attained jobs. As my questions poured out endlessly, God was smiling as he knew his plans for me were shaping into what would soon be a reality.

I have always had a passion for youth ministry. My youth group is responsible for a large part of my happiness as an adolescent. So really, it's only natural that I end up working in that area. I like to think of it as joining the family business; the one I've been involved with all my life. My youth pastor, Walter, was like a big brother or even a best friend. I have so many fond memories that involve him and his family. I would not be the person I am today had he not taken me under his wing. The most legendary memory we share is when I called from the back of the church van, "Walter, can I have a piece of gum? I just threw up in my mouth three times." His reply, "Yeah, (pause) here you go." He once had to write a briefing about our group for our mission trip, he informed the leaders, "It's not a trip unless KP pukes." How embarrassing! Yet, so true.

My oldest and closest friends are the ones I met in my youth group. We've shared so many great memories. I'll never forget New Year's Eve lock-ins, Ichthus storms, and roofing on mission trips. I look back and laugh at the amount of hours we spent running around the dark church playing 'Romans and Christians' or the arguments we had while playing Ultimate Frisbee. "You took two steps!!!"
  
As often as I've found myself in a position of leadership, it still intimidates me. I just choose to believe this job will challenge me to be the best version of myself. What else can you really ask for? I do not plan to simply erase my passion for marketing. I just have to be creative on how I pursue those efforts along side my new goals. I promise to keep on, no matter what comes my way.

-KP