JUST BELIEVING- BLOWS MY MIND!!!

One Crazy Ride!

It started a year and a half ago.... I felt troubled that our youth was left walking around town, hanging out behind buildings and on street corners. I kept having this tug inside that announced I felt they should have a PLACE to be... a place to hang out..... a place to know their community cared about them and wanted them to feel a part of itself.

This feeling, this tug, would not leave. In fact, quite the opposite- it got bigger and happened more often. One day, it became overwhelmingly clear that I was to do something about it. Not someone else. Me.

HOW?

No idea. No experience. No resources......

Then, slowly, people with experience and knowledge and resources began creeping into my mind. I began sharing my dream.... or vision. People loved the idea. People agreed that it was needed. People wanted to help.

Step by step- this journey has had me stepping outside my comfort zone- WAY outside my comfort zone! Getting on the phone and scheduling meetings. Meetings with Mayors, Police Chiefs, Rotary Members, School Board Officials, Town Board Members, Business Owners.... Standing up and speaking with a slide presentation to groups  (I feel much more comfortable when I can sit down to do that, I have found!) Seriously, this comes from the girl who would normally have to be thrown into those situations and then be completely nausiated just thinking about them actually happening!

All the time, I have had faith that THIS WILL WORK. THIS IS GOING TO HAPPEN. I don't know how....but I know it will. And every meeting, at every turn, I had some incredible sense of peace.

I am a Christian. But, what I am starting is not a religious organization. It is an organization that wants to meet teenagers where ever they are and help them transition into adulthood however we can.

Because, I am a Christian, and I believe God is totally into children... I believe He has made a way. I believe He has paved a path. TODAY, I received the biggest confirmation on that so far along this journey.

Today, I found out that as of April 12, 2012, the IRS approved the packet I mailed to them!

See that?? That was the day I took the packet to the Frederick Post Office and mailed it to the IRS! So, exactly one month from the date of my sending it- THEY APPROVED IT!!! Coinsidence? I think not! I think for something like this to happen, there had to be some divine intervention! Even the lady, Mrs. Black, from the IRS who told me when it was approved said, "That is so unsual- turn around in a month never happens!"

That is my God. He can do anything!! I am not an attourney, I have never filled out that much paperwork in my life! I have never written a business plan before. Everything that has happened has happened quite honestly by praying, talking to people, following advice given to me by people who have much more wisdom than me when it comes to all of this. All I have been is willing to do whatever needs done along the way... and not hesitating. Not procrastiinating. Not doubting.

JUST BELIEVING!

Time Keeps on Slippin, Slippin, Slippin

I remember as a young mom, all the countless people who would see me with 4 little ones 5 and under and say, "Wow! You've got your hands full!" (I would shake my head yes and then think to myself- "But, I WANTED them close; I want them to BE close." Then they would usually say,"Enjoy this time! It goes by so fast!"

And I would think to myself, "I wish it WOULD go by fast!"

I was never a huge baby person. I mean, don't get me wrong- I wanted all four of mine- and have always really wanted SIX- but all that is because I knew they would only really be babies technically for about a year and then they would be on their way to Toddlerhood! :)

As I sit here, I now have a 16.5, almost 15, 13.5 and 11.5 year old!! I say to myself every day, "TIME WENT BY SOOOO FAST!" And I find myself humming Steve Miller Band's song, "Time keeps on slippin, slippin, slippin into the future...."

I think to myself, I have 2 more school years with my oldest and then she is off to college- according to her- out of state. I have 3 more with my second, and then she will be off also....and I sometimes wonder if I HAVE made the most of all the time I have been given with them.I sometimes try to queeze in more cuddle times and one-on-one time because I know that soon, I won't have that opportunity nearly as much as I do right now...and right now there's slim pickings!!!

I mean, 3 teenagers- ACTIVE teenagers! And one tween- ACTIVE tween! We are beyond busy so much of the time.

Sometimes I get a little overwhelmed - I have the HUGE Mom Calendar on my wall in the kitchen that anyone who comes over looks at and usually feels overwhelmed just in looking....but my goals have always been to teach my girls all I could about God and his love for them and for all people. To teach them to trust and follow him. To love and have compassion for eachother and for others. To follow their dreams and to be all they were meant to be.

I have poured myself out over the years into doing those things and at times, it has been exhausting. At times, it has been frustrating. At times, hard. But ALWAYS it has been THE MOST REWARDING and MEANINGFUL thing I have EVER been involved in.

I am blessed beyond measure!!! My plan from here out is to ENJOY THE TIME because I realize more and more every day HOW FAST it goes by!