her note to me:
Hey Holly,
This is Leslie! I was over at the Novacek's house last night and Brooke was talking about a book you guys were reading together and how you have little "assignments" for her to do, and this may sound weird, but I think that you are an awesome leader. I hear all the time from Brooke and Allison all the cool things that you do with them and it truly makes me want to be a better leader. I often use the excuse that I'm too busy or I can't b/c of Chloe, but if you can then I definitely should be able to. So I just wanted to say thanks for investing in those girls and it's awesome to see how their relationships with Christ have grown and just how your pushing them to step out and live for Him. Thanks for all you do!!
Leslie
This is Leslie! I was over at the Novacek's house last night and Brooke was talking about a book you guys were reading together and how you have little "assignments" for her to do, and this may sound weird, but I think that you are an awesome leader. I hear all the time from Brooke and Allison all the cool things that you do with them and it truly makes me want to be a better leader. I often use the excuse that I'm too busy or I can't b/c of Chloe, but if you can then I definitely should be able to. So I just wanted to say thanks for investing in those girls and it's awesome to see how their relationships with Christ have grown and just how your pushing them to step out and live for Him. Thanks for all you do!!
Leslie
(and because I LOVE encouragement, I LOVED that note!)
my note to her:
Leslie, well shucks...;-) thanks for taking the time to write me with that - I'm always due for some encouragement!!! (aren't we all!?) confession. (just to make sure you don't beat yourself up!) These past four years have been VERY hard for Jake and me to balance 'it' all out as far as ministry goes. hard. I love students....like, a lot. I'm a lifer as far as working with them. and when we had all those babies and Jake was gone so much, I think I made it to Oasis 1 out of 3 times, I rarely wrote a note card and the phone was not an option...you know why, I'm sure! Getting together with them meant taking one of my times alone, with no noise and no responsibilities away. Lydia is 5 now, Samantha is 4, Nora and Sophie are 3 - I have no more 'babies' and Jake hasn't deployed in a year and a half after being gone for over three years straight (200+ days a year). I know the life of a pastor's wife is very similar - when you are at church/in ministry your husband is working, which puts you alone. ok. so, all that for this: YOU WILL FIGURE IT OUT!!! Make the effort to adjust, it's not easy, but worth it. Ministry to students, when you have kids, is different. I'm not an easy 'changer' so this took me four years - hopefully it will only take you like 2 days ;-) We had worked with students for 7 years before we had kids and the students were EVERYTHING to us....and I had a hard time adjusting to them only being a part of our ministry, not all of our ministry. Much of my focus had to change to my own kiddos. Slumber parties have changed....we still have them, they are just remarkably different that the ones I used to have - Outings with the students are more tailored around my kids and my schedule than the students. I have found that I can really only truly pour myself into one or two students at a time, and the rest I just have to leave in God's hands - THAT IS WAY TOUGH FOR ME!!! But, I tried it both ways, trying to pour myself tiny little bits into all of my groups or trying to just focus in on one or two (usually it's two) - and way #1 was awful, unfulfilling and I'm sure not God-honoring! Another trend I've noticed, that I've just had to fight against personally and gracefully is that doing ministry with your kids 'there' is not cool!!!!??? One of my mentors told me, when we were talking about this, something I'll never forget, "Holly, you may be the only example of a good mom those kids ever see" you and I both had good moms but you and I both know that we are in a small category. and I think about that every time we're having a slumber party and my kids are the sole entertainment of the night or I can't go to one of the students events because my kids _____ or 'doing' ministry with the students means I take them grocery shopping with me to help with my kids etc..... so what. My girls LOVE Brooke, Allison, Shelby, Claire, etc.... they made them all their own Christmas presents, they can't wait for slumber parties, they are ok with me leaving them with babysitters/staying with daddy for me to go out with those girls, etc... So, the students get to see us as we truly are - and my girls ....well, there aren't words in this mama's heart for what it means to me for my girls to see teenagers that love Jesus and love hangin' out with their leader. What a cool example to my kids. And if that's what they see now....it can't hurt them for later, right!? wow....that was not what you were expecting back, was it!? apparently this is a passion of mine ;-) OH!!!! and it helps that you did all the work and then just gave me Brooke and Allison....of course I look good ;-) I wish you could hear them talk of you - they quote you with a twinkle in their eye often, they respect your walk with Christ and I AM GRATEFUL to you for your ministry - go, be better, we all need to do that, but know too that whatever you're doing, you're doing it well and it's making a difference in the lives of some future world changers!!! You Go Girl! Holly <><
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