Willy Wonka Remix

One of my all time favorite movies is Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory. In fact, the Oompa Loompas used to make an occasional appearance on my phone. Yep. I had an Oompa Loompa ringtone. Admit your jealousy...it's OK. One of my friends from my big-haired early teen years posted this video on his Facebook page, and it made me smile. So here it is. Posted for no reason other than the fact that I found it slightly entertaining...and what's a blog good for if you don't post slightly entertaining videos, right??

A Year of Blogging...and Youth Sunday

So, I just realized that I've had this blog for a little over a year. And what a year it's been. I'm not going to give the illusion that I've taken the time to go back and read through every post I've written over the past year, but I've looked at some of them. And the word that comes to mind when I think about the past year is "full." The calendar has been full with. My house has been full. My heart has been full. And my mind has been full (it seems as though I'm constantly processing something).

Generally speaking, my life has been full. Full of change. Full of amazing people. Full of attention getting moments. Sometimes good. Sometimes challenging. But always full.

I wasn't really planning on writing a "Happy Birthday Becky's Blog" post. And I'm still not. But, when I sat down to write about the youth service at church this past weekend, I recalled a post I wrote a little over a year ago entitled "The Next Generation." It's at that point that I realized it's been a year since I started blogging...and that despite my drastically different reality which I live in today in comparison to a year ago, some things don't change. My passion for and belief in our youth is one of them. Now, my Next Generation post wasn't entirely about teens. It was actually about getting past the assumption that teens are the church of tomorrow, as well as the assumption that us "grown-ups" have lived our lives and are just along for the ride.

This past Sunday was a pretty cool day. Our teens took the service and packed it full of musical worship, scripture reading, monologues, testimonies, prayer, etc., etc. The youth did it all, with the help of a few of us big people. I'm used to working with these teens. I see some of what they are going through, the growth they are experiencing, the depth in their relationships and their heart for Christ and the people around them. Not everyone sees that, just because they don't hang out with them as regularly as I do, which is completely understandable. This past Sunday, that changed, though. Teens were willing to step out of their comfort zone and get involved...share from their hearts. It was pretty sweet.

I think the immediate message they shared was awesome - talking about how God often interrupts our "regularly scheduled lives" to take us down the path that He has set for us. But what I think was even better, is that the church seemed to view them differently, truly as the church of today. And that the teens seemed to view themselves that way, truly as the church of today. That's so important. I was proud of our teens, but I was ecstatic to see them carry themselves with confidence...understanding their place and value in the church, and the Church. That feeling, I imagine, will stick with them for awhile. And hopefully, we can all remember to affirm and edify each other in that way on a regular basis, regardless of generational gaps...and remembering that it goes both ways.

Fact: Christ has placed value and importance on each one of us. And not just for a season. From the moment of conception until the day we die, He cherishes us. He values us. He expects great things out of us. His desire for us to live intentionally will never fade, whether you're talking about the span of a lifetime or the span of just a year. And thanks to this past year of blogging, and to youth Sunday, that's what I'm reminded of today.

Cause or Call?

Causes. They are everywhere. And the number of causes continues to grow rapidly. It seems as though everyone has a favorite cause, or 2 or 3... And I think that's good. It shows that our society is thinking about someone other than themselves...at least for a fleeting moment.

But (and this might be rude of me) I often wonder if people that join randomly absurd causes are just doing so to help alleviate guilt they are feeling about being so focused on themselves. And then there's the celebrities that create their own cause, so that even in their cause they can continue to be self-absorbent. To be completely honest, sometimes it makes me roll my eyes. Violent, eh?

I personally am involved with several "causes," if that's what you want to call them. It's not because I feel guilty. It's not because someone sold me on their personal passion or convinced me that because they believe in it, so should I. I think causes mean a heck of a lot more when Christ is involved. And so when I become involved, it's because I feel called to get involved. It's not just about the cause. It's about the call.

My suspicion is that there will always be a never-ending supply of causes to become involved with. What I think is cool about that, is that there is a perfect fit for everyone to get behind change and reform and rescue in a way that God has called them to do. All of us are different. All of us will be called to different areas and levels of involvement. God is on the move everywhere you look. I firmly believe that He expects us to be a part of what He is doing. Standing in the gap for the "least of these." Defending truth. Meeting needs and saving lives - not just physically speaking, but spiritually as well. This involvement will look different for each of us. As long as we first take a step back and make Christ the main thing in our lives, He will be faithful to help us determine where and how we can make a difference.

If you read my blog, you know that I run. I started running seriously again a little over a year ago and I've done a few competitive races since then. I recently registered to run in an event called the 5 K.I.N. (Kids in Need). For those of you local folks that haven't heard of this yet, I would encourage you to check our their website here. You can also check out Derry's blog here for the Reader's Digest version of the event. It's much more than a cause...it's a call. A call that some students from Nappanee Missionary Church have responded to, and one that I can get behind with something as simple as running a few miles with some friends.

That's the difference between a cause and a call. Causes aren't bad. But when you allow God to determine exactly what is achieved and who is involved, if you process how eternity will be impacted, I think it graduates to "call" status. And that's where I want to be.

If you are interested in either the 5K or the one mile walk, register here. Not big on running or walking? Then come cheer us on!!! November 14th at 9 AM, Nappanee Missionary Church.

Happy Birthday, Camryn!

I am still in disbelief that my little Cam just turned five years old. She is so excited to be a "big girl." There's just something about age five, I guess.

I'm not going to go into detail describing her birth (I can hear the corporate sigh of relief from here), because who honestly wants to know about all of that stuff? So let's just say that I had to be induced because she was huge. Which was actually OK, because it made it easier for her big brother and sister to hold her when we came home from the hospital. She was an easy baby, or maybe I was just a more experienced mom by then?? She fit right into my pretty strict sleep, eat, play schedule with the other kids. It was a fairly seamless transition, despite the realization that there were now more children than adults in the house.

I have four children, so technically, there is no middle child. But if there was, it would be Camryn. She is the middle girl with a younger sister just a year younger. So she's often gotten lost in the shuffle as a result. And I've often felt guilty about that very fact. But, over the past year or two, she has really found her place, personality and purpose. (Wow...three words that start with the same letter. I should be a pastor...) Anyway, it has been a real joy to watch her grow into the pink-loving little lady that she is.

Camryn has been a real gift to me. Her sense of humor is very uniquely hers. Her smile can light up an entire room. She feels things very, very deeply. If she's going to pout about something, it will be as dramatic as possible, lasting as long as she can possible manage. Her temper tantrums are something to behold. In all honesty, they are hilariously predictable. A good friend of ours once caught the whole progression with a series of pictures...and how we laughed!! On the flip side, if Camryn is happy, you will be treated with a ginormous belly laugh that is incredibly contagious. There have been many times Camryn has lifted my spirits. She has a tender heart...always gravitating towards the person in the room that is sad or lonely. Whether that person is an adult or another child. She truly loves everyone she comes into contact with and isn't afraid to let it be known.

Camryn is a worshipper. I'm guessing it's no surprise to anyone that she loves to sing. But put some music on and she will enter her own little world in less than 5 seconds. There have been many times that I have walked into a room and witnessed her dancing away, immediately bringing tears to my eyes. Not only is she incredibly graceful and truly beautiful, she is 100% genuine as she "dances for Jesus. "

My little Cam-a-lam is a blessing. She's a stinker sometimes. She is a true social butterfly and born performer (where did she get that from???). I love her dearly. My life would be empty without the joy and perspective she brings.

Happy Birthday, Camryn Abigail!!

Event Recap #2 - Joni and Friends Reunion

In the spirit of getting caught up, I might as well post about our Joni and Friends Family Retreat Reunion this past Saturday. Similar to the youth retreat the weekend previous, it was an amazing time where God came through in a way only He can.

I direct two of several dozen national Family Retreats for the Joni and Friends organization. These retreats are a week long "glimpse of heaven." It's a week where families affected by disability can get away from the daily grind, stress, stares and pressures they live with day in and day out. We often hear both our families and our volunteers express their desire to have more than just one week a year where they can be in such a safe and loving environment. So finally, after a few years of brainstorming, we were able to have our first JAF Family Retreat reunion, held at Bethel College.

The day started with lunch and a time to appreciate our Short Term Missionaries (STMs). It was pretty cool to be back together with some of our dear friends whom we only see once a year. I'll confess...I was a bit bummed when I saw that there were a number of families and STMs that had indicated they would be there, but were missing. Gradually, more and more folks trickled in. Many of them had been delayed by the traffic caused by the Notre Dame game. The energy continued to build throughout the day and as more people arrived.

When lunch was over, we enjoyed an afternoon full of games, face painting, hayrides, train rides, musical performances, puppets, crafts, inflatable craziness, giveaways, cornhole, ladder ball, cider and donuts and more. WNDU even came out and did a nice little story. At one point during the afternoon, I was greeted by a very familiar feeling...the feeling I get when Family Retreat in June is finally in full swing. It's a feeling of fulfillment. Of joy. A feeling that is hard to describe, but can be summed with a simple equation: Hard work + planning = happy families...which makes it more than worth every ounce of energy I could possibly pour into it.

Before dinner, we had the privilege of witnessing the very first Joni and Friends vs. Bethel College Pilots basketball game. It was a riot! The first half was fairly similar to a typical game...well, except I suspect the Pilots were holding back just a little bit. :-) The second half was played completely in wheelchairs. The Pilots were great sports, as I'm pretty sure none of them had ever tried to use a wheelchair, let alone play ball in one. The Joni and Friends team used wheelchairs also. Guess who won?? Yeppers...JAF all the way, baby.

Before sending everyone home, we shared another meal together. And a mere 7.5 hours later, it was time for everyone to leave. We had a fabulous time, thanks to many individuals that gave their time and businesses that donated items or gave us discounts on product. Not to mention the help Bethel College and their staff gave us. It truly was a group effort...one that blessed our families and STMs tremendously. This will be the first of many Family Retreat reunions.

So what did I learn through this event?

1. God is faithful.
2. The weather will always do the exact opposite of what you expect it to do.
3. Families affected by disability still have a very special place in God's heart, and mine. And there are a ton of people around here that feel the same way.
4. Sometimes it's the smallest gestures that make the greatest impact.
5. My dear friend, Katie (a 38 year old lady with a developmental delay), will always be my number one fan...and can play one heck of a game of basketball, too!
6. If you ever want to make sure you will be victorious in a wheelchair basketball game, just go around and put the brakes on the opponents wheelchairs when they aren't working...just like Amos did on Saturday. Quite effective!!

So, there's Event Recap #2. I am humbled and honored to be a part of the ministry of Joni and Friends...and even more humbled and honored to call such amazing people my friends. I'm so grateful that God continues to allow me to be Family Retreat director for the Chicago Area office. I am a better person because of it.

Event Recap #1

Well, I'm clearly a little behind in my blogging. Of course, had I not said that, all 2 of you reading this would never have known. :-) OK, seriously though, there have been a few pretty sweet events taking up space in my calendar that are now in the past, and I would be silly to not share at least a little about them.

First of all, a little over a week ago, we held a Campout/Retreat for our Senior High students at Wakarusa Missionary Church. It was clear from the very beginning that all of our planning, though good in theory, wasn't the final word on what was actually going to take place.

What was initially planned to be outside was moved to the church gym. But you can't get us down easily...and so with the help of another one of the sponsors, artificial trees, camping chairs, fake campfire and tents were all set-up in the gym. We even roasted marshmallows over the grill. Yummy.

What was initially planned to be a weekend built around a guest speaker became a time where a few of the youth sponsors shared what was on their hearts followed by guy/girl small group time.

What was initially planned to be a 30 minute devotional on Friday night turned into a 2.5 hour God moment. It was amazing.

We had lots of fun. Created lots of memories. And now share quite a few jokes with one another that seem far funnier in the middle of the night...but we also learned quite a few things that weekend:

1. Brett apparently thinks that passing gas should actually be referred to as "Speaking Canadian."
2. Never, ever, ever make your fear of rubber bands known to anyone you don't trust.
3. Be prepared to wake up to a song by The Cranberries if Schwartz has anything to do with it.
4. Leopard Print Snuggies are clearly way cooler than even I realized.
5. Relationships are important. Hard. But important.
6. God will always come through when prayer is involved. It may not look the way you anticipate, but He is faithful.

So, there you have it...Event Recap #1. I could totally share more, but you get the idea. In a nutshell...I love hanging with teens. I find that I learn a lot, laugh a lot and see God in a completely different light than when I am limited to seeing Him only through the lens of my reality.

This One's For You, Tracy...Part 2

In my last post, I shared about the passing of a good friend of mine from high school. And though I typically strive to be "strong, independent Becky," as people called me in college, losing Tracy really threw me for a loop. I was sad. I was confused. I was forced to deal with unexpected emotions and memories that surfaced. Of course, on the flip side, I was blessed. I was ministered to. And I am in awe of how big our God is, and how He uses people and situations to make HUGE impact. Let me explain...

I am the worship leader at our church. I also lead worship with a bunch of incredibly astounding teens for youth group each Wednesday night. Wednesday nights may very well be one of my favorite times of the week. I thoroughly enjoy spending time with these students. Watching friendships develop with each other and the different youth sponsors is a joy. Watching them cut loose and have fun is a blast. Watching them learn, process, pray and grow is incredibly fulfilling. But, to be honest, watching them walk through the tough stuff that teens are forced to face isn't always fun. I feel for them. I hurt for them.

I'm all about being real in worship. I don't subscribe to the "leave your troubles at the door and just come worship" theory. I think God would much rather us bring it all with us...all the hurt and junk and confusion and anger. He can handle it. It doesn't change who He is or how He views us. And so that's what I try to encourage our teens to do. Last week, however, it was time for me to do that. Though I'm not proud of it, I absolutely tried to avoid it.

I found out that Tracy died last Tuesday. Her death had consumed my thoughts and emotions since that moment. But as I walked into church Wednesday night, I was completely prepared to pretend I wasn't hurting. After all, I'm a leader. And I had a "job" to do. And fun Becky is way more appealing to hang out with. But I had it all wrong. And luckily, some good friends were willing to push me to the point of realizing I had it all wrong. Though I had been resisting all day, I finally gave in when one of the other youth sponsors asked if I would share that I was hurting that night and allow the teens to pray for me. He didn't realize that his idea was the straw that broke the camels back, so to speak. I agreed, and it changed me.

There I stood, in the middle of the youth center. And as every last student and sponsor got out of their chairs and stood around me, laying hands on me, praying out loud for me and the others that cared about Tracy, I realized something. I came very close to stealing this opportunity for these students to minister. To be Jesus. To give of themselves and follow Biblical instruction to "mourn with those who mourn." Who am I to take that away from them? And just because of my pride? Talk about selfish.

But that's not all. It also gave everyone in that room a chance to see that I'm a normal human being, though slightly obnoxious at times, with hurts. And when I talk about worshiping God despite, and sometimes because of, the junk that life throws at us...I'm willing to try and do the same. I'm far from perfect. But I try. And like I said before, God can handle anything and everything.

The rest of our time together as a youth group last Wednesday was pretty special. There was just something about it...it's hard to explain. A few students committed their lives to Christ, and I was able to make new connections with a few students. It was a great night. A night that I was able to share with Tracys parents the next day as I traveled up to Yale, Michigan for the funeral.

I was able to share with them that a youth group in Wakarusa, Indiana had prayed for them. And though I won't go into all the details, every last thing that took place in our little town in Northern Indiana on Wednesday night linked beautifully with what God was doing in another little town in the thumb of Michigan. Only God can put puzzle pieces like that together. And to think that my stupid pride could have gotten in the way...

Though the seemingly early death of Tracy was tragic, the service was beautiful. Many unsaved individuals were there and heard about the joy and fulfillment that Tracy found in Jesus Christ. Her sister sang. One of her daughters read a poem she had written. Funny stories were shared. But most importantly, God was honored. And Tracy wouldn't have had it any other way. As her mom said to my dad and I, if this was what it would take to get some of her friends to accept Christ, Tracy would lay her life down in a second.

So, thanks WMC teens. You rock my socks off. Thanks, dear friends, for encouraging me to mourn...to be real...and to look at the bigger picture. And thanks to Sandy and Bonnie. Your daughter was awesome. Your strength is inspiring. Your laughs are contagious. And that go-cart incident at your house when Tracy and I were in high school...well, so much for not telling my dad about it. :-) At least I'm too old for him to ground me now...

Take a chance today. Be real. Who knows what God has in mind...

This One's For You, Tracy.

Well, it seems as though I'm back from my blogcation. (Ya know, I've always wanted to say that word. Now I have. OK, moving on...) Life's just been pretty full lately. And since I was once advised to resist feeling the pressure to blog every single day...and to not let it become just another thing on my To Do List, I haven't worried about it. Today, however, I think I may just have a few things I need to get off my chest. And a dear friend whom I would like to honor.

If you've read much about me, you know that I moved a lot growing up. Moving had its ups and downs. I made some great friends in a lot of different towns. But I also had to say goodbye to some great friends in those same towns. Tracy was one of them.

I moved to Yale, Michigan the summer before my sophomore year of high school. It was a tough move for me. I loved my school and church in Ohio that I had to say goodbye to, and had secretly hoped I would have been able to be there through graduation. We moved into town right before the #1 summer youth event - Youth Convention. So there I was. The new girl. The youth pastors daughter. Going to a youth convention with a bunch of strangers. Competing in the talent contest (which I went on to win...not the best move for making friends with the other musicians). Rooming with a girl I had never met. Just feeling awkward. And then I met Tracy.

The first thing I noticed about Tracy was her laugh. She was the type that wore her emotions on her sleeve. She was who she was and made no apologies. She felt things deeply. When she was bummed, she was really bummed. If you made her mad, she would tell you all about it. But when she laughed, she really laughed. I mean REALLY laugh. It was contagious. Her smile was the same way. Tracy was beautiful...but she acted as if she had no idea that she was. Her curly brown hair always looked fantastic, will little to no effort. Her skin was flawless. She was petite and always dressed comfortably. If she did take the time to get really dressed up, she was stunning, but didn't change anything about the way she acted.

Tracy and I hit it off, along with a few other of our close friends. I lived in Yale for just 2 years, but during those 2 years we all walked through a lot of stuff together. We had class together. Drivers Ed. Boyfriend problems. Volleyball. More youth events than I could count. We had a lot of fun. Tracy was pursuing cosmetology, and so whenever I needed a more formal look, she would graciously take the time to transform my long curly hair into a masterpiece. And then she'd throw some make-up on me while she was at it. I have very clear memories of standing in her bathroom with my head bent over while she tried to give me the tightest upside-down french braid known to mankind. Despite my protests, she wasn't about to let me walk out of her house with anything less than perfection. And despite my awareness that walking into that house would cause some pain on my part, I did it anyway. What high school girls will do to feel beautiful...

The summer before our senior year, I moved again. This time to Indiana. It was fitting that my last hoorah was another youth convention. In fact, my parents were actually moving into our new house while I was at youth convention. But they knew it was important to me and so they made it happen. I remember taking a lot of silly pictures that week...in an effort to have as many memories as possible to take along with me. And let me tell you, Tracy was always up for a good silly picture.

Tracy and I lost touch. Her journey involved a lot of heartache, more than I even realized. So when I learned yesterday that she had passed away unexpectedly, I was crushed. I immediately felt guilty. Wishing I had stayed in touch. Wishing I had been able to share some laughs with her...maybe even help her through some of the curve balls that had been thrown at her. And though the initial shock is starting to subside, I still wish that I could have heard her laugh one more time...even though it's been years since I've seen her.

So while I'm still hurting inside, and the tears have been flowing on and off since yesterday morning...what I really want to do is honor Tracy with this post. Tracy was a good friend. She sought me out when I was the new girl. She took the time to get to know me. She wasn't threatened by my gifts, and always supported me 100%. (She actually agreed to sing in an ensemble with me once, even though she couldn't carry a tune in a bucket if she tried. But she did it with a smile.) We studied together, played together, cried together and tackled silly dramas together. She loved big. And she will be missed.

Nothing takes God by surprise. He knew this was coming. And He knew how it would impact me. He knew exactly what types of emotions would surface after hearing the news, even though, quite frankly, I was a bit surprised by some of them. God has orchestrated my schedule in such a way to allow me to attend the funeral in Michigan tomorrow with my dad. My kids will be cared for. And I'll even be able to nap while we drive...bonus. :-) God also orchestrated to have specific people in my life, with specific insight and caring words that have made this whole thing much more do-able. I'm thankful for the way God prepared me, though I had no idea. And I choose to believe that God did the same for Tracy and her family...her children, husband, sisters and parents. I choose to believe that He prepared them and is sustaining and encouraging them. When I see them tomorrow, I hope I can be a part of that encouragement.

I missed Tracy when I moved away. And I still miss her today, though in a slightly different way. If I could, I would thank her for extending her friendship to me in the special way that only Tracy could. I'm thankful to have known her...french braid induced headaches and all.

It Takes All Types

It's always good to know you have friends. Right? As an adult, and as someone who moved a lot growing up, I have a very deep appreciation for true friendships . And reminders of those friendships come in all forms. Sometimes it's that encouraging message. Sometimes a "boy I think you're pretty cool" smile. A phone call. A gift. An offer to watch the kids so I can run errands or take a nap (hint hint...just kidding...well, maybe...). And all different forms are most welcome, especially on a less than perfect day. It really does take all types.

But here's what I've noticed lately: reminders of my friendships, though diverse, all tend to include mockery at some point in time. I don't need to go into why that is...because, frankly, I don't really want to know. But it's true. A friend of mine from church ("D") sent this to me via Facebook. He mocks me a lot. But I know it's because "D" allows me the privilege of calling him my friend. He and his wife and their kids are pretty fun people...and this made me laugh, as much as my Canadian half hates to say it.

So whether or not you find this funny, at the very least let this post serve you as a reminder to be thankful for your friendships today. I sure am.

Forget Rednecks, here is what Jeff Foxworthy has to say about Canadians:

If your local Dairy Queen is closed from September through May, you may live in Canada.

If someone in a Home Depot store offers you assistance and they don't work there,you may live in Canada.

If you've worn shorts and a parka at the same time,you may live in Canada.

If you've had a lengthy telephone conversation with someone who dialed a wrong number, you may live in Canada.

If 'Vacation' means going anywhere South of Detroit for the weekend, you may live in Canada.

If you measure distance in hours, you may live in Canada.

If you know several people who have hit a deer more than once, you may live in Canada.

If you have switched from 'heat' to 'A/C' In the same day and back again, you may live in Canada.

If you can drive 90 km/hr through 2 feet of snow during a raging blizzard without flinching, you may live in Canada.

If you install security lights on your house and garage, but leave both unlocked,you may live in Canada.

If you carry jumper cables in your car and your wife knows how to use them, you may live in Canada.

If you design your kid's Halloween costume to fit over a snowsuit, you may live in Canada.

If the speed limit on the highway is 80 km -- you're going 95 and everybody is passing you, you may live in Canada.

If driving is better in the winter because the potholes are filled with snow,you may live in Canada.

If you know all 4 seasons: almost winter, winter, still winter, and road construction, you may live in Canada.

If you have more miles on your snow blower than your car, you may live in Canada.

If you find -2 degrees 'a little chilly', you may live in Canada.