Things are looking up!

In the event that you did not hear about our first youth group experience, here is what happened: The first Sunday we were here, we went to church and learned the particulars about the youth group meeting. Sami wanted to go. I insisted on walking her in and introducing myself. I may be pretty relaxed, but dropping off one of my children in a building where I have never been with people I have never met it WAY out of my realm of acceptable situations, but I digress. We walk in, three little emo/punk girls look at us and say nothing. Two young men we recognize from the worship band say "hey!!". The only adult in attendance doesn't even look up from the very questionable video game he was playing with a couple of the kids. Uh, okay. Not the welcome we anticipated, but..... Sami remids me she is 15, and is capable of introducing herself and I am released. She calls 15 minutes later, crying and asking me to come get her. In the 15 minutes she was there, no other communication was extended to her. Nothing. Nada. No how. Grrrrrrrrrrrr. This is not the kick off for which we had hoped. Grrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr. So, I decided after a couple of days, that I would like to meet with the Senior Pastor, Pastor Brad, and chat with him about how much we enjoyed the service and his sermons at CFCC (Carolina Forest Community Church). Plus, I had some questions about the church in general and I really wanted to bring the youth issue to his attention - both from the standpoint of a parent and as a youth leader.

So, Pastor Brad and I met on Tuesday and it could not have gone better! Turns out, the youth group was out of town on a ski trip that weekend. The grown-up there was a guest speaker, and the kids who were there, were kind of the ones who just needed someplace to be. Whew!!! He was dissappointed in the news, apologetic, but very happy to learn what happens, as he put it, "when the cat is away". I was so thrilled after our meeting, I was practically vibrating (could have been the Starbuck's).

Sami is, quite understandibly, apprehensive to return. We are leaving that decision up to her completely. As a family, are dealing with an incredible amount of "newness". The prospect of yet another new experience is not terribly appealing to any of us right now! We are actually enjoying the relaxation afforded to us by our substantially reduced schedule!! It's kind of nice not to have to be somewhere all the time!

In any event, thanks for the concern from all who knew about this. My prayer is that Sami follows God's lead to THE RIGHT group for her. We know He will.

Finally, I have to share an hillarious joke Sami made today. We pull up to the HS this am. two black, male students get out of the blazer in front of us. Now. One of them has a confusing combination of pants on. They were indeed shorts. However they reached the top of his mid-calf sox. To which I said, "Oh, those are shorts. Or are they capris? I get it, they are 'sho-pris'." To which my child says, "No. That is his sister's name." Is it any wonder I spend so much time giggling?! Holy Cow!