On a lighter note...

So the description of this blog says it may include some things from youth group. That being said let me tell you why. This year Adam & I, along with a couple who I grew up with in school, are leaders of our local church youth group this year. The Mooneys being in charge of fundraising & the Hudds being over activities. So far we've had a pretty good year. Praise God we've had no less than TWENTY kids in Wednesday night youth class since August which is great for a small area like here!! We recently attended MS State Youth Convention in Hattiesburg November 20-22 and took 19 young people along with 6 adult counselors. All in all it was a smooth riding "first rodeo" for us as new leaders without Bro. Jerry & Mrs. Carolyn. And...we'll just leave it at that. hehehe ;)

When we were "reporting" to Bro. Jerry about the weekend the Sunday night we returned home I admitted my frustration with a handful of our group who seem to be the most "hard-hearted" young people & what's worse those select few are those who have grown up in our church...which is so sad to me. After letting me vent my frustrations (to a small extent) Bro. Jerry then calmly asked me, "Now, as much you've complained about them have you prayed for them just as much?" My response...head down..."No sir." So now it is my mission (as it should have been all along) to pray for each & every one of those young people in our group because it won't be LeAnn that reaches them...right?

Well, over the past several weeks now I catch a thought coming into my mind that it may be time for me to share my "testimony" with these kids...maybe even with the adults in our church. When I think about those few especially that I spoke of earlier I think of myself. I grew up in this church and still made HUGE mistakes and walked a path that I KNEW was completely wrong! And now more than ever my desire is for these young people to SEEK to find what I know now before all that. Sadly, some of them have already gone farther than I ever did. But where do I begin to even tell them my "story"...my "testimony"...I've never really shared it before. Of course, I've talked with a few about bits & pieces of it all, but I've never gone through the guts & grime of the whole script with a group of people.

So whew! Really? Well, I'm not 100% sure it's time for that yet but evidently it's getting close. So please pray with me because it's my amazing Savior that I want them to see through it all...His amazing MERCIFUL GRACE & UNCONDITIONAL LOVE that I want them to know like I am just starting to catch a glimpse of now. It's an overwhelming thing to work with young people...even more overwhelming the feeling of a desire to "reach" them. I am still amazed at how God has changed the way I think...if you knew me before you would agree.

A dash of frustration, hint of annoyance & a whole bunch of the TRUTH!

Ok, so if you tend to wear your feelings out on your sleeves you might better click on someone else's blog today. But if you think you can take a little "hardness" on this particular day then please continue. Either way this is well overdue & unfortunately it seems the only way to get this all out. So roll up your sleeves, grab your work gloves, and get ready to crawl on your knees through the mud if you're in for some good ole venting because we're about to get dirty my friends.
Well, for those of you who actually follow my little blog you'll know that it's been well over a month since I've posted last. A LOT has happened since the last post...most of which you have probably already caught up with on my big sister's blog. The biggest thing being, of course, the passing of our amazing grandfather the end of October. As a PK (preacher's kid) I've seen so many go through similar situations, tried to "help" or encourage them through the "mourning process", etc... But this was the first time that our little family had to actually "go through" this ourselves. Our family of 5 was extremely close to my grandaddy...mess, he & gramma helped raise us 3 kids to an extent. And I was very blessed to have my children (his great-grandchildren) KNOW him & love him also which has been so fun & neat to watch. hehehe...& as I sit here typing this I think about just a couple secrets he let me in on that I'll keep to myself even now that make me giggle! :) So yeah, like I said this was a first for our family to lose someone so close, but each of us have "dealt" differently with the experience. And ya know...I think I'll just leave it at that. I miss him SO, but my heart is full when I think of him because I remember the "I sure do love you!" & kiss that only grandaddy could give...the way he would get a little emotional when he would tell me how proud he was of me & my little family and most of all how Andee & I were the very last that he actually spoke to the Monday before the Friday that he passed with a muffled, "I love you." Oh yes, I'll remember.
Now the holiday season has arrived...Thanksgiving quickly passed with grandaddy in Heaven, gramma in Dallas, lil Jerry in Iraq, and the rest of us at mom & dad's. The Union house was empty which is so weird & different ESPECIALLY during this time of year...it was yet another new experience. But like daddy always says because grandaddy ingrained it into him, "We're still in this thing together aint we?!" :)
Whew...man...I just can't get "dirty" today. I want to & really feel like I need to "clear the air" but publicly is not the best choice. Man...don't ya hate it sometimes when you really die to self & take "the high road"...well, not really hate it but makes you realize that you really have changed...ya know. But sister...we need to talk. You know, that thing we DON'T do at all any more. Hmmm....guess I'll take my turn one day.