I am in Awe!

God is SO GOOD!!!! I know you all know that, but today I have to say it because its the only thing that I want to say. I just can't believe how good He really is!

This week has been insane. We had a group of 120 high school students working with the church, and while it was amazing, it was also draining. Of course, I had jury duty at the beginning of the week, but that seems like weeks ago. I have logged over 70 "work" hours again, yet I don't feel the least bit burnt out. Tired, yes...but the good kind of tired. The tired you feel at the end of a really amazing day. The kind of tired I felt after Hershey Park.

Frank and Carisa led this group themselves and I honestly don't know how they are even standing. They did an INCREDIBLE job and I am absolutely in awe of the things that God accomplishes through them.

During this week I helped with the morning VBS for 3-5 year olds. I really loved playing with those kids, they are so cute and sweet. After the VBS I was able to get a lot done (mostly preparing for Reading Rocks or other groups we have this summer) before picking my kids up for the afternoon VBS for 5-12 year olds.

Let me just take a second to tell you all how proud I was of my kids this week!!! The VBS this week seemed to get crazier and crazier each day, and while my kids are usually pretty well behaved, they can get caught up in things going on around them and get themselves in trouble. I am SO proud to say that my kids were GREAT all week!! Linda and Pedro were surrounded by kids that were acting up, and they didn't join in! It was SO incredible to watch them really do what they know they should despite what the people around them were doing. They are growing up so well!! Miguel even got a black eye after he was accidentally kicked in the face, and he handled amazingly. I would have expected him to get mad, but he didn't. He was hurt, but he didn't get mad or complain. YAY!!!

Anyway, the VBS's and preparing for Reading Rocks kept me very busy this week, along with all my normal ministry stuff. I didn't get yesterday off and today I had to run errands all day to prepare for another group that came in tonight. In fact, I left the house at 8:45 a.m. and didn't get home until after 9:30 p.m.!!! I really should be pulling my hair out by now, but I actually feel at peace and am excited about the upcoming week.

The group that is here now was a last minute addition to our summer. They were scheduled to come to Philly and work with a different church and 2 weeks ago received a call that the church they were working with no longer needed them. They had already done all the planning and preparation, and raised all their money and had nowhere to go. I honestly don't know how they found out about us, but they called and I agreed to lead their week. They have been so appreciative and encouraging! I also agreed to do all of their food for the week...although I'm not sure how that happened or why I agreed to it. But, I am doing it and its not stressing me out at all! Actually, this is a lot of what I did with AIM, so even though I haven't done it in a while, its kinda second nature to me. I am SO SO excited about this group, they seem really excited to be here and are ready to see God move. It's going to be a GREAT week!!!

Reading Rocks starts up this week and we are almost ready to go. Its been a lot of work getting everything ready for it, but that work is going to pay off. Reading Rocks is kind of like a summer after-school program...but with people to help me! How could I not love it?!? :) Actually, its one of the things that Carisa and I actually do together, which makes it that much more fun. I'm excited to get going!

The only thing I am struggling with is my time management. I have found myself getting to the end of the day before I realize that I haven't had any time alone with the Lord. I am also struggling to find time to meet with the teens that I am mentoring. I only have 3 to meet with, but so far I have neglected them, which I don't want to do. I have already accepted (reluctantly) that my house is not going to be as clean as I want it to be all the time, but I can't accept neglecting my teens. Its getting harder and harder to balance time with kids and time with teens. And of course there is always Bonita and Linda...

And then there is also the ever elusive full nights sleep. That's the one I am really craving...and I think I might actually get it tonight, if I can stop writing. Good Night!! :)