Why Yes, I Do Have 17 Children

You're shocked. Surprised. Dumbfounded. 


I can tell by the way your mouth is hanging open. And you haven't blinked.


I'm sorry I haven't mentioned it yet, but as I'm sure you can imagine,  a family of 19 (watch out Duggars!) keeps me pretty busy. 


You're still not blinking. Okay, I confess! They're not really "mine" if you're going to insist on splitting hairs. 


Technically, I'm their youth sponsor/fun older sister/responsible adult spiritual role model/superwoman......and I wouldn't have it any other way. 


The youth group here at JCN is full of kids I'd be happy to claim as mine. I really love them....they make me laugh. Sometimes I laugh so hard I cry. Sometimes they make me laugh when I want to cry. 


Over the last year, we've spent A LOT of time talking about what it means to follow after Jesus - to be the kind of people that sees the world like God does - the kind of people who love others extravagantly.


 So, this summer we felt it was time to give our kids the opportunity to love others through a domestic mission trip. We partnered with youth groups from a Methodist church in Memphis and a Nazarene church in Nacogdoches, Texas to take some of our kids to Kansas City (our old stompin' ground!). We are good friends with the youth pastors of both churches and this trip has been in the works for about 9 months. They will have the opportunity to interact with homeless families and children while getting to know other kids their age.


The final fundraiser for "KC2010 Three Churches. One Mission." was a Sunday evening youth service. It was the first time the kids had EVER done anything like this and they were amazing. I'm pretty sure my heart almost exploded with pride no less than 30,000 times. :)


They blew me (and everyone else) away again and again as they led music, offered prayers, ushered, spoke, and shared insights about their favorite Nooma video Rain . I don't think I could have been more proud if these teenagers actually shared my DNA. My face hurt from smiling. My hands hurt from clapping. My throat hurt from holding back those ridiculous tears. When all was said and done the rest of their church family graciously showed their appreciation with hugs, encouragement, and a love offering for the mission trip. 


You'll find a few photos below (sorry they're dark...taking care of 17 kids leaves me very little time for fancy photography lessons). The other kids (not pictured below) who participated included Hannah Banana, Sawyer, Hannah Shea, Elijah, Brooke, Taylor, and Haley.

Christy - she has great leadership potential and didn't miss a word as she shared her thoughts about Nooma.

Dylan - he spoke. he prayed. he made me proud. I'm pretty sure his favorite part was sitting in Pastor Kevin's chair on the stage.

So, in about 10 hours I'll send my husband, 9 teenagers, and my partner in crime - Susan, halfway across the country for a week....without me. I had planned to go, but when I got the new job at Unum it didn't fit with my training schedule. 


I'm devastated that I can't go. I wanted to make this memory with them. I wanted to be there to watch the light bulbs go off one after another. I wanted to watch them grow. and laugh. and do dumb teenager stuff I could torment them with for the next 20 years. 


Separation anxiety is imminent.


Instead, I'll be sitting at my desk, anxiously chewing my fingernails to nubs, and stalking Facebook for photo updates. In the evening I'll stare at my cell phone - mentally willing it to chirp with text messages telling me about their day. 


Pray for them (and me!) this week as they step out to do something they've never done before. I have no doubt that when they pull back into the parking lot next Saturday afternoon, I'll once again feel like I'm having a mild heart attack as the love and pride spill over and the noise level rises while they tell me every detail.


Missing them all,


Mandy


P. S. I made them glow-in-the-dark bracelets that say "NO WHINING" to wear for the week. We may be young but we're not dumb :)