KIDNAPPING OUR SON....WHAT!?!??!?!

Our Little Man is now considered to be in the 7th grade. (Yes, I know that school just got out but this is what happens in our world now. There is no waiting. They rush them into one grade and then POOF....done with that, you have now reached a new level, move on please. Don't blink!) This also means, in our Nazarene world, Youth Group!! Are you kidding me? Wasn't he just born like yesterday or possibly last week? YIKES! (I am feeling quite old and a little nostalgic about all things past....sniff, sniff.) Last week, I was a big girl and Mommy of the Year, if I do say so myself, and headed to the "official" parent meeting. No kids allowed, just adults to fill us in on what the youth group is and what will take place to encourage our Little Man to be an active part in our church. And so this is how it begins.... (For those of you like me in the dark and wishing the event of your little baby, the one that relied on you for all things, turning into that dreaded teenager and being accepted into the youth group.) 1. Your son (or daughter if this is informational to you) will receive postcards from various kids introducing themselves and telling how excited they are for your child to be coming up into the youth group. *Check, so far, so good. I can handle this. Great idea! Kuddos to you Mr. Youth Pastor! Love it.
2. On Wednesday, a group of kids (All current youth group members) will come to your house to deliver a video to your child. You are to be home, answer the door and then encourage your child to watch part, ONLY PART, of the video on that day. Oh, and then remind them to come to church for Youth on the Lawn taking place that night.**Check, Check. Again, kids coming and encouraging sounds perfect! Splendid! Hum, wait a minute. Only watch part of the video and then you are suppose to stop. (I can't even wait for Christmas and those packages are wrapped and put away. A video on the other hand can accidentally keep going. What if I am too lazy to get off the couch to push stop? What if I hit the wrong button and actually fast foward? .....WAIT?!?!? ReAlLy?!??!

3. Thursday, more video.

***Check and Double Check. Yay! I needed closure! Oops, sorry WE needed closure. It is all good. The video is about Ultimate Frisbee (Apparently something kids do these days and really does sound like a lot of fun!) and an invitation for your child to come and play. Then a scrumptious Wendy's lunch after. (Oh by the way, parents are not invited!) Super. Little Man likes being outside, likes playing games and guess what? LOVES food! So far, so good. Lovin' the Youth Group!

4. Saturday...Don't tell your child but a group of boys (Thank goodness! No girls are headed into my Little Man's room! ) will sneak into your house at an insane time (6:45 AM to be exact! No worries we were up. Mister left for McCall to run a race. Oh the joys of never getting to sleep in!) and rip your child out of bed and whisk them away. Kidnapping/Stealing/Taking, pretty much all the same words if you ask me, your child until 4 o'clock when you can go and pick them up. (Smart youth pastor!)

****Check, Check, Check and Check. Our sweet Little Man sleeping soundly, cozy in his bed. BAM!!! Boys in masks and a youth pastor, run in and wake the poor kid up and say, "Get up! We are headed to breakfast!" (Check out Jon's hand in utter confusion. He was silent. I am thinking maybe I should have them wake him up every day. I usually get a lot of whining and not a lot of movement!)

If that doesn't welcome you into a group, I really do not know what would. All in all, so very impressed. Needless to say, our boy has done something either at the church, or with the church group for the last three days and we couldn't be happier. That is a great start and a very warm welcome! Kuddo's Mr. Youth Pastor and gang! You are a breath of fresh air! Last thing to be said, Welcome to the Youth Group Little Man! Our hope and dreams are for you to grow and learn to rely on God in everything you do, all the while establishing good relationships!

We heart you to the moon and and back again.