A Week of ReNew(al)

We knew June was going to be a crazy month. A homeschool convention. A week of camp for our oldest. Swim team in full swing. A week with friends visiting. All wrapped up with a looooong family vacation.

Summer at its best, right?

The past week alone has been crazy busy.  Laurianna spent the week at a local community volunteer camp, and life in our house has been …. different. Because she hasn’t had anyone to talk to (her permanent roommate was MIA), McKenna was following me around like a lost child (it may be a wee bit humorous and sweet all rolled into one).

We spent time volunteering in the evenings to help out where we could too. Over 200 local kids and 15 churches joined together to do outreach and volunteer work in the community. From VBS, building playhouses, yard work, and multiple other service projects, the kids were VERY busy from morning til night.

The kids worked hard. One of the big projects during the week was repainting and helping get a property ready for a NEW venture. A non-profit in our town purchased a prior porn shop and have taken over the building. The new business is focused on ending human trafficking – and the much needed space has been such a story of redemption and rehabilitation for God’s glory. The kids have returned with such amazing stories from their week serving there – it’s been so amazing to watch and see the process.

Everyone had a lot of fun. Crazy is to be expected when there are 200+ teens (and all the adults equally as crazy that stay with them overnight). But crazy is fun too.

Adults and kids worshipped together. A lot.

Lots of learning happened. And growth – spiritually, emotionally, and in so many ways.

Meanwhile there were many adults that helped behind the scenes in whatever ways were needed. Drivers. Cooks. Dishwashers. (Because 200 kids need to eat. And teens eat a LOT, right?).

The week was a bit of a process for me as well. Having one of our kids  not at home = very strange. Watching her from a distance was different. Laurianna is growing up. Maturing. It’s incredible to watch her interact with others, pray (and be prayed for), worship wholeheartedly, and serve with joy.

It may be a bit inspiring to her mom as well (grins). Because hearing your daughter share at church how God spoke to her heart during the week is nothing short of wonderful and challenging all rolled into one. We are so blessed to have her as a daughter!