Locked and Loaded

Ah, Lock-ins.  I just love lock-ins.  What with all the sleep I get, and I awake feeling refreshed and...oh wait...that's not a lock-in!  That's a lock-out!

In all seriousness, I don't mind lock-ins...until about 4am.  That's when this fat chick hits the wall.  And considering it is now 6:13 in the morning and I have yet to go to sleep, well, you see what I mean.

Not to mention, a lock-in is a stuff your mouth fest!  Pizza, chips, popcorn, brownies...it all goes down the hatch.  The only saving grace when it comes to a lock in is that I hardly ever sit down, so I work all that food off as I go along.  And in 45 minutes, I'm going to go pick up donuts.  Score!

You know what I do love?  Watching youth interact with each other.  It's amazing.  I work with youth and children for a living, and they never cease to surprise me.  They way they fight but ten minutes later it is all ok.  The way they pull each other in.  One girl said something to me tonight, and I don't think I will forget it for a long time.  She kind of snuck up to me in a way, and said, "I never knew I could find friends at church."  Yikes!  She never knew she could find friends at church?!  What does that say about church?! 

I have the opportunity to work with two different youth groups.  Each of the groups are unique in their own ways, and like different things.  One group likes more wild and crazy games.  The other group likes to study more.  But being around these kids makes my life full.  Yes, sometimes I get frustrated.  Sometimes I want to knock some heads together.  Sometimes I want to take their cell phones and smash them to bits.  But always there is something wonderful that happens.  I never realized how lucky I am to be able to work with so many different kids.

So here I am, locked-in, loaded with caffeine and my mind is blown.  To all of you who had a good night's sleep....Pffffffftttttttttt!  (that's me blowing a raspberry at you).  To those of you who didn't, sorry for your luck.  We're getting too old for this stuff!  But I love it!

T