It begins slowly . . .

Campus Life at Mason Middle school was officially launched! We had about 40-50 students show up for free pizza and some crazy games after school. The school has been extremely co-operative and very helpful in getting the club started. The fact that we meet in the teachers lounge I think says it all!

I'm excited that we have the opportunity to be a part of students lives on their turf. I love the fact that we have been given the opportunity to share Christ in a place that is familiar to students and easy to get too even though I've been working with students for 10 years I still feel like I have no clue what I'm doing.

It's not that I don't know how to do the programming. It's just that when you sit in a meeting and try to get 45 Middle Schoolers to calm down for 90 seconds. It feels like your losing the battle. BUT! When you get to sit down and have pizza with 3 of them at a table and you begin to hear their stories (usually of their latest X-box game), your reminded of the slow process of building meaningful relationships.

I've always known that you reach students through meaningful relationships, but today I was reminded of it again. It's just a slow process that has to start somewhere. So today I met some students for the first time and hopefully began the slow process that will produce meaningful.

I HATE LOSING...SO, why am I a loser?

Well, I had to wait until today to post this or else I might say something I shouldn't. But, I truly despise losing. I have never admitted to being a "good loser". Last night our basketball team, the Varsity Curtis High girls team I coach, should have won. I know we played better than last time against them, but I was not satisfied with that. We should have won! And, if we had played to win, I think we would have. I mean, we only lost by six. And, that was with us deciding to run our offense very little, deciding to forget the success we can have and have already experienced with our teammates. I cannot figure out how a team can watch something work and then so quickly revert back to doing what was not working...playing for individual stats...playing for "me".

So, if I hate losing in games that don't matter like basketball. Why don't I mind to continually fail and lose in my relationship with Christ. I mean I constantly watch Him do something amazing in my life, only to question His direction later. I can sit down and write out the times He has so graciously delivered me, the times He gives me more than I deserve, the times He welcomes me back into His arms. And, then the next moment I am out "playing for me" again. I am living life my way. I am making the decisions. My selfishness leads to blindness. I am unable to look at what has worked...trusting God to lead...and fall into what has continually failed..."playing for my individual stats".

So, see, basketball does have something to do with real life. I hope it continues to teach me every day. I also hope that we don't lose again...I HATE LOSING!

Snow in Tacoma

This was the picture we took
trying to make it look like Narnia!


Buck & me


Snow the following morning!

Thanksgiving Photos

Buck & Josh


"the kids" before we flew out


Uncle Rick & "Fancy" Aunt Kay


Adam, Stephen (my cousin) & Daniel


Grandad & Mom at Thanksgiving Dinner


I just thought I would post a few pictures...first, a few from when we were home in Florida for Thanksgiving...

Board Game Geeks...

It is official. We have become board game geeks. It wasn't intentional. But, I must say we are not interested in removing that title from ourselves. We are at heart board game geeks. It only worsens when you find so many quality games at one time. We have started playing this game called Settlers of Catan. It is the perfect mix (most of the time) of strategy, luck, and interaction with other players. The only problem we have faced is finding people just as passionate about the game as us. It is starting to get better as we introduce new people to the game, people who say they are coming over for a quick game and end up staying for three games or so. If you are a board game geek and are interested in learning this new game or would like to introduce us to a new game, do not hesitate to get in touch with us. We have flexible schedules when it comes to important priorities like board games.

It's about time...

Well, it has only been about ten weeks since we last posted. I guess you could say a lot has happened. I hope everyone had a Merry Christmas & a Happy New Year...oh, and a good Thanksgiving too. We went home to Florida for Thanksgiving. The time with the family was short but great! The weather was way too hot. Of course, our weather on Christmas day was pretty warm here in the Great Northwest.

Here is a quick update:
1. I quit my job at Ambrosia so that Carol and I could start our own company, fit4kids. We have started, although trying to get business early on is hard. We will stick with it!

2. Buck has accepted a part-time position with Campus Life at Mason Middle School. It is definitely a target school for us at Discovery, and so this provides him with a great opportunity to get in there and meet more students.

3. I am coaching basketball as a varsity assistant at Curtis High School in University Place. I have already learned so much. The second half of our season starts next week & we are hoping to make a surge for the postseason.

4. We have built some quality relationships with students at Discovery & are hoping to finish the year strong. We are looking forward to reaching more students in Tacoma this spring and summer.

Okay, so I am sure more has happened, but that is the highlights! I hope everyone is great! Hopefully we will be posting more often...and we will include some pictures.