Summer is here, and so is KidzMax Live!

I just read a blog post by someone I follow that said one thing you should never do as a blogger is fill a whole blog up about why you haven't been blogging. I won't do that. Everyone is busy, and everyone faces big and little bumps in the road that keep them out of their normal routine. The last 6 weeks or so have been like that for the Peter family. We have experienced things that have been tough, but again as always God has shown us his faithfulness and filled us with joy and expectation for the future.

Today is the first day of no school for our girls. I love the FIRST day of school in the Fall because I love routine. But, I have to admit, I love the laid back feeling that summer ushers in. It also means that the mad dash that we have every morning to get everyone out of the house by 7:30 is over for the next 91 days...but who's counting?

I planned the summer events for our Children's Ministry at Bethel Church last September/October. A lot of thought and prayer went into those plans, and here I am preparing for tonight, which is one of the biggest things we have all summer. (There is a simple irony in the fact that I chose my busiest day this week to blog). We kick off tonight a 3 Night Outreach Event called KidzMax Live. It is a fast paced 1 hr event with games, illusions, drama, our special character Max, and of course prizes and tons of candy. The most exciting part about this event however is that we will give an altar call each night for kids to make the decision to follow Jesus. How exciting is that?! And what a great way to kick off our summer. I really believe that God strategically placed this event in our year so that it will have maximum impact in our kid's lives.

Even though this blog probably won't post to Facebook until after we are done with our kickoff night tonight, would you pray with me? That this week sets the tone for the rest of our summer, and that lives are forever impacted.

Mother's Day (a little late)

I had fully intended to blog on Saturday. Didn't happen, so I aimed for Sunday. Didn't happen again. Then Monday...well, you get the picture.

I can honestly tell you the reason why I didn't blog those days - I was enjoying my family! I had a great time this weekend. On Saturday we went and bought some vegetable plants and are making a first ever attempt at a Peter Family garden. Lots of weed pulling and planting later we have a cute little gardenish area that will hopefully produce some tasty produce! (In the event that Jason reads this, I must disclose that I did in fact pull weeds, but napped through the planting part.)

I digress...Mother's Day. There are 4 amazing women in my life that have taught me so much about being a Mother. First my Mom. Anytime I feel like I am having a hectic day, I think about my teenage years when most of the time we had 8 plus kids in the house, and my Mom seemingly effortlessly cared for all of us. And cared for us WELL. She loves her kids. Each and every one, even if they were just there for a season. There were times I was playing volleyball and in would come to the game, Mom pushing a stroller with a baby, carrying one toddler on her hip, with two more in tow. Then she would sit there through my game and cheer louder than any Mom there. Still to this day my Mom is my biggest cheerleader, no matter what I am doing.

Then, my two grandmothers. I have the privilege of having an incredible Christian heritage in my family. My two grandma's are two of the most Godly women I know. When they tell me they are praying for me every day, I know that they have called my name out to Jesus. I have so many wonderful memories of both of them from my childhood, and have learned so much from both of them.

The other mother who has impacted me greatly for the last 10 plus years is my Mother in Law. I am pretty sure that I have the best mother in law in the world. I just listen sometimes to women who are frustrated with their husband's moms and think "they would be jealous of MY mother in law." She is a Godly woman who leads by example. I have never seen her waver in her faith. I am so thankful.

There are so many Mom's that have impacted my life. They come from very different places in my very random life. My sister in law, Jennie...who loves her kids more than anyone I have every known, but more than that, she shows them constantly that love. The first pastor's wife we worked with, Mary Anderson...because she was a living example of loving her husband, the kids and the church, and in the right order. My best friend from my teenage years, Jennifer Unruh, because even though we keep touch through Facebook, a rare phone call, or text...I can tell that she is the funnest Mom in the world. From our church I admire SueAnn Dale, because she has amazing kids, and we all know where amazing kids come from...amazing moms.

I love being a Mom. But I my ability to mother my kids, like so many other things in my life, has been shaped by these women above and so many more. So, Happy Belated Mothers Day to all of my friends.

God answers kid's prayers!

I remember when I was young, probably 8 or 9 years old, my brother Jason was in a pinewood derby race with Royal Rangers. He had already made it passed the first round at the church, and I think it was a sectional race that was next. My parents must have been out of town, and so my Grandma Salazar took us to the race. Josh and I were obligated to go, although I have to admit that when I was little I loved watching pinewood derby races. I always wished I could have been a Royal Ranger instead of a Missionette and raced a car of my own!

I clearly remember being in the car on the way to the race, and Grandma telling us to pray that Jason would win. And pray I did. I prayed and prayed and prayed. Each race that Jason's car would have I would pray "please God, let Jason's car win." Seriously, that's all I did that day was pray. And lo and behold, Jason won a trophy - I'm pretty sure he was first, and if not, pretty close to it. I just remember being so amazed that my prayer worked!

Now, I hear you, you are thinking "he probably just had a fast car" or "God doesn't mess with the results of the pinewood derby" but I'm telling you - God hears prayer. Even the prayers of a competitive little sister who wants her big brother to win a big trophy.

Pastor Tim talked about healing on Sunday, and I had the privilege to pray over a few ladies for healing in their bodies and minds. I have been thinking all week that if I were to muster the faith I had that day at the pinewood derby race, it could surely move mountains. I have listened to countless children tell me how God answered their prayers. In Club56, our 5-6th grade group, the testimonies are amazing sometimes of what God is doing through the kid's prayers. When we have a sickness at home, or a problem that our kids are aware of, we always ask one of the girls to pray. I am have to admit that there have been times when I have asked Elyse to pray because I knew she had more faith than I did right then; probably because I have already prayed, and nothing has happened.

So why is God seemingly so quick to answer the prayers of kids? I think it boils down to their innocence. There is no doubt. They believe in a big God and they have been taught, and so believe that their God can do miracles. So that is the challenge I put to you parents. Try to muster some of that child-like faith the next time you need to move a mountain. And if you can't call your kids in to pray...it may just increase your faith.

The Children's Choir Debut

I love riding the wave of great, successful events in ministry. Yesterday was one of those days that created a perma-smile on my face! Several months ago, Renee Breiholz (one of those type of Children's Leaders I couldn't live without) came to me and shared a vision of a Children's Choir that God had given her. I have to admit that in the beginning I saw it as merely another "iron in the fire" but Renee's passion and excitement where contagious, so we moved forward. Renee did a great job leading up to our first rehearsal; advertised it well, talked it up among the kids, and we had a great response.

Yesterday the choir sang for the first time. They kids were awesome! They sang two songs, and I have to admit, they far exceeded my expectations of what they were capable of back in January when we started. The greatest part though, was during our second song "God You Make Me Smile." The chorus says "I raise my hands to praise your name, I am not ashamed, to praise your name, Jesus." Several of the kids spontaneously raised their hands to praise their God with a pure heart and motivated only by praising Him.

Renee's vision was that the kids would experience real, true worship; leading others in worship as well. I feel really privileged to have walked through this visioning process, and see the fruit come from it. Looking forward to the future with our Children's Choir!

Oh, The Places You'll Go!

You have brains in your head.

You have feet in your shoes.

You can steer yourself

any direction you choose.

You're on your own. And you know what you know.

And YOU are the guy who'll decide where to go...

Oh, the Places You'll Go! by Dr. Seuss

How true, isn't it? The other day, I dropped my girls off at school. I was stuck in that seemingly never ending line of cars, and before I drove away onto the next destination I watched them walk up the path towards their classroom. And suddenly they looked so BIG to me.

If you listen to me talk, or read my blogs, or follow me on twitter - you may get bored of me saying this. Parents, we impact every breath of our kids lives. I watch how my kids have developed. Of course they have unique personalities (this is by no means a debate on nature vs. nurture!) but I see the patterns and qualities that have risen out of hours and hours of spending time with Mommy and Daddy. Like the way Madelyn grunts when she is frustrated (yes, I do that). They way that JJ teases his sisters already (that one is all Jason). They have been impacted by us, and watched everything we do. The impact is also evident when Elyse prays, or in how all three kids are super excited for church every Sunday morning and Wednesday evening.

I am continually reminded of what Moses said in Deuteronomy 6 - "You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your might. And these words that I command you today shall be on your heart. You shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, and when you walk by the way, and when you lie down and when you rise..."

Most of your are already doing this, but I want challenge you to be even more committed in your efforts to "...teach them diligently to your children..." as Moses commands. Our kids grow and change seemingly overnight sometimes. There are so many teachable moments in our lives - use them to teach your kids God principles that will become part of their spiritual DNA.

I don't want to drop my girls off at middle school in a few years and regret that I didn't put Deuteronomy 6 in to practice years earlier. Soon my kids will make decisions on their own without the help of Mom and Dad. The impact I make now will determine their choices then.

I'm pretty sure I got honked at while I held up the line watching my two cute girls walk to class. Oh well - it was worth it to remind me of the challenge that lays daily before me.

This Weekend

This weekend is one of those weekends that you look at coming into it and wonder how alert you will be on Monday morning. Or better yet, if you will have any clean clothes to wear to work since you didn't have any time to do the laundry!

Tonight we have Children's Choir. We are getting close to our first ministry opportunity in "big church." The kids are sounding great, and I can't wait to show them off to our congregation on April 11th.

Tomorrow we are leaving for our last away Junior Bible Quiz tournament of the season. (The last one next month is at OUR church, whew.) I have the pleasure of joining 12 quizzers and their parents in Salem for a day of quizzing on Saturday. These meets excite me because I get to sit back and listen to the kids' hours of studying pay off. They answer questions that quite honestly, most adults wouldn't be able to answer. They win graciously, lose graciously and have fun doing it. I have been so proud of this team this year. As Jason would say, Rock the Q!

On Sunday morning I am excited to see what God is going to do in the hearts and lives of kids in each of our groups. There are so many amazing people that serve each week, with new volunteers coming on board all the time. It's going to be a great day!

After church on Sunday, I will be heading over to Central Neighborhood Church to attend a meeting for Royal Family Kids Camp - a camp we help put on the last week of July every year that is especially for abused and neglected kids - most of whom are in the "system." If you are on the fence about going to Royal Family this summer to be a counselor, come to the meeting, have lunch and learn more. (It's at 1:00pm)

Sunday evening we have Connection Groups. I love this time because I get to sit and talk with people that I may not see from week to week as I am involved kid's services most of the time. I get to participate in great discussion about a sermon that most weeks I was not present to hear, but it's great conversation nonetheless. I love my Connection Group.

Just a little update. I hope your weekend is fabulous!

My Dad

This is going to sound like part 2 in the "men of my life birthday tribute" but I assure you it's merely coincidence that the last blog I posted was about Jason's birthday.

Today is my Dad's birthday. I, like so many other doting daughters LOVE my Dad. I have the pleasure of being one of the few daughters that has followed in their father's footsteps in regards to a career. I grew up a Pastor's kid, and truthfully, had a really really good childhood. My parents handled their ministry and family with such wisdom and grace. Looking back, now that I am in full time ministry myself, I see how I was mentored by my Dad in these areas. He had some rough times in ministry while I still lived at home (and long after I moved out); I watched my parents both walk through some difficult times. But I also saw them handle these difficulties with such dignity. There were also wonderful times of ministry - too many to count, I imagine. The fruit of those wonderful times is spelled out all over his Facebook Wall today with birthday wishes from people touched by his ministry.

One gift that my Dad has given me over the years (with help from Mom, of course) is an unyielding support that has given me loads of self confidence. There was a time in high school when I was playing varsity volleyball, in a show choir, and in a couple of orchestras. At the time, you couldn't have convinced my Dad that there was a better setter, alto, or flautist in the world. I'm sure deep down he knew the truth (that a 5' setter wouldn't go much further than college, that my flute skills were limited, and that my alto voice blends nicely in a choir, but that's about it!), but I didn't know that then. His support continued as I graduated high school, went on to Bible college, got married, and entered ministry. I enjoy talking to my Dad about ministry - bouncing ideas off of him, sharing victories with him, and frustrations as well. He is talented, gifted, analytical, intellectual, hard working, loving and the wisest man I know.

I know everyone who knows my Dad knows he is a one of a kind guy. Special. My Mom tells me sometimes that I am "just like your father." I love it when she says that! (Even though most of the time when she says it, she's annoyed with me :) I'm going to get in trouble for saying that!)

So Happy Birthday Dad. I love you. I am extremely thankful for you. For your example, your wisdom and your love for our huge, crazy family. I pray that this year exciting things happen.