Adventures in Youth Ministry

Last Post of 2009

December 30, 2009

Hey guys!

So youth ministry has been very quiet for the last two weeks, mostly because there hasn’t been much! We’ve had drop-in for the last couple of weeks with some minor success. Kids mostly appreciate the fact that they’re not bored at home. Oh, how holidays are wasted on the young! We have one more week of drop-in, which will be a movie night with Disney’s “Up!” and as much popcorn as you can eat for a dollar!

Because this is my last post, I’m going to tack on my annual year-end survey to the end of this post. I think if I looked hard enough, I’d be able to find this survey in emails, old blogs, myspace and facebook all the way back to 2003. It’s a great tradition that I love doing!

Happy 2010!

What did you do in 2009 that you’d never done before?
Organized a fundraising dinner and successfully raised $33,000 for aid in the Philippines
Drove 26 hours to Georgia
Attended an international conference
Ate at Chop
Led a ministry by myself
Signed up for/attended a fitness class- Pilates!
Tried (and loved!) hot yoga!
Officiated a funeral
Attended a Ramsey family reunion
Bought something plaid (and not in the ironic ugly sweater sense!)
Brought Thor home! Our little kitty is a growing boy!

Did you keep your New Year’s resolutions and will you make more for next year?

I believe last year I resolved to get up early everyday. I don’t think I did it once! This year, I am resolving to change my lifestyle a little bit. I am going to continue taking fitness classes/attending hot yoga, and we are hopefully getting a freezer so we can prepare lunches in advance, rather than eating out everyday.

I also resolved to read more (my goal was about 100 pages per week). I exceeded that goal and read somewhere between 20 and 25 books!

Did anyone close to you give birth?
Man, the births seemed to be endless on facebook!

Did anyone close to you die?
No.

What countries did you visit?
America! I drove in Minnesota, North Dakota, South Dakota, Iowa, Illinois, Kentucky, Tennessee and Georgia!

What would you like to have in 2010 that you lacked in 2009?
Mo money saved up! And I would love to take a hot holiday perhaps next winter or something. We need to do something before there are kids who tie us down!



What date from 2009 will remain etched in your memory, and why?
February- Missions banquet
May- Drive Conference
Phonebook Delivery
June- Coldplay concert
June/July/August- Drop in with Lindsay!
August- Sister and her husband came to holiday with us!

What was your biggest achievement of the year?
I don’t know that I made a lot of achievements. I exceeded my book goal exponentially (I think I wanted to read 12, I probably read 20 or 25). I grew a lot as a person and as a leader this year.

What was your biggest failure?
If I were being honest, I think a relationship went south in my life, and it took me a very long time to do something about it. Thankfully, God is good and it has been nice getting back together.

Did you suffer illness or injury?
I’m pretty sure I had swine flu in May. That was one of the sickest flus I’ve ever experienced.

What was the best thing you bought?
Hmmm. I think the best purchases would have to be painting supplies for our bedroom. It is so nice to have color on the walls! I’ve almost completed buying accessories as well! Next will be furniture (someday!)

I also bought a wireless keyboard for my laptop, which makes work a lot more comfortable.

Conferences passes to Drive ’09 were worth every cent. I intend to go back if my calendar allows.

Whose behavior merited celebration?
I have seen a lot of growth in quite a few of my youth and leaders. It is such a joy to see them serve God with their talents. I look forward to challenging them more in 2010.

Whose behavior made you appalled and depressed?
In the fall, I was rocked with some news. I have cried so many tears and prayed so many prayers for the people involved. My only hope in this situation is that God will show His sovereignty.

Where did most of your money go?
Paying off debt and bills. We got rid of one of our loans this year. For 2010, we are very close to clearing another!

What did you get really, really, really excited about?
I was pee-your-pants excited for the Drive conference. The night before we left, I got almost ZERO sleep! And that wasn’t because I was still suffering with the flu!

What song will always remind you of 2009?
It’s usually albums that I remember. Paramore and Metric are two that definitely come to mind. That song by the Arkells, and “No You Girls” by Franz Ferdinand are definitely “summer of 2009” worthy.

Compared to this time last year, are you:

i. happier or sadder? Probably the same. 2008 was also a great year!

ii. thinner or fatter? Fatter, but I feel good knowing that I am more active!

iii. richer or poorer? Richer! God has blessed our family immensely!

What do you wish you’d done more of?
Spending time with friends. I am such a task-oriented person!
Budgeting and meal-planning. We will save so much money this year if we are more on task!

What do you wish you’d done less of?
Eating out
Sleeping
Complaining about what I can’t change
Doing nothing about what I can change

Did you fall in love in 2009?
Every year, there are new reasons to love Brett!

What was your favorite TV program?
There were so many good programs that I watched!
Dexter
30 Rock
Big Bang Theory
How I Met Your Mother
Chuck
Intervention
Obsessed
Hoarders
Criminal Minds
Heroes
Mad About You
Will and Grace
Glee!
Modern Family

Do you hate anyone now that you didn’t hate this time last year?
Nope

What was the best book you read?
Oh there were so many good ones!
The Principle of the Path by Andy Stanley
Purpose Driven Youth Ministry by Doug Fields
Your First Two Years in Youth Ministry by Doug Fields
Angry Conversations with God by Susan Isaacs
Axiom By Bill Hybels
Creating Magic by Lee Cockerel
The Unlikely Disciple by Kevin Roose

What was your greatest musical discovery?
Fee, Kristian Stanfill, Metric,

What did you want and not get?
Hmm. Tough question!

What was your favorite film of this year?
Definitely Disney’s Up!

What did you do on your birthday, and how old were you?
For my birthday, my mom, dad, and two nieces came into the city and we went to the Manitoba Museum! It was so much fun! Brett then came and took me out for dinner at Chop.

What one thing would have made your year immeasurably more satisfying?
We need to find a new staff member. That would make me exceedingly happy!

How would you describe your personal fashion concept in 2009?
Jeans, tshirt. Plaid. Toms shoes.

Which celebrity/public figure did you fancy the most?
Meh. I’ve been following a lot of pastors and church leaders on Twitter these days.

What political issue stirred you the most?
The economy, what else?

Who did/do you miss?
Hard to say. I missed Lindsay (my summer intern and good friend) like crazy when she went off to Horizon.

Who was the best new person you met?
Hmm. I would have to say there are some new faces around neXus that I am very happy to see each and every week!

Quote a few song lyrics that sums up your year:
Glory to God, Glory to God, Glory to God… Forever!!!!!!!! (Fee’s Glory to God)

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