"Beautiful" Weekend

You wouldn't believe it if I told you about our trip to Savannah this weekend. We stayed in an incredible home, ate delicious meals, and had wonderful fellowship with high school students. We did all of this for FREE thanks to Jimmy and Paula Dyal. 

Tucker and I got to go with this sweet stud...

and about 40 other people on a high school retreat to Savannah for a BEAUTIFUL weekend. Jimmy and Paula Dyal built a 12,000 sq. foot (that's right twelve thousand sq. foot) home for the sole purpose of providing a place for groups to come and grow in the Lord whether they are ministering in Savannah or fellowshipping and growing spiritually away from home.This home was complete with a lazy river in the back yard, a porch that wrapped around the entire house, food available at any point and lots of fun teenagers. We had the privilege of meeting Jimmy and Paula and having an incredible time away with students. 

We had tons of fun hanging out with each other. 

 

We had Lawn Game Olympics.

Tucker made new friends, ate, slept, smiled, giggled, and squealed with delight. He loved it!

The main point of the weekend was to give the students and opportunity to take a spiritual gifts and personality test so that they would know how God knit them together to use them for His glory. This was a lot of fun and sparked good conversation. Speaking of spiritual gifts, Jimmy and Paula were a PERFECT example to all of us of what it looks like to actually use your gifts and personality for God's glory. They are givers and they gave and gave and gave all weekend. It was really beautiful. 

This weekend was crucial for me in ministry. There are many ways I have come  to accept that I am ministering to students indirectly through supporting my husband. Our two small children are such a blessing but make all the ins and outs of ministry harder for me to be in it all the time.  I had to step back for the summer after just having Tuck. It was extremely difficult to hang back.

BUT God did give me the desire to completely jump in and SPEND TIME with students. I am so thankful for my parents to keep Grey for the weekend so that Tucker and I could tag along. I told Matthew that he wouldn't believe what the weekend did for me as far as connecting with students. He knows how important it is and I could see the joy on his face to have me alongside in ministry. Again, it was really beautiful.