life on the walkie talkie

So It has been a really long time since I have blogged on here. I have good intentions but things in life just keep moving faster and faster. but I had to take a minute to share about the past weekend. We woke up on Saturday morning to Ashtyn our oldest girl looking like the walking dead. She was pale with hot pink cheeks. her temp was over 104 so it was off to the ER we went. after 3 hours and and the test results were in we found out she had strep throat and the flu. Pretty nasty combination. So antibiotics, fluids, and rest are the way to go only problem...her 1 and 2 year old sisters that do not know how to live life with out big sis around. Thankfully Papa and Nana took Avery the 2 year old away so we could get a 24 hour reprieve but as soon as she got home she wanted to know where sissy was and why she could not snuggle up with her. Bed time was intense these two share a bed and when she found out she was going to be alone it was on. It took all I could do to hold her down and try to explain that this was for the best for her she did not want what sissy had. eventually she gave up snuggled in and hit they hay. Ashtyn has enjoyed the weekend because i broke out some walkie talkies and she has been able to call in her demands from her quarantined perch on the 2nd story. More gatorade, more jello, another movie, you get the idea. All in all it has been amazing to see how much they love each other from blowing kisses across the room to air hugs they just can't wait to play with each other.

As I drink a cup of coffee this morning trying to knock out as much work as I can I had to stop and laugh thinking how I hope they will love each other like this forever. I never thought I would have 3 kids much less 3 girls but I would not want it any other way. God has to just look down here at times with one of those 1/2 smiles like "I knew you could do it, I knew you were the man for the job, you just didn't know."

This video may say it best!

He is right, there are so many times I wonder how we even survive, the regular daily grind, but somehow we do. I am thankful for each moment with them even the walkie talkie ones.

J

I don't deserve a blog

I have not posted since June it has been a crazy time in the Underwood house. Ashtyn Just turned 7 last week and she started the second grade today. We had a horse themed party for her at her favorite summer camp OHDC. Her cake was about the size of a wedding cake, mom and dad went a little overboard as always, but there is nothing like spoiling your kids. We had to make it good b/c Ashtyn had informed us it was her "golden birthday" b/c she turned 7 on the 7th and that only happens once!

Avery moved into the "big girl class" at First Steps today too. All my girls are growing up so stinkin fast. Avery and Ashtyn woke up this AM and were pretending to be in a tent under the sheets. This sleeping in the same bed thing is just too funny. Avery is full of words these days and repeating everything we say!


Last night at church we had a dodgeball tournament at the church it was great lights fog and watching a 6th grade girl knock out high school boys was a blast. We had about 80 people show up and over half were teenagers. God is really going to do some cool things this year at Brentwood Student ministries.

Well with school back in the girls are not the only ones that have to get up early so I better call it a night!

I will get better at this...I think

Life coming full circle

I was reminded today just how fast life comes full circle. The picture above is of my time at Oak Hill Day camp about 8 years ago. It feels like yesterday I was running the pool with some of my best friends in the whole world. Those long summer days were great times of getting darker than dirt, listening to the radio, and dreaming of what life had in store for us. The funny thing was my dreams never included training counselors to do what we did just 8 years down the road.

More than that those dreams defiantly did not include me sending my own child to participate in a the very camp that I worked at!

I was able to share some great team building activities to prepare this years staff for the summer they are about to encounter but more than that I was able to share with them that life is moving faster than we think.

"old people" you know like 40 years old's ;) used to always tell me things like you will never imagine just how fast life flies by and today I was the old guy sharing with youth and college kids that message.

my ah ha moment came with the windows down driving to the camp today...God really does have a perfect plan for us and when we are able to see that plan in action it is a blessing in itself. I no idea just 8 years ago that God would one day use my experiences to teach others. which leads me to wonder what am I doing today that God will one day use for His glory?

I am grateful to be in the center of His will.

J

The purpose of a Blog is???

I suppose the purpose of a Blog is to share what is going on in this brain of mine on a more consistent basis with a little more depth than what I can fit in a status update or a tweet.

This week is the the first week in June and I can feel the summer upon me already. With youth camps and mission trips I will officially spend more time away from my home than in it. I am excited to see what God has in store for me as well as my church and youth group. I am thankful for a wife that feels the call of God to be a support and a mother to our children so that I can pursue where He leads us.

Tomorrow night we will move into our new youth facility, I feel like God is really opening a door for us and I am anxious to see where He leads.

This week Ashtyn is spending sometime in KY with her cousins and mimi and papaw...just having 2 girls in the house almost seems lonely. Wow how life has changed for us...but I wouldn't want it any other way. Next week she starts Oak Hill Day camp...there is a post for another time but it is truly amazing the way life comes full circle.

My Final thought (on this extremely late night) is... life truly does go by too fast...It has forced me to am I doing enough with what God has blessed me with? Am I making a difference for Him?

J

I am glad to be a part of His-story

Tonight is Wednesday night for many that just means that we are on the downhill slope to a weekend but for me that means another chance for me to look into the eyes of students from 7th to 12th grade and talk to them about Jesus. There is nothing as fun as sharing the inspirations from Christ with students.

Tonight we had the chance to say goodbye to the “stonehouse” this is the place that has been their youth room for the past 10 + years. As exciting as it is to move into a “new” location, it was hard to leave a place that has offered a place for worship and learning.

We all recalled memories we had…I remembered the Wednesday night 3 1/2 years ago it was my first night as the youth pastor at BCN. I circled the chairs and prayed in each of the 8 chairs I had set out, only to see 3 students show up.

One student recalled “it was right there that I gave my heart to Christ”. That statement is the reason I do what I do.

As we closed I allowed students to write on the walls a message to God…I was so impressed with their messages. They thanked God for chance to worship and meet Him there. They recalled how their lives had been shaped forever in that room.

I am so thankful that God has allowed me to be a part of His story. He never ceases to amaze me.

Jason