Summer Activities

Hey everyone!  Even though our May meetings are kind of few and far between (there IS youth group this Sunday!), I've been looking ahead to the summer months and trying to plan some fun out of the ordinary events for you and your friends to enjoy.  Here's what I'm looking into:

Whirley Ball in Ann Arbor

Toledo Mudhens baseball game

A day of service with the Jackson, MI mission agency called Together We Can Make a Difference

PuttPutt or Go-Karts or Ice Cream in Monroe

The Fest in Cleveland, Oh on August, 9.  It's a free music festival featuring Jars of Clay, Branden Heath, Matthew West and Nicole C. Mullens.  And opening for Jars of Clay is a Jackson area band called "Like Jonathan" and the lead singer is one of my friends!

I don't have any specific dates nailed down, but I thought I would give you all a look into the future and get your thoughts on these potential plans.  Would you love all of them?  Do you more or different or better ideas? Are there any specific weeks are that just plain "bad" for extra events (because your family is out of town or something)?  I'm thinking most of these activities will be during the week since you'll all be bored to death on summer break! ;)  Let me know asap and I'll be posting information as soon as possible.  

Don't forget to check the calendar of events posted in the right column.

And how is the Bible reading going?  Girls, have you picked a book to read through?  Does anyone have any questions?  Or comments? or insights into what you are reading?  Share! :)

ps.  Happy belated birthday to Shawn!!  Sorry we missed it

Mothers and more

1.  Mother's Day is THIS Sunday!  This means 3 things:  First, there is no youth group.  Second, you should bring your mom (and the rest of your families) to the 11am church service and stick around for the potluck lunch!  And third, are you planning on doing something wonderful to celebrate and thank your mom?  I have some ideas for you if you're at a complete loss:

-wake up before mom and fix her breakfast in bed.

-put together a "coupon book" of tasks or favors you will do for her when she uses a certain coupon.

-buy her flowers (maybe her favorite flower)

-buy or make her a card--this one is essential as far as I'm concerned.  Even if you do nothing else, letting your mom know in words how much you love and appreciate her is priceless.

-buy a picture frame and put a really great picture of you and your mom in it.

-make lunch or dinner for her--give her Mother's Day "off" of her normal duties.

If you still want other ideas, let me know and I'll come up with more. :D  I've been at this for a while. 

2.  With 2 weeks off in a row (thanks to my illness...boo!) I just wanted to remind you all to be faithfully meeting with God.  Guys are reading through Matthew (I believe...) and Girls, you should pick a book of the Bible* and try to read through a chapter a week--working through a few verses each day.  Let God speak to you and talk with him about your struggles, your achievements, anything!  

* When choosing a book of the Bible I would recommend starting with one of the Gospels (Matthew, Mark, Luke, or John) or one of the Epistles (Galatians, Ephesians, Philippians, or Colossians) or Psalms in the Old Testament.  Philippians and Psalms are definitely two of my favorite books for times of devotions.

I can't wait to get back together and do some more group debates and conversation.  That was so great a couple weeks ago!  Kevin will be running youth group "solo" on May 17th as I'll be in Canada with my best friend for her wedding shower.  (so sad I'll be missing you all!)  And then the next week (May 24th) is off because of Memorial Day.  

Check the calendar to the right -->

Keep in touch while we're apart, ok? :)  

and see you on Mother's Day!