Just to catch you up on the fall, here are some pics (featuring things like: First day of school, Puyallup Fair, Victoria with Elisabeth, late-season M’s, Halloween, YMV Lunches, Scout trip to Costa Rica, snow, Christmas tree and decorating, field trips and more)!
Grace,
Brian
Yes. He is Will.
I think he’s cool; so I posted about him.
Grace,
Brian
Ahhh the Holidays have officially arrived. The Christmas music can now be cued up (though many have cheated for the last month); I can finally start feeling okay about the Red Starbuck’s cups and we can bust out the boxes of decorations that will add to the mood of the house for the next month.
Yes, I’m one of THOSE guys who doesn’t believe the proverbial “Holidays” should start until Thanksgiving. A tradition worth holding.
Another tradition worth holding is my annual Thanksgiving Poll question. I am a bit sadistic, I like coming up with really, really hard “would you rather” questions. So, with that in mind, please participate in and enjoy my Thanksgiving Day Poll Question!
I’ll try to post my “Three For Thursday” later this evening… Happy Thanksgiving!
Grace,
Brian
Some might think I would be tired of the Old Spaghetti Factory. With three Youthmark Mission Venture lunches in the last week (four if you include the one Kirk did in Coos Bay, OR), I have had my fill of Spaghetti and Marinara. Here’s a quick recap of those lunches and the great folk I got to hang out with.
Portland. Kirk and I hosted about 30 folk at the OSF in Portland. This group was fun and energetic. Upon arrival the management had already set up our room with two very long tables of about 14-16 each. Well, this years promotional lunch is better suited for tables of 4-6 to promt better discussion. So, after some re-arranging we welcomed the group of Youth Leaders. The movement of the tables was very wise, the 5-6 tables had lively discussion. My prayer is that many of these leaders, who seemed to really grasp the Mission51 concept, will jump on board and do a YMV this year!
Tukwila. Last year the Tukwila (Southcenter) OSF played host to 56 youth leaders in the greater Seattle area. Tukwila served as our one marketing lunch for the region. My decision this year was to break into three lunches in the hopes we would draw more than the 56 from 2009. Hosting lunches in Lynnwood (23), Lacey (19) and Tukwila (31) was a good decision. I really enjoyed the Tukwila lunch in a different way than any of the other lunches. Almost everyone at the Southcenter OSF had been previously exposed to the YMV/M:51 strategy. In many ways it felt like family around the table! My prayer for this group is that my “home” area, while teaming with Youthmark can become the true catalysts in leading their students toward something greater than a mission trip; namely raising up students who are reaching their campus, club, community and church for Jesus.
Nashville. The National Youth Workers Convention was taking place in Nashville this last weekend. With the encouragement of my friends at YMToday.com (and Center for Youth Ministry Training), I did a last-minute marketing lunch to Nashville. It was a joy to see the South, participate in the NYWC, meet many new ministry organizational leaders and spend great time with my wife (and my in-laws who joined us). The Nashville OSF played host to 35 for lunch on Saturday. Because Youthmark is a little more known in the West I literally felt the pressure of making this lunch a meet and greet and mission/training presentation in one. On top of this, it came during the lunch break of the convention, which meant I had about 75% of the normal time and about 150% of the normal information I would give. Though I look back and wish I would have presented a little differently, it was a GREAT learning experience and I had wonderful conversations with youth leaders from all across the South and East. I’m praying that the door is open and that we gain momentum even this year with some churches in the South!
I’ll try to write later about some of the organizational leaders I got to meet with while in Nashville. It was a fantastic time for Youthmark in that regard.
When it was all said and done, the week filled with three OSF lunches obviously was not enough. Sunday night, Elisabeth’s parents and the Aaby couple decided to hit up the Spaghetti Factory one more time for dinner! Kudos OSF, your creamy pesto salad dressing continues to score!
Grace,
Brian
This week seemed like a month.
Yet it seemed like a day.
Been too busy to post regularly, but I’ve had soooo much to post about.
It is crazy to think that it was only 6 days ago I was at Faith watching six people get baptized and proclaim their love for Jesus. Seriously, that feels like it was four weeks ago.
It is hard to believe that in this last week Youthmark hosted three lunches with nearly 100 Youth Leaders/Pastors in attendance.
I can’t believe that I’ve been in the last 8 days or so I’ve been in SoCal, Seattle, Portland, Seattle and Nashville.
Each lunch seemed like it was literally just this afternoon…
The week has flown by, but seemed so long.
It has been a crazy, wonderful, busy week. Though I’ve loved every lunch, every conversation with youth leaders, every opportunity to share Jesus (which I had 3 or 4 witness opps this last week)… I look back on this last week and not just because it was her birthday, but the highlight of this crazy end-of-the-week time has really been the time I’ve gotten with my beautiful bride, Elisabeth! I love you Babe!
Grace,
Brian
This Sunday.
A little extra sleep.
Back to my home church after two weeks away scouting and speaking.
A total celebration in church today, the way that church should be. Worship through fellowship, song, testimonies, prayer, the Word and baptisms.
Family time eating lunch, watching the Hawks and a 15 minute halftime nap.
Hawks win. No, Hawks dominate.
Coffee shop, studying the Word and writing in the hopes that God will use the written words to equip and motivate the reader to share about Him!
This Sunday is just about right!
Grace,
Brian
Last night was a big-night at the Aaby home. Audrey lost her second tooth in just about as many weeks! They’re flying out faster than our bank account the Tooth Fairy’s account can handle!
Two down, many to go!
My sister is proud too!
Way to go AAA!
Grace,
Brian
Blog post #600!
A lot has happened in the last 2 and half years, I am happy to say that a lot of my life (and Youthmark’s life) has been recorded in this online journal format.
Just a fun little survey to find out what you like best about the blog… So, if there is anything you’re particularly fond of, pick it (multiple selections are possible).
Thanks for stopping by, I hope you continue to stop by! Here’s to the next 600 posts.
Grace,
Brian
It had been some time since I last did a sync between my iPhone and my mac… however, the other day I didn’t have my phone charger with me and I needed to charge via usb off my computer, so the iPhone did a sync. This gave me the opportunity to upload the MANY pictures that my kids have taken with my phone (mainly silly videos actually) and the few pictures I had taken.
Our “main” shots are taken with a regular camera, but every now and then we don’t have it with us and so the iPhone will have to do. Here are a few random shots that I haven’t posted about yet… thought someone might enjoy.
Elisabeth and I were able to get away for two nights (3 full days) to Victoria. We were blessed with a gift a couple years ago and finally were able to take advantage of it… Stayed at the Empress Hotel and enjoyed much down-time.
Immediately after Victoria I took off for SoCal. And you know what’s in Southern California right? Yep, In-N-Out… so above is a shot of my Double Double from an In-N-Out in Escondido that opened THAT day! This was a first for me, I was around for the grand opening!
Audrey and a bunch of other kids in her Sunday School class were called up on the platform a couple Sundays ago to be used as a plea for more help with the Children’s Ministry. Great job standing there and looking cute Audrey!
Last (actually first in the timeline), we did our annual trip to the Puyallup Fair. This could have been our shortest trip to the Fair ever. It was a sunny and 75º Day (and very very busy), however, as soon as we walked through the gates we recognized a newly opened Scone line, we waited 30 seconds in line there. After the scones we went to the Ferris Wheel (well first we waited in a three minute line for tickets)… the Ferris Wheel line was about 4 minutes before we got on. After the Wheel, we went to the Young Life pie booth… no line. So within 30 minutes we did the three things we intended to do. Fun times and a great picture of my girls on the Ferris Wheel.
Grace,
Brian
My wife and I just finished a wonderful three-day, two night date to Victoria, BC.
We were gifted this wonderful getaway a couple years ago, but were not able to get the stars to align for the trip until right now… it was wonderful.
I love Canada, eh? However, I really did have to say “eh” when we walked through our hotel lobby and came upon a rather loud crowd all gathered for a convention. Anyone want to take a crack at what this is all about?
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Back to the good ol’ US of A and time to prepare for the National Youth Workers Convention, which I think promises to be a bit different than the above conference… I hope, eh?
Grace,
Brian
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