B12 = Week 4…

...seems like yesterday Lori, Stacy and I were sitting around the table talking up the plans for this group and now we have completed week 4. I guess the saying is true, "time flies when you are having fun"! These past 4 weeks/meeting have been great, they have past any and all my expectations, I guess that is what happens when God blesses and approves what you are doing! We have covered topics like, "gossip", "integrity', and "influence", these didn't seem as powerful when we were selecting them a month ago, but now that we have covered them, oh my! How powerful, impactful they have been, and how blessed we were to be able to touch on all of them.

The group seems to get bigger every week, tonight we had 17 with at least 2 more with prior commitments who will be back at our next meeting and still others who have showed interest and want to come out. We will pray that schedules, fears or whatever is holding them back will clear up and work out so they can join us. Today's topic of influence was a big one, as parents we seem to think that other teens have the most influence on our teens, but after preparing for tonight's discussion I learned from two different sources that this is not the case.

1^st source – on line research showed me that a majority of teens say that their parents are their number one influence, the reasons that they do what they do or don't is based on the "conversations" that they have or in some cases don't have with their parents. Kind of scary, some of us feel or preach, say as I do, not as I did. Actions do speak loud, but when our kids get to their teen years they are looking for us to talk to them, share with them, how else will they learn from us, good or bad?

2^nd source – B12 kids, our ice breaker tonight was to pick a shoe from a basket, figure out whose shoe it belongs too and ask that person two questions: 1. Who was your biggest influenced as a child, and 2. Who is your biggest influence now? Although we had a good mix of answers, the number one answer to question 1 was: mom, dad, parents! The number one answer to question 2 was: mom, dad, parents…who would have thunk it!

In the beginning I thought we were planting seeds, but I have since learned, they are the seeds and quite frankly there is nothing wrong with them; the seed, but the soil in which they land, it is my prayer we all continue to provide "good soil" for them to grow as described in Matthew 13.

I have always been grateful for the close relationship that Raymond and I have had with our boys, but after being a part of B12 and all that is has done to enhance those relationships even more cannot be expressed in words. Can't wait to see what July brings!

Michael, Liz, Carson, Katrina, Paige, Roxanne, & Elsie...smiling for a pic and showing off the shoes they selectedVadal, Austin, me, Catherine & BrandonKatrina & Vadal, showing off how “BIG” & “ small” the shoes they picked...it's hard to relate to someone until you walk in their shoes...or at least pose in them...this was a great icebreaker!RoxanneBailey & LindsayRobert, Ty, & D.J.
Catherine, Brandon (as usual, any opportunity to flex is a good one) and Caroline