Wow, I'm painfully behind in blogging! With Facebook in all of our lives, sometimes it's easier to just make a quick comment and move on but when I write in my blog, it stirs my creative juices in other areas of my life.

Summer was awesome as far as ministry goes. After Kid's Camp, we prepared for back to school as in Union City the kids were back at it on August 2! And I thought Iowa started early! We had our second annual "Round Up Sunday" where we try to round up all the families that have been MIA over the summer months. It was a fun day with a western theme, horseback rides in the church yard, costumes, roasting hot dogs and making s'mores, lots of pictures, and success in getting reconnected with some awesome kids! Our team did a great job in the plans and execution of all the activity.

School also reignites "Lunch Dates with Pastor Lori." Every Sunday at the end of service, we draw a name out of a metal lunch box and that child will get a visit at school for us to have lunch together. We take pictures and talk and just have a little one on one time. I LOVE the opportunity to see the kids outside of the church and meet their friends. I always get to find out something I didn't know about my date before that day.

We have two vases that set on our stage every Sunday. They have a bouquet of foam stars in each that represent each child who came to an altar of repentance and accepted Jesus as their Lord and Savior this year. This last week, we added numbers 40 and 41 to the cases! Praise God that the Holy Spirit moves in the hearts of kids, too. One of the salvations was a young man who I have had the privilege of mentoring since last school year. He just started coming to church and prayed to accept Jesus. Thank you, Lord, for Your favor in our schools.

We are gearing up for the third annual "Giant Haystack" fall celebration! It's gonna be even bigger and better than before! Tons of candy, prizes, a cake walk, crafts, free hot dogs and beverages, family pictures and probably gonna give away a couple of bikes again. More details to follow but save October 31st for a great family adventure.

I'm so thankful for each person who God has brought to help us minister to these awesome kids at UC 1st. I believe in them and believe they are truly making a difference in the lives of these kids. I'm thankful for a husband who supports me in so many ways. And I'm most thankful that the Lord asked me, an ordinary person, to be His ambassador to kids.