Pay it Forward

Today was a great day (pictures of everything to come soon!). This weekend was one of those weekends where Allen and i had TONS of different events going on all weekend long! It took a good bit of planning on my part to make sure we could get to every event and someone to watch Noah for the events that were "adults only". Because of all the crazy events, Noah went to church this afternoon with my mom, Barrett, and Aimee, while i had to go in the evening. I figured i would go to St Brigid's since it is less than a mile from my moms house and I had to pick up Noah from her house after Mass. Allen used to be the youth minister at St Brigid's and I still know a good amount of people who go there. Not to mention my good friends Mandi and Elizabeth are the current high school and middle school youth ministers there and my friends Lois and Lauren volunteer with the high school program.

Lauren was a teen of mine WAY BACK WHEN i was the youth minister at Mary Our Queen. I really have fond memories of those days and especially all those teens. I love(d) them all but Lauren was always different...she was always very special. In fact, I became great friends with Lauren's family! They treated (and still treat) me like their own daughter!! I think it is safe to say that i often spent more time with Lauren "ministering" to her. And when i say "ministering" I mean listening to her obsess over boys that she had crushes on that would never be good enough for my Lauren! I tried to help her see my point but like every other teenage girl, she learned that hard lesson on her own. As Lauren matured in age, I found her maturing in her faith as well, which soon led to her volunteering her time with middle schoolers while she was in college. How awesome is that!! Then she graduated college and moved back to Atlanta and told me she wanted to start volunteering full time with high school teens. You see, Lauren always helped me on my retreats when i was a youth minister and she was in college but she was ready for more!! She has been helping with Confirmation and Life Teen and she is amazing!! Tonight at church I got to witness her in action! When I got to the church she was saving me a seat and as I sat next to her I was in awe at how all the teens kept coming up to her, hugging her and cracking jokes with her. Was this the same Lauren that sat on the Mary Our Queen youth group couch and didn't say anything for weeks to me because she was timid and shy??????

It was so awesome to see her in action!!! I have very much enjoyed all the years i have known Lauren but I have really enjoyed the last few where our relationship has changed from mentor/mentee (is that a word??) to friendship!! Real friendship!!! I love that girl and i am so glad she is using the gifts and talents God gave her to minister to teens. I can only hope and pray I have been a good example in her life and that i have given her half of what she has given me!!