It smells like fall

So, this is my first real fall. West Texas falls leave something to be desired. I'm loving watching the leaves change and the weather has been awesome. I leave the windows open all the time. I'm really trying to embrace the whole season. So, I've been doing fall things with the teens. My favorite has to be camp fires. It seems like as soon as I get the smell of camp fire out of my clothes, I go to another one. This morning when I was getting ready I could still smell camp fire, and it's been several days and several showers. Anyways, here's a few fall pictures.

This is a group shot from the Middle School Retreat. We had so much fun and I had my first paint ball experience. Honestly, what's the big deal about paint ball? I guess it's sort of fun, but come on- what's with all the hype? There are actual paint ball guns that cost 2000 dollars!! Why?


Alright, here's a picture my sister in law sent to me of my niece Kaelan. They were at a pumpkin patch. This is my favorite picture because she looks like she's about to go head first down the slide. I'm really missing her!

And here's one from a girls night out we had on Saturday. We had such a good time. I decorated my pumpkin as a little Sue. I even gave her black curly ribbon hair. We cooked hot dogs and s'mores over the fire and used actual sticks, not hangers. It was awesome. We even went on a hayride, but unfortunately the tractor hit a hole or something and lost a tire. So we had to walk back in the dark. But it was fun while it lasted. We finished the night just singing around the fire. I really do have the best job ever.

no, I didn't die

So, every night I get home and think- I need to update my blog. There's just so much to do and so little time.

As thankful as I am for my education, there's just so much they didn't teach me. For instance, one day I had just gotten settled in my pew and was trying to focus on worship and God and all that churchy stuff when one of my high school boys came and found me and said- "Sue we need you, it's an emergency." Of course I'm thinking, someone is hurt or dying or about to be arrested. So, I get down to the basement and find two of my high school girls. They were in great distress and very happy to see me- someone who could help. These are the moments when you truly feel like you're making a difference. The kids need you and that feels great. Then I was taken back down to reality when the girls told me what was going on. They had found a stray cat behind the building. Yes, all of this commotion about a cat. I stood there for a moment, and finally said, "Well... what are you wanting me to do?" Apparently, there was a person who was tired of owning their cat, so they left the cat, carrier, and a sack of food behind the church building. That's so weird. Anyways, as much as I wanted to tell the girls to just let the cat go, (it is just a cat for goodness sake!) I found an open shelter, got a police officer involved, and eventually found a farm for the cat live out the rest of its days. Just call me youth minister of the year. Perhaps I should minister exclusively to cats. That would be much easier.