The 5oz Foodie

One day I was walking, having a talk with God... I said, "God, why did you make dandelions? They are just a weed and have no greater purpose but to clutter my other wise green lawn with it's deep roots and staining juices when I yank them out." And His reply was, "They can bring giggles and smiles.  They are the perfect flower for a child's bouquet for their Mother in the spring and in the fall they turn to puffy wisps that they can be blown on, sending hundreds of dancing pixies in the sky. What you may see as a hindrance, another may see as joy." After a few moments of pondering His answer, I continued... "God, why do you allow disappointment to come into our lives?" He smiled down at me and said, "Oh dear one... If I gave you everything your heart desired you would have more than you would know what to do with and even things you really don't need. When you are disappointed in the outcome of a situation, it allows you to grow ...

So back to last night... We all gathered in a conference room over looking the ocean and sat in a huge circle. There were My mom and I and 22 youth and 13 leaders present. It was sharing time for the week. You see the youth group traveled for over 20 hours in a charter bus from St. Louis to Daytona to come to Church Camp. When I was a leader with the same church group, we had made our first trip to Daytona in 2005. Now, over 7 years later I am back in a room that is familiar with a group of kids that aren't but they are excepting me being there as if I have always been with them. The night was full of emotion for everyone. These sweet teenagers opened their hearts out and weren't afraid of what people would say. It honestly blew me away, some of things that were shared and it made me hurt to know that they had carried this around with them for so long. Yet, I related to many on what they have been feeling and thankfully they are crying out now, while they are still young, s...