Graduations

It's that time of year to celebrate graduations. I'm guessing you know of at least one person who is graduating at some level. In our family, Kaiden is graduating this Saturday from Pre-school. He has a cap and gown and everything. I imagine a zillion cam corders will line the front row of the church with family of all sort. Corey is moving along from 8th grade to high school (although no ceremony is involved). Last of all, Sumer graduated from Legacy High School this past Monday. Class of 2011. Sumer will be attending Colorado State University in Fort Collins this coming Fall. Hard to believe one of my girls is all grown up. I am proud of her and blessed to have such a wonderful daughter.

Grad fever is not just in my family. Next week, several residents will be graduating from Shelterwood. 8 kids are graduating from the program and 5 are graduating from high school. I think that is some sort of record. 3 boys and 5 girls will complete the program. The graduations will take place next Wednesday and Thursday. Pre-Summer Break begins the next day on Friday and runs through June 5th. On June 6th, the Shelterwood summer session begins.

Speaking of Shelterwood, I was in Denver recently and I drove by the old property to check things out. As you can see from the photo to the right, there is nothing there. The only evidence that we occupied the land is the old log cabin out in the field. Amazing. Good times with lots of healing and growth took place on this old land.

Wrap Up

"Thank you Lord and Shelterwood for the wonderful parent weekend! We had an incredible time with our son, heard so many encouraging stories from the staff about him, watched miracles occur in families and truly saw the love of Christ in action from the entire Shelterwood staff. I just can't stop smiling :)
Thank you, thank you, thank you all! We love you!"

I normally don't post Blog updates so close together, but the occasion of Parent Weekend warrant's such a post. The above quote is from one the parents who attended over the weekend. The picture features two of our amazing Big brothers. Zeb (left) and Daniel (right). Daniel shared his personal testimony during the Sunday morning Worship time. It's hard to add to the words of a Shelterwood parent so I won't. Thank You, again, for the role you play in restoring families, training disciples and building community through Doulos Ministries.

Parent Weekend...in progress

Parent Weekend started last night. It was refreshing to see the boys meet and greet their parents as they made their way up the long driveway. Of course, the boys try and play it off as if they don't really care...but they do. Yesterday afternoon started with family counseling and parent/teacher conferences. Later in the evening we had a great time of fellowship in the Dining Hall with an superb meal, staff introductions and a testimony from one of our Big Brothers, Jonathan. Today it is 75 degrees and sunny. Parents are in support groups and seminars most of the day while the boys are in school. Tonight the boys will go out to dinner with their folks off campus. Thank God for wonderful weather and the healing process.

More to come...

Good Friday

The picture to the right was taken last Thursday during one of our all-property work days. A crew of boys, headed by our Discipleship Director, Joe Bahr, is busy digging a post hole on a northern hill facing the campus. The post hole now supports a rugged wooded cross that was built in front of us all during a chapel service by Joe White of Kanakuk camps. Joe White performs his "Cross-Talk" accross the country at university campus venues much larger than our weekly chapel service at Shelterwood. Several of our residents and staff responded to the message by nailing their shortcomings to the structure. So, you see, this particular cross has tremendous meaning. The planks were literally carried into the gymnasium on the back of Joe White, carved out and nailed together during a dramatic presentation of the Gospel. The cross was raised on a Shelterwood hill by our staff, big brothers and residents, and most important it represents the price paid by Jesus Christ for the sins of you and I. Today is Good Friday. The cross on our campus is just one story of the thousands to be told. What is your story?

The buzz around campus right now is the recently completed mission trip to Haiti. 12 of our residents, accompanied by staff, returned Monday night from a short trip Haiti with Global Orphan Project. Yesterday in chapel, they shared stories through personal testimony, video, pictures and song. It was amazing to hear and far more impressive than I anticipated. If you would like to hear a few stories and see some pictures, please check out the Shelterwood Facebook page at http://www.facebook.com/Shelterwood . It is worth it.

The girls Parent Retreat during the first weekend of April went well. The goal was for the retreat to run smoother by separating the lodges and reducing the number of folks involved. It worked. Next up: the Guys Parent Weekend. Starts next Thursday.

Your partnership with Doulos Ministries through my work at Shelterwood is appreciated more than you will ever know. Thank you for your continued prayers and financial support. You continue to be a tremendous blessing!

Much Needed Break

Last week Jena and I took the boys on much needed family vacation to Orlando, FL. We visited Universal Studios and Islands of Adventure. It was amazing. None of us had been to Universal so it was a brand new experience. I could tell you all about the exciting rides and shows but the most important part was the break from the busyness of our normal life. Corey and Kaiden spent plenty of time in the hotel pool and Jena and I spent plenty of time relaxing in pool chairs. We did plenty of walking which I hope helped offset all the eating out required when you travel.

Parent Weekend has arrived again at Shelterwood. This time around we are splitting the girls and guys parent experience. April 7-10 will be Girls Parent Weekend and April 28-May 1 will be the Guys Parent Weekend. Of course, the first is to come in a few days. All the normal preparation and "fixins" have gone on this week. It will be interesting to observe the process and participate with less direct involvement, at least this time around.

I typically like to read new books when I travel so this time around I downloaded Facedown by Matt Redman onto my phone Kindle app (that's some fancy jargon for me). It was a short read and just enough to cover my flight from KC to Orlando. One of the concepts that stood out was sacrifice as it pertains to worship. When Abraham and Isaac journeyed to

the region of Moriah, Isaac pointed out "the fire and wood are here, but where is the lamb for the burnt offering?" With that thought in mind, Matt Redman points out that our worship services are set with musicians, words to the songs, instruments and sound; yet the question begs, "Where is the sacrifice?" Everything is in place but us. We are the sacrifice. May we not come empty handed to our worship experience.

Capture the little things.

Today is the first day of Spring (officially) and the last day of spring break at Shelterwood. Time has sprung forward and the sun has been shining. This week is spring break at CU so Justin is in town for a few days along with his sisters. Yesterday I took the cover off the grill for first time since last fall and enjoyed the 70-something degree weather with the kids. I have realized, more and more, it's the little things that matter. Life is spent in the mundane. It is so tempting to live for the next vacation, the next promotion or the next "rush" but that is just not how life is marked. When I think of the "little things" from yesterday that brought joy to my life, none of it was planned when I woke up in the morning. I will be off the next few days to spend time with the kids and I am certain that when I return on Wednesday, there will be plenty of drama and incident at Shelterwood. That's OK. Just remember to deal with life one issue at a time and don't forget to capture the little things.

Net Zero

In my last post, I mentioned some of the Beyond Week adventures. There are pictures available on the Shelterwood Facebook page if you're intersted: http://www.facebook.com/Shelterwood

Tomorrow we have a boy graduating at 8:30am. Later at 1:30pm a new family arrives. Net zero. 28 boys in the Guys House. An amazing family is graduating tomorrow. Another story of God's transforming work. I am humbled to be a part of God's handiwork. Every story of restoration and success is due, in part, to your partnership. Thank You.

Spring Break begins on Saturday. We do have 28 boys so breaks look a little different. In this case, we never drop below 12 boys during break, but for us, that's a huge reduction. Please pray for the families of our boys during this time of "practicum" as parents practice the tools they have learned over the past weeks and months. It's a process.

As of Monday, we have 10 big brothers in the Guys House. For those of you not familiar with Doulos, that is ridiculous. 10 Big brothers. When I started back in the fall of 2005, we had two. Josiah and Corey. A lot has changed. God has brought us not only 10 Bigs, but quality men full of integrity. 28 residents, 6 house directors, 10 big brothers, and 3 direct care staff all under my humble leadership. I am sure glad God knows what He's doing because I don't always.