DNow Weekend
DNow stands for Disciple Now. In its simplest form, a Disciple Now Weekend is a weekend retreat for a youth group. Adult couples from church volunteer their homes for the youth to stay for the weekend, although most of their time is spent at church worshiping, listening to the speaker, and small groups. Really the kids are just there to eat and I mean eat A LOT and sleep.
I've mentioned before what an amazing youth group Ryan and I grew up in and DNow was one of our most favorite things we did, so after we got married and moved back to the area we knew being a host home was something we wanted to do. If I'm not mistaken we have hosted a home every year but one since 2003 which was the month after Corby was born. It's something we truly enjoy to do, we are blessed to be able to open our home each year and what makes it even better is we get to serve as a family. The kids love having a house full of kids, usually boys, I don't know why, but we prefer boys. One reason maybe, less drama. Another reason, in my experience they have been less messy than girls. Probably the real reason is b/c Brady is our oldest and its great to be able to see older cool boys learning about Jesus and living it out!
Our theme this year was Eye on the Prize based from Heb. 12:1-2.
"Therefore, since we are
surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off
everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us
run with perseverance the race marked out for us, 2 fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. For the joy set before him he endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God."
Each grade level is given a color and usually gets decked out in that color Sat. We had 11 grade boys and our color was gold.
Just a little gold gear
This is just a smidgen of the food and drinks it requires to feed 10 11th grade guys!
This guy was "helping" me vacuum before the boys arrived. I love that he likes to wear his hat sideways and backwards, hehe.
The kids actually learn what it means to have a servant's heart by giving up the comfort of their own room/bed and even giving up most of their toys for the weekend. We do our best to live downstairs and leave the entire upstairs for the youth and leader to make their own.
This was the first year that Brady got to join them on the floor, he thinks he's too big for his pack n play.
Saturday, Feb. 6th
A day filled with homemade breakfast tacos for 16, early bball game, dropping the boys of at church, trip to Academy for new baseball gear, painting party for Charley, hanging out church with the boys, playing Ride and Go Seek, and more DNow stuff!
Our attempt at wearing Gold
Corby loved Brady's new helmet, he sat with it on for at least 20min
Ryan and Brady joined our good friend Michael and his son Ryan and the Navy group during the Ride and Go Seek game. Our boys had a blast! It was a super fun game! The church rented 15passanger vans and prepaid old school flip phones. The received picture clues of certain locations and had to find them without anytime of GPS. Once they found the location they had to take a group pic in front of it. The first clue was a super close pic, like of a put put hole or an actual letter of a word from a sign, pretty tricky right?! After a certain about time if they hadn't found it they received clue two which was a little easier pic, and then again after a certain time they'd received clue 3, a picture giving away the location. The kids seemed to really enjoy it, I know they for sure were more appreciative of their high technology phones.
I helped run the switchboard.
Charley at Berkley's painting party!
Super sad I didn't get to stay and watch, but she had a blast and their paintings turned out so great! Ms. Shara is a much braver mom than me to have 15 girls painting in her living room.
We are super grateful for reconnecting with Shara and Rick, college friends that we discovered this last year live really close and our kids are the same age and just love each other, kindred spirits for sure! Looking forward to playing softball with Berk again and Brady and Maddox have an exciting surprise in store for them for their bdays in March, just a week apart.
Our Corby is pretty obsessed with Brooklyn Boo who is still refers to as "Izzie," her big sister! Jenn and I are already working on their arranged marriage, hehe.
Sunday, Feb. 7th
The Boozer Bunch, in our matching tees, you know how I love to match.
Our 11th grade boys
The entire DNow group!
This is one of the biggest reasons we do this, these boys right here learning what it looks like to be followers of Christ. In just a few years they will really be sitting in these chairs, crazy to think!
And shortly after these two will join them as well!
Trying out less messy bun today
What happens when the Superbowl falls on the same weekend as DNow, you forgo all parties and hosting and just hang with your family b/c you're so tired! Wings, Football, and Family, I'd say that is a party!
Monday, Feb, 8th
Had some errands to run yesterday with this cutie! We had a little lunch date just the two of us before heading back to the house and working on Valentines for the kids.
I had a ton of chocolate rock candy left over from Corby's party, so I had to figure out a way to use it for Valentine's Day at least for two of the kids!
Brady has decided he is too big for picture valentines. He has also decided that some Valentines are a bit embarrassing so we have to be careful with our choice of words. When I saw these Icee Spray candies at Party City I thought we could make it into a cute but more importantly a cool Valentine.
We had Slow Cooker Ribs with Coca-Cola and they were best and easiest ribs I've ever made!!!! The kids were gnawing on the bones!
Tuesday, Feb. 9th
How cute are our Lo Ve shirts from Avenue G Kids???!! They come in all sizes, unfortunately I waited to late to order so there wasn't any left in Brady or Corbs' sizes.
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