Dear Friends,

I would say that summer has now finally begun. The first and second wave of leavings have now happened (that being Josh, Anna and Michael first, and now Sally and Thomas), and the third wave is approaching rapidly (Linds, Meg, and Jules). The rest of us have begun various summer activities (or at least begun searching for them [Daniel, how goes the job hunt?]), some things we have done before, and some things that are new. I've been thinking about this recently, and I think it is incredibly cool how various, exciting, scary, as well as seemingly mediocre the things our small circle of friends have chosen to participate in are. Josh is being a grown up with a grown up job in a town/state where he knows no one. Sally and Thomas are both traveling around the world to spend the summer in new places with new people they have never met. Megan and Jessie are going to work at summer camp in a capacity they never have before. Jena is living on her own away from her family and spending most of her day with children who can often be less than pleasant. 

I think we are awesome. I think that God has placed each of us in different summer roles that have so much potential to teach us and grow us in our relationships with Himself. Whether that is manifesting itself in overseas missions, staffing and ministering at summer camp, or being really lonely and working at a job we hate [ahem, ChickfilA....]. Don't forget to seize every opportunity that you are given (wow, that is cheesy). But really, let God teach you in the small things and the big things. Look for the little things to love [my facebook status is a feeble attempt at daily reminders to myself of the good things from each day so I don't focus on the bad things of each day]. 

Since I last saw you:

I started work at Chick-fil-A a week ago. I'm working there between 25-30 hours and five days a week. May 18th marked my 5th year of employment with Chick-fil-A. That is a long fancy time to work in fast food my friends. Honestly, CFA is a really great company to work for, and I really love my boss, but it is not where I wish that I had to spend my summer, and the work is hard and smelly and greasy and often times unpleasant. It's difficult to be an exaggerated level of nice with people who are rude to you (But at least I get practical application of "Loving those who persecute me," right?). Sometimes people forget there's a human being standing on the other side of the counter from them. I don't get along with all of my coworkers. All of these things are trials, and I am really having to work hard to keep my attitude positive and "glorify God in all that I do"--even serving people chicken.

I'll be interning with the church where I am a member--Redeemer Presbyterian Church. Mitch Dees is the youth pastor and worship leader for RPC, and while I don't know him well, he has already shown an interest in getting to know me and sharing things he is being taught and wants to teach me as well. This is really great, and I am looking forward to being discipled by Him this summer. Most Tulsa public schools (Jenks, Union, BA) didn't finish school until Friday (3 days ago), so this is our first really "summer week." The kids are coming to hang out at the house I am housesitting (more on this later) on Wednesday, so I'm hoping to get more connected with them in the coming days. Prayer for these relationships and also for my sister, who is having trouble feeling like she is "fitting in" with the RYG kids, is coveted.

I've also been babysitting for the Greeno family. Arthur Greeno owns two ChickfilA stores in Tulsa, one of which I have worked at for several years (more on this above). Last summer I tried to work at CFA as little as possible, and instead worked for Arthur directly, as he was remodeling a house, getting a house ready to sell, and moving into a new house. I also started babysitting for his children, of which there are 6 between the ages of 4 and 12. I am continuing this work this summer, and this brings me so much joy. It is so refreshing to be in a house, with a family, around children. This is such a blessing, and I'm enjoying it. (I'll post pictures soon, so you can get to know them).

They also went to DisneyWorld this week, and I have the pleasure of watching their house while they are gone. It's a house in South Tulsa probably worth between 6-7 mill, so I feel a little bit like I'm cheating them out of their money, since they're essentially paying me to live in a hotel, eat their food, and have my friends come swim in their pool. But this is a blessing, and it's refreshing, and feels sort of like vacation [and means I don't have to work as many hours at CFA this week (!)]. 

Friends, you are all very dearly loved by me. I hope your summers have started off well, and that you've already begun to be taught. Pray for me, I'm praying for you. Let me know the things you need prayer for.

Love of immeasurable amounts,

Katie