Summer 2015

I was asked fall of 2014 to serve on a Principal Search Committee for Beaches Chapel School.  I was very honored.  I guess when you sacrifice to have five kids at a school, they think you will work hard to find a good principal.  It was a long journey filled with lots of processing, and tons of prayers.  What I didn’t know was through the process, a new school structure would be established and that I would be asked to take a new leadership role at BCS. 

I prayerfully considered this new role.  I resisted in my flesh at first and listed all the reasons why it was not a good idea.  I had recently said out of my mouth that I was never more fulfilled working at the church and serving on the pastoral staff with people I have known for 20 plus years. I felt like for the first time in a long time, I was in my place.  I should have known God was up to something if I was getting comfortable.  I knew it was to be when my dear prayer warrior friend gave me a word through tears that I was called to be a Bridge.  It haunted me.  I called Dan because I knew he would totally back me up and say NO WAY! He has always tried to protect me from overcommitting myself. His response made me queasy, “Who better than you?  No one has more love or the history at BCS.”  In my life, I have always been thrust into situations that required me to build or fix something.  

I don’t understand sometimes why I can’t just stay put.  What I do know is that I ALWAYS want to be smack in the middle of God’s will.  I never want fear or my own ideas of what is right for me or how comfortable I am to stop me from a new opportunity for God to use me in some new way.  The thing that I could not settle in my heart is my great love for BCS.  If I could have a part of preserving the history, the spirit and the heart of the school, than how could I say no?  I had 5 babies that also love BCS.  I had a feeling it would be hard work but I definitely underestimated that for sure.

We unanimously picked a new Principal and I would move forward in helping with the transition, much like a personal guide.  Looking back over the last 9 weeks, I could have never imagined what we have walked through.  We have had more surprises, departures, and conflicts than I could ever have fathomed. 

The most bizarre thing about our new principal is that I immediately connected with her in the brain.  It was like we were cut out of the same mold in the strangest of ways like how we stored our kids old school work and projects under our beds in Tupperware or how we are irritated by having to eat or sleep. I sometimes feel like I am reading her mind.  So much of my life I have felt like a misfit and have been told to calm down that I am too hyper, too bossy, too unrealistic, too ambitious, too something.  To meet another person who thinks like me about situations has been a surprise blessing I never expected.  It’s been a relief like I was wired this way and it’s OK. It sure cut a bunch of time that typically occurs when working with a new person.  It was immediately off and running, a short cut to getting things accomplished at a rapid pace.  

What I have experienced the summer of 2015….No wasted time, no fancy conversations, down to business, strong decisions, problem solving, progress, growth, little food, little sleep, lots of communications at all hours, LOTS of prayers, and miraculous answers. We have jumped fences, painted things and almost climbed ladders in high heels.  We have limped home and we have cried together, but somehow we bonded, God showed up and we started school. Our bodies took a beating but we have laughed over and over until we cried and have marveled so many times that “the lack of reality is astounding."

 

We have been truly blessed with the sweetest, hard working, dedicated, thoughtful, kind, Godly, faith-filled, servant staff members who have fed us, given us Advil, prayed for us, told us to quiet down when needed, gave us solutions, soothed angry people and said I am sorry and thank you a bazillion times. They co-labored all day, nights and weekends to be ready for the first day of school. When we went over the list of what was done the summer of 2015 to present to the elders, it was mind blowing!  It was the result of an all in team!  It was the fulfillment of our theme for the year, ‘Team Up for Success!”

Another personal miracle this summer was how my family rallied.  A sweet co-worker prayed for me one day that my family would lift burdens off of me over the summer.  I am so thankful that God answered that personal prayer too.  My daughters became incredible cooks preparing delicious meals, they did dishes and folded laundry.  They even delivered lunch to me at the office. Dan built furniture for the school and encouraged me everyday that we were doing a great job and it would be worth it when school started.  My mom filled in the gap with my kids and they made fantastic Lego cities at her house!  She delivered multiple meals to my house that were as beautiful as they were tasty!

God has allowed me to be a part of an amazing time at BCS.  We have record enrollment, a brand new gym, a fresh look for a new season!  This is the result of God’s hand working on our behalf.  He somehow decided to use two hyperactive ladies who could funnel their energy into His purposes.   I pray the result will be  lives changed for eternity.  What if I would have said NO?  What if I would have let the tormenting nights of doubt and fear hinder me from taking a leap of faith?  Then God would have used someone else to accomplish His will and I would have missed the most fulfilling and amazing summer of my life.  I have grown as a leader, learned that God truly provides everything you need and that new relationships can be the biggest surprise blessing of all. 

I’m relieved to have the Summer 2015 in the books and pray to never have another one like it again! We know people were rooting for us to fail but we know even more were on their knees praying for us to succeed.  To God be all the glory, honor and praise and Go Lions!