Joel Young Blog.com

My family has decided that we’re going to take a beach vacation this year. Even though I’m really looking forward to it the trip going to the beach isn’t that big of a deal for me. I’ve been there many times before in my life. But, to my two year old son, Reed, going to the beach is a HUGE deal. He’s never been to the beach, and I sometimes think he spends all day thinking about what it will be like when we finally arrive.

Yesterday, my wife and the boys spent all day shopping for some of the things a vacation like this will require. Things like swimming trunks, sandals, water shoes, etc. When they got home Reed proudly displayed his beach swag in the living room, and his prize purchase was a small pair of blue sandals. He wore them around the house until he went to bed, and put them on first thing this morning as well.

As he was watching his usual morning cartoon lineup I noticed that he was kicked back on the couch with his feet propped up on a pillow (bearing his blue sandals of course), hands behind his head, and his eyes closed. I thought this was a strange method for watching cartoons so I inquired of my son, “Reed, what are you doing?” And he very calmly replied (without opening his eyes), “I’m at the beach.”

I looked at my wife, who was sitting next to me, and we had a good laugh, but then I became jealous. He was living the beach lifestyle, and he didn’t even need to be at the beach to do it. For all I know he could have been feeling the breeze on his face, and listening to the waves crash on the shores until I disturbed him with my silly question.

The ability to enjoy life no matter where we’re at is something that often escapes us as we become older, “wiser”, and more mature. So, my goal for today is to get to that beach…before we take our vacation. I hope you’ll do the same.

Most of you who read my blog on a regular basis have probably noticed a distinct lull as of late, and for good reason. My family has had a lot of life changing things happen and at the top of the list is the birth of this little guy. Cooper, our second son, was born this week. He is as happy and healthy as he could possibly be and his addition to our family is nothing short of “lifechanglingly-awesome”. Thanks to all of you who prayed for his arrival and helped us out both before and after. Our family is truly appreciative.

Starting this week I’ll be back in a regular blogging schedule. I feel that I yet again have a renewed spirit and fresh perspective on life that can only come through such a life altering occurrence. My children have truly been “Game Changers” in my life and I hope you’ll come along for the ride as I explore the other side of the rabbit hole that fathering two boys will be.

Today marks four years of wedded bliss for me and my wife Jenna. When I said those very words to her last night she joking replied, “Oh, is that what you call this?” That’s why I love her. She’s always able to put a smile on my face. For the life of me I can’t figure out how or why she gets me and all my quarks, but she does. The card she gave me this morning reminded me that she is hoping for 74 more years just like the four we have already celebrated (we’ll both be 100 in 74 years). I guess I need to quit eating fast food if I’m going to make it 74 more years! Our first four years have brought one child, four moves, four church homes, five cars, and many more changes than I could ever recall. It seems like the only constant in either of our lives is the God we serve together and the love he has given us for each other. And if you ask me, that’s all we need.

This past weekend was great! My family and I had the chance to hang out with some of our dearest friends and unexpectedly see many friends that we hadn’t seen in years. We got to see some of our old pals from Grant County, and even some old band mates of mine from back home. It was really a rejuvenating experience for me because one of my favorite things to do is reminisce with old friends.

I’m not sure why, but I get a great deal of satisfaction out of sharing stories and reliving experiences with the people I’m closest to. I think life is great the first time through, but each time you relive it with someone, it gets better. I think this is because when we are able to look back on our lives, we look back on it with a new perspective. In the moment we don’t see or understand all that we understand later looking back on the moment.

So, today I want to encourage you with this thought. The things that you do that seem earth shattering now, might not seem so pivotal in hindsight. Live you life and quit worrying about the petty details. Because if you don’t live your life now, what will you reminisce about later?

PS – My son’s love of fire did not carry over to a love for fireworks. He screamed for nearly two hours at his first fireworks show. Bummer.

For me, this week has been all about space.

As many of you know, Horizon has struggled to find a space to meet in. We have been searching, and searching, and searching some more, but have come up empty. We’ve tried schools, colleges, fire houses, parks, civic buildings, etc, but nothing has worked out; that is until this week. We gave ourselves a goal to find a space to meet in by the end of the month, and after MUCH prayer and then some MORE prayer, God delivered. We will be meeting in a shared space in Wilder, KY right off of the AA Highway. It is a space that we will share with the Northern Kentucky Real Estate College, and it is one “God sized” deal, meaning that we can actually afford it. We will begin our services in this location in September so spread the word because we are going to flood this region with our message.

This week has also been about personal space. My wife and son took this week to head down to Lake Cumberland with some family. I even though I already miss them, and they’ve only been gone for one night, I think it was a good idea for them to escape for a while. Church planting is probably more taxing on the wives and kids of planters because of the burden we all carry for the project so I am glad that they could go have some fun that won’t be interrupted by any talk or thought of church planting. So, for the next week I will have some REAL space on my hands. Space that I haven’t had in say, 9 and a half months. I’m really going to soak up all I can to be as focused as I can be on them when they return.