Unsaid Thanks, Part 2

3. When I think back on middle school and high school one of the central features of those days was my church youth group. The kids were cool, but they were the same ones I went to school with, just a different mix. The church, as a whole, wasn't at it's best. The events we did were fun, but not remarkable. In my mind, the youth group was great because of the leaders, who so clearly loved us. Perhaps that is why I have spent so much of my life working with youth. In that group of leaders, though, there is one who always stood out to me, who I owe thanks. His name is Julius.

Julius was Rock and Roll cool. A talented artist, singer and musician. He loved Jesus with a passion that was catchy. He was proof of something that needed to be true, that you could love Jesus 100% and be cool at the same time. He was the leader who I brought a couple friends to when they wanted to learn more about Jesus. He was the leader who would just talk to me, making me an equal. He was the leader who brought me to a professional studio to help me with my senior art project.

For your love and support, for telling me it was not only ok to be me, but that it was cool to be me, Julius, thank you.

4. I suppose everyone has their favorite elementary school teacher. I have one, too. She was my fifth grade teacher, Mrs. Eckler.

In fifth grade we had this story writing competition which took place across several months. Before this time, I don't remember liking writing that much, it was hard, I was slow and sloppy. Not a very rewarding experience. This competition changed that experience for me. More importantly, Mrs. Eckler changed this experience for me. As I would write my story, should would tell me how much she liked it, tell me where it needed more details and point out my bad spelling, no penalty, just so I could fix it. I could do a new draft and she would help me take it to the next level. The whole time she was saying, I like this story you are telling. Suddenly, the fixes didn't seem that bad and story became fun to tell. I had found something I really loved.

For encouraging me and helping me discover the writer inside of me, Mrs Eckler, thank you.

5. I'm going to venture a guess my college days were not like yours. When I went to Western Michigan University, I knew I would have to pay for it myself and I knew I didn't want to end school with a huge school debt. In fact, sticking to the plan I graduated with only a very small loan, for the first semester. While this is an achievement I'm still a little proud of, I could not have done it without some huge support from my Aunt Nancy.

See, in order for this plan to work I would need to go to school full time at the same time I was working full time, and I would need some very cheap housing. My Aunt lived in Portage, right next to Kalamazoo, and offered me her extra room. She put up with my crazy hours, I was up late and up early to get my school work done, and crazy choices, like driving to Holland when I was dog tired after work. She always took care of me, even when my teenage/adult brain was not. I don't remember what the deal was, or how much I paid to live there, if anything, but there is no question that she financially carried most of the expenses for the two of us. My life was very good. Much better than I deserved.

So, for taking care of me, but never holding it over me, for taking my plan and making it something I could enjoy, for indirectly paying for a good chunk of my education, Aunt Nancy, thank you.