Passion

If you've known me for a while, you probably know my passions in life: Family, Sports and Investing in Youth (not in any particular order). Most of you know that I have a Bachelor of Science in Sport Management and I am in graduate school to obtain my Master's Degree in Sport Administration. I work in the athletics department at the UIL and I love to watch Sportscenter, College Sports, NBA, NFL and MLB. I guess my upbringing had a large effect on this passion, since I am the daughter of a basketball coach and in a family that talks sports non-stop (the Killams). I think I am plugging in to that outlet, so I have sports covered. I try to spend as much time as I can with my family and I enjoy holidays and birthdays and extended weekends with family, as Travis and I are both blessed to have such great family support.

But, I've been neglecting my other passion for about 3 years now. I love spending time with teenagers and working with the youth ministry. I know it's because my days in the youth group impacted my life so much, I want to impact others' lives and be a support to them through those tough teenage years. After I graduated from high school, I still stayed involved with youth by going to youth camp as a counselor and hosting slumber parties at my house. I was on the BSM Disciple-Now team that would travel to different churches in Texas and lead D-Now weekends for youth. I loved those times!!! I guess it gives me permission to be a little crazy, talk about things that girls like to talk about, listen to the stories about what girls are going through in school these days and act a little immature if I want! I have been impacted so much by the time I have spent with youth and I have had to opportunity to witness girls committing themselves to purity before marriage and I've had the opportunity to lead them to Christ as well. It's a very rewarding thing and I love it! When Travis and I first joined Bannockburn, I immediately signed up to be a small group leader for the freshmen girls at our church. I had a great time spending a few hours every Wednesday evening with these girls, and we had parties and sleepovers. I can't believe that they will be seniors this year!! I had to step away from that ministry because I was too loaded with school, work and BSM stuff. Well, I had the chance to be a D-Now leader for Crestwood in May and God started moving in my heart to renew my passion for youth.

Recently, I joined the choir at BBC, and I have loved singing with these talented people and learning from one of the best vocal teachers. I don't know how to read music, I learn the music by listening over and over, so I have learned more about actually reading and learning music. I was talking to Travis yesterday at lunch about how I just don't feel that I am serving in the right place at church right now. He encouraged me to give it another chance and see. Well, last night, I had to leave choir practice early for a meeting for church leaders. Because there was not a big group of leaders for the young adult ministry (Dani and I were the only ones), we got stuck in the group that helps with the youth ministry. During that meeting, God started stirring my heart again about a passion for the youth, but I told myself that I was doing choir and they are both on Wednesday nights. But, I wasn't going to talk to the youth minister about it after the meeting unless someone came up to me and asked me to help with the youth ministry. Well, Dani and I were on our way out of the church, when Cheryl Hayden pulled me aside and introduced me to Kathy Kelley. Her oldest son, Matt, was a freshman the year I led the freshmen girls, so I kinda knew who she was. She told me that they were really needing a small group leader for the 11th grade girls, and she asked if I would be interested. WOW! I told her about my passion and about how I wasn't going to volunteer to help with the youth ministry unless someone approached me first. She was amazed and we both talked about how this must be a God thing! I was so pumped, I went home and told Travis about it and he was excited for me too! I am going to call the youth minister today and talk to him about it. I still might decide to sing in our annual Christmas Tree production, but I will not be going to choir practice if I am helping with youth on Wednesday nights. I am looking forward to spending time and building relationships with these girls. I want to impact them in a positive way and I can't wait to see what they will teach me. When we started the process of building our house, I told Travis that I wanted a house that was a good place to have small group meetings and parties with the youth. Yay! I'll keep you posted on what transpires....