This is our last day at NYWC. I didn't get a chance to write yesterday. The "digital lounge" here is usually pretty packed, and then when I actually DO get a chance to write, I feel guilty taking up time when there is a line of people behind me.

Yesterday, though, I attended a "super seminar" (which means it was 2 1/2 hours in length as opposed to the average 1 1/2 hours) on being a Youth Pastor's wife. It was more of an open forum, than seminar, as the leader, Cathy Fields, mostly facilitated discussion between women in the room with concerns and suggestions to others on how to better equip ourselves being the wives of men who have unselfishly committed themselves to a career dedicated to helping farm young people into Christ-fearing adults. Whew. that was a long sentence (it was a long seminar). Even though I haven't been giving Cathy Fields a lot of credit (she has been married to a successful youth pastor/author for 20+ years) I did learn a lot from the other women in the room, who have experienced a variety of rough times, dissention within their churches, a lack of time spent with their very dedicated husbands, etc. I came to realize that so far, Brad and I really have not had to deal with the brunt of what some couples have had to go through in their own churches. I learned that I need to have more grace when it comes to criticism from others regarding my husband's job performance. I have to accept that there is a more than likely chance we will have to move on at some point. As scary as that is - as much as I don't want to move away from my comfort zone or leave the students we have come to be so invested in - it is a fact of life and the nature of youth ministry. I am, afterall, a youth pastor's wife, and to quote Cathy Fields, I wouldn't have it any other way.