Sabbatical Musings
August 21, 2024
10 years of ministry. I can't believe it's been that long. If you would have told me 10 years ago that I would be Children's Director at Park Springs Bible Church for this long, I don't think I would have believed you. It has been a gift to have the month of August off for a sabbatical. Staff are given a sabbatical every 5 years at our church, but my 5 year sabbatical was lumped together with maternity leave because my oldest decided to come a month early, so it didn't really feel like a sabbatical adjusting to life with a newborn. This sabbatical has given me time to reflect on God's goodness the past 10 years. If you'd like to know what it's been like for a part-time Children's Director, mom of 2 littles to take a sabbatical, read ahead!
I was a bit nervous going into this month not knowing how do I really sabbatical being a mom to a 5 and 2 year old, but it has been a sweet time. Being able to really give them my undivided attention, savor family time, and walk them through some big milestones like starting Kindergarten and potty training has been a blessing. 
In preparation for sabbatical, I did intentionally outline some things I wanted this month to look like. These things have been wonderful:
- Attending a conference - our elders gave me a sabbatical stipend to attend The Gospel Coalition Women's Conference which was both professional development, but also so refreshing. I was able to worship, sit under the Word with amazing teaching uninterrupted and not have to think about Children's Ministry at the same time
- Counseling - I had 2 personal sessions and 1 with my husband; I didn't have anything specific to work through like I have had in the past, but it was so good to go for a "check-in." We go to the doctor for check ups and I see counseling as a wonderful tool to also use to check-in on spiritual, mental, and emotional health
- Visiting other churches or no church on Sundays - it was great visiting another church in our area one Sunday. This gave the opportunity for us to simply attend church and it not be work. Makes me really appreciate all of the behind the scenes things that go into making a Sunday happen. It also was great to just not go to church one Sunday (mainly because we had just potty-trained), but also made me grateful for the choice since we normally have very limited weekends off
- Reading - wonderful digging into my stack of books that I seem to never have time to finish. I, for the most part, tried to keep childcare for a few hours or took advantage of nap/rest times on Tuesdays and Thursdays so I could take the time to go read at a library or coffee shop, journal, pray, and have time for myself
- Writing - brainstormed some book ideas...is a 2nd one coming? Maybe, maybe not. Probably not anytime soon, but fun to dream
- Going on a trip with my husband - we went to the Grand Tetons and Yellowstone for 4 days just us. It was great escaping the Texas heat, hiking, eating, spending uninterrupted time together
- Studying Sabbath- this 4 week study was perfect for this month. Really opened my eyes to what it means to Sabbath and that work and rest are both good gifts from God: https://study.amygannett.com/sabbath
- Enjoying random hobbies - playing the piano; cooking/baking fun things, not just the normal dinner for the family; painting (Michaels has these paint by numbers that make you feel like an actual artist: https://www.michaels.com/product/mountain-scene-paint-by-number-kit-by-artists-loft-necessities--10624521?michaelsStore=1092&inv=1)
- Reconnecting with friends - it's been refueling to catch up with old friends from my college days who are doing ministry around the world. We video infrequently, but when we do we pick up right where we left off. Those kinds of friendships are gold
- Napping - because naps are wonderful
- Spending time with people - when my work is my community, I didn't want to just isolate, so going on double dates, still seeing people from church outside of church has been fun
- Completing adoption steps- I had some specific things I needed to complete for our adoption process that this month gave the time and space to do
- Exercising - I had aspirations to play tennis each week, but the class was canceled because no one is crazy enough to play in triple digit weather, so exercise has looked like morning walks or bikes with the kids, pickle ball with friends, hikes on our trip, and hopefully climbing this week
- Memorizing Scripture - I really wanted to focus on finishing memorizing John 15 that I've been working on this year. Not sure if I'll quite finish, but getting close. Has been great to meditate on it this past month
As I have just about a week left of sabbatical, I am looking forward to seeing the couple who opened up their home to a girl who had no idea what her future held 10 years ago. I am looking forward to catching up with a mentor whom God used to plant seeds of loving Children's Ministry in my childhood. And I am looking back with such thankfulness. It's come full circle. God knows what He's doing. He writes the best stories. I am thankful I didn't enter this sabbatical burned out. I am excited to get back. There were 7 babies born this past year that I look forward to snuggling. There are new faces I am excited to get to know. There are parents in the trenches with me that I hope we can be an encouragement to each other. I am thankful I get to pour into our church family 20 hours a week (it's really more, let's be real :D) and work alongside a staff that supports one another. I am thankful for a husband to journey with and kids God has given us to steward. I am thankful for this next season of ministry as we continue to grow and, as we say in Kids Ministry, to know Jesus and make Him known!