I had an absolutely great time last night at Youth LOL.  I've been working as a volunteer in youth ministry for 5 or 6 years now.  I've noticed that each year's group develops a slightly different group personality when the Seniors leave and the Middle Schoolers move up.  We've had some great groups in the past but for some reason, I really like this one.  They have great attitudes and seem to avoid some of the intra-student drama I've seen in other youth groups (of course, I'm not referring to any of ours).  They laugh a lot and seem to enjoy each other - which makes it fun for me.  And it is always more fun when Mario is there, not just because he's the coolest dude in the Cobb County (he is), but also because he siphons off some of the competitiveness between the students (and, yes, I'm talking mostly about the trash talking boys here).  In other words, Mario is so competetive that the students focus their complaining and howling (about the other team's cheating ways) at him instead of each other.  He's like TUMS.  A good antacid for the competitive heartburn.  So, to repeat myself - I had an absolutely great time last night at Youth LOL.

Now, it has been brought to my attention that Debbie and I are guilty of "speaking" to you guys when you insist on running your motor-mouths and giggling after its time to be quiet.  (And you gotta admit - when using "motor" mouths as an analogy - some of you are Ferrari's)  There was even a complaint that while we are "discussing" this with the group,  "the guilty student knows you are talking about them!"  DUH!  And that's a bad thing, how?  When you are having a stern discussion with a group because someone cheated on a test, guess who gets the most upset?  But think about it.  Haven't old people been fussing at teenagers about their motor-mouths for thousands of years?  It just wouldn't be right to stop now.  The world is in perfect harmony when teenagers talk and giggle and adults fuss.  So we will continue the tradition... the "discussions" will continue until you guys figure out how to "zip-it."

And finally - Ms Debbie has another challenge coming up.  Since we didn't have very many sign-ups the last time, I've decided to change the rules this time.  After she puts out the sign-up sheet and you've had a chance to put your "John Hancock"  on the page( that's "your signature" for those of you who slept through U.S. History), we're going to play a game where you take off your shoes and go into another room.  While you're out, I'm going to take some of those little fiddler crabs that Autumn and Nikki hate stepping on (ya know, the ones that have big painful pinchers and go crunch when you step on them) and put a couple in the shoes of everyone that hasn't signed up.  Then I'll say "GO" and you guys will rush in and see who can get their shoes on and tied the fastest.  Then I'll bring the sign-up sheet back out and you will have to sign-up to take your shoes back off.  Or you guys can just be good challenge participants and we can dispense with this unpleasantness.

 At any rate - YOU GUYS ARE A GREAT YOUTH GROUP AND I WOULDN"T TRADE YOU FOR THE CHANCE TO RACE JIMMIE JOHNSON IN THE DAYTONA 500! (well, lemme think about that one for a minute!?!)