A Much Needed Weekend Away

Hello friends, thanks for stopping by The Higham Family blog. This past weekend Amy and Jay had the opportunity to travel to Louisville, KY for the National Youth Workers Convention, sponsored by Youth Specialties.

The convention is something that we have gone to since 1999 when we started our career in full-time student ministry. It's always been a time of training, encouragement, resourcing, and rest. It's also been a great time for Amy and Jay to get-away and reconnect. However, it's been a couple of years since we've done the convention together, so it was great to be able to go away again.

We took the camera along with us with hopes of doing a little vlogging. Unfortunately, after we arrived in Kentucky, things got a little crazy, and before we knew it, the weekend was over. However, we did manage to get a little video of our travels, which you can watch by clicking on the graphic below. 

But before we cut to the vlog, I wanted to share just a few things about the trip with you.

Like we've said, the convention trip has always served a couple of purposes for us. As a youth worker, the convention has been a place where Jay has been able to sharpened his skills through incredible training, instruction and teaching. Some of the biggest names in student ministry speak, teach and share their experiences in seminars and general sessions. An exhibit hall crammed with resources, camps, mission organizations, and tools. And of course the worship is amazing.

In 2008, Jay's role at the convention changed from attendee to volunteer. Since then, Jay has worked the convention, serving first with the Seminar Team, helping prepare the rooms and technology for the seminar speakers, then more recently as a member of the Main Stage Team, helping with the general sessions. This has left Jay flying solo.

But as a couple, the convention has served as more than just a place and time for training. The convention presents an opportunity for husbands and wives to reconnect with one another, a way from the church, the family, and the things that sometimes cause distraction.

Let's be honest, ministry is hard. If a couple is not careful, it can totally consume the time and calendar of the family. But we decided very early on in our career that we would do everything possible to put our marriage and our family first, while leaving ministry second. With each year that we attended the convention, we were reminded of just how important it was that we maintain this commitment. It's partly why we have kept Amy home. We knew that committing to full-time ministry would be a huge step of faith, and keeping Amy at home would be bring challenges of it's own. But we have also believed that it was super important that our family come first.

The convention has allowed us time to be together for an extended period of time where it can be just be. Kid-free so we can talk, sleep in, and dream about our family. To be able to talk about how we want to be as parents and as a family. We listened to the 'experts' counsel and advise us. And we've taken the time simply love one another. It's time that is well worth the investment. And while our sacrifices have at times be great, that investment in putting family first has paid in big dividends.

This year, the convention offered us a much needed break. The last six months have been a whirlwind of transition. These last couple of days have provided the opportunity to pause, be renewed, and be refreshed for all that God has for us in the year to come!

So let us say thank you to every one who helped to make this visit to NYWC possible. To Wanda S, thank you for giving of your time to come to our home and stay with the kids. And thank you for taking them back to your home for the weekend. To Kiley Z, thank you for staying with the kids when Wanda was unable. It was a huge blessing! To Missy H, thank you for the dinner and the evening given to the kids. And to Wanda C, thanks so much for the dinner you shared with the kids. And thanks to our dear friends Jim and Chris D, who took care of Toby, (our Goldendoodle) while we were away!

​Our time away was great, and we are so grateful to be able to have friends who have helped us make it possible. And thank you all in advance, for taking a few minutes to watch our vlog.

​- the higham family

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Hi we're Jay & Amy, and we've been married for 19 years and are super blessed to be busy raising our 5 kids; 4 boys and 1 girl. We juggle the adventures of life and ministry and share what we are learning as it relates to marriage, family, raising kids, serving in the church, and chasing after Jesus. Raising a family is hard work, especially in today's culture. But our hope is to encourage you and your family, as we live for the glory of God.

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