My Big Apple Adventure

The theme for VBS this year was A Big Apple Adventure - set in New York City - with Bible study in Battery Park overlooking the Statue of Liberty.  Of course, we live in central Georgia, so we made use of props to get the effect.

Having not been involved with VBS other than as a parent at this church before, I was a little nervous about being a lead teacher.  VBS at Central is no less than a phenomenon.  So being a lead teacher is kind of a big deal.  But we prayed our way through it and before I knew it, we'd made it to Friday afternoon.  I hope I imparted a small bit of God's Word to these kids that they can keep with them.  One thing I know is that they sure taught me plenty.

And here are some of those things...

1.  Second graders take things very literally, and coupling that fact with missing details because they were bouncing around makes for a dangerous combination.  As the Missions Teacher was describing a trip she took to Jerusalem, she used the present tense and said, "We just go get on the church bus, drive to Atlanta, and fly straight to Israel."  Having missed the part at the beginning about it being a trip she'd already taken, one of the students looked at me with the widest eyes I've ever seen and said, "Are our parents going to let us do that!?"

2.  Everything in 2nd grade is a boy versus girl competition.  I mean everything.  Down to who can color a picture the fastest and/or best.  Of course, this leaves me in the awkward role as "judge".

3.  While I think it was a cute touch, the stuffed gorilla at the top of the 3-story Empire State Building in our church foyer was completely lost on kids born in 2003.  I must have explained the basic storyline of King Kong a dozen times to kids who asked, "Why is there a monkey at the top of that building?"  I can hear the conversations now when the kids get home.  "Honey, what did you learn at VBS today?"  "There was a giant gorilla that terrorized the streets of NYC."

4.  Nine times out of ten, I call the Empire State Building "The Eiffel Tower".  But don't you worry, those second graders set me straight.

5.  While a lot of kids these days are ungrateful and feel entitled, there are still good kids in this world as evidenced by the manners and unprompted apologies for accidents that happened in the classroom.

6.  Second graders listen and retain so much better than the four year olds with whom we spend our Sunday mornings.  It was quite rewarding to tell the story, ask questions, and get something besides blank stares and the standard "Jesus" answer in return.  (Not to knock my four year olds...they pretty much rock my socks off too.  But second grade is a whole different ball game.)

7.  A choir of 220 children can bring down the house.  That music was incredible.  And there is simply no way 220 kids could learn all of those lyrics and dance moves in 8 hours time without the involvement of the Holy Spirit.

8.  Pennies can add up quickly.  Our kids raised over $3700 dollars, mostly in change, for the tornado victims in Georgia and Alabama.  Is that just awesome, or what?

This doesn't even scratch the surface, but I can honestly say that spending 5 mornings with those 22 kids was among the most rewarding experiences in my life.  They were just precious and open to the Word of God and so sweet and innocent.

I ended the week exhausted but exhilarated at the same time...if that's even possible.

In 10 words or less, God willing, I'll be doing it again next year. 

 For those of you who prayed with me, I am elated to report that 128 kids professed their faith on Wednesday.  I know there was a party in heaven over each and every one.

I have no greater joy than to hear that my children are walking in the truth.  3 John 1:4

Totally Tardy Mom Things

You find yourself laughing at things you know you shouldn't like when you tell your four year old she has to take a nap and she replies, "Who cares? I'll find a spinning wheel and make you touch it."  (Really...that's kind of funny right?  At the very least it's clever.)

Your seven year old boy continues to terrify you about your future grocery bill as he assertively proclaims at the very start of every meal, "I claim leftovers!"

You learn the hard way that teaching your own kids at VBS is not such a brilliant idea.  And that's all I have to say about that.

You aren't at all surprised that your child has found a way to nearly strangle herself with the tie-it-in-a-bow "belt" on her dress.

The near-strangling occurred on the very same day she found a way to rock a headband - totally 80's-workout-video style.

But then again, she has a thing for the 80's hair-band look...(or maybe the stuck-my-finger-in-the-socket look)

After hearing her declare that you "never play play-doh or make cookies", you allow your four year old a go at playdoh while baby sister is napping.  The aftermath reminds you very plainly why there is such a long hiatus between playdoh days...

While your rambunctious four year old sprays the nearby wildlife with a water gun,

your more chillin' older son prefers to sit in the shade of the porch reading his book.

To which you have nothing to say but, "Typical."

Since it had been more than 24 hours since her last head injury, your toddler decided to run smack into the door frame, the wall, and fall off a stack of chairs while you were decorating your room for VBS.  She started the week off with two new bruises and a bloody lip.  The lengths she'll go to in order not to let those rowdy boy toddlers show her up.

Happy Thursday, everyone!

VB...Yes!

Lest anyone be missing me in the blog world, I wanted to just pop on and say I have been and will continue to be immersed in VBS, which kicks off this morning.  This is my first year teaching at my church here in central Georgia, and I cannot tell you how excited/nervous/ready I am!

Please pray for our Big Apple Adventure and that we can have a positive impact on God's Kingdom through this ministry.

Rest assured, pictures will follow.  I am blessed to be working with Sam as my co-teacher and our sweet neighbor, Lauren, as our youth worker.  And my very own Ben is one of my pupils as we will be teaching rising second graders.

Phew!

That said, I have about a million things to do before 9am...better get to it!

Jesus said, "Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these. ~Matthew 19:14

Thursday Thirteen - Kids Say

I always loved the show Kids Say the Darndest Things - but, when Bill Cosby brought it back, not the original with Art Linkletter - I'm just not quite that old. 

And I guess because I loved that show back before I had kids, I'm constantly prowling for some of the darndest things my own offspring can spout off.

Believe me when I tell you it's a daily occurrence.

Today's thirteen is a compilation of some of my favorite darndest things.

Without further ado:

Ben
1.  (to Sam) At the hospital, I didn't see, how did that man get Abby out of Mommy's belly?

2.  Me: Who wants spaghetti for dinner?
     Abby: Ohhh!! I do! Yay Sketti!
     Ben: (scoffing) Ha! She said 'sketti'...Abby, it's BUH-sketti.

3.  The last time I went to the hospital was when Abby was boring. 
4.   [Regarding his precious baby sister] If she poops, I won't love her anymore.
5.  [To Ben who was laying in crunch position on the floor, watching tv]
     Me: Doing some sit-ups?
     Ben: [looking back quizzically] Not me! I'm doing some lay-downs.
6.  Why can't I wear just underwear to the restaurant?
7.  (exasperated) We talked about Benjamin Franklin, and everyone in my class kept looking at me. 
8.  Mommy, if you were captured by pirates, would you choose to join their crew....or die!?
Abby
9.  (singing the song from Snow White) I'm wishing, I'm wishing for the one I love to find me, to find me Tues-day.
10.  Me: Did you go outside today?
       Abby: No, I went outside threeday.
11.  Stop crying, Sarah.  There's nothing wrong with you.
12.  Are you trying to silence me, Mommy?
Sarah
13.  I want some porn!  (by the way, that means popcorn...to her)

Okay - I'm cheating....here's a bonus:

     Ben: Mommy, do you know what "Warp of War" means?
     Me: No, what does it mean?
     Ben: It means "please" in Spanish.
     Me: I think you mean "Por favor"...

That's that and the end.  Short and sweet - otherwise known as the opposite of me.  (wink, wink)

And all of Jennie's kids said, "Happy Thursday!!!"

Summer, Summer, Summertime Mom Things

All of the other moms at storytime give you dirty looks when you bust out the box of raisins to keep your two year old content and sitting still.  You can't help it if their kids want some and they didn't think to bring their own.  (This is when you quote "Desperate times call for desperate measures".)

Speaking of storytime at the library, after one hour of sitting listening to a story and quietly picking out books, you've discovered that your kids have more energy than ever before from having pent it up all that time, while you, on the other hand, have never been more in need of a nap.

You realize it's a total waste to buy puzzles when you can just set your two year old up at the dishwasher and let her reassemble her own sippy cups.

You wouldn't mind video games so much if while they were being played you and your girls could successfully walk from one side of the house to the other without being verbally accosted for stepping in front of the tv.  Hey fellas, it's our living room too.

You get a chuckle every time one of the kids wants to play "Follow the Leader" because, really, when did we stop playing that?

Every once in a while you capture a snapshot that perfectly represents your kids' personalities.  It might not be frame-worthy, but it's perfectly telling of your seven year old's responsible nature, your four year old's mischievous nature, and your two year old's adventurous nature. 

Your heart overflows when you see your little girl's creativity blossoming.  With a stack of post-it notes, a pair of scissors, and a magna-doodle, she created this masterpiece:

Best investment ever?  $1 squirt bottles from the Dollar General.  They're water guns, watering cans, lasers in an alien war, spray bottles for playing hairstylist, and "window cleaner" dispensers.  The possibilities are endless.

You remember catching your son reading by the light of his closet when he was a wee fellow.  You've since discovered that his baby sister shares his love for reading when you catch her sitting by her slightly-cracked-open bedroom door, well after she's been tucked in, "reading" by the light of the hallway.

Until you had your milk-loving third child, you never understood the emergency that is Running Out of Milk.  Now, you buy two gallons.  Every couple of days.

You had a conflicting excitement and apprehension about your first summer at home with the kids as a stay-at-home mom.  Instead of fighting it, you've learned to embrace it (more so than at first anyway).  Turns out, it's everything you imagined it would be.  And more...

 (Please tell me someone else finds joy in chunky two-year-old wedgies besides me.)

Happy Wednesday, "y'all"!!!