June 20, 2006

VBS

Today was our second day of VBS. Our theme is Fiesta! and the kids are really enjoying it. We had 29 kids yesterday and 31 today. Our numbers get better each year, so our reputation must be improving! Today we had a little boy pray to get saved and another talked with one of our leaders. The kids seem to be having a great time and for the most part things are running smoothly. It helps that we are using the same publisher (just different themes) for the third time, so many of our helpers are familiar with the routine/schedule.

We are, of course, very worn out from it all. Saturday I was at church decorating from 10-7:40. Then I had to take the boys home to feed them dinner (very late!) and give them baths. We overslept Sunday morning, so I was late to S.S. We had things to finish on Sunday too, including baking 4 doz. cupcakes. I was 12 liners short, so at 10 o'clock at night I went to two different places to find some. I finally ended up with some patriotic liners since that was all I could find! Grrrr! Forty min. later I got home to put the 2nd batch in. I was up until midnight finishing them and finishing the leaders' t-shirts. I got to VBS Monday morning (a little late b/c Jason left me a van on empty and had me e-mailing files to him) to discover the snack coordinator had bought 4 doz. pre-decorated cupcakes, so mine weren't needed! I got home after one, fed the boys lunch, ate lunch myself, then left at 2:45 to give piano lessons. I got back home shortly after 8:00 with a splitting headache - so bad I thought I might lose my dinner (though I hadn't eaten any) on the drive home. I laid down, but that didn't help either. I took some Tylenol and tried rubbing my head, pushing on any indentations I could find on my head, and changing positions to see if it helped. My head felt like it was going to explode. I honestly think it was one of the worst headaches I have ever had. Anyway, I obviously fell asleept because I woke up at 4:30 a.m. feeling much better (and fully clothed w/ unbrushed teeth!).

Thankfully today I feel much better and we have no where to go the rest of the day. The house is pretty much a catastrophe at this point, but since I've had fairly good success with household organization the last few weeks, I am not stressing out about it. My main goal for the night is making dinner. Yes, I'm serious.

The boys are faring well through all of this, for the most part. I've had to wake Peyton up a couple times to either leave or come back home. He's currently napping, while my three year old, who will remain nameless, tries to deny his need for sleep. One of our ladies is watching Peyton at church for me during VBS, so I am able to help out wherever needed. I think they are both enjoying it. Gavin is old enough to participate with the "big kids" this year, although he doesn't understand everything and can't quite keep up at times. One of the teenagers is his leader and he tries to keep him involved when he can. Today he helped Gavin play one of the running games (Ship Wreck) by carrying him everywhere. I think Gavin is going to be one sad little boy when he discovers VBS does end. He is definitely our socialite and "out and about" boy.

Thursday I am responsible for the "Hot Bible Adventure" lesson time. My lesson is sharing how Jesus died for us and the main point is "Jesus is our Savior." They will have already learned He is our friend, life, and leader. We have to construct a tunnel and my teaching area will be a cave. It should help to grab their attention.

Although this week does produce much work, little sleep, and added stress to our lives, it is well worth it. The joy on the kids' faces makes all the effort worth while and any spiritual decisions that are made are certainly perfect rewards. In a way, I wish VBS was every day too, but in another way, I'm glad it's not!