an overdue thank you and an unexpected blessing

I have been referring to VBS in my last couple of posts and now that it is done, I realize that there is something I should have said that I haven't ... yet.

In my last post I mentioned that sometimes people save their hard work (on decorations) and share it with other churches.  We benefited from several of these churches this year, but there was one special person who helped my husband out tremendously by providing the stage decorations.  Not only did he allow us to use his hard work, he came out to the church twice to help Ronnie set it all up (or more accurately, for Ronnie to help him set it up!) and, now that we are done, he came back again and took it all down.

Some of you know him ... his wife is both a blogging and a real life friend of mine ... so Rie, please thank your "He's too good to me" for being so nice to us. 

We truly appreciate it! 

By the way, we'll try to come up with something else he can help us with, just so you can have Burger King! ;-)

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Now on to the unexpected blessing.  I am finding it hard to find words to express this one.  Last Thursday night, at the end of our VBS Family Night, our friend Brad informed Ronnie that he had a couple of presentations to make.  We knew about the first one.  Brad is our missions teacher and he gave a very cool prize to the children who brought the most supplies for the mission project ~ Operation Christmas Child. 

The second presentation was a complete shock to me and left my husband speechless ... which was apparently what they were going for.

All week during VBS, Brad quietly, with the help of our adult class, planned to honor Ronnie for the hard work he puts into VBS each year.  This is our 10th VBS at Crossview and though he hasn't been director for all of those years, he has always worked behind the scenes to keep everything running smoothly.  It brought tears to my eyes to hear Brad express the appreciation of the church for his service, but what came next was the real shocker.  Brad handed Ronnie a certificate and an envelope and asked him to open the envelope and read what it said.  That in and of itself was a little unusual and the look on Ronnie's face told me that he was completely shocked by what he saw when he opened the envelope.

When Ronnie finally composed himself enough to speak, he read a gift certificate giving him an all expense paid trip on the mission trip to Kodiak, Alaska next year.  Wow!  He has always wanted to go and now he will be going.  What a blessing!

So, I know what Ronnie will be doing next year on Memorial Day ... I guess the kids and I will be looking for something to do with ourselves!

Thank you Brad (and Amy) for your part in this and even though I don't think any of you read this, thank you, Crossview, for blessing my husband (and me) in such an unexpected way!

saying goodbye to another year of vbs

It is late and I am tired.  Ronnie and the kids are asleep, but I am not quite ready to end the day (even though the clock ended it an hour ago).

VBS week is always unique.   Themes change, the music changes, the kids change and grow, but the week somehow stays the same.  It may only come once a year, but in some strange way, that I don't quite know how to put into words, VBS is always the same.

Whether we do it for four days (like this year) or five (like every other year), I am always tired at the end, but never quite ready to say goodbye.  Even this year, when I have already admitted what a struggle this week has been, I am still sad to see it go.

I have always thought that with the amount of work that goes into the preparation for VBS, it is a shame that it doesn't last longer.  Many people work long hours to create the illusion of travelling to some far off place, only to stuff their hard work into a garbage can at the end of the week.  ~sigh~  Alas, this just the way it is.  Fortunately, especially for our small church, some people save that hard work and pass it on to other churches.  But the decorations that have made their way to our little VBS are on the last leg of their journey.

I know, this part is a little silly, but it also isn't the real reason I am sad to see VBS come to an end.

It is the kids.

Not my kids.  They love VBS as much as anybody, but I am not sad for them.

You see, my kids will be back in church on Sunday and next Wednesday, with teachers who love them and want nothing more than to share God's truths with them every chance they get.  Many of the children who come to our little VBS each year are just like my kids.  They come and they have fun, but for them, Bible School is simply an extension of church life.

Please don't misunderstand me, I am not negating the importance of VBS for all the kids, but when it is all said and done, the faces I see are the ones that I know probably won't set foot in a church again until VBS rolls around next year.

For those kids, and we had a few, even in our group of less than 25 kids, I want just one more day, one more week even, if it would mean one more opportunity to share God's love with them.  I am not so naive as to think that one week of VBS can undo all the weeks of not being fed the word of God on a regular basis, but I do know that every time a seed is planted is one more opportunity for fruit to grow in the lives of these children.  I just don't want to waste any opportunity to plant one of those seeds.

I am so thankful that God allowed me an opportunity to be involved in one more VBS.  I am also thankful that He has once again proved faithful, even in the spiritual funk I have been in this week, and blessed me through this experience.  Most of all, I am thankful for the promises of God's Word concerning the sharing of the gospel, so I will leave you with a couple of them.

I have planted, Apollos watered; but God gave the increase. 1 Corinthians 3:6

So shall my word be that goeth forth out of my mouth: it shall not return unto me void, but it shall accomplish that which I please, and it shall prosper in the thing whereto I sent it. Isaiah 55:11

It is comforting to know that, while God expects us to be faithful in what He asks us to do, He is still in control and He works best through our weaknesses.

So, as we say goodbye to another year of VBS, I can rest in the knowledge that the Word of God has been shared this week.  Seeds have been planted or watered and in His power and His timing, He will give the increase.

1 Peter 5:7

This is Bible School week. Usually it is one of my favorite weeks of the year, but this one has been different.

Last night (Monday - day 2 for us) our Bible verse was 1 Peter 5:7 ... Casting all your care upon him, for he careth for you.

I spent several minutes explaining the verse to my class of 1st and 2nd graders.  Once I felt sure that they understood the meaning of the words, I told them to imagine that they were standing on the edge of a deep canyon.  Then we listed things that they struggle with ... getting along with brothers/sisters, obeying parents, learning multiplication facts, helping with a new baby brother ... to name just a few.  Finally, I took that list and threw it into the canyon. 

Why? 

Because I wanted them to fully understand (at least to the best of my ability to explain and their ability to visualize) the fact that God wants us to literally throw all of our problems on Him and allow Him to handle them for us.

I hope they got it.

Because, apparently I didn't.

I spent all day today stewing about a perceived problem ... a problem that I cannot change.  The decision has been made and the course is set.  And what's more, very few others, if any, even see it as a problem ... actually, most everyone I know seems to be very satisfied with the decision.

So, why is it such a problem for me?

The truth is, it doesn't even matter.

What does matter is that I have allowed the enemy into my life ...
to steal my joy in teaching VBS,
to kill my effectiveness as a witness for Christ,
to destroy God's plans for me this week.

The question still remains; perhaps someday we will know if the decision that was made was the right one. 

Or maybe we won't. 

Maybe the day will come when I am able to voice why this has bothered me so much. 

Or maybe it won't.

I cannot predict how things will play out in this situation.  Undoubtedly, the plan will go on and soon my struggles will fade into the background.

I cannot change anything or anyone but myself.  With that in mind, I am claiming the scripture that I so desperately wanted the kids to understand at a tender age and throwing my struggles into the deep canyon of God's love for me.

Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, that he may exalt you in due time: Casting all your care upon him, for he careth for you. 1 Peter 5:6-7

cannin' maters ... a family affair

My family has been canning tomatoes for as long as I can remember.  I think it was actually my Daddy's sister that got Mama started with the recipe for what we call tomato relish, but over the years she has tweaked and fine-tuned the process to make it her own. 

Now that I am an adult and no longer being forced to can tomatoes, I enjoy the process.  It takes time and a lot of chopping, but it is almost always done with several family members involved which makes the work go faster and the time pass more quickly.  All in all, I find it an enjoyable process.

There are still remnants of my childhood in the process, though.  One thing hasn't changed ... Mama is still in charge!  She freely gives orders to anyone helping, beginning with my Daddy and working her way through any of her kids and their spouses and then on to my kids (if they happen to be close enough to the house).  Of course, she is the one who knows the process inside and out and no one really minds her being in charge.  Actually, I kind of prefer it that way.  Sometimes it is nice just to do as you are told.

For years, Mama was the only person who would actually handle the cutting of the tomatoes.  Any one of us might be the one popping the skins or chopping the veggies, but Mama always handled the actual tomatoes.  Mostly, this was because she didn't trust any of us kids to not accidentally get a bad tomato into the mix.  While this was a distinct possibility back then, the tradition continues now that we are adults (and capable of smelling a bad tomato).  It makes her nervous to watch me (or anyone else) and it makes me nervous knowing that she is watching me and knowing that she can cut them at least twice as fast as I can.

Just for the record, I could can tomatoes at home in my own kitchen, but I would much prefer keeping it a family affair.  There is something satisfying about spending the day in the home where I grew up, doing the things with my husband and kids that I did with my parents as a kid.  I can't exactly describe it, but I know that it is something I will carry with me even after this process does move to my own kitchen sometime in the future.

______________________________________________

The kids did get to have a little fun while we were working last Saturday.  They have discovered the joy of complete abandon while riding their bikes down a steep hill through the trees and into the back yard.  This is something my brothers enjoyed when we were kids, but I don't remember ever doing it myself.  Seems as though I do remember one of those trips down the hill ending in an emergency room trip for one of the boys, but I am trying not to think about that!

Uncle Bob (my oldest brother) riding D on the back of his bike and LB heading back up the hill.

JW getting ready to head back up for another trip down the hill.

since I wouldn't let them play in the rain . . .

. . . they chose the mud instead.

My instinct was to be mad at them, but I just couldn't help laughing ... and then blogging about it!

daybook

#23 for 2010
Hosted by Peggy at The Simple Woman's Daybook

Outside my window ... it is pretty dreary ... but we need the rain and I finally got the grass cut yesterday, so all is well.

I am hearing ... Granny (Ronnie's mom) talking to someone up front ... not sure if one of the kids is up or if she is on the phone.

I am going ... not sure that we are going anywhere today, with the yucky weather, I'm content to just hang out at home.
I am wearing ... black shorts and an orange t-shirt.

I am noticing that ... D's pants are getting too short ... again!  At least it is summer and he can wear shorts most of the time.

I am thinking ... about Bible school coming up next week and what I need to do to get ready.

I am hoping ... that the final prep for VBS goes well this week and that we will see results from the flyers we distributed this weekend.

I am reading ... VBS lessons ... at least that is what I will be reading this week.

I am creating ... dresses ... still working on the ones to donate (see last week's daybook).

On my mind ... seems that VBS is dominating my thoughts this week ... maybe because I have a lot to do to prepare for next week.

I am remembering ... the wonderful weekend we have had ... it was such a great time with friends and family.

Counting my blessings ... 44 quarts of tomatoes canned, Mama's bar full of tomatoes we'll have to can later this week, pickles soaking in lime, kids riding their bikes in my parents' yard, adults working together to complete a task, church picnics, fireworks, celebrating our heritage.

Words that I am pondering ... Mama shared something she heard in a sermon talking about the church and it has really stuck with me ... "Anything not supernatural, is superficial."

From the learning rooms ... we are on hold while Granny is here.

From the kitchen ... pickles to be washed and put in ice water for now ... they will be moved to syrup this afternoon and cooked tonight or in the morning.

Around the house ... things are fairly clean, but the laundry is growing by the minute.


A few plans for the rest of the week ... visiting with Granny and getting ready for VBS will pretty much dominate the week.


One of my favorite things ... canned tomatoes, ready for whatever I want to cook!

A picture to share with you ... just part of the process, celery washed and ready to be chopped and added to the tomatoes.

I hope you have a wonderful week!

my new toy

Okay, so it isn't really new ...

 (actually, it is 20~something years old)

but it is new to me.

It may have been just a little dusty when I got it ...

but it was free (!) ...

and quite easy to clean.

I just picked it up this morning and already ...

I finally finished this!

Of course, all I had to do was sew the hem and fix the shoulder ties, but still . . .

I am proud of getting it done and I even added decorative buttons to cover up
the not so pretty stitches attaching the ties to the dress.

I don't know what my next project will be ...

LB has big plans for learning to sew herself and also

for me making doll clothes for her American Girl doll, so we shall see.

Whatever project I (or we) decide to tackle ...

none of it would be possible if my sister-in-law
hadn't been willing to donate to my cause!

Thank you, Teresa!

I hope you enjoy your weekend visiting your

baby girl while I sew for mine!