I love VBS...and so much more!

The past several weeks have been the preparation and culmination of this week. Today was the first day of our VBS. Working in Children's Ministry means you kiss your summer and family goodbye for a week at a time, based on how many camps and events you have planned for that summer. It is long hours and a harried pace. It is definitely not for the weak at heart. BUT, and a huge BUT,...it is FUN! To see all of these kids and volunteers scurrying across the church and having a blast learning the Good News warms my heart and feeds my soul.

Are you now asking yourself, "What's the Good News?" That's an easy answer...the Good News is that God sent His son, Jesus Christ, to die for our sins so that we can one day join them both in Heaven. God does not pick and choose, this gift is for all humans... men, women, children, old, young, healthy, sick, abused, rich, poor...every single one of us. See, that is absolutely AWESOME news!!

Now back on track...VBS is amazing and crazy and I think I have a constant look of stressed out to the max with a smile thrown in every once in awhile. I really try to not so stressed around everyone else, but catch me at the copy machine or at my desk and I may look pretty worn. The first day is a whirlwind of running around making sure kids are where they need to be, tending to all of the volunteers' needs and making sure they are good, as well as ensuring parents that their children will be okay for the next three hours. I made coffee in my office at 7:30 this morning and finally got my first cup (while at work...coffee was had at home) some time after 10am. The afternoon was spent preparing for tomorrow.



You may ask yourself why do you do this? It seems nuts. It is because God called me to this. He called me to the church I am at now and to the school I am attending. One day soon I will graduate, but for now I am learning and growing so much. Children's Ministry is where I belong and have never felt more at home in a job. Really, it is more than a job. It is a lifestyle. I live to serve my God. Through Him, I serve the families and children come into my life either through church, camps, community events and mission trips. It is where me and my family belong. We are the children of God serving His family.

Today was crazy sock day...I was sporting these beauties!

Weekend Retreat & Super Bowl Chicken

I realize this is Super Bowl weekend and men everywhere are glued to the tv. However, I am a girl and the part that excites me the most about the game is the commercials and my husband's smoked chicken. The hubs is who keeps me from surviving off a diet of chocolate cake, ice cream & nachos. My favorite commercial so far has to be the Chevy end of the world commercial & the VW dog commercial simply for the ending.

My weekend before Sunday belonged to a kids' retreat. 20 kids & 8 leaders spent a weekend getting back to the basics in our relationships with God. We discussed how to have a good devotional time, the different kinds of relationships we have w/ people in our lives and our relationships w/ God, then we discussed the Great Commission. I got the pleasure of leading one of the Bible Studies Saturday morning and then a 2 hour hike through the woods & trails. Other leaders with us led Bible Studies and praise time. Friday we had two teams of kids go on scavenger hunts where the clues led to a bonfire with smores. Several of those kids had never seen a real bonfire or hiked through trails in the woods. It was an amazing retreat that not only helped us focus on our relationship with our Almighty, but allowed us to get to know our kids in the ministry better and they got to know us as well. I am so incredibly blessed for God to have called me into children's ministry.