Color Relay

After spending the weekend dancing their feet off, the girls talked us into letting them participate in their Youth Group's color relay.  I say this because in the very first picture, Little Mama still has on her stage make up on to be followed by the color dust!

One thing I love about the girl's Youth Group is the Pastor encourages student leadership.  About a half dozen youth have applied to be student leaders and they get to teach some Sunday nights, they lead group discussion AND they get to organize fun games and events for the kids.  Plus, the whole family is always welcome to participate.  At least three other younger siblings were running around getting colored.

This event was to kick off a new teaching series and as you can see, the kids had big fun.  There was color dust everywhere.  By the time we left, our people were finally wore out!  I am thankful for these kids.  Many of which we have known most of their lives.  They really are a great group of young people . . . 

Dodgeball

Yup.  That's right.  Dodgeball.  Co-ed dodgeball no less!  In the early part of fall, our church youth group decided to participate in an area Dodgeball Competition.  At first I was like "no way."  We don't have time for this and it was dodgeball for goodness sake.

But, both girls were recruited along with all of the girlfriends (mostly because the boys needed at least two girls on a team) and the excitement started to grow.  After Sunday night youth they would get together and practice.  We would all go just to watch.  But, the next thing you know daddy was playing along with a handful of other men and it turned out to be a really great time!

It was so fun to watch the grown up men get really competitive.  They even let Boop practice with them and any other siblings who happened to be there.  The little girls would be ball getters and cheerleaders.

For all the practicing they did, unfortunately, they did not fair very well in the tournament.  I think we had the most teams present but didn't win a single trophy.  It was fun to watch, though, and the kids had a blast!

Just a great group of fun loving kids . . .

ROC

ROC - Remember Our Creator ( . . . in the days of your youth.)  That is the name of our church's youth group.  And this summer they took ROC on the road which meant, as parents, we could host their Sunday night get togethers.  And we did!

It was great for a bunch of different reasons.  It was so awesome to sit around and sing together and hear stories and testimonies from the kids as to what they did this summer.  And how they saw God working in their lives.

It was fun to watch them all play together.  Including LM, EG and Boop.  And, one of the really neat parts was we really didn't have to do anything!  They brought the pizza, the youth pastor did the talking and one of the youth organized games.  Now if all of our get togethers could be so simple!

We have known many of the kids since they were younger.  And it really was a joy to have them in our home worshiping, talking and hanging out together . . .

Yesterday's Dance

Yesterday my big girls and two of their friends danced in our church service to a wonderful woman singing a beautiful song.  Thankfully a wonderful lady videoed it.  But, I have no idea how to get the video off youtube and put it into my blog post.  So, if you would love to see them dance and hear the beautiful song just click below.  I love, love, love to watch them dance . . .

http://youtu.be/e2kELfkluS8

SonPower

About a month ago now, Nature Girl had an awesome opportunity to go to Orlando with her youth choir to record a CD.

Every year the youth choir puts on a citywide event with 2 or 3 other churches.  In the beginning of the fall (I think) each member of the choir receive a CD of songs that they are to learn and then, at some point, perform in a group youth choir concert.  Well, this year, her youth choir was able to record that CD with about 500 other kids.  And they had a great time!

My original plan was to chaperon.  But, by the time we got our schedules worked out etc. a couple of the more musically inclined moms were able to go.  (Which made way more sense.)  It was a tough decision for us to make.  To let our baby girl go so far away without one of us.  But, this is the gang that goes on the bike trip which NG has been on twice before and daddy knows all of them pretty well.  And he was more than confident about supervision etc.

So, at noon, on a Monday, I waved good bye to my little/big girl and watched her go on an adventure of a life time.  I love our youth choir director.  He made the otherwise expensive trip so much more affordable.  The kids slept in a church for the week and they brought all their own food.  The moms that went, not only chaperoned but cooked as well!  

They played games and hung out in the mornings and in the afternoons did different types of missions work.  Yard work at a children's home, handing out VBS flyers and packing hundreds of food boxes to be given to those in need.  At night they would rehearse and sing and then go home and have devotions (under the big cross outside.)  They played and went to the beach and listen to a concert by Meredeth Andrews.  And, of course, sang!

On Friday, they spent the afternoon recording the CD and, from what I understand, it was quite a tedious thing.  Doing parts of songs over and over until they got it right.

I was sad I did not get to be a part of it.  But, thankful that NG could have such a great experience.  Our youth choir has been a round a long, long, time and this was the first time they had the opportunity to go.  Although they had been invited many times before.

I am so thankful for the leadership at our church.  And thankful for so many of the kids.  Young and old.  And for the parents who willingly invest in our youth. . .

Construction Crew

Saturday daddy and Boop and Little Mama went up to the church bright and early to help finish the stage that we need for the Fourth of July event we have every year at the church.  Bouncy houses, food, music and professional fireworks.  It is a neighborhood event that has been going on for years.  It has grown to be about 3-4,000 people.  I love it because it is a pretty safe environment.  The kids can run around with their friends, check in periodically and everyone has a great time!

This year, instead of renting a stage, it turned out to be more cost effective to go ahead and build one.  With the church members participating in the completing of it.  So, yesterday a few of my peeps and a bunch of other guys and gals went to put the finishing touches on the stage.

The professional builder, who is in charge of the project was out there.  And he had some type of digging tractor (forgive my ignorance).  And, he let Boop ride and eventually drive it.  It made Boop's day!  We were able to get some pictures and a video.  So, here they are . . .

Let's Go Fly A Kite

Every once in awhile our church does something on a Sunday afternoon that the whole family can enjoy.  A bunch of Sundays ago, that little activity was to make and fly kites.  I had no idea how hard it would be to actually make the kite.  But, we finished what we started.

There were some families who were really smart and actually bought and brought kites.  Even thought the kite making was challenging, the kids and I had fun.  Not to mention it was a beautiful day to run around, fly kites, enjoy the sunshine and the company of friends . . . 

Daddy/Daughter Dance

At the beginning of the month, our church organized a Daddy/Daughter Dance.  The girls each got a new dress (well, except EG because she has plenty of hand me downs.)  And daddy dressed up in a suit.

At the beginning of the night, a well known dad in town (former college football player and fellow homeschooler), shared briefly about the Godly role of a dad in a daughter's life.  I have heard him speak before and he is a great encourager!

Then it was food, fun and frivolity.  The dads and daughters danced the night away.  And at the end, all the dads circled around their daughters and prayed for them.  What a great ending to a great night. . . .

New Language

I think I mentioned in an early post that the kids and I are taking a sign language class.  The lady who teaches it goes to our church and on Wednesdays and Sundays she and her sister sign the sermon for our deaf members.

On Wednesdays, the service is small and this past week we were able to sit in such a way as to be able to see Ms. S signing the songs and what the Pastor was saying.  Boop was captivated to say the least.  He kept watching her and watching her.  He would tap me on the shoulder and look up at me and grin when he recognized a sign.

A little while later I looked down at him and he was not only signing along with her with the words he knew, but he was learning and using some new signs that he had seen her do right then and there.  He was so darn proud of himself.  And so excited!  (I was proud of him too.)

The excitement was contagious.  I watched Ms. S as well, and tried out some of the signs we knew and some of the ones that we just saw her do.  I will be honest, it is a whole lot easier signing the songs.  I guess because a lot of the words are repeated over and over.  When she started signing what the Pastor was saying it was a little more difficult.

Last week in class I asked her if deaf people were patient with those who were trying to learn sign language.  Did they appreciate the attempt even though it might be slow and have many mistakes?  She said that deaf people are very, very patient and understanding and thankful for the willingness to try.  She said it would most likely make their faces light up with a smile.

I have no idea what we will do with our new found skill.  I am not sure if we will continue on.  But, it has certainly helped us have a new appreciation for the hearing impaired and what it takes to learn a new language and skill.  We have two more classes left.  We will just have to see wait and see where we go from here . . .

VBS 2012

We just spent the last week teaching neighborhood kids about Jesus.  I am going to admit, it is one of the hardest things I do each year.  Not because telling other children about Jesus is hard, but it can be emotionally, mentally, and physically exhausting.  A lot goes on in one little week!  Kids from every walk of life come to VBS and this year we were short 30 workers just a few days before the start.  


Our theme was Everything is possible with God.  And He showed Himself faithful in a mighty way this past week.  On Monday morning, we had more than enough workers and things went so, so smoothly.  We had such a great time.  Many of the kids knew about Jesus but there were a few that had never heard His name before.  Or that God loves them no matter what!  It makes it all worthwhile.


My guys had a blast as well.  They enjoyed hanging out with friends and meeting new kids.  I like that they hear, in another setting, what we talk about during the week and in church on Sundays.


The kids had Bible, recreation, science, craft, snack and music.  The following are pictures that were taken during the week.  There were over 1000 pictures taken and the ones I have posted are just from our family and not in any particular order.  

EG in recreation class saying "Butterfly, FLY!"  (It was a game they played.)

EG on the playground.  

Me leading and no one following, hmmm . . . I had entering 1st grade, which was Boop's class.  I had many of the kids the year before and knew at least half.  They were a great group of kids and had really grown up since last year.  It is so great to see familiar faces and to see their smiles when they recognize me.

This year we had a science class as part of the curriculum.  I loved it and I think the kids did too.

Some of the pictures are from my bigger kids on stage.  About a month ago the music leader had asked them to be part of the VBS Praise Team.  So Boop, Little Mama and Nature Girl were up on stage during opening and closing everyday to help lead all the kids in the songs and motions.

Love, love, love this picture of LM.  So beautiful (inside and out.)

NG's VBS teacher (who is a real life 5th grade History teacher) told me she wished she had a classroom full of Nature Girls.

I love being a VBS teacher to one of my kids.  This year Boop was awesome as my "helper."  He did his best to set a good example for the other kids in class.

EG with water balloons.  She was in heaven.  Her regular babysitter was her teacher.  That is always nice for me. ;)

As a surprise for the last day, our VBS director arranged for the kids to see a hot air balloon.  It was really pretty awesome.  Each kid then had a balloon to release that had a Scripture verse on it and our churches website and the card attached asked the person that finds the balloon to go to our website and let us know where they live.  It made for some terrific photos!  The kids think the balloons look like sprinkles in the sky.

No summer would be complete without VBS . . .