Outrigger Island 2008!!

Okay, y'all, it's time for the VBS monster post!! I've somewhat avoided this blog, because it involved going through HUNDREDS of pictures...mostly NOT of my own kids...to find some for this entry. :) But, it was actually fun to look through them a few weeks later after all!

VBS was obviously a huge part of our summer. In many ways, it is truly one of the most enjoyable and rewarding things I spend my time doing. It is always somewhat of a relief to have it over, and to return to normal days. But, there are huge blessings in being a part of a ministry that reaches kids hearts, and reaps so many benefits for me and my family too! I get to spend what feels like a month straight with fifteen other women, as we plan, decorate, visit, and laugh alot! Here's a few pics of our decorating work (these are for you, Steph & Amy...we missed our fun with you two!! We didn't have our resident mushroom builder or our migraine-woman who likes to work on a ladder!)

By the time the week of VBS rolls around, we are all a bit tired from the pre-work. At that point, it is hard to imagine putting the same time and effort into it next year. But, at the exact same time, it's hard to imagine NOT being a part of the process all over again. I was blessed to, once again, work with amazing women with passion for what they do. Plus, our kids all enjoy playing together for days on end!

This year's theme was "island" themed...Outrigger Island, to be exact! It was based on God's Unshakeable Truths. The music was fun, the snacks were delicious, and the crafts were so cute. But, even more important were the biblical truths that the kids learned, the time they spent with other sweet friends, and the lessons they learned and lived out during the week.

One of my favorite parts of VBS was the missions room. This year, they learned about Cambodia and our missionaries there who give the children food and medical care. The children raised money all week to feed Cambodian children, and learned that $3.40 feeds a child for a month there! It was so sweet to watch all the kids come with bags full of change to give to these kids. When all was said and done, the kids raised $1800 to feed almost 600 kids!! Kendyll and Carlie are still so interested in Cambodia and talk about it all the time. (Kendyll wants to have a meal like theirs---rice and peanut butter---almost every night. One of these days we'll really do it.) Here they are learning about Cambodia:

Another part of VBS that makes me smile is seeing my own girls loving on their friends, as well as reconnecting with old friends who come back to visit. We got to see Mrs. Alyssa, Lauren, and Camryn, Hollyn (for one day!), McCartney, Mrs. Amber and Mary Alice...all friends who we miss so much! Can you tell how excited Kendyll was to see "old friends"?

We missed having Trinity and Ashlyn with us, and Kendyll has said she wants to take VBS stuff to them in London when we go. :)

Carlie also enjoyed her year more than ever, and really had fun with her friends and with the different rotations she attended. When asked, she said her favorite parts were music and snacks. You can see why can't you? YUMMY!

What is it with this girl and eating? She also REALLY enjoyed the last day's party. Here she is gobbling up her favorite thing--salty popcorn. :)
When I asked Kendyll what her favorite part of VBS was, she said learning about Cambodia, having bible class, her VBS teachers, and going to music. Here she is doing her moves, which she took very seriously, and "practiced" each night at home. :) That's my girl.

And, by the way, how is my girl this big??And, although I wasn't able to ask Abby Kate what her favorite part of VBS was, it was quite obvious what she would have said. It was the decorations. Nothing melted my heart more than to watch her excitement every day as we arrived at VBS. It would start when we were in the church parking lot. She would start waving and clapping and doing an excited sound that said "Ya ya, ma ma"!!!! She was so excited to wave at all the fishies on the wall, especially the jelly fish (pictured earlier) and the hanging blow-up fish in the main entry. Seriously...not a fish was missed in the morning "hello" wave. This picture is quite grainy, but it's my favorite one of the whole week. This was one morning as we first arrived and she greeted her best fish friends. She is looking up in awe and just smiling HUGE at the fishies swimming above her head. SO precious. I wish everyone could have seen it in person to really know this girl's level of excitement...Another bad picture, but here is Abby Kate as she entered the building with great anticipation...this picture also makes me laugh because you can see from the parking lot that we were the ONLY ones at VBS already that morning. My kids are so patient. :) The last day was the big party, and the girls had fun with food, games, face tattoos, and balloon artists. Here is AK with whatever the balloon guy made for her. :)

Shortly after VBS ended that day, Kendyll was off to Oklahoma with my dad and sisters for a family reunion with the Teague's. I can't wait to see pictures and to post them on the blog, but that will be another day. :) The rest of us ended the night at Snuffer's, after cleaning the church a little. I said my only request for celebrating that night was eating something REALLY bad for me. I got my wish! Mmmmm.

It was a great week, full of blessings from the Lord, and one that I hope my whole family remembers for years to come.