It's almost over!

I can't believe we've already passed the half way point for VBS. This week has been such an incredible blessing! I just have to share some of my highlights from the week so far:

-Decorating on Friday went so well that I didn't have to come back on Saturday to finish.

-Set up on Sunday was done in record time--my husband had help from 7 other guys (as opposed to the one helper he's had the past two years)!

-We have 125 volunteers working each day to care for, serve snacks, lead games, register, etc. the 185+ children.

-19 wonderful ladies in the church have made sure our volunteers are fully fed each morning.

-I went to warn our activity station ladies that the kids were coming soon and found them praying for the children's hearts, the volunteers, the families of the children, and our leadership.

-After each game ends, Aaron (our elementary game guy) has the kids circle up to pray.

-Our preschool kids can't get to their classrooms fast enough--one little boy even clapped his hands and tapped his foot to encourage his dad to catch up.

-Volunteers are building relationships. People who are new to our church are developing friendships with others who have been here for years. Old friends are catching up. I've joked that I'm glad we can provide a week to catch up on socializing!

-All the volunteers are showing up early or on time. Everything's running on schedule!

-Our teen counselors are amazing!

-Besides leading worship, I don't have anything to do!

And to think, I still have two more days that I'm confident will be full of blessings!

It's even closer...

VBS is now 5 days away and I'm ready. Weird. But this sense of calmness I feel would only be a dream and a wish if it weren't for the number of volunteers we have signed up. Over the past few weeks I have been repeatedly blessed by the people in my church. All of our adult roles are filled and people are still signing up! If it weren't for the Corriene Thompsons and Wendy Rogers of our church, we'd be up to our eyeballs in cutting and sorting projects. If it weren't for the Lisa Nelsons and Lisa Munsons of our church we'd be scrambling to come up with "plan b" for making sure kids are cared for. From our breakfast bakers to our snack makers to our kid caretakers, the volunteers are the heart of Vacation Bible School. It doesn't matter what kind of lesson planning and program developing we do as a staff if we don't have the volunteers to make it happen. And now, 5 days away, I'm excited because I KNOW it's going to happen!

VBS is Almost Here!

Vacation Bible School is 17 days away an we only need 2 more adult volunteers! (Granted, we still need 28 high school and middle school kids, but they always come through for us!) I don't think we've ever been so set so far in advance! That's something to celebrate. I'm getting excited...

Learning from The Learning Channel

I've become a huge fan of the show, "Jon and Kate Plus Eight" on TLC. It's about a family in Pennsylvania with a set of twins and a set of sextuplets. I love watching the family interactions, the antics of the kids, and the relationship between Jon and Kate. And what I love beyond all that is that they're Christians.

In last week's episode, they showed the family taking the kids to church (it had been referenced before but not actually shown). In Kate's interview, she said explained why she loves the Children's Ministry at their church, "They don't always do what's easiest for them--they do what's best for the kids."

I hope that's what can be said about our ministry. Maybe I should make a plaque and hang it on my wall... "Don't do what's easiest for you. Do what's best for the kids."

Oh, and Jon and Kate take their kids to the bathroom before checking them in!!!