Vacation Bible School 2019

At the beginning of the year, my husband created a master calendar with all of the big church event dates and times. We let everyone at the church know that these were our "planned-in-advance" events and that we would need as many workers committed to help as possible.

As the dates came closer for VBS, we made flyers and invitations and began going out in the community inviting people to attend.  Last year was our first ever Vacation Bible School and I was praying the God would send 10 children. He more than doubled that because 24 children came on the highest night! This year I prayed that 20 children would come consistently each night.

Our theme this year was Pioneers and Prairie Dogs. I absolutely love these Quality Speech materials! They do a fabulous job. I envisioned how I wanted the platform decorating to be and drew a sketch. The backdrops and cacti I was able to find on oriental trading company on sale! I showed Dan my sketch and asked if he could build me a 3D Conestoga wagon and fence.

 

Like the amazing man he is, Dan built this for me.

 

 

One of the members of our church owns horses, so she lent us the use of her saddle, rope, and bridle. We used paint cloths for the rough Conestoga wagon canvas. A few other church members donated their time on the Wednesday before VBS started to help me with the decorating.

Our Granville house had a bunch of huge burlap sacks in the basement, so I cut up two of them and a sweet church member helped me to sew up four smaller bags for our "supplies" of flour, sugar, and gold.



Originally, we were thinking we'd need to get actual wagon wheels from an antique store.  One of our local antique dealers said that they would allow us to borrow any props we needed as long as we paid a deposit of the amount they cost until we returned them.  But we ended up not needing to do that when Dan saw that Tractor Supply Company sells old-looking wagon wheels at a reasonable price.

That way we can reuse them, AND they all match.

VBS started on Sunday night and went thru Wednesday night.

 

We even had a bandit come each night!  The children got excited about that!

 We praise God that 32 children came on the first night and every night after that! It was exciting!
I was so thankful that one of the ladies at church volunteered to watch the girls for me while I was doing the part of the "wagon master".  After four nights of competition, the red team won and brother Jon got a pie in the face!

The coins children brought each night went to the Redeemer House which is an orphanage one of our missionaries began in Togo, West Africa.

The last night of VBS, we invited all parents and guardians to join us for the program as well as some refreshments afterwards.  I just love our local Stewart's shop....they donated a huge container of their amazing vanilla ice cream and all the trimmings for make-your-own-sundaes.

 

Since the theme of the VBS was basically that God's Word is our guide and we ought to read it, we gave out new bibles to all of the children on that last night. 

I tried to take some quick photos, but some of them were blurry they were so rushed.

We had such a fabulous week, and we're so thankful for each child who came and made decisions for Christ.  I'm already planning and preparing for our 2020 Space theme!

Independence Day, a month late

Prepare yourselves, readers!  I haven't posted in over a month, and I have a lot of photos to make up for it!  In July, we were so excited to be able to make the trip down to Pennsylvania to spend Independence Day with my family.  We left New York on Monday morning, and began the trip in our new-to-us minivan.  By the way, making a roadtrip in a minivan is like luxury on wheels! 

 

We only stopped for gas and once at McDonalds to use the restroom and indulge in a little junk food.    

 

 

 

Dan wanted to get Gwen a little happy meal.  She enjoyed the chocolate milk the most I think.  The toy entertained her for a few hours. 

 

 

We made it safely to my parents house by evening.  Gwendolyn enjoyed exploring and "helping" load the truck for market and "picking" cherry tomatoes.

 

 

 

 

She also loved seeing her cousins, and Lucie got to meet them for the first time.

 

 

That evening, we relaxed with my parents until it was bedtime.

 

 

The next day, we went to BB's, and then to my grandparents house.  I was glad Lucinda could meet her great grandparents.  Grandma went all out and prepared a serious picnic lunch for us even though she wasn't feeling the greatest. 

 

Gwennie loved taking rides in grandpa's wagon.  She loved it so much that she would cry when we'd go to take her out.  We ended up buying one for her last week.  She gets a wagon ride each evening. 

Dan and Gwen picked up sticks in the yard and threw them in the burn barrel.

 

Our feast!

 

Gwen was also fascinated by Grandpa's walker.  She kept wanting to climb up on it.

 

It was a breezy day and grandpa has little windmills he's built all over the yard.  Every time the blades would move, Gwen would shriek "PAM, PAM" (that's her word for "fan", which she thought the windmills were)

 

 

The next day was the Fourth of July!  My sister was so kind as to find someone online who was selling this double jogging stroller.  She went and picked it up and gave it to us, because she knew I'd been looking for one for awhile.  Each time I would find one, as soon as I messaged the seller, they informed me it was sold already.  I'm so thankful for it.  It makes going on walks much easier!!

 

Dan wanted to try it out by walking on some trails at Fuller lake.  We went...but the place was PACKED with people. 

 

We ended up walking to the Pine Grove Furnace, looked around a bit, and then rushed back to the van before the heavens opened.  There was a huge black cloud coming, and we didn't want to fight traffic leaving the park. 

 

Later that evening, we all met up at my sister Lydia's house for yummy food and fun! The kids had a candy scramble which I missed because I was in the house...

 

My mother with Gwendolyn and Lucie

 

All of us, except my mom and Dan (who was taking this picture), Sarah and her family and Oliver and his family. 

 

 

Lucie and Misael enjoyed some naptime together.

 

 

 

Dan, holding the two youngest babies in the family.  Lucie and Misael.

 

There was also a candy scramble for the little babies!  It was hilarious!! I've included a video for your enjoyment.

 

 

 

Tamara and I with our 2019 babies!

 

Daddy and Lydia and a plate of cucumbers

 

Mark and Dan

 

Eight of my nieces and nephews with Dan and Gwendolyn

 

The 'babies' minus Misael.

 

After the candy scrambles and eating for awhile, Mark and Ryan set off some small fireworks for the kids and some sparklers.  This is what Gwendolyn thought of them...

 

 

 

We drove home on Friday morning.  Stopped at our favorite rest stop on the way home and took a few photos while Gwen walked around and amused everyone. 

 

 

I had such a nice time, and I was so happy to be able to go to my parents church while we were in town.  I miss everyone there so much sometimes.  They really are like family, since I grew up with most of the members there.  I'm already looking forward to our next trip to see everyone in November to celebrate Thanksgiving. 

 

My next post will be Vacation Bible School 2019!  We just finished it and it was FABULOUS! Check back soon!