Christmas Pageant

For weeks, our children’s ministry at church practiced for a Christmas Pageant. All we knew was that Jack would be one of the stable animals. For some reason, despite our arguing with him, Jack had it in his head that he would be playing the role of a giraffe (yeah, I’m still not real sure where he got that idea from).

However, when the evening of the Pageant finally rolled around, he did not act at all disappointed that he would not be dressed as a giraffe, but rather as a Jack a…a donkey. 

Of course he could have just been excited that his friends and family, especially his cousin Brynnley, had all come to see him.

Either way, he was so stinkin’ cute up there in his big floppy ears swaying to all of the songs they sang.

A little song and dance

VBS (or VDS as Jack likes to call it – but that’s a whole other story for another time) ended last night with a slideshow which Jack was thrilled to see himself in, a little program put on by the kids,

a barbeque, and a blow-up-slide. Even though Jack had a wonderful time and is sad to see it over, I can’t help but rejoice because that was almost two hours, if not more, spent in the car a day. For someone who doesn’t really like driving, that is a lot of time in the car, people.

Walking for a cause

For the past few years I have taken part in the American Cancer Society’s Relay For Life in memory of my grandmother who lost her battle with breast cancer in 1982.

Monies raised from Relay for Life are used in funding cancer research projects, educational/awareness programs, advocacy within our local, state and federal law systems, and support services for those patients and families dealing with this life threatening disease.

This year I have been dubbed team captain for our church’s Relay for Life team. Therefore, my job is no longer just raising money for me to walk, but I am now to come up with and organize fundraisers for our entire team.

I am reaching out to you, blogging world, for any suggestions or ideas that you might have. Again, this cause is very near and dear to my heart and raising funds to help those battling with this terrible disease is one of my top priorities. Any input you might have would be greatly appreciated.

Needing information

Rather than post comments on a bunch of your blogs, I was hoping to gather all of the information in one place.

I noticed many of you attend churches that hold Fall festivals and I would love to learn more about them. For instance, what all is involved? Is it open to the community or just the church? Does it cost money? Is it successful? Etc...

All of your posts and photos have really made me think that our church needs to hold one of these and I would love your input if you have the time. Thanks!

Meltdown madness

If I didn't know better, I would say my sister-in-law Jennifer and I are pregnant...but I do know better and we are most definitely NOT pregnant (rest easy, Nana Brookshire). What we are, however, is emotional and yesterday seemed to top the charts on sentimental cerebration.

It basically boils down to the fact that our children are getting older. I realize that under the age of five seems hardly old; but with kids going to all-day-school at four-years-old, three seems old to me.

The morning started off rough for me. In our church bulletin was the August calendar and there on August 30th was Beau's name. I can't believe my baby is turning one. With Jack it wasn't such an emotional milestone because I knew we would have more. With Beau - it is most definitely different. He may very well be our last and one just seems to mark the end of baby-hood.

For Jennifer, her oldest, Brynnley will be headed off to Pre-K in a few weeks; so yesterday was extremely rough on her. We went to the city to go shopping for school/fall clothes and Brynnley got her very first back-pack and lunch box. As she wore it proudly around the mall, Jennifer couldn't help but get teary-eyed...and who can blame her. I got a little choked up just thinking about Jack being at this stage next summer (plus it doesn't help when he exclaims he wants to go to school too) - I am so not ready for that.

School just seems to mark the beginning of the end - once they start going they don't stop and then they move away, get married and have kids of their own. I am amazed every day at how fast time flies and although I am so excited to watch these boys grow-up and hopefully one day become the men that God wants them to be, I am sad too. There are days when I wish we could just freeze time and they could stay at home with their mama forever.

Relay for Life

The American Cancer Society's Relay for Life was held in Hinton Friday night and it was a huge success. Our team alone raised over $2,000! Thank you to all those who donated money. I know my grandmother would have been not only proud, but honored as well.

Also, our church softball team, which Josh plays on and Jack desperately wants to play on, won their second Relay For Life Softball Tournament!...and without all the drama too, which made it nicer but at the same time we didn't have nearly as much to talk about afterwards (ha ha).

The Champions (minus Jack)

Put me in, coach.

Realizing he was not going to get to play, Jack retreated to the bleachers to cheer on his daddy.

Beau taking it all in, sat pretty content most of the evening in the wagon.

Feeling somewhat restless, he finally got out and started showing off his new skills...walking.

Vacation Bible School

At our church we do Vacation Bible School a little differently. Instead of it being a week long, we only have it for one day from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Each teacher teaches a different lesson and the kids rotate from room to room throughout the day. This year's theme was Wanted: Righteous Children of God (which goes to explain the "accessories" I am proudly wearing).

This was my first year helping with VBS and I have to say that at the end of the day I was exhausted. When I coached skating the only time I had more than one or two kids at a time was maybe twice a week and only for an hour at that. Wednesday proved a clear reminder of why in college I dropped Early Childhood Education as my major and pursued journalism instead - kids, when grouped together, are LOUD!

My class, that I helped Shawna with, was on Fruitfulness in serving as shown to us by Dorcas. One of our activities was to have the kids make clothes for each other out of toilet paper, just as Dorcas had made clothes for the widows. Although this was a great idea and worked out well with the older kids, the 5 and 6 year olds were a completely different story that I never care to relive.

Honestly though, it wasn't all that bad; but again, not something I would want to do full-time (my hats are off to all of the teachers who may be reading this). The kids really seemed to enjoy it and I got to watch Jack from a distance a little bit. He was with the 3 and 4 year olds and they only stay until lunch-time. He loved his "new" classroom so much that I am afraid that he will expect it to be like that all of the time now.