That's what it's been in our neck of the woods and after hearing from friends and family elsewhere, it seems to be that way all over. We're back to having our afternoon showers and actually drove home today teetering on the edge of a storm. As we were coming over the bridge, the river to our left was the background for a raging tempest while the river to our right was sunny and calm. Those of us on the bridge had to swipe a few drops off our windshields but remained, for the most part, dry. I don't know if this happens in other parts of the country or not but it seems to be a pretty common occurrence here... one side of the street may get rain while the other is high and dry. We were able to spend a couple of hours at the pool with some friends, however, before the clouds blew in our direction and the bottom didn't open up directly over us until we were home and well inside. Now the sun is back out.
The boys finished up a second round of Bible School this week, which they really enjoyed. All I can say is VBS has gotten much more elaborate than when I was a kid. I remember games, Bible stories of course, and a snack, which consisted of either orange popsicles or 3-4 of those butter cookies with holes in the middle that we'd put on our fingers as rings. This past week's theme was cowboy ranch for Nathan and a kind of fun boot camp for Sully, complete with barn and hay bales for the former and camouflage with an obstacle course for the latter. And the snacks? S'mores and ice cream sundaes! YUM! They both had a great time and Nathan has already asked if they can attend next year. From the boy who is still a little unsure of attending things with out one parent or another relatively close by, this is a big step and a pretty telling statement about how much fun he had.
Friday, July 13, 2007
Sunday, July 8, 2007
The Weaver and Closing
You may have already read about how much Nathan loved weaving in my previous post- here are the pictures to go with it.
After all the activity, closing time was spent in song and dance around the well and gathering with their tribe for prayer.
Again, I have to sing praises of how fun, creative and really an overall good experience this Vacation Bible School turned out to be. So much work went into the whole production, I was very impressed. The boys will be attending another Bible School next week with friends and while I'm sure they will have a good time this will be a hard act to follow.
The Marketplace and the Sea of Galilee
Finally the second portion of the VBS story...
They visited the Sea of Galilee and the Galilean Marketplace.
The offerings at the sea included fishing, rope making and working on a fishing net. Sully enjoyed the net almost as much as Nathan liked weaving. While Sully spent the entire time working on the fishing net, Nathan tried all the activities.
After their seaside journey, they joined some hunters who showed them different techniques including javelin throwing and slingshots. Here they are trying to hit a target with a slingshot.
Then off to the marketplace...
The fellowship hall was decked out with terrific decorations that transported the kids back in time.
Assignments were made upon entering the marketplace for bread makers and for one of the tribe to gather water from the well. The bread makers went into the kitchen where they pressed out pita dough that was then baked and brought to the tribes during closing time. The water was gathered from clean two-liter bottles that were tied to ropes hung over a well made of stone pavers.
The shops included a sandal-maker, jewelry-maker, weaver, toy shop, pottery maker, stonemason, a shop where they could hand the "fish" they caught on a mobile, and a wood-worker's shop where they could make menorahs. They also had an open air food market with fruits and bread to try.
Here they are making sandals...
They visited the Sea of Galilee and the Galilean Marketplace.
The offerings at the sea included fishing, rope making and working on a fishing net. Sully enjoyed the net almost as much as Nathan liked weaving. While Sully spent the entire time working on the fishing net, Nathan tried all the activities.
After their seaside journey, they joined some hunters who showed them different techniques including javelin throwing and slingshots. Here they are trying to hit a target with a slingshot.
Then off to the marketplace...
The fellowship hall was decked out with terrific decorations that transported the kids back in time.
Assignments were made upon entering the marketplace for bread makers and for one of the tribe to gather water from the well. The bread makers went into the kitchen where they pressed out pita dough that was then baked and brought to the tribes during closing time. The water was gathered from clean two-liter bottles that were tied to ropes hung over a well made of stone pavers.
The shops included a sandal-maker, jewelry-maker, weaver, toy shop, pottery maker, stonemason, a shop where they could hand the "fish" they caught on a mobile, and a wood-worker's shop where they could make menorahs. They also had an open air food market with fruits and bread to try.
Here they are making sandals...
Thursday, July 5, 2007
Synagogue School (VBS)
This lesson, which was particularly memorable, was on leprosy and how Jesus healed the sick. The "rabbi" put mud on his hand and then shook hands with the kids and explained that the unclean lepers were not allowed to be touched and how Jesus not only touched but healed them. Nathan immediately tucked his arms into his shirt and completely avoided the mud. Sully, of course, was right in there with a vigorous handshake.
Notice the look on Nathan's face and that his hands are nowhere to be seen.
After the mud, the rabbi pulled out a pitcher of clean water and explained that this water would wash the mud like Jesus washed the lepers clean and healed them.
Wednesday, July 4, 2007
Tuesday, July 3, 2007
Come to Galilee
As promised here are some photos of the most awesome Vacation Bible School I've ever witnessed.
The theme was Galilee by the Sea and the church transformed their fellowship hall to a Galilean marketplace, the youth building became the synagogue school and the sand pit, with a boat, fishing nets and scenery, was the sea.
They began each evening by gathering with their tribes outside, sitting on blankets. Sully and Nathan were in the tribe of Judah... Sully thought it was especially cool because of this shirt that he got for Christmas and loves. They were led in song and dancing (hand motions) as a group and then turned to their tribes to experience some rituals that the tribes of Israel would have practiced. Those that I remember include lighting the "oil lamp", "kissing" the Mezuzah, and smelling the spices.
After tribe time the kids went to the marketplace, the synagogue school or the sea. They had lessons in the school, games at the sea and crafts in the marketplace.
While I had planned to make this only one post, I find that I have so many pictures that I will break them up into several posts so look for the second installment soon.
The theme was Galilee by the Sea and the church transformed their fellowship hall to a Galilean marketplace, the youth building became the synagogue school and the sand pit, with a boat, fishing nets and scenery, was the sea.
They began each evening by gathering with their tribes outside, sitting on blankets. Sully and Nathan were in the tribe of Judah... Sully thought it was especially cool because of this shirt that he got for Christmas and loves. They were led in song and dancing (hand motions) as a group and then turned to their tribes to experience some rituals that the tribes of Israel would have practiced. Those that I remember include lighting the "oil lamp", "kissing" the Mezuzah, and smelling the spices.
After tribe time the kids went to the marketplace, the synagogue school or the sea. They had lessons in the school, games at the sea and crafts in the marketplace.
While I had planned to make this only one post, I find that I have so many pictures that I will break them up into several posts so look for the second installment soon.
Weigh-in Week 8
Wow! Eight weeks already! This week, hands down, has been my best week so far. I'm down 3 pounds!!! - needless to say I'm very pleased. I'm one pound away from having lost 10 so next week I hope to be there. After that I've got another 20 to go then I'll be 1/3 of the way to my ultimate goal of losing 30. Last night was my last Pilate's class for a while but I'm pulling out the tapes this week and Kevin is looking at an Elliptical machine on craigslist that I plan to use for more than just a clothes hanger. I also have great intentions of getting up early and walking 2 miles but I'm not there yet.
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