you. guyyyyyys. are. so. busted.

Ha! I'm on to you, men. Today, while I was cutting grass I realized that you secretly love cutting grass because it's nice and loud. That zero turn mower drowns out the rest of the world and I got to just think. As a busy homeschooling mama, college student and children's director I don't get a lot of really nice loud thinking time...most of my time is spent answering questions, talking and listening! SO today, while I was cutting grass I thought about stuff.

I thought about how much I like cutting grass. I like it, despite the fact that I am allergic to outside. So I sneeze my head off while I ride around (resulting in funny wiggles in my mowing pattern) but that's okay. I think what I like most about it is that my cutting grass means Chris has more time for gardening, and I know he loves the garden. Chris doesn't have a whole lot of free time, so if there are some things I can do to free him up to do something he loves, then that makes me happy. :) I can't go to work and do his job, but I can do some of the things he'd normally do around the house.

I thought about the laps I was making around the yard. Then I thought about how each lap affects the next lap. Then I thought about generations in families, and how each generation is kind of like a lap around the yard. Sometimes I cut the front yard separately from the back yard, but today I cut the whole yard in a great big giant lap. I started mowing against the trees and tall grass that are the largest lap around the entire yard. So the little turns and curves in the first lap become bigger and more defined with each new lap. Just like the yard, each little quirk or action in my life may become a more defined and pronounced habit or characteristic in my child's or grandchild's life... See, each new generation has the example of their parents and grandparents to pattern their lap around this "yard" we call life. So the lap you're making affects the laps of generations to come! That's kind of a big thing for me to think, and try to grasp, and it just gets bigger...because those family members who made their own laps before me shaped me, too! Their influence goes on through my life and my children's lives.

You know- if we have one lap to make a difference in this world, and just that one lap, how can we live it in any manner except one that brings glory to God? Just this week I had an opportunity to encourage someone with Colossians 3. I'd like to pass it on to you now (um, if anybody out there is reading this blog?) in closing my thoughts on the zero turn today. :) This is my prayer as I'm working on my lap around this yard...

"Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful. Let the message of Christ dwell among you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom through psalms, hymns, and songs from the Spirit, singing to God with gratitude in your hearts. And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him." Colossians 3:15-17

VBS workers... we're almost THERE!

I love this church.

Sunday I mentioned that we still need workers for VBS. Two days later, I'm happy to report that there are just three teaching positions still vacant! I've attached the list here, so you can take a look and see where you'd like to help, and also so you can peruse over the list of incredible volunteers! I love that our VBS workers range in age from kids barely in double digit ages up to ladies in their 70s! (Shh, we won't tell who...)

Like I said, I love this church. Mention a need, and this body of believers jumps on it. Thank you for making this a really great Tuesday!

VBS 2012 : Amazing Wonders Aviation!

JUNE 18-22, 2012 (9am-Noon)

Bible Study:
(8:50am- assemble kids in parking lot, 9am- worship rally, TEACH 9:30-10am, walk kids to each rotation, 11:30am- worship rally)

preK: ______________________________(Judy Reed Thurs only)
Kindergarten: _Nancy Creech            _(helper: Hunter Webster)________
1^st Grade: ____Gail Browning                          
2^nd Grade: Tory Jones & Kerri Chappelle__________________________
3^rd Grade: Annette Chittom & Meredith Johnson_____________
4^th/5^th Grade: Claire Ralston & Jean Pearson______________________
6^th Grade: Janie Mothershed__________

Missions:
(Two age groups; teacher for younger kids will teach two 20-minute sessions; teacher for older kids will teach four 20-minute sessions)

preK & Kindergarten: __________________________________
1^st-4^th/5^th Grades:  Suzanne Smith               

Music:
(Two age groups; teacher for younger kids will teach two 20-minute sessions; teacher for older kids will teach four 20-minute sessions)

preK & Kindergarten: Rosemary Trawick & Kitty Cosby (helper: Hannah Creech)_
1^st-4^th/5^th Grades: Rebecca Hastings & (helpers: Annie Speed &______________)_

Recreation:
(Two age groups; teacher for younger kids will teach two 20-minute sessions; teacher for older kids will teach four 20-minute sessions)

preK & Kindergarten: Ashley Moore (helpers: Olivia Watts, Haylee Grace Bone, Grace Robbins & Kamryn Chappelle)
1^st-4^th/5^th Grades: Tracy Stevens (Mon/Wed) & Dori Norris (Tues/Thurs) (helpers: Mac Beers & Ryan Stokes!)

Crafts:
(Two age groups; teacher for younger kids will teach two 20-minute sessions; teacher for older kids will teach four 20-minute sessions)

preK & Kindergarten: ____________    (helper: Anna Claire McMillan)
1^st-4^th/5^th Grades: __________________(helper: Lauren Thomas)

Worship Rally: Catherine Thomas_______________________________________
Worship Team: Hannah Creech,______________________________

Nursery:
Eloise Anderson, Helen Neighbors______________________________________

Friday Night Team:
(Decorating, Preparing food, Organizing volunteers)
Debbie Welch, Peggy Coffee, Marion Frasier _____________________________

***Harriett Teel has volunteered; just hasn't been placed yet***

Snacks:
(All day, Monday-Thursday; Friday evening)

Joan Seibel, Sybil Mott, (one of Sybil’s friends?), Jo Hise, Liz Jones

VBS COMMITTEE:
Tracy Stevens, Nancy Creech, Catherine Thomas

Hannah Creech, Bethany Keel, Haylee Grace Bone, Olivia Watts, Hunter Webster, & Jerry Light, Jr.

If time is money, we oughta be crawling with volunteers!

As the VBS committee attempts to find volunteers for this summer's "Amazing Wonders Aviation" I'm reflecting on all the times I've asked people to help with different things over the years. In just the past two years, First Baptist Church of Selma has provided Bibles for a group of third grade public school kids none of us knew... paid off the entire loan amount to renovate a building that desperately needed serious help...provided my family with a beautiful place to live for three months when our house burned...pressed money into my hands and my husband's hands in that time of need...gave scholarships to children and youth who wanted to participate in camps and special weekends...gave generously to Annie Armstrong and Lottie Moon offerings...provided snacks, meals and housing for speakers and bands for different children's ministry and youth ministry events...and many more things and times and situations that I don't know anything about, because that's just how this precious church works. We are a giving body of Christ.
The phrase "time is money" is often credited to Benjamin Franklin, as he wrote in Advice to a Young Tradesman in 1748, "Remember that time is money. He that idly loses five shillings' worth of time loses five shillings, and might as prudently throw five shillings into the sea." However, the phrase was used decades earlier, in a periodical called "The Free Thinker" "I remember to have heard of a notable Woman, who was thoroughly sensible of the intrinsick Value of Time: Her Husband was a Shoe-maker, and an excellent Craftsman; but never minded how the minutes passed. In vain did his Wife inculcate to him, That Time is Money: He had too much Wit to apprehend her; and he cursed the Parish-Clock, every Night; which at last brough him to his Ruin;"
Regardless of where the phrase originated, IF time is money, then our church should be crawling with volunteers, right? ........then why is it so difficult for us to fill the remaining spots for VBS teachers? I know a lot of the reason is many women who previously stayed at home, even if only during the summer, have taken on part-time or full-time jobs. Maybe another reason is that those who have taught VBS for a zillion years are just tired, okay, exhausted and burned out? Maybe some people just don't see the value in Vacation Bible School, and feel like it's a waste of time and money? Maybe you didn't know we still didn't have enough workers? Maybe some people would just rather stay home that week...
Whatever the reason, we're playing with the idea that maybe we need to move VBS to evenings in order to accomodate working mamas and daddies so we'd have more workers, but I sure hate to do that. Maybe I'm old fashioned, but I just love rounding the kids up in the parking lot in the mornings and being finished by lunchtime every day! My family loves going to the pool every day after VBS, and that's a tradition we'd really miss if we end up having to move it to evenings... We have planned to have a family night on Friday, so if you're one of those people who would love to help, but have to work during the day, there's an opportunity for you to serve!
Now don't get me wrong- we have some incredible volunteers! I'm so thankful for our nursery workers, Sunday school teachers, regular Disciple Now host homes, children's church teachers, etc! One sweet lady takes a WEEK off of work just to help with VBS! Not only that, she even found her own helper, talked to her about working together, and then let me know. I could KISS her! :) Then there are Claire Ralston and Jean Pearson- grandmamas who team teach happily every year. I'm grateful for those who "give with a cheerful heart" of their time, just as so many cheerfully give their money when a need arises.
Below you'll see our teaching team, and the spots that are still vacant. Please take a look, and if you feel led to fill in one of those empty spaces, please let me know! I know we'll have all of our workers for VBS. Teaching kids the truth of the gospel is a vital opportunity to impact our community and our own children. We average over 100 kids every year. Vacation Bible School is the largest evangelistic effort our church undertakes in the course of a year! If you feel like I do, that it is a blessing to share the Truth this summer with precious children, I know you'll volunteer to join the team!

Amazing Wonders Aviation: "Our Lord is great, vast in power; His understanding is infinite." Psalm 147:5

Bible Study Teachers:
preK
Kindergarten
1st Grade
2nd Grade: Tory Jones & Kerri Chappelle
3rd Grade: Annette Chittom & Meredith Johnson
4th/5th Grade: Jean Pearson & Claire Ralston
6th Grade: Janie Mothershed

Missions:
preK-Kindergarten
1st-5th Grade

Music:
preK-Kindergarten: Rosemary Traywick & Kitty Cosby
1st-5th Grade: Rebecca Hastings

Crafts:
preK-Kindergarten
1st-5th Grade

Recreation:
preK-Kindergarten: Ashley Moore (with helpers Grace Robbins & Kamryn Chappelle)
1st-5th Grade: Dori Norris & Tracy Stevens

Snacks:
Joan Seibel, Carrie Colvin, Jo Hise, Nancy Creech

Worship Rally coordinator:
Catherine Thomas

Friday Night Team:

Resurrection cookies!

This is my family's favorite annual tradition. Over the years, we've tried lots of stuff once- but this one stuck. It's been sweet as the kids grow up to have them begin to read the corresponding Scripture with each step of the recipe, and to take over a lot of the process of actually making the cookies. We enjoy resurrection cookies for breakfast every Easter, and I don't know what we'd do without them anymore!
This fantastic way to discuss and experience the Easter story is sure to become a favorite in your home as well!!

http://www.kintera.org/atf/cf/%7B8E975F2E-4C1C-4315-AAFF-34A97EB367B5%7D/Resurrection_Cookies.pdf