Surf's Up

Well, I survived VBS week. Hallelujah!

I helped plan this event since the first day I got to Cleveland. Meaning there were four weeks of my helping plan for this 5 day event. Five very, very long days. The kids were actually only there from 9-12, but it felt much, much longer. And there was so much else we had to do in preparation in the week before, the weekend before, and especially each morning and afternoon afterward. So...I'm glad to be done! But it really was a fun week.

The theme was "Surf's Up," so the whole place was decorated with beachy, surfy things. Eg, surfboards, flippers, beach towels, beach balls, posters of surfers or the beach, etc. It looked really great. All of the games were surf or beach themed, including sand-castle building competitions (yes, we had to haul in sand for that one!) The teaching time was also somewhat beach themed.

Cameron and I had a lot of work! We planned the morning games every day, directed/acted in the dramas, led small groups of kids, helped Chris with the teaching time, and really whatever else they needed. We were kind of the "go to girls" for any random thing that was needed. We also had helped a lot with the admin-type stuff in the weeks before. We had so much fun with it. It was fun getting to be a kid again, thinking as a kid thinks, trying to decide what would be most entertaining and fun for them.

The last night, we had a "luau" family-night. The kids brought their parents and we all had pizza for dinner. We had prizes for the week's competitions, a demonstration of all the songs over the week (which are STILL stuck in my head!!), had a true-blue surfer come and speak, and showed a slideshow of pictures from the week. It ended up being a very fun night, and I was exhausted at the end!!

All of the kids were so precious. I really got pretty close with the sweet kids in my group, and it was so good to get to meet their parents last night. How fun! I'll have to put up a picture of some of them.

Anyway, it's officially the Fourth of July here, as well as in the States! It is past midnight when I am typing this where you all are! This is the third Fourth that I have been away from home, so it's a little bittersweet. However, my darling mother sent me some Fourth of July goodies so I can celebrate, and my sweet family here (the Heinrich's) are putting on a little party tonight. We're having two other families over, and we're going to have fried chicken, corn on the cob, baked potatoes, ice cream and apple pie. Yum!! Should be fun.

Well, that's a little bit of an update with me. I'm still fighting the lethargy after mono, so this week was a little hard at times for me. Keep praying for my health, please. Monday we leave for Youth Camp, so it's going to be a full-on week again. Pray that I won't be too worn-out! I'll be there from Monday through Thursday, then I'm pretty sure that the Heinrichs are going to take us up the coast for a few days too for a little break! Should be fun.

Love you all!