The little things I have LIVED for this week

So, the week before last was kind of a yucky week. I was just a grouch, not much fun to be with.  I found myself fussing, complaining, yelling. I really didn't like myself.

The problem?

Stuff.

Plain and simple, we have too much stuff.

It trickles from room to room.  It overtakes the bar in the kitchen and the dining room table.  I trip over it. I wash it, fold it, and put it up. It finds its way back out.  The kids don't like cleaning it up. 

I am blessed that we have the means to have stuff, but sometimes it just stresses me out.  Now that baseball and VBS are out of the way, maybe I will have time to organize and get rid of a lot of this stuff. The chore charts will be put to great use this week too! 

In the meantime, here are a few gifts from the past week....

~ wide open spaces for kids to run ~

~ dirt and small creatures to keep kids busy ~

~ When Carter "sings" Until the Whole World Hears ~

~ Riding in cars (a van) with boys (eating ice cream )~
 ~ VBS: children, volunteers, and souls saved ! ~

 

~ lunch with a friend and lots of kids ~

 ~ Colin's Sportsmanship Award ~

~ Singing Deck the Halls in the car in June ~

~ the Creation Museum ~

~ two exhausted  6 year olds discussing what they learned and saw at the Creation Museum ~

~ Wonderful Fathers ~

What gifts have God blessed you with this week?

Souls saved and pizza

Its finally Friday
I'm free again
Got my motor running
For a wild weekend


Not really but it sounds good doesn't it!


Well, it has been a pretty awesome week. We just finished up our Amazing Wonders Aviation vacation bible school.

And

I

Am

Tired

There were lots of seeds planted and 4 souls saved (3 kids and 1 mom)! How good God is!


A mom!


At VBS!


Too cool!


I told my BFF that I just don't get how VBS wears us out more than normal everyday life. Pretty crazy.


Can I be honest about something?


It wouldn't hurt my feelings if I didn't see, smell, touch, taste, or think about pizza for a long time.


Pizza for supper Tuesday.


Pizza for lunch Wednesday.


Pizza for baseball party Thursday.


Pizza for VBS celebration today.


Pizza offered to take home.....NO THANK YOU.


I'm afraid I may turn into pizza.



I have to admit that I am looking forward to some good old ball park food at the Hot Rods game! I can guarantee it won't be pizza!

he was after me

I absolutely love VBS. Today at Calvary we started our Big Apple Adventure.

My day didn't start out as a great adventure though.

As I was finishing up getting the boys ready, hurrying to get out the door, Colin's friend that was going with us called to make sure I knew I was supposed to pick him up. If you aren't sure which friend, click here. So then on our way to get our friend, Colin lied to me about his Poptart, yes, his Poptart. When we got to church, I had found that some things in my room had been messed with. I spent a couple of hours Friday getting that room ready, so having things out of place added to my frustration. Then Hilarie comes in and said "they," whoever that was, moved furniture out of her room so she needed the cushions I was using from the couch she wasn't planning to use. Several little people found their way to my room and started getting wild so I had to kick them out.

Finally, I began to take deep breaths before I lost my temper. Yes, in church, on the first day of VBS.

I started feeling better until my 5 year old decided to suffer from ODD. For those of you non teachers, that means oppositional defiant disorder. Usually it is diagnosed by a doctor, but I have had lots of experience with it, so I know it when I see it. Said child was miraculously cured when I threatened a spanking, yes, a spanking in church.

Whew! Breathing deeply again.

Morning Bible study goes well. My 11 kiddies are well behaved and much smarter than me! So after rotation of extra classes we head back for closing Bible study.

There are youth in my room setting up a ping pong table! Yes, a ping pong table, in my room, at church, on the first day of VBS. I informed said youth we were having Bible study. Their response, "Oh."

Oh.

Breathe.

All in all it was a great day. I stayed as calm as possible and didn't let things discourage me to the point of forgetting the POINT of the day. I know Satan was after me. He knows my weakness and knew it was a prime time to attack me. But God is stronger. He kept me calm. He allowed me to keep my mind on teaching my 3rd and 4th graders today.

I love VBS. Not only do I get to teach children about Jesus, but He reaches my heart too and draws me closer. I am thankful he stood by me this morning so I would be my best for my kids.

VBS 2010

VBS at Calvary Baptist Church (aka Saddle Ridge Ranch) is officially over. We had a wonderful week.

Here are some videos of the kids singing during the closing ceremony today.

vbs1 from Natasha Grimes on Vimeo.

Untitled from Natasha Grimes on Vimeo.

vbs3 from Natasha Grimes on Vimeo.

Aunt Loretta makes the VBS cake ever year (that I've been there anyway). She always does an amazing job and appreciate her taking the time to do this for the kids.

Finally Friday

This week has been busy. We celebrated Father's Day by visiting my dad and Jeffrey's dad. After church we all went to eat Mexican.

Carson was so funny that night. He hugged me at bed time and said, "Happy Fadder's Day, Mama." It was precious.

Sunday afternoon, I went to church to decorate for VBS. Afterwards, we went swimming and played in the yard with the kids. I was pushing Colin on the swing and the chain broke. He went flying in the air and landed on his side and his face. Thank God he was only bruised on his cheek. He got a new swing out of the deal! Carson is sure to tell everyone, "And Mama was pushing Bubba way up high!"

Monday morning we were off to VBS. I taught missions this year instead of an age group. I really enjoyed it. Usually I teach the 3rd and 4th graders, but felt like I needed a change this summer. I was sad about not having a group to present certificates too during our closing ceremony. But then, I was asked to fill in for Hilarie today so I got to present to her class. All the boys and girls were great. It was such a blessing to work with them. They were into the lessons and asking some great questions. VBS is a great way to start planting those seeds!

I really love VBS. The themes we've used are great and seem to get better each year. I especially like the music. They are simple but at the same time, so true. There was a song we sang this year called All Things and it is based on Philippians 4:13. When I heard it on Monday, it almost brought me to tears. It served as a reminder that in all things I will praise Him; in all things I will trust Him; in all things I will love Him, and in all things I will obey Him. That song is so connected to the theme because ALL things come back to Jesus.

There are some kids who have been coming to VBS every year, but their parents are not "interested" in attending church. The kids love church and want to be part of it. Please pray for them and their families, for God to touch their hearts in this matter.

For great is the Lord and most worthy of praise; He is to be feared above all gods. 1 Chronicles 16:25