The kids volunteered as leaders, so their mornings were spent serving and most afternoons were spent with friends. Its such an enjoyable week for them each year. We also faced some hard times with preliminary results from my 3-month follow-up.
There are many photos from VBS, simply because I love seeing the kids in their element, giving of their time and talents and having a blast while doing it.
July 11
Day #1 of Vacation Bible School, a summer highlight for my kids. There were all leaders of a small group of kids, getting them to their stations, keeping them safe and helping them feel welcomed and a part of things. Dakota was old enough to participate, so he stayed with us for the week and was VERY excited about "Bible School". A couple weeks later his mom sent me this quote from him:
I learned at bible school that god loves you and you are treasure and then we had LOLLIPOPS!!
Most of the VBS week's photos are from Amy, she was on site all week and made the rounds.
Amanda has a gift for singing and being on stage...its always so great to see her using it.
Meanwhile, I went to Westchester (still in NY, but outside city limits and with a parking lot!) for back-to-back days of tests. Eight years in I am well-versed in how things go. I've learned when to push back and when to just go with it. This day was a just-go-with-it time when the nurse instructed me to put on more hospital gown layers than I've ever worn before. Whatever.
While I stayed over in a hotel, the family called in to Facetime and I got to see all the people who I call home. It made my heart very happy.
July 12
July 13
Shutterfly reminded me of this photo of Aiden's birth day. All three kids had the same hospital, same nurse.
This was his golden birthday...he turned 13 on the 13th! After VBS I took the boys to lunch, bowling/laser tag/arcade.
Meanwhile, some of the older ones did the amusement park together.
We took Aiden out to his favorite restaurant where both boys ordered filet...one beef, one bison.
This boy...what a gift! He is patient, kind, well-read, with a good sense of humor. He's an old soul and steady. And now we have three teenagers!
He also wanted to do mid-week at church, so I sat out on the patio and enjoyed a beautiful evening.
July 14
Sarah slept over so after we made an emergency trip to the party store for the following day's luau theme, we all went to the field for a soccer practice.
July 15
Last day. I had to work but Amy fulfilled my special request to get my kids together.
We've been having a learning time and lunch afternoon with the three H & R Block offices combined, this month our office hosted and it was nice enough to eat outside.
July 16
While the boys went golfing, us girls went to see Where The Crawdads Sing, a book two of us had read.
Everyone pitched in to make fondue night happen. It was a solemn meal as we shared with the kids that even though we had more questions than answers, there were some not good findings from my tests earlier in the week. Shaun gently shared the news with them and was intentional about talking about the bigger picture of life. What are we here for? How should we live? In the end, what matters? Hard and good things to think about.
July 17
During service Pastor Sterling and Kendra said their last goodbye. They are such beautiful people and will be missed.
The entire Bible Quiz team earned enough points for a beach day. After church we loaded up a couple vehicles and headed to the water. They are such a fun, dynamic crew...I love being with them, watching them grow and learn.
