VBX Week! The longest week of the year:)

Last week was VBX at our church. VBX stand for Vacation Bible Experience. I guess the school word conjured a bad connotation.  I served as Preschool Coordinator.  Basically, I got whatever preschool teachers didn't have, held crying, bleeding 4year olds, held a baby who was not happy, took attendance, had dead fish duty, etc.  (The dead fish had to do with an activity centered around the story of Peter, James and John.  Out of 50 goldfish, 2 were alive by Friday. They got them on Wednesday. We brought 1 of them home with us.)
It was a good week. However, there is nothing like a full week of VBX to exhaust you and your kids.
On Wednesday, I had the opportunity to tell the story to all the elementary kids.  It is a big deal and I was thrilled to be asked by my boss to do it. I studied my script for about 4 weeks, recorded it on my phone and listened to it and went over all the details many times in the shower. I woke up around 5am on the day of with my brain spinning and my stomach in knots. I was excited for the day to finally be here!
The worship center was full of loud kids, loud music and my heart pounding. It is that moment before you are on. The "Host" for the week was next to me. He calmly laid his hand on my arm and said a quick, soft prayer for me. It is a sweet moment that I will NEVER forget.
We joined this church a year and a half ago. After searching for a church when we moved, we found our church home. It was not what where we expected to end up. However, He has such better plans for us. It is a very large church with many serving servants. I feel lost in the crowd many days. However, in that 1 moment, someone felt led to pray over me. Someone he doesn't know well, but followed the leading of the Holy Spirit. It was precious and I felt honored to be a part of it.
VBX is a hard week to serve! Tensions flare, exhaustion kicks in and opinions are made known. However, it is a week to show kids the love of Christ. He is in every detail and teaching us in every moment. When I reflect on this week, I will be thankful for: an elementary team that strives to make it great, people rocking babies, sweet preschoolers giving me high fives, quiet moments when kids are hearing the gospel message and the love of a Savior that will never give up on me.

My Best Yes. (At least for today.)

I am reading The Best Yes, by Lysa TerKeurst.  I just started it yesterday.  One of my closets friends, C, and I are reading it together over the summer.  Honestly, we both checked it out from our local library and I am sure we will have to renew it as many times as they allow.  She has 3 girls and with my 2 boys and summer, we will push each other through it.  It is a good read, so far.  However, it is not easy to be called out in the first chapter about how over committed I am  and how I allow others to dictate my schedule. Stink!!!! Which I do more than I should. Anyway, I digress.
The plan for today was for the boys and I to make our way to the city to the Botanical Garden.  We have never been and it seemed like a fun outing.  It was for the 1st hour until I pushed my 9 year old past the allowable time with no sustenance.  He waited patiently in the air conditioning for his food and was in much better spirits afterwards.  It was a beautiful day. Not to hot or cold, just perfect! However, at points, I could not see past what was going on right in front of me.  The complaining 9 year old about walking to much, the boys arguing, etc.  After lunch, everyone was in better spirits and I made the decision that today was My Best Yes. Being with my boys on a beautiful day outside was the best decision I made for plans for today.  Nothing else!!!
That is not easy for my very Type A personality that knew there were so many things to do at home before having houseguests this weekend. Dusting, vacuuming, etc.  However, I did it! I stuck to it and as I sit here tonight with 1 in bed and 1 watching the Cardinal game with J, I am thrilled that I did it.  Small Steps!
Tomorrow, I will get up early, go to work for around 4 hours and clean up my house. However, for today, I made a small step.

Our Youngest's 9th Birthday! (And my heart melting)

     Our day began with the birthday boy up early!! (That is very usual for our boys:)
Birthday Cake Pancakes for breakfast and we will soon head to the movies and dinner to celebrate. My baby is 9. He is growing into his own person with a strong will and attitude.  (You know, the kind that will make him a preacher.)

     During the morning hours, I received a phone call from my "niece". She had not been prompted to call, but did so on her own. She called to wish JK a happy birthday, by singing. The best part of the conversation was at the end when I told her I loved her and she said, "Love you too, Aunt H."
How can such simple words touch my heart so? Was it her sweet girl voice in the midst of my house full of boys? Was it the sincerity of her tone? Or was it simply that she wanted me to know that she loved me?  All I know is that it made my heart warm! C, I look forward to hugging your sweet self in the next month and taking selfies.