VBS Thoughts

VBS week! Yahoo. I am having a great time as Swampy Sue in the preschool wing. I have a great assistant, Katie Bays aka Backwoods Becky! We have spent the week coming up with some creative ways to teach the children about Moses.

It's incredible how much you learn when you are teaching the Bible to the youngest of God's flock. I am blown away by how much these three and four year olds already know. I think some of them know more about God that I do. He did say have the faith of a child. I hope someday God will look at me and say, "Yep, you had the faith of a child." How happy that would make me.

Take the time today to ask your kids what they know about God. If you ask questions and talk long enough, they'll probably teach you a thing or two. That lesson might just be that you have a lot more to learn.

Thank you for letting me be your children's teacher and for letting them be mine!

A year later. . .

Well, it's been one year since I last wrote in this blog. In fact I couldn't remember my log in stuff! Since ZPC has a brand spanking new web site, and this is linked to it, I figure I better keep it up.

So. . . hmmmmm . . . last year at this time I was painting the hallways. This year I am planning a smaller project, but one that is just as important to me. We are building a stage. Who is "we" you ask? Well, Jim Martin, Jay Wasson, Chuck Vogt, and Deb Foster's dad. I'm sure there will be more men who show up to help, because it sounds like so much fun! Wee-hoo!

I have a few ladies who are willing to help with the decor too. Jane Teeter and Linda Forler are going to help me with some sewing! Phew! What a relief!

I remember last summer saying I wasn't going to do another big project! That hall painting wiped me out, but here I am again! I can't help it. God put this crazy urge to create in me. I try to suppress it, but IT DOES NOT WORK! I can't control it! So here I am again. Thankfully with a much smaller project. . . hopefully.

I will see you all at VBS next week! Come down and see me. I'll be in the preschool wing!
Watch out for gators!

School is starting

Well, the sound of the cicadas lets me know I need to get crackin'! I need to buy school supplies, do all of the fun stuff with my kids I had originally planned to do this summer, but never got around to, kiss my kindergartner more than usual, and get Sunday's rolling!

I still get that anxious feeling in my stomach that I got when I was a kid and saw the back to school commercials on t.v. And then when I was teaching and I had to go back into my classroom to blow the cobwebs off my desk and start getting ready. It's a combination of excitement, sadness, nostalgia, fright, and sickness!

I had a meeting with some small group leaders, coaches, and parents last night. We really hashed out the fall and the set up for the new program. I am so happy to have a group of people who are willing to give up their family evenings to come to church and help me. Thank you to Sharon Gall, Michele Sutton, Jim Martin, Susan Perry, Jennifer Sautbine, and Stacey Huisman. We worked as a team last night and I think made some real headway!

Here is what we decided:
*Instead of small groups of ten kids per adult we are going to keep the classrooms in the traditional way: 20 or so children for one main small group leader (ie. teacher) and two classroom assistants (ie. parent helpers). This is the same as it has been in the past, but different from the way 252 Basics is written and from what I originally proposed.
*Small Group Leaders (teachers) will be on a three or four week rotation, rather than every other week. Did I just hear a huge sigh of relief??

New Painter Pics

Make a Smilebox slideshow

The light at the end of the tunnel

I think I can see the light at the end of the tunnel (a.k.a. the Children's Ministry Wings). My artist friend, Angie, and I feel like if we put in one more full day the murals will be finished. We will be there on Tuesday. Stop in to say hello! Then you won't see me for a while (except for VBS). I'm taking some compensation time. You can find me at the Monon Center Pool and workout area-well, maybe.

I want to thank everyone who helped with this major project. If I forget you, don't take it personally, I can't remember my kids names at this point in the game. Thank you to. . .
Mark Perry
Cherie Castle
Jaime Miller
Jeannie Upton
Jamie Weaver
Karyn, Abby, and Molly Dzurisin
Mike Zeller
Julie Stephens
Deb Foster
Laura Nolan
Allison Spillman
Christie Tharp and her small group of girls
Jennifer Phillips (who did the murals in the nursery)
Misty, Kelsey, and David Soderstrom (Kelsey did the waterfall, alligator, turtle and crab)

This project has been an experience! I have learned a lot and made many new friends.

I have sent pictures and measurements in to Jason Brammer (the artist who did the murals at Trader's Point C.C.). Hopefully we will be able to afford him and he can do the preschool wing. If that is the case the preschool wing should be done before Thanksgiving.

I was originally going to be the point person for the classrooms, but I have passed that duty on to Larry LaRue. If any of you want to adopt a classroom, give him a call. The rooms still need to be painted, cleaned, and organized.

Even though I've passed off the last portion of this project, I still desire to be intrumental in the design and layout of the Children's Wings. When I feel like it is all finished, I'd love to have a ribbon cutting ceremony, or a grand reopening party! Anyone want to help plan that???? :o)