Welcome to July!

It's here! The seventh month of the year! Officially over half way through another year, at least by month count!

July is busy and not busy for us!  In prior years, I'd been more actively involved in organizing certain elements of VBS with our church.  It would be very time consuming (can't imagine the hours our co-coordinator's put in if I was putting in those hours!), many hours of phone calls, errands, computer work, meetings, work up at our church.  This year, there is a lot less that I am doing and it is a welcome change!

We successfully got our oldest off to Boy Scout Summer Camp.  It's the fourth year that he has gone, although, he'd correct you that the first year was Cub Scout Camp (but still sleep away).  It has gotten easier to let him go each year, but having a Mama's heart, I still worry, just not nearly as much as I used to.  The leaders that are with our troop are great and they'll all have a pretty good time!  I am totally expecting one worn out, smelly kid back.  Yes, the air purifier and washer/dryer will be going a lot come Saturday!  The washer will get a good cleaning after as well!  :)

Celebrations for July 4th have changed and evolved a lot over the years.  When the boys were very young, we didn't do a whole lot.  There were a few years we were in VA Beach visiting family.  My folks neighborhood would have a parade we'd watch, burgers would be grilled, play in the pool, and watch fireworks on TV.  When Thing One first became a Scout, back in June of 2006, he participated in a local parade.  That was a very hot day!  A Gatorade and play in the wading pool after (under the deck even) kind of day.  We had a family over for grilling later in the day and fireworks in the court thanks to a couple other families.  One year had our son's Cub Scout Den Over for a cook out, water balloons, and such.  We've been invited, other years, to go to the Pentagon to watch fireworks and more recently, kept it way small with just 3 out of the 4 of us (Thing One's Boy Scout Troop goes to camp the week that includes July 4th).  This year, Thing Two asked if we could go over to another street to watch fireworks, if they are having them.  Shary ~ don't know if your read my blog, but he was talking about your old street which I think still does a lot of fireworks.  We can just see them over the trees!

We'll probably get some light school in, too, this month.  ~ reading and introductions to formal writing ~

For now, enjoying the slow pace of only having one child home and he LOVES his sleep.  I love not having to race off for therapy!  A win/win situation!

What things do you love about July?  Is it the fireflies?  The fireworks?  Trips to a lake?  Wish we could do that!
 

A look at a Sunday Evening

It's Sunday evening here! Sitting home, alone, and it's actually okay.   Kevin and the boys are over at church helping set up for VBS which starts tomorrow.   I helped for a bit, but my back started giving out, so I came home and took extra strength stuff so I'd be ready for tomorrow.

 Once again, I'm finding my heart turn toward school for the boys.  I am finding myself getting excited about school for the boys.  I am excited about how to "shake" things up and make this year better than last year.  I'm having fun thinking of things to make and/or buy, for the first day of school (thanks Christy Mitchell, for the idea, if you are reading this).  I'm thankful for home schooling being a choice. I'm thankful we've made that choice to school our boys at home (or where ever necessary! :grin:). I'm thankful that we will be starting our sixth year in just a few short weeks.  I'm thankful for living in an area that is rich in history and places to visit as a result.

Many, many things to be thankful for.  In the coming days I'll post more of gifts we're making or buying, the subjects/curriculum we'll be using, "out sourced" subjects, etc.

Enjoy your Sunday evening!
 

Summer Bucket List ~ what is on it?

I have not formally made one, but ideas are running through my head!  So far, it would include some of the following:

• reading from the tabs I created on the main page ~ I've crossed one off my list as I just couldn't "get into it", have moved onto "The Help" which I am enjoying!
• get to reading with the boys ~ we need to make more time during the day as our nights have been crazy busy with baseball and year end activities!
• did you see my post on May 9th with a list of fun activities ~ will start adding those very soon
• a for fun, baseball mini league for Thing Two, just not sure when this starts.
• VBS for everyone.  This is the first year, in a long time, that we've only had one in VBS.  Think the last one 2005 ~ only 7 years.  
• July also brings another Boy Scout Camp - third year that Thing One has gone.
• hope to get a fun  vacation in sometime

What would be on your list?  Care to share?

End of Main St. VBS

It's Saturday morning after VBS week.  A long week of teaching the kids gratitude, compassion, forgiveness, grace, and faithfulness along with Heidi St. Clair.

Our family photo shot.  Where the younger kids had their

photo's taken in their groups.

Stage decorated for skits.

The result of service projects.  Kids donated back packs

and school supplies to be given to a group in Parsons, WV.

BCC has a team that has been going there for years to help

fix up yards, buildings, homes, etc. and provide VBS for the

elementary school kids.  132 back packs filled.

Thing Two, in orange and center, with his favorite teen helper.

He also played Chef Pierre.

Thing One and his favorite leader, also known as Dad!

Thing One and his best friend!

Pastor TJ (Children's Pastor) teaching the 5th and 6th graders.

TJ's first event at our church, 5 years ago, was VBS.

He was presented with a photo of Quest VBS and the cake!

His lovely wife, Deb, is to the left of him in this photo.

Closing ceremony on Friday.  Right half of crowd from sound booth.

Left half of the group from sound booth.

Not only did VBS Quest fill a bunch of backpacks as a service project, during the week they also worked at two local elementary schools, fixed 24 casseroles for families in need, grocery shop for Lorton Community Action Center (a local food bank), deliver the meals and deliver food to LCAC.  All this with temperatures in the 100's and a high heat index.

The cool thing, I thought, was that Pastor TJ mentioned $1,254.00 was donated to cover costs for groceries for LCAC; a student walked up and handed him $5.00, so the total jumped to $1,259.00; then another child brought a dollar in change and the total was $1,260.00.  In total, the 5th and 6th graders bought 508 pounds of groceries for LCAC which is a huge blessing as their shelves were bare.

Later this morning, we'll head back to church to help with the final clean up.  Hard to believe that in one week, the church is transformed, VBS held, and transformed back to "normal".  Many lives forever touched.

Is it scool or is it summer?

I've seen a number of folks talking about school on facebook or through their blogs.  There are the school supplies starting to appear at Wal-mart and Staples.  Although we've done a couple weeks already, we not quite ready to start full schedule.  For us, it's been a time to gear up for Vacation Bible School (VBS).  Our church is doing "Main St." this year.

Monday is the big day.  The day that 500 kids flood our church from Pre-K through 6th grade.  Once again I'll be working with our Quest Kids (5th and 6th grade) as admin aid. 

So, after I crash and burn next weekend, I'll pull our school schedule together the week after.  After an order at Timberdoodle later today, we should be good to go for the 2011/2011 year.

Enjoy what's left of summer!

Day 2

begins slowly and with the first cup of coffee. This isn't a "couch to 5k" and I'm not necessarily speaking about Creation either.

Yesterday, I pulled the contents of about 4 shelves to the floor, dusted the shelves, reorganized the books, and put them back. I went through craft supplies and purged a few things into a trash can. The floor was left with a few piles of stuff (some of last years school work that needs to be filed) and a few things for the boys to deal with.

Today, more shelves and boxes to organizes and Vacation Bible School (VBS) to work on. Looks like I won't be leaving the fireplace room much today.