This is one of Emily's friends in her class for vbs. It's okay to smile a big smile!

Emily is getting ready to start her day in the pre-k classroom. Looks like she is fixing food.

Kaitlyn is working on her paper mache parrot. She is just getting started.

This is our music falls.

This is another part part of our island. In the background you see our little tiki hut. Everything turned out real nice.

This is the front of the sanctuary with the Outrigger Island.

Outrigger Island VBS July 21-25

Today was the last day of vacation bible school. It was a wonderful week. Our theme was Outrigger Island. I just learned what exactly an outrigger is. We learn new things every day. I really loved this theme b/c I have always wanted to go to a tropcal island! Me and another girl decorated the sancutary. A lot of it was her idea from the vbs books. I came up with some ideas also but she had the bulk of it. I have worked with her the past two years in the craft room. She use to be an art teacher but now owns her own Ceramic Shop. She is so wonderful with kids. It was just fun working together and creating a tropical island. I was the craft teacher for grades 1st-5th. All the kids had a good time making their week long projects. It was very busy every moment but it was fun. Emily had a good time and didn't cry this year. She just clung to my leg a little. She just does it for me b/c once I leave she is fine. I believe we had about 20 children accept Jesus as their personal Savior and one of the leaders. It is just wonderful news to hear especially when the child is so young. The impact they can make around their world can be so strong. Kaitlyn had a good time too although you wouldn't be able to tell it the first morning when I took their picture. All the third graders made paper mache parrots. It was interesting watching them paste the goo on their balloons. I thought i would hear a few not wanting to do it b/c of that but everyone had a good time. In about 2 weeks our church has music camp. I am going to help with this also. I really enjoy helping in church and seeing the kids growing and becoming more aware just how awesome God is!!

Getting Ready for the New School Year

Well, it is that time of the year when all the stores start putting out items for school. Notebooks, pencils, lunch bags, book bags and etc. I am so glad that I am not in a rush to get school supplies. When homeschooling you have most of the necessary supplies here with the exception of pencils, paper and notebooks. It is such a relief to know I don't have to go out and try to find the best price and can just casually buy what I need. Also, buying the new clothes. Not stress in that. I just buy them when my girls need them. What a blessing!
Next week we are having Vacation Bible School. I am really looking forward to it!! I am doing crafts again this year. I love doing crafts and being creative. I am not really too creative but it is neat to see the other kids and their creations. I am also helping with the decorating of the sanctuary. It was kind of a last minute call but that is the fun of it is to put your ideas together and make it all work! I have been stressing a little because I haven't been able to find nice card board boxes. I had called several appliance places and came up empty. Today I needed to go to the Dollar Store(my favortie way to waste $$)and buy a spray bottle for our little toad we found. Will put pics up later, if we haven't let it go. As I pulled into the parking lot I noticed an Utz truck. I saw broken down boxes in his truck. I thought, wow what a perfect opportunity to get some. I did not see the guy as I pulled in but wanted to stay there until I could figure out what store he was working in. (strip mall) As I was trying to straighten the car in the parking spot I spotted him. I put the car in park and jumped out of my car, asked the gentleman if he had any card board boxes I could use for VBS and he said YES. I was so excited. I thanked him and told him this was a Godsend. It is so amazing how He works. Something as simple as needing boxes for VBS and he provided!!! God is wonderful and mysterious in how he works things out for us. So keep that in mind when you come to God and request something from him. You never know how he is going to answer.

Remember: "Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus" Phil. 4:6-7

Pics at the River

Joel relaxing in the hammock. That is pretty much what he did while we were there.

View from my aunt's yard of the River.

My sweet sister and niece and my oldest baby girl, Kaitlyn.

Emily with her shell collection! She just loves shells.

Mud Pies

One of my favorite things my girls like to do is make mud pies. They like to dig around the tree in our front yard and mix water to make their recipes. It is great to be a kid and not mind getting your arms and legs covered in mud. My little one though picks the dry stuff- grass, sticks, clovers. and sometimes little rocks. She does NOT like to get wet or dirty. To me it is funny. She is such a little priss. I have told several people she needs to marrry a rich man who has a lot of patience. Of course, he needs to be a Godly christian man and love God more than his wife. She will make her recipe in a cup with maybe a little water but that is about it! Both girls have played well together this summer, which is real nice. On the 4th of July we went to Calleo, past Tappahannock. We had a real good time. The weather was beautiful and the water was pretty calm. My aunt has a summer house that use to be a gargage and a front porch and they have made it into a house. It is so quaint. We grilled hotdogs and hamburgers and everyone made sides to bring. Their hammock is positioned right between two trees, which catches the breeze off the river. We took a 10 minute boat ride with my uncle in his boat and that was just great. It is nice seeing everyone since some of our relatives we only see during the Christmas holiday. We left later that day and enjoyed some fresh picked blackberries I picked with my aunt.

The Summer So Far....

Well, the summer so far has been quite busy, despite our vacation is not until November. The girl have gone to bible school at one church and will go to ours July 21st. They have been able to play outside a lot this summer because the summer so far has been mild. The humidity has been pretty low and that is great. We said goodbye to our friends who are going on a great adventure-Japan. They are military and are looking forward to the tropical breezes again!! We met at the park in her neighborhood and the kids played and ate a picnic lunch. Everyone got along and enjoyed their time with the Migliore girls. While at the park one of the girls found a nest where a frog had laid eggs. Several of the kids brought them home, including us. We are real excited about watching them grow but I think they had died. I don't know much about taking care of baby frog eggs. I did let tap water sit out for about 30 hours before adding it to the already water from the stream. I will have to find some more eggs or look at Insect Lore and order some. When it was time to go we gave the Migliores hugs and wished them safe travel. It was bittersweet but I will treasure the time we all had even if it was just a glimpse of their exciting and Godly life.