Tag: VBS

VBS Should Be a Verb

Posted on July 14, 2016July 14, 2016 by Mama

Well I’m halfway through VBS prep week and I’m happy to report that my family is neither hungry nor naked, unlike some years past. I’ve even prepared dinner every night this week — okay, so one night was Papa Murphy’s pizza, but we ate dinner at the table so that counts. Right?

While most of my free time has been spent making jellyfish out of garbage bags, sign posts out of foam board and cutting lengths of barely visible fishing line, I have managed to squeeze in a bit of mommy-and-me time along the way; but only because I didn’t want a repeat of last year.

With all the cutting, building, designing and decorating I’ve been doing this week, I’ve decided to make a change to Webster’s dictionary. I believe “VBS” should have a special verb definition that goes a little something like this:

VBS (vā-kā′shən bī′bəl skool)
verb
1. To furnish, provide, or adorn an entire church building to an exceeding degree for a crew of crazed children who have been cooped up at home all summer

2. The futile act or process of perfecting a prescribed theme that will be extremely underappreciated by all other persons in the universe

3. The laborious pouring out of literal sweat, blood and tears to fulfill a personal vision that is characterized as extending far beyond the norm

Examples:
“So long honey, I’m off to VBS.”
“Go ahead and eat without me. I’ll be VBSing all night.”
“I can see by the glitter on your face, and clothes and toes, that you have VBSed.”
“Yes I’m wearing the same shirt as yesterday, and the day before, but I’ve been VBSing all week.”
“Don’t mind the bandages, my hot glue gun has seen lots of use while VBSing.”
“No, although you plan to VBS all week, you cannot bathe in the baptismal.”

Okay, so in the moment I always question and rethink my decision to be so heavily involved in Vacation Bible School, but I really do enjoy the week when all the kids arrive and we get to teach them about God’s Word and hopefully plant the seeds that help them grow in Christ. So here’s to all you VBS coordinators, planners, teachers, decorators and helpers in various roles — may you feel the peace of Christ and know the fruit of your labor (even if you don’t see it).

Happy VBSing!

DIY These Super Cute Over-sized Cattails

Posted on July 31, 2015 by Mama

If you saw a few of my photos from VBS this year, I just know you must be asking yourself, “How do I make those adorable over-sized cattails she’s got going on there?” Well, I’m so glad you asked, because the idea just came to me one day during float decorating and it actually turned out super cute. I think it’s so cool when you look at something, like a pile of ugly brown flannel, and an awesome idea just springs into your head. Something about necessity and the mother of invention, I guess. Anyway, these cattails are super easy and cheap to make, and here’s how to pull it all together.

Materials:

pool noodle (standard size, not the jumbo)
quilt batting
brown flannel
bamboo tomato stake
box knife
scissors
rubber band
string

Directions:

First, use the box knife (with caution) to cut a piece of pool noodle anywhere from 10-12 inches long.
Next cut a piece of quilt batting large enough to wrap around the noodle and just a tad longer.
Cut a piece of flannel material that will wrap around the noodle plus a few inches and is approximately six inches longer than the noodle.
Wrap the batting around the noodle.
Wrap the flannel around the batting and noodle.
Slide the tomato stake through the hole in the noodle, and use a rubber band to tightly adhere the flannel material to the stake, leaving an inch or two of the stake showing out the top.
Smooth any wrinkles out of the flannel and adhere the bottom using a piece of string, tying it tightly around the flannel and stake.
Trim any excess material and batting.

And that’s all there is to this easy cattail project. I created three individual cattails and placed them behind some painted cardboard grass, but you can use them however you choose. By the way, our Dollar Tree stores carries pool noodles every summer, which makes this a very affordable project.

VBS Is In the Books

Posted on July 20, 2015 by Mama

Whew! Another wonderful VBS is in the books and I plan to put up my feet and bask in the calmness of life. . . as much as a busy four-year-old boy will allow. I donned a new hat for Vacation Bible School this year — that of coordinator for the whole event. I enjoyed it, but it certainly was a lot of work. Thankfully I had an awesome team and fabulous church support, so the week went off with very few hitches. . . unless you count the day I did the entire closing ceremony with my pants unzipped.

We used Lifeway’s Journey Off the Map theme this year and since there is a store about three miles from home, it was super easy to run in and out as needed. So here’s my shout out to the KC Skyview location, “Thanks for all the help.” If they didn’t have it, they found it. Plus, what we didn’t use, we can return. Awesome!

Our offering this year benefitted the Baptist Global Response organization and the children voted to buy chickens with their money. For $25, the organization will send 10 chickens to those in need and will educate recipients on the best way to raise and sustain a flock for years to come. With a friendly boys v. girls competition, the week’s offering totaled more than $311 as the girls edged out the boys on the very last day.

With 66 children registered, three professions of faith, and a whole lot of fun going on, I would say it was a pretty wonderful week at Park Hill Baptist Church. I (almost) can’t wait for next year!

Page 2 of 4

« 1 2 3 4 »