Our Happily Ever Afters: Walk Like An Egyptian : VBS 2010

I'm finally posting my VBS pictures! We had a great year, and it was my first time to be involved in VBS in a long time (due to travel, having a baby, etc.). My church actually does VBS a little differently than the traditional Southern Baptist model, which typically means using Lifeway curriculum. Our church LOVES and supports Lifeway, but last year they tried a different approach, which is a program by Group Publishing. Basically, the kids are put into "families," and the families consist of kids different ages from K-4th grade. 5th and 6th grade kids are "helpers," and we spend the entire 3 hours going to different activities and stations. It's VERY interactive for kids, which is a plus with this curriculum. Of course there are pros and cons to every method, but as long as the love is Jesus is being shown and the Bible is being taught, that's the most important thing!

This year the theme was Egypt! We studied the story of Joseph in the Bible. If you're not familiar with his story or haven't read it in awhile, you should definitely become familiar with this story again. Great life lessons!

Here are scenes from VBS 2010!

All crafts, etc. were in our church pavilion and it was called "The Marketplace." This was the animal area! We all LOVED it!!

Praise and Worship!

In the Marketplace, we visited the Salon and Barbershop. My brother agreed to have Egyptian makeup put on. HILARIOUS.

This is what we call Rehearsal Dinner Slideshow Material in my house!

That's my little family! I had a BIG group (10 kids) and had to recruit my brother and sister Alyssa to help me. Thank goodness they were available!!

Our "home base" in the sanctuary. Each family had their own area. We brought a blanket to sit on, and all of the Family Moms carried a basket around with supplies, etc. Our family was Asyut 2.

After each day, I laid out their bags, nametags, and blue belts for them to wear (these identified our family). By the end of the week, I had my system down!

My little sister Andrea was also a family mom to a different group. They were Giza 1. Lookin' good, Ange!

One day we were blessed to have recreation INSIDE. Bless God! It was the hottest week of the summer (no lie) when we had VBS.

My brother was the sweetest helper, and the kids LOVED him!

Me and Dad! He gave me a hand with my basket. This was right after I had done the interview with Lisa Whelchel in his office!

This little boy was Will's buddy all week. He was so precious and VERY high energy! He and Mr. Will had lots of fun together! Haha!

Our Student Pastor, Jeff, played Joseph. Every day we went to "Joseph's Journey" where Jeff did an AMAZING job telling "his" story. The kids thought he was a rock star!

One of my little girls and I were talking about how much we loved Christmas. The next day, she brought me an old sock with an owl on it, and told me it was a Christmas decoration. I couldn't for the life of me figure it out, and then on the last day it hit me: She thought it was a CHRISTMAS STOCKING! Hahahahahah! But it was a sock! Hahahaahahah!

My dad showed off impressive (seriously!) acting skills during worship time one day! Here he is performing a skit with my friend Sarah. They were awesome and hilarious!!

Mr. Melvin, a sweet senior adult at our church, and Mr. Ken, another super sweet man at Lynwood, worked at the "Brickmaking" area of the Marketplace. He was so funny. We all learned about brickmaking, and then I was REQUIRED to put my feet in the mud and make a brick. As in, Mr. Melvin wouldn't let me leave until I had MADE A BRICK. Haha!

It was scorching hot outside, the mud was slimy and sticky and it was drying on my skin, and I was thinking "This is miserable!" Then it hit me: This was exactly how the Hebrew people must have felt (only 1000 times worse) when they were slaves in Egypt, working for Pharaoh! The Bible just came alive to me in that moment, and I have Vacation Bible School to thank!

Our last stop of the week in the Marketplace was the Linen Shop. This was so sweet and special. We made "knot blankets" for little children in Africa, through Operation Kid to Kid. Everyone participating in Group VBS's all over the country are making these blankets and signing coloring books to send to children in Africa. Most are orphaned, and they need a simple thing like a blanket to keep warm, make a pillow, or carry food they gather. We will be sending lots of blankets to these sweet children!

Here is Mr. Wendell teaching us about these children and where our blankets and coloring books will go.

This is so sweet. Each child held a little felt heart as we prayed over the blanket. Then we put the hearts inside the blanket before we knotted the edges. So each child receiving a blanket literally has prayers surrounding them. Precious!

Here's our family with our special blanket and coloring book!

On the last day of VBS, I had my kids put their hands on the blanket and my brother said the sweetest, most sincere prayer for the child that will receive it. It impacted the kids, and it was neat because they were learning that "faith without actions is dead." (James 2:20) We were putting into action our love for Jesus to share that with someone who will desperately need that hope.