AWANA Sparks

The Sparks Club at AWANA is made up of children in kindergarten-2nd grade. Their theme song begins, "We are Sparks for Jesus....Sparks to Light the World!" Our oldest two daughters are currently in Sparks. Jersey #1 is in the Hiker group (2nd year Sparks). Jersey #2 is in the HangGlider group (1st year Sparks). AWANA just recently remodeled their Sparks program, so one daughter will continue through the old program and one daughter will begin through the new program. Due to the close proximity of their ages, this change has been a great blessing and has cut down on some of their mutual competition, as the new Hanglider program is different enough to keep things fresh for Jersey #2.

Tonight was the awards ceremony for AWANA, as the club year has come to close. Our whole family attended to clap and cheer for all of the accomplishments of this past year. I admit that I was very excited to see both of my daughters earn so many awards tonight. They have both worked really hard to memorize Bible verses, and complete activities in their workbooks. They each completed their books, the review, a workbook, and an extra credit book. They also had perfect attendance (because our family was not struck with the flu this year). They raced cars in the Grand Prix. They competed in the Sparks-A-Rama. They even helped out with the fruit basket fundraiser. It was a busy year! The icing on the cake was that each daughter received the "Clubber of the Year" award for their class. [Jersey #1 received Clubber of the Year last year also, so I was real surprised they awarded it to her again this year!] It was an incredible evening, filled with awards...and followed up with a dessert potluck!

HangGlider of the Year


Hiker of the Year

A Bowling Birthday

Jersey #3 wanted to go bowling for his birthday party this year. THAT was a FUN way to celebrate a 4-year-old's birthday. We had a blast. I was real impressed with the birthday party package offered at this nearby bowling alley. It was wonderful. I am certain we will party there again.

Bowling...complete with bowling shoes, bumpers, and a lightweight ball...


Pizza...


Balloon Hats...












Souvenir Bowling Pin (signed by all the guests)...


A behind-the-lanes tour...


We added presents and cake after bowling, and the bowling alley provided balloons and gift bags for the kids to take home. Fun Stuff!

God answers my petty prayers too!

Weeds have taken over our yard. We did not tackle them in time this year, so we lost the battle. The combination of crazy weather, my husband's business travel & 3-week long gout attack, and our overly busy schedule these past couple months, created quite a hurdle to yard work. It shows. So this past weekend we made a plan for how to tackle the weed challenge. The plan was to spend two evenings during the week and two days during the weekend, pulling all the weeds and getting the yard into shape. Yesterday was the first evening of this plan. I was dragging with no energy all day long, and really dreading yard work after dinner. (Who am I kidding, I only had half of dinner prepared to begin with, so I was really behind!) By the time my husband came home from work, I was ready to throw in the towel and admit defeat....before we even began. He suggested I run my errand alone, while he finished up dinner (he is so much better with fresh vegetables than I am anyway), and see if that didn't pep me up a bit. My errand was to run some leftovers from a church BBQ, to an elderly family at our church, so that kind of social interaction is always a boost! It worked. I had a better attitude by the drive home. Then, a big blessing walked my direction as I was getting out of the van....

A man called out to me from a distance, as he walked across my driveway. His first sentence grabbed my attention immediately, "Ma'm, I am a Christian." He had my undivided attention now. He went on to explain where he went to church and that he taught Sunday school, and that he was up against some tough times but he knew God was going to take care of him, and that He already had. This man was a walking testimony to ways that God supplies all our needs. He had lost his job, lost his home, and lost nearly everything he had. He had landscaping skills that he was falling back on, so he was going around offering to do any sort of yard work for any amount people were willing to pay him. His church was helping him out. Many of my neighbors were helping him out. He was determined to keep his family out of the homeless shelter. He was proud of himself that he did not resort to drugs or alcohol. Clearly, I met him on the upside of this challenge he was facing, because he mentioned how he has been able to keep his family fed (wife & 3 kids) even if they were only eating Ramen, that he was willing to work hard, that his wife tucked away a little out of each payment he received to the point that they just moved out of a hotel into an apartment 8 days ago. In addition to needing food, he was now trying to save for a car. I was impressed that his marriage continued to be strong in such adversity. I was impressed by the strength of his faith in God. I was impressed by the accuracy that he quoted the scripture that he lived by. I was almost laughing because of the JOY I felt on the inside that God had sent someone to pull my weeds!

I explained to the guy that we had plenty of weeds to pull, if he wanted the job. I went inside and told the story to my husband. His first response was, "So you were praying for someone to come pull the weeds?" I had to admit that even though I did not pray out loud for such a thing, it was the desire of my heart!

So many blessings occured in that one evening. Our front yard and driveway were cleared of weeds. We paid the guy for his work, and gave him a couple sacks of groceries to help feed his family, along with the invitation that he could return this weekend (after payday) and we would pay him to clear the side yard as well. Our children were shown that our family helps others in need. AND, I was reminded that God knows my heart, and he is willing to answer my petty prayers too!

End of soccer season parties

The soccer season is over. Whew! As Team Mom for both teams, I was responsible for the trophy order and for planning the end-of-season party. That was quite the challenge, due to having 2 soccer team parties and one birthday party for our own child all centered around the same weekend. Yikes. It was also quite challenging to get participation for the trophy order in a timely fashion. In an attempt to encourage me, my husband assured me that these things always work out. I reminded him that is people like me--who take care of all the details--who help these things to work out! In the end, he was correct that it all worked out. I eventually received all of the money for the trophy orders (even though I had to front the money for a few of them in order to get the order in on time). The trophies were ready in time for the parties (and I only had to alter my schedule a little bit to be available to pick them up when they were ready). The parties were planned over two weekends, so they did not collide with the birthday party. The weather even cooperated for the outdoor party at a park. Both end-of-season soccer parties were attended by ALL of the players on the team....and they were great fun! Jersey #2's team had a picnic at the park....she is the one getting attention burping after drinking rootbeer in the picture.


Jersey #1's team got to make their own pizzas at the pizza restaurant owned by the family of one of her teammates. The younger siblings received a chance to make their pizza too. They all claimed that the pizza tasted better since they got to make it themselves!

Soccer

I love to play soccer. I played when I was a kid, starting in 5th grade. I was able to petition and start up a girls' soccer team when I entered high school (because I was not permitted to play on the boys' team, since it was a contact sport). When we were engaged, I convinced my husband to join me on a co-ed adult soccer team. He had never played before. He was naturally athletic. I was still a klutz. He had an Ok time, but was not very impressed. I had a blast. I even sprained my ankle during a game, and still thought it was a blast.

When our Jersey #1 was in kindergarten, I volunteered to coach her first soccer team. My husband reluctantly became the team referee, because I had no luck getting the other parents to help out much. I had a blast coaching. My husband liked being the ref for his kid's game, but disliked that we were shouldering so much responsibility for the team. [He had a point: there were days when I was standing on the sidelines, coaching with Jersey #4 strapped to my chest in an infant carrier, and Jersey #2 & #3 playing at my feet, while my husband was on the field as referee....while a slew of parents and grandparents from our team sat on the sidelines to watch the game, but not volunteer for anything!] I was not able to coach this past soccer year, when we've had 2 soccer players, because Jersey #5 was due to be born during the Fall soccer season. Instead, I became Team Mom for both teams, and my husband became team referee for Jersey #2's team.

As much as I love soccer, I sure was happy to see this soccer season end yesterday. It turned out that with 2 daughters playing soccer on 2 different teams, at least half of their games overlapped or were scheduled at the same time. Instead of attending soccer games as a family and cheering on our girls, we were split up, going in two different directions. That was no fun. We rounded out the season with a finale reminiscent of that first soccer year....I was asked to coach for Jersey #2's team (because her coach was out of town that day), and my husband was the referee for that game! I will include a couple pictures. The really cool part was that Jersey #2 was thrilled to have her Mom coach her team...I had a blast coaching....and she scored her first goal that game!

AWANA

My kids participate in an AWANA Club: Approved Workmen Are Not Ashamed. The name is taken from the Bible verse 2 Timothy 2:15 Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth. AWANA is very similar to scouts, in that the kids wear a vest/uniform, and earn patches and pins for various accomplishments. During club night, there is also a game time and a snack time. The primary goal of AWANA is to teach children about Jesus, so that they will come to know & accept Jesus as their personal Lord and Savior.....and then learn to serve Him.

I am so impressed with the AWANA program. My children have learned an incredible number of Bible verses. They've learned how to look verses up in the Bible. They've learned about missionaries. They've learned to pray. They are encouraged to invite their friends to check out the club. This was one reason we purchased a 12-passenger van. Some of their friends enjoyed AWANA so much that they wanted to join the club. I want to encourage this evangelism in my children, so I offer to chauffer everyone to club and home again.

My children began AWANA in the Cubbies program, which is for preschoolers. Cubbies runs for 2 years total, one year as a 3-year old and one year as a 4-year old. They wear a blue vest and earn patches while leanrning 1 new Bible verse per week, until they have filled the A and the C on their vest (one letter per year). The A stands for "All have sinned" (a shortened version of Romans 3:23: For all have sinned and come short of the glory of God.) The C stands for "Christ died for us" (a shortened version of Romans 5:8 But God commended his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.) As the children progress through the AWANA program, they learn the full versions of the verses. Each club year builds upon the previous lessons.

Here is a picture of Jersey #3 in his Cubbies vest. This was taken on Awards night, this past week. He was running back to our table, after receiving his awards for completing the year. He completed his first Cubbies book, earning all of the patches to fill the A on his vest. He will return to Cubbies in the Fall for his second year, and work on patches for the C.

Too Busy

There is busy....and then there is Too Busy! We have been too busy for too long now. Having 2 school-aged children already, the extracurricular activity options are endless. In addition, since we homeschool in a homeschool-friendly city, there is also an endless supply of academic activities. I enjoy being active and busy. I enjoy being out and about. I wanted to expose the kids to a variety of activities to see what might peak their interest. Unfortunately, I went overboard. Then, I went in over my head.

In February, I finally realized and admitted that I was over involved in too many outside activities and needed to cut back. Ironically, this came about AFTER I cut back on some of my own personal activities to focus my time and attention on our family. It was a great that I finally realized my limits, but the timing was terrible. I was already committed to a ton of things for March & April. I decided to give it my all and honor my committments. It was insane. It is finally over. I survived.

I hope to have the energy to add a few posts and pictures of some of the things we've been up to. The activities themselves were good. The time, effort, and energy that they required in combination was too much. I hope to never make that mistake again. Live and Learn (I hope).

#3 Turns 4

Birthdays are such an exciting time at our house. It is a family tradition to make each birthday special. I love to celebrate the lives of my children. I celebrate that they are alive in the first place. Then I celebrate how much they have grown and developed with each birthday milestone. Life is good.....let's celebrate!

We have a 4-year old son today! I find myself surprisingly emotional with this birthday. This is the child who humbled me. His sisters were happy, friendly, independent, social babies. I could take them anywhere and have a blast. I thought I had it all together as a mother. Then, jersey #3 arrived. He was clingy. He was high maintenance (he wanted to nurse 24 hours a day and had no other method for soothing himself). He did not like strangers at all. He did not like new environments. Not to mention, he was a BOY! I immediately gained more respect for mothers who only had sons. There is an easier side to motherhood....daughters!

So much has changed in 4 years. He has grown so much. He is gaining independence by the day. He is talking about preschool, playing sports, and all the things he can do now that he is BIG. He is no longer clinging to my leg. He is no longer a Momma's Boy. His admiration for his Dad runs deep. He is his father's shadow now. This is good. This is how it should be. But, I still sit in amazement by how quickly they grow. My husband tells me not to worry....he says boys have a special place in their hearts for their Moms.

7 months old and 4 years old

A New Season

Here we go....My motherhood adventures have been, well, adventurous! Most would not believe me if I did not have documents and witnesses. I've been encouraged to write a book, start a blog, and to keep the emails coming. I love to email stories about, and share pictures of my children. I have not found the time or the confidence to write a book. I finally decided today that I would branch out into the blogging world. A new technology for me. A new way to share my joys of motherhood with others. Keeping with the fun sports team theme, I'd say today is the first day of a new season.