Da Beach!

We were invited to spend the week after VBS with the family of Jamie's coworker. While it was a great deal to split a beach week, I was a bit nervous about staying with people I had never met. Boy am I glad my beach loving self won out over my introvert self. We loved them! The dad of the family had managed to get what I call the penthouse suite from a woman who had to give up her beach week to attend the birth of her grandchild. (I suppose I would have made the same choice...)

We stayed right on the corner of the 5th floor, overlooking the beach from both balconies. Although Jamie played tennis at the club almost every morning, the water at Hilton Head was so calm that I could take the kids out every morning alone. I am now spoiled for all future vacations.

At first Elijah was afraid of the ocean, even with Mommy holding him. For the first couple of days he kept begging to go to the "Da beach wif no sand. Da wittle beach. Wif no sand!" (aka the pool). Of course by the end of the week he did not want to leave the ocean. He fell in love with the friends we stayed with and was crushed when they left earlier than us. Thankfully my mom and niece came for a couple of days and made up for it.

Caitlyn signed up for two lessons with a tennis pro. She really did a great job following in her Daddy's footsteps. She also managed to pull out a tooth at the beach and get an ocean visit from the Tooth Fairy. When I told her to smile for a toothless photo, she tried to think of something funny. She imagined her brother with a girlfriend and really cracked up!

Jamie and I enjoyed a zipline adventure for one of his "40 Things". Later he and Caitlyn conquered the ropes course. That girl can climb! The week was busy with a sandcastle competition, finding sand dollars and setting them free, lots of ice cream, mini golf, hiking, letterboxing, playgrounds, climbing the lighthouse, exploring the island wildlife, biking the beach, and playing in the ocean. Whew!

Flipagram of a day at the beach - http://youtu.be/913yaYe7n2g
Elijah cheering Caitlyn on at the ropes course - http://youtu.be/8I6ea2MYVEE
Kids dancing to "Fins" at Shannon Tanner concert - http://youtu.be/_AU0PyIWVCE


Click here for more beach pics.

VBS 2014

Our church puts on an amazing VBS. With limited workers and limited resources, I am floored at how well everything seems to turn out (at the last minute). There are so many talented and hard working people at our church. Jamie is in charge of recreation - not a ton of preplanning but way too much time in the heat without a break when the week arrives. He is so high energy and perfect for the job. Caitlyn was excited to be in his rotation this year.

My job is drama/music/worship rally - an exciting 3 in 1 combo. I am able to work with the 5th graders on memorizing daily dramas as well as the Thursday night program. (Basically I bribe them with a pool party.) This is such a great way for me to know them when they come into the youth next year. Along with an energetic team of youth/college kids I plan and open up the day with a worship rally that focuses everyone in on the theme of the day, shares about our missions focus, and helps teach the songs of the week. During rotation time, we teach the 1-5 grade classes the songs and motions we will be performing on Thursday night family night. It's amazing how much the kids can learn - 6 songs in 4 days to sing and share God's love to their families and friends!

Here's one of Elijah's songs. He was pretty distracted and didn't sing much this night. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3bDX_hsKZSc 

Jamie recorded most of the kids' performance since I was directing. I didn't expect him to record the drama, just C's songs. But here's what he got! His poor arm was exhausted, especially since he had to go to the back and plug the camera in because I didn't have it sufficiently charged! What a trooper my sweet husband is.

Part 1     Part 2    Part 3

We're worn out and heading to the beach for some R&R! You can see more pics from VBS by clicking here and scrolling about halfway down!

Happy 60th Mom!

I needed to attend a practicum in Asheville the first week of June. That could not have worked out better for me, because the first week of June is my nephew's 16th birthday and my mom's 60th! My niece and nephew were already out of school, so they let Caitlyn hang out with them while I was in Asheville each day. Elijah went to a play camp at the practicum, and we were able to eat lunch with mom and her coworkers on her birthday.

Mom loves people, and I wish we could have somehow brought in all her friends and family for a surprise party. But since that wasn't feasible, my sister and I put together a memory jar for her. Friends and family from present and past sent in memories, and we printed them for the jar. Since we hacked her email for addresses, she even got some messages from random former business associates. Even they loved her! Who wouldn't?

Mom has always been there for her children and grandchildren - at our best and our worst. She is one of the hardest working and caring people in the universe and a great example of what a mom and Grandmama should be.

Happy birthday from us all!

If you haven't sent a message or memory, send me an email or comment below. We did a jar and not a book so that we can add on anytime!

For more birthday week pics, click here!