After recovering from Saturday, I was ready to tackle Sunday. Ian had come home from Birmingham to be here for Father’s Day. That meant all the kids would be with us.

Several weeks ago, Pop told Joy that he wanted to have everybody at his house for Father’s Day. The last time we all gathered at his house for a meal was Father’s Day, 2009. Mom died 3 weeks later. We have not all gathered together there since she died. So, we made plans to do just this. As it turned out, I had agreed to do VBS before I knew about this, and Joy had agreed to help me. So, Joy told me that if I could find someone to replace her…she would do all the cooking. Sounded like a deal to me!!! (Just kidding). My friend, Monty, agreed to come and help. That freed Joy up. And, cook she did. She has definitely inherited Mom’s talent for cooking yummy meals. She outdid herself on Sunday. Here she is with Tara.

Our sweet Lori was able to be with us after she got off work. Her hubby, Ben is at Guard this week. He has been on Dauphin Island for the past several weeks working on the barriers they are trying to get built for that awful oil that’s on the way.

And here are Ian and Suzanne acting silly!

Looks as if Adam needs lessons on holding baby boys!

We had a wonderful time visiting with each other. Ian had to leave soon after lunch to get back to Birmingham. And, we missed Ben being with us. But the time together was sweet. Here are the Fathers:

And, the newest Father in our family, Will with sweet John Thomas…

At the end of the day, Alex and I sat and talked about the day. Thankful for our Fathers, missing Mom and Granny, and reflecting on the many blessings God continues to bestow on our family. One of which is the fact that Alex was able to be with us for the day!

VBS…’Vacation” Bible School…vacation is sort of a misnomer. ‘Vacation’ for the kids…maybe…but not the teachers!!! I may sound as if I’m complaining, but really, I’m not at all. I love VBS and always have. However, this is the first year that we have had just a one day event. We started this morning at 8:00 and ended at 4:30. Whew! Now that was a long day! And, my little preschoolers did very well…up until the last hour. By then…they had had enough of this ‘vacation’ and they were ready to go home!

We started our morning with the pledges and songs. Then, we came to our classes. After a bit of getting aquainted, and songs and games…we had our first Bible story…Adam and Eve. Did you know that the first job that God gave Adam to do was to name the animals. It was Adam who decided what they should be called. ( How did he, the first person in the world, decide what to name each one. Where did he get the vocabulary and the knowledge that it would take to think of all those names?) Those are not preschool questions, I just wonder that myself. I suppose God instilled in him the knowledge he would need.

We then broke up into 3 groups and began our exploration of different things. Some of you may know this, but some may not. The way Baptist literature is written, learning takes place in every thing that is done while they are in your care. As the activities are done, the teachers are retelling the Bible story. They are directing the learning that is taking place through the activities.

The children made fishing poles. And when they caught the ‘fish’…they found characteristics of Jesus listed on each one. Playing and learning…they go together so well. Top pic…teacher, Monty Clark…Bottom picture…teachers…Deeya Herring and her teenage daughter and great teacher, as well, Victoria. And, April Cobb, standing. In these pictures, they are making puppets that look like themselves. We are learning that, “I am wonderfully made.” Psalm 139:14. We all look different, and are all made special! Here are some beautiful faces showing off their work…precious souls.

Then we had a wonderful lunch, and because our bodies are ‘wonderfully made’, they need a little rest when they are tired……..and, so we rested……some of us.

We managed to stay prone for about 20 minutes, then we got up and began to MOVE!

Afterwards, we had second Bible story. We learned how Jesus took a little boy’s lunch, blessed it and used it to feed 5000 people. The children learned that that’s what we call a miracle. And, another miracle was that there were 12 baskets left over! After the story, we broke into small groups to continue our learning.

First pic shows, how the children decorated and cut out a shape in a slice of bread. Ummmmm, YUMMY! And, then the children worked on making their own puzzles. They were able to take these home and put them together there!

And posing with Mrs Tonja…the ranch hand!

A little outside play….and snacks….and sidewalk chalk. But, not too long…it was really hot outside!

And after another group time to review what we had learned today, it was time for them to gather their things and go home. You know, some of these children I will probably never see again. But, they were brought into the lives of we four teachers for 8 hours today. Some of them are from families that will never attend church. Some of them may never even have a chance to visit a church again for a long time, if ever. My deepest hope is that some of the words they heard today will stay safely tucked into their hearts until such time as God chooses to bring it to their mind again. If all we planted was the fact that church is a nice place to be, so be it. If all they remember is that the Bible is more precious than gold…..maybe it will encourage them to pick it up again in some motel room or hospital. It is not necessary to us teachers of children that we see the words and thoughts and scriptures we planted come to fruition….it is just our jobs to plant them. Along the way, some one else may water them, and God will allow them to bloom in His time. God bless the children who blessed us with their presence today.

Tomorrow is Father’s Day. And, I bet you a shiny red apple that I will hear him say tomorrow, “Every day is Father’s Day.” And, he really feels that way!

Last year, on Father’s Day, my Mom had the whole family together at her house. She was sick and did not feel like cooking and preparing for us. I know that Pop stayed right with her for 2 days, helping her with whatever she asked of him….peeling potatoes, shicking and cleaning corn…whatever was hardest for her. He knew how much she wanted to have us all and he wanted it for her as much as she did. As it turned out, that was the last time we all ate one of her most wonderful meals.

Now, Pop wants us all to eat with him, at his house, tomorrow. And, Joy, great sister and daughter that she is, has cooked all the food. Looking forward to us all being together. Ian came home last night so he could be here with us, too.

So…just sharing some pictures that are special to me…

Our little family, many years ago…

On one of many trips to NC, Pop would pull off the road when he saw a good place. And, he would get Alex or Ian or Adam out of the carseat, and take them for a short walk to stretch their legs…and his, too, I imagine! Here he is with little Alex…love this pic.

My family around 1986. My boys have been blessed with Donald as their Father. He is a Godly man, and has set the highest example for his sons.

A sweet picture, though not clear, of Don, his father and Adam…in 1975.

Happy Father’s Day to all…but especially to my Pop!

Yes…it’s that time again! VBS…it’s THE place to be in our little city during the summer. Most of our churches have a week of VBS at some time during the summer. Most have it in the first few weeks after school is out. Some churches have it in the evenings instead of the mornings, due to the heat and the majority of the parents working.

At our church this year, we are having just one day….but it’s a jam-packed day. We will start at 8:30 and end at 4:00. That is a long time to have a group of 4 and 5 year olds. But, actually, I am looking forward to it. I always enjoy teaching VBS, and haven’t been able to for the past few years.

There have been many changes made in the materials used to teach VBS . This year we are pretending to visit a ‘dude ranch’. I have my bandana and my hat, and Bible stories ready.

Our weather has been hot, with thunderstorms most afternoons. If you would be so kind…please say a little prayer that the rain holds off until AFTER 4:00! Our teachers would be most obliged! It’s not much fun to be stuck inside with a bunch of kids who can not go outside and run off a little energy!

And, much more importantly, pray that little hearts are open to learn more about Jesus, and His plans for their lives. Thank-you!

I just want you to know, my friends, that learning a whole new way of blogging is very hard work! And, yes, I am very confused! I sure hope I get some ‘in person’ lessons this weekend. Ian is coming home…and maybe he will indulge me in my quest for greater knowledge of this thing called ‘blogging in wordpress!’

I do, however, have the answer for one question posed to me from a blogging friend.

“when I click on your pictures to see more detail…they get smaller instead of larger.”

HERE’S WHAT TO DO…….

Click once, it gets smaller…click that smaller image….it will get very big.

No, I do not know WHY it works like this………only that it does. Even the Guru who sits ensconsed in his office in Birmingham, doesn’t know why. But, friends, I don’t have to know ‘why’….it is enough for me to know juuuuuuust enough to answer your questions….and juuuuuust enough to share my stories.

I think, in this life, there are things we will never know. What is important, then, is to have faith in the one who does know…trusting that they will lead you in the right way.

This is important in computer matters…..but much more important in matters of life and death…….and eternal life.