Vacation Bible School II: The Third Day

   Today was another day of VBS, and it went okay. It's the middle of the week, so the kids are more restless and uncooperative than usual. Other than a few hassles, the day went well. I help my great aunt with her class of Pre-K/Kindergarten, so I mostly help with little kids. I used to help with the songs, but I haven't in recent years.
   I did a little less than I typically helped with, since I held one of my cousins - she's only a year old - during several parts of VBS today. Tomorrow will be the last day I help this year, since I won't be able to do it on Friday. I'm kind of bummed about it, but Friday's activities are looking to be fun as well.
   During the assembly and song time, I sat beside a girl who is in my class. She was fun to talk to. After that, we divided into our groups. First we had craft, we made cross magnets with seashells, then we had Bible story, then we had workbook time, then snack and games. For snack we had blue Jell-O with teddy grahams shoved into lifesaver gummies and for our game, we had to make animal sounds. It was interesting and fun. I enjoy helping.
   On Monday, we had 33 dollars in offering, on Tuesday, we had 116 dollars and today, we had 74 dollars. We're raising the money to go to two charities that help children and also spread evangelism, to my understanding. It's cool to these things happen through children and this ministry. How about that?

Wednesday Hodgepodge

1. I read here a list of 13 things you should do in June. I'm paraphrasing a little but basically...

Go on a road trip with your best friend, pick fresh strawberries, host a garden party, take a morning run, treat yourself to a flower bouquet, spend a whole day hiking, discover a new coffee shop, try a new ice cream flavor, read at least one book, visit a Farmer's Market, make a swing for your home, and visit a new city. 
Which thing on the list do you most want to do? Of the activities mentioned, which one holds the least appeal? How many on the list will you attempt in June? What's one thing you'd add to the list?

   Going on a road trip with my best friend would be fun, but entirely unfeasible and our strawberries gave up on life a little bit ago, so no strawberries for us. I don't like to garden, and I've only hosted one party (it was my birthday party) and it was a semi-disaster. I don't like morning and I hate to run, so that would be torture. I prefer to grow flowers, than buy a bouquet. I do not like to hike either, so hiking all day wouldn't be fun. I wouldn't mind the coffee shop (I love coffee) and I'd try a new ice cream flavor. I will be definitely reading a book, I just got new books at the library today. Farmer's Markets aren't very fruitful in June around here so that wouldn't be worthwhile. We already have swings here at the house and I don't like the city.
   A lot of these are totally impractical. I'm too busy to take time out of my schedule to plan a road trip with my best friend and so is she. Why do you need to take a road trip in June specifically, anyway? What's wrong with May or July? Plus, who takes a day to spend hiking? Or is this just me?

 

2. What's something you could do today to feel more peaceful? 

 

   I don't know. I'm at peace right now, so it's not really a priority.

3. June 7th is National Chocolate Ice Cream Day. Are you a fan? Swiss mocha, rocky road, chocolate chocolate chip, peanut butter and chocolate, or a dish of plain chocolate...what's your pleasure? 

 

   I don't like chocolate ice cream. Phish Food ice cream is the only ice cream I like that contains chocolate ice cream.

4. If you came with a warning what would it say?

   "Very sarcastic, and sometimes things pop out of her mouth that she doesn't mean to say."

 

5.What's the most interesting website you've visited in the last week? 

 

   Probably just the typical blogs I read. It's always fun to read new posts.

6. Spring, summer, autumn, winter...which season are you? Why? 

 

   Probably autumn. Brisk, brightly colored and sometimes cold, autumn is probably most like me.

7. "You lose sight of things...and when you travel, everything balances out." ~Daranna Gidel

Would you agree with that sentiment? Explain why or why not.  

   I don't necessarily agree with that, because traveling isn't a 'fix it' thing. It's a time to relax. Just because you're not there doesn't automatically make all the problems go away. But on the other hand, it can give you a fresh perspective on things. So I guess it depends on where you're traveling and what you're dealing with.

8. Insert your own random thought here. 

   I just ordered my first vintage dress! I'll write a post later, detailing the dress, but for right now I'm rather happy with the thought of it coming soon. :) If it comes in time, I'll be wearing it to a graduation party on Saturday. Happy Wednesday!

 

Vacation Bible School II: The First and Second Days

   Last year, I did a couple posts about Vacation Bible School. You can read them here and here. Anyway, here comes the sequel! Yesterday morning was our first VBS day. I was writing about VBS yesterday afternoon when my computer decided it had to update right now. It took all day. By the time it finished updating, I was ready to go to bed. So this post will summarize both days.
   Yesterday morning I woke up early, got dressed, drank a cup of coffee and got ready to leave. I gave myself plenty of time to get ready and wake up. I do not like mornings all that much. Mom was ready as well, so we got in the car and took off. I drove, which was enjoyable. When we got there, I greeted my great-aunt (I help with her class) and sat down with a few kids.
   We did assembly and songs, then we separated into our different groups. I help with the Pre K and Kindergarten kids. First, we went downstairs to make a craft. We made cute little whales out of small, cardboard flower pots and shaped pieces of foam. Then we went upstairs and listened to the Bible story. The theme of VBS this year is Ocean Commotion. We're learning about Noah, the ark and obedience to God.
   After the Bible story, we did the workbook activities. They started out by filling out their 'dive logs', which are mostly interactive attendance charts with stickers. After that, we went down and had snack, which was a trail mix with Swedish Fish and goldfish crackers. Then we went outside to play a game, which was just chasing bubbles. Surprisingly fun, I will say.
   After we finished the game, we headed back into the sanctuary for another assembly and songs. After I helped distribute the crafts to my class, I left. All and all, it was a successful Bible school day.
   Today was much like the previous day, aside from a few differences. I did not want to wake up this morning. I had risen early yesterday and later that day, I went on a four mile walk/run with my brother. I was exhausted. We made crowns today for craft, instead of whales. We had mandarin oranges for snack and played with a parachute instead of bubbles for our game instead of yesterday's activities.
   Tonight, I'll be sure to get to bed much earlier. I stayed up until almost eleven, which I am sorry to say is much too late. I'm already tired and it's only 6 pm. I feel old. :) Anyway, I'll write again about VBS, if I can. Who knows what this computer is going to do next?

Winner!

   To pick a winner, I texted one of my friends (who doesn't know I have a blog) to pick a number; 1, 2, or 3. He said 2. So our winner is Meredith!

      Meredith's random fact about herself is:

"I have a scar on my forehead from a scooter accident."

 

   Congratulations, Meredith! You have won a copy of The Giver, as well a surprise gift. To accept your prize, please shoot me an email with your address. :) 

Wednesday Hodgepodge

1. Tell us about one fun thing on your June calendar. 

   My family and I are heading to an amusement park for my grandfather's birthday. We've been there a couple times and it's always a blast. I'm excited. The only bad thing is, we'll be missing our first homeschool group meeting for the summer this year.

2. How careful are you in the sun? Do you tan or burn? Do you make it a point to see the dermatologist every year? 

 

   Regrettably, I'm not incredibly safe in the sun. I hardly ever wear sun block. I don't burn in the sun, except for the first time in the spring when I go outside. Other than that, I tan. I've never been to a dermatologist, and unless I'm dying, I probably never will.

3. Describe a time when you wanted to 'throw in the towel'.

   I've been learning how to drive, and I've been enjoying it. Unfortunately, my little brother is the worst passenger. He goes from freaking out, to offering me advice on how to drive. I could live without his suggestions.
   Yesterday, I was driving us home from going to get ice cream. An impatient idiot was tailgating me, which was already stressing me out. My brother was telling me how to drive, mom was patiently and calmly tell me when I needed to slow down and when I needed to speed up (which was quite helpful) and my grandma was sitting in the back.
   I was so tense, I just wanted to pull over and let mom drive the rest of the way home. But I didn't, and sucked it up. I survived, as did all my passengers. When we got home, my whole upper body ached from the tension. Driving is fun, so I'm hoping I get better at it.

4. What's a song you love that has a day of the week in the title or lyrics? 

   I Don't Like Mondays, by The Boomtown Rats. I couldn't find a YouTube version I like, or I would share it here. It's an older song, so that probably doesn't help. I like the piano in it, and the melody's catchy.

5. Are you a fan of berries? Which one's your favorite? What's the most recent berry dish you've eaten? Which blueberry breakfast food appeals to you most-blueberry pancakes, blueberry yogurt, or a blueberry muffin? 

   I do like berries, strawberries being my favorite. The last berry dish I ate was a Jell-O cake with blueberries on top. It was good. From the list, definitely blueberry muffins. My mom makes the best blueberry muffins. I could eat a whole pan.

6. What's something you want to do before your next birthday? 

   My birthday wasn't that far back, so I have a decent allotment of time until then. I would like to get a real job before my next birthday. I think it would be fun, and I would like to start saving for the future.

7. June 1st is National Say Something Nice Day, so let's all say something nice here. 

   The weather is really nice here today. It's sunny and warm. We have several windows open, and when it gets hot this afternoon, we'll turn the air conditioners on. Gotta love air conditioners!

8. Insert your own random thought here.

   My giveaway is still open. Feel free to enter here. Happy Wednesday!

 

Giveaway!

This giveaway is now closed.

   As I've probably mentioned on this blog before, I am a procrastinator. I said I would post this earlier, but I did not. Anyway, I'm having a giveaway!
   I love puns, so I wasn't missing out on this one. For my giveaway, I'm giving away The Giver, by Lois Lowry. I love this book, and I hope you will too. I'm also including a surprise gift too, cause I love surprises.

   There are two ways to enter; leave a comment on this post telling me something about yourself (any random fact will do) and/or post a link to my giveaway on your blog, come back and leave me another comment saying you did. The giveaway closes next Friday, June 3rd. Good luck!

Wednesday Hodgepodge

1. Tell us about a time you found yourself 'in the middle of nowhere'. Was this deliberate?

   When I was little, probably 8 or 9, our homeschool group was having an activity at summer camp/ranch thing. They had a corn maze which we were all excited to go in. A couple of my friends and I were playing elsewhere while everyone else was still in the barn. We were supposed to meet at the beginning of the corn maze and go through it together at a certain time. We were playing and lost track of time.
   When one of my friends checked her watch, she looked up with wide eyes and said, "It's already fifteen minutes past!" Panicked, we all sprinted up to the beginning of the corn maze, only to see everyone had left without us. For a second, we debated what to do, but came to the conclusion that we didn't want to miss out the corn maze just because we were late. So we decided we would just catch up with them. They couldn't be that far ahead, right?
   We darted through the maze, thrilled and nervous all at the same time. This was a grand and daring adventure, but at the same time, we could find ourselves lost forever. We ran through the maze until we came to a clearing. This was not where we supposed to come out at. The whole time we had not seen or heard any signs of other humans. We were truly in the middle of nowhere.
   Fortunately, we persevered and eventually came out at the beginning of the corn maze again, thanks to us trying to retrace our steps. Everyone else had not gone into the corn maze yet, and we must have misheard the time. Our mothers were not angry, more relived to find us than anything else. Eventually we did go back through the corn maze with others, and it was enjoyable experience.

2. What's something you're 'in the middle of' today or this week? 

   Does the middle of this blog post count? I've been sick these past couple days, so I haven't been getting into much. I'm in the middle of making a recovery, so that's a plus.

3. At what age do you think 'middle age' begins? What does it mean to be 'middle aged'? 

 

   I don't know much about middle age, but I would assume it happens sometime around your 50's. Maybe 40's, if you're in poor health.

4. Ravioli, stuffed peppers, samosas, deviled eggs, steamed dumplings, pierogis, or a jelly donut...your favorite food (from this list!) with something yummy in the middle. Your favorite not on the list? 

   Probably ravioli, though most of them are stuffed with meat. I do not like stuffed peppers, and I've never had samosas or steamed dumplings. I think I've had pierogis before, but I can't remember liking them or disliking them. I don't mind deviled eggs, or jelly donuts, but I would rather have ravioli over those options. My favorite not on the list is probably a crème filled donut. I love those things.

5. Albert Einstein is quoted as saying ''In the middle of difficulty lies opportunity.' Would you agree? Have you found this to be true in your own life? Feel free to elaborate. 

   I would agree. I can't think of an example from my life, but I do think that challenges present the opportunity to make us stronger, if we choose.

6. What's a song you remember loving from your middle school years? Do you love it still? 

   My middle school years weren't that far back, so my songs aren't all that far back in my mind. Don't Stop Believen', by Journey was a favorite, so were TobyMac songs. And yes, I still love them today.

7. May 18th is National Visit Your Relatives Day. Will you celebrate? Which relative would you visit if time, distance, and expense were not considered. 

   I will probably will celebrate it today. We won't even have to visit anyone. They come to us. My grandfather will probably be down here twice before the day is out. Also, another grandfather already stopped down this morning, so I guess we already celebrated. Most of our family lives close, so it's often not a big event.
   The relative I would visit if reality would not be considered, would be my uncle who lives in Florida. It's quite the distance to travel, and we haven't seen him in five years at least. Plus, he lives near the beach, and that would be fun.

8. Insert your own random thought here. 

   I honestly can't think of anything to write about, so here's a picture of Bob Ross holding a raccoon cub.