VBS 2012

You've read all about our exciting Branson vacation.  The reason for the vacation?  We just finished a very busy, fun-filled week of VBS.  When I say finished, I mean I just co-coordinated the entire thing from start to finish.  Here's a look at our 2012 VBS journey.

A lot of people don't know how we come up with the curriculum.  Well, usually we don't.  We buy it instead.  You could easily come up with your own curriculum, but I don't have the time to figure out the theme, coordinating Bible stories and Scriptures, snacks, games, songs, decorations, and the list goes on and on...I prefer getting it already prepared and I just have to organize the volunteers and supplies (and many other things, but it's easier to have the theme and lessons already planned out).

Here are the daily giveaways.  Each child got to take a prize home that coordinated with our Bible Point.  I like to order these types of things in bulk from Oriental Trading Co.

Our curriculum comes from Group Publishing and they provide an online registration page.  You can set it up how you like and share the link with the public so they can register their child online.  I love having all that info in one place.  I handle all the registration so I become very familiar with each child.  I also love the Countdown To VBS ticker, though it tends to give me anxiety when I look at it!

We love to spoil all the wonderful volunteers (60+) and always try to provide some yummy treats throughout the week.  At the beginning of the week, everyone gets a VBS Survival Kit.  We always try our best to match the goodies in the kit to correspond with the theme.  Each year, they get better and better.  A very generous Store Manager at Kroger provided us with the clear deli containers.  They were perfect!

The Friday, Saturday, and Sunday before VBS are decorating days.  It takes a small army to get it all done.  I really appreciate those that are able to help set up and tear down.

Our Children's Pastor, and my partner, always comes up with the stage design and various decorations.  He does a great job.  It's all about the details too.  He drew an animal in the clouds.

And made our pigs fly!

I recruited some help.

The Bible stations are always so nicely decorated to fit the Bible stories.  Our volunteers do that themselves and it always looks amazing.

Here's a great photo opp for kids, volunteers, and/or parents.

Look, we're floating!!!

We had some dress up days throughout the week.  One of them was Superhero Day.  My little Superheroes were floating too!

Of course, the whole reason (and only reason) I prepare our VBS from April-July is to share the Salvation message with kids that may have never heard it before.  The Bible station had an awesome visual this year.  Each kid got a black plastic strip to represent their sins.  Then, they all placed their sins upon the cross.  The station leader took all the strips down to show that our sins have been wiped clean and we are forgiven.  The kids really got it!

We always have such an emotional and amazing prayer time during our closing assembly.  Here's Kaitlyn having a tender moment with Jesus.

My kids understand why I spend so much time on this and know there are lots of kids that still have to learn about the love of Jesus.  They also look forward to VBS and I tell them very little of the details to keep it a surprise for them.  They love every day of it.

We always raise money for BGMC and the kids really gave this year.

After 5 days of craziness, we close with our Family Fun Night and invite the whole family to come to close out the week.  I always have to talk and give my special thanks to all that helped.  None of this would be possible without all of the amazing, generous, enthusiastic volunteers.

The night's festivities included a Dunk Tank, inflatables, concessions, kite flying, bubbles, and of course, not one, but two human sundaes!!!!

I was definitely not alone in planning this.  I can't thank my partner in crime enough, Pastor John Cruz.  He puts up with me, I put up with him.  He handles his part of VBS, I handle my part, and it all gets done.  We are a great team.