This is it...last night for V.B.S.

I'd be telling an un-truth if I said I was sad to see it end. I'm exhausted. My whole family is completely exhausted. We are sooooooo looking forward to Pismo next week. We are blessed to be able to end a busy 2 weeks with something as wonderful as a vacation at the coast.

However, I would do it all again. It's been extremely rewarding for many reasons.

First and foremost is the children you see touched by all the effort. One 4 year old was leaving with his Daddy and said, "I'm glad this church loves children so much!" Can you believe that? This little one equated the effort by grown ups as love for him and his buddies. That is amazing to me.

Second, we've had kids come in from the neighborhood and one Mom even ask me if they could start coming on a regular basis. That's good stuff...

And finally, I've watched my daughter, writer of all the V.B.S. scripts, handle a tough situation as one who is in charge. She gathered a wonderful cast of characters and has written funny, thoughtful, enjoyable scripts delivered with the message each night of finding your gift. God gave each of us a gift, it's just up to us to find it and use it. She has crafted wonderful times that the children have enjoyed with jubilation! She's even had to handle cranky and not-so-pleasant adults by being involved in the thick of things. She made me very proud.

So, it's been wonderful, but thankfully tonight is it!

I don't typically like to share these things, but, if you all wouldn't mind praying for me I would appreciate it. I'm not overly healthy and tomorrow starts some tests trying to figure it all out. If they find something they don't like, I don't get to go to Pismo. That would be tragic! I tried to put off the test until after we come back, but couldn't talk them into it. I have another test after we get back, so whoopie! (I hate going to the Dr.!)

Anyway, as much as I want them to find something so they can fix it, I am hoping it's not more than what will allow me to go to the beach for a week.

Thanks for the prayers.
blessings...

It's V.B.S. Prep week. It's the week that is actually longer and harder than the V.B.S. week itself.

Many folks have been working 10-12 hour days to pull this vision together.

It amazes me to see the dedication of these people because of their love for the children of this community and church.

What a Blessing!

In case you haven't figured it out already, it's a carnival theme this year. Roller coasters, merry-go-rounds, carni-games, Ferris wheels...and that's just in the auditorium! The idea is that this old run-down carnival with cob-webs and tumble weeds is purchased by an old gentleman who remembers it fondly and loves it dearly. Through work, sweat, and toil, the cast of characters will not only transform this old run-down place into a thriving exciting wonderful carnival, but find their own personal gifts and talents in the process!

I'm looking forward to seeing the process...watching the kids as they begin to "get it". But the most amazing thing to me about V.B.S. is watching the adults. There are people who rarely find a spot to work in any other time of year...but during V.B.S., they find their gift. There are those who reluctantly agree to be "actors" in the skits and end up being super-stars to the children. There are people who sit with the children watching, but taking it into their heart, also. There are neighborhood people who bring their children for the first time, and now, a year later are still coming because of the love they found in this place. There are people who get to work together and realize they have much in common but never knew it because they normally sit on opposite sides of the auditorium during the Sunday assembly time...

It's tiring, it's wonderful, it's exhausting, it's spirit-filled, it's all consuming, it's eternal!

Pray for our workers...pray for the children who will come next Monday - Thursday.

This week has been a whirlwind of emotion. Great pride, joy and sorrow all mixed up together. Ashley's school puts on a musical at the end of the year right before graduation. Last week was the show. It was a long exhausting week, but one that I'm sure the kids feel good about.

Last night was graduation. I was stable and calm. It was amazing to watch that little girl all grown up marching in with her class...Graduating. Little tears, but considering who I am, I was rather proud of the composure I maintained.

We went with family after graduation and celebrated with dinner and then it was off to Sober Grad night. It's a wonderful time for the kids. It's safe and fun and a time to just relax and be grateful you made it through! This year the kids went to a mini amusement park in Fresno. Water slides, miniature golf, food, D.J., Racing cars...they had a blast. Signing year books, hugging, laughing, just good fun being together. This is a very small class compared to other high schools. About 65 kids. So they are a tight knit group.

Lex, being the amazing father that he is, chaperoned the evening/night. He's had about 2 hours sleep as we speak and will head out after church to work for the afternoon.

But, I think one of my proudest moments was watching her brother take care of her in so many ways this week. Avery was in the midst of it all, helping with tech difficulties during the show, hanging out with people that came to the house, (a teen-age form of hospitality), fixing his sister's broken shoe needed for graduation night, and countless other moments of sweet sibling love. I am so proud of both my kids. They are good people. I could disappear (not that I have any plans of that!) and they would continue to be solid, Godly, amazing people. I really feel like my work on them is finished. God has always shown me what should be done and when...and for now, I can let go.

What a blessing...how very sad...

Last night I had the pleasure of attending my daughter's Baccalaureate Service. Next Saturday is Graduation.

I say that all very matter-of-factly, however, I'm a mess.

I made the mistake today of "Map Quest-ing" from my house to ACU. 1411.63 miles.

Did you really read that? Over fourteen hundred miles away from me my baby will be! What are we thinking?! I'm a mess.

O.K. Many of you have experienced this already. You're probably thinking..."you're not the first one to send your child off to College. Parents have been doing it for years."

I know. But I'm still a mess.

Last night at the service, the guest speaker said that sociologists have actually named my generation of parents...it's called the "helicopter generation". Have you heard this before? We are called this because of our "hovering" capabilities with our children. We are involved in every aspect of their lives...hovering at all times in case they need us.

We laughed, but we all knew with few exceptions, he was correct. It's going to be very difficult to hover 1400 miles away. I'm a mess.

What I know without a doubt is that in spite of my achy-breaky heart, she is doing exactly what she is supposed to do.

I know that God has His hand on her, and I know He's leading her to be what He wants and needs her to be.

I know that our kids are a gift...a blessing. I know that if we are doing our job correctly, they will eventually leave us to fly their own path with their own wings.

I know all this...and in the course of the next couple of months, I'll probably write more about this as we prepare to take her to her next stop in life.

But for now...for today, I'm a mess!