VBS 2011 Panda Mania Hope CC

We just finished a week of Vacation Bible School at church. Luke and I worked as crew leaders and the other three boys participated as crew members. I just wanted to write down some of the amazing stories the kids learned about and what the leaders did to reinforce them. There was such creativity and love for the kids to hear the truth and remember.

On day one the Bible point was "God made you." The Bible story was the creation. Each crew was given a sack. In the sack were items that represented a certain day of creation. The kids got to use the props and act out what day they were.

On day two the Bible point was "God listens to you." The story was of Elijah VS the prophets of Baal. To demonstrate the story they had a kiddie pool filled with gravel and big rocks. The kids spread out the gravel then built an alter with the rocks. Sticks were laid. We couldn't exactly kill a bull, so something very important to the kids was to be sacrificed instead. It was a Hershey chocolate bar. The kids went nuts! . Then water was poured over all three times. And of course we couldn't really set a fire. A great helper stormed in dressed as a firefighter saying how when Elijah prayed God went a pillar of fire so hot it burned up everything and MELTED the stones. This was all after the Baal prophets had no luck getting their "god" to bring fire. The One True God listens.

On day three the point was "God watches over you." The story was Jonah and the big fish. The drama team made a belly of a fish with giant trash bags inflated with fans that about 25 kids and leaders could all go in. The fans were also blowing the scent of an open can of sardines! Even in the belly of a whale, God watched over Jonah.

On day four the point was "God loves you, no matter what!" The story was of Peter denying Jesus, his best friend. One of the church staff dressed up as Peter and talked about how terrible he felt. At the ending, another staffer dressed up as Jesus and hugged him, forgiving him. Jesus still loved him no matter, and He still loves us no matter what.

Day five the point was "God gives good gifts". The story was of Hannah. The drama team divided the crew leaders from the kids. The leaders were Pininnah, and the kids were Hannah. These two women were both the wives of Elkanah. P had lots of kids, H had none. So the leaders got lots of candy, the kids none. Then the kids each got 1 piece of candy. But then gave it back because H gave Samuel back to God. Then God blessed her with more children.

It was a great week. The leadership team did an amazing job with lots of hard work and prayer. The competition of boys vs girls with raising $ for missions was very intense. One day boys were ahead, the next the girls were ahead. All together the kids raised $1400!! The money will be divided between an India Missions League providing Indian children their own Bible club and discipleship and a missionary in Haiti who just opened an orphanage.

Banana Pops!

My friend Gwen recently shared these amazingly easy delicious treats on her blog. We made them a couple weeks ago and the only reason we haven't again is because I need to grocery shop.

Take a bunch of bananas, peel them and cut in half. Into the bottom of each half, insert a Popsicle stick. Then lay on a wax paper lined baking sheet. Freeze for a few hours.



When then bananas are frozen, make the dip. This is 1/2 cup melted coconut oil, 1/4 cup honey, and 1/4 cup coco powder. Feel free to double if you have a lot of bananas. I had 12 halves and the amount came out just right.



You can also have different roll-ins. All I had at the time was shredded coconut and chopped almonds. You could also use sprinkles, other nuts, mini chocolate chips...


So working quickly, dip the frozen banana in the chocolate sauce then roll in the toppings. The sauce hardens very fast once on the bananas. It also makes a great ice cream sauce!




I hope you will try these with your kids this summer! They'll love the entire process and it is a healthy cool treat to boot!





Leat

Tepache Pineapple Drink

I recently learned about a Mexican drink called Tepache.

With only three ingredients, I thought I'd give it a try.

All you need is a pineapple, brown sugar, water and a gallon glass jar.



Cut up the pineapple. Put the rind pieces (without the leaves) into the gallon jar. Enjoy the fruit or if you must, share with your family.





To the rind, add 1- 1 1/2 cups packed brown sugar.



Top the jar with water leaving 1 inch or so head room.



Gently stir with a wooden spoon to dissolve the brown sugar. Put the lid on and let sit on the counter 3-5 days. Remove the lid once each day to release any pressure. Strain off the liquid,discard used rind and refrigerate the tepache.



This will keep for several days. Enjoy!

Most of the garden is in!

I have been dragging my feet on finishing the garden. I am great at procrastinating. But when my wonderful husband, who was not feeling good, tilled up the small garden for me, I went ahead and put more seeds in the ground. Guess what? It wasn't bad at all! Even with the wind.

I am switching things around from the big garden to the small. Just because I felt like it. HAHA. So the small garden has tomatoes, peppers, sweet corn, pumpkins and spaghetti squash. Bordered on two sides with calendulas. (marigolds)

The big garden has cabbage,beets, kale, spinach, carrots, lettuce, potatoes, herbs, garlic,onions, beans cantaloupe and popcorn. I might add more to the big garden as there is still a lot of empty spaces. Not sure what though.

So that is the latest around here.

Have a great day!

Leat

Almost Ready

I am almost ready to tackle the garden again. Almost.

I have my seeds inventoried, I just need to figure out my layout. I want to put things closely together in groups to help keep weeds down. I also have an area of the big garden that gets less sun than the rest, so I need to put more shade loving things there.

I guess I'm waiting for the weather to be just a tad warmer and out of night frost danger. I also am waiting because once I put the seeds in the ground, I'll be committed to watering or having the kids water regularly. Lazy sounding, I know.

I am usually so excited every spring to get the garden going. Then come the rains, followed closely by the weeds.

My plan of attack this year will be mulch. If it doesn't get blown away.

I am kind of excited to try some new things this year. My attempt at herbs last year failed miserably. This year I'll try putting them in the big garden where the soil is not clay. I'm also excited about growing cabbage and making our own sauerkraut. Kale, different lettuces, beets, and the usual tomatoes, peppers, squash, corn and beans.

Leat

Walking

I have decided to walk the month of March. I do it everyday anyway, just need to set a reasonable goal and do it! So far I am 2 for 2. My official goal is three miles per day. If I go over, bonus!

I broke the clip on my pedometer, so am using my sons for now. I just clip it on first thing in the morning and move until I reach my goal.

Having a goal does make me move more than I normally would, which is a good thing! I find myself pacing the floor as I read to the boys instead of sitting on the couch. I don't do it all in one big chunk. I count pittering around the house, back and forth to the clothesline etc. But I have been making a point to do a few laps around our land and in the evenings after dinner, Bri and I will walk up and down the road.

So far I have managed to get my three miles in during the day then the 1.5-2 miles in the evening are just icing on the cake.

So that's what I'm up to. Wish me luck!

Leat

Taste of Spring

Over the weekend we had a wonderful taste of spring. I'm talking, in the 70's short sleeves, MUST be outside.

Saturday we decided to drive by a house in Riverside. It was a junker! But we went to the park and the kids played. The bathrooms were not opened so we walked a few blocks into down town and found a Quick Trip. We headed back a different way and found the Keeper of The Plains. It is a local landmark in Wichita. We always knew it was there but have never been up close and personal. Back at the park the kids played a while longer then we loaded up to go out for dinner.

We ate at Playa Azul in their downtown location. After all that walking the food never tasted so good! Then we walked some more around the Old Town district.

Not wanting to go home just yet, we hung out at Barnes and Noble for an hour or so.Then stopped and picked up some ice cream as a night cap.

Sunday morning we went to church and came home and had lunch. It was another nice day so we loaded up and headed to El Dorado. They have a great walking/biking path that we had been on before but never the whole way. It turned out to be maybe a mile or more. At the end, it wrapped down under a bridge and to another park. The kids had a blast playing. What better way to end the evening then Gambino's Pizza! Again, after all that walking dinner never tasted so good!

Such a great weekend. We cannot wait for real spring and be outside everyday!