.: July 2010

Oh, LOOK!

It's THAT time again!
(already???)

Yep... we're goin' green around here!
I MIGHT not be around for awhile...

New Wheels!

Delivered today - straight to our driveway! Ain't it purrrrty? Ain't it shiiiiiiiiiny? Well, you know Kitty had to try it out first!!! Yea... the way Mom has been slowing down the last few months, and especially after this incident last weekend... we finally broke down and ordered a Transport Chair for her. Of course, does insurance PAY for transport chairs??? NO! They would pay for a BIG cumbersome wheel chair - IF it was doctor prescribed... which they would if I asked them ... but no - they will not pay for a transport chair to make our life ever so much less complicated! However, this little baby only weighs 19 pounds and folds up really compact so it will fit sO nicely in my trunk, and make OUTings, once again, a FUN adventure for us! And what's more... Mom LIKES it! She doesn't mind hitching a ride a BIT! So it's worth every penny! My friend Cindy and I are already planning a trip to a beautiful topiary garden that I've been dieing to visit but knew that Mom would NEVER make it through. I can't wait!

The doctors appointment went well yesterday. The doctor sees NO reason for Mom to see a cardiologist. Now I don't know if the hospital was just messin' around doing unnecessary tests (4 EKGs) ... or if the doctor (who was not our regular) just hasn't read the hospital report! Or maybe it's just God's way of saying "Leave her ALONE, I will take her when and how I please!!!" Personally, THAT makes the most sense to me! Her regular doctor will be back off maternity leave the end of September. I will discuss it all with HER then! I AM beginning to wonder WHO has the Alzheimer's though. The doctor ordered blood work which SHE forgot to give ME paperwork for... and I forgot to stop and have done on our way out!!! So now I have to stop back in one day SOON and get that done! LOL!

Life is just crazy...
as usual.

It's Come to This...

The HIGHLIGHT of my week is my new coffee mug! LOL! Isn't it pretty? I don't know if they meant it to look like wine glasses... but that's what the design reminds ME of. I like wine... but I rarely drink it... I can't see wasting the amount of calories that are IN it ON it! So, a coffee mug with a wine glass design pleases me! And I love the color and way it feels in my hand. So all things considered, it's a fairly perfect mug. For me.

It has been BEASTLY hot here... for nearly an eternity now. Okay - maybe NOT an eternity - but I really can't remember the last beautiful day we had! I mean, they all LOOOOK beautiful... as long as you stay behind the window! But step out the door and it's a SAUNA out there! I can't take MOM out into this stuff... and I really have no desire to take mySELF out there either! I did take Luz to the pool on Saturday... She had fun, but the water was like stepping into a very WARM bathtub! It was not refreshing at all. It only JUST made being out in the heat tolerable. Kids don't notice that as much as adults do. But the pool was not crowded and that tells ME that the "regulars" have had enough.

So now, having said that I CAN'T take Mom out in it... I must. She has a doctor's appointment today. The one in which I am going to be recommended to take her to a cardiologist... which is going to start a whole new brand of FUN! Gotta run! I'll visit later in the day!

Of Butter & Dragons....

I just couldn't resist! When I moved the hose around back yesterday afternoon, I discovered that there were literally HUNDREDS of butterflies in my back yard! Apparently they are attracted to my Devil's Walking Stick bushes... they have just started to produce what will eventually become red berries. Last year was the first time these beautiful (though LETHAL) bushes appeared in my woods... and I didn't notice the butterfly factor last year. But THIS year the butterflies are all over these bushes... I had a hay-day taking pictures yesterday! WOW!!! And the dragon? He just stopped by to pose! I can only assume he was jealous of the butterflies! There were a few of them around yesterday too - as a matter of fact, there was a RED one I would have really liked to capture! And then there was a typical green one. But this golden one was the only cooperative one!

Oh! By the way... in defense of Haley (and her hogging of the microphone) ... Luz was not SUPPOSED to be in this performance! This was supposed to be Haley only -- and her mom was the one catching the video. Luz ASKED if she could sing too at the last minute, and Haley and the teacher said sure. But I'm pretty sure that Haley had practiced doing this by herself and I doubt if she gave any thought to sharing the mic! LOL! (she's 5!) On the other hand, Luz didn't care -- she just wanted to sing! hehehe...

Butterflies Are FREEEEEEEEE...

My deck garden pretty much DIED while I was taking care of Mom at the hospital... but that will be another post. Today I was out trying to get the abundance of "cobs" off the front porch... and kill a wasp nest or two that had popped up... and in an effort to GREEN the intense BROWN that is growing all around us - because while our AREA has had some pretty good rainfall in the past few weeks, our NEIGHBORHOOD hasn't managed to get a drop! I keep saying we live under a bubble and I really think we do! I'm fairly convinced this is God's way of making sure I spend SOME time outdoors every day! Today's time has been spent moving the new oscillating sprinkler from one spot to another -- about every 60 minutes or so! YES, I give it that long... it's DRY out there Baby! Just ask the butterlies! Apparently I am the ONLY one watering in the neighborhood today and the butterflies KNOW it! I have had GREAT fun watching them play today! AND trying to capture them with my camera! HA! While they DO fly them little selves through the sprinkler from time to time, their greatest pleasure seems to be perhaps absorbing moisture through their little feet in the parts that were watered an hour or so ago! I guess this might be why we don't have "butterfly baths" ... only bird baths! But the birds are enjoying the sprinkler today too! And the wasps are enjoying the dripping leaves... at least the wasps that are still living! They are NOT however enjoying the fact that their nests have been put off limits to them!

I would have sworn there were only TWO
butterflies here...
(do you see more than two? I don't!)

But when I stepped a tad closer and scared them...

THREE flew away!
(do you see 3??? I do!)

There are some really gorgeous blue ones out there too... but they move entirely too fast for me to get a focus on them! And there are a bunch of orange ones too... but they didn't attract my attention as much - they are our state butterfly and are always here. I haven't seen many of these BIG yellow ones in recent years. We really have a LOT of butterflies this year! Cool!

My Little Super Star!

This is sooooooo darling! Luz and her friend, Haley, singing Taylor Swift in their kindergarten music class... what a RIOT!

Haley really has her act DOWN! Luz gets a little "head action" goin' there too! I can't stop laughing! They are sO cute!

Labels: Grandbaby

Home Sweet Home...

Mom was released from the hospital yesterday afternoon --- amid the BIG news!

The staff at the hospital had me VERY concerned about bringing her home... they were MAJORLY warning me that her "incontinence issues" would probably not correct themselves... "they usually don't in Alzheimer's patients..." they said. However, I argued that she wasn't REALLY incontinent -- she was FORCED to use pampers because she couldn't get out of bed. She didn't want them, she held it for as long as she possibly could and was VERY uncomfortable about the whole thing - physically and mentally! So, I thought it would correct itself, and it has! (thank You, Lord!)

I was also concerned because they wanted to send her home, but she HADN'T been out of the bed yet and I didn't know HOW unsteady she was going to be... and she is so very very weak! But I DID get her up walking Sunday night. She didn't go far - but she did walk under her own power. She needed help to get out of the bed, and back into it again - and she held my hands while she walked -- but she held up her own body weight. Then OT came in Monday morning and she walked some more... and then PT came in and she walked some more and even went up and down a 4 stair set. So with that, I decided she was going to be JUST FINE!

By the time she had been in the house 10 minutes she got up out of her chair by herself and headed for the bathroom! NO assistance! She's slower... and she's weak -- she tires SO easily -- but she IS going to be just fine! The Physical Therapist told me that for every DAY that they spend laying in bed, it takes 3 days to recoup their strength. Soooo... she spent 3 days in bed, it will take 9 to recover! I can handle THAT!!!

Those nurses were fatalists!!! They definitely need an attitude adjustment! LOL!

So, I missed bowling yesterday - but I got to my Bible study last night. Life is good! It will all be fine! And thank ALLLLLLL you praying people for ALLLLLLLL your prayers!!! I sO appreciate that!

BEEPBEEPBEEP

We interrupt this current DRAMA for...
*New* and *Improved* DRAMA!
(this is the BIG news!)

Do you remember THIS POST from a while back? I told you I had some family stuff going on that I wasn't sure if I would ever be able to tell you about? Well... NOW, as God would have it, I AM able to tell you about it! And just so there will be NO question about it... look VERY closely, and listen VERY carefully to what I am about to tell you...

Are you looking closely?

Are you listening carefully?

Are you thoroughly ready?

Alrighty then!

1...

2...

3...

I'M GOING TO BE A NANA AGAIN!!!!

But of course, it's complicated! Because this is MY family! (and Barbara... I JUST finished reading Take Three... and you can imagine I had major tears!) Sooooo... let me explain! Amanda and Hector and Luz are getting a new BABY -- in December. This is a little patchwork family they are creating. Amanda is not pregnant. But Derek is NOT ready to be a father. His X is not ready to be a mother... and so prayers were said and prayers have been answered. I'm not going into all the possibilities that MIGHT have taken place... but feelings had to be worked around, people needed time to "come to terms" with reality, and decisions had to be made. It is the feelings of all members of MY family, and all members of Jen's family that giving the baby to Amanda & Hector is the best thing for ALL parties concerned.

Honestly... I DESPERATELY wanted to scream this from the rooftops when I first found out - because I AM the GRANDMA, no matter what! But there was a possibility it may have been adopted out to a family far away... and then there would have been no sense posting because it just would have been sad. But God is good... all the time... and all of the people who had decisions to make and terms to come to ALL came to the right decisions and the right terms to make THIS newest little member of my family a most WELCOME bundle of JOY!!! It is due December 28th, and you will here more as we find things out!

YIPPEEEEEEE!!!
I'm a Nana AGAIN!!!
Just call me Nana II!

An afterthought...

I just want to say something. I do not promote pre-marital sex. But speaking as someone who WAS an unwed mother at the age of 18, and now as the mother of child involved in this situation, AND as a Christian woman... There is NO time (and this is MY opinion, and I know there are those who will disagree with me) ... but there is NO time when the news of pregnancy should be taken as anything OTHER than a JOYOUS thing! God does NOT make babies by accident and each one has an intended purpose. Hearing your young unmarried child's news that there is an unplanned baby on the way may not fit in to YOUR plans for your child... but I guarantee it fits into God's plan!

Okay... so NOT yet....

I can't tell yet, because the mood has to be right. Right now the mood isn't right. Right now we have a major change happening TODAY. Right now the doctor WANTED to send Mom home tonight -- but she is NOT the same person she was before she came in here, and we are NOT set up at home to have her there right now. She is not able to climb stairs - THAT is for positive. She struggled with them before - it was her daily workout! So Dennis has gone home to move HER bed downstairs and MY bed upstairs and that will put her living on one level. Well... except for showers which I'm totally NOT ready to talk about at this time... but the Lord will help me DEAL with whatever I have to deal with. We are also having incontinence issues which I am ALSO not ready to talk about or even accept! I am praying God takes that one away!!! YOU may pray to that effect also! Pleeeeeeeeeeeeeeease.

So basically, Mom & I are spending ONE more night in the hospital -- it's a gimme from the doctor -- so that Dennis can get the issues at home resolved, and I can work on getting her up and walking ... hopefully even without HELP! If we have to get a walker that will be fine... I can deal with that... but if I CAN'T get her walking... then we have someone from Rehab coming to evaluate her and she may have to go to Rehab for a few days to build some strength back up. It would actually be WONDERFUL if she could do that because THEN she might actually make it back up the steps to the shower every few days! ( I am an OPTIMIST, remember??? ) SHE can do all things through God who STRENGTHENS her!!! (on MY request!) I DO believe this. You can think I'm as crazy as a looney bird - but I DO believe this!

Thoughts...

So here I sit at 5:30 a.m. having spent the last two nights sleeping in a very uncomfortable recliner beside Mom. I'm not complaining... just stating the truth. I'm actually happy to HAVE the recliner. I can remember the days when a family member would get a BED in these circumstances... but I do understand budgets and such and insurance won't cover such extravagances these days.

Amazingly, Day 2 here went FAAAAR better than Day 1. Squeaky wheels being what they are... and this latest shift of nurses has been downright pleasant and HELPFUL! Mom is supposed to be going home today... but I'm not entirely certain that is going to happen. She did not eat lunch OR dinner yesterday... As it turned out, Dennis was with her for all 3 of her meals, so I'm not really sure what happened with that. When I returned from my morning off they had served lunch just 3 hours after breakfast... so I figured that was why she didn't eat lunch... but then they brought dinner while I was here, but she was sleeping so I let it sit, and then Dennis returned, and I left to go grocery shop. When I got back he said she only ate 2 or 3 bites and then wouldn't eat any more. THAT is NOT like Mom!!! She has not had a BM since she's been here, and that may be accounting for some of her stomach pain. They did say last night that she CAN get up to use the restroom, and I told Dennis that before I left, but it didn't happen while I was gone, and honestly she has been sleeping EVER since I got back! So I'm rather interested to see how she does this morning. I'm a wee bit worried about taking her home not knowing if she's going to be MOBILE or not. Not that it makes a difference... if she's ready to go home she's ready - we just may be having to make some adjustments at home that we were NOT thinking we would have to make just yet. *sigh*

I'm not thrilled with the idea of having to start her seeing a cardiologist either. Ugh. Have I mentioned how much I hate doctors appointments recently??? LOL! Looks like I'm probably gonna be in for a mess'o them in the near future... ooooohhh just when ya think you've got a system... it allllllllllllll changes again. Thank you Lord, for keeping life ... not dull.

Oh! Speaking of NOT dull ... I'm going to have a BIG announcement soon! Maybe even in my next post! We'll see....

(don'tcha love a teaser?!)

ROFL!

I find it hysterically funny that you guys think I have not been verbalizing my anger and annoyance to the nurses, aides, doctors and anyone else who can hear! They have heard it long before YOU heard it! I guarantee you I will be writing a LETTER to director of the hospital by the end of the weekend! ;) My dissatisfaction will be known far and wide.

Now... Dennis has come to relieve me, and I will go home and get a shower and some good sleep... and ~~maybe~~ definitely some exercise. And then I'll be back.

Oyyyyyyyyyyyyyy VEY!

Hospitals and Alzheimer's do NOT belong together!!! It is 8:30 PM and Mom has not even had her MORNING medications yet. I just asked for her NIGHT time meds and they won't give them to her until 10:00 tonight. She is a nervous Nelly -- I haven't been able to give her any of her calming medications or ANYTHING!!! She doesn't know where she is, she doesn't understand WHY they've put a pamper on her. She has to stay in the bed and she wants to get UP to use the bathroom! Ohhhhhhh let me start at the beginning...

I found her in her room, face down on the floor, she had fallen out of bed sometime during the night or morning. It was NOON when I found her. She often sleeps until 11:00 so I didn't really get concerned until around noon... so she's face down on the floor -- I don't know how long she's been there. She's soaking wet. She appears to NOT be able to move her legs or her right arm. Fortunately my resident EMT was at home and I went and got Krysti. She came up and was able to roll her over and do a preliminary evaluation, but we didn't think it wise to try to pick her up and get her onto the bed. We called 911 and Krys rode in the ambulance with her to the hospital -- I followed in my car. I WISH I had been able to give her some medications BEFORE we got here - but that would have been impossible with her laying on the floor!

So we get to the hospital and I explain that she has Alzheimer's, high blood pressure, and diabetes - all of which she is medicated for, but that she has had NO medications today. I also explain that she has had NOTHING to eat - not even coffee. As I've stated, she has STILL had no medications and it took until 5:00 pm before I was allowed to give her a BITE to eat! I'm surprised she hadn't passed out! By that time we had been at the hospital for a little more than 4 hours and all they had done was take blood and a urine test. They DID know that she did not have any broken bones. And about that time they discovered she had a UTI. Then they did an EKG and found her heart rhythms to be abnormal. Needless to say she has been admitted, and I am spending the night at the hospital with her because NOBODY understands (or cares) that she will RIP that IV out in a heart beat! Nor do they care that she is CONFUSED and doesn't understand for one minute what is going on -- or even where she is! I left the hospital for an hour when Dennis arrived. I've been back since 6:30, it's now 9:00 pm and her nurse has not been in to see her YET! Not even while Dennis was here. THIS IS CRAZY!!! And y'all wonder why we don't put her in a NURSING HOME??? Wonder noooo more! Just PRAY for her...

Prayers Please

Prayers for Mom please. She fell out of bed last night and has been laying on the floor for who knows how long. She couldn't move when I went in to check on her so the ambulance has been called. More later! Thank you!

VBS Day 5

Lesson - Acts 12:1-19
in which God rescues Peter from prison

This morning, while I (Barb Bee) was talking to the children, you will NEVER BEELIEVE that our own Queen Bee - Queen Bianca - came in to visit with us!!! And you will never BEELIEVE that she said SHE had HEARD about what a great job I had been doing... AND you will NEVER beelieve that she said they were THINKING about giving ME a promotion! ME! To Hive Director of Honey Production! Oh my! Well, you can imagine HOW excited I was! But I told her I didn't think I had really done ANYthing... but she said I did! She said I used the other bees in the hive to get the job done! She said I put the right bees in the right place and the right time! But Queen Bianca said they still needed to check my references and she wanted to check out the work that had been done with her own eyes. So while she went to do that, I sent the kids to go figure out how God worked through His people in today's story ... and I begged them to be on their BEST beehavior so that I could get this promotion! Then I scurried on down to Honeycomb Crafts where I had the bestestest project of ALL for my little bees today!!!

BEES Wax Candles!!!

This was TRULY an idea straight from the Holy Spirit! I had all my other ideas thought of and nearly completed and still had NOT come up with anything for Day 5! I prayed and asked God to give me sOMething - ANYthing - and I needed it to be something for the middle school kids as well as the little kids! Well... Inspire me He did! Bees wax candles... (this little light of miiiiiine, I'm gonna let it shiiiiiiiine...) Our take home point was Jesus, Our Savior, works through his people! Well! When Jesus is working through us, WE are his candles! Shining HIS light on the world! ANNNND... our church is currently in our season of ABLAZE. At the end of each service we say "Come, Holy Spirit, set our hearts ABLAZE!"... So, I bagged up the projects for the kids to make and printed off a little prayer for them to say when their parents lit them.

Through this lesson, I also learned that MOST of the kids - even the ones that attend our church - did NOT know what "ablaze" means. Even the 5th graders! So at the end of every service, they are saying something that they had no idea what they were asking for. It was a GREAT opportunity for me to teach THAT! NOW - even though Luz wasn't there for this lesson - even SHE can tell you that having your heart set ABLAZE means for the Holy Spirit to put the passion of God's love into YOUR heart... for God, and for others. I can't tell you what a blessing it was to ME to be able to teach that lesson!

So back to the candles... the middle schoolers made big ones and had an option between two-tone rolled or single - and they could decorate them. I WISH I had gotten pictures of some of theirs - they were fabulous! Unfortunately I don't get to work with them, so I rarely see their finished products. I did see a few from Mom's who were SO excited that their kids had made THIS! The little little's made cookie cutter candles - they stamped them out and stacked them up, and then a helper poked a hole and put the wick in. And the 2nd-5th graders made one or two cookie cutter candles AND a mini rolled candle. This project was a huuuuuuuge success for every age group! I honestly think that aside from the cost of it, it is the perfect VBS craft! And the wee littles who had worked "hard enough" to make ONE cookie cutter candle -- it IS hard stuff to cut through - nowhere near as easy as cookie dough! -- they were able to take the leftovers and just squoosh it and squeeze it and mold it into ... a glob... and we could poke a whole through THAT and call it a candle too!!! The pre-school director came through during this project and was just THRILLED with it! She is definitely planning to do this with the pre-school in coming years! And now pics -- LOTS of them!

This one... his helper had rolled his first
candle FOR him... silly teenager! I gave him
another piece and he rolled this one himself!
He was sO proud!

And THIS little girl STOLE my heart this week!
This is THE most appreciative child I have ever met!
She even thanked me for DANCING with her!
She was full of hugs and love...

And this little dude... he was one of our littlest
littles - but I called him MIGHTY MAX after
he made these candles ALL BY HIMSELF! He
cut every piece and never wanted help! And he
was the only kid to layer 3 colors too!

WHAT a way to end a week!
WHOOO HOOOO!

I LOVE VBS!
:)

OH! And when I met back upstairs with The Queen... I DID get my promotion! And the kids - who discovered that God worked through Rhoda to convince the others that Peter really WAS at the door - well after all, that WAS what they were all sitting around PRAYING for -- the kids were ALL promoted from "students" to "missionaries"! EVERYONE got a promotion! And we all lived happily ever after. Maybe. (there are no promises about THAT! Until the ever after!)

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Mathew's surgery went verrrrrrry well yesterday! The surgeon said his left nostril had been completely closed off -- he knew that -- but she confirmed it. She said she had never personally seen one THAT bad! But it was completely OPEN when she got done with it and she was very pleased! (they had thought it MIGHT require two surgeries to get it done -- but she is sure it won't! As long as he protects it until it is entirely healed!) So thank you all for your prayers -- they have certainly been answered!

Mom is having a REALLY weird day today... she has been wandering the house in circles all morning, babbling and talking to invisible people -- but NOT talking to visible people. She did stop to have a nice little chat with my exercise bike though! (no... MOST days are NOT like this! But they are happening a little more frequently... *sigh*)

Pooooooor Mathew...

My Mathew is having surgery today to repair his deviated septum. He's really very excited about it because it's going to mean a new world of BREATHING for him! But he's going to be quite uncomfortable for the next 4-6 weeks... poor boy. At any rate... I am at the hospital with him today, so I will continue my VBS tale tomorrow. If you're of a mind, you could lift him in prayer. Thanks!

VBS Day 4

VBS Day 4
Lesson - Matt 27:62-28:20
in which Jesus rose from the dead

In our opening skit, I (Barb Bee) meet Sarge -- he's with Hive Security. He has a list of infractions against our hive a mile long - and they're all MY fault! LOL! I was squirmin! I didn't even know hives HAD security! But I was informed that bees come to the hive at all hours of the day and night to eat, rest and become invigorated to go out and do their jobs - and so it MUST be a safe haven! (turns out it's a lot like going to church!) So anyway - I send the kids out to hear today's story and listen for the part about when the security guards DON'T do their job very well. (oh Sarge was INDIGNANT about that!) In the meantime, I had to go with Sarge and get these infractions taken care of....

Meanwhile... in Honeycomb Crafts... this was the first time EVER I have used one of the crafts that CAME WITH the VBS kit! But this one fit so perfectly and I knew that as much as the leaders would hate it, the kids would LOVE it ... so I had Shawn order them for me!

Planet ZOOM Fling Things!
Nothing like 85 projectiles flinging through
the VBS air space to liven things up!!!

Obviously, our take home point today was to "Go and Tell"!
(the Good News of Jesus resurrection)

It was such an easy little craft - just peel and stick - that I added another
easy little craft to it, and the kids got a two-fer today!

They also made these cute little magnets.
(some said Bee Kind, Bee Joyful, Bee Patient...)

Again, I did not get ANY pictures of the LITTLE guys...
but they ALL enjoyed the crafts! And today was Luz's
last day of VBS because they were leaving for Pittsburgh
for the weekend. (that made me a little sad)

So, meeting up with Sarge again at the end of the day, HE was more interested in learning what the kids could tell him about those "flagrantly unscrupulous" security guards in today's story! The kids DID tell him that they were supposed to be guarding Jesus tomb because the authorities were afraid someone would steal His body. But the angel SCARED the guards... and when he rolled the stone away, sure enough Jesus body was gone! He had risen from the dead! The guards ran away because they feared for their lives... So anyway - the kids learned that because Jesus had risen that proved that God had accepted the sacrifice of His Son for our sins, and that we are forgiven. Of course, we encouraged them to ZOOM out into the world and TELL!

I don't know why - but this lesson, this day, made me a little bit "uncomfortable" about teaching it. I know that Jesus DOES tell us to spread the Good News, and to grow the church... but THIS lesson seemed to me to "hit the kids over the head" with it. You all know I'm getting very involved in the "outreach" program at my church -- and to me "outreach" is really more about sharing the love of Jesus - in practical ways - and just making sure to give Jesus credit for it... rather than doing any real Bible thumping. There is such a fine line between sharing His love, and scaring people to death! (LITERALLY! - if we scare them away what good does THAT do???) I am open for thoughts on this...

Tomorrow's post will be my last day of VBS and the lesson I am MOST fond of! :) But oh! I haven't shared the NAILS I was sportin' this week! Looky here...

Don'tcha just LOVE it???

:)

VBS Day 3

VBS Day 3
Lesson - Mark 5:21-43
in which Jesus raised Jairus's daughter from the dead

First thing this morning I (Barb Bee) met Nanny McBee. Nanny was a bit out of breath and a bit out of sorts! Construction had started on C-28 and her nursery is on C-27 and all that NOISE was waking up the baby bees! (This was really all my fault... I sent Bubba up there to begin work... I didn't realize the Nursery was right there! Hey... I've only been on this job for 3 days!) Anyway... Nanny Bee really CARES for those baby bees - she nurtures them and takes care of them ... much like Jesus takes care of us! So, I had to get this matter straightened out for Nanny. She needed to calm down and BEELIEVE that I would! And the kids needed to go listen to today's story and find out WHAT Jesus to told Jairus to do, rather than be afraid. And in the meantime...

We would ALL make crafts!
(our "take home" point today was
Jesus, Our Savior, says "Believe"!)

So we all made tic tac toe bags with Bees & Leaves!
Cuz we BEE-LEAVE!!!
(Quilly should like that!)
This one is out of Fimo Clay - the 2nd-5ths did this.

The little made it out of foam.
(the bees are ear plugs! LOL!)
THIS WAS A DISASTER!!!
DO NOT DO THIS!!!

The fimo clay worked GREAT - but of course, had to be baked, so the kids could not take it home with them. Even so, that went okay. I gave them each a piece of parchment paper and they put their names on that so I could just stick them in the oven and know who's pieces were who's when they came out. They had their names on their bags and I just matched them up... it all went well. But for SOME reason I thought the LITTLE kids would have too much trouble with fimo clay and chose to do theirs with foam. THIS was probably good thinking... but I should have stuck with just SHAPES. Trying to glue the wings and eyes on the earplugs AND have them DRY all within 25 minutes just wasn't happening! The glue wasn't sticking -- at all! I had white glue, blue glue, purple glue sticks, glue dots, and double sided sticky tape! We tried it all! I ended up having to bring 32 sets of bees home with me Wednesday night and HOT GLUE them all! The bees & leaves theme is perfect - if I do say so myself -- but the earplug bees was surely satan's work!!! LOL! However - God and I make a good team and WE WON!!! The kids got the final product and were never the wiser that THEY hadn't glued them!

Some of the older kids working on them... I got NO pictures
of the little kids. All of my helpers, and myself were FAR too
busy just trying to make the project work... *sigh*.

When I met back up with Nanny McBee we had had QUITE a day! Nanny DID believe that I would take care of her problems ... and I did. We got the Nursery moved to the D wing, and the baby bees even got a snack room and a flying gym out of it! We talked about how important those baby bees are - they are the FUTURE of the hive!!! Just like the KIDS are the future of our church! And of course we talked about today's story too - and how Jesus brought Jairus's daughter back to life -- and he does that for US too - through baptism. And then he cares for us and nurtures us -- just like Nanny. But MOST importantly, He forgives our sins so that we can be in Heaven with God one day. And WHAT did Jesus tell Jairus to do? BELIEVE!!! Jairus DID believe - even though he was scared and worried - he put his trust in Jesus and his daughter was okay. YAY JESUS!!!

Wednesday evening we had a concert at church with the group that provides our music for VBS each year -- Captive Free. Captive Free is a ministry that puts musically talented young Christians together and then sends them on tour for a year around the states - or internationally too! The group changes every year and while they are always good, this years group was AWESOME! That young lady in the pink shirt has got more pep and energy than any 5 year old out there, and a VOICE like an angel! (of course, Luz fell in love with the guy in the red shirt!) They were all a really great group of kids though... I really enjoyed them this year! And so did the kids!

Of course... it was evening... I was only
interested in ONE kid! (not really... but
she's the one I photographed!)

Have I mentioned lately how much I LOVE VBS???
(just 2 more days to go...)

VBS ... Day 2

VBS - Day 2

Lesson - John 6:1-15
(in which Jesus feeds a BIG crowd)

Today, I (Barb Bee) met Bubba, a construction bee! He was looking for work and said he was pretty good at making honeycombs and honey too! He said he made honey (gobs of it!) from teeeeeeny tiiiiiiiny particles of pollen! I could HARDLY believe it! But I sent him to work up on C-28. He got lost and ended up back at my hive -- that's cuz he's NOT a Scout'n bee for sure! It was okay... everybody's good at something! I sent the kids off to listen to hear about Jesus miracle and told them to listen for the "little things" he used to make that miracle happen! Then I led Bubba up to his new job, and buzzed my way back down to crafts!

Our project for today was this...

Like this for the pre-school and K-1's

... and like this for the 2nd-5th's.
(just to make it a little different)

ALL age groups really enjoyed this craft because of the scratch paper! It didn't matter if they scribbled or if they intricately designed their art work - it ALL came out looking fabulous! And of course, it held GREAT reminders of the primary components of Jesus MIRACLE! Two fishies and 5 loaves of bread! (and getting them in order! Whooo!) Great fun!

So, of course, when I met back up with Bubba & the kids at the end of the day, they had all found out that Jesus used two little fish, and 5 little loaves of bread (not big loaves like we buy at the grocery store - biscuit sized loaves - not that it matters!) to feed FIVE THOUSAND people!!! That is even crazier than turning tiny little particles of pollen into gobs and gobs of honey! But then, Jesus is FAR better at miracles than Bubba is! Bubba has to use elbow grease... Jesus just uses God Power!!!

See ya tomorrow!

I Live! I Live! I Truly Live!

Ohhhhhh GOOD MORNING Friends!!! It has been soooooooo long! I don't think I EVER remember being this busy in my life! Vacation Bible School is OVER and I will share it with you over the course of the next few days! I'm still crazy busy today though... I am preparing and serving dinner for 25 down at our homeless shelter tonight! My oven is out of commission, so I am going over to Amanda's to do all the cooking, and then I have to transport the HOT food down to the shelter and serve it up. Of course, TODAY our temps are down to around 79 degrees. It's been 101, 102, 103 all week -- but today when I NEED my trunk to be like an oven ... *grin* ... ohhhh welllllllllll! Sooooooooo...

VBS -- Day 1
The Lesson - Luke 2:41-52
in which the young boy, Jesus, visits the temple.

Of course, since our theme was Planet ZOOM - which isn't outer space at all - but a friendly little BEE HIVE - all of our lessons were centered around bees! I started my day each day as Barb Bee, acting plant manager of the hive. On day one I meet Scout Bee who's job is to go out and find pollen and lead the other busy bees to it. Scout and I discuss how every bee has a different job to do and that MY job is finding problems and solving them in the hive. So, Scout is looking for pollen... I am looking for problems... and we send the children out to look for answers! Today the answers they were looking for were to "who was looking for something/someone in our story today - and who/what were they looking for?" Then I send them on their way and I zzzzip down to Honeycomb Crafts to do my OTHER job!

Welcome to my hive!

This was our craft for today!

My lesson spoke of how Jesus went to the temple (and explaining that a "temple" was like a church -- and YES, we DID put crosses on OUR temples!) to learn and memorize scripture JUST LIKE WE DO! But He also went to seek and save the lost (which was our "take home" point for the day) ... But at the Storyteller, they would learn that Mary & Joseph "lost" Jesus and had to go back and find Him!

And here are some of my favorite shots of the day...

A very busy table of little bees!
(we had 10 four year olds)

This little guy stole my heart!

Look at the tongue!
Such concentration!

The older kids really liked this craft too!
(I was surprised... I thought it might be ... boring for them)

And... the light of my life!
SHE had a BLAST this week!!!
LOVED every minute!

I had THIS honeycomb in my classroom for when they were
finished their craft - they were allowed to play in it. It was a
HUUUUUUUGE HIT!!!

Of course, at the end of the day, I zzzzip back up to the sacristy (in full bee regalia) to continue my conversation with Scout and the kids! We find that Scout did indeed find pollen, and the boys and girls did indeed find out that Mary and Joseph FOUND Jesus, back at the temple talking to the priests and teachers. And the reason He was doing that was because He came to seek and save the lost! And how all of Heaven rejoices (with singing and dancing!!!) every time Jesus finds another lost person!

That's all for now!

I SHALL return!
:)

.

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Thursday, July 29, 2010

Oh, LOOK!

Wednesday, July 28, 2010

New Wheels!

Tuesday, July 27, 2010

It's Come to This...

Friday, July 23, 2010

Of Butter & Dragons....

Thursday, July 22, 2010

Butterflies Are FREEEEEEEEE...

Wednesday, July 21, 2010

My Little Super Star!

Tuesday, July 20, 2010

Home Sweet Home...

Monday, July 19, 2010

*BEEP*BEEP*BEEP*

Sunday, July 18, 2010

Okay... so NOT yet....

Thoughts...

Saturday, July 17, 2010

ROFL!

Friday, July 16, 2010

Oyyyyyyyyyyyyyy VEY!

Prayers Please

Thursday, July 15, 2010

VBS Day 5

Wednesday, July 14, 2010

Pooooooor Mathew...

Tuesday, July 13, 2010

VBS Day 4

Monday, July 12, 2010

VBS Day 3

Sunday, July 11, 2010

VBS ... Day 2

Saturday, July 10, 2010

I Live! I Live! I Truly Live!

BEEPBEEPBEEP