Gold Rush: Discovering the Rock of Ages!

This summer is giving us little time to catch our breath, but isn't that sooooo much better than being bored?  Just a mere 48 hours after leaving Band Camp, we were full swing into our church's summer Vacation Bible School!  This year's theme was such fun for the kids and the staff alike.  Most of us have a little "yeehaw" in us, and vbs was our chance to let it out! 
Five evening sessions lasted 2-1/2 hours each, but with the team rotation format and live drama not one attention span had time to max.  It was amazing!  All four of our kids equally enjoyed their classes, games, snacks, Bible time, crafts, and assemblies.  We were blessed by the incredible staff that volunteered to make the week a huge success. Most of these photos were taken by Stephanie Cantrell, who did a great job with the nightly slide shows! 

Toothless Kait @ 24 Karat Crafts

Allison @ Lip-Smakin' Snacks

Olivia (our niece) and Halie (a friend from church)

Kait @ Discovery Mine Bible Time

Kait's team with their awesome team leader - Kerri (far left)

Part of Ryan and Evan's team with their awesome
team leaders - Dennis & Brenda Estes (far right)

Part of Allison's team with her awesome team leader -
Heather (left), and one of her helpers - Sondra (right)

"My name is Ryan, and I'm 11..." - nuff' said  :-)

Allison exhibiting some creativity

Ready to paint!

One of the "Miners" taking a break

This is our second year to incorporate drama into the vbs.  It occurs in the final assembly, lasts about 20 minutes, and is continued from night to night.  At the program, the entire drama is reenacted for the congregation. It incorporates humor and suspense, is filled with spiritual content from start to finish (weaving the plan of salvation throughout), and includes at least one of the characters making a distinct decision to ask Jesus into their heart. 

Sheriff Theodore Tweedle (Greg) and Deputy Otis Henry (Greg)

Supposed to be getting a shave, but Otis wanted
to give Theodore the "spa treatment"...

The kids were captivated by the "hold up" of the sheriff's
dept (notice the "dynamite" between them)

Peteunia Periwinkle (Sharree) and Sadie Brown (Lindsay)
did an awesome job in the drama!

We are fortunate to have a photographer(thanks, Wendy!)in the congregation, and she took a photo of each student which they received in a nice frame on the last night of vbs. These are all 'pictures of pictures', so excuse the quality...

Hmmm...they look familiar  :-)

My camera likes to do its own thing...what's with the yellow?

***We highly recommend VBS materials from Answers in Genesis! The quality, content, and price are unbeatable, and our team loves the format. We have done the 2010 and 2011 kits, and are doing the 2009 kit next year. 2011 is a personal fav so far, but 2009 looks very facinating!

Band Camp 2011

Last Saturday, we loaded the RV and made our way to Greenfield, IN to enjoy a little family time together before Band Camp. We had a safe trip, and had a few hours to eat and shop in Indy after setting up camp.
Sunday found us worshipping with our friends at the beautiful Franklin, IN PHC. It was so good to see them again, especially "kids" that we have worked with at youth camps of the past (definitely feeling a little old!). We spent the afternoon with Pastor Forsee, his sweet wife Kim, and their 7 (yes, 7) handsome boys. Kim fixed a delicious lunch, and we had such a good time laughing and catching up while the 10 of the 11 kids entertained themselves in the backyard.
Within a few hours, our official breadwinner was on his way back home to spend the week working and missing us, while we were busy packing up suitcases, and readying the boys for a week of dorm life.
The family photographer spent the beginning of the week chilling out and avoiding the camera, so photos are limited, but here is Allison's synopsis of our trek to the dorm early Monday morning: "Momma, we look like the Duggars!"
Ryan and Evan are both playing trumpet, and they couldn't have asked for a better instructor! Mr. David Hartkopf taught them so much in that short week, and left them begging for more. They are definitely missing their band sessions!

At the time of this photo, half of their class was outside
working with another instructor.

Hoping this wasn't as painful as Evan made it look.  :-)

With a buddy, Evan Sproles

Fun recreation a couple of times a day...

Passing those jello covered pennies!

I played mom to Brad for the week, and he wasn't feeling
too well this night...definitely not enthused by passing pennies. 
I think a dose of Robitussin helped things a little.

Ryan working the end of the line

Hilariously gross skits with Mr. Ricker and Mr. Clemens

Practicing for the Saturday morning concert

So good to see Mr. Wolf in action again!  The boys know what a privilege it is to have this opportunity.  Mr. Wolf is at a point in life where he could easily retreat to quiet place and relax for the next 30 years...he's given so much of himself.  Instead, he chooses to continue to invest, and the passion that he exhibited at band camp is the same passion that we have seen in the college choir room as well as at hundreds of platform events for years.  What a gracious man.

It is impossible to get a clear picture of Mr. Stroup!  He doesn't stand still long enough for that, but he sure did make an impression on the students with his daily sessions on "Fearing God". 

There was no shortage of noise and fun!

Mr. Joslin's commitment to excellence and leadership training is so inspirational.  We are thankful to have him as our ACE representative, hosting our educator's conventions and regional student convention.  Band camp is a venue that gives parents and teachers an additional option for ministry training.

There was a large audience for the Saturday morning concert, and each of the groups did a fantastic job! Mrs. Mater's strings ensemble was a favorite.

Beginning Band ~Final Concert

Mrs. Wetherald directing Intermediate Band

Advanced Band

Allison keeping it cool in the sprinkler.
Our camper became Popsicle Central for staff kids.  :) Kaitlynn
and Allison made lots of new friends (wish I had taken pics)
 and no one wanted to leave!

Love those trumpets!  This gives the boys lots of inspiration.

Students and instructors for Band Camp 2011
Midwest Christian Camps/Garen Wolf School of Music

Thanks, Mr. Hartkopf, for your patience and guidance! 

The boys were also able to participate in choir sessions with Mrs. Kristina Clemens.  John Klotz and Daniel Anthony served as Ryan and Evan's team captains.  Mr. Craig was the valiant keeper of the boy's dorm - he had to be more than happy to get home to clean air and his own bed!  Mrs. Stroup, Mrs. Joslin, and their helpers did a fantastic job creating meals for hungry boys!  Three daily meals, as well as a nutritious morning fruit snack, kept their appetites well satisfied...and that's saying something!  :-)
We are looking forward to Band Camp 2012!

Happy Birthday, USA!

July 4th is a favorite holiday because we are proud Americans! Although our beloved country is experiencing crisis on many fronts, it is rich in history, innovation, opportunity, and FREEDOM! We aren't giving up on America, and we celebrate her birth.
This year we spent the holiday weekend (stretched into 6 days) at Grand Lake State Park. We haven't camped there in years, and the kids enjoyed being able to fish, bike, play in the sand, and sit around the campfire. Grandpa and Grandma Burley stopped in for a meal on Saturday, and Mama and Papa Nichols pulled their RV in next to ours. They had some other obligations that took them away part of the time, but we were able to make some good memories.

Kaitlynn has fun arranging fruit...notice a missing front tooth  :-)

The following weekend, just before leaving for band camp, we attended our local parade. Eric, Meg, and the kids came along, and they had fun bagging as much candy as they could grab!

The girls

Our local fire department had the loudest sirens of any of the
communities represented.  Obnoxiously loud.  Poor Suzie
was trying to deal with it.

Allison needed help.  :-)

Woo hoo! More sugar!

Little Will...such a cutie, and loves to wrestle! 
He is not intimidated by Ryan and Evan when
they act 'all boy'.  He jumps on top of the pile and gets to it!

Our little American gals

Silly Cousins

~Kait -n- Livvy~
(this one's for you, Valerie!)