Bowling has become Zeke’s game of choice. He is so good at Wii bowling that he beats his siblings. When he had resorted to standing crayons on end for pins, I decided to buy him a children’s bowling set for his birthday. He sets it up on the floor or on the bench and practices quite often. Periodically, all other occupants of the house are forced into games of bowling. When bowling, he puts his game face on. He is already attempting to work on his hook as he releases the ball with his knuckles on top. I see shades of Dale’s Daddy when he throws. At Chuck E. Cheese this week, he spent most of his coins at skee ball. Skee balls are a bit heavy, so I could see that his arm was tiring and I tried to encourage him to move to another game. But he refused to stop. When I wasn’t looking, he’d slip another coin in the slot and throw some more skee balls. Dale may have hope yet to play in a league with his family. Lucky for him, he has enough children that he won’t be handicapped by his wife. Zeke has learned what Dale knows quite well: I am a terrible bowler. When Zeke tired on skee ball, I decided to try to help him out, and he realized quite quickly that maybe I wasn’t much help at all.
Last week, the kids attended our church’s Vacation Bible School (VBS) and had a great time. My VBS experiences go way back to summers in Northern Minnesota. I attended the VBS at my church growing up. Then, when I was a teenager, a motley crew of us (Sherri being one) would travel around Northern Minnesota to all the small churches in the boondocks and run VBS. Sometimes two teenagers, sometimes three, depending on the number of children attending would run an all day VBS for a week. We were provided with curriculum and crafts, songs that were on signboards and the ever exciting Sunday School Charlie felt board stories to close out the day. Once Dale and I met, I moved from VBS to Kid’s Crusades and witnessed the tremendous gifting of Dale’s Mama and Plain Old Judy. In all those experiences a few people did a whole lot. Last week, a whole lot of people did a few things each. The result was fantastic. Abby was a helper in the Nursery all week and has sore arms to prove it. We have some heavy babies in the church. My only task was to walk 14 four and five year olds from station to station. I had two teen helpers for this task, one of which was Josiah who was glad when the week ended. I counted the kids constantly for fear I’d lose one. By the end of the week, some of them took to counting as well to help me out. As soon as I thought I had it all under control, one would get loose. As Dennis told me, it looked like I was herding cats. The VBS had great crafts and activities, good storytellers, interesting snacks, plenty of action songs, games that got you wet, and the Rupert traveling theater troop. My favorite part of the skits was when a friend of Abby’s would walk by holding a duck or a sheep and make the animal sound that went with it. She did it so straight faced, it was a hoot. I found the activities especially captivating. The kids made ice cream using a sandwich ziplock of ice cream ingredients inside a gallon ziplock filled with ice and salt. They dyed felt in carrots, beets, and cabbage. They made a plastic cup version of a chia pet person. Every day I was excited to get to the activities room to see what they had thought of next. The craft people were not outdone, however as the kids made stamped bandannas, cow bells, and sheep. I am always amazed at clever craft people as I am utterly lacking in the craftiness that is beneficial to others. The snack woman was also gifted in her task and created all kinds of fun shapes and combinations of foods. It encourages me in this world of technology, that felt board story telling still exists and children still find it fascinating. Each child was given a CD containing the songs about the Fruit of the Spirit. Zeke, of course, loves to sing them all complete with actions. The children donated their allowance (pocket money) for Spanish language Bibles that will be sent to our missionary in Cofridia, Mexico. Barry, who was running the show, had hoped to send 5 -10 Bibles. The children gave so generously and the bookstore owner was so gracious that close to 100 Bibles will be mailed off next week. Barry said he felt as if he had experienced a fish and loaves moment. The end of the week culminated with a County Fair party complete with a Blue Grass Band, cotton candy (fairy floss) and a pie judging contest. My Mom will be surprised to know that I actually entered a pie as my pie making ability is a bit lacking. I am much better at cakes and cookies. I found out that night that there is a master pie maker in our church. She won a hat trick of blue ribbons. It was a great week. I wish I could tell Dale’s Mama and Plain Old Judy about it. I know it would make them smile.
Manrys at VBS
Throughout my life I have had friends, like my brother Rob and Space, who are the life of the party. Yet, when I lived in Australia, I met two people who are not only the life of the party, they are the party. Jed and Liz Brien bring the party with them wherever they go. While in Australia, Dale and I attended one of their 30th birthday parties. The first one was held the last night of Jed’s 20s (They celebrate their birthdays together because Liz was born on Christmas). It was a wild and crazy event. The second was held the next day when they were 30 and must now behave like old people. It was a Lawn Bowling party. Lawn Bowling is something the elderly play in Australia. Dale and I attended the Lawn Bowling party since we were on our way to becoming aged. As with all their parties, it was a blast. A month ago, Liz emailed me that she and the kids might be able to swing by on their around the world visits before they all moved to Mexico to teach in a Christian school. I told her that if she came, I would be at the airport with balloons and an obnoxious sign. When I went to the party shop to choose balloons for the kids, I saw one that said, “The Party is Here!” I knew I had to buy it for Liz. The kids had a terrific time swimming, playing pool, and carrying around Patches. The Briens always arrive ready for a party, so conveniently Zeke turned 4. For Zeke’s party, we played the Brien version of Pass the Parcel, complete with forfeits. We also played musical chairs, musical statues, and musical bobs. The kids found glow in the dark bracelets, shot off party poppers, and blew noise makers that made no noise. I heard all the Aussie news and saw all the Aussie pictures. (Trudy, I’d go with the dark green or dark brown choice) and enjoyed so very much the 2 days that they were here. Please pray for them. On August 7th they start teaching at the Lincoln School in Guadalajara, Mexico. Pray that they will learn Spanish quickly and settle easily. The party will soon be in Guadalajara, Mexico. I hope the Mexicans are ready.
The Party's Here!
Abby the Welcome Wagon.
American Girls.
Birthday Party for Zeke.
Pass the Parcel.
Musical Chairs.
As a reward for their excellent report cards, each of the kids chose a movie to attend. I used to love going to the movies. I can still recall the line down the sidewalk for the one cinema in town, the sound of my brother Rob cheering in the back of the theater for Luke or Indiana Jones or Rocky, the excitement when a new theater was built that gave us four choices. Over the years, going to the movies lost its appeal as a result of the cost and the sheer number of movies that are pure rubbish. I used to rent DVDs, but now I just wait until Josiah can DVR it on the TV. I’d much rather read a book. Dale loves movies, so he decided the kids could see a show. Josiah chose first. I reluctantly went with him to see Ironman, a movie based on a character from a comic book. My expectations were quite low. I must admit, I was pleasantly surprised. Yes, there were all the mandatory fight scenes and things blowing up. However, it did have a plot and the majority of the movie was Ironman building his suit. They made it clever and interesting. It was also anti war, which just so happens to be my current mood. Gabe chose next. I went with him to see Wall-E. In the past, I had admired the Pixar writers for their cleverness. I thought Monsters Inc was brilliant. Over the years, however, I worried they had become Disneyfied and forgot that the story is really more important than the animation. Disney’s focus of churning out the same story with different characters over and over and over again, is really quite dull. Wall-E was so clever, I once again give a cheer for Pixar. I would, however, caution those sensitive about their weight to be prepared. Pixar so cleverly lampoons the excess and wastefulness of Americans, myself included, that I couldn’t help but laugh at their nerve. To make fun of the people paying to see your movie takes some guts. However, truth, when revealed even at my own expense is well worth contemplating. Abby chose last. I went with her to see Kit Kittredge. It was a nice “pull yourself up by your bootstraps”, “make the best of what you have” old fashioned movie mystery. I found it a welcome relief from the vapid teen girl shows on tv whose plots consist entirely of trying to get a boyfriend and treating others meanly. I have been trying to talk to my kids about humor being clever or slapstick and why a lot of the popular shows fail miserably in that regard. Anyway, my summer at the movies turned out to be a success. I will soon return to reading a book when I can find a way to sift through all the rubbish that’s published now and find a clever book actually worth reading.
