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Our church’s pot blessings (“potlucks” in other realities) have become theme based. This is a blessing (“lucky” in other realities) for me. Before the theme idea was put forward, I would approach the Sunday of a pot blessing with dread and the following questions, “What do I make? Will anyone eat it? Do I have any ingredients in the pantry? Where is my mom when I need her? Why do we have so many pot blessings? Why can I no longer believe in luck?”

Last month was casserole (hot dish) pot blessing. Everyone had to make their favorite casserole. Relying on my heritage to pull me through, I made “Tator Tot Hot Dish,” a dish loved by all Melochs save Rob who hated green beans. It was a big hit and the church members ate it all. All, that is, except what  was dropped by the front door of the church when my eldest child failed to support the bottom of the pan. I lost my nomination for “Mother of the Year” at that moment.

This month, the pot blessing was a chili cook off. Therefore, I was off the hook. My husband, who only cooks on very rare occasions, is full of himself when it comes to chili cook offs. Nearly twenty years ago, he won a chili cook off at his military unit, got a certificate and has never let me forget it.

He got himself all geared up for the competition by looking at recipes and telling me what to buy. I attempted to give him a few suggestions here and there, but my opinion was unsought for and most unwelcome.

Dale comes from a family who ate hot and spicy food. I come from a family who was raised to believe, as my brother Rob tells it, “a taco was a hard taco shell filled with cooked ground beef and ketchup for sauce.”

There came a point during the taste testing of Dale’s chili, that I asked if I could please stop. I was sweating, my mouth was on fire, and I had a pile of crackers in my hand. I couldn’t take it anymore, but he wanted to make it even hotter. I pleaded on behalf of the children of the church. So, he stopped shaking in the red pepper flakes.

The panel of judges tested thirteen varieties of chili. Dale watched the judging and came to tell me that he had made the top three. When the announcement was made and ribbons were awarded, Dale had taken third place. Of course, “In the top three” sounds much  more impressive.

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