VBS - Day 1

I wasn't sure if I was gonna make it... but I made it! This is the first time I have done a structured VBS with such a large number of kids. I helped with VBS during the summer before my senior year in Turberville, VA and I was in charge of elementary crafts and music... It was a lot of fun.

I have an awesome person who helped me today. Jennifer was such a HUGE help. I believe her and I work well together. She helped me get my thoughts together and help me back on track when I forgot something and she did it tactfully so it did make me feel bad or make me look bad in front of the kids and the other teachers.

The age group that we are working with this week is completed Pre-K4. We had 7 groups (each group containing between 10-16 kids) and we had 20 minutes with each group. It went by quickly we had just enough music, movements and motions for the time given us. It was a very good day, but I must admit, I am exhausted.

I was very nervous about doing this. I had felt that maybe I had made a mistake and I wasn't supposed to do this, but after the third group I was more confident in what I was doing. I received a compliment from one of the parents and it made me feel very good about what I was doing. I did make one mistake though.. I told the kids that the daily Bible verse was "God Loved us and He gave His only Son, Jesus." 1 John 4:9 but it was the unit verse for the week. The actual verse was "Grow in what you know about Jesus." 2 Peter 3:18... oops. After the 4th group I made sure I said it right. :)

We had great kids and they were very excited and full of engery. I had one little girl, who I really didn't know that well, today was the first time that I had met her, had come up to me a hugged me and said "Thank you!" That about me me cry, she was so sweet. Anyway, I am done for now. :)

Lord Have Mercy

I was in my car listening to my Michael W. Smith "Worship Again" CD and all of a sudden an overwhelming emotion came of me and I totally had an incredible worship experience. It was unlike anything I have ever experienced before. I have heard this song before but this time it just spoke to me in a very real way. I think I repeated the song about 10 times and still cried. I know not safe while driving but I was careful and God was there anyway.






Song Lyrics
Lord Have Mercy by Michael W Smith

Jesus, I've forgotten the words that You have spoken
Promises that burned within my heart have now grown dim
With a doubting heart I follow the paths of eathly wisdom
Forgive me for my unbelief, renew the fire again

Chorus
Lord have mercy Christ have mercy
Lord have mercy on me
Lord have mercy Christ have mercy
Lord have mercy on me

I have built an alter where I worship things of man
I have taken journeys that have drawn me far from You
Now I am returning to Your mercies ever flowing
Pardon my transgressions help me love You again

Chorus
Lord have mercy Christ have mercy
Lord have mercy on me
Lord have mercy Christ have mercy
Lord have mercy on me

I have longed to know You and You tender mercies
Like a river of forgiveness ever flowing without end
I bow my heart before You in the goodness of Your presence
Your grace forever shining like a beacon on the night

Chorus
Lord have mercy Christ have mercy
Lord have mercy on me
Lord have mercy Christ have mercy
Lord have mercy on me

My Backyard

Isn't this just an awesome sight? This is what I see everyday out my back door. I absolutely love living out here. Yes there really is such a thing as "country" in Florida. I didn't believe it either until I came out here. There are horses, cows, donkeys and all sorts of livestock out here. We are quite a distance from traffic and the road in front of the house is dirt and grass.

I think what I like the most about this place is that its peaceful and very much secluded from the normal everyday traffic and craziness. We have our own "Little House on the Prairie" out here. I think it will be hard to go back to my previous way of living now that I have experienced this. I didn't really notice how loud traffic was until I moved out here and then stayed the night with a friend in the city and I hardly got any sleep because it was so noisy.

Every once in a while when I can catch it at just the right time. I will go outside and read by the gazebo and just enjoy the breeze. Sometimes I can't because with living in a place with cows, horses and donkey there can be unfriendly smells and sounds and when a nice breeze comes through at times you get more the what you bargain for.

The heat lightening out here it a sight to see. The open sky reveals so much and speaking of the sky revealing things the stars out here can be absolutely breath taking. Its the only place on Tampa where you can actually see them because there aren't so many lights to fade them out. When the moon is dark and the stars are bright - it's my favorite thing about living here. Hopefully one day I can get a picture of it and display it on here.

Anyway, I was just showing a little bit of what I see everyday. I hope you enjoy it! :)

My Adventures Going Home

My addiction... I stopped by Starbucks on the way home from work. I got a Java Chip Frapp with Carmel drizzle. Anyway, the barrista was busting my chops about the carmel and of course I told him the whole story about how I like getting the carmel drizzle because I always somehow get the mocha drizzle (syrup) on my shirt - it never fails. So I go all into the story of course he is looking at me like I am an idiot. Then of course at the end of my story I say "but I didn't have to tell you all of that." He just laughed and I got out quickly. Geez I need to stop doing that.

Also on the way home I got behind this Kia Mini van and there is a fake plastic foot hanging from the back (halloween blah) and ironically they had a little bumper sticker that said "Get into children safety" the foot looked like a childs foot. I tried to get a picture of it but the one time I wanted to get a red light it never happened. By the time I finally got a light the van turned and I missed the chance to get it. I was bummed.

-Ange