VBS 2025 :: True North!

This is our third year at VBS, and we were really excited to adventure into the Alaskan wilderness to discover True North. The kids learned what it means to trust Jesus in a wild world, and it was such a fun week!

The last couple of years, I have been a group guide, which means I have helped take a group of kids around to each of the stations. Which I have loved. You're right in the action and chaos of all the activities with your group of kids, helping them navigate the Bible story, craft, snack, and games. This year, I was asked to help teach at one of the stations: Sticky Scripture. I got to teach the Bible verse each day, and the goal was for God's Word to "stick" in the kids' minds, hearts, and lives.

While I missed getting to visit all of the stations and really get to know a group of kids, I loved being able to teach the Bible and see more kids throughout the day!

My "helpers" while setting up the room haha

It's really a wonder that I got anything done ;)

One of our Sticky Scripture adventures: Moose Draw!

If anyone has ever volunteered for VBS, they know how fun, but utterly exhausting it can be. But I am so thankful for all of our faithful volunteers who came each day and gave it their all for the 100+ kids who came through our doors. My kids had a blast, and I was really thankful for how this curriculum was laid out, clearly and consistently teaching the truths across all stations. VBS is one week, but we pray that the fun had and truth spoken stick with each child, wherever they go. We pray that those seeds are continually watered and grow into a deep and abiding faith in Jesus, the only One that we can trust in this wild world. 

Eli's Crew Leader sent me a short video of him during rec time, and I was so thankful to get a little glimpse of his day! {I just included a still shot here}

Glow sticks were a BIG hit :)

Even Mountaineer Mike got in on the fun! It's definitely a treat to see Daddy more often during the day since we're up at the church all week. He came to visit during the songs and skits, but he also gave the closing gospel presentation to the kids and parents. He recruited Maddie to help with his visual presentation, and she did a great job! 

We had a great week at VBS True North, and the kids are already asking about VBS for next year haha!

Aiden was with the Cool Caribou, Eli with the Stellar Sea Lions, and Maddie with the Grandiose Grizzlies

Happy Birthday, America!

For July 4th, we gathered with neighbors again! I love that our neighbors not only enjoy spending time together, but that they actually seek it out. It may just be a handful of gatherings a year, but I'm so thankful for the homey feeling of our cul-de-sac. 

A favorite feature of our Independence Day gathering was, again, the fun fireworks! We have a sweet neighbor who brings them, and the kids love them. This year, she even brought simple snakes, and you would have thought she brought unlimited ice cream haha. No need for the expensive explosives...the kids loved watching the little snakes curl up and smolder and were perfectly content. But they did also enjoy the sparklers, a bee, and Dave the minion who put on quite the fireworks show :)

We're thankful for good food, fun fireworks, and neighbor friends. Happy Birthday, America!

{iPhone Rewind} :: June

I think the weather forgot that it was June...

We wrapped up our soccer season with a fun field day! We were grateful it wasn't raining and that we could enjoy a final day of soccer games. It was a great season!

Eli found a book at the library that showed different things to build with LEGOs, and he from memory, he was able to build the Empire State Building and the Eiffel Tower!

We attended a Grad Banquet at church for our graduating seniors, and we were able to snag a family portrait while we were there. I was already tearing up thinking about how too soon it will be our turn...

We had Mike open up his Father's Day gift early: a hot house to grow his spicy peppers! :)

Our deer finally came back! We hadn't seen them this season, but they have certainly reappeared, eating all our hosta plants haha!

He's such a little organizer...a kid after my own heart :)

We have started our summer reading, and the kids are ALL over it, wanting to be sure they get their credit!

We got to have Kourtney and Chris over for dinner! It was sweet to have some Texas friends visit.

June started cold, but quickly got HOT. We had a massive heat wave, and we were hotter than Texas. 

We had a church picnic and the fire truck came to cool off all the kids! {the other 2 were deeper in the water spray, soaking wet haha}

Maddie wanted to put ice on her forehead because she had a pencil mark on it. Eli was convinced he could feel the coldness of the ice pack just sitting next to his sister. #foolishness

His two front teeth are going to come out any day now!

With the heat wave, it definitely meant a trip to the pool! After a nice swim, we stopped off at our little library to see if there were any treasures...and the kids were so excited to actually find some kid books!

Aiden couldn't even wait until he got home to start reading :)

98 and sunny one minute, then rainy and storming the next. We lost a tree branch in the wind. Scared me half to death when it came down!

Family Time After Loss

This past week, my family came into town. It has been 6 months since we lost Michael, and we wanted to be together, particularly around Father's Day and his birthday. This time together was hard, merely from the standpoint that his absence was palpable. There were reminders of him in the activities we did {from previous trips}, as well as realities of making memories without him. 

But the time together was another step toward healing as we figure out life without him here. I found myself going back to the truths of Revelation, rejoicing over all that he is experiencing now, knowing that we will one day experience it with him too. While this part of the grieving process is not fun {having to move forward without him}, I am thankful for family and the time that we get to spend together. I am thankful for the memories we get to share about the person we all loved, and for the joy that the Lord brings, even in the midst of tears. 

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When everyone arrived, we hit the ground running with all the vacation fun! First stop: Chick Fil A for lunch, then frozen yogurt for dessert! There was certainly no lack of ice cream {or variations of it} on this trip, but calories don't count on vacation, right? :)  Aunt Vi brought a fun bead bracelet making kit, and this was the activity of the week. Every opportunity that the kids had to make a bracelet, they did. I'm pretty sure we used up every bead in the kit; they absolutely loved it!

On Thursday, we headed into D.C. to visit the National Zoo. Our goal: see the pandas! We haven't seen the new ones since they have arrived, and Airalyn really wanted to see them as well. And we were so blessed by an amazing panda viewing. We got to the exhibit right as one of the pandas decided to climb down a tree and walk around the habitat. And then when we went inside, we got to see both pandas. It was perfect!

The rest of the day turned out great as well. It was a fairly warm day, but we got to balance it with indoor, air conditioned exhibits, and we got to see lots of animals. The kids had a blast, even getting to ride the carousel, and it was a really successful zoo day.

That evening, we relaxed at home, playing uno {and bead bracelets} and making s'mores! We had to enjoy the nice weather before all the rain moved in, and we were thankful for a good night.

On Friday, we went to Old Town Alexandria for the day. But before we headed out, the boys "helped" Papa with a special project {fixing the curtain rod that had come out of the wall}. After the house projects were done, we headed to the harbor to explore and do some shopping.

We took some photos by the water, and then walked around the Torpedo Factory Art Center for a bit. We then walked up King Street and explored the little shops. We enjoyed lunch at Chart House, took a trolley ride the full length of King Street, and enjoyed ice cream at Kilwins.

On Saturday, we stuck close to home for most of the day. We grilled burgers, brats, and hot dogs, and we celebrated Father's Day. There was more uno and bead bracelets, as well as Stratego, Battleship, and perler beads. We also decided to visit Udvar-Hazy, but I somehow didn't get a single picture from that visit.

Sunday we went to church and lunch at Uncle Julio's. Monday we braved the rain and headed into D.C. to see the National Mall and visit the Natural History Museum. It was wet, for sure, but it really wasn't too bad. It actually helped keep some of the crowds away, and it definitely helped keep the heat away. Which was good, because we did A LOT of walking!

Braving the rain at the Washington Monument! {Lincoln Memorial in the foggy background}

Lincoln Memorial

Vietnam Veterans Memorial

White House

Being in D.C. brought back a lot of memories with Michael. He had made a trip on his own in June of 2021, and we had visited the zoo and National Mall with him. He came back with my parents that December, and we visited D.C. again. As we visited certain spots, I kept remembering specific photos and memories with him. The kids were still pretty little, but they were more than happy to keep up, because they were just happy to be with Uncle Michael. 

June 2021

December 2021

June 2021 vs. June 2025

December 2021 vs. June 2025

Tuesday would have been Michael's 38th birthday. We decided to celebrate with a key lime pie, one of the things that he had recently starting making and perfecting himself. Sadly, I never got to try his famous key lime pie, and we don't have his recipe. But from what I have heard, it was pretty killer. So I went on a hunt for the best key lime pie in NOVA. And while I know it's not his, and I'm sure he would have lots to critique about it, I hope it was a little slice of "we love you and we miss you." 

And because it wouldn't be an event celebrating Michael without a little goofiness... Vi and Addison and Airalyn brought shark outfits for the kids to bring them into the fold of shark silliness. And I know that Michael would have loved it :)

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We are thankful for a good week with family. That amidst the tears and grief, there is joy and laughter. That while it is difficult to move forward and make memories without Michael here, we know that it is part of the process and that he would want us to be making fun memories together. That the Lord sustains us and provides comfort and strength as we navigate the days ahead.