2012 VBS programs - Dayton, OH

Anna has already been getting excited about VBS again this year, so I started looking up information about the local churches who will be offering daytime programs.  Here's the initial list:

June 11-15:

Washington Heights Baptist (Far Hills, south of Rahn)
Theme:  Amazing Wonders: Experiencing God's Awesome Power
Time:  9:00-11:30 a.m.
Website:  http://www.whbc.org/

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Lebanon Presbyterian (Route 48 & East Street)
Theme:  Sky: Everything is Possible with God
Time:  9:00 a.m. - noon
Website:  https://www.groupvbspro.com/vbs/ez/LebPresVBS/gpgs/Home.aspx

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Centerville Community Church  (10688 Dayton-Lebanon Pike, off Route 48)
Theme:  SonRise National Park
Time:  Monday-Thursday 9 a.m.-12:30 p.m.; Friday 9 a.m.-2:45 p.m.
Website:  http://www.centervillecommunity.org/#/ministries

June 18-22:

Good Shepherd Lutheran (Stroop & Ackerman)
Theme:  Babylon:  Daniel's Courage in Captivity
Time:  9:00-11:45 a.m.
Website:  http://www.goodshepherdkettering.com/pages/vbs.html

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Kirkmont Presbyterian (Shakertown & North Fairfield Rd.)
Theme:  Sonrise National Park VBS
Time:  9:00 a.m. - noon
Website:  http://www.kirkmont.org/vbs.htm
*Cost:  $5

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Zion Lutheran (Alex-Bell & Munger Rd.)
Theme:  Call for info
Time:  Call for info
Website:  http://www.zionelc.org/ - VBS info isn't on the church website, but my source said you must pre-register for it, as space is limited. Contact the church for details and registration information you can call 937-434-9422.


June 25-29:

Mt. Zion Community  (428 Shepherd Rd., Xenia [Beavercreek Twp.])
Theme:  Sky: Everything is Possible with God
Time:  9:00 a.m. - noon
Website:  http://www.mountzionchurch.org/children.htm


July 9-13:

Normandy United Methodist (Alex-Bell near Paragon Rd.)
Theme:  Operation Overboard – Dare To Go Deep With God!
Time:  9:30 a.m. - noon
Website:  http://www.normandyumc.org/index.php?q=content/vacationbibleschool2012


July 16-20:

Fairmont Presbyterian (Far Hills & Foxridge)
Theme:  Sky: Everything is Possible with God
Time:  9:00 a.m. - noon
Website:  Not updated yet
*Cost:  $5


July 23-27:

Emmanuel Lutheran (Wilmington Pike & Rahn)
Theme:  God's Treasure Hunt
Time:  9:00 a.m. - noon
Website:  https://www.easyreg.org/cgi-bin/easyreg/registrationdbase/HL8Y2YZ21X/displayForm.pl?dir=Q7W4OU33_2012


Evening Programs:

Sugarcreek Presbyterian Church (Wilmington Pike & Bigger Rd.) - June 11-15, 6-8:30 p.m.
Oakwood United Methodist (Shafor & Hadley) - June 18, 19 & 20, 6:00 - 8:30 p.m.
Greenmont Oak Park Community Church (Woodman, south of Patterson) - June 25-29, 6-8 p.m.
Hope United Methodist Church (Wilmington Pike at I-675) - July 16-20, 6:30-8:30 p.m.



*Programs are usually free, but some may charge registration.  Please check with the church if you are unsure from the information given on their website.

I'll update as I find other programs.  If you know of one that isn't listed, please let me know in the comments below or on my Facebook page (I'll post a link to this page).  Thanks!

No Greater Compliment

My warm fuzzy of the day: while I was practicing the song I'm going to sing for the Night of Worship on Friday, Anna says, "Mommy, when you sing your song, you sound like Ariel!" :) ♥ Thanks, Anna!!

A Poem for the Worrier

This isn't exactly a "parenting" thing, but I thought I'd share this here. It's a poem I wrote, an attempt to put into words a frustration I've been having with myself for some time....I'm trying to be better at not worrying, not letting my worries and thoughts keep me awake at night! With two active kids, my sleep is precious and still hard to come by some times! So, without further ado, here it is:

The Worrier's Prayer

I'm so weary of this worry
that hangs around my soul
Can't let it go, although I know,
My God, you're in control

Can't lay this burden down
Though my arms shake with the toll
Oh foolish mind, find peace and rest
For God is in control

Dark thoughts hover in the still of night
And sin-fueled feelings rise
Ensnaring my heart and pulling me down
Which is surely Satan's prize

Oh, Lord forgive when I can't let go
Or make these thoughts to cease
This stubborn will and bruised pride
Can't bring themselves to peace

I need Your help, Your loving hand
To calm this stormy sea
To steer me past impediments
And cruel calamity

Lord, take control! I need you now
Let your Spirit help me give
The whole of my thoughts and heart to You
And within Your Peace to live.

Amen.

Humbled by thanksgiving

After about 15 minutes of frantic frustrated searching for a lost receipt, I finally drag both of the girls back to the van to head home. All the while I'm grumbling in my mind that it doesn't make sense that I would have related receipts but not the actual purchase receipt for what I'm trying to return. I move the van to a more isolated parking spot and give it one last try...practically emptying my diaper bag ( which I've now dubbed "The Black Hole"), calling my mom in Illinois to see if I left it at her house, and finally thoroughly checking my wallet for the fifth time. FINALLY! I found the receipt folded up tightly inside another receipt. I cheered and moved the van back into another parking spot. As I put the van into "park" I hear Anna's sweet voice behind me say, "Dear God, thank you for letting Mommy find her receipt. Amen." I was touched and completely humbled by that simple heart-felt prayer. I should have done the same thing but I was too distracted by the whole situation and in too much of a rush to think about praying. Not good! Thank you, Anna Jean, for making Mommy stop in her tracks and bringing me beyond myself to realize what I was forgetting to do. Lesson learned! :)

A little perspective!

The other day, Anna asked if she could paint.  She had gotten a few sheets of paper already and now needed her watercolors set up.  She wanted to draw "the world" for her grandma and asked me to draw grass and trees and a pond with lily pads so she could color them in.  So, I drew this:

And Anna painted it.

A little while later, Anna walked in with another piece of paper on which she had drawn a "copy" of what I had done for her.  She had drawn and painted a tree, lots of flowers, grass and a small little cirle of blue above them all.  Here's her work:

"See, Mama, I put the pond in.  It's small because it's more far away from everything."

That amazed me!  I had never taught her about that.  Maybe Grandma did, but I don't think so.  She already has a grasp of perspective in drawing and she's not even five yet!  Way to go, Anna!  :)

Crabby observation!

Heard in the car this evening on our way home from the mall:

Anna:  Mommy, when are we going to go to the Crab?
Me:  The what?
Anna:  The Red Crab!  See?  (points to the window)  That's a crab!
Me:  (following the finger's trajectory to the restaurant sign)  *laughs*  That's a lobster, honey.  That's called Red Lobster!  (Or Captain Fish as Grandpa Boss calls it.)

:)

The GPS Lady

My husband got a new GPS for his Christmas gift this year.  He has been playing with it for the last few days, taking it to work to see if one route is better than others, taking it to practice at church, etc.

On Sunday morning, we were joking around with the GPS "lady" who was trying to tell us the way to get to our church.  The prescribed route was to take the main street, Route 48, to Alex-Bell which is the street on which our church is located.  We, however, take the back roads.  So we were sort of joking each time the GPS recalculated the route.  No matter where we went, the GPS kept trying to get us to go back west to Route 48, which would take us further away from church.

From the back, we finally hear from Anna:  "That lady doesn't know it's Church Day!"