Coastlands VBS 2008 is F-U-N!!

The Craft Night Rocked!

So we had our first of two craft prep night last night and I was totally blown away!  There were over 100 people, literally CRAMMED into the Foyer.  It was so much fun.  The scissors (if you could find a pair) flew so fast that all the jobs were done in like 40 minutes!  Thank you to EVERYONE who came to help.  Next year, I'll definitely add BYOS (Bring your own scissors) to the flyer.

It's always so hard to estimate how many people will come to events like this...and therefore hard to estimate how much to prepare for people to do.  We kept adding extra jobs for people to do and still dismissed everyone around 8pm.  WOW!

Never fear, however, because we'll have new jobs for the craft party a week from Tuesday (May 27).  Hopefully, we'll have another SUPER SIZE turnout.

Here are some pics from last night.

 

Funny Stories

Today at our monthly staff lunch we took some time to talk about VBS.  We prayed...but we also shared some funny stories from past and present.  So far this year, one of my favorites has to be Lindsay rescuing the runaway goat at the Easter Egg Hunt.

I have had quite a few funny moments since I have been the VBS Director (Michael killing the 4-foot long snake that Shiloh and I almost stepped on the Thursday before VBS last year when we were on a prayer walk around campus, Jessie intersecting the people who were driving the wrong way on campus and who wanted to dance a prophetic message on stage for us all, the bathroom "clean up" on the sand playground that Merrilee so graciously took care of, the bee infestation in the assembly bleachers, etc...).  However, my personal favorite happened a few years back....

It was VBS 2002.  Marquam and I had just gotten engaged and I was SUPER excited about VBS because we were the team leader directors that year.  That meant we were going to get to spend the whole week together...and what a more fun place for this to happen than at VBS!  Being newly engaged, I was also still very excited about my engagement ring.  At the time, I was super careful about not getting it dirty and so whenever I washed dishes, put on lotion or anything of the sorts, I took it off.  It was either Monday or Tuesday of VBS week, and I was in my office re-applying sunscreen.  So I took my ring off and put it in my pocket.  And...bummer for everyone...especially me, I forgot to put it back on.  It was a few hours later when I realized this and went to look in my pocket, and it was gone.  Well...I went into a complete panic!  I mean, we're talking total hysteria...crying so hard I was sick...literally!  Lynn Shugart happened to be with me in my office when I realized it was gone and she called Marquam (since I couldn't speak), who quickly came inside.  He was very understanding and assured me not to worry about it because, of course, he had it insured.  However, I assured him that I wasn't interested in a replacement....I wanted MY ring back.

So, the hunt began...

I actually didn't get to participate in any of the hunting since I was hysterical to the point where it was politely suggested that I just go home (no more F-U-N for me that day).  However, I gave a complete list of where I had been on campus... which was basically everywhere.  Since I was a team leader director, I went all the places that the teams went:  assembly area, team area, craft stations, snack bar, special event field...I had even changed a diaper in Kinder VBS since they needed help at one point.  People looked all over the place...including one kind person who emptied the diaper pail and looked inside all the dirty diapers to see if it was there.  They made an announcement to the kids offering free snack bar for the rest of the week for anyone who found my ring.  Someone on campus called to rent a metal detector so they could scour the grounds after the day was over.  Lots of people looking all over our 13-acre church campus!

Well, this story does have a happy ending and kind of an unbelievable one, too.  A little later in the afternoon, Marquam, who was still doing our team leader job with one eye and looking at the ground with the other, was helping a team leader (Collin Brown) move his blanket so it would be more in the shade under his team's umbrella.  When he dragged the blanket a few feet over, guess what came out from underneath the blanket?  MY RING!  A total miracle if you ask me!  Since the one place I had NOT been on campus that day was in the boy's side of the team area.

Isn't it amazing that out of all the people at VBS, Marquam was the one to find my ring!  I can just hear the "Ahhhh's" coming my way from cyber-space even now!  That day I experienced the first of hundreds of times my husband has really taken care of me...and I also learned never to take my ring off again!  And still to this day, I don't ever take it off.  Dirty diamonds are definitely better than no diamonds!

Here's us at VBS that year...after we had found the ring again!

 

It's Definitely May!

Well...as the title of this post says...it's definitely May.  And that means each day is filled with more and more exciting and fun things to do to get ready for VBS.  And it also means that we are getting really busy!  I kept wondering why I feel so busy this year and so yesterday I looked at our registration numbers from last year on May 7 compared to this year on May 7.  Last year, we had 121 kiddies registered at this point; this year it is over 200.  Wow!  No wonder I've only blogged once this week.

Our planning list for the first 3 weeks in May is as long as for the months of January - April combined.  And I did have a moment of panic when I glanced at the lists for the last week in May and first two weeks in June...which grow increasingly longer the closer VBS gets.  But that's also the fun part of VBS...the rush...the momentum...all that happens to get ready...it's what makes it so full.  Here are a few pictures of the kinds of things we are doing a whole lot of (copying, printing and laminating):

Laminating is the bread and butter of VBS volunteer work.  We laminate EVERYTHING, because for anything to hold up to the wear and tear, dirt and grime, water and dust of VBS week, it has to be covered with plastic.  There's just no other way around it.

You can see from the picture that our team names this year are books of the Bible.  Lucky team leader who has to come up with a cheer that rhymes with Leviticus!  Good luck...we're rooting for ya' and we'll be clapping for your cheer! {My husband, Marquam's suggestion is:  We don't have no dust, cause were Leviti-cus.  Go VBS.}  A good start for whoever gets that team.  And, just for the record...there is plenty of dust to go around for everyone VBS week.  Just take a look at your socks on Monday afternoon.

Thanks for praying for team leader gals.  We're getting closer.  Only 3 more to go!

Don't forget...we'd love to have you join us at the Craft Prep Party on Wednesday next week and the Worship Night on Friday.  See you there!

Exciting Things from Today!

Okay...don't laugh...but today I'm REALLY excited about garbage.  We got a new garbage can for our office this year, and it's super-size compared to what we've had the last two years.  We've had it for a few months now (remember the trip I took to Walmart to pick up the toaster ovens and other Site-to-Store order?).  It's great because instead of having to empty our trash cans every day...we only have to do it once a week. 

But that's a little diversion from the point of this excitement, even though it does relate to trash.  Along with many people, I've found myself looking for ways to be a little more "green" in my daily life.  We've become super conscious about recycling at home, I have re-usable shopping bags (which I faithfully bring to the grocery store and am now reminding myself to take to places like Longs and Target), we have a re-fillable water jug to save on plastic bottles, etc... 

With VBS fast approaching, I have been thinking about garbage.  I think you can imagine that VBS generates a LOT of trash.  And much of it could be recycled.  Well, earlier this week I got a phone call from someone in our church who offered to help me think through a system for recycling.  I was SOOOO excited because it was already something on my mind.  While we haven't worked out the details yet, I was so happy that he had been thinking about this, too, and was acting on what in his heart to do. 

It's another "loaves and fish" example.  I am sooo convinced that when each of us bring what we have to offer and give it, the Lord really does multiply our efforts to make VBS be all that it is meant to be.  It doesn't matter if you have 5 fish or 50...what matters is that we say "yes" to the places where the Lord directs us!  So...three cheers for a VBS that's a little more "green"!  Yippee!

On a totally different note from garbage, we received one of our orders for our visibility items.  When parents come pick up their children in the afternoon, there is a big line of cars that weaves through our campus, and we offer a little "gift" to the people in the cars.  It's different each day...and different each year (depending on who is in charge of visibility).  One of Mary Lou's ideas this year was customized M & Ms.  They were delivered today....10 pounds of chocolate goodness.  Check out these cool red and blue treats!  They are shaped like dots, they are red and blue, and they say VBS is FUN.  Don't you wish you had some?  Lindsay and I did...but we stored them away without taste testing...all safe and sound...with "VBS" written all over the box.

 

Lastly, we're still praying for our last six gal team leaders. Please pray with us that the Lord sends them our way!

Director's Meeting Shots

Last night we had our monthly VBS Director's Meeting...especially exciting since VBS is now only 49 days away!  There are about 50 people who make up the director team, and it's always so much fun to be together with the team of people that really are helping to carry the weight of planning Vacation Bible School.  I always think of each director's meeting like dropping a rock in a pond.  As we come together every month, we have the ability to make a "splash" and then the ripples go out from us to others.  For an event the size of VBS, it take many rocks dropping and many ripples going over the course of the many months leading up to VBS to help make it practically and spiritually all that it is meant to be.  The director's meetings are just one place where this momentum builds and grows.

Here are a few fun shots from last night:

The Team Leader Count Rises!

Well...it has been quite a week here in VBS land.  We have about 80 registration forms for the kiddies...all of which are entered into the computer.  I can feel the momentum getting busier each week. We're less than 2 months away and things are really starting to move fast.

We actually now have 21...that's right...21 men team leaders.  I am THRILLED.  Ladies, the challenge is on....I know you are out there...just waiting to spend 5 days with a beautiful team of little girls.  We currently have 14 confirmed ladies and I'm hoping for 8 or so more.  Here's a screen shot of our team leader list....

I've been thinking a lot this week of faith and faithfulness in regards to our team leaders (and the need for more gals).  It's so funny, because usually we're in the opposite place of having LOTS of ladies and looking very hard for more men.  In fact, last year we asked a few ladies to lead boys teams.

Where I find rest is knowing our part is to be faithful and then to have faith that the Lord know what (and whom) we need and that He will provide.  For me, "faithful" means thinking about possible team leaders and seeing if it is something they would consider.  So Marianne and Gary Peixoto (our team leader directors) and I have been calling a few folks this week.  That's our part (that...and praying a whole lot, too).  But the rest is really up to the Lord.  I'm looking forward to the testimony of who the Lord brings our way...

On another note...Shiloh's came back to the office today.  She's easing back in and it's so great to have her and Nolan.  He was great on his first day.  Ate, slept, looked cute.  Here a picture of Nolan on his first day at his Mommy's office. 

Who you are is how you do it!

I have had a few interactions with people in the past two days that has reminded me of a principle that is true around The Coastlands.  It goes something like this:  You are a reflection of your job and your job is a reflection of you. 

Last night, I worked in the office for a few hours, getting organized for a very busy day today. On my way out, I stopped in to the first Assembly rehearsal for the Neighborhood Kids and Dakota North.  I couldn't resist going back for my camera to capture them in all their fun-ness.

As I've mentioned in a previous post, Michael Martinez is our assembly director this year.  One thing I noticed is how much the rehearsal "felt" like him.  Michael is funny, serious, silly, very pastoral, and sometimes all of those things at once.  I like that the Assembly Team gets to experience so much of who he is.

I started my morning today meeting with Sybil Betancourt and Jeannie Wilcox who will oversee our Kinder VBS.  Kinder is the program that serves all the kiddies who are 2 years old and under AND also serves any of the preschoolers who are here part time during the week.  Again, we chatted about that although there are basics (like making sure the kids AND teachers are happy) there is also a lot of room for Kinder to "look" like how they want it to look.  Most of the basics will be obvious to them (since they are great moms and also serve a lot in Koast Kids and CM).  However, what fills out Kinder this year and gives it special touches is really theirs to decide. 

I spent the rest of the morning with Mary Lou Vaiz working out the details for what will go in the visibility packets we hand to the parents while they drive their cars through our campus to pick their kids up each day.  One of my favorite things about Mary Lou is that she has lots of ideas, but also wants things to fit in.  She came with a long list of (typed :)) questions that we worked our way through and I'm really happy with where we ended up!  And because she is super faithful with the things she says "yes" to doing...I know she'll follow through until each and every detail is complete! 

After lunch, Ashli was in for a bit.  In addition coming in weekly to the office to volunteer, Ashli is the sports director this year.  Today we spent a few moments going over the games she has selected.  One of them is called "Bowling Pin Dodge Ball".  It is like traditional dodge ball, but with a twist that the main goal is to knock over bowling pins from the opposing court.  The winning team isn't decided on who has players left, but rather who has pins standing.  This made me laugh because the sports director for the past two years, Patty Clark, purposely chose not to include any type of dodge ball. 

I was just so happy that Ashli and Patty, Sybil and Jeannie, Mary Lou and Michael feel the freedom to lead their own way.  I love that as we choose to make our starting place a willingness to fit into the overall scheme of whatever we are doing, there is SOOOO much freedom to be who we are in the middle of it all.

Over the many, many years that VBS has existed at our church, LOTS of things have been perfected that I do exactly the same way the VBS Directors before me did.  For many things, I think, "Why re-invent the wheel?"  But for other things, the job becomes a reflection of us and we become a reflection of our jobs.  And that is a great thing to me!

Red, Blue and YOU! What are you wearing for VBS?

In addition to being excited about what everyone is doing for VBS, I'm super excited to know what you'll be wearing!  And even though it's a two-for-one special today in the world of blogging, I thought this totally deserves a separate post. 

I'm in love with my new VBS colored bag!  Debbie Childs gave it to me and I've shown everyone this week (even the mailman!).  It totally makes me happy because it's red, blue and has DOTS on it.  Totally VBS!  In case you're newer to VBS land at The Coastlands...pretty soon you'll see LOTS and LOTS of people sporting both our official VBS tshirts and anything VBS colored...this year the colors are red and blue.  Since Debbie practically invented VBS, including the concept of wearing theme colors, I wasn't at all surprised that she had this cute bag.  I was just SOOO happy that she gave it to me.  Thanks again, Debbie.

The other one in the picture is Sue Martinez.  Sue is one of our wonderful Volunteer Directors.  And, she was wearing these cute jeans with read and blue trim and a fun pair of red tennis shoes.  Here's the picture of my new bag and Sue's jeans/shoes.

Feel free to stop by our office or the VBS table any time to talk to us about what you're thinking of DOING for VBS this year...and for sure about what you're wearing, too!

We've Got Mail...and a lot of it, too!

So exciting...registration opens this weekend and the mail is pouring in!  We probably have 50 registration forms already to our office.  And, I'm a person who LOVES mail.  I know...I know...some people don't like it at all.  But I love to get mail.  I'm the one who checks it every day at home and I'm always excited to see what's in our box!  So to be getting sooo many registration forms in the mail for VBS...now that's even sweeter! 

Next week we begin the lovely process of inputting all those registration forms into our database.  I definitely have a love-hate relationship with the database.  When it's working well, it's a glorious tool.  But, because I know absolutely nothing about Microsoft Access, when it's not working things totally come to a dead stop.  Although there are a few great people who have wonderful Access skills (Brenda Miller and Aaron Herkomer being two of them), we usually have to wait until they are available to come to the office and help us.  Imagine that...having to wait...hmmmmm.  Brenda was in this week getting the database all ready for this year and, boy, was I ever happy to see her.  (She even put in a data field for 2009...always thinking ahead!).  Shiloh and I decided together last year that we really like to try to figure things out on our own...and she's definitely better at it that I am.  But since I'm always concerned that I will really mess up the database, I just wait until someone can come to database rescue.

Another FUN thing from today was that the banner is ready to go up!  Big thanks to Veronica Seitchick for getting the dates printed for this year!  We rolled it out in the hallway for a sneak peek...and it will go up on the driveway wall tomorrow.  Then EVERYONE driving by will know it's that special time of year!  And, since it's April 17th...only 58 more days to go!

Assembly Team Begins & A Surprise Guest

Monday night was GREAT!  It was the first meeting for the 2008 Assembly Team...which is quite super size, I might say.  In fact, this is the biggest team we've ever had!  It was quite a sight to see the Spot totally packed out with the youth and their parents AND the many, many adults on the team this year.  One thing I really love about the assembly team is the mix of ages...everyone from 8th graders to well...let's say...been out of high school for quite some time!  Our assembly director this year is Michael Martinez; Ginger Betz will be assisting him in a significant way!  The script is great and the various teams (worship, dance, commercial crew, points, etc...) are full of creative and funny people!  Maybe I'll convince Michael to do a guest post one of these days and he can fill you in on a bit more of what's happening in assembly land!

On another fun note, Shiloh and Nolan stopped by at lunch to say "hi" yesterday!  Soooooo fun to see both of them.  Nolan is adorable and slept just about the whole time!  He's 3 weeks old today and Shiloh looks amazingly great.  It won't be long before they'll be back with us in the office!  Can't wait to see you both much more often.