Baby Dedication

Baby Richard is going to be publically dedicated to God at our church on Sunday morning, July 18, 2010 during the 10:30 service. We would be honored if you would join us for this very special service.

Feed My Starving Children

Alicia and I were the only ones willing to wear our hairnets for the photo. I think we look good!

Today I had the privilege of going to Feed My Starving Children in Coon Rapids, Minnesota to pack meals with the gals from my Bible study to send to Haiti. Together with the approximately 100 people there, we packed 18,900+ meals to send to Haiti, and all in under two hours!
The meals consist of chicken flavoring (that is actually vegetarian), freeze dried vegetables, soy protein and rice. The meals have important vitamins and minerals that starving children have no other way to get. The meals don't look all that appealing, but we got to sample some and it actually didn't taste too bad.
This is exactly the same thing we did at Faith Community Church this summer to send meals to Serve India.* (Different organization, same concept. I can't find a link for them...can anyone help?)
It was such a joy and a humbling experience to make meals for families and children who may not know from where their next meal is coming.
If you want to help pack meals to go to Haiti, please feel free to visit FMSC's website. They told us that they have lots of help right now because Haiti is in the headlines every day, but things will probably slow down later this summer, even though the need won't disappear. FMSC is a Christian group that is already well-established in Haiti. They told us that before the earthquake they had sent something like 3 million meals to Haiti and since the earthquake they've sent 3 million more. Before March 1, they intend to send 5 million more meals into Haiti. Isn't that awesome?!? Other countries who have been promised meals from FMSC are willing to postpone their shipments so that Haiti can have what they need right now, because the need is so great.

*Incidentally, the meals we made to go to India in August are currently "held up" by the government and have not yet made it to the families who desperately need them. If it crosses your mind, please pray both for the meals that are on their way to India and Haiti and the children and families who will eat them.

When in Rome...

Is it just me, or has the exhaustion level increased at VBS this year, in comparison to last year?
I only have a few rules for my group:
The Cave is after the Marketplace.
We aren't doing science this year.
You are not allowed to touch each other.
Your sash is not a weapon.
You cannot wear your sash on your head.
Your sash is not a sling.
We aren't doing science this year.
You are not allowed to touch each other.
Try to go potty even if you don't have to.
Wash your hands with soap.
The Cave is next.
We aren't doing science this year.
Talk to me like a big boy.
You are not allowed to touch each other.
You don't have to sing, but you may not distract others from worshipping.
Please stay on our blanket.
Do not pinch each other.
Do not hit each other.
Do not pull each other's hair.
You are not allowed to touch each other.
It's time to go to the Cave!

I don't think I'm too demanding.

Dear Church,

Sorry.
Love,
Erin

Cry Room

It was a tough night tonight in the Cry Room.
Shirley, usually very social and thrilled to spend an hour with Miss Jonay, completely FREAKED in the nursery, so we sat in the Cry Room, where she bonked her head on the chair and stabbed herself with her spoon when I gave it to her for entertainment.
All the while, little Courtney Jo filled two, yes TWO diapers, filling the whole room with giggles and shaking shoulders.
I don't think my mom heard a full sermon from 1981 to 1998 and I'm beginning to see why.
I can't think of anything for which I would trade a full sermon.

No giggling in church!!

This weekend at church, Porter made a reference to God's holy gaze...

Erin [whispering]: Did he just say "holy glaze?"
Rich: That's what Methodists put on their Sunday ham.

Hold me closer, Tony Danza...

I learned something important at church this weekend.
The lyric goes:
"God's beating heart - live through us."
NOT:
"God's bleeding heart - live through us."

All this time, I've been singing it wrong.

VBS Wrap Up

Yesterday I had the pleasure of washing my boys hands with vanilla water and tellilng each one that "Jesus gives you the sweet promise of heaven."
Following that, two of our boys asked Jesus into their hearts.
It totally made my exhaustion worth it!
When I started to tear up because of the emotion of the day, the boys said, "Mrs. D, what's wrong? What's the matter?" I said, "Sometimes Jesus just makes you so happy that you can't help but cry."
It was a very good week.
















Since I don't have permission from any of my kiddos parents to post their photos, here is a photo of SJ and me enjoying our picnic lunch after the big wrap up.

Nomoretalking.

Shh.
Mommy's tiiiiired.
Day one at VBS was a huge success.
Here is what we did:
Sit on your line.
Stand on your line.
Sit on your line.
Stand on your line.
Sit on your--
just kidding! Stand up!
Here's some...GLITTER!!!
Now, RUNAROUNDOUTSIDE!
Run!
Don'ttriponyourcrocs!
Didyoutrip?
Doyouneedabandaid?
Nonononodon'tcry!
SNAAAAAACK!
JesusJesusGodPowerJesus!
Jesus.
Thankful!
Jesusgivesusthepowertobethankful!
AAAHHHHAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!
Sit down.
Stand up.
Sit.
Stand.
Sit.
Stand.
Dance!
Sit.
Stand.
Go home.

Bring Mommy a margarita.