Community Blogging *Updated at the end!

Shana thought I should have this--and I'd like to give it back to her but she already won it! I feel like I've been very selfish with my blog posts lately, so this is just what I need I do believe! I need to climb out of my sad thoughts and just 'be'--I'm much happier when I'm just 'being' anyway. It's the Community Blog Award and this is what it says:

The Community Blog Award celebrates people who reach out and makes the blogger community a better one.

Now I just came from Shana's blog and she wrote something very interesting about perception, I think it's worth reading, hopefully some of you will have time to go over there. I'll award this out soon--I'm off to another diving meet here in a few.

*PS--Our pastor called today. I always get nervous when he calls and leaves a callback message--ALWAYS start thinking 'what did I do? what DID I do? OMG OMG OMG WHATTTTT?????!!!!! Am I being voted out of church? Why? How will I tell John? The kids? The IN-LAWS??? Turns out I can stay. For now, he says. Just for now.

He asked if I would be at the Wednesday small group tonight (remember Ragamuffin Gospel). I am. So I get to lead the discussion because he will not be there. So Cat and Karen, if you're reading this...I sure do hope you read your chapter. Because I will be calling on you for answers. ANSWERS, darnnit! And I'm soo all about leaving a note on the pastor's desk if y'all either 1) didn't come to class prepared or 2) didn't behave yourselves! Because you know how I bent by now--I'm all about proper behavior in class and stuff. And if I do have to leave a note and the pastor calls you, you might otta be wondering what YOU did! (muahahaha!)

**Okay I'm going to pass it on...it only takes a spark..alright I won't sing, you're lucky I have a lot of typing to do! I have a list of bloggers over on my side that amaze me every single time I head over there with their personalities. All y'all are unique and all y'all really would like each other if you go over and look. So I did it the only way I know, most conventional I think--I closed my eyes, positioned the mouse over the list and scrolled up and down and stopped on three. Because I'd think all of you would be deserving!

1. Coming To A Nursery Near You...(Dawn) Okay now this is a good one--and she said today I was cute so although it had NOTHING to do with her winning, she's proven herself to be perceptive as well. So, my twin cute-ness blogger Dawn, you truly to give back more than you take.
2. Pinks & Blues Girls...(Sharon, Audrey, Jane) Well now--I went over and looked and this just MIGHT be one award these gals don't have! And if evah an award fit them, thinking this is it. If you don't know Pinks & Blues, you don't know funny, smart, sweet, intelligent and of course beautiful all rolled up into one amazing blog. (guys, I think you should deposit something into my PayPal for that--let me know what you think!)
3. Skimbaco---Katja Okay this is a little awkward--almost interchangeable with the P&B Girls! This lovely gal, Katja, is kind of like Pinks & Blues to me. She's all those qualities and living up in the Colorado mountains with her long beautiful red hair, being an amazing community to a buncha bloggers. And she likes me--or she says she does. You do, Katja, right? Just say yes, I'm not good at rejection! Seriously, Katja, this award fits you nicely!

Thanks Miss Shana, because you made my day today! Alex didn't get piano pictures up for it, but that's okay--he'll have to wait. Mommy's awards come first. As it should be! Oh yeah, and Cody--fantastic dive meet--second place out of I think seven. I think. At least seven but may have been eight.

**You will notice I don't have my post from the other day up--I kept it as a draft but I am aware there are some readers of my blog who may or may not reveal my blog to my mother and it would kinda be awkward. And loud. Yeah, it'd be loud for sure.

Vacation Bible School, Lori, Fish Head and a Bracelet

Our church's Vacation Bible School began today. For the past several years, I've volunteered to be an assistant to my friend Lori. You probably have a Lori in your church--the organizing maniac. Lives to teach Sunday School....wouldn't THINK of not staying up all night on Saturday until she's gone through the lessons front, back and sideways. That's our Lori. Add one more element that I think is kind of unique for a control-freak like her, add great big kid at heart. And THAT's why I teach with Lori, because she really does it for the kids (and entertains me as well!).

Lori begins the VBS year early, planning, plotting, putting dibs on our room! Although she failed this year, we got into trouble from the neighbors next to us and below us for being too loud. We really need a downstairs room next time!

I just do as she says. She likes it when I look silly and she's kind enough to admit it! A few years back, she made me play a fish for one of our stories. I was in my sewing room for days cramming the big foam pieces covered in fabric through my sewing machine, adding ping pong ball eyeballs and cutting a slit in the bottom of a cathouse shaped like a fish. She threw a gold coin (chocolate) into my fish mouth and made me run into the room like a fool day after day with a giant fish stuck to my head as she brilliantly unravelled the story.

This year, sports. So because I have pom poms, I get to be Pom Pom Polly. I was at Kohls late Friday scanning the sales racks for some knit sports skirts that weren't too short, thinking 'why do I let her talk me into this everytime?'. Today, showtime, I did some fun chants with the kids and they got into it--even the boys! I put on the long robe, pretended to speak a foreign language, held up a flame made of tissue paper as a strong wind (created by Lori putting a fan in my face) started. They laughed. Lori gets to abuse me like this for one week out of every year. I did refuse to do the pigtails--not that I have anything against pigtails, but I will NOT be seen driving across town with them at my age!

So how did I know our antics were successful, that the kids trusted us? Their smiling faces, the kindness they showed each other. And of course when they come back from crafts (one of the craft moms, incidentally, is my g/f, Cat) with an ankle bracelet, "hidden" behind their backs to give me in our room. Think I'll wear it until it falls apart. In my mind it's so important at this age to reach them, to know they associate church with a loving environment, with fun, with safety to say anything they need to say.

I'm sure in my heart that's what Jesus would want--he didn't keep to himself, and he certainly spent time enveloping the people who hadn't yet been saved with open arms and a loving attitude, despite their past or present.

I seriously love that little church, because I know no matter who comes, they will find open arms. I saw this firsthand, I brought a homeless man to their front door not long ago, sat next to him as he ate with all of us, as he talked to people who genuinely cared who he was, and was taken to a safe place, out of the winter storm. That's another story, but it's a very good one!

Happy Birthday Jeff

If ever I've been to a better cookout than this, I don't remember it! It was Cat's husband, Jeff's birthday on Friday, so we celebrated with a cookout on Saturday and Jeff did all the cooking! I think we ate all day long, starting around three and working well past dark. Cat and I lounged around most of that time, soaking up a little sun. I'll never catch up to her, but I worked at it! Our feast included steak, smoked salmon, stuffed mushrooms, bacon wrapped jalapenos, feta stuffed peppers, asparaus and a bunch of other stuff!

We rolled out of there following the poke cake and a song, lol. More importantly, we just had a great day visiting and laughing . :) The younger boys braved the pool--it's always exciting to get into the pool that first time in the season, so Alex was thrilled.

Today's church service included MORE food--we had a lasagne dinner during the sermon! We're focusing on the colors of ministry, finding our gifts. Just like last time I took the test, mine focused mainly on artistic and mercy. Still trying to find my "thing" with the artistic part. The mercy part, well I think that goes hand in hand with the nursing home visits I do.

Following that, Niki and I headed over to a graduation party for---yes, yes, more food! However....I behaved there. I didn't have a lot of choice, after all there was NO room left, lol. Okay, with that, I'm off to Savannah today--going to meet some friends, introduce Cat to them, and visit the mommy of a dear friend of ours who died in a car crash in 91. I've always maintained good contact with her, it somehow keeps me close to my friend. I leave you with the guys, Cat's Jeff on the right, my Johnny on the bottom.