Not Your Grandmother's VBS

When I was little, I HATED going to Vacation Bible School. Maybe it was the homebody in me or maybe the fact that my mom made me attend my grandparents' church's VBS in Indiana one summer. I was about 6 or 7 and didn't know one single person. This was back when VBS consisted of thrilling activities like sword drills and challenges like who can memorize the most Bible verses in a week and get a shiny foil colored star for each verse memorized next to their name on a special chart. A few years later I was FORCED once again---I am not being dramatic--to attend VBS with one of my friends one summer at her church. And as you can imagine, I was not happy! Roy tells me that he didn't enjoy VBS when he was little, either. Well, this is the year that Caroline was FINALLY able to attend her first VBS. Was I going to force her? Of course! Although, our church does a great job with the children's departments. There really is no forcing needed. And like this post title states, this was not your grandmother's VBS! Our church did it differently this year. Instead of having a week of morning sessions, they had the older kids come on Tues and Wed nights and the preschoolers went on Thurs and Fri nights--with the parents! Yep! Roy and I attended this year, too! It's a campaign they have going on at our church to have the family celebrate and worship Jesus together. It was called FX: Family eXperience and it was a great idea and we had a great time. Roy Austin was too sick to put in the nursery on Thurs, so he and I stayed home while Roy and Caroline went to the praise and worship part, attended a Jewish school and did other activities. Of course when they got home, I had to pull and pry details out of Roy's memory, but he said it was fun and of course Caroline thought she was so big.

Roy and Caroline on their way to VBS after eating dinner. After all the horror stories of VBS that her parent's had experienced, I think she's a little on the nervous sid.

On Friday night, our whole family went for a Bible street bazaar kind of event. We were met by a camel, a donkey and some sheep and goats.

They had tons of shops set up in the gym. Each preschooler got a Bible outfit to wear and keep. This was Caroline's FAVORITE part of the night! Then she went to a jewelry shop and made this great necklace.

We went to hear a sermon on a mountain and ate goldfish and bread. Then Caroline showed off her pot carrying skills in a little game they played.

We went back to visit the shops and Caroline made a broom at the broom shop. This VBS was really neat. Other shops included: a sandal making shop, music shop, Caroline made a coin purse with play money at the coin shop, a bakery, vegetable and fruit tasting...the staff thought of everything. Roy and I were really impressed. I think Carmel Baptist made up for our past experiences with Vacation Bible School! Oh, and Mom...no hard feelings. If I were in your shoes, I would have made me go to VBS, too:)