The Best $25 You'll Spend This Summer

Well, folks... it's that time again. Yes, the Bible Bee has come to town. This year the headquarters has totally re-vamped the program and it is INCREDIBLE!!! We saw such growth in our children last summer, and I anticipate to see even more this year. Let me introduce you to what they are doing.

On Monday the boxes arrived containing the materials.

The kids were so excited... they had been watching for the UPS guy all morning long.

First thing they saw upon opening the box was a DVD which stated that we should watch that first.

So we did. Made the enjoyment last longer.

Each child received a Bible in the translation which they would be memorizing, a study notebook with a Bible study of the book of Colossians, a T-shirt, a Button, and the verse cards... printed on nice thick cardstock. These are all top quality products... well worth the $25 entrance fee even if you never did anything more.

Even Nathan was able to get all these, since he is a "supportive sibling".

They immediately donned the t-shirts and looked through everything.

And since I have 6 children competing, and Nate as a supportive Sibling, I immediately required that they initial Every Piece Of Bible Bee Stuff so I avoid future conflicts about whose Bible it is, etc. We also put the cards on rings so they are not lost. At least not yet.

Did I also mention that there is a study guide and Bible Study for each parent? So we can study it with them? It's all about family discipleship... one verse at a time. Parents and kids together.

Also included in the box was a CD with a Sword Drill game to play on the computer and help them memorize. I have told the children they can play all the computer they want if they are playing the sword drill. LOL.

Some of the girls headed out to the tree fort, which has been dubbed "The Bible Bee Clubhouse" so they could get a head start on their verses.

The only downside to this whole thing? Packing Peanuts.

I hate packing peanuts. No matter how carefully you do it, they get EVERYWHERE.

But we got them all cleaned up, I survived, and now we are full on ready to have a great summer... growing closer to the Lord and each other.

If you have not signed your children up please do. If the amount of verses from last year intimidated you, there are many fewer verses than last year. It is a wonderfully manageable amount. Your children can have no better way to spend their summer... please head to the Bible Bee website and check it out...

One of my Favorite Things...

The You Capture theme this week is to just pick your favorite photo from the week. And although I got some really neat photos of bugs on my garden plants (grr...) and some great ones of many of the kids, and actually got a group photo where 10 kids didn't look funny... here is my favorite shot of the week.

Isn't she just as beautiful as can be? And I assure you that she has a personality to match. For those of you following the surgeries that Mercy had to remove her hemangioma (you can read about her by clicking at the top of the blog where it says, hemangioma, propranalol, and PHACE Syndrome.) She is healing quite well. There is still some swelling, so you will have to wait until it goes down to see a photo of her incisions. The dr. was able to lift the skin covering the eye and make the two eyes symmetrical. He was also able to remove almost all of the cheek section of hemangioma and the scarring. In all it looks good.

I'll post photos in a week or two once the swelling has gone down completely. Thanks for all your prayers!

Some People's Parents

I have written several times about soccer in our Whoville Park** each Sunday evening. (If you have not read them, go Here and here and here .) This is a great time of family fun where all the kids and some of the parents get out and play soccer. It is greatly enjoyed by all who attend.

But don't let this face fool you.

She's not out to have fun. This woman is out for blood. Playing soccer turns her quite Savage .

She only looks like she is smiling. I believe this happened after she prevented my wonderful husband from getting a goal.

See how tired she got? Old people shouldn't be out in that hot sun.

And we will pretend that no one heard the words, "It's mine, all mine..." come out of her mouth.

Because, of course, this whole getting together on Sunday evenings is all about the chance to have the kids play together and have a good time.

Right?

** "Whoville" is a pseudonym. Don't google it. You may find it somewhere but it won't be us. Just thought I would clarify.