On the project to-do list...

"There is not enough time to do all the nothing we want to do."
-Bill Watterson

I've got a big project in the works (hope to share more towards the end of next week...). But in the couple of weeks before that kicks off full force, I'm hoping to scratch a few projects off of my never-ending to-do list.

A couple of projects that I've dreamed about for years, bought the supplies for, dedicated a good amount of brainpower to, but have yet to accomplish...

And, maybe if I post the list for all to see... maybe, just maybe I'll actually get to them.

1. Modern house numbers :: I've bought the numbers and always have some stain stored away. Need to pick up the paint sticks and get to it! [Idea and image from 4 Men 1 Lady]
2. Gallery wall in the foyer :: I've got a stack of frames sitting in the dining room. I just need to get over the fear of putting holes in the wall. I can always figure out what goes in the frames later. [Image from The Design Files Daily]
3. Project Life photo book :: I kept up with my digital Project Life spreads of my 30th year until April. In the last couple of weeks I've been trying to work my way backward to fill in the gaps. I really want to get this done and printed well before my next birthday. [More Project Life posts]
4. Date with the Genius Bar :: With plans to start grad school this fall, I want to make sure that my laptop is in full working order before I begin. Hopefully the Mac geniuses can help me update my software, set up a back-up process, and generally optimize my system. [Make an appointment with the Genius Bar]

Kicking off Elise's Kickstarter campaign...

"Life engenders life. Energy creates energy. It is by spending oneself that one becomes rich."
-Sarah Bernhardt

 
Although I've been intrigued by the idea of Kickstarter, I've never actually supported a campaign until this week. I'm thrilled to put my money and my support behind a close friend of mine, Elise Erikson Barrett, who is raising money for her "first full-length album rich in folk and classical influences."

In the two short years that I have known her, Elise has made a great impact on my life. She volunteered to help me lead VBS, and she serves as my worship leader and pastor's wife (although she herself is a pastor, too). But more importantly, she has been a confidante, a teacher, and a close friend who always asks "how is your heart?" and then really listens to the answer.

I know she's got something good to share with the world. I'm so thrilled to have a chance to help her dream come true.

Don't you want to be a part of this project? She's halfway to her goal, and the month has just begun!! Donate here. (If you're unfamiliar with Kickstarter, the project will only funded... you will only pay... if she reaches her goal by the deadline.)

 __

**After exploring the Kickstarter site, the designer/creative in me sees how supporting these projects could be a little addicting.

**Interesting article about why there are so many wallet concepts being explored on Kickstarter.

Oh this trip... Gatlinburg and the Great Smoky Mountains

Oops! I realized I never actually posted this. I'm back-dating it, but don't get confused if it shows up in your blog reader out of order :)

"The beauty and charm of the wilderness are his for the asking, for the edges of the wilderness lie close beside the beaten roads of the present travel."
-Theodore Roosevelt

Considering how this vacation came about and the chaos created as we learned the specific details of the plans, Rob and I were very uncertain about how it might turn out. All of my in-laws (with big, yet highly sensitive personalities) staying in one house for a whole week for the first time had the potential to be explosive. We were very apprehensive as headed toward East Tennessee last Sunday.

As we look back at the week from the other side, Rob and I can both admit that we would consider it a successful trip, although we would not exactly call it a relaxing vacation. We were able to squeeze in many wonderful moments with each other and with Rob's family, and that certainly helps balance out a couple of stressful situations or the fact that I had very little patience all week for disruptive, disrespectful children and negative, whiny conversations.

Highlights of the trip include:

• Getting out on the trail with Rob ... we tackled two long hikes: 8 miles to Ramsey Cascades (plus a shorter hike to Grotto Falls) on Monday and 14 miles to LeConte Lodge via the Rainbow Falls Trail and Rocky Spur on Thursday
• Watching the kids swim and paddle around the river that lay right out the back door
• Eating some really yummy food: delicious wood-fired pizza at Big Daddy's Pizzeria, amazing pancakes at Crockett's Breakfast Camp, lunch at No Way Jose's Mexican Restaurant, and apple fritters at the Lumberjack Feud, in addition to grilling out for dinners back at the cabin
• Hiking with Rob's mom and his sister's family to Laurel Falls ... they're not big hikers, but they made it all the way!
• Hanging out and getting to know Rob's cousins and their families ... at the Aquarium of the Smokies, walking around downtown Gatlinburg, and just hanging out at the house
• Watching the family enjoy the Lumberjack Feud ... the older nephew originally said that he didn't want to go, but ended up having a great time ... the younger nephew started using his silverware as a chainsaw ... Rob's grandpa even had a good time, too
• Meeting up with Rob's mom as she enjoyed browsing the Arts and Crafts Loop
• Playing putt putt with Rob's cousins in the air conditioning 

More photos posted on Flickr... click here

Workshop of Wonders VBS ... odds and ends

"All my ordinary turns extraordinary when I live my life for you. 
I'll imagine with God. I can build with God.
Watch me grow with God every day.
As I work with God, as I walk with God,
Live for God, that's what I'll do."
-"That's What I'll Do" song lyrics by Matt Huesman


In addition to the decorations and the activities, there are a few other odds and ends that made our VBS spectacular this year.


Missions Moment
In years past we have collected money each night for a mission organization during our opening gathering, but this year we wanted to spend more time exploring the mission of the organization and why we were supporting it.

Habitat for Humanity was recommended in the Workshop of Wonders curriculum. We agreed that it aligned well with the "Work with God"/"Build with God" themes of the week and thought that even the younger kids would be able to understand the idea of building houses for people who don't have one.

The money bucket ... love the sound of change hitting a metal bucket!!

Habitat for Humanity mission project progress tracker

The kids worked together to collect spare change and drop it in the bucket. The collection each night "bought" us another piece of a cardboard house poster. The kids loved guessing what piece they would earn the next day. And, we raised over $140!

In addition to the fundraising campaign, each group participated in a Missions Moment each night while they ate their snack. They learned more about the work that Habitat for Humanity does, worked together to make a mural, decorated thank you cards for local heroes, and made prayer bookmarks.

The kids worked together to make a community mural during their Missions Moment on Day 2

Parent Emails
The Workshop of Wonders curriculum suggests that you send home handouts each night that summarize each session. We've copied these in the past, but found that most of them never made it home and by the end of the week, were not even handed out.

Day 1 email to parents

It was important to me to emphasize the connection between VBS and home, letting parents continue the conversations that we began, and then it dawned on me... why not use the church's Constant Contact newsletter service to send emails home each night?!?

While I used some of the text from the Cokesbury handouts, I also added a summary of the crafts, snacks, and activities, as well as announcements about the end-of-week celebration and a report of how much money we raised for Habitat for Humanity.

Day 3 email to parents

I received several compliments on this added communication tool, even from one of our visiting families. (Although the only drawbackswas that I didn't have email addresses for some of the kids who attended as someone's friend and/or weren't dropped off by their own parent.)


Trading Cards
One of the neat things that the curriculum offered this year was Scripture Treasure Trading Cards that connect to a free Workshop of Wonders app. Similar to the VBS passports we used last year, I thought this would be a great way to further reinforce the VBS lessons at home.

I debated back and forth about the best way to distribute and keep up with the trading cards throughout the week, knowing full well that most would get lost in the car on the way home. I finally landed on an almost perfect solution... trading card pockets. The kids could add a card each night and take home the full page of cards at the end of the week.

Each child went home at the end of the week with a collection of Scripture Treasure Trading cards

Only six cards were provided in the sets from Cokesbury, so I used the graphics from the Decorating CD to create three more cards to fill the nine pockets: one with church information, one for the child's name, and one with information of how to connect to the app.

 
Volunteer Thank Yous
To thank our many volunteers (some nights we had as many volunteers as kids!) I was inspired by our theme for the week, "ordinary things become extraordinary with God." I bought two bulk packs of Extra gum and attached a card that said "Thanks for helping make VBS 2014 EXTRA-ordinary!"

EXTRA-ordinary thank you gift for volunteers

Hopefully they felt some love and gratitude for their hard work this week!

Another great VBS goes down in history! Now it's time for vacation!

Workshop of Wonders VBS ... the activities

"Gotta wonder why, think and try, wonder at all of that, imagine at the Workshop of Wonders."
-Workshop of Wonders theme song

In my last post, I showed how we decorated for our Workshop of Wonders VBS this summer.

However, I knew that the highlight of the week was going to be the fun and creative activities. I can't take much credit for these ideas myself... I had awesome volunteers planning and leading these stations, but I am so thankful that I was able to gather such a creative team to work together!

This year we scheduled our VBS for four nights (Sunday through Wednesday) with a special End-of-VBS celebration on Thursday night. The Cokesbury Workshop of Wonders curriculum is designed for five nights, so we used some of the Session 1 materials for Children's Church on Sunday morning, and then started full force with Session 2 at VBS on Sunday night.

Here was our plan:

Day 1 – Sunday
Theme: Build with God!
Story: Rebuilding the Lord's House
Craft: Clay Cross Ornaments (similar to this) & Recycle-Bots (robots made from recyclables, like this)
Snack: Rice Krispy Paint Brushes

Day 2 – Monday

Theme: Grow with God!
Story: Parable of the Mustard Seed
Craft: Woven CD Flowers (like this)
Snack: Cupcakes with Candy Flowers

Day 3 – Tuesday

Theme: Work with God!
Story: Feeding the 5,000
Craft: String Art Crosses (like these) and Nuts and Bolts Cross (washers and nuts painted like this)
Snack: "Nuts and Bolts" Snack Mix, similar to this
 

 

Day 4 – Wednesday
Theme: Walk with God!
Story: Walking to Emmaus
Craft: Walk with God Canvas Art (based off of this)
Snack: Foot-shaped cookies

Stay tuned because I have one more 2014 VBS recap on our Missions Moment, trading cards, and more!