Busy Busy Busy

Its been a crazy month! Work has been insane--as soon as I got back from Hawaii, I was thrown into the craziness of VBS . It involved many a late night working, lots of early mornings, but overall, it was a great week (it was the last week in June). God worked in the lives of so many kids and adults, mine included. My job this year at VBS was a hard transition for me, since I am in a new position and had to do something completely different. I had a really hard time at VBS this year, because for the past 3 years, all my responsibilities were "creative" things--painting sets, directing dramas, etc. Things that are my passion, bring me joy and I personally find really easy. But this year, my job was very administrative, management based, and detailed. Now, I can do details, I can manage, and I can even handle all the administration, but it does NOT bring me joy. And these things are kind of the furthest thing from my passion. While I do enjoy checking of an accomplishment from a long list, this is not what keeps me going on a daily basis. So from the beginning of all this VBS planning process (January), I knew I was in for a challenge and that God was going to be growing me in some areas. And I have to be honest, I was dragging my feet through a lot of it. God presented me with many opportunities where I had 2 choices: Get on board and grow from the experience even though it may be a little painful and hard for me to do, OR drag my feet and make it even MORE painful. I will be honest, I didn't choose the choice that was clearly God's best for me all the time. And even when I did "get on board", it wasn't always fun. (How CAN making "walking paths" so 1600 kids don't all walk the same way at the same time be fun?? Honestly?!) But God quickly taught me that it wasn't really about me having fun. And it wasn't really about it being painless. I had to do a lot of things I don't like to do, and the week of VBS wasn't as fun as it had been in years past. But bottom line, God worked in the lives of over 270 kids that made first time decisions to follow Him. And He let me be a tiny part of that huge thing. I know He could have done it without the walking maps, or the 1600 commitment cards I had to make, or the 300 signs I had to make to be posted around campus so people knew where things were located. But He allowed me to be a part of something so much bigger than myself. Are there things I hope I don't have to do ever again? Absolutely. Are those things what VBS is about? Absolutely not. God gave me the opportunity to serve Him, and to impact the lives of kids for eternity. And no matter what job was asked of me, He has called me to do it as if I was doing it just for Him, whether its fun or not!(sounds so obvious when I say it outloud!) I quickly forget that most people don't ever enjoy their job, so its a blessing that I do most of the time! Either way, God has called me to this job for this time and place, and is evidently growing me in some areas that aren't easy or enjoyable, but He knows why and has a plan for why He is doing it. So its a lot wiser to lean into it and trust Him.
Annnnnd...that's VBS. (A lot more than I bargained for! Plus I had some personal stuff going on in the midst of that week, but I will save that for another blog! To be continued!)
In the meantime, my sister, her husand Dave and my niece (Hannah) and nephew (Kaleb) were in town from Oklahoma this week (talk about adding to the craziness). Here are few pics of when we got to hang out (more to come--my sis has most of them).

Reading good old Berinstein Bears...do you remember those books from when we were kids? Yes, Hannah is wearing a tiara. That's about right.

Hannah and Kaleb LOVE Roxy.
Especially picking her up. I'm not sure if the sentiment is returned. She seemed to run away from them alot... :)

Swimming at our Aunt Helen's

Aunt Helen got a new little chihuahua named Chopper. Roxy and Chopper played a bit by the pool. And when I say "play" I mean Chopper chased Roxy and she was scared of the 1.5 pound dog. We are so proud.