Awana

After taking a year break I was anxious to get the kids back in Awana.  I love the Awana program and it's value of memorizing scripture. The kids are actually going back to the church where we attended when Anastasia was in Cubbies.  Now she is serving as a Cubbie leader.  When I went to the church to sign the kids up it was so neat to see several of the leaders who are still serving since we had been there last!  What a testimony to the program.

At this church  Awana meets every Sunday night so this year I am not serving.  Jay's travel schedule has him coming home on a Sunday or getting ready to leave Monday morning so we are using this time as a date night!  It is nice having a responsible child old enough to drive and the others all big enough that I can send them on their own when needed.  It is a win-win for everyone.

Savannah was sick this night so I didn't get her in the crazy hair night picture.

Awana

If you know me at all you know that I LOVE Awana clubs and I was the Commander for 2 yrs at our church. Well with Jay resigning that was one of many ministries I gave up (at least for a season). I still wanted the kids involved and they love Awana too. So while we are still in CG I signed the kids up at another local church. This church has a wonderful Awana program.

Anastasia is taking a break this year. She is helping Jay on dinners and with all her other studies (including Bible as part of her curriculum already) we felt it was best not to add anything else to her schedule.

This year I drop the kids off and then take Anastasia to youth at another church. Then Jadon and I and sometimes Jay run errands and what not and then make the rounds again to pick everyone up. It is nice to have the break but I also miss the ministry. I did let them know if they ever need a sub in any area I would be glad to fill in. I do look forward to starting up another Awana when our church plant gets it's own permanent location.

This year Tasha is a Cubbie, Savannah and Alexa are in Sparks and Joshua moved up to T&T.

CRAZY HAIR NIGHT!

If you are interested in finding out more about Awana be sure and check out Awana.org and you can find a club near you.

Awana Grand Prix

On Your Marks Get Set Go!!!

Our Awana club hosted it's first (now to be annual :) ) Awana Grand Prix. It was a great afternoon for all! Even the rain didn't put a damper on things. We just held everything inside and even had a concession stand.

Roy was our Race Commissioner and his wife Donna kept all the records.

There were pit stop tables for any last minute repairs.


The week before the races the cars were all set up with numbers only so the congregation could vote for best design. For the races we had 4 divisions and an over all grand champion. (Which happened to be a 4 year old CUBBIE!!) He did great and was so excited to win.

I was one proud mama with Anastasia taking 1st place in BOTH design and speed.

Joshua and Savannah both tied for 2nd in design!!

Now the kids are already talking about how they are going to make their cars for next year!!


Jadon and I cheering them on.

Commander College

As most of you know I am the Commander for the Awana Club at our church. This is our 2nd year of club and I was blessed with the opportunity to be able to attend Commander College as it was held here in AZ. What a blessing this 2 and a half day conference was!! There were 25 commanders attending from around AZ . We all got a chance to share and bond and learn from one another. Our Awana missionaries here in Az coordinated the entire thing and they did a wonderful job. We even got to go bowling (which I haven't done in years.)and out to Red Robin for dinner one night. It was so much fun.

The sessions were great with wonderful speakers. I was excited that Larry Fowler was one of the main presenters. He has written several books that I have/am reading....... Raising a Modern Day Joseph and Rock Solid Kids. Two excellent books that speak to my heart. Each session was informative and convicting for me as a leader. I was able to really evaluate my own strengths and weaknesses and came away with a lot of useful information. I was also able to learn more about Awana's history and founders. It is such an incredible program whose central focus is the Gospel above all else.

At the end of the class we were each awarded with a certificate and I am now a Certified Commander ;). I can't wait to attend college 201. I didn't have my camera with me to get any pictures but here are some pictures of happenings at our club.

Our Cubbies

Sparks

Award time. Joshua is wearing his vest backwards for backwards night.

Awana Chrsitmas Party

It has been a very busy weekend with lots of parties! We ended our weekend with our Awana Christmas/Birthday Party for Jesus. There was a lot to do at the party and I think everyone enjoyed it! We even dressed in pj's for a special theme night.

We ate pizza, made crafts, the kids got to go to the Awana store, they had handbook time, a special visit from Santa and then we ended the night with a very special birthday cake for Jesus.

Jadon, a future Cubbie enjoying his pizza!

Making goodie bags


The main craft for the evening was decorating clear glass ornaments.

The leaders even enjoyed making these.


Happy Birthday Jesus!!

AWANA

Our Awana club resumed in September. This is my second year being the commander and it is such an awesome ministry experience. I have a wonderful group of directors and leaders who are great to work with and the clubbers are of course fantastic kids. Our year is off to a great start and I never cease to be amazed at all the Bible verses that the kids memorize so quickly!

Savannah earned her first Sparks patch!

I love how creative my Sparks leaders are. These are two pictures of them acting out the story of Jonah and the Whale.

Year End Awana Program

What a blessing it was to serve in our church's first year of Awana this year. It was a blessed opportunity for me to serve, to lead, and to bring the love of Christ to kids each week. Watching the kids memorize Scripture, books of the Bible and complete Psalms was incredible.

We held our year end program on May 16th and the kids worked really hard to get ready for it. They recited verses and sang some songs and even leaders got up and spoke about what Awana has meant to them this year.

I think it was a big success and did I get any pictures???? NO!!! I was leading the program and Jay was wrangling Tasha and Jadon the whole time and they weren't feeling that great. We have been fighting the stomach flu at our house for almost two weeks now! One person would get it and then another wouldn't get until two days later and so forth. Well I held out till just after the program and then I couldn't get home fast enough! YUCK.

So here are a few picture from the year and rehersal:

Completion of Operation Christmas Child

I was blown away by the out pouring of stuff we received for our shoeboxes. Our Awana club was able to put 50 boxes together!!!  How awesome is that?!  I love this ministry and this next year I would like to start collecting things year round.

Awana and Operation Christmas Child

In our Awana club we have a monthly mission time and for the month of November our focus is on  Operation Christmas Child .  I have been blown away by the response from our clubbers and our church.  I was thinking we might put together two shoe boxes per club for a total of 6 boxes but we are going to have over 5 times that!!!!  Next Sunday I should have an exact count.

This week we started sorting the stuff and putting the boxes together.  The kids prayed over the stuff first and prayed for the boys and girls that would be receiving the boxes and then they were so excited to help pack them.

If you want to participate in OCC visit the link above it is an awesome organization and you can participate with a church or on your own.

Sparks getting ready to start sorting the stuffPacking boxes

T&T sorting toys 

Cutting out labels for the shoe boxes

Awana

I am really enjoying our Awana club and watching God at work through it. We have been in full swing for two and a half months now and things are going quite well. I have served in Awana for many years but being a Commander is new to me this year and Awana is new to our church this year but the support is wonderfully overwhelming.

I just wanted to share some pictures of our Crazy hair/hat night:

Cubbies

Sparks

Truth and Training

Awana

 

We had our first Awana Club meeting tonight.  It was so great!  Another lady and myself are co-commanders.  There has been a lot of work put in in these weeks leading up to tonight.  I feel so blessed with the leaders, clubbers and families that God has placed in our midst.  I have helped with Awana's for over 5 years with Anastasia and we have missed it the last year and a half.  So when our new church was on board with starting one I was so excited.

Chris one of our T &T leaders talking about the Bible being more powerful than a sword.

Game time--They needed to listen to directions being called out to them to stay on the white circle.

Cubbies enjoying their snack time.

Cubbies craft/coloring time

Joshua during handbook time.  He memorized his first verse:  John 3:16

Ok I had to take this picture.  Natasha had a pony tail on top earlier like "Cindy Woo"  when she pulled it out this is what her hair looked like! 

Going thru these pictures I realized I didn't get one of Becky and myself.  I will have to take one next week.