James goes to VBS

James went to Vacation Bible School at a church near our apartment (our church's VBS was for kids 4 and up). He had a great time and can't wait until he gets to go to preschool every day in the fall. One of my favorite times of the day was getting a VBS email update from Wesley. It brightened my day hearing about what James did that day. I went Friday morning to pick him up, so I wrote the Friday report. Without further ado, in the words of James and Wesley, here is what happened at VBS. The theme was Crocodile Dock and James was in the "Rocky's Rascals" class.

Monday:

- Talked to his crew leader, Grace. Said he was shy at first, but opened up shortly after arriving. He had fun.
- They watched a video about chipmunks (James told me this) and learned about the burning bush.
- They were singing and wrapping up in the main room when we picked him up. He said they didn't have a snack or anything. He had fun though.

Tuesday:
- James had fun again today.
- Pharaoh came to visit them today and they popped balloons to scare him.
- They had gummy snacks, pretzels and raisins for a snack.
- They sang songs and said, "God is everywhere...Fear not!"

Wednesday:
- James had fun at VBS again. - They learned about the "indianites" (Israelites) who "painted the tops of their doors red".

- No "new people" came on stage today, like Pharaoh yesterday, so he was a little sad.

- The Israelites ate flat bread, so James class ate "plain white crackers with bumps on them". He of course didn't eat them.

- They spread red jelly onto graham crackers to symbolize painting the door red.

- Naomi and I arrived a little before noon, so we saw them sing and dance at the end. He actually participated for a while.

- Everybody knows his name and said Hi and Bye to him today.

- He is extremely excited that they "get badges after this day" (so maybe tomorrow or Friday).

Thursday:
- The boys did "boring things" today, like watch the "chipmunk" movie

- I think the chipmunk is Rocky (think Rocky's Rascals...the name of James' group)

- The girls played fun games like hop scotch

- They did "lots of stuff" and learned about God

- Mimi and I got there a few minutes early again, so we watched them sing and dance to wrap up the day

- "Jesus" came and removed some black trash bags (symbolizing sin) from the cross. He had a short monologue and prayed

Friday:
- James said they did “lots of things” today

- He was very excited when he saw us watching their closing program in the back of the room

- Naomi loved the songs and tried to do the motions along with the big kids

- The kids got little lights to put in their lanterns they made during craft time. They held them up while singing “This little light of mine” and James now uses it as a nightlight and to remind him to shine God’s light.

- They said “God cares for us…FEAR NOT”

- James was intent on teaching Naomi to say “Fear not” in the car on our way home…he kept telling her to take her paci out of her mouth and say it

- James got two gift certificates for free Italian Ice…so after dinner we went to Rita’s so he could get blue Italian ice. It was a fun way to end the week of VBS.

Both of the kids loved their Italian ice!