Good-bye Rome...

We had a great time visiting Rome and learning all about Paul and what life was like for the early Christians!! Vacation Bible School 2009

Crown Valley Community Church
Until next year...

This Says It All...

Day 4...We're exhausted!! But, boy are we having FUN!!

BTW... My drama skit went well today. We brought 3 people to tears!

Derek said, "You're such a good thespian!" I replied, "No, not really...it had to be the script!" The premise of the skit was forgiveness. A thief steals a loaf of bread from my food shop and I pay his debt so he isn't punished by the Roman Soldiers and when asked why I would do such a thing, I reply that I have been forgiven of alot too and God's love truly saves me!

Amen!!

I Pledge To...

When I have my own class, I pledge to grade and return assignments in a timely manner!


Grrrrr...I turned in my final two papers in my ever-so-challenging English class 8 days ago and still nothing! No grade or any communication from the professor as to when we might even expect to receive any feedback!!


Frustrating, Frustrating, Frustrating...


I am sitting on pins and needles...Don't they realize how much their students anticipate receiving their grades?!? At least this over-achiever, re-entry, 43-year-old student does ;)


On a happier note, I am officially DONE with Summer School. I had my last class tonight and am free for 3 whole weeks!! Yipeee...imagine me doing a celebratory dance right now!!...he he!

A Visit from the Senator...

Day 2...Here is Ethan and Kaylynn with their 'family leader', Mrs. Olivas. She is really great with them and she told me today that E&K ask her about 4 times each day, "Can we go say 'hi' to our Auntie?"...grin! She said they have been very well behaved, which I am not surprised!...I know, I know, I am such a proud Auntie :) Me and my shop with my two slaves for the day...we served french bread with honey drizzled on top, raisins and carrots. Many of the kids had never had honey on bread before and they absolutely loved it!! I aim to please :)

I'm not sure what Ethan was doing here but doesn't he look like he is having fun?!?

Here is E&K's 'family' visiting my shop for snack...

Hear ye, Hear ye....the Senator of Rome! Derek was asked to participate in the drama for the day and boy, did he love it! He portrayed an arrogant Senator who sets a slave free in the marketplace. He's a natural ham, I on the other hand, am shaking in my boots! My drama skit is tomorrow and I have officially realized that I do not enjoy acting...nope, I just don't have the knack for it! BUT it's not about me...it's for the kids...I must keep telling myself that!

Best Buds...

At the end of the day, Kaylynn was selected to help lead the closing Extollo time...She loved it!! Ahhhh, another fantastic day in Rome!!

Vacation Bible School - day 1...

This year our church is taking a journey through Rome and the kids are learning about the life and times of the early Christians. Below is the Apostle Paul (Pastor Joel) who is under arrest and chained to a Roman Soldier (which happens to be his son-in-law!) At the beginning of each day the kids gather together for Extollo time which involves singing and dancing...Dillon did a great job in operating all the audio stuff!
All the children are divided up into 'families' with a family leader and helper...here is our pastor's wife, Tracy with her 'family'...

And my neighbor Nicole with her 'family'... the picture I took of Ethan and Kaylynn's 'family' was blurry...grrr!! So I will attempt to take another one tomorrow :)

Then there's the Marketplace consisting of a toga shop, leather shop, architect shop, animal sacrificing shop, scribe shop, craftsman shop, and the food shop. Here's where I come in...I am "Claudia" the food merchant. The children are given 3 denarii each day and they can spend it on a craft, an activity, and food. Here is my humble shop...

A Roman Soldier trying to talk me into giving him some free food...Today we served rat ('lil smokies), cheese, olives and crackers. I sauteed onions, garlic, and green pepper the entire day and filled the entire sanctuary with an amazing aroma!

Dalton (my slave in the food shop) and his Roman Soldier friend, Josh...

We made it through day 1 without a glitch and unexpectedly, had 85 children show-up instead of the planned 70...the Lord will provide!!

More tomorrow...

Whew, Made It...

So happy to report that I officially finished my last written assignment for summer school...woohoo!!! I will have one last class meeting on Wednesday to do a group presentation and take a really easy final then I am officially done with summer school...woohoo x 2!!

• Onto the next event...

We will be very busy this next week as VBS begins on Monday :) Every year we are privileged to have Ethan and Kaylynn stay with us for the week and they really look forward to attending VBS (or as Kaylynn called it last year...BBS, so cute!)

• I'll keep you posted!

I want one...

This is my kind of yard art :) I think it would be a nice addition to the ranch but I have a feeling that I would be seriously out-voted...sigh!

Road Trip...

Last weekend my Mom, Angela, Maxine and I all went to the Women of Faith Conference in San Jose! It was our very first girl road trip and we had a great time :) The theme of the conference was "A Grand New Day" but it really was a grand new year for Angela, as it was her birthday!! The conference was held at the HP Pavilion or as hockey fans refer to it as the Shark Tank! Yes, one of the Anaheim Ducks rivals play here...the San Jose Sharks. When I told Derek where I was he wanted to know if I had already spit on the floor...ha! Our family does not like the Sharks at all but I must say they have a reaalllyyy nice facility!
Here's the birthday girl with her initial :)

Since there was only women at this conference they opened up the Men's restrooms for us to use as well. All I gotta say is...No wonder there is never a line for the Men's restroom! This picture only captures a portion...there were so many more!

Happy birthday, sweet sister-in-law...

Here are the girls...ang, me, max and my mom :)

As we left the pavilion one day we took a wrong turn...but we didn't let any yellow tape stop us!

The first night we went out to a fancy restaurant for Ang's birthday...it had to be the best chicken I have ever eaten!

As we were walking back to the night's session, I noticed our hotel from afar...that's the San Jose Marriott!

Here we are during lunch break...there was a nice park across the street from the pavilion and the weather was perfect...low 70's! None of us wanted to return to the heat!

Look at all those ladies...

After the evening session we went walking to find some coffee and came upon this unique bakery...look at those cute fruit fondue cups!! I thought of my friend Christy...she loves things like this :)

Okay, check this out...for your convenience, potties on the street corner!!

You push the button and waalaa...the door opens and there you go!!

Here's the 'control panel'...I felt like I was in Europe or something! It was very interesting...

It was a great time of refreshment! It is always hard for me to go somewhere longer than a day but I was thankful for the time to get away from the daily routines of life :)

To Tears...

Just had to share a story with you that made me laugh so hard it brought me to tears...

I have befriended all of the twenty-something-year-old girls in Theatre class, many of whom I have had many classes with and we all want to be teachers. One girl in particular, Elizabeth, and I, have really hit it off and sit together. So... we are sitting in class and have just observed a group present their staged reading of a Children's play. The group started asking the class some discussion questions and this particular question involved heroes and heroines. They kept expanding on their question, repeating heroes and heroines, heroes and heroines...

Elizabeth looks over at me and ever so seriously asks: "Was there heroine in this play?"

I looked at her... and started cracking up (quietly...trying not to be disruptive...it wasn't easy!) I had to put my hands over my face with my shoulders bobbing up and down. She didn't even realize what she had said until another girl replied, "You know, heroes who are boys and heroines who are girls?!?" It finally clicked and then she cracked up! We both had tears streaming down our faces!

It is a story and memory that makes me smile and laugh all over again...definitely a highlight of Summer School!

Happy Happy Day...

Every June 27th is a day to remember two very special people - My mom and Dillon share the same birthday! Every year we have a pool party in Bakersfield at my parents house which is a highlight every year. Angela and Larry come down from Fresno, Dick and Maxine come up from Chatsworth, and the Sampleys and Grandma Nonie stop by :) Dillon's 18th and Mom's 62nd!
Smith's cookies and See's California Brittle help make the party complete :) Here's a tip...the candy was left over from Christmastime and I froze it! It thawed out perfectly...you're welcome :)

Make a Wish...

DeAnn's birthday was on 6/23 so I stitched her up a little something :)

Okay, I really wish you could see this amazing quilt in person! It is wonderful...my mom took all of Dillon's old hockey jerseys and made them into a quilt! It was fun to remember him in all those jerseys at different ages since he was 4! He was really touched and mom had such a fun time making it for him.

Mike and DeAnn with their precious bundle, granddaughter June :)

The birthday boy with June...

Aaawwww...they don't call her Junie Bug for nothin'!

Grandma Nonie and Mike catching up...

Dillon, Brooke, Dalton, and Tarynn...

The most funnest aunt ever... :)

Kaylynn giving me the 'thumbs up' as she perfects holding her breath under water...

Larry aims and shoots...

Ethan enjoying the pool and sunshine...Dick and Maxine chillin'...

We all had our turn at holding Miss June...

What a great day with family and friends! Can't wait until next year...