Day 160; Footnotes of That Big Kid in Me Out to Play

I won’t lie, I am having the time of my life.

I made the following comment on a friend’s post earlier; “When I agreed to assist with a Vacation Bible School class at my church, I walked in with trepidation as I wasn’t sure what I was getting myself into. A class of a dozen soon to be first graders. Three days in and I’m loving those moments of innocence, those hours of forgetting the real and enjoying the joys of youth. Allowing myself to forget, just for a while, what waits outside those doors.“

First thing this morning, one of our kids found a small empty wasp nest on the ground. I ended up taking it away from her because she was chasing the other kids with the “bees nest”. I promised to give it back to her before they left, but in the chaos of departing, she forgot and I missed her leaving. I put it in the classroom just in case she remembers tomorrow.

Vacation Bible School starts with the entire group of kids gathering in the sanctuary and saying the pledges, watching a video and hearing the day’s song. Then off to class for story and a challenge or two.

It was very interesting listening to the kids. Five and six year old kids can have very vivid imaginations. Like the boy who was telling us of how when he was seventeen and was driving. He got a ticket because he ran a stop sign that was too small he and didn’t see it.

Then there was the child who was driving and fell out of his truck and was run over, but thankfully it was a kid’s truck.

I loved  when the topic of outhouses was brought up and the reactions of the kids when they learned what that was. Which apparently they would prefer over a port-a-potty because port-a-potties are nasty. This subject somehow came up as we were discussing how in Jesus’s time they had to carry water from a well and then dip it out of the container a little at a time. I honestly don’t recall how it went from well to outhouse. Well, okay, it somehow revolved around them trying to dip water out of one container and carry it without spilling any to another. They did really well.

From there we went to music class and learn the next song. The kids are all naturals. They have zero inhibitions. They may not have gotten every move exactly right, but they tried and they did amazing. Up until this week, it had been over forty years before I had attempting to really dance in public. Oh I wanted to and offered a feeble attempt here or there, but not like this. If the kids can, this big kid can. And I’m actually learning a thing or two. Like, I can almost manage to do the moves.

From music to snacks, a nice break with juice, gold fish and something chocolate. I mean, what are kids without a sugar high?

From snacks to missions and learning about where churches are being planted. Its amazing how talking about subways– not the sandwiches–can bring out all sorts of memories in these kids. Like the child who remembered that she had been to New York, but she didn’t remember much because she was still in her mommy’s tummy. Or the child who discussed double-decker trains. I’m not positive they accepted that subway trains aren’t like the buses in London.

From missions to crafts. Monday they made a piece of pottery out of clay. Yesterday was the mirror. Today was jeweled wrist bands. Which one kid said made them look like Wonder Woman. Its such fun watching them as they create, they get so fully involved in what they are doing and they do it well. As well as a five or six year old can anyway.

From crafts its to the final gathering in the sanctuary and a recap of all that happened during the day. A different group of kids got to go up on the stage to dance to one of the songs showing the rest of us how it was done. Yes, I made my attempts. Yes, I laughed the entire time. The big kid in me who has been suppressed for so long has been slipping out to play.

When the kids were asked if they were ready to go home, the shouts of no filled the room. They wanted to hang around longer, but their parents were waiting. Tomorrow is another day.

Don’t tell anyone…..let it be our secret… I found the songs online and have been practicing. I’m still not all that good, but I’m better. A little more assured in what I’m trying to do anyway. The funny part, was watching Bella, watch me, wondering what on earth I was doing and if she needed to go for help. At least she can’t operate a video camera..