AWANA Bible Quizzers

A few Saturdays ago, Russell and Randall competed in this year's AWANA Bible Quiz. It was hosted by our church, which was very convenient for us as it meant no traveling.

This year, one of the leaders, J. B., took charge and they actually practiced once a week for about a month leading up to the quiz. Most days, the boys didn't mind studying and they both enjoyed the group practices.

Russ' team had two girls and two boys. They quizzed on Book 3. Randall's team was one girl and two boys. They quizzed on Book 1.

Russ and his friend, Sam, waiting for their first turn.

Each team participates in 3 areas--written, (which is individually scored), and as a team, they do multiple choice quizzing and complete answer speed quiz.

Randall's team doing the multiple choice portion.

Getting a pep talk from J. B. in between the multiple choice and speed quiz portions.

Russell's team waiting for their written part.

Pep talk with Stephanie.

It was a long morning and, altho we try hard not to entertain him with our phones, we caved in.

Randall's team placed 4th among 8 teams and Russell's placed 2nd among 7.

They worked hard and did well. Overall, it was a great experience and a fun time. And memory verses were reviewed and recommitted to memory. A win-win!

Hey, Jaime--

--D'you got those Akin kids?

I heard that twice last night as I was leaving AWANA.

Seems like, if you forget someone's kids once, everyone thinks they have to tease you about it for weeks afterward.

Our AWANA program at our church started up two weeks ago and I offered to pick up and drop off my friend, Aimee's kids. They live a few streets down from us and I had to be at church for the nursery anyway, so I thought I'd save her a trip. We decided we'd swap, and on the weeks when I don't work in the nursery, she'll take my kids with hers. Great idea, eh?

I got both of our kids to AWANA with no trouble. Then when it was over, someone brought my kids to me in the nursery. I finished cleaning up the nursery and herded my kiddos to our car and headed home.

Just as I pulled into my driveway, my phone rang. It was Stephanie.

She said, "Hi, Jaime. Are you at the church still?"
"No," I answered, "I just pulled up at my house. What's up?"
Her: Aren't you taking the Akin kids home?
Me: Oh. My. Goodness. Oh, my goodness, yes, I am supposed to! I can't believe I forgot them! I will be right back to get them!
Her: Don't worry about it, we'll get them home, I was just making sure you weren't still here before I headed to Aimee's house.

In the end, Laura took Aimee's kids with her to Wal-Mart and Aimee picked them up from there.

I am an idiot. I called and apologized profusely to Aimee, promised it would never happen again and then apologized again! She was very kind and understanding and never once even hinted that she couldn't believe she had trusted her kids to such a complete idiot.

Well, last Sunday, being Labor Day weekend, we didn't have AWANA. So, this Sunday, I remembered and picked up her kids. Then I remembered and retrieved them from the AWANA room. Some people, however, who will remain nameless (their intitials are Laura and Kerry) wanted to make sure I hadn't forgotten them again, so they made sure to check with me. Nevermind that I had the Akin kids trailing behind me as they double-checked with me...

I should've known I wouldn't live that one down. I said something to that effect to Kerry, who laughed mercilessly, and said he'd make sure I didn't...

Friends, can't live with 'em; wouldn't have anyone to laugh at you without 'em...

So, anyone want me to help with carpooling?...

AWANA-wanna-wanna-wanna...

...really, really wanna-wanna be just like the Lord!

AWANA starts up this Sunday. Russell is going to be a Spark. Time flies. We've been working on his lesson and he has just learned it so quickly and so well. He knows everything except the song, but I've been singing it (I was a Spark for Jesus, too, back in the day) so that when he hears it in AWANA, he'll recognize it and it won't take long for him to learn it. I've been impressed with how quickly he has memorized everything.

I've also been amazed at how much of Russell's lesson Randall has memorized, too. We decided not to put Randall in Cubbies since going to Sunday School still causes tears. Why make him (and us) go through it a second time if it's not necessary. However, we might reconsider once he gets over crying when he's dropped off, because he memorizes amazingly quickly, too! He knows John 3:16 (with helps, of course) and the pledge to the American flag (from BSF) and most of the pledge to the AWANA flag. He just laughs when I tell him how cool it is that he knows Russell's lesson, too. Or maybe we'll just let him keep memorizing Russell's verses and not worry about Cubbies.

The Sparks' key verse is John 3:16 and over the course of the last few days, as Russell has worked on memorizing it, I've explained more and more of what it means. The boys are both so good at listening. We usually have our deepest discussions in the car. (ie: do animals go to Heaven, where is Heaven, why it's not okay for you to be a bully, whether Mommy and Daddy will die first or if they will, etc.) There have been many times where I have gotten choked up while driving and discussing some neat things. We have such an awesome responsibility as Christian parents and discussing some of these important issues (like how it is worshipping God to memorize Bible verses just like singing and reading the Bible are worshipping God) makes my heart feel so full of thankfulness for a God who helps me parent.

These neat conversations also convict me that just teaching my kids the right things isn't enough. I need to be more consistent in my own Bible study and prayer time. Praying for the boys is one of the most important things I can do for them.

A little stressed

I am beginning to feel a little bit stressed as the school year begins. We still don't know whether or not our transfer request for Russell has been accepted and school starts a week from tomorrow (Yikes!), but that's not really what's stressing me.

Tonight, Slade and Russell went to the church to sign Russ up for AWANA. Russell will be a Sparkie this year. Can my little guy really be old enough to be a Spark for Jesus? A Spark to light the world? (Are you singing the Sparks song yet? *bwahahaha*)

So, that's one more committment.

We also will be changing his piano lessons from the nice, convenient time of 9:00 in the morning to after school. Another committment of our time.

Russell has asked if he can play soccer this year and I'm hesitant to agree. I want to see how our days and weeks go with just what we already have on our plate before we add more. I don't know if I can survive one more activity. Slade and I agreed that one musical activity and one physical (or academic, when they are older) activity at a time. If he does more than one sport, then they can't overlap. That might change as he gets a little older, but I don't know. I so do not want to be one of those families that is on the go all the time, with no time to be a family and spend time together. But, I also don't want to keep them from doing something that they might really excel in. We'll just play it by ear, I suppose. And, you're all welcome to hold me accountable. If we get too busy, tell me to slow us down!

Russell also wants to take guitar lessons at some point. I think he would do wonderfully. He is amazing on the piano. And, I'm not just saying that because he's my kid and I happen to think he's the most brilliant child in the universe or anything. Of course, I do think he's the most brilliant child in the... Well, anyway, my biased opinion aside, he does seem to be doing really well.

When he first began his lessons, the notes all had the letter written on them and the number of the finger above the note. Then he progressed to not having the numbers there and he had to remember which finger played which note. Then he progressed to having the notes on the staff, but only one hand at a time. He is now playing with both hands and reading music. It is simple music, of course, but he picks up on each new step very quickly.

He got two new songs this week that he will be playing at his next recital in a few weeks. The first time he tried to play them, he got so frustrated because he couldn't get them perfectly. Well, we have "officially" practiced twice this week and he already has both songs perfectly. I say "officially" practiced, because, although, I have only sat down with him twice since his lesson, he has sat down on his own and has worked through the tough parts. I just always leave his books open on the piano to the toughest song for the week and he goes to the piano, on his own, three or four times a day and practices for a few minutes here and there until he memorizes his songs. See, he's amazing!

Um, I digress...

So, I was saying I am feeling a little stressed. Once Russ starts school and I see how everything goes there, I think I'll feel less overwhelmed. I like to know all the details. It's not that I like to be in control, it's just that I... well, I... I like to be in control.

I don't know what time school starts or ends and that is stressful to me. I want to know that we will have to leave the house at this time to get Russ to school/pick Russ up.

I don't remember when BSF starts for the year and that is stressful to me. (Nevermind that I am sure I have it written down somewhere if I would just go look for it... But, going and looking for something is stressful, too!)

A friend of Slade's has asked if I can watch their 7 year old for three days in January when he is out of school, but his parents won't be off work and his daycare won't be open. I don't mind at all, but I have to find out if I have BSF one of those days because if I do, I can't take him that day since he can't go with me. And, I could call someone and find out, but that's just one more thing to add to my To Do list. And that's a little stressful. *grin*

So, I guess it's kinda my own fault I'm stressed out in some of these areas. I'm being lazy. And, some of it is beyond my control and so I shouldn't bother with stressing anyway. And, some of it is just life and I just need to suck it up, cream puff, put my big girl panties on and deal with it. (You know... I would never say a phrase like that in person, but I feel more free when I'm typing...)

Well, this is a long post about mostly nothing, so I will now end it. I think I'll get to bed at a reasonable hour tonight because we've been going to bed late the past week or so and it's really stressing me out...