VBS

Yesterday started one of the most favorite and long-awaited weeks of the year for Dillon… Vacation Bible School at our Church!   It’s almost like another major holiday or event on our calendar every year, and sure enough is usually a highlight of June for many kids every year.   It’s cool seeing all the different churches advertising their VBS (usually during June), seeing the different themes and activities, and just knowing they are reaching out to the kids.  Some churches have VBS during the day (like our Church) and some in the evenings. 

I still remember attending VBS when I was Dillon’s age and younger.  Back then the Church we attended held an evening VBS and it was like the same Church building I saw every week was magically transformed – lots of extra color, and posters, and activities, and… SNO CONES!    I remember my VBS teacher back then (Mrs. Cartwright.  Can you believe I still remember her name?  And her family were ranchers and her youngest of three sons was named Joe.  I’m really serious!  Quit humming the Bonanza theme…)  Anyway, the teachers would print the words to songs on big poster boards and it was a special treat to get to stand at the front and hold the poster board during the song.  I still remember the name of the song when I got to hold the poster.  Isn’t it silly the things that stick in your mind after 35 years?    For a person who can’t remember to take out the trash on Fridays, I consider that golden!  Haha

Some friends talk about making the “VBS round” during the summer, going to VBS as each church in town held theirs during the summer months.   We didn’t live in town and never got to do that, but loved going to VBS with my Great Aunt Mildred every summer  (She never had kids of her own, but was always like a Grandma to me).  She was already in her 70’s back when I was a kid but was the most fun “grown up” I knew.  She would have my brother and I plus 2-3 other kids come stay with her the week Iago Federated Church (where she worshipped) had VBS.  We would attend VBS during the mornings and have a great time playing together the rest of the time.  She would have weenie roasts, take us swimming, play games with us, and all kinds of fun stuff.  A couple of summers she even arranged for us to go have pony rides at a friend’s house.  She made Vacation Bible School week a real VACATION for us kids every year.  I just love her for that!

Back then I never imaged I would move to the Iago area one day.  We always enjoyed their VBS so much and I still remember some of the ladies from those days.  One other thing I remember was that at snack time they let you file past the kitchen refrigerator and get a whole glass bottle of soda all to yourself!  I always got a strawberry soda and thought that was epic coolness!!   I still think of that every time I’m in the IFC kitchen (like for showers and such) and it always makes me smile.

Hats off and great thanks to all the very special people who volunteer to coordinate and teach VBS every year, who serve great snacks and drinks which kids may remember forever, and most of all to those who take the time to bring their kids, grandkids, and lots of extra kids with them to VBS.  May God bless you and may those kids remember it fondly 35 years from now and more!