AWANA over for the year, I can hardly believe it and I will miss my girls so much! 3 of the 5 are going up to TNT which is for 3rd-6th grade. I will miss them. *sob* I can't believe they grew up that fast!

Oh, and AWANA stands for "Approved Workmen Are Not Ashamed" from the AWANA key verse 2 Timothy 2:15.

I highly recommend AWANA, I learned so much there. And I love working with the children.

Feel free to ask me questions about AWANA.
Post them below or email me at: crazi.swans at gmail dot com
Here is a link to the AWANA website.

Oh, and I'm posting tomorrow sometime after 4pm central time.

Crazy busy

Sorry if I bored ya'll to death with all my talk of Teen Bible Quiz and all. But lately it hasn't been far from my mind. We have a little more than three weeks to prepare. And let me tell you something, Regionals isn't something that you can really prepare for. Every time I go to a big tournament I feel immediatly guilty for every second I spent doing something useless, like watching TV, and wish I had studied more. But that's life.

Recently we've been busy with homeschooling and church, (which includes AWANA & TBQ). The AWANA season is almost over and it's always hard when I have 2nd graders in my SPARKS group, because then the next year they move up with the big kids. *sigh* If only they would stay little forever. I remember my mother saying the same of me.

Right now we are in a frenzy trying to order all the awards for the little Sparkies, making sure we get them the right one and that they are finishing up their books like they're supposed to. I'm proud to say that all my Sparkies in my small group will be finishing. Yay!

Tonight I'm skipping 4-H because I'm not feeling my best, but hopefully I will be well by tomorrow so I can help out with AWANA. My brother is filling in for me as secretary, and he is not exactly thrilled with the prospect of having to take notes the entire meeting. But he's still excited about it, which is good.

It is so hot today. It was 76 degrees when I went out today on my paper route. But that's nothing compared with what's coming our way this Summer!

BYE

Geocaching and other adventures.

Today, I went geocaching for the first time with my 4-H club. It was fun finding the small containers and signing my name in the journal. It was also cold. Very, very cold. And wet. But, still an amazing experience. It's hard to believe that people hide these little things all over the place and we don't even know that one could be hiding in the fence or hanging from a tree, or under a bush. But a very cool, active activity. If you can describe an activity by saying it is active.

Last night at AWANA was crazy, in a good way but still crazy. A kid fell down and hurt himself in a really weird way, he's fine but still probably uncomfortable. I really can't say over the Internet.

We are raising money for AWANA clubs in other countries, so they can start their own clubs there. Which I hope we can do! We are one-quarter of the way to our goal, with one week of fundraising left.

My brother is testing for his third degree black belt Saturday, which he is so excited about. So am I! He takes his job as my brother very seriously and scares away creepy guys at the mall who try to hit on me. He likes telling people about his black belt in Tae kwon do. He was an AAU National champion a few years back.

Right now I'm reading, "Waiting out the Storm," by Ruth Logan Herne. Next on my list is "By Darkness Hid," by Jill Williamson. I have to read it before my brother finds out that it isn't a girl book!

We have some good friends going through hard times. When things like that happen, it's like Why? I can't really say what is going on, but it is so hard. And I am continually amazed at their faith. Even though they admit that this has been a struggle for them. Just thinking about the situation I want to cry. Makes me realize how blessed I am. And it hurts so much to see people you know go through hard times. I pray for them around the clock. I'm praying for a miracle.

Blessings.

Let the Olympic games begin!

Hi, I bet you have noticed that I talk a lot about AWANA. That's probably because I love it and that's where I really started understand the Bible, and what Jesus did for me. Yes, for an awful person like me. So when I was old enough I started helping out with the SPARKS program at our church. And I love being able to help children learn more about God, and encourage them to hide God's word in their hearts.

Well, anyway this Saturday is the AWANA Olympics and I can't wait to see all the kids doing their best and engaging in good Christian competition. I have always been a fan of the games as a kid who was athletic, but never got pick for dodge ball or capture the flag games, these games were the times when I got to be included and encourage others. Something about it made me feel closer to the other kids if only for a month or so. I have so many fond memories of the games. So tomorrow, I will be there cheering on the Sparks. And the TNT. Most of them ex-Sparks.

My brother is assistant coaching this year. He is so proud of those kids. Not to mention how much they love him, he's just like this cool older kid who will play with them and he just has this coolness about him. He is so excited to see the kids he helped coach, do their very best. I will probably be helping with the judging or something.

The youth group will use this opportunity to fund raise by selling snacks to the spectators, kids and their parents. Mostly to the parents who have to pay. They will be going on something called B.U.M.P. this year. And many of the teens can work at the youth group's fund raisers to earn their way, which is really nice.

I have been trying to write some through all of this craziness going on in my life, but I guess sometimes the words don't come. Like now.

Their has been some stuff going on, divisions and the like, rumors are a' flying. That stuff is draining but there is hope that these things will be figured out. Hopefully soon.

I have been watching a very dramatic mini-series lately about this huge family feud, and how forgiveness and love can help to heal families like that. Though it wasn't a Christian drama, there was a lot of scripture quoted and read that was so meaning full and poignant, because they were deep passages that weren't just lightweight, I guess is how you would say it. Though I did watch it with a filter. I heard that it had some pretty bad scenes that I didn't really see. But the whole time I was thinking that they could have solved their problems faster than 60 years! With just a little less tradition, and a heap more understanding and forgiveness it would have been over in the first episode. But then there would be no drama!

So wish our team the best, and every other team the best as well!

Let the games begin!

Sorry if the randomness of this blog confused or lost you in anyway. I didn't mean to. I'm kinda hard to follow, so I apologize.

Thanks so much! Over and out!