Vacation Bible School

Sean and Kyle have attended VBS together since they were in first grade, I believe. So this year was a little sad and nostalgic for me, and I think it was for them a little bit, too.

VBS started July 22, just after we returned from our honeymoon. It's been a crazy-busy summer.

The boys are both going to be fifth graders this year, and it was their final VBS year at our church. I don't know if there are other VBS programs in our area that offer classes for olders, but ours doesn't.

Each year I've had both boys in the back seat, and driven them to VBS week. Kyle lived across the street from us in our old neighborhood.

When I mentioned VBS Sean hesitated, but when I explained it was his last chance, he was ready to go. Both he and Kyle seemed to have a pretty good time, but they told me they missed a couple of things that were offered before. Science had been their favorite thing about VBS, but they didn't offer it this year.

It was a circus theme this year, and our pastor always enjoys getting in on the action.

Sean and Kyle were in the Mexico group.

Each day they studied a different country and the culture. Sean has been studying these countries and cultures since he was 4 years old through the Montessori curriculum, but he loves it. Plus he got to study them in a new way, through a Christian and Biblical view.

They had a few teachers, but their main teacher was LeAnn O'Neil, and we love her. She is a retired teacher, and she did such a great job of bringing in foods and things to help them experience the country they were studying. She made sure to communicate with me about how things were going for them, and shared little tidbits. Sean was given the nickname, "Terrific Thinker." She said she sometimes wasn't sure he was even paying attention, and when she would ask a question he would be the one to have a really in-depth answer, revealing something more than what she even expected.

And the week after VBS we received a packet in the mail from Mrs. O'Neil. It was so kind of her. She included two bookmarks, one to keep and one to give to a friend. And a personal note. She is so sweet.

I will miss taking Sean and Kyle to VBS. It's so much fun to watch Sean grow and mature, yet sad in some ways, too. Maybe we'll come up with our own thing to replace VBS for them next year.