Father's Day

Richard has wanted this tool box for a long time. He almost didn't want to leave town this week so he could organize all his tools! He's a happy Father.

I heart VBS

I love VBS for many reasons, one being that I believe it's the best week in the life of the church family. More people get out of their comfort zone and have the BEST time doing it than at any other time of the year. I volunteered this year to be the director for our church. It looks like this will be the last year we don't have someone on staff who will be leading.  Last year we organized it by committee but I've had my hand out of service in a big way for a few years and I knew that it was something I needed to do this year.

It's been hard. Not because of the work, because I've been working on it little by little since March. It's been hard because it's so easy to be disappointed with church members who don't "get" that they will be hugely blessed by giving up time and energy for God's work. VBS is just one of the many many ways people can serve, I know that. However, it's one of the easiest. Even if you don't want to work directly with children (which is just crazy talk). There's just too much to do...cutting 300 hands, painting a cardboard castle, helping buy the snacks to feed over 300 each day, inviting neighbors, making thousands of copies of all kinds of paperwork, acting out the part of Esther on Tuesday, leading the music, collecting the offering.... I often have to stop in the middle of working on things and pray that no one will bail out without telling me and that we will have the right amount of people to handle the typical 300 kids we have for the week. I will also continue to pray for 4 more adult leaders to help with sweet preschool children and for those who are volunteering to be blessed beyond what they can handle.

Next week...an unheard of 5 DAYS alone! Richard is going to his annual company meeting, Lauren and Erin are going to Falls Creek Camp, and Sheridan is going to her first week at Camp Siloam! Ryan is in the Dominican Republic until June 28. Monday-Friday...by myself, working on VBS of course.

Signs of Summer

It's beautiful outside! Beach towels are drying over lawn chairs...the garden is growing...the grass (the new stuff) needs watered, and Sheridan hit a HIGH in Wii bowling today! Right after we took this picture...she bowled 11 strikes and one spare and hit 279! SUMMER FUN!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY

 

Lauren is 18! We had a huge lunch with a full table on Sunday and celebrated. We planned a canoe trip for Wednesday and that will be her present from us. It seems like we're gone a lot in June, we've spent her birthday at ball fields, on the beach, in Branson, at amusement parks...but this year at home. She started a new job on Monday but we've planned a canoe trip (her first) on Wednesday to celebrate family style! LOVE this girl...can't wait to see what kind of fun she's going to have in school next year and what big plans God has for her future!  

Conference Time

 

5th Annual Rhea Lana's Owner's Conference: Little Rock Crown Plaza. It's been a strange year with my business. I had huge sales and more volunteers than ever. I had very successful events but I'm more removed from the corporate side of the business than I've ever been, and I wasn't sure what to expect at the conference. However, it was just a few minutes into the first gathering when I remembered why I really love spending time with the other owners. I really love knowing that I helped some of them accomplish things in their businesses. I really like encouraging them or sharing something I've already learned. It's a great feeling to be valuable, even in a room full of people with high IQs and professional job titles. I'm always humbled by their wisdom and ingenuity.

 

This year my sale won some big awards. We've had record-breaking sales this year in lots of areas and it was very rewarding to be recognized for the hard work of my managers, leaders and volunteers and the success of my 10 year old sale.  I'm thankful for a job where I can use my talents and also where I can make a difference in our community.

 

 

 

Outtakes

You'd think we were asking everyone to work in the yard all day...in their nice clothes, in the rain...lots of sarcasm/tension during the impromptu photo session. I got frustrated before we started because there were so many questions about clothing (we eventually chose tshirts and 'other')...and then...where we were deciding where to sit... It reminded me of stressful Sunday mornings when the kids were little telling them "We're going to church to worship Jesus and we're going to be happy about it!" Today:  "We're taking a family picture to record our fabulous family and you better put smiles on your faces!"

TOGETHER - TODAY

All 6 of us...in the same place, at the same time. June 1st, 2013.

Monday: Ryan heads to the Dominican Republic for one month, (note: must get him to LR by 6:30am)
Monday: Erin begins Summer Swim Practice (8am-9am) and Driver's Ed (9am-3pm)
Monday: Lauren starts her new job
Monday: First VBS meeting, countdown 24 days...
Monday: Richard is out of town until Wednesday