Barnyard Roundup – day 4

Yesterday’s story was Jesus Tells about a Sower. We sowed seeds in a path where people walked but birds ate the seed, rocky ground (rocks laying on a dark brown towel), ground that also grew vines, and finally good soil. Managing all the birds, seeds, vines, and plants must have been overwhelming – I took no pictures.

Today’s story was Jesus Tells about a Lost Son. Note: two boys wanted to be the wayward son, so we had two sons. Here the father is giving his sons money to go out into the world:DSC02239The sons spent the money foolishly including buying pizza and soda for two party girls:DSC02241The sons are hungry and desperate and find work on a farm. One son took care of the pigs while the other intently raked the green grass.DSC02243The father welcomes home his lost son:DSC02244A few pictures from the other groups I worked with:DSC02252Thinking about eating the pig food:DSC02257DSC02254The older brother was unhappy as the father greeted the son:DSC02258Isabella and the horse became immediate and fast friends. She named him Hot Cocoa and gave him a hug before she left each day.DSC02264As a little break from storytelling/acting, we used the props from the party scene to take group photos.DSC02233DSC02263DSC02268Lunch served by the lunch crew. Deena Nickel (at right taking a picture) organized Vacation Bible School this year.DSC02265

Barnyard Roundup – day 2

Tu – Day 2: Jesus feeds 5000 people. DSC02221The miracle produced small cups of goldfish crackers and wheat thins (bread) for snacking. Then everyone took different parts, we did the 15-minute skit again, and we had a little snack. Repeat.
DSC02222From Psalm 23: He makes me lie down in green pastures, He leads me beside still waters.DSC02224

Barnyard Roundup – day 1

I said I would help with Vacation Bible School, but missed the first organizational meeting. As it turned out, I was in charge of the Bible part (Uh-oh). The storytelling part – that I might be able to pull off. Barnyard Roundup was the theme.DSC02199The Man:DSC02198The day began with an opening led by Pastor Kirsten.DSC02203DSC02200Then there were three 45-minute rotations: crafts, games, and Bible storytelling. Today’s story, The Good Shepherd who takes his sheep to good pastures and fresh water.DSC02213The sheep won’t go with the robberDSC02206or the stranger.DSC02209Then the wolf scared off the farmhand and scattered the sheep. The kids loved this part, running away and hiding in the pews.DSC02214The Good Shepherd found all the sheep and called them by name.DSC02215 As soon as the story was over, everyone wanted to do it again but take a different part. We probably repeated each story 2-3 times. The closing at the end of the day:DSC02216

From the sewing cave

In between everything else, I made a few masks.DSC02089Not from the sewing cave, but created – seven hay bales! Ice chests covered with “straw” plastic table covers. It was like wrapping the large heavy gifts – lots of clear postal tape holding everything together.DSC02197All for next week’s events!

Funderland

We rode the Yuba Mundo to Funderland in Land Park today. A quick stop at the turtle log:DSC02137DSC02140DSC02141DSC02147DSC02154DSC02163DSC02165On the way back, Avery fell asleep!DSC02170A stop for ice cream at Turtles in Old Sac. We had to leave Funderland a bit early due to a scratch Avery got while waiting for our second turn on the Flying Dragon. Despite the smallness of the wound and lack of blood, it was important to go home right away so he could rest and he had to hold up the hem of his shorts and he limped a bit. LOL!

Wild blackberries

DSC02129One of Justin’s neighbors, Jack Montgomery, has been gathering the tiny wild blackberries for the past 2 weeks or so. The amazing part is he also just had arthroscopic surgery to open a 90%-blocked artery. Doctors went in through small incisions in his wrist and groin, kept him overnight, sent him home and told him to rest. But Jack has a hard time sitting still, so he gathered the blackberries for short periods of time every day. His slow-but-steady method has yielded 100 pounds so far. Next on Jack’s agenda: jams, jellies, and pies! And he wanted me to know, he does all the canning and baking, not his wife.

Sophia and Avery

Since the temperatures were cooler this week, we rode the Yuba Mundo today to the local library. It was also the first climb for any kind of a hill – which was a walkway/trail over the freeway. Being helpful, Avery and Sophia wanted to get off and walk, although they actually ran … fast. Time to pedal!DSC02090The library provided more than books to look at. Avery spent about a half hour focused on sorting all the colors into the correct jar using a magnetic pen.DSC02095On the ride back, we stopped at a park on Bannon Creek Parkway. Very big climbing rope structure with a trampoline in the middle.DSC02097DSC02103There are button at the leg joint which starts the water spraying for about 5 minutes. IMG_0433Later in the afternoon, Sophia had her ukelele lesson.DSC02120Afterward, we walked around the block searching for squirrels andDSC02121 the friendly cat. No cat today, but they did find a great hopscotch walkway.DSC02124

4 of July

Last night, Justin and I went to a fireworks show about 2 miles from his house (in the middle of nowhere, from some points of view). We parked along a walnut orchard along with more than 50 other vehicles.DSC02058Across the road and plowed field, ringed with trees is Lake Minden, a popular rv and camping resort.DSC02060It was quite a good fireworks show.DSC02069DSC02068