AWANA- August and September

We have had an unbelievably amazing year thus far in AWANA!! God has truly blessed us with an amazing staff and an awesome group of kids! Here are a few pictures of what AWANA has looked like this year! We are looking forward to GREAT rest of the year!! Do you know a 2 yr. old- 6th Grade aged child? We would love to have them join us in AWANA! It takes place on Wednesday evenings from 5:45- 7:30. The OASIS opens at 5:15 on Wednesdays!!

This year, we added a corporate worship service for all of the groups. This is a picture taken in August during the worship service portion. 

In August, we were pleased to have The Leckie Family come and speak about their journey as foreign missionaries. 

Dr. Leckie showing some pictures.

The Sparks won the award for bringing the most visitors. They received a pizza party. Here are a few shots from that party.

In September, Jason Russell told us about Salvation by cutting a piece of paper. After worship, he went around to each group to allow the kids to cut their paper to make a cross. Here he is working with the Sparks. 

This is a picture taken from T&T game time!! 

Now I have two videos to share. 

This is a video that was taken in the Puggles Room.... They have a lot of fun, and the Puggles know their songs!! 

This video was taken during Cubbies game time--- this goes to show that AWANA is not only for kids, adults like it too : )

AWANA Girly Day

Once each semester we try to have a day just for the boys to hang out, and one day just for the girls to hang out. This semester, I decided to have full girly day for the girls! The girls enjoyed girly time at camp, so I thought it would go over well for AWANA too. It did! We had a super fun day, full of manicures, facials, make-up, and hair doing. It was so much fun! We ended the event by talking about the things that make you a beautiful person on the inside! If you want a play-by-play of the devotion, see Rileigh Walters. She was all ears and can tell you all about being modest!! Here are a few pictures from all of the girly fun (Thank you, Brandi for taking the pictures for me)!! 

The view from the front door.

One of the little princesses....

The girls all getting seated for devotion time...

Devotion time...

Facial time!! 

A boys only day is in the planning stage!!

Order of Importance

This year, I have a smart board in my classroom!!!! I am SOOOOOO EXCITED!! Currently, the only computer I have in the classroom is not compatible with the smart board software, so it will only act a projector and screen. I am not complaining though because I love powerpoints! However, I will be super excited when it's all up and running!! I am going to try to post some of the powerpoints I create for class, and put them on here, in case there is anyone who would like to use them. Right now the powerpoints are just plain powerpoints. However, you can take them and make them your own, and make them smart board friendly (and maybe you could give me tips on how to make them smart board friendly)!! 

Please let me know if there are any typos! I am trying to get them, but I keep catching new ones! Also, I am new to the smart board era, so any resources you can share, I am all ears :)

This week, we are studying Order of Importance. This powerpoint is on that, and it a good opener to text structure!  Enjoy!! 

In order to view this weeks' powepoint, you will have the click here. 

http://www.flickr.com/photos/53228736@N05/sets/72157624662101231/with/4918948560/

Sorry guys, this was the best I could do.. I'm sleepy!! 

http://www.flickr.com/photos/53228736@N05/sets/72157624662101231/with/4918948560/

Youth Missions Week

Each year, our youth group participates in a week of missions projects around Natchez. This year, they visited Adams County Nursing Home on Monday. At the nursing home, they painted fingernails, played bingo, and talked with the residents. On Tuesday, the youth went to Kyle's house. At Kyle's House, they played games with kids, made several crafts, and painted a Parkway Student Ministry Sign on a section of their fence. This is the only day I have pictures from. On Wednesday, the youth went back to the area nursing homes to visit Parkway church members. It really meant a lot to the Parkway members to have 15 people (especially youth) show up and spend time with them. On Thursday, they helped with odd jobs around the church. Some of the boys fixed up the Rec Center, which houses the the children's room and the workout room. The girls helped the secretaries send out letters to the church members about our new paster, Jeff Brewer. Then they all went and helped a church member do a few things in her yard. It was an awesome week for everyone involved, and I look forward to next year's youth mission week!! 

The youth that got to paint the sign... Kent was also there, but had to leave early! 

Their painting on the fence! 

The bottom two pictures are of the youth making crafts with the kids. 

BYBC 2010

All I can say is WOW. I was talking to one of my parents/volunteers this weekend, and we both completely agree that this past week was the best week we've had. It was a wonderful experience for the kids, youth, and the adults that helped out. Here are a few pictures, so you can what a typical day at BYBC looks like! We had the BYBC in the church's backyard. We did this, so that we could have a few things inside to get the kids out of the heat for a little while. 

Each morning the girls started us off with a puppet show that displayed the theme of the way - Jesus is the way, the truth, and the life. 

After the puppet show, Steve went through the wordless book with the kids. At the end of the week, the kids made a colors of faith bracelet, and were all given a wordless book to take home. This was by far, the most learned thing we did. At the end of the week, all of the kids could tell you about the colors, and what they meant. This is something we will continue to use to share the Gospel with kids. It's awesome! I recommend the wordless book resources for anyone and everyone!!! 

After our "morning meeting," we started rotations. We had bible study, games, crafts, and snacks. Here are a few pictures from that!! 

The older boys acting out part of the Bible Study- Jesus temped three times in the desert. 

Mrs. Suzy came to my rescue and lead Bible Study for the rest of the week. She is a wonderful teacher!! The kids all love her, and she can keep them all in line... as you can see!! 

Craft time... Mrs. Danielle is just wonderful all around. We had a lot of extra craft stuff from years past, and she took all of that and allowed the kids to make stuff from it! They loved it, it saved us money, and the kids thought is was all AWESOME!! 

On Monday, the kids told Mrs. Danielle they wanted to build a house......so on Thursday, Mrs. Danielle brought big boxes, and let them paint them. These boxes will be turned into a village in an unused Sunday School room in the preschool area. We will have several houses, a church, a school, stop signs, roads, ect. 

The youth boys are awesome! They showed up and did anything and everything we asked them to do. The hardest part of their was leading game time. They showed up early everyday and put together a game plan. ALLLLLLLL of the kids loved them- and so do I!! 

Snack time!! Always a good part of the day!!

My personal favorite part of the day was music time. The youth did an amazing job teaching the songs and motions, and getting the kids engaged in worship. I look forward to worship time at AWANA!!! 

Overall, it was WONDERFUL!! I look forward to AWANA starting next Wednesday. On SUnday, we will have our Back- to- AWANA celebration at the church. It starts at 5:30!1 We look forward to seeing everyone there!!!! 

Cheese Ravioli with Crawfish Cream Sauce

I decided to experiment a little more... Sorry no pictures, I forgot!!

Ingredients:

1 bag of cheese filled ravioli (unless you have a lot more time than I do, and you make yours homemade)

2-3 tbls of butter

2-3 tbls of garlic

1/2 lb of bacon (diced)

1/4 cup of chicken stock

1 cup of heavy cream

8 oz. cream cheese

8 oz. parmesan cheese

1 lb. peeled crawfish tail meat

1 tsp. crushed red pepper flakes

salt and pepper to taste

parsley for garnish


1. In a large pot, boil ravioli until pasta is al dente.

2. In a medium saucepan, saute garlic and bacon in butter until tender.

3. Add chicken stock to deglaze the pan.

4. Add cream and bring to a low boil, then add cream cheese and stir until all of the cream cheese has melted. (keep heat at medium)

5. Add 6 oz. of Parmesan cheese and stir until blended.

6. Fold in crawfish tails and red pepper. Add salt and pepper to taste.

7. In a small serving dish, lay ravioli out and pour sauce on top. Add parmesan cheese and parsley on top to garnish.

Serve with garlic bread and salad!

New Orleans Trip

This past week, a few brave adults and myself, brought 18 kids to NOLA. After playing around with a few things, I decided we would just go to the Aquarium. I had never gone to the Aquarium, so I was a little excited about it! It was a good trip and I would like to go back without 18 kids, so that I can actually see all of the exhibits!

Here are a few pictures I took from my iPhone (why yes, I did get rid of the crapberry (as I so affectionately called it, and moved up into the world and bought and iPhone : )) - because once again, I left my camera in my car, and drove to NOLA in my mother's van.... One day I will learn to keep the camera with me.

My group of girls in front of the fountain. 

Some of the group looking at the fountain.

My group posing for a picture. Poor Brandon joined another group,

 so that he wouldn't be the only boy. 

Brandon and Taneal each looking at some of the fish in the aquarium.

Corryn and Anna posing for a picture.

The girls looking at the fish.

The girls posing again- in front of one of the Amazon exhibits. 

Cole and Austin playing in the shark's mouth.

The girls posing inside of the shark's mouth.

Steve, Owen, and David checking out some fish. 

Part of the group posing on some rocks in the MS River Exhibit. 

Love and Josh posing in front of one of the large aquariums.