Summer buziness & VBS.... "Got Mary?"

Summer vacation is exhausting!

I almost feel like I want to get back to the "school" of Homeschool to get back to our regular, sleeping in until 9 a.m. and relaxing schedule.

VBS was extraordinary! We had an awesome week learning about Mary.

I am not used to waking up at 7:30 a.m. getting everyone up, fed, dressed and doing makeup!

We had a hard time getting to bed at a decent time so that we were not dragging in the morning.

The theme for VBS was "Got Mary?" This was printed on the front of our shirts with a gorgeous portrait of Madonna & Child painted by a teenager.

The leaders would shout "Got Mary?" and we would answer back.... "She's Got Your Back!"

We all had this on the back of our shirts with a Litany of Mary.

I requested to be a group leader to 4 year olds, so Derek could be with me. It was his first experience, so he wanted to be with mom.

However, I was assigned the group of 7 year olds - with Katie. There were 10 boys and 3 girls AND Derek. He didn't want to leave me and be with the 4 year olds. It worked out just fine.

Everyone was well behaved the first day. Of course they were more comfortable the next 4 days and I had to keep a couple sets of boys on watch. They couldn't keep their hands off each other.

Monday's topic was Our Lady of Guadalupe & St. Juan Diego. Kids got small statues of Our Lady.

Tuesday's topic was St. Bernadette & Our Lady of Lourdes The Kids got rosaries (they glow in the dark)

Wednesday was St. Catherine and Miraculous Medal

Thursday was Our Lady of Mt. Carmel & Brown Scapular

Friday was Fatima. Kids got picture of Sacred Hearts of Mary & Jesus.

Mass was celebrated on Friday and we all received a Miraculous Medal and Brown Scapular blessed by the priest.

The kids learned some great songs and made some great crafts. Monday they primed the shelf and Tuesday they painted it. Wednesday they did glue over a Madonna on a piece of wood. Thursday a candle holder.

Derek was most excited. He came straight home and was so proud that I could work the power drill to put the screws in the wall to hold his shelf.

He arranged everything on his green shelf. He has been so proud to wear his Miraculous Medal.

Katie has been wearing one of the Medals she received for her First Holy Communion.

Friday night was family night. We met in front of the church and had a procession with the group banners up to the social center where we were blessed with a Statue of Mary from The Heralds of the Gospel and prayed the Rosary.