"Space School"

Jones and Freddie continued learning the ropes at Clyde First Baptist by attending VBS at the church this week. The theme was Lifeway's "Galactic Starveyors," and after the first nite, Jones was already referring to it as "Space School." And so it shall henceforth be known ...

Freddie was skittish when I first left him on Monday. By the time we picked him up later, he was already asking to come back the next nite. Jones, on the other hand, did GREAT. I mean, like, SURPRISINGLY well. He wanted me to wait with him while they all lined up along the brick wall in the church hallway, and he wanted me to process in with them, but once I did that, he took his seat just as pretty as you please, and I walked away to meet Jeremy in the corridor. When I got there, I was crying. I didn't even know why. Probably a mixture of relief (yes! He didn't pitch a fit!) and sadness (he doesn't need me anymore?) that Jones was so blessedly blasé about my leaving.

Anyway, I anticipated they'd be taking an offering at VBS. I intentionally didn't send the boys with any money on Monday nite, because I wanted to see how they'd respond to being asked for it. Jones, like he did in Children's Church at our Lake Church, said, "No. I'm not giving MY money."

Freddie, however, said he wanted to give HIS to Jesus. When I asked where he could get some money, he said, "From my bank." That's "from his Disney bank." I was so proud that he wanted to give, and sure enough, the next nite - and several nites after, until the final nite when he dumped out his bank and gave it ALL to the offering - he gave his quarters to Jesus.

I told Jones I wasn't going to make him give. I sang him the verse song we know to "God loves a cheerful giver," and I reminded him that "it's more blessed to give than to receive." I left it at saying I'd be praying that God would change his heart about giving. But I didn't feel like it'd do any good to force him to give. As I said, "God loves a CHEERFUL giver." Maybe Scrooge Mc-Son-of-Mine will be ready to part with the dollars (that I've put in his bank) by next Summer.

The second nite of VBS, when I went to pick the boys up, the director asked me if Freddie was mine. I said, "Yes" and immediately followed it with "What'd he do?" Instead, she pulled out her phone and showed me a video of Freddie dancing his fool head off. It was PRECIOUS and hilarious and evidence that they were having a BALL at Space School.

On Friday nite, the boys had their Space School graduation. Mom and Daddy made the drive up for the big event - and the hot dog dinner before hand. The boys were thrilled to have them there. They did so well during their program. As soon as he took his place on the stage, Freddie waved at me and said - for the whole crowd to hear - "Hey, Mama!" One day, I'll talk to him about poise and not breaking the fourth wall when he's in a show. Until then, I'll treasure the memory of that super sweet voice and that super sweet little wave.

Here's an Instastory detailing the whole evening.

Oh, and they MADE those t-shirts they're wearing. I think they're the most spectacularly awesome things I've ever seen.

Next up: Maker Fun Factory at Canton First Baptist. Being old enough for VBS is AWESOME.