Everest 2015 VBS

Two weeks ago the kids and I went to my parents house for a week.  The girls were signed up to attend VBS at my parents church while we were there.  (Phoebe kept telling us that the two things that she was the most excited for while at Popee and Nanee's house for the week, were "PBS and swimming".  Yes, you read that right. "PBS".  She thought we were saying PBS instead of VBS!  She knew it was Vacation Bible School, but thought it was called PBS.)  The theme this year was "EVEREST...Conquering Challenges With God's Mighty Power".  There were 5 lessons, 1-4 were Sunday evening through Wednesday evening, then finishing up lesson 5 on Sunday morning during the Sunday School hour.  We had the Everest music cd for about a week prior to VBS which was plenty of time for all three of our kids, and myself, to learn all of the catchy songs.

Day 1 - We took the girls and got them to their starting points with each of their groups.  They rotated through different stations throughout the evening, singing, science, stories, activities, and snacks.  They both had a good time.  We joined them at the end of the evening when all of the groups came back together to sing and pray before leaving.  Silas stood with the girls to sing and dance during this closing time.

Bible Point: God has the power to provide.

Key Verse: "And God will generously provide all you need." 2 Corinthians 9:8

At the end of VBS Day 1, the girls had these things to show me...bracelets, a poster, a black Raven, and some snow.

Day 2 - Silas was invited to stay and join Phoebe's group for the remaining 4 lessons of VBS.  He was beyond excited to get to stay and participate!  He got a name tag, like the big kids, and walked right into the room with Phoebe to play and have fun.  He didn't even look back at me!  Phoebe told me she would help him as she followed him into the room.  (Such a caring big sister!)

Bible Point: God has the power to comfort.

Key Verse: "He comforts us in all our troubles so that we can comfort others." 2 Corinthians 1:4

Day 3- Another fun night for all three kids.

Bible Point: God has the power to heal.

Key Verse: "He heals the brokenhearted and bandages their wounds." Psalm 147:3

Day 4 - Phoebe came home telling us all, "God has the power to provide.  Hold on!" (We have heard this from her several more times since VBS has been over too.  Way to listen and remember, Phoebe!)

Bible Point: God has the power to forgive.

Key Verse: "You are a God of forgiveness." Nehemiah 9:17

Sunday morning, Lesson 5

Bible Point: God has power to love us forever.

Key Verse: "Everyone who believes in him will have eternal life." John 3:15

Cooling Off At The Lake

**GUEST BLOGGER**

 ~ Phoebe Hendrickson ~

Last week we got to go to the lake with Popee, Nanee, Matt, and Mommy.  We ride in Popee's boat.  It was hot at the lake.

Popee drove his boat fast and slow.  I sitted in the front of the boat with Nanee.  It was a bumpy ride when we were going fast.

We swimmed at the lake.  Everybody swimmed except Nanee.  Nanee sitted and watched us.  I jumped in.

I ate some cookies.  We all ate some snacks.

I liked going to the lake and riding in Popee's boat.  I hope I get to do it again.

Gary And Connie's Animals

**GUEST BLOGGER**

 ~ Sarah Hendrickson ~

We went to Gary and Connie's farm last week.  They have a petting zoo.  Some of Popee and Nanee's friends, the Tibbetts family, met us there.  They have known them for a long time.  Mommy and Matt and Lindsee use to play with their girls when they were growing up.  They also went on some trips together to Colorado.  Now they have kids too.  We got to meet them.  They were nice.

I don't remember this little animals name, but Silas and Popee both held it.

They have 3 donkeys.  They only brought out the mommy and the baby for us to pet.  The donkey left in the field kept making very loud he-haw noises. 

They have two tortoises.  One weighs about 30 pounds and the other weighs about 5 pounds.  Silas and Harper liked holding the little one.

It was a very hot day out.  We decided to move under a shade tree to look at some other animals.

Connie let out the baby goats.  They are my favorite.  The two white ones were twin girls.  I liked holding them.  One was chasing Silas.  He ran away from it straight to Popee, yelling, "It's a nibbler!  It's a nibbler!" Popee picked Silas up and carried him for a little bit.

Jack was holding the other twin.  She nibbled his ear and his cheek.

Phoebe and Mommy's favorite was the baby pig.  Mommy thought it was so cute.  It was not stinky.

Next we went down to their barn where they had some more goats and some calves.

There was a big pile of hay bales and rocks that we climbed and played on.

When we left the farm we all went to the park to play and have a picnic.

Here are the kids in the picture above - Jack, Harper, Silas, Phoebe, Sarah, and Brooks.

Here are the teacher friends in the picture below - Popee (Paul), Gary, and Gene.

It was a fun and hot day.

More Fishing At Grandma's

**GUEST BLOGGER**

 ~ Eric Hendrickson ~

On July 25th, we went to visit Grandma in Olpe.  Uncle Tom had just arrived from Dallas.  After dinner we decided to go catch some channel cat at the pond.

Tom was the first to cast his bait and before we got another bait in the water, he had hooked the first fish.

Tom said he has never really fished much, and he was very excited to catch this nice channel cat.

Mike set the hook and Silas reeled in the next one.  He did a good job of reeling by himself.

When the fishing got a little slow, the kids went exploring around the pond with Grandma Great.

They noticed some bull frogs and saw a dead channel cat.

Above, Phoebe and Silas were playing a fake game of baseball.

Grandma caught the largest cat.  It was 8lbs or so.  It pulled her right off the bucket she was sitting on and she reeled it in while in a sitting position on the dirt.  Nice job, Grandma!

Stacee and I had not caught anything until this fella tried to get my bait.  I set the hook and let Stacee reel it in.  It was the second biggest of the night.  I cleaned two of the fish we caught because the fish had swallowed the hook, but the rest will be there for the next fishing trip.  

We had a great time Grandma.  Love you.

A BIG One

**GUEST BLOGGER**

 ~ Eric Hendrickson ~

I love to fish for big catfish, specifically Flathead.  Typically, I seek to catch these monster fish in the river by setting limb lines and trot lines.  On July 18th, my buddy, Damian, and I decided to have a night of catfishing.  I thought we were going to go to the Ninescah River, but Damian had another place in mind.  He has been catching some Flathead in Chase County lake, and persuaded me, reluctantly, to go there.  We had very few baits (we typically use small bluegill/perch for bait) because we thought we could catch all we needed at the Lake.  That did not work so well.  We only caught a few perch.  I was able to catch a 1 pound drum fish that I thought would work.  And work it did.  About dark, I put on a big circle hook with 5 ounces of weight on my biggest pole, hooked the drum very shallow through the back, and casted it out only about 40' into the cove.  Around midnight, the clicker started on my pole.  Since the bait was so large, I knew whatever was running with the bait also had to be large.  I set the hook and the battle began.  At first, I knew whatever was on the end of the line was heavy, but it came in rather easily.  Then, I sensed the fish turning so I loosened the drag some and it took off, stripping more line than I had gained.  We did this 4 times where I would get him within 25' of shore, he would strip line, get tired, and let me reel him back in.  Then, on the 4th time he got stuck somehow.  I think he wedged his head against a rock.  I kept the line tight for a few minutes not knowing what to do.  Finally, I decided to ease up on the line tension and guide him to the left, which he did.  Then he made a run toward some buoys.  I knew if he got wrapped up in those he would be a goner, so I had to slightly horse him further left.  Finally, we had him close to the shore and about to surface.  Wow! We saw him, a giant.  I told Damian to net him.  The first net attempt was a miss and I fought the giant for another 5 minutes.  The next attempt Damian made look simple.  I liked how once the fish was in the net, Damian stuck his hand in the fishes mouth and man handled it to shore.  The battle was over and I had won.

When first catching it, we thought the fish was 50+.  I weighed this fish the next morning when we got back to Wichita, and the fish weighed in at 45 pounds.  I have caught large Flathead before on limb lines and trot lines, but none quite as big as this one and nothing near this big on a rod and reel.

Damian, thanks for convincing me that lake fishing was the right place to go that night.  This was an experience I will never forget (and never shut up about).