Treasure Hunt Devotion

Good Monday morning!

The Gallery Pics are plain and simple... trampoline jumping! But these photos were taken on a Sunday night... what was once a school night... but is now a SUMMER NIGHT! So we can jump on the trampoline, watch movies and stay up late KNOWING we don't have to get up early the next morning. Roxie, Katie and Zac are jumping for joy... literally.

NOTE - Don't let the length of this post throw you. Pick and choose what you want to read. It's much more doable that way!

MASSIVE RANDOMNESS - I've been brainstorming for a few weeks, and I want to try a little experiment.

I'm going to have a "How To" Birthday Party Class in my home Tuesday, June 8 from 6:30 to 8:00 p.m. for mothers of young boys (ages 3 to 6). I will be teaching how to throw an INEXPENSIVE Purposeful Christ-Centered Birthday Party for your son. The party themes for this class will be a Pirate Birthday Party and a Super Hero Birthday Party.

I will also be having a class Tuesday, June 15 from 6:30 to 8:00 p.m. for mothers of young girls (ages 3 to 6). The party themes for this class will be a Luau Birthday Party and a Princess Birthday Party.

Each class will cost $10. The $10 will cover the following:

A handout for two specific parties for boys/girls in this age category (3 to 6). Each handout will include a schedule, an arrival activity (a craft), three or more games, cake ideas, invitation ideas, a FUN devotion and an ending activity.

I will have two baked and iced cakes for each class, and I will show you how to quickly and simply decorate these cakes.

I will have supplies, and we will decorate an invitation for each party. (Your birthday child will be able to do this with you for his/her party.)

We (the MOTHERS) will actually play each game, make each craft and listen to each devotion.

I will have a fun door prize for one lucky attendee, as well as two bonus birthday party gift ideas you can use for ANY party your child attends. (Affordable, memorable and unique!)

Each birthday party lasts only 90 minutes (instead of two hours), and will be fun, organized and enjoyable (for the kids AND the parents).

The cost to throw these parties in your home is minimal (no more than $25 to $30... and it can be even less if you plan in advance).

I have had all of these parties in my home, and they were very successful.

If you are interested or you have a friend who is interested, please contact me to reserve a spot via the Comment Section, Facebook or e-mail. There are only 15 spots available per class.

Tuesday, June 8 (BOYS)
6:30 - 8:00
Pirate Birthday Party
Super Hero Birthday Party

Tuesday, June 15 (GIRLS)
6:30 - 8:00
Luau Birthday Party
Princess Birthday Party

If these classes are successful, I will be having the following classes in the near future:

Preschool:

Farmer Party (BOY)
Thomas the Train Party (BOY)
Little Mermaid Party (GIRL)
Dora the Explorer Party (GIRL)

Elementary:

Camping Party (BOY or GIRL)
Indian Party (BOY)
Fishing Party (BOY)
Dress-Up Party (GIRL)
Nancy Drew Mystery Party (GIRL)
Craft/Scrapbook Party (GIRL)

Pre-Teen:

Football Party (BOY)
Digital Scavenger Hunt Party (BOY or GIRL)

Weekend Review

Our weekend was very nice. Friday, Roxie and I started things off with a crop, so I started the weekend feeling creatively productive. I like that feeling.

Mike had big plans for Saturday. Lots and lots of work was going to be done. He was going to totally catch up. But then several car opportunities arose for Josh's replacement vehicle, so he and Josh spent Saturday and Sunday looking at cars. They had a good time doing so, and I might use it as a date idea in the future. The teenager definitely stays interested, and we're talking HOURS of one-on-one time. It ended up being a good weekend for the two of them.

Austin had to work Saturday evening and Roxie had plans, too. I fully expected to cook a small dinner for me, Mikie and Josh, but Josh remembered a party he had been invited to Saturday afternoon. That meant no kids for at least three hours! Automatic date night! We were thrown off guard, so creativity and originality went out the window and we did the "Dinner and a Movie" thing.

Since Josh was driving Mike's car and Austin was at work, the Big Gold Van was our transportation option. Do not ask me why, but I picked up my keys and then inexplicably put them down on the table. We walked out the door. Mike asked for my keys. I told him they were on the table. And then we realized we were locked out.

A month or so ago, it wouldn't have mattered because our broken garage doors made access into our home super easy... for us, criminals and varmints. Now, not so much.

Our solution... A nice neighbor loaned us her car for five minutes and we drove to Austin's place of employment to beg for house keys. The joy he receives from catching me in a situation I've warned him about (over and over and over again) is very annoying... but I was going on a date and he had to work. HA! Who won that one?

Easy, breezy... We ate at Hamburger Heaven and rented Old Dogs from a box in our local grocery store. I MISS the Movie Gallery. I MISS asking my movie guy what he thought of this or that movie. I MISS the huge selection. I HATE asking the people who work at the grocery store if they have seen this movie or that movie. It feels weird. That being said... I love Old Dogs. It's predictable and a little corny, but that's how I roll!

Mike, Austin, Josh and friends enjoyed Robin Hood last night. While it hurt my feelings a little they turned down my offer of a Merry Men Party and "Robin Hood" food (giant turkey legs and gruel), I took the opportunity to have Zac and Katie over as our first spend the night company of the season. It was a good weekend.

Treasure Hunt Devotion

This is the last of four devotions for your Backyard Bible Club. After last week's super simple devotion (Movie Devotion), this one takes a little prep, but it is worth it.

I prepared for this devotion about 30 minutes before the Club meeting was to begin.

1. You will need to divide the kids into two teams when they arrive.

2. BEFORE they arrive, cut out 8 red hearts using construction paper. Write one word on each heart. WHERE IS YOUR HEART? (You are making two sets of hearts... one for each team.)

3. Using popped popcorn, make a trail around the yard, across the street, to a neighbor's bush. Hang the first heart from the bush. The heart will have the word "WHERE" on the front. On the back of the heart, write the next clue. (For example... Miss Belinda uses this to drive her kids to school on most days.) The kids will run to the van where they will find their second heart hidden somewhere inside. The heart will have the word "IS" on the front and a new clue on the back.

4. While Team One is following their popcorn trail and clues and finding their set of hearts, Team Two is doing the exact same thing but going in different directions.

5. When the fourth heart has been found, there should be instructions directing the kids to the back deck, driveway or the spot you are holding your Club meetings. When both teams arrive holding their four hearts, have them sit down and put the hearts in order asking the questions "Where is your heart?"

6. Ask the kids the following questions: What is your favorite toy? Is it your X-Box? Is it your electric scooter? Is it your football? How important is this toy? If something happened to it and it was gone when you went home today, how would you feel?

After the kids have answered the questions, read Matthew 6:19-21. "Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in Heaven, where moth and rust do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also."

Ask the kids if they think their favorite toy is going to last forever and ever. (They should answer "no.") Explain the term "where moth and rust destroy." Every "thing" on this earth will someday NOT work any longer. Wheels on scooters wear out. X-Box gaming systems stop working. "Things" are not made to last forever, and if we love "things" more than God, what will happen when our "things" are gone? We will have to buy new "things" to replace the old.

But if we love God and His teachings more than "things," we will never have to replace Him. He will always be with us. He will always love us. And if we live for Him and tell others about Him, we will be "storing" or collecting treasures in Heaven which will never break or wear out. Those treasures are the truly important ones.

Is it wrong to enjoy our X-Box or scooter or football? No. Absolutely not!

Is it wrong to love our things more than God? Yes. Yes, it is.

End the devotion by telling the kids how they can do things which would please God. They can obey their parents. They can respect teachers and other adults in their lives. They can invite their friends to Sunday School and Vacation Bible School. They can read their Bibles or ask their parents to read it to them.

After each and every Backyard Bible Club, offer to stay behind to answer any questions about God or being a child of God. Be ready to answer the questions! You may lead a child to Christ that day. (You can go to your Children's Minister at your church and ask for a simple, age-appropriate guideline.)

Be sure and always invite the neighborhood kids to Sunday School, Vacation Bible School and any other activities your church has to offer. If you have three empty seats in your van, the rule of thumb is FILL 'EM UP!

Have a lovely Monday. It is definitely feeling like summertime in the South. Tuesday I have several great recipes for light summer"y" refreshment. Check in if you have a moment.

Take care, and I'll talk to you tomorrow.

Sincerely,

The Enchanting Belinda