It Was Outrageous!

Vacation Bible School, that is!
VBS at Bellevue is called "Camp Outrageous," and I was reminded again last week exactly why it is called that. I had the privilege of joining four of my sweet friends in teaching Fourth grade. This was my first time to ever have this age group, and I just fell in love! They are at the age where they are totally involved and excited about what is going on, they listen as you teach and volunteer to help, and they ask some really tough questions about God and His Word. 

"The Lost Code" was the week's theme and we learned about the armor of God.

I miss getting to see these sweet smiles every morning!

The questions the students asked were challenging and revealed that they were not only listening to the lesson each day but also trying to figure out how it applied in their life. I was encouraged to hear of the students in our class that were going home and excitedly sharing the Good News with their parents, siblings, and friends. 

Each day we learned about the country and children of Tanzania, Africa. We practiced saying a new swahili word, took up an offering, and prayed for the Tanzanian people each day. This was one of my favorite elements. 

Craft time! Shields, swords, banners, belts, helmets, and God's Word. Great reminders of what we have learned all week! "Be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might. Put on the whole armor of God, that you might be able to stand against the wiles of the devil." Ephesians 6:10-11

The Bellevue staff and volunteers made sure every part of the week was well planned, purposeful, and glorified the Lord. I'm incredibly thankful for all their hard work and for the sweet teachers that took care of my boy! 

Music, crafts, playgrounds, train rides, puppet shows, and lots of fun. This little guy had the best week! We are already looking forward to next year! Check out more pics and a video re-cap here. 

InstaFriday!

A little glimpse into our lives recently through pictures...

 A fun family night began with burgers & fries at 5 Guys (Liam learned that you can dip your fries in ketchup, and he liked it a little bit too), 

Then book browsing at B&N (the kid LOVES books, of course!), 

 and we finished off the night with dessert from Sonic and a little Despicable Me. 

We should've called the night "Liam's Favorite Things." He (we) had a great time.

Fun news: we got a new niece last week! And she is so precious!!!

Hoping you're enjoying these pretty June afternoons and nights!

Mini Cheesecakes with Oreo Crust

{pic edited with the new A Beautiful Mess app}

2 blocks (8 oz each) cream cheese
1/2 cup sugar 
1/2 tsp vanilla extract
2 eggs
12 Oreo cookies
*topping

Heat oven to 350 degrees. Beat cream cheese, sugar, and vanilla in large bowl with hand mixer until well blended. One at a time add eggs, beating after each until blended. Place one cookie on bottom of 12 paper lined muffin cups. Cover with cream cheese mixture and bake for 20 minutes or until centers are almost set (my oven takes exactly 22 minutes). Cool. Add topping and then refrigerate for three hours. 

*Topping: strawberries, hot fudge, raspberries, cherries, or your favorite. Get creative! 

With strawberries in season, we have been eating them here like they are candy! They are Liam's new favorite fruit, so I topped our cheesecakes off with a chocolate covered strawberry. I actually caught the little guy grabbing the strawberries off the top. See how three of the cheesecakes are already bare?! Sneaky...

Sweet Summertime

Summer is a time for grass cutting, 

 Flower picking, 

Garden planting, 

Rose smelling,

& outside playing.

The season of summer brings with it so many things we look forward to and enjoy. Vacations with family, picnics by the pond, visits to the zoo, runs through the sprinkler, a break from the routine, catching fireflies in a jar, fresh strawberries to pick, and dips in the pool. What are you looking forward to most this summer? Before you make more plans, read this by Melissa McDonald and be encouraged!

Summer Steals!

Looking for a few new and inexpensive ways for your family to spend time together this summer? Memphis offers fun {and some FREE} options for you and your active kiddos!

Pink Palace & Lichterman Nature Center: If you sign up here before May 31st, you can have access to Pink Palace Museum, Lichterman Nature Center, and members only events. As a kid I loved visiting the Pink Palace and viewing the new exhibits. I'm looking forward to trying the new Cafe Bella - menu looks pretty yummy. Anyone up for a "Piggly Wiggly" {frozen maple bacon mocha}?!

Malco Summer Film Fest: Beginning in June, Malco offers summer movies on Tuesday and Wednesday mornings at 10am for $2. Here is the list of which movies will be featured.

  

Brooks Museum: Offers free museum admission and family activities called "Wacky Wednesday." Every Wednesday in June & July kids of all ages can come to the Open Artworks Studio and create a project or watch a kids film. Museum is open 10am-4pm.

Dixon Gallery & Gardens: Family Days (check their calendar for upcoming dates) are Free, and include arts & crafts, games, refreshments, dress-up, and tours. On Tuesdays at 10:30am they offer "Mini Masters" toddler art classes that include an art activity, snack, and story time {$5 per child ages 2-4}. 

Levitt Shell: Summer Concert series {FREE!!!} begins May 23rd and runs through July 13th. The shows are very family friendly and so fun! Click over here for a few helpful details and to see who's playing. 

Orpheum: Summer Movie Series begins June 7th. A few years back I saw an Indiana Jones movie here, and the atmosphere was so fun! Many people dress up in costume and really get into the theme! Here is a list of the movies and times...wouldn't it be fun to go to the Sound of Music sing-a-long?! Tickets are $7 for adults and $5 for kids, so a little cheaper than a regular movie at the theater.

After all the fun you'll be having this summer you're going to work up an appetite! Did you know that your kids can eat free at Chick-fil-a on Tuesday nights? Or that McAlister's, Buffalo Wild Wings, Abner's, Crepe Maker, and all of these restaurants offer free kid's meals as well?! Sonic is having 1/2 price shakes again after 8pm every night this summer.

If you're still looking for more amazing things to do and delicious food to eat in Memphis, check out this blog and this one as well. Great resources for a Memphian!

Prayer & Lego Towers

Since before our little boy was born we have lifted up prayers to the Lord for him. Through pregnancy, birth, and now the toddler years some of those prayers have stayed the same and some new ones have been added. Every night I pray that he would love the Lord with all his heart, soul, mind, and strength {Matthew 22:37}, that he would grow in wisdom and stature and favor with God and man {Luke 2:52}, and that he would make disciples of all nations for God's glory {Matt. 28:18-20}.

Praying for Liam is the most important thing I can do for him. Yes, the diaper changes, feedings, and baths are necessary...but so is prayer. "Prayer is your highest privilege as a parent. There is nothing you can do that will have a higher return or investment. In fact, the dividends are eternal." Mark Batterson (Praying Circles Around Your Children).

There are opportunities when I am able to spend lengths of time in prayer for my husband and son. But with a toddler I usually am praying throughout the day (sometimes out loud, so he can also learn God's Word and how to pray):

As we are building lego towers I pray whatever he finds his hands to do that he will do it with all his might {Ecc. 9:10}.
During bathtime I pray that he would have clean hands and a pure heart {Psalm 24:4}.
When we are eating lunch or dinner together I pray that whether he eats or drinks or whatever he does, he will do it all to the glory of God {1 Cor. 10:31}.
On our way to play dates I pray he would be kind and loving to others {1 John 4:10-11} and be a peacemaker {Matthew 5:9}.
Going into a class with new friends at church I pray he will be a good friend to others {Prov. 22:24-25}
As we read books together I pray he would have a hunger for God's Word and hide God's Word in his heart {Is. 54:13; Ps. 119:11}.
Rocking him to sleep at night, I pray that above everything else in his life he would always make the Lord his first love {Rev. 2:4}.

When you don't know what or how to pray - turn to God's Word. Praying God's Word is powerful.

"If you are not covering your children in prayer every day, you are leaving their lives to chance." Stormie Omartian

Keith and Kristyn Getty released a video to her song "A Mother's Prayer" today, and this is totally how I feel about our sweet boy. You can read her thoughts and journal entries on the song first here and watch the video below:

Babies & Bottled Water

Yesterday after our trip to the grocery store, I unloaded the 36 pack of bottled waters from the trunk of my car. Since they were a little weighty, I left them in our living room and took a few at a time to the fridge. After watching mommy a couple of times, Liam decided he would help too. Sometimes with a toddler the "helping" can take a little longer than you had planned, but this time my boy taught me something...

He grabbed his little red wagon, put several of the water bottles into it, then wheeled it over to the fridge. Ha! While I was making multiple trips, he decided he could get them all in one load. Working smarter not harder!!! Smart kid.

You know, there's something about babies & bottled water...have you seen this new Evian commercial? Adorable.