vbs

this last week, jackson & isabella went to their first vbs.

when i found out jeff was going to israel, i knew we needed to find something special for the kids to do while he was away.

vbs sounded perfect.

when i saw that a nearby church had a CARS theme....

i couldn't sign them up fast enough.

how gigantic is bella's shirt?  we tried to tie it every morning, but it was always out by the time i picked her up :)

for kids who spend a LOT of time at church, they were very nervous about going to a new place.

it was also a good experience for me, having to leave my children with people i didn't know, trusting they would take good care of them and teach them correctly.

after dropping them off the first day... i didn't think they were going to make it.

i kept my phone next to me the entire morning waiting for a phone call.

but... they loved it!

they came home reciting their memory verse and full of stories about the day. 

they couldn't wait to get back the next morning.

it's amazing how much their little brains can remember and hold on to.
so often i still think of my kids as little babies... but they are getting so big.

i worry (i know, i'm not supposed to, but i do) a lot about jackson and his faith.
bella is quick to comprehend, and i believe she will understand the truth of god's word from an early age.

but what about jackson?
i know that god formed every hair on his head, he knows him far better than i do.
while he can memorize any verse we teach him, he doesn't understand any of it.
how will he ever have a true relationship with jesus if he can't process who jesus is and what he did?

i know there is nothing i can do
but to be faithful,
tell my children about jesus,
model his love,
and trust that god is in control of my little boy's heart.
...all my children's hearts.

i am glad that their faith does not rely solely upon mine & jeff's efforts.
i'm thankful that the god who placed them in my womb loves them
and is working even now in their little lives.

so i pray that god will use us to shine his light brightly to our children.
that we can lavish love like his upon them.
that he will speak to them in ways we cannot.
that they may learn the width and length and depth and height of his love.
and that they will grow to be a man and women
whose lives are committed to serving christ wholeheartedly.