Third Week of Summer-BreastPlates of Righteousness

This week went by rather fast, we had a smaller group with kids visiting their Dads and three kids at Bright Lights.
This week's Bible Study was harder to get for the kids. I discovered that the kids look at the armor as a gift from God, but don't really understand that gift needs to be used. They look at it as protection from hurt, evil and Satan, but don't really understand that each piece of armor comes with an responsibility and an action. For instance God is truth and gives us the Belt of truth to keep us from falling for Satan's lies. In turn we are to be reading the word to know truth and we are to be truthful.
Righteousness is a little harder to explain-It is having a right relationship with God, doing the right thing and being without sin. Since we do sin, once we become a believer we are covered by Jesus' righteousness. The kids understand that God protects their heart with the breastplate of righteousness. But we went over righteousness a million different ways and the importance of being right with God, doing right by God and doing the right thing.
But basically I think that as usual I learned more than the kids.
It is hard to believe that summer is a third over. It is going so fast and already we have a life time of memories.




Kaedyn works on drawing a picture of Jesus dying on the cross for our sins, so that we can have righteousness through Christ.

James and Adriyanna read and explain a scripture that talks about Abraham and his faith.

What are you giving God? Your leftovers or your best. I asked the kids if they were a knight giving a gift to the king which ice cream cone would you give the king and which would you keep for yourself. I love asking James these questions, because he is always honest and then as he is saying the answer he realizes he is doing the wrong thing. He picked the best cone for himself.

Tajanay works on her breastplate of righteousness.

TADA- our breastplates of righteousness.

James roller skating.
My week by James.

This week we learned about the Breastplate of Righteousness. Abraham kept believing in God so he had a lot of sons. When we don't do the right thing or listen to God our armor gets holes in it which makes the armor get weak. We learned we need to do the right thing.

We made breastplates this week.

We learned some new songs- I am a C-H-R-I-S-T-I-A-N, I Stand for you and give me Jesus and I'm in the Lord's Army.

We got to go skating.

If these skates could talk. They look like they have been through a lot of adventures.

Ma'Shai and Teijah attended Bright Lights, fashion class this week. They had a really good time designing items to wear and show on the runway.

Savanah attended Bright Lights Clay Craziness Class. She made some really cute things and had a really good time.

Savanah's clay picture frame.

On Friday after Bright Lights we went out for ice cream, it was fun getting to know Ma'Shai's mom.

Lucky Seven Race

The race was a great experience for all of us. We learned a lot.

Make a Smilebox slideshow

Miss Brenda 3 favorite moments:
Moment One- On Friday night the kids came over for a slumber party so that I could get them to bed and up early for our race. That night we did some sprints. I had seven kids racing and was having them split into groups of 2 to sprint. That left Teijah without a partner and she was looking rather sad. Adriyanna her 6 year old sister looked at her and said, It's ok Teijah, God is running beside you! It just came out of the blue, a wonderful little gem of innocence, beauty and truth.

Moment two- On the way to the race I had four kids in my car and I was telling them that I didn't know what the course looked like and that there may be a hill in the course, (they all gasped), but don't let it worry you or psych you out, because all the other kids are going to think oh no and get tired and slow down on the hill, don't tell yourself you can't do it or it is too hard, this is where you can beat the other kids and when you get to the top of the hill you will get to run down hill and get some new energy. James starts to panic and ask questions about hills. Then Teijah pops in, Miss Brenda may I give an example. I said sure, go for it.
She says, Well I think the mountain is like hard things in our life and the voice telling us to quit is Satan cause he doesn't want us to win. Is that right Miss Brenda- I almost fell out of the car, every Mom, Dad, mentor, teacher, pastor prays for a moment like this when the things you have been teaching your kids finally hits them and they get it. I said that is right Teijah, and God wants us to keep going through the hard stuff and get to the top of the hill so we can see over the other side and enjoy the down hill and the better times with Him. But we miss out if we don't climb the hill.

Moment three- James has no confidence, it has taken months to get him to run, and just in the last week he has started to believe in himself and train hard, his times are coming down. I told him to start out the race slow, he was so sure he was going to win the race. I told him to stay behind Alexis because she knows how to pace the race. Sure enough the gun goes off and James takes off like a rocket, with the boys taking off after him ( the were supposed to stay close to him). I am yelling you are going to fast you are going to fast. But away they went. At the end of the race James ended up totally pooped and did come in Fifth, but he really wanted a big Medal like Alexis and Jevon's for finishing 2nd and 3rd. So on the way home I asked him what he had learned from the race. He said start out slower and tie your shoes tight! I looked at him funny and said tie your shoes tight? He said yeah I was running and my shoe went flying off my foot and rolled down a hill, so I had to run down the hill get my shoe, put it on and get back in the race. We all had a good laugh over that. There were no hills in the race for the other kids, but James did get his hill and he didn't quit.

I was really proud of all our kids they were good sports and finished the race as hard as they could.

Busy Sunday

Ma'Shai and Savanah arrive at camp

Savanah makes a new friend in the Kiwanian, he was very sweet and heard Savanah talking to him all the way across the field.

Savanah's bed for the week.

Ma'Shai's bed for the week.

It was a very busy day to say the least, watching three girls before church, picking up kids for church, church, walking a parent through difficult times, off to camp, and then back to Lincoln for Pierrie's Graduation.

Now breathe.....

After church we got a text from my friend Denise who is on the Bike Ride Across Nebraska-her text said please pray it is very windy and cold. So we jumped in the car and Alexis led us in prayer for Denise. It was cute and the rest of the kids were excited to be praying for her.

The ride home from church was special, one of the kids parents went to church with us today, she is going though some tough stuff and just kept singing all the way home. She is a very shy person, but today she was a little different trying so hard. She kept singing over and over, "we fall down, we get up," It was off tune but she really was singing from her heart and she didn't care what it sounded like, she just felt it and it brought her comfort.

Off to camp the girls, were very excited but very nervous and quiet. I am sure by tonight they have made friends and are having a blast. At 3:10 we left Gretna to get to Pierrie's graduation at 4:00. At 4:10 we walked into Pershing, or should I say I tripped into Pershing. That's right, my berks caught on a raised square of sidewalk and in front of millions of Graduate goers I rolled all over the sidewalk. Messing up my bad knee and hurting my wrist. It hurt so bad I didn't even have a chance to feel embarrassed. I got up and walked into Pershing, I am glad Alexis was with me she was my cane for the rest of the afternoon.

The graduation went well, we didn't get close enough to really see Pierrie, but we heard his name and felt his relief.

On the ride home as my knee was swelling up, I couldn't help but hear the words, We fall down, we get up, over and over in my head. I couldn't help but laugh.

Then I got a surprise phone call from my Denise, she told me she had an awesome day, and thanks for praying cause it was really helping. On her trip she saw two signs one about Jesus in the side of a hill. And in a little town she past a store called Lord's furniture. She said God is really good. Keep praying for her and the girls at camp.

A Privilege to Pray

We are praying for my niece Bailey and her boyfriend Eli who are counseling at Camp River Crest this summer.

This summer we are praying for my cousin Courtney who working in India at Happy Home for the Handicapped. Here is her website if you want to learn about some other awesome kids. http://courtneysell.blogspot.com/

Denise ( with a little help from photoshop.)
And this week we are praying for our friend Denise who is riding in the Bran (Bike Ride Across Nebraska) starting Sunday.

Frantic Friday

I have tons to get done for Obasi Summer so I recruited Alexis to help me Friday. She did some painting for me, learned to run off copies at OfficeDepot, more painting and then I helped her make a necklace for her tutor Elizabeth who graduates High School Saturday.

Necklace close up.

Miss Sophia enjoyed hanging out with us but wasn't much help. But Sophie is worth her weight in gold, which is quite a bit, because she always makes me smile.

For a treat we went and checked out some art studios

and visited our friend Chris at Studio7. Check it out here. http://studio7lincoln.com/index.html

Alexis found a skirt she loved so she traded Chris for a bracelet that she made. Shaking on the deal.

It was good to be artistically inspired!

I'm A Sixth Grader Now!!!!!

Someone made this amazing cake for the whole 5th grade class. It is a huge bee have, for the Hartley Hornets. During the ceremony a wasp got into the auditorium, the kids didn't think it very cool, but I thought it very fitting, considering the theme and all.

MaShai sittin pretty before the ceremony!

Miss Savanah happy to be moving on to the sixth grade.

MaShai and her certificate.

Both girls have worked very hard this year at school and Obasi, we are very proud of them.

Tutor End of the School Year Picnic

We started off our picnic with some games. It took several attempts to get the lifesaver down the line of toothpicks, but it was good for several laughs and tested our perseverance.

The three legged race was exciting and very competitive......

And also at times very funny!

There are many techniques for doing the egg race. Elizabeth likes to stick her tongue out and walk fast, James on the other hand just likes to run for it, the egg didn't always make it there with him, but he went for it every time.

After all the racing fun, the kids each got a turn to thank their tutors for all their hard work during the year. James and his buddy Chad.

Meribeth and Savanah

Elizabeth and Alexis

Bailey and Ma'Shai

Jodene and Jevon

Then we had some great food and celebrated our two birthday girls with some cake. Alexis turns 13 and Kathy gets younger everyday.

And Adriyanna is happy because she can finally give Kathy her gift.

Thank you so much to all our tutors. You helped us improve our spelling scores, our reading comprehension, and our understanding of math. But the most inportant thing you are great role models. Showing us unconditional love, patience and grace. We love you all.

A Spring Visit To The Farm

After church I took the girls to my sister's acreage, which is slowly turning into a farm! 12 year old Alexis asked my sister if she could ride the four wheeler. My sister looked at her kinda funny ( they don't have a four wheeler) and said what are you talking about? Alexis turned and pointed to the riding lawn mower. Barb told her that is the lawn mower. If it would have been me I would have said sure, but you need to ride in that yard over there and you can only go in straight lines back and forth!
That's one way to get the lawn mowed. A very big lawn!

Bo enjoys a hug from Teijah. I think they both are smiling.

The outdoor farm cat didn't enjoy his hug quite as much, but Adriyanna doesn't seem to notice, she just loves cats.

The kittens were a hit.

My favorite picture of the day, Adriyanna was suppose to be checking out the lambs, but this lamb is really checkin out Adriyanna.

Teijah learning to be patient around the lambs and let them come to her.

The grass is always greener.....

You always know you had a fun day when everyone falls asleep on the way home.

Silly Painting

Adriyanna makes an ice cream cone, jewelry holder for her tutor's birthday.

I took the younger three girls to paint gifts at Paint Yourself Silly. We accomplished our goals we painted and the girls were silly. In the above picture Teijah makes a mother's day gift for her Grandmother and Taj makes a ring holder for her Mom. The gifts turned out great and it was fun having some time with the girls.