New year for the nursery

This past month has been so
busy
(ha! what an understatement!!) getting ready for the upcoming year in our church nursery.

Finally left the building tonight at 7:30.

Bulletin boards done.
New name tags done.
Pockets have names on them.
Toys have been redistributed among the 6 classrooms.

Tomorrow is the big day! Ready for approximately 52 kids during 2nd service and 48 little ones 3rd service.



We have 26 workers and a few parent volunteers tomorrow to make up for the needed teachers remaining. We still are looking for 4-5 more teachers and 7 more helpers. Pray with me for that! On Facebook, I was reminded of this verse: I will
answer them before they even call to me. While they are still talking
about their needs, I will go ahead and answer their prayers!
~ Isaiah 65:24, NLT



I was working on my computer doing nursery stuff when God brought another verse to mind this week "Have no anxiety about ANYTHING" I'm not too good at that. "But in every thing be thankful" Not so good about that either sometimes.



Praising God for those who work with me and for all the sweet little munchkins who will be coming tomorrow! Some will be a little scared perhaps or anxious themselves going into a new classroom with new teachers. But soon they will love it! And they'll be learning about Jesus!




My Sophia is anxious herself. It will be her first Sunday out of the nursery. She has loved being with me every week. I've spoiled her rotten. Always there if she cries. She's been telling her mommy that she doesn't want to go to church this week. I wish I could be her teacher, but I can't. So Papa said he will go with her to Sunday School tomorrow. So she won't be scared. She was all smiles when she heard that he would be there for her. We are hoping she will soon learn to love going to Sunday School without Nana or Papa to be by her side.

Surprised!

The other evening we were watching PBS, a travel show (that is what older boring people do, you know!) when we were surprised by this!

Labor Day

Today was Labor Day and boy did I labor! Went to church at 9:30 where I met Sarah Friesen. We spent until noon going through toys and moving toys to appropriate rooms. We have sooooo many little ones that we've had to add a classroom to our nursery, making 6 rooms for kids 2 and under! After Sarah left, I kept working - getting new playdough for the rooms (the old stuff was awful!), doing a couple bulletin boards, and so on an so forth. I am exhausted and can't wait to sit in the hot tub!

We celebrated Labor Day yesterday with the family. Went to Lyons to Al's brother's home. They live in this beautiful Victorian!

Such ornate woodwork! They don't make them like that anymore!

This is Reuben and Brenda. We are so grateful for the Lord's work in Reuben's life. He almost died a few weeks ago when he fell out of a hayloft and the elevator toppled on top of him. He was life-watched to Wesley and although he still has some bad days, we are so happy he is alive and doing so well.

We relaxed by the pool

and some of us went in the pool too.

Reuben grilled burgers.

Every one brought potluck. Why is it called pot "luck"? We aren't always so lucky. We Grabers sometimes bring the same food - like the time we all ended up bringing green bean casserole. Yesterday we all brought chocolate brownies or pies. So funny!

The flies were atrocious!! But the food was still good. We just had to keep waving the flies away.

After eating, we played a game where we tossed water balloons and our team member had to catch them in a bucket.

Amazingly, Hannah's water balloons didn't pop!

Sophia wanted to try too. It was so fun!

Tomorrow is back to laboring. No rest for this weary soul for a few days anyway.

End of summer

Hannah told me yesterday "Today is the last day of summer". It should be. Seems like September should be the start of Fall. But technically it isn't.

In the morning Jill needed to make a quick trip to Wichita so I went too. We made a stop at Kohl's. Now, my husband told me last week "We need to watch our budget for the next month!" So I wasn't going to buy anything except necessities.

BUT...

who can resist these prices????

and I had a 20% off coupon besides! So I got stuff for all 4 grandchildren for next summer.

This summer has been hard on my plants -

Not many of my flowers are surviving; a few like these. I'll have to purchase more like these next year.

Since it was the "last day of summer", when the girls came over in the afternoon (Jill teaches piano on Tuesday afternoon), they put on their swimsuits for fun in the back yard.

Bye, bye "summer" - or at least I can hope! These 90-100 degree temps are not enjoyable to me. Looking forward to Fall!!

My little princess

My little Princess Sophia

turned 3 today!

Here she is the day she was born.


..... and today
with her princess castle cake.

Princess Hannah

(in case you are wondering, she is scratched on the face because this week she saved her princess sister from disaster! Princess Sophia was headed down the driveway at breakneck speed on her trusty horse - ok, not a horse - a tricycle. Princess Hannah ran after her to save her and fell down and met her demise. What a brave little princess. Her mommy reminded her that there was Someone else who got really hurt - He even died - when He came to save her. Hannah knew immediately of Whom she was talking.)

Happy Birthday, Princess Sophia!! We love you!

"Your kingdom is an everlasting kingdom,and Your dominion

endures throughout all generations" Psalm 145:13

May Sophia grow to love You

as the daughter of the King, the King of kings;

that she will be a true Princess

and live her life to count for the Kingdom.

Community Life Sunday

This past Sunday was Community Life Sunday. Community is the middle name of our church, Grace Community Church. And we celebrated together.

Hog Roast

Cotton Candy

Photo Booth

Dunk the pastors!

Bouncy House

A fun evening together!