Backyard Bible Club

This week we helped some friends of ours host a Backyard Bible Club at their house (through our church). I’ll be honest, I volunteered willingly, but my heart was kicking and screaming. I have done my share of “VBS” experiences in Mexico, New Orleans, etc. in youth ministry. I know they can be rewarding, but they are also time consuming, exhausting, and chaotic.

Well, God really worked in my heart this week and in the heart of these kids. We had around 27 boys and roughly 33 kids total. The kids were great. I led a bunch of crazy games and with the help of other adults in our small group, we shared the teaching, etc. I was feeling very weepy (I could blame it on the pregnancy hormones, but I was very touched) on Wednesday when kids started asking tough questions about Jesus. I was so thrilled to be a part of this experience and to help our friends reach out to our neighbors.

I can’t believe I am saying this, but I actually look forward to doing it again. Thanks for the Gulbrandsen’s for opening their home and hearts to their neighbors.

Happy Father’s Day

Happy Father’s Day to the very special dads in our lives. I am very thankful for the example my dad and Nate’s dad have set for us as loving Christian parents. I am also thankful for my wonderful husband. We love you all!

It’s been awhile…

Okay, it’s Kara. I know it has been awhile, but I’ve been busy making a human being over here. If you haven’t heard (which would be surprising), we are expecting our 3rd baby. I am 15 1/2 weeks and finally over the nausea and constant fatigue…slowly getting my energy back. I am due Nov. 26…the day before Thanksgiving. Hopefully this baby will come early so I don’t eat my Thankgiving dinner at the hospital. So far everything looks good and we are hoping to find out the gender of the baby at our big ultrasound in July.

I am going to fully embrace my summer with the girls…since it is my last year before I have another baby to tote around, and a nap schedule to work around. The girls love to go to the pool and have become really good swimmers. We spent four hours there the other day and they cried when we left! They are going to be water bugs just like Nate and I. We are looking forward to 2-3 weeks at the lake this summer…the first week mid-July.

I finished off my second year of subbing…and am REALLY hoping to not go back next year. I love teaching middle schoolers, but subbing is a whole different story! Natalie finished her last year of preschool…and is very sad she won’t go back there next year. But I know she will love going to the “big” school. It is hard to believe she will be in Kindergarten next year…I’ve been very emotional about this. Natalie has started reading and it is so amazing to hear her put letters together on her own and read. We are very proud of her. Amy will start going to preschool 2 mornings a week next year. She is VERY ready to go to school like Natalie.

I will try to be better at posting now that I can function during the day. Please pray for a healthy baby…and no, we don’t care if it is a girl or boy. :)

The picture is from our camping trip last weekend. Our girls LOVE to camp. Yeah!

Kara and Blogging

I need to get Kara to start blogging again! Someone help me figure out how to get her to write here and update the world on all that’s happening in our quiet (or not so much) home… -Nate