GDB Fun Day

It is Guide Dog Fun day again!!!

This is one of the highlights of my summer. All the GDB puppies gather together on the San Rafael Campus and have a busy day of learning, playing, and connecting with new and old friends. Mom and I and Gotham piled in the car early Saturday morning and headed down to GDB Headquarters.

When we saw the campus full of raisers and puppies all gathered together catching up. We saw Sarah who raised Hansel’s sister Hominy who informed us that Hominy was graduating that afternoon!!! So exciting! Then we looked around the little booths and got some new bow ties for Gotham so he would look dashing every ware he went.

After that it was time for out littermate meeting! This is a time where all the littermates of your puppies litter gather together to meet, share personalities, and of course pictures.  Even Gotham’s mom Bloomer came out to say hi. The puppies that were there were (left to right) Gonzalo, Galileo, Garman, Gotham, Gwen and Bloomer (Mom) in the middle. Gotham and Gonzalo are twins! There are both dominant, head strong, stubborn, observant, puppies. They are difficult dogs to train. The other puppies don’t seem to be that way but they all love to play especially with each other. Bloomer wanted nothing to do with her puppies especially the crazy boys.

After lunch we watch sever presentation on the whelping kennels and R+ training. We learned a lot and enjoyed seeing all our GDB friends. The last presentation of the day was the graduation ceremony which is so magical. Hansel’s sister Hominy looked amazing now that she was all grown up and an official Guide Dog for the Blind.  I am so proud to be a part of this organization.  

Big Craft Project

About 2 years ago Daniel came to me wanting to redo the art in the hallway ware the classrooms are for children’s ministry. I pondered it for a long time day dreaming about what to do and came up with an idea. Then the idea grew and took shape and I could see it in my head. I began to get excited about the big task in front of me. I had time off from work and I decided to take it on and have it done for the kick start of Sunday school. I quickly realized this was not a simple afternoon craft project but a multi day many hours crafting explosion. My creativity side was in overdrive as I designed and pieced everything together. My hands were covered in black paint, then colored paint, then hot glue (ouch!) and finally mod podge! I was creating texture out of buttons, paper, fabric and paint so that each one is unique but all working together. Finally will all the frames and letter done it was time to hang on the wall!

 

After a full page of math, measuring tape and a level I got them hung evenly, straight, and level! My daddy would be so proud! It turned out exactly the way I pictured it and I love it so much! Prime Time Children’s Ministry is now displayed on a 26 foot wall! Thanks Oak Hills Church for letting me be creative on your walls!

Arts Camp 2014

One Week People!

You know when you start hearing that phrase Arts Camp is near. Arts Camp is one of the greatest weeks out of the entire year! It is filled with music, dancing, painting, crafts, kids, playing, colors, and Jesus! Arts Camp is Oak Hills Church’s VBS and has been going on for 14 years. It is a week ware about 350 students and 150 volunteers gather to learn many different forms of art and about Gods Love. I have been part of AC for 5 or 6 years- I am starting to lose track. Like I have done for the last several years I taught acrylic painting class for 3^rd & 4^th graders. This year AC had the theme of Kingdom Come! Since I will be leaving soon and living in a castle I want all out with the kingdom theme. My class name was Once Upon A Paint Brush and we did 7 different projects that tied into that theme using acrylic paint in different ways.

AC kicks off on Sunday with set up and all the volunteers transform the church campus into a world of creativity. My classroom was adorned with a castle and bright colored paintings and the blank canvasses waiting to be painted on.

Monday morning come and the camp is overrun with kids of all ages singing and dancing in the opening session in their tracks , Dance, Theater, Music, Culinary, Creative Craftsmanship, and my track Visual Arts! It is incredible to see that many people and children praising and learning about Jesus! As the week continues color explodes every ware you can see and every ones creations and performances are leading up to showcase!

Friday after the students leave it is a mad dash to get all their artwork hung in the gallery so all their parents can see all they have done throughout the week. I was so proud of my students this year, they did a fantastic job and our gallery turned out beautiful! Gotham was with me all week and his opinion of AC is “I hate my name tag!”, “Do I have to keep laying here?”, “Why don’t I get snack?”, “I am Bat Dog!” and “I love all the attention!” Over all he did better than I could have hoped for! I am so proud of my little guy! Arts Camp is one of the most exhausting, challenging, trying, creative, joyful, fun, exciting, and glorious weeks I have ever experienced all at once!!! Until next year…

"Live lives worthy of God, who calls you into His Kingdom and glory. " 1 Thessalonians 2:12

Thunder storms

Living in Reno I have gotten accustom to the amazing thunder storms we get in the summer time. The big puffy whit thunder clouds form over the Sierra Mountains and settle in the valley below. You can feel the air get humid as the storm approaches and it smells of rain. This was one of those days. On this afternoon I was over at my friends Joleen’s house and of course Gotham came with me. He had a play date with her polar bear of a dog Samson while we had girl talk. While we were catching up we heard the distant rumble of thunder in the clouds through the open windows. Pretty soon we smelled the sweet smell of rain on a hot summer day. It didn’t take long and we could hear the rain as it came down hard and then the thunder was BOOMING over our heads.

By this time the puppies were already dirty and damp so we just watched them have fun as they got wetter and muddier! They were rolling and jumping on the wet ground and what started out as a white and a yellow dog ended up in 2 happy, tired, wet, dirty black dogs! I am pretty sure they had one of the Best Days Ever. I would not even let Gotham set foot in the house before his bath. I carried him directly to the tub much to his dismay.