Hello and welcome! I have 5 versions of the same card made with stamps from Creative Expressions. Once I saw this "Peaceful Night" stamp I had to have it. I wish I had gotten it sooner because most of my holiday cards have been mailed. I still have a few more to send to I'm glad I was able to purchase it! Isn't it one of the most lovely Christmas images ever???? I have linked my supplies below if interested. The first one was colored with alcohol markers and a few watercolor markers. The 2nd one below was ink blended with Distress Oxide inks and colored with watercolor markers Version #3 below was colored with alcohol markers. Version #4 was ink blended with Distress Oxide inks and colored with watercolor markers, then splattered with water droplets. And the last version below was colored with alcohol markers: I hope you like my 5 versions of the same card! Thanks so much for stopping by! I will enter the 1st card in: Watercooler Wednesday Challenge #301 Sisterhood of Crafters Challenge Merry Little Christmas December Challenge Make My Monday Challenge #137 Christmas Kickstart Challenge #44 Dies R Us Challenge #158 Word Art Wednesday Challenge #468 #469 I have used affiliate links in my post, what does this mean? If you click on the blue links, not the photos, below and shop from them, I will receive a small commission from the sale which is no additional cost to you but compensates me for using the product and my time. Thanks so much! HB Slimline Blanket Die Shop at: SSS | SC PFS Slimline Diagonal Shop at: SSS Woodware Peaceful Night Shop at: SSS | SC SC Dome Ink Blenders Shop at: SC DOX Fossilized Amber Shop at: SSS DOX Salty Ocean Shop at: SSS | RG DO Speckled Egg Shop at: SSS Versafine Clair Nocturne Ink Shop at: SSS | SC DOX Faded Jeans Shop at: SSS | RG DO Chipped Sapphire Shop at: SSS WOW Clear EP Shop at: SSS SSS Assorted Card Stock Shop at: SSS Nuvo Deluxe Glue Shop at: SSS WOW White EP Shop at: SSS Heat Tool Shop at: SSS | SC Embossing Magic Pad Shop at: SSS | KS Versamark Ink Shop at: SSS | SC Karin Markers Shop at: SSS TH Distress Sprayer Shop at: SSS | RG ALT Red Sunset Markers Shop at: SSS SN Pastel Markers Shop at: SSS | DB Altenew Warm & Cozy Set Shop at: ALT Altenew Green Fields Set Shop at: ALT ALT Warm Gray Shop at: SSS ALT Summer Afternoon Markers Shop at: SSS GKD Kraft CS Shop at: GKD TH Glass Media Mat Shop at: SSS Gemini Jr Shop at: SSS

I made and posted a Bethlehem Light Up Shadowbox and some of my friends wanted to make it, too. They asked me for a tutorial although there ...

L'ornithogale "Star of Bethlehem" fleurit actuellement dans les champs. Rendue fameuse par le docteur Bach, elle aide à traverser les situations de deuil.

Good morning! Here is an easy way to make a great card for a special friend. It is the regular A2 (4 1/4 X 5 1/2") size. See full instructions below. HC PRODUCTS USED HCD1-755 CircleBasics Large Die HCD1-7118 DelicateBorder Basics Die HCD1-7119 ClassicBorder Basic Dies HCD1-7187 O HolyNight Die HCPC-3832 O Holy Night Stamp Set HCDP1-292 O Holy Night Paper Collection 85-glitter Crystal Ultrafine Transparent Glitter 159723 Dries Clear Adhesive 352854 Metal Tip for Adhesive TSMP900 Memento Tuxedo Black Ink Other Products: Foam Tape, Memento London Fog Ink, Hero Arts-Shadow Gray Ink, Misti, reversing rubber, white acrylic paint, gold embossing powder, Marth Stewart grass punch, Tea Dye Distress Ink, Walnut Distress Ink, US Artquest-Perfect X Pure Gold Dust, Gold Leaf pen, VersaFine, Copic Markers: E000,E00,E01,E93,E21,E50,E51,E53,E42,E43,E44,E53,E33,E35,E37,B000,B00,B01,B21,B91,B93,C01,C02,C03,C05,BV20,R21,R22,R20,E97,Y32,YR24,YG11,YG05,G21,YG61,G83,E81,YG63,YG67,Y11,Y15,YR23 Video Link Fold out cards: https://youtu.be/wxX94X84kUo. Instructions: Card size: 4 1/4 X 5 1/2 Cut card panel 11 X 4 1/4, score at 5 1/2 then fold to make the card base. Cut top edge of the front with the Classic Border Basic plain edge die so that the front measures approximately 2 1/2 inches and then cut the top edge of the back so that it measures approximately 3 3/4 inches. Cut on score in the middle from top edge of back down to cut edge in front (about 1”). Cut a front and inside panel from decorative paper and cut them to match the curves of front and inside (see Emma Lou’s video for an easy way to do that here: https://youtu.be/wxX94X84kUo.) Now cut 2 white Delicate borders and glue one to each of the top edges to match curves. Trace the die onto decorative paper (to match the sky) and hand cut a backing for the back edge behind the Delicate border. Sponge glue onto the front of card and the inside of card and apply ultrafine glitter. Stamp Bethlehem 2 times in black and die cut, 1 time reversed in black (stamp onto plain rubber [plain rubber found here] then plain rubber to paper, hand cut)and then 1 time in London Fog and 1 time in Shadow Gray, die cut. Glue and foam tape the layers of Bethlehem onto front staggering a bit right and left to get layers of town. Punch grass from decorative paper for front and glue to the bottom. Stamp angels, shepherds with black ink and die cut. Stamp the left shepherd again and hand cut (carefully cut lamb away from hand). Stamp the Holy Family twice and use the 2nd one to cut away cow and lamb to use. Cut a circle from decorative paper and ink the inside part to make a “cave” or stable. Color all pieces with Copic markers. Stamp just the star part of Bethlehem with VersaFine and emboss with gold and glitter white hot, die cut. Glue circle to bottom of inside (right) and cut off the bottom of circle. With white, paint shine lines on front and on inside coming from the star foam taped onto top center of inside. Now glue Holy Family in the center of “cave” and glue extra cow and lamb to right side, glue extra shepherd with his hand on donkey. Punch grass for the bottom, glue and then paint glue on all straw area and sprinkle with Pure Gold Dust. Glue extra lambs and shepherds to the inside (left). Close the card and use foam tape to adhere the angels. The right angel should hang down low enough to act lie a catch to keep card closed but not enough to make it difficult to open and close. Thanks for visiting today! Robin Luke 2:8-15 8 That night there were shepherds staying in the fields nearby, guarding their flocks of sheep. 9 Suddenly, an angel of the Lord appeared among them, and the radiance of the Lord’s glory surrounded them. They were terrified, 10 but the angel reassured them. “Don’t be afraid!” he said. “I bring you good news that will bring great joy to all people. 11 The Savior—yes, the Messiah, the Lord—has been born today in Bethlehem, the city of David! 12 And you will recognize him by this sign: You will find a baby wrapped snugly in strips of cloth, lying in a manger.” 13 Suddenly, the angel was joined by a vast host of others—the armies of heaven—praising God and saying, 14 “Glory to God in highest heaven, and peace on earth to those with whom God is pleased.” 15 When the angels had returned to heaven, the shepherds said to each other, “Let’s go to Bethlehem! Let’s see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has told us about.” Read the rest of the story HERE.

Lamp Industrial Bethlehem Steel RGB LED Lamp from Original mylar drawing used to make Blueprints #122707 BS7x39 Comes with controller for an array of mood lighting. This is a one off. I designed this lamp using ORIGINAL Bethlehem Steel drawings, 3D printed framing and quality electrical components. I have preserved artifacts from The Steel Industry that this town of Johnstown, Pa lived by for generations. I repurposed them to share the story of the men & women of the industry. These originals were used to make paper blueprints in a process that use U.V. light. They are not affected by U.V. and will last and last. The men & women who drew these creations were true artisans. Idustrial firms had large pools of drafting professionals as depicted in the last photo. Drawing 117256 BS7 Dimensions: 39" x 7.50". LED 6 watt bulb The "lampshade" itself is an 24x36" original Beth Steel drawing which I have collaged with self adhesive transparency copies of original photos and/or photos shot long ago by commercial photographers or by me in the 80's before the mills were demolished. The original integrity of the drawing is virtually intact. Much of our 12 miles of Bethlehem Steel mills were demolished. A few mills remain and still continue operating under new ownership or as new/different businesses. The oldest buildings are the 1800s foundry pattern carpentry shop and the blacksmith shop and are preserved under the national historic registry. See Cambria Iron https://www.jaha.org/attractions/heritage-discovery-center/johnstown-history/history-steel-johnstown/ Thank you for viewing my artwork.

So our church is having "A Night in Bethlehem" family party where there will be "shops" that feature all things in the time when Christ was born. (Glampa Fabulous and I will be running a pottery shop where everyone can roll some clay and inscribe their names in Hebrew and make ornaments for their trees at home.) And of course there will be a nativity scene and a musical program about the birth of Jesus Christ. Above are some of the costumes I have made for me, Glampa and the Glamchildren. And here is a pile of costumes waiting to be sewn... I went to Home Fabrics and Rugs when they had their $1 sale this last Tuesday and bought over 120 yards of fabric!!! I was able to cut out 83 outfits consisting of a tunic, long vest and a belt. I needed 27 outfits for just my family and the rest went to friends. (I do have a few "outfits" pictured above if any of you want one ((already cut out, but you have to sew them))...first come, first served.) I researched costume patterns and put together these instructions that I thought I'd pass on to you. The first sheet contains a simple tunic and vest guidelines that you measure to the people in your family. Below are a few non-sewing ideas that I found. On Christmas Eve, we have the glamkids dress up and Glampa reads from Luke about the Savior's birth. This year I'll have these "fancy" costumes, but it is just as meaningful to just read the story without the costumes as a family. It is also fun to tell the kids to go put together outfits and props from around the house. It's cute to see a child wrapped in a sheet or towel and caring a perfume bottle as one of the three kings, or pinning a paper tail and ears on to be a donkey... Hope these instructions can be of use to you! I almost forgot, above are a few "head hole" ideas. Just remember to cut small, then cut the opening larger if you need to. (mistake made, lesson learned already.)

Last weekend I helped a few ladies from my church plan our wards Christmas party: A Night in Bethlehem. We wanted to create a Christmas experience that celebrated the life of Christ. I'm on the enrichment committee,

"To gather round the Bethlehem grotto contemplating there the Holy Family, enables us to appreciate the gift of family intimacy in a special way, and spurs us to offer human warmth and concrete solidarity in those unfortunately numerous situations which, for various reasons, lack peace, harmony, in a word, lack “family”." - Pope Saint John Paul II Available as 8 x 10, 11 x 14, or 16 x 20 high-quality print Printed on high-quality Somerset velvet paper and is ready to frame Frame not included Made in the USA This piece is made using a printing technique that makes the texture appear almost 3-D. It adds an element of depth that is really beautiful! Out of stock? This item typically restocks in about 4-6 weeks

Take a virtual trip to the Holy Land with these Israel tour pictures from the travel journal of Venice Kichura.

Church of the Nativity, Bethlehem, Palestine

Dayspring Baptist Church, Waco, TX Several years back for Vacation Bible School our church took our children on a trip through the 1st Century city of Rome where we learned about Paul and the Underground Church." In the process we created a lot of Greco-Roman Décor, and found a lot of inspiration both from groups who had done this program and the similarly decorated Athens Holy Land Adventure. I wanted to pass on the great ideas we learned about for others who might be doing the same programs, a piece of Greek or Roman theater, or a wedding or party with this theme. You will find some creative and inexpensive decorating ideas below. 3 Dimensional Columns Columns are essential to Greco-Roman décor, and three dimensional columns are, I think, the most stunning way to go. Where to Buy 3D Columns We invested in two large 12' cardboard columns (pictured above) and have used them over and over for different Holy Land VBS (not just Rome, but for Pharoah's palace in Egypt, and the Synagogue in Nazareth and Galilee). Large columns like these can make for a very dramatic effect. You can find similar ones at Stumps Party Supply. For shorter columns you can find a nice selection at Oriental Traders for a good price, but be warned to leave lots of time for delivery (shorter columns are also not difficult to make, which of course is even cheaper...see below for various methods). If you do not have a good place to store columns for use in future years, you may want to consider renting columns from a local wedding/event service. Poster Board Use Poster Board and Pizza Boxes This one seems super simple and inexpensive! A pizza place might be willing to donate some clean, unused boxes (especially if you also bought lunch for volunteers there)! You could use corregated cardboard for a ribbed texture and a little more support (our columns for our intro picture were made like this, with foam "crests" in stead of pizza boxes. Make them With Cardboard Tubing You can use carpet tubes (what carpet comes rolled around) for thin columns. Places which sell carpet are often happy to donate these. For thicker columns you can buy construction tubes (also known as building tubes, cardboard concrete forms, and Sonotubes). You can find these individually at home improvement stores, but from what I've seen they only smaller ones (48" long or shorter). There are several manufacturers that sell longer full column length ones, but generally only in bulk. You could possibly contact a local construction company and see if they would sell or donate some in smaller quantities. Use Building Tubes, Pots, and Plaster Decorative Faux-Stone Column - Shorter but very realistic. I've seem people use plastic pots with molded edges for some very decorative molding...same idea though. Use Building Tubes, Pool Noodles, and Foam Board DIY Network shows you how to make faux stone columns...very realistic looking. Pool noodles are a more pricey material, but if you can buy them out of season (at the end of summer, early fall clearance sales) they cost less. Very Realistic, Structural Method With Tall Building Tubes The blog Tootsie Time shows how she made permanent columns for her home. They are beautiful. Use Textured Wallpaper to Add Ridges Once you have a base (see above) you can use textured wallpaper to add ridges. I got this idea from Jennifer Hosler. She used Easy Textures Paintable Wallpaper (Pattern No 99424F) to cover a carpet tube column. I didn't find that exact one but I found a similar style by another brand here. "Warren" Method of Constructing Columns Kate Taylor Warren and her husband shared the following method they came up with to make columns like you see above. Inside each column is a 90" heavy cardboard carpet tube. Each has a 2-3 foot wooden fence post fit snugly inside and screwed to a 20" board as a horizontal base. The part of the column you see is five sheets of under-wallpaper insulation cut in lengths that circle around to make a 20" diameter cylinder. A construction stapler was used to staple them to the carpet tube in the back. The material they use, found in a DIY store where wallpaper is sold, consists of a very thin layer of polystyrene bonded to a layer of heavy brown paper. It pops out easily to hold its shape when circled and stapled, and is easy to paint. Kate Warren and her husband are in England, so I'm not sure whether the same material is available here in the States, but it would be worth checking into. They measured the "stripes" on the individual sheets and marked them so they could be painted before assembly on the carpet tube. This was an easier and safer way to paint--no climbing ladders and trying to get straight lines painted. The columns are set on squares of stryofoam (called polystyrene in the UK). The cornice (or pediment) is not resting on the columns but is suspended from the ceiling. Otherwise it would be rather unstable. Pool Noodle Columns Elizabeth Ann Seton Catholic Church in Houston, TX Photo by Marian Seidel You can find full step by step instructions on how to make pool noodle columns here also (though it was for a more permanent feature, so had some steps you could skip for VBS). Here's some in-process pics shared by Marian Seidel of Elizabeth Ann Seton Catholic Church in Houston, TX. (She's still in the in process phase so I don't have final pics right now). 1. You start with cardboard carpet roll tubes for a base. 2. Cute pool noodles in half lengthwise with exacto knife (to make two parts like celery sticks, not two shorter pool noodles). 3. Put foam into noodle like you would put cheese whiz on the celery stick, and press onto roll. 4. Use 3 nails, one at the bottom, top and middle to secure. 5. Trim as necessary. (Save pieces...see #6) 6. Make a stand (sorry, I don't have instructions on how to make stands, but you can see some examples there. I believe there is a stick or in the middle that you just drop the carpet tubes onto). Use extra pool noodle pieces and/or foam to stuff into carpet tubes to stabilize. 7. Paint TIP: If you're planning this long in advace you can save money if you buy pool noodles out of season (at the end of summer, early fall clearance sales). Corrugated Plastic Columns You can use sheets of corrugated plastic (PVC Roofing) either to make freestanding columns, or to wrap around posts and other features. While pricey, this method has the benefit of being weather resistant, so is great for outdoor features. You can find this type of sheeting at most hardware stores. You can see one of these types of columns in the background of picture to the right. Thanks to Rebecca Edwards for this picture. Dayspring Baptist Church, Waco, TX Another church used these to make the following.... Photo and instructions by Ruthann LaMoreaux Litchford‎ HOW TO MAKE COLUMNS/PEDIMENT The pediment is the triangular roof on top MATERIALS 12 ft white pvc roofing panel (corrugated plastic), cut in half to 6 feet; Heavy duty scissors or snips (1) 4x8x2 foam insulation board, white (1) liquid nails tube (& caulk gun) (1) roll white duct tape (1) bread knife or box cutter (4) Wooden Chop Sticks TO MAKE COLUMNS 1. Cut panel into (2) 6ft pieces using heavy duty scissor or snips and duct tape into tubes. 2. Score and snap insulation board into squares for column bases - for each base I cut (1)13x13" & (1)11x11" & (2)6" circles. Use liquid nails to adhere these into a stack. 3. Once dry assemble column onto one base and slide a second base on top. 4. Using remainder of insulation board score & snap a large triangle along with enough framing to surround it. (The one pictured used 6ft wide base x 2 ft high triangle. Bottom framing board was 11" wide to sit securely on column topper. Side framing pieces were 5 or 6" wide.) 5. Miter the corner edges with a knife/cutter. Liquid glue it all together. Dry 24 hours. 6. Use a poster or any signage you want to fill in the center. 7. Place pediment onto columns and push chop sticks through into column base for attaching. Score, snap, glue, chop stick. Done. TIP: How to Create Depth If you are making a colonnade on a stage you can create depth and and add an illusion of a larger scene by starting with taller columns and then using descending smaller columns, set at an angle like the picture on the right... continuing the colonnade with a backdrop with painted columns at the back. In the following picture you can see the angling technique (though I don't know whether their columns decended in size). (I got this idea and the drawing in this section from cdevries, who writes a number of wonderful articles on theater design. It was from a section on 3 More Ways to Improve Your Theater Set about creating depth. The picture above is from Faith Baptist Church. Used with permission.) 2D Colums Picture by Mindy Love Harper Flat paper columns are simple and inexpensive. You can draw them on butcher paper or posterboard (for thicker, more reusable affect) or order pre-made ones online. I love how Trinity Presbyterian Church of McKinney, Texas used simple paper columns and a roof to frame the doorway to "Paul's House." While it takes a little drawing skill, it doesn't look unreasonably hard, and yet is very effective in transforming this from just another room to a house in Athens. And, if you prefer to avoid drawing/painting it yourself, here are several paper column options I found online (click pictures to find on Amazon)... Semi-3D Columns For a semi-three dimensional look try one of the techniques below. Foam Board Columns Dayspring Baptist Church, Waco, TX We carved foam board with a hot knife and painted the indentations grey to make these columns. Then we put them up in front of some pretty party paper to cover up a wall sculpture you see peeking out of the top there. I believe the paper we used was flat, but the only paper with the same design I was able to find now online was this corrugated version (which is probably more expensive than what we used, but would offer more stability). Cardboard Column "House" Photo by Michelle Robeson La Flamme This structure was made out of a VERY LARGE box. It has plaster on it which gives it the column texture. I like that a person could actually get IN this columned house. View More Column Decor See More Rome VBS Posts This post includes a few Amazon affiliate links through which I can earn a commission. Anything earned through this post will be donated to charity. More info here. Shared On Throwback Thursday

Merry Christmas all, I can't believe I am posting on Christmas, but here I am sharing our Christmas Eve. Here is our table ...

Nestled against the infamous cement barrier that currently separates Israel and Palestine in Bethlehem rests the latest ambitious art installation from the elusive street artist Banksy (previously). Titled the “Walled Off Hotel,” and promising the “worst view in the world,” the experiential art show is a fully functional hotel that will be open for reservations as soon as next week. Banksy and a team of assistants have spent the last 14 months retrofitting an old hotel, transforming the hallways, lobby, dining room, exterior, and individual guest rooms into an art exhibition. More

A museum to British colonialism and the "worst view in the world", all by Israel's security barrier.

A blog about the different roles that we juggle being moms!

Fabric Tent I made this easy fabric tent so that all the children in my class (22-25) could fit inside while I tell the Bible story....

Merry Christmas! I hope you all have a wonderful day of celebration with your friends, family, churches, and pets! This ends the 25 tags and cards of Christmas, and I’m thankful you joined me on this crazy adventure in crafting! I created a video with this stamp set HERE…and I used a different approach on […]

This weeks 18″ SuperSized block is the Star of Bethlehem block. Many of you are probably familiar with this block as it recently became quite popular due to Camille Roskelley’s “Swoon” quilt pattern w

Créations textiles Orange Pressée, la jeune créatrice propose ses services et sa bonne humeur dans son atelier de couture at home! elle réalise des créations 100% artisanales et originales, vous trouverez vêtements et accessoires pour le plaisir de tous...

Where was Nazareth? Among Bible scholars and archaeologists there is much disagreement on that point. I chose one of the traditional locations, a small area in the middle of modern Nazareth, to focus on when I decided to research what daily life would have been like there. While we don’t know for sure that that particular spot is the same place where Jesus spent his childhood, it is representative of what we know about Nazareth from the Biblical accounts, and much like other small towns in the hills of Galilee. During the time of Jesus, there’s evidence that this location was a Jewish community with less than 400 people living there. Archaeologists found a stone quarry there, terraced farmland, a wine press, and watch-towers like the ones which Jesus describes in the Parable of the Wicked Vinedressers in Matthew 21 and Mark 12. They also found a house with a cistern and stone and chalk vessels that Jews typically used at that period to preserve purity of food. But what wasn’t found there was just as telling. No glass, mosaics, frescoes, paved roads, or imported materials were found in this town from the 1st century, suggesting that this was a simple, rural village at that time. (This is typical of many small towns in Galilee at this time.) Would you like to learn more about what life was like in Nazareth? I've written a series which covers various aspects of life in this small town in Galilee, and also collected some historical crafts and activities you can use with your church group, for homeschool, or just do with your family for fun. Click the links below to read on... A House In Nazareth A Meal in Galilee The Synagogue at Nazareth Joseph, The Carpenter Nazareth Pictures CRAFT IDEAS: Making Thread, Weaving, and Dying ACTIVITY: A Galilean Garden Nazareth VBS Resources Biblical History Resources This series was originally housed on Squidoo, but when they merged with HubPages I decided to move it here because their link policy didn't allow enough links to properly credit my sources. I've tried to site my sources throughout, on each post, but I want to give a special thanks to See the Holy Land, a company which organizes tours of various Holy Land Sites, for the use of many of the photos in this series (and for the wonderful Biblical timeline shared there, which I wish I had discovered earlier in my research), and to James Emery and Ian W. Scott who made their photos available through Creative Commons on Flickr. And I want to thank all the people who offered help on the Group Forums, and for all the people who answered my questions on Yahoo Groups and Squidoo (which now is a part of HubPages). SOURCES The Nazareth Village Website Archaeology and the Galilean Jesus by Jonathan L. Reed. Bible Places.org Blog: First-Century House Excavated in Nazareth SHARED ON Dear Homeschoolers Bookshelf Encouraging Hearts and Home Throwback Thursday

Oh Holy Night!  #1 Christmas Nativity scene under the star of Bethlehem. Original spray painting on 11x14 poster board.

Vacation Bible School 2010! "Joseph's Journey: From Prison to Palace" was our theme this year. The church was turned into EGPYT for the children by the amazing vision and dedication of our Faith Formation Minister of Children's Education, Rit Vogel. She is so awesome at bringing an idea to fruition and making it meaningful, purposeful, and Biblical! Welcome to Egypt! Shiny gold paint is awesome! The custodians loved us...sand on the floor! "Hip, Hip, Hip, Hippopotamus... Hip, hip, hooray, God Loves VBS!" Rit found the design, traced it onto a mural, and a bunch of us painted it. See what I mean about bringing an idea to life!? Too cool. Yet another amazingly colorful mural! DUCK! (where?) In the photo! Apparently, dead ducks were common in Egypt. Didn't know that. Do you like my grapes? Too bad you can't see the tri-color depth I added. Yum. The kiddos got to walk under this upon entering the Great Hall! Welcome to Egypt! Two of the many Egyptian gods. We taught the kids lots about how Egyptians believed in many gods, yet Joseph believed in the ONE true God! Cellophane + fan + light = FIRE! Only because we all adore Rit is a photo of a sn*** on this blog. She worked so hard to bring this multi-layered, slithering beast to life! Being the Celebration Leader certainly had its perks: check out my bling! ...and my headpiece... ...and the eye make-up! Ta-da! Brenda-patra in Egypt! The Marketplace: PVC pipe holding up all these colorful pieces of fabric to create an open-marketplace feel. Different stations, including basket-weaving, jewelry, hieroglyphics, etc. VBS rocks. All the adults and teen leaders were dressed up, too! Check out the urns! A water bottle fits inside! One of our blankets for the Operation Kid to Kid, where blankets were tied and will be sent to children in Africa. The Music Room was a vineyard this year. Minus the wine, of course. Hanging grapes and all! "...there will never be another..." "You are the One True God..." "...You raise me high and lift me up..." So sad this is blurry, but so happy to be dancing with Brooke! Each day, four characters explained what we were learning about for the day. Bible verses, lessons, and the main point. The 5 days included: hope, special abilities, wisdom, forgiveness, and family. You can also see our pyramid of God Sightings, where the kids used bricks to list places where they had seen God throughout their day. The kids were divided into Egyptian families this year, mixing up the age levels. It was great to see the leadership of the older kids - lots of little ones naturally paired with their older 'brothers and sisters' for the week. A God Sighting, for sure! The picture is perfectly creepy. Here's Joseph, still in the prison. Yeah! Joseph made it to the Palace! Huge celebration on Friday, with parents encircling the room, blankets being blessed, and 140+ children happily singing and dancing those wonderful VBS songs that stay in your head all year long! An energizing, exhausting and completely exhilarating Egyptian adventure! I can't wait for next year!

These ideas for Dr. Jones and the Secret of the Lost Keys were used recently at Prairie Oak Community Church in their kid’s worship area. 1. Entrance to an Egyptian building. Use rolls of brow…

While unloading my car , preparing for "A Night in Bethlehem" ward activity....I noticed that we have finally received a little fall....in the parking lot no less....Beautiful still the same. I was asked to prepare one of the "tents/booths" for...