Hi everyone! I was trying to get the foam plane from EXPO posted today but I don’t think it will go out today. The Nashville Preview is going on right now, so I don’t want to rush the instructions. The instructions and the template will go out this weekend, so keep an eye out for it! I promise!  But I did want to repost this blog post (below). I’ve had several people ask me this week about the airplane with the 2 punch out faces, so I wanted to make it easier to find!

Clip art, clip art clip art. . . that’s the world I live in right now! I’m currently pulling all of our clip art together to be used in different locations. So, when I sat down to write my blog post for Foto Friday, I didn’t have a clue as to what to write. Then it hit me! Clip Art! I wanted to give you all some clip art that you might be able to use. I know our website is still being worked on, files being loaded. . .clip art included but they are not available yet, so here’s some!

Update: Be sure to check out the VBS Logos post!

I’m going to do 2 batches. . .JPG and PNG files. So here are the JPGs!

Here’s a fun one! You can print this one out, cut out the faces and then paste your pastor’s face, VBS director’s face, etc. into it! Here’s Gordon and me “flying” the plane! ! !

Now for the PNG files!

I hope you all like what I posted! Sorry for the number of them but I got excited thinking about all the possibilities! ! !

Melissa, Laura, and Georgina (aka Melissa's Mom) flighing high at Ridgecrest Preview!

1. What is your geekiest VBS moment? [re: Melissa] “My first VBS announcement (for Saddle Ridge Ranch) caused quite a scene. I was so nervous! Dressed as a cowgirl with a pink cowboy hat and boots, I interrupted a deacon giving announcements in church that Sunday morning. His surprise was genuine! The congregation loved it and looks forward to the skits each year!

[re: Laura] One Saturday afternoon, Laura and I (Melissa) were out shopping for VBS decorating supplies. While driving down my street, Laura spotted a neighbor’s trash pile with a bunk bed thrown on top. She slammed on the brakes, threw the car in reverse and backed up claiming that she found the covered wagon! We spoke to the neighbor and the bunk bed ours. It weighed a ton so we recruited my husband to load it up. After some work, it became a fabulous Saddle Ridge Ranch covered wagon!  So, we are not above trash picking to find great props.

[re: 2011 January Preview in Ridgecrest] 9 women + 2 cars (caravan/road trip from Florida to Ridgecrest) + lots of snow and ice + 7 degree weather (“NOT FUNNY for a bunch of Miami girls!) = one great experience and mega excitement.

[re: registration for Previews] While in the middle of our VBS 2011, we made an appointment to watch the 2012 web launch. We registered for BOTH the January Preview AND the Kissimmee Preview!

[re: Laura] Laura squeals and does “The Happy Dance” in the middle of the office while opening supplies for VBS like brand new boxes of markers! It’s all for the cause!

[re: Mom] “I’m just along for the ride!”

2. The back story, how they met, what’s their VBS working relationship? April, 2010 was a defining moment for Laura Miller. Long story short and amid circumstances beyond her control, Laura found herself facing a giant – her struggling church as well as the surrounding community were counting on Miami Shores Baptist Church to conduct their annual VBS. On top of that, it was only 2 months away. Laura had taught VBS but never directed VBS.

Unwilling to give up, Laura invited Melissa to drop by her place of business where she told her the whole story. Since Laura hadn’t directed VBS before and Melissa had it seemed clear what had to be done…Melissa had to be the one in charge! Laura promised to be there every step of the way – she would be Melissa’s right and left arms!

Melissa, though surprised by the request, accepted the challenge. With the decision made, the pair headed to lunch, where Melissa discovered that Laura had stashed the Saddle Ridge Ranch Super Sampler in her car in the hopes that Melissa would say YES and take the it from her. Brilliant!

With lots of prayer and optimism, the struggling church rallied and gathered 117 children for VBS! 11 of them accepted Christ as their Savior! The Lord took care of obstacles and cleared paths. They work together like a well-oiled machine – their strengths and weaknesses complement each other!

Saddle Ridge Ranch at Miami Shores Baptist Church

PS – to sum it all up – their working relationship amounts to: Melissa was officially voted on, Laura doesn’t let her forget it and (to quote) “We haven’t had this much fun working this hard in a long time!”

3. What’s your favorite part of VBS? We love every part of VBS! We love the planning, the decorating, the announcements, and the stress of getting things done!

[Melissa] I have come to love Friday Night Family Night.  I would attend in the past, but I was not a fan of the chaos, etc. One of my favorite parts is watching the children learn the music and motions. When they understand the meaning of the words and how the motions fit in with them – it makes me so happy.

[Laura] My favorite part is that the church voted on Melissa!

[Mom] I’m just along for the ride!

4. Why do you do VBS? Because we CAN’T NOT do it. How can we not share Jesus with the community and our church? How can we not give the children the opportunity to hear and experience the Good News? How can we not open the doors to our church and welcome the neighborhood kids? How can we not fulfill the Great Commission? How can we NOT? The song from Big Apple Adventure “I Will…” summed it up for Melissa!

There’s more to this story but we’re going to save it for another time. You’ve gotta hear how this team made their way to Ridgecrest from their home in sunny Florida. See ya’ll in Orlando!

We have a week to rest up before setting up and hosting the Nashville VBS Preview. There is still a little room for the Thursday/Friday Preview (Jan 27-28).

We also have room for the Kissimmee, FL Preview (Feb 17-18), SO COME ON DOWN! Or come on up. . .if you live south of Kissimmee! lol! It should be nice and sunny! (actually I don’t know that)

If you come down to Kissimmee, I’ll tell you a joke that my 4 year old daughter told me! It’s funny!

Today on Foto Friday, I wanted to share just some random photos from the Ridgecrest and Ft. Worth events.

I just flew in and. . .(my arms are not tired!)

Great Bible overview Melita!

I don't remember their names but they had me laughing SO HARD!

GREAT t-shirt! ! !

Um, I think the flight is full!

These kids were great! Love the hats!

I’ve had people ask and yes, you CAN purchase our Super Sized Hangar Backdrop artwork and then send it to a sign company to print larger!

There's always one on the flight!

Gordon is flying Stand-By!

Jerry delivering the message. Thanks Jerry!

***We have several people about the “how-to” instructions for the foam airplane in the photos. We created that for the events, so the instructions are not readily available but we are going to work up a blog post on the “how-to” instructions and get them to you!***

In November, 2010, we posted a blog about Shirley Smith, our resident LifeWay VBS Snack Queen. You can read the blog at http://www2.lifeway.com/vbs2011/yourvbs/index.php/updates/article/1657. Shirley was a member of the VBS team for many years. She has the gift of hospitality and loves sharing through the gift of food.

Shirley is the one on the far left in this VBS team Christmas get-together from a few years ago.

With Shirley’s talent and skills in baking, cooking, and making VBS snacks look wonderful, it’s not surprising that she would use her gifts to help with creating and testing VBS snacks since 1997. She began making themed snacks for our VBS writer’s conference and then moved on to helping with testing of the snacks in 2002. She has been very helpful in making snacks for photo shoots for the VBS Snack Rotation Cards and for the VBS catalog and Promo Video Shoots.

Sample of snacks made by Shirley for photo shoot

Even though some organizational restructuring moved Shirley off the VBS team a couple of years ago, she continued to be a vital part of getting VBS products to the printers on time and to help us when it was time to make VBS snacks. The VBS team is indebted to her for all the ways she has contributed to making VBS resources the best they can be to make a difference in the lives of boys and girls and their families.

Shirley with her family at her LifeWay retirement reception

Shirley will be retiring from LifeWay this Friday. The VBS team will miss her, but I am sure she will still be a vital part of making VBS snacks in the future! Thank you, Shirley, for all you have done and all you will continue to do for the kingdom! We love you!!

During the Fort Worth VBS Preview last week, a group of VBS leaders worked together to make the Idea Banks of LifeWay’s VBS Community come to life. Here are just a few of the many great ideas:

Follow Up

In addition to Family Night during the week of VBS, host a VBS Celebration Night a few weeks later as the first step in a series of events designed to provide continued connection with unchurched families.

End of Day Dismissal

Create a Parent Lounge and encourage parents to arrive a few minutes early for refreshments and a chance to meet other parents and church staff.

Create numbered boarding gates. Give parent and child a corresponding number and let them both know they can meet at their specified boarding gate.

I’ll share additional ideas next Tuesday. Until then check out www.lifeway.com/vbs and join the Community.

There was another VBS Geek of the Week sighting. This time we were honored to have PJ with us all the way from South Korea.

Notice anything wrong in this picture?

And then here’s Keith bullying the bull on the wall of one of the restaurants we ate at. I am not sure who won the “Stare Down,” but I think Keith is giving him a run for his money!

Last but not least, a big congratulations goes out to Teresa Brown. Teresa’s name was drawn as the winner of a VBS 2012 Quick Scene™ Super Duper Sized Backdrop.

We still have two more events on the calendar—one in Nashville, and one in Orlando. So if you haven’t registered, don’t miss out. Make plans to join us for these exciting events.

We have been busy trying to get everything ready.

Here are some “behind the scenes” photos!

I think it was Jeff Slaughter’s idea for the napkin! lol!

Does anyone have a hammer?

Does this helmet make my head look big?

We just HAD to pass the toy department to get some supplies!

 Rhonda was a very good girl, so she gets an ice cream cone!

Seriously, we are about to have a busy but fun day. . .come see us if you are in the area!

Be sure to check out our Facebook page for more photos from EXPO!

For those of you heading to the Preview in Ft. Worth this week, don’t forget to grab your Flight Logs for your chance to win. See you soon!

Loved walking in the lobby and seeing the VBS 2012 Inflatable Globes!

Here’s a peak of the Expo where you can talk to the editors and designers on the VBS team.

Jeremy and Ashley spent their time videoing everything that was going on during the conference.

Tiffany at the sales table selling lanyards and buttons!

Melita, Jeff Slaughter, Candace, and Christi after the VBS musical.

We ran into one of our VBS Geeks of the Week! Charles was proudly wearing his Geek of the Week T-shirt!

Conferees had the chance to have their picture made in our AWA airplane!

At the end of the weekend it was time pack up! Melita is trying to send Angel to Texas with the VBS decorations!