And as the minutes tick passed, bringing me closer to VBS, also known as the day when the ship sinks and I go down with it . . .
I feel so depressed. Why can’t I be one of those moms who just drops off her kids at the church and goes out for coffee for three hours? Why must I be the mom who stays at home teaching her reluctant teenagers language skills and math and history while trying to shake off the distractions of preschoolers? I agree with all those women who say, “I could never do that!” I can’t do it, either. But I am doing it anyway.
I am the ship’s captain and my crew is jumping ship, one by one, leaving me on this leaky boat. I have a hundred kids boarding in four weeks and I promise you, I will not abandon ship. But it would be so much easier if I had a crew and perhaps someone to help me bail the water out.
* * *
These are the irrational thoughts of a woman (me!) who just looked at the calendar, counted the weeks until Vacation Bible School and freaked out.
The time has come to clean off my desk. Make a list. Telephone volunteers. Refrain from running away from home. Ask how many kids have registered. Plan a meeting. Try not to let panic overtake me.
In a month, it will be all over. God help me.
Actual Unretouched Photo 
no kidding girl – I’ve got teen camp in 3 weeks with 8 choir songs to teach in 4 days, and just finally got a drummer. I thought i would never unwind my stomach.
vbs is 3 weeks after camp for me, and thankfully I’m just a volunteer for that one! 🙂 get some rest.
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This makes me think of my monday night meeting with our three-village priest and the women who run his catechism classes. The women desperately need help with running next year’s classes and asked, no begged parents to come to this meeting. Out of the three towns, only two moms showed up. Me and this other lady. And I’m not even Catholic, but since my kids go to these classes, I figured I should help. It seems that people like their kids to be involved in activities without getting involved themselves.
Bon courage as they say in french.
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I remember those VBS days. Consequently, I’m sending good thoughts your way. 😉 It’ll be fine.
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I was laughing as I read this post…not at you, mind you, but with you (even though you aren’t laughing now). I’ve been in your shoes before as the VBS director and can agree that, yep, the panic sets in about one month before. Then if you’re like me (and over the years I’ve come to think you are) you will shake off your procastinating tendancies and become Super Woman, able to handle (and handle quite well, thank you) anything that comes your way. I do my best work under pressure and it seems like you do too. So, freak if you must (and I know you must) but know that the ship won’t really go down.
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Go girl go!
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My quandry today is:
My craft is prepped for 60. We had 51 last night.
Will I have enough for tonight? They all said they were bringing friends!
Should I spend my day scrambling for more?
Where oh where did I put the left over sharks teeth and sea shells???
Bad storms expected tonight – will we have to cancel?
But, nothing will beat last night – when a BAT flew into the craft room and dove at our heads for a few minutes.
I feel your pain!!!
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You sound like 90% of women when they think about VBS! I go into hermit mode myself and single handedly decide to “never do that again”… yet am the first in line to sign up when the time comes 🙂
Youll do great, VBS will be great… and most of all, you will be such a blessing to so many little children who desperately need this!
Good for you for stepping up (and not jumping ship!)
-H
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I have the younger girls in two different VBS this week. One morning, one early evening, neither of them their own. That’s in July.
The evening VBS is Fiesta at the park. Each park has its own version, each put on by a different church, most Pentecostal (which covers a lot of ground). Around here it’s an umbrella term, somewhat like Baptist (or Heinz 57). Maybe I should use a lower case P (pentecostal). Anyhow, they all cooperate on VBS which is wonderful. They bring in many kids who would never see the inside of any church.
I’m not wild about the morning version (Boot Camp but it’s a safe place for them and it’s only 4 days.
Yours will fall into place.
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Breath. Breath. Breath. It’s going to be okay. Kids will come, some chaos might ensue, but they’ll learn about God. That’s really the point, right? Don’t worry and don’t lose your focus. Him. “Be still and know that I am God.” He is, you aren’t. Take comfort in that! 🙂
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I don’t envy you at all. I was in charge of VBS for 5 years. That should explain it all. lol.
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Mel,
My church canceled VBS because someone like you does not exist in the flock of my church anymore. All the women have apparently gone to therapy and learned how to say NO, Never, Not Now, Not Ever. Sadly, I was one of the people that did a back flip and screamed Praise the Maker! However, my children were really disappointed…..so the kids really lost a week of fellowship and learning. hmmmm. You stick with it, I’m glad there are still ladies willing to serve the children out there…..just not at my church.
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“I agree with all those women who say, ‘I could never do that!’ I can’t do it, either. But I am doing it anyway.”
My favorite line! I’m going to use this next time some polished and pedicured, straight-from-the-gym, high-heels-on-Tuesday, 20-something mom says it to me in the McDonalds play area. Ugh. (Do you want credit, or will that be a little much?)
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I’m with you, I can’t do it either, and here I am. you’ll get there, like you said, in a month. and use the panic to get you going!!
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Mel,
I wish I could help you. I have done what you are doing, only on a smaller scale. I know the stress of it. I will be praying for you and your helpers and the kids. God will provide everything you need. This is my prayer. Go in peace.
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good luck Mel!! (i just read all your Amazing archives 🙂 so proud of you!)
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Oh my and to think I’m contemplating skiping out this year. Seriously I have been teaching VBS since 1974. Isnt it someone elses turn? We have anywhere from 200 to 300 kids come into our VBS. It takes about 60 to 80 workers. Thankfully those workers are not hard to find at my church.
Our people are use to hard work. We bus in about 300 kids every sunday. That takes work. Pastor has said in the past that it takes about 300 workers every week just to fill all the spots for normal services. I’ve often wondered if our church knows how different they are then the majority in the area of work.
Having said that I must add that because everyone does work so hard it makes it easier for me to flake out. If every church member were like me we’d have no Bible School. I think I need to ponder that for a while.
By the way, I attend an Independent Baptist church.
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God will supply everything you need. Some people have been known to say that God won’t give you something you can’t handle. That’s a lie. God gives us things we can’t handle all the time so that we can give them over to Him to handle. God doesn’t want you to do this. He wants to do this through you. Let me quote my current favorite Bible verse: “And let us not grow weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap if we faint not.” Galatians 6:9 Oh, and “be anxious for nothing” God has everything under control.
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I did VBS at our church for 3 years in a row, so I feel your pain. Just remember God is in control.
All the wrinkles will be smooth by the time VBS arrives, so hand in there.
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We don’t do VBS. This gives us time to relax and read our Bibles together on the deck on summer mornings.
God’s Peace!
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I have been there, girl. Last year was the first year I hadn’t done VBS in many moons. As much as I love VBS once it gets going, I didn’t miss the stress of getting it done.
It does always seem like things fall into place, though, despite my faulty planning.
Here’s hoping you survive. Hang in there. I applaude your resolve!
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