God’s Good Gifts–CBS version

If you know our family, you know that CBS has been a staple in these Disciples’ lives since before most of them were born.  Only Stewart did not attend as a newborn.

As a matter of fact, in 2021, as John would sit on the computer looking at prospective jobs around the country, I would sit in the chair nearby and use my phone to check to see if there was a CBS in driving distance.

Yes – it has been that important to me.

When we moved here, the closest option was the CBS in Greenwood, SC.  It was a 61 minute drive from our house to the church, and we did it most weeks (we took February off last year for a driving break).  We knew we couldn’t keep up that trek this year with the very large amount of time it took and the cost of gas.  I was delighted to learn a CBS went live just 20 minutes from our house, however, I couldn’t make the Thursday mornings work in the fall around the classes Tabitha was registered for.

Then – just days before Christmas, it clicked — with Tab’s upcoming schedule, the girls and I might be able to make it fit in our week.  I reached out and they DID have room for us.  It is a very small class, but they did have space in the children’s program!  When I told the girls, I wasn’t sure if they’d be up for a schedule change so late in the school year.  Their reaction?  Utter gladness!  They were delighted!

So here we are.  Our first day at Greenville CBS Day Class.

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Like a giant GOD HUG!

It is directly across the street from BJU, too!

Christmas Cantata

Katriel was Sarah Beth, a little girl writing a letter to her grandmother before their Christmas holiday together.

She did get bored…

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But she did well and it was excellent.

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Level Award Christmas Party

As a first year Pioneer, Johanna had two years to complete her event planning requirement for her Level Award, but she was adamant that she would complete it this year.  She was required to plan one troop wide event requiring at least 10 hours of work.   She decided to host the troop Christmas party.  And it certainly used more than 10 hours.

We prepared for months.  It was hard for me to not just jump in and take over, especially when a lot of time was being taken up for the new job.  But the purpose was to teach her all the pieces.  This included (but was not limited to) researching crafts for the age levels, the costs for the crafts, and purchasing the supplies.  She/we needed to also research games.  She also had to plan to food and supplies and we had to learn together how to make a sign-up in Sign Up Genius. 

We made practice crafts, too.   And she wrote her own devotion.

The theme was stars, and the party was stellar.

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We used every last table we could find.

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We had Daddy come to also help.

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She led the younger girls through their star craft and a game of Bingo.
She also had to make 45 bags of Fruit Loop Markers and we did all the prep bags for the crafts.

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I led the older girls in their star craft, and their scavenger hunt game.

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Johanna did an amazing job.

And I am sooooooooOOOOOOOOOOOooooooooooo glad it is done!

Oh the places she’ll go (Johanna AHG adventures)

I don’t know the exact order of these photos.
I was not there.

Johanna and two of her squad-mates had the blessing to do overnight camping in November.

They first hiked in to their site carrying a portion of their gear.  Claire’s dad drove in the remainder. 

Once they arrived, they assembled their sleeping quarters (I hesitate to call it a “tent”) and made their dinners.

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They were not allowed to sleep in the lean-to structures, but they could sit there a little.

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This is what the three girls constructed and slept in.

FOR REAL!

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Mrs. Tammy and Mr. and Mrs. Owings had actual tents.

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These are adventures Johanna would never had had if we didn’t make this crazy move.  I am so happy for my little adventurer.

Harvest Party–walk through the Bible…

Storms kept it from being held outside like it was supposed to, but the event went on and was super immersive.  People from church each took a story from the Bible and brought it to life.  I should have taken more photos.

We were just about the last ones to visit.  The Hoyts were having dinner at our house and the time kept slipping away.

That worked out really well for the kids; they got pretty much all of the left over candy at the end.

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Tab had a paper due so she responsibly stayed home while Marie, Johanna, Katriel, William and Victorious went.  Marie collected enough candy for the two of them, and they put it all on the floor and divvied it up.

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Backyard camping

Johanna had some fun doing backyard camping in Mrs. Tammy’s yard with the rest of her squad.  It got very cold last night – less than 40F! 

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The rest of the girls went hiking in the morning, but I had to pick up Johanna for soccer. 

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A fabulous day out for Johanna!

Johanna’s friend Claire’s family has a membership to Top Golf. It’s a place where you take an elevator UP and practice teeing off from WAY up.  Claire invited Johanna and Beretta to join her. 

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Many hours later, Johanna joined her friend Rebecca for a trail ride.  Rebecca has been taking riding lessons and has been asking Johanna to join her. 

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We can’t afford something like this routinely, but my heart was so glad to see her have the chance to try something new.

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