VBS

The beginning of summer brings VBS.  This is the third year the boys have gone to VBS at one of the other churches in our area.  Travis loves going and he looks forward to it all year.  Justin wasn't all that excited about going but I wanted him to go because I knew he would have fun once he got there.  And he did.  Part of it was because of his special friend, Corren.  Justin met her the first year he went and they have been buddies ever since.  This year, Corren went above and beyond the call of duty!

 

Whenever I leave Justin around people who don't know him well I try to make sure they get all the information they need to understand him and help him with whatever is going to happen.  I always bring extra clothes and a snack that he can eat.  This time I brought 2 extra sets of clothes and a snack!  Well, Justin has started being uncomfortable around loud noises, and I am still trying to get used to remembering to tell people that because I don't always know when it is going to happen.  At VBS all the kids have a big singing sessions before the day starts and it is very loud.  And Justin got scared.  And he started crying.  And then he got sick.  Like throw up sick.  Several times.  And then he had a potty accident.  It was bad.  I actually got a call to come and get him.  I found him up in the balcony of the auditorium with Corren and another boy and they were telling him stories and asking him questions and comforting him.  It was very sweet.  It turns out Corren got hit by the vomit but she said, "It didn't really matter because it was Justin!"  And she was concerned that he wouldn't come back the rest of the week.  Well, he went back and Corren was ready with an extra set of clothes, just in case!  We decided that he wouldn't go into the group sessions and instead he would sit with Corren out in the foyer until it was time to join the group for classes.  That worked great!  No more problems.  And I got a chance to talk with Corren.  I found out that she just graduated from high school and she is going to study special education next year when she goes to college, because of Justin!  How cool is that?

 

 

 

It was a wonderful week after all.  The boys learned about Moses and their favorite activity was crossing the Red Sea (an amazing set-up with cloth and a pulley system to make it very realistic).  They were able to walk through it and everything.  At the end of the week they had a cook out for everyone who had attended and we went to see Corren.  Travis had a blast dunking the big kids in the dunk tank.  And Alaina took her first steps!  She took 5 steps before falling.  She is well on her way to being a big girl!  And Corren got an award from the youth minister for being the most dedicated helper.  I think she earned it!