VBS, VBS, VBS, VBS

This summer, EJ is getting her first tastes of different flavors of vacation bible school (VBS), a service provided by many churches that I believe was created in heaven specifically for moms whose kids are being particularly clingy this summer (ahem, I'm not naming any names, but I know one of these blue-eyed, long-haired kids very well) and sent down to earth to grant us peace. Dona nobis pacem, VBS, dona nobis pacem, at least for 2 1/2 to 3 hours each morning for a week.

These bible school programs, aside from being active, faith-inspiring and fun—full of songs, artwork, games and general running around—are kind on the family finances, too. My friend, aka, the intrepid and amazing Frugalista at the Trib, couldn't believe it when I said that for a $5-$30 suggested donation, depending on the church, I was getting great morning childcare for a week. Oh yes, it is a frugal Christian's dream come true, no coupons required.

This week, EJ is attending VBS 3 of 4 for this summer, this time at the local Catholic church. She will have to miss a few days of this week's programming for our family vacation, so I was hesitant to sign her up, but I had to give at least a few days to our home team, lest she leave the summer thinking that she was a Lutheran/Non-Denominational/Episcopalian just in time to start catechism in the fall. She has loved all of them in different ways, and each week has brought a new opportunity for us to talk to her about faith, what it is to believe in God, what it is to NOT believe in God, how we can all learn from each other, etc. Because she was in school this past year, and is used to hearing things presented in class as facts, it has been really interesting to talk to her about how what she learns in VBS may not be true for other people. Sure, we all agree that A comes first in the alphabet and 2 + 2 = 4, but no, we don't all believe in Jesus. The inevitable questions come after this explanation from us: "But is the story of Jesus a fact, then, Mom? Jesus is true, but if people don't believe in Jesus, he's still true, right? Also, do Jewish people believe in God but not in Jesus? How? Why? I went to Jewish preschool and I believe in Jesus." It is funny to me how going to church has not brought up these queries for her in the same way that VBS has—somehow I thought I had skated past the hard questions, but nope, I was wrong.

Heavy religious conversations aside, I had two quotable moments with EJ at VBS pick-up today, and they both made me laugh out loud. Enjoy:

Me: EJ, who was the leader of your group today at VBS?

EJ: She was a tall, pretty, very old, brown woman. She was not cranky at all. She was very, very nice. She was like my babysitter, Kate, since Kate is not cranky, either.

Me: (laughing) Wow, good description, but I was wondering her name.

EJ: Her name? Hmm. I have no idea. I don't remember that at all.



EJ: Mom, is Nana a Catholic?

Me: She is now, but she wasn't before she married Papa.

EJ: What was she then?

Me: A Methodist. That's another kind of Christian.

EJ: Methodist. That's sounds like another kind of doctor. "Mom, I'm not feeling well, I'm going to the Methodist."



(and a little bonus item, "Quotable Parents")

Me, to Mike: VBS ends at 11:30 today. All the other ones end at noon.

Mike: Huh. I wonder why.

Me: I'm guessing because we Catholics have less to say about the bible.

(rimshot, please)