Summer has begun!

Now that VBS is over, we've been able to focus on other fun. Tomorrow Nicole begins swim lessons at Pioche's public pool. She's taken lessons before but advanced classes should help her to learn deep water skills.

Also tomorrow is the beginning of a 4-H cooking club. Nicole will learn how to make a pie, meatloaf & potatoes, a dutch oven & campfire meal, and an individual pizza. (Afterwards, Mom is planning to take a cooking hiatus and let Nicole make the family meals!)

The family also hopes to enjoy some hiking, camping, and fishing this summer. A recent trip to Wal-Mart allowed us to add to our small, but growing fishing tackle, including a pole for Nicole. She is now ready to fish after several practice casts in the church parking lot. Catching an actual fish will be the next feat!

If you have no summer plans, perhaps you could plan a trip to Pioche. We'd love to see you!

Sprinkler fun in the backyard

Dog-days, or rather cat-days of summer

Preparing to paint rocks as a summer project

Some of Nicole's rock painting work

An awesome VBS!

Our VBS week was just incredible! We had between 35 and 43 children each day. Each teacher had opportunities during the week to share the Gospel during the Bible story time. Then on Friday, Mitch went into the 1st/2nd, 3rd/4th, and 5th/6th grade classes to give a special Gospel presentation. Fourteen boys and girls made professions of faith! Please pray for these children that they will grow in their faith. Several of the children do not attend our church so it is also our prayer that they (and their families) will become a part of our fellowship. We will follow-up with them in the days ahead.

Last night we ended our week with a Backyard Block Party at the church. Besides the opportunity for kids to show their parents what they had learned, we also enjoyed hamburgers with families on the church lawn. The culminating activity was our water balloon team competition. Each day the four classes or teams earned daily points for attendance, knowing the memory verse, bringing a Bible, bringing a friend, and doing a service project. The team with the most points at the end of the week would earn the prize of water ballooning Pastor Mitch. Each day the kids saw the team totals but had no idea which team was in the lead. In great suspense last night, the results were revealed and they were nearly miraculous--a four-way tie! Kids screamed with excitement when they learned that everyone was a winner! Pastor Mitch was not quite as excited as the kids but you'll see from our pictures of the event (http://www.bereanbaptistpioche.blogspot.com/) that he had fun. Thank you for your prayers for us during this week. To God be the glory for all He has done!

VBS at church

We kicked off Vacation Bible School at our church today. Thirty-five kids attended, with 14 of those being Pre-K/K kids! We praise the Lord for the turnout and are anxious to see how the attendance grows the rest of the week. We're posting photos of each day on the church's blog (http://www.bereanbaptistpioche.blogspot.com/). Besides the typical activities (Bible story, craft, snack, games, and fun songs with motions), the kids are involved in two separate contests. Girls and boys are bringing pennies each day in a heated race. These pennies (10 pounds collected today alone) will go toward Nevada Baptist missions. The other competition is among teams (or classes). Each team member has the opportunity to earn daily points for attendance, bringing a Bible, knowing the memory verse, completing a service project, and bringing a friend. At the end of the week, the team with the most points will win the prize of water ballooning Pastor Mitch at Saturday's family night event. Mitch may not be looking forward to this "fun" but he's a good sport about it. Most importantly, we are praying that the Lord will draw children to Himself this week and that we'll see professions of faith made and that new families will join our fellowship. Thanks for your prayers for our week.

Fun with grandparents

Jane's mom and dad will be leaving Pioche tomorrow. It has been so wonderful to have them here that we hate to see them leave. The camera has captured a lot over the last several days with them. Enjoy the pictures.

(Click REFRESH if slide show stops.)

Cowboy hat found!

For those of you who may have been looking for a $1.00 cowboy hat to go with Nicole's $1.00 boots (see an earlier post), look no further. It has been found! This weekend Nicole found a nice hat at a yard sale for the right price--$1.00.

Flat Stanley Project

Nicole's class recently participated in the Flat Stanley Project, a project based on the book Flat Stanley by Jeff Brown. Learn more about this project and the book here. To begin, each member of Nicole's class mailed Flat Stanley to two people. Nicole mailed one to Grandpa Gary and Grandma Sharon Fiscus in Wyoming. She also mailed one to the Mattson family in Michigan. After about a week in each home, Flat Stanley was sent back to Pioche with pictures and a journal of his experience. Nicole's teacher created a bulletin board showcasing Flat Stanley's journeys. Here are pictures of the class bulletin board:

More stuff

We have thoroughly enjoyed having Jane's mom and dad in town. It has been wonderful to worship with them in church, we've enjoyed seeing Nicole become a hitter at her last two baseball games, and yesterday afternoon we enjoyed sight-seeing in Eagle Valley and Spring Valley State Park. We even saw our first snake of the season--a nonpoisonous king snake! Enjoy the pictures.

Grandparents visit and some other stuff

Nicole's "Pap" and "Gigi" (Jane's parents) arrived in Pioche with their 5th wheel the evening of Sunday, May 4. They have decided to stay a month and are parked in one of Pioche's RV parks. It has been wonderful to have them here and to show them around. It was also a special treat for Jane to celebrate Mother's Day with her mother (something that has not occurred in a long, long time).

Thanks for your prayers for Jane regarding an application for a part time office clerk position. She did not get the job; however, she has been scheduled for two substitute teaching jobs this week at Pioche Elementary.

Berean Baptist Church is busy promoting its upcoming VBS (June 9-13). Flyers were sent home with kids at two of the three elementary schools in the immediate area with flyers distributed at the third school later in the week. Would you join us in prayer for this event? We are excited to see how the Lord will bless it. We have even planned a fun end-of-the week event for kids and families that includes water balloons and Pastor Mitch. Stay tuned for more information.

We love you all and we'll keep you posted.