Sometimes I think that I have started a blog post and then I go back and discover that it was all in my head. Hate it when that happens.

Well, it’s high time I got the info OUT of my head and onto my online journal (aka. blog) so that I don’t forget this stuff. The last time I posted about life in the Ratzlaff family was . . . the first half of JUNE! Oh, good grief. SO much has happened. I must finish June so I can get to July! Bear with me.

Ahem . . .

We went “camping in a cabin” with some friends and ate lots of bacon. Such a fun time!

Look! Evidence that I was there! LOL! (I made Mitch hold the camera for me. Hee, hee! Well, that is one way to get in some pictures!)

Always learning . . . love it!

More evidence. I chatted with my wonderful friend!! Lots of chatting. Mitch captured it. Thanks, babe!

We celebrated Father’s Day at Mitch’s parents’ house. I sure enjoy time spent with them!

The next day, we started Vacation Bible School and Track Practice. Have I mentioned that my children are amazing? And fast? More on that last part later. It’s good stuff!

Back to VBS. I’ve been helping out with VBS for about 4 years now, and every year I am blown away by the organization, the detail, the energy and the magnitude of our church’s Vacation Bible School program and leaders. It is AMAZING. We host about 200 kids, and it is incredibly organized. We actually have to turn people away (which is kinda sad) because we need to keep a manageable child to adult ratio. Thankfully, a couple of other wonderful churches in our town always have their VBS scheduled the same week.

Anyway, it is a phenomenal program. The decorations are so detailed and amazing that you can’t help but feel transported into a different place when you enter the sanctuary. This year, the theme was High Seas Adventure (which is put out by Group Publishing, so a lot of churches do this VBS), so the decorations ladies put together a pirate ship on stage. AMAZING. The detail!! (click to enlarge)

There were paper birds strung across the sanctuary.

Are decorations important? Well, I can tell you from experience that the atmosphere of the whole place was one of excitement and energy and enthusiasm. The kids were thrilled to be there. It was like Disneyland! Except at this themed-event, they were going to learn about Jesus. It was just awesome. I wish everyone could experience the music, the kids singing and worshiping, the incredible giving (penny offerings totaling over $1500 for missions) the fun and creative snacks and crafts and recreation times. I just can’t get enough of VBS week.

{Deep breath!}

Mitch was out of town for some of VBS week, but he made up for being gone on my birthday by taking me wine tasting! It was a relaxing and wonderful time spent with my husband, and the weather was beautiful. {sigh!}

Speaking of my birthday. Yes. I had one. And no one served cake or sang Happy Birthday. I’m over it.

However, the next day we had the VBS Potluck/Picnic (which is HUGE and a totally kid-focused event, complete with water games and bounce houses).

To round out the month, my dear, gorgeous husband was installed at the Dallas Rotary International club president. I’m so proud of my husband and so amazed that he picked me out of all of the women in the world. I’m so LUCKY!! Anywho. As the president, he has a LOT of duties that will require a lot of his time, but it should be a great learning experience. It is going to be a very full year, that is for sure.

Can a brag for a sec? MY MAN is a successful small business owner, a leader in the community, the President of Dallas Rotary, involved in PCAR (local realtor’s association) and on various committees (busy stuff), the founder of the local chapter of LeTip (and still on the board in some capacity that I can’t remember), the founder of the Dallas Distinguished Educator Award (which is dear to our hearts), involved in our local church (often teaching adult classes or leading small groups), on the hospital foundation board . . . and probably more that I can’t remember at the moment, PLUS he’s an amazing father who attends ALL of his kids’ practices, MANY field trips, takes time out of work to eat lunch with Grant (be still my heart!), prays with Cole’s teachers before school starts, and trains up his children in the way they should go. He is amazing. I am humbled and blessed. And . . . he’s pretty sexy, too. {giggle!}

So, that was June! Finally done.

Now . . . on to July. You can’t imagine how much we did in July. I’m tired just thinking about writing that post!!

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