There are just three days until my VBS 2012 reviews begin . . . starting on January 2nd I'll review one VBS in my 2012 Top Ten Countdown each weekday, announcing my Top Pick on January 13th! I'm reviewing the 15 VBS resources listed below this year (listed in alphabetical order)
Friday, December 30, 2011
Second Chance Give-away - Brittany Hargest, Love All the Way!
Wednesday, December 28, 2011
Music, Crafts and an Opportunity to See, Touch and Experience 2012 VBS Before You Buy It!
After you've narrowed down your Vacation Bible School options to just two or three kits by determining your goal, finding materials which intentionally engage children in the teaching of the Bible lesson and provides opportunities to live what they learn, considered the scope and sequence, theme and setting it is time to look at two components which have the potential to last beyond the five days of VBS . . . the music and crafts!
When you consider the music look for songs which reinforce the theme, scope and sequence. When children sing those songs they can be reminded of the Bible lessons and how they apply to their everyday lives. I'm very happy to see most publishers provide music CD's for children at about $2 per child. This makes it very affordable for you to give each child their own copy of the songs they learned in VBS! This year my Top Pick of VBS music is hands down Go Fish Guy's Praise! Their songs have enthusiasm, spunk and do an excellent job of reinforcing the Bible lessons in their VBS! Even parents will enjoy listening to (and singing and dancing to) Go Fish Guy's music!
When you consider the music look for songs which reinforce the theme, scope and sequence. When children sing those songs they can be reminded of the Bible lessons and how they apply to their everyday lives. I'm very happy to see most publishers provide music CD's for children at about $2 per child. This makes it very affordable for you to give each child their own copy of the songs they learned in VBS! This year my Top Pick of VBS music is hands down Go Fish Guy's Praise! Their songs have enthusiasm, spunk and do an excellent job of reinforcing the Bible lessons in their VBS! Even parents will enjoy listening to (and singing and dancing to) Go Fish Guy's music!
Monday, December 26, 2011
Please Check Out CMBuzz for a Post on . . . 2012 - A Child's Perspective!
I'm delighted for the opportunity to write for CM Buzz and in my most recent post, 2012 - a Child's Perspective - I say, "So, Christmas 2011 is past and 2012 is almost here and while it is common to consider the past year as one looks forward to the new year, I want to consider things from a different perspective . . . a child’s perspective. After all, children are vitally important to God . . . He did enter this world as one! Stop and think about this! The God of the universe entered this world as a child; as a baby. Talk about one of the weakest entrances ever" I then go on to say, "God could have entered this world as a King, as an Emperor, as the Ruler of the World . . . after all, He is all those things. But, He chose to come as a baby. Amazing! So, how does knowing this change my perspective on the new year . . . " and go on to give three things to think about. Please check my post and think about how this can change your perspective on the new year, too!
Saturday, December 24, 2011
VBS 2012 - Top Pick for Music . . .
What would VBS be without great music? VBS songs are one of the things which has the potential to "last" long beyond the five days of VBS as kids continue to sing the songs they learned. So, what do I look for in VBS music? Well, first of all the songs need to have a solid message . . . I look for songs which reinforce the Bible teaching and help remind kids of the lessons they learned. I also look for music with "pep" . . . music which will get kid's toes a tappin' and lift their hearts! In addition, while I enjoyed VBS in the 60's (as a kid) I really want the sound of the songs to relate to today! So . . . my Top Music Pick for VBS 2012 is . . .
Merry Christmas . . . Mary Did You Know?
There are many wonderful Christmas songs we all enjoy each year, but one song, while it hasn't been around very many years, is sure to find it's place on most "favorite" Christmas song lists . . . Mary Did You Know by Mark Lowry! This song is being sung by lots of people, and is being sung well by them, but no one sings it like Mark Lowry! Enjoy!
Friday, December 23, 2011
VBS 2012 - Top Pick for Setting . . .
We are only nine days from the beginning of my Top Ten VBS Countdown for 2012, so today I thought I'd announce my Top Pick for Setting for VBS 2012! We have a nice variety of settings for VBS 2012 . . . some are familiar VBS settings and others are different and unique, but all of them are well developed and no matter which one you select, the children who attend your VBS will enjoy the "setting" for your VBS!
Please Check Out "The Invisible Gift" on Straight4ward with Loretta Baughan
I Have a Winner in My Phil Wickham Response CD Give-away
Thursday, December 22, 2011
Christmas is Just Three Days Away . . . Merry Christmas . . . Silent Night by Casting Crowns
Truth Endures
Wednesday, December 21, 2011
Merry Christmas . . . God is With Us!!!
Please Check Out Kidmin1124 - My New Post is About "2011's Blessings?"

Please check my post and have a Happy New Year!
Sunday, December 18, 2011
Put Feet to Their Faith and Involve Your Kids in a Project with the Seed Company!
We have God's Word - and far too often take it for granted, but for many people around the world having a copy of God's Word in their own language is a dream. The Seed Company is involved in translating God's Word into languages of people around the world who do not have a copy in their own language . . . you can involve the children in your ministry in a project to help bring God's Word to people who do not have it! Consider Putting Feet to Your Kid's Faith by involving them in the following project . . .
Friday, December 16, 2011
A Most Merry Christmas . . . the Hallelujah Chorus!!! (Enjoy!!!)
Phil Wickham - Response - I'm Giving One Away!
Wednesday, December 14, 2011
Please Check Out Kidmin1124 - My New Post is About Sharing and Showing Jesus' Love

Tuesday, December 13, 2011
Merry Christmas . . . God is With Us!!
no other gospel - a Must-Read Book!
no other gospel
Author - Josh Moody
Publisher - Crossway
Monday, December 12, 2011
Let's Celebrate Advent . . . Joy . . . Jesus Came so We Can Know Him!

I think this is like "joy"! Joy needs to be shared; it needs to be celebrated! Joy is something we can not keep to ourselves! Joy should pour our of our lives into the lives of those around us and as we think about the third Sunday of Advent, it is the perfect time to pause and think about joy! So, as we focus on Joy this Advent, be sure to take time to think about how you can allow joy to "pour out of your life into the lives of those around you" this year. What can you do to show this joy to your volunteers, the parents and children in your ministry? Consider the following . . .
Merry Christmas . . . I Heard the Bells on Christmas Day!!!
I have another Christmas video for you . . . this one is from Casting Crowns . . . enjoy!!!
Saturday, December 10, 2011
Put Feet to Their Faith With a Project Through OneVerse From the SeedCompany!
As we think about how Christmas and how Jesus, The Word, became flesh and lived among us, it is a wonderful time to involve the children in your ministry in an opportunity to "Put Feet to Their Faith" and work on a project to raise money to bring God's Word to people who do not have it! There are a number of projects available for you to select from, consider this one from the SeedCompany . . .
Friday, December 9, 2011
Please Pay Attention - Please Notice
You may or may not know I write another blog, grandma's cookie jar. Nearly everything on this blog is positive - I share book, movie, music and product reviews - have LOTS of give-aways - I share recipes, crafts and stories about my dear, sweet, adorable, too-cute-for-words grandsons :-) - but I also share the photo and info each week on a missing child -I ask my readers to pray for these children and for their families. I am signed up to receive alerts from the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children . . . and sadly, these alerts fill my in-box every day. It is heart breaking to see photos and info on children - often as young as 12 years old - who have run away from their homes. What must "home" be like for these little children to leave and go to the "unknown" - and often, far too often, an even worse situation.
Merry Christmas . . . Emmanuel!!!
I Have a Winner in My Beleduc Dragonfly Glove Puppet!
Thursday, December 8, 2011
VBS 2012 . . . I Just Got My Adventures on Promise Island kit from Standard . . .
At any rate, I know what I will be doing today . . . set kits out and begin to dig in to them to get my reviews started! I read everything when I review a VBS kit . . . the director's info, each lesson, each activity, I listen to all the music . . . I look at everything when I review a VBS resource!
Merry Christmas . . . Leaving Heaven!!!
Wednesday, December 7, 2011
Another Fun Christmas Freebie . . . and Gift!
VBS 2012 . . . I Just Got My SKY Kit from Group . . .
Yesterday my Sky VBS from Group arrived . . . there are some exciting new things in this kit and a number of things I'm really looking forward to sharing with you, so . . . stay tuned . . . only 24 days until my 2012 VBS reviews begin!!!!
Please Check Out CMBuzz for a Post on . . . O Come All Ye Faithful!

Tuesday, December 6, 2011
Merry Christmas . . . O Come All Ye Faithful!!!
children's ministry magazine's "12 Days of Christmas for Children's Ministry" . . .
Focus Our Kids On Receiving??? Please Check My Post at Kidmin1124!
Last week I posted on Kidmin1124 my Top 5 Reasons for Focusing Kids on Giving at Christmas, but this week I wanted to stop to think about the Top 5 reasons for Focusing our Kids on Receiving at Christmas . . . yes, I said “receiving“! At Christmas children – and adults, too – think quite a bit about the gifts they would like to receive, but in God’s Word we find some of the most incredible gifts anyone could ever receive . . . and we read they are gifts God wants us to receive! Please check my post for the Top 5 Gifts we want kids - and adults - to focus on at Christmas!
Monday, December 5, 2011
Let's Celebrate Advent . . . Love . . . Jesus was Born in Bethlehem!

So, as we focus on Love this Advent, be sure to take time to think about how you can show a strong, true love which shows itself in giving to others this year. What can you do to show this love to your volunteers, the parents and children in your ministry? Consider the following . . .
Sunday, December 4, 2011
Merry Christmas . . . Born is the King!!!
Saturday, December 3, 2011
Put Feet to Their Faith With a Project Through oneverse From the SeedCompany!
As we think about how Christmas and how Jesus, The Word, became flesh and lived among us, it is a wonderful time to involve the children in your ministry in an opportunity to "Put Feet to Their Faith" and work on a project to raise money to bring God's Word to people who do not have it! There are a number of projects available for you to select from, consider this one from the SeedCompany . . .
Friday, December 2, 2011
Family Pick . . . Beleduc Dragonfly Puppet!
I Have a Winner in My Folkmanis Bear in a Tree Stump Puppet Give-away!
Give Your Volunteers A Special Snowman for Christmas!
For years I made special snowmen at Christmas and gave them as gifts to directors and coordinators in my children's ministries as a special gift for Christmas. One year I made a clay pot snowman . . . and it is my personal all-time favorite! So . . . I thought I'd share it with you!
Supplies -
- clay pot - whatever size you want your snowman to be
- foam ball - again, size it to fit with your clay pot
- yarn - small amount for arms
- white felt or fleece - enough to cover the head
- fleece for hat, scarf and mittens
- acrylic paint - use whatever color you want, I've used red, green and metallic gold
- crackle medium - you'll find it in your craft store near the bottled acrylic paint
- white acrylic paint
- buttons - I love colored star buttons for my snowmen :^)
- Christmas trim . . . look in the scrap-booking section for items you could glue to your snowman for a special touch . . . on this one, I put a stocking.
- Sculpey clay in black and orange
- straight pins - one for each eye, nose and piece of "coal" for the mouth
First Friday Freebies - Free Christmas Song from the David Crowder*Band!
What could be a better "First Friday Freebie" in the month of December than a free download of "O Holy Night" by the David Crowder*Band? Check this link out for the instructions for downloading your free song, then . . .
- share the "joy"! - Give the link to all your volunteers for a very enjoyable, "Merry Christmas"!
- include the link in your Christmas cards this year!
- enjoy the song with your family!
I'm sure you can find wonderful ways to spread the "joy" with this song from the David Crowder*Band's new CD, "oh for joy"!
And, Merry Christmas!
Thursday, December 1, 2011
Let's Kick Off December With a Couple Freebies!

Enjoy these freebies and thank you for reading About the Children's Department!
Wednesday, November 30, 2011
Kidmin1124 - "Top 5 Reasons for Focusing Kids on Giving at Christmas!

Tuesday, November 29, 2011
Free Snowy Lesson!
Whiter Than Snow!
Monday, November 28, 2011
"In the Beginning Was the Word . . . " Put Feet to Their Faith This Christmas with OneVerse!
I'm sure we all agree the focus for the month of December is Christmas . . . Christmas trees, Christmas cards, Christmas carols, Christmas decorations, Christmas cookies, Christmas parties, Christmas gifts . . . and on and on it goes. But, let's stop for a moment and remember . . . Christmas is all about how Jesus, the Word, "was coming into the world!" (NLT)
The Word, Jesus, is why we can celebrate Christmas, so this Christmas help your kids focus on this truth by focusing on the Word, Jesus, and His written Word, the Bible as well with the oneverse project through the Seed Company. As they say, "Today, nearly one-third of the world's language groups representing 340 million people are still waiting for God’s Word in a language that they can understand clearly."
So, what is the oneverse project? Consider the following . . .
The Word, Jesus, is why we can celebrate Christmas, so this Christmas help your kids focus on this truth by focusing on the Word, Jesus, and His written Word, the Bible as well with the oneverse project through the Seed Company. As they say, "Today, nearly one-third of the world's language groups representing 340 million people are still waiting for God’s Word in a language that they can understand clearly."
So, what is the oneverse project? Consider the following . . .
Sunday, November 27, 2011
Let's Celebrate Advent . . . Expectation . . . We Have Hope!
Christmas is only four weeks away!!! I love Christmas and I love celebrating, so Christmas is one of my favorite times of the year! As we begin Advent, let's take a moment to stop and focus on the reason for the season and celebrating! Advent is about waiting and anticipation. Before Jesus' birth, God's people waited for Him to come. Now, after His birth, we wait for His return. We anticipate with great joy the day Jesus returns for us and Advent helps us not only celebrate His birth, but look forward to His return!
There is a lot of symbolism related to Advent -
There is a lot of symbolism related to Advent -
Saturday, November 26, 2011
Please Check Out Kidmin1124 - My New Post is About Reassuring Parents Our Ministries are Safe Places for Their Children

Give the Gift of Honey Bees or Chicks . . . and Jesus with Samaritan's Purse Gift Catalog!
For the past month I've been encouraging you to "Put Feet to Their Faith" by involving the children in your ministry with Samaritan's Purse Gift Catalog. Children do think a lot about gifts this time of year, so let's use this to help them focus on living what they believe by giving to others! I love the Samaritan's Purse Gift Catalog because it gives you so may ways to help others - many are less than $50 - and each opportunity to help includes the opportunity for those who are being helped to learn about the Best Gift ever . . . Jesus! Consider these opportunities for the children in your ministry . . .
Friday, November 25, 2011
I'm Giving away a Folkmanis Bear in Tree Stump Puppet!
I Have a Winner in My FFH One Silent Night Album Download Give-away!
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