{Michael and me at the Fox Theatre!}

A few weeks ago, I got a direct-message on Twitter from my friend, Michael from World Vision. He’s the guy that led us on our blogging trip to the Dominican Republic. He normally leads big-time artists on trips and he’s super well-connected in the Christian Music industry. So, when his direct-message asked if I wanted to go to the Dove Awards with him I was pumped! (OK, giddy might be a better word!) My best friend Staci and I have crashed the Dove Awards twice and we’ve always been Christian Music fans.

So, Staci and I got dolled up, drove to downtown Atlanta and met Michael. He led us to our seats on Row F (!!!) and we settled in as he explained why he was such a VIP at the Doves. World Vision and Zondervan partnered to produce this fabulous CD and tour called, The Story. Have you heard it? It’s all written by Nichole Nordeman (my fave!) and each song tells a different story from the Bible.

{the story of Joshua performed by Blanca and Michael Tait}

Michael produced three songs from the tour at the Dove Awards. People like Michael Tait, Todd Smith from Selah and Natalie Grant sang songs that told the story of Joshua, Jesus and Mary Magdelene. It was so incredibly powerful I have tears in my eyes just writing this! When the three songs (and accompanying video segments) were done I turned to Michael and said, “I forgot where I was.” I was not in the Fox Theatre watching the Dove Awards, I was in the middle of the Bible. It was chill-worthy.

Which is pretty amazing as Staci and I were pretty star-struck the whole night, especially since we were sitting right in the middle of the artists and industry-type folks. We felt kinda famous.

Fast-forward a few days and I’m off to the Orange Conference. One of the vendors was Zondervan and The Story. This time it wasn’t the CDs or the tour, but the accompanying curriculum for churches. I was so excited I talked the poor PR guys’ ears off at the table about the tour. They in turn, let me take home The Story curriculum and books to preview and share with you!

It’s really a fabulous idea. Preschool, elementary, teens and adults all have their own age-appropriate chronological Bible story-books. The books follow the same stories and then the churches teach on those lessons. It’s a fabulous idea to keep families on the same page at church and talking about it during the week.

I’ve just been reading the Children’s version to Lydia each night before bed. And honestly, before we started I thought, “She’s gonna get bored with this.” The stories are only about 2-3 pages long and the stories are straight-forward (not story-ish like The Jesus Storybook Bible) but I was wrong. She loves it! She can’t wait to read it every night.

Plus, we’ve had some very interesting conversations about the Bible because of it. For example, have you ever talked to your kids about the Ark of the Covenant? Trying to explain how it’s not an idol but still a place for God’s Spirit? Really weird. But still. Good conversation about how the Holy Spirit isn’t far away from us–but really in our lives and working in our hearts every day.

I haven’t read the other versions of the book or looked through the curriculum yet. But I am thinking about doing something fun with it this summer (they even have trading cards!). So, I’ll let you know what I think of it. If you’re looking for a Bible storybook for your elementary kiddos, I really do like this one. And yes, the CD. You must get the CD!!

OK. And one more Dove Awards picture for you. This is Staci and me as we freak out that we’re in Row F. I think the magical blue glow is from our phones! Giddy, right?

Have you read or heard The Story? What do you think of it?

*gulp*

*blush*

*shuffle feet*

I’m feeling embarrassed. And ashamed. I say sponsoring a child has changed my life. I tell other people we pray for our sponsored kids regularly, look at their pictures daily and consider them to be family. But the last time I wrote them? Ugh. You don’t want to know.

There is a blogging trip to Tanzania that ends today. I’ve been following the bloggers, their posts, tweets, instagrams and more this whole week. And it breaks me. Every time I read a blogging trip with Compassion or World Vision I am reminded anew of the huge role I have in these kids’ lives.

I’m not their mom. I don ‘t replace their family, their teacher or their pastor. But I do get to be a strong anchor that says, “I am a physical picture of how much Jesus loves you.” And why? why would I take that so lightly? Especially when it doesn’t take much to show them this. A simple letter, a small hand-drawn picture, a postcard from our latest vacation or a picture printed straight from my own printer–nothing expensive, nothing time-consuming. But things to be kept and treasured.

Last week, I got super motivated and printed off address labels and addressed 36 envelopes, stickers with their number on it (for Compassion, you have to put the kids’ number on anything you send), printed stationery and bought 2 books of stamps. Now I have NO EXCUSE for not writing.

I wrote a long letter to each of our Compassion kids apologizing to them. I just said, “I’m so sorry. You are such a big part of our life and we love you deeply. We are making it a new priority in our life to show you just that.” I know how important it is to apologize to my own kids, so I hope they can feel love in that confession, too.

As I wrote, I let Asa and Lydia color on the back of each paper. Lydia drew her and Alizeta. Asa scribbled something for David. Then we enclosed the latest {decent} pictures of all four of us. It took all of ten minutes and it felt SO GOOD. I felt our little family open up to embrace another.

I pray they feel that love as they receive their letters. And that it will be another connection, another tether to their Heavenly Father.

I also wrote down 12 different ideas for my kids to make/do/send to our sponsored kids. I have planned everything we’re going to do for them for a whole year! Will you join me every 2nd Friday of each month to write your sponsored kids? I will post my activity and I encourage you to COPY it! Or leave a comment with what you’re making for, sending to or writing your child about this month. Let’s impress these kids with God’s love!

Your mission today is to just sit down and write a letter and add a hand-drawn picture from the kids. Easy peasy!

Who’s with me?! {I’d love for you to leave a comment here or on our FB page if you write your kids today!}!

Still not sure about sponsoring a child? See my trip to the Dominican Republic with World Vision or read the adventures of the Compassion trip to Tanzania! It will change your life–and the life of a child around the world!

Ooh, and don’t forget to visit my Flat Crafts for Sponsored Kids Pinterest Board!

This weekend my cousin graduated from Lee University in Cleveland, TN. We decided to make a mini vacation out of it and stopped in Chattanooga to hit up Ruby Falls and Rock City. Have you been there? Well, let me put on my tour-guide-Barbie hat and lead you around…

Rock City is a giant…I don’t know, rock park! You get to walk through a lush garden with mountains all around you.

We went through Fat Man’s Squeeze,

investigated tunnels…

and cracks in the ground.

We went to the top of Lover’s Leap,

and even looked out to see 7 states at once!

Ruby Falls is an underground tour. The only entrance is the elevator–260 feet below the earth’s surface! The tour is an hour long and ends at a beautiful underground waterfall. It was super amazing.

However. Because you are literally in a cave, there are no bathrooms, etc. And about 45 minutes into the tour, Asa starts yelling, “I have to go potty! I can’t hold it!” And sure enough, he couldn’t. While I was holding him he started crying and went ALL OVER ME. I’m pretty sure I got more soaked than he did. It made for a lovely ending to our vacation. And clearly, he will NEVER EVER live it down. Just wait till we visit Ruby Falls when he’s a teenager!

{See what fun things I could talk about if I was a tour guide?!}

Back at Rock City, they were celebrating their 80th birthday and hosting a Southern Flower Festival. One special activity was to make recyclable newspaper flower pots! The kids made one and I thought I’d share it with you, too.

All you need is a strip of newspaper and the bottom of an old water bottle.

Wrap the newspaper tightly around the bottle.

Then tape to keep in place. (Or a sticker, whatever!)

Slide out the bottle.

Fold down one opening to make the bottom of your planter.

Turn over, fill with dirt, plant a seed or two!

(They watered it with a water bottle so it wouldn’t soak the paper!)

Isn’t that fun? I love visiting attractions during special events because there is always extra fun to be had! And I love mini-vacations because they are just as fun as big ones–but you’re not as tired! We had such a fun time being together–lots of laughs, good conversation and memories made.

When was the last time you took a mini vacation?