Happy Birthday, Jesus! Kids Christmas Party Recap!

Last night was our last night of AWANA for our 2013 year!  And all my #KidsMin said a big AMEN!  Don't get me wrong, I absolutely love my AWANA program and all of my sweet kiddos.  It is actually one of the highlights of my week.  However, I am ready for a three week winter break and plan to take full advantage of these free Wednesday nights (I'll be home catching up on laundry)!  

Last night we ended our last AWANA with a bang and I threw my kids a Happy Birthday, Jesus party!  I will say this, I have nothing against Santa, but when I'm at church I want our entire focus to be on celebrating the birth of Jesus who is our Savior.  That's what we did last night.  Our kids came in and I opened us with prayer and then sent my kids to their classrooms for a 20 minute lesson and fun time with their specific teachers.  At 7:00 PM our kids came back into the sanctuary and our party began.  

I read the Christmas story from Luke 2 and then it was time for pizza and Happy Birthday, Jesus cake!  Can you say excited?  I didn't serve pizza last year so the kids were thrilled to discover an extra treat this year!  Afterwards, I read them the story of "The Crippled Lamb" by Max Lucado and on a total whim invited 4 kids up to pray out loud with me as we thanked Jesus for coming to earth to be our Savior.  

I'm telling you, it is out of the mouths of children that I see the glory of God in ways I have never seen before.  By the end of their prayers, I had tears in my eyes and had a hard time finishing my own.  The love of God was so real and so tangible to all of his children that I was overwhelmed with God's goodness.

After our prayers we played one round of "Merry Christmas" bingo so everyone could win a piece of candy and sang a few Christmas carols together.  Despite having the longest and most lingering cold I was able to lead the kids in: We Wish you a Merry Christmas, Silent Night, and Joy to the World.  I will also say, there was nothing quite like hearing 50 little voices sing Silent Night.  Again... tears to my eyes.  

I'm officially ready now for our 3 week break!  

I'll still be blogging throughout our break but you can also follow me on these other networks to keep up:

Twitter: @KidsMinCalling

Facebook

Pinterest

Instagram: @KidsMinCalling

Have a Holly Jolly Christmas {Volunteer Appreciation}

Have a Holly Jolly Christmas!

That was the theme for last night's volunteer Christmas party and have a holly jolly Christmas we did.  And sadly, I took absolutely no pictures!  (I know... I'm a terrible blogger.)

Today, I'm talking about why volunteer appreciation is so important and the little things that we can do to make them feel loved.  Last night as I was welcoming my volunteers, this is what I said... "I want you, my volunteers, to know that I am thankful for you.  I can plan.  I can direct.  I can organize.  I can promote events.  I can do many things.  What I cannot do is take care of 75+ children by myself.  I have to have the help of volunteers."  There has never been a truer statement.  As #KidsMin we often feel like we do it all and like we can do it all, but we can't.  We have to have the help of our volunteers.

It's so important to make sure that our volunteers know that they are loved and appreciated.  This year I threw a Holly Jolly Christmas party just for my volunteers.  I served finger foods and dessert.  I decorated our dining hall with bright table cloths and Christmas prints.  We spent our time talking to one another and playing a few fun games.  It was all very low key and meant to be a fun and joyous time for everyone.  And I truly believe that it was.  

However, it's important that our volunteers feel loved and appreciated all year round.  

Here are some simple ways to show our thanks.

1) Say Thank You!  It's such a little thing but often overlooked.  I try to make it a point to stop by our nurseries every Sunday morning and tell our volunteers thank you for serving that Sunday.  

2) Send Cards!  At the end of every VBS I write out a short note to all of my volunteers and send it to them via snail mail.  I include in the card things that we accomplished through VBS because of their service.  

3) Post status' updates about them!  Any of my facebook friends could tell you that I love to brag on my volunteers.  There is no better way to do that than social media.  Here's a status that I posted last night telling everyone how much I loved my volunteers!

4) Bring them treats.  There are such cute ideas on Pinterest that are simple to do.  Visit my volunteer appreciation board here and be sure to follow to see new things I pin.  Bags of hot cocoa during the winter, or candy corn during the fall, are easy ways to let your volunteers know that they are appreciated. 

5) Have your kids write them thank you cards.  Nothing says thank you more than a 3rd graders hand writing to their favorite volunteer telling them why they love them.  Every once in a while I'll have a classroom spend 10 minutes making cards for a certain batch of volunteers and my volunteers always appreciate them. 

There are so many other ways that we can share our thanks and appreciation! 

Here are 2 cute ways that I saw on Pinterest to tell your volunteers thank you!
And they are super simple too.  

Thanks a Latte!

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We wash you a Merry Christmas!

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How do you tell your volunteers thank you?

Come back by on Thursday to see the pictures from my kids Happy Birthday Jesus party!