Oh Miss Meghan: VBS 2013

So, UALC VBS is so intense that we don't just do one week of VBS we do two! After, week one with starting my morning at 7 am and not getting home until 9:30 pm...these days were growing longer. Thank goodness I had the weekend to catch up on sleep...NOT! The weekend was crazy, busy, packed tight!! I was not ready for week two of VBS. As I shared in my last post about VBS 2013 - Week 1, I like to (typically) stay behind the scenes but my oh my this week was all about change. I was not going to be behind the scenes anymore, no more detail work.

Towards the end of week one, I was asked by the stage manager at VBS Mill Run to be a make-up artist for a day. Now, for any of you who have ever attended VBS at UALC...that's a big deal. I mean you are in the VBS show. It's every VBS student's dream! I took the offer and accepted the fact that I was going to dress up in costume and stand in front of a bunch of people on Wednesday. CRAZY. (For those of you who don't personally know me, I am not the acting type)

Not only was I asked to be apart of the production at VBS, I was asked to cover the role of the professor in YKVBS at Lytham on Thursday. I was covering for a parent of a kiddo who was going under that day. I was nervous and excited. I willingly accepted this offer because this parent needed to be there for this kiddo, yet I have never memorized lines before in my life. And I was going to have to do that and learn the songs and motions to the YKVBS music. Not up my alley, but it is what God put in my plan. :)

So, anyway the Sunday night before Week 2 of VBS I learned that I was going to be teaching in the morning. Not in my plan but I was willing to be the hands and feet of Jesus that week. The first morning of VBS was the longest morning ever. I was exhausted. I just wanted to burst into tears. It was the toughest morning I had ever faced. I won't go into all of the details but it was just a tough morning. The afternoon was a bit better, but PACKED. I wasn't in a classroom but I wandered around doing little jobs here and there and memorizing lines! After, a long day at VBS it was time for something new to start--Impact Out of the Box. Impact is my church's middle school youth group. I am one of the leaders and during the second week of VBS at night we do a camp from 6-9. It's a lot of fun but this year it hit me like a brick. A lot of times in between the hour break from VBS to Out of the Box, I would travel to YKVBS and pick up friends/kiddos and take them to coffee to talk about life. There was never a break. Week 2 hours were from 7 am - 10:30 pm, even later some nights.

Day 2 of week two, I hit the wall. But it wasn't hit the wall Wednesday yet! I was pooped. Like literally exhausted. I drank 4 coffees that day and still fell asleep that night as soon as I walked in the door. I got way sassy that day. Tuesday was the toughest day out of all of them but I was rewarded because I got to leave VBS early and go home and hang out with some of my favorite kiddos. I snuggled with babies and got some sweet hugs. I was at peace when I returned to Mill Run for Out of the Box.

Day 3 of week two, I had so much energy. I know it came from the Lord but it was very unexpected because I hadn't gotten a lot of sleep the night before. But, I woke up early and bought coffee for five of my friends and had an amazing, life-changing day. Today was the day that I was going to be a simple make-up artist in the VBS production. Big deal remember ;) I had my costume all set. I was ready. It was also like everyone's birthday at VBS so we had a whole lot of celebrating to do...I like to celebrate! Being in the VBS production, opened my eyes to a new view of VBS. I had this amazing energy and yet a sense of calmness. It was a drama free day...hahaha because the production is also called the drama. No pun intended. After, an amazing day at VBS with a new perspective in mind--I had that quick hour-ish break. I hopped out of costume and went to go meet my new baby cousin, Hadleigh. It was a quick visit but I was excited to meet her. That night at Out of the Box, I was done. I was ready for it to be over because I still had lines and songs and motions to memorize. I can't memorize for the life of me.

Day 4 of VBS came up so fast. That day I was up at 5:50 am and left my house by 7 in costume for YKVBS. This was my BIG debut. I was scared. I was nervous. I was freaking out because I thought things that I shouldn't have been thinking like what if I mess up, they will hate me--they won't ever want me to come back to YK. But, my OH MY was I wrong. I showed up to Lytham and there was this sense of nothing. I can't even explain it. I was filled with joy. No nerves. I was just so excited. (This is not like me--I'm always nerves galore) I went downstairs and some of the cast members were getting there costumes on as I finished the details of the professor's costume with a lab coat and science googles. When I went up stairs, I saw one of my co-leaders and dear friend, Kate. She was so excited to have me at YK. She affirmed me that today was going to be a good day and that it was okay if I messed up. I learned something new that morning....I was going to have a wireless microphone on me. There is a first for everything. (I am an extremely loud person) I was surprised that another one of my co-leader friends was going to trust me (he's the techie) with a microphone on me because let's be honest I am a loud person and should probably never have a microphone. I have to admit I was really excited when the microphone was on...like really excited. YKVBS made me feel welcome and at home that morning. They made me feel like a part of the YK cast and family. I didn't feel left out at all. They included me in everything. They introduced me and prayed for me before we went on stage. It was SO encouraging words cannot even describe. I wanted to cry with happy tears but I was just too excited. We practiced that morning and of course I messed up a few times but Chip was beyond encouraging He might be the most encouraging person I know. It made me feel loved. Quick than a flash of lightning, my morning at YK was over. I was sad but encouraged. This was the best day of VBS 2013. Right after YK, I went to VBS and ate lunch with my bestest friends. They were all so encouraging that morning, texting me, calling me, loving me. I am truly surrounded by the best group of teenagers. That afternoon, I was so exhausted that I left VBS in the afternoon and went home to take a two hour cat nap before the last night of Out of the Box. That night at Out of the Box and after was incredibly encouraging...that's my next blog post!!!!

Day 5--the official last day of VBS. It was a weird, crazy day. It went by at a pretty normal speed. All day was good. Except for the fact that I got 4 hours of sleep the night before, I had some energy. I left right after VBS and went home and took a 3 hour cat nap. Woke up, ate pizza with my parents, watched a movie, and went back to sleep.

This year of VBS was a roller coaster. It wasn't what I signed up for but yet it was the most rewarding year of VBS ever. I loved every second of it. I am seriously really excited for what next year has to hold because I won't be doing what I typically do...I know that for a fact.

I encourage you to be the hands and feet of Jesus even if it far from what you want to do because in the end it is so rewarding because it draws you closer to Jesus. I couldn't have made the past two weeks without the Lord on my side. I needed energy, strength, perseverance, and God. That was all.

Here are a few (LOT) snapshots of Week 2--

Photo bomb. Awesomeness.

Hit the Wall Wednesday coffee!!! All my girls minus the ones at YK :)

It was Miss Marsha's birthday so her daughter...one of my best friends and I decided to celebrate by making her a Watermelon cake!! So fun and easy!!!