Teen Valentine Banquet/Scavenger Hunt 2012

Linked to Heavenly Homemakers' GRATITUESDAY (find out what I'm grateful for at the end of this post.)

Sunday night was our annual teen valentine banquet and scavenger hunt.  When we got out of evening worship around 7:00 p.m., it was snowing!  Never before have we had snow on that evening, so that was really exciting! (Especially since we hardly get it at all in the winter.)

This year there were 51 teens/adults in attendance, with 9 more teens coming back with groups after the scavenger hunt.  We've always made it work by lining up long tables in row, where there was little room to move around.

This year we were able to spread out and make it a lot more roomy by having seating in the new addition of our home.  Pretty neat!

One thing the teens especially look forward to is the food, of course!

It's always the same menu:  chicken and beef lasagna, green beans, and breadsticks.  Lots and lots of breadsticks - 200 this year!  There were seven left over!  First time ever to have some left!  Oh, yes....and desserts.  Can't forget the desserts. (All of my recipes can me found at www.3cherrycokes.blogspot.com)

After eating, the teens were divided into five teams for the annual scavenger hunt.

One of the items on the hunt said, "a colored, flavored marshmallow".  Kamen, a 7th grader, came up with the colored marshmallow part all on his own!  Not sure if it was flavored or not....afraid to ask!

My husband is checking out the lists...making sure the teams got their required items.

The groups all have to bring back two people with them, who were not previously at our house.  We sing devotional songs and my husbands gives a short devo.

Since it was snowing and since one of the new guests that came back was the daughter of our school superintendent, she called her dad and we all yelled, "CANCEL SCHOOL!!"  It didn't work (unfortunately :).  We did have school yesterday!  And, it was fine....the roads weren't slick.  The kids were all disappointed and so was I!! (I like snow days!) 

We enjoy hosting the teens each year for this special evening, but something occurred to me yesterday. The older church members are just as excited about the evening, because they know the teens will be stopping by gathering items, singing songs, getting signatures, and doing good deeds for them.  It's a fun way to get the teens and "senior saints" together in a unique way.

Happy Valentine's Day, everyone!  Remember that the love of God is more important than any other love you know!  He loves you SOOOOO MUCH!  And that love, is why I'm so grateful on this GRATITUESDAY!

For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. John 3:16


JOIN us for GRATITUESDAY at Heavenly Homemakers!