Annual Teen Valentine Banquet and Scavenger Hunt 2016

Every year we host a Valentine's Banquet and scavenger hunt around Valentine's Day for our church youth group.  It's always fun because there are always new kids involved every year, but this year might have been the highest number of new kids we have had in many, many years - or perhaps, ever!  It's been a blessing to have our youth group grow over the past year and we pray that it continues to do so.

This year we were able to start the "hunt" a few hours earlier because we had an afternoon, after lunch, worship service in place of the evening worship service.  Because it was light outside, we were able to add new things to the scavenger hunt list.  Many things were service projects: Taking the trash out and taking the can to the street for pick up day the next day.

....and singing to someone over 90 years old!  This sweet man turned 98 yesterday!

....unloading someone's dishwasher....

....washing someone's windows....

....and fun things, too, such as getting a picture with everyone in the air at the same time (I missed it thinking I got it!).

The hunt was followed by the "banquet". The teens are "served" their food.  They are instructed to remain seated, though many feel awkward not clearing the table and taking their things to the trash!  We sweetly reminded them that we were serving them! :)

The evening ended with singing and a devotional (top picture).  My husband also talked to them about using God's name only in the right way - not in vain.  He talked to them about how important it is to use the word "holy" for only holy things: God is holy.  Many things we hear the word holy being used for are unholy, for sure.  Then he went on to the devotional time, telling them to notice people...specifically to notice people who are hurting.  We sometimes get too busy to notice those who may be hurting that are all around us.  

It was a great evening and a great time for the teens to grow closer together.  We are thankful for the adults who helped us with the evening, by driving the scavenger hunt groups around.  And to those who allowed the teens to enter their homes for the hunt items and activities.  It's fun for them, as well!  

Teen Valentine Banquet 2015

Last night was our annual teen Valentine Banquet and Scavenger Hunt. It was a much smaller group than we've had in past years, but still...a great group who attended.

We served the same thing as every year: beef and chicken lasagna, green beans, and garlic bread sticks.

Instead of 200 bread sticks, I only made 72! They were all gone, of course! (Have bread? They will come!)

For dessert we served the Layered Pudding Delight and Homemade Strawberry Shortcake, along with a few varieties of cookies.

The scavenger hunt consisted of two teams instead of the usual four or five teams.

And Joe had asked me to scale down the list quite a bit this year.  Probably a good thing, too! One group spent 30 minutes looking for a pink balloon!! Ha ha!!  Here's the list:
A number candle.
A pink balloon.
A signature of a deacon. (on back of this)
Sing a song preschool song to the worker at Hop ’n Sack.
Do a good deed for a high school teacher.
Get the signature of someone born in the 1940’s.
Sing a devo song for a retired teacher.
Do a good deed for an elementary teacher.
A piece of Valentine candy. Must be wrapped in Valentine paper.
A ticket from last night’s basketball game
Sing a songbook song to an elder and his wife.
Bring back 2 people who weren’t already here.

When the groups got back with the new guests, we had a devotional and sang some songs.

My husband gave the groups a hard time about their items - getting specific about some of the items!

There's something special about being around a group of teens and preteens!

They have an excitement that we adults tend to let go of as we grow up.

That's why Jesus told us to be as little children, isn't it?

The older we get, the more and more we lose that child-like quality...or the qualities....that He believes we should have.  He knows we should have.

We ended the evening with a prayer, thanking God for the day and for His guidance in keeping the eyes and minds and thoughts of the teens pure.

Here's a video of one of the teams singing to the convenience store clerk!

Teen Valentine Banquet & Scavenger Hunt 2014

Our annual Valentine Banquet and Scavenger Hunt was held last night. With our big Senior class of '13 gone, it was a smaller group, but a fun group that we look forward to hosting for many more years!

We served the usual: Chicken Lasagna, Beef Lasagna, Green Beans, Breadsticks, Pudding Delight (or Chocolate Quad, or Pudding Cake, or....you get the idea!), Butterfinger Cake, and Banana Pudding.

I should have cut back on the breadsticks, but they did eat quite a few of the 144 of them!  Just not as many as the larger group in years' past. We enjoyed hearing them talk, laugh, and have fun while being "served".  Kids have to go through lines enough, so to be served, is a treat for them.

 ...Desserts....

 ....Breadsticks....

After the meal, the teens were divided into 3 groups. They competed in a scavenger hunt. The first team back with everything done or brought back on the list is the winner.

My favorite "item" on the list is that the groups have to bring back two people who weren't previously at our house. It's fun to get others involved, and they seem to enjoy their time with us, as well!

We sing and have a short devotional thought. My husband did a really neat illustration of how to not follow peer pressure, but to....

 STAND OUT and be willing to not go along with the crowd.

My husband said I had way too much on the scavenger hunt list (ha ha!! I knew he would :).) BUT, these were a few of the fun things:  Someone in the group had to be handcuffed....which makes it nice to live in a small, small town, where the cops and kids know each other - and that's a GOOD thing!

And then, the groups had to buy something for someone at our convenience store.  Mr. A got some delicious donuts!

Besides, doing the above, singing silly and cute songs to teachers and elders and their wives, the groups had to do a good deed for a school teacher, take pictures of items, pick up items, and take a picture in front of the school sign. I had them text their pictures back to me so that I could see them...and have them to show you.  This one is blurry, but the best group picture in front of the school sign.

This event is so much fun for us to host, and for the teens to attend.  We thank God for this opportunity to be an influence in the lives of these young people, and for our community and the people here, that make it a great place to be able to go to homes that we know will willingly and graciously, help out.

Oklahoma Christian: SheSpeaks with Missy Robertson

Monday evening I had the privilege of attending the Oklahoma Christian SheSpeaks banquet, along with my sister-in-law.  

I enjoy teaching classes about manners and etiquette to students in our local 4-H club, and also at school in Life Skills class, so it was pretty neat to put those skills to good use at the banquet!  Do you know what each of the three forks are for???

The centerpieces were pretty white pumpkins wrapped with grapevine.  The table had scattered crystals around the top of the black tablecloth.  Hot pink napkins were placed in the coffee cups.  It was really neat that the coffee and tea were in vase-type containers (they probably have a fancy name that I don't know), so that we could refill our drinks ourselves, without having servers do it.

Eight-hundred guests attended the event. It grew so large that it was moved to the gymnasium, but even in the gym, the event was made to look elegant. Those chandeliers hung from metal pipe things coming out of the curtain.  You can see part of the scoreboard at the very top of the stage curtain.

Here's the program....a pretty souvenir from the event.

 And the dessert.....some kind of flan, I think.  It was pretty!

The dinner (I would say supper, but since it was a fancy thing, I'll call it dinner!) was stuffed pork loin with a yummy sauce, grilled veggies, and a stuffed baked potato.

The guest speaker was Missy Robertson, from the famous hit, Duck Dynasty.  Missy said that Hollywood was very perplexed about the popularity of Duck Dynasty. Hollywood wanted a reality show with a lot of drama and friction. But that wasn't their family.  She said, "Our reality comes from the Word, not from drama.  But then they met Uncle Si!"  And Hollywood liked him!  And now the nation likes the whole family.  Missy read Colossians 2:17, which says, "These are a shadow of the things that were to come; the reality, however, is found in Christ."

Missy's daughter, Mia, talked about being born with cleft and lip palate. She will undergo another big surgery in December.  Mia said, "God is bigger than all our problems!" And He is!  Thank you, God!

Teen Valentine Banquet & Scavenger Hunt 2013

(SPECIAL ANNOUNCEMENT:  THE PLAYLIST is working again!  Turn your sound up and listen to Hallal and The Zoe Group!)

Sunday night was our annual "Teen Valentine Banquet & Scavenger Hunt".  

We had a huge turnout, having to add more tables and chairs as the others filled up.

Thankfully, I had made plenty of food, but it's the first time that ALL of the lasagna and ALL of the dessert was totally eaten!  Many got seconds, but we were glad there weren't many leftovers.  We tire of lasagna in a hurry if there is ever any left!

As in the past, I made chicken and beef lasagna.  You can find the recipes to serve large groups on my "Life's a Bowl of Cherries" blog.

This time I made the most breadsticks ever - 180!  There were 20 left.  This recipe can also be found on the "Cherries' blog.  They are a favorite of the youth and the adults.  

The scavenger hunt was different this time.  My big desktop computer is having major problems, so I couldn't print out the hunt list from the past.  Quickly one of the adults helped me put one together while the teens ate their meal.  He helped come up with some fun ideas since he is also a member of our small town police department!  One was to go get a "ticket" from the officer on duty.  It wasn't a real ticket or a real offense - just something made up with his signature.

The first group to arrive decided to trick the other two groups.  They moved their van to the back of our fence - in the field.  When the second group arrived, they thought they were first!  As they busted through the door, they were surprised to see another group sitting in the living room, calmly waiting on the others!

You many remember that part of the hunt list says to bring back two people that weren't previously at our house.  That is a neat part because many in town "want" to be picked up!  They are hoping to be part of the hunt.  Most likely many are NOT wanting to be a part!  That's the funny part :).

When all of the groups got back, my husband did a devotional.  It was a great illustration using silly putty.  I'll share it soon....or have him share it :). 

The singing was BEAUTIFUL with all of us gathered in our living room/dining room/kitchen.  I would have liked to sing like that for hours.  (Tonight is our monthly singing night - yay!)

There are many fun events and opportunities for spiritual growth for the youth throughout the year, but I would like to think that this annual event is one of those special times that they look forward to each year.  I know I do.

What a blessing to have so many in our youth group in this small town of less than 900 people!  We are very thankful for each and every one of them and pray that we are teaching them and sharing Christ with them in all that we do.