Vacation Bible School. Where kids come to play, meet friends, and learn about the love of Jesus Christ. At my church of nearly 2,000 regular attendees, VBS is one of our biggest undertakings of the year. Planning begins in January for the big week in June. At least one hundred volunteers give up their time to run the camp for the children ranging in age from 3 to 12 years old. It's more than just a typical summer camp as the kids are showered in Jesus' love. You would think after eight years of being a crew leader I would have seen it all, but somehow every year the kids still throw me new things. So for anyone that has not had the pleasure of being a VBS crew leader, let me break down the week for you.

Monday

I wake up earlier than I have all summer. I have to be at the church an hour before the kids arrive to get my job assignment, a list of my students, and my oh-so-stylish drawstring bag filled with markers, Band-Aids, allergy lists, attendance sheets, wet wipes, and who knows what else. Of course I get there 15 minutes late, but honestly, no one cares. The youth pastor gives us a speech about how excited he is to see the incredible things God has in store for the week, says a prayer, and we're on our own. By that time at least one kid in my group has already been dropped off, a full 40 minutes before they are supposed to get there. I give him my phone to play games on to keep him busy until the other kids arrive. By 9:20 a.m., my final camper comes straggling in as the last song is being sung. The pastor's son -- of course. He probably knows this church better than I do. We're sent off to our first station and the begins. Monday runs smoothly as everything or the kids is new and exciting. They are eager to make you -- their leader -- like them so they listen to everything you say. Snack is delicious, the craft is simple, and by station 2, I have all eight names memorized and I know who is going to give me trouble for the rest of the week. I keep my eye on the sassy fourth grader that told me I should "cleanse my face" because I have a few blemishes. Will do, kid. All my kids leave happily. Successful day one.

Tuesday

The same kid comes early again. Does 9 a.m. mean nothing to these people? The worship leader introduces a new song and you kids are thrown off but pick it up quick. One kid comes in with his shirt on backwards and refuses to turn it back around, so all the others feel the need to put theirs on backwards as well. For some unexplainable reason, we don't follow he same station schedule all week so I have to figure out where we go first today. The kids are definitely a bit crazier. I have to use my "mean voice" to tell them to be quiet and sit down during Bible story time. In their defense, today's story is a bit boring. One boy drinks an entire cup of syrup from the French Toast sticks snack. Good thing snack time is toward the end of the day -- maybe the sugar rush won't kick in until he gets home. Daddy comes 20 minutes late to pick up the brother and sister I have in my group (who I was later informed had specific instructions from the youth pastor to be separated because they get too crazy together). It's okay, though. I'm a veteran. I can handle them.

Wednesday

I run into the sanctuary at 8:35 a.m. to see "early boy" already sitting in our row. Love when my kids get here before me. The worship leader asks each group to send up one child to sing and dance on stage so I send the one jumping up and down and waving his hand in my face -- like I had any other choice. Snack is mixed vegetables on a wheat tortilla so mutiny ensues and I am blamed for the crappy snack and for their hunger for the rest of the day. One girl claims she is allergic to the chalk used at the experiment station so I have to take her out of the room. One boy cries because he loses to scooter race. And one girl's God sighting is herself praying for sick kids. The hyperactive brother-sister duo won't sit still during the video and now the other kids are starting to follow their lead No wonder they were supposed to be split up. Their dad comes 25 minutes late again, but honestly I can't blame him. I can't believe the week is already halfway over.

Thursday

The kids know the songs and dance moves down pat and I even hear them humming the songs through the day. Today's Bible story is about Jesus' resurrection and how that is how we get into heaven so I try especially hard to make sure they are all paying attention. during snack I reiterate the story and ask if anyone has any questions. "Can I have more goldfish?" is the only reply. Good. One little Asian girl turns to the other in the group and says, "I think I know you because we look alike." I pretend I don't hear it. The same girl asks to go to the bathroom for the fifth time that day. I abandon the "Buddy" rule and let her run down the hallway herself and make her promise to wash her hands. A boy from another group bangs heads with one of my girls and I have to take her to the nurse for ice, the bump on her forehead is the size of a lemon. The worship leader asks for two kids from each group to come on stage, but I let them all go. They're tiny, what's seven extra kids up there? Right from the church I go to Target to buy candy and little toys to put in goodie bags to give my crew for the last day. Sure it's sort of a bribe to get them to come next year, but who doesn't love Twix and stickers?

Friday

The final day is here. The week flew by. The parents drop the kids off saying they were raving about their day all night long yesterday. We sing this years' songs for the last time. The kids go crazy on the huge inflatable slides outside. We ask the kids who is someone in their family that they love and one girl says "Bridget" (that's me). They finally get to take home their Bible Buddies today. One girl tells me she wants to ask Jesus into her heart so He stays with her forever and she can go to heaven. I get to pray that special prayer with her and see her life be changed forever. As the parents start coming in the kids cling to my leg saying they don't want VBS to be over and that they had so much fun this week. They ask me when they will get to see me again. The moms and dads thank me and I send the kids home for the last time, many of whom I may never get to see again -- until we meet in heaven, of course. The youth pastor gives us all a concluding speech, thanks us for our time and dedication, shares amazing stories of children coming to Christ, and then we breakdown all the decorations. Vacation Bible School is over and won't be back for another 51 weeks. And I can't wait.