Bella's Awana award night

Yesterday was Bella's award ceremony for Awana. This was her third year in the program (two years in Hawaii) and her second in the Sparks age group. (For more info on what Awana is, check out my previous post for Addie.) Bella worked super hard this year. She completed book 2 for Sparks plus the extra credit review book. Then she still wanted to do more, so she went back and completed the extra credit review book from last year that they didn't have in Hawaii. Aside the myriad of Scriptures she has memorized, she has also learned the names of all 66 books of the Bible, in order. She has learned more about missionaries and Bible heroes and has truly grown in her faith.

"Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it." Proverbs 22:6

That is the desire of my heart - to raise my children in a godly household, and to train them up as children of God and servants for Him. I know that they may rebel, that they may choose a different path, but I pray that they won't. And if they do choose differently, I want to know that they have a Biblical foundation and the truth in their hearts that they may come back to. I think that is why I appreciate the Awana program so much.

So, I forgot the camera last night (I was quite upset) but was able to snap these photos when we got home. Bella earned a book completion ribbon this year. Next year, she has her sights set on the Sparks award: a plaque that the clubbers earn if they complete all three Sparks books during their K-2nd grade years. We are hoping to find a good Awana club in Mississippi, although it might be hard to find as great a program as we have here. "It has been a great year," as Bella said last night.

Bella is my 'blinker'. It is near impossible to get a good photo with the flash on. Here was our first attempt while counting, "One, two, three..." but she forgot to open her eyes. 

This is what she does when she remembers to open her eyes on "three"... my silly girl! 

Showing off all the books she completed this year (with a half-blink expression):

Now there's my Bella! The photo is a bit blurry but it's the best one we captured.

I'm so proud of my girl!