Bear Hugs

Last night we held an AWANA event for our "Cubbies" (the three and four-year-olds). Sometimes it seems like only yesterday that our two kids were Cubbies, proudly wearing their vests and patches, and at other times it seems like that was a lifetime ago. They were so cute!

But alas, they shed their little blue vests and their love for Cubbie Bear faded at around the same time that Barney became "uncool." Well, last night, we finally got our 12-year-old back into a Cubbie uniform.

Here's a picture:

Since she was old enough to realize that there was actually a person inside of Cubbie Bear, she has aspired to be that person. Last night she made her big debut! She walked into the party to a chorus of "Cubbie-e-e-e-e!!!" "Look, it's Cubbie!" "Hi, Cubbie!" while being met with knee- and waist-high hugs and body slams powerful enough to have knocked over an actual grizzly bear. So fun to watch! She loved it for the same reason she loves doing her puppets. She loves to make kids smile. It's "her," but it's not about her. It's about Jesus, children, and joy.

Here's another picture I love:

She's growing up so much, I can hardly "bear" it.