What an exciting District Quiz we had the pleasure of being part of today!!
We made an overnight of it, and came up to Rock Falls last night to stay at a hotel. It was quite a long drive, so we thought it would be more fun to come up the night before and swim at the hotel. The kids think staying in a hotel is about the most exciting thing ever.
We relaxed in the room for a while when we arrived. I had packed sandwiches and fruit, so we ate supper in the room. We had some screen time playing on the iPad, iPod, and iPhone for a while (We were mainly having fun with
Draw Something,
Family Feud, and
Angry Birds Seasons tonight.), then decided it was time to enjoy the pool and hot tub. They were pretty crowded, so Jeremy and I sat out and watched the kids swim this time.
We had 2 queen size beds, so the kids snuggled up in one, but we awoke to Annah's crying after about an hour. She said she couldn't fall asleep and was afraid she wouldn't do well at the quiz if she didn't sleep. We let her over in our bed, and apparently she slept well. I, on the other hand didn't sleep a wink. Oh well...who ever does in a hotel?
We took our time getting ready in the morning and enjoyed the wonderful breakfast at the hotel. We all had eggs and sausage, and there was anything you could want. But, of course, the kids (and by that, of course, I mean Jeremy too) all had to have Fruit Loops too. ;)
Jeremy went with Caeden to the basement for the Red Level Quiz, and I kept score for a row of the Blue Level Quizzers upstairs. Each group had 3 rounds of questions--Red Level 15 questions each, and Blue Level 20 each.
During the awards ceremony, Caeden was named the top quizzer of the day! He apparently missed one question, but hadn't thought he had. He came back to his seat in tears because he was upset about having missed one question. (His personal goal for the year was not to miss any.) We're still not really sure he did miss one, but it was a good lesson for him to learn that he needs to accept whatever outcome he earns/receives in a graceful, thankful manner.
There were a couple of ties in the Blue Level quiz, so Annah and Sylvia were in the top 12 quizzers (instead of the usual top 10) today. Sylvia had been in tears during the last round because she missed 3 questions. She had to learn the same lesson as Caeden--that she needed to keep it together and behave graciously no matter how many questions she missed or got right. Annah had missed a question in two rounds today too, and had started to tear up, but got herself under control when I encouraged her that it really was okay.
It was kind of a good eye-opener for Jeremy and me too, when the kids all struggled with getting emotional when they missed questions. We encourage them to always do their best in everything, but really don't want them to feel like we pressure them to get every question right. We just want them to learn God's word well and understand it. The competitive/awards part of quizzing does encourage them to do better. But since they've always done so well, I think they have built up extremely high standards for themselves. Today we saw that they weren't prepared to handle disappointment in themselves. We talked with them at great lengths afterwards about how we are proud of them for just being involved in quizzing and learning God's word and that is what it is all about!
One of the best parts of quizzing is the scripture memorization goals. The kids learned all 20 of the memory verses this year, which included the entire Beatitudes, the Great Commission, and so many other verses they will carry with them the rest of their life! We get a CD with each verse set to music, so it makes it much easier to learn them. (And, the kids get a dollar off summer church camp for every verse they memorize, so that helps us parents out too.)
When they were done announcing all the kids who had learned the memory verses for our district, the kids were lining the entire front of the sanctuary today. It was an awesome sight to see all these kids who have hidden such great portions of God's word in their hearts!!!
Since this was the District Quiz, the top 3 quizzers of the year were named. Caeden was the Top Quizzer of the Year for our District in the Red Level (kindergarten through 3rd grade)!! This also means he will represent our district on the All-Star team again at the Regional Quiz at Olivet in June!
Yes, we are very proud of our boy! It amazes us how easily he is able to memorize huge passages of scripture nearly word-for-word and explain the stories!
Annah and Sylvia tied for the 2nd place Top Quizzer of the Year for our District in the Blue Level (3rd through 6th grades)! They will represent the NWIL District on the Blue Level All Star team at the Regional Quiz in June!
We are really proud of the girls too, and so grateful for the opportunity we have to do quizzing. We work really hard at it, and there is nothing else like the reward of having God's word hidden in our hearts!!
I pray the kids will always remember the lessons they are studying in quizzing and be able to draw from these portions of God's word and apply them throughout their whole lives!
Another neat part of the quiz was hearing our new church's name being announced every time one of our 5 kids was recognized! The church plant was officially approved, including the name Point of Change and start-up funding, on Thursday! We enjoyed spending the day with the Bloomington 1st teammates too. What a great activity to do with our friends!
Here are the verses we committed to heart this year for Children's Bible Quizzing:
Matthew 1:21 - "She will give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins."
Matthew 4:4 - "Jesus answered, 'It is written: "Man does not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God."'"
~The Beatitudes~
Matthew 5:3-6 - "Blessed are the poor in spirit, of theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted. Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth. Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled."
Matthew 5:7-10 - "Blessed are the merciful, for they will be shown mercy. BLessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God. Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called sons of God. Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven."
Matthew 5:11-12 - "Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me. Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you."
Psalmm 77:13-14 - "Your ways, O God, are holy. What god is so great as our God? You are the God who performs miracles; you display your power among the peoples."
Matthew 9:37-38 - "Then he said to his disciples, 'The harvest is plentiful but the workers are few. Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into his harvest field."
Matthew 11:28-29a - "Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me."
Matthew 6:33 - "But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well."
Psalm 55:22 - "Cas your cares on the Lord and he will sustain you; he will never let the righteous fall."
Matthew 16:16 - "Simon Peter answered, 'You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.'"
Matthew 19:14 - "Jesus said, 'Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these.'"
Matthew 22:37-39 - "Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind." This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: "Love your neighbor as yourself."'"
Matthew 24:12-13 - "Because of the increase of wickedness, the love of most will grow cold, but he who stands firm to the end will be saved."
Ephesians 1:7 - "In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God's grace."
Matthew 26:39 - "Going a little farther, he fell with his face to the ground and prayed, 'My father, if it is possible, may this cup be taken from me. Yet not as I will, but as you will.'"
Matthew 16:24 - "The Jesus said to his disciples, 'If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross and follow me.'"
Matthew 27:22a - "'What shall I do, then with Jesus who is called Christ?'"
John 3:16 - "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."
Matthew 28:19-20 - "'Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.'"
