New Year's Eve

Update regarding New Year's Eve:
Instead of an all night lock in that leaves everyone feeling drained and out of touch, we'll be holding a New Year's Eve Party from 9-12:30 a.m. at Cindy and Frankie Schools' home on Menokin Road. The event will include pizza and other food along with a movie showing and games. (We may even hold a WII boxing tourney...) By holding this event at a home instead of the church we will ensure the kids' security and even get to watch the ball drop at Midnight (we are supplying sparkling cider for toasts.)
If you have questions about this event, contact Maggie or Galon at 493-0265.

Bells and Skiing

Just an update for those keeping up with this blog- I'll be sure to print out a version and mail to parents too sometime this week.
We are tentativley scheduled to "Ring the Bells" with Salvation Army on Sat., Dec. 13 ALL DAY.
Unfortunately, Galon and I already had plans to be out of town that weekend but someone else picked the day for us and it's easiest for the Salvation Army side of things-
SO
The plan now is to open the sign up sheet to the entire church.
Rules:
At least one adult supervisor when shifts consist of kids under 16 years old.
Two people on each shift, minimum.
Dress warmly.
Smile broadly!

More on this to be announced Sunday, Dec. 3- but because of the weekend we're signed up for, we only have two Sunday's between now and then to fill up the entire sheet. Not filling up all the slots is not an option because then it just gets really complicated with organization of money picking up and dropping off and then there's potential earnings for the Salvation Army lost-

On the skiing front:
The dates are still Jan. 23-25 (week after exams, accdg. to Principal Jack Cooley.)
The location is up in the air as of yet.
We are considering:
Boone, NC (six hours, 19 min. away)
Snowshoe, WV (five hours, 16 min. away)
Wintergreen, VA (where we went last year- two hours, 49 min. away)
Sugar Mountain, NC (seven hours away)
and a few others in locations near the ones listed above.
Because we have had no fund raiser participation or events yet, there will be less funds available to kids who wanted to work off some of the costs.
Sign up for the ski trip was orginally due Dec. 1. That has been extended- but not by much.
We will have to know what size group we are having to be able to book places to stay/things to do and travel arrangements accordingly.
Hope this makes sense and everyone had a happy thanksgiving!
A special congratulations to Lindsey Martin and Morgan Vanlandingham- both made the JV cheerleading squad and Morgan was named captain.

christmas boxed

Reminder:

Saturday, Nov. 8
5 p.m. until...
@Menokin
meet to collect, shop, stuff and wrap boxes for Operation Christmas Child.
the goal is to have each kid do their own box.

NEEDED: Shoe boxes for stuffing.

Here are some suggestions from the Operation Christmas Child site about what we are looking for...
(Depending on age/sex of child the youth decide to send their box to)

GIFT IDEAS
TOYS
small cars, balls, dolls, stuffed animals, kazoos, harmonicas, yo-yos, jump ropes, small Etch A Sketch®, toys that light up or make noise (with extra batteries), Slinky®, etc.

SCHOOL SUPPLIES
pens, pencils and sharpener, crayons or markers, stamps and ink pad sets, writing pads or paper, solar calculators, coloring and picture books, etc.

HYGIENE ITEMS
toothbrush, toothpaste, mild bar soap (in a plastic bag), comb, washcloth, etc.

OTHER
Hard candy and lollipops (please double bag all candy), mints, gum, T-shirts, socks, ball caps; sunglasses, hair clips, toy jewelry, watches, flashlights (with extra batteries)

A PERSONAL NOTE
In a separate envelope, you may enclose a note to the child and a photo of yourself or your family. (If you include your name and address, the child may write back.)

DO NOT INCLUDE:
Used or damaged items; war-related items such as toy guns, knives or military figures; chocolate or food; out-of-date candy; liquids or lotions; medications or vitamins; breakable items such as snowglobes or glass containers; aerosol cans


More information can be found at this site, run by Samaritan's Purse.

strikes and spares

Shown above is Zach G after a solid bowl (I think that's the terminology.) The girls commented that he looked like he was casting a spell on the ball in this shot, but I think it's that good form that led him to multiple stikes and spares.

Well.
Bowling night was a fun adventure. We met at the church around 5:30 p.m. and headed off in three cars, a virtual Menokin Youth caravan.
Beth V was driving the "girl power" van with me, Lindsey and Morgan. Jason drove with Chris, Zach, Taylor and Zach Elliott. Galon led the way with Aaron V, Jesse and Kyle- crammed into the very efficient Saturn.
Things were uneventful until Mechanicsville- kids texting back and forth and talking.
We got to the lights of M-ville and the caravan got broken up a bit, resulting in some calls among cars and speedball Galon waiting on Beth and then Jason's car. Turns out we were going to a different alley than before- one on Parham Road and not the one near the m-ville Target.
In the girl van, we had a mapquest map and the phone number to the place. We had to call only once and thanks to Beth's familiarity with Richmond, found the place seemingly on our own after peeling off after the boys cars had kept straight on the loop.
The girls were wondering where we were and if we would find it on our own- and we did. We pulled in and realized the guys came too, just from the opposite direction. The place looked fine from the outside, and inside was as nice as can be expected at a bowling alley. We had two lanes and got our shoes, popcorn and cokes.
We got more to eat as the night wore on.
Top bowlers included Zach G, Aaron V and Galon (Mr. I took bowling in college)
Turns out, Beth V. took a bowling class too and was very good. Unfortunately, she pulled a muscle mid way and the kids were happy to bowl for her during the remainder of the evening.
All in all, it was a good night.
We got home later than expected, and the girls in the van were trying to find a way to sleep in to recover. Neither of them took a nap on the way home, however, so I don't believe they were very tired.
Special thanks to the parents who helped, including Beth V, and of course Jason, who turned out to be a very talented bowler as well.

Ignition

Here is the group after doing some hair art.
They had toothpicks and pantyhose to work with and had to explain the inspiration for their designs.

Welcome

Well. If you're reading this you're likely part or or connected to Menokin Youth in some way. We're hoping to use this blog as a way to keep up with scheduling, prayer requests and studies.
To get us started, we'll upload some photos from past youth events. If you like the photos, you can click on them directly and they'll go to a bigger version you can save to your desktop if you wanna print them out or save your own copies.
See you Wednesday!


And, don't forget;
Bowling night
Wed. Oct. 22
5:30 at the church
~ 9:30 back at the church
Questions? Call Maggie or Galon.