1, 2, 3, and 4. success.

i have no teaching or education training or experience. at all. but i do know that this past month contained a whole ton of test taking for tennessean students.

the teachers don't have papers in front of them, but i bet they feel like they're being tested, too. 

that moment for us Cubbies teachers happened last wednesday when the leader waltzed in and handed out construction paper telling all our adorable 4 year olds to draw a picture of their favorite thing about AWANA.  i was sitting on the floor overseeing an intense game of "frogs and alligators (some kids pretend to be frogs and either jump around on the carpet square-lillypads or just run around while the "alligators" wave their arms and run around chasing the frogs with no respect to the lillypads whatsoever.  it's a favorite.)  i decided to stay on the floor and offer a meager smile for whatever was about to come out their mouths or on their papers.  the leader went around, looking at the pictures and asking what on earth they had drawn (that's kinda the only way to know what it is).  one kid said "ceiling lights." another: snack.  a third had drawn his family.  i looked at the other teacher and she looked at me.  seriously?  a whole school year spent so they could learn… about snack time and ceiling tiles.

after coloring we two got them corralled up and sitting for Carpet Time one last time and asked them again what they had learned.  a couple more silly answers, a plea or two for a bathroom run, the always-available Sunday School Answer for Everything: "Jesus!!!". 

Hannah said something about Jesus riding on a donkey.  all the boys knew the Bible verse that went with that ("Hosanna, blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord!") and with a bit of prompting Michael, Eli, Isaac, Caiden, Lucas, Hannah and Faith were able to piece together the story they loved so much a month or two ago. Jack was trying to undo my watch and pull strings from the carpet square and taking his shoes off.

i looked Jack square in the face: "Jack, tell me something you learned about God or Jesus here at AWANA."

Jack: "uuummm, He died."

that's our Jack for ya.

Me: "no way!! what happened after that?"

Jack: "He rose again!!!" 

Game time next, which was always followed by our game leaders asking our kids what the Cubbies' motto is.  they love this part especially when the teachers play deaf and they have to yell it even louder.  to hear so much noise come from such tiny bodies is amazing in itself.  equally amazing is the truth they are shouting out though probably only a half a smidgen of it has sunk into their minds.  "Jesus loves me!!" is the barely restrained answer each week concluding game time.

AWANA's last official meeting was last week, and afterwards Ms Sherrie and i looked and smiled at each other.

8-10 four years olds spend an entire school year learning:

1. Jesus rode a donkey.

2. Jesus died.

3. Jesus rose again.

4. Jesus loves them.

if you can make a better list of things that every 4 year old on earth needs to know, then you can call AWANA a complete waste of time.

i am completely satisfied.  knowing the majority of my friends still take naps and think all Bibles come with google-eyed cartoon pictures doesn't upset me at all.  those little tykes easily made AWANA the best 90 minutes of my week.  i think i'd get some looks if i told anyone else in the building that, but whatever.

i think this past year was nothing short of a smashing success.