.I'm not a Mom yet..BUT.

Like I said, I am not a Mom BUT I am about to write a very "Mom-like" post. 

Take that as your fair warning ;)

Topic of discussion:

My first encounter.

I was first introduced to Veggies Tales when I was 14 years old. I was volunteering as a CIT (counselor-in-training) at Camp Orchard Hill in Dallas, PA. I was not a camper, I was considered a counselor and was much older than the campers..however..I felt like the kid sitting alone at lunch. Everyone at camp, and I mean everyone (including staff), knew about Veggie Tales. They could quote the characters and sing all of the songs and had inside jokes that could last a whole year! And there I was..completely left out. I was definitely not the cool counselor I always dreamed to be..I was known as the counselor who never even heard of Veggie Tales. It was the truth.

Why?

I was raised in a Christian home, attended Sunday school, church, youth group--you name it, I did it! Why were my group of friends and I in Northern New Jersey never exposed to Veggie Tales? I simply do not know.

Fast forward a few years.

My second encounter with Veggie Tales was in 2007 at Camp Tapawingo. This time I was Miss Katie, head counselor of the Commanche cabin. No more CIT for this girl ;) During staff training, my assigned group had to write the camp theme song all of the staff would sing during our welcome program. Sounds fun right? Well..my group decided to write lyrics to the tune of Veggie Tales songs..not just one song but songs--plural! AGAIN, I was that kid sitting alone at lunch. Everyone knew the tunes to every song. I never expected to be in this scenario again. The entire night I so badly wanted to participate in writing the song but I had no idea how many words, syllables, the lines had to be to fit with the melody. I was quiet. I'm not a quiet person. The other counselors had a blast remembering together the silly songs and laughed and laughed. Not me. 

Why?

I should have done my homework knowing I'd be working at a Christian camp with little girls who love Veggie Tales. Miss Katie FAIL.

Today.

If you have read my About Me post, you know I am a nanny for two darling little girls. Guess what--they had never heard about Veggie Tales! How the turn tables have...turned. I was thrilled when I discovered Veggie Tales on Netflix and even more excited when I realized I had a "reason" to watch them--Grace and Joy! The girls are 4 and 2 years old so this is absolutely perfect for them! The three of us have been watching Veggie Tales and have enjoyed every second! I am having so many "oh, this is where that's song from.." moments and "so this is what they were talking about.." It all makes sense. Just like that. Thank you Veggie Tales. 

Opinion on Veggie Tales.

Maybe because it is new to me BUT I love Veggie Tales. The creators were extremely clever in finding modern ways to discuss stories from the Bible. I am loving the lessons being learned from the shows which are good for both children and adults. The writing is perfect and will keep the children entertained and the adults laughing with the inside jokes directed toward them. It truly has been an amazing experience seeing how much Grace and Joy are learning and asking questions about Jesus and God. I love sharing the Lord with them. I love seeing the light bulbs go off in their little minds. I love watching as they incorporate what they have learned in the way they treat each other. I love singing the songs with them. I love Veggie Tales. 

If I had to pick.

If I had to pick a favorite, even though it is very difficult, I would choose Sweetpea Beauty. This short movie includes two episodes created for young girls to understand true beauty. It is "beautifully" written and clearly communicates the message. This particular topic, beauty, hits close to home as I have worked with young girls ages 11-14 for an entire summer at Camp Tapawingo. 11-14 is such a hard age, especially for girls. I remember those years for myself and the first things I picture are my braces, my acne, and my bushy eyebrows. Not exactly what the world accepts as beauty. Was I beautiful during those ages? Yes. Thankfully, during those ages, I knew my Heavenly Father and understood his love for me and that He created me. I was His masterpiece. My heart aches for girls who have low self esteem and do not feel "beautiful." There have been plenty of times when I, too, have felt this way but I cling to God's word and remember I was created in His image. While working with my campers, Psalm 139 was vital during devotions. I would like to share with you a few verses from this book.

Psalm 139:2-4

"You know when I sit and when I rise; 

you perceive my thoughts from afar. 

You discern my going out and my lying down; 

you are familiar with all my ways. 

Before a word is on my tongue 

you, LORD, know it completely."

Psalm 139:13-15

 "For you created my inmost being;
   you knit me together in my mother’s womb.
I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made;
   your works are wonderful,
   I know that full well. 

My frame was not hidden from you
   when I was made in the secret place,
   when I was woven together in the depths of the earth."

I love these verses. The words are powerful and true. Every time I read them I have to stop and thank Him, my Creator, for everything He has done. Sweetpea Beauty focuses on these verses and uses the characters to tell the story. The first episode is titled "Snoodlerella" and it is a spin on you guessed it--Cinderella. Snoodlerella is a young girl with, "glasses and braces, uncontrollable hair and cumbersome graces.." who longs to be beautiful. Snoodlerella finally understands she is beautiful from the King, her creator, at the ball. The King says to Snoodlerella, "I think you're beautiful. I treasure you deeply, you're lovely my child. I think you're beautiful..your hair and your braces..your glasses and clothes and cumbersome graces..and many more traits which I could speak of, there's nothing about you I don't truly love. Your kind and your honest, your funny and smart..you're really quite charming, you have a good heart. Daughter, I am the King, and I made you that way. I delight in your beauty, you are wonderfully made. I knew you before the foundation was laid, you're precious to me..every hair on your head. Daughter, see and believe." Ladies--Veggie Tales are amazing! Read those words again and delight in the truth. The second episode titled "Sweetpea Beauty" speaks about inner beauty and the heart. It focuses on Proverbs 31:30 which says, "Charm is deceptive, and beauty is fleeting; but a woman who fears the LORD is to be praised." 

I'm not a MOM yet..BUT..

I had to share this with you. Veggie Tales are wonderful and speak God's word in a fun, entertaining way for young children to understand and enjoy. I am well aware I am about 10-15 years late on actually watching a Veggie Tale, but I am so glad I finally did.

What do you think?

Have you been a fan since a child..since middle school..high school? Are you new to learning about Veggie Tales? Do your children enjoy the Bible stories taught? Mothers, will you show your young girls Sweetpea Beauty? What do you think? Like "they" say:


There's never ever ever ever ever been a show like Veggie Tales!
..However..
NO HOWEVER!