3.07.2011

.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!

17 comments:

  1. Very cool! I love Mr. Nezzer and the Chocolate Factory... "Because we work real hard at the chocolate factory. we start at 8 and we don't get lunch till 3...." So many memories...

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  2. I was exposed to Veggie Tales in high school and loved them. My niece is not allowed to watch the ones based on Bible stories anymore-haha. I know that sound weird, but she was getting them mixed up with the real stories.

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  3. Loved this post Katie!! i was in middle school & my sisters were in elementary school, and I can remember watching them over and over on too many sundays to count :) Just like you said, they're clever and funny and they have the cutest songs...but most importantly they share wonderful Bible stories in ways that make it easier for children to grasp and apply to their lives! Thank you for sharing the sweet story of Sweetpea Beauty and those touching verses from Psalms that remind us all that we were made by the Master's loving hands...very inspiring! :)

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  4. I started watching them in high school. My favorite is Josh and the Big Wall. "keeeep walking, but you won't knock down our wall. Keep walking, but she isn't gonna fall. It's plain to seeeee your brains are very small to thinking walking will be knocking down our wall." I also just love the sing along ones. My favorite silly song... either the Sabu song or the SUV one.

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  5. I am with Annie on my fave episode of Veggie Tales! "Keep walking..."
    SO funny!
    I totally was in to these in high school...they were funny and whimsical, but we have kind of taken the same approach to them as April's family. The ones that are about "topics" are really cute and bring up great discussion, but the ones that "retell" the Bible stories have caused some issues when my kids don't know the truth from the movie. We have had to be careful as to which ones we let them watch...Madame Blueberry is another favorite...full of silliness and a good lesson!
    Great post, Katie!

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  6. aww Katie, you always manage to speak to my heart. I have had self esteem issues for as long as I remember and when my daugther was born I promised myself I was going to instill self confidence in her. I love the idea of having her watch the Sweetpea Beauty.....xox
    Lu

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  7. Katie, had you heard of your Minnesota connection to the Veggie Tales? The two co-creators met while working in a puppet ministry and attending St Paul Bible College which later became Crown College in MN.

    That's where Naomi and Nathan both graduated from and they both were married in the campus chapel. Like your husband, Veggie Tales got its start in the land of 10,000 lakes.

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  8. Both of my kids were big fans of Veggie Tales when they were little and we still have all the movies/DVDs and CDs. We even had some of the toys and stuffed animals but eventually the kids grew out of those. LOVE Veggie Tales!

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  9. Katie, not sure how we missed these. I remember hearing about them when I was teaching SS with the 4 & 5 yr olds and then when babysitting the Breitz's girls. They loved, and I was not too crazy about it, the Silly Song video. Vegetables jumping around with no arms. I remember watching Esther over and over. The stories are told in fun way for kids to remember. Smart writing and it certainly holds kid's attention. Glad you are just discovering them. On CBD you can the entire catalog of them, so many now.
    Enjoy

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  10. you've been an inspiration to those of us not so creative and I've chosen to feature you tomorrow in my Inspire before you Expire campaign. Hope you come by and check it out! I also wanted to make the offer of turning one of your creations into a giveaway. If your interested just let me know. thank you for the inspiration!Feel free to grab a "i was featured" button if you'd like too.
    {tara} from Undeserving Grace

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  11. Great post, Katie! And so true and inspiring. I like a lot of the episodes. The I ain't got no belly button song cracks me up. ;) Thanks for visiting Clearly Candace and commenting on my Veggie Tales Party post! It was a fun, simple one to do.

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  12. Miss Katie, a giant grin was upon my face when I read about tapawingo :D

    and, you read those verses to us one night during devos. Ah, sweet sweet memories.

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