Welcome to Whit's End

If you aren't familiar with Whit's End then you have never listened to Adventures in Odyssey! From the time we talked about working the CO convention the kids were hoping to visit Focus on the Family while we were there, thankfully it worked out! We ended up spending almost 5 hours there! Into the IMAGINATION STATION (aka elevator!) when we got out we had traveled to a wonderful place.... Whit's end :)
There was a great toddler room where the little one had lots of fun too!

Here the kids are in Whits office

One of the highlights was getting to record their own Adventure in Odyssey
(about a mystery in Whits office)!

Here is CASEY one of the characters in the storyAnd this is JAMIE they both did a great job with the help of the sound crew who, got to make lots of sound effects: horses galloping, doors shutting, drawers, pencil sharpeners, sidewalks, gravel and more!
They would be happy to let you borrow "their" CD anytime ~
(then we could listen to something else!)

We also got to go through the wardrobe....

Into NARNIA!!! thankfully we found the lamp post so we could get home!

And last but not least was a stop at the Soda shop -- Y U M! Tutu even got the got the "to die for" Wodfamchocsod :)
(though we must not have gotten a photo of it - guess we were all busy eating!)
and if you are wondering....it stands for World Famous Chocolate Soda.

Make Your Own Wod-Fam-Choc-Sod

Eugene -- meet Eugene :) We were happy he just ate and didnt talk our ear off YEAH!

Yes, we shared a Sunday which made for a scrumptious end to a wonderful day!

We are so thankful for organizations that support families in a time when so much works to tear them down. Praying God blesses your family today too!

Joshua 24:15

¹⁵ But if serving the LORD seems undesirable to you, then choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve, whether the gods your forefathers served beyond the River, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land you are living. But as for me and my household, we will serve the LORD."

funny .... i am not sure what to say!

I keep thinking I should post about something, but for me when there is too much to say, I dont know where to begin! Actually when there is too much to DO, I don't know where to start! With all of our traveling this year and a baby keeping us busy I haven't gotten school "packed" up as I like too yet. This week I have pecked away at it, however the mountain is still pretty high! A friend had 4 of the children over for the whole day a few weeks ago, I just had the oldest and youngest.... you'd think that would mean LOTS would be accomplish.... well I realized how much all the others help! and what a horrible procrastinator I am! I did get through lots of books made a give away pile of ones we have outgrown or have doubles of, reorganized all the new books for this school year and moved out all of last years. this is where I really miss my sister Jill! She is an amazing de-clutter! sorta scary when she comes over I am afraid of what she will want to throw away but its a great balance for me the packrat! (still not sure how we are related :) )

well, thanks for letting me ramble... just had to get it out of my system I guess! Since starting this post we got the school room painted and are beginning to get it reassembled :) Feels good having a green room (instead of pink with floral boarder!) green should GROW creativity at least its more calming :) Well more of a sensible post soon just had to let you know we are still around just too busy with working, sorting and raising some great kids. Going to get my iced tea and attack the school room once again!

Blessings on your summer days
Amy Q

Thankful to be Americans

Thankful for the many freedoms we are able to enjoy today in the good ol' USA.the right to raise our children to know the one true God,
The right to gather with believers and worship our Lord,
The right to have our voice heard,
the right to go where we want to go
the right to smile freely :)
the right to wave the American flag
which stands for freedom
and we won't forget the men who died to give that right to us
And we'll gladly stand up next to you and defend her still today,
cause there ain't no doubt we love this land,
God Bless the USA!

Rocky Mountain Splendor

Wow. That is an understatement, in trying to sum up how blessed we have been traveling around this great country God has made! To see the mountains erupt from farmlands and then come down from the tundra of the mountain tops to the sun scorched land in the south was truly incredible to witness God's creative hand all over this great land.
We traveled to Denver CO, the mile high city, while there we squeezed in a trip to the Denver Mint getting a tour of the only US government department that MAKES $ (ha ha) We also toured the capital building, including a tour of the dome (yes up there ~ see the tiny spiral staircase? no we didn't climb that but we were right next to it!) From there it's an amazing view of the mountains!
After the homeschool convention, we spent Father's day in Rocky Mtn national park.
This had been a lake higher up on the mtn which broke through and is now a river; amazing the power of water, the boulders it moved were HUGE!
Ahh the view is just spectacular ~ yes I was just a wee bit nervous ~don't worry there was more of a ledge beyond them :)
Even Chuck did pretty good being up so high As we climbed higher and higher we were so thankful for a vehicle that could transport all of us. The thought of being in a covered wagon and attempting to cross these mountains is about impossible!
We made it to the highest point 12,000 something and enjoyed the snow at the top :)
Yes, snowballs were thrown and no, I did not get hit since I stayed in the van on baby duty!
And the camera specialist went for a few more optical illusions:
Lean on the mountain.....Hang on for you life! as we began to descend many of us suffered from the usual altitude dizziness and headache however when we got down everyone was feeling fine, with the exception of mom :( Maybe it was being overwhelmed with gratitude for all the modern conveniences that we have, or the grasping of this incredible blessing our family has to do all this traveling in between working or maybe it was just a plain old case of altitude sickness but I was knocked out the whole ride back to Denver, moaning along the way and wishing we had a bed in the van! when we finally reached the hotel the kids enjoyed dinner and a movie in the hotel "living room" while I crashed in our room! Didn't wake up really until morning at which point I felt MUCH better!
Especially knowing the history of this song.... it seems very appropriate to close with it.

O beautiful for spacious skies,
For amber waves of grain,
For purple mountain majesties
Above the fruited plain!

America! America!
God shed His grace on thee,
And crown thy good with brotherhood
From sea to shining sea!
(to see more verses click the link on the first line)

A Little Bit of History....

The lyrics to this beautiful song were written by Katharine Lee Bates (1859-1929) an instructor at Wellesley College, Massachusetts, after an inspiring trip to the top of Pikes Peak, Colorado, in 1893.

New every morning

It's been awhile since I have shared any devotional thoughts ~ there are alot of ponderings in my head so bear with me as I share some of them!

Because of the LORD's great love we are not consumed,
for his compassions never fail.

They are new every morning;
great is your faithfulness.

Lamentations 3:22-26

~A year ago today a 17 year old, Nathan N was taken to his heavenly home - as we grieve for his family, who feels the loss every day, we cling to the promise God gives, of new compassion each morning.
~We celebrated with Zephan and Katie who were married today - May your new life together be covered with God's great love and faithfulness.

"He has made everything beautiful in its time. He has also set eternity in the hearts of men; yet they cannot fathom what God has done from beginning to end."

Ecclesiates 3:11

Years ago Steve and Tutu (who was about 3) shared this verse in our church's advent service and talked about a tapestry. Our lives can look like a bunch of strings all messed up.... but from God's heavenly view... its a beautiful tapestry all woven perfectly.As we make plans for tomorrow and look forward to our futures we cling to the hope we have in Christ. Sometimes things around us seem so normal or routine and we long for excitement and change ~ look to the Lord and seek HIS plans for you! When times are hard to understand, lack of direction, loneliness, loss of moms or dad in their prime, loss of children and babies, lack of work, orphans longing to have a forever family, lost souls seeking pleasure and peace in earthly things~ hope in the Lord and allow his grace to cover you!

"Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have gained access by faith into this grace in which we now stand. And we rejoice in the hope of the glory of God. Not only so, but we also rejoice in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope. And hope does not disappoint us, because God has poured out his love into our hearts by the Holy Spirit, whom he has given us."

Romans 5:1-5

Today, I am thankful that each day is a new gift from the Lord ~ that whatever comes my way I can choose to serve Him with a joyful heart so He receives glory and honor and praise! We don't know what tomorrow holds.... but we know WHO holds tomorrow! :)

A simple prayer to start your day:

Good morning God,
This is your day
I am your child,
Show me your way

Find us Faithful (an older post you may enjoy)

H2O

1 John 5:6 This is the one who came by water and blood—Jesus Christ. He did not come by water only, but by water and blood. And it is the Spirit who testifies, because the Spirit is the truth.

John 4:14
But whoever drinks the water I give him will never thirst. Indeed, the water I give him will become in him a spring of water welling up to eternal life.

The Deeper Meanings of Snoopy 2...

Do you know a Linus that seems to know everything?
In 1 Thessalonians 2:4 it says We speak as men approved by God to be entrusted with the gospel.
We are not trying to please men but God, who tests our hearts.

(Zeke)

Do you have a Sally in your life? Someone who watches you and tries to act like you? Do you set a good example for them? In Proverbs 20:¹¹ Even a child is known by his actions,
by whether his conduct is pure and right.
Make sure that you are acting in a godly manner.

(Tess)

Do you have a Patty in your life? Someone who wants to spend time with you? ( not just girls for you guys, or guys for you girls) . Do you give them a good example of friendship, by being friendly to others. In Philippians 2:1-3 it says
¹If you have any encouragement from being united with Christ, if any comfort from his love, if any fellowship with the Spirit, if any tenderness and compassion, ²then make my joy complete by being like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and purpose. ³Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourselves.

(Laura)

Is there a Schroeder in your life? A Person who is very talented in many areas? Peter says

^"11If anyone speaks, he should do it as one speaking the very words of God. If anyone serves, he should do it with the strength God provides, so that in all things God may be praised through Jesus Christ. To him be the glory and the power for ever and ever. Amen." 1 Peter 4:11
don't look at others and judge them or yourself, look to God and believe in yourself and do your best to encourage others, and to better yourself.

(Joel)