Have I Reached the End of This Road?

Roy & I had a date at the movies the other night. We were leaving the house after I put on a pair of shoes I hadn't worn in a while. I remember thinking the right shoe was a little snug compared to the left...not a big deal though. We made a stop on the way and then enjoyed the time off of our feet for a couple hours. When we walked out of the theatre I looked down at my feet. BOTH shoes...not just one, had holes where the stitching was undone. It was so strange...did someone get down there with scissors in the dark? C'mon... really??

I was so intrigued by this. It made absolutely no sense in the natural. So I was like... Lord, is this a sign or a wonder? I was really desiring discernment over this. The verse that I heard was...

Mark 2:22 And no one puts new wine into old wineskins; or else the new wine bursts the wineskins, the wine is spilled, and the wineskins are ruined. But new wine must be put into new wineskins.

It was then, a couple days later after having a horrible day that I found myself at the crossroads of Broken & Surrender. I had been praying, speaking, sharing, making lists for the last couple months or so of changes that I needed to make. Some old things I needed to walk away from & some new things I needed to embrace. I have reached the end of the road I have been traveling on...and Praise the Lord for that!! That road had detours like hardened heart, numbed & confused, bound & confined. The one main thing I have recognized through all of this is that I had given up my quiet time with the Lord each day. It really is no wonder why my life had so easily become such a mess and out of order.


My prayers can't be answered until I start traveling on this new road!! It was then that the above verse (Mark 2:22) was really resonating in my spirit. I experienced a peace that made no sense, right in the midst of the fierce battle that was raging inside of me between my flesh & my spirit. It was a good kind of numb, and quite strange to be free of emotion. Regardless of where I was, how badly I had been falling short...I was sure of my desire to rely on the Lord for direction and have a heart that is open and receptive to His leading. I am looking forward to the days ahead...His Love & Grace that will cover over me daily...even when I stumble or fall. I am sure of my victory and I look forward to the restoration of order on the way in many areas of my life in HIM.

The new shoes above have been transformed from the old...stripped down to be simple, open & transparent. Just as I desire my life to be! :)

Philippians 4:7 and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.

First Field Trip

It was homeschool day at the Orlando Science Center recently. The girls & I enjoyed a free day there...it was our first visit ever. There were 4 floors full of so many fun things to explore. On the first floor we got to see all these little gators, turtles, fish & a few other critters.

This was a really neat hands on area!

What a great visual for the girls of the aquafir! They had just recently asked Daddy about this too.

I loved this mural...it reminded me of some areas locally that Roy & I used to travel through by foot when we were dating.

Many types of animal tracks...trying to identify in the sand.

This was a cool scale showing your weight on some of the other planets.

The Kidstown area...lots of neat hands-on stuff!

Miss Amelia...

one silly & sweet girl :)

We are looking forward to visiting Kennedy Space Center sometime this year.

This was in the Grossology exhibit...all the yucky, gross bodily functions of our body were creatively shared in this area.

The hurricane simulator...they said they didn't like this one. :)

It's always fun to imagine, right?

Mia, Madi, Madeline & Sarah

Our last stop...the 4th floor...the dinosaur exhibit. Madeline had been patiently waiting for this one all day!

We also saw one of the Cinedome movies (like IMAX). It was one about the Grand Canyon.

The walkway back to the parking garage. What a blessed day we had...the time absolutely flew by!!

Hands- On & Fun...

"Grapevine Studies believes that students who are taught using reading, hearing, and drawing will have a higher retention rate than those who are just lectured. We also believe that teaching the Bible in a chronological and sequential format is best for long-term memory and life impact."

The girls & I were very excited to receive our new curriculum for Bible in the mail the other day. It is by a wonderful company called Grapevine Studies. We have chosen to do the Old Testament Overview with the girls this year. We will be stick-figuring our way through the Bible! I love the sweet touch added to their packaging...the hand written "Welcome" girl above. :)

What a fun way to learn about the Old Testament! It is a hands-on approach with all the drawings we'll be doing. It seems to be very simple with minimal supplies needed. Everything is laid out in the teachers edition (even the drawings) that will be taught. The reviews I have read on this product were outstanding with the multiple styles of learning that are woven into this. We are looking forward to all of us doing this together as a family this year!

Level 1-2 Old Testament Overview Teacher Book

Teacher Book: The Level 1-2 teacher book contains: timeline narrative, timeline, lesson notes, stick figure drawings, lesson goals & key points, memory verses, and review questions & answers.

Teacher Supply List: Bible, Grapevine Studies Teacher book, dry erase board & markers (8 colors), and Bible dictionary.

Level 2 Old Testament Overview Student

Student Book: The Level 2 Old Testament student book contains: timelines, lesson pages, memory verses, and reviews.

Student Supply List: Bible, Grapevine Studies Old Testament student book, and colored pencils.

If your visit their site you can even download some samples.