ATI Conference, Big Sandy, Texas

Just a month ago I had no idea about this conference. In fact, in all my years of homeschooling I've never been to a conference. Grace read about the ATI conference and shared the website with me. The more we read, the more we wanted to go.
Most people register for this in January. We were just finding out about it in April! It's amazing how when The Lord wants you to be somewhere, He makes everything fall in place. We got registered and even found a hotel that wasn't booked (around 2000 people come to this event). Upon arrival, I went to purchase meal tickets for all of us. As I was putting my change away, the next lady in line behind me asked to purchase meal tickets. She was told that they were no longer available! God again met our needs. You see, our hotel is 30 minutes away from the site. There are not any places close by where we could even purchase a meal. I don't know what we would have done for lunch and dinner if we couldn't have purchased those tickets.
I've been continually blessed by the messages spoken each day. Some of my favorite speakers were Tom Harmon and David Gibbs. Each day there was music and more. One day a family of 9 (their ages looked to be 5-maybe 19) recited the whole book of James. Not just a chapter, but the whole book! Talk about hiding His word in your heart! What great role models for my girls.
Everyone was so genuinely nice. Everyone-children and adults alike. They announced having a special luncheon for widows and single moms. They even had a mechanic working on the cars that belonged to these ladies.
I just can't help but believe that these are people that are not only reading their Bibles but are living out the Word. What a breath of fresh air in this tainted world of ours. I'm walking away from this conference with a renewed spirit and lots of things to work on in my life. I think it's safe to say that we'll be attended more of these conferences in the future.

The Bahamas

After Disney World, we took a short flight from Orlando to Marsh Harbor, Abaco. With all the walking and waiting at Magic Kingdom and Epcot, we were worn out and needed a break! A short boat ride from Marsh Harbor landed us in Hopetown, Elbow Cay. We would call this minuscule island home for the next two weeks. Our only mode of transportation besides foot was an old golf cart we named General Lee. We could get from one end of the island to the other in about 25 minutes on General Lee. Our rental house was on the beach of the Atlantic Ocean. We spent a lot of time on the Sea of Abaco boating, snorkeling, and fly fishing. We also enjoyed combing the beaches for shells and sea glass. One day we visited the island's beautiful lighthouse. It was built in the 1800's by the British, and is one of only three working kerosene lighthouses in the world. The view from the top was spectacular.

It took a golf cart, a boat, a taxi, a plane, and our personal car to get us back home after a beautiful and restful stay on this quaint little island.

Dreams Do Come True

The last time our family went to Disney World, Emma was just 4 months old. The big girls and I made a scrapbook of the trip. When she got older, Emma would flip through the pages, and repeatedly say "I want go back to Disney!" A few weeks ago, her Daddy surprised all of us with a trip to Disney World. We packed in as much as we could in the short time we were there. Emma finally got to meet all her favorite princesses. The whole family had a fabulous time at the place where dreams really do come true.

Eucharisteo

For those of you that have visited here before, you probably notice some changes.  My background is different and my blog has a new name.  I think both reflect more of where I am in my life right now.

I've been so blessed-a wonderful husband of 18 years, 3 darling, healthy girls, a warm home, plenty of food-the list goes on and on.  Yet lately I find myself not completely happy.  I had a birthday a few weeks ago-they seem to come faster and faster; I weigh more now than I ever have in my life (despite eating healthy and exercising), etc.  These things have overwhelmed and consumed me for a while.

Just a couple of days ago I read this in my devotional (Jesus Calling) :
"When you focus on what you don't have or on situations that displease you, your mind also becomes darkened.  You take for granted life, salvation, sunshine, flowers, and countless other gifts from Me.  You look for what is wrong and refuse to enjoy life until that is 'fixed'.
When you approach Me with thanksgiving, the Light of My Presence pours into you, transforming you through and through.  Walk in the Light with Me by practicing the discipline of thanksgiving."

Then I came across this verse:
"Not that I was ever in need, for I have learned how to be content with whatever I have." Phil 4:11

I feel God is speaking to me and I hear Him.  He's telling me to open my eyes and look around me-to be thankful.  "Every moment I live, I live bowed to something.  And if I don't see God, I'll bow before something else.  (Ann Voskamp)  I'm striving to see God in everything-the good, bad, big and small-and to be thankful for each thing.  "And it's the Word of God that turns the rocks in the mouth to loaves on the tongue.  That fills our emptiness with the true and real good, that makes the eyes see, the body full of light." (Voskamp)

Eucharisteo-thanksgiving-always precedes the miracle.

I've decided to be content right where I am, in His arms.  Simply gratified.

Chicken Coop-Phase 1

I am so happy that phase 1 of my chicken coop is now complete!  We've been talking about building it for a couple of years.  Now it's here.  I enjoy going out there each day and just talking to my girls.  Here's a glimpse at our little coop:

here's the front-we reused wood from an old storage building

front entrance

nesting boxes

little ramp to go outside

back door and 'play' yard

roosting poles

back corner and their little wind chime