Super Weekend

We had so many blessings over the past couple weeks

-We had clothes to wear to keep warm inside :)  we didn't actually need all these inside since the gas fireplace and electric heaters worked pretty well.

This picture was on the record breaking low day when it was a bit chilly inside

 -We had no where to go so we had plenty of time for fun things like painting!

 -We got to draw for sale signs advertising planet earth- we are really enjoying Apologia Exploring Creation with Astronomy but often don't get to the activities. I've been learning a lot along with the kids!

Probably our most exciting blessing was the snow/ ice! The kids loved it. It "cured" C and T several times of their stomach aches- at least long enough to go sled some. The kids had a blast sledding and snowboarding all over the yard. BG thought it was a bit cold for her but the big kids could go do it all by themselves so we were all happy! I had to drag them in several times just to warm up!

Even though we had tons of blessings, by Friday last week we were all ready to go do be blessed out of our house for a little bit :) We decided to go to the planetarium but when we got there we found out that the visitor parking lot was far from the planetarium and none of us were excited about a long walk in 15 degree weather. So we went to Clark Park and enjoyed the nature center.

Girls were excited to see turtles digging tunnels

All the kids enjoyed all the animals- live and stuffed.

 I was so glad we were able to go to some of Manna's Reach Out Celebration.  I wanted to go Thursday night to the kick-off but we were still recovering from sickness and it was 5 degrees outside and 55 inside so we stayed home. Which turned out good because the kids would have been in childcare Thursday night while i listened to the sermon. Instead we stayed home and watched Little Red Wagon- loved it! We all loved it- great true story and great message about giving to others, you're never too young to make a difference, see a need and meet it, ...  Since I didn't hear the sermon we listened to it today during naptime. With the heat out, we've all had rest time together in front of the fire place. Usually everyone just rests with books but today we listened to the preacher of the LA Dream Center  speak on following God (Pr 3:5,6) so good!

Back to Friday night, Manna's theme for the night was World's Fair. They had cotton candy, popcorn, face painting, fancy balloons, games ...

our princess

One princess and two pirates- (or maybe Old West cowboys)- they liked being pretty scruffy

We spent the most time playing Bingo. When we walked in, a greeter gave each of us a Bingo card with at least a dozen ministry partners listed on it. If you got signatures from all the ministry partners, you could turn your card in for a drawing to win a free short term mission trip. So it took us almost two hours (which is long for me at the end of the day :) but we talked to all of the ministry partners. We got to hear about local ministries like the Dream Center which ministers to homeless, poor, needy right here in Fayetteville and RUSH which teaches school kids about Christ. (The kids really liked their booth because you got to shoot a nerf gun at a target and answer a question about student rights.) We also talked to ministry partners who work in foreign countries helping rescue trafficked girls, who go to unreached people groups across the globe, who train missionaries to go to hard places, ... So good to hear stories and see how lives are being changed around the world. We added several people/ ministries to our prayer board including a young girl who was rescued from being enslaved and is now leading a house church! A super night! I wish Manna would add some of the video clips of the ministry partners but this tells some about them.

Saturday morning we were blessed by a friend offering to pick up some groceries for us- so sweet! We made up for lost baking time by making lots of pancakes and muffins. Then Saturday afternoon we went to a friend's for pizza night! Super! Love my Mommy friends and the kids loved seeing their friends. Plus pizza and chocolate cake- great night!

Sunday we went to church- super message and wonderful picnic after church. I am so thankful to have such a great church here. And then a nice relaxing afternoon at home ended our week well!