Trip to Lancaster

As part of Gideon's birthday celebration and an excuse to finally visit my aunt and uncle we took a trip up to Lancaster, Pennsylvania.

We drove among the Amish

Admired their clotheslines

Visited a Train Museum

Where they have a steam locomotive you can ride...sadly we couldn't that day.

But it was fun to watch steam in and out

We bought some local fresh made root beer

And pumpkins for $1

The main reason for being there was to see the Sight and Sound production of Noah which was spectacular! You got to be inside the ark with lots of animals--live as well as fake.

My family was also up there to see the sights and play

We had so much fun!

The other thing we saw while we were up there was a life size replica of the Tabernacle...it was quite amazing and had a wonderful tour. Well worth seeing if you're up there.

Creation Museum Trip

Our family has been planning a trip to the Creation Museum for some time and this past weekend we were finally able to go!If you have never been to the Creation Museum let me urge you to plan a trip there, it is a powerful testimony to God's Word and the truth of it and is very impressive with all their displays, dinosaurs, movies, planetarium, walk through of the creation and fall of man and the ark section. The planetarium cost a little more but was quite impressive!  The museum emphasizes the importance of having an absolute truth as found in the Bible as the foundation on which all of our understanding of ourselves, the world, nature and science is built. The evidences that support creation found through the museum are so amazing! It is appropriate for all ages as we discovered since we weren't sure how our three little ones would do but they loved it! Even with it being cold and not being able to enjoy a lot of the outside things (they have a petting zoo, gardens, camel rides) although Gideon did go with Joshua for a quick peek at the animals the children enjoyed all the displays and seemed to learn a lot! You never know how much they are taking in at this early age so we want them to start their education with a firm Biblical foundation. Also on a side note they are building a life size ark that will be nearby and will be a testimony and way to teach the world God's salvation--we are super excited about that project and look forward to many trips to see that as they build it, more information can be found here. Our trip was quite a long one as this is located in Kentucky--overall everyone did pretty well in the van for over 6 hours there and 6 hours back...

Chloe and I were the only ones brave enough to hold this snake as we walked into the museum--so cool! They were having a workshop on them later that we didn't go to.

Tirzah looking at the "dews" as she fondly calls deers, notice the antlers how it shows when God first created animals he created them as distinct kinds with the capacity to have great variety down the line.

Aunt Lydia was able to go with us which proved to be a great help as the the children love her very much and I think she enjoyed the experience as well!

I loved how they had displays that you could touch and that for children it wasn't all--no touch!

I felt drawn to this display of the Eve with child...I just feel like I look like that a lot lately...this is where it all started!

Chloe and I at the ark display--it is so fascinating, it is my favorite section of the museum!

Model that Gideon was looking at and commenting on the different animals!

Imagine our surprise and joy at finding out that Buddy Davis was at the museum to do a concert the day we were there! We have several of his dvds and Gideon recognized him immediately when he showed up saying "there's Buddy Davis". We had the opportunity to talk to him and of course get a picture. He is the man who sculpted all the dinosaurs in the museum and does dinosaur digs as well as writes great children's songs. Our favorites are "Billions of dead things" and "Behemoth".

Being able to "ride" a dinosaur was definitely a plus.

Chloe and a dinosaur as we waited for the rest of the family going through the displays...

Chik-Fil-A grand opening and a Flat Tire

So last week Joshua had to be gone for a whole week for a school conference about two hours away. We missed each other sorely and both had a hard time being apart in our separate ways. On Wednesday my sister Beth and my father-in-law were going to try and be one of the first 100 at a Chik-Fil-A grand opening (who get 52 free meal vouchers). The way it works is you show up at 6am the morning before the opening and they raffle off 100 spots for you to stay 24 hours (camping out) and they feed you and monitor to make sure you don't leave...well it would seem that even with rain it was such a good deal that there were close to 400 people who showed up before six in the morning...so our names wound up not being called sadly...the one disappointing thing is that people travel from out of state and go from grand opening to grand opening and so locals don't have that great of a chance. So we were prepared but it didn't work out, I'm glad to have another Chik-Fil-A nearby however. I decided to pack up the kids and head out to my parents house a day early since I had the time and was making my way leisurely down the road when someone honked and told me I had a flat tire...so I made my way to a big Sheetz I knew of close by. I then tried to reach Joshua and my brother who was close by since I wasn't too sure what I should do. I know how to change a tire but I wasn't too keen on doing it in the heat, being pregnant and having two little ones in the car...surely I looked pitiful enough for someone to offer help right? I did, in fact I had about four different men offer to help me and one of them worked really hard to get the tire off and then the tire was stuck and there was nothing he could do without the right tools...so by that time I called AAA and asked them to send someone out and I got a hold of my dear brother Zach who got permission from work to come and help me out for a while. So within 15 minutes I had someone with a tow truck come up and knew exactly what the problem was and had my spare tire on in no time and my brother came to help me with my little ones who were restless and I was able to even get a bathroom break! Zach also took me to a great tire shop that he knew of and they patched the hole and put the tire back on in a short amount of time...so I was back on the road, quite tired and about two hours behind when I thought I would be on it...but safe and well taken care of. The Lord is so good to take care of all of us especially the one time Joshua wasn't with us. I appreciated all those who offered me help...

300+ People waiting for the Opening

Andy, me and Beth

Triple A man who came out and fixed it real quick

Playing in the Tires

Uncle Zach to the rescue

Crazy Hair Girl

Visiting "Cousin" Zachary

On Wednesday I took Gideon and Tirzah and we went on a road trip with my brother Zach and his wife Amy Joy and my sister Beth and her husband Brandon! We were a van full! We went up to D.C. area to see our adopted Indian brother Bobby and his wife Bency and their two week (today) baby boy Zachary George! He is quite precious! So little, Tirzah looked huge around him! Gideon loved being able to have baby Zach on his lap...everyone did quite well for such a long day, we were in the car over 10 hours! We had fun however and it was so worth it to see my little nephew!!!

Bobby, Bency and Zachary

Tirzah eating lunch with Auntie Bethie

Uncle Zach being a bad influence and feeding my children sugar.

Amy Joy and Zachary

Two Zacharys

So little

Playing in the nursery

Gideon "holding" Zachary