Seeing the Falls was amazing.  As we got closer the sound of the water grew louder. We couldn't wait to see what was ahead. Seeing Niagara Falls was incredible,  but seeing it from a boat was spectacular.

COSI was amazing!  We loved Rat Basketball and riding the bike across the wire and ...There was so much to do! We even had yogurts made by a robot.

St. Louis is a great city with lots to do. It was an enjoyable day. A few of the things that are fun to do might include going to the ball park, walking around downtown (make sure to check out the splash pad), and of course seeing the arch is a must.

- C

check out my mom's post about trying new things

After celebrating the birthday of one of mom's best friends in Okc,  we came to Joplin.

Mom hasn't been back to her college town since she brought dad her to meet her friends when they were dating 12 years ago. So much has happened to Joplin since 1999 when she moved. It's a beautiful example of the strength and tenacity of the people here. The people that she knew in college. 

The family that wrapped her up like on be of their own and took care of her throughout her time in college, once again took us in tonight,  entertained us and loved on us (and let us swim). It was good.

God is good.

All the places and people before brought us to the road we're on today. Right in the middle of His blessings.

A beautiful Sunday morning,  connecting to God through nature,  GWC stlye. Walking the park grounds,  encountering nature and wildlife in the still - and mostly quite was beautiful.

We went to Papa and Memaw' s first to drop our dog off. She's not always a nice dog, but she likes Memaw and plays well with Fiona, their dog.  We had In and Out Burgers and a birthday party!

It's always fun to stay with Papa and Memaw.

The Thinkery used to be Austin Children's Musuem.  With a new location,  a new look, and some new exhibits, it was a new experience. It's still incredibly hands on and very science focused but it seemed to have a wider variety of experiences for a larger age range.

For all our Lubbock friends,  we got in free with our musuem membership from the Science Spectrum. There is a reciprocal agreement between quite a few museums.  We even got into a musuem in Ohio using the same passes!

Every year Mom tries to take off work to help with VBS.  Nana used to do the same thing for her kids when they were little. There is something special that happens when a "village" come together to train the children in the way they should go. Blessings flow. Every year, when we start to think I'm too busy or too... whatever, I'm thankful that we are reminded of the blessings that come from such a small sacrifice. 

Not only blessings on the adults, but on our children. The friendships, the lessons, and the scripture memory are phenomenal blessings to our children. Most importantly, though is the love that is shared and multiplied throughout the week. This year, finding God's love was the theme of VBS. God's love is the treasure. Oh, is it ever. We pray that the people involved with VBS this week remember what a treasure God's love truly is.

There was something special about it all this week. Perhaps it was a friends marriage on the rocks while another is expecting a baby or a town surrounding a coach in prayer for health issues so soon after tragically loosing another teacher. Without the love and support of the church, in whatever form that takes, those situations could seem impossible, insurmountable, but surrounded by a village, maybe it's not.

From the lessons about loving people when no one else does, like the Samaritan Woman or Zacchaeus to lessons about obedience, like when Jesus was baptized or crucified to lessons about forgiveness and redemption like when Peter told Jesus three times that he did love him, the love is evident. The application of the principals are timeless. What a gift, what a treasure, it is to know that love.