Where Would We Be?

The big yellow bus pulled up filled to overflowing.  And that is when it happened.  A young boy, Nathan's age, tapped my arm.  "Can we go and play?" he asked.

As I fought through tears I explained not right now.  He seemed to be okay.  And then he was back, "Can we go play?" I told him we could go inside to hear the stories and watch a play.  I would go with him and sit beside him if he would like.  He declined, went through the door and found his seat.

A young boy, with a water bottle filled with cereal hops off the bus "drinking" the dried cereal from his bottle.

A 13 year old girl with a smile and a heart that would light up any room.  So so sweet, such a joker.  When I introduced myself I was told, "Yea I know who you are." (My name was in the shirt I was wearing.)

A young mother, pregnant with her 5th child.  May 21st her brother passed away from diabetes.  3 weeks later her mother died from slcerosis.

"If you are going to truly make an impact, start as young as you can." Wise advice shared by someone who has invested in this community for ten plus years.

This Tuesday evening was like none other for me.  It is the point where my heart broke.  As I stood over looking the plains of South Dakota and the took in the views of the Oglala region thoughts of breaking generational behaviors flooded my emotions.

There is an entire generation being left to raise themselves just like their parents.  Alcoholism is rampant.  The feeling of hopelessness is all around which leads to unbelievable rate of suicide.  Cutting, abuse both physically and mentally....you name it.  It is there. Only on a much higher scale.

Where would I be without a faithful mother who stood firm on the truths of the Bible?  Would I be just another statistic?  Where would I be without the love and forgiveness of my Heavenly Father?  Where would I be?

These children need to know there is a better way.  These children need to know what true and genuine love looks and feels like.  These children need to know that they can be the ones who make the change.

But how will they know if there isn't someone there who can show them.  How will they know there is another way if all they see is hopelessness and despair?

What are we doing to show these precious little ones there is another way?  This is happening right before our very eyes.  People and children are suffering all over the world, but this is happening right here.  In the home of the free and the brave.  This is happening where you have every opportunity you can imagine.

Even in Pine Ridge South Dakota on the reservation there are church buildings that are erected all around.  But is the church truly doing what is commanded of them?  Are we so blinded by our every day comings and goings that we stop to truly see the need that has surrounded us?

Where would we be if someone hadn't care?  Where would I be if someone hadn't prayed?  Where will they be if we refuse to be the ones who care, pray and show them not only our love, but most importantly the Love of Christ?

Rob & Kathi Dyer, Tyler & Ayren Dykstra THANK YOU for being obedient to call God placed before you.  THANK YOU for not turning a blind eye and showing the love of Christ to so many who desperately need it!

God Bless!

~Misti~

New Introductions

This is part of a multi-part set of postings that I am going to be sharing about the trip to South Dakota that Phil & I were blessed to take.

Day 3

Today was very good.  Phil and I had the opportunity to travel alone with Dave.  We (I) woke at 5am AGAIN.  At 8 we meandered to Dave's and he took us through his field and around the dirt roads of Nebraska to Pine Ridge to meet Bamm.

Yes, those are cows you see.  We drove right through the fields on the roads Dave made to keep track of his cattle he raises.

Before we got to Bamm's home we stopped at Big Bats the local convenience store.  For the first time in my life I realized what it was like to be a minority.  I felt very uncomfortable for a moment, while there was really no reason to.  I just have never been one of the only "white" people in an environment.  And once again, a teachable moment arose and I (thankfully) was able to recognize it.

I have always taught my children that people are people.  God doesn't see color, race, wealth, etc etc.  We all bleed red, is something that has been used before in our household.  And so it was time for me to truly live out what I have taught my children.  All I could think of were the lyrics from "Jesus Friend of Sinners" by Casting Crowns.

Jesus, friend of sinners

Open our eyes to the world at the end of our pointing fingers

Let our hearts be led by mercy

Help us reach with open hearts and open doors

Oh Jesus, Friend of sinners, break our hearts for what breaks yours 

The very next segment of lyrics that ran through my head were from Brandon Heath "Give Me Your Eyes"

Give me your eyes for just one second

Give me your eyes so I can see

Everything that I keep missing

Give me your love for humanity

Give me your arms for the broken hearted

Ones that are far beyond my reach

Give me your heart for the ones forgotten

Give me your eyes so I can see

And that was all I needed.  To take the focus off myself and onto everyone else and to truly have the desire to see them the way God sees them.  I am so glad that I can honestly say that was the ONLY time I truly felt that way which became the start of meeting some remarkable people.

We traveled up the road to Bamm's home where we were greeted by Mrs. Doubtfire, a vicious chihuahua.  (Well, I guess vicious wasn't really the word I should use for her.)  She wanted us to believe she was vicious.  

Bamm immediately welcomed us and I took my spot on the couch under one of the largest mounted Buffalo heads I have ever seen.  Bamm shared his life story and truly showed us his ingenious, never give up attitude.  He is a true diamond on Pine Ridge Reservation.  

As Phil and I talked with him about needs among the Lakota people Bamm shared, "There are some of us who really want to work."

I totally admired his passion to show the Youth of the Lakota Tribe there is a better life and they can do something with themselves.

We had a rich time of exchanging gifts with one another and he brought out The Crazy Horse Staff he uses when he leads The Crazy Horse Ride.  It was such a breath of fresh air to see someone take such initiative and have a vision to truly make life on the reservation a positive experience for The Lakota people.

We didn't want to keep him too long.  He had a swimming pool/slide to set up that was donated.  He has a beautiful piece of property where he encourages youth to come and hang out whether it is cooling off on a 100 degree day with his swimming pool & slide or camping & riding horses.

So we loaded back into the Hunter Green Chevy Blazer & road tripped back to Nebraska to meet up with the rest of our crew. 

That night Phil and I were able to thank Creator for the new friend and contact that he brought into our path.

Thank you, Bamm Brewer, for opening your home & sharing your heart with us.  We look forward to continuing to get to know you.

~Misti~

Storms

This is part of a multi-part set of postings that I am going to be sharing about the trip to South Dakota that Phil & I were blessed to take.

Day 2 Cont.

"What are you expecting from this trip to South Dakota?"  I can not tell you how many times that question was asked of me before I left.

If you weren't one of the ones who asked that question and you really want to know my response, you are in luck!

I would reply, "I don't have any expectations."  Of course I would smile.  But I honestly, went on this journey with NO expectations what-so-ever.  Maybe that is why so many things up to this point (1/2 through day 2) really didn't throw me for a loop.  If you were with me on the trip you quickly learned my motto "Go With The Flow".  And quite honestly, I am so glad that we were able to adapt this attitude to truly allow God to do what he wanted while we were there.

With that said, while traveling to Rapid City Sunday morning.  I learned something new.  It doesn't matter how cool it is when you first wake up in the morning.  It gets warm VERY quickly.

I started my morning at 5:00am and 66 degrees.  In a few short hours we were at 88 and it only went up from there!  I also learned that while I absolutely LOVE warm (some would say hot) temperatures, 100 degrees consistently is really just HOT!  They don't have the humidity that we have here, so it was nothing but heat.  Not a lot of drenching sweat.  And I like that!

After a gorgeous drive we arrived at 

We couldn't have timed everything more perfectly.  As we were pulling into spot #31 to drop off our rental car Phil got the text that Kathy had landed.

After a rental car exchange and some hugs we were back on our way to Nebraska.  By the time we pulled into the cabin our entire gang for the week had arrived.  We were greeted by Kelly & Damian (who ventured the trip to South Dakota by driving from their home in Florida.)

Everyone got settled in for the week & we had a very relaxing afternoon.  

Later that evening we got into the van and made our first mini trip onto the Reservation.  Damian and I were the "newbies" so we both had a quick look at where we would be spending most of our time the next week.

And then, wouldn't you know it the sky went from this.

To this:

And all of this took place in a very short period of time.  We were thankful that our trip to the Reservation ended up being shorter than we originally planned and while we did have some pretty strong winds and rain that we drove through.  Within 10 minutes, our view from the cabin looked like this.

As I sat on the back porch looking out at the sky I was reminded of yet another life lesson that I had really been living for the past year or so.  And something I really watched someone people very near and dear to not only my heart, but also my entire family go through and learn.

Life is totally full of unknowns.  None of us are granted the next month, week, day, or even second.  We may think that we have things all planned out.  Life may look like that it is going to work out just as you have in your mind.  

But many times, just like the storms that roll through the plains of Nebraska and South Dakota at a moments notice.  Your life can take a drastic change from what it originally looked like.

It is during those times when our true character begins to show through and the real growing takes place.

I heard a statistic that said every 10 years you are going to be struck with some sort of unexpected emergency in your life.  What that emergency looks like can take many forms.  What I do know is that whether my emergency means that my house needs to be resided & reroofed from a hail storm or that a major healthy concern hits our family.  It is going to happen.  And when that storm blows through I have learned the following: 

• Live each and every moment to the absolute fullest that you can.  
• When faced with a storm that is blowing your way, know that it isn't going to be there forever.  Just like the storms that blew through our area.
• They come.
• Sometimes they are unexpected
• Most of the time very inconvenient.  
• However, just hang in there & soon enough it will have blown over.

How about you, have you had any storms blow through your life recently?  Have you had some moments just going about your every day life that God has taught you something?  

Share! Chances are someone can either relate with you or can really benefit knowing that they aren't the only one who is in the moment that they are.

~Misti~

Scenery of Life

This is part of a multi-part set of postings that I am going to be sharing about the trip to South Dakota that Phil & I were blessed to take.

DAY 2

5:00am comes much earlier in South Dakota than it does at home.  I certainly am not used to Mountain Time.  The rain storm calmed the high temperatures and it was 66 degrees out while I sat on the porch and enjoyed God's beautiful creation.

We were greeted by Dave.  He had been out bright and early in his Honda checking on all of the cattle as well as for any smoke that he may see.  They have had such a dry summer that any time a storm blows through the area like it did last night, the chance of a fire starting from lightening is very high.

Phil went to the "bomb shelter" to retrieve our rental vehicle.  Remember in my last post found here I promised that I would share photos of the shelter we used for our vehicle to keep it safe from the hail.  I know some of you have been up late at night wondering what in the world such a shelter could look like...so now you no longer have to wait anymore.  Seriously though, it is so common to have areas underground like this and by the end of our 2nd day in this area, I completely understand why!

It seriously was pretty cool and it kept our Chevy Equinox nice and dent free.

Driving from Nebraska (where our cabin was) to South Dakota (where we did everything) I realized that I really am not used to being able to see so many miles ahead.  As Phil and I cruised down the road at 70-75 mph, the sun was shining, the sun roof was open and we had worship music blaring through the speakers.  It was a glorious morning of worship, even though we were unable to be at church.

As we were driving I took this photo. 

 Several miles later we were looking at this.  And when I say several I mean 37 miles later.

And as we continued to drive the same area I had been staring at for over an hour looked like this.  It was at this moment I realized that I truly have lived a much more sheltered life than I ever thought.  I honestly had never been some place where you could see so far ahead and as we got closer and closer the scenery looked completely different.

You know, it is kind of like our life.  So many times I look ahead at my schedule and I think I have the clearest view of what is going to happen.  I mean, it is all planned out and everything is clear and concise on paper.  And as time goes on and we get closer and closer the planning and "scenery" starts to change shape and look.  This used to throw me into a tailspin.  What was I going to do?  How am I handle this or that?

However, just like when we were traveling toward these hills in South Dakota, we had to keep going.  I wasn't able to tell Phil, "STOP!  We can't go any farther.  This is all I can take."  Just like our life we just keep traveling and traveling and traveling and before you know it you are passed that scene in life and ready for the next scene of life, whatever that may look like.

Every single one of us will experience highs and lows in our life.  Every single one of us will look at a situation and see one thing and then all of a sudden that scenery will change.

What happens to you when the scene changes?  Does your life crumble down around you?  Do you have a hope that not matter what is thrown at you you can persevere?  It may not be smooth strait paths, but there is something in you that helps you to know that everything will be okay.

I am reminded of a little wall hanging that is at my kitchen window.  It says:

"I may no know what the future holds

But I know who holds the future"

What does your scenery look like right now?  Take some time to loosen the grip of the wheel and allow God to direct you down the road.  It may not be smooth sailing, but I can assure you that He is the one who holes the future and has a much clearer picture of the final scenery than you or I could ever have.

~Misti~

The Conclusion of Day 1

This is part one of a multi-part set of postings that I am going to be sharing about the trip to South Dakota that Phil & I were blessed to take.

Day 1 (part 2)

We were making our way to the airport and that is when Phil's cell phone rang.  It was Kathy (our trip organizer) frantic.  She had missed her early morning flight and there was no flights that she was going to be able to get on until the following morning.

Again...God showed up.  Not a single bit of worry or panic came over either of us.  "No Problem," Phil said and we continued on our way.

We just so happened to be flying out of the same airport that Kathy was (another non-coincidence because we typically fly from a different airport).  However, we were able to meet up with her and she gave us the necessary paperwork we would need when we touched down in Rapid City and we were on our way.

The day couldn't have been more perfect.

Our first flight was waiting for us at our gate when we arrived.

The flight to Denver was on time!

Phil had one last final moment of being upright.

 And then it was time for him to "squeeze" into his spot on the plane.  It was at that moment I realized why he doesn't really care for flying all that much.  Planes really aren't made for people who are 6'5''.

Our next set of flights were just as uneventful.  

Proof that I really did fly with Phil.  (Please don't mind the HORRIBLE photo.)

Up, Up, Up above the clouds.  There really is NOTHING like it.

We have ARRIVED!!!

This is the very first glimpse I had of South Dakota Landscape.  Can you say BEAUTIFUL!?  WOW!  There is so much sky.  I seriously could NOT get enough of it.  I constantly found myself looking at the sky and the clouds and the way the sun was shining through the clouds and it was just breath taking!

Oopps.... I got away from what my journal was saying.  I'm only inserting this blurb because I find it quite funny now that I am reading what I wrote.  And now, I will begin to continue typing what my journal that day said.

My 1st thoughts:

WOW!  How beautiful!!  You literally can see for miles and miles and miles.  I remember teasing Phil about how all of his pictures from last year were sky pictures.  Now I know why! How can you NOT take pictures of the sky?  (Obviously, that made quite an impression on me.)

My 2nd Observation:

There is NOTHING but fields of Angus beef and an occasional group of horses.  That's it!

And the rays of sunshine reaching from the heavens down to the earth-- I have NEVER seen such glorious rays as I did today.

Towns are few and far between (and I thought we had nothing!)  And directions to our cabin in Nebraska were as follows:

Turn Left at the gas station

Go NORTH 4 miles

Turn EAST 1 mile

NORTH 4 miles

WEST 1 mile

God was definitely with us because THEY ACTUALLY WORKED!  No road names or numbers required.  haha

We were greeted by Dave & Pat and their precious dog Mia.  (The owners of the cabin.)  I felt like I have known them for years.

We unloaded the car just in time to get it parked in a fall out shelter to keep it safe from the hail. (I named it the bomb shelter pictures to follow in tomorrows post.)
And then the wind came & rain & lightening & you betcha HAIL!

The locals searched for wildfires as Phil and I drifted off to sleep.  I was exhausted and couldn't keep my eyes open at 8:50pm (local time.)  Then I realized it was 10:50pm back home.  And I had been up since 4:00am back home time.  No wonder I was able to sleep through the heavy winds & rain.

And that concludes our 1st day of our trip.

~Misti~

The Early Awakenings

This is part one of a multi-part set of postings that I am going to be sharing about the trip to South Dakota that Phil & I were blessed to take.

I have spent several days praying and pondering how I should recap our trip to South Dakota.  I was able to write while we were gone each day and as I sat down today to begin the typing process, I pulled out what I wrote and decided I will start by sharing my raw, vulnerable journal that I kept while there.

Day 1

I awakened to the urge to go to the bathroom.  It was 4am.  As I made my way back to the bed, I tried hard NOT to open my eyes too much because I needed to get to sleep in order to make our 5:30am departure time from the house.

U-N-S-U-C-C-E-S-S-F-U-L!!!!

While lyrics of Wobble (Click here so you can also have the song stuck in your head!) flowed through my head--my mind would not shut off.  Which meant my wake up nudge from Phil at 5:00am was met without any resistance.

Into the bathroom I went.  Finding my David Crowder Pandora station to get me moving.  My morning started.

The following links are the songs that came through my iPad as I was getting ready for this journey.

After All by David Crowder

Holy is the Lord Chris Tomlin

How Great is Our God Chris Tomlin

Those songs were blaring as I was showering.  And then it happened, my thoughts could not get away from Jason.  I can't explain it.   I felt this overwhelming peace & presence.  It was unlike any other experience I have ever had.  (For those of you who may not know, Jason is my precious friends late husband who went to heaven earlier this year after battling cancer.)

And then..... Beloved Tenth Avenue North came on. 

You must realize, the moment that I got the call that Jason had passed & was now meeting his Savior I immediately found myself on youtube playing different music.  I was also passing music along to Jason's wife.  Music has become our therapy throughout all of this.  Beloved was played over and over and over again that day.  The song holds many memories/meanings for me.  

As soon as this song began playing the tears began to flow like a river.  Of course, I sent a quick early morning text to Debbi.  Sharing my morning experiences and explaining how no penny was needed this morning (We constantly find pennies from heaven reminding us of Jason.)  Jason shared his presence in a totally new way with me this morning.

Through a few text messages later, I found my precious friend was also awakened at 4:00am and had been praying.

Coincidence?  NO.WAY!  Looking back now I can totally see how God was already preparing us for an incredible trip and there was NOTHING we could have done to orchestrate any of this.  

I never expected to wake up super early and hear the songs in the series that I did.  I NEVER expected to have an amazing remembrance & feeling of Jason's presence with me.  And I certainly didn't think that my precious friend, Debbi would have awakened at the precise time I had and started praying.    

That is just how God works in mysterious ways.  We certainly can NOT see our future, but we can certainly rest in the fact that there is someone who is crazy in love with us that does.  

And that precious friends is how our journey began....

~Misti~

Family Meal Times

I was reading my favorite Blog this morning and after reading through some of the comments (something that I NEVER do) my brain was whirling.

Family meal times....what do yours look like?  Our meal times is something we have tried really hard to make a priority.  But I must admit, it is something that we have battled with from time to time.  There were many times we could have won the award for the most chaotic or most spills in one sitting.  I'm sure some people looking in our windows may have wondered what strange circus act they were viewing.

Our first struggles started when we first brought home our bundle of joy.  It never ever mattered what I did when I sat down to eat a meal with Phil the baby would start crying and need to be nursed.  Seeing that we have four children, there was a point in my life where I questioned whether or not we would ever have time to sit all together and eat in peace and quiet.

Then the babies began to grow into toddlers.  If your toddlers were anything like mine, they would eat (most of the time everything ended up on the floor or the seat of their high chair) and after they shoved their face full of three or four bites of everything the challenge to keep them seated became the focus of Phil or I or both of us.

There were many many nights I questioned if we would ever have a "normal" meal time.

Just when Hayley and Dylan were finally starting to get our family meal time rules (everyone sits until everyone is finished, you take your plates to the sink when finished, help clean up the kitchen before going to play, etc etc) Natalie was in the toddler I'm going to climb out of my high chair phase and Nathan, well Nathan was a screaming mess.  (Nathan didn't sleep more than 20 minutes at a time for his first year and a half of life.)

He did know how to fall asleep for his birthday cake, though.

Here we are several years later (Nathan is now 6.) And I can finally say that we have to still fight to make meal times a priority.  We now have sport practice schedules, jobs, church activities, you name it we probably have it going on.

But do you know what?  Sometimes you have to get creative, but there is NOTHING that can replace the conversations and family bonding that can take place around the dinner table.  We talk about what happened in the course of the day, we share our highs and our lows, there's laughter and sometimes tears.  And even still we have the spills and the food all over the floor.

I share all of this to encourage you, no matter what stage in life you are at.  Make meal time a priority.  You certainly will be glad you have!

~Misti~

Lay Down Your Life?

There was a knock at the door.  They answered and the search party was there.

As their house was ransacked they heard one of the searchers exclaim, "We found it!"

What was it they were looking for?  A simple Bible.  That's it.  However, the implications were great.  After interrogating everyone who lived in the house, the simple maidservant spoke up and told them it was her Bible and that she had been reading it.

No big deal, right?  Well, for most of us this wouldn't be even a thought.  I mean, honestly, I can't imagine someone knocking on my door and searching my home.  And I certainly can't imagine being interrogated for owning a Bible.

However, this is exactly what happened to the person the children and I read about this evening.  And if that wasn't enough, what happened next is simply unthinkable.

After admitting that she was the owner of the Bible, this woman was sentenced to death by suffocation.  How did this take place?  A place would be hollowed out in the city wall and she was tied in it.  The opening was then bricked over.

This lady was given the option three times to say it was not her Bible, but she refused.  And to show her true character, before the very last brick was placed over her mouth she proclaimed, "O Lord, forgive my murderers."

Someone was so sold out to Christ, that they had nothing but compassion for those who were mistreating them so horribly.

Life can get so busy and distracting and I often wonder if we truly are in tune with doing the work of The Lord with all of our comings and goings.  Have we completely emptied ourselves of our own selfish wishes and desires so that we can be totally filled with Him?  If we were presented with a simple knock at the door would we be so gracious to allow those in, even if would cost us our life?  God hasn't called us to a life of sacrifice only to do the easy and comfortable things.

My only hope and prayer is that if faced with a similar situation, I would be bold enough to stand firm in my faith of The One and True Risen Savior.

~Misti~

**Excerpts from this post were taken from the book Jesus Freaks**

Get uncomfortable

To think that we live in a world where sharing the gospel is a "crime" worth getting stabbed to death is sickening. 

Hear me out. 

My siblings and I have began reading "The Voice of the Martyrs" book. If you're not familiar with it, it's a book full of true stories about Christians who have been killed, beaten, or held captive for sharing Christ in numerous countries. 

Yesterday we read about a 17 year old girl named Anila and an 18 year old girl named Perveen. This took place in Pakistan, 1997. 

To summarize the passage quickly; Perveen was a Muslim. Her family had already arranged her to marry a Muslim man. Needless to say the idea of Perveen converting to Christianity wasn't a mere thought in their minds. Anila went to school with Perveen and began witnessing to her more and more. They sang songs, (I'm assuming hymns) together. Eventually Perveen went to church with Anila and she was changed by the power of Jesus. When Perveen's parents found out about this they were absolutely outraged. Perveen ended up running away. When her parents could not find her they accused Anila and her pastor of kidnapping her. 

Anila was viciously beat in front of her own parents for 9 hours straight. She and her pastor were then taken to prison where they were tortured and treated like less than a human being. 

When Perveen's parents found her, normal Muslim punishments are beatings and not feeding that person. Instead, Perveen's very own brother stabbed her to death. 

When Anila and her pastor were released from prison they immediately went into hiding. 

Who knows where they're at right now. 

Less that 20 years ago this took place.

Does this sicken anyone? Place a burden on your heart? Make you want to cry? Or are you sitting there not hurting by this because it doesn't affect you in your safe, American home. 

My heart aches for the Christians that are in captivity or hiding for sharing truth. Our world is so corrupt and sinful and sometimes I fail to remember that when I'm living comfortably in America. I admire the boldness and fearlessness of those people who are suffering and dying for Jesus' sake. 

Dying for Him is nothing to be ashamed of. I look forward to spending eternity with souls like that. 

My prayer is that lost religions will see the truth, and that Christ would illuminate through these missionaries. 

I pray that one day I will be able to go out into the world, wherever He leads me, and proclaim the name of Christ. 

Jesus never said following Him was easy. In fact, He promised us that people would persecute and treat us unfairly. But the fact that my Savior laid it all on the line for a helpless sinner like me, makes me want to go scream His holy name across the nations. 

All glory and honor unto the King. 

Matthew 5:44 But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you

~Hayley

1st of Many July 4th

With July 4, 2012 falling on a Wednesday this year it was interesting to celebrate our Nations Independence.

The local Thunder Over our county was held the weekend before the 4th.  When we first heard this, we thought we were going to have to decline attending the events due to schedule conflict.  (Yes, we actually do have these in our household.)  However, after a major storm blew through the area south of us our original plans needed to cancel.

While this may have led to a few disappointments there weren't any tears here in our house only cheers.  Why you ask?  This means we got to celebrate our first Independence Celebration of 2012 with some people who are our blended  extended  really good friends  family.  

We had such a wonderful afternoon/evening/night....well, I'll just let the pictures speak for themselves.

It all started with a trip to town.  To visit all of the attractions they brought in for everyone to enjoy FREE!!!!(We love FREE!)  

  

I'll let you guess which one was most popular in our family......

There were slides!

Love Nathan's expression.

There was outdoor ice skating!  (Or maybe I should say plastic skating.)

We didn't see any jumps or spins from Natalie out there.

Natalie had to go back to the basics when skating on plastic.

Bailee was so happy!

There was face painting

Nathan watching Blaine get his artwork.

Nathan had paint everywhere.

Bailee took advantage of the painting studio several times that day.  She was freshened up with some glasses this time.

Reid was NOT into the body painting.  So, he occupied himself by following the trail of cords going to all of the vendors.

And there was the Rock Wall:

First Step:  Safety Gear!

2nd Step:Wait until the instructor gives you the go
 to start your climb.

Step 3:  CLIMB!  CLIMB!! CLIMB!!!

Hayley made it to the top on her 1st climb!

Nathan's 1st climb went well!

Nathan's 2nd round had him sooo close to the top!  When we finished and he saw the photos of how close he was, he couldn't believe it.

And then there was Natalie.  If I didn't know any better, I would have thought she started climbing rocks the moment she was born.  She was truly unstoppable! 

Watching the kids rock climb was really fun.  It was great to see each of them push themselves to a new level.  Not a single one of them gave up without trying as hard as they possibly could.  I couldn't help but think of what lesson that could teach us we are going about our daily lives.  There are certainly many unknowns and times when we have to stretch ourselves to reach the next "peg".  But if we keep going step by step eventually we will feel the success of reaching the top...only to find ourselves back at the bottom of a new hill/wall and starting all over.  However, with the experience we gained from the other challenges we have faced, this time up is a bit easier.

What about you?  Have you watched you, your children, or someone else tackle a difficult task but end up on top?  Share!

~Misti~