The Compassion Experience

 

I have a strong conviction that one of my jobs, as a parent,

is to model and emphasize the principle of loving others

and having a spirit of empathy for those in difficult circumstances.

But how can they learn that when they live in the land of plenty?

When they don't know anyone in our circles who struggle

with living in a cycle of poverty?

Most children in American culture have no idea how to survive on the street.

Most know exactly where their next meal is coming from.

Most have appropriate clothing for the season they are living in.

Most have access to education.

Most can read early in childhood.

Most have access to medical care.
Most live where water is clean and available and indoors.
Most live in peaceful neighborhoods where criminals are not

preying on them and where parents fear their children will be snatched

and used as slaves in a variety of criminal lifestyles.
Most have an opportunity to hear somewhere that Jesus loves them.

But American children are in the minority 

when eyed through a global comparison.
American children live lives of comfort, ease, privilege, 

and prosperity when compared to 3rd world countries.

What should our response be, as Christians, to the worldwide result

of the curse of sin?

People are starving and we know the Bread of Life.
We have had that knawing internal thirst quenched by the Living Water.

We sit at the table in the presence of The Light of the World

while millions grope in darkness all around us!!
Do we love comfort more than we love Christ?

How can we get involved?
How can we tangibly point others to the place they can find Bread?

I first became aware of the Compassion International organization through

my favorite author, Ann Voskamp.

She is a global  advocate for sponsoring children in
hopeless living situations, and has sponsored many children as well

as traveled to meet these children.
When I saw recently that the Compassion Experience was going to be

just down the road from our house, I wanted to check it out!

It was an awesome, free experience for my children (for me too!)

 to get to walk through very realistic home settings 

of children in other countries who struggle to survive.
In 20 minutes, it  gave my children a glimpse 

into how comfortable they really live,

but also the incredible transformation that happens to the future

 of these children when they meet Jesus!!

We did not feel pressure to have to sponsor a child through this organization,

but there were definitely clear opportunities to do so.
We did leave so grateful that Jesus makes a difference.
You clearly understood that hearing about the Lord and responding

to His invitation to receive Him as Lord was not a lottery ticket nor

an instant escape to a better life.
But He offers peace, opportunities, hope, better choices,

and a brighter future.

I was so glad we had this experience together as a family!

Learn more about Compassion International here.




 

Texas State Fair 2018

This field trip will not go down in the record books as "The Most Fun Ever!"
But it will probably be remembered as "The Craziest Thing We Ever Did."

Here in Texas, you can get free homeschool tickets to the Texas State Fair

by simply requesting them early in the year.

This year I actually remembered to do that.

Once we received them around the first of September, 

we checked our calendar and decided to go on a Monday in October.

It was the only Monday we could fit it in and all of us were looking forward to it.

The children would get a day off of school work and PE class so they

were especially excited.

But as the day drew closer, the weather was not cooperating.

In fact, it was becoming clear we would break records for the wettest

October on record in our state.

To make matters worse, on the day we were planning to go,

the temperatures were forecast to be frigid along with heavy downpours all day.
We had a family meeting the night before to decide together if we still
wanted to brave the terrible weather and make an adventure of it,
or just can the whole idea.
We collectively decided to go for it, and that we wouldn't gripe.
We would make the best of it and make lemonade from the bushel of lemons
we were being handed.

What a challenge it was to make that lemonade.
My plan was to create a map of what we wanted to see
and then figure out a path of walking through buildings in an effort
to stay out of the rain!
What I did not count on was how much farther we would park away from
anything we wanted to see,
and that there would be rivers of water that we would have to walk through,
jump over, or navigate around.
But often we were trying to keep our eyes on where we were going
and on what we could see
and then would accidentally be in water over the top of our shoes.
We didn't have enough umbrellas or layers of clothes to keep dry.
By the time we were ready to walk back to the car
our feet and clothing were soaked and we were freezing.

In retrospect, I learned that no matter what, it is not worth
braving the traffic and rain just to use free tickets.
All the children had a great time though
and only think fondly of our wild adventure.

So very grateful for hot showers, hot soup,
hot drinks, warm jammies and blankets,
and a cozy evening with candlelight
and It's the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown!

{Butter sculpture}

{This fried pumpkin pie warmed me heart and soul!!  It was so delicious!}

Documenting this one life: Family Pictures

What do you do when it's spring break and every fun

place in the metroplex is jam-packed full of other families on spring break?

You get some family pictures taken.

Because all the children are turning a year older

in the next 3 months, the oldest is graduating

with her associates degree from community college,

and the second daughter is graduating from high school.

New life is bursting out all over the trees,

and fresh grace is raining down on us

and we have just this one life

and these fleeting moments to capture it all!!

  

Photography by www.jessimarie.net!

Our third field trip this Fall: The Pumpkin Patch

For over 13 years, our family has made a short trip to this wonderful 

farm to celebrate the imminent changing of the season.

Through the years, we've invited friends to join us

which simply doubles the fun!!!

This year, we came with our homeschool group

for a super fun field trip!!!

What a lovely morning!

 

Monday Funday: The Trammell and Margaret Crow Collection of Asian Art

A couple weeks ago I decided the timing was right to take our children to this beautiful museum:

Please note that this is one of many wonderful places to take your children for field trips

that are not open on Mondays.

But we just switched our schedules around a little bit to make it happen on a Tuesday or Wednesday

that my husband was off work.

Best Part = Free Admission!!

There are some really amazing pieces in this collection of Asian art.

This is hand-carved marble.

Breathtaking.

This museum has only 3 floors.

The third floor, we were warned multiple times, was full of "mature" art.

So we really only had 2 floors that were appropriate for the children.

That didn't take very long to make our way through.

We were sort of glad to get out to the terrace area for some fresh air, a place to run,

and pictures!!

One of the purposes of our Monday Funday's is to be able to relax together

without a time schedule, and to explore new things.
It was such a gorgeous day that once we made our way through the museum

(in less than an hour),

we decided to just walk around the area of downtown Dallas that we were in.

Here is some of the attractions we were near:

The Belo Mansion

with the spire of the

Cathedral Santuario de Guadalupe

in the background.

Dallas Museum of Art

This beautiful church is located directly across the street from the 

sculpture gardens of the Dallas Museum of Art.

This is the AH-mazing pipe organ inside the sanctuary of this church!

I only wish we could've heard it being played!!

As we left town, we got to use the new

Margaret Hunt Hill Bridge.

What day trip is complete without a little Sonic happy hour?!?