Visiting the George W. Bush Presidential Museum

Recently, some long-time friends of our family were on "The Trip of a Lifetime"
 driving from their home in Greenville, SC through the Southwest ultimately to
the Pacific Coast and the National Parks.

Lucky for me, they decided to swing through the Dallas area

and we went with them to visit the George W. Bush Presidential Museum.

What a wonderful leisurely morning we had browsing through

the presidency of this great American!!

It is always incredibly profound to revisit those tumultuous years
of the 2000's when our country experienced multiple

national disasters that changed the face of this great nation.
It was also wonderful to share this with dear friends who I haven't seen

in over 18 years!!
This girl went through my high school years with me

and we have such lovely memories together of college days and her wedding!!

Now, 10 children later (between our two families)

our babies are into college and we're both raising families to follow the Lord,

and to be thankful for the freedoms we have, and to love our country!!

This girl was the only one of my 6 children who would get out of bed early on a

Monday morning during summer vacation to come with me!!!

An amazing gift from the President (of King) of Saudi Arabia to Laura Bush!
Oh, yes.  These are very real. 

Amazing portraits painted by George W. Bush of the wounded veterans he has met.
Talk about incredible.

The docent told me that the President had only been painting for 4 years

before he began this project.

Just wonderful!!

The only full scale reproduction of the Oval Office in the Presidential Library System.

Right here in Dallas!!

Aryn immediately reminded me this day was the day after her first birthday.

I also remember this day because we had gone to my mother-in-laws house

to watch the inauguration of President Obama.

It was there that I first started noticing that Ashlyn was not well

and something other than random tummy troubles was going on with her.

She was diagnosed with Type 1 Diabetes on February 11.

Celebrating Freedom!!!

Vacation Bible School 2017

Vacation Bible School has long been a staple item

 on our family summer calendar!

As soon as my oldest girls were old enough to be left in a classroom and enjoy it,

I was taking them to several churches throughout the months of June and July

to participate in this fun event!!!

It was a great way for them to meet new friends,

have lots of fun,

and learn more about God and His love for them

through fun activities and stories designed for their age and development level!

All of my children have had the privilege of attending Vacation Bible School 

at our church as well as their friend's church,

and now that several of them have aged out of it,

they love to serve in various capacities during that week!!

This year, for the first time in the recorded history of our church,

it was scheduled for the first full week of June,

which happened to be the exact time we were going to be in Ohio

with family!!

I thought we were going to experience our very first summer without

Vacation Bible School in 15 years!!
But then we found out that the little church where our children

attend their homeschool co-op was having their VBS

later that month!
My two youngest participated, Abby was a helper,

and they invited our little neighbor girl to go with them!!

Praise the Lord, she accepted Jesus as her Savior on the last evening!!