Cousins' Week - Christmas at EtCetera

After lunch, we had the children draw names.  We were going to have a summer Christmas gift exchange!  We gave each child a $3 limit to purchase gifts at EtCetera!

 Since we live on the south side of town, going downtown often means waiting on trains!

EtCetera even had Christmas trees set up!  Perfect for what we were doing!

The kids tried to keep it a secret who they were buying for.

 "Oh Nana, this is beautiful!"

But I'm sure Eli wouldn't want that!

 When everyone had picked out what they wanted, Papa took them out to the car while I had the clerk bag everything up.

Another train on the ride back. 

 Supper was at Braum's!

 We drove home and noticed boomer clouds (what we call thunderstorms).

 Raining west of town.

It began raining at our home too. 





With some thunder.  I LOVE a Kansas thunderstorm!

One by one, the kids came downstairs where I was and they told me what they had picked out, and for whom.  They picked out a Christmas sack and put their items in the bags.

 Claire had Elijah's name.  She had purchased him a nice Wilson tennis racket, a shirt, a book and a stuffed dog.

 Eli happened to have Claire's name and he got her 2 horses, a Barbie and a doggie purse.

Emeri had Sophia's name and  got her several things, like a mug and used candle!

 Hannah had Emeri's name.

Hannah's goal was to purchase as many things as she could with $3, which included hangars for a penny a piece!

 Sophia had Hannah's name and gave her sister many "useful" things.

What a riot this was!  Many laughs and lots of fun!

We've done a similar shopping trip, where we have given each child a certain limit and we go through the grocery store and pick out our own dinners.  It is fun and teaches the kids the value of money.

Cousin Week - Paths of Righteousness

This day with the grandchildren, our lesson was from:

Psalm 23:2-3 New International Version (NIV)

     He makes me lie down in green pastures,
He leads me beside quiet waters,
      He refreshes my soul.
He guides me along the right paths
    for His name’s sake.

It was a good day to walk on the path by the college.

God has a path for each of us, the "Halacha" or "way to walk" marked out for us.

Sometimes we need the encouragement from a friend.

At times the kids complained about how long it was.

Our own "halacha" may seem weary and long.

 At times, we aren't sure which path to take.  

Your own ears will hear Him. Right behind you a voice will say, “This is the way you should go,” whether to the right or to the left.  Isaiah 30:21

Kobi was getting mighty thirsty.  He was so happy to find a stream to refresh himself in!

"He leads me beside quiet waters, He refreshes my soul."

 Thirsty souls of men and women can only be satisfied by God. 
"I AM the Living Water" Jesus said.  Drink deeply!

 He sure looks funny!!  But he was cool!

 We need to stay on the path.  If we would have gone off here, we would have fallen down a cliff.  Keep your eyes on the Shepherd who will lead you.  

 His Word is a "guardrail" for us, protecting us.  

 As sheep have 4 chambers and regurgitate their food, chewing on their cud for a long time, we need to "chew" on His Word.  

(later we watched the video of the Regurgitator. That is pretty incredible! but gross!)

We need to meditate on what He is saying to us.  Think of it, over and over (regurgitate) Listen to what God has to say.  Obey Him and follow Him.

 At times we may need to help "pick up" one who is weary.

When we got home, Kobi needed a bath!  Doesn't he just look pathetic?  We can look pretty pathetic too, but God "washes" us with His forgiveness!

Only the Shepherd can help sheep be free of anxiety.  Sheep cannot lie down when they are upset or frightened.  Sheep will only lie down when they are content and at peace.  The Lord tells us that we should be content in Him and not to worry.  He WILL take care of us!

Cousins' Week: Coronado and Salina Waterpark

After our lesson on The Good Shepherd and lunch, we took Kobi to the Friesens to be "puppysat".  We took along his toys.

Kobi was sniffing around, checking out their home when we left him.

Our first afternoon excursion was to Coronado Heights.

Coronado Heights is a hill northwest of Lindsborg, about 45 minutes north of us.  It is alleged to be near the place where explorer Francisco Vasquez de Coronado gave up his search for the seven cities of gold and turned around to return to Mexico.  1540-1542

In 1915, a professor at Bethany College in Lindsborg found chain mail from Spanish armor at the Sharps Creek site, an Indian village excavation site a few miles southwest of the hill.  

This "castle" was built on top of the hill in 1936 as a project of the Works Progress Administration, that employed millions of job-seekers.

"Elijah, you should go check out those buildings!" 

(They were bathrooms, but Papa didn't tell him that and made it sound like they were really interesting buildings to see!)  

You can sort of see him there, just a little disappointed.  Ha!

Can't you just imagine what it must have been like to explore this place back in the 1500's?!

"Let's hang over the edge!"

(Just fooling you, Mamas.  There wasn't much of a drop.  

We were watching over your precious babies!)

After exploring, we drove on to the Salina Waterpark.

The "toilet bowl" was pretty fun for 3 of the kids and also Papa!

Claire loved the Lazy River and also this slide.

We could have stayed much longer, but needed to get back to Kobi.

The Friesen Puppysitting Service did a great job!

After supper, I took Claire to the splashpark nearby.

And then I took her to the first home she ever lived in!

Sure wish they still lived close by!!