Remember the Alamo

On Tuesday morning we loaded up and left the EFCA camp for San Antonio (with a little side trip to scout out a fishing spot for Kevin). We hit town at lunchtime, so our first stop was at the Riverwalk to go to the kids' new favorite theme restaurant, the Rainforest Cafe. After a short time of yelping in mild terror, they settled right in and enjoyed the animals and simulated thunderstorms! Johnathan requested that we go back there for every meal the rest of the week.

After lunch we took in the Riverwalk, which was packed with spring break tourists. Then we walked over to the Alamo, taking in the courtyard and the huge, old oak trees inside. When we told the kids, "This is the Alamo," Johnathan kept asking, "Where's Elmo?" He now knows the difference between the Alamo and Elmo!





After getting a little rest at our hotel, we tried to go to a science museum and had lesson number one in flexibility - the line to get in was so long, I don't think we would have gotten in before closing time! Maybe because it was an admission-free afternoon - I thought I was so smart doing my research ahead of time, but apparently half of San Antonio had, too! So we headed back to the Riverwalk for dinner and a boat tour. It was sunset by the time we weaved through long lines to get our turn on the boat, and it was fun to see the lights sparkling on the river.

Our First Spring Break

Except for a weekend in Galveston, we haven't really taken any extended vacation time since we moved to Texas, so we've been looking forward to our first "Spring Break" trip as a family. Our plan was to spend the night in Austin after dropping of Grandma and Grandpa Stata, then go to San Antonio for two more nights. We had lots of fun and have plenty of opportunities to teach the kids about flexibility along the way!

Our first afternoon, though, was dedicated solely to relaxation. We stayed at the EFCA camp in Buda, TX, just outside Austin. It was so peaceful, with blue skies and temperatures in the 70's - perfect for playing outside.

We stayed in the nurse's cabin, which had a queen bed and two bunk beds, and a playground right outside. Deer lounged in the trees right behind our cabin.

After we settled in, we hiked down to the river, which had a fishing dock, hammocks, swings, and a fun swinging bridge and rocks to explore. Kevin and the kids tried out the fishing and played adventurers on the rocks and bridge.

I parked right here, in the hammock. And that is where I stayed all afternoon!

Ahh!

Zilker Botanical Gardens

Our week with Grandma and Grandpa was lots of fun, including lots of bike riding and kite flying in the church parking lot, yummy Mexican food, a trip with Naomi to the George Bush Presidential Library and Museum, a girls-only shopping trip for maternity clothes and baby stuff, and a boys-only fishing trip.

We ended the visit on Monday with a trip to Austin for BBQ, botanical gardens, and goodbyes at the airport. Here are some pictures of the Zilker Botanical Gardens, which are not quite blooming much yet, but are very green!

What I learned from my pastor... 3-14-10

Kevin posed a question in his previous sermon from Luke 15... What do the three parables (the lost coin, missing sheep, and prodigal son) have in common, and what is the one aspect that is missing from the parable of the prodigal son?

He addressed that question in this morning's sermon, pointing out that in that culture, it was expected of the oldest son to do whatever he could to restore the honor of the family by looking for the younger son. Are we who follow Christ willing to do the same by seeking those who are lost?

We also saw how this parable doesn't really have an ending like the other two, leaving the hearers to wonder, did the older son join the party? John McArthur writes that even though Jesus left his hearers to ponder the ending, we who have the whole revelation of Scripture now know the ending to the story...

The older son (the Pharisees) did accept the father's invitation to join the party. Instead, he took it upon himself to see that one of the sources of the family's shame was ended, and he killed the father. They did not recognize Jesus's offer of salvation through grace, and they had him put to death on the cross.

Rodeo Day

It's Rodeo Day at Naomi's school! And as an extra treat, we got to bring Grandma and Grandpa Stata along, because they came to visit us this week. Rodeo Day was packed full of fun events for Naomi and her classmates, including...

A trail ride (on stick horses)

Stopping for some trail mix

Tug-of-war

A hoe down

A hay ride with Grandma (Johnathan was thrilled by the tractor!)

Roping practice

Sack races

... And a chuckwagon lunch of Frito Chili Pie. Yee haw!

All American Jubilee

Every year Zion puts on a big dinner and auction called the Jubilee. This year was our first, and we enjoyed the great BBQ and seeing the silent and live auction action. Randy and Charlene Littlefield, who direct the church plants for the EFCA in the Texas/Oklahoma region, were visiting this weekend, so they joined us at the Jubilee and Randy preached on Sunday morning at Zion.

The dessert table was a big hit. Red velvet cake in a cone all over our faces!

The kids' other favorite part was the cake wheel, at which Naomi won not one but two cakes. So anyone who wants to come over for cake this week is welcome!

Diving In

Because Naomi thinks diving is the coolest Olympic sport (she even named her goldfish after a Chinese women's diving gold medalist), Daddy got tickets for us to go to the Big 12 swimming and diving finals at Texas A&M. We went Thursday, Friday, and Saturday and saw all kinds of swimming races as well as springboard and platform diving. Naomi's new favorite diver is Jaele Patrick, an Australian student at TAMU. Maybe we'll see her in the Olympics someday!


Naomi and Johnathan loved it!


Thank you, Daddy, for a fun weekend at the natatorium!