The Family: Together in God's Presence

This is a great article by John & Noel Piper.  It is very encouraging for those who prefer to keep their kids in church with them, as it is not a very popular practice.  Something to think about.

The Family: Together in God's Presence

Nevada Trip Part 2

Ok where was I?  We were leaving the Silver Mine in Tonapah, NV.  Which also happens to be, according to the town's  billboards and brochures, a top stargazing destiny.  Unfortunately, it was cloudy the night we were there.  Anyway, we drove south, then west into our beautiful state of California.  We drove through the Inyo National Forest and to the Ancient Bristlecone Pine Forest .  I had always thought that the Giant Sequioas were the oldest living things on earth, at 1000 plus years old!  But did you know that the oldest tree is a Bristlcone Pine that is  4,700 years old?!  I had just heard about these trees from a friend and lo and behold, a couple of weeks later, we read about them in our Apologia Botany science book!  (that happens quite a bit while homeschooling!)  These trees have been around since the time of the flood!  There are NO other living things older than that.  This is evidence for the flood! The Apologia books says it a lot better than I do, but I hope you get the idea.  The Bristlecone forest sits on top of a mountain 10,000 ft high!  Wow!  Here are some pictures:

Utah Juniper, where we stopped for a picnic

 

 

 

We went on a small hike up the mountain:

Poster at the Bristlecone Forest, we made it!:

The burned down Visitors Center.  It burned by arson just 2 weeks before we were there:

On top of the world, at least 10,000 ft!:

My husband stopped along the side of the road on the way home just so I could take a close up of these flowers.  I think they are Rabbit Brush, but it could be something different:

Fabulous sunset on the way home:

Dressing up

I put off thinking of the kids' costumes this October, til the very end.  But  I think we did a pretty good job., thanks to the Goodwill. This year, for the first time in years, we didn't go to a church Harvest party thingy.  They are crowded, noisy and boring.....for me!  We went trick or treating, which netted plenty of candy, but we had to walk a long way!  Most houses on a block were dark, so we zigzagged our way along the road.  When we got home, we gave out candy.  Ours was only one of two houses on our half of the block with lights on!  Now I remember why we didn't do trick or treating in the past!  I think next year we will go back to a church.  Here are the kids:

A pink kitty:

A pirate:

A ghost, like in Charlie Brown:

Gen. John McCain:

without the mask:

A purple superhero...she had designed a black and purple outfit on paper.  When we went to the Goodwill, she found this purple dress, how could I not buy it?

Just the other day, I was talking to someone about the candy cigarettes we used to love as children.  The gum cigarettes would have powder that came out the tip if you blew on the cigarette, like smoke.  The person asked if they still sold them.  I said, "Oh no, they couldn't sell those now.  They stopped a long time ago."  Well, they are still around! Only they are called, "Candy Sticks"!!  And they taste terrible. I couldn't believe it.  Of course, they are meant to be candy cigarettes.  I should have looked to see who makes them.