Adventures at the Science Center

Off and on over the years, our family has had annual passes to the Orlando Science Center. It is a great place to go on a hot or rainy day in Florida, as well as a good place for a field trip or to catch an Imax film. Our passes were about to expire for this year and we are planning to wait a little while before we get them again, but we made up for it while my dad was in the hospital! Since he was right next door from there, I would take the kids to the Science Center and be able to visit with my dad too. We went 3 times in one week! They added a lot of new things since we were there last, so we had fun exploring - with friends, while babysitting and with my sister while my dad was recovering from surgery. Here are some of the things we did.

Delaney, Holly and Andrew build potato heads:


Tyler with his crazy creation:


Holly helps Clayton build:


Holly playing the laser harp:


Delaney being her cute self:


Caleb and Andrew playing:


Clayton playing:


Is he a cutie or what??!!


MaKenna and Clayton building:


Caleb and Brenda playing in Grossology:


A friendly sting ray with a bow tie:


It worked out perfectly for me to visit my dad and gave the kids something safe, fun and educational to do - how can you beat that?

Hadassah Day 3

It is always with much anticipation that we wait for Hadassah each year and then, suddenly, it is over. And so it was again this year! Already, we were at the last day of the conference - tired, sugar/caffeine induced highs waning, full of memories, uplifted and encouraged to stay on the path reaching for God. Here are the events of the last day.

The day started the same as Thursday - waiting in line for classes, hoping to get your first choice but excited about the second choice if it comes to that. The girls chose Hair Care for Personal Confidence and Sign Language for their Ministry class. After choosing classes, we went to Hadassah Hall (AKA - the gym!) for Wake Up call. Sister Denee interviewed Donna Linville, the guest speaker. We learned so much more about her burden, her ministry and how God has used her, in spite of her weaknesses and the many obstacles in her life - what a testimony to give this group of young, impressionable girls who are often lacking in self-confidence to become who God wants them to be.

Waiting for Wake Up Call to begin - yes, Holly is in curlers!


Lunch followed with another 15U class for Holly and I. Sister Angel spoke to us from her heart and I found a kindred spirit in her testimony. Sister Sears taught an awesome lesson using, of all things, white water rafting as a word picture about life. She did an amazing job helping the girls see the big picture and reminding them to keep their eyes on Jesus, obey Him and stay in the boat - then, when the storms of life come, we are protected.

After lunch the girls went to their Personal Confidence classes. I went with Holly and MaKenna to Hair Care - taught by my friend Melissa - we go waaaaayyyyyy back to when she used to cut my husband's hair when we were new converts! She reminded the girls of the scripture verses about hair and how to take care of our hair. She gave them lots of ideas about how to take care of their hair type and then gave them the recipe and supplies to make their own organic shampoo.



Infusing the herbs:


Their take home bags and completed bottles of shampoo:


Ministry classes followed the Personal Confidence class. I forgot to mention on the last post that during the Ministry classes, the moms and chaperones gather in the prayer room for instruction of their own. On Thursday, Denee Richardson spoke and Friday, Sister Varnum spoke - 2 anointed, passionate and REAL women of God with a testimony, experience and wisdom. They ministered to me (and many others, I'm sure) in a way that they may never truly understand.

The girls and I then enjoyed a small amount of down time before getting ready for the main event - at least for us this year - Coronation.



Coronation - I will do my best to convey the awesomeness of this part of Hadassah. Each year, any girl who is 15 can be coronated. The purpose of the ceremony is, for one, to signify their entry into a new stage of life. The young lady also to makes a public commitment to her parents to follow God and, although still under her parent's authority, she realizes that she is also responsible for her own actions and accepts that responsibility and pledges to keep herself pure. It is a beautiful and emotional time for the parents and the daughters. In a sense, it is a transition from girlhood to the road to being an adult. Even on here, it is hard to realize that that is where I am with Holly! Where did the years go??? OK, before I get emotional, I will move on!

The evening is very formal for the girls. This is Holly, ready to go. I know that I am biased, but isn't she beautiful??!! I've always told her that, 1. "Pretty is as pretty does" and 2. It is better to be pretty on the inside than the outside. I am thankful that she is both - what a blessing.


All of the girls who were coronated:


In the prayer room before the ceremony - elder women from the church came and prayed with and for the girls and their moms. It was a powerful experience to be a part of and God truly moved in that room:


11 year old girls walked in before the 15 year olds carrying a Bible and dropping rose petals on the floor - The Bible signifying that the Word is a lamp to our feet and a light to our path. The rose petals are a reminder that women of God have gone before them, preparing the way of the Lord.


Sister Linville spoke to the girls:


The moms presented their daughters with a Calla Lilly to represent a commitment to purity:


The dads then placed a tiara on their daughter's head - acknowledging that she is a daughter of Jesus Christ - the King of kings.


There is a time for the families to pray together, a minister prays and members of the Hadassah staff come and pray with the families as well. Friends and family who are there are also welcome to pray with the family.


This is all of us after the ceremony - hence, the tear stained faces!


Holly and her daddy:


Siblings:


Delaney, my good friend's daughter and Holly - she loves our girls and we love her! Such a sweetie!


So, that about wraps up Hadassah 2009. To say that we love it does not do it justice - truly, words are hard to find that express all that we feel about this wonderful ministry for our girls. There are so many things in this world telling our daughters what they should look like, how they should act and dress, what kind of friends they should have, etc. And all of these things will only lead them down paths of sorrow, heartache and rejection - there is no happiness or fulfillment outside of Jesus! How important is it to reach our girls just as hard - no, harder - than the world is reaching for them?! I think that my girls are worth it - whatever it takes - to help them stay on the straight and narrow path. Thanks to all of the Belleview people who make it possible each year and may God richly bless you all for your efforts!

Hadassah Day 2

Day 2 of Hadassah began with the early line-up to get the classes you want to take that day. Even though they are ALL excellent, the girls always have their top choices that they hope to get that day. While we wait in line, there is entertainment, goodies and coffee to help us pass the time. I love the signs that they have created - it makes it look so fun and girly!



Waiting in line with new friends from the Arcadia and Cooper City area:


So, each day, they are able to choose one Personal Confidence Class - teaching them to be Godly, modest and wholesome young ladies who shine for Jesus - as well as one Ministry class - where they will learn something that they can use to minister in the evening services. For this first day, Holly and MaKenna both chose Skin Care and Stix as their 2 classes.

In skin care, Lacie Varnum taught the girls how to take care of their skin and the steps to easy facials.



In Stix, the girls used dowel rods to "perform" to a song that was then used in the church service that night.





Since Holly is 15 this year, she and I had a special session during lunch in the 15U Chamber. While we ate, Denee taught the girls "It is OK to like boys!" Well, at first, that honestly made me a little nervous, even though I trust Denee! The class was actually excellent, though, and she discussed dating vs. courtship - it cemented for us all of the things that we have already discussed and believe in. I am so thankful for other Godly women in my daughter's life who give themselves to influence in a Godly way.

We sat at the cutest table at lunch! I felt so blessed to have this time to share with Holly and can't wait to go through it with MaKenna.


After classes, there is a break until the evening events. We took the time to go to Hobby Lobby, since we don't have them in Orlando and just had fun being together. That evening began with an amazing church service - about an hour+ of worship and prayer. Seeing these girls give their all to God in the midst of a world that pulls them in a million other directions is amazing - only God could do that! I watched them in awe as they ministered and were ministered to. Our speaker that evening was the woman who started the Hadassah type conferences - an awesome woman with inspiring stories that she shared with us.

To put the cherry on top, the evening ended with a "Fuzzy Slipper Party" - talk about a party! A gym full of girls, music, games, candy, coffee, soda, jammies, slippers and pizza - OH MY!!! What a time! Words can't truly do it justice!

Holly, Kelsey (from Deland) and MaKenna having fun:


The candy bar (actually, this is just one part of the whole thing! Talk about a sugar rush!):


Praise in Motion Songs - working off those calories!


The day ended VERY late with an immeasurable amount of life packed into it. The times that I have with the girls are passing so quickly. I want to invest everything that I have into them - being with them, laughing, crying, praying or playing - building memories that money can't buy. I can never express how thankful I am for opportunities like Hadassah to add to the memories and the meaning of our life.

Hadassah Day 1 - The Banquet

Each year, Soul's Harbor, a church in Belleview, puts on a conference for mothers and daughters called Hadassah. Hadassah is another name for Esther in the Bible - a young lady who was used of God and was in the kingdom "for such a time as this." She has a beautiful story for our young girls to model their lives after - a better "hero" than any offered by this world we live in! This was our 4th year to attend this event and it was their 5th birthday - and I have to admit, it gets better every year! What a blessing it was, what a time we had and what an awesome opportunity to hang out, just me and my girls, for 3 days!

This year, the conference started on Wednesday night with the formal banquet. The girls get all dressed up in their formal gowns - not for boys, but because they are girls and it is fun to get all dressed up sometimes! I love that they have this chance to be girly and Godly! They serve a wonderfully yummy meal, have entertainment and a guest speaker as well as fellowship with other girls from around the state.



Here are some pics from our evening.

Big sister helping her little sister do her hair. I love this! They are as different as night and day, but they are best friends:


The girls and I at the church - I love the picture in the background!


A fun shot at a beautiful mirror in their prayer room:


We ate dinner with Rebecca (not pictured) and Cheyenne, Sister Debi, April and Kirsten:


The Happy Birthday cupcakes:


Sisters:


Some of my great friends - Kathy and Tasha from Deland and Melissa from Belleview:


Denee and I:


I loved this! One of the young boys from Belleview, who wasn't allowed to stay (girls ONLY!!), left this sweet note. In case you can't read it, it says "girls are pretty"!!


Too cute to not share - MaKenna accidentally slept in her tiara after the banquet, so the next morning I took this picture and told her that "real princesses sleep in their tiaras!!!"


Well, that wraps up the first night. I will get the other 2 days posted soon!

Holy Cow!!!

Today was Cow Appreciation Day and, in case you didn't hear, Chick Fil A celebrated by offering free food to anyone who came in dressed like a cow. We were up to the challenge and did the best we could with what we had on hand - after all, it wouldn't be free food if we bought stuff to make a costume! So, we put on our outfits and headed to the local Chick Fil A (early, to beat the rush and in between hospital visiting hours!) If you missed it, be ready - they do it every year! It was fun to see all the things people did to dress up as a cow!





We had a lot of fun and free food to boot - it was udderly amazing and almost mooooved me to tears!!!