NCHEA 2014

Once again this year several of our family members were able to help with our annual NCHEA (Nebraska Christian Home Educators Association) Kids Conference. Our attendance again swelled to over 300 children, so we had our hands full with a action-packed, meaningful weekend. What memories!

This year the theme was The Quest - Risking it All for the Sake of the King.

We had songs, memory verses, an 8 part drama, lessons, games, awards, and a whole lot of fun! :)

Large group assembly

The drama is a huge highlight every year. And this year was no different. Who doesn't like knights and maidens?! Set in the medieval time period our story followed a young man named Beric who was on a quest to become a knight. Along the way he has a sorts of adventures, mishaps, lessons to learn, dangers, and celebrations.

Alaythia, Nathanael and I (Hannah) were able to be in the drama.

Nathanael was one of the sword-fighters.

Alaythia and I were peddlers, townsfolk, and anything else that was needed.

Most of the cast and crew

Ruth, Elizabeth and I were team leaders

Elizabeth's team

My team

Susanna was a teacher as well

Alaythia was part of the special 'teachers-in-training' session for the 13-14 year olds. Packed with practical instruction and application, she learned allot about dynamic teaching and was able to put her new skills into action by sharing one of the character lessons. 

Nathanael and Charissa were on teams

New friends

Random smiles

Lots of fun!

To God be the glory!

"If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow Me. For whoever desires to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake will save it. For what profit is it to a man if he gains the whole world, and is himself destroyed or lost? For whoever is ashamed of Me and My words, of him the Son of Man will be ashamed 

when He comes in His own glory."

Luke 9:23-26

Day 2: Nassau, Bahamas

As spring slowly arrives in the midwest, we're back to share a few more pictures from the cruise: 

Day two of our cruise adventure started with a visit to Nassau, Bahamas. The weather was lovely and we were excited to explore the area. After a quick family meeting, mapping our our plans and commitments for the day, we headed out.

Everything was so colorful and festive!

Smiles from Nassau



Always into hats, Matthias found his official souvenir.

Hannah joined in with the local entertainment!

And more hats to try

There were so many trinkets for bartering. 

And it was time to head back to the ship and set sail again. 

Tuesday evening was formal night. Time to dress up!

Stephen and Susanna

Charissa and Joanna

Dad had his first experience being a ventriloquist. Let's just say that I think he's planning to stick with music in the future! 

Family sharing

Hannah and Asher

We got the whole crew up there for a couple songs.

What a blessing to experience this all together! 

Give unto the LORD the glory due to His name;

Worship the LORD in the beauty of holiness.

Psalm 29:2

Abi

Happy Birthday Abi!

Abi's chosen ministry: The Pettit Team

In 1985, Steve and his wife, Terry, along with their family began their itinerant evangelistic ministry holding local church crusades throughout the United States. Ten years later their ministry expanded to a team of young evangelists and musicians. Since 1995, the Steve Pettit Evangelistic Team has recorded multiple sacred music CD's along with publishing original sings and sheet music.
Taken from The Pettit Team's website and online store

"You will show me the path of life;
In Your presence is fullness of joy;
At Your right hand are pleasures forevermore."

Psalms 16:11

Preparations

We're on the home-stretch of a 3-day marathon. Our goals for tonight's deadline: 

• Design, build, and paint a medieval castle. 
• Prepare teaching lessons
• Keep up with the fieldwork connections

And tonight is the final night as we prepare to load up our castle and head into Lincoln for the annual conference. Ruth, Elizabeth, Hannah, and Susanna are all teachers this year. We look forward to sharing more in the coming days, but for now, here are a few pictures of our castle project in the early stages. Completed pictures and a weekend update will be forthcoming! 

Drawing the pattern and cutting the cardboard

Designing and fine-tuning the frame

Smaller details

Making progress!

And the beginning stages have begun!

Sponge-painting the marbled look

Sewing banners

"If anyone desires to come after Me, 

let him deny himself, 

take up his cross daily, 

and follow Me."

Luke 9:23

Under the Texas Sun

Within 18 hours of arriving home from our recent tour, our dress-up wardrobes were hung in the closet and our work clothing packed. Away we headed for the windy fields of northern Texas! Irrigation season is already in full swing there and we had a time-crunch job to complete. We parked the bus and jumped into our pickup trucks and headed south.

Windy days make for dusty, dirty grins.

The Texas jobs had around 4,700 individual connections. Many long days and sore fingers, but the work crew cheerfully persevered and enjoyed lots of lively conversations and teamwork!

The Texas wind gives new meaning to the term 'dust storms'. We experienced two storms during our stay, both with visibility under a quarter-mile. 

Beautiful sunsets. The race against time is over and we can call it a day!

"But diligence is man's precious possession."
Proverbs 12:27

Meeting Caden

I'm going to take a quick break from all the cruise/Florida pictures to share a highlight from this past weekend. 

It was a last-minute decision...and worth every extra mile. We learned that Dan & Bethany's family were planning to spend the weekend with our grandparents. After reasoning that many of us haven't had the opportunity to meet the newest member of the family, Caden James...and in celebration of Susanna's brithday...and simply because we miss our grandparents, Dan, Bethany, & Arianna, we brainstormed an idea: 

The perfect solution was that we all [excepting our guys, who were busily working in Texas] headed up to that wonderful place that we all dearly love - Grandpa and Grandma's house!

Great-Grandma and Caden

Playing games

Tickles and Giggles!

Reading a book and watching Caden

The sweet boy is growing up so fast!

Grandpa and Caden

Unlike Florida, Grandpa and Grandma's house has a TON of snow! So throughout the weekend we made a huge snow tunnel.

Plowing snow with Great-Grandpa

Ice cream with Grandpa!

Grandma and Caden

Farming together

Sunday morning smiles!

We love you (great) Grandpa & (great) Grandma!

"One generation shall praise Your works to another,
And shall declare Your mighty acts."

Psalms 145:4