Spring Break for Country Acres Christian Academy this year

This week we were on spring break in our home-school. Daddy was able to get "off" his usual work, but we weren't work-less on this break! Daddy and Mother primarily, with help from the rest of us, worked to paint their bedroom and two/thirds of our hallways (the other third being done in January) for the first four days of spring break. This included moving out of their room, taping (etc.), priming, cutting-in, rolling, and touching-up. My older brother was not off work this week, but the rest of us focused on the home-work. Oh, and on Thursday my Dad and I went to the Driver's License place and I got my learner's permit. Anyway, we were happy to get all of the painting done Thursday evening and get packed and ready for a weekend trip to Colorado Springs!

We went to Colorado Springs this weekend for the annual Arms Around the World Convention. We have been privileged to attend several of these conventions through the years, and always come away blessed. We are also blessed by dear family members to stay with when the conventions are in Colorado Springs! So, "early" Friday morning we left for the Springs to get there in time for the A.M. "workshops", by Bro. Martin H. and Sis. Durenda B., who spoke on the church in home missions and Christian finances, respectively. After those two services we enjoyed fellow-shipping around the noon potluck with those who had come. On Friday afternoon Daddy, Jeff, and I went on a drive and found a place which we used to take many nice pictures of Jeff for his senior pictures. I mean the backdrops were nice, I'm not advertising my brother. The scenes were a photographer's dream... anyway, we had a nice afternoon doing that. Following that we went out to eat with our family,
and then went to the evening service. One of the things that happened in the Friday evening service was that a Brother who is a pastor in Mexico spoke in testimony and challenge (speaking through a translator). This followed with a good season of prayer.

On Saturday the "workshop" speakers were Bro. Jonathan L. and Bro. Philemon W., speaking on Mission Helps and a national's view of missions, respectively. We enjoyed both of these services as well and a potluck lunch which followed. In the afternoon we four kids were invited to go putt-putt golfing with some of the young, and young adults
of the church as a birthday surprise for a friend of ours, Tonya S.
who helps with the Sunday School we help with nearly every Sunday evening. Anyway there were 22 of us, and we had a fun time with them all! Saturday evening's service began with a special prelude--saw music with piano and organ accompaniment. Saw music? Yes, my great-uncle plays music on the flat side of a saw with a violin bow!


This morning's services included reports from all the AAW missionaries/mission fields, singing, communion, and a short message. It was a blessed service and we enjoyed it. After lunch with our family members, we left and went to Garden of the Gods, where five of us "hiked" around and took pictures for ~45 minutes. It was a beautiful-weathered day. After that we headed home. We didn't have Sunday School tonight due to one's sickness, and the unavailability of the group as a whole to make the trek up there for it. We missed having that and hope the kids missed coming to S.S. bad enough to make a point of coming next week.

We had a really restful, spiritually, physically, and emotionally beneficial weekend trip in Colorado Springs, and we thank God for the opportunity to be with many new and old friends.

The suitcases are unpacked, and thus I rest my case.