It was a perfect breezy summer morning last Wednesday and my dad and I rode our bikes to a coffee shop. It was great to have some time to plan, discuss future goals, and study the Word together.
We visited the new Answers in Genesis Museum!
We visited the Answers in Genesis Museum 2 weeks ago as we were passing through Kentucky. Our experience there exceeded our expectations, and our expectations were already high!
The first thing we went to was the “planetarium”. As we entered the dark, round theater, I learned that we’d be reclining in our chairs and watching the ceiling! The 15-20 minute show on stars and galaxies was really incredible. I knew the universe was huge and immeasurable, but seeing this mathematical and visual description of the universe caused me to grasp how amazing and beyond our comprehension it really is, bringing much glory to it’s Creator. And Genesis records their creation in only 5 simple words! (“…he made the stars also” Gen. 1:16)
Next, we went through the “Men in White” special effects theater, which was a lot of fun. In a lighthearted way it clearly presented many answers to the questions and objections people face in school and in everyday life regarding Creation science and the purpose of man.
From there we started our “walk through history”. It began with a look at the current state of brokenness and suffering in families and nations. Then it jumped back in time and walked us through the Garden of Eden, the fall and it’s effects, Noah’s ark, after the flood, Tower of Babel, how mankind then spread through the earth, etc. The museum holds up God’s Word as the all-time source of infallible truth and illustrates how clearly science does confirm Genesis in every way. It teaches thousands of interesting facts and evidences via videos, posters, scaled-down models, and life size displays. It’s amazing how much you can learn after spending one day there! There were anamatronic dinosaurs (kind of scary if you get close to them while they roar at you 🙂 ), and many realistic looking sculpted people and animals.
Near the end of the museum is the “Last Adam Theater”, which was one of my favorite parts. After coming out we ate a great lunch at the Noah’s Ark Café, and looked through their large bookstore. We walked back to the van through the nicely landscaped trails and the bridge over the lake.
Some say it’s hard to believe they made the whole museum for only $27 million. They obviously didn’t “cut corners”.
Creation Science is such a key battle of our day. I’m grateful that Answers and Genesis is impacting the world with the truth of Genesis. We need to keep them in our prayers! www.creationmuseum.org
Iowa Homeschool Conference
It was nice to be back in our home state at the Iowa Homeschool Conference last weekend. Our booth was in a gym and my dad got pretty creative with our signs. 🙂
Friends in Florida
Relaxing and talking with the Mostert Family.
Mr. Mostert has been a huge help to our family as he’s made lots of contacts for us…from arranging harp/chalk programs and Bright Lights conferences to meeting our lodging/food needs while we are in Florida.
About two years ago the Mostert family met a 19-year-old girl named Chelsea at a homeschooling event. They were immediately impressed with her radiant countenance and maturity. Since they had been looking for someone to lead a Bright Lights group in their area, they asked Chelsea if she would consider the idea.
God, who amazingly works all things together, had already laid a desire on Chelsea’s heart to start some kind of a discipleship ministry for younger girls, and she told them that she was interested.
In God’s plan, our family came to Florida around that time and needed a place to stay. Chelsea’s family graciously offered their home and we became good friends with their family (the Owens). Sarah and I explained about Bright Lights to Chelsea and not long afterwards, she started a Bright Lights group. The group has been going very well and we often hear good reports!
Our family eating dinner with the Owen Family in Clearwater, Florida
From left to right: Chelsea and Delaney Owen, Sarah, Jessica and Tara Allman
Sarah and I went to Starbucks one evening with Chelsea, her sister Delaney, and two older girls who help in their Bright Lights group, Jessica and Tara. Since we hadn’t finished talking when Starbucks closed, we moved to the bed of Chelsea’s truck. 🙂
Tara and Jessica Allman, Delaney and Chelsea Owen
Future Bright Lights Conferences in Florida
Here we are visiting one of the churches that is hosting a Bright Lights conference this November. We are taking a team of about 20 girls down to do 4 conferences. The plan is to do a Radiant Purity conference in Clearwater on October 30-31 (Tuesday evening and all day Wednesday) and a Strong in the Lord conference on November 2-3 (Friday evening and all day Saturday), both in Clearwater. We are hoping to repeat that schedule the next week in Jacksonville.
The Russell Family is working on details for hosting one or two Bright Lights conferneces in Jacksonville, Florida.
We stopped to meet the Russells and tour their church as we were leaving Florida. We were encouraged by their helpfulness and enthusiasm.
Happy 35th Wedding Anniversary, Mom and Dad!
Since we are traveling, the three of us kids went out to eat tonight with my mom and dad to celebrate their anniversary. Wow! How many kids get to do that?
Yes, my mom is laughing, not crying. At the resturant tonight, it wasn’t very easy to get a good picture of mom and dad. We showed mom the first picture we took, which was a really bad/funny picture of dad. She couldn’t stop laughing after that. Actually, none of us could. I think we made quite a scene in the resturant.
16,000 Homeschoolers!
16,ooo homeschoolers attended the FPEA (Florida Parent-Educators Association) convention in Orlando, Florida. The vendor hall, over 70,000 square feet, was sometimes so crowded it was hard to walk from one side to another without getting stuck in traffic (which included lots of strollers and bookbags on wheels, etc.)!
We were especially excited to be here this year because of a special annoucement we are making: Three Bright Lights conferneces have been scheduled for Florida this November! We will be taking our team of about 20 Bright Lights leaders to Florida for 3 weeks. The conferences will be held in the Jacksonville and Clearwater areas.
Sarah’s speaking at the FPEA conference on “Preparing Young Ladies for their Teenage Years”
Florida FPEA Homeschool Conference
We are currently in the middle of a busy confernece here in Orlando. My mom hasn’t been feeling well, but besides for that, we’ve been encouraged about how the conference has been going.
Here is a picture I snapped as we were setting up. Mia is a little friend of mine…she was helping her family unload their trailor and set up their booth, “Lifetime Books and Gifts”.
Since a lot of the vendors go to the same conferences, we enjoy seeing each other every few weekends in various parts of the country–wherever the next state homeschool conference is.
Announcement
For those who live in driving distance of Clearwater, Florida, our family will be doing a harp concert and chalk drawing Friday, June 1st at Skycrest Baptist Church. The time is 6:30-8:30. For directions, call Allen Mostert at 727-443-2318.
Happy Birthday, Dad!
Today was my dad’s 60th birthday. Last week my mom arranged for a bunch of friends of my dad (including several old college friends) to call him and wish him a happy birthday. Mom did a good job arranging it, and the plan worked out great. My dad was surprised to get call after call and enjoyed talking with old friends. We are currently in Clearwater, Florida and this has been the first “free day” of our trip, so it was a perfect day to celebrate Dad’s birthday.
Sarah, Stephen and I thought the best part of the whole phone call ordeal was watching Mom and Dad interact. Mom accidently dropped so many clues about the surprise phone calls that anyone could have figured it out– that is, anyone except my dad, who is usually oblivious to things like that. They make a great couple when it comes to surprises! Quite entertaining to watch, too. 🙂