A Verse Hid in Our Hearts…H is for…
“He will cover you with His pinions, and under His wings you will find refuge; His faithfulness is a shield and a buckler.”
Psalm 91:4
A Hymn to Impart…“Under His Wings”
A Sweet Little Prayer…“And God Said”
A Poem to Share: “The North Wind Doth Blow”
How Our Week Was Spent
We went camping at Volcano National Park. We brought the whole family and Gideon too. We saw beautiful plants and birds (by Sam, 4)
We took a bird-watching hike around a cinder cone and saw an I’iwi Bird. We climbed up the cinder cone and ran down (Nate, 6).
Mom woke us up at midnight and we hiked to the edge of the Volcano so we could see the lava-glow (Joel, 8).
This week we read about the Bristle-thighed Curlew. They live in Hawaii. They leave their babies in the nest and then fly 5000 miles away. The chicks have to feed themselves and then they all flock together and fly by themselves to where their parents are with no one showing them how (Titus, 9 1/2).
Teacher’s Two-Cents
My mother-in-law (or in-love, as she’d prefer) sent us this link about 18 things you will never regret doing with your kids. I loved them all but have a couple more of my own to make it an even 20. #1-I will never regret waking my kids up in the middle of the night to go see the glow of hot lava coming from a nearby volcano and hear the powerful roar as it surges with heat from the center of the earth. I didn’t regret it the first time and the boys were excited to do it again (although I wonder how the story will go when they’re older…probably something like, “Remember when Mom used to drag us out of bed in the middle of the night and make us hike for miles just to see this little ol’ trickle of lava?”) I’m telling you the grogginess you may feel in the morning is 100% worth it. Here are some links to posts from last year about more night time adventures (Star-Gazing, ISS, Snorkeling, Tsunamis, Night-Hikes, Mauna Kea Sunrise).
#2- My financial advisor might say otherwise, but I will never regret sacrificing a cushy retirement savings in order to travel with our kids while they (and we!) are still young. Even when money was at it’s tightest we have always managed to scrape enough together to show our boys some other part of God’s creation. We eat out of ice-chests, camp along the way, and fill those little minds with the wonder of nature. My husband and I laugh that we’ll just have to live off of beans and great memories when we are old. Hopefully our boys will still be laughing at being dragged out of bed by then. I know I will be.
Of Skies and Seas 
Looks like you had a fabulous weekend! I’m sure waking them up at midnight will be a memory they treasure for life.
They haven’t complained about it so far but I do wonder how the stories will be exaggerated when they are older.
So glad the park was open again in time for your birthday outing!
I think even the federal government knew not to mess with my birthday plans!
Awww… I love it! It seems your treasure is in just the right place! 🙂
As you often say, “My cup runneth over!”
Amen! And Gideon’s camo is precious!
What a wonderful adventure! You will never regret investing in what will not ‘rust, burn, be eaten by moths or stolen’! You truly know where the treasures lie – – – in teaching God’s Truth to your precious family. God’s Truth is revealed in the Word and the world He created (Psalm 19). Thank you for the adventures you give our grandsons in learning and exploring what Our Creator and Redeemer has provided! Will we be doing a 3rd midnight run to the volcano too?
Yes! I remember what troopers you and Opa were the first time! Let’s definitely do it again!
Thanks for the memories Julie. I too will never forget being rousted out of bed for a night hike to the edge of the volcano, and I look forward to doing it again. The “great adventure” you are having with Tom and the boys continues to grow representative of the love you have for God, His creation, and your family. It has been great fun to play a small part. Dave (Opa)
Actually, I believe we have you to thank for that memory since you did foot the bill for that little excursion. 🙂 And I wouldn’t exactly call your part “small.” One of the greatest treasures our boys have is godly grandparents who can share these experiences with them…or at least read about them on-line. 🙂