Cadillac Ranch

In 1974 artists set up this display. They featured models of Cadillacs. Apparently they are buried in the ground at an angle like the pyramids in Giza. They have been moved once from their original location. They are located on privately owned land. Spray painting is allowed and encouraged.

I made my mark, real original work there, very inspiring. I don't think I would make a good graffiti artist. I needed someone like Banksy to give me some tips. 

Jane has a character she draws called YO.    A winking stick- figure type of face. He wears a sideways hat and a cross necklace. She has been drawing him for a few years now. This was the perfect place for his public debut. I trust she won't be tempted to vandalize anything else with his likeness.

I noticed the Happy Birthday and the Jane were already painted on the car located on the left.
 Jane's birthday was at the end of the month.
It was kind of windy, so I encouraged Elliot to go inside to get a clear shot at making his design. 

Don't know if this makes it into any "Top 100 things to see before you die" list. We were passing through and tried it. Later Nathan read that there was another place close by that  has VW bugs. We prefer Volkswagens to Cadillacs, Maybe next time. 

Voice of the Martyrs

We left Missouri and headed west to Oklahoma. We visited Voice of the Martyrs headquarters in Bartlesville.

VOM was founded in 1967 by Richard and Sabrina
They both were imprisoned for their faith at one time.


“Serving the persecuted church through practical and spiritual assistance while leading Christians in the free world into fellowship with them.”

The sign quotes a speaker at a rally in India. Comparing Christians to bed bugs. That need to be killed or they will continue to drink blood. 

This cabinet holds various items.  The guitar  has a bullet hole in it. The person was shot at (survived) while playing in church. Makes me wonder how many people would show up to church in America if we were worried about being shot. I think I would be tempted to stay home. 

We attended a chapel service. We noticed that two of the ladies that worked at our hotel were in attendance.

They featured a video about Christians in Syria. I was a little worried it might be too intense for the kids, because it did discuss the reality of children being killed for their faith not only adults. I am hoping to have some discussions with the kids based on this subject. Why would you die for your faith? What kind of God would let you die? We don't have kids that ask us a lot of questions. I have to guess how they think most of the time and it can take me a few tries to draw out what they are feeling or thinking.  One goal is to point  them to the truth of God's word, the reality of  His goodness and His love. By doing this I pray they will take their decisions to follow Christ with more conviction than ever.  I want them to honestly question why they believe and ask now, so they can get wisdom. 

We were hoping to volunteer while visiting, but our information didn't get approved in time. They allow people to pack items that need to be shipped to various places. 

Vacation 2014 first stop: Missouri

We are taking two weeks to travel out west.   Our first stop is St. Louis, MO and the City Museum.

We only had a Sunday afternoon this time around, but because we knew our way around it didn't take us long to figure out what to do. 

On our way to Oklahoma we stopped off at the George Washington Carver National Monument.

Diamond, MO has a population of 902.
I was a little doubtful that this National Park would be that good. On the contrary, it was excellent and I wish we had come a little earlier because we ran out of time.  Dr. Carver was an extraordinary American. I feel his life and accomplishments are inspirational.  If we are going to have national parks dedicated to people in this country, then he deserves one.

Jane had earned two Junior Ranger Badges by the time we left Missouri.

There are currently over 200 Junior Ranger Programs in the National Park Service. In each of these parks, kids interview Rangers, complete games, and answer questions about the park and the National Park Service. At the end of their experience in the park, they are sworn in as Junior Rangers and receive a special certificate and official Junior Ranger badge.

American Heritage Girls Regional Camp

The first regional camp for Michigan happened in July at a camp called Good News. There were girls from about five troops around the state.  AHG MI1313 had one of the largest groups with eleven.

The counselors at camp helping the girls form teams for capture the noodle.

One of the reasons our girls attended was to earn badges. This is Kathryn a "Patriot" who does not like fish at all, but in order to earn her fishing badge, she had to clean one. 

We had two warm days that allowed the girls to play in the water. 

The counselors entertained us on the first night around a campfire.

Every morning we held a flag ceremony. 

The last night each troop was suppose to do a skit. I had our troop do a mixed body skit where the girls with the hands through the arms had to do things to the front body. It was improvised and went really well,  the girls did a good job. Everyone liked it when they had to take a drink of water.

AHG Michigan

The zipline was enjoyed by all. Jane had fun trying to race everyone to the end.  

Our "Explorer" girls

These girls met a new friend from the Rockford troop, Elizabeth in the red and yellow shirt. 

Jane being the caller for the flag ceremony.

The week had ups and downs. Our dorm had mice and a smell. We had some home sickness in the beginning of the week, that eventually subsided so no one had to pick up a girl early. It was the first time anyone in the troop had done an AHG camp. The girls seemed to get a long nicely and I saw several occasions where older girls were helpful to the younger ones. We also earned some badges, which we will award at our first ceremony in the fall.  

Fayette Historic Park 4th of July 2014

Creations and Summer kick off

Jane made up these soda bookmarks to give her classmates at Wednesday school. 

Elliot's Mother's Day Card 

Fun with sparklers..

Jane's work from Freedom Christian School. 

Elliot made a mad scientist lab out of his Lego

Summer Reading programs have begun. Jane is doing 5 of them. The kids got Frozen Yogurt from the Herrick Library.
Elliot's gash in his head was from a fall he took on his skateboard. Signs of summer: sunshine, green leaves, bugs, flip flops and bruises.. 

Our Indian Tribe had a health day at the community center. Jane had this chameleon painted.