Shiloh Field Service Project

This year we have incorporated a few service projects into our home schooling. Service projects are such great learning experiences for our children! They provide an authentic educational experience while at the same time teaching empathy. Service projects teach our children that whether they are 5 or 55, they can make an impact on the less fortunate in our community. 

In the fall, our home school group volunteered at Vision Ministries, a ministry of Denton Bible Church that provides food, clothing, classes and other essentials to those in need in the Denton area. The boys in our group sorted canned goods and stocked them on the shelves. The girls organized the clothing area. All of the children loved the opportunity to serve in such a real, hands-on way. 

This semester we volunteered at Shiloh Field. 

Did you know that 1 in 5 people in Denton County live at or below the federal poverty line and nearly one third of the residents here do not earn a livable income? That is where Shiloh Field steps in to help. Shiloh Field is our countries largest community garden and is doing a great job at feeding the hungry in Denton. 

We were given a tour of the large, 15 acre land owned by Denton Bible, but operated solely by donation. In the garden there are 152 personal 15x15 plots for families and individuals to plant on free of charge. There are fields designated for farming various crops, a vineyard and orchards.  

There is even an area on the land for chickens. The eggs laid by the birds are given to the hungry.  

Once we had seen the entire garden, we were put to work. The children were shown an area overgrown with weeds and their job was to clear the weeds out. 

They took their work very seriously and did a great job clearing the weeds. 

To find out more about the garden, you can like them on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/dbcgarden/

Spring Break in San Antonio

My grandparents lived in San Antonio for many years. I have so many memories of where they lived and going to visit during the summer, so when we were deciding where we might like to go on Spring Break, San Antonio was at the top of my list. We have some great friends there, too, so the decision was easy! 

We pulled out of Denton, TX on Friday morning and stopped in Hico for lunch. 

We made it to San Antonio by the evening and just before it started raining. I cooked hot dogs in the RV and the kids watched a movie before turning in for the night. 

The weather the next morning was still rainy, so we went to a Children's Museum. 

We did get a little break in the rain to play in the outdoor exhibit.

Our favorite room was the music room.

After the museum, we went to Los Patios, a restaurant Memaw and Papaw used to take us. It was nice enough by then for us to eat outside. After our lunch, we walked the trails by the restaurant.

Gabe even found a Geocache!

On Sunday we went to the Japanese Tea Garden and ate at the tea house there. It was fantastic!!

That evening we were able to hang out with some long-time-dear friends.

On Monday morning we saw some more friends! The DeKoning's were friends of ours in Colorado and then moved to Denton not long after we did. A few years ago they moved to San Antonio to help start a church. Their church is thriving and growing!

They have a super fun backyard!

That evening we hung out at the RV park. Byron grilled dinner for us on his tiny grill. 

And Mig lost a tooth!

We spent Tuesday on the river walk and ate some great Mexican food!

We took a boat ride, saw the Alamo and took a carriage ride.

 We spent our last day in San Antonio at the Zoo. 

We even rode the Zoo train.

Usually I would have more pictures of a fun trip like this. Sadly, the only pictures we have, are the pictures we took with our phones. 

After the zoo we went to eat and I left my camera in the truck. I pushed it up under the seat, but I guess it wasn't hidden enough. Someone got into the truck (it looks like they picked the lock) and took my camera. Nothing else. Just the camera and all of the beautiful pictures from our trip. It is sad; my camera would go everywhere with us and I am still morning the loss somewhat. I am thankful that there was nothing else in the truck - no cards, or ids or anything,  and that the truck was not stolen.  The kids were pretty shook up about the loss, and so we had a good lesson on the camera being just a "thing" and that is why we store up our real treasures in heaven - where thieves can't break in a steal.  

Even though we had a minor tragedy the last day of our trip, we had a really great time in San Antonio! It was a fun Spring Break!

Weekend on the Lake

 The weekend after Valentine's Day, we went camping at a site not too far from us.

It was a fun weekend get-away!

The kids threw rocks in the lake, ran around outside and had a great time!

Baylor was in Labrador heaven! He swam everyday and could not get enough of the chilly water.

What is camping with out s'mores?

We watched the boats leave the dock.

And went hiking in the woods.

The end of the trail led to a tunnel!

Mostly, we made some really great memories.

My little budding photographer, Selah, took the following pictures.

Lake life is amazing!