Our Trip to Big Sandy

Our family spent a vacation with about 1,500 other Christians at NGJ's Big Texas Shindig. It was great to meet and fellowship with others who were just as peculiar as us! It isn't everyday one meets a family (especially if you're a conservative home school Christian family) with beliefs like their own. I don't think any two families are identical, but to have fellowship with "peculiar people" who we are like us is a blessing. I think of Psalm 133:

Behold, how good and how pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity! It is like the precious ointment upon the head, that ran down upon the beard, even Aaron's beard: that went down to the skirts of his garments; As the dew of Hermon, and as the dew that descended upon the mountains of Zion: for there the Lord commanded the blessing, even life for evermore.

But before we get into the Shindig, let me show the pictures in chronological order. First was the driving and I have two cute pictures from within the RV (named Cletus).

We are thankful for Cletus, because we were able to play charades and checkers, take naps, and eat while traveling, which was a real blessing.

 

Cletus lost a step and an engine cover while we drove, but Dad made a new one out of some wood and his own craftsmanship. One family saw our RV and said we could have been from Texas too!

 

As I said before there were around 1500 people there, out of those we knew only one family. As we pulled into our RV spot we were talking about how we hoped to see the G family and, what do you know, they were in the spot right next to ours.  

 

We enjoyed sharing a couple meals and s'mores with them as well as playing and talking together.



Goldilocks loved to play with Annalisa. They are playing tag.

We also went on the obstacle coarse with them. Below is our Dad going from one tire swing to another. (SquiRe is in the background!)

The next game, or obstacle, was a two player game. There were four chords above the ground making a square, in the middle of the square was a rope. In the picture you will see Risa and Dad relying on each other to walk around the square, balancing on the thin chords beneath their feet.

Sam's turn!

 

After that was the tall rope swing; so much fun!

Yes! That is Risa.

 

We all tried it, but there are so many pictures already.

 

Okay, after that was the exciting log walk. A long log was held above the ground by two chords so that as you walked across it would rock and move.

Again, we all made it across (I did it three times =) ) but the space for pictures limits us to this.

The two tight rope walkers above Sam and Abigail G. were supposed to race but decided to use a long stick and work together.

I have a new found appreciation for tight rope walkers. As you can see in the above picture, I fell many a time. But it was such happy amusement!

Annalisa is helping Goldi "fall".

We all held our arms together as others stood on a platform and dropped back in faith. Annalisa had the most fun and was by far the bravest.

 

The last tight rope started closer to the ground (you see it right above Risa's knee) and grew higher off the ground. Thankfully there was a second chord to hold on to.

The feet of yours truly! Ta ha ha =)

A quick rest at the highest point.

I really like this silly pose!

Abigail and I had taken many pictures. Our camera's memory card was full!

Micheal Pearl had some great teachings. The whole family enjoyed his teachings above those of the other speakers. There were amazing teachings on family, missions, marriage, Romans, sanctification, how to read your Bible, and more.

It was such a good trip. I think we all hope to go to the next Shindig! And maybe you will too!

 

Blessings,

Mari