Kingdom Road Trip - Sin and the Fall

Now that I've shared Fourth of July photos, let's jump backwards into day two of Kingdom Road Trip, shall we? I realize this is terribly disjointed but, honestly, it's pretty reminiscent of how my brain's working these days so I'm rolling with it... :-)

The second evening we talked about sin and the fall and took a trip downtown to the Suspension Bridge. While one bridge has been fully restored and is, in a word, picturesque, there is another next to it that remains in various states of disrepair. A nice contrast that allowed for a visually powerful lesson. Because I'm a visual learner, I L-O-V-E-D it.

So I started the evening off by trying to capture a few images of my child again. As you can see below, I was just as successful the second time around as the first...one would think I'd learned my lesson but one would be pitifully wrong.

I just like this picture...because Dave isn't one for photo shoots, I actually thought about pulling out the ol' Photoshop actions to insert ourselves into it; however, I realized a) I'm not quite that talented when it comes to said design program and b) it would look like we were drowning

Back to the story at hand (told you - chasing rabbits is my specialty this week)...

While Beth chatted with the kiddos, I snapped photos of them. It was a partnership that worked...

And this is about the point where I learned that my 'tween is not the only one who doesn't really care for photos. There were a few who outright refused and it cracked me up to no end.

After snack, it was time to head over for some ice blocking. If you, like I, don't know exactly what that is, well it involved large blocks of ice and sliding down a hill on said block of ice. Absolutely hilarious and, if the faces captured below are any indication, a blast if you are of an age where creaky knees and worrying about how much this activity will hurt tomorrow aren't of concern.

Next we headed over to the Vietnam Memorial for our lesson. Kris did a fab job, as usual, and I clearly kept snapping photos...love this one :-)

And because I'm a total sucker for any type of water feature, may I present you with random photo #1,261 for this blog...

Captured her finally. But she doesn't know yet so shhhhh....

There was also some dancing. Hilarious dancing, in fact. I had no idea Paul had those types of moves!

Right about the time we were to leave, the storm o' the day (did I mention it's been alternately unusually rainy versus "hold me before I pass out" hot in Central Texas?) began to roll in. And, in typical good Lord above fashion, there was beauty among the ashes. Amazing, isn't He? 

I thought this went right along with our lesson, quite frankly, and I don't mind telling you that I repeatedly told Him just how cool I think Him to be after seeing this...

Mainly because that whole "every cloud has a silver lining" statement is absolutely true. But only because the silver lining is always Jesus. At least that's the way it works in my life anyway. He's the rock. He's the One. And He never lets go.

Amen. Amen. And amen.

And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.

Romans 8:28