They say that a picture is worth a thousand words....

Captions, anyone?

Gospel Chalk Art!

Last week, I had the privilege of attending a class on presenting the gospel message through the art of drawing with chalk. What a blessing to not only train my hands and mind, but also learn how to better minister to the many lost people in the world!

This is all 23 basic colors that we used during the class. For those of you who were there, you know why I posted this picture. After that first day, you never saw everything so nice and clean as in this picture!

The constant layer of chalk dust got thicker every day!

Bro. Matt Bowman was our instructor for the class. It was amazing how fast he could draw the most beautiful pictures!

Charles Wesco at work on a scene of the cross and the tomb.

Lawrence was next to me for the second part of the class.

Ben Balos was very talented with the chalk! He could draw people so realistic!

Mark Gillmore and his dad. I had the pleasure of staying in the same house as Mark and got to know him pretty well over the few days that we were together.

Sorry Stephen! I just had to post this picture! :o) Who would guess that this guy is only 15? He definitely had a knack for drawing! Unfortunately, I didn't get a good pic of any of his drawings.

Eric Barth and an awesome black light drawing he made up.

Mr. Mellas

Nathan Mellas

Charles and Stephanie Wesco generously invited the guys in the class to come over to their house one evening for games and fellowship. Below are a few pics of the time together.

Josh Bowman trying to figure out the nine-paper game. For those of you who know this mind game...it lasted for awhile!

Caleb Mellas winding back for a throw at the dart board.

And poor Eric! He got tricked into the "hand coordination" game that is really just a sneaky way of getting someone to write lines all over their own face!

When we started using the black light chalk, we first learned how to draw this 3D cross.

Everybody with white shirts on really lit up!

Stephen Wesco, the "pro" photographer, multi-tasking.

Believe it or not, we fit 37 easels down in the church basement! Notice the dust in the air in this picture. It went all over the place! The funny thing about it, was when you blew your nose...and the buggers were blue!

We enjoyed a good home-cooked meal every afternoon out of the dusty practice room!

Again, for those of you who were there, you will understand the humor in this picture of where we had to hop on one foot while trying to take shoes on and off! :o)

I enjoyed drawing this picture of the serpent that Moses raised up on the pole for the children of Israel.

Lawrence did a great job on this picture! Notice that you can't see hidden black light picture at all!

A depiction of the wise man and the foolish man and what they chose to use for foundations of their houses.

OK, driving home on I-65 at about 75 m.p.h. when all of a sudden the traffic got dense and STOPPED right on the highway! I found out later that it was because of an accident further up on the road.

Here is a medical helicopter that was landed right in the middle of the road! There were lots of ambulances, police and a few extra choppers in the air by the time I passed the scene of the accident. (And the traffic behind this copter, was at least three miles long! I hope nobody was in a rush, because nobody was going anywhere for awhile!)

And the one evening when chalk art class had finished for the day, God displayed his own handiwork in the sky! I think he was reminding us of who is the Master of all things, including art and true beauty!

Nate

-

I know I just recently put pictures of him on here, but what is one to do when they get a picture like THIS first one?

-

He was drooling away, but having the time of his life just playing on his blanket, earlier today.

Someone's in the kitchen with Lizzie...

-

Elizabeth recently began a recipe blog, geared with little kiddies in mind. Check it out @ http://kiddiecuisine.blogspot.com

-

And here's the little gal who will help you along the way.

-

Psalm 16:11

-

"Thou wilt shew me the path of life: in thy presence is fullness of joy; at thy right hand there are pleasures for evermore."

Chocolate!

-

The kids went out on Saturday and sold candy bars for a few hours, to help raise money for the new educational building at church. They were able to sell 480, just from standing outside of Wal-Mart.

-

Who could resist?

-

Two of the redheads, waiting for customers.

-
Luke, braving this entrance alone.
-
Molly is still excited, but Aiden's smile looks a little "worn out" by this point.
-
Tired from all your shopping? Try some chocolate!
-

Imitation

Many times over the years, we kids have found Dad back in his bedroom, glasses on, reading his Bible. Apparently, Connor has also taken note of this. When I went to put something away this morning, this is what I saw...
-

Let Us Smile

The thing that goes the farthest
Toward making life worthwhile,
That costs the least and does the most
Is just a pleasant smile.

That smile that bubbles from the heart
That loves it's fellow man,
Will drive away the clouds of gloom
And coax the sun again.

It's full of worth and goodness, too,
With manly kindness blent.
It's worth a million dollars
And it doesn't cost a cent.

Psalm 118:24

This is the day which the Lord hath made; we will rejoice and be glad in it.

A Day at Deep River Park

On Saturday, some of us (Jack, Lizzie, Emily and I) had the privilege of getting together with some great young people from the Wesco and Walsh families.

We met the Wescos in 2004 at a family conference and were delighted to meet the Walsh family later that same year, at musicollege. What special friends they both have become. It's hard to remember what it was like before we knew them, now.

Some highlights from our time together...

We had a picnic style lunch at the beginning of our outing, before getting into the games. Everyone pitched in and brought part of the meal. Yum!

Another shot of the girls.

Lizzie, Anna and Karisse.

Lots of laughter!

After the first round of Ultimate Frisbee, we cooled off for a few min. Check out all the water bottles.

Lawrence, planning his strategy for the next round of Ultimate.... or maybe, just enjoying the break.

Playing "I doubt it", a game that Wescos taught us.

Cute picture of Lizzie and Karisse

I love this picture. :-D

Playing "Mafia"

Our three narrators... Tim, Jack and Nathaniel.

Kaity and Katie

Missy, Ruth, Karisse and Anna

To finish off the day, we went to an Aurelio's pizza place and had a wonderful time. The pizza was superb and the fellowship was even better.

-

Left photo: Chrissy and Katie Walsh. Right: Ruth Wesco and Missy Walsh.

L to R: Tim, Karisse, Liz, Anna and Emily.

The whole group, except for photographer, Ben.

Thanks to everyone for the awesome day. We'll have to do it again sometime!