Crossroads '09 Conference

While traveling I-75 on our way to the Conference we

passed a huge Confederate flag flying in the wind.

Chris whipped off on to the closest exit. He said "I've passed that

flag too many times. I'm going to see where it is and

what the story is behind it."

It is at the Suwanee Farmer's

Market and it was erected there along with a

Memorial to the Confederate Veterans by the

Florida Division of the Sons of Confederate Veterans.

Chris was born and raised in Florida and

as always been proud of his Florida/Southern heritage-

now even more than ever - as he is truly understanding the

real history and philosophy behind what our Southern

forefathers believed and the Christian culture they

embraced.

"Dixie"

A little reflection time. I'm sure
many of his ancestors served the Confederacy proudly :)
Callie gladly researches the details!




Now this person may be one of MY Confederate ancestors!

This was among the names on the memorial.

Look at the 4th row down.

My Great Grandmother on my Mother's side

was named Ethel Holt and was from North Carolina.

We'll have to research this as well.

My mother was born in North

Carolina and is a truly southern lady!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

I consider my heritage to be Southern as well.

My roots were planted here in Central Florida.

God sovereignly called my Grandparents and Parents

to Central Florida over 35 years ago and I have

lived here ever since(minus 1 year in KY).

I was honored to be part of a family that was instrumental

in starting 5 Christian schools in the Central

Florida area. I met my husband at the last one

we started. I watched the hand of God providentially

take care of our family all those years while we

were doing His will in this region. I watched

my Grandfather and Father face

jail time for standing on their

Constitutional rights at

one of our schools. I watched and experienced

God's Sovereign hand

on our family as He led me and my sister

to our husbands in that tiny Christian

school in Central Florida. I have listened to

and been fed by my Father as

my Pastor for over 28 years

and my husband has had the privilege of

being under his teaching for over 20 years.

The place God

planted our family those

many years ago and all of these

experiences and memories make up my Godly,Southern

heritage for which I am truly grateful

and would not trade for anything in this world.
Our extended family

has had a tremendous impact for God's kingdom in

this particular area over the past 28 years!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Now enough of being side tracked, on to the

CHRISTIANS AT THE CROSSROADS

2009 CONFERENCE

(The following was excerpted from my sister, Beth's, blog www.thedischerfamily.blogspot.com

She did such a GREAT job condensing the entire Conference, that

I decided to post her summary here - hope this is ok, Beth! Thanks!!)

A conference which enlightened our family and refocused our vision.
We in America are truly at a crossroads.

We are all aware that this out of control spending of fiat currency

cannot last forever. We are financially and morally

bankrupt and under God's judgement,

yet as Christians, what is the "next step"?

At this inspiring convention, we were very much encouraged in this area.
A few things we brought away from this conference were to...

-- Plan as a family for the future - both physically and spiritually.

-- Have goals as a family in order to be proactive in confronting our culture for Christ

-- Train our children (and ourselves!) to think beyond an entertainment based lifestyle -

encourage a productive lifestyle instead

-- Even and especially in the face of disaster, we have opportunities to impact our society

the kingdom of God

-- Children are a blessing from the Lord and are the arrows that we send into the future for His

kingdom

-- Encourage our daughters, to give her heart, her time, and her talents to her father and

his vision, and she will be ready to do the same for her husband

-- Encourage our sons to be ready for marraige with a 200 year plan for his own progeny

-- Ensure that all entertainment is compatable with the vision God has given our family and not

detracting from it

-- Encourage siblings to work together in harmony

"Where there is no vision, the people perish..." Prov. 29:18

By: Beth Discher

"Redeeming the Time Because the Days are Evil..." Eph 5:16

Mr. and Mrs. Botkin
The entire Botkin Family

Wills found a friend

And was quite taken by her!

The little boys did a good job of keeping

quiet during the long sessions

Margaret made some friends

(So did the older girls - just no pictures!)

I guess one session was just too long

The Botkin sisters play the harp beautifully!!!

My dear mother and I. It was a great time for our

entire family (minus the Millers in AK and my

brother Jason who sent Ashley and Savannah with us :)

~Mary and Grace~

The children appreciated the Conference as

much as the parents!

Patriarchs of the Families

These men are serious about

the spiritual and physical

futures and well being of

their families

We pray that God will

give them wisdom and guidance

in these coming days.

My Father leading in prayer

My dear husband

Beth's husband, Eddie

****************************************************************

CHOW TIME!

A WELCOME BREAK!!

Mr. Special!

Wills and Mommy

Mary enjoying fried pickles

Beth and Chris' Mother, Susan

Decisions, Decisions!

Anyone who knows Eddie knows

he doesn't like deciding what

to order!

One sweet face

And another

And another!

Grandma Sue and Wills at breakfast

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

The Best of Friends

We will cherish these moments in time;

hold them close to our hearts

And think of them when we miss

you most

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Lunch with the Whiddons by the River

The Conference Center was right on the Chatahootchee River

Brooke and Callie
Sweet Nina

Laney ~ Who is sweet as well ~



Timothy and Michael

CJ's great friends!

*~*~*~ Little Timmy Willie*~*~*~

Discussion...

*~*~*~The Whiddon and Stricklen girls*~*~*~

See you next time!

God bless and thanks for reading!



Posted by: Mama