New Beginnings!

This past Sunday was a unique and unforgettable time.  We started our Sunday just as usual by going to church at the Emerald Rainbow Family Fun Center, a place that we have been having church in for years.  Prior to this location we were in a middle school just across the way from the (ER) Emerald Rainbow.  When our time expired from the school.  We earnestly prayed for our next location.  We even signed up for around the clock prayer.  Our prayer team kept getting "rainbow" and "backyard".  Our pastor even stepped into his own backyard and pondered the thought and would ask...what does that mean?  The Lord continued to move and our prayer team and church family continued to pray for His direction.  The building group sought out land options, building options, etc...and nothing.  One young lady in our community has a friend, and that friend and her husband had just opened up a family fun place and were planning to be closed on Sundays.  They had discussed if they should host a church on Sundays instead of being open for business. The young lady from our community informed her that it may just be our church, Riverside.  So, right behind (in the backyard) of the middle school where we were, was the Emerald Rainbow Family Fun Center.  G-d is so faithful in all things.  So, we were able to move worship into the Emerald Rainbow Family Fun Center (ER) for several years before finding the new location.  (The new location is part 2 of this story, but we will have to share that at another time)  Leaving the Emerald Rainbow and heading to the new location we were escorted by police.

During our time of prayer and seeking, our church members were asked to take a note card and spend sometime with the Lord.  Some wrote scripture, some drew pictures, some wrote a prayer.  Each one was G-d inspired.  They placed several of them in frames.  Mine and Emily's were on the same poster board.  So special.

Emily's 

Then we entered the new worship space.

The stone wall was inspired by the Western Wall in Israel.

From this unforgettable moment we took off to head downtown to see the Blue Man Group at the Majestic Theatre.  Phil and I enjoyed the show so much for our anniversary that he purchased tickets for us to take the kids.  

We again had the same great seats in the Starlight Suite.  With our tickets we were able to enter into the Starlight Lounge, a private lounge.  Where we were able to walk out on the Starlight Terrace for a unique view of downtown.

We were able to sit and enjoy the setting of the private lounge before the show.

The kids were so excited and felt so honored to be able to enjoy this privilege.  Then off to our seats!  Unfortunately it's prohibited to take photo's inside the Theatre.  The kids enjoyed the show and Caleb kept asking throughout the show if it were over yet and then when he was told "not yet', he would say "good, I don't want it to be over yet."  When it all did come to an end the kids wanted a souvenir from the show.  As we were waiting in line the Blue Man Group came out for fans to see them.  Emily wanted an autograph.  When she approached one of them, he just stood there and looked at her and wiped his thumb across the top of his head to put his blue print on her Playbill. 

Caleb was good at viewing them from a distance.

From our great time downtown, then we were off for a friends 40th birthday!  It was great to be apart of such a fun filled, unforgettable day!
The fun doesn't stop here!  This week we will be celebrating Emily's 11th birthday!  So, more good times to come!  We will update again soon.
Shalom,
Vicki