Vacation, Adventures in Odyssey, and Whit’s End

Vacation had some unexpected turns for us. I guess all of life does. One of those vacation unexpected turns was not being able to get to the top of Pikes Peak and evacuating the mountain due to a blizzard rolling in. This left us with extra time on our hands in Colorado Springs. I remembered that Focus on the Family was headquartered in Colorado Springs. We decided to make a visit. Focus on the Family produces Adventures in Odyssey. Adventures in Odyssey was a favorite of all our kids. Focus on the Family has the whole lower level of their visitor center made into Whit’s End which is where much of Adventures in Odyssey takes place.

This is one of those times where joy and hard walk together. As we descended the stairs to Whit’s End, I became very emotional. Briella would have LOVED it. Adventures on Odyssey was a key part of growing her faith. “Odyssey” as Briella called it was part of most days for her. She listened when going to bed. Odyssey made many Bible stories come to life for her and helped disciple her in what it meant to live as a Christian. Adventures in Odyssey characters became her friends. Briella even wrote in her thought journal about Adventures in Odyssey. “Today’s Odyssey was about idols and I love God so much but I might love things more, that’s why I prayed about it.”

Entry from Briella’s thought journal

Briella had a quiet yet strong faith. She knew God wants first place in our lives. She was also aware of sinful desires for things more than God at times in her life. She took those thoughts to the One who could help her change…our loving Father, God.  It is such a blessing to read her journals and see the way God worked in her life and thoughts. I would have loved to know the other things she pondered after listening to Odyssey.

God definitely met us there at Focus on the Family. It was just a little “God moment” for us. He cares so much about the little things in our lives. We talked to a gal at the information booth. She was giving away Adventures in Odyssey trading cards to some kids. I started looking at them thinking of Briella. She told us that upon completing a scavenger hunt kids can collect a trading card. She offered us a trading card and we chose Connie as we think that was one of Briella’s favorite characters. We were able to share Briella’s Story with her and how much Briella loved Odyssey. These type of interactions have so much meaning to us.  As with so much of life now, joy and hard are part of most everything we experience, but always we feel God walking with us. Special memories and sometime hard memories have a special place in our hearts. Focus on the Family we are thankful for all you do the bring glory to God and bring people closer to Christ. Thanks for being part of the discipleship of our kids.

This is on Briella’s wall of pictures, quotes and Bible verses.