Month: October 2021

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Elevation Nights 2021 Tour

Dickies Arena in Dallas Fort Worth filled with people watching Elevation Worship Concert

If you told me ten years ago that I would attend a Christian concert and love it, I would not have believed you. However, it happened! Last night I attended Elevation Worship’s concert at Dallas/Fort Worth and it was amazing!

The Dickies Arena was sold out! I have never been to a concert filled with so much love and positive energy! It was invigorating! We also had the good fortune of hearing Pastor Steven Furtick give a service in person which made the whole event even better.

Elevation Worship 2021 Tour

If you have not purchased your tickets, you can still catch them on tour.

Elevation Worship and Pastor Steven Furtick on tour - Elevation Nights 2021 Tour. Sunday October 31, 2021 at Toyota Center in Houston, TX. Tuesday November 2, 2021 at Amway Center in Orlando, FL. Wednesday November 3, 2021 at FLA Live Arena in Sunrise, FL and Thursday, November 4, 2021 at VyStar Veterans Memorial Arena in Jacksonville, FL.

Resources

I am forever grateful to my cousin who introduced me to their online church service. It was during a difficult time in my life where I was unable to attend church physically. Pastor Steven Furtick has a gift of delivering the word in such a way that resonates deeply with me. If you have never heard him speak, you can check out these free online videos below.

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How to Make a Push Pin Travel Map

How to make push pin travel map easy

I love our world travel map with push pins. It is displayed in my office and it brings me joy every time I look at it. I decided to make a similar one for our family’s Texas State Parks adventures. This Push Pin Travel Map was so easy to make I decided to share it with you! This project should only take you less than 10 minutes to complete.

Time

Takes less than 10 minutes to complete.

Materials

Choose Your Map

Our family wants to visit all of the Texas State Parks. If you share the same mission and like this design, I have made this print available for sale. It also comes in two other colors (i.e., pink and dark blue). Just remember to customize this print with your own header (“Johnson’s Family Texas State Parks Bucket List”, “Adventures of Alice + Adam”, “Sophia’s Solo Adventures,” etc.). The map size I am using is 11 x 14 inches. However, you can choose any map size you want as long as you choose the correct frame size and have enough cork backing.

Trim the Cork Backing to Size

Tracing a blue guide line on cork board with blue BIC pen on the side.

Use the map (or the insert that comes with the frame) as a guide to cutting the cork backing to size. I am using a 11 x 14 inch map print to fit an 11 x 14 inch rustic farm house style wooden frame.

Arrange two 12 x 12 inch tiles in a column. Then place the map (print side down) against the cork tiles.

Use your ball point pen to trace around the print.

Then take a pair of sharp scissors and cut the outline.

Scissors cutting cork board.

Frame your Map

Open the frame, and remove the glass or acrylic front.

Then place the layers in the frame in this order:

  1. Map (print side down and positioned correctly for hanging)
  2. Cork pieces
  3. Frame backing

Then secure the layers in place with the frame’s fasteners.

Use Your Travel Push Pins

Closeup of orange travel push pins on a State Parks of Texas map.

Now for the fun part! After you hang your new travel map, use your travel push pins to track your travels!

Travel push pins come in assorted colors. You can choose a color for the places you visited. You can choose another color for the next place(s) you plan on traveling to. You can also choose a color for favorite places that you really enjoyed and would either re-visit or recommend others to visit. I love these metallic travel push pins for marking favorite destinations.



Metallic Travel Push Pins (Gold, Silver, Champagne, Bronze, Rose Gold, Metallic Black)



What colors will you choose? I used orange push pins to nicely contrast the greenish-blue map.

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Personalized Texas State Parks Bucket List Map

Personalized Texas State Parks Travel Map

My family and I recently purchased a Texas State Parks annual pass! We eventually want to visit all of the State Parks in Texas so I am tracking our progress with our new Texas State Parks Bucket List Map!

The Design

Texas State Parks Bucket List or Check List Travel Maps that can be personalized with your name or family's name.
Texas State Parks Check List Travel Maps

This Texas State Parks Bucket List features an illustration of the state of Texas. There are three different color options (i.e., light salmon pink, dark blue and a greenish-blue color). All appear on a neutral background. I wanted a simple, uncluttered look with clean lines. A list of the 89 Texas State parks listed on the Texas Parks & Wildlife appears below under a heading that can be customized with your own text.

Personalize It With Your Name

Make this bucket list your own by personalizing it with your own heading. Ours says “Lewis Family’s Texas State Parks Bucket List” but you can customize this line to suit your needs. For example, for a couple you can use “Adam + Alice’s State Parks Checklist” or for an individual you can say “Sophia’s Adventures Since 2021.”

How to Use This Bucket List

Markers

The print has a list of Texas state parks numbered from 1-89, and there is a corresponding numbered bubble on the map. After you visit a park, find that numbered bubble and fill it in. You can use sharpies, but I cannot speak to its long term effect on the print. If you want a safer option, you can use archival or photo-safe markers.

Frame the print without the glass, so that you can mark your progress as you go.

Travel Push Pins

Orange travel push pins laying against cork board

Alternatively, you could frame the print against a cork tile backing. Remove the glass, and you will be able to use travel push pins to mark off each park you visited.

Or if you get a large enough cork board, you could also display some of your favorite photos of the trip on the empty space.

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Save Money With a State Parks Pass

Dinosaur Valley State Park and Save Money with a State Parks Pass

Save money with a State Parks Pass! We plan on visiting several Texas state parks this year, and after pricing out the day use and camping fees, it made more sense to purchase a Texas State Parks annual pass.

The Texas State Parks annual pass gives us unlimited free entry to 89 state parks and it gives us additional perks like discounts on camping. The standard pass costs $70 + shipping and handling fees ($5.95). However, if you are a senior, disabled veteran or have a substantial physical or mental disability, you may qualify for a free Texas Parklands Passport. For additional information, visit the Texas Parks & Wildlife website.

If you are planning to visit your state parks this year, check to see if your state offers an annual pass or other discounts. If you live near bordering state(s), check out that state’s details as well. We were pleasantly surprised to learn that Arkansas does not charge entry fees to their state parks.