Emily Anne

"Study to show thyself approved unto God, a workman that

needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the Word of Truth."

~2 Tim. 2:15

Whereas

Emily Anne

 

Has not only mastered a body of knowledge pursuant to a secondary education, but has also demonstrated Godly wisdom and personal maturity based upon faith in Jesus Christ, we are pleased to announce her graduation from high school.





A Sunday Hike

We are having beautiful weather here in the Northwest corner of the US. We usually get a week of sunshine around now, but then, can't count on seeing the sun until about July.
So, after church, we headed to a local lake for a quick hike around. Emily took her camera and got some great pictures...

I love the rosy cheeks and outdoorsy look!

Our Twinkles....forever friends!

Benjamin and Emily are showing the blank space that Sarah has left....well, only temporarily left. She is in  Texas w/ my parents and her young cousins until next Sunday.

Em snapped this great shot of our 4 boys...chatting up a storm - as usual! I love this picture because it is such a good representation of their relationship....our boys enjoy visiting w/ each other ALL THE TIME! Such a priceless common occurence at our house.

Hope you had a Blessed Lord's Day!

Come Ye Thankful People Come

We had the privilege of hosting a Thanksgiving party...a bit of a school project and history lesson, and a bit of a crafting time for 5-10 year-olds and their people (older siblings, younger siblings and mamas!)
Gregg opened the event by reading Congress's Thanksgiving Proclamation from 1777.

Benjamin, Grace and Emily read stories (Em's the photographer - so no pic of her)

Yea...that little pilgrim facing the wrong direction belongs to me.....but that smile......a person can forgive a lot when looking into those eyes!

We made Thanksgiving cards for grandparents,  - (no pics......)

and delicious acorns (out of hershey kisses, mini vanilla wafers, and broken pretzel sticks.....delicious....glued together w/ white chocolate chips!)

(upside down legos made great holding racks for the creations!)

Joshua made up sets of "Naughts and Crosses" a version of tic-tac-toe. So each of the 24 kiddos between the ages of 5-10 had a set to take home.

We sang lovely Thanksgiving hymns -

"Come Ye Thankful People Come"

"Count Your Blessings" - (we had about 50 people here today! - lovely friends)

"For the Beauty of the Earth"

Our 4 younger kiddos made up these song folders for each of their friends.

Rachel made Pilgrim paper dolls and clothes for the children to color and cut out.....

Hope you are having a lovely time reflecting on the many blessings you have received from the Lord!

What We are Working on in our Family.....

And we are only able to do this because.....

May you know true Love.

Zeek - Matthew 4:1-11 Age 7

James Recites Exodus 20:3-17 (Age 10)

Well done, James!

We are continuing our Scripture memory program from the summer. It is one of the first things each child works on each day. I am encouraged and amazed at their progress. I will continue to try to post the videos of each childs accomplisments. They actually have to recite them to me perfectly before we video them. When we make the video, they sometimes make little mistakes, but, they don't make it to the blog unless they have passed them satisfactorily first!

Meggy's 2nd Birthday

Megan Joy (who is 6 years old) became concerned about an eternal life apart from Christ. ...Sarah tells the story quite well.

God bless you Meggy, as you grow in your Saviour!

Family Camp

Well, I'm still trying to come up w/ pictures from the fair....(I didn't take a camera any of the 5 days!) Will post those pictures if/when I get some from friends. However, the shepherds had a grand time. Lots of blue ribbons and learning! All of their lambs sold at the auction (HOORAY!) and the two breeding ewes are on holiday - hopefully being successfully bred!
Meanwhile, we just attended our church's annual family camp. Such a fun time for the entire family. We didn't have a live speaker, so opted to watch video of R.C Sproul and Alistair Begg. Lots of good learning!
We also play....play....and more play. There are volleyball competitions to participate in, foosball, ping-pong, horseshoes, and even pinochle (of which Gregg and I are the reigning champions, mind you - 2 years running now)! On Saturday, we divide up into teams based on families. Our team won the "name that tune" game where you use BoomWhackers. We had to identify 20 songs in some amt of time. There are several other activities in this afternoon of fun - getting your entire team across a "no one can touch the ground" field only using a few odd (and very small) items, a water relay in which we got thankfully wet! (This was the hottest family camp we've been too - we are usually battling rain this time of year!), and a variety of tossing games.

There are also three legged races,

Apple Bobbing,

And enjoying friends!

We are all very encouraged and refreshed having spent time w/ our church family!

Scripture Memory Resource

We have used these Scripture memory books for probably 15 years....Actually, it is our second set....we had the cassettes and books first, and then about 8 years ago purchased the set of books w/ cds.  They are not flashy. They have a song, and then the chapter of Scripture (you know....where you hear a "ding" and turn the page - so non-readers can follow along and recognize the words that go w/ each picture!) and then at then end, the chapter is put to music; with the Scripture verbatim. (At least, I think mostly verbatim!) My kiddos (are supposed to) listen to them every morning. We have had good success using this resource.

http://www.thywordcreations.com/Childrens.htm

This is the only product we have purchased from Thy Word Creations, (and we purchased them many years ago!) but they seem to have several other interesting options as well.

Maddie (age 5 - for a few more days anyhow) and 1 Corinthians 13

1 Corinthians 13

New King James Version (NKJV)

1 Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I have become sounding brass or a clanging cymbal. 2 And though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries and all knowledge, and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, but have not love, I am nothing. 3 And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and though I give my body to be burned,[a] but have not love, it profits me nothing.

4 Love suffers long and is kind; love does not envy; love does not parade itself, is not puffed up; 5 does not behave rudely, does not seek its own, is not provoked, thinks no evil; 6 does not rejoice in iniquity, but rejoices in the truth; 7 bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.

8 Love never fails. But whether there are prophecies, they will fail; whether there are tongues, they will cease; whether there is knowledge, it will vanish away. 9 For we know in part and we prophesy in part. 10 But when that which is perfect has come, then that which is in part will be done away.

11 When I was a child, I spoke as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child; but when I became a man, I put away childish things. 12 For now we see in a mirror, dimly, but then face to face. Now I know in part, but then I shall know just as I also am known.

13 And now abide faith, hope, love, these three; but the greatest of these is love.

Being Blest by One of Our Blessings!

We are always blest by all of our blessings, but I do have a specific incident to share.

After yesterday's post referring to the cultural norms that are prevalent in our society - the worldview that eliminates absolutes in favor of people defining their own truth based on feelings rather than facts...maybe all of that wasn't exactly said yesterday...but it was in mind when I posted :) , I was encouraged by my daughter Rachel. We were assembling some ice cream sandwiches and just talking. Rachel is reading the book, "John Adams" by David McCullough, and she was telling me her new favorite quote.

photo



"Facts are stubborn things; and whatever may be our wishes, our inclinations, or the dictates of our passion, they cannot alter the state of facts and evidence."

- John Adams

John said this as he was defending some British soldiers in their trial for crimes (I guess that would be murders)  commited at the Boston Massacre.  His speech in defense of the soldiers resulted in their acquittal.

Ah...it was a blessing to hear her talk about the book, the quote and her appreciation of...TRUTH!

May you have a day filled with The Truth!

It's official....

The Summer Reading Program has begun!

I  would love for you to leave a comment and let us know your favorite books and the ages for which they are best suited! (Adult and children recommendations are all welcome!)  We will comprise our list and post it soon!

Here is Sarah's current list.

 Thanks so much!

Here's hoping you all have a well read summer!

Lord's Gym

On Friday afternoons, after Tea Time, most of the family heads to the Lord's Gym.  (Gregg, Benj, and Em are employed til after 4:30, so they join us then!)  This is a very interesting place. A church actually meets here, but on Fridays, it is joined by others in the community and is the 3rd largest food distribution place in Clark County.  Beginning at 3:30, produce and bread is handed out to needy families/people. The twins manage the potato and onion bin, James works w/ the fruit, Grace hands out bread, and Z works where ever he is needed in this room. Sarah, Rachel, and Joshua head to the kitchen to help prepare food for the dinner that is served at 6pm.  I must mention that we do NOTHING but show up to help. The work actually begins in the morning and by the time we get there, we are just extra hands. The meal begins w/ prayer, and the gospel is presented at the end of the meal.  During the meal, we help serve the food, gather the trays, (which need to be washed and reused) and begin cleaning the preparation dishes. At this point, we take our family home for a dinner together - pizza/movie night. But the Lord's Gym is still opened! They hand out frozen and canned food after dinner!
It is a ministry that we've enjoyed participating in. For many years, we wanted to do something that our entire family could do together, and this fits the bill well for now. One friend that we met grew up in Scotland. Our children love to visit w/ him. There are many Russian folks there that don't speak English. Benjamin likes the opportunity to try to communicate w/ them, and they appreciate his effort. We've really benefited from participating in this local ministry and have been able to see God working in a way that we've not witnessed first hand before.
What's going on in your neck of the woods?

(I did have some pictures that Eman - our Scottish friend took, but haven't been able to upload them - will try to post them later!)

True Contentment

My husband and I were listening to this song yesterday....and were (again) struck by the reality of the completeness we have in Christ. The amazing fulfillment in Him. We just need to remember to live in that knowledge!  Enjoy!***********************************************************************************

At the moment, half of our house has no flooring...just sub floors. Three years ago, we were able to build an addition on to our home - a great blessing. But at this point, the flooring is not yet in. I am experimenting w/ making some rugs for the stairs when they are finished. I would like to have wood on the steps, but because of the slippery factor and because there is a big window at the bottom of the stairs....we need to have some traction. This is my first attempt...I crocheted the rug and then felted it.  We all like it, but I'll have to decide if I want to make 14 of them, or if a simpler design will work for the stairs. I think I have lots of time to decide or create for that matter. But it's fun to have a working plan.

Baby Girl in Japan

A week ago Sunday, a friend at church asked me to crochet a baby blanket for a niece who was pregnant with a little girl. I love to crochet or knit for babies....even babies that I do not know. I have the opportunity to pray for them while I am stitching away. Incidentally, this little girl and her family live in Japan. The earthquake happened the following Friday. As of Sunday, the baby had not yet been born - the parents were fine. I believe that they live within proximity of the nuclear power plants.

 So many people there......within the catastrophe zone....people with a lot of needs...

I finished the blanket yesterday

But I think the prayer for that little girl and the country she is in, will continue for quite some time.

Friday Tea - What are you looking at?

Grandma Nancy was here for tea today! She came 600 miles, from the Bay Area to join in the ritual. She even came prepared. She sang a version of "Jesus Loves Me" that was geared toward the....um...more seasoned child of God. We LOVED it.

 She also told the story in Matthew about Peter walking on the water and beginning to sink..."What did he need to do?" she asked. "Keep his eyes on Jesus!" was the correct answer. She then pulled these out.....

and showed us that when you keep your eyes on the "eye" of the feather you can balance it on your fingertip, but if you take your eyes off of the eye, you will not be able to balance the feather.

So, we all gave it a go, and had a great time trying to keep our eyes on the "eye"...and will be reminded of keeping our eyes on the One who can keep us in the right place! Thanks, Grandma for a great visual lesson!

Bathed in Grace

Last Sunday I had the privilege of receiving copious quantities of grace. It was very beautiful. I’m not certain words could adequately describe the feeling, however, I won’t let that hinder my attempt at sharing it.



I was not feeling tip top, and Gregg suggested I leave a bit early from church and head straight for a relaxing bath. I dutifully got home, ran upstairs, and started the bathwater. I then had the brilliant idea to run downstairs and get the chicken started for lunch...



The pan I needed hadn’t been washed after breakfast, so I cleaned it up quickly, and, having aroused Schnitzel, “tended” to him. Returning inside, I grabbed the jug of oil and notice that it had been leaking…..quite a puddle actually. I began wiping it up, only to discover that it had dripped under the wall….having no trim on the wall leaves a rather wide gap. So I began trying to mop the oil out from under the wall, swishing out large amounts of said liquid with each swipe. I began to panic, ”Oh no! This is going to wreck the walls…the MDF board on the other side…..Yikes!” I continued wiping until the oil stopped coming up in such large quantities (1/4 cups..or at least several tablespoons w/ each swipe!) Finally, there wasn’t as much, so I got a rag stuffed under the wall hoping it would serve as a wick. I was frustrated. Deciding I would skip the bath, I headed upstairs to finish changing clothes. As I got to the top of the stairs, I heard water running. ”OH NO! I COMPLETELY FORGOT THAT I HAD TURNED THE BATH ON!” I ran to the bathroom – now containing a 6 ft. wide waterfall flowing smoothly over the edge of the tub – I waded in, opened the drain, and began the mop up job…..crying..…..

As it turned out….the ceiling is now off of a pretty good portion of the great room. We are relatively dried out…and life is continuing.



My wonderful husband has had nothing but good to say about the incident! He says, “Oh look, Keri, we can put some lights into that area now!”, “This will be great, Keri, now I’ll get a sheet rocker out here to do this little job and the ceiling…I would’ve put it off for a LONG time if we didn’t have the ceiling to repair and the house will look so much nicer with this little trim job done.” He also declared that there would be no bathtub jokes for a week – that had to be hard!



My children were also VERY gracious! I would’ve NOT been gracious had they done the same thing! Well, now maybe I would!



We had some people over that very evening….they were only helpful and gracious…I was in tears.

Humility? Yea…I have been humbled a bit. But mostly I am overwhelmed by the graciousness of my husband and family! How indescribable is the feeling of such grace extended to me…….And to imagine this is over an overflowed bathtub…..

How does one grasp the grace of God???….Words are completely inadequate!