Recent Happenings No. 7

Last Tuesday (Oct. 1), after running for our family (or part of it) for roughly 30 years, our refrigerator was replaced. This is a big deal. Maybe a little silly, but still a big deal. That thing ran for Mom for several years before she met and married Dad, and for them and Trissy and me until now. It's just now giving out. They built quality back then. It's like giving up an old friend :( .

Last Wednesday (Oct. 2) night, Uncle Alvin's oldest daughter and her family came down and brought us their chickens to 'babysit'. They are moving, and mom offered for us to keep the chickens until they are settled into the new house they're building. They have some pretty chickens, and they are so friendly too. I guess my cousin and her husband's eight kids have them pretty much used to anything :) .
When Trissy and I came in from church, my cousin's oldest daughter was calmly fixing peanut butter-and-jelly sandwiches while the next-to-youngest little boy was sitting sleepy-eyed next to the counter. The adults were out in the night, trying to get a chicken coop and pen put up so they could deposit the chickens and get back to finish up a long list of things before my cousin's husband had to be at work in the morning. The kids were loving our country place (they currently live in the city, and are moving to the country), roaming the yard, playing with Murphy and Jack (our two cats), trying out our small basketball court, the older boys helping with the chickens. I know my cousin and her husband have taught and trained their kids well, but I was still so impressed to walk into the house (tired and, I admit ashamedly, rather cross and irritable) and find the oldest little girl calmly making everybody supper. And soon the baby was brought in for her to look after, so my cousin could help with the construction of the chicken pen. She deftly hoisted him to her back, and there he clung like a baby opposum, while she supported him with one hand and continued making sandwiches with the other. Her responsibility and calm just impressed me so much, and warmed my heart in a way I can't explain!

I snapped these pictures of a few of their chickens yesterday morning when I went out to feed them.

Wednesday (Oct. 9) afternoon we had Joy over for a little while. Wednesday is not the best day to have 'the girls', because they (at least Joy and Lela - Abigail and Piper are a little more flexible since they are home-schooled) have school 'til 3:00 and then we have church at 6:30, even if we cancel Piper's 5:00 piano lesson and Joy's and my 5:35-ish discipleship session. But Wednesday was the only day I had off work this week, and we've been wanting to have the girls come over for quite a while, so we worked hard, got the house clean, and invited them. Turns out, Joy ended up being the only one who was able to come (Trissy and I picked her up from school, then took her with us when we went to the church). Mrs. S's mother was to have surgery the next day and Abigail and Piper were going with her, and they had packing to do. So Joy came and we had a short, nice, afternoon. We made and ate corn dog muffins (only we put two 'dogs' in them, side by side, and called them "pig noses" instead!), and Mom played a game of Rummikub with us. Joy had never played but caught on quickly. We finished the game and the muffins right about time to leave for me to get to the church for Piper's piano lesson. It was a quick but very refreshing, enjoyable, and fun afternoon treat with a dear friend.

Thursday afternoon when I came in from a long day of work, Mom and Trissy had hot tea waiting for me in a china cup, and some of Mom's hoarded 'French Vanilla' creamer in a small matching pitcher (Trissy took the photo below, of her tea. She was working on some project in the sewing room).

Thursday night I stayed up late updating/preparing/working on the 365 photo blog I hope to start the first of 2014. I'm enjoying my new Nikon so much. I'm already taking lots of pictures, so set up a page for some of my favorites before the "365" challenge actually starts. The blog still has tweaking and work to be done (for instance, I'm not sure I'll keep that title... But I've got a couple more months to think about it.), but I feel very happy with the beginning results.

Biscuits and gravy last night for supper at The Grandparents'. The Grandmother's biscuits and gravy are still the best, and Friday evening is a special treat - the six of us together for a bonafide Southern home-cooked supper, and usually a movie or game or reading out loud afterwards until bed time. So thankful for these times together.

Today is, I am afraid, one of the last flip-flop days of summer. The weather is getting cooler and is so beautiful. Fall is, hands down, the most wonderful season. I'm lovin' it.
And yes, I do wear mis-matched flip-flops around the house.

I had a little free time today, and a burst of inspiration, and pulled out my things to make some more reversible flag pendants. The academy is going to be doing a "Fall Festival" fundraiser in the old part of town near the end of the month. They are renting booth spaces to craft and food sellers, and I'm thinking about renting half a booth with Niclole and her mom.

Yesterday as I left work at the restaurant, I stopped at the vacant lot next door where a family was having a yard sale. They've had about three during the time I've been working at the restaurant, and I always go over and see if they have any books. When I walked up this time, one of the ladies said with a smile, 'There's a box of books over there. They came from my husband's aunt though, and some of them look a little strange.' As I knelt and looked through them, one of the little girls (there was a whole passle of cute kids playing in the tall grass behind the lot - this one was probably about seven years old) bent down to me and asked, 'Do you want some lemonade?'
"Well, how much is it?" I asked.
She answered shyly, "Fifty cents."
'Fifty cents. Then yes, I'll take some lemonade!' I've always been charmed by the fact that there are still kids who do the old-fashioned lemonade stands, and I couldn't turn down this sweet little cutie. I chose two books - "Heidi", an old classic, and another old one that looked promising - and as I paid for them, she came back and handed me a sturdy plastic cup full of icey lemonade. And it was some of the best lemonade I think I've ever tasted!

{Note: I considered it quite providential that Jewel had just loaned me an old book called "Penrod: His Complete Story" which, so far (I just started it this morning), has proven to be quite well-written and very entertaining! The book I bought from the yard sale was not good, and left 'a bad taste in my mouth', so to speak, though I only skimmed it.}

Blueberry jelly :) . The end.

Recent Happenings No. 4

Randomness. Mmhmm, that's me. Squirrel!
This post is the past month in a nutshell. More detailed posts on each event will (hopefully; eventually) come. But until I get time ("time"? What is that again?) to do the type of more detailed posts I want, this will suffice to keep anyone interested at least somewhat up-to-date on my life of late. And boy, it's seemed like a lifetime in a month...


January began with a bang and never seemed to slow down. The sixth through the tenth, Trissy and I were gone on a church mission/service trip to a neighboring state, to do manual labor at a children's home and ranch. Victory Rd. took a group last January, and we went, and I knew I wanted to go back. The group this year consisted of the three youngest S. kids (Law, Abigail, and Piper), Joy, Autumn, Trissy and me, and four other men and women of the church. Landon met us there for part of the time, and it was so good to spend some time with him! Oliver and his wife were on a trip, so we didn't see them this time.
We helped rip up flooring in two of the houses/doorms, we moved furniture and other belongings - from the houses that were going to be renovated, into the new houses - we did a thorough 'spring cleaning' job, etc. But there was relaxing time also, in the early mornings, on breaks, and in the evenings at the cabin. Pumpkin spice muffins, Mtn. Dew, endless games of "Egyptian Rat Race" and "Taboo" (with our own adjusted rules to fit our mood and number of players :) ), times of S.O.A.P. journaling and sharing, and lots of just talking and enjoying each other's company.
It was the first trip without Bro. Mike. And it was different.
Randomness and other lessons to remember from this trip:
1. Overhearing the 'Only-Christian-music-for-30-days-challenge' discussion on the Sunday afternoon ride over - what a blessing!
2. Games with Trissy, Joy, Abigail, and Piper, and Abigail and Piper doing "John-Jacob-Jingleheimer-Smith" (song and 'introduction') on the trip over.
3. Epic Taboo games Monday night, including a sibling-set against sibling-set (Law and Piper vs. Trissy and me), with the others coming and going.
4. Personal thought, "I hate it when I let other people throw me into inner turmoil. Christ is all that matters. Why can’t I be content?!"
5. "I feel like pulling stuff up and stomping on things." -Piper, expressing her enthusiasm about our demolition work Tuesday.
6. Going to church Wednesday night where Landon attends. Encouraging, old-fashioned sermon where the preacher used alot of scripture and didn't apologize about having his audience use their Bibles so much.
7. Personal thought, "You haven't got to follow the crowd. Make up your OWN mind."
8. Personal thought, "That great moment when God shows you how He's been working in the life of someone you've been praying for - indescribable."
9. Joy, Abigail, Piper, Trissy and me and our late-night hilarious game of Taboo while Joy was giving hair-curls.
10. "Look at that lil' baby foot!" -Law, on Autumn's fist 'footprint' in the condensation on the bus window.
11. Sitting curled up on the couch in front of the fire with Piper and Trissy and Joy, telling each other random things and stories about ourselves.
12. The "I'm Thinking Of A Man/Woman/Place In The Bible" game on the way back Thursday.


After getting back into town Thursday evening from the mission trip, I left about noon Friday going with the youth music group to a near-by state to play for a week-end camp sponsored by the church The Grandparents are part of. Justice went as our driver, since he was on the insurance to drive Victory Rd.'s 15-passenger bus, and simply because anything Austin and Archer are part of just isn't complete without Justice :) . Justice, Archer, Julia, Simon and I went on the bus, pulling the trailer with all the instruments and equipment about noon. Austin and Law couldn't get off work until about 3:00, so they were going to come together when they got off. Ava and Noel went also, since their husbands were going :) , but Ava didn't get off work until later in the evening, so Noel stayed in town and rode with her so she wouldn't be driving alone.

It was a really great week-end. Opportunities to share times of praise with other believers, encourage those listening, and be encouraged ourselves by the warmth and enthusiasm of our audience. Times of bonding - the eight of us. Bitter-sweet times - knowing this was Archer's last 'act of leadership' as head of the group, knowing Justice and Noel are looking for the Lord's next place of service for them and may be moving on soon as well. Times of fun - pretend 'zombie' invasions and escapes, music practice and practice and practice, 'the girls' (Noel and Ava) hunting up a gas station to sooth the boys' Mtn. Dew withdrawals and my longing for something healthy to eat, Simon and Law's (and Justice's) bunk-room acrobatics during free time while the rest of us tried to catch up on some much-needed rest, supper at 'Maria's' Mexican restaurant (that took longer to be served than to eat) and mean jokes (meant more to tease me and raise my protest than anything else) on the way back Saturday night. Precious, priceless, blessed memories.


The next day, Sunday, was Bro. Mike and his family's last Sunday at Victory Rd. before leaving as missionaries to the Philippines, and he'd asked that our group do the music service so he could see and hear us one last time. It would actually be the whole church's last time to witness our group lead the music - Archer would be moving the next day to the university. Dear Austin's charge to us as we gathered to pray before the service began: "Let's play our hearts out. This is for Bro. Mike and for Archer." And we did. For our God - Who is our Reason for everything - for our youth pastor - who had poured his spirit into loving and guiding us - and for our friend - our brother.

I don't think I'll ever forget this weekend. One of the most bitter-sweet of my life. I pray I won't.


The next Wednesday night was my turn to teach the lesson with the middle-schoolers. And Bro. Mike's family's last day here. Lots of church folks hung around after the classes were over, exchanging last-minute conversations and telling them good-bye. Trissy and I went next door to their house and visited a while after everyone else had left. They would be going to the airport about 2:00 A.M., so were not planning on going to bed, and it was just so hard to finally say good-bye. I wouldn't let myself think about it being any other than a normal Wednesday night 'bye until after we left.
Separations are hard, but I'm thankful too - I know both Bro. Mike and his wife have been wanting to do mission work, and now the Lord has opened up the way for them to, and for Camille to go with them. That's a whole nother amazing story!
I'm looking forward to hearing about the adventures this new chapter holds for their lives.


Friday (the 18th), two days later, Victory Rd.'s youth group (including Trissy and me) went to Pigeon Forge, Tennessee for the Strength To Stand week-end youth conference. I must admit, by this time I was so tired both in body and in mind that I almost didn't want to go. I had looked forward to it for months, but then found out that several of our college group and closest friends (not to mention Bro. Mike) weren't going to get to go. And with all the good-byes I'd been having to say the past few weeks, I almost had a "What's the point?" mentality. Which is not like me. I don't 'give up', and I hate defeat. I'm telling you, I was just worn out. And it was catching up with me. But then a thought came to mind: Why was I going on this trip in the first place? Was it because I wanted to be close to people, or because I wanted to grow closer to the Lord? Got my attention and kinda helped put things in perspective. Then the day we left, I saw something that one of the teenagers had written concerning their feelings about the trip: 'About to head out to Tennessee... don't want to go. But, I might as well go with an open heart.' I don't know why they didn't want to go, but what a great attitude! I was so encouraged, and resolved to go with my heart open to what the Lord might do in and for me on the trip.
I was not disappointed. In fact, I fell in love all over again with the pure goodness of God. Three sound, timely sermons from thought-provoking preachers; music - some of which I didn't care for - but plenty that lifted me up and carried me away with it's beauty and spiritual richness; fun and joking and camaraderie I enjoyed with a variety of the members of the group; Bro. Nick, the new youth pastor, bravely and successfully learning to captain the 'youth group ship' through the unpredictable waves of our crazy personalities; wholesome mixture of friendships and interaction between older youth and younger youth, adults and youth, newcomers and established 'regulars', etc.; merry chaos as the sounds and activities of almost 40 people filled the cabin we stayed in, and peaceful quiet (in which you could hear the clock ticking on the mantle) as those same nearly 40 people spent personal time in Bible study and prayer.


So, that's January in a nutshell. I have one more thing to tell about that would still be "this past month", though it was yesterday, the 3rd of February. But it's late and I'm in the living room typing and my mom will be up in a few minutes wondering why on earth I'm not in bed yet :) . So I'll save it for later. I'll end with a small thing that provoked big thoughts for me today.


I'm reading Jules Verne's "20,000 Leagues Under The Sea" for the first time. With my love of adventure and reading, especially the good old 'classics', you'd think I'd have read that one by now. But I recently 'discovered' the little library at VRCA and have started taking advantage of it. I just finished chapter 20 - "The Gulf Stream" - and the account of the cyclone. As I put the book down, I thought about "storms", both physical and spiritual. At times, I've found myself subconsciously wishing I could know how my strength would hold up during a real storm. One must be careful what one wishes for, even subconsciously. This past summer (the pain of Mrs. Renae's family leaving Victory Rd. and the withdrawal, so to speak, of Bro. Dennis's family), and this past month (the departure of Bro. Mike's family and of Archer, and the possibility of Justice and Noel, and Austin and Ava moving on also) seemed almost to have been samples - tests of strength the Lord allowed to give me an idea; to try my courage. I was/have been appalled at my lack of resilience in the face of these losses. If it hadn't been for the presence and encouragement of others, would I have held up at all? All these thoughts passed through my head in only a moment, but as I asked this last question, immediately in response came a quiet Whisper in my heart, "Don't worry about that 'what if'. There will always be someone...something. I will never leave you alone." And right away a verse came to mind from Psalm 34 that I'd randomly read this morning: "Many are the afflictions of the righteous: but the Lord delivereth him out of them all."

SOLI DEO GLORIA!

More Recent Happenings

This is another 'Recent Happenings' post. I have to go such gaps in my posting that when I do get to post just a 'journal' type post, there is SO MUCH to tell! Maybe someday I can get on a schedule that allows for regular blogging - I don't want to forget all these memories! Until then, I'll just do my best.



Mission Journey 2011 - my (and Trissy's) first mission trip was an amazing blessing and experience! Ten from our church went, as well as the churches former pastor who agreed to come to do the preaching. Our team did a series of services that lasted five evenings. Each night about half of us led special classes for children, while the rest had a church service for the adults. We worked with the local church, and were blessed beyond measure, besides the added blessings of their testimonies of how we had blessed them!
We also worked on their church building, helping with some fixes that needed to be done.
The story is so long and wonderfully full! I will not tell it all here. Suffice it to say, I believe I will never forget my experiences there, the bonds and friendships made, the lessons learned, and the tremendous blessings poured out. I pray the Lord used us to impact lives to such an extent, that the local Christians will be able to water the seed we planted, and that God will give such an increase that all we can do is praise Him!



Oliver got married this past month to a girl he met in Bible College. He'd brought her down here a couple of times on school breaks this past semester, and Victory Rd. got to meet her, but it still took us all a little by surprise, I think, when we heard he was getting married! Bro. Mike said the church would be taking our bus over there for anyone who wanted to go to the wedding (Oliver stayed over in the state where the college is, instead of coming back here for the summer). It ended up only being five of us who went. Bro. Mike and his wife, Toby, Lindy, and me.

We drove over Friday, the wedding was Saturday evening, and we came back Sunday afternoon after going to the church Landon attends when he's there.

That was the most 'different' wedding I think I've ever been to. I don't guess it was bad, it was just... nontraditional, shall we say. But I was glad I went. Some of Oliver's church family from down here needed to be there to support him and show we still love and care about him, even though he's not here any more.



We gave our old (well, young actually) mean rooster to Mom's cousin and his family who live up the road from us, and their little grandson LOVES him! We had him out in the pen, and Mom and Trissy were afraid of him because he would try to spur them whenever they went into the pen. Dad and I were the only ones he respected - we made sure he knew who was boss!



Mom was so tired of being afraid in her own yard that she was about ready to put him in a pot, but he'd been part of the first batch we'd hatched in the incubator, and we hated to eat him ourselves, so we gave him to our cousin. They keep him in a smaller cage by himself, and they can just reach in to feed him. The little grandson loves to look at him and hear him crow :) . So we're glad the matter was 'disposed of' so satisfactorily to everyone! We got rid of a menace, and they got a pet!

The chicks we hatched were getting so big, and as soon as we got rid of the rooster, we put them out in the big pen with the hens. Two of the banty eggs and one of the medium-sized ones from Mrs. H hatched, and also four of our own. When we let them out into the big pen, they were so happy to be out and able to 'fly' around!



Day before yesterday though, something got the little banty rooster chick (bottom left in the picture). We thought maybe it had been one of our cats, but they acted hungry at feeding time, and just didn't seem like they would do that - they're pretty used to the chickens, and leave them alone.
Then yesterday something killed the little medium-sized one (the white one at the top), but left most of it (the banty was completely gone except for a little pile of feathers). Trissy had seen a squirrel in the pen yesterday, and we are wondering if a squirrel might have gotten them. Does anyone know if squirrels eat chicken?! There's getting to be somewhat of an over-population of them around here, and if they can't find enough of their normal food, would they go for a small chicken?
Anyway, we've locked the last five chicks in the chicken house with food and water, and put a nesting box out in the yard for the grown hens for now. We hope to get some wire soon (today if possible) and totally enclose the area.



We had VBS in June, and really enjoyed being involved again this year. Trissy went 'out on a limb' this year, and was the assistant teacher for ages four and five, with Lindy being the teacher. The young Spanish woman who our family's having Bible studies with, brought her two little kids, and they all seemed to really enjoy it.



I've finally gotten the top of my bedspread made! I've been wanting to make a denim bedspread for several years, using our old denim clothes and scraps given to me by friends and family, so it will be sort of a memory quilt. I finally gathered enough scraps - it took 315 squares!



I wrote on little scraps of paper where each denim piece came from, and pinned it to the fabric. I plan on embroidering on the back of the quilt, who each square came from.



I got the top pieced a couple of weeks ago. I had to lay it all out on our living room floor, because that was the only place big enough to leave it spread out until I got all the squares sewn together!



It took me almost two weeks to get it done, working in my spare time. Mom was very patient to let me leave it spread out in the middle of the floor so long!



On the Fourth of July, Trissy made a delicious 'fruit pizza' desert using sugar cookie dough for the crust, and a whipped cream/cream cheese mixture for the 'sauce'. She loves decorating those things, but this year we didn't have much fruit except blueberries, so that's what she used.



I thought it turned out so western/country/rustic looking - I love that style - and it tasted SO good!



Dad, Mom, Trissy, me, and The Grandparents all took a little 'field trip' out to a blueberry farm near where we live, and got to see how blueberries are picked by a machine, and how they are examined, sorted, and packaged for selling.











One of the men who works there goes to the same church as The Grandparents, and he told them they aught to go out and see how it was done! The owner is also a friend of his, and took us around, giving us the 'grand tour'. It was fascinating!
Before we left, we bought some of their blueberry lemonade - it was so cold and refreshing!





Last month, we were outside one evening at The Grandparents, and kept thinking we heard a kitten mewing. We eventually found it up inside the motor area of our van! It was dark by this time (we were getting ready to go back to our house), and the kitten was black, so we had quite a time finding it and getting it out of there. We think someone probably didn't want it and dropped it off near our place. Anyway, we'll probably end up keeping it instead of giving it away. We've gotten kind of attached to it, and Trissy wants it for herself, since Bobby is sort of the family's cat, and Winky is mine. We've named it Magnolia, after a black kitten in a Christmas story we have :) .



The S. family came over a few weeks ago one Saturday evening to bring us a little banty rooster. He was from the first batch they hatched and raised, but he was getting picked on at their place by the other chickens, so they offered him to us.

Bro. and Mrs. S., Law, and Piper all came, Archer was at work I believe, and Abigail was gone to church camp with a friend. It was the first time any of them had been to our place; after releasing the rooster into the pen, we stood around 'talking chickens' and caught some of the chicks to hold. We showed them our garden, fruit trees, and the rest of our yard, our basktetball goal, and our cats. Piper got attached to Magnolia :) . They stayed for about an hour and a half, and we just chatted out in the yard. It was so nice to have them! We wanted them to come in for a while, but they had to get on back. Church in the morning, and it was getting on toward sunset. They are such dear people.



I have been so thankful for the personal projects the Lord has helped me accomplish the past few weeks! My denim quilt top, and also the seat to my desk chair, and my 'window mirror'!

I found saw this chair by the side of the road one Wednesday night on our way to church about four years ago. Trash pick-up was the next day, I think, so I asked Dad if we could stop on our way home from church, and see what kind of condition the chair was in.
When we stopped, it turned out the frame was in great condition, only it's rush seat was all torn up. So we took it back to the house, and I tore off the ruined seat, sanded and stained the chair frame, and sat it at my desk until I could order the cane to put a new seat in.
Well, there it sat for approximately four years, waiting for me to spend the money on some cane for a seat (there always seemed to be something more pressing the money I had needed to be spent on).

So this past month, I finally got the cane ordered, and put that seat in (I ordered the 1/2 inch flat reed from Rockler Woodworking and Hardware, and it only cost $15.54, including tax)!
I love it! I can actually sit at my desk now to do my work :D !





I also got my 'window mirror' stained and hung. I've wanted one of these since I was about eight years old, and I saw one in my uncle and aunt's house. This frame was given to me by The Grandfather's brother and his wife, when I found it in the loft of their old barn. The glass was broken out of it, and the various layers of paint were peeling, but I wanted a natural stain anyway. Mom stripped it, and Dad and Mom paid someone to put the mirrors in as my Christmas gift last year. I was so excited!



So this month I got it stained, and Dad helped me put a wire hanger on it.
We hung it above my bed. It's across from my window, and makes my little room seem larger and so much more airy!



One Sunday morning a couple of weeks ago, Dad, Mom, Trissy, Toby, Lindy and I went about a half-hour away to a baptism service of one of the Spanish churches up a little north of us. Our family is in charge of the Spanish ministry at our church, and Toby and Lindy are two of our most involved and enthusiastic in the ministry. We've been getting advice and help from the Guatemalan pastor of this church that was having the baptism, and on his last visit down to a small Spanish service we had, he was telling about the baptism that was going to be taking place, and told us their church was praying that the Lord would prepare twelve people to be baptized that day. We decided we'd like to go up and be there, both for support for them and also for the experience ourselves. We invited Toby and Lindy to come along. There ended up being eleven people baptized!



It was quite an experience! We were the only 'white' people, and we stood out like sore thumbs! But it was really neat and very moving to see how the people loved the Lord, and wanted to learn about Him. They met in a park so they could use the lake to baptize in, and it was raining that morning, but people just stood out in the rain for their classes like it was nothing! We are so spoiled.





This past week I finished Les Miserables by Victor Hugo. I read the full version. You know, the one that's twenty inches thick? Ok, well, maybe not twenty inches...

I must admit, I was extremely disappointed. I believe it's considered one of the classics, besides, I've heard people rant and rave over how wonderful it was.
I love to read, and am always looking for good material, so I borrowed it from a cousin and read it. The story was extremely interesting, there were lots of surprise twists, narrow escapes, and gripping scenes. It was very good - from a literary standpoint.

But the author's seemingly wishy-washy attitude on things like drinking, loose living, and using anger and animal-like violence to get one's way, disturbed me greatly. He seemed to rant and rave to a huge extent on the injustices and flaws of certain areas of society, yet be condoning and even approving of other ungodly and distorted ways of thinking.
Anyway, I could not in good conscience recommend this book to anyone. Just saying.



Bro. Dennis and Mrs. Carrie are supposed to go Tuesday to see how things are going with the baby, and find out whether it's a boy or a girl (it's a boy though, I know it is ;) ).
Mrs. Carrie just seems to glow all the time. Praise the Lord for His goodness!



Justice and Noel will be leaving Aug. 5. I miss them already. Austin will be going to join them and go to the same seminary as Justice, after he finishes this next year of college. He and Justice believe the Lord may be calling them to start a church together, though they don't know how, when, or where. Aron and Henley announced Wednesday night that they will probably be moving to another state within a couple of years, for Aron to go to Bible College as well.
It's sad to think about everyone dispersing, but so exciting too, to see how the Lord will use these dear young lives for His purpose and work.

Sunday evening after church the young people met for supper together (as we have been doing for quite a while now), and after the usual banter and fun that always comes when we all get together, we fell into a discussion of 'preference vs. principle' - how so many churches do things because 'that's how we've always done it', and not maybe because those preferences have their root in Scripture. We must carefully examine the Bible, and determine what among our habits (both as a church, and as individuals) are preference, and what are principle. We may need to throw out some preferences that can not truthfully be called principles, while carefully preserving the 'preferences' that are also 'principles'!

As I sat listening (and discussing!), I couldn't help thinking, "How many groups of college-age young people, even among 'church youth groups', would have a conversation that so easily and naturally turned to Biblical things, without being urged by an adult?! Praise God for this dear group who have HIM as their center!! Praise Him for allowing me to be a part of it!"



I am now on Etsy! Praise the Lord, another project checked off my list that's been there forever! I've had an account since February, but hadn't set up the buy/sell side of it yet. I got that done yesterday with the gracious help of a local friend who's an Etsy seller. Praise the LORD!
My shop is empty right this minute, but I hope to start listing things soon!
HERE is the link to my shop. If anyone who may be reading is an Etsy user, I'd appreciate any support :)



Victory Road Christian Academy starts back to school Aug. 8th, and I'm so excited! I love working there, and can't wait to see all my little after-school kids again. Bro. Earl announced Sunday that there are over a hundred students enrolled, and the school now goes up through twelfth grade. Praise the Lord! That's a few more that the public schools won't get to poison for a while anyway!

Note: I'm not bashing public schools, I know there are many good Godly principals and teachers out there who are trying to fix a sick system. But I am afraid that public schools are nothing more than a disaster waiting to happen. Most of the ungodly and dangerous influences that children are exposed to come from their school. Public schools are especially dangerous to children of Christian families. They are little sheep being fed to the lions - what control do loving parents have over what the little eyes see, what the little ears hear, what the little minds soak up about a world that is saturated in filth and evil, when they are away from them? Church gets them maybe a couple of hours a week. School gets them most of the day, most of the week, and most of the year.
The ideal is homeschooling. The second-best is a Godly, Christian, private school.



School starts back for me Aug. 19th. This is my last semester, and is basically just a 'clean-up' one. I'll be taking my last few required classes, and also an art class, simply because, as a crafter and 'artist', I'd like to learn a little more about good design.
I'm hoping and praying this semester will be easy! I have so much else I'd like to have time to be involved in!

{Zig-zags courtesy of Jones Design Company}