Work

Family Homestead

The above pictures show some of the fancy improvements the boys have made, including hauling rocks out of the front yard, land clearing and some stump removal. Wish I had pictures of that! Somewhere we have great shots of burning huge piles of brush. Even had a visit from the local fire department, 'cuz we did not call before hand. They were okay with it, just a neighbor was not. OOOPS!

Trusty Suburban still kicking, at the moment! Sometimes, no air, but...
hurrah!

This one shows some hanging baskets I picked up at HEB for $2 a piece, and we finally tossed the fake (and faded) blooms that had been there for at least 3 years. What a nice change! Now, Grace and Joelle water these everyday. And what an improvement!!! Thank you, girls for your hard work!!!!

Pretty pineapple plant Craig planted.

Showing some growth of pineapple. I think that plant growth is one of the most rewarding things I have undertaken lately. And, I cannot claim responsibility for it, since the children do it all. I just manage it.
But it is rewarding to see the improvement!

I returned from Phoenix to this lovely addition. I believe Joseph and Graham did this great addition to the front yard. GREAT JOB, boys!!!! Many thanks!!!!

I love this shot of the front yard. I was not too enthusiastic about clearing all the other junk (trust me, there was alot) so as to keep our privacy, but I am so happy with the "new look". I have learned to trust my husband on this kind of thing. He has the "eye" I never will have. We will, hopefully, plant more grasses/trees along the side, to add some privacy. All in good time.

Family

Here is Truman and I clashing for the camera. I guess we did not color coordinate our outfits. . . We went to Macaroni Grill for dinner when Mother was in town.

A slice of life in our "perfect" family! This was taken just after Bible reading. Think it really sunk in. We are currently reading about Joseph reconciling with his brothers.

The Garden Flowers

The garden has been doing rather well. Does anyone know the flowers I have included?

!

Cucumbers

Asiatic Lily

Dahlia

Sunflower

S * W * I * M * M * I * N * G

Our pool is the BEST!!!!

Joseph giving Joelle a throw.

I had left to get dinner started, and am told that Truman kept walking towards to car, telling everyone it was time to go. Ofcourse, that was after he threw Grace's purse, and everyone's flip flops in the pool.

Joelle named this game, "Chicken pox". That is because she has never had it yet. Anyone have chicken pox, so we can inoculate her naturally? Jared, Graham, Joseph, Kathryn had it, all at the same, fever spiking on consecutive days. Ahhhh, the memories. Ofcourse, Craig was out of town.

Our Grace, who has now turned TEN!!

Ready, set, go...

Joelle in her cute pink goggles.

A rare quiet moment (above).

My Mother

It was terrific going to get Mother in Phoenix and enjoying a great week together!!

Jared was able to drive her to Michigan, where he had fun doing odd jobs around the house, including cleaning out the garage. Here, she is modeling a lovely feather hat, one of the many treasures found.

Okay, so people do not dig the reformation. Very few comments. So, now posting something maybe a little more interesting?? This is from our front yard, just in front of the porch, where Joseph put fresh mulch over the ground cover Craig has been trying to grow for the last 4.5 years. The deer (those precious animals) have been gnawing it down, as soon as it gets full. Just want to fill our freezer with those precious darlins'...(spoken like a true Texan.) However, I am told you need to be here about 14, no really 15 generations before you are accepted as true Texans....Oh well, I am destined to never fit in. . . . . Too "northern", you might say. And much too much belief in a little idea called Christian Liberty, and the lack of a well known idea called Legalism. Alas, I will refrain from waxing what could have been and proceed with what is....

The garden groweth well. Sproutin' beans, flowers, kale, working on cucs (otherwise known as cucumbers). Hopefully will have those before too long.

Will post more pictures soon, as this audience seems to like the photographic approach as opposed to prose. Ta ta for now.

John Wycliffe

Reformation

Do you know who was one of the first reformers?

Did you know that he only attended a Catholic Church?

In what century did this reformer live?

The "Protestant" Church, as we know it today, was not yet established.

The REFORMATION took many years to take hold, and one of the first men to step out boldly actually was an academic, who taught at Oxford University. It was the 14th Century, and JOHN WYLCLIFFE made some extremely bold statements.

One thing he pointed out as not biblically correct is the Roman Catholic theology of TRANSUBSTANTIATION. That is fancy word that means when taking communion, the church hierarchy believed that those participating were actually eating the flesh and blood of Jesus.

Wycliffe said that the Scripture teaches that the bread and cup of wine is strictly symbolic for the body and blood of Christ. The Catholic teaching left the door open to many problems, one of them being the problem of what to do with the left over wine from the sacrament of communion? If any of Christ's blood were treated with blasphemy, it would be a great sin. Therefore, many of the priests would simply drink every last drop, until all the wine was gone, resulting in many a drunken priest.

Wycliffe stood up against what he saw as the unbiblical practice of the church to take INDULGENCES, thereby making the priests very rich. He believed that acts for God should not be for sale, especially forgiveness of sin. Many people, who were mostly serfs, and did not read themselves, thought they must purchase an indulgence, in order to get them into heaven and out of purgatory.

After he was kicked out of Oxford University, where I studied for about 3 months, (they loved me) : ) John Wycliffe had the brilliant idea to translate the entire Bible into the English language FOR THE FIRST TIME. This was monumental as anyone might guess.

What translation did he write his English translation from? I want you, gentle readers, to research the question.

One final question: what is the famous quote about John Wycliffe and his ashes, from an author 35 years after his death? The church, being so angry with the deeds of John Wycliffe, wanted to desecrate his body by digging up his bones and burning them. They then dropped the ashes in a fast running stream, thereby spreading the living water of the reformation throughout the world.

What is the quote, and who said it?

Nahum 1:7 The Lord is good, a stronghold in the day of trouble; and He knoweth them that trust in Him.

Leave to God tho order all thy ways,
And hope in Him, whate'er betide.
Thou 'lt find Him in the evil days
Thy all-sufficient strength and guide;
Who trusts in God's unchanging love,
Builds on the rock that nought can move.
G. Neumarck

I really like this verse. I don't read Nahum much, an old testament prophet. Actually, it would be more accurate to say that I never read it. A minor OT prophet is not what I normally turn to for inspiration.

However, this verse means alot to me. I reminds that God is not going to abandon me, even in the day of trouble. That is comforting to know, because the rest of the book of Nahum describes the complete desolation of Judah, because they did not follow the Lord.

It is good to remember to TRUST the Lord, especially in the day of trouble.

Joelle

Hello. I just lost my first tooth! I even got to go to the dentist the day after, and show the dentist. I have been looking forward to this moment for A LONG time.