Thursday, January 10, 2008

Thar Be Dragons!

LoriAnn has found herself in the dragon making business. What started out as a project for a friend’s gift became a commission to produce several more as gifts for others. In all, she’s made about a dozen of the critters. And she’s wondering if anyone else might be interested.
We know this blog doesn’t reach all that many folks, but if anyone out there, or anyone you know, would like to commission a hand sewn pet dragon we are now in business.

Each dragon is about 12-15 inches long with a wingspan of the same. They are two-toned and can be requested in nearly any color combination. They are each sewn together by hand (no machine work here!) and come with a tag which gives the dragon’s name and personal information.
If anyone is interested, contact us at the email set up for this:
dragonsbyanor@home-schooled.com

The price is somewhat negotiable at this point, depending on the number requested, shipping, etc. We were offered $10 a piece for the first “litter”, but would like to make it as reasonable as possible, with that price maybe including shipping, etc. Make us an offer!
And tell a few friends! Everyone knows dragons make great pets!

Wednesday, January 9, 2008

Faith Like A Child

“Hey, did you see the trampoline on the shed?” the 11 year old asks. And with wide eyed amazement, the 3-year-old says, “Yeah, who put it there?” When dad explains that God put it there with the storm last night, to our wonder, we didn’t get the typical toddler question to everything (“why?” in case you’ve never been around toddlers). Instead, he simply gave a satisfied “Oh” and moved on.

I wish I could have the faith and trust of a child. As the worst outbreak of tornadoes in at least 40 years ripped through the Ozarks late Monday and into Tuesday, dad was anything but calm and trusting. Normally, I do fairly well with storms, but this one scared me. Especially when the straight line winds hit the house with a fury that shook everything as we grabbed the kids and headed for the basement (thank God we had one of those).

We escaped with only minor damage to the house, and of course the trampoline relocation, but not everyone fared as well. One woman within a few miles of our home lost her life. Many others, including two of our church families, lost their homes.

Please don’t hear me making light of all this. I hate those trite answers as much as anyone. But the final answer in all this is the same one I gave our youngest, and that is God is still on the throne, still in charge, and in His providence has spared us and challenged the faith of others. I don’t understand how or why these things happen as they do. And my frequent lack of faith has me quaking in my sneakers until it’s all over.

I just wish I had that childlike faith. To know that God is in charge and be satisfied. People pray for the patience of Job, but I’d much rather have his faith, “Though he slay me, yet will I hope in him” (Job 13:15).

Please pray for us here in the Ozarks as we pick up from these storms, and pray for this faithless father, that I might example stronger faith to my children instead of the other way around.

Monday, January 7, 2008

Christmas Catch Up

I’m way behind in getting all this posted. We were able to get away and go to Grandma and Grandpa’s for Christmas for the first time in…well, ever. It was a wonderful time, and while we were there, the kids took time to do a little candy construction. We’d call them gingerbread houses, but they are made with graham cracker walls and icing. But whatever the construction materials, the end results were fantastic. Enjoy!