The ServantHeart Homeschool Site

Winter, winter, winter (where are you)?

2012-01-17T14:05:00.008-06:00

Aren't we all enjoying this bitter cold winter? It was so warm yesterday-about 69-that I went down to our creek and caught a fish!

He may be small, but I don't really care, I just enjoy catching fish!

We Have Horses!

2011-12-22T09:00:00.004-06:00

Several years ago, the girls saw an ad in the paper offering horse riding lessons in exchange for work. I believe the deal was two hours of work around the barn/farm for one hour of riding. They loved the idea and went to work.

After awhile, the kind folks giving the lessons decided that the girls were beyond just lessons and offered them an even better deal. Continue working, and the hours would be applied to the cost of buying one of the horses. Wow!

So after a couple years (they only work a few hours a week at most), both girls earned a horse. Trouble was, we didn't have fence around our place fixed up to contain them. So they continued working to pay for room and board.

Well, finally, after years of blood, sweat and tears (mostly just sweat), the product of the girls' labors has arrived. In fact, the kind folks behind all this even fixed up one part of our fence down by the creek for us. How great are these people?!

So, welcome to the family our two newest members: Taz (short for Phantasm) and Koda'sha (Sioux for "red friend").

Some Really Cool Birds!!!

2011-12-20T12:14:00.004-06:00

Over the summer we went to St. Louis and we were able to visit the wild bird sanctuary. It was so cool. I love just about any kind of bird but I especially love birds of prey or "Raptors".

Here just a few of the many pictures that I took.

2011-12-07T15:11:00.004-06:00

Here are some more pictures I've taken. I have not been able to take to many recently because at this time of year there is not as many birds for one. I hope to soon have a picture of a deer up here (with me and my bow beside it!)

These are of a sunrise that dad and I saw while deer hunting in november.

And then just some of the birds that are still around.

We're Still Here

2011-11-08T12:33:00.004-06:00

This page has been neglected for some time. Not sure if anyone cares or notices, but thought I'd at least post something so that folks know we're still alive. We recently went down to College of the Ozarks to spend the day with our oldest. Here are just a few pics of the day.

Our girls. So glad they love each other so much
Nathanael just loves posing for pictures (not!)
Kenaniah wants to be one of those lion statues, so here he is in front of the chapel...
This has been dubbed "Weldon Heaven..."
Running over to Branson, the boys got to check out the General Lee

I'm hoping we can get back into the swing of things: more pics from Nathanael, more writings from the girls, more thoughts from all of us. In the meantime, hope all is well where you are.

No Longer a Teenager!

2011-09-12T10:17:00.004-05:00

Life's milestones come at you fast! As of today, our oldest is no longer a "teenager," hitting the 20 year marker. Guess we're all getting old. Unfortunately, we couldn't see her today, being at college and all. But at least we did get to spend the day with her on Saturday.What a blessing children are, and what a "curse" to have to let them go. I know it's part of life, but that doesn't make it easier. So to make me feel better, here's one of our favorite stories about LoriAnn, often repeated, and even submitted to a magazine or two over the years:

KIDS HEAR MORE THAN WE THINK!

When our oldest daughter, LoriAnn was just a baby, we were in the process of trying to "wean" her from her bottle. Regardless of the actual contents of the bottle, she always called them "juice." After weeks of effort we had her down to one "juice" a week: during church while Daddy preached so she would stay quiet. Eventually we even tried to do without this one unless absolutely necessaryAll was well until one Sunday when I was talking about God's people during the sermon. LoriAnn was going along without any thought of her bottle...until I said, "And the Jews..." LoriAnn jumped straight up in the pew and started screaming "Juice, Juice, Juice." Which just goes to show that no matter how young they are, kids listen to a lot more than we give them credit for.

P.S. For a long time after that, I never referred to the Jews during my sermons, only the Israelites. Which also explains why through three other children our code word for a "bottle" was "Israelite." As in "How many Israelites did she drink today?"

We Love You, Sunshine! Have a happy birthday.

One Night at the Ballgame

2011-08-25T09:08:00.005-05:00

Minor League Baseball. This is the story of Fans, Freebies, Photos and a Foul to the Face. In fact, I wanted to give that as the title, but knew it was way too long. This is how it goes.

Last Sunday night, a man from our church came in and said that he had come into a large clump of tickets for the Springfield Cardinals game on Tuesday. So a bunch of us got together and headed to the game. (Springfield is the AA affiliate of the St. Louis Cardinals)Before the game, they were giving out packs of team cards, and the boys and I even got several of our favorite players to sign them.In addition to the signed card, I even got a photo op with one of my favorites, Jim Rapoport.

Louie the mascot even got in on the autograph session.

Things were good until about the seventh inning. That’s when the visiting team hit a foul ball, right into our section. Our youngest had been begging to catch a fly ball all night. And he did. Right in the face.
Well, as you can see, the damage was very minimal, other than a little bloody nose and a very minor bruise and swelling. We did have a couple of scary moments there, though, as he first got hit and started screaming, holding his face. The stadium staff was quick to respond; a medic showed up, checked him out, packed him in ice, and all was well. He was fine in no time, and in fact was first in line to run the bases after the game.

After the game, Kenaniah wanted to have his ball signed by the visiting player who hit it. We couldn't find him, but a semi-local guy who plays for the Northwest Arkansas Naturals was kind enough to do the signing. (Buddy Baumann is from Billings, MO. Great picture of his face, huh?)
To top it all off, one of the aforementioned players, Zach Cox, hit one of his two home runs in the “designated inning” and we all got to have a $1 sundae from Andy’s Frozen Custard on the way home. All in all a pretty good night at the game.

Boy That Makes Me Angry!

2011-08-20T12:54:00.004-05:00

I tried to check my email today and found a VERY inappropriate and upsetting, anti-military, pro terrorist page instead. I was so angry I almost threw the chair!

Not only do I find it wrong because I love what our military does for us, I also feel that it is anti-American.

Another thing, it's a home-school site!! Of all of the web pages out there, to high jack a home school site is immature and (as my dad put it) ignorant!

The final words on it were "Die Uncle Sam, Die".

The person who took credit was a "Mexican Horror". I have two things to say to whoever put that up, "God bless America and it's wonderful, amazing military" and may the Lord of all creation have mercy on you!!!!!!!!!

An Open Letter to My Daughter

2011-08-17T10:08:00.001-05:00

This guy says what I want to say to my daughters, and the parenthetical statement in the last paragraph says what I want to say to prospective husbands!

An Open Letter to My Daughter

Belive Me Now Grandpa??

2011-08-13T18:57:00.003-05:00

This is Nathanael, here. Did a little fishing in our creek and wanted to prove to my grandpa that there really are fish down there!. Here's a picture of one bass and two different sunfish I caught.
Not to be outdone, Dad took me to a nearby spot on the James River and he caught this monster bass.

First Attempt

2011-08-09T14:02:00.006-05:00

Well since I am new to this, I decided just to share a few pictures of mine that I would consider among my favorites. I enjoy just being outside in God's wonderful creation but now I can share some of that stuff with other people.

By Grace Alone: Homeschooler Moment #6

2011-06-18T09:05:00.000-05:00

By Grace Alone: Homeschooler Moment #6: "I’m not sure this is really just a homeschooler moment, though I guess it does reflect on the education we are providing. Our family..."

Remembering the Fallen (or...Thanks, Grandpa McGui...

2011-05-30T12:08:00.000-05:00

By Grace Alone: Remembering the Fallen (or...Thanks, Grandpa McGui...: "Scott Weldon, the son of Gradie Weldon, husband to Evelyn Froehlich, the daughter of Harold Froehlich, husband to Arline Keeton, daughter of..."

A Note To Some Friends

2011-05-12T10:53:00.000-05:00

In light of my rant on my own blog a few days ago regarding the state of marriage in particular, and some specific marriages in our own “realm” of existence, my wife asked me to post this.

This is an old song from one of our favorite Christian bands of days gone by called the Allies. For the last couple weeks, as we’ve seen the struggles in our friends’ lives, Cheryl said this song has been going through her mind. While the song is obviously meant to be addressed to God’s people, an encouragement from our faithful God to not run away from His love, she hopes that the message will also be clearly seen/heard by many as a call to not run away from anything right, including marriage.

Here are the lyrics, and you can listen/watch the link below. I pray this is an encouragement to you today.

Don’t Run Away

I’m givin’ you the answer
Before you ask the question
You say it sounds too easy
Because you’ve heard it all before
It’s a life changing story
That time can never alter
And I can tell that it touched you
Though you’re walkin’ out the door

I keep on sending you those cards and letter
That lay it all out on the lines
I keep on telling you there’s something better
You’ve come too far, to leave it behind

(chorus)
Don’t run away, don’t run away
Don’t run away when someone loves you
Don’t run away, don’t run away
Don’t run away when someone cares for you

Your mind won’t admit it
But your heart would like to listen
And you can tell in your spirit
There’s no greater love around
Now it all seems so strange
You’re afraid you’ll never feel it
Put your faith where your heart is
There’s a treasure to be found

(second chorus)
Don’t run away, don’t run away
Don’t run away when someone loves you
Don’t run away, don’t run away
Don’t run away from where you know you should be
The life that you were meant to lead
Don’t run away from what you know is right

Copyright 1985 Light Records

By Grace Alone: Homeschooler Moment #5

2011-05-12T09:12:00.000-05:00

By Grace Alone: Homeschooler Moment #5: "So we're sitting at the table, just enjoying having the oldest home from college for a couple weeks, when the youngest pipes up out of nowhe..."

Thank God for Mothers

2011-05-08T07:48:00.002-05:00

Let me keep this very simple. I thank God for my wonderful mother.

And I thank God for the beautiful wife he has given me as a mother to my own children.

God is so good.

HAPPY MOTHER'S DAY.

Turkey Season 2011

2011-04-19T08:44:00.005-05:00

Nathanael and I have already had some fun this turkey season. You can read about here.

By Grace Alone: The Further Adventures of Bubba and Tubba: "Bubba would be me. Tubba would be the tubby tom turkey that’s been taunting and tormenting us for the last two years. Bubba Junior is also i..."

But here are some more of his great pictures of that first morning.

By Grace Alone: Homeschooler Moment #4

2011-03-22T09:13:00.000-05:00

By Grace Alone: Homeschooler Moment #4: "This isn't the 'funny' entry that the last couple have been. This time, it's just a proud dad sharing some of his homeschooled kids' stuff...."

Lurching

2011-01-10T11:30:00.003-06:00

This blog is rather zombie-like...it lurches back to life every now and again and then falls back into immobility for long periods of time.
So let's lurch again, shall we? LOL
Today is the first day of my second semester here at college--and already, I'm both excited and nervous. Shall I sum up? I shall.
1) I have a lot of classes with friends, so that will be fun.
2) I have what seems to be a lot of cool classes. Classical Ideals of Character and my Grammar class especially look like they'll be fun--though homework intensive.
3) I already have a bunch of homework.
4) I'm the only person with experience on my work station, so I'll be training the newbies. Oooh boy, that oughta be fun. (grimace)
5) Just as a side note--it snowed last night!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! LOVE THE SNOW!!!!!
LOL.
Yeah. So, there's my update. If Katrina and Nathanael ever get their show on the road, this place will stop lurching and come back to something resembling life. Hint, hint, dear siblings. ;)
Love you all,
~LoriAnn

College Update

2010-07-22T13:50:00.002-05:00

So...I figured I ought to do this every once in a while, to keep this blog alive if nothing else. :)
It's now been about nine weeks since I started the summer work program here at school. I'm enjoying myself a lot, actually--I'm pretty homesick sometimes, but there are a bunch of really cool people here and I'm enjoying the chance to get used to college life before I have to worry about class schedules and such.
There have been some "oh drat" moments recently--my computer fried (it was a month old!!!!) and I only today got the message that it was finally fixed (after being in the shop for a month), and the AC in my dorm has gone on the fritz for the second time in as many months. Fortunately, my RAs are cool and are letting Chelsey (my roomie) and I sleep in an unoccupied dorm until we get our air back up and running.
On the good side of things, I'm already learning a ton at work--I'm assigned to the bakery, and am learning a lot about baking in general, and how the kitchen works as a whole. One of my favorite chefs is going to be leaving for good right before we start the fall semester, which makes me sad, but he's doing it to be closer to family, so I guess I can't argue.
I'm not going to ramble for long, but just thought I'd drop a line for those who are interested. Love y'all!
~LoriAnn

Wow! Six Already?!

2010-07-07T09:10:00.003-05:00

Yesterday, as we’re celebrating his birthday, Kenaniah asked me if I “could remember the old days; you know, when I was a baby.”

Yes, Bubba, I remember the old days. For me, they weren’t that long ago at all. And I remember that some things never change. You always have loved your music.

You’ve always loved adventure.

And I know that even at six years old, you are a man out to conquer life.

Happy Birthday, Little Buddy!

We love you and look forward to the release of your first CD!

Another Milestone!

2010-06-28T10:40:00.001-05:00

Another milestone in our family. My little buddy, who ain’t so little anymore, just had his 16th birthday.
I have to say, I’m pretty proud of the young man he’s becoming. He’s a great help to me in many ways. He’s a great big brother to his 5-year-old counterpart. He’s growing in his faith. I’m just thankful he still let’s me call him “Buddy.” God has been so gracious to us with all of our children. In some ways it’s tough watching them grow into adulthood and become more independent. But we knew going in that they were only on temporary loan. We just pray God will overcome our weaknesses as parents and grow all these young ‘uns into Christ honoring servants. I think this one is well on the way.

Love ya, Buddy. Happy Birthday!

21 and Counting!

2010-06-24T08:00:00.003-05:00

21 years ago today, by the very great grace of God, this woman became my wife.

In those 21 years, I’ve dragged her through seminary housing, living with a homeless ministry, several years on an Indian Reservation, and a couple of small churches. And she’s never once complained about the low standard of living that comes with being a small church pastor.

Along the way, God blessed us with four wonderful children, whom she has done the bulk of the labor in raising and homeschooling. Our children are becoming amazing servants of Christ, largely due to their mother (and of course large doses of God’s grace). Again, she does all this without complaint.She is the very definition of what a godly woman should be. She loves Christ, loves her husband, loves her family, loves her church; pretty much in that order, as it should be.

I know that grace is an amazing thing in general. I know that receiving undeserved favor, unmerited blessing is at the core of our faith. And I am constantly amazed that God would ever love “such a worm as I.”

Though nothing can or ever will compare with that grace, I continue to marvel at the fact that God gave me Cheryl on top of it all. What a blessing to this worthless lump! And I am eternally grateful for it all.

Happy Anniversary, Cheryl! I love you more every day!

(Even if the kids do think there’s more than one dinosaur in this photo!)

Happy Father's Day!!!

2010-06-20T19:57:00.003-05:00

Many times

You forget about

Dads, but I can tell you all

About MY dad. My

Dad is awesome,

Sweet, wonderful

Cool, and really great!

Only my dad knows how

To be the best.

Though most would think it’s their dad,

I know it’s mine, he makes me

Laugh, and keeps me on my toes

Or slouched down in my seat, ‘cuz he can be

Very

Embarrassing sometimes, but,

You know,

Only my dad is the best—

Unless he’s singing Superchic[k], just to embarrass me...

Love ya, Dad!

~LoriAnn

College Update

2010-06-09T11:40:00.002-05:00

So, Dad wants me to give updates on college frequently, and he also wants this blog to be more active. So I figured I'd do both at the same time! Clever, am I not? ...don't answer that...lol
Updates then.
First of all, for those of you who don't know, I'm working in the bakery at the Keeter Center, which means I get to make the cookies and pies and hot butter cakes and danishes and chocolate-covered-strawberries that we sell or serve at our Sunday brunch. It's a blast-- my supervisors Nancy and Brenda are both really nice, and the girls I work with are fun to hang out with. I'm learning a ton, and trying not to snack too much. LOL
Dorm life is a brand new animal to me, but so far it hasn't been too bad. My roommate and I get along fairly well, and there's air conditioning. I'm happy. :) Oh yes, and WiFi. How did I survive before I had WiFi? *Sigh*
Anyway...it's about lunchtime, and it's my day off (YEAH!!!) so I'm going to head over to the caf (er...cafeteria for you non-college students) for some pizza and a deli sandwich if they have the provolone cheese again...
Talk later!
~LoriAnn

That's Another Story

2010-03-29T10:47:00.004-05:00

Well, she’s done it again. Our oldest has sold another short story under her nom de plume Elyn W. Marsh. You may remember that she has previously sold a short story and two poems, one of which was published in the print edition of Mindflights (you can find that here).

Anyway, she recently sold another story to Mindflights, which is now available on their site HERE.

For the record, we are also thrilled that she has been accepted to College of the Ozarks, her first (and only) choice. You can read her thoughts about it HERE.

All in all, the girl has had a pretty good couple months.

Homeschool Day at the Capitol

2010-03-09T10:40:00.003-06:00

Again, I'm way behind here. A week ago we went to Jefferson City for the Annual Homeschool Rally sponsored by Families for Home Education. We heard FHE folks speak, along with some legislators; went to visit with out local reps; hung out with a whole bunch of other homeschoolers; and generally had a great time. Here are some pics from the day.

Happy Birthday, KJ!

2010-02-08T10:07:00.003-06:00

Well, our youngest daughter turned 14 on Friday. Dad's not too happy about this, since when she was five she made a promise: "I won't grow up; I'll always be your baby." Well, she is still my baby girl, but she is growing up whether we like it or not.

For part of her birthday, she made a 90 mile trip to buy some new Jersey Wooly rabbits. She now has four prize winning rabbits and is hoping to breed a bunch more. Quite the little farm girl.

So Happy Birthday KJ, Joy-Joy, Baby K, and all those other nicknames....

A Poem

2010-02-02T13:44:00.001-06:00

A poem by LoriAnn, for lack of a better thing to post. :) Enjoy!

The Sky is Falling

The sky is falling!

We run in circles, crying madly

The sky is falling!

What shall we do?

“Trade and cap—

Don’t be a sap

Do what’s best

Don’t run the tap!”

~Don’t run your mouth, you mean

The sky is falling!

We meet in hushed conclaves

The sky is falling!

What deals can we cut?

“Don’t run the heat

The North Pole’s beat

We’re melting…

Please, take a seat.”

~Yes, because you won’t hear the facts

The sky is falling!

We wail, and moan, and empty our wallets

The sky is falling!

What will they think up next?

“People? Too many!

Solution? Don’t have any!

Children, that is…

Thy cost a pretty penny.”

~No, children are a gift from God

The sky is falling!

We shake our heads in bewilderment

The sky is falling!

Whatever shall we do?

“Be wise, take care

And do your share

To steward God’s world

It’s only fair…”

After all, He cares for us

But don’t freak out about it,

OK?

New Stuff Coming Soon

2010-01-27T10:20:00.000-06:00

Obviously I haven't been keeping up with things here. Mostly it's due to the fact that Dad here has been the one responsible for putting things on this site, and I've just been busy with stuff like, oh I don't know, maybe my job and things.

Anyway, to rectify the situation, we are working to give each of the kids their own access to this site so they can publish directly themselves and not wait for Dad. Hopefully this is not a mistake on my part. Seriously, I know only a few family members read here anyway, and it will be good to have the kids putting their thoughts, writings, pictures, etc. here to keep everyone informed. Hopefully this will make the site worth checking out more often.

So stay tuned....

Silver Dollar City Fun

2009-11-25T11:12:00.004-06:00

How sad that it's been so long since we've posted here. However, we recently had a great time down in Branson at Silver Dollar City. A friend gave us some free passes to go down and see the lights. If you've never been there during the holidays, you really need to go. Plus, their musical version of the Dickens' Christmas Carol is the first version Cheryl has actually enjoyed. Now there's a recommendation for you!

18 years! Wow

2009-09-15T08:34:00.003-05:00

Running a bit behind here, but our oldest turned 18 on Saturday. Can you believe it? 18! She's like old enough to vote! She's putting in college applications! She's looking for a job! This makes mom and dad very old. But also very proud, as she has turned into a wonderful young lady, by the grace of God. Happy Birthday, Sunshine!

Obama Speech Not A Problem for Us

2009-09-09T09:33:00.000-05:00

The whole controversy surrounding the President's address to our school children was not an issue for our family. Why? Because our children are not in government schools. Here's a great old video explaining why.

Mini Field of Dreams

2009-08-08T14:48:00.002-05:00

The middle two had a great mini “field of dreams.” They were able to take part in a short baseball clinic with Manager “Pop” Warner and three of the Springfield Cardinals top players: Tyler Henley, Steven Hill, and Colt Sedbrook. They did brief lessons on hitting, pitching and fielding. Nathanael and Katrina both had a great time and even learned a thing or two.

A Fair Fair Season

2009-07-21T10:16:00.003-05:00

It’s been a pretty fair Fair Season around our house. It started with Katrina going over to a neighboring county to enter her rabbits in the junior fair there. She won the Showmanship Award as well as the Best in Show for her little half-lop Pipi.

Back here at our home County Fair, everyone but Dad and Nathanael had some entries. And everyone won something.

Mom one some red ribbons for her antique doll house furniture, some crocheting, and some bead work.
LoriAnn won blue ribbons for her homemade Barbie clothes, her watercolor, and some winter mitts she made. She won a third place ribbon for her homemade stuffed dragon, and won Best In Show for her collection of poetry.Katrina won blue ribbons for her Lego castle, a short poem, and a beaded bracelet. Then she won Best In Show for her horse drawing.
Even Kenaniah won a blue ribbon for his collection of toy football helmets.
As I said, all in all a pretty fair Fair Season. Guess next year Nathanael and Dad will have to get in on the act!

Another Birthday!!

2009-07-07T11:59:00.003-05:00

Almost 10 years to the day from the oldest boy's birthday, we have the youngest. Nathanael is 15. Kenaniah is now 5! Five years old! He wanted a "Mustang" birthday this year, as in the Ford variety. So mom whipped up a nice red car cake, he got a couple of Hot Wheels, and he's ready to go. Funny how both boys' birthdays involved cars (the older one is ready to drive them!) Here's a couple of pics.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, KENANIAH!

Happy 15th!

2009-06-27T16:35:00.003-05:00

Hard to believe, but Nathanael turns 15 today. That's right...drivng permit age! Fortunately, he hates to study, so he hasn't been studying his driver's manual yet. So the streets of SW MO are safe for a little while longer.

Happy Birth Day, Buddy!

The First Twenty Years

2009-06-24T07:00:00.001-05:00

Back in the day, I used to crank out some sappy poetry now and again for my then bride-to-be. She has a shoe box full of notes, cards and letters; the sum total of my romantic artistry. Since today marks our 20th Wedding Anniversary, I thought I’d give it another shot. This is mainly for us, so if you are allergic to “sap” you may want to skip this.

The First Twenty Years

1989 was a very good year
Not just because college graduation was here
But because of the best day of my life
The day you agreed to be my wife

Oh, there have been other days almost as grand
Seeing each of our children draw breath in this land
And each new experience they’ve brought us
The life lessons those four have taught us

But the greatest lessons I’ve learned come from you
Like patient endurance in what I’ve dragged you through
Life as a pastor’s wife is certainly
Not the picnic it appears to be

You’ve gone with me to the mission fields up north
And places where folks have not recognized your worth
You’ve lived with so much less than you deserve
From you I’ve learned what it means to serve

Humility and faithfulness you’ve shown me
Even when I’ve acted like you should disown me
The Spirit of Christ is so real in you
No matter the trials we’ve been through

Although I’ve been called to lead and be the head
In our home, so often I’m the one being led
My goal is to some day be worthy of
Your devotion, respect and your love

I know you’re not perfect (but you are so close)
I know that your weakness occasionally shows
But I wouldn’t trade our life together
For anything, now or forever

You’ve been my best friend, my lover, even guide
That’s why I acclaim the day you became my bride
And so for all the laughter and the tears
I thank God for the last twenty years

In the years to come with all the ups and downs
I pray God blesses us both with more smiles than frowns
But whatever comes, whatever’s in store
I thank God for the next twenty more

Giving the Hair Off Their Heads

2009-06-15T16:24:00.004-05:00

Both of the girls recently decided to get ready for summer with a little trim. But this wasn't just a bit off the sides. This was Samson-esqe in proportion. Ok maybe that's an exaggeration, but they both decided to cut off a large chunk to donate to Locks of Love, which makes wigs for ill children. This is LoriAnn's third time and Katrina's second. Thought you might enjoy the before and after pics along with a shot of the donated locks (both over a foot long!)

Father's Day Challenge

2009-06-08T14:32:00.001-05:00

With Father's Day only a couple weeks away, I thought some folks might appreciate this. A wonderful challenge to fathers everywhere.

Our Son, the Rap Star

2009-05-27T10:39:00.005-05:00

In the last couple years I’ve come to appreciate the music/ministry of a couple of guys called Flame and Lecrae. They are Christian rappers, and their lyrics are solid in theology and very educational. I did a little post about it on my personal blog awhile back (read it here)

Anyway, listening to this has affected our four year old rock star wanna-be. He’s been singing/rapping a tune called “Redeemed” from Flame which begins with a hook that says: “Jesus did it, I’ve been re-, I’ve been, I’ve been redeemed.” He wanted me to video it and “put it on the fam’ly blog.” So here it is. I also put a link to a youtube version of the actual song from Flame so you can compare.

What do you think? Is this boy gonna be a star or what?

The Horse/Rabbit Whisperer

2009-05-11T08:42:00.002-05:00

Congrats to our youngest girl, the local animal expert. Over the weekend she attended the local 4H Achievement Day and won in both categories she entered. She won a blue ribbon in Rabbit Showmanship with Pepe, one of the rabbits she’s raising. And she won a blue and gold ribbon in Horse Judging, which qualifies her for the Regionals. Go KJ!

Spring Fling '09

2009-04-25T22:13:00.004-05:00

Just had our annual "Spring Fling" at church. It's a chance for us younger folks to serve some of the older saints. This year's theme was "Dinner in London." Thought you might enjoy a couple of pics of the family in action and of the whole group.

A Springtime Poem

2009-04-20T11:07:00.001-05:00

Turkey Season Day One

Out in the woods long before dawn
Me and my son with the camouflage on

Gobblers Gobblers all around
Making that wonderful gobbling sound

I see them, I see them even in the fog
But the silly things won’t come near me on my log

Stupid birds!

A Great Hisorical/Education Tool From Vision Forum

2009-03-31T09:47:00.003-05:00

I’ve long had the desire to take our children to the East Coast and visit some of the historic sites connected to our nation’s founding and battle for independence. Unfortunately, we haven’t been able to do that yet. And with the economy the way it is, taking a trek across the country for an historic holiday isn’t in the near future.

But let me suggest a much less expensive alternative. Each year the folks at Vision Forum host what they call a Faith and Freedom Tour. According to the Vision Forum Ministry site, these “one-of-a-kind trips will give you a panoramic perspective on God’s providence in establishing the foundations of our liberty and will grant you a greater appreciation for the faith and sacrifice of our forebears who helped to forge the freedoms we enjoy today. You have read their stories — now breathe them, smell them, taste them, and watch them come alive again.”

But wait a minute, you say. I thought you were offering a cheaper alternative to travel. Well, here it is.

The folks at Vision Forum recorded the tour in 2005 and are now making it available in a set of 13 CDs called “Let Freedom Ring: The Philadelphia Faith and Freedom Tour." While certainly no where near as exciting as being there, this is still an entertaining and educational adventure.

Recorded on site during the actual tour, these 13 CDs contain a wealth of information about the early days of our nation’s struggle for independence. It features tour messages given by Vision Forum founder Doug Phillips and historian William Potter. Both speakers pepper their addresses with numerous quotes from the principles involved in the story, and bring to light many little known and interesting facts about the events discussed.

Here you’ll learn about the early days of our nation’s official birth. You’ll visit Independence Hall and listen in on the discussions there. You’ll visit battlefields as well as educational institutions. Go with George Washington to Valley Forge and across the Delaware. And throughout, the faith and devotion of our nation’s early leaders is emphasized. The focus is always on God’s providential hand in our nation’s history

It’s not perfect. The lectures can run a little long sometimes, especially when you’re not able to see the things being talked about. And being on site, there are times when the audio isn’t perfect (being recorded outside at times, etc.) But overall, I think your family will enjoy the trip. And quite honestly, the price is pretty reasonable for 13 CDs.

I still hope to one day take that trip out East. Who knows, maybe we can actually take the Faith and Freedom Tour. But until then, we appreciate the chance to be reminded of the centrality of faith in the lives of our forefathers and the journey they took.

Lessons from 4-year-olds and the Newsboys

2009-02-28T15:19:00.003-06:00

We must have the biggest four-year-old Newsboys fan in the world. Case in point:

While standing around waiting at the Wal-Mart pharmacy counter to get the youngest some medicine, Dad was trying to keep him entertained. So we pulled out the old cell phone and started looking at pictures and videos. Kenaniah then says, “Can you take a movie of me now?” Dad says, “Sure, what are you going to do?” “I’m going to sing a song.” Then, completely unrehearsed or un-coached, this was the result.

The audio isn’t all that great, so you may not have heard. He is singing the chorus to “I’m Not Ashamed” which goes like this:

I’m not ashamed to let you know
I want this light in me to show
I’m not ashamed to speak the name
Of Jesus Christ

Of course, all the folks standing around thought this was just great. And in addition to singing an old song from one of Dad’s favorite bands, how great is it to have the four-year-old singing about Jesus in public like that. May we all have that kind of reckless abandon when it comes to praising our Lord.

“For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes” (Romans 1:16, ESV)

Our Daughter…The Journalist

2009-02-18T10:23:00.003-06:00

First short stories and poems; now the newspaper.

A couple weeks back our older two went to the state capitol with a group of other homeschoolers for a homeschool day at the capitol kind of thing, sponsored by Families for Home Education. My requirement of them was that they would have to write a paper on the experience when they got back.

Our oldest decided to have some fun with that assignment and write it up as a news article. After reading it, I thought “this is pretty good. Why don’t you go ahead and send it in to the paper and see if they’ll print it.”

So, she sent it to the Marshfield Mail, and after some editing to remove the “opinion” like comments, they ran it in this week’s paper. Unfortunately, the “Education” section is not part of their online edition, but this is what the printed copy contained:

Area homeschoolers visit State Capitol
By LoriAnn Weldon

On Feb. 2, a group of about 30 home-schooling teens and their chaperones — including six from Marshfield — descended on Jefferson City in force, driving in from southwest Missouri for a day at the capital.

“We even had homework to do in the car on the way there,” one student said.

LoriAnn Weldon, a junior from Marshfield, explained, “We were given an example bill with all the parts labeled; and we created our own proposals for things we thought should be laws.”

When they arrived in Jefferson City, the first stop was the state Supreme Court building, where they toured the courtroom and library.

“Our guide told us that lawyers don’t really use the books much anymore, though,” one teen said. “It’s all stored electronically; and some of the attorneys would even consider it malpractice to not use the computer, because it’s so much more thorough.”

After an early lunch, ambassadors from Families for Home Education passed out pocket calendars to the teens.

The students’ job was to deliver one to every congressperson’s office as a thank- you from homeschoolers, for their sup port of homeschooling in the state of Missouri.

“Don’t forget that we represent not only FHE,” the spokeswoman directed, “but also homeschooling as a whole. The public-school kids are here monthly; the legislators have met them often. We come infrequently — this is our chance to show them who we are.”

The students were received well by the clerks and secretaries they delivered the calendars to; and when they had finished distributing their gifts, the students met their district representatives and senators, thanking them for their work in Missouri’s government.

“Our senator (Dan Clemens) was out, but we did get to see Rep. Mike Cunningham,” Weldon said. “He was really nice, taking time to ask about our day and talk to us, even though he had a meeting in a few minutes.”

When they had finished, the homeschoolers trouped down to the Rotunda for a tour of the capitol building. Their guide led them through the building, pointing out the Missouri-hewn stone, and the artwork that adorns much of the wall-space.

The highlight of the tour, to many of the students, was the knee-busting, sweat-breaking, brain-dizzying climb to the very tip-top of the dome, where they could look out over the city 230 feet below. The only thing higher than you at that point is the bronze statue of Ceres, goddess of grain, which tops the dome.

“The only disappointment was that they took out the peregrine falcon’s nest-box that used to be up there,” Nathanael Weldon said.

After the group descended from the heights, they were introduced as special guests to the Senate session by a Joplin area representative. As the last thing they did that day, the group was granted an audience by Ron Richard, the current Speaker of the House.

As they left the capital, each student was given a copy of the Missouri constitution to keep. “I hadn’t realized the constitution was so long,” one noted, flipping through the 170-plus page book.

A Must Read For Dads of Daughters

2009-02-17T16:44:00.003-06:00

All parents want their daughters to marry godly young men. But which qualities, specifically, should they be looking for? What will you say when that certain young man sits down in your living room, sweaty-palmed and tongue-tied, and asks your permission to marry your daughter? What criteria should he meet before the two of them join together for life?

As a father with two teen daughters, this promo for Voddie Baucham’s latest book hits close to home. Actually, I’ve been looking forward to this book for almost a year. Dr. Baucham mentioned it during the Answer’s In Genesis family conference we attended in Branson. I’ve been anxiously awaiting the release ever since.

Here’s the deal. Even though I haven’t even read it yet, I can guarantee this is a book that I’ll be recommending for years to come. I’ve heard enough of Voddie’s teaching to have a general idea of what’s in here, plus the promo tells us what to expect:

"What He Must Be... If He Wants to Marry My Daughter" outlines ten qualities parents should look for in a son-in-law, including trustworthiness, a willingness to lead his family, an understanding of his wife's role, and various spiritual leadership qualities.

Dads, let’s resolve now that we will take the admonition’s we’ll read here to heart. I don’t know about you, but I have pretty high standards for the young man who will eventually marry my daughter, and I’ve been praying for him for years.

Folks, I’m telling you now, this is a must read. Without having cracked the cover, I know this to be true. In fact, you can click on the picture here or on the book title above and order it right now from Monergism books. Or wait a couple weeks and it will be in most stores. But get this book.

The Mom Song

2009-02-09T13:07:00.003-06:00

If you haven't seen this yet, it will be well worth your time to check it out. Christian comedian Anita Renfroe shares all those common "mom" phrases in one song: the William Tell Overture! Enjoy...

Three Teenagers!!

2009-02-05T19:59:00.003-06:00

Well, our little baby girl is now a teenager. Hard to believe. That makes three in our house.Fortunately, she still asked for bike accessories instead of typical teenage girly stuff, so Dad is happy.

Happy Birthday Joy, Joy!

Finally... Snow!

2009-01-28T11:58:00.003-06:00

Our kids were beginning to think we’d go another winter without a real snow. But God is good! Actually, we were on the northern end of what was a really bad storm. The folks just south of us got 1-2 inches of ice and have the power outage conditions we had a couple years ago. So we’re certainly not thrilled on their behalf. But here, we received only about 2 tenths of an inch of ice, followed by a couple inches of sleet, but then topped it off with at least 3 inches of snow. The end result, the kids are thrilled. Makes for treacherous travel, but sure is fun to play in! We managed to keep power/heat on the whole time, praise God! Hope everyone else out there is safe and warm.

Catching Up (at least trying to)

2009-01-06T10:50:00.002-06:00

Well, good grief. Here it is nearly a week into the new year and we haven't updated this site at all. Shame on us. Let's see where to begin...

We could talk about the flu bug that destroyed Thanksgiving.... No....

We could talk about what a blessed Christmas we had... That's good and we're grateful, but that's all come and gone...

We could talk about the deer that decided to jump out and beat up our van... But, alas, the silly 'ol camera somehow zapped the pictures!

Well, how about this. Our oldest is at it again. She's just had another poem published by Mindflights. You can read it here.

And with that, we'll say (very late) Merry Christmas, Happy New Year, and we'll try to be better about updating more often!

GIve Ye Thanks

2008-11-27T08:00:00.001-06:00

Three years after the Pilgrims’ arrival and two years after the first “Thanksgiving,” this proclamation was made by Governor William Bradford:

To all ye Pilgrims:
In as much as the great Father has given us this year and abundant harvest of Indian corn, wheat , peas, beans, squashes, and garden vegetable, and has made the forests to abound with game and the sea with fish and clams, and inasmuch as he has protected us from the ravages of the savages, has spared us from pestilence and disease, has granted us freedom to worship God according to the dictates of our own conscience;
now I, your magistrate, do proclaim that all ye Pilgrims, with your wives and ye little ones, do gather at ye meeting house, on ye hill, between the hours of 9 and 12 in the daytime, on Thursday, November ye 29th, of the year of our Lord one thousand six hundred and twenty-three, and the third year since ye Pilgrims landed on ye Pilgrim Rock, there to listen to ye pastor and render thanksgiving to ye Almighty God for all his blessings.

William Bradford, Ye Governor of Ye Colony

May all ye and ye’rs have a blessed day of Thanksgiving to the Almighty for His continued blessings.

Happy Thanksgivng!

Our Daughter: The Writer...Update

2008-11-22T10:16:00.004-06:00

We previously mentioned that our oldest little blessing, under the pen name "Elyn W. Marsh" had one short story and one poem "bought" by the online magazine Mindflights.

Since then, they have also picked up another of her poems, and most exciting of all they decided to include her short story in the print version. Our copy arrived in the mail just the other day.

It's pretty exciting to pick up a book, open the pages, and find your own words staring back at you. The book is simply a collection of some of the material posted on the website, but if anyone is interested, you can go here to purchas a copy.

Congratulations, Sunshine!

Appreciating Being Appreciated

2008-10-20T14:55:00.001-05:00

Most of you know that October is Pastor Appreciation Month. Our family was blessed to be officially “appreciated” last night. The folks got together a “card shower” with some very nice, thoughtful cards and gifts, and we met after the evening service for some refreshments.

A few of the folks got up and shared some glowing remarks about me and our family (almost made me think they were talking about someone else!). While I genuinely do appreciate the thoughts, I always feel a bit awkward at moments like this. (Humble Pie, anyone?) And yet when it comes to my family, I couldn’t agree more about how great they are!

I am truly blessed to have such a wonderful family and a wonderful church family. God’s grace is overwhelming as always. So, to my family…Thanks for being the blessing you are. And to our church family…Thanks for being a blessing as well, and thanks for taking time to say “Thanks.”

Homechoolers on Parade

2008-09-13T15:42:00.007-05:00

Our Homeschool "co-op" entered a small float in the Apple Festival Parade down in Seymour.

The kids had a fun time tossing candy, etc. Here they are sidetracked by a passing train (Our four along with Mrs. Nancy and her son Tyler).

The only drawback was the education level of the homeschoolers who made the sign. (OK, anyone can make a mistake, right?!)

We were able to correct that by covering up a part of the sign with an apple (see above picture). Actually, the really scarry part was who we let drive!

In all, a fun time was had by everyone. Thanks to the Lawrence family, who provided the tractor and trailer, and the Smeltzer and Ingalsbe families for participating as well.

Happy Birthday, Sunshine!

2008-09-12T10:16:00.004-05:00

She’s always been our Sunshine
Since the first day she was born
Even though in recent days
It’s tougher to shine in the morn

After 17 years of ups and downs
Our love for her is not “lessing”
Because nothing can ever change the fact
That she was our first little “blessing”

From “only child” to oldest
She’s gone through more than the others
But now and forever she’ll shine
In my heart and in her mother's

We Love You, Sunshine!
Happy Birthday

(Sorry for the corny poem, it’s the best I could do on short notice!)

Nathanael's Favorite Hunter

2008-09-09T10:17:00.005-05:00

Over the summer we reported that Kenaniah was able to meet a couple of his “heroes” (see here). This past weekend, Nathanael was able to meet one of his. As you might know, Nathanael is very much into the hunting/fishing/outdoor thing; he just loves to watch the outdoor channel as well. Last year he heard a guy named Jimmy Sites speak at an event and discovered that Jimmy is also the host of a regular hunting show called Spiritual Outdoor Adventures.

Well, this past weekend, Jimmy was back in our area as our local Baptist Association hosted an “Outdoorsman Event.” It was a day long bow shoot, which Mr. Sites too part in.

There was also a blacksmith demonstration, tomahawk throwing, and it all wrapped up with Jimmy speaking to the crowd of nearly 800 who came. He told some hunting stories but laced them with biblical truths for a pretty nice presentation. Over 100 response cards were collected with various needs on them.

Anyway, as we were there hosting one of the “comfort stations” along the bow shoot trail, Jimmy came by and visited and Nathanael was just thrilled.
Any of you hunter types ought to check out the SOA program and website. It’s pretty good stuff. And thanks to Jimmy Sites for a good day and for taking time to be so kind and generous to our young “fan.”

What homeschoolers do with plywood and a leaf blower

2008-08-25T21:15:00.003-05:00

Went to church tonight for our family "game" night and one of our fellow homeschool dads (seen in the video) brought one of his latest "toys" to play with.

We took the video of Kenaniah's wild ride on our cell phone's camera, so it's not the best. But hopefully you get the idea of how much fun they had. Of course, Nathanael couldn't let little brother have all the fun so he had to have a turn as well.

Our Daughter: The Writer

2008-07-29T09:28:00.004-05:00

We mentioned awhile back that an online magazine called Mindflights had bought the publishing rights to one of our oldest's short stories. Since then, they also bought one of her poems. And now, both of them have been posted on the Mindflights website.

So go here to read about the Vegetarian Dragon

Or here to read a short poem called Fey Stranger

You'll notice that she has used a "nom de plume" which is made up of a name based on her initials and part of our town's name. Quite creative, actually.

Anyway, we're pretty proud of her and just wanted to shout out the news to all we can.

Thanks, Mom!

2008-07-23T21:14:00.002-05:00

You know how you get embarrassed when mom pulls out the photo album and starts showing those old baby pictures and things. Well, my mom was nice enough to put it on the INTERNET!! She's been doing a lot of work on our family tree over at Ancestry.com, and told us to go check it out.

Actually, it was pretty cool. She's traced us back to the 1600s in Ireland on one side, and in the midst of that tree is a genuine hero. Lt. James McGuire, my great, great, great, great, great, great grandfather on mom's side, fought along side Daniel Boone in Kentucky. In fact, he was killed in action during the Battle of Blue Licks, KY, considered to be the last battle of the Revolution. There's an historical marker with his name and everything.

But, anyway, back to the original topic, the kids were looking at the site with me and we started going through the pictures Grandma had posted. And lo, and behold, this comes up.

That's right, Me, at two months old with my big brother, Mark. Right there (and now right here I guess, on the Internet). The kids loved it. So thanks, Grandma. I'll see if I can dig something up to pay you back with!

The Homeschool Family

2008-07-22T12:30:00.002-05:00

Thanks to Terri at the Back Deck for pointing this one out. This is fantastic!!

Vacation/Family Conference

2008-07-22T12:19:00.002-05:00

Our family just returned from a week in Branson, Missouri. And while part of it was dedicated to fun and games, the primary reason was to attend the Defending Your Faith Family Conference, sponsored by Answers in Genesis.

In the next few days I hope to have some fun pictures and things here, but for the serious reviews of the conference, go to Dad's site here.

Aaarrrgghh!

2008-07-06T22:28:00.003-05:00

I’m not so sure that pirates and four-year-olds are the best mix. But ever since the Veggietales movie “The Pirates Who Don’t Do Anything” back in January, we’ve had a little buccaneer in our house. And he requested a pirate birthday. So, being the overindulgent parents that we are, that’s what Kaptain K got. On the bright side, Cheryl had the opportunity to try out her creative cake making skills. Personally, we all think she did a pretty good job. Bottom line, we had a pretty fun birthday and Kenaniah was overjoyed.

Happy Birthday, Kenaniah!!

Happy Birthday, Nathanael

2008-06-28T23:09:00.003-05:00

I’m a little behind on things, but I did want to post birthday wishes to my Buddy. He’s not my little buddy anymore (considering he’s as tall as me now!), but my buddy none the less. Happy 14th Nathanael! And congrats on that first home run!

I Am That Hero!

2008-06-28T18:42:00.002-05:00

Everyone should get to meet their heroes in life. Unfortunately, most of mine are dead (Spurgeon, Edwards, Luther, Calvin, etc.). But Kenaniah got the chance to meet some of his while at Silver Dollar City.

That’s right, Bob the Tomato and Larry the Cucumber of VeggieTales fame. I know he should aspire a bit higher in life, but hey…it sure beats Sponge Bob!

FREE DVD from Vision Forum

2008-06-02T09:32:00.002-05:00

The people at Vision Forum have authorized us to give away a FREE DVD from their Reclaiming the Culture series. All the details are over at the By Grace Alone blog. Check it out to win a copy of the DVD entitled: The Promise: The Beauty and the Power of the 5th Commandment.

Speaking of Publishing

2008-05-24T11:16:00.003-05:00

Cheryl isn't the only one with "publishing news." Our eldest (Sunshine) has recently signed a "contract" with an online magazine called MindFlights. They purchased a short story she had written about the adventures of a vegetarian dragon (Dad's idea) in the mythical land of Spiggle (who knows where that idea came from!).

You can check out the site, but so far it hasn't actually been posted. They agreed to pay her for the story and publish it within the next year or so, so it may still be awhile. Afterwards, they give her the rights back so she can look to have it actually published in written form somewhere.

We're pretty proud of her, and we're looking foward to all the revenue this new venture will bring into the family coffers. We'll try to post here again if and when we see the story online.

What's In A Name?

2008-05-22T13:51:00.005-05:00

We all like to think that we are individuals; our own person; a one of a kind. Imagine our shock then, to discover that there is another lady out there with the exact same name as our Cheryl; middle name and all. Furthermore, she shares many of the same interests and has even written a couple books. Not just any books. But from the sound of it, the very books that our dear Cheryl would like to write!

Consider some of the similarities. Exact same name. Love of horses. Love of animals in general. Interest in Christian books/fiction. Hockey fan (Grandpa Ron used to play, even). This other Cheryl worked in the mental health field, and our Cheryl home-schools four children and is married to a pastor: we're talking major mental health issues!

Now this is not an endorsement of the books. We haven't read them yet. But from early descriptions and from the contact we made with "her people", they sound promising. We just thought the similarities were amazing, and that it was fun to see books written with Cheryl's name on the cover. If you want more info, you can go to this website and find the books.

Turkey Killer!

2008-04-14T10:20:00.009-05:00

We have an expert hunter in the family. On his first ever turkey hunt, Nathanael bagged himself a big 'ol turkey. In fact, he did it in the first two hours on openning day! Here he is with his proud pappa:
Deacon Jim encouraged us to give the youth turkey season a shot, pardon the pun. In fact, he even helped outfit us and let Nathanael use his shotgun (mine wasn't big enough!). Thanks to Mr. Jim's expert instruction and turkey calling expertise, we had a great time. Here's Mr. Jim and his prize pupil: On a cold morning, with a little freezing drizzle even, we hit the woods before 5am. And by 5:45 we heard the first gobble. Mr. Jim began his calling and within an hour or so we had a big ol' Tom right in front of us! He was a bit closer than we expected, and when Nathanael tried to re-aim, the old bird saw us and started to leave. But Mr. Jim gave him a couple more clucks on the caller and like any male, he stopped to look at the girl he thought was there. That was all Nathanael needed. One shot. One turkey dinner.

This old bird was 23 3/4 pounds, with an 11 inch beard and 1 1/16 inch spurs. Not bad for the first time! Kenaniah even wanted to get in on the fun, but he'll have to wait a couple years. Still didn't stop him from getting all dressed up:

Dad even had some fun pretending to be Rambo or something:

Of course, now Dad is going to have to give it a shot come regular spring season. Can't have the boy braggin' too much, can we?

Egg-citing Art (Egg-stremely Late!)

2008-04-04T15:25:00.003-05:00

The kids have been after me for awhile now to get these posted. Sorry it's so late. Just like the Christmas cookies, we like to have fun with eggs at Easter. Here is some of the fruit of our labor: Kenaniah wanted Bob and Larry of course
LoriAnn had to include a Dragon
Nathanael just had fun
Katrina added a bunny and horse
And dad had to do a Nascar thing (notice the 24 finishing ahead of the 20!)

Vote For Us

2008-03-05T22:48:00.003-06:00

No it's not about politics. It's about floors.

Our local OzarksFirst.com is running an "ugly floor" contest along with Carpet Barn. The winner gets something like $2,000 in flooring. As much as we love our broken down old farmhouse, the scarred baby-diaper green vinyl flooring in the kitchen, dining room and hall is just horrible (as the picture clearly reveals). But on the ol' preacher-salary, that's not a high priority budget item.

Anyway, if you're bored and just looking for something to do while you're wasting all this time on the internet anyway, hop on over to the OzarksFirst website and vote for #22, that's us. I voted tonight and Cheryl said, "Hey, put it on your blog." So why not. It beats whining about the presidential race, doesn't it.

Remember, that OzarksFirst.com and vote for number 22. Thanks.

For The Children

2008-02-29T09:48:00.001-06:00

I posted this on my personal blog, but feel stongly enough to post it here as well:

Everyone knows that being a parent is difficult. It's hard work raising children in general, but add to that the element of trying to raise Christian children in an increasingly anti-Christian world, and the job just gets tougher.

Every time I turn around I read stories about state governments that are going out of their way to protect everyone's rights except those of the Christian student and their parents. The latest (that I've heard anyway) is about SB777 in California, recently signed into law by Gov. Schwarzenegger. It ensures that no one can openly criticize homosexual and transgendered teachers. What about the protection of the children in those classrooms. We don't seem to care much about them, do we?

Or go to the Homes School Legal Defense Association (HSLDA) website and read about cases all over the nation where Christian homeschool families are being targeted by local school districts, DFS offices, etc.

Of course, there are positives here and there. In Missouri our legislators are trying to pass HJR55 which would clarify students' rights to pray in public places, as well as the right of the average citizen to do the same. But at times I wonder if things like that are too little too late.

I would encourage you to check out two ministries:

1. Exodus Mandate. Their stated purpose says that, "Exodus Mandate Project is a Christian ministry to encourage and assist Christian families to leave government schools for the Promised Land of Christian schools or home schooling."

I know that sounds so radical to some, but take time to remove the historical blinders and look at the true history of education. Government education the way we do it now is a very modern invention, and I don't think those who started down this road ever intended it to go so far in removing families from the equation. Christian people need to realize that our children have been given to us to raise, not the state or anyone else, and we are responsible for their training in godliness and in everything else. Get involved parents! Your children's future depends on it.

And speaking of parental involvement...

2. ParentalRights.org. This organization seeks to bring "together everyone who agrees that the vital role of parents in the lives of children should not be undermined by government action or policy." Of primary concern here is not only keeping an eye on state and federal legislation that removes parental rights in various ways, but also the UN's Convention on the Rights of the Child.

Yes I know that's been around since Clinton, but the threat still looms as there continues to be pressure for the US to officially endorse this. On the surface it seems good, and in ways it might be, but the end result would be a serious erosion of the rights of parents to bring up their children with Biblical values and principles. Check out their site for more information on this and other issues.

The bottom line is that parents need to get involved, stay involved. We've abdicated our role and responsibility in the rearing of our children to the state, and to others in general, for too long. God has called us to be parents, to ensure the faithfulness of the next generation, to be sure that future generations know of the greatness of our God. We can't do that by standing on the sidelines and letting godless government agencies determine what's best for our children. For their sake, get involved.

Happy Birthday Joy, Joy!!

2008-02-05T17:02:00.000-06:00

Our little Katrina is growing up. Although she's still my princess, she's not so little anymore.

But we still love you, Joy, Joy!

Happy 12th Birthday!

Online Tag

2008-02-04T19:17:00.000-06:00

Our good friend on The Back Deck “tagged” Cheryl, which we’re told means that she has to answer the following questions. I’m not sure this is anything more than giving in to online peer pressure, but here it is.

Four jobs I’ve had
1. Homeless Ministry Counselor
2. Trail Guide
3. Child Care Worker (for years and years)
4. Private Christian School Teacher

Four movies I would watch over and over
1. Parent Trap (original)
2. White Christmas
3. 7 Brides for 7 Brothers
4. The Chronicles of Narnia

Four of my favorite foods
1. Homemade Bread
2. French Fries
3. Pizza
4. Toasted Ravioli

Four TV shows I love to watch
1. Unwrapped
2. Good Eats
3. Weather Channel
4. Bull Riding!

Four places I’ve lived
1. Missouri
2. Texas
3. North Dakota
4. Back to Missouri

Four places I’ve been on vacation
1. California
2. Florida
3. Montana
4. Colorado

Four Websites (Blogs) I visit daily
1. I’m only on the internet about once a week.
2. I like the Family Fun site
3. I have to read my husbands!
4. Kraft Foods

Four places I’d rather be right now
1. Florida Keys
2. In Bed
3. On a horse
4. Any place quiet! (The Library, etc.)

Four people I’m tagging
In an outstanding act of mercy, I will refrain from tagging anyone else!
Sorry!

We Have A Winner!

2008-02-03T15:51:00.000-06:00

Today was the annual Soup and Chili Cookoff at our church. LoriAnn entered a nice "hot root soup," but the soup competition was very heated this year, pardon the pun. Nathanael picked through a cookbook from the library, combining a couple of different recipies to come up with his own concoction . . . and won second place!This is actually the second time he has finished as runner-up, placing second two years ago. Of course Dad reminds us that he has bragging rights in the house, since he won first place in last year's contest. (Is there room in the house for all this ego?!?)

Congratulations Nathanael!

Sad, Sad Sight

2008-02-03T15:48:00.000-06:00

As great as the recent snow was, it didn't last nearly long enough. And there is nothing sadder than a lonely snowman, reduced to twigs and dirt sticking out, being the only remaining snow anywhere in sight. Oh well, it was fun while it lasted.

More Dragons and Friends

2008-02-02T09:46:00.001-06:00

Well, we finally had our first decent snow this season. Turned out to be a perfect day: enough snow to work with, a fairly warm and sunny day to enjoy it, and it happened to be my day off! So out we went to toboggan down the back hill, have a snow ball fight (which Nathanael and Dad won by the way) and to make some snow critters. Actually, the older two made snow critters since the younger two are getting over colds and couldn't stay out that long.

LoriAnn kept with her dragon theme and made a snow dragon:
And Nathanael rolled up a traditional snow man to keep him company:Hope you all are enjoying winter wherever you are.

Thar Be Dragons!

2008-01-10T10:18:00.000-06:00

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!

Faith Like A Child

2008-01-09T10:21:00.000-06:00

“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.

Christmas Catch Up

2008-01-07T11:50:00.000-06:00

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!

More Cookies!!

2007-12-16T16:12:00.001-06:00

As promised, here are more of the cookie creations. We’re up to over 300 cookies made (we’re not eating them all, they’re for various Christmas programs, etc.) Anyone can do trees and stars and Santa’s, here is just a sampling of the oddities we call Christmas cookies.

We have a herd of horses
A few penguins
Some really strange hypnotic tool
A wise guy (I mean Wise Man)
And proof that Nathanael sees cookies as merely a vehicle for frosting and goodies

Not pictured are such Christmas classics as frogs, guinea pigs, and of course everyone’s favorite: the Christmas Hippopotamus (not available for photos, since they were eaten!)

Hope you all are having an equally sugar filled Christmas!

Playing His Praises

2007-12-14T22:53:00.000-06:00

The girls had their very first concert tonight. They started in September in a homeschool orchestra and have made some amazing progress. In addition to being beautiful, they both played beautifully as well. (Can you tell we’re proud?)

Of course, Kenaniah didn’t like someone else being the center of attention, so he decided to do something about that.

Christmas Cookie Central

2007-12-10T18:12:00.001-06:00

Decorating Christmas cookies is a major tradition in our home.

The boys even help (even if they do eat more than they decorate!)

And the finished product is quite nice.

Actually, these are "first run" cookies. As they go, they get more and more creative and colorful. So far we've put together about 9 dozen cookies, with more to come. Hopefully, we'll get some more of the really creative designs on a bit later.

It's Beginning To Look A Lot Like Christmas!

2007-12-07T22:04:00.000-06:00

Dad finally got some lights up. Unfortunately, the white spots in the picture are only drops of misty rain caught by the flash, not snow. In fact, it sounds like we're going to get a bunch of ice this weekend, but then maybe some real snow afterwards. Hope you all are safe and warm where you are.

From Our House To Yours

2007-11-30T20:03:00.000-06:00

The House That LoriAnn Built

2007-11-29T21:45:00.000-06:00

Mom gave LoriAnn a doll house "kit" for her birthday, and she's been feverishly (in bursts)working on building it ever since. We thought we'd share the fruit of her labor with the cyber world.

She actually even laid all the shingles herself!

We didn't notice that the stairs had slipped a little before the picture. Rest assured, we'll right the problem before the planned toy shop opens for business. The "grandma" and "grandpa" who run the place are borrowed from her old FisherPrice doll house (hope they don't mind the relocation).

Thankful Thoughts

2007-11-21T15:09:00.000-06:00

I asked each of the kids to put together a short paragraph or poem about what they are most thankful for. Thought that would be an appropriate thing for this week. Here are their responses. (The kids heard the “short” part; Mom got carried away!)

LoriAnn (16)

What am I most thankful for? Hm, now, let me think
I’m thankful for my family, My sibs, my Mom and Dad
I’m thankful for our house, For our two dogs, and cat
I’m thankful for my many books, I’m thankful for the trees
I’m thankful for food to eat, From broccoli (bleh!) to cheese.
I’m thankful for God’s loving care, I’m thankful for His grace
I’m thankful for things like monkeys, For lilac buds and lace
I’m thankful for the world I live in (With all its troubles too)
I’m thankful for good poetry, I’m thankful, friend, for you!
So in answer to your questions “what are you thankful for?”
I’d have to say, “Nothing in particular,

But,
Particularly everything!”

Nathanael (13)

I’m thankful for sharks; mainly great-white and tiger sharks. Also birds; mainly birds of prey such as eagles and falcons. What I like about sharks is that they are so powerful; and about birds of prey I like that they’re so majestic and powerful.

Katrina (11)

I’m thankful for the animals
I’m thankful for the trees
I’m thankful for my Lord today
I’m thankful for my family
I’m thankful for my good friends
I’m thankful for my answered prayers
I’m thankful for my guitar to play
I’m thankful for each bright new day
I’m thankful for my many blessings
I’m thankful for Thanksgiving!

Psalm 10:4 - Enter His gates with thanksgiving and His courts with praise; give thanks to Him and praise His name.

Kenaniah (3)

Here’s the picture he made at our homeschool co-op last week. Each leaf represents a thing he is thankful for. In case you can’t read them, the list includes: Mom & Dad, Sisters & Brother, God, Jesus, Cars, Boats & Trains, Cake & Candles, Giraffe, Tigger

Mom

A Thanksgiving Primer

A-Altar – Our family worship time led by Scott

B-Babies – held in God’s wisdom & missed in our hearts

C-Corn – 3 little corn kernels that were rationed during the Pilgrim’s 1st year

D-Dad – mine, who homeschooled us on vacations and life before we knew what homeschooling was

E-Everything – It’s true, I’m ashamed to admit, I stole it from my daughter’s but I need to be thankful in all circumstances (1 Thess. 5:18). The good, the bad and all the tiny details in between.

F-Family – My family, my church family at Faith SBC, and my friends

G-God – who called us before He created us (or anything else) Eph 1:3

H-Home – Our earthly home and our heavenly one Ps 16:6

I-Instruments – to praise his name; from voices to flute and guitar

J-Joy – Psalm 98:7-8

K-Katrina our Joy, Joy and Kenaniah our sweet surprise

L-LoriAnn our 16 yr-old Sunshine

M-My Mom in heaven; I really miss her but am also thankful for my mother-in-love

N-Nathanael our gift from God

O-Ozarks – A sanctuary. Ps 147:7-18

P-Pilgrims – who risked everything for a godly heritage

Q-Quiet – people, places, and moments. Zeph. 3:17

R-Rest in God alone. Ps 62:1

S-Scott – my sweetheart. Ps. 1:1-3

T-Turkey and all the trimmings!

U-Unfailing – God’s promises, plans, and power never fail even when His people do

V-Voice of the Martyrs – for their faith and courage

W-Witness – Heb. 12:1 Those who have come before and will come after

X-Xerxes & the story of Esther who reminds us that we were born for “just such a time as this.” These moments and days were placed by God’s design and purposes

Y-Young – He gathers the lambs into his arms and carries them close to His heart; he gently leads those that have young. Is 40:11

Z-Zechariah – “for I have seen your salvation. He’s the light of the Gentiles and the glory of His people Israel.” Luke 2:31 and Michael Card

Dad

Thankfulness is such a strange beast.
We talk about it, maybe even feel it. But seldom act on it.
I’m thankful for much, and not just the least.
But do I show it, or even say it? Do others know it?
God has given me a Christ-centered wife
Beauty and grace wrapped up in one.
He’s brought four other blessings in my life
Daughter, son, daughter, then son.
Of course I deserve none of these things.
I’m a stubborn man, a selfish man, a prideful man.
But in spite of, on top of all He brings
The Son of Man, part of His plan, makes me a new man.
And for that grace above all,
I’m thankful.

All Creation Sings

2007-11-11T13:13:00.000-06:00

We serve such a great God. We see his glory all around us. The girls enjoy writing of God's handiwork; Nathanael just likes to enjoy God's handiwork. We sent him out down by the creek to capture what he saw as God's glory around us and here's what he brought back.

The King

2007-11-10T18:33:00.000-06:00

Well, our little Joy-Joy doesn’t want to be outdone by big sis. So she wants to add her entry in the poetry category. (And since no matter how old she gets she’s still the baby girl, we can call here whatever nickname we want!)

The King

This is the King, Valiant and Bold

The crown on His head crested in gold.

Rubies, Diamonds, Emeralds are there

Crafted, molded and attached with great care.

Amethyst bracelets are there on His hands

Proclaiming Him as King of all lands.

His people rest in a safe haven

He watches over them, the same as the raven.

Who is this great warrior?

This King of such power?

He is my Refuge, the source of my comfort.

He is my Father, and to Him I pray.

And He gives me peace each and every day.

Here is the King.

Psalm 91:2
I will say of the Lord He is my refuge, my God in who I trust.

Why I Write

2007-11-07T09:14:00.000-06:00

I've always been a why person. Since we serve a Sovereign God who does all things for a reason, with a purpose, I've always felt this compulsion to find the why in everything. Of course, I'm often disappointed, since God Himself often doesn't let us in on those reasons, but it's nice to at least know there is one.

Our oldest, our Sunshine (I think she's starting to hate that nickname, but come on, she's only 16. That's still young enough to be Mommy and Daddy's little Sunshine, isn't it?), our Sunshine loves to write. She's pretty good at it, too. I'm hoping that we'll see lots more from her and our other little artists in the days ahead. But we'll begin with making Dad happy. She answers the "why" question.

Why I Write

People ask me, “Why

Do you write? Is

It because you have

nothing better to do?”

I merely smile in

The face of their

Foolishness. Nothing better to

Do? What utter nonsense!

I write, because I

Love the words taking

Shape under my pencil.

Because I want to

Leave my mark on

The world, in hopes

That, one day, my

Writing will take up

Its place in the

Hallowed realm of the

Used book-store. I

Write because when I

Do, I embed part

Of myself, my mind,

My heart, in the

Past, to be enjoyed

By book lovers in

The present and far

Future. I write for

Myself; to spill my

Brains on paper is

The best ever therapy

I write for others;

To read a well

Spun tale is to

Bask in the luscious

Aura of good literature.

I write for the

Sake of writing, and

The joy that comes

From finishing a piece

The satisfaction of, not

Only finishing it, but

Enjoying it, and having

Others enjoy it too;

That’s why I write.

The Beginning

2007-11-03T10:34:00.001-05:00

For some time now, I've been sharing thoughts and ideas on my own blog site. Sitting around the table, the family all thought that they have enough ideas of their own to share, so we agreed to begin a "family blog."

In the days to come, this space will be filled with thoughts on family, homeschooling, faith, and anything else the kids want to talk about. There may be some poetry, some pictures, or just a random thought from the three-year-old.

While this is primarily for our own family and some friends we'll invite to stop by, we certainly welcome comments from anyone who happens by.

Our goal is simply to find ways for our family to express our love for God, for one another, and for the glorious creation He has given us, as well as to document our homeschool journey. And thus we begin....