Unique Experience

Not long ago we were invited to some friends house for a special meal.  It certainly wasn't anything like what I expected.  As you can see from the photo, the food was dumped out on the plastic table cover and no utensils were provided.  We picked up what we wanted, put it on our plates, and ate with our fingers!  It was a really neat experience!

The Eclipse 2017...

...as seen from Central Missouri.  We certainly were privileged to be able to see the eclipse, including totality.  Here are a couple of amatuer shots of what we saw.

The heavens declare the glory of God;

And the firmament shows His handiwork.

Psalm 19:1

Blooms

Iris

Wisteria-on a rainy day

Claytonia virginica -Common Names: 

(Spring Beauty, Virginia Spring Beauty, Eastern Spring Beauty)

 Poppy - before and after blooming

"The grass withers, the flower fades,

But the word of our God stands forever.”

Isaiah 40:8

SPRING...?

For almost two weeks we have been ENJOYING spring-like weather.  It has actually been in the upper 70s.  The birds are singing; the spring "croakers" have been serenading; and the daffodils are about ready to bloom.  The robins are back and for the first time we saw a "white" one.

Therefore I say to you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat

or what you will drink; nor about your body, what you will put on.

Is not life more than food and the body more then clothing?

Look at the birds of the air, for they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns;

yet your heavenly Father feeds them.

Are you not of more value then they?

Ice Storm

Ice is beautiful...

And destructive....

"Old" Church

I guess it depends on who you ask whether or not this church would be considered "old". It was built in 1948...so I guess it's not that old.  :-)

More Quotes

"Wise men talk because they have something to say;
fools because they have to say something."

Plato

"Any fool can curse the darkness"
Anonymous

"A true believer can accomplish more with a few words
than a hypocrite with a  thousand sermons."
Anonymous

Quote of the day...

"If you know God, you don't need to know anyone else.

If you don't know God, you need to know everybody else."

Leonard Ravenhill

And this is eternal life, that they may know You, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom You have sent. 

John 17:3

This is what the LORD says: "Let not the wise man boast of his wisdom or the strong man boast of his strength or the rich man boast of his riches, but let him who boasts boast about this: that he understands and knows me, that I am the LORD, who exercises kindness, justice and righteousness on earth, for in these I delight," declares the LORD. 

Jeremiah 9:23-24

Breaking Records

The first record breaker is that you are hearing from me three times in about a week and a half!  The second is we've had two major snow storms during that time.  This second storm is unique in that it has been snowing for two days non-stop.  I don't know the official report but it looks like we received close to a foot of snow and there hasn't been much wind.

Have you entered the treasury of the snow...? 

Job 38:22a

SNOW!!

November 20!  We are currently getting our first snow of the season. The children are beside themselves with excitement!

Old News

This is old news but at least it's news.... Blogging is not on the top of my to-do list....

Earlier this fall we had a wonderful opportunity to get away for a few days to the Black Hills. We all enjoyed it so much. We did some sightseeing, hiking and picnicking.   The children enjoyed feeding the burros best of all!

New Glasses

Ezra's prescription was recently changed to include bifocals.  Now he will be able to see more clearly both close up and at a distance.  Even though he will always have some eye "issues" we are so thankful that he is able to see.  One of his favorite things to do is to look at "yights" (lights).

"Your word is a lamp to my feet 

and a light to my path."

Psalm 119:105

Ingalls Homestead

Last week we took the children to visit the Ingalls Homestead site in De Smet.  It was a good way to experience a little bit of South Dakota history.  We explored a sod house, or soddie as they are commonly called, and a claim shanty.  A replica of the Ingalls home gave a realistic view of frontier life in the late 1800s. We had a wagon ride and visited an old church and school.  The children made ropes, rode in a pony cart, and practiced washing clothes on a washboard.  I think the children liked the horses and ponies best.

Cotton Mather's Advice to Parents

Follow this link to read Cotton Mathers resolutions concerning his children.

Surely I have taught you statutes and judgments...be careful to observe them...  Only take heed to yourself, lest you forget the things your eyes have seen, and lest they depart from your heart all the days of your life. And teach them to your children and your grandchildren.

Deuteronomy 4:5a, 6a, & 9

The Rest of the Story

Well, on the second day of cooling off in the irrigation there was a little mishap.  One young fellow was so engrossed in playing in the water that he never realized when his glasses fell off.....! After many hours of combing the field in a vain attempt to find the elusive spectacles we have finally given up. Only $68 and new eyewear are on the way!

Cooling Off

The Title

The Mother At Home or The Principles of Maternal Duty

by John S.C. Abbott

This book has been reprinted many times and you can find it quite easily.  As a disclaimer though I did notice that some of the books online had extra chapters that our book does not have so I do not know what the content is in those section.

Here is a link to the book on Amazon. I'm sure you could get it other places as well:

http://www.amazon.com/The-Mother-Home-John-Abbott/dp/1611043549

"There is but little advantage to be derived from books, unless we revolve their contents in our own minds. Others may suggest the most valuable ideas. But we must take those ideas and dwell upon them, and trace out their effects, and incorporate them into our minds by associating them with others of our own." John Abbott

More Quotes

The book I wrote about in the last post was written specifically for mothers, since the author at that time saw a great need in that area, but every father should read the book as well. 

From the little book....

"It is certainly vain to hope that you can induce your children to fix their affections upon another world, while yours are fixed upon this.  Your example will counteract all the influence of your instructions."

"If you go on in unrepented sin, your child, in all probability, will go with you."

I'm not sure if anyone ever stops by here anymore, but just in case someone happens along I'll blow off the dust, brush out the cobwebs and try to add some new thoughts and photos for those who are tired of looking at carrots. :-) 

Gwen and I read a book over the past few months that we would highly recommend to anyone serious about the eternal destiny of their children.  I don't even know where we got it, maybe a yard sale, but it is an original copy and was printed in 1833 as you can see in the photo. Its not in very good condition but the author has something to say.  His writing is very practical and simple but amazing would be the results if his advice were followed. I think I'll leave you in suspense as to who the author is.....  Maybe in that way I'll see if anyone still visits this site. :-) 

"Your future happiness is in the hands of your children."

This he says after saying that "many have had their hearts broken, and their gray hairs brought down with sorrow to the grave, solely in consequence of their own neglect to train up their children in the nurture and admonition of the Lord!"

Ephesians 6:4

Fresh Carrots! In the Winter?

Yes, dug right out of the South Dakota soil today while it was snowing and 25°! After doing a little reading this fall I decided to try to "keep" our carrots in the ground and use them as we needed them. It was kind of a last minute decision as we were rushing around getting ready for a trip and we didn't have time to deal with them.  So I mounded about 10" of silage over them and hoped for the best.  (I used silage because that is what I had available. Straw, hay, and sand will work as well.) When we dug some up about a month later we were surprised at how sweet they were.  We have really enjoyed digging carrots all winter.  We still have enough to last for another month or so! 

"The earth is the LORD'S, and the fullness thereof..."

Psalm 24:1