Contemplating Facebook

Just so I could post:

I <3 Owl City!









*but I don't need facebook to tell you that, now do I?  :~P

She's a Walking!

Growler Bucket has been walking for a little over a week now.  She thinks she is pretty neat stuff.  I think she is right.

She is growing way too fast.

She'll be ONE tomorrow!

Seems like only days ago I was posting this announcement of her birth. Time is so precious, and we have cherished every moment with this special little girl.  I don't want to forget a second of it!

I pray Baby Bucket will always be a merciful, kind and mighty warrior for Christ, and that she will love the Lord our God with her whole heart, all her soul, and all her might.  We love you Bucket!  May you live long in the land and may your life always bring Glory to Him.  ~Amen

Blast From the Past!

I saw this picture recently, and wanted to show everyone what part of our family looked like back in 2005.

I know it doesn't seem like that long ago, but when you see these kids it makes it seem like forever ago!

This is going to seem more stark after we show a picture of the three of them together when "Auntie" shows up this weekend.

Blessed be the LORD, my rock!

The ladies are learning Proverbs 31, beginning with verse 25 thru 31, "Strength and Dignity." They actually already have it down, so we're moving onto the rest of the 'Woman of God' section starting from verse 10.

The boys are learning the much more manly focused Psalm 144. I am spending time instructing the young gentlemen that men are to be protectors of the weak & innocent, defending truth & justice, and helping the helpless. They are learning how a man defends ladies, protects their purity, keeps their sisters safe, and treats women as sisters in Christ. It is not common in our culture to encourage boys to learn to fight, and be "trained for war," but it is biblical that men will not go picking fights, yet they will be prepared to stand up for the cause of justice when necessary. I fully expect that these young men will one day be husbands and fathers, and that they will be required to protect their wives, and children.

'But if anyone does not provide for his relatives, and especially for members of his household, he has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever.' 1 Tim 5:8

Of course, it is not hard to encourage boys to play guns, swords, wrestling, or any other physical activity...they were built for it!

The full text that the boys are learning

Blessed be the LORD, my rock,

who trains my hands for war,

and my fingers for battle;

he is my steadfast love and my fortress,

my stronghold and my deliverer,

my shield and he in whom I take refuge,

who subdues peoples under me.

O LORD, what is man that you regard him,

or the son of man that you think of him?

Man is like a breath;

his days are like a passing shadow.

Bow your heavens, O LORD, and come down!

Touch the mountains so that they smoke!

Flash forth the lightning and scatter them;

send out your arrows and rout them!

Stretch out your hand from on high;

rescue me and deliver me from the many waters,

from the hand of foreigners,

whose mouths speak lies

and whose right hand is a right hand of falsehood.

I will sing a new song to you, O God;

upon a ten-stringed harp I will play to you,

who gives victory to kings,

who rescues David his servant from the cruel sword.

Rescue me and deliver me

from the hand of foreigners,

whose mouths speak lies

and whose right hand is a right hand of falsehood.

May our sons in their youth

be like plants full grown,

our daughters like corner pillars

cut for the structure of a palace;

may our granaries be full,

providing all kinds of produce;

may our sheep bring forth thousands

and ten thousands in our fields;

may our cattle be heavy with young,

suffering no mishap or failure in bearing;

may there be no cry of distress in our streets!

Blessed are the people to whom such blessings fall!

Blessed are the people whose God is the LORD!

(Psalm 144 ESV)

Here is Pops, showing off his memory verse skills!

Chicken is NOT on the menu!

We found a great home for Rhubarb.  I called someone who knew somebody and the problem was solved, just like that.  I love knowing people.  Country life is the place for me!


We took Rhubarb to a horse farm that also raises chickens, and though the farmer said he couldn't promise me the outcome of him when we talked on the phone, but he would let Butter say a happy farewell and we would'nt have to scar her for life.

We said our good-byes and loaded Rhubarb into the van.  

You know how certain smells can take you back in time?  Well, my van smelled like my grandma's chicken coop.  Not as nice as "Grandma's sweet apple pie" or something like that, but it  reminded me of my grandma, none the less...

The farmer was very kind and sensitive to a 4 year old's love for her rooster.  He explained that she needed to not worry over what was about to take place, Rhubarb was just going to establish his place in the pecking order of this flock.  We watched in nervous anticipation as we introduced him to the other birds.  Feathers were instantly flying and wings flapping, but wouldn't you know, he took over that hen house in a matter of minutes!  Seriously, he showed all the other roosters who was boss and won the farmer's heart.  The farmer's other roosters were hatched the same time as Rhubarb, but they were all very plain looking and much smaller.  He fell in love with Rhubarb's strut and was so pleased that he had some color to add to his farm. 

Rhubarb was top dog, er, rooster, and will have a long and happy life doing what roosters do.

Plus, we can visit Rhubarb any time we want. 

That is what I call a win, win!

(I am so relieved I don't have to eat my daughter's pet.)