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April 30, 2004  May Day tomorrow... time for baskets of flowers!  Oh, the delights of spring!

This is from This Day's Thought:

April 29, 2004  What a blessing it was to have the power restored at our house!  In no time all the servants were busy at work---the dishwasher servant, the clothes washer servant and the coffee pot servant! ;-)   I think that H2o heater was doing double duty as we instantly began the bath-time brigade!  O, my, I was sure glad to wash my hair!  See, I'd put brown paint in my hair because I forgot what I looked like with brown hair.  And since I'm still dealing with this mid-life crisis, and no mid-wife crisis and everybody but me seems to think the gray hair is fine... I put the paint in my hair.   Hmmmm.  Then the power went out---and I couldn't really even see it.  Well, this was actually a blessing: Wes couldn't see it either (!) and now my hair's clean.  He smiled.  My mother in law doesn't have gray hair---well, maybe a little but it's beautiful and she's so lovely.  My mom has a beautiful colour of hair, too, and I don't know if even she would think I ought to change this.  I'm so not into the hair colouring deal and all the maintenance; but there's the deeper question of acceptance of where the LORD's brought me---who this person is who came to live in my life---but, yet, I don't know about this gray, either---and I haven't known about it for -ten- years.  I have this thought: that steel-wool is for scrubbing pots and so it goes...

My oldest son is going to Burbank on biz and so my daughter in law brought our grandchildren over while she goes to help a friend in labour with her first child!  They'll be with a midwife at her birth center.  'Thrilling to watch the progression of the years.  My daughter in law helped me with the last couple of babies and I've helped her and now she's helping her friend.  Tara's a great help, not only because of her personal experience, since she is a nurse (but now, a stay at home mommy), she's a great resource.   It's such a sweet blessing to watch life unfold and the ways the LORD provides through the years.  So, today we'll try to see how much sand we can keep *in* the sandbox!   So far, the sandbox is losing. ;-)

May parents are going on a road trip to the mid-west and we were talking of the neat benefit of the net for trip planning.  Kelli just sent me their itinerary using this same site: randmcnally.com. 

So, the marriage tax break may be made permanent!  As good as this seems, there are some who are concerned over the budget deficit.  Don't you find it incredible that there's never (or so it seems) a question about the number of items in the budget?  Perhaps if some budget categories or items were eliminated there wouldn't be a deficit!  How 'bout the amount of money sent to other countries for unnecessary things.  Calls to Reps are needed ASAP.

Anyone who lives in or drives through Snohomish has a pet peeve: Avenue D.  For years, it likely that we've all wondered: When are "they" going to repave Avenue D?  Well, now that it's being done, we're all bemoaning the fact and are wondering : When are they ever going to be done repaving that street?!  Seems while they were at it, they decided to repave a number of side streets as well.  Wouldn't have been so bad, but in the midst of the storm, the traffic signals went out, too, and so in addition to the three thousand too many cars, the already bogged down routes were backed up much further.  Life in an historic town and Washington's highways.

April 28, 2004                    Happy 29th Birthday, Joyce!
Little did I know yesterday when I was writing about cereal for dinner that that would literally be true---not for dinner but for breakfast and lunch today!   It was so sweet of Wes to bring us cereal and bread on his way home!  Yesterday afternoon we had a wind storm to beat all storms---or so it seemed and we just had our power come back on.  It sure had us working today to pick up branches and debris from all over the yard!  I was sad to see two major limbs crash down from the 85 year old weeping willow tree.  I'm sorry for our neighbor who lost phone lines because of one of the limbs coming down on it.  We all felt like we were camping in our house.  It was fun to light all the candles and to have a fire outside in the fire-ring and BBQ'd hamburgers!  Today I hung out the clothes that were sitting clean in the washer, and Kathryn made delicious coffee over the 'camp fire.'  We all continued to flip switches all day long when entering a room... or wondered who was on chat or a number of other funny things!  Well, the power came back on, and so did several radios that were tuned up full blast!  My little boys thought we'd all want to know when the power returned!  We knew!

more later.

April 27, 2004   There are members of our family who have the solution for all that ails ya: ice cream.  Last night I was chatting with a friend who reminded me of the annual event, free ice cream at Baskin Robbins!  So tomorrow night I'm thinking that I might take the youngers to get a cone while the olders are at Bible Study.  Ah... You might also find a [free] book in your Cheerios box!  Now, we don't eat cold cereal very much anymore---and I truly wish I could say it's totally for health and whole-foods reasons---but it's not and we simply don't for obvious financial reasons.  Cereal dinners are our absolute favourite dinners!  The only family member we could never convince of this delight is the head of our home and therefore has a very great influence on the dinner-time meal.  Over the years he *has* joined us when we thought he'd not be home for dinner.  Occasionally I'll buy a few boxes for cereal dinner---and as you can guess it takes a few boxes to have a full meal here!

Kathryn just brought in a beautiful bouquet of lilacs.  The lilac bush is so beautiful and full of blooms!  I have in the past pruned the bush at the wrong time of the year, thus have lost the next season's blooms.  There's great blessing in leaning the right ways of doing things!  The lessons I learn from doing things wrong are sometimes very painful and sometimes the lack of fruit and flowers in the next season are often painful reminders of my foolishness or ignorance.  This lilac bush was a gift from our son (and now daughter-in-law) six years ago when he became engaged.  It was a small bush that is now established and full of blooms.  Another benefit of aging is the ability to see ahead a little bit... that gallon plants become enormous trees... or that gallon plants stay the same size if not properly tended.  This, from a very-not-so-green thumb.

An interesting article... I was talking with two different friends yesterday afternoon, interested in their views concerning women's roles in the church.  I mean church---ekklesia-- not building.  And while this article does *not* definitively answer our question, it does give food for thought to the question: What is the woman's role in the church, anyway?"

This new computer is really such a blessing. In addition to reestablishing some regular features on the homepage, (Thanks to Sean for getting some very old codes back up on this computer!!)  I added the Hope Chest page, and yesterday a Guestbook---just for fun and hopefully encouragement to other likeminded readers who have little daily support in their lives.  Added to the page for Men---Husbands because Timothy had a couple of book suggestions---but Wes has more things to add when time allows.  All in all, there are many more things to add, many letters to reply to, and many articles to put up---all in time, I suppose.  Our email's back up and running fine!  Our programs are "backed up" on a disc now and I don't know what else I'd hoped to get done, but for now... this is enough!

If you're perusing the news... don't get dizzy shaking your head!  And by the way, now, I'm no professional, but I give pretty nice haircuts to the boys in our home... and I'm just not sure how anyone anywhere knows enough about the science of haircutting to charge a thousand dollars for one! 

The children are eating a healthy afternoon snack of black jellybeans.  hmmmmm.

April 26, 2004   The sapping or destruction of the strength of America seems inevitable.  The rebellion against God, the war in Iraq (and elsewhere), the moral decline of America, secular humanism, and the murder of babies through abortion.  The enemy is fierce, the enemy is subtle, and worst of all, the enemy is not recognized as an enemy---it's not from without that we will perish, but from within.  Stay in the Word; stay the course, as The LORD is our light and our Redeemer, our defender and shield, we trust in His perfect care.

April 25, 2004 

  Happy is that people, that is in such a case: yea,
happy is that people, whose God is the LORD.
Psalms 144.15

April 24, 2004  Much in the news!  Local checkers, produce clerks and other grocers' contract will expire on  May 2 which has local stores posting signs for temporary replacement workers in case the workers do not negotiate a contract and go out on strike.  What a mess it'll be if this comes to pass.  A recently settled strike in California lasted 5 months with the major grocery chains losing over 1.5 billion dollars.  Yeouch! 
IT'll be interesting to see how the days ahead play out... in light of all that's transpired in Iraq and the threats of retaliation in Najaf.

Interesting... could coffee really be that healthy and beneficial?  That's what this article says!  Do a Gooooogle and you'll see loads of links for the benefits of coffee---from diabetes to Parkinson's and Alzheimer's  (http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&ie=UTF-8&oe=UTF-8&q=alzheimer%27s+coffee&spell=1) 
 

There was more to share for today... but I can't remember it right now. ;-)  I'd better grab a cuppa coffee and think about it.   More later.

 April 23, 2004  Yet another reason we don't send our children to government schools---the
"education" they'd receive is so grievous to us and would be so damaging to them.  So there's a day of silence to promote the agenda of those who would mock God by destroying His design for men and women.  Interesting that there's a day set aside for promoting such an agenda and yet Christians are silenced every day for holding to faith in God. O, do you suppose it will be said of America that in *that day* it will be more tolerable for Sodom and Gomorrah?  These generations are seeming to be careening toward the abyss at lightening speed and onlookers just shake their heads or look the other way.   Don't you find it remarkable that people who are demanding an accepting audience feel very comfortable attacking those with faith-based convictions who don't agree with their position. 

Galatians 6.7-8 "Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap. For he that soweth to his flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption; but he that soweth to the Spirit shall of the Spirit reap life everlasting. "

On the sunny days this past week I've had opportunity to work in the garden a bit and what a delight it is to spend time with the LORD in the garden!  O, the things we get worked out while tending to the garden!  I've often thought that everyone ought to have a bit of gardening time for their devotions each week.  There's much to be learned from the similarities to life situations when working with soil and water, weeds and blooms, thorns and thistles, soft grass and flowers.  We just crossed the line for the last frost date here in the Northwest.  It'll be a bit longer until we get the garden in---but we're working on it!

I worked on the Hope Chest page a bit... there's much needed and articles the are to be written and links to add in order for the page to be complete.  Then throughout the site, there are many pages that need reworking... but there are many things in our home that are in need of attention... O, the pull of the computer and the necessity to remain resolute to attend to the more important things.

More later...

April 22, 2004  It's going to be a new day in California.  A line that's been used a number of times when dramatic changes take place.  California is my place of birth and until recently, I've considered it home.  I used to say that I have learned to be content in whatsoever state I am, especially if it's California.  During our last trip to California I discovered a new reality in my life and it's that *this* is home to me---the Northwest is home to me---and it's taken twenty five years to discover it.  I used to prefer the hot days, sand and ocean, the beaches, city lights and freeways (I still prefer California freeways!  People there know what to do on freeways and understand the concept of why they exist as opposed to Washington freeways which are narrow inline parking lots).  I now prefer living in and seeing all the  seasons, the trees, water, rivers, mountains, greenery and islands---and *sun.*  Sun and heat are the precious and rare resources here!  Even now, it is so cold here!  Well... as I started today, I stated it's going to be a new day in California.  Ahnold said, when he was declared the new governor of Coll-ee-fornia, "It's a new day in Coll-ee-fornia."   I wonder how many Republicans thought he'd be the extremely broad spectrum governor he's turned out to be.  A budget shortfall is the least of the state's problems... the problems that will come from same-sex marriage will be the undoing of that state and consequently, the nation; there's a saying: "As California goes, so goes the nation."  Were I to share some of the title of bills pending, they'd seem absolutely preposterous and be laughed out of the conversation but, sadly, they are seriously being considered. Yep, it's a new day in California.

 
Due to computer problems, we had to delay posting pics from Samuel's birthday! After a rousing game of volleyball, everyone came in to sing and celebrate his birthday! In the pic above, our oldest son, Daniel, holds Nathanael.

Cutting and serving Samuel's cake, Stephen adds a bit more chocolate sauce to his serving!  In the background: each birthday we put up a collage of pictures of birthdays and years past.

 
This year's pool season has begun and the progress is great!

The jobs are a gross mess in the beginning... but the progress is wonderful...
These are a few pools in Seattle.

April 21, 2004  Okay... so back on to blogging.   What a great blessing this is---as our new computer is an amazing gift and incredibly "loaded" with goodies.  Error will be operator and not system related, I assure you.   It's sort of ridiculous for *me* to have such a blessing!  Really--- I marvel. 

Well, I'm in the process of setting up a page that'll be devoted to sons and daughters and hope chests.  It's largely been inspired by our oldest daughter's recent gift of a hope chest from her daddy and the inspiration and extraordinary work of our friend Rebekah, the author of The Hope Chest, A Legacy of Love.   I highly recommend that every family obtain a copy of this book---and *don't wait* till the sons and daughters are older!  The ideas and inspiration for passing on a legacy of love will truly transform the way you live each day---this is what I've come to discover after reading her book and applying the ideas.  It seems that our home and parenting is  undergoing a transformation as we see all that we're doing today in light of the future and inspiration of the past.  I've written & taught about this for many years pertaining to marriage and the legacy of a happy marriage for the future generations of the children whose parents catch a vision of leaving such a legacy.   There is nothing that can substitute for faith in God, and old, strong, dedicated and true: love.  There is nothing comparable to a legacy of faith in the LORD, and trust and dedication between a father and mother.  When the purpose of a hope chest is understood, the accumulation of skills, heritage, work and goods become a legacy worth living and children's whole lives gain purpose and value with a future worthy of investment today and everyday.  I will (in the next couple of days) be writing about Kathryn's Hope Chest, her birthday, and what it's come to mean to our family to begin the hope chest tradition and heritage.  I cannot recommend highly enough the worth of Rebekah's book and the imperative for parents to invest in hope chests for their children.  I don't mean the containers necessarily---I mean the concept---the containers are a marvelous gift when the concept's been practiced. Kathryn's hope chest(s) were Rubbermaid bins (till now) ;-).

Here's an incredible thought... there was a fire, well, a couple of homes not far from here were destroyed by fire, and because of a possible connection to attempted arson at another location,  it's being called eco-terrorism.  A bizarre twist---an oxymoron, really: eco-terrorism.  While investigators have not released the content of the notes found near the sites, there is speculation that the fires were in protest of the tree clearing for the home construction.  I guess burning homes with gasoline in pop and laundry soap bottles is permissible when ecology minded folks are protesting tree clearing.  =|

So... then... talk about oxymorons: same-sex marriage.  It doesn't take sin long to vaunt itself, to permeate, demand its way and transform the mindset.  Sin always demands company, justification and acceptance---so goes the battle for same-sex marriage in California.   Couple that with the talk that the Federal Marriage Amendment will die in session, that politicians don't want to touch that hot-potato as they fear discrimination or loss of votes: It's just one more lane in the superhighway of immorality cutting a swath and sweeping through our nation.  Only a few years ago, the talk (or actual proposals) of same-sex marriage met with opposition and essentially died in committee.  Now, in California, every attempt is being made to invalidate the will of the people who passed Prop. 22 (the measure defining marriage as between a man and a woman) with a bill that passed in the assembly that would grant full marriage rights to same-sex couples.  Bleck---the absolute arrogance of those who would reject God and His design!   The headlines are nonsensical!  "Gay Republicans Threaten to Not Endorse Bush" and  "Gay Activists Try To Bar Red Cross"  O, God save our nation.  

April 19, 2004   I am filled with gratitude that I am able to be here---to blog and to communicate in this way once again.  I'm humbled and extremely honoured to have received the gift of a new computer---I cannot yet fully grasp this reality nor do I have comprehension of the magnitude of this gift.  You see, all the new parts and all the attempts to repair the other computer failed.  I had given up hope that that system would ever be functional and had truly come to a point that I'd just walk away from it and leave it to the LORD---it's His doing, it's always been of Him that I'm able to do whatever I do and so whatever was to transpire would continue to be all His doing: I had nothing.  This new computer has capabilities and features that dramatically surpass what we'd previously had.  It is a gift from the LORD and He used dear friends to generously provide it---they understood my passion to write and they knew this was such a challenge; but more than all that, they walk with the LORD and follow His promptings.   O, the LORD has always been very merciful and very gracious to me---I'm continually in awe of His tender kindness toward me---I know grace because I know unmerited favour.   He's so lovingly taken me through valleys and over mountaintops and has carried my every burden; I knew I needn't fret over the losses because no matter what: He's never failed and He's never left me nor forgotten His work in or plans for my life.  As the days passed and the reality set in I'd even momentarily entertained the thought that I might make a dramatic life change and take up a new hobby---maybe I wasn't meant to keep writing---but I assure you, the prospect of that change was not at all my personal desire.  I had suggested that I might become an arborist.  The site says Trees are Good---well, the computer hadn't been working out too well, and since I am left-handed challenged, and knowing that trees don't care about handedness, they don't require any computer parts or anything else *I* might be responsible to provide, I thought: yes, trees are good.  I can't tell you how grateful I was to receive this gift because I truly have less than no interest in becoming an arborist.

By the way, I do like good trees.  They're so useful in the construction of computer desks and hopechests.  More on *that* later!!

April 17, 2004   Our daughter Kathryn's eighteenth birthday today... So much to share!

Will have to share another time---my computer is still not working... even with a new main board.  More later...

April 15, 2004  I'm using my husband's computer to post today's blog.  I'm left-handed challenged here---this is a wave keyboard on a right hand desk---sans a mouse, with a touch pad which is also for a right-handed, or creativity-challenged, person. [WHAT???  are you insulting me on  my own computer??!  --w B-]  I have a marvelous new fan for my computer downstairs and thanks to my guardian angel at Microsoft, I also have a new CPU---for which I am exceedingly grateful.  However, the latest fiasco didn't stop with the failure of the fan and the subsequent CPU barbecue---no, it also took out the motherboard---which is one year and two weeks old. In less than a week's time, the case downstairs has been converted into a foot rest, the desk top is a waste management collection site, there are various cords under the desk that appear to be reaching out trying to hook up to something and the silent black monitor looks as out of place on the desk as an open and empty upright freezer plugged into a Tonka truck would look in the middle of our living room.  It's as if the non-functioning computer has rendered the once lively portion of the kitchen into a room that's become useless except specifically at mealtime.  The kitchen in our home is generally an 18+ hour activity center each day!  [Not so, now.---w]

I've had a couple of these wave keyboards---well maybe a few of them, actually.  But I've found over the years that keyboards are essentially not Dr. Pepper friendly.  Every time a Dr. Pepper topples onto the keyboard, the whole day changes!  Now, I've gotten so fast at instantly inverting the keyboard,  allowing the DP to run all over the desk, the pull-out keyboard surface and any paperwork or books on the desk---but the keyboard (almost always) escapes damage.  Now... you might wonder how this lesson has been repeated and met with failure time and again.  I assure you, great care has always been exerted to save the DP---It's a shame to see a full glass wasted, so every attempt is made to swipe up the glass and flip the keyboard over at the same time while juggling the wiggling child on my lap.  It's an art, I tell ya!  Now I have two pieces of equipment to save in the process of avoiding the liquid contact---but I've found it to be far easier to grab the wireless keyboard and mouse and immediately stand up to avoid contact.  Incidentally, the price of the wireless keyboard-mouse has been a terrific incentive to place the mocha or DP elsewhere---Wes appreciates this small concession I've made. [yes, i do; and since you're using my system, i'm also kinda enjoying this literary latitude with which i'm taking laconic liberties!]

I'll attempt to publish this blog and if successful, I'll attempt another entry later... I assure you, it will be my sincere effort to post something of value.  Ah... there's much in the news! Much on the net---but you can  peruse Judicial Forum and newsmax and others in the meantime.  Judicial Forum's got a new layout and more articles.  Oh, I also have much to share regarding my gift from Rebekah Wilson at HopeChest Legacy.  What a week this has been!  

April 12, 2004  It's our Samuel's birthday today!   Three days of computer trouble... CPU fan is going out---thought there oughtta be at least *one* system in this house that has a compatible fan, but, nooooo---are you kidding?  No system here has the fan this one requires.  As you might guess, there's a lot of parts swapping in this house.  So, no time for blogging as the system will shut down momentarily---perhaps a new fan tomorrow.  Life without the computer is-------------strange!

More later, Lord willing.

April 9, 2004   Jesus paid the ultimate price and gave the greatest gift, making the supreme sacrifice: the Atonement for our sins. 

"For He is our peace, who have make both one and hath broken down the middle wall of partition between us; having abolished in His flesh the enmity, even the law of commandments contained in the ordinances; for to make in Himself of twain one new man, so making peace; And that He might reconcile both unto God in one body by the cross, having slain the enmity thereby:  And came and preached peace to you which were afar off, and to them which were nigh.  For through Him we both have access by one Spirit unto the Father.  Now therefore ye are no more strangers and foreigners, but fellow citizens with the saints, and of the household of God; And are built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner stone; In whom all the building fitly framed together groweth unto an hold temple in the Lord: In whom ye also are builded together for an habitation of God through the Spirit."  [Ephesians 2.14-22]

What more can be said... for God so loved the world that He gave...

April 8, 2004  Ugh... the rabbit died.  I guess I'm dating myself---that used to be a witty comment---that had nothing to do with this:  So... one of the negatives about living in a more rural setting (besides the discovery moments ago that we have 5 new kittens!) is the reality of the food chain... I was driving to pick up our olders from Bible study and hastened the process of the food chain cycle just a tad.  It wasn't until I was returning home that I saw the evidence of the kshhhh, kshhhh  I had heard under the tire on the way there a bit earlier.  So... ever the eager hunter-gatherer, Samuel just had to go down the lane to retrieve the forever changed rabbit and bring it home.  I think he thought he'd get to keep the skin---what he didn't know was how thorough the original butchering job was.  The white van will need a washing later today.

  I received the most gracious and encouraging letter from Rebekah Wilson, the writer the Hope Chest Legacy book(s).  I've often recommended her book: The Hope Chest: A Legacy of Love, as it is an incredible foundational book for daughters, for the hope chest and future home---women need to read this book so that *they'll* gain necessary training!  I tell women it's a remarkable book and a valuable tool for them, too.  It's such a practical guide for daughters *and* mothers----but for dad's, too, as an inspiring aspect of the book is the encouragement to work with sons in order to prepare them with skills for their future home as well as preparing things for their future bride.   In fact, on her site, Rebekah offers a special book for sons that will build in them solid skills they'll need all their lives.  I'm so anxious to read her upcoming books that will be treasures, no doubt about it!  I'll be posting about them, I'm sure.

As days go, this is one very significant day of remembrance for Christians the world over.  As we reflect on The Last Supper, and the days leading up to the most significant event ever in the history of the world, we read in the Word very specific accounts of these days, that supper in particular and what was said there holds tremendous importance for us as believers and followers of Jesus Christ---for it was at that supper that He declared that He would not drink henceforth of the fruit of the vine until He drank it new with them in His Father's kingdom---thus the establishment of the Lord's Supper---which we do to this day in remembrance of Him.  It was at that supper that He washed His disciples' feet---literally demonstrating, His servant heart and command to love---consider *who* was present there.

I find myself wondering what will take place in the days ahead---considering our country is at war with a vehement enemy of Christians.  A service will be held at the Lincoln Memorial.

Today's Welcome Home Message: He Lives!  O, what a Saviour!

April 7, 2004  In need of a little levity today.  I'm very glad to have worked in the yard yesterday as today it's a dreary sort of day.  So.. housekeeping's done, school work's underway, Quiche for dinner---so, those plans are taken care of... time for mails and blogging.  Kathryn just made me a tasty mocha---sans chocolate fudge, with Splenda replacing sugar.  Ah, I know what you're thinking: whaaaa? that's no mocha!  You're right---I'm still waiting for my husband to take me to Starbuck's!   Maybe I'll just have to arrange to have a Bible Study with him there.   Nonetheless, it's delicious---I may be over the edge, but the scope for imagination is broad. The youngers are having their snack, sitting at the table here with me... having just opened a jar of summer, they're popping cherries into their mouths twice as fast as the cherries were originally put into the jars.   Timothy's just about got all the lines and lights set for volleyball---(so, Jim, c'mon up!) for the season.  Ah, Spring!  Bet daddy'd be thrilled that the Costco mag arrived and everyone's pouring over the latest "more stuff" to buy.

Everyday's a competition of sorts, to me, an effort to get more done in less time with more impact!  Sometimes when I'm scurrying around to get things super-tidy I repeat over and over: fast and accurate, fast and accurate.  Time's at once my greatest asset and worst enemy.  Understanding this becomes increasingly important as more activities are added and the value of time is better understood.  Ah, to have back a decade or so of accumulated wasted time! 

Too much in the news to write about... ya better just go to it---from all the comments being levied against the President and our involvement in Iraq, the mess in the courts over the illegality of samesex marriage, to Opening Day scores and ridiculous campaign speeches--with what, 210 days till Election Day, we're going to need some pretty big shovels in the days ahead. (Our Stephen's birthday is on 11/2, so we know the countdown numbers!)  I just received this by email: 50 States Can't Be Wrong.   Interesting, God governs *everyone* and is ignored or is totally rejected by so many. 

"Those people who will not be governed by God will be ruled by tyrants." 
      - William Penn 

The latest bundle of Above Rubies mags just arrived!  My Hannah read it right away!   All our children are voracious readers---especially the older ones!  Well, I can't wait to read the story about Joshua, the baby born blind and the truly great gift to this young family: Tested by Fire.  I haven't read the magazine yet---but will take some time later to do so!  What a resource: Above Rubies.  It's really a blessing.  One thing I admire about Nancy Campbell is her fervor!  O, so many people mistake fervor for pride---what a shame this is, and how much is missed when this is the case.  Genuine zeal and fervor come with a steadfast walk with the LORD---not a stony heart of pride.  She surely has this steadfast walk!  I need to end this now... gotta go read the Mothering Free article... Hannah's sharing with me!

Last month, I shared with you from a letter from our friends about the Waorani's, a movie which tells the whole story, including some recent events. You can receive a DVD "screener" copy of this film to preview by contacting www.bearingfruit.org or calling 918-583-0555.  It is a 90 minute documentary---interviews with many of the tribal people, the missionary wives, etc. These Indians were called "The Aucas" by the outside world but they're the Huaorani. Their culture has changed as they learned of "God's carvings" and began to "Walk His Trail."

April 6, 2004  We sometimes receive questions as to the motivation for our site and who contributes to it.  Well, since we're Christians---followers of Jesus, ours is a "Christian home"  and this being the case and because there are always so many conversations and studies going on in our home, this site is essentially made up of all these things and years ago we were led of the LORD to put it together... and so here it is.  Additionally, you can pretty well guess that whatever I'm blogging is a result of the buzz around our home---that, and I'm sort of a news junkie who thinks others just might be interested in the same things.  

My son just finished reading Every Young Man's Battle and thought I ought to put up a link for it and for the original book by the same author: Every Man's Battle.  It's always a sensitive subject to bring up: thought-life (etc.).  Here, because it obviously pertains to men---I don't get into it---the books and articles speak for themselves.  Then, perhaps because of so many women's ignorance of it and so many men's denial or struggle with it, it remains a matter that is sort of taboo---sort of a silent destroyer.  I tend to focus on an angle that sisters can give priority to and that's: modesty; that, and understanding and not contributing to the defrauding of a brother---or anyone, for that matter.  Women---even young ladies, often have no idea what thoughts are conjured up in others' minds by the attire they've chosen---men's minds *and* women's minds.  O, that fathers and mothers would begin the early training of modesty and modest dress.  O, that fathers would early instruct their sons and daughters about the way men think and perceive things.  I'm not talking legalism here, or standards for more conservative believers (whatever that means!?!)---no, modesty must transcend all that.

Ah... poor Mariners---losing the Home Opener---but what an eighth inning!  It *sounded* terrific!  I forgot how much fun it is to have the game on the radio here in the kitchen.  Perhaps I won't be saying this in a few months, but for now, it's sure fun to hear the play-by-play from Dave Niehaus---my-o-my! 

April 5, 2004  Interesting article in the Herald this morning. Managers Need to Earn Employee Loyalty, Not Try To Buy It.   These sorts of articles are always of interest to me as they help me in my business---which I'm fully persuaded is the most important business in the world, imnsho:  the business of parenting and/or child training.  So, books, articles, newsletters, et al on child training, home management and parenting are essential to me---but so are books and articles aimed at motivation/sales and business.  After all, when reduced to lowest terms, intended or unintended, they essentially all use Biblical principles.  So, this article, in the Herald this morning pertained to employee loyalty---which is exactly what we're looking for in our children!  No, they're not our *employees,* they are, however, people in our care: future adults in training, if you will.  Hence, we need to understand how to and what makes them sparkle, what thrills them: what motivates them.  It's not about flattery, or buying them expensive gifts or even pressuring them into compliance---we need to identify with them, work *with* them, praise them, recognize and/or reward their achievements.  Would *we* desire anything less?

World Magazine's website has a daily blog---you'd probably be interested in reading.   It's sad, it's gruesome, it's inhumane, it's: abortion.  There's more in the news everyday about the procedure---and it'll surely get worse---evil never gets better!

Who pays attention to this stuff anyway?  So's you're in the know: Bill Gates is now the number 2 guy as wealth goes, anyway.  So next time you're thumbing through that Ikea catalogue and then rushing to shop in the store, you'll be happy to know that you're contributing to the bank account of Ingvar Kamprad, the richest man in the world.  Now you know where they get the "funny" names for the couches and shelving units. But, like I said, who pays attention to this stuff, anyway!?

Speaking of mega billions,  in Inglewood, California, there's an old 60 acre racetrack that could become the future home of a mega-Wal*Mart but as sweet as the idea seems, not everyone is keen on the idea of a mega super-store and the impact it would have on the community.  I wonder if Wal*Mart's anti-union stand has anything to do with this.  Spending 100 million dollars in advertising and PR, the company is covering all the bases to see that this project gets supported.  Anti-union folks aren't generally well liked in So. California---and, uh, that'd be an understatement.

Well, here we go: Tomorrow's the Home Opener at Safeco Field for the Mariners!  I guess it's time to get ready for the season!  Whenever they play (if my boys are home) they'll be playing in my kitchen!  I think my boys can practically see the game being played as they stand at the counter and stare at the radio!  So... now, I'll be waiting to hear: Get out the Rye Bread and the Mustard, Grandma! It's a Graaaaaaaaaand Salami!  My-O-My!

April 3-4, 2004  The Word for today.

Jesus would then continue after the Passover meal, demonstrating His love, compassion and servant love for His disciples, sharing with His disciples the manner of His betrayal, Peter's denial, days of heaven, His purpose, His relationship to and with God the Father and the promise of the Comforter---the Holy Spirit---which the world cannot receive because it does not know Him, and finally, the obedient keeping of His commandments and eternal life. 

John 13.13-20

13  Ye call me Master and Lord: and ye say well; for so I am. 14 If I then, your Lord and Master, have washed your feet; ye also ought to wash one another's feet. 15 For I have given you an example, that ye should do as I have done to you. 16 Verily, verily, I say unto you, The servant is not greater than his lord; neither he that is sent greater than he that sent him. 17 If ye know these things, happy are ye if ye do them.

18 I speak not of you all: I know whom I have chosen: but that the scripture may be fulfilled, He that eateth bread with me hath lifted up his heel against me. 19 Now I tell you before it come, that, when it is come to pass, ye may believe that I am he. 20 Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that receiveth whomsoever I send receiveth me; and he that receiveth me receiveth him that sent me.

Our merciful, loving God: peace with Him through the gift of salvation through faith in the Lord Jesus Christ and the indwelling of the Holy Spirit to teach us these things and to bring them into remembrance. Then, John 14.29-31:

29 And now I have told you before it come to pass, that, when it is come to pass, ye might believe. 30 Hereafter I will not talk much with you: for the prince of this world cometh, and hath nothing in me. 31 But that the world may know that I love the Father; and as the Father gave me commandment, even so I do. Arise, let us go hence.

April 2, 2004   I've waited for this month for our daughter for many years.  In a couple of weeks, she'll be eighteen.  I think it was just a few weeks ago that I was bundling her up in pink blankets and pushing her in the new stroller, or tying her eyelet bonnet, or teaching her to read and write.  Maybe it was just yesterday---it seems so.

Most of our children have read or will soon begin reading the McGuffey Readers.  We ordered them years ago through Mott Media and now need to order new Workbooks for the Readers.  I'd sure check out eBay on this one!

On the political front:  President Bush signed the Unborn Victims of Violence Act  (the Laci and Conner Law)  The President said: "All who knew Laci Peterson have mourned two deaths, and the law cannot look away and pretend there was just one."  The bill is rather ambiguous, and like the pending Federal Marriage Amendment, it could be interpreted many ways.  It is a step in the right direction for protecting human life--- incrementally, it's a big step.  It is notable that JFK wannabe, John Kerry, voted against this bill---inciting no small stir in the Catholic church.

Dr. Alan Keyes passionate speech to an audience of students and faculty at Liberty University.  Dr. Keyes has been ringing the wake-up call to Americans for a number of years, now, and surely with boldness, he unreservedly challenged Americans to heed the call and to confront evil.  Further, he said, "The comfortable life is over for Christians in America." He was referring to Matthew 10:42: "And ye shall be hated of all men for my name’s sake."  He clearly understands that the future of America is at stake---we've already been talking along this line concerning the future of marriage---which is, without a doubt, in jeopardy.

Media continues to search and destroy or at least scoff at attempts to bring Biblical accounts to the Big Screen.  The latest is (though released 5 months before "...Passion..."), The Gospel of John, is a retelling of the New Testament Gospel---which obviously didn't wow the commentator like the Passion did.  Interesting... makes one wonder what's next in the "religious" genre of moviemaking.  The movie critic, Ty Burr, says, "The movie that effectively conveys the passion of the man's life remains to be made."   Well, no kidding---it'll never happen!  One of my favourite verses in all the Word is John 21.25!

My friend Kelli had written to say that yesterday was National Atheist's Day---I started to preface the verse below with that title but thought the verse stood alone very well.  April Fool's Day.  I did miss our oldest son's antics, however!  O, when he was younger and still living at home, he'd play the funniest practical jokes---I'll never forget the time he took the hinges off all the doors or when he put all the living room furniture in the kitchen.  O, there were so so many other funnies... I smile and miss him.
 
April 1, 2004    "The fool hath said in his heart: There is no God. The are corrupt, they have done abominable works, there is none that doeth good.  The LORD looked down from heaven upon the children of men, to see if there were any that did understand and seek God."  Psalm 14.1-2

¯Happy Birthday¯to our friend Nathan, away at Bible school!

Little House Books and vidoes frontiergirl/store.htm In the "If you love the Little House Books, try reading..." section, there are books listed that would *not* be on my suggested reading list---just fyi.
In addition to other works and series, this site also has an "Anne" section that's filled with  books and videos. frontiergirl/annestore.htm  you can try eBay after looking through the list of books/videos available.