Monday, November 26, 2007

Cook'n Out

We've been enjoying this crisp Fall weather...in case you haven't noticed yet! We decided to spend some family time together and cooked out on Saturday afternoon with a campfire.
My strange family... I think the camp fire brings out the Lumbee Indian in them!

Saturday, November 24, 2007

Happy Thanksgiving!

Wishing you, and your family, a blessed and HAPPY THANKSGIVING!

We enjoyed our day visiting with my parents, and family over my parents house. In the morning as I prepared our contributions to the day's meal, I remembered the severity of the pain I was in - just a year before... I couldn't help but pray...

Dear Lord...
Thank you for this day, to reflect on your goodness, and blessing.

Thank you for the freedom I enjoy in this country, both political and religious, and for all those who have given their lives for that freedom.

Thank you for my dear husband, my precious children, my parents, my family, that we can share in the joys and sorrows of life.

Thank you for my friends, and my church family; for their friendship and encouragement to "run with endurance the race that is set before us." (Heb. 12:1) Thank you for meeting my needs, the beautiful home I have, the clothes in my closet, the food in my kitchen.

Thank you for our Thanksgiving Day feast, for the many hands who worked to provide it, for my parents who spent their time and energies to serve it.
Thank you for your creation, that when I see it, I am awed by its beauty and perfection!
Thank you for the health and strength to walk, without pain, so that I might better serve you.
Thank you for the trials you have given me, that as I grow from them, I can see you more clearly.
Thank you for your grace, for giving me what I do not deserve; and your mercy, forgiving my sins that I never have to face your wrath.

Thank you, Lord Jesus, for dying on the cross, to save me from sin and eternal punishment; THANK YOU for loving me, even when I hated you.
In Jesus name,
AMEN!
***********************************************
Friday, we spent the day in Lancaster, PA.I really enjoyed seeing the Amish using their horses pulling plows and buggies.
Just add the beard (and probably a little smell) and I've got me a Amish husband!
An interesting way of travel!
Did I mention how thankful I am of heat in our vehicles?!?!
We went to dinner at "Good N Plenty" with our parents and Shawn's Aunt Linda & Uncle Mel.
They served us "Family Style" passing around plates of fried chicken, mashed potato's, pea's, etc.
Then we went to the American Music Theatre, to see The 2007 Christmas Show.
We enjoyed beautiful voices...
...many different Christmas songs...
...a few puppet skits...
...beautiful dresses...
---great performances...
---the 12 days of Christmas (with audience participation!)...
...and a little humor too!
There was a visit from Santa...
And some beautiful songs of worship....
Some tap dancing, and ballet...
...but I think...
...the closing was my favorite...
...a choral of "O Holy Night", as beautiful as it sounded.
Thank you, Audrey and Jack, for this very special Christmas gift. We love you.

Friday, November 9, 2007

A WALK AROUND THE FARM

Dylan & I decided to enjoy the crisp, Fall breezes, and go for a walk around the farm this week. I needed to practice using my camera, so I decided to take it along...



My Grandmother... I hear she's turning 90 on December 20th!


He got a bit of an attitude with Dylan when he came over... guess he was guarding his hens!

Uncle Marks baby cows...they are soooo adorable! This one was a bit less shy than the other. He hung out with me (a total stranger to him) while my camera flashed and made all kinds of noise a him!

This little guy was a little more leery of me. When they were first brought here, they escaped several times, poor Aunt Grace! They had to go away for a bit to be trained, while my family strengthened the fences. (No easy task!)


The "Log Cabin" (built by Uncle Albert)

"Albert's Hill" (The Lord be PRAISED!!!...I am able to climb it once again!)

Dylan on a cliff down by "The Valley"

The stream with very little water.

Just walking along the path.

"The Bridge" by the Valley

"The Rock House" (Built by my twin Aunts when they were teenagers!)

Dylan demonstrating his favorite bike "Jump"

Another picture of the "Rock House"

Ephesians 3:14-19

"For this reason I bow my knees to the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, from whom the whole family in heaven and earth is named, that He would grant you, according to the riches of His glory, to be strengthened with might through His Spirit in the inner man, that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith; that you, being rooted and grounded in love, may be able to comprehend with all the saints what is the width and length and depth and height - to know the love of Christ which passes knowledge; that you may be filled with all the fullness of God. Now to Him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us, to Him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus to all generations, for ever and ever. Amen."