The Ray Workman Family

Change of Address

2010-10-05T08:37:00.002-04:00

We have run out of room, but we are still blogging! You can find us at www.rayworkmanfamily02.blogspot.com

Hurry on by! We'd love for you to visit and stay a while....and don't forget to leave a comment! : )

Happy Belated Birthday, Christina!

2010-10-01T12:18:00.000-04:00

"Behold, God is great, and we know him not, neither can the number of his years be searched out."

Job 36:26

Birthdays, birthdays ~who doesn't love them?!?

Our family is busy with lots of birthdays around this time of year. From August through January there is at least one birthday in every month. Several years ago, we kinda got tired of the same-ole, same-ole traditional birthday cake every week or two. Usually we would still have leftovers in the fridge when the next birthday rolled around. Soooo...we began mixing things up a bit. If the honoree so chooses, she (don't hold your breath ~ the "he's" aren't gonna do it) ; ) makes her own dessert to celebrate.

Christina tried a new recipe for a whole wheat cake with maple/molasses cream cheese icing.

What flames!!!

It almost looks like it took her breath away : ), but she was just trying to fill her lungs so she could extinguish the fire. She did succeed in only one breath. : )

For 17 days, we had a lot of fun when someone asked our ages. You see, Christina and Keisha are only 11 1/2 months apart. The first reaction would be, "Are they twins?!?!"
For their birthdays, they went shopping for shoes. Of course, they already knew what was inside, but they couldn't open them until the "party". : )

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We love you and hope you had a wonderful day!

Labor Day Picnic

2010-09-30T15:57:00.000-04:00

"But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin."

I John 1:7

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The blog is desperately behind! There are many highlights of our trip that we have yet to blog about, so we will be intermingling those posts with our everyday happenings.

Labor Day ~ a day of the year most Americans take a vacation from their labors....

It certainly proved to be a fun and relaxing day for our family! New Life Baptist Church (mentioned in a previous post) had their annual picnic and invited us to come along. Each family brought a dish to go along with the meal. We debated what to take....meatloaf burgers...parmesan chicken....but what better food to take to a Maryland picnic than Maryland Blue Crabs?!?

Ray, with a little help from the girls, had worked extremely hard to catch enough crabs for the picnic. Labor Day morning, Dad and Ray pulled up the live box and...

Voila! There were 13 dozen crabs. That's 156 crabs!!!

There is a definite reason for the pinchers...with long handles! : )

Just in case you need this information some day ~ NEVER cook a dead crab...and certainly don't eat it!

We threw them in this bucket with some ice. They become lethargic when they get cold, and they stay alive longer.

A bucket full of docile crabs.

This was the only time some of us dared to hold a hard shell crab.

The picnic was held at a local elementary school so there were plenty of things to keep us busy.

Allison especially enjoyed the swings.

She talked some of us into joining her on the slide, but we found out all too soon that the curves were too sharp for comfort. Wham! Wham! Wham! and you're done. There was no convincing us that we needed a second turn. : )

The crab table preparations

Games like volleyball, bad mitten, and horseshoes were set up.

When people began arriving, it was time to start steaming the crabs.

It was a good thing they were put on ice. As the ice melted, the crabs' crabbiness returned full force!

And just how many people does it take to steam a pot of crabs?

The little ones enjoyed this seesaw. The little guy in the middle couldn't touch the ground, so his siblings gave him an extra workout.

There was so much food!

The first pot of crabs was done, and it was time for the next. The ice had pretty well melted, and the crabs were as ornery as ever!

Careful, Ray!

Someone asked him if he'd ever gotten pinched.

Well, there's always a first. : )

This is what you call learning from your mistakes!

Watching the crowd around the crab cooker would remind one of the Three Stooges or maybe even Laurel and Hardy. : )

All ready to go over the flame.

The first batch is ready! Come and get it!

There was enough food for an army!

And enough crabs for the whole state of Maryland! : )

This little one was excited about hers!

The crowd around the table grew...

...and grew...

...and grew until it almost seemed like there was a waiting list. : )

Mmmmm, mmmmm, good!

The bees thought so, too. They would fly off with big chunks of crab meat.

After the meal, we all enjoyed the games and fellowship.

Some played bad mitten,

some enjoyed passing the football,

while still others enjoyed the chance just to talk....or to listen depending on which end you were on. : )

The group on the teeter totter grew,

and eventually a game of volleyball started up.

The group on the teeter totter 10+ years later. : )

I don't wanna grow up, I'm a Toys 'R Us kid....

This little guy is SO cute! and SO sweet! and SO chunky!

Absolutely adorable!

There also were a few games of horseshoes.

Allison has such a knack for putting babies to sleep. If it's not the little one's nap time, don't hand him over! : )

And toward the end of the day, when all the excitement was winding down, the cutest thing happened...

...they found new toys!

Want a closer look?

They were chasing each other with crab claws! Now how's that for creativity?!?

Happy Belated Birthday, Keisha

2010-09-15T15:36:00.000-04:00

A week late, but the wish is still the same....

Happy Birthday!!!

We found this chair at Sam's Club and just couldn't pass up the opportunity. It brought back childhood memories.... : )

Just two big kids

For her birthday cake, we decided to put together a conglomeration of desserts. It was a fun twist to the traditional cake.

Snorta!

We'd been looking for this game since we'd played it in KY. Great fun and especially good for the aging ~ it keeps their minds sharp. ; )

Other gifts included a toboggan and the cutest shirt!

Hope your birthday was wonderful!

A Hidden Treasure... Where Boats Don't Float

2010-09-14T13:06:00.000-04:00

"O the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! how unsearchable are his judgments, and his ways past finding out!"

Romans 11:33

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Of course, everyone's heard stories of sunken boats with buried treasure, right? : )

Several years ago, "a bad idea" was born that ended up in a sunken boat alongside Mrs. Brown's pier. Many attempts were made to get someone to pull it out, but all to no avail.

We had some extra time while we waited on the insurance company, so why not try out some North Carolina ingenuity? : )

This wasn't going to require snorkels and fins, but it sure was going to take some creativity!

Hat? Check.

Crocs? Check

Adventurous spirit? You bet!

He'd have to admit, he was a little leery about going into water where he wasn't able to see the bottom.....especially when there's crabs! : )

Yuck!

His feet were sinking down into the muck, and it took a great deal of effort to pull his foot out with each step.

I'm getting there....slowly but surely.

Didn't know he could walk on water, did you? : ) : )

They hooked a strap to an already existing strap, threaded it under the boat, and hooked the other end to the pier.

Hookin' it up

Can't let it get away! : )

Tightening the reins

After tightening it about as much as they could, they surveyed what had been done and made plans for how they would accomplish this feat.

After something is tightened as much as possible, there is always a little more tightening that can be done. : )

Contraptions.... : )

Hey, ya'll....I caught a big 'un!

While Dad and Ray were working on positioning the strap, Gordon was finding another pole. When he found one down the road that suited, Dad and Ray went with him to pick it up.

Heave, ho!

Don't drop it yet, Daddy!

Now!

When it went in, it almost went too far. They had to catch it before it slid all the way into the water.

The beams were moved to just the right position to provide a ramp for the boat.

All ready for the big moment...

The chain was hooked to the front of the boat then hooked to the hitch of the truck.

While Ray was waiting, he decided to wash his shoes out. Ewwww!!

The spectators

Hey! My boat sank, and I'm stranded. Do you reckon I can dock here?

Gordon jumped in the truck and eased into it to tighten the tension on the chain.

The boat is coming out just as planned.

The pressure from the boat pushed the beams apart.

Almost, but not quite. At least it's progress!

They decided this was about as far as it was going for the day.

They gathered up the paraphernalia, and Ray took some of the straps down.

Up and out!

And what are you fishin' for? : )

Left for another day's adventures.

Ray was soaked and nasty from wading in the brackish water. He was promptly sent out to the garage to change, and his clothing was laid outside to dry.

And stayed there until the next laundry day. : )

Allison's Care Package

2010-09-13T19:48:00.000-04:00

"I will praise thee; for I am fearfully and wonderfully made: marvellous are thy works; and that my soul knoweth right well"

Psalm 139:14

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Every time something new happens to Allison, we just have to shake our heads and say, "Our little mystery...." It's such a blessing and comfort to know that the Lord is in control and knows exactly what is going on.

Allison was typing when her hand felt like it was "stuck". As she was doing a range of motion exercise, her hand popped and immediately began to swell. About a day later, a bruise began to show up.

This is what it looked like about 2 weeks later.

Some of the bones in her hand had popped out of place. The chiropractor that we go to up here in MD adjusted it several times, but we knew she also needed compression for the swelling and it would need to be immobilized. We began our search for casting material and found a medical supply store that carried plaster casting material. Mom made a splint, and that worked better than nothing, but it was flimsy and didn't give the support needed to totally immobilize the hand.

Our search for fiberglass casting material began, and this search seemed futile. There were several orthopedics in the area, but no one wanted to let us buy the materials needed without first seeing the doctor to get a diagnosis. (We were very amused at that one....if they can diagnose her, they're doing a lot better than... How many other doctors?!) We even offered to get a prescription from her doctor, but they refused. There was one place that would make the splint for her, but that would cost about $350. They said we didn't have the skill to make it.

A call was made to Allison's doctor in Charlotte explaining the situation. We asked if they could send the needed materials and how much it would cost. The nurse called back and the sweet voice on the other end playfully asked, "Would you like me to send you a box of materials?" Christina's excited reply? YES! That would be a blessing!

The next day, Allison received a care package....over-nighted and totally free of charge!

Praise the Lord for His provision!

Some people's care packages contain cookies, a note, or maybe even a crossword puzzle or two, but Allison's?

Splint material, of course! : )
They sent everything we needed to make the splint including the cotton batting to protect her arm from the sticky wet fiberglass.

It isn't red, is it???

(And, no....it was white.)

Mom made a new splint out of the fiberglass casting material, and, boy! did it ever work soooo much better! We stand in awe as we watch the Lord provide for our every need, no matter how impossible the situation seems.

*****

'Tis so sweet to trust in Jesus,

Just to take Him at His word,

Just to rest upon His promise,

Just to know, "Thus saith the Lord."

*****

O how sweet to trust in Jesus,

Just to trust His cleansing blood,

Just in simple faith to plunge me

'Neath the healing, cleansing flood!

*****

Yes, 'tis sweet to trust in Jesus,

Just from sin and self to cease,

Just from Jesus simply taking

Life and rest and joy and peace.

*****

I'm so glad I learned to trust Thee,

Precious Jesus, Savior, Friend,

And I know that Thou art with me,

Wilt be with me to the end.

*****

Jesus, Jesus, how I trust Him!

How I've proved Him o'er and o'er!

Jesus, Jesus, precious Jesus!

O for grace to trust Him more!

*****

~ Louisa M. R. Stead

"But my God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus."

Philippians 4:19

Down By The Bay

2010-09-05T15:52:00.010-04:00

What started out as a typical, mundane Thursday afternoon turned into a very enjoyable evening within minutes! : ) We had no plans for the evening, but at 3:00 the mundane made a 180 degree turn. At 5:30, Mrs. Brown came up for dinner, and then we all piled into the van for a trip to the Chesapeake Bay.

The Atwoods live just a short way from the Bay, so we parked there and walked down to the water.

Such beauty! It was a wonderful evening to take a walk. Thanks to Hurricane Earl, the weather was much cooler than the previous days.

You can't expect Ray to behave himself all the time! : ) He really wanted that horseshoe crab that was stuck under a rock, but it just wasn't going to happen!

To see the sunset on the water was absolutely breathtaking!

The pier was several hundred yards out into the Bay, so we were practically surrounded by water.

It seemed to be a popular spot for fishermen as well.

Alright, Valerie! We caught you! No fooling around on the pier!!

Hmmmm...this looks like a desperate situation! : )

God has made such beauty for us to behold and has given us so many wonderful opportunities to enjoy!!

As the sun sank behind the trees, we started back. But we just couldn't pass up the playground. : )

Wanna race?
Now you see us...

Now you don't! : )

Are you tired???

Wow! what a foot!

Uhhhh......I don't think I'll fit....

After a while, everyone decided it was time to head back. The light had completely faded, and we had worn ourselves out. : ) We'd had such a wonderful time!

The One-Armed Pretzel Factory

2010-09-05T14:54:00.007-04:00

"Whatsoever thy hand findeth to do, do it with thy might;..."

Ecclesiastes 9:10

She's found new employment! : ) : )

Actually, she is now able to eat whole grain wheat (and can't have brown rice....sigh....how confusing!), so we bought a bag of whole wheat flour and have been making some goodies.
The last of the experiments was...

PRETZELS!!!!
and, boy! is she happy about that! : )

She'd squish it into a long, deformed tube...

...and then roll it.

This is fun!!

The Three Little Piggies...or worms...or...future pretzels : ) : )

( : Rolled to perfection : )

Allison would put a smile on anybody's counter : )

Before

After

The One-Armed Pretzel Factory and her mouthwatering pretzels

Bet you can't eat just one!

....unless you're rationed. : ) : )

John and Kathy Galloway -- Soft Shell Crabs... A New Experience

2010-09-04T19:46:00.014-04:00

"I beseech you therefore, brethren,by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service. And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God."

Romans 12:1-2
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Monday started out as an uneventful day.....just a few errands to run in Annapolis (our normal 3-days-a-week trip) and crabbing, but at about 6:00, our plans made a drastic turn toward the adventurous.
Mrs. Brown set it up to go to the Galloway's house to see their soft shell crabs. What an experience!

Mrs. Galloway showed us the shedding tanks where the crabs are kept until they lose their shell.

They have to check the crabs every 4 hours. Once the crabs get a crack in their hinge, it only takes about an hour before they've shed. Then it's only 4 hours before their new shell gets hard.

On the left is the crab, and on the right is the shell. The crab is a bit bigger than the shell it came out of.

It seems strange not to fear being pinched while holding a crab, but the soft shell crab's pinchers are....well....soft. : )

So cute! : )
What was really neat was feeling everything going on inside him (his breathing, etc.).
It's a pity they don't stay like that forever! : )

My new best friend : ) : )

Mrs. Galloway was so wonderful at explaining all of the ins and outs of the crabs losing their shells.

The crabs were evicted and only the shell remains. : ) : )

Then Mrs. Galloway surprised us by giving us nine of them!!!

As each crab sheds its shell, it is removed from the water to prevent hardening and stored on a tray in the refrigerator until time to clean them.

Doesn't it look so innocent?!?

Mrs. Galloway cleaned them for us as we all gathered around to watch.
First you cut the head off right behind the eyes...

...remove the apron...

...and lift each side to clean the lungs out.

All ready for the frying pan

As soon as we got back, we got everything together and started heating up the oil in the frying pan.

We rolled them in flour and Old Bay seasoning...

...and in the pan they went.

Cooked 'til crispy ~ just like chicken.

Halfway through....

This is the reason they can't pinch.

We'd never done this, but after a few of them, we kind of knew what to expect.

From this...

...to that.

Our feast

We're waiting...

The different reactions were hilarious to watch! To eat crab is one thing, but to have crab legs hanging out each side of the sandwich bun was a totally different story. : )

The first bite...

"Mikey likes it!" : ) : )

My (sniff) new (sniff) best friend (sniff, sniff).

Just stop thinking about it...

"It's leg came off!"

As mentioned before...the legs are what get ya. : )

And now comes contestant # 3...

Everyone's eyes are glued on her...
Will she like it or will she not...

And what is that supposed to mean?
She must have gotten a leg. : )

What's in here?

The unanimous vote was....they were very good! : )

But what would your reaction be if one of these were sitting in front of you?

I Scream, You Scream...

2010-09-02T15:40:00.007-04:00

"O taste and see that the LORD is good: blessed is the man that trusteth in him."

Psalm 34:8
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We all scream for ICE CREAM!!!

Sunday night after church, Gary took our family to Rita's to get some ice cream. That was a fun treat! : )

We had so much fun that Gary decided we should do it again Wednesday night. Sunday night, it took us a while to figure out what we wanted because we'd never been there before, but this time we knew what we were doing! : )

Mmmmmmm....savor the flavor...

Once everyone finished ordering, we all went outside and sat at a table in the pavilion where it was nice and quiet (until we got there) and not as crowded.

We got to hear some of the funniest war stories from a Vietnam veteran....like when one of the soldiers fell headfirst into the water and got stuck in the mud with waist up out of the water and legs flailing.....or when another soldier was driving a boat for the first time and the motor flew off. Definitely can't keep a straight face! : ) : )

"How sweet are thy words unto my taste! yea, sweeter than honey to my mouth!"

Psalm 119:103

New Life Baptist Church

2010-09-02T14:24:00.006-04:00

"I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me. I do not frustrate the grace of God: for if righteousness come by the law, then Christ is dead in vain."

Galatians 2:20
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It's always such a blessing to be greeted by a smiling face! Mr. Purfitt was our first introduction to New Life Baptist Church. What a testimony!

Maintenance

We always arrive about an hour early so we can tune the instruments, practice a few songs, and work out the song order.

Sometimes we have a little extra time to play around. : ) : )

Sunday morning and evening, our family did the music, and Sunday evening, Dad preached.
A few of the songs we played/sang were...

Wonderful Peace

Give Him the Glory

Be Thou My Vision

There Is Power in the Blood

Since we're still in the area, we went there Wednesday evening as well. Such sweet people with a heart to serve the Lord with their lives!

Seeing Things Through New Eyes

2010-09-02T13:06:00.007-04:00

"The eyes of the LORD are in every place, beholding the evil and the good."

Proverbs 15:3
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Being out of town, anything can happen. And it usually does. : )

We tried to glue Mom's glasses back together, but it didn't work. They were just too whopsided to see straight. : ) Aunt Crystal faxed her prescription, and she was able to get some nice-looking fairly cheap glasses within 24 hours. Praise the Lord!

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Mrs. Brown has a big Bartlett pear tree, and they're ripe! We've gotten a few of them to make this...

Oh! Sooooo good!!!
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Last week they got started on the roof. It's a lower pitch which calls for a little more bending. : )

When we got here, there was a little bit of a cooler spell, but as soon as they started roofing, the temperature shot up. Oh, well......we thought they would have good roofing weather. : )

It seems like this is the official head rag hanger. They just keep sweating them through!

Tuesday, Ray met with the adjuster to work some things out. Hopefully he gets back in touch soon so things can get moving on the other roof damaged by wind and hail.

Roof #1: The finished product

Feelin' A Little Crabby

2010-09-01T12:38:00.013-04:00

"Sing unto the LORD a new song, and his praise from the end of the earth, ye that go down to the sea, and all that is therein; the isles, and the inhabitants thereof."

Isaiah 42:10

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Last Thursday, since we had plenty of crabs to go around, we had a crab feast.

The festivities started with trying to fish the crabs out of the live box without getting pinched. They started out with nets, but trying to detach the crabs from the side of the box (or better yet, from the bottom) with a net is no easy task.

Mrs. Brown sent down a pair of metal pinchers so they could pinch the crabs and the crabs not pinch them!

Daddy was trying any way he could....including trying to get the crabs to latch onto a sock. : )

It was slow going for a while....

But then another pair of pinchers arrived. : )

When they finally got them all in buckets, the crabs were carted up to the garage.

Awaiting their fate....

Ray loaded the pots and Sara put enough Old Bay on them to make any Marylander happy. : )

Gary decided he didn't want any of those creatures to escape! : )

Chef Gary and Chef Ray.....first time crab cookers

Back in the house, there were other preparations being made.....
Meatloaf burgers (for those that can't eat crabs),

sliced tomatoes, macaroni salad,

fried potatoes,.....as well as other mouthwatering goodies. : )

The Taxi Service

The first batch is ready!

And so is the crowd waiting for them!

Christina had the honors...

... of dumping the first batch. Come and get 'em!

The main part of a crab feast is the fellowship. Such fun!

The Inside Scoop

2nd batch....hot and ready!

Ray had the honors...of getting all the crab juice spilled on him. : )

The first batch was already dwindling...

Some opted for the general fare

Don't they look hungry???? : )

He may never have cooked crabs before, but he sure does know how to get into them! A few quick lessons and you may not have it down to science, but you sure are stuffed! : )

It was well after dark before the crowd started dispersing. A few of us decided to watch the 2nd moon that was rumored to appear shortly after midnight, but at 11:30 we found out that it was a hoax that is spread every year. The only reason to stay up til after midnight on Aug. 27th is to walk outside and look to see which neighbors were dumb enough to believe it...... (Thanks, Gary!) Well, it doesn't hurt to fall for it once. : ) : )

No pun intended, but this is the end. : )

Civil War Towns, Chicken Necks, and Blue Crabs up close and personal!

2010-08-26T23:50:00.017-04:00

"But my God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus."

Philippians 4:19
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A little behind, but catching up! : )

The route from WV to MD was very scenic as we went through Middleburg, Upperville, and Aldie.....Civil War towns. It takes you a little back in time as there are old stacked stone fences (breastworks in Civil War terms) lining the roads. Very quaint!

The speed limits through these towns aren't the swiftest, but we didn't want to get caught in traffic. We succeeded.....that is until...

...D.C. road construction.

If you ever want to torture someone or maybe you just need a comical situation to amuse you, just feed your company A LOT of delicious, sweet, juicy watermelon and send them from WV to MD with a lot of D.C. road construction in between and NO bathroom breaks! : )
It was a relief to get to our next destination! : )

We've been to Deale, MD quite a bit in the past year, so it's rather familiar territory. Dad and Ray had some insurance jobs they needed to complete: one for Pastor Mayes and another for Mrs. Brown (the lady we stay with). While here, we're also visiting some of the churches we've been to before.

Sunday and Wednesday, we went to First Baptist Church in Deale. We've come to know these dear people well. It's always good to come back! : )

After church Sunday, a few families from the church came over for lunch. Mrs. Brown has it all worked out....she invites them, and we feed them! : ) : )

It was tons of fun!

Hmmmm.... "Trouble is my middle name" ....
That's nigh unto believable.... : )

He must have gotten it from his grandpa! : )

Hmmmm...let me guess...a Kodak moment? : )
Take 1...

Take 2...

3's the charm! : )

Monday evening, Ray and one of the boys from the church went crabbing off Mrs. Brown's pier.

The only thing chicken necks are good for. : )
We decided they must distribute the chicken nationwide and ship all the necks to Maryland!

They were catching those critters left and right!

I hope this thing doesn't slip!
Luke was a lot of fun to have around. We just had to laugh as he told of one of the times he went swimming in the Bay and came up with a crab latched onto his nose!! Not the perfect end to a trip to the Bay. : )

Another blue crab comin' right up!

The neatest thing was when Luke spotted a crab swimming right on top of the water. He ran to the end and scooped it up just as it reached the other pier.

Beautiful, but vicious!

Up close and personal...

And this is what the picture looks like when the crab decides to get up close and personal! Ummmm...rather too up close and personal...
Let's just say there was a loud shriek as claw came in contact with finger. There was no pain inflicted. Just a quickened heart rate and a wizened photographer. : )

The creek was full of what they call sea nettles (what we know as jellyfish). They look interesting as they swim around in the water, but rather disgusting when caught in a net or dumped on the pier.

Caught one!

By the end of the evening, we had about 2 bushels of crabs! (Counting the ones Ray had caught since we've been here.)

Fishin' where the fishin's good, huh? : )

This looks like a crab feast is about to ensue...

Just for Brent...

2010-08-26T22:41:00.006-04:00

Way back in Lincoln, NE, Mr. Tomato met his fate. He had gone well past his "veggie years" and was more squoosh than firm.

There was a moment of silence as we watched his proper burial....

...and then we all cheered as he made a hole-in-one. : )

Good-bye, Mr. Tommy!!! You were a very photogenic friend! (sniff, sniff!)

August 16th-19th ~ A Trip into Oblivion

2010-08-26T21:55:00.010-04:00

"The glory of the LORD shall endure for ever: the LORD shall rejoice in his works."

Psalm 104:31
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No internet....very little cell phone signal.... At first this sounds like a scenario that calls for a look of alarm with hands to face, but actually it was a refreshing change of pace. We absolutely LOVE the WV mountains!!!

When we go to Ms. Gladys', it's never long before Ray comes up from her pond totin' a fish. : )

Tuesday, Ms. Gladys invited the whole church over for a fellowship. It was so much fun getting together with everyone!
There was a lot of talking, laughing, entertainment from the children (like when one of the little boys was dragging his sister through the living room by her ankles), and, of course, if you're at Ms. Gladys', you just gotta play the Wii. : ) : )

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We were staying practically in the middle of a flower garden. It was soooo beautiful!

It was not an uncommon sight to see Ms. Gladys pampering her flowers. : )

Wednesday afternoon, we went on an outing with Pastor Wilkins. Lunch, visiting, Gander Mountain.... We had a good time!

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Ms. Gladys' house

Hmmmmm...look who came to dinner! : )

When we were about to leave, we found this little fella...

Gonna go for a spin....literally! : )

Such a sweet hostess!

Happy Birthdays

2010-08-19T21:42:00.004-04:00

As a side note to the previous post....
Valerie's birthday didn't originate with her. . . She stole it! (gasp!) : ) : )
But that's okay. We'd rather view it as a one-of-a-kind birthday present. : )

A Very Happy (Belated) Birthday to You, Angie!!!
We Love You!

Des Moines, IA Flooding and Old Time Baptist Church

2010-08-19T20:18:00.011-04:00

"Blessed be God, even the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies, and the God of all comfort: Who comforteth us in all our tribulation, that we may be able to comfort them which are in any trouble, by the comfort wherewith we ourselves are comforted of God."

II Corinthians 1:3-4

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Here are the long promised pictures of the flooding in Des Moines, IA. As always, the pictures don't do it justice! Thankfully, we were staying on just a tad higher elevation.

The trailer park

There's gonna be no traveling on this road for a few hours...

The river had overflowed its banks by a long shot!

A business parking lot

Des Moines has been flooding for a while. We arrived during a torrential rain, and the above pictures were taken the next morning. The waters had receded somewhat by afternoon, but it still had a long way to go. There was one fatality that morning. A commuter was trying to cross the river while the road was under water.

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Sunday, August 15th we had the joy of ministering with Pastor and Mrs. Ludwick at Old Time Baptist Church in Clarksburg, WV.

We could tell we were in a WV town! Houses one right after another, and the streets not wide enough for cars to park along the side of the road and still have room for a two-way street. We were playing "dodge-a-car" as we made our way to the church. : )

We enjoyed the fellowship.

Everywhere we go, we meet such sweet people!

After church, Pastor Ludwick took us out to Ryans for lunch. We had a wonderful time of fellowship with him and a family from the church.

Just as a warning..... It is DANGEROUS to go out to eat anywhere near your birthday! Soon after we had gotten there, we could hear the waitresses singing their birthday song. Hmmmm....I wonder who we could get them to sing to.... A mischievous grin stole across Valerie's face, but was quickly replaced by a look of alarm. Oh, no!

Sure enough, when she returned, Allison was talking to Keisha in an animated fashion and a playfully pleading tone.

As we were finishing the meal, the waitresses made their way to our table singing their birthday song VERY loudly and making one individual blush VERY deeply. : )

Happy Birthday, Valerie!

I forgive you, Allison........I think

That evening after the service, the church family had a special time of prayer for Allison and her health needs. That meant so much to us!! We are so blessed by such an act of compassion!

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It is sooooo good to be back in the mountains! The West was beautiful with its "amber waves of grain" and fields, its openness and low humidity, but there's no place like home! "Home" meaning mountains, of course. It may sound ridiculous to those who have never had the utmost joy of living here, but the mountains provide a sense of security that you just can't find on the wide open prairie. : )

August 9th ~ The Badlands

2010-08-16T01:55:00.005-04:00

"In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth."
Such a simple statement, but so profound! To think that what many believe to have taken billions of years to evolve, God created in six literal 24-hour days and rested on the Sabbath (thus creating a day of rest for mankind).
Then sin came into the world through Adam and Eve. As generation after generation was born, "God saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every imagination of the thoughts of his heart were only evil continually." (Genesis 6:6) The wickedness of man grieved God's heart to the point He was sorry He had ever made man. But one man found grace in the eyes of the LORD....it was Noah. God's description? "Noah was a just man and perfect (upright) in his generations, and Noah walked with God." (Genesis 6:9)
God told Noah to build an ark because He was going to send judgment to the earth and destroy all flesh. When the ark was completed, Noah, along with his wife, sons, and their wives, went into the ark, and the animals went in according to God's commandment.
The flood came. It rained for forty days and forty nights. For one hundred and fifty literal 24-hour days, the waters prevailed upon the earth.
When the flood dried up, it left what many say took billions of years to erode. In areas it was an earth so desolate it took on the name

The Badlands

Could you imagine being a settler in the 1800's and coming across a place such as this?

We were going right past on our way from Mobridge to Rapid City so we decided to take a little detour.

They call this a "mini Grand Canyon".

Antelope and Buffalo and Rattlesnakes....oh, my! : )

It was amazing to see all the different rock formations.

We happened to be in the area during the Sturgis annual bike rally.
(thus all the bikes)
We weren't familiar with the bike rally, but we found out all we ever thought we needed to know about it and more when our GPS took us right through the middle of Sturgis the week before the rally officially began.

Hardly anything grew there.

We had been riding in the bus with "natural air conditioner" for quite a few hours. It was great for picture taking as we could just stick the camera out the window and click in any direction we desired.....but it wasn't the best for the hairdos. : ) : )

Playin' "King of the Mountain"?

God's creation is so beautiful!

The prairie

We got to see a few buffalo, but not as close as we had hoped.

But the prairie dogs were everywhere. They were so cute as they scuttled from hole to hole in their little towns. We also saw a couple coyotes and a herd of antelope. Not an every day occurrence for us. : )
When we got back to Rapid City, our van was waiting on us, all ready for the trip back East. (Thank you, Heggems!)
We stayed in a mission house in Des Moines, IA for a couple of days, drove to Montezuma, IN on the 13th and stayed the night there in a prophet's chamber, then drove on in to Clarksburg, WV where we had a meeting yesterday (Aug. 15th) at Old Time Baptist Church. We had a wonderful time with the people here. Such sweet, sweet people! : )
We'll post pictures of the flooding in IA and our meeting in Clarksburg in about a week. Today we are heading into oblivion : )....no internet or cell phones....and won't be back into "civilization" until Thursday.

August 1st ~ New Freedom Baptist Church

2010-08-13T22:22:00.006-04:00

For the beauty of the earth,
For the glory of the skies,
For the love which from our birth
Over and around us lies:

For the wonder of each hour
Of the day and of the night,
Hill and vale and tree and flow'r,
Sun and moon and stars of light:

Lord of All, to Thee we raise
This our hymn of grateful praise.

~Folliott S. Pierpoint
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Sunday, August 1st, we had the privilege of ministering with Pastor and Mrs. Warner in Selby and Mobridge, SD.

Pastor and Mrs. Warner

Sunday AM we started out the day at New Freedom Baptist Church in Selby with a 9:30 Sunday School and morning service....

and then we had an 11:00 Sunday School and morning service at New Freedom Baptist Church in Mobridge. The evening service was in Selby, and then we went over to the pastor's house for a wonderful meal of homemade Sloppy Joes, fresh fruit salad, and chips (and some wonderful fellowship as well).

Monday AM, we headed out on the "short bus" back to Rapid City to pick up our van and trailer.

Peek-a-boo!

August 5th ~ Mount Rushmore

2010-08-06T12:25:00.013-04:00

"Enter into his gates with thanksgiving, and into his courts with praise: be thankful unto him, and bless his name. For the LORD is good; his mercy is everlasting; and his truth endureth to all generations"

Psalm 100:4-5

The West is rubbing off.... : )

Yesterday was our vacation day. Since we were so close, we just couldn't pass up the opportunity to go see Mount Rushmore. We've seen it in books and on postcards, but it isn't the same as seeing it in person.

Our first glimpse of that monumental grandeur

Each state is represented

Do you see any resemblance? : )

Along the trail to the base of the mountain, two tepees were set up. They let us look in and see how the Indians lived. The one on the left is for winter and the one on the right is for summer.

The view from a cave

Admiring the majesty and magnitude of the carving

Mumps, measles, or......oh....that's your hat. : )

Washington

Some of the equipment

As we were walking along the trail, a little boy came along with his little brother close behind. With every other breath, he kept repeating, "You know what they always say.....Always expect the unexpected." Finally, after about the millionth time "You know what they always say....", his brother interrupted, "I know, I know!" But this little fella was not to be silenced. "But you know what they always say....." I think by that time, we were all finishing his sentence. Always expect the unexpected!

On the way up to Gutzon Borglum's sculpting studio

It was quite an experience to learn how those men carved the faces out of the side of the mountain using primarily dynamite.

Well, Ray...looks like they have you beat.

We could look at the statue and then look out the window and see the real thing

Washington, Jefferson, Theodore Roosevelt, and Lincoln

Borglum's first sculpting studio

Whew! After all that walking, it was nice to sit down.

More steps...

There were many, many different views of the faces as we walked the trail.

The museum was very interesting, with anything from jackhammers to chisels to logbooks that told who worked on what and how much was accomplished to anything else imaginable. There was also a documentary on Mount Rushmore that had live footage of the men working, dangling by ropes and sitting in bosun's chairs. It was enough to make anyone cringe. : )

We had the opportunity to meet Don (Nick) Clifford who worked on Mount Rushmore for 3 years starting when he was 17.

One last glimpse...

Ahhhhh....now this is more like home. : )

August 4th-6th ~ Box Elder, SD

2010-08-06T12:00:00.005-04:00

"Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths."

Proverbs 3:5-6

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Low humidity....cool nights....a gentle breeze....are you jealous yet??? : )

The Lord blessed us with the privilege of meeting the dear folks of Emmanuel Baptist Church here in Box Elder, SD. What sweet people!
This is our second destination on this long trip out West. Wednesday evening, our family ministered in music and Daddy preached.

Before the service, we had a cookout, and we all had delicious hamburgers and hot dogs with all the fixin's. : ) On Thursday, we ate buffalo for the first time! It was wonderful!

It's so neat to be able to look around and see the whole town with the hills in the background.

Dad and Mom, Pastor and Mrs. Schultz, and the Heggem family

Half of us stayed with the Heggems,

and half of us stayed with the Hubers. What a blessing they have been to our family!

Monday afternoon before we left, the Folkers invited us over for some homemade hoagies. Mmmmmmm!!!

Wonderful food and wonderful fellowship! : )

We have been having trouble with the transmission on our van, and it finally said, "I can't take it any more!" : ) We had to put it in the shop to get it fixed while we went on to our next meeting. Some people in the church kindly let us borrow their 26 passenger bus for the weekend. When Allison first saw it, she got soooo excited. "We get to ride the short bus!" : ) Ray has since politely informed us that he was the driver of the short bus. : ) : )

It always amazes us how the Lord always provides for our needs. There may be some bumps along the way, but we can always trust Him to take care of us no matter what! 'Tis SO sweet to trust Him!!!

July 30th -- August 4th ~ Dupree, SD

2010-08-03T19:59:00.034-04:00

"For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast."

Ephesians 2:8-9

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We arrived in Dupree Friday evening. Saturday morning, we had the privilege of visiting some in the community and in Eagle's Butte (long "u" sound).

While we were on our way from MO to NE, the transmission in our van became extremely sluggish and then decided it didn't want to cooperate at all. Dad and Ray added fluid and that helped, but it still was having problems. We feared there was damage done, but hoped it would straighten up. It did pretty good the last few miles to Dupree, but not the best.

The pastor suggested a fluid change, so a fluid change it was! : )

This is a have-to-be mechanic's attempt at a smile. : )

Harvesting wheat

This is as you are entering town

One of the streets

One of the many, many, many critters of this kind. You'd think it was the plague! : )

Saturday evening, we had a cookout at the pastor's home with hamburgers, BBQ chicken, and venison steaks. Mmmmmmm!!!

The pastor's grandchildren....so cute!

The clouds as the sun was setting were sooooo beautiful!

We spent all day Sunday with the people of Eagle's Wing Baptist Church. It was so fun to fellowship with these dear people! The family sang in the morning and evening services, and Daddy presented the work and preached in the evening service.

Pastor and Mrs. Owen

Some of us also rode the bus to pick people up for church and to take them back home afterwards.

Monday and Tuesday, Ray and Dad worked on the floor of the kitchen and fellowship area of the church.

Some of it they tore all the way out.

Allison enjoyed spoiling this little fella! : )

Okra blossom.....beautiful, isn't it?!?

Enjoyin' their ride

Tuesday evening they had a very eager little helper!

The pastor's daughter fixed several wonderful meals.

Mmmmmmm!!

Poor thing! He's plumb tuckered out! : )

Nap time! : )

Tuesday night, the Dekle's brought pizza, and we all sat around fellowshipping 'til both little ones had fallen fast asleep and the rest of us were ready to follow suit. It's hard to stop talking....especially when you're leaving the next day! : )

Time to head 'em up and move 'em out!

Our little "pack everything 'cause you never know when you might need it!"

Eagle's Wing Baptist Church

"But they that wait upon the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint." Isaiah 40: 31

July 30th ~ We Have Arrived!

2010-08-03T17:50:00.032-04:00

"But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him."

Hebrews 11:6

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There's not much to say except for how beautiful the scenery is as we head westward! Many, many acres of wheat, corn, beans, etc. with silos, graineries, and farms with cattle dotting the landscape every now and then.

Vastness

We began seeing signs for the National Music Museum and thought that would be a very interesting place to visit.

We enjoyed looking at instruments whether old or unique. Many we didn't even know existed much less ever seen them. This museum is worthy of a post of its own at a later date.

We also saw something else we had never seen before......

In NC it's against the law to roll the city...

...but there were men getting paid to do it!!!
They had tarred all the cracks, and to keep the tar off the tires and on the road, they rolled toilet paper over it. They even had little contraptions somewhat like a paint roller so they didn't have to break their backs. : )

We enjoy getting out and stretching our legs when we get a chance. What better place than an overlook in South Dakota?! This one was a L O N G walk and we had a beautiful view of the Missouri River.

As soon as we crossed the river, the terrain became very hilly, but it was a unique "hilliness". : ) It would then become flat again and rotate between the two.

And then there's the maintenance... Actually, we were having a bit of transmission trouble. A fluid change at our next stop seems to have cured the problem. We praise the Lord for taking such good care of us!

As we got closer and closer to our destination, the gas stations became farther and farther apart. As we were traveling the last stretch of the way, we weren't too sure we were going to make it. We had passed the last gas station with 3/4 of a tank, but we found out the hard way that you fill up at each one or else. : ) One unusual aspect to us is that some places out here sell their premium gas 10 cents cheaper than their regular unleaded so you have to pay attention to the pricing. Again....we found out the hard way. : ) We did make it to the gas station, but by that time we were running on fumes. Sort of like the widow's barrel of oil in the Bible ~ a little went a long way! God always provides!

We are now in Dupree, SD...a little speck on the terrain of this huge state...at the first of our destinations ~ Eagle's Wing Baptist Church.

July 28th and 29th

2010-08-03T16:19:00.036-04:00

"Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. Through faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the word of God, so that things which are seen were not made of things that do appear."

Hebrews 11:1, 3

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The Lord blessed us with a day's "layover" in Harrisonville. We were ready for a break from the many miles in the van. Some good friends of ours live nearby, so we got to spend some time with their sweet family.

We had never met this precious little guy. What a cutie!!!

Lots of catching up to do.... : )

Before we left, we had to get a group picture. : )

(This wasn't quite everybody~some of them were napping and one was taking the picture)

: ) : ) : )

That night, we went to Grace Baptist Church for their prayer meeting. What sweet people! The pastor asked our family to sing and for Dad to tell a little bit about what we will be doing. The Lord opens doors even when we don't officially have meetings! : )

Thursday we woke up bright and early. We had some errands to run, the trailer to pack, and some miles to cover before nightfall.

We had never been to Cabela's before, and since we were so close and had a little time to spare, it seemed like a nice way to stretch our legs.

You never know where that tomato is going to show up! : )

Anything + Allison = something to laugh at : )

Their animal displays were really neat. They had a mule deer museum, countless animal exhibits, a fish aquarium, and, the favorite, a safari exhibit.

Wish everybody thought so..... : )

Upstairs we did a little target practicing.

It was fun, especially when we hit certain targets and water sprayed. The person it hit would be looking everywhere...up, around, side to side...trying to figure out where it was coming from. : )

So serious...

One thing that constantly amazes us is field after field as far as the eye can see. We laughingly said that when we see a barn or silo (or any structure, for that matter) we feel like we need to take a picture because they're such a rarity out here. : )

If you look in the distance, there is a wind farm.

Filling up the train cars with grain.

After being in four different states in one day, it's hard to tell which picture is from what state. But this I can assure you of ~ it's either Missouri, Kansas, Iowa, or Nebraska. : )

2010-07-29T22:51:00.014-04:00

"I will sing of the mercies of the LORD forever: with my mouth will I make known thy faithfulness to all generations."

Psalm 89:1

It seems that it has been a long time since we left KY when in fact is has only been a few days. Many hours and miles on the road in unknown territory can do that to you. : )

The Lord has been so gracious to provide lodging along the way.

We packed in such a way that we don't have to unload the whole trailer at each stop...

...but it's still a big job to tackle. : )

After packing and cleaning up, we headed out.

There is always some funny or amusing thing happening. We had just left when Dad decided he wanted to snack on a banana. Finishing it off, he threw the peeling out the window. A few minutes later, Mom glanced into her side mirror, and there, stuck in the door handle, was Dad's banana peel as if it were a well placed ornament. After the photo shoot, it was removed and disposed of properly....in the grass -- not hanging on the door. : )

We drove through the town limits of Cadiz and found a peculiar sight....pigs on every corner!
It was a sight to behold!

(click image to enlarge)

As a family that has never traveled West, we were all looking forward in anticipation to crossing the Mississippi River. So you can imagine the excitement mounting as we neared that famed body of water.

First we crossed the Ohio,

(Ohio River)

and then a moment later, we were crossing the Mississippi.

Ray, Jr. was driving at the time. He was expecting a larger bridge. Really...it's the Mississippi, right? When he saw that it only had two lanes, he got a little on edge. When the bridge was safely behind him, he said with a definite tone of nervousness...."Shew! We're a long way from home."

Out here, there is no end to fields and farms.

We've seen quite a few Amish as well.

Feeling in need of refreshment. : )

It wasn't too bad, but we definitely did it more for the fun than the taste. : )

Keisha seems to be enjoying hers...

Well...maybe not. : )

Since we were going to be so close, we took an hours detour to Springfield, MO to go to none other than Bass Pro. But it wasn't just any Bass Pro. It was the Bass Pro headquarters.

It was HUGE!!!

In one section, it had an underwater theme as the ceiling.

The turtle pond

Real live ducks

They also have a fine gun room, but we soon realized that they thought they were finer than we did. : )

Just a little bit of pocket change.....right?

No, Ray...don't even think about it! : )

And the best one????

It was fun to just walk through, take pictures, and browse the racks and shelves. A much larger selection than any of the others.

This is our "Where's Waldo" picture. Can you find us?

We only had about three hours left to our destination in MO.

Say "Cheese!"
and I guess we got a little slap-happy from all the hours on the road. ; )

And then there were the more serious minded.

We arrived at the prophet's chamber in Harrisonville, MO late Tuesday evening. With 18+ hours accumulated driving since we had left home, we were plumb worn out...thus ending our second day of travel.
More updates coming soon so stay posted..... : )

Just Gotta Laugh!

2010-07-27T07:34:00.005-04:00

Here are a few more pictures of our travels.....

Packing Saturday night...

Our time in the van is always well spent
whether reading...

...or crocheting...
or even getting some much needed rest. : )

And, of course, Mr. Tomato is along for the ride. : )

Once we got to Cadiz, we were plumb tuckered out. We were more than ready to stretch out.

Ray has already made a friend.....Silly Ray!!!

But he wasn't the only one being silly. : )

This morning, Mom had planned to be up at 6:30, get the rest of us up by 7:00, and be gone by 8:00. Mom roused us from our deep, restful sleep, and everyone began preparations to leave. There was only one problem.....
"Mom, which clock did you go by?"
"Why, mine, of course!"
And then it hit her. (gasp) The time change! She had gotten us all up at 6! : )

Arrival: Cadiz, Kentucky

2010-07-26T23:42:00.003-04:00

"I will praise thee, O Lord, among the people: I will sing unto thee among the nations. For thy mercy is great unto the heavens, and thy truth unto the clouds. Be thou exalted, O God, above the heavens: let thy glory be above all the earth."

Psalm 57:9-11

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Contrary to our plans for an early departure, we finally left out at about 11:00 this morning. It seems that we never leave when we plan.

We traveled through the Tennessee mountains for a couple of hours

through Nashville

(what a busy place!)

and on into Kentucky.
We arrived at the prophet's chamber in Cadiz around 7:30 (their time....crossed time zone) and will be resuming our travels in the morning.

Totin' Tomatoes

2010-07-24T15:45:00.011-04:00

You may realize that every picture in this post has something in common. Yes, I have a new best friend...a tomato! Better known as Tommy, he follows me everywhere I go. That is, until I lose him over the fence, and then I have to get a replacement. : ) I know...your next question is "Why in the world are you taking pictures of a tomato?????" Quite frankly, Earth Fare is having their second annual "Take Our Tomato" photo contest. So here are my "Little Mr. Tomatoes" in NC, and who knows where he'll end up next. : )

~Valerie

Ooooops!!! I almost lost him!
That's not for you, Ray! : )

All of the above photos in this post are for the Earth Fare Tomato Contest

Finishin' Up

2010-07-24T15:44:00.002-04:00

It's finished!
This porch addition has been the big project for a few weeks now, so they're glad to finally have it behind them.

Just in case you're wondering....the homeowner already took the opportunity to wrap the posts with paper in preparation for the concrete to be sealed.

Another happy, repeat customer.

Ya'll come back, now ~ ya hear?

Lessons from a Cat: Contentment Doesn't Come in a Can

2010-07-24T09:37:00.008-04:00

It was a beautiful day....no worries....no cares..... Just a day of relaxing with friends. That is, until I (our "forever a kitten") saw a dogfood can another kitten had just abandoned.

Ahhhh...this is the life!

Just a little bit

Aye, Friend....seems like you're having a wee bit o' trouble there.

I...can't...get...this...thing...

OFF!!!

Hey, there's still a little in the bottom.

Did it again!

Can you help me? PLEASE?!?!

O.K. ~ let's try this again....down...

...and up. (sigh) Nope. Repeating steps one and two will NOT bring different results!

(Huff!) No one should have to go through anything like this!

After getting it off for the third time, he decided to be content with his normal fare...in a larger container. : )

Ahhhhh!!!! Now THIS is the life!!!!

"Not that I speak in respect of want: for I have learned, in whatsoever state I am, therewith to be content."

Philippians 4:11

Where There Is No Water...

2010-07-16T21:29:00.008-04:00

...Improvise!!!!

What would you do

if you were in a situation

like this?

This may pass as the new "Balding Brunette" joke.

But, hey, he's having fun! : )

Well Adjusted!

2010-07-12T19:03:00.013-04:00

Allison...our little mystery. But the Lord always sends us to just the right doctors. The greatest blessing of all has been our chiropractor ~ Dr. Craig Schulman ~ who has patiently put her back together time and time again. His specific adjustments have been exactly what she needs, and now we're seeing the results. She's not in the constant pain, she stays together...(for the most part), and she is able to be much more active. All because of good adjustments and.....

Kinesio Tape

Allison loves to wear shirts with a message (and people love reading them) so we decided to make her a new one....And Dr. Schulman one to match. : )

Thank You, Dr. Schulman!!!

If you are ever in the Charlotte area and need a good chiropractor, we highly recommend him!
www.chiropracticfitness.com

Beautiful Blessings

2010-07-11T23:00:00.001-04:00

"Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine; no more can ye, except ye abide in me. I am the vine, ye are the branches. He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing."

John 15:4-5

We've had gardens off and on in the past, but the last couple of years we haven't planted due to our travels. Nevertheless, this year, even though we were leaving soon after the plants and seeds were in the ground, we decided that it was worth a try. We wanted a garden with no pesticides or other chemicals. So plant we did. Ray borrowed a tiller to loosen the ground and till in the compost (Yay! No more backbreaking while groundbreaking!!!), and Christina and Valerie spent an afternoon trying to beat the rain. As the first 15 minutes of drops were falling : ), the last pepper plants were tenderly placed in the fertile red clay.
The next day, Valerie peeked out the kitchen window at the prized garden and beheld a forbidden sight. There, in the midst of the garden, was our "forever a kitten" digging up the green beans! Racing outside, she shooed him off, but saw that the ground was covered with white. He had been at it quite a while. Closer inspection revealed that he had not only dug them up, but had chewed them as well. They were split in half with the shells scattered everywhere. Oh, well...there's no hope in saving this garden. Might as well not even take the time trying to rebury them. So with this thought, we left for Maryland....

And when we returned, it looked like this! The next greatest concern was that no one would be there to water it, but the Lord, in His infinite provision, kept the ground moist. The green beans gave a good harvest for several weeks....enough for us to do some canning....but have since pretty much withered up. But the tomatoes, green peppers, and sunflowers are doing well despite the unseasonably hot weather and dry days. We are soooo thankful to the Lord for His provision!

And after two months of patient tending and waiting, our tomatoes are finally starting to ripen!!!

We've been enjoying our green peppers! Hardly any dish is complete without them!

And our North Carolina sunflowers add such a pretty color! We're looking forward to harvesting the seeds, but we're enjoying their beauty while we wait.

Lookin' Up

Some of them are over 10 ft. tall!!! One is bordering on 10 1/2.

"The blessing of the LORD, it maketh rich, and he addeth no sorrow with it."

Proverbs 10:22

Sweatin' It Out

2010-07-10T19:49:00.013-04:00

If you aren't aware of it already......IT'S HOT OUT THERE!!!!!

But, in spite of it all, they keep going and going and going.
For the past couple of weeks, a porch/patio addition has been the task at hand. From the preparation to the foundation to overseeing the brick being laid to filling to pouring....and now they're to the roof!!!

As of Saturday afternoon, the plywood is on the roof, some of the tar paper is down, and the house is dried in after tearing some of the shingles off so they could tie in the porch roof to the existing house.

"Except the LORD build the house, they labour in vain that build it: except the LORD keep the city, the watchman waketh but in vain."
Psalm 127:1

Happy 80th Birthday, Ma Maw!

2010-07-10T18:27:00.001-04:00

And God is able to make all grace abound toward you; that ye, always having all sufficiency in all things, may abound to every good work:"

II Corinthians 9:7
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July 2nd, 1930, Grace Louise was born to Eugene and Hazel Finnegan.
On July 3rd, 2010, 80 years later, we celebrated her birthday with a dinner party at the Mosteller Mansion in Hickory, NC.

Although there were only about 50 in attendance, there was enough cake for 300! : )

The mansion is so ornate that everywhere you turned, it was a beautiful place for a picture!

Crystal coordinated a picture table with photographs from Ma Maw's early years all the way through recent months. It was soooo sweet to look at pictures of her and of her family growing up.

Fillet Mignon...grilled shrimp...stuffed mushrooms...bowties with steamed veggies...spinach salad...phylo purses...steamed asparagus...fruit.......the menu couldn't have gotten any better!

After dinner, Aunt Valerie reviewed the year 1930...

Crystal and Elizabeth sang "My God and I"...the song being played when Ma Maw and Pa Paw first met.

Ray, Allison, and Christina played "Wonderful Peace"...

Jon and Marie showed a DVD presentation of Ma Maw's life...

Daddy gave a short Scotch and Irish family heritage...

and then, surprise! surprise!, a bagpiper came around the corner playing "Scotland the Brave" and followed with "Flower of Scotland".

Our family then gave a short musical tribute to our Irish heritage.

Happy Birthday!

I just don't understand it....the older and more out of breath you get, the more candles they put on your cake that they expect you to blow out! : )
Ma Maw had plenty of volunteers....

Then followed an informal social time as well as the chance to request songs from the bagpiper. We siblings gathered round and got a condensed lesson on the bagpipes....how they work, how they come apart, etc.

Everything began winding down, people began leaving...

then the silliness that had been bundled up all day came bounding out. : )

Told you we had a lot of cake! : )

Happy Birthday, Ma Maw!!! We Love You!!!

Burning Piles and Blazing Trails

2010-07-07T17:55:00.002-04:00

"Fear not: for I have redeemed thee, I have called thee by thy name; thou art mine. When thou passest through the waters, I will be with thee; and through the rivers, they shall not overflow thee: when thou walkest through the fire, thou shalt not be burned; neither shall the flame kindle about thee. For I am the LORD thy God, the Holy One of Israel, thy Saviour:

Isaiah 43:1-2

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Our land looks a lot different since last fall when the driveway was cleared. It looked like we were on a safari rather than just driving back to where our house would be built. If anyone likes poke salad, we have a plenty pokeweed to share! : )

Our main objectives on this trip were to pull the good logs out of the piles of brush, burn the piles, and get the perk test done.

We were wondering how many snakes we would run in to....and what kind. We are building in a region with all five varieties of poisonous snakes, but to our relief, this guy is harmless. Mr. King Snake was nice and fat, so we figured we didn't have to worry about any poisonous snakes in that pile! : )

Smile for the camera!

The driver
Instead of wearing ourselves out, we decided to pull the piles apart with the truck. Just attach the strap to the hitch and then to the log, apply the foot to the gas pedal, and.....HANG ON!!!

Takin' a break and surveying the work

Back to work!

Never could get along without our trusty helper!

And, yes, the driver did get stuck...ONCE!

Moving on to the next pile. Sara had to do some weed whacking so they could see what they were running over. : )

This was quite an adventure! Ray, Sara, and Valerie continued until they almost ran out of gas, and then headed back to the camper for lunch. The rest of the family had gone to Elizabethtown to get all the necessary paperwork done for the perk test. After lunch, the threesome hopped in the truck to get a part for the water pump (one that you put fires out with) so we could begin burning.
At this moment, we weren't aware that just less than 15 minutes later, we would see the Lord's protecting Hand in a greater way than just everyday life. Upon leaving the campground, Valerie fell asleep, but Ray and Sara were very much so awake as they traveled toward Roseboro to get the part. As they crossed the Cumberland County line, both fell asleep simultaneously. You can pretty well imagine what happened. The truck went off the road, hit a mailbox, hit a culvert, went airborne, threw the water pump through the air, hit the pump on the front driver side corner, traveled a short distance off-road, and finally came to rest back on the road...all at about 60 mph. Sara woke up as soon as the tire went off the road, and Valerie woke up with the WHAM! of the mailbox, but Ray (the driver) didn't wake up until the truck was coming back onto the road...even with two frightened females screaming at him. There were no serious injuries ~ Praise the Lord! We weren't as stunned at what happened as we were with what could have happened. They came within a tire width of a guide wire ~ the Lord kept them from flipping. Brick columns were nearby ~ the Lord kept them from crashing. The Lord is in control, and He guided the vehicle to safety!

The next day, some of us took turns helping Daddy burn some of the piles. Although we weren't able to get near what we had hoped accomplished, we still were able to come a little closer to our goal. The land is marked, ready for the perk test. We are hoping to hear from that any day now.

...and we got to try out a tip from our Pa Paw...vinegar works GREAT for mosquitoes! : )

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"But who may abide the day of his coming? and who shall stand when he appeareth? for he is like a refiner's fire, and like fuller's soap: And he shall sit as a refiner and purifier of silver: and he shall purify the sons of Levi, and purge them as gold and silver, that they may offer unto the LORD an offering in righteousness."

Malachi 3:2-3

Family Fun

2010-06-21T22:11:00.008-04:00

As the years roll past, you realize more and more how precious family time is.

This past weekend, we traveled up to Pineola where Ma Maw and Pa Paw were camping with their camping club. Saturday they were having bar-b-que in honor of Ma Maw's birthday.

It pays to get there early! : ) It was fun being able to just sit back and relax with the background music of the river rushing past and the laughter as we recounted stories of years gone by.

It was amazingly cooler up in the mountains. Not so hot and stuffy as it is down here in the valley.

Bar-b-que time! Are you hungry, Ray?

There was so much food we had a hard time fitting it on the table.

Purty Girl...even if she is scary. : )

Wow! Was it ever good!

Our family with Ma Maw, Pa Paw, and Crystal

Afterwards, we sang for a little while, but it wasn't long before Ray just couldn't resist the urge any longer. Down to the river he went.....and, of course, his sisters followed. : )

We had a really good time just spending time. The moments pass away so quickly, but the memories will last a lifetime. And you never know....some day ten years from now, we might just be sitting around talking and laughing about it. : )

A New Perspective of the New Toy

2010-06-13T15:21:00.004-04:00

Now that we have the saw, we're needing the sawmill to go along with it. Buying one is an option, but building one is cheaper. Ray, Jr. found some plans and now all we need are the funds to buy the materials. Hmmmm....not much of a dilemma, now, is there? : ) Anyone want to donate??? : ) : )
The sawmill in itself will be a blessing (we are going to mill our own lumber to build our house), but it will also be a great tool for ministry.

Ammon Blueberry Festival

2010-06-11T08:19:00.011-04:00

This past weekend,we took a trip out east to try to accomplish some things on our land. The temporary pole can't be put up quite yet as we were hoping that it could, but we did get an idea of the order of things. The large piles of brush (from clearing the driveway) will have to be burned, the perk test done, the footings dug and poured, and THEN the temporary pole. Somewhere in the midst of these things will come a well permit and possibly a septic system. Whew! But it does feel soooooo good to have things going. The Lord is SO good!

One of the "must pack"s is the fishing poles. : )

With the Cape Fear River not far away, Ray just can't stand leaving them behind.

While making plans to travel out east, we discovered that the Ammon Blueberry Festival was scheduled for the same weekend. Perfect! What a wonderful time to meet the people in the community! The Lord blessed, and we were able to introduce ourselves to many of our future neighbors.

There were a lot of booths to browse through

and old cars to inspect

and handmade crafts

and other goods as well.

Then there was the parade....right past the main part of town. : )

They had some hilarious get-ups

The Hillbillies

Training them early

The Ammon firetruck
The Ammon VFD sponsored the event

Ahhhhh...the shade! The sun was very hot, and quite a few of us came back a few different shades of red from a little pink to more of a burgundy color. : )

Meetin' a neighbor

More neighbors

After the parade was the Blueberry Auction. At first we thought "Oh, good! Maybe we can get some cheap blueberries!"

And the first flat of blueberries goes for..........$900!
(And, no, we did not make a mistake and put too many zeros on the end.)

The decision was made very quickly that there would be no bidding at this auction. But we did have fun watching....

and eating our blueberry icecream...
Whoops! Where did the blueberry icecream go?! : )

The spectators

Ray and Sara decided to get some hamburgers, and along with a purchase, you got to put a ticket into a drawing to win a fishing pole.

And much to everyone's surprise....

Ray won!

Our next door neighbor...Mr. Melvin

As we left that afternoon, we were more excited and ready than ever to get there permanently!
But, as said before....

we have to burn these mountains down first! : )