The Joy in the Journey

A Very Happy Birthday

2012-02-04T21:30:00.005-05:00

The Birthday Boy

On January 27th, Andrew Micheal Stevens celebrated his 14th birthday. It just happened that his birthday was on the same day that our family helps with the horticulture auction each year at the Polk County Youth Fair. He was a little disappointed that he would be spending the day working at the fair, but it turned out that Andrew had an incredible day! He was given awards for his Chinese Cabbage and his blueberry plant. He earned 1st place in Horticulture Judging, and made $$$ auctioning his plants! Our good friends the Waldman's made it even more special by surprising him with a birthday party! He had a wonderful day!

Working at the Polk County 4-H Youth Council Booth

Hanging out at the Archery Match

Tri-Color Chinese Cabbage

Andrew's Tri-Color Blueberry Bush

Getting Ready for Horticulture Judging

Parade of Champions!

Friends

A surprise party given by our friends the Waldmans!

On Saturday we had a family celebration and enjoyed this awesome cake made by It's a Piece of Cake in Auburndale

They put a edible photo of Andrew sailing on the cake!

Christopher Robin Days

2012-01-16T17:53:00.000-05:00

When we started our home business a few years ago, we needed to set up an office space for Rob. So since I am homeschooling one child these days, it made sense to convert the school room to his office. So I have been gradually cleaning "my stuff" out of my former school room. Today as I cleaned out some drawers I found some artwork that my boys had done many years ago. One was a travel log Andrew had done on a trip to Utah. He drew pictures everyday of the places we had gone and the things he had seen. It was fun to see what he thought was exciting as a 7 year old. It was also a little sad to think that I don't have any little guys around here anymore. Andrew (my baby) will be 14 years old in a week or so. He is growing up into such a fine young man, but it seems like just yesterday he was experiencing what I call "Christopher Robin Days", where the 100 Acre Wood came alive with fun and everyday was an adventure.

We now have new adventures around here like ham radios and sailboats. But deep down inside, I just can't help but believe that even big boys never really outgrow the adventures of the Hundred Acre Wood!

Home Economics

2012-01-03T17:19:00.000-05:00

This sweet little book came in the mail today. The description says...

"Let the thrifty sensibility of yesteryear be your guide as you shop for the most economical foods, choose wall colors scientifically, clean with natural products, look your best without breaking the bank, and budget your way to frugal efficiency. In this amazing collection of clever wisdom and practical advice drawn from vintage home-economics textbooks, you’ll find everything you need to get back to basics and run a healthy and happy household. Home Economics covers all the categories of delightful domesticity"

Health & Hygiene

Cookery & Recipes

Manners & Etiquette

Design & Decoration

Cleaning & Safety

Gardening & Crafts

I sure wish I would have had this as a young bride 26 years ago! Such great information!

Ormie the Pig

2011-12-27T10:56:00.000-05:00

This is just too funny!

Merry Christmas!

2011-12-23T19:23:00.000-05:00

Merry Christmas to all of our friends and family!

For unto us a Child is born, unto us a Son is given; and the government will be upon His shoulder. And His name will be called Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God,
Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.

~ Isaiah 9:6-7~

Carol of the Bells

2011-12-21T15:04:00.000-05:00

Carol of the Bells

Steven Sharp Nelson

I hope you enjoy this as much as I do...this guy is amazing!

Your Sacred Calling

2011-12-05T09:41:00.000-05:00

Wow! This is just too good not to share! I found this over at the Your Sacred Calling Blog. Thank you Stacy McDonald for your honest, thought provoking post!

The Joy in the Journey

2011-12-01T11:40:00.000-05:00

I decided to rename my Blog The Joy in the Journey. The Lord has been teaching me what true joy really is. As I reflect on what I have been learning, I am reminded of what the Scripture says...

My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience. But let patience have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing. If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all liberally and without reproach, and it will be given to him. ~James 1:2-5.~

I still have so much to learn, but I will "count it all joy" as my journey continues...

Let the Holidays Begin!

2011-11-30T09:56:00.000-05:00

I am really looking forward to attending this concert next week. If you haven't had a chance to see the Imperial Symphony Orchestra, you are really missing out on a wonderful experience! And to make it even more merrier, this year student tickets are free!

Thankful

2011-11-22T11:03:00.000-05:00

Enter into His gates with thanksgiving,
And into His courts with praise.
Be thankful to Him, and bless His name.

Psalm 100:4

Harvest Pumpkin Brownies

2011-11-02T09:02:00.000-04:00

Harvest Pumpkin Brownies

1 (16 oz.) can pumpkin
4 eggs

3/4 C. vegetable oil

2 t. vanilla
2 C. whole wheat flour
2 C. sugar
1 T. pumpkin pie spice
2 t. ground cinnamon
2 t. baking powder
1/2 t. salt

Mix wet ingredients Mix dry ingredients with wet ingredients. Pour into 9×13 pan and bake at 350 for 30 - 35 minutes or until knife comes out clean. Allow to cool and add a dollup whipped cream.

Yum!

Fall, Where Are You?

2011-10-17T22:16:00.000-04:00

I really wanted to go out west and find you, but since I can't this year, how about coming on down to the sunny south?

Wishing I Was Here!

2011-09-28T16:10:00.000-04:00

Zion National Park

I think I need a little time in the mountains, but not just any mountains, I want to be in the Wasatch Range. I love Utah, and I love Fall, so I am thinking this would be a fabulous time of year to go....now, I just need to convince someone else around here that it's a good idea!

Wasatch Mountain Range in the Fall

Know You in the Now

2011-09-08T09:43:00.000-04:00

I have been blessed by the ministry of Michael Card for many years. He is a singer, song writer, musician, author, teacher and Bible scholar. I was listening to one of his CD's the other day and these two songs really express how I have been feeling lately. It reminded me that we must be careful that our faith is not an idol we create. Our faith can not be about going through the motions of religion, it must be about the personal relationship we have with our Heavenly Father in this time and place. Here are the powerful lyrics to Know You in the Now, the first song on this video. The lyrics to the second song Could It Be can be found here.

Know You in the Now

Echo of history
A light so many strain to see
The One we talk so much about
But rarely ever live it out

Could You tell me why
Was it for this You came and died
A once a week observance
When we coldly mouth Your words

Lord I long to see
Your presence in reality
But I don't know how
Let me know You in the now

We should confess
We lose You in our busyness
We've made You in our image
So our faith's idolatry

Lord, deliver me
Break my heart so I can see
All the ways You dwell in us
That You're alive in me

Lord I long to see
Your presence in reality
But I don't know how
Let me know You in the now

What I did on my summer vacation!

2011-08-29T14:20:00.000-04:00

On the way up, Rob, Andrew and I stopped in Charlotte at BBN.

Back in May, we escaped the hot Florida weather and headed to the Blue Ridge Mountains for two weeks. Matthew had flown up to James Madison University to be part of the ACE International Student Convention 24/7 Squad, so we decided to drive up Harrisonburg, VA to pick him up and to explore Skyline Drive and the Blue Ridge Parkway driving through Virginia and North Carolina.

Andrew is a faithful BBN listener and was thrilled to take a tour of the station and even got to visit the control room.

After we picked up Matthew, we made a stop at Liberty University in Lynchburg, Va to take a tour. The campus is amazing. Matthew transferred from Whitefield College and started online classes at Liberty this summer.

The view of the stadium from the ski slope.

A friend I met on the Appalachian Trail.

The Stevens Men!


We finally figured out how to be in two places at one time! The boys straddling the North Carolina / Virgina state line.

Matthew and Andrew on top of the world!

The historic Fryemont Inn was a great retreat!

Playing some serious chess in the lobby at the Fryemont Inn.

We had a wonderful trip in an absolutely beautiful place. It was so nice to just slow down and enjoy God's marvelous creation!

The Curly Girl Handbook

2011-08-25T11:23:00.000-04:00

Hey all you "Curly Girls", trust me, you need this book.

For the Love of Pie!

2011-07-18T16:17:00.000-04:00

I recently discovered the Heavenly Homemakers website. I am enjoying looking through all of the wonderful resources there. To encourage you to check it out, here is a link for a free Ebook, For the Love of Pie! Enjoy!

The Wonderful World Of Wendall

2011-07-09T10:29:00.000-04:00

I have had some crazy critters, but Andrew's cat Wendall is the by far the strangest animal ever! He has two different colored eyes and six toes. But not only is his appearance a bit "different", I really believe this cat thinks he is a dog! He chases Andrew around the house, he rolls in the dirt, and you better watch out, because he hides everywhere. He even spent a night in Rob's truck because he climbed in without anyone seeing him.
Rob doesn't like cats! Good thing Wendall thinks he's a dog! The truth is I love this crazy cat! He makes me smile!

Water Bugs

2011-06-05T21:57:00.000-04:00

Water Bugs...looks like I got 'em!

No Stones to Throw

2011-05-21T00:11:00.001-04:00

I have been pondering this verse a lot lately..

"You, therefore, have no excuse, you who pass judgment on someone else, for at whatever point you judge the other, you are condemning yourself, because you who pass judgment do the same things." (Romans 2:1)
I wonder if we really understand these words. Sometimes we are often so quick to pass judgement on others. We hold ourselves in such high esteem that we forget that we will be judged as we judge. How many times do we size up someone who looks different than we do or maybe doesn't agree with our viewpoint and pass judgement on them? I know I have done this, and it is wrong!

I am so grateful for the Savior who has died for me! I do not want to take what he has done for granted or grieve him by judging others.
Our best witness to the love and truth of Jesus is the "fruit" of our lives.
“But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control.” (Galatians 5:22)
So when I consider this verse...
"So when they continued asking him, he lifted up himself, and said to them, He that is without sin among you, let him first cast a stone at her. (John 8:7)
I realize... I should have no stones to throw!

Where Shopping is a Pleasure!

2011-05-10T22:10:00.000-04:00

I have been shopping at the Publix in Auburndale for over 25 years. During my weekly trips to the store, I have developed relationships with several of the employees. Their is one cashier whose line I almost always checkout in. Her name is Cheryl and over the last few years we have become friends. She always has a great attitude and always asks about my family. Lately, Rob has been shopping with me, which usually means extra cookies and ice cream, but that's another story! One week he wasn't with me because he was sick and she was so concerned about him. She gave me good advise on what I should give him to get him well. The next week she remembered he had been sick and was so happy to see him out and about.

Last week, Cheryl went above and beyond her duties of checking us out. We were chatting, as usual, and as she was ringing up my groceries, I realized I was missing my credit card. Of course I began to panic, trying to remember the last time I had used it and was frantically digging through my purse looking for it. About that time, she pulled out her own debit card and offered to pay for my groceries! Wow! I was blown away! I was so moved by her act of kindness. After some more digging, I did finally find my card. But I will always remember the way she was willing to help me out!

If you do happen to be shopping at the Auburndale Publix, make sure you go through my friend Cheryl's checkout lane. She is the one with the smile on her face. I promise she will make your day a little brighter!

True Grit

2011-04-02T20:55:00.000-04:00

I will let you in on a little secret...just in case you don't already know ...Andrew Michael Stevens is one brave and determined young man! He always has been! He walked at 9 months old without ever really crawling. He would get mad at the age of 4 or 5 because he wasn't tall enough to ride the roller coasters at theme parks and when he was finally tall enough, he was right up front. He has endured years of asthma and has tried his best to keep up with everyone else with a wonderful attitude, never feeling sorry for himself. He is the first one to speak up for someone when they are being picked on or to warn them if they are about to do something dangerous. And a few weeks ago, he reminded me, yet again, just how brave and determined he really is!

His first day of sailing was a VERY windy day. The instructor went out with him on a trainer boat to teach him important things like" tacking" and " jibing" , how to put the dagger board in, etc. When they came back in, she told him he could go out by himself if he wanted to, but he might want to wait until a calmer day. Well... in true Andrew fashion, he rigged his boat and went out by himself. (His 19 year old brother even admitted that at 13 years of age on a day with wind gusts up to 25 miles per hour, he would not have gone out alone.) Off he went, he was doing great, until....he " jibed" instead of " tacking" and he flipped the boat. Now it was still March and the water was COLD which did not make him happy! However, he stayed with the boat and several other sailors sailed over to try and help him. He tried as hard as he could , but still could not get the boat back over. Finally with the help of the "committee" boat, he managed to finally get it right side up and sail back to shore. I was amazed! Other than being cold and wet, he was just fine and ready to give it another try. The next week he was right back out on the water, sailing alone, on yet another windy day with more confidence and experience...now I think that is True Grit!

Back Door Guests Are Best!

2011-03-28T20:14:00.000-04:00

Here are some photos of our finished back porch project. It's been done for a while, but I realized that I never posted any photos. Rob and the boys worked so hard to make this happen. They tore off our old deck, and built this wonderful back porch and sunroom with all kinds of cabinets for storage. I love the benches! Not only are they great for seating, my grain buckets fit perfectly inside! It is also large enough for a ping pong table that we have also used as a big table for holiday dinners and parties. We are spending a lot of time in this room!

The last photo is of a mason jar shelf that Rob and Andrew build me for the kitchen. I love the way it turned out!

Outward Appearances

2011-03-14T20:26:00.000-04:00

Truly, the man looks at the outward appearance , but the Lord looks at the heart. (1 Sam 16:7)

I have been following this Blog for awhile. It is written by a pastor's wife who lives with her large family in Idaho. She recently wrote this excellent post on legalism, a subject I have personally been struggling with. Some how she has been able to put into words everything I had just not been able to verbalize.

The Lord has been teaching me so much lately about how He defines a virtuous woman. I have learned that you can look like the picture of virtue and modesty, but if you are unkind, judgemental or a gossip, no matter how lovely you are dressed on the outside, the Lord is not pleased! He is looking at the true intention of your heart!

If you have a few minutes, you might want to take the time to read about this at Life at Providence Lodge.

Who is my Neighbor?

2011-03-05T12:30:00.001-05:00

Andrew wrote the following oratory for the ACE Jr. State Convention this past February. He won 1st place and received a medal, but the fact that my son, who just turned 13 in January, has such a wonderful understanding of God's Word means so much more to me than the awards. I am so grateful that the Lord continues to teach me so many things through my children.

Who is my Neighbor?

You may remember a time when you watched” Mr. Rogers Neighborhood” on television. It is even possible that you remember singing along with Mr. Rogers the song, “Won’t You Be My Neighbor?” Well, have you ever wondered who your neighbor really is? Where your neighbor lives or how to love your neighbor? I would like to help answer these questions.

Who is my neighbor? The Miriam-Webster Dictionary states a neighbor is "one living or located near another, or, is a fellow man". The Bible says in Luke 10:36-37, "Which now of these three, thinkest thou, was neighbor unto him that fell among the thieves?" And he said, "He that showed mercy on him." Then said Jesus unto him, "Go and do thou likewise” I believe that this is saying that your neighbor is everyone, but they are especially those whose needs you see and are able to meet.

So where is your neighbor? Your neighbor is everywhere. From your next door neighbor, to your friend across town, to your grandparents a couple of states away, actually that would be everyone in the World, in other words you have 6.9 billion neighbors!

So how do you love your neighbor? Think about Jesus’ command in Mark 12:31b, “Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself.” How do we do this in a practical way? I believe that we should treat others the way we want to be treated, no matter who they are. They may not look just like us, or speak the same language, but God loves them and we should too! I believe that treating others with respect is really what this verse is talking about. Jesus actually gave us many other examples on how to love our neighbors.

Probably the best known example would be the parable of the Good Samaritan in Luke 10:30-37. The Good Samaritan was a man from Samaria who showed mercy to a Jew. The Samaritans and Jews were enemies. Two of the Jewish man’s own people, other Jews, passed by him and did not bother to stop and help him, yet the Samaritan, a person who could have easily walked on by was the one who stopped to help this man. In this case, someone he considered his enemy showed him love and mercy. The Samaritan was his true neighbor.

Jesus himself showed mercy to the ten lepers in Luke 17:12-19, as he healed them of their leprosy. In John 4:3-30, we read about the woman at the well. This was a woman who was in great sin, she was not living a virtuous life, and yet Jesus did not judge her, but he told her to sin no more and forgave her. This is just one of the many examples that Jesus gave us on how to really love our neighbors.

Also, pertaining to forgiveness, Matthew 18:21-22 shows us Jesus talking to Peter about how many times we must forgive someone’s sins, saying in verse 22 “And Jesus said unto him, "I say not unto thee, until seven times, but until seventy times seven.” Loving your neighbor also means forgiving them.

I hope this has given you something to think about. Our neighbors are really everyone we meet from the lady next door, to the cashier at the store, to a student at a BLESS school in the Philippines. We should love them like Jesus, showing forgiveness and mercy to everyone. We should love our neighbors as ourselves.

Love's Legacy

2011-02-15T19:01:00.000-05:00

We had the opportunity to hear the Annie Moses Band in Concert last weekend. They are a family of very talented musicians. They were absolutely wonderful! This song is about the namesake of the band. Enjoy!

Twenty Five & One Half

2011-02-05T17:22:00.000-05:00

This pretty much sums up the last 25 and 1/2 years of marriage!

Andrew's 13th Birthday!

2011-02-01T19:02:00.000-05:00

I still can't believe my baby boy turned 13 on January 27th! We spent the day beginning with lunch at Sweet Tomatoes, (Yum!) followed by a trip to the Florida Aquarium. The day ended with manatee viewing at the Big Bend Power Plant at Apollo Beach near Tampa. Happy Birthday Andrew! We love you!

Large Family Logisitics

2011-01-05T21:06:00.000-05:00

I recently had the opportunity to take a look at this book at a vendor table at a conference. I was so impressed, I went ahead and bought it. I have been married for 25 years and a mother for 18, yet I am learning so many helpful tips about managing a household from this book! Don't let the title fool you, it is a wonderful resource for any family large or small.

Check out the authors BLOG here.

To order the book go here.

Best Friends!

2010-12-20T22:25:00.001-05:00

I came across this photo of Andrew with his friends Margaret and CJ. My how they have grown in the past 5 years. I love that they are still the best of friends!

Give Thanks

2010-11-24T19:34:00.000-05:00

Happy Thanksgiving to all of our friends and family.

Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good: for his mercy endures forever!

Psalm 136:1

Love the Church

2010-11-19T14:33:00.000-05:00

We just signed up to go to this event! I can't wait! For more information go here.

Homestead Blessings DVD Giveaway

2010-10-23T19:44:00.000-04:00

Enter to win a Homestead Blessings Art of Crafting DVD here!

Divided...Age Segregation and the Church

2010-10-07T21:40:00.000-04:00

I have never been a fan of age segregated churches. Even before I had my own children, I felt that the church gave children the impression that the church was for adults only. Every week I watched children get ushered out of the Worship Service to go to "Children's Church". When my own two blessings arrived, I was labeled as the "weird" mom. You know the one whose children did not attend the "programs". Did I really think my children could learn something in an adult church service? Absolutely!

I believe that the church at large is failing our youth. Most youth programs have no discipleship. They have become a social experience with no substance. No wonder so many young adults are leaving the church. What does the Bible say about the way we raise our children? Will the churches ever learn that acting like the world will never reach it?!

Watch this...

Divided from Leclerc Brothers Motion Pictures on Vimeo.

Highly Recommended!

2010-09-28T19:30:00.000-04:00

My mom had a pressure cooker when I was growing up that was really old. I remember that thing ticking away on the stove top. My sister and I were instructed never to touch it. I was always terrified that it would blow up when mom released the pressure. I never planned to use one of those crazy things.

But...last year for Christmas, my husband bought me an Cuisinart Electric Pressure Cooker. I must admit, it set in the box for about 3 months because I was a afraid to use it. When I finally got up the courage to open the box and use it, I was hooked. I have cooked DRY beans in 15 minutes! I have made the BEST pot roast in about an hour! I love using it on busy days when I have been out of the house all day. It is so quick and very easy to use. Pressure cookers have come along way from my mother's ancient model, so I am recommending that you consider one of these wonderful machines. If you want to know more about the model I have, click here!

Come on Fall!

2010-09-11T20:30:00.000-04:00

I am so ready for this! I want to open up the windows and turn off the AC. I want a bonfire and hot apple cider! I want cozy sweaters and a fire in the fireplace!

I know it won't look exactly like this here in the deep south, but I am ready for FALL!!

It's a ...Bosch!

2010-09-03T12:35:00.000-04:00

Look what arrived at my house this morning!
Can't wait to start using it!

The Class of 2010

2010-08-13T12:09:00.000-04:00

On Sunday, July 18th 2010, Commencement Exercises for the graduating Class of 2010 were held at Community Bible Chapel. Matthew, as well as Grace Discher and Callie Stricklen were each presented their high school diplomas. We are so proud of all of them for working so hard to complete their courses of study. They all graduated with Highest Honors!

***After several college visits and much prayer and consideration, Matthew has decided to attend Whitefield College based in Lakeland, Fl. He will begin in September majoring in Christian Studies.

Worth While Reading!

2010-08-10T19:57:00.000-04:00

Please take a few moments to read this "Open Letter to Conservative Christian Guys" .

Check it out here!

Can you guess who "J" is?

2010-07-31T12:45:00.000-04:00

Click here to find out!

ISC 2010

2010-06-28T10:57:00.000-04:00

This year ISC was located at the University of Western Kentucky in Bowling Green. We had an awesome week of competitions and the speakers were fantastic! Matthew had a great week placing 1st in Archery and 4th in Bible Memory.

Placing in 4th in Bible Memory is not easy! The exam is very difficult!

Andrew received recognition for sponsoring a BLESS school.

Andrew and one of his favorite people, Dr. Johnson

A very scary class!

Archery man! He didn't quite break the record, but 1st place will do!

The Museum of Appalachia

2010-06-21T17:48:00.000-04:00

This was a wonderful trip back in time...thank you Mrs. Frodge for the suggestion to visit here! The collection of buildings and artifacts were amazing...and we were even treated to some bluegrass "pickers" playing on the front porch!

Who is this hillbilly?

The Peacocks ran around everywhere.

If you look closely you can see a peahen on her nest.

Checking out the survey equipment.

This "Gap" is not a store at the mall!

2010-06-14T16:10:00.000-04:00

Cumberland Gap was the 1st gateway to the west. It is a "gap" at the juncture of Tennessee, Virginia and Kentucky and part of the "Wilderness Trail". This route was used by American Indians and later explored and widened by Daniel Boone. Settlers used it for over 50 years as a way to reach Kentucky from the east. We thought it was a wonderful place to visit.

The boys at the "gap."

Rob and Andrew on the "Wilderness Trail"

The lobby at Pine Mountain Lodge.

The Creation Museum

2010-06-07T16:12:00.000-04:00

The Creation Museum is an awesome place! We spent several hours going through the exhibits and the beautiful gardens. It is located in Petersburg, Kentucky near Cincinnati. If you are not familiar with what this ministry is all about check it out at http://www.creationmuseum.org/

The beautiful gardens!

Andrew and Matthew

with Ken Hamm

All Aboard! 1st Stop Chattanooga!

2010-06-03T16:25:00.000-04:00

On our way to Kentucky, Rob surprised Andrew with a stop at the Chattanooga Choo Choo. The terminal station has been converted into a hotel. Our accommodations for the evening were a restored Victorian railroad car. For a boy who loves trains, this was a pretty cool place.

The inside of the train car.

They also had a pretty impressive train layout of the city of Chattanooga.

South Florida Jr State Convention

2010-05-12T19:47:00.000-04:00

A few weeks ago we traveled to Ft. Pierce to attend the ACE South Florida Jr. State Convention. Andrew entered several events including Photography, Violin String Solo, 100 yard dash, Science Engineering (he made a light bulb), Famous Speech ("The Gettysburg Address") Spelling, Power Point, Short Story Writing and Checkers. He had a wonderful time competing and making new friends.

Andrew performed "Come Thou Fount of Every Blessing as a "Command Performance".

Anna, Kaela, Andrew and James just being themselves!

Andrew and Brother Richard have been good friends for the past 4 years and are always so glad to see each other.

Sun Coast Student Convention

2010-04-14T19:51:00.000-04:00

Last week Matthew attended his last (sniff) ACE Regional Student Convention. He qualified to go to Internationals in several events including, Spelling, Checkers, Power Point, Bible Memory ( he got 1st place!) Table Tennis, Photography and Archery ( he was just 5 points shy of the ISC record!) We had an awesome time seeing old friends and making new ones. We are planning to go to Western Kentucky University in May for ISC. We can hardly wait!

John, Matthew, Luke, Mark and Andrew!

The Health Care Bill and Christians

2010-03-24T10:19:00.000-04:00

An interesting article on the Health Care Bill and and how it applies to Christians.
(Beware, many of the comments are ugly!)

The Health Care Bill and its application to conservative Christians Culpeper Star-Exponent

A Wonderful Weekend

2010-03-13T21:46:00.000-05:00

A few weeks ago we had two very special guests for the weekend. Margaret and C.J. hung out with us for 3 whole days! Their was plenty of bike riding, tree climbing, a trip to the bowling alley and lots and lots of board games. The fun ended with a birthday celebration for Matthew's 18th birthday. We all had such a great time, ya'll come on back any time!

This monopoly game went on forever! Their was some serious wheeling and dealing going on!

Happy 18th Birthday Matthew!!Margaret put exactly 4 and 1/2 candles on the cake to represent your "real" age!

Matthew's Last Youth Fair

2010-02-10T20:03:00.000-05:00

2010 marked Matthew's very last Polk County Youth Fair. After (sigh) 9 years of horticulture, whip popping contests, chili cook offs and other projects, his Youth Fair days have come to an end. Several other members of our 4-H Club are also saying good-bye to the Youth Fair. Some are graduating and others are moving away. So this year was bitter sweet for us all. We had a wonderful time and are so thankful to everyone that came out for the Whip Popping Contest. Matthew didn't place this year, but having our friends come out to support him was so much better than a trophy! (Perkins was pretty fun too!)

Andrew, Margaret, Matthew and CJ.

William is one crazy cowboy!

Horticulture Judging is a Stevens/ Stricklen Family tradition. We have been doing this together for years! We were so glad Markie could join us this year too!

Matthew finally (after years of coming in 2nd place) won 1st place in the Seniors. Andrew won 1st in the Juniors.

Happy Birthday Andrew!

2010-01-28T13:34:00.000-05:00

On January 27th my baby boy turned 12! Where did the time go? Andrew, you are growing into such a fine young man. We are so proud of you!

New Year's Resolutions

2009-12-31T13:17:00.000-05:00

I am not a big fan of New Years' Resolutions, but as I look forward to the new year, I have been thinking about who I am and what I need to become. So here is my Top 10 List of things I would like to do...and since I am posting them here for the world to see, I hope to look back at this next year and see just how far I have come.....

1) First of all I desire to really understand what it means to be a Child of God.

2) I desire to understand what it means to be a "true" woman, not what the world says, but what the Lord says about who I should be.

3) I desire to spend more time with "like-minded" friends.

4) I would like to have a more defined "family vision".

5) I plan to move Rob's office out to the sunroom. Work and family must be more separated!!

6) I want to learn how to preserve food by canning and storing. (Anyone out there want to help me with this one?)

7) I would like to be able to help others by being a better steward of what the Lord has blessed me with.
8) I want to learn how to sew....(since my motto has always been "if I can glue it, I can do it!" I really need a lot of help on this one!!)

9) I desire to be more purposeful in instilling Godly principles in my children's lives everyday.

10) I want to slow down. My children are growing up so fast...I don't want to miss a thing!!

Happy New Year to all of my friends and family. May the Lord bless you and keep you in 2010 and always!

"For Unto Us A Child Is Born"

2009-12-24T21:20:00.000-05:00

Merry Christmas to all of our friends and family.

What We've Been Up to Lately

2009-12-15T21:32:00.000-05:00

Back in November, we had the privilege to attend the premier of The Mysterious Islands at the IMAX Theatre in Tampa. We had a wonderful evening with friends watching a remarkable movie.

CJ, Andrew and Abby ready to watch the movie.

William, is that sweet tea in that cup?

Andrew patiently waited for Mr. Phillips to sign his movie poster.

Andrew working on the new back porch roof.

"Construction Man" Matthew!

Christmas time is concert time. Andrew plays his violin with Suzuki Strings at the Lakeland Center.

Is Modesty an Issue?

2009-11-17T22:27:00.000-05:00

Modesty has been a topic we have been discussing in our house a lot lately. I am convinced that "the world" has no idea that they are running around naked! I am also sad to say, that many Christian's have no idea either. (It reminds me of the story of the Emperior's New Clothes, someone needs to tell them!) My son, Matthew shared the following link with me. I would love for you to post your comments on this issue.

Virginia Trip Part 2

2009-11-06T18:58:00.001-05:00

Wallops Flight Facility. This is a NASA flight test facility on Wallops Island, VA.

"Geek" in Space! (Notice "The Hat". He doesn't leave home with out it!)

The entrance to the Chesapeake Bay Bridge Tunnel. My NEXTEL worked in the tunnel 100 ft under water, but doesn't work at Walmart in Auburndale!

High Cotton!

The Lighthouse on Assateague

Island.

We came upon this sweet B & B when we were in Chincoteague, VA. Marguerite Henry actually stayed here while writing the book "Misty of Chincoteague". It made me think of my dear friends in Alturas.

My car on the ferry. It was a 2 1/2 hour ride to the mainland.

Our Trip to Virginia and the Outer Banks

2009-11-02T16:35:00.000-05:00

The "Geek" and his sidekick arrive on campus! We loved Regent University. The campus was beautiful and the Open House was a delight.
This is just one of the many beautiful buildings on the campus.

Fall colors! Yeah!

I finally got to see the wild ponies!

Another state to add to our collection!

Sometimes their is just nothing more to say!
I love these boys!

Yorktown Battlefield. God's hand was definitely in the events that unfolded here.

The Wright Brothers Monument at Kitty Hawk, NC.

The boys bought some really cool kites at Kitty Hawk. They flew them on a huge sand dune at Jockey Ridge.

The battleship tour was so cool!

Matthew being Matthew!

Andrew being Andrew!

Gotta love the pig!

FedEx is My Friend!

2009-10-09T14:05:00.000-04:00

Look what FedEx delivered to my house this morning! This sure brightened my day! Thank you Rob!!

A Gift of Knowledge

2009-10-01T12:22:00.000-04:00

Rob stopped by our local library the other day to pick up a few books I reserved. While he was there, one of the librarians ask if he knew anyone interested in a set of 2003 World Book Encyclopedias. He quickly called me and asked me if I wanted them. Of course I said YES!! The ones we have now are Rob's set he had as a child from the 1970's! It's funny to think that he used them when he was growing up, Rob and I both used them when we were in college and our children have used them many times for research. (Matthew used to read them just for fun!) I know I can purchase a encyclopedia on CD and of course you can research anything online, but I like the idea of holding the book in your hand, of looking up the information and following the "bunny trail" of knowledge as something else on the page gets your attention. So I am in the process of packing up the 1970 set and replacing them on the shelf with the new edition. I will not part with the old ones. They are like an old friend. But I will pack them carefully so that future generations of the Stevens Family can take a peak at the past.

Happy Fall Ya'll!

2009-09-08T21:36:00.000-04:00

I am so ready for fall! It is my favorite time of the year, so I have decided that even though it does not feel like Fall outside right now, I am officially declaring it Fall on my BLOG! So, let me be the first to say ...HAPPY FALL YA'LL!

A Bump in the Night!

2009-08-27T15:03:00.000-04:00

Last Saturday at 4:30 am I awoke to the sound of our HUGE oak tree hitting the ground. The whole house shook! So we jumped out of bed and headed outside in the dark to see what happened. By the light of day this is what we saw. Thankfully it missed the house, but unfortunately it completely destroyed the boys Youth Fair Citrus Tree Contest orange trees. The other casualty was our really cool rope swing that was hanging from one of the limbs. The mess is almost cleaned up now, and a load of oak will be taken to Peebles BBQ which will open next weekend. So if you eat any Peebles BBQ in the near future, it might just be smoked on our oak. :o)

Why City Folks Should Not Move to the Country!!

2009-08-18T16:23:00.000-04:00

I was cleaning out my email this afternoon and came across this. It is so funny, I just had to share it here! I actually saw one of these ugly "cats" walking across my backyard the other day. Enjoy!!

My New Project

2009-08-12T15:41:00.001-04:00

I recently told my husband that I had a project in mind that I would like to do. He promptly asked me if it involved him and if he would be required to build something. (Our last project was a major bathroom re-do!) I told him yes, but it would be well worth it! So here's the deal. I have been very convicted about the amount of money we are spending on food each month. I would like to be more self reliant when it comes to the food we are consuming. Do we really know where the stuff in the store comes from? I am very concerned about all of the processed food my family is eating and we are eating out way to much! So... I proposed to him that we (OK, he and the boys) construct a long term food storage pantry. I also would like to purchase a wheat grinder and grind my own flour. In the process of researching this, I have found some great resources to help me accomplish my goal. Check out the links under Good Things on the left side of my BLOG. I know some of you are trying very hard live a self-reliant and independent life, so if you have any suggestions, please let me know. And so my journey begins...

Summer Fun!

2009-08-06T20:44:00.000-04:00

Boy, summer sure went fast around here! Here is a little glimpse of what we did for fun!

Summer just isn't summer without Team Tennis! Many hours were spent on the court in the hot Florida sun. These players really love it to play in 95 degree weather!

Wycliffe Bible Translation Discovery Center is an incredible place. Visit http://www.wycliffe.org/ for more information on this life changing work. A visit there sure changes your perspective on what is really important in life.

A day with the Stricklen Family is always fun!

Somewhere in the World Today

2009-07-20T16:06:00.000-04:00

When Matthew was 2 years old, a friend gave me a cassette tape with this song by Wayne Watson on it. That was many years ago, however, it has been my prayer for both Matthew and Andrew. I love this song and I know that somewhere out there the Lord has a special young lady in mind for both of my boys.

Somewhere in the world today

A little girl will go out to play

All dressed up in mama's clothes

At least the way that I suppose it goes

Somewhere in the world tonight

Before she reaches to turn out the light

She'll be prayin' from a tender heart

A simple prayer that's a work of art

And I don't even know her name

But I'm prayin' for her just the same

That the Lord will write His name upon her heart

Cause somewhere in the course of this life

My little boy will need a godly wife

So hold on to Jesus, baby, wherever you are

Somewhere in the world out there

That little girl's learnin' how to care

She's pickin' up her mamas charms

Or maybe, swigin' around in her daddy's arms

Somewhere in the world to be

Through the future's not real clear to me

Theirs could be a tender love

Rounded in eternal love above.

And I don't even know her name

But I'm prayin' for her just the same

That the Lord will write His name upon her heart

Cause somewhere in the course of this life

My little boy will need a godly wife

So hold on to Jesus, baby, wherever you are.

Back to School

2009-07-16T21:46:00.000-04:00

Next Monday my children will be starting a new school year. Matthew will be in 12th grade and Andrew in 6th. This is an exciting time at our house. Buying school supplies, ordering curriculum, and the excitement of new things to learn. For Matthew, this is the end of his homeschool years. When we started this journey, I had no idea it would go so quickly. It has been an adventure for all of us! I feel very blessed that I have been able to have my children here with me all of these years. I am truly thankful that I have had the opportunity to spend my days with these two amazing young men.

I sure do miss this guy!

2009-06-27T21:14:00.000-04:00

Way back in November of 1984, I had the privilege to vote in my very 1st presidential election. I really did not know much about politics, or pay attention to what was happening in the world. At that time, I was more interested in myself than the fate of our country. But, I liked this guy and what he stood for, so he got my vote!

As I have gotten older ( and hopefully wiser) I pay closer attention to what is happening in our government. The country we live in today is very different that it was 24 years ago. I pray that somehow we can get back on track. We need leadership that will inspire us, that is honest and based on what our founding fathers intended America to be. So, here is my little tribute to a great man... I sure do miss him!

"Here's my strategy on the Cold War: We win, they lose."
- Ronald Reagan

"The most terrifying words in the English language are: I'm from the government and I'm here to help."
-Ronald Reagan

"The trouble with our liberal friends is not that they're ignorant: It's just that they know so much that isn't so." - Ronald Reagan

"Of the four wars in my lifetime none came about because the U.S. was too strong." - Ronald Reagan

"I have wondered at times about what the Ten Commandment's would have looked like if Moses had run them through the U.S. Congress." - Ronald Reagan

"The taxpayer: That's someone who works for the federal government but doesn't have to take the civil service examination." - Ronald Reagan

"The nearest thing to eternal life we will ever see on this earth is a government program." - Ronald Reagan

"Government's view of the economy could be summed up in a few short phrases: If it moves, tax it. If it keeps moving, regulate it. And if it stops moving, subsidize it." - Ronald Reagan

"Politics is not a bad profession. If you succeed there are many rewards, if you disgrace yourself you can always write a book." - Ronald Reagan

"No arsenal, or no weapon in the arsenals of the world, is so formidable as the will and moral courage of free men and women. - Ronald Reagan

"If we ever forget that we're one nation under God, then we will be a nation gone under." - Ronald Reagan

Our Missouri Adventures!

2009-06-17T15:27:00.000-04:00

Our trip started out almost not happening at all. We almost missed our plane! We literally had to run through the airport and we were the last to board. When got off in Springfield we got a good look at the plane and this is what we saw! The plane was decorated courtesy of the Blue Man Group!

Rob found Prairie State Park. It is located almost at the Kansas state line. This is one of the last natural tall grass prairie's left. I could image pioneers traveling across the great plains through miles and miles of prairie like this.

I love old buildings and my poor family has to indulge my stopping and photographing old barns, houses, and interesting buildings. This one was in Kansas. Rob and I took a "peek" inside. (OK, Rob hopped the fence and went inside, it's a surveyor thing!) It looked like this once was a school and also a church. It is so sad it is in this condition.

This is in Independence, Missouri. The Oregon Trail started here. You could actually see "ruts" left by the wagon wheels!

"Southern Geek" on the Prairie!

We had an incredible opportunity to actually go on the Whiteman Air Force Base in Knob Noster, Missouri. This is where the B-2 Bombers (also known as the Stealth Bomber) are located. We were escorted by a chaplain who took us around the base and even in the control tower. My boys (all 3 of them) were pretty impressed!

ISC 2009

2009-06-03T21:14:00.000-04:00

As always, ISC was a wonderful experience. This year Rob also got to go along and enjoy the week. The speakers were awesome! Even thought Community Christian did not go this year (we missed you!) Matthew tagged along with another school from Florida, Orange Ave Baptist School located in Ft. Pierce. All of the Florida schools really came together and supported one another. Matthew placed 1st in Archery and has his sights on breaking the record next year. It is always encouraging to meet students from all over the world that have a heart for following Jesus. Check out the Evening Rallys linked to my Blog under Good Things ISC 2009. If you watch the Wednesday Evening highlights, you will see Andrew! Here are a few pictures from our week...

Matthew takes aim!

Rob decided it would be fun to put on a Velcro suit and jump onto a Velcro wall. Boys will be boys at any age!

Matthew's Oratory on Socialism

2009-04-22T15:12:00.000-04:00

A disease is spreading like wildfire in this great county of ours. It is a deadly disease that represses freedom of religion, freedom of speech, even the ownership of private property. Yes, our nation is being devoured from the inside out by the scourge of socialism.

What is socialism? In its most basic form, socialism is a form of government that evenly distributes wealth and possessions. The government redistributes wealth evenly among all people living within its jurisdiction. In theory, this is a great idea. However in practice, it always fails.

Socialism has been a problem in America since the very beginning. The early colonies of Jamestown and Plymouth both conducted socialist experiments, and, as you might expect, both failed miserably. All land and produce was communal property. Under this system there was no incentive to work, build, or prosper. The lazy ones refused to work their share, and productivity ground to a halt. Both colonies finally turned to the Biblical policy of “if any would not work, neither should he eat” (II Thessalonians 3:10). The land was divided into private parcels, and each man was responsible for feeding himself and his family. Under this plan of free enterprise, the colonies prospered.

The closest this country has ever come to a socialist government was the 1933 New Deal. This was the progenitor of many of the issues this country faces today. In the special Congressional session of 1933, two agencies, The National Recovery Administration and Agriculture Adjustment Administration (AAA), were created.

The National Recovery Administration enforced codes of fair practices for industry. These codes set minimum wages and maximum hours, supported unions, set quality standards, and imposed minimum price limits.

The Agricultural Adjustment Administration was created to raise farm prices by placing limits on production. The AAA presented farmers with“benefit payments” if they agreed not to produce as much as they previously had been before the depression. This plan did increase farm income, but critics argued that farmers should not cut food production at a time when people were starving. These agencies are a good example of what can happen in a socialist government. They were a short term solution to the problem, but it soon became clear that they had no place in a free market economy.They were both declared unconstitutional within 5 years of their inception.

The same problems that occurred in those first colonies and during the New Deal exist today. There are market regulations, graduated income taxes, Welfare, Social Security, even a government-sponsored program for a free cell phone! These and various other government agencies and programs are causing a failing economy, as during the depression, an are cultivating the same issues of stagnation that existed in the colonies.

There was once an economics class that insisted a socialist government would work; that no one would be poor and no one would be rich --everyone would be equal. Their professor agreed to conduct an experiment in this class. For the rest of the year all of their grades would be averaged, and everyone would receive the same grade. After the first test the grades were averaged and everyone got a B. The students who studied hard were upset, but the lazier students who had studied little were quite pleased. As the second test rolled around, the students who had studied little studied even less, and the ones who had previously studied hard decided they wanted a free ride too...the second test average was a D! This trend continued, and when the scores from the 3rd test were posted, the average was an F! The score never increased as bickering, blame, and name calling all resulted in hard feelings, and no one would study for the benefit of anyone else.To their great irritation, the whole class failed! The professor told them that, just like their class, socialism would ultimately fail because when the reward is great, the effort to succeed is great; but when government takes the reward away; no one will try, or even want, to succeed. Like the class in this illustration, the citizens of a country with a socialist government have no incentive to work! This system wears out the people who are actually willing to work, drains the resources of a country, and is detrimental to the health of a nation and it's people. Taking from the industrious people and giving to those who don’t work, while beneficial for the lazier people, tends to discourage the industrious ones, and will destroy the economy of a nation in the long run.

This problem can be fixed! God never intended for men to live a socialist or unproductive life, and therefore has provided instructions on how to prosper. The Bible says that “They shall not build, and another inhabit; they shall not plant, and another eat: for as the days of a tree are the days of my people, and mine elect shall long enjoy the work of their hands.” (Isaiah 65:22) If men live as faithful Christians, God will not allow others to take freely the fruits of their labors. Likewise, people should not take freely from others, either! Even God worked to create man! Humanity should follow His example, and work for what they have.

In conclusion, I hope that this oratory has persuaded you that socialism is a real, and current, threat to our country. I also trust that it has given you hope for the future. America can only prosper if its people follow the Word of God".

ACE Regional Student Convention

2009-04-19T20:21:00.000-04:00

This past week Matthew attended the ACE Regional Student Convention at Word of Life in Hudson, Florida. It was a wonderful week of competitions, uplifting Biblical teaching and making new friends. We had a great time and Matthew did very well. He qualified to compete in several events at the International Convention at the University of Central Missouri. Rob bought plane tickets today so off we go the end of May to ISC!! (We are still trying to figure out how to get the Science Project, a Tesla Coil, there!) The highlight for us was when Matthew read his essay "Socialism in America" as a Command Performance at the awards ceremony. Thank you Mrs. Frodge for your helpful comments...he is ready for ISC!!

Matthew won 1st place in the tennis tournament.

Matthew and Michael after the match.

The gang from West Meadows. (I think the guy under the jacket must be in the Witness Protection Program!)

Practicing Table Tennis

Matthew read his essay as a Command Performance at the Awards Ceremony.

Hats!

2009-03-26T22:02:00.000-04:00

It occurred to me today that I wear many different kinds of "hats". Their is the wife hat, the mother hat, the teacher hat, the cook hat, the house keeper hat and the chauffeur hat, to name a few. I now find myself wearing a brand new "hat", the "full time stay-at home mom who is homeschooling her children as well as working everyday for her husband's business hat". (No wonder I am so tired!) I guess I should be very grateful for my life experiences and the "hats" I am collecting along the way. I am trying to remember this is just a season of my life and to try to enjoy the journey. I do know that when I arrive at my final destination..... I will have quite a hat collection!

Our New Adventure

2009-03-15T20:37:00.000-04:00

Robert A Stevens & Associates, Inc
"A Standard Of Excellence"
Surveying and Mapping, Consulting

Our newest adventure does not involve packing a suitcase, boarding a plane, or planning an itinerary. It is the launch of Rob's business. He has thought about doing this for a while. In fact, a few of our friends (you know who you are!) have encouraged him to do this for quite a while. So here we are, working together as a family. I must honestly admit that we have had to make a few "adjustments", the boys and I have been here during the day all by ourselves for many, many years. So if you think about it, please pray for us as we embark on this journey, this might be our biggest adventure so far!!

Happy Birthday Matthew!

2009-03-02T21:51:00.000-05:00

Wow! Where does the time go? It seems like just yesterday my baby boy was born and all of a sudden he is 17! Happy Birthday Matthew! You have grown into a fine young man!

South Florida Student Convention

2009-02-23T22:48:00.000-05:00

A few weeks ago Andrew attended the South Florida Jr. State Convention in Ft Pierce. In the past, our family has tagged along with our dear friends from Community Christian Academy. This year they did not attend so Andrew went as the only student from Cornerstone Homeschool Academy! Andrew had an incredible weekend of competitions. We are very proud of all of his achievements especially being awarded 1st place for Communication and Potential Leadership (C.A.P.) This is not a specific event that students enter, but a culmination of all points earned. Each contestant is required to enter at least one event in each of these four categories: Music Performance, Speaking Performance, Writing and Art. We all had a wonderful weekend and look forward to attending again next year.

Visiting with Brother Richard. They are very special friends!

Andrew and his new friend . Rae is deaf, yet somehow these two boys communicated just fine!

The story of Horace the Rooster!

Practicing Ode to Joy!

College Road Trip Part 2

2009-02-16T21:43:00.000-05:00

On January 31st, Matthew was invited to visit Florida Southern College for a college preview day. This school is in Lakeland, Florida, about 20 minutes away from home. Matthew was pretty impressed! The head of the math and computer department invited him to come to the college and sit through a few classes. He plans to take them up on thier offer. We had a very insightful day. At this point, the biggest problem we see with Florida Southern is that most of the buildings were designed by the architect Frank Lloyd Wright who apparently was a very short individual. Matthew stands at 6'1", so he had to duck a few times as we walked the hallways!

The "Southern Geek" arrives on campus!

Andrew makes friends with the mascot, "The Moccasin"!

Polk County Youth Fair 2009

2009-02-16T20:53:00.000-05:00

The Polk County Youth Fair has been a big part of 4-H for my children for the past 8 years. This year the fair was moved from March to January. This made it a bit difficult for Horticulture projects, but somehow the boys both managed to get blue ribbons on all of their vegetable entries in spite of a freeze a week before the event. Matthew also placed 2nd in the Senior Horticulture Judging Competition and Andrew placed 1st in the Junior Horticulture Judging Competition. Here are a few pictures of the event.....

Andrew identifies citrus.

Matthew and and his friend Peter wait their turn at the Whip Popping Contest.

Matthew receives his 2nd place ribbon for the Senior Horticulture Judging Contest.

Something to Think About...

2009-02-03T20:43:00.000-05:00

I came across this on another BLOG and thought I would share it here. It spoke to my heart...maybe it will speak to yours too!

My name is Pride.
I am a cheater.
I cheat you of your God-given destiny...because you demand your own way.
I cheat you of contentment...because you "deserve better than this."
I cheat you of knowledge...because you already know it all.
I cheat you of healing...because you're too full of me to forgive.
I cheat you of holiness...because you refuse to admit when you're wrong.
I cheat you of vision...because you'd rather look in the mirror than out a window.
I cheat you of genuine friendship...because nobody's going to know the real you.
I cheat you of love...because real romance demands sacrifice.
I cheat you of greatness in heaven...because you refuse to wash another's feet on earth.
I cheat you of God's glory...because I convince you to seek your own.
My name is Pride. I am a cheater.
You like me because you think I'm always looking out for you.
God has so much for you, I admit.
But don't worry...If you stick with me, you'll never know.-Broadman & Holman

Happy Birthday Andrew!

2009-01-27T14:43:00.000-05:00

When Matthew was 2 years old, Rob built him a "fort" for his birthday. Over the years, it has been played on by my children and their friends. A few weeks ago we were sitting in the backyard talking about what we should do for Andrew's 11th birthday. Matthew mentioned that he always wanted to build on to the "fort" and build a real tree house up in the oak tree. So it was decided! Matthew (with Rob's help) would build a tree house for Andrew's 11th birthday. Their was much discussion about the design and engineering. Geometry and Physics were involved! Here are a few photos of the project. Thank you Matthew....big brothers rock!

The original "fort".

Rob strung lights in the tree house. Their has been talk of camping up there!

Pine Wood Derby

2009-01-22T13:53:00.001-05:00

It's that time of year when Cub Scouts all over the country are building Pine Wood Derby cars! This year Andrew and my dad designed and constructed his car. It is a Brookline Special, an English "classic" car. They worked very hard on it and it turned out great! In fact it won 3rd place in the design category and 8th place for speed! Needless to say, Andrew and dad are already thinking about the design of next year's car and researching how to make it go faster!

One Small Child

2009-01-09T14:52:00.000-05:00

Andrew has been taking violin lessons for about 2 1/2 years. He has had the privilege of playing at church several times in the past few months. On the evening of December 25th, he played his violin at the annual German Christmas Service hosted by our church. This service is spoken entirely in the German language. It is always amazing to me how we are blessed by this event even though no one in our family can speak German! The spirit of the Lord seems to translate this beautiful service for all of us! Andrew choose a beautiful song titled One Small Child. (Click on the arrow above to hear him play. You will also need to click the stop button on My Playlist.) This is one of my favorite Christmas songs, here are the lyrics...

One Small Child By David Meece

One small child in a land of a thousand,One small dream of a Savior tonight,

One small hand reaching out to the starlight, One small city of life.

One king bringing his gold and his riches,One king ruling an army of might,

One king kneeling with incense and candlelight, One King bringing us life.

Chorus: See him lying, a cradle beneath him. See him smiling in the stall.

See his mother praising his father. See his tiny eyelids fall.

One small light from the flame of a candle, one small light from a city of might,

One small light from the stars in the endless night, one small light from a face

Chorus: See the shepherds kneeling before him, See the kings on bended knee,

See his mother praising his Father. See the Blessed Infant sleep.

One small child in a land of a thousand. One small dream in a people of might.

One small hand reaching out to the starlight, One small Savior of life.

A Day At Kennedy Space Center

2008-12-09T20:44:00.000-05:00

The day after Thanksgiving was "Space Friday" for our family. We got up early and headed not to the mall, but to Kennedy Space Center. The men in my family all LOVE science and technology , so they were excited about the trip. My dad took my sister and I to watch Apollo 13 launch when I was a little girl, so he was thrilled to share the experince with his grandsons.

Besides touring the facility, we also watched two IMAX movies. One about the International Space Station and one about traveling to the moon. Sound boring? I forgot to mention that they were 3D movies! ! I have decided that the early astronauts were either really brave or really crazy!! (Matthew is ready to sign up!) It was a fun day.

Andrew and his robot friend.

Matthew stands at the bottom of the massive Saturn V rocket that was used for the Apollo Missions.

Many of the astronauts are Boy Scouts.

Matthew boards the G Force simulator...the rest of us watched!

Goodbye Grandfather Oak

2008-12-04T20:05:00.000-05:00

When we moved into our 1940's house 21 years ago, we had 8 beautiful oak trees on the property. They were home to birds, squirrels, frogs and lizards. Hey, we have even spotted a possum or two up in our trees! In the past few years we have lost a few of these grand old trees. The first was lost to a tornado. The 2nd was diseased. And the third one was uprooted during the summer of 2004 when Hurricanes Charlie, Frances and Jean visited central Florida. Recently we lost yet another of our trees. A beautiful Live Oak. We were amazed at how quickly this majestic tree died. It was located behind our barn right next to the blueberry green house. To make things even more fun, the power line ran through part of it. We realized it was dangerous and had to come down. Here our a few photos of what is left of this "grand old gentleman" that once provided shade and shelter. I guess the good thing is that we will have plenty of firewood this winter.

Matthew,

also known as "Chain Saw Man" is ready to get started.

Andrew climbs the tree!

Wendell and Maggie

2008-12-01T14:08:00.000-05:00

We have two new addition's to our household. Wendell and Maggie. Wendell is a 4 month old kitten and as you can tell from the photo, he has one blue eye and one brown eye. He has 6 toes on each foot. He is Andrew's cat and he is a rascal! He has a lot of energy and is into everything!!

Maggie is his mother. She was a stray who wondered up to our neighbors house and and promptly gave birth to 4 kittens. She also has a blue eye and a brown eye and as you can tell, she is a bit unusual looking.

Wendell

Miss Maggie

College Road Trip

2008-11-03T18:35:00.000-05:00

Well, we have made our first visit on our "College Road Trip" as we begin the process of looking at colleges for Matthew. A few weeks ago he was invited to an Open House at Embry Riddle Aeronautical University in Daytona Beach. It was an exciting day that started very early. After the opening assembly, he was able to visit all of the labs on campus, as well as talk to current students and professors. Their were prospective students there visiting the campus from as far away as California, Puerto Rico and North Dakota. It seems like just yesterday he was just starting kindergarten...where has the time gone....

Matthew, a self proclaimed
"geek" was pretty
impressed with this massive computer!

Cub Scout Camping Trip

2008-10-13T22:07:00.000-04:00

Last weekend we went camping with Andrew's Cub Scout Pack. I can honestly say that camping with 50 little boys ages 6 - 10 is quite an adventure!! We had a great time. Here are a few photos of the event.

The boys made animal track bandanna's.

Andrew helped with the Sunday morning Cub Scout Church Service.

Matthew cooks his favorite meal of the day.......breakfast!

Andrew competes in the "Marshmallow Kick and Throw" contest.

Matthew and his new friend find a frog.

4-H Awards Banquet

2008-10-07T14:43:00.000-04:00

On September 27th, 2008 our family attended the Polk County 4-H Awards Banquet. Awards were given for the 2007 - 2008 4-H year. On that evening, both of my children received the Green and White Award. To get this award members must submit at least two Project Books, do at least 15 hours of community service, hold an office in a 4-H club and participate in a 4-H competition that advances to at least the state level. I am very proud of my boys for their accomplishments. Matthew submitted a Horticulture Record Book and a Computer Record Book. Andrew submitted a Horticulture Record Book and a Marine Ecology Record Book on Florida seashells. Andrew was also awarded a $50 prize for the highest scoring Junior Record Book (Horticulture).

The thing that I am most proud of is the award that they both received for doing over 25 hours of community service. Awards and acknowledgements seem important at the time, but in the end it is the service we do for others that really matters.

I've Been Tagged!!

2008-10-02T20:14:00.000-04:00

My good friends the Discher Family

"tagged"me !

Check the list after my 6 random things to see if you’re it!

THEN...
Link to the person who tagged you.
Post the rules on your blog.
Write six random things about yourself.
Tag sixish people at the end of your post.
Let each person know he or she has been tagged.
Let the tagger know when your entry is up.
So, here goes...

1) I was a DJ at a skating rink when I was in college.
2) I marched in the Rose Bowl Parade as part of the WHHS Flag Corps when I was 15.
3) One of my children was born on Feb. 29, Leap Year!
4) I hate rats!!
5) My husband is an Eagle Scout.
6) I like to dip pizza in ranch dressing and eat it, Yum!

The Discher's BLOG
The Merck's BLOG
The Stricklen's BLOG
Amanda's BLOG

Robin's BLOG
The Southern Geek

The First Day of Fall!

2008-09-22T21:24:00.000-04:00

This is my absolute favorite time of year! I love the pumpkins, scarecrows, sweaters, bon fires and cooler weather. (Of course, living in Florida, the cooler weather hasn't quite arrived yet!) The boys indulged me yesterday by helping me get out my "fall stuff". So now that the Fall Wreath is on the front door and the scarecrow is in his place in the garden, I am officially ready. Now I must patiently wait until the fall weather arrives in the south and hope that a hurricane doesn't come first and blow my scarecrow away!

North Carolina Trip

2008-09-03T20:37:00.000-04:00

Last Thursday Rob suggested that maybe we go to North Carolina for a long weekend. What he really meant was that he planned on leaving that afternoon and driving 10 hours all night to get there. Well, for the past 23 years, life with Rob has been an adventure, so off we went on yet another one! The plan was to go to the Nantahala River in the western part of the state. Rob and Matthew would take a white water kayak class at the Nantahala Outdoor Center and Andrew and I would take a ride on the Great Smoky Mountain Railroad. Since Matthew is all about kayaking these days and Andrew has always LOVED trains, somehow the plan made sense at the time. Needless to say it was a quick trip, but the boys had a great time. They even manged a little time to go tubing down Deep Creek in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park.

Matthew
"surfs" on the river.

Tubing down Deep Creek!

Basil the Rabbit

2008-08-26T12:48:00.000-04:00

Andrew wanted to raise a rabbit as a project for 4-H. We did some research and decided to buy a Netherlands Dwarf. We waited 6 months to get the "perfect" male rabbit from a local rabbit breeder. This rabbit was going to win blue ribbons. He was going to be the best show rabbit in Polk County..... however, Basil had a different plan!

Basil weighs 2 1/2 pounds and lives in a cage in our school room. During the Christmas season last year, the boys were listening to Christmas music on the radio while doing their school work. Mr. Basil got very used to the music being on and would throw his metal pan against the metal cage when they turned it off. This became very annoying, so we decided to let him listen to NPR. He listens to it day and night. He seems to really enjoy listening to"Prairie Home Companion". If you want to know anything about the upcoming Presidential Election, just ask our rabbit. He is very well informed of all the current events. The only thing he is not too fond of is opera! As far as rabbit shows go....since the radio can't come along, the boys have decided that Basil would be much better off just staying at home! He is just too sophisticated now.

Saying Good-Bye to a Friend

2008-08-21T23:36:00.000-04:00

Recently, Rob and I attended a memorial service for a friend we knew from high school. Rob had known him for many more years than I. They had been in Boy Scouts together and had spent many fun times enjoying the "great outdoors". His un-timely death was unexpected......he was 43 years old. As I looked around the church at the service, everyone looked so stunned. How could this happen to someone in the prime of their life? It is at times like these that suddenly my life is put into perspective. Everyday is a gift from God. How am I spending my days? I am really trying to live everyday for the glory of God? Am I spending my time enjoying the beautiful world our Lord has created or just rushing from one place to another? My heart is breaking for the family of our friend. My hope is that I will see him again one day in the place that Jesus has prepared for me.

Alafia River Trip

2008-07-26T21:41:00.000-04:00

A few weeks ago we took a canoe and kayak trip down the Alafia River. The trip took about 4 hours and we paddled approx. 12 miles. The boys each paddled the kayaks and Rob and I were in the canoe. We had a great time. The highlight for the boys was that every few miles or so, someone tied a rope swing in a tree close to the river. They had a blast swinging and out over the river and landing in the cool water. What a wonderful way to spend a Saturday afternoon!!

A boy, a rope swing and a river...it doesn't get much better than that!! Andrew takes a turn on the swing.

Sunshine State Games

2008-07-06T21:27:00.000-04:00

Matthew shoots archery. He has been shooting for the past 4 years. He is unique because he shoots Bare Compound Bow, which means that he uses no sights or releases. He has competed in several archery tournaments in the past few years. This past June he shot in the Florida Sunshine State Games. He set a record the Field Division of the tournament breaking the record he set last year in the same event. He earned two gold medals one for Field and one for 3-D Targets. Go Matthew!!

Missouri Trip Photos

2008-06-09T11:25:00.001-04:00

Laura Ingalls Wilder's home in Mansfield Missouri. This was a dream come true for me! I love the Little House books!!

The St. Louis Arch. It is truly an amazing piece of architecture!

Here is a "car" like the one we rode up to the top of the arch in. It felt like we were riding inside a dryer!

The view from the top!

Mud Island is located in the middle of the Mississippi River in Memphis. On the island is a scale replica of the Mississippi River. Matthew thought it was pretty cool! Andrew kicked off his shoes and "walked" the entire thing to the "Gulf of Mexico"!

Andrew found out we were traveling near Kennesaw Georgia and just had to stop at the Museum of Locomotive and Civil War History to see the The "General". This locomotive was involved in the "Great Locomotive Chase" during the Civil War.

Hey...look who we found in Memphis....could it be Elvis?!

International Student Convention

2008-06-03T22:28:00.000-04:00

Matthew, Andrew, my mother and I had quite a road trip over the past 12 days. We made the journey from Florida to Missouri to attend the ACE International Student Convention on the campus of the University of Central Missouri in Warrensburg. Students from all over the world competed in a variety of events including academics, music, platform and athletics. The round trip was approx. 2700 miles, I am pleased to say that I drove every single one of those miles myself! We passed through several states and of course visited many historical sites. (The ultimate homeschool field trip!!) Some one asked me before I left if I had GPS...I have something even better... it is ROB! My husband mapped out my entire trip and if I needed extra help, he was a Nextel call away! I am pleased to say we made it there and back just fine! Here are a few pictures from our trip. Included are pictures of my children in front of state signs. This is a family tradition. Ever since they were little, I have taken photos of them by the signs of every state they have ever been in.

Andrew smiles at the awards ceremony.

Matthew at the awards ceremony with Mr. Howard. He placed 5th for his science project (a mouse trap race car) 4th for his Power Point Presentation and 2nd for Bare Compound Archery.

We were passing through Alabama and Andrew spotted the Krispy Kreme sign that said "Hot Donuts". We had to stop! This peanut buckaroo was outside the donut shop. I thought he was too cute!

Here are all the states we visited on our trip!

Our Philosophy of Education

2008-05-16T10:42:00.000-04:00

A few years ago, I completed a CEU course on “Developing a Philosophy of Education”. This was primarily for a classroom situation, but it really made me stop and think about my goals of homeschooling my children. There are often many roads that will take us to the same destination, but without a road map, we might just drive around looking for where we want to go and never actually get there! Actually writing down our “philosophy” has really helped us define some specific goals for our children and our homeschool.

Our Philosophy of Education

To base all knowledge on the Word of God and to apply Bible principals to every phase of learning through all subjects areas.

*Social Studies (the study of God’s dealing with mankind)

*Science (the study of God’s work in the physical world)

* Bible (the study of God’s laws and how they operate in the spiritual world)

*Math (the study of God’s absolutes and unchanging laws)

* Language Arts (the study of the skills necessary for discovering God’s truth)

To teach discernment, responsibility, and self-discipline in a controlled environment where each child can grow and learn.

To provide academic knowledge, and to broaden social
awareness of those in need.

To teach Christian character and attitudes.

To encourage growth and habits in areas that natural ability may not occur in order to develop a well balanced individual.

To recognize the uniqueness of each child and glorify God thru developing God-given gifts and talents in each individual student.

To provide a nurturing environment that meets the needs of each child as they prepare for a useful occupation and service.

Florida: Home Sweet Home!

2008-05-15T18:22:00.001-04:00

I have a little poem to share with ya'll....

Bless the walls where termites dine, while ants and roaches march in time.
Bless our yard where spiders pass fire ant castles in the grass.

Bless the garage, a home to please carpenter beetles, ticks and fleas.

Bless the love bugs, two by two, the gnats and mosquitoes that feed on you.

Millions of creatures that fly or crawl, in Florida, Lord, you've put them all!! But this is home, and here we'll stay, So thank you Lord, for insect spray! :o)

Andrew's Ark

2008-05-02T10:29:00.000-04:00

Andrew's 4-H Presentation was entitled

"Being a Good Citizen in Your Club, Your Community, Your Country and Your World."

My son Andrew has a big heart. He loves people, he loves animals and he loves the Lord! About a year ago he came to me and told me he wanted to buy an "ark" of animals for an impoverished village. After a little investigation, I found he had been reading a catalog from Heifer International. My first reaction was that is a very difficult task, especially for a 9 year old boy! The goal was to raise $5000! However, he was determined. Matthew helped him set up an account and a website through Heifer International. Andrew talked to family, friends and folks at church and invited them to get involved in his project. To date he has raised $1820 towards his goal! When he reaches his $5000 goal, we plan to make a trip to Arkansas to visit the farm where many of the animals are raised. Here is a link to Andrew's Website www.heifer.org/myregistry/andrewsark

The Joy in the Journey

A Very Happy Birthday

Christopher Robin Days

Home Economics

Ormie the Pig

Merry Christmas!

For unto us a Child is born, unto us a Son is given; and the government will be upon His shoulder. And His name will be called Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God,Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.

~ Isaiah 9:6-7~

Carol of the Bells

Your Sacred Calling

The Joy in the Journey

Let the Holidays Begin!

Thankful

Harvest Pumpkin Brownies

Fall, Where Are You?

Wishing I Was Here!

Know You in the Now

What I did on my summer vacation!

The Curly Girl Handbook

For the Love of Pie!

The Wonderful World Of Wendall

Recommended Reading

Water Bugs

No Stones to Throw

Where Shopping is a Pleasure!

True Grit

Back Door Guests Are Best!

Outward Appearances

Who is my Neighbor?

Love's Legacy

Twenty Five & One Half

Andrew's 13th Birthday!

Large Family Logisitics

Best Friends!

Give Thanks

Love the Church

Homestead Blessings DVD Giveaway

Divided...Age Segregation and the Church

Highly Recommended!

Come on Fall!

It's a ...Bosch!

The Class of 2010

Worth While Reading!

Can you guess who "J" is?

ISC 2010

The Museum of Appalachia

This "Gap" is not a store at the mall!

The Creation Museum

All Aboard! 1st Stop Chattanooga!

South Florida Jr State Convention

Sun Coast Student Convention

The Health Care Bill and Christians

A Wonderful Weekend

Matthew's Last Youth Fair

Happy Birthday Andrew!

New Year's Resolutions

"For Unto Us A Child Is Born"

What We've Been Up to Lately

Is Modesty an Issue?

Virginia Trip Part 2

Our Trip to Virginia and the Outer Banks

FedEx is My Friend!

A Gift of Knowledge

Happy Fall Ya'll!

A Bump in the Night!

Why City Folks Should Not Move to the Country!!

My New Project

Summer Fun!

Somewhere in the World Today

Back to School

I sure do miss this guy!

Our Missouri Adventures!

ISC 2009

Matthew's Oratory on Socialism

ACE Regional Student Convention

Hats!

Our New Adventure

Happy Birthday Matthew!

South Florida Student Convention

College Road Trip Part 2

For unto us a Child is born, unto us a Son is given; and the government will be upon His shoulder. And His name will be called Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God,
Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.