I can’t say it any better

Psalm 100:1

1 ¶ A Psalm of praise. Make a joyful noise unto the LORD, all ye lands. 2 Serve the LORD with gladness: come before his presence with singing. 3 Know ye that the LORD he is God: it is he that hath made us, and not we ourselves; we are his people, and the sheep of his pasture. 4 Enter into his gates with thanksgiving, and into his courts with praise: be thankful unto him, and bless his name. 5 For the LORD is good; his mercy is everlasting; and his truth endureth to all generations.

Sports

Today was basketball. Esther had a tournament game at Chuckey Doak. Her team won a squeaker 41-40 against Cosby. I enjoy watching these games way more than pro or college games. Even if my child isn’t playing, basketball was my favorite sport growing up.

For These Things I Give Thanks

Yesterday was Thanksgiving Day and we gave thanks and praised God for all his blessings to us and feasted on his bounty.

Me & My Henhouse

Well after much debate about what to post, what pictures, how personal we can be.....we have decided that this will also be a family blog and pictures of everyone will make it at some time.

About myself: I am in the 55-65 age range, overweight, but still somewhat active. I have 3 daughters from a previous marriage the youngest of which is Esther (15), a sophomore, serious student and athelete, not to mention our right-hand helper, lives at home with Connie & I. Amber (27) another athelete and Human Resources Specialist for a pharmaceutical company, and Ada (21) "the scholar," will soon be graduating with a double major at ETSU- then on to MD/Phd research.

Connie and I were married October 21, 2001 and have lived in martial bliss since. We enjoy (most of the time!) the challenges of primitive log home living, gardening, full-time work, and trying to keep up with all 6 kids. (YES, 6!!)

Connie also has 3 children from a previous marriage: a son, Rob, Computer Programmer and MD, and 2 daughters, Amy and Laura. Amy, a School Counselor and fiddle player, lives nearby with 2 sons: Aaron, nearly 13, and Allen, 10 (skateboarding scholars as well as downright fine young men)!

Rob and his beautiful bride, Adelaide, live in Ohio - they're "expecting" a major life adjustment with their baby boy due on Christmas day. Rob's passion is teaching in- depth classes on the Sanctuary as the Old Testament model of the plan of salvation through Christ.

Laura, Connie's youngest, is graduating with honors as a Family & ER Nurse Practitioner in 2 weeks. Yaay! We hope she will move close-by.

Our shared visions and goals are simple:
To expand our knowledge of God and His purpose in our lives
To base our relationships on God’s principles
To become debt free
To enjoy our life together as we enter the golden years
To provide as much food from the ground as possible

By beholding Him: to be changed- by God's Grace -into His Likeness

We live in a log home located on 2.5 acres that we make the most of. We have 3 dogs, 1 bird, and 2 large aquariums. We don’t do livestock, although we have kept chickens for eggs in the past and hope to again. Connie and Esther are for the most part vegetarian as are all of Connie’s children. Needless to say our emphasis is on vegetables. I follow the Old Testament laws on clean and unclean meats. I have found there are reasons God didn’t want to eat these things.

I have gardened all of my life. It started with my mother who was a depression age widow. We grew a lot of what we ate. As a child I hated working in the garden and couldn’t understand why I had to tend to my mother’s flowers (1/3 of the garden) since we didn’t eat them. Since then it hasn’t much mattered where I have lived, if there was enough dirt I planted something to eat and\or flowers.

I now have the largest garden plots I have ever undertaken. I often grow things now just to see if I can. My garden includes 65 - 70 apple trees, domestic blackberries, blueberries and 2 large garden plots. I also keep bees. While an expensive hobby they provide delicious goodies (honey) and are marvelous creatures. At this time may be at the point of supporting themselves.
I would not want to lead anyone to think that I do all this by myself. I have help from Connie and Esther, Esther often does more than anyone (thank you baby girl).

The picture is of Connie & me and my 3 daughters.

This is my fall garden today. I love fall greens.

Stepping out

I love fall gardening. No weeds or bugs just watch it grow harvest and enjoy. Here is some of our broccoli, turnips, and cabbage that I picked in advance of the upcoming hard freeze. Still left are brussel sprouts, kale, mustard greens, collards, turnip greens, and kohlrabi.

I will not harvest all as some will survive the freeze and continue to grow. Some will die turn brown then start growing again with the warmer weather afterwards. Some will die not to return until spring if it gets too cold.

God’s bounty never ends.