Congratulations John!

This has been a big year for John. He began his first business venture in the Spring with a lawn mowing service here in our subdivision (and a few beyond). He worked hard, learned a lot, and earned a lot too! His dedication and hard work earned him the admiration of many customers and some references to additional work as well. His brother Joshua and his Dad were also able to work with him and it became a mini family business.

Today, after many hours of study and several practice tests, he not only successfully passed his first ever CLEP test (the College Math Exam), but did fantastic with a 7o out of 80 points!! Way to go John! We are proud of him and thank God for this accomplishment. May the Lord grant him wisdom and strength to not only pass many more tests in the future, but to be a man after God's own heart and to continue live a life unashamedly for the glory of God!

Your proud & loving family!

Happy Thanksgiving!!!

From all of us and extended family! " Oh, give thanks to the LORD, for He is good! For His mercy endures forever." Psalm 118:1

George Washington's Thanksgiving Proclamation

Read by dad (Paul Sauve') before we commenced our Thanksgiving dinner.

Whereas it is the duty of all nations to acknowledge the providence of Almighty God, to obey His will, to be grateful for His benefits, and humbly to implore His protection and favor; and Whereas both Houses of Congress have, by their joint committee, requested me "to recommend to the people of the United States a day of public thanksgiving and prayer, to be observed by acknowledging with grateful hearts the many and signal favors of Almighty God, especially by affording them an opportunity peaceably to establish a form of government for their safety and happiness:"

Now, therefore, I do recommend and assign Thursday, the 26th day of November next, to be devoted by the people of these States to the service of that great and glorious Being who is the beneficent author of all the good that was, that is, or that will be; that we may then all unite in rendering unto Him our sincere and humble thanks for His kind care and protection of the people of this country previous to their becoming a nation; for the signal and manifold mercies and the favorable interpositions of His providence in the course and conclusion of the late war; for the great degree of tranquility, union, and plenty which we have since enjoyed; for the peaceable and rational manner in which we have been enable to establish constitutions of government for our safety and happiness, and particularly the national one now lately instituted' for the civil and religious liberty with which we are blessed, and the means we have of acquiring and diffusing useful knowledge; and, in general, for all the great and various favors which He has been pleased to confer upon us.

And also that we may then unite in most humbly offering our prayers and supplications to the great Lord and Ruler of Nations and beseech Him to pardon our national and other transgressions; to enable us all, whether in public or private stations, to perform our several and relative duties properly and punctually; to render our National Government a blessing to all the people by constantly being a Government of wise, just, and constitutional laws, discreetly and faithfully executed and obeyed; to protect and guide all sovereigns and nations (especially such as have show kindness to us), and to bless them with good governments, peace, and concord; to promote the knowledge and practice of true religion and virtue, and the increase of science among them and us; and, generally to grant unto all mankind such a degree of temporal prosperity as He alone knows to be best.

Given under my hand, at the city of New York, the 3rd day of October, A.D. 1789.

--G. Washington

Mr. Turkey! We needed to get two of these to feed all 17 of us! 

What a blessing it was to have our Great Aunt Jackie join us for this years celebration! Because we usually have it at our house, she hasn't been able to come because of the long drive and so we haven't been able to see her very often. Her presence therefore, made this day even more special for all of us!  

 

We had quite the variety of tasteful choices and many sat down with about a little bit of each thing on their plates! Beside the basic turkey, mashed potatoes, and dressing, our family tradition adds butternut squash (from Aunt Myrts garden of course) green bean casserole, sweet potatoes, corn casserole, and of course mom's famous rolls (along with the usual olives, pickles and cranberry sauce). What a Feast!!!  

 

What kind of pie would you like? How about one piece of each!! =) 

After dinner nap. Zzzz.... 

The Twins! Thank you Auntie Carmen for your hospitality in hosting this Thanksgiving at your house! Many hugs and kisses!

Highlights from a day in the Downriver Snow Globe!

The sun tries to shine as the snowflakes start falling. Silhouetted is a lone turtledove perched in the locust tree next to the lamp post.

The frost was on the cars in the morning and displayed this beautiful design! 

Magnified frost crystals. 

About 1-2 inches fell Yesterday and as it always is with the first snow, the trees obtained their distinct highlight, which made for a beautiful view out our back windows.

" For as the rain comes down, and the snow from Heaven, and do not return there . . . . . so shall My Word be that goes forth from My mouth; it shall not return to Me void, but it shall accomplish what I please and it shall prosper in the thing for which I sent it." Isaiah 55:10,11

No, this picture is not digitally enhanced (besides the fact that it was taken with a digital camera). The flash just made it stand out even more! 

Of course our natural wood fireplace has been put to work these last couple days to try to help cut back on our gas bill and to keep us all nice and cozy warm on those cold blustery days! 

Shower of Blessings

Last Sunday, after the service and meal, all the women and young ladies of Five Lakes Fellowship gathered together in the DeLadurantey's living room for a time of encouragement and blessing. This enjoyable event was held in honor of Spence Malachi Klaty, the newest edition to a wonderful God-fearing family! What a blessing it has been for us to get to know the Klaty's and watch them serve the Lord as they raise a family for His glory!

Tamra Klaty and Spence

Showers of Blessing! (baby clothes) 

Charity, Spence and Nicholette.

The Ninth Annual Homeschool Recitation Night

Every fall for the past nine years, our homeschool group has held an event that encourages children to memorize and recite either a passage of scripture, a poem, or both in front of their parents and the rest of the group. This year, Friday, November 18th was the designated date for our Ninth Annual Homeschool Recitation Night! 38 students from 17 homeschool families recited 50 poems or scripture passages. Many more attended to applaud and enjoy the wonderful recitations.

Mr. Jonathan Crocker was the announcer for the evening and started us off with a review of how great speeches have changed the course of nations. The recitations were divided into groups: Patriotic, Lighthearted and Thoughtful, Scripture, Serious, Historic and Dramatic. Each of the Sauve children quoted a passage of scripture.

Grace quoted the shortest chapter, Psalm 117, but made up for the shortness by quoting it in four different languages: English, Spanish, French and Hausa (African language from Northern Nigeria and Niger). Josiah recited Psalm 15, Christianna- a number of verses from Psalm 119, Joshua- selections of Job 38 & 39, John dramatically recited Paul's speech to King Agrippa from Acts 26:1-29, Faith- Nicodemus' interview with Jesus in John 3:1-21, and Charity quoted Psalm 33.

In the Patriotic section, Faith recited two versions of "America the Beautiful": the original stanzas by Katherine Lee Bates, and a modern adaptation by the former Chief Justice of Alabama, Roy Moore who gives a clear, but sad picture of the state of our country since we have forgotten God.
Josiah quoted a thoughtful poem called "If Jesus Came to Your House"causing us to evaluate whether the clothes we wear, books we read, and things we do are pleasing to a Holy God.





Charity recited, "Teach us to Pray".
Here is a sample of this excellent poem:
Lord, teach us how to pray aright,
With reverence and with fear;
Though dust and ashes in Thy sight,
We may, we must draw near.


Christianna recited two poems showing the stark difference between a sinful world view and a Christian world view, called "Invictus" by William Henley, and "My Captain" by Dorothea Day.


John quoted "Ivry" by Thomas Babbington, a poem about the protestant king Henry of Navarre's victory at Ivry, France, over the Catholic forces in the late 15oo's.



Joshua's poem, "Music in Camp" by John R. Thompson was about the role of music in the civil war.





Other memorable recitations were: "My Little Brother," by Noah Crocker while holding his 3 month old brother Ezra( He found out that it wasn't easy to remember your lines when your brother is smiling up at you); Noah & Levi Kinne each reciting the Apostle's Creed and the explanation of it; and 4 year old Candace Fox reciting Psalm 1:1&2 with hand motions. There were many other wonderful pieces of literature and scripture recited and we can't mention them all, but we all feel that it was one of the best recitation nights.


After all the reciting was done, we went upstairs for refreshments and a chance to look at all the arts and crafts that were made during the year. There were wonderful drawings, carvings, knitted and crocheted items and a pneumatic truck built by Noah Crocker. The Lord has given the children many skills that we pray will be used for His glory.

 

Photo of the Day

So close... yet so far away.