Some Random Pictures From Around Our Place

Is it a Duck or a Pheasant?


Well, though it's appearance might be a little confusing this beautifully designed creature is none other than our tail-less pheasant! He and his buddy "Mr. Long tail" have been frequently seen across our road in the soybean field and just the other day this hapless fellow was wandering through our front yard so I just had to snap some images of him.


Pretty funny looking isn't it? =)

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Feathers and snowflakes...two in the same, or so it seems have appeared on our windows these last several cold days. Beautiful designs hand painted on the glass by none other than our Creator God!

The Lunar Eclipse

How many of you saw the spectacular heaven show the other night? No it wasn't a tv show, it was the heavens declaring the Glory of God! The last for a couple of years, Wednesday's night sky displayed the great phenomenon of the covering or shadowing of the moon by the earth. It was amazing to watch, though we froze while we did it, as the moon slowly was over shadowed and turned a reddish hue. Simply beautiful, unique and ultimately reminding us of God's awesome power and sovereign will in everything! How small we are in His hands!


[image taken by Joshua]


During the final stages of the shadowing, here is the moon with it's reddish tint with just a sliver of light along the right edge.


The small spot on the left hand corner is a planet, supposedly Saturn. I tried as I might to get a closer picture but it was so cold and my fingers and the camera would not cooperate. Any other spots are most likely dust on my camera. =) ~Grace

Josiah and the Creation Museum

Due to me(Grace) being gone this past weekend and the nasty bug that has been floating through our house lately, this post is just getting on now, several weeks late! Josiah is still under the weather right now so unfortunately we will not be able to do the original plan of reporter post. However he hopes you will enjoy all these pictures he took and as he says, “It was awesome!" =)

Check out their website here, and also www.answersingenesis.org ~Enjoy!~

For Josiah's 13th birthday he, dad and his friend Matthew and his father went down to the Creation Museum. Lately Josiah has really gotten into studying and learning how to refute evolution and loves to read about dinosaurs! This was a wonderful gift for him (thanks to friends who made it all happen) and to share it with one of his closest friends was even better!


On the way down they listened to their favorite radio drama - Jonathan Park!

The two Pauls

If you don't know, turtles are one of Josiah's and Matthew's favorite animals so it was no surprise that the tank holding these unique creatures in the enterance was one of the most favorite attractions!

~There is so much Josiah would loved to tell you about (so much so we could publish a book!) but I guess unless you talk him you will just have to go visit the place yourself! It was "Magnificent!" Another great website for kids is : http://www.kidsanswers.org/

Some thoughts on . . . . . Snow

The snow sifts gently down from the dark night sky.
Gone are the harsh cold winds
that drove the flakes against your cheek.
Perfect calm.
No sound except the whisper of falling snow.
Can a sound be silent?
Falling snow is.
A sound so silent, so heavy and gentle.
The silence of falling snow.

I am out in the falling snow.
The flakes landing too thickly for me to keep them brushed off my coat and head.
So I don’t try.
A friendly pine tree stands nearby,
enveloped in a beautiful white coat.
The snow even sticks to the Oak branches.
Piling several inches high,
And creating the most dramatic art work.

Sharp outlines are softened,
And everything takes on a gentler look
When covered by falling snow.
The thick cold blanket stretches as far as the eye can see,
Covering the rolling fields,
And obliterating country roads.
Driving becomes somewhat of a dangerous undertaking.

Millions and billions of times
Hundreds and thousands of snowflakes!
And each one of them different!
Many a skeptic would disagree.
“Impossible!”
Not for my GOD!
He can do whatever He pleases and nothing,
no one, can question Him.
He spoke this whole cosmos into existence!
So what are a few snowflakes?

The snow is so pure, so white
That even a white piece of paper looks dingy next to it.
Could it be possible?
That I can be as white as snow?!
Yes.
GOD is a GOD of impossibilities.
To take me, a sinner,
As filthy and black as any dung heap,
And to cleanse me and make me as white as snow!
How??!!
Only through the blood of His beloved Son.

“Impossible!” Once again the skeptics cry.
“Blood to wash away filth and make clean?”
An amazing, and precious paradox.
Blood to make us white,
And death that we might live!
Christ’s death, and our death with Him.
Death to the sin which had enslaved us,
Death to our former sinful self.
Beautiful life-giving death!


“Oh, precious is the flow that makes me white as snow!
No other fount I know, nothing but the blood of Jesus!”

Our Latest Winter Storm

Wednesday brought one of our biggest snow dumps yet!


A blizzard was blowing all afternoon and into the night. Before we went to bed the guys (and some of us ladies) got to work cleaning the driveway off.

Here is one of our hard working shovelers

This is what the accumulation was at that point...sorry I didn't get a final image but it was very close to 12 inches when it all stopped.

Another happy worker...our expert tractor driver! To him its not a job, its just fun work! =)

Piling up.

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The next day came and I (Grace) just had to get out there for some photo shooting! Soon after family devotions I bundled up and headed out. Here is what I found.

Beautiful art work in heavy laden trees!

It was one big White Out! =)

Then I decided to try to head out back to get some closer shots in our back acre. The only problem was that I would have to cross our "pond"/flooded area that wasn't quite frozen and was about 6 in. deep and I did not have my water proof boots on!

Well I wasn't about to give up and because someone had told me that it really wasn't that deep I started to take the plunge. Plunge I did and about half way across I was so kicking myself for not going back for better boots as I could feel my socks getting wet and I started dreaming of the bridge that I want to build this summer! =)

Well I made it safely across, cameras and all (I had both my 35mm and digital) and this is what it looked like when I turned around.

Beautiful isn't it? =)

Ok so maybe it wasn't totally worth it all as I wasn't able to use my 35mm since all I had on it was my super telephoto lens, and I didn't see anything spectacular, but it was beautiful back there and so quiet.

A little brush cave I found...bummer there were no occupants. =(

The pureness of God's creation...the beauty of whiteness...the simplicity of silence...the stillness of God's presence.

Be still, and know that I am God;

I will be exalted among the nations,

I will be exalted in the earth!

Psalm 46:10

Coming Soon...

...Stay tuned for the postings of

Josiah's birthday trip to the AIG museum

and

Our family's African dinner!

Winter Days

Here are some recent pictures taken around our place during these cold winter days.

Our "river" traversing the back yard.

Where the "river" ends up...in our "pond"/ back acre.

A gem of ice.

What in the world is it thinking! A bit of hope peeking through the frozen ground.

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An evening of music

A week ago our family headed out for an evening of enjoyment in listening to our local orchestra play.

Before we headed into the theatre I snapped this photo of the handsome historic courthouse, standing sentinal on the street corner.

The themes from Sleeping Beauty, Snow White, Disney classics and many more were played.

Joe Brazeal did a great job narrating for the musical peice of Peter and the Wolf!

Over all it was a most enjoyable concert, the musicians performed well, the conductors were excellent and we pray that God was glorified!