My First Deer

            POW!! It happened about 5:55 P.M.. I shot my first deer. I was so excited. My heart was racing and my hands were shaking. Looking back, I don’t see how I got a good shot off at that deer. Of course, it wasn’t that good, because we had to go and track it down.

            I had been hunting since 3:00 that afternoon and not much had happened. I had read some of a book that I had brought along, and watched a rabbit hop around the green field that I was hunting on, not much else. Then, about 5:00 o’clock, I looked up from my daydream and saw two does walking around at the end of the field.

            I was so excited about the possibility of killing a deer. But I managed to keep myself from jumping the gun. It was during rut so there was a good chance that a buck would come out so I waited. It turned out that no bucks came out so I settled on shooting the bigger doe.

            After I shot I got out of the stand and foolishly walked to the deer. When I had gotten very close to it, it got up off the ground and ran. I tried to get another shot off but couldn’t. I then called the house and asked for help to track it and soon Daddy and Caleb had come to my aid.

            After much searching and tracking we lost the trail. We walked a little ways looking and listening and then I prayed that God would help us find that deer. After that I looked up and saw a spot of blood on a tree not far ahead. We followed that trail for a while and then we heard a loud sudden flapping sound.

            I froze. I didn’t know what it was and after a little I kept moving. Then I heard it again, but this time closer. Daddy told me to look carefully around to see if I saw anything. I looked and saw a flash of white not to far away from me. It was a deer tail!

            Daddy told me to stay and watch the deer while he went to get the truck. When he got back we approached the deer carefully and when we got there it was dead. I had killed my first deer!

Happy Seventeenth, Anna!

Seventeen years ago today I received a most marvelous blessing. She was tiny and red then but now she is taller than me. She could not say anything then but now she sings, and plays piano, and talks. She talks to me and Luke and Caleb, and that is the most fun. She is a true kindred spirit. We are not drama queen girls (we have brothers to do that); we don’t go crazy for animals; we see books and movies differently enough to talk about them and similiarly enough to enjoy the talk. We make music together. We create stories and discuss them. We have different things we do and say, some borrowed and some original; we enjoy our inside jokes. 

Our award winning homeschooled scientists.

(l to r) Anna, Caleb, Luke, Jeremiah, Gracie, Sable, and Hannah

Anna and her scholarly project.

Anna and Laura playing chemists in front of the bread machine.

Pardon the blurry-ness; Luke took the picture.  

 Anna at her beloved piano.

This is one of those things we like to do and say ever since Geometry, but mine is not that funny:

If Anna has a birthday, there will be a family road trip.

If there is a family road trip, everyone will load up in Astro Mutt.

If everyone loads up in Astro Mutt, they will be stuck together for a while.

If everyone is stuck together for a while, they will talk and laugh.

If everyone talks and laughs, they will make memories.

If everyone makes memories, they will have more in common.

If they have more in common, they will be closer together.

If they are closer together, they will be hard to drive apart.

If they are hard to drive apart, they will fight to stay close.

If they fight to stay close, their children will become good cousin/friends.

 A desperate attempt at a winter family picture.

 Anna and I amongst the muscadine vines at our 94-year-old aunt's house.

So if all of the above statements are true:

If Anna has a birthday, their children will become good cousin/friends.

Mama and us four at the Christmas Festival at a local college.

Happy Birthday, Anna Elizabeth! May our precious friendships span generations and may Winsome, Ella, Lake, and Katia someday be best friends just like their mothers!

And I pray that through the work of Christ the relationships will last into eternity and be perfected there.

 Laura

Happy Birthday Caleb!

I remember when he was born.

We spent the night at the house of some close friends. We went to their grandparents for supper that night and I think we ate hot dogs. We got a call on the telephone telling us we had a baby brother. I could be mistaken and I think I've been told this is wrong, but I have the memory stuck in my head that while Laura, Luke, and I were talking on the phone with Daddy and Mama at the hospital there was a digital clock sitting on the same table as the phone and it said 8:00 in big red letters. But like I said that memory could be quite inaccurate.

I remember that night when we went to bed. Luke and I shared a fold out couch and Laura got to sleep in a sleeping bag. (How cool is that! :-) The next morning we got up and dressed in our 'going to the hospital clothes'. Mama had picked them out, and of course, they were all cute. Laura had a little blue and purple jumper with frogs on it. Mine was a red and white checkered jumper with sunflower buttons of a similar pattern. Luke was either wearing overalls or denim shorts with a t-shirt that had lions and hippos and elephants on it.

We ate breakfast (I think it was cereal) and then we had just enough time to watch a movie. Peter Pan.
As the credits were rolling Daddy was at the door to take us to see our new little brother Caleb, at the hospital.

Though I don't remember being just 'giddy', I know we were very excited.

Lots of the hospital happenings were taped and we watched them the past couple years. Laura gave a speech to the camera saying something like, "Caleb's two big sisters and brother are glad he's here" and all. Very oldest sibling like and formal. When Luke was asked what he thought of the new baby the 2 year old little fella' only said, "He's silly." Then we all got a turn to hold Caleb. I remember when he was put into my arms I thought, and maybe said out loud. "He's heavy."

The rest is family history. We brought him home, and he grew. We have a sort of saying at our house it goes "Laura said 'yes,', Anna said 'no,' Luke said 'two,' and Caleb said nothing." That's because when someone, like Daddy for instance, would ask a question like "Laura," or "Anna, do you want to hang by your toes until your nose bleeds?" Laura would enthusiastically shout "Yes!" and I would say "No!". Daddy would always like to ask Luke math questions that the answer was two. Like "Luke what's the square root of four?" Luke was always sure to answer "Two!" But when we would ask Caleb questions he wouldn't say anything.

He eventually learned to talk though. He hasn't stopped since either. Caleb has be known to talk lots. He used to have trouble keeping his mouth shut for and extended amount of time. He's gotten a little better lately though.

It has been a wonderful experience to watch Caleb grow up so far. I am looking forward to seeing him learn and grow more and more.

Happy Birthday Cabe!!!
We love you!

A.L.L.  :-)

Past, Present, Future.

Well, it's August.

Yesterday was the first day of August.

(Us four kids did the chickens, made up a chicken schedule [to know who's in charge of feeding them what day] cooked supper [buffalo chicken pizza {not our chicken} ], did Spanish, played poker =D [though we didn't gamble] and learned how to play Whist [another fun, though a little complicated, card game], felt bad for our poor dog, Joe who's scared of lightning and thunder, and had a generally good time while Mama did research for the coming school year.)

Today is the second day of August.

(we've done chickens, listened to music, started the proses of saving tomato seeds for planting next year, started two puzzles, talked and thought about hunting, politics, and voting, [Laura, Caleb, and Mama, are headed to the polls now, {as of 2:56 PM}], laughed, conspired, dealt with bad attitudes, discussed future hopes for Ad Libbia Productions, and who knows what else is to come. It's only 3:01.)

Tomorrow is the third day of August.

(Lord willing, we hope to go to the air port and see some dear church family off on a new adventure of theirs, [You could pray for them if you think about it. These newly weds along with working, going to college, and just being a new family themselves, hope to be a witness to their parents & siblings {in law}, over there in England.] we hope to go to church, and do who knows what else. Chickens are extremely likely though.)

There's still a lot more of August left.

(Pears, football season starts [YES!!!] heat, chickens, starting school, home school meetings are also likely, sweat, smiles, chickens, laughs, sorrows, joys, Life...)

Then its September.

(County fair, chickens, Spanish, cooler weather....... =)

Ah Life. *happy sigh*

What's so great about America anyhow? E Pluribus Unum and Soli Deo Gloria

I am a horrible American: absolutely horrid. When people go on and on about how wonderful the United States is (or are), how special and important it is, I think in my head, America can't stand next to my favorite country.

America has been around for 235 years and there have been citizens of my favorite nation around for almost 6,ooo years. That is 2,500 times longer.

The United States has "E pluribus Unum"- out of many one - on its currency, and yet lots Americans hate each other, fight each other, won't look each other in the face, that doesn't sound much like "one" to me. The people of my nation have difficulties for tiny little times, but they all have one Spirit so it doesn't last very long. That Spirit cannot be compared to any vague American spirit, either.

America is supposed to be a place of equality for everyone from everywhere, but how often in America has that actually happened? *crickets chirruping* Exactly! In my nation it doesn't matter where you came from, who you are, what you've done, all the citizens know they were once tired, poor, homeless, loveless, so now they can treat each other as equals, because they are fellow recipients of the most amazing welfare ever.

Our government never makes mistakes, never breaks a single law of its own, deals justice for everyone. And your American government has this reasonable law that exists (if you go back far enough) because our government exists. Only they don't pay much attention to it. Our government will last forever, yours will crumble, you know.

You know the nation I am speaking of, the holy nation.

America is nice, but what is "nice" next to the Most High God and those He has redeemed. What is a few hundred years next to eternity?

I do not deny that God has been very gracious to the United States, blessing her with quite a few wise lawmakers, freedom for many good things, and several inhabitants that are strangers and pilgrims, and have thus made her great. But the United States is really no different than the poorest nation with the greediest government, no better than the meanest international bully; America's purpose is to glorify God and help sanctify His children for a season, and this is the purpose of every nation.

Blessed is the nation whose God is the LORD, the people whom he has chosen as his heritage!

Psalm 33:12

But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light.

1 Peter 2:9

Happy Independence Day Everyone!

As you celebrate America's birthday remember how she got here and what she is for.

Laura

Happy Birthday Luke!!!

(Luke is the big one on the left.: )

Today, a very special young man turns 13. His name is Luke. My beloved little brother that I put in dresses and earrings is now well on his way to being a man.

A list about Luke:

He’s the drama queen of the family since both the girls turned out rather sober and giggly.

He toughens Caleb out, keeps Anna lively, and makes Laura feel like a lady.

He’s Mama’s hero, when it comes to vegetable picking, farm animal difficulties and technical problems when Daddy’s gone.

He’s Daddy’s extra hands and feet; and padawan learner.

He keeps us laughing with his impersonations and stray comments.

He’s one of Ad Libbia Productions best actors and their wilderness expert.

He’s a hard worker and sweats a lot.

He loves playing any cool good guy.

He is Caleb’s number one role model.

He extends metaphors beyond recognition.

He has a ridiculously large mouth. (We have a video of him sticking in a whole peeled orange!)

He loves potato salad.

He is a rapid mathmetician.

He is a realistic cartoonist.

He is an awesome little brother and big brother!

WE LOVE LUKE LOTS!

Happy Birthday, Doll Face!!!!!

Love,

Laura : )

Anna And Her Little Bro Mans Play With Photo Booth

We've took these pictures several months ago.

Every once in a while I'll see them and they just crack me up.

I debated about sharing this one. I know I look pretty wired.

And Luke-- just gross. (Though he is faking.) But Caleb just makes me laugh. =D

Happy Spring Y'all!!

Anna

A Place To Belong

This is an essay I wrote a while back for school. It is simple and short but I love the ideas expressed in it. They do battle against discontment and an aimless wondering about God's will for your life.

Everyone on earth wants a place to belong, a place they enjoy, a place where they fit in, where they are needed, wanted and loved.

I have thought much about fitting in and being in the place where I belong

and I am quite sure I belong exactly where I am. God has placed me right here

and that is the most perfect place for me. He knows where I will grow best and

where my talents will be best used. I and every other Christian can trust that if

we are obeying God and living according to His will we are exactly where we

belong even if we are uncomfortable and feel out of place. This makes decisions

like should I work here or should I work there or do we belong in this church or

that church a lot simpler. If you are obeying God, where you are is where you

belong.

Of course there is a sense in which no Christian really belongs in “the

world.” We, having been redeemed by God through His Son Jesus Christ, do not

belong at all. We are other wordly, strangers and pilgrims to the children of

wrath and to this world. We once were children of wrath ourselves and belonged

in this world but now our citizenship is in heaven. We fit in better with the people

of God who are strangers to us in this world than we do with friends who are

lost. This is what the Spirit of God does. Our real country is the Kingdom of God

and we should not feel comfortable living as the world does and loving as the

world does. We should want to live in obedience to God, not in disobedience like

the world, and we should live like the citizens of God’s kingdom that we are

where He placed us in this world.

Laura

Happy Birthday Anna!

Today is Anna's birthday. I have been Democratically selected to make this blog post. I like using big words like "Democratically" to make myself feel older. Why I said all of the above is because Anna (like Daddy) is a people watcher. If you have know her for a long time (like all my life) she will point it out to you, and most of the time, she's right. It gets really annoying knowing and not knowing she is "Reading you like book" because sometimes it's like she is literally "Reading you like a book". I love her though and I don't know what I would do without her. She listens to my jokes, laughs if they're good, and gives me the "look" when its bad. Now, decode the following message:

My First Deer

January 20 2011. That is a very spiecel day to me. That was the day I shot my first deer. It was a small doe but I was still very happy with it. It was about 4:50 pm, I looked down the plot and saw a dark blob moving towards me. Then it turned brod-side and I saw it was a doe. I reached for my gun (a Remington 30-06 bolt-action rifle 770 model) and looked through the scope and saw two does. My heart was beating so fast I was worried they could hear it. Then I remembered that Daddy had told me if I saw a doe, wait and see if a Buck comes out (it was rut). I waited for about 20 to 30 minutes. It was starting to get dark and I knew if I was going to get the best shot I should shoot now. I Got lined up, and shot. BANG!!! The deer dropped! I went crazy. I was ready to yell with joy. Then I got control of myself. I got my gun and climd down. I walked down to were the deer fell. I was about five feet away and the deer flopped its head, got up, and trotted off limping. I called the house to tell them (the rest of the house) that I shot a deer, and that I needed help to find it. Daddy and Caleb came to help me find it. We followed the blood for five to ten minutes. Then we lost the blood trail but we kept hearing something up the trail. We walked up the trail and we stopped hearing the noise. I prayed. I looked to my left and I saw a large spot of blood on a tree. we followed that trail for four or five minutes. Then we heard a noise. I turned and looked. I heard the noise again. I looked and just as I heard the noise a third time I saw something move. I looked closer and saw a deer. Daddy went and got the truck. Then we walked slowly towards the deer. when we got there the deer was dead.

THE END

Here's some Pictures

Busyness as Usual

It's been a while. We are some pretty terrible bloggers. But at least we've got good excuses.

My first excuse is school. I'm really enjoying it, though it takes me a while. Geometry though difficult still has it's rewards. I believe I've gotten a second wave on history. (Second wave meaning: When it's about four in the afternoon and you've still got a ways to go on the all day shopping trip, and you suddenly have a new burst of energy and all the silly jokes that weren't funny half an hour ago are. Third or fourth wave being: Right before bed time after that long day, when you burst out laughing at the most slightly humorous thing some one says or does.) I'm loving poetry more and more, and Laura and I have only to finish some experiments in biology and we're done! (Chemistry next:-/ not to sure how that's going to be.) And Piano gets better & better. :-)

Speeking of piano Caleb asked me if I would teach him last week. (I was so surprised!) So we had our first lesson Thursday. He has not practised very much but I only gave him one song. He keeps saying he wants to do the one on the next page, which I guess is a good sign. The next lesson is this afternoon. I really hope he will excel in his learning.

The main reason he asked I think is so he could get a little closer to having an instrument to call his own. Laura has her violin, I have my piano (and flute) and Luke got his heart set on Banjo, though he's learning guitar first. Caleb wanted to play the drums for the longest time when he was little. But the other day he was quite seriously considering the tuba, (or trumpet). He's a very indecisive young man. Though I think that will straighten out in a few years. He is just trying to figure out what's, Caleb. The other day he was trying to figure out what to do for an up coming science fair. He was so indecisive! He would change what he wanted to do almost every five minutes it seemed. He's finally decided though, he's going to make a parabola to get our wireless Internet signal all the way back to the farthest corner of Mama and Daddy's bedroom. He's excited about it too. Now I just have to make up my mind about what I'm going to do for the science fair... =)

And speaking of science the birds have been have a hay day around here lately (in spite of our three kitties ;-). There are dozens of robins, at least six blue jays, several pairs of cardinals,

wrens, blue birds, gold finches, and occasionally HUGE flocks of unidentified birds (Sunday night I was out side and I heard something that sounded like a car coming up the drive way, it was actually birds flying over head it was so cool!) They really like it when it rains.

And speaking of weather, I do believe spring is in the air! I am so excited. I just can't wait to plant the garden, and go bare foot all day with out being cold. We've spent a lot of today out in the woods and playing around in an old "hang out" a.k.a. the fallen ceder tree.

Well I guess I should go for now. It's been a really exciting winter, when I think about it. Very busy before Christmas and New Years, sick during (though we all made it to the table for chili on Christmas Eve and Christmas dinner the next day:-), and trying to get as much school done as possible afterwards. And lots of adventures, laughs, trials, and love all mixed in.

Anna

Please note, I wrote this post all week long. I just thought some things

might not make very much sense with out that knowledge. :-)

Ice

It's been cold lately, here, where we live.

Real cold.

So much so that we've been having to make icicles to keep the pipes from freezing and really enjoying a fire in the evenings.

Here are some pictures I took of the icicle we made on Wednesday (I think).

I think this is one of the biggest ones we've ever made.

The hose way up in the tree.

Long "stalactites". :-)
A upwards shot.

Peeking through them.

Drooping Limb.

Little leaves bearing there icy burdens.

Emma.

Ice where the faucet was dripping over night.

The clear blue sky.

Anna

New Years Resolutions

‎Resolution One: I will live for God.

Resolution Two: If no one else does, I still will.

~Jonathan Edwards~

Happy 2011. May the Lord bless you and yours.

Only fear the LORD, and serve him in truth with all your heart: for consider how great things

he hath done for you.

1 Samuel 12:24

Laura, Anna, Luke and Caleb.

Merry Christmas!!!

Thou who wast rich beyond all splendour,

All for love's sake becamest poor;

Thrones for a manger didst surrender,

Sapphire-paved courts for stable floor.

Thou who wast rich beyond all splendour,

All for love's sake becomes poor.

Thou who art God beyond all praising,

All for love's sake becamest man;

Stooping so low, but sinners raising

Heavenwards by thine eternal plan.

Thou who art God beyond all praising,

All for love's sake becamest man.

Thou who art love beyond all telling,

Saviour and King, we worship thee.

Emmanuel, within us dwelling,

Make us what thou wouldst have us be.

Thou who art love beyond all telling,

Saviour and King, we worship thee.

(by Frank Houghton)

"Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus,

who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped,

but made himself nothing, taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men.

And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross."

~

Merry Christmas!

Remember Christ!

~