Have I Mentioned How Much I Love These Guys?

 They make me laugh so hard.

 They help drive my sense of adventure.

 With them I learn, grow, play, act, dance, sing, celebrate, and cheer (go Dogs!!).

We have buckets of inside jokes. Buckets and buckets.

They're my best friends.

Don't miss out on time with your siblings. God didn't give them to you so you could have someone to argue with. Sibling relationships are valuable. Be thankful for these guys. It will make thing easier in the future. 

Thank you Lord, 

for Laura, Luke, and Caleb.

-A  

The Law Commands And Makes Us Know

We sang this little song in our devotional tonight to the tune of The Doxology. It's by Isaac Watts.

The Law commands and makes us know
What duties to our God we owe;
But ’tis the Gospel must reveal
Where lies our strength to do His will.

The Law discovers guilt and sin
And shows how vile our hearts have been;
The Gospel only can express
Forgiving love and cleansing grace.

What curses doth the Law denounce
Against the man that fails but once!
But in the Gospel Christ appears,
Pard’ning the guilt of numerous years.

My soul, no more attempt to draw
Thy life and comfort from the Law.
Fly to the hope the Gospel gives;
The man that trusts the promise lives.

Let me ask you only this: Did you receive the Spirit

by works of the law or by hearing with faith?

(Galatians 3:2)

For by grace are ye saved through faith; and

that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:

Not of works, lest any man should boast.

(Ephesians 2:8-9)

Laura

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!

~

Hymn of the Month: I Cannot Tell

Today my most favorite month of the year begins. I absolutely love Christmas time and all the lovely things that go with it. Our family does choose to remember the incarnation of our Lord differently than most Christian Americans on this holiday, but we have never felt we lost anything by not having Christmas Trees or Santa Claus. We may write on here about some of the things we do differently this month.

Now for the hymn. "I Cannot Tell" is sung to the Irish folk tune "Londonderry Air" (you may know it as "Danny Boy").

I cannot tell why He whom angels worship,

Should set His love upon the sons of men,

Or why, as Shepherd, He should seek the wanderers,

To bring them back, they know not how or when.

But this I know, that He was born of Mary

When Bethlehem’s manger was His only home,

And that He lived at Nazareth and labored,

And so the Savior, Savior of the world is come.

I cannot tell how silently He suffered,

As with His peace He graced this place of tears,

Or how His heart upon the cross was broken,

The crown of pain to three and thirty years.

But this I know, He heals the brokenhearted,

And stays our sin, and calms our lurking fear,

And lifts the burden from the heavy laden,

For yet the Savior, Savior of the world is here.

I cannot tell how He will win the nations,

How He will claim His earthly heritage,

How satisfy the needs and aspirations

Of East and West, of sinner and of sage.

But this I know, all flesh shall see His glory,

And He shall reap the harvest He has sown,

And some glad day His sun shall shine in splendor

When He the Savior, Savior of the world is known.

I cannot tell how all the lands shall worship,

When, at His bidding, every storm is stilled,

Or who can say how great the jubilation

When all the hearts of men with love are filled.

But this I know, the skies will thrill with rapture,

And myriad, myriad human voices sing,

And earth to Heaven, and Heaven to earth, will answer:

At last the Savior, Savior of the world is King!

William Y. Fullerton (1929)

But made himself (Christ) nothing,

taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men.

Philipians 2:7

Laura

25 Days In The Month Of November

Since November 1st I've tried to post something I'm thankful for on Facebook everyday, here is the collection:

1. Is thankful on this first morning of November for the exceeding riches of God's grace and the all encompassing nature of the gospel.

Our turkey baking away!

2. (Election Day.) Today I am thankful for our God in whom there is no variable nor shadow of turning. Governments will rise and fall, men will change, health will fail, our God is a rock in a tempestuous world.

3. (Caleb's Birthday.) Today I'm thankful for my siblings! Anna, Luke and Caleb, who has a birthday today.

4. (Mama was sick.) Today I am grateful for hands and feet with which to serve my Lord and his children. God grant that I may use them often and joyfully.

5. (Homeschool field trip to a creamery.) Today I am thankful for parents who see the need to teach me the gospel in every part of life, even in algebra, biology, and history. Homeschooling's such a blessing and so enjoyable, especially when it includes early morning field trips on gorgeous fall days.

6. (Chore day.) Today I am thankful human beings can be gainfully employed. ; ) In other words, I am glad God gave us work.

7. (Communion/Fellowship Sunday at church and International Eatin' Meetin'.) Today I am thankful for God creating the Church. I especially enjoy worshipping and fellowshipping with the part of it at Crossroads.

Some felt coasters Anna and I made years ago.

8. (Day after hearing this message, and the day I began Conversation Peace.) Today I am thankful for (and humbled by) the truth that God's glory rests on His children; (1 Peter 4:14) though we were (and to a degree still are) vile and capable of the utmost evil (James 3:6, Job 40:4, Romans 3:10-18).

9. (Music lessons day.) Today I'm thankful God gave us music, to glorify His name and for the enjoyment of our ears.

10. (Wednesday night prayer meeting at Ms. Melissa's home.) Today I am thankful that we can come to our unchanging Sovereign's throne of grace with our petitions and that He changes us.

11. (Morning after the evening we discussed ministry at church, after which I had a breakthrough. : ) Is thankful our Lord uses His feeble creatures to minister to others and show forth His gospel on this earth.

12. (Some things are hard to expressed reasonably.) Today I am thankful . . .

The steadfast love of the LORD never ceases; His mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning; great is Your faithfulness. “The LORD is my portion,” says my soul, “therefore I will hope in him.” The LORD is good to those who wait for Him, to the soul who seeks Him. It is good that one should wait quietly for the salvation of the LORD.

Grandma's silver.

13. (Saturday, with work and pleasure and my family.) Today I am thankful for the beautiful life God allows me to live!

14. (Daddy led the song service at church and we had a delightful Family Devotion.) Today I am thankful for the godly man who is my father.

15. (The day we began our Ladies/Mother/Daughter Bible Study. We are using Conversation Peace.) Is thankful for the godly woman my Lord has put in my life as an example of biblical womanhood. Mama teaches me so much.

16. (A hard day, but it is rather easier to be thankful after Family Devotional.) Today I am thankful for my God's precious words recorded in the the Holy Bible.

My cranberry-apple pie, before baking . . .

and after.

17. (After reading more of Lies Women Believe during my quiet time.) Today I am thankful I am a girl, and for all biblical priveleges and restrictions that come along with being one. I am thankful that by the grace of God I can join the many Christian women throughout time in being a daughter of the King of kings, and praising Him.

18. (I wrote something like this on my sermon outline Wednesday night during our discussion.) Today I am thankful that the gospel is simple enough for a child to understand, and yet we will spend an eternity lauding its Author and exploring it without ever having seen and praised it all enough.

19. (Fun Friday!) Today I am thankful for all the pleasant things God allows me to enjoy, good food, creative occupations, and time with with my joyous family.

20. (A good Saturday with some fun time outside.) Today I am thankful for the beautiful and meticulously designed world God allows us to dwell in.

21. (After hearing this message.) Today I am thankful God uses suffering.

22. (An "ordinary" day in which I most desperately need my God.) Today I am thankful for prayer.

23. Today I am thankful that my God does not leave His redeemed with their old hearts, but gives us new ones and His Holy Spirit.

24. I am thankful that, "God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love w/ which he loved us, even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved) and raised us up w/ him and seated us w/ him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, so that in the coming ages he might show the immeasurable riches of his grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus.

25. (Thanksgiving Day!) Today I am thankful for who my God is.

"Sing to the LORD with thanksgiving; make melody to our God on the lyre!"
Happy Thanksgiving, everyone! I hope your true goal for today is to give thanks to He who gives us everything!

‎"Giving thanks to God for both His temporal and spiritual blessings in our lives is not just a nice thing to do

- it is the moral will of God.

Failure to give Him the thanks due Him is sin."

~Jerry Bridges~

Laura

Thanksgiving and the Huguenots: Storm and Fair Weather At Sea

6-10-1688

Wednesday

It has been quite a while since I’ve written. The Hurricane has passed. We are all still alive except for one sailor whose name was Louis. He was washed over board, and we haven’t seen anything of him since.

The last time I wrote we were all in our little cabin listening to the waves and wind and rain. All of the sudden a enormous wave hit the ship and knocked it’s on its side. That’s when Louis got washed over. It’s a wonder no one else did. Inside our little cabin the force of the water knocked open the three little shutters and let a big gush of water in the cabin. So everything got sopping wet. Including this book and our Bible. I’m very glad that I was holding on to this and Mary caught the Bible as it went flying across the room. The pitcher and wash basin went flying too as well as Ben. Actually, when I think about it, we all went flying. Rachel went flying into Ben, who went flying into the wall. Leah went flying and hit the little wash stand, and the pitcher and wash basin went flying into her. The Bible went flying to Mary and Mary to I and we all landed sopping wet. But, I think, to everyone's surprise the ship righted its self, and as soon as it had the Captain came rushing in with Mr. Hardy at his heals to cheek on us. They picked us up and told us to all sit still on the bed. Ben had hurt his arm very badly and Leah’s head was bleeding. Then they had to leave. But soon the carpenter and the first mate came. The carpenter nailed the shutters shut while the first mate, whose father was a doctor, took care of Leah and Ben. The little mirror was broken by the wave that came in, so the carpenter dumped all the big pieces over board.

We sat there in the dark waiting for the longest time. every once in a while big waves would hit the ship and it would tip on its side. But it always stood back up again. It seemed like day time never came until sometime, it must have been around noon the next day, there was a large crack of light appeared under the door where it had been a dark gray, almost black, and water had been washing in and out. We could tell because our feet kept getting re-soaked again and again. but Captain came to the door and opened it and told us to come out and the eye of a hurricane. I now take back all that I said about not thinking hurricanes are real and the name sounds silly, and that their eyes are fictitious.

The middle of that hurricane was a wonder to behold.

I think it would have been almost more than I could bear thinking about going back into it, if it weren't for the fact that I knew the LORD was watching over us. It’s even easier to say that now that the hurricane is behind us. I was worried shaking. But a day and a half latter we came out with only a few leaks and one broken mast. God was watching over us.

That’s what I’m thankful for today.

Hannah

P.S. I haven’t written in so long because this book was drying out.

6-11-1688

Thursday

We have been busy all day trying to get the ship back in order. This morning we had a sort of prayer meeting thanking God for sparring us from the storm, and also a memorial service for Mr. Louis. I’m not sure if he was a christian.

This evening Captain told us we needed to learn English because that’s what they speak in America. So we had our first lesson.

I think Ben’s arm has hurt him pretty badly today. And Leah has been walking around with her hand on the bandage on her head all day. I do pray that tomorrow is better for them.

Today I’m thankful for my siblings here with me on this ship.

Hannah

6-12-1688

Friday

I spoke a whole sentence in English today.

“Hello, my name is Hannah.”

Today I’m thankful for different languages, and that I can learn them.

Hannah

6-13-1688

Saturday

We’ve been on this ship a whole month! It does not seem as if it has been that long. In other ways it seems as if it had been longer.

Hannah

6-15-1688

Monday

Climbed into the rigging to day! I had a good time, seeing everything from so high up. Mama would have worried. I think Leah and Ben were jealous. It was a little freighting to think about falling from so high. But I kept reminding my self that if God didn’t want me to fall then their was not a thing in the world that could make me, and if God did want me to fall then there wasn’t a thing in the world that could stop me from falling. Which really keeps things nice and simple. So I am thankful.

Hannah

6-16-1688

Tuesday.

Sunny today.

It is kind of funny how I used to not think much about the weather before I came to sea. It was just “It rains today. We have got to dry the clothes in side:” or “Today it is sunny. we can hang them out side.”

I think being at sea has made me more observant. I am thankful.

Hannah

6-17-1688

Wednesday

I am not sea sick,

But sick of the sea.

Life on the ocean is not the life for me.

Thankful that we are getting close to land.

Hannah

6-18-1688

Thursday

we thought we saw some land earlier. Turned out to be just clouds. Later Mr. Hardy, and the Boatswain, told us all about how the earth is a ball, and how the earth goes all around the sun. I’m thankful that we can know about all those things.

Hannah

6-19-1688

Friday

This morning while I was flipping through Our Bible I found these verses: They that go down to the sea in ships, that do business in great waters; These see the works of the LORD, and his wonders in the deep. For he commandeth, and raiseth the stormy wind, which lifteth up the waves thereof. They mount up to the heaven, they go down again to the depths: their soul is melted because of trouble. They reel to and fro, and stagger like a drunken man, and are at their wits’ end. Then they cry unto the LORD in their trouble, and he bringeth them out of their distresses. He maketh the storm a calm, so that the waves thereof are still. Then are they glad because they be quiet; so he bringeth them unto their desired haven. Oh that men would praise the LORD for his goodness, and for his wonderful works to the children of men!

I showed them to Mr. Hardy. He said he really liked them.

I am thankful for God’s word.

Hannah

The Second Installment of Thanksgiving and the Huguenots: "At Sea"

5-12-1688

Tuesday

This morning dawned clear and bright with the sun coming up over the land as we floated of waving and crying and sniffing and rubbing our sleepy eyes.

I suppose the crew thought we all looked so sad and dejected that that decided to try to find a way to cheer us up a bit, which was nice of them.

First they asked us if we “new any thing about ships” and we told them “not much”. So they gave us a tour. It was quite enjoyable after we finally got used to the ground moving under us. At first we all sort of wobbled around with our arms spread out a little trying to keep our balance, it was a bit like ice skating for the first time just not so slick. But they held on to us and we held on to each other and had an grand tour of the ship!

First they showed us the forecastle then the mid ship where there’s masts and sail and lot of rope hanging around like spider’s wed in an old house! Then they showed us the Poop Deck which was nice and high and you could see the whole ship from there if it weren't for the sails. After that we went down below and and they showed us the Galley, and the hold where all the things to sell in America are kept, as well as food and drink for the the trip. then they showed us where we’d all be sleeping at. It was the First Mates cabin. It was right under the Poop Deck.

Our room has three small glass windows with shutters on the outside to close when the weather get bad. There are four hammocks hanging from the roof, and a bed against the wall. There's a small mirror on the wall, and a very small dresser nailed to the floor with a wooden pitcher and wash basin sitting in a near corner.

I’ve got to go now it’s time for supper. I shall write more when I get a chance.

Hannah

5-13-1688

Wednesday

Dear me! I can not believe that it has only been a week since we left home! It seems like such a long time. Papa, Mama and the rest have probably left by now, I do miss them.

Hannah

5-14-1688

Thursday

Ben and Rachel are not feeling well. Captain says it is sea sickness. I sure hope so.

Hannah

5-15-1688

Friday

I think it is sea sickness, they are feeling some better to day.

I have not been writing things that I am thankful for lately, so I am going to start back now.

I am thankful that this trip has gone so well thus far.

Hannah

5-16-1688

Saturday

Today it has been raining. We played chess and checkers with the sailors in the galley. Then we told stories until bed time.

Mr. Hardy told a story about going to Africa on a slaver (that’s a boat the gets slaves) it was a very sad story, but I guess it had a sort of happy ending; by his the end of his second trip to Africa and back to France he felt very guilty about taking human people and selling them to other human people. After that he became a Christian, not a Catholic, but real Christian, though, I not sure if he’s like us though, but he is very kind to us and praising God for every thing, and praying quite a bit too.

But any way after that Cook told about how he ran a way to sea when the was a boy. Then several of the men told stories that I don’t think were quite all true. They about things called Sea Monsters, and mermaids, they had seen in bays and lagoons down south. And a couple of them told one story together about a Hurricane, which sound s like a silly word to me, (But of course I didn’t say so). They said hurricanes were huge storms that spun in circles and right in the middle of all the really strong ones is and eye and in the eye the water is calm and you can see the clear blue sky above you. I don’t think it was a true story though it might have been, all my siblings (except Joseph) have told me I have a very small imagination.

But after that and right before we went to bed Leah told a story about a Princess in a castle who thought she didn’t have any brothers and sisters, or a Mama or Papa and she lived all alone with her servants and her seashell collection and pet blue bird (two things Leah has always wanted) and was always lonely. She went on to tell that one day, a handsome poor boy, as she put it, came to the castle looking for work, (she looked right at Ben when she said that too). And so the princess put him to work polishing her shells. Then one day while the princess sat drinking her tea and reading her Bible and asking the Lord to send her a family if that was His will, and that if it wasn’t then He would cause her to be happy with that, when all the sudden the handsome poor boy rushed in holding a shell neckless of hers. The princess then asked the Boy what the matter was, and he answered, “Princess, your highness, how did this here shell get broke?” and the princesses answered “It’s always been like that Handsome Poor Boy. See the letters on it? You can’t read all the words because its been broken in two. I always wonder who has the other half. And if I’ll ever meet them and then we can put the shells together and read the words it makes!” Then The Handsome Poor Boy. said “ In my little cottage that I share with my baby brother and sisters,--since we don’t know where our parents are at-- we have a shell that looks like it might fit this one, I polish it every day and that’s how I got so good at polishing you know.” Then Princess said “I have a very good idea. You go home and get your siblings and come back for supper, and bring your shell and we’ll have a feast and a party, and see if our shells fit together.” And that‘s what they did, and then the shells fit together so you could read the words and the words said “The person who owns the other half of this shell is your family. Your Papa and Mama are being kept in a dungeon out in the woods against their will. Go save them.” So they did. and there was a big fight and they freed their Papa and Mama and they were the king an queen and all the children were the princes and princesses, and the first princess had a family and was never lonely again and they all lived happily ever after!

Then we went to bed.

Hannah

P.S. Today I am thankful for Mr. Hardy, and Leah.

5-17-1688

Sunday

Today has been good. This morning the sky was sunny and bright. And the Captain had church on deck. That was all right but we children felt that it wasn’t quite sufficient for a Sunday church service. And so after lunch we went to our cabin and read Matthew five six and seven and then we talked about them, and tried to figure out what Papa and our preacher would say about the verses. Then we all prayed.

All day long the crew has had to swab the decks so the boards don’t shrink an we spring any leaks. And when we asked if we could help them with anything they said that since we have our sea legs that we could do that. So we hauled up buckets of water an sloped it all over the deck to keep the boat sealed up tight.

The interesting thing about being at sea on a Sunday is that its like eating or taking care of live stock on a Sunday. It’s fairly important for your survival.

Today I’m thankful for all these nice sailors around.

Hannah

5-18-1688

Monday

Today has been splendid! It was very sunny today and we swabbed the decks again to be helpful. I am sore from all of it. And Mary and I especially look like the lobsters we caught and had for super, after they were cooked. All red.

Hannah

5-19-1688

Tuesday

I do wonder what Papa, Mama, and the rest are doing right now. they say it just might be possible that they over take us before the trip is over. I don’t really care that much who gets there first I just pray that we’ll all be safe.

Today I’m thankful for wind. It’s been pretty hot. Oh! and yesterday I’m thankful for the Lobsters. They were very tasty.

Hannah

5-20-1688

Wednesday

Today we are ‘be-calmed’. It is very hot.

Hannah

P.S. It is the middle of the night. We were just on deck be cause it was so hot in here. The wind has just started to blow again. We are going back to bed.

Today I am thankful that folks are always on deck keeping an eye on things, but even then I know:

Except the LORD build the house, they labor in vain that build it: except the LORD keep the city, the watchman waketh but in vain.

Psalms 127:1

Hannah

5-21-1688

Thursday

It is raining.

Hannah

5-22-1688

Friday

Still raining. And its cold.

Hannah

5-23-1688

Saturday

Today I’m thankful for rain. Because we don’t have to swab the decks.

Hannah