Camera Practice

My practicing with the camera has been a successful time. It is hard to hold it still so that the pictures do not blur, especially if the person in the picture is being funny because then you are laughing and your hands are shaking. Also, it takes practice to know when to use the flash and when you don't need to. I am glad I got these pictures of my sisters. I like the last one Moriah uses in her post the best. Enjoy the pictures.

Josiah

SISTERS
Hadassah and Moriah

Having a little sister is lots of fun!
Sometimes they are funny.
They are always cute,
except for when they pout.
I am glad God gave me a little sister.



It is fun teaching her new things.
Here I am teaching her to fold a VERY large sheet.



This lesson was successful!



All the children built this sheet fort together.
Here, the sisters, are cooking dinner.
Looks good!



A great thing about sisters
is sharing secrets.



Better still are the loves and kisses!

Moriah

The Measure of Experience

During a conversation around our table this last week, I was called upon to explain a truth that has been lived out in my life countless times. In fact, it has become a way of life for me and yet I had never thought on it in such a way as to put it into words. Having been called upon to explain this truth afforded me two precious lessons.

First, as Christians, we are called upon to explain what we believe in a thousand situations covering a full spectrum of truths put forth in Scripture. In being called upon to explain this particular truth, I had an answer. So, many times I am caught thinking to myself, "Now, how am I going to answer that?" as I search for how to put into words what I have been taught concerning the truth in question. While it is not wrong to approach a question in such a manner, it is not as effective as the ready reply. So what makes the difference? That is the first lesson I learned. The difference is the measure of experience. Instead of being asked to explain something I had been taught, I was being asked to explain something that has become a way of life for me. One does not need to ask oneself how to explain what they personally experience. The words are ready and certain. Oh the importance of applying the truths of Scripture in our lives. For in this application, we are made ready to give an account. It is not the mental learning of the truths of Scripture that fully prepares us; it is the daily application of the truths learned that fully prepares us. For in the daily application of that mental learning, those truths shine a light on our daily lives enabling us to see that the effect of those truths is indeed our daily experience.

Secondly, in being called upon to explain there is the added benefit of having that truth, that said principle of Scripture spelled out before you, renewing your wonder in a truth which you may have begun take for granted due to the fact that it is now your daily experience and not a recent learning such as you may marvel at. In being called upon to explain, there is set before you the precious opportunity to define your experience such as it relates to the principles of Scripture. The benefit here is twofold. 1. The principles of Scripture are continually before you in a clearly defined manner. 2. Seeing the principles lived out, by God's grace, in such a definite way gives you a clear view of the work God is working in you toward His good purpose. What a joy for the Christian!

"What was the topic of conversation that initiated this post?" you ask. A wrestling with the trials of life. We can be assured that the trials will come, God has promised they will. We can be assured that God's mercies are ever present, Scripture says they are new every morning. However, due to the nature of man, it is easiest to see the trials. As Christians, we must look for the mercies. The more we look, the more we will see. As we identify the mercies of God that touch everything in our lives, more of who He is and how very blessed we are comes to light and we begin to live a life of gratefulness to the Lord in every circumstance be it a time of trial, tribulation or ease. In this life of gratefulness, our struggling against trial and tribulation ceases and we walk in the peace that God intends should rule our hearts.

The Joys of Growing Up

We have a zero-turn lawn mower due to the size of our “yard”. The responsibility of keeping our acreage mowed has fallen to me for a variety of reasons. I do not know how many of you have ever driven a zero-turn on well rutted land, but it is not a comfortable situation. In fact, after a few hours my back would be pretty well spent. So, in a moment of desperation, I decided to teach Josiah, at the tender age of 11, to drive the zero-turn. Lessons (riding in my lap) went well and he proved worthy of my trust in his ability to be responsible. Finally, we reached the point where I felt Josiah could handle the machine well. So, early in June, he climbed aboard for his first solo ride. Imagine our surprise when the zero-turn refused to start. We checked everything we could think of and nothing helped. So, I took the driver’s seat and it started right up. Then the light dawned, the zero-turn has a safety weight switch. In other words, you have to weight a certain amount for the zero-turn to start. The advantage to this is that it turns off instantly if you are thrown from the zero-turn. The disadvantage to this is that our great plan fell flat.

The same week our plan fell flat, the weather climbed into the 90s. As a result, our grass did not grow and it was not too long before much of it had died. Since there was no need to mow our brown, crunchy lawn, our dilemma was resolved for a time. The high heat continued for six or seven weeks. Then this week we have experienced a cooler streak of weather. With the cooler weather and a bit of rain, I noticed that some of the shaded areas of the lawn did need mowing. So, I mowed. As an after thought, before I put the zero-turn away, I decided to have Josiah try starting the it up hoping that he had grown as much in the last six weeks as he seemed to have. Lo and behold - it started right up! Imagine his delight!! Then again, I am not sure you can! He must have put on a few pounds. He certainly should have seeing the amount one feeds a growing boy. Oh, the joys of growing up, literally. :0)

Mama Ortega

This is me on our zero-turn lawn mower. It is a great experience, it is true, at least for me. For a number of weeks I rode in my mother’s lap taking lessons. That was fun. But now, now that I weigh the right amount, I had my first ride on my own! When I was taking lessons riding in my mother’s lap, I thought it was fun to zoom around real fast. Now that I am in the seat alone it is not so fun to zoom around because it bounces around a lot and gives your bones a good shaking. I do not mind the jostling, I just do not zoom so much. When I was taking lessons, it was hard to learn to steer. Now I have the hang of it and it is really fun to spin on a dime! This is a great experience!

Josiah

Pruning the Trees

We are delighted to report that it is a cool, sunshiny day here in Northern Illinois. Quite a change considering the hot summer we have been having. It was 100 degrees just last Sunday with a heat index of 116. I am sure that just served to make today’s weather all the more delightful!

What to do with a perfect summer day? Let’s think . . . I know, let’s get the trees pruned of all their dead branches. I do not suppose that is what most folks might decide upon, but we did. We have three huge pine trees clustered together in the front yard. They are so close that all the inner branches have died. Since they are shaded by each neighboring tree, the inner branches get no sunshine and are quite dead. So, we pruned and trimmed and then pruned some more.

Everyone helped out.






















There was even time for a little fun.











The outcome was actually much better than we had figured on.
Not only did it make the appearance of the area much neater,
it has provided a hidden room of sorts for the children to play in.
It is shady and cool and the children
can play completely hidden from sight.





The perfect hide out!




Another fruit of our labor . . . a really big burn pile!
Stay tuned for the pictures of when we set this pile ablaze.
As Isaiah says, “We are going to have one big bomb fire.” :o)

In Appreciation of Our Heritage

Behold, children are a heritage
from the Lord,




The fruit of the womb is a reward.




Like arrows in the hand of a warrior,
So are the children of one’s youth.



Happy is the man
who has his quiver full of them;



They shall not be ashamed,
But shall speak with their enemies
in the gate.

Psalm 127:3-5

Surprise!

Imagine a hot, sultry summer morning. You rise at 6:30 too miserably hot to sleep any longer and take a short walk. Low and behold you find yourself wading in ice cold, ankle deep water. Surprise! How refreshing!

Now imagine that the ice cold, ankle deep water you are wading in is in your basement in the form of a 500 gallon flood! It is still a surprise to be sure . . . just not so refreshing. This was the way our morning began on Tuesday of this week.

One of the basement circuits clicked off in the middle of the night and left the water purification system to the house running from 11 pm until I went wading in the basement the next morning. The purification system only needs electricity to turn it on and off. If you loose electricity while it is going through its middle-of-the-night cleansing cycle it just keeps going until electricity is restored. (Now that we know that we will keep that in mind.) The sump pump was on the same circuit so while our water system was cycling it was dumping water for hours into our non-functioning sump pump leaving us a lake to clean up in the morning. I am very grateful that I found it before Joe went to work. I am also grateful that it was clean water and not waste water! I am grateful that Joe was able to stay home to help with all the clean up!

It was a rather unusual day :0). I was shaking Josiah and Moriah out of their sleep bright and early to help Joe and I mop, sop, and move things standing in water. Which was most everything on the unfinished side of the basement and much on the finished side. The upside to things standing water is this - all those boxes I was going to sort through, I can just throw away because most everything in them is ruined. That certainly made the decision about what to keep easier since we could only salvage so much. About an hour and a half into our mopping we remember that we have a wet vac we have never had need of and put it to work too. We turned the circuit back on, but it keeps blowing so we have things plugged into extension cords. I am so grateful that some of the basement outlets are still working or we would have no water! God is so gracious!

After sopping, mopping and wet-vacing much of the day Tuesday, we attempted to dry out the carpeting with fans and a dehumidifier. It was a hopeless case, as by Thursday afternoon our whole house smelled mighty peculiar and our basement in specific smelled like something had died down there. So, with the help gallantly offered by the Von Holten family, we ripped out all the carpeting in the basement. Thank you Von Holtens!! It was quite a job - but well worth the reward of a sweet smelling home and a much improved basement scent. It still smells a little musty - but with the humidity that is understandable.

Some surprises are pleasant, some are not. However, as all come from our Father’s hand for our ultimate good and His glory, we maintain that we are truly blessed! After all, are we here for ease of living or for the process of sanctification? How much more easily we see His grace in all things when we humbly, confidently submit to His sanctifying work in our lives. May this be the case more and more consistently in our lives.

The Funny Faces of Hadassah

The following pictures were taken by Moriah.

This was such a fun series we just had to include it in our blog!

Take a look at those cheeks!



LOOK OUT SHE'S ABOUT . . .



. . . TO BLOW!!!



There she blew ~


Completely deflated.

The Gift from God!

Joe, as many of you know, has been struggling with the pain in his back most of his life. It has been aggravated lately by our recent move which in turn requires him to commute an hour and a half each way to work everyday. He likes to drive, but his car is so uncomfortable that it is very hard on his back causing increased pain. We have been praying for a new car for him for several months now, even wondering at times if we should try to buy one somehow. Finding ourselves unable to afford a car, we continued to pray for some relief of his pain.

Yesterday, while at work, Joe was called up front to speak with a patient. The gentleman asked him if he was looking for a car. When Joe admitted that he was, the gentleman explained that he had one available and went on to describe all its benefits (which were numerous) convincing Joe that he would never be able to afford it. When Joe asked about the price, this gentleman said it would cost $1.00! Joe wanted to know what the catch was. No catch, this gentleman explained that as he had been laying in Joe’s office receiving therapy, he had been thinking about what to do with this extra car he had. In an unmistakable way God spoke to his heart telling him to give the car to Joe! Joy of joys! What a wonderful answer to prayer!

Today, Joe brought the car home and surprised us all with it. He called ahead and told us to all be outside when he reached home. Then he drove in with a "new" car. He climbed out and I asked him where he got it. He said, “It is a gift from God.” Then he told us the whole story. When the gentleman dropped it off for him today, he had detail cleaned it, filled the tank with gas, taken care of the title transfer and paid for new license plates! God is so very good! We are so grateful to God for the car and for His faithful servant who gave it to us. We all took a little test drive in it and it is very nice and comfortable. A true blessing - but than isn’t every gift from God a blessing?

Joe's gift car from God~
We are so very grateful!

Photography Lessons

Recently, as in last week, Josiah and Moriah
decided to try their hand at photography.
This home school study has turned out to be
more fun than any of us thought it would be.
Just another evidence that any study is more enjoyable
(or at least more tolerable)
when you are learning it at home with your family.
To add to the family fun, we have decided
to occasionally include some of these, at times, rather unique
photographs in our family blog as a record of their progress.

Please note: The following photographs are “raw footage”
and have not received any sort of computer “doctoring”.
The photos and the captions are both original to the students.

Josiah's Photos


Story time makes me sleepy.



He's teaching me pan-yo.



That's right, there you go!



Moriah's Photos


Something is interesting . . .



Nap time.



What an expression!

A Refreshing Picture

These blossoms are a refreshing sight,
a small reminder of spring,
when the rain was abundant;
the weather cooler;
and the plant life flourishing.

This is suppose to turn out to be the hottest summer in the last 60 years of recorded history. Although we have had a few drizzles of rain on scattered days - we have not had any substantial rainfall in weeks as the abundance of brown lawns will testify. In light of the constant heat; often heavy humidity; and lack of rain - it is refreshing to enjoy one of those scattered days that affords a few drizzles of rain. It is funny how our perspective changes with our circumstances. So much of the time, rain is seen as an inconvenience - something to be tolerated, planned around/avoided if possible, or the occurrence of such greeted with frustration as it hampers our busy life plans. In our current situation, rain is desired not tolerated; prayed for not planned around; welcomed despite the interruption it may be to our plans. It is interesting how the cry of a dry and thirsty land causes a longing in us for something we may not particularly welcome otherwise.

This is an interesting reflection of the heart. So many find the spiritual disciplines inconvenient - something to be tolerated, planned around/avoided if possible, finding the demand for such disciplines frustrating as they hamper our busy life plans. Then one finds oneself in a situation where the pleasures of this life have dried up leaving the landscape of the future looking brown and lifeless; the heat of the pressures of life have drained away most of one's energy and motivation ; the heaviness of heart drags against every step one attempts to take forward; and all for the lack of spiritual rain. The cry of a dry and thirsty soul causes a longing in one for something that may not be particularly welcome otherwise.

In this, is the value of the drought. The drought is the birthplace of true thirst - a thirst so deep that it can only be satisfied with living water. The more severe the drought, the deeper the thirst. The deeper the thirst, the greater the seeking. How often does God send us a blessed drought in the situations of life that we may experience a depth of thirst that draws us ever closer to Himself, the only source of living water to satisfy the soul?

The drought draws a vivid picture of the reality of the true source of life; of what is most valuable; of what is worthy to be sought. May we remember the lessons of the drought in the lush and fertile seasons of life and be found only seeking the most valuable treasure of all, the source of all life, the only One worthy of our whole-hearted, life-long devotion - the Almighty, our sovereign God.

A Visit from Africa

We had the fun of a visit with our relatives from Africa recently. After a year of leave, spent at a Christian college in South Carolina, they are headed back to Kenya where Uncle Ken teaches Greek, Hebrew and Bible at Scott Theological Seminary training up native pastors to reach the many different tribal people of Africa. On their way out of the US they decided to drop by for a visit on the farm. We treated them to an authentic Mexican meal and they treated us to many photos of the beautiful people they minister to and the breathtaking nature of that area. We are sorry to say that we do not have any of their African photos to share at this time. However, we do have a few photos from our visit together. Since we only get to see them once every five years, this was a really special time for all of us.

The girls preparing for our guests.

Hadassah "working" to get that pot clean :o)









Moriah preparing the refried beans.



Our Guests

Uncle Ken and Cousin Benjamin
enjoying the eats.




Aunt Deb (Diana's sister) and Cousin Jason
listening to some of Joe's health advice.




Joe asking if Uncle Ken remembers
any of the Chinese he once studied.
The answer - "not reallly."




Moriah - Cousin Anna - Hadassah

I think it is safe to say that Anna
was delighted to be with her girl cousins.
"A nice change from just brothers."




Isaiah and Gabriel - Finger lickin' good!




Josiah - Ummmm!
There is nothing like "real" nachos!




Are you serious?
Do they really do that in Africa!?!

A Partiot's Reflection

All of us have experienced events in our lives that stand out in our memories from the rest of our history. Events that had a significant part in shaping not only one’s future but the future of others; days that have left a lingering impression in one’s spirit which comes to mind for recognition, remembrance, and meditation in the quiet times we have alone; hours that have impacted the course of history in such a way as to have left a living memorial written in the very fabric of our lives; moments that stirred us so deeply our only response could be a pouring forth of the best in us. This is an account of just such an event.

On September 13, 1814, Francis Scott Key visited the British fleet in Chesapeake Bay to secure the release of Dr. William Beanes, who had been captured after the burning of Washington, DC. The release was secured; but Key was detained on the ship during the shelling of Fort McHenry, one of the forts defending Baltimore.

The battle was fierce, the British forces vast and seemingly undefeatable as Key watched from his detained position. The full price of freedom pressed itself indelibly upon him causing him to groan as he took in the truth – Freedom costs lives, the lives of the brave men fighting in Fort McHenry and then perhaps even the lives of the women and children in Baltimore. The glaring reality of the cost of freedom confronted him with his inability to help his fellow Americans as they fought. Prayer was his only release and God his only hope. The hours of battle that dragged by in sluggish scorn only served to make the joy of the unexpected victory all the sweeter to savor. The journey from the darkness of certain defeat to the light of overwhelming victory stirred Key so deeply that he had to pour forth the best that was in him in response to the impact this battle and the eventual God-given victory had not only on Key, but on our beloved America. He has left us a written memorial and a tribute, a memorial and a tribute first written on his heart. A memorial of a battle fought and won; a memorial of the cost and in turn the value of freedom; a tribute to our Almighty God and the country He has given us. May we do this memorial, this tribute justice as we recognize the cost of freedom living, as if we believed in its value with deep gratitude to our Almighty God for this great country He has given us. Let us pour forth the best that is in us to protect the freedom our fore fathers paid so dearly to secure lest it be slipped from our grasp without our ever taking action or even taking notice. Let us step up to the battle that must be fought even this day to protect and retain our God-given freedom!

Read now a patriot’s reflection – The Star-Spangled Banner.

O say, can you see, by the dawn’s early light,

What so proudly we hail’d at the twilight’s last gleaming?

Whose broad stripes and bright stars, thro’ the perilous fight,

O’er the ramparts we watch’d, were so gallantly streaming?

And the rockets’ red glare, the bombs bursting in air,

Gave proof thro’ the night that our flag was still there

O say, does that star-spangled banner yet wave

O’er the land of the free and the home of the brave?

On the shore dimly seen thro’ the mists of the deep,

Where the foe’s haughty host in dread silence reposes,

What is that which the breeze, o’er the towering steep,

As it fitfully blows, half conceals, half discloses?

Now it catches the gleam of the morning’s first beam,

In full glory reflected, now shines on the stream:

‘Tis the star-spangled banner: O, long may it wave

O’er the land of the free and the home of the brave!

And where is that band who so vauntingly swore

That the havoc of war and the battle’s confusion,

A home and a country should leave us no more?

Their blood has wash’d out their foul footsteps pollution.

No refuge could save the hireling and slave

From the terror of flight or the gloom of the grave:

And the star-spangled banner in triumph doth wave

O’er the land of the free and home of the brave.

O thus be it ever when free-men shall stand

Between their lov’d home and the war’s desolation;

Blest with vict’ry and peace, may the heav’n-rescued land

Praise the Pow’r that hath made and preserv’d us a nation!

Then conquer we must, when our cause it is just,

And this be our motto: “In God is our trust!”

And the star-spangled banner in triumph shall wave

O’er the land of the free and the home of the brave!

In 1913 Congress moved to officially make The Star-Spangled Banner our national anthem, in its entirety – not just the first verse as it is so often presented in today’s society. So much has been lost with the negligence of those remaining verses. Much like the first chapter of a story, the first verse is only the beginning, offering only a taste of patriotism. A taste that is sweet enough to stir the emotions, but not sustenance enough to build within the soul, the character of true patriotism. In neglecting those remaining verses, our country has lost the depth of the whole, the understanding of the message, commitment to our God and to the cause of freedom. In this loss, too much has been left unsaid, unremembered, and undone. May our nation return with understanding to the worship of our Almighty God with a deep commitment to the freedom that God used to found this country.

A Cool Day

Pictured here is one of the few plants that has survived the rather hot run of weather we have been having this summer. A cheery spot on the stoop to greet the children as they come in from playing in the yard on the brown, crunchy grass. Speaking of which, the upside to brown crunchy grass is that there is no need to mow it :o)

Today, however, we are experiencing a break in the weather. A cool day, refreshing, reviving and gratefully received. A reminder of the sweetness that awaits in the presence of God to cool us from the heat of the battle; refresh us in our focus and purpose; and revive us as our burdens are relieved and our cares cast upon Him. An even better gift, more gratefully received.