Simple Faith and Plain Truth in a Troubled World

The first thing I want you to do is pray. Pray every way you know how, for everyone you know. Pray especially for rulers and their governments to rule well so we can be quietly about our business of living simply, in humble contemplation. This is the way our Saviour God wants us to live. The Message I Timothy 2: 1-4

Please Tell Me What This Is

Today is heap big stay in the house day. The main project was learning how to create this blog. I do have a way to go. Lot to learn. But I worked on another project and when Ken arrived home, he decided my project would make an interesting photo. Can you guess what it is? I'll give you a prize if you can figure this one out.

A Contest between aging Olympus and younger Fuji baby.

It is Tuesday, Jan 27. We had a freezing rain yesterday and last night. Nothing like we had in December 2007, but nevertheless, jobs are cancelled and the school is closed so I am home snug and warm just enjoying veggen out. So Ken has a new Cannon EOS 40D that he has studied and practiced to become proficient on. I used it some on the automatic setting and it is very fast and nice. However, it will do way more than I know how to do with it. So he pulled out the old Olympus bag to change bags. The Olympus had not been out or use for nearly a year. The little lightweight Fuji had taken over and does very well for a non professional such as me. But when I saw that Olympus which I had quit using because it was so slow and old and a little rubber thing keeps falling off ... I rememberd how much I loved it. Upon seeing it, my fickle way banished and I had to play with it again. It was the camera that made me look good even when I knew nothing about how to shot a photo. It worked for me at interpreter conferences and many other fun event ... not to mention all the grandbaby shots taken with it. So here is the race for perfection and value. I bundled up and went out with each camera to shoot the ice covered deck and yard. Herein is a sample of the work of each camera while bird feeders and birdbaths and welcome signs and angels frozen and pansies and fesque grass and trees and bushes and everything has a coat of ice covering it. Go ahead ..... click on the collages to blow up the photos and see which camera wins.

A Fire that Amazes Old and Young Alike

Can you see the look of amazement on Sydney's face. This was the restaurant that Jennifer wanted us to enjoy last Sunday Evening (Jan 18) and we did love it. A great display of a cooking show .... knives clicking, fire blazing, veggies dicing, rice dancing, eggs cracking .... on and on while we enjoyed our soup and salad. Joel and I ordered scallops while Ken and Jennifer had fillet. Fun and yummy time together. Thanks to Joel and Jen.

P.S. The rice was even in the shape of a heart and it 'beat' with love for us.

I've Gotten Me A Man From the Lord

This is my man ... the best thing that ever happened to me. Yes, he was God's gift to me. Oh true, there were times I wondered if God had played tricks on me because he was not perfection. But he has learned patience, tenderness, gentleness that surround those hyper episodes and impatient moments. Ken is what I needed ... what I deserved ... a balancing measure ... able to draw me out and believe in me when I did not believe in myself. Thanks sweet and gentle man of God!

"We can't round up enough containers to hold everything God generously pours into our lives through the Holy Spirit. Christ arrives right on time to make this happen. He didn't and doesn't wait for us to get ready. He presented himself for this sacrificial death when we were far too weak and rebellious to do anything to get ourselves ready.....we wouldn't have known what to do anyway.......God put his love on the line for us ..... while we were of no use whatever to him......." Romans 5: The Message

Who is having the most fun? Certainly all are very happy!

40 pounds of Precious Girl

Our adorable 40 pound bundle of joy with her puppy, Nigel and her daddy. In this collage, you see that they went to the neighborhood park. Nigel had more fun that anyone. He would climb up the ladder and slide down through the shoot. The neighborhood kids loved it too. Nigel is so chubby that I think the children's father was concerned with his size -- but you can see the fun all were having. Photos taken by Ken.

Proof the Colliers had Christmas!

As creative as Sommer is, we usually have to go to Asheville to take our own pictures of the Collier family. And believe me, when we get Ava and Carson in our presence, we take a bundle, because Sommer sends few photos of our beautiful eastcoast grandchildren. I miss so much seeing them grow up. Don't they grow up so fast! We do know that Ava and Carson were visited by the great gift giver in the sky because on Christmas day, came evidence from Sommer's cell phone -- two wonderful ATV ridding toys. WOW! What a gift! It appears the Christmas in Asheville was a wonderful sun shinny day.

Christmas Train at Dry Gulch, the day after Thanksgiving.

Most of the time, Ken and I are behind the camera. But when we went to Dallas, I found this photo in Jennifer's camera and I took it. It is Ken and me at Dry Gulch and it was cold that night. We took, Kevin's family and Joel's family there for an outing. April's family had gone the week before. We worked at the Christmas Train taking family photos about five nights. It was a lot of fun and Ken is so good at getting those groups set up and looking good. It was wonderful for us to do a project together. Man, I love that Man! He is the best thing that ever happened to me!






Hey! Sommer sent another photo from her cell phone. She must be beginning to see our suffering and withdrawl from Ava and Carson. Are they not adorable or what! Here they are eating shushi (Ava's favorite food?) And the message with the photo was "I just learned that Williams-Sonoma sells a cutting board pig like those Dad use to make." I think we should be collecting royalties!

THE NANA

The Fox - Pickett Family after Christmas

Bonita took Devin and Hailey and spent a couple weeks at Christmas time in Mississippi with her family. We missed them so much but I do admit that the Fox family deserves to enjoy them also. So Kevin was alone during Christmas. But the loneliness ended with a return trip by Bonita's Mom. Here they are just before they returned home to Mississippi.

New Years Eve, January 31, 2008

We went to the Scharpf home for New Years Eve. Now bear in mind, I have not stayed up and partied untill midnight for New Years in a long time. But we had a nice time together....split pea soup and other great foods. And everyone got to try out the new Wii that the Scharpf family got for Christmas. It was a great fun evening. There are four cats at the Scharpf house. I believe I have photos of three of them. Who can tell me their names ..... Moses the 2nd, Spot and ?????

The Scharpf Cats

Papa Loves His Grandchildren

To Ken, every grandchild is special and beautiful and unique. He loves everyone of them. Here he is loving on Lily and Rosie. Lily is the more affectionate and responsive to Papa but Rosie never wants to be left out so if Lily gives a hug, the Rosie is there with more hugs. Ken loves everyone of them. Something to make his heart grow stronger each day.

Lily turns Nine Today

Saturday January 24, 2009 was Lily's 9th Birthday. It was a Lil' Pet Shop Theme with nine beautiful girls to celebrate her day. They had a wonderful time together enjoying bingo and balloon volley ball games. It was also Devin's birthday and he was there, but did not wish to participate, so there is a separate posting for Devin's birthday. It is the season for birthdays so there may be many postings to come.

Devin turns Twelve

I hear that Devin attended a party the night before and was up all night playing Wii and other games. So perhaps at the time of these photos he was a bit tired. But this is our oldest grandson on his 12th Birthday. Happy Birthday, grandson. May the blessing and grace of God rest heavily on your life as you begin those highly emotional teenage years. God has a plan for you and it is good. And what God begins, he always completes so get ready for the journey, Devin.

Sydney's Five

Sydney turns five years old. Her party was at Planet Pizza with her friends and family. We were not there for the party as I was at a conference. But Papa and Nana did get to say happy birthday to our big five year old. We had a good time together -- even though most of Sydney's time was in her play room playing and watching TV. These are Jennifer's photos that I have played with to create this collage.

Sydney's 5th Birthday Party

I was not here -- but I can see the party was a big success. Papa and I did take our own photos and they will be posted in days to come. Our little angel is growing up and she will be getting a new sister in May. We are all so very excited.