I love books, so for Christmas, there were a lot of books. Mrs. Clause chose the presents this year!!

I love the feel of a book when it is new and crisp. When the Sonlight box arrives or the UPS man drops off the Amazon order, I can't wait to open it and see a brand new book.

I will write a book one day in order to be able to feel that sensation!

Still, the books I really love are the ones that are worn out. "Tell me not what a man reads, but what he reads over and over again." Those are the books we have a relationship with.

For us Richard Scarry, Busy Town books are worn out and taped up and worn out again. We have owned and torn and loved more copies of Goodnight Moon than I care to tell you. Our Little House on the Prairie series is missing pages and taped and tattered from being read over and over. Charlotte's Web, Jan Karon's Mitford Series, Anne of Green Gables. These are the books that I love to pick up. We love to read our favorites scenes over and over again.

My Bible, I must say is not as tattered and torn as these. We have a lady at church whose Bible is duct taped together. Now that is a woman you know a lot about. She is far from perfect, but I know where she goes when the days the tough and when the days are good.

Praise the Lord for the written word. Teach your kids that men died that we would one day read the Word whenever we desire. Learn to read and Tolle Lege!

The Twelfth Day of Christmas

On the Twelfth Day of Christmas, my true love gave to me,
Twelve Lords Leaping

The Twelve Points of Doctrine in the Apostle's Creed

I believe in God, the Father Almighty,
the Creator of heaven and earth,
and in Jesus Christ, His only Son, our Lord:

Who was conceived of the Holy Spirit,
born of the Virgin Mary,
suffered under Pontius Pilate,
was crucified, died, and was buried.

He descended into hell.

The third day He arose again from the dead.

He ascended into heaven
and sits at the right hand of God the Father Almighty,
whence He shall come to judge the living and the dead.

I believe in the Holy Spirit, the holy *catholic church,
the communion of saints,
the forgiveness of sins,
the resurrection of the body,
and life everlasting.

Amen.

Merry Christmas!

The Eleventh Day of Christmas!

On the Eleventh Day of Christmas, my true love gave to me, Eleven Pipers Piping.

The Eleven Faithful Apostles!

The Tenth Day of Christmas

On the Tenth Day of Christmas, my true love gave to me,
Ten Lords Leaping.

The Ten Commandments.

The Ninth Day of Christmas

On the Ninth Day of Christmas, my true love gave to me, Nine Ladies Dancing

The Nine Fruits of the Spirit: Love, Joy, Peace, Patience, Kindness, Goodness, Faithfulness, Gentleness, and Self Control

The Eighth Day of Christmas

On the Eighth Day of Christmas, my true love gave to me,
Eight Maids a-milking.

The Eight Beatitudes:
Blessed are the poor in spirit: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
Blessed are they that mourn: for they shall be comforted.
Blessed are the meek: for they shall inherit the earth.
Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness: for they shall be filled.
Blessed are the merciful: for they shall obtain mercy.
Blessed are the pure in heart: for they shall see God.
Blessed are the peacemakers: for they shall be called the children of God.
Blessed are they which are persecuted for righteousness’ sake: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Matthew 5:3-10

The Seventh Day of Christmas

On the Sixth Day of Christmas, my true love gave to me,
Seven Swans a-swimming.

The seven gifts of the Holy Spirit: prophecy, ministry, teaching, exhortation, giving, leading and compassion

The Sixth Day of Christmas

On the Sixth Day of Christmas, my true love gave to me,
Six geese a-laying.

The Six Days of Creation

The Fifth Day of Christmas

On the Fifth day of Christmas, my true love gave to me,
Five Golden Rings

The Pentateuch: The First Five Books of the Old Testament

The Fourth Day of Christmas

On the Fourth day of Christmas, my true love gave to me, Four Calling Birds

The Four Gospels: Mathew, Mark, Luke, and John

The Third Day of Christmas

On the Third day of Christmas, my true love gave to me,
Three French Hens

The Theological Virtues: Faith, Hope, and Charity

The Second Day of Christmas

On the Second day of Christmas, my true love gave to me,
A Two Turtle Doves



The Gift of the Scriptures: The Old and New Testaments.

The First Day of Christmas

On the First day of Christmas, my true love gave to me,
A Partridge in a Pear Tree

God's One Perfect Son!

Lessons from a cat

My family is experiencing a new epoch right now. We have lost the first of our pets (at least any that they remember and are close to). I joke about all our pets and getting rid of them (we have 8 of them too), but everyone knows it is a joke. Because everyone knows that I really make all those kind of decisions and if weren't for me we would not have all these pets anyway. Daddy is the head, but I am the neck (at least about the sappy stuff).

Still, my kids are sad, and they are grieving in different ways. Just like they are different; their ways of experiencing life are different. That is what makes life so good. Coco loved us all the time literally. He was by far the most affectionate animal ever. The kids pray, they cry and all of us have realized we did not love Coco enough when he was here.

There is the rub. Now that I have moved into a time when people I love die (my dad, my babies, my friends' babies), I know that life hurts and when someone is gone, truly gone, you never have that moment again. You know the moment. The one where you could have hugged one more time or said something in your heart about how much you truly want them to know Jesus. Because, though we grieve for a cat, it doesn't hurt like saying good bye for eternity.

I have friends that are adopting right now in a far away world. I have thought many times how much I should have offered her a kinder word in the last year. How much her life is changing, and she will need a lot of support. She is ushering in 3 children who without her might never know Jesus.

It seems that we must look to Jesus to do great things, and we must never forget to love people where they are. If they have Jesus or not, they still need a Savior every day, every moment.

So the lesson I learned from this cat was more than just pets are kind of a pain. Pets are part of who we are because we love to love something that loves us - no matter what we do or don't do. Losing Coco reminds me again that life is short and every moment you have someone to love is a gift of the greatest proportion from a God who gave us the One He loved the most.

George Washington's Thanksgiving Prayer

George Washington's Thanksgiving Prayer

Whereas it is the duty of all Nations to acknowledge the providence of Almighty God, to obey his will, to be grateful for his benefits, and humbly to implore his protection and favor -- and whereas both Houses of Congress have by their joint Committee requested me "to recommend to the People of the United States a day of public thanksgiving and prayer to be observed by acknowledging with grateful hearts the many signal favors of Almighty God especially by affording them an opportunity peaceably to establish a form of government for their safety and happiness."

Now therefore I do recommend and assign Thursday the 26th day of November next to be devoted by the People of these States to the service of that great and glorious Being, who is the beneficent Author of all the good that was, that is, or that will be -- That we may then all unite in rendering unto him our sincere and humble thanks -- for his kind care and protection of the People of this Country previous to their becoming a Nation -- for the signal and manifold mercies, and the favorable interpositions of his Providence which we experienced in the tranquility [sic], union, and plenty, which we have since enjoyed -- for the peaceable and rational manner, in which we have been enabled to establish constitutions of government for our safety and happiness, and particularly the national One now lately instituted -- for the civil and religious liberty with which we are blessed; and the means we have of acquiring and diffusing useful knowledge; and in general for all the great and various favors which he hath been pleased to confer upon us.

And also that we may then unite in most humbly offering our prayers and supplications to the great Lord and Ruler of Nations and beseech him to pardon our national and other transgressions -- to enable us all, whether in public or private stations, to perform our several and relative duties properly and punctually -- to render our national government a blessing to all the people, by constantly being a Government of wise, just, and constitutional laws, discreetly and faithfully executed and obeyed -- to protect and guide all Sovereigns and Nations (especially such as have shewn [sic] kindness onto us) and to bless them with good government, peace, and concord -- To promote the knowledge and practice of true religion and virtue, and the encrease [sic] of science among them and us -- and generally to grant unto all Mankind such a degree of temporal prosperity as he alone knows to be best. Given under my hand at the City of New York the third day of October in the year of our Lord 1789.

George Washington

Happy Thanksgiving!!!

And Can It Be from Plants and Pillars Productions on Vimeo.

Piano Playing and Arrangement by Erin

Photography by all of us!

Dogs

There is much to be learned from a dog... love without reason, loyalty without question, serving with out complaint, trust you with their lives.

They go where you go and they sit where you sit. And sometimes you get the feeling they would cry with you if you could.

God gave us dogs as true companions. They will come to you and sit. They don't ask or tell you to be quiet, they just sit.

Soft fur, muddy paws, wet noses, warm tongues... can you tell I am partial to dogs?

Completely Candid

Sarah Margaret

Happy 17th Jessica!!!

Wasn't it just yesterday that I felt the first twinges of the pain that would take me into the secret world of women for the last 6,000 years?

Wasn't it just yesterday that I held you and said with awe, "I just love her so much."?

Wasn't it just yesterday that I walked through Wal-Mart with you in the little seat of the cart? Just the two of us enjoying the world while wise women said "that baby is so fat, you must nurse that baby. "

Wasn't it just yesterday that you wanted to leave the church nursery to come see me because you didn't think you should be watching a certain movie. The not so wise nursery worker said that your mommy does not want you to come. DROPPED THAT BIBLE STUDY in a heart beat. (And now, we like those movies!!!)

Wasn't it just yesterday that you read "Paddington Takes a Bath" by yourself and never stopped reading- surpassing us all in speed and ability?

Wasn't it just yesterday that Daddy read the Hobbit to you and you were able to remind everyone of some obscure event that occurred several chapters before in the reading?

Wasn't it just yesterday that you would put your one year old twin sisters to bed for nap time, so I could nurse your newest sister?

Wasn't it yesterday that multiplication seemed hard?

Wasn't it just yesterday that you hosted a Film Festival that put me in more awe of you than ever before. Standing and speaking in front of more people than most people do in their lifetimes.

No it wasn't yesterday. It has been a life time of you. It has been a beautiful seventeen years and you are an incredible woman. May God shine upon you.

I love you. Thank you for becoming my friend.

Organic Fertilizer for A Healthy Garden.

This past Saturday Super Dad and Ryan headed out to a friend of a friend's farm and loaded up with a big load of horse manure for our garden. This all natural fertilizer is wonderful for the garden as it composts leaving behind all the nutrients our baby plants will need in the year to come.

Sure, it doesn't sound that fun. But, it is one step forward to delicious and homegrown food. We already had our garden pretty much ready for winter. Because we live in the South our pepper plants are still hanging in there, but everything else is pretty much gone. Our potatoes suffered from the drought, so we only got one wagonload instead of two. We also planted onions and I am hoping to get the lettuce started soon!!

Super Dad works Hard!

Ryan is Super Brother and worked so hard.

The Best mom in the world!

And Rachel who went in and made an award winning blueberry pie for the contest that night when she was done here!

Pickles... Pickles...Pickles...

Pickles... oh and the Flowers!!!

Life is Good

Excuse me... I meant to say... With sleeping babies and sweet sisters who could want a better life!!! Not who want's more? I definitely want more siblings!!!

Sleeping Babies and Sweet Girls.... who wants more?

Home is where the Heart is...

And mine is definitely here!

We are Canning

Today we are canning Sweet Pickles. Tomorrow, I think, we are canning Dill.

Next week... salsa and tomato sauce!!!

Canning is hard, hot, and WELL WORTH IT!!! When you can your own food it is so good.

Note that while canning we tried to do chemistry and physical science, but it didn't work. We gave it up so we can laugh and fellowship with my favorite people in the world... my family!

Crazy Dazys!!!

Their color is beautiful.

Their shape unbelievable

They are taking over the yard!!


Welcome to the wild garden!!!

Autumn is Here!

Autumn has officially arrived and we are about to start up our winter garden!! This will include...(but is not limited to) lettuce, carrots, peas, cauliflower, broccoli, and onions. Oh and garlic too!

Stay tuned as that takes shape!!! We are about to harvest our sweet potatoes!!!

His Handiwork: In the Beginning

His Handiwork: In the Beginning: "All righty! Now I have never done anything like this before! So if it gets boring I'm sorry! I think will get better with time so - here g..."

Photos, Photos, and more Photos and yet more PHOTOS!!!

160 attendees

Wonderful photo of the Henriques

Erin and Jessica

Tom Speers - Runner Up for Best Actor

Emily Henriques - Best Actress

Rachel Pritchett - Runner Up for Best Actress

Nathaniel and Kathryn - Best Directors

Ashley Tucker - Producer of both the Runner Up and the Winner in the Comedy Category

Rachel Pritchett - Winner of Best Costumes

Jakob Blankenship - Best Actor

Nathaniel Henriques - Runner Up for best Screenplay

Jessica Pritchett - Runner Up for Best Director

Runners Up for Cinematography and Editing

Jonathan Miller - Best Slideshow of Festival

Erin Pritchett - Best Photography

Timothy Winstead receiving for Jef Park the award for Most Educational/Informative Slideshow

JoHannah Miller - Most Personal Slideshow

Halley Hancock filled in for the Oregon Families and received their awards and medals.

Josiah Blakenship - Best Young Sound Effects/ Scary Monster

Ryan Pritchett - Best Young Director

Jamie Pritchett - Winner of Best Young Actress

Sarah Pritchett - Runner Up for Best Young Actress

Michael Pritchett - Winner of Best Young Actor

Rachel Winstead - One of the wonderful Judges

Need I say more?

Our Thank You to all the Judges!!!~