0.39 Centimeters of God's Grace

Praise ye the LORD. Praise, O ye servants of the LORD, praise the name of the LORD. Blessed be the name of the LORD from this time forth and for evermore. From the rising of the sun unto the going down of the same the LORD’S name is to be praised. The LORD is high above all nations, and his glory above the heavens. Who is like unto the LORD our God, who dwelleth on high, Who humbleth himself to behold the things that are in heaven, and in the earth! He raiseth up the poor out of the dust, and lifteth the needy out of the dunghill; That he may set him with princes, even with the princes of his people. He maketh the barren woman to keep house, and to be a joyful mother of children. Praise ye the LORD. Psalms 113

God shows us His grace and His mercy and His love in many ways. The greatest way He shows us this is in our salvation in Christ, second to that, this is one of the greatest. For a small package it packs a lot of GRACE. Truly a gift we do not deserve, but one he is so gracious to give.

Praise and Honor and Glory be to the Lord. He forms life in the womb.



6 weeks old and a heartbeat that is fluttering away. Pray for my Esposa and our little blessing. Thank the Lord for me again as you pray.

A Year Ago.....

One year ago today, we were hiking the Appalachian Trail Near Helen, Georgia. It was 30 degrees with snow flurries and biting wind -we didn't hike very long- it was sooo cold!! Well today was very different than a year ago. Today it was in the 70's and we were wearing t-shirts and turning on ceiling fans -quite a change. What else was different about today? Well, we are at home, not in the mountains and Stonewall turned a year older! Happy Birthday to our wonderful husband and father. We love you!

(Oh, Sherlock did have a coat on later -- he was trying to look brave for the picture, right Sherlock?!)

Prairie Girl Turns Six

Our sweet little girl, hereafter known on this blog as "Prairie Girl", celebrated her sixth birthday last week. She is enamored with anything that has to do with Prairie life, including wagons, horses, log cabins, dresses and pig tails! How did this all start? Well, between reading the Little House on the Prairie books, studying the time period in history and watching some of the old Little House television shows, which we have on DVD, she has become quite obsessed with the pioneer life. (Laura Ingall's is her favorite character, by the way.) A neat thing about this interest of hers is the bond it has helped create between her and Ma-Maw --her Great Grandmother. Ma-Maw grew up, not on the prairie, but out in the very rural country and lived life very similar to the era in which Laura Ingalls lived. Ma-Maw actually grew up wearing the petticoats and dresses --I am not sure about the pig tails. She didn't have electricity, I believe until she was married. She had a very simple life (though not easy) of helping her Mom with the young 'uns, doing various farm chores and she had a spirit of personality about her that was very similar to Laura Ingalls on the TV show. She was also very close to her Pa, so this has endeared Ma-Maw to the television show. Well, through this fascination, we have been able to watch as an older generation connects to a much younger generation. It has been priceless to watch them have conversations, and then to hear Prairie Girl thank Ma-Maw for talking to her about the olden days and that she "so much enjoyed listening to her stories". Yes, it is priceless, I believe, to all the generations involved!

Here is a picture of the "old fashioned" home made chocolate cake that Ma-Maw made for Prairie Girl. Ma-Maw is famous for her cakes (to those who have tasted them, at least).

Introducing Tater, and a few Acres

I received one gift in particular for my birthday that was quite surprising. Meet my '84 Chevy Silverado, Tater. After a good bath he looks better than the picture shows. Tater proudly claims the famous Mater from Cars as his first cousin, twice removed.

This is a picture of the ten acres we're clearing and possibly moving onto. It needs a lot of work and has a lot of potential; it will be a little while before it supports chickens. The treeline on the left and the road on the right form the borders. Esposa, taking the picture, is standing on the near border.

A Belated Response

It was requested some time ago that I share my own thoughts and feelings on my initiation into manhood, and late is usually better than never, so now I'll attempt to describe them.

Several people who either don't know me as well as they think, or do and just choose to ignore my faults, have made me flattering and very exaggerated compliments, told me how wonderful I am, etc. I thank them all for their kindness and meanwhile keep reading my charges that mention pride, in order to keep myself from actually believing them.

I had no idea that anything unusual would be going on the Sunday of my birthday except for some general remarks the day before. Then Sunday afternoon when my family started decorating, and put out a pitcher of grape juice (my favorite), I knew that it would be something special.

Still, when I discovered for certain during the ceremony that my father saw fit to initiate me into manhood, with all the responsibilities that attend to such an honor, I was somewhat dazed for the rest of the evening. (That may also have been an effect from receiving a Browning .270 rifle, I'm not sure.) That is certainly the best description of my feelings- dazed.

At any rate, I'll remember the event for the rest of my life. It was very special to me that the Christian men around me took time to come and present me with charges filled with the wisdom that comes from God alone- that wisdom that the world can never attain. I will certainly do my best to walk on the road that all these charges clearly point to, that narrowest of roads that leads to eternal life and a legacy left behind for future generations.

~Sherlock