Author Archives: Ellen

First Sunday Drive This Fall

Our area has such a beautiful layering of mountains all around us looking North, South, East and West. The photo above is looking South.

We are choosing to drive some roads in our area that are new to us to continue familiarizing ourselves with our county. On this first Sunday in Fall we chose Greenwood Loop Rd. which took us to Mingo Mountain Road. When the road became Primitive we turned around and went back the same way we came.

We had a good weekend and I hope you did, too. Happy new week to you all.

My computer only let me upload a couple of my collages. I’ll add the rest of the photos when my computer behaves. Bright and early this morning my computer is behaving so I added the rest of the photos!! 

This will be a busy week for us. I’ll be very scarce come Wednesday and beyond.

O God of Truth ~ Hymn

O God of Truth

O God of truth, whose living Word
Upholds whate’er hath breath,
Look down on Thy creation, Lord,
Enslaved by sin and death.

Set up Thy standard, Lord, that we,
Who claim a heavenly birth,
May march with Thee to smite the lies
That vex Thy groaning earth.

Ah! would we join that blest array,
And follow in the might
Of Him, the Faithful and the True,
In raiment clean and white!

We fight for truth, we fight for God,
Poor slaves of lies and sin!
He who would fight for Thee on earth
Must first be true within.

Then, God of truth, for whom we long,
Thou who wilt hear our prayer,
Do Thine own battle in our hearts,
And slay the falsehood there.

Still smite; still burn; till naught is left
But God’s own truth and love;
Then, Lord, as morning dew come down,
Rest on us from above.

Yes, come: then, tried as in the fire,
From every lie set free,
Thy perfect truth shall dwell in us,
And we shall live in Thee.

Words: Thomas Hughes, 1859.

Where in the World…

…is our traveling family?

My youngest brother and his family are having an RV adventure around the USA (Wholly-Rollin) for who knows how long. My sister Lana and her hubby Steve met up with them in South Dakota the 16th through the 19th of September and here are a couple photos I “borrowed” from them. Leonard, Mandy, Hope and Andrew will soon make it to our neck of the woods the beginning of October. Hope and Andrew are being RV schooled enjoying God’s amazing creations around the USA. They have just left the Yellowstone Area and the Grand Tetons heading to Montana.

Leonard and Lana, the babies of our family. They are twins. The Black Hills of South Dakota.

Meanwhile back in our neck of the woods,  Jaymison and Addyson enjoying the beginning of Autumn.

Addy is enjoying a carrot fresh out of the garden and JJ is always pleased to be seated on any piece of machinery!

After I got the framework of the puzzle done and a lot of the interior done, Dear helped me finish up this Matryoshka Doll puzzle. He did leave the final pieces for me. It was a tough one but satisfying to see it completed. This is our 7th COVID-19 puzzle in the books!

Have you taken up puzzles lately? Do you grow carrots in your garden? Are you part of the RVing world? What’s the favorite place you’ve traveled to in the USA?

A to Z Bible Verse Challenge ~ C is for…

 

Today is Thursday and we are on the letter C in our Bible Verse Challenge.

I read a couple of Bible verses loaded with several ‘C’ words.

C is for Common, Certain, Crept, Condemnation, Christ.

Jude 3-4:

Beloved, although I was very eager to write to you about our common salvation, I found it necessary to write appealing to you to contend for the faith that was once for all delivered to the saints. For certain people have crept in unnoticed who long ago were designated for this condemnation, ungodly people, who pervert the grace of our God into sensuality and deny our only Master and Lord, Jesus Christ.

Visit Willow at Willow’s Cottage to see the verse she has chosen to share and say hi.

C is for Casting and Care

Casting all your care on Him for He cares for you.  1 Peter 5:7

From Vee: C is for…

The account of the woman taken in the act of adultery…cast, convicted, conscience, and condemn as in “Neither do I condemn thee, go and sin no more.” 

You can read the full account in John 8:1-11

From Sue: C is for Come, Crimson

Isaiah 1:18-20: 

“Come now, let us reason together, says the Lord: though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they are red like crimson, they shall become like wool. If you are willing and obedient, you shall eat the good of the land; but if you refuse and rebel, you shall be eaten by the sword; for the mouth of the Lord has spoken.”

From Maristella: C is for Christ, Continually and Circumstances

“Rejoice always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in* Christ* Jesus.”
1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 | NIV

From my sister Vera: C is for Chosen and Called.

“But you are a CHOSEN race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of him who CALLED you out of darkness into his marvelous light.”
‭‭1 Peter‬ ‭2:9‬ ‭ESV‬‬

Click over to Mrs. T’s blog, Across My Kitchen Table to see her choice for C! I’ll add the verse from her blog to this post tomorrow that will give you time to head over and comment on her blog. She chose the word Courage. C is for Courage.

“Have not I commanded thee?  Be strong and of a good courage: be not afraid, neither be thou dismayed; for the LORD thy God is with thee whithersoever thou goest.”  (Joshua 1:9)

From Libby at Beauty Without Within: C is for Cry and Crushed.

These verses referring to CRYING out are timely I think: Ps. 34:15,17-18
“The eyes of the Lord are on the righteous, and his ears are open to their cry for help. The righteous cry out, and the Lord hears, and rescues them form all their troubles. The Lord is near the brokenhearted; he saves those crushed in spirit.”

Libby’s blog is Beauty Without Within.

Bethany at Raindrops & Rainbows has a post on her blog for the Challenge. Click over and read her post, you’ll be encouraged. C is for Create.

“So God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him; male and female he created them.”  Genesis 1:27

“Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within me.” Psalm 51:10

From Cheryl: C is for Comfort

“Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our tribulation, that we may be able to comfort those who are in any trouble, with the comfort with which we ourselves are comfort by God. 1 Corinthians 1:3-4

And you are right Cheryl…why stop there. Here is the rest of the paragraph from 2 Corinthians 1:5-7 (ESV).

5 For as we share abundantly in Christ’s sufferings, so through Christ we share abundantly in comfort too. 6 If we are afflicted, it is for your comfort and salvation; and if we are comforted, it is for your comfort, which you experience when you patiently endure the same sufferings that we suffer. 7 Our hope for you is unshaken, for we know that as you share in our sufferings, you will also share in our comfort.

Cheryl’s blog is called Thinking About Home.

If you have verse/verses for the letter C post it in the comments and I’ll add it here. If you posted a verse on your blog let me know and I’ll add your link here. Thank you in advance for participating. It has been so good to see the verses that you find to share.

Hello Fall Hodgepodge

Thank you to Jo for coming up with the questions for the weekly hodgpodge! Click over to From This Side of the Pond to join in.

This photo of JJ and Addy covered with leaves is from last Fall after the leaves fell.

1. It’s fall y’all. What’s something you love about this season and also something you don’t?

Fall clothing is something I enjoy. I really can’t come up with something I don’t like about Fall. Fall might be my favorite season of all.

2. When you think of the colors of fall, which one is your favorite?

Hmmm…I think I like the combination rust, gold, olive green, maroon, and brown. If I had to pick one I’d pick olive green.

Is there somewhere you could easily day trip to see the leaves in all their glory?
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There are lots of great drives in our area where we can enjoy fall colors.
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Will you? Yes, we will.
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3. What’s one thing you’ve let ‘fall’ by the wayside during this season of staying home and staying away?
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We aren’t taking as many roadtrips as we have in the past.
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4. If you’re wearing a sweater is it most likely a cardigan, crew neck, v-neck, or zip up hoodie?
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Most likely a cardigan.
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5. What’s your secret to dealing with change?
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It’s not a secret but sometimes we forget that God is sovereign, that He is in control. Reminding myself that I am not in control takes the pressure off when change happens.
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6.  Insert your own random thought here.
Each Thursday until we have gone through the alphabet I’m hosting Truth from A to Z Bible Verse Challenge. Tomorrow we are on the letter C. If you’d like to join in you can add a verse in the comments on my post tomorrow or let me know that you posted a verse on your own blog. I’ll add a link to your post or add your verse from the comment section onto the Thursday challenge post. The word/words that start with C can be anywhere in the verse. It can be a key word or not. Not a lot of rules just an exercise that encourages you to search the treasure we have in the Bible.

Hello to Fall 2020!

I’ve added a few touches of Fall Decor for 2020. We have some exciting events happening in October. Lots of family time with our little circle and extended family, too. Fall is a favorite time around our parts. Time will tell if the Cider Festival will be happening. (So far it hasn’t been cancelled). We know the corn maze is opening soon. Hunting season opens in October, too. For Christmas our kids gifted us a family photo shoot and we are getting our clothing choices coordinated for that. We hope to get the photographer scheduled during hunting weekend when all our kids will be on this side of the mountains.

Do you have any Fall plans?

UPDATE: Sad news that the Ciderfest has been cancelled. 😦

Farewell to Summer…

…with a look back starting in June and Father’s Day.

Father’s Day on the Eastside and then on the Westside…

On to July…

Visitors of the critter variety and…

…wonderful human visitors from California.

We ended July with cherry picking.

On to August…

Parties with Addy’s first Lemonade Stand!

Outdoor projects: Painting the deck and filling in the pond.

All our kids gathered together on the Westside.

Long time friends of the family with our kids.

Back on the Eastside and fun with Baba while Daddy and Gramps worked on the shop.

Grand finale for August was getting the last panels on the shop roof!

In September…a little rearranging of the furniture.

JJ got to come over to Baba and Gramps without his big sister.

We celebrated Gramps’ birthday twice.

The last week of Summer all across the state of Washington we had smokie skies and we stayed inside and limited our activity.

Today I’m happy to report that this is what our skies look like just in time for the end of summer. We are all so thankful to have clear blue skies with white fluffy clouds.

What a relief it was to be out and about in the wonderful weather. We won’t take it for granted anytime soon.

How Firm a Foundation

How Firm a Foundation

How firm a foundation, ye saints of the Lord,
Is laid for your faith in His excellent Word!
What more can He say than to you He hath said,
You, who unto Jesus for refuge have fled?

In every condition, in sickness, in health;
In poverty’s vale, or abounding in wealth;
At home and abroad, on the land, on the sea,
As thy days may demand, shall thy strength ever be.

Fear not, I am with thee, O be not dismayed,
For I am thy God and will still give thee aid;
I’ll strengthen and help thee, and cause thee to stand
Upheld by My righteous, omnipotent hand.

When through the deep waters I call thee to go,
The rivers of woe shall not thee overflow;
For I will be with thee, thy troubles to bless,
And sanctify to thee thy deepest distress.

When through fiery trials thy pathways shall lie,
My grace, all sufficient, shall be thy supply;
The flame shall not hurt thee; I only design
Thy dross to consume, and thy gold to refine.

Even down to old age all My people shall prove
My sovereign, eternal, unchangeable love;
And when hoary hairs shall their temples adorn,
Like lambs they shall still in My bosom be borne.

The soul that on Jesus has leaned for repose,
I will not, I will not desert to its foes;
That soul, though all hell should endeavor to shake,
I’ll never, no never, no never forsake.

Words: John Rippon, 1787.

What’s New?

Dear and our son laid out and fastened all the rebar over the vapor barrier last Saturday.

Now all we need is the Concrete contractor to fit us into his busy schedule. We hope that’s soon!!

Addy started Awana this week for the first time. She’s in the Cubbies class. She thought it was GREAT!

I was gifted this new puzzle and it’s not an easy one. This will be our 7th COVID puzzle to date.

Even though it’s not easy I love it. Thank you, Linda!

We are still smokey but we are suppose to get some rain on Friday or Saturday.

We have a pie social tonight with our JOY group at church. (Just Older Youth) I’m bringing a cherry pie. What would be your favorite pie?

True Confession: I do not bake pies but I did find a handcrafted frozen cherry pie that looked real good at the store. It was pricier than the name brand frozen pies. I’ll put it in the oven to bake tomorrow before our event. I’ll let you know if it was worth the big bucks!

True Confession #2: I am not fond of cherry pie. Other pies were already signed up for and no one had signed up to bring cherry and that’s why I ended up with it. Dear enjoys cherry pie.

***Update on the store bought pie…It was delicious per Dear (he had two slices) The crust was flaky and the filling was wonderful. The pie maker was Village Pie Maker. I think I bought it at Wal-Mart in the frozen section.

Truth from A to Z ~ Bread

It’s Thursday and we are on the letter B in our Truth from A to Z Bible Verse Challenge. Thank you for all the wonderful verses you found last week for the letter A. You can share one verse or a section of scripture.

B is for Bread and Believes

John 6:47-51: (Jesus is speaking these words)

Truly, truly, I say to you, whoever believes has eternal life. I am the bread of life. Your fathers ate manna in the wilderness, and they died. This is the bread that comes down from heaven, so that one may eat of it and not die. I am the living bread that came down from heaven. If anyone eats of this bread, he will live forever. And the bread that I will give for the life of the world is my flesh.

Add the verse or verses you have chosen for the letter B in the comments or on your blog and I will add them here. If posting on your blog I’ll add the link to the post here, too.

From Bethany at Raindrops and Rainbows: B is for Be Kind

Why don’t you click over and read the verses she picked for this week. I’ll post the verses here later today.

Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you. Ephesians 4:32
And the Lord’s servant must not be quarrelsome but must be kind to everyone, able to teach, not resentful. 2 Timothy 2:24
Then they can urge the younger women to love their husbands and children, to be self-controlled and pure, to be busy at home, to be kind, and to be subject to their husbands, so that no one will malign the word of God. Titus 2:4, 5

From Barb: B is for Believe

Acts 16:31, “Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and you will be saved — you and your household.” 
Two things stand out to me with this verse.
1) Salvation is based on believing in what Jesus Christ has done for us, not on our works.
2) When one person in a family follows Christ as their Savior, the rest of the family is strongly affected, often choosing to trust Christ as well.
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From Patsystitch: B is for Bread
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John 6:32-35. Jesus then said to them, “ Truly, truly, it is not Moses who has given you the bread out of heaven, but it is my Father who gives you the true bread out of heaven. For the bread of God is that which comes down out of heaven, and gives life to the world.” Then they said to Him, Lord, always give us this bread.
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From my sister Vera: B is for Blessed
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“Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in Christ with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places,”
‭‭Ephesians‬ ‭1:3‬ ‭ESV‬‬
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From Maristella: Be is for Beauty
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“Your* beauty* should not come from outward adornment, such as elaborate hairstyles and the wearing of gold jewelry or fine clothes. Rather, it should be that of your inner self, the unfading beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is of great worth in God’s sight.”
1 Peter 3:3-4 | NIV