My last post was Feb. 15th...4 days before I took a spill while ice skating at Sarah's 18th birthday party. ( This brought T-tapp to a screeching halt.)
Actually, we had been having a wonderful time for several hours before I actually slipped and fell. Antoinette's lovely family drove down to meet us in Knoxville.  Our daughters' birthdays are close and it was mutually enjoyed by all.  I didn't break anything...as far as could be ascertained...but, I am still having bouts of 'painful walking'.  The time to recover from the pneumonia as well as the ankle injury has given me time to ponder more than usual.  In March we pushed ahead in our studies and reading aloud from Charles Dickens' book Our Mutual Friend.  We have tried to read a Dickens book every winter for a number of years. I began this 'tradition' when I realized that some books are 'hard' to read to oneself, especially with his propensity for run-on sentences. (Not that I don't err in this department ).  Also, when you learn that he was paid by the word it makes perfect sense!  This 'normally' happens of an evening, say supper time or after. We read out of the Bible during the same sitting.  At lunch I read another book...sometimes a biography, history, or just for fun book. Lately I have been reading a Lamplighter book called Rescued From Egypt .  It is a very thought provoking book...like most of the Lamplighter books we have read.  We had two more lambs born in March. We also hosted a Purim party again this year and had a wonderful time reading through the book of Esther and then sharing in a huge feast  with good fellowship.  We never know who all will come...even though the invitation says RSVP. But God always brings exactly who HE wants to be here. The end of March we traveled to Kenlake, KY for something called Family Week. We had gone last year and enjoyed the fellowship of like-minded believers. Our son Robert (photographer) took portraits of all 110 families and put together a directory. He offered packages for all who wanted to purchase them. We had a sweet Passover Seder...although it was the fastest one we have ever had. At the end of the week we attended a beautiful betrothal ceremony filled with many meaningful analogies. It made me long for our Savior's return...our bridegroom. On our return we have had multiple sets of company with lots of good conversation, prayer and laughter! With one set of company we laughed so hard our stomachs hurt! This week we have had 'doctor' appointments...mostly in Chattanooga...about an hour's drive. The older neighbor that we have 'custody' for has had some health issues which have necessitated more frequent visits to resolve the issues. When we left for KY our mountain was brown...when we returned everything was beginning to bloom. The multiple shades of green are beyond description. I thank our Father for creating many shades of each color.  Have you ever thought about what our world would look like if we only had one shade of each color?!?
           While I was recuperating I was meditating on what God calls me to be...prudent, meek and quiet...things that have not been part of MY description. So, I thought I would look up exactly what those words meant in my 1828 dictionary. I wrote them down in my journal...and then flagged the page so that I could review and continue to meditate on them.
Prudence: implies caution in deliberating and consulting on the most suitable means to accomplish valuable purposes. Prudence implies more caution and reserve than wisdom; more in forseeing and avoiding evil than in devising and executing that which is good; circumspection. (WOW!!)
Meek: mild of temper, soft, gentle, not easily provoked or irritated (oops!), yielding, given to forbearance under injuries, not proud -self-sufficient - or refractory, not peevish and apt to complain...ouch!
Quiet: Being in a state of rest, still, free from alarm or disturbance, peaceable, not turbulent, not giving offense, not exciting controversy, disorder or trouble, CONTENTED, calm, unruffled, not restless...secure.
So, while we started back into our 'normal' routine for learning this week, I am again meditating on the definitions of these three words. Next week I hope to get back to planning and planting in the garden...and meditating. Today I hung up three hummingbird feeders...the azaleas are blooming and I heard the familiar 'fighting' noises of our little birds. We have an Eastern Bluebird family in our birdhouse on the front porch. And out at the bird feeder I saw a Red-winged Blackbird today.  We have been going through Notgrass' TN history studies this year. So we have been checking out locations around us that we were unfamiliar with until now. This past weekend some of us sneaked a preview of Falcon's Rest, a mansion built by a man for his wife on condition she would move out of town closer to his textile mill. It happens to be fairly close to us in McMinnville.  He made "Gorilla" pants at his mill...so strong a gorilla couldn't pull them apart. The mansion is built of brick and is 10,000 square feet with inside water and power...quite a feat at the time of its construction. We purchased books (of course we did!) in their large gift shop and have been enjoying reading the history of Warren county and the city of McMinnville.
I am so thankful for dear friends and my wonderful LORD whose mercies are new EVERY morning.  My husband of 'excellent worth' and children who are walking daily in HIS ways are a never ending source of joy. Please continue to pray for the Estes clan , my dear friend Margaret (a retired teacher) with cancer, and my dad who has developed a number of health issues in the last month and a half. In ALL things give thanks.
Grace and Peace,
Ruth

Life has had a few bumps lately. Somehow toward the middle to end of January I began to get a 'little' sick.  By the time I realized how sick I was I ended up in the hospital for  the first week of February. Remember I am the one who doesn't hardly go to the doctor's office...you walk in with one thing and walk out with 5 more things you didn't come in with!  Anyway, I am SLOWLY recovering from pneumonia (apparently a very bad case of it). What I didn't anticipate was how well my family coped with my absence. They have tackled everything with gusto...from keeping up their schoolwork to cooking, cleaning and chores. I feel so blessed to watch them in action. As I read Psalms 39 I agreed with David as to my frailty and teaching me to count my days. Through all of this I have had such a peace.  I kept thinking I would wake up and panic, realizing how far behind I am getting...but so far I am resting in HIS peace...Thank you Father!!  Our eldest son also ended up with pneumonia minus fever and has done remarkably well recovering at home while still doing his regular work.  He has taken a little more time to rest. REST...that has been a good lesson during this whole time.  When I got home I thought I would just get back into the swing of things... Well, the swing of things ended up being my taking numerous naps throughout each day. I would not recommend this method, but I have lost over 10 pounds during this illness.  All of the things that I thought I was the only one who could do them...such as payroll for our business and the meds for our elderly neighbor were picked up by my wonderful family. I have also been blessed with nursing care from our daughters AND my dear husband...who does NOT like to be awakened after he has gone to sleep , but still got up to help me.  Thankfully the last three nights have been mostly uninterrupted sleep- actually the best I have had in over three weeks. YEA!!  We have learned some more natural ways to get better.  One of these includes hydrotherapy...which uses a lot of common sense.  In other news we have had numerous snow flurries and even got 4 inches!! Right now it is snowing again and we have a light dusting. The cold has been, well...REALLY cold! It is supposed to be 16 degrees tonight.  On Friday (2/12) Sarah's ewe, Joy, had a lamb. It is a male and too cute! They are ensconced in the warm barn. We are looking forward to more lambs and our goat kidding in the next month.  We are also hosting a Purim party the end of this month. If you are curious read the book of Esther. Now I am supposed to be back up at the house....taking another nap. I must also get to work on getting my first semester grades sent in. As we watch and listen to all of the happenings in our world...let us not be weary in well doing...and let us not fear, but trust in the LORD with all of our hearts and lean not unto our own understanding and don't be wise in our own eyes. Take EVERY thought captive and think on things that are pure, true and of good report.  HE will direct our paths and keep us in perfect peace. We are still praying for the Estes family and several others right now including Brad Phillips who is recovering from knee surgery after injuring his knee, having surgery and then breaking his kneecap and having more surgery. 
Grace and Peace,
Ruth

We have been in our usual whirlwind of activities at this time of year. Having everyone who we can find who doesn't have a place to go for Thanksgiving. Singing/playing for various functions. Hosting the Gideons for the December meeting at our barn...including dinner and singing/playing. And finally this week taking a breath while we make final adjustments (mostly) or marathon sewing contests (some) in preparation for a Civil War Ball to be held this coming weekend.  My dh is slowly recuperating from walking pneumonia. The rest of the crew are in various stages of recuperation from a flu/cold. We are still trying to hold some semblance of order and learning is progressing, albeit slowly.  We began our Dickens book this past week; we will be reading Our Mutual Friend.  It is not one that I was familiar with...so it will be a surprise.  I am still praising my Heavenly Father for HIS miraculous healing of my heart in June.  When we returned I asked the Father for regular fellowship with likeminded believers...Well, being the loving Father HE is, he not only heard, but answered overwhelmingly!  We have had non-stop company since June!  By late August, I had begun to tire of the constancy of it...and even had the audacity to say out loud..."that I was SO done with company for awhile!"  not only to my family, but to my wonderful LORD.  You know that still small voice? The one that GENTLY convicts? and doesn't accuse or slap us in the face?  He very gently said, "Didn't you ask me for fellowship?"  OOPS!!  I just thought it would come on certain days of the week between certain hours!  So, I repented, asked HIM to break and cancel my words and continue to teach me to praise HIM for the wonderful fellowship that HE has been bringing.  Our ways are definitely NOT HIS ways...nor are our thoughts HIS thoughts.(Isaiah 55).  I have had more joy than I can express in submitting to HIS ways. I have been doing something called T-tapp to get fit. It only takes a little over 15 minutes and requires no special equipment or jumping, meditation, loud music, etc. It is very doable.  We had a beautiful snow fall on Saturday morning when we awoke. We rarely get any snow...and this was only 1/2 - 1 inch...but that was enough for our 'younger' set to go out and attempt to sled and/or slide down any and all hills on our property. It was all gone by noon.  We have had more to pray over...the Drummond family is in need of prayer after losing Sarah on Nov. 17th (a 25 yr old mother) and their grandfather Dec. 3rd. I also would ask you to pray for my childhood friend Julie and her husband and daughter.  Her husband, Ray is very ill with cancer. He has not been able to work for some time and now Julie has had to take off to stay with him. There are many needs. There seem to be many needs...everywhere we turn...heartaches, and yet, I believe that ESPECIALLY during these times we need to PRAISE HIM with all of our hearts. I am also working to guard my heart from despair and discouragement, knowing that GOD'S timing is ALWAYS perfect. HE is totally trustworthy. I hope my friend in Idaho is enjoying the snow we have been hearing about...and dressing warmly, with the low temps!!  I hope to blog more often...but as I have said before, "Real life takes precedence over computers!"
Grace and Peace,
Ruth

How appropos that our new school year would begin on September the 8th...for new beginnings! The really funny part is that I had planned to begin our new year last week on Aug. 31st.  But, the best laid plans of mice and men... My plans had everyone rested and ready to dig right in to a 'wonderful' schedule. But, my plans have not come to pass. I am beginning to understand (again...sigh) that God's plans are always better than mine.  We have been reading a couple of books that a dear friend bought and passed on to us. The first one is called, Escape to God, the second is entitled Come to the Quiet . Both books are by Jim Hohnberger. They are funny and yet wonderfully convicting....learning to listen to God's voice and truly obey. They are true stories about the author's experiences moving from a city lifestyle to the wilderness with his wife and 2 young sons.  This year I only have 3 students...it reminds of the book/song There were 10 in the bed...   Two are in high school which means I cannot be quite as 'free' (read Charlotte Mason style) as I am in the elementary years. We always start off with singing a hymn (so that our children learn the hymns...since they aren't sung quite as often as when I was a child.) Then we review chapters of the Bible that we have already memorized, then we memorize our new verse for the day (working toward another chapter). This year we are using IBLP's Character Sketch books for Bible, nature study and character traits. At the conclusion of this time we pray together...usually everyone prays out loud. It is never forced, just left open for whoever wants to pray. Most days everyone chooses to pray.  We are using Apologia for their Science...which so far, everyone has enjoyed. We use Saxon for arithmetic and even though some have struggled, it really does cover so much and they are very prepared for anything they choose after high school. The two oldest are doing economics this year...which for us is a more rigorous course because of their daddy. He is an entrepreneur and encourages each of them in free market principles of economics. For this course they read a number of books (11+) and either do a book report or complete some "tests" on each one. We are using Rod and Staff for English this year because I am a big fan of diagramming as they get in the upper grades. I believe it helps them develop more logic skills. They are continuing into the advanced Spanish. I am very excited to be using my friend, Charlene Notgrass' TN history and geography book this year. Of course, music is always part of our course work.  The summer has been VERY full...but completely enjoyable. We have been canning off and on as things come ripe. I canned beans for the very first time!!! I was told they are the easiest things to can and surely they are. When Marmee did a DVD on how to do it...I couldn't wait to try. We have also put up a lot of pears and hopefully our salsa for the year. Robert finally got our apple press in working order and we have been sampling and all out drinking all that he is making. This past weekend was very full...we played/sang at Bluegrass in the Sky, a festival up on a hill. Robert did the sound for the whole thing and we helped put up and take down the sound system. We had a delightful visit with the Sheen family at the Atlanta Campaign (a civil war reenactment below Atlanta,GA). Then we attended and played/sang at a family Labor Day picnic of some dear friends. This week is looking very full with several doctor appointments for Mr. Mackey, our elderly neighbor. We have 'borrowed' a billy goat (buck) for our Saanan goat until next spring. The leaves are already changing and falling and the temperature in the mornings is feeling more like fall. I just love all of the different seasons and the way God gives us beauty in each one. On a more somber note, I received word this morning that my cousin Valerie Strickler died Sunday evening from an overdose. She was 47 and had a husband and 2 sons. I would very much appreciate your prayers for her parents (my aunt and uncle) and her two siblings and their families. It was quite a shock to all of them...(and us). Remember to keep your home filled up with God's word and praise and worship...your body and your physical house. When you begin to look for HIS blessings, they are abundant.  I am rejoicing in HIS care and hope you are too!
Grace and Peace,
Ruth

Wow! Time just keeps marching on. We have had multiple blessings this summer. We had a new baby horse born on July 3rd. We have had multiple sets of company. Which has given us lots of time to fellowship with friends. The latest group just left yesterday...and for me was VERY uplifting and exciting. Our family had a wonderful time meeting and getting to know (just a little because the time went by far too fast!) the family of Antoinette . The only problem was I never even thought to get my camera out to take pictures! I should have...because we had a surprise 'visit' by a rattle snake the first evening they arrived.   We are planning another time of meeting... with Antoinette's family, NOT the rattler , but haven't nailed down the details. I have also been canning...creamed corn (for the very first time), a salsa recipe which my family REALLY enjoys, and bread and butter pickles (also for the first time). I was supposed to get beans from the garden done and pears from the trees along the drive done...but, that will be for another day. We finally got rain this afternoon for which we are grateful. I am steadily working on clearing out clutter, a little here, a little there, and it feels very good. We are planning on beginning our school year Aug. 31st Lord willing. This weekend we will be playing/singing for the homecoming for a church up the road. Then Labor Day weekend we will be playing twice and two weeks later another engagement.  For everyone who is wondering how my heart is doing....drum roll please...Our wonderful Heavenly Father has healed my heart as far as we can tell. Back in mid June my dear husband and I went down to Thomaston, GA to For My Life a week long program of teaching, fifty hours to be exact. It is worth every minute. If anyone is interested please email me and I will be more than glad to give more detailed info.  It is wonderfully refreshing to learn about how much our Heavenly Father loves each of us. Also, we learned about sin and how that causes us to have broken relationships with ourselves, God and/or others. When we have broken relationships it causes us to 'fall out of agreement' with God and allows our bodies to become sick and diseased.  I will try to post again soon about our plans for curricula. In the meantime...remember to keep your house filled up with God's word and praise and worship.
Grace and Peace,
Ruth

I am trying to quickly add another update. We have finished processing our cherry 'crop'. Each year God blesses with more cherries...and more little cherry trees! We stopped any 'formal' schooling a few weeks back before the boys' graduation. Each day has been more full. We dried a lot of the cherries and made cherry jam out of the rest...except what we ate right off of the trees! Now we are getting ready for the blueberries to be ready...another week or so. Yesterday we had some excitement when a timber rattler got into the cage with Julia's collie appropriately named 'Mischief'.  After the snake met a quick and early death we discovered it had collie hair IN its mouth! But, Mischief showed no signs of being bit...we gave her activated charcoal anyway just for good measure.  Then the REAL fun began as my (VERY ONERY) children brought the (headless) snake down and proceeded to try to frighten our employees as they walked out to their vehicles by placing it in the walkway and under one's car. Honestly, I don't know WHERE they get their sense of humor. We are waiting on a new horse baby and the new heifer is growing quickly. I am looking over our next year's plans for each child (only 3 left).  Every year we try to see how long we can go without turning on the a/c. Even though it has been hot and humid, we have had rain off and on just when it helps to cool things down and are running the ceiling fans a lot. We are also adjusting the blinds to keep the sun from heating things up too much. Usually we only make it to the first weekend in June...but, we are still going!  We also do this in the fall...seeing how long we can go until we HAVE to turn on the heat.  Trust me, no one suffers, and everyone is in on the game.  We made it to Thanksgiving one year. Last night we went to a little country church down the road from us. Their pastor had asked my husband if we would come so that they could pray for me to be healed (read the previous post). We were so honored and humbled...and so very blessed.  The prayers were sweet and all of us were crying by the time we finished. How precious to belong to the body of Christ. We are continuing to hold the Estes family and little Noah up in prayer. If you have not kept up, please check in on them. There are also other families we are praying for, including 4 where the wives are walking out on the husbands and children. Three of these involve the wife committing adultery.  It breaks my heart to see the enemy destroying lives...especially the children. Hug in close to your dear husbands and children...love covers a multitude of sins.  Walk closely with your Savior DAILY asking Him to keep your heart and mind pure. Please don't believe the lies of the enemy...many times spoken by others around you. On a final note, after mowing/weedeating a large portion of fence line our two youngest asked to go swimming in our upper pond. Usually I go with them, but this year the pond has begun to grow some 'green stuff' around the edges and until I receive the organic treatment being shipped I decided to take the safe way out and rowed my boat around while they swam.  It was wonderfully invigorating and peaceful. Try to get outdoors, even if  it is just to hang the laundry, and take some deep breaths...even if it is hot and humid...and thank God for the opportunity to be alive and move. Until next time...
Grace and Peace,
Ruth

Well, it has been another long stretch. In the meantime it has NOT been boring. Since I last posted we spent a week at Kenlake in KY with 400+ others at a campground. It was a wonderful, but very busy week...it included temperatures down in the low 30s with sleet; and a line of tornadoes and thunderstorms with highs in the 70s on the other extreme. It began with a sweet wedding of a couple who truly practiced a Godly courtship in obedience to their fathers. Our two eldest children photographed all of the families and made a directory for everyone by the end of the week.  We also celebrated a wonderful Passover Seder.  Colin and Nancy Campbell and their sweet daughter Mercy blessed us and we had a great time with their daughter Evangeline and her family. We met new friends who immediately felt like long time friends. When we arrived back home we hit the ground running (of course)! Rachel's plane was over in our 'neck-of-the-woods' right before the trip to KY , so she was able to get some more hours in toward her commercial license. Then we had to get the two oldest boys ready for graduation.  The rehearsal (Thursday), banquet (Friday) and graduation (Sabbath) occurred this past weekend. I will try to get pictures (hopefully sooner than later). We were honored to sing for the graduation. On Sunday we went to a precious riverside baptismal service. We were also honored to sing for this. Our neighbor's brother was being baptized as he had recently rededicated his life to the Lord. This coming weekend is the Annual Dunlap Coke Oven Bluegrass Festival (the 23rd). We have suspended all tablework until further notice. Because learning has been going on constantly....we have a new baby heifer born last Friday morning. We have seven new hives of bees...caught as swarms! We have even gotten some honey off already. We have learned how to shear sheep...the first one looks a little pitiful...but the third one looks GREAT!  We are still caring for our neighbor, Mr. Mackey.  The garden is on its own right now, but still feeding us lettuce, spinach, onions and peas. We are experimenting making cheeses. YUM!  The cherries are ready, make that PAST ready to be picked and I just got our new cherry pitter in. We are still praying for the Estes family and little Noah, along with many other families walking through hard times right now. On a side note, I was diagnosed with mitral valve prolapse 25+ years ago. I have gotten along very well until recently when I began having some misbeats and actual missed beats. After going in for appointments and testing the cardiologist here is encouraging open heart surgery for a valve repair. We have opted to pray and think about it...AFTER this next weekend before making any decisions. I would covet your prayers for HIS healing. In the middle of all of this...amazingly, I still feel HIS incredible peace and am resting in the knowledge that NOTHING takes HIM by surprise.  He will guide us with HIS eye and cover us under HIS wings. Thank you Father!
Grace and Peace,
Ruth

Blessed be the LORD: for he hath shewed me his marvellous kindness in a strong city...Be of good courage, and he shall strengthen your heart, all ye that  hope in the LORD. Psa. 31:21, 24 From the end of the earth will I cry unto thee, when my heart is overwhelmed: lead me to the rock that is higher than I. For thou hast been a shelter for me, and a strong tower from the enemy. I will abide in thy tabernacle for ever: I will trust in the covert of thy wings. Selah Psa. 61:2-4 What an absolutely omnipotent GOD we serve. Since I last blogged it has been more of the same...doubled!! Except, that his grace has covered everything even more abundantly...if that is possible. First, some GOOD news to report. Last Friday, Feb. 20th we had twin lambs born! (They are our first ones!) I will try to include pictures at the end of this post. We have also added two more dogs to our menagerie. We have had a Great Pyrenees, Esther, who is getting older. She stays in the field with the cows, goats and sheep. We are looking at new ways to divide up our fields to make them more ecologically sound so my dh thought that two would be better than one. They are from the same litter, the mother is Anatolian Shepherd, the father is a Great Pyrenees. So, one looks like the father and is 47# at 4.5 months. The other looks like the mother and is a whopping 75#!!. We have just had them a week and they are keeping everyone entertained. In the last 5 weeks I have been in more doctor's offices/medical facilities than I have been in in the past 5 years!  Mr. Mackey, our neighbor, for whom we have been overseeing the care, has had multiple visits for a full evaluation. This has included separate trips for primary care physicians, specialists, labwork, brain CT scans, brain MRI, and on Monday a cancer dermatologist for a biopsy. Two visits also involved dogs to a vet. Two visits involved the dentist...for our semi-annual teeth cleaning and a revisit for cavities! (I am ashamed to say I was one of the reasons for the 2nd visit.) I admit to feeling so exhausted that I have 'several' times forgotten to floss and brush. My dh is the "King of Floss" , a title he proudly wears. But, he has also been so exhausted that he has not been 'policing'  his precinct in his usual way. On Valentine's Day evening we played/sang at Rocky River, near McMinnville. My wonderful, fantabulous husband who does not do mushy things and DOES NOT usually sing with us...came up on stage and sang with me!!! While the music to The Tennessee Waltz is beautiful, the words are less than romantic and at best, NOT from a biblical viewpoint. The children's teacher wrote new words...and this is what we sang:
                                   I was waltzing with my darling                
                                   to the Tennessee Waltz
                                   In the moonlight shadows so vividly
                                   I whispered sweetly, I do love you
                                                  now and forever;
                                   As we danced to the waltz of Tennessee

                     chorus: I remember the night
                                    and the words you did say
                                   "The Lord's hand has sent you my way"
                                          I whispered sweetheart
                                                 I do love you
                                          My heart yours forever
                                      Yes, together you and I will stay

It was a BIG hit with the crowd...especially when he kissed me at the end of the song! He was greatly encouraged by all the older ladies who came up afterward asking why he didn't get up and sing with us more often!!  We are scheduled to sing/play at Sunset Jammers two weeks from yesterday. A week from today we are hosting a Purim party up at our barn...read the book of Esther in the Bible. In preparation for this my dh is working overtime to get a deck finished. I know, 'who has a deck on their barn?!?'...we will.  I am going to try to include pictures from the past 5 months to catch up.Mr. Mackey feeding his bride of 59 years Thanksgiving 2008.
Some of the tables set in 'The Barn' for Thanksgiving 2008.
Julia enjoying her new hope chest on her 13th birthday.Sarah and Julia 'lounging' on the front porch swing.Joshua with his first deer. His answer to prayer!Joshua's dog...in one of his VERY RARE moments being still! LOLJulia's 'new' puppy named Mischief...she lives up to her name.
Some of Joshua's turkeys in the front yard.
Sarah's two ewes 'Accecptance with Joy' and 'Grace and Glory' along with the ram 'Fearless Witness'.
Mama Grace with "Sincere Hope" known as Hope (on the left)  and "Godly Truth" known as Truth (on the right). Sorry I don't have a better picture...couldn't get it off of Sarah's camera.
Sincere Hope exploring her new world!
Godly Truth...proclaiming what we hope is truth!...She came out bleating and hasn't stopped!
Well, I hope this satisfies some of you who stop by periodically and wonder what we are up to out here in the middle of nowhere.  Seriously, in these days and times...it is GOOD to Praise the LORD for His abundant grace and mercy towards us and look to HIS hand to provide. Until next time...
Grace and Peace,
Ruth

Hello again, I am still alive and mostly well.  About the time I posted last...was that mid-November?!?...our family began caring for an older couple. They were our neighbors when we moved here 14 years ago. Mrs. Mackey taught all of our daughters how to knit, needle tat, huckweave, weave (on a loom) and many other arts which are not common knowledge. She was a wonderful teacher.  Mr. Mackey is a World War II veteran as well as a pilot and has lived a VERY interesting and exciting life. Mrs. Mackey had begun to go blind about 10 years ago and has had alzheimers for the past 2+ years. She was a voracious reader and finally had to resort to books on tape from the Library of Congress.  About 12 years ago they moved "in to town" (all of about seven miles) to be closer to the store.  We began going by to check on them and hear their interesting stories. Mrs. Mackey is a descendant of General Grant and they have furniture passed down from his estate...one table that was used for surgery during the war with saw marks where they were doing an amputation. Up until Mrs. Mackey just couldn't see and comprehend...she continued to create beautiful gifts with her hands. We would take a meal or the components for a meal by their home and chat for awhile each week. All of this time Mr. Mackey had been tenderly caring for Mrs. Mackey and handling all of their book keeping as well as meal preparation.  About mid-November Mr. Mackey told us he needed help...that is a BIG thing for an 85 yr. old man to admit.  So, we became their safety net. We did about 3-4 weeks of 24/7 care...all while keeping up our "regular" schedule of chaos!?! LOL  It stretched us more than we have been stretched in quite a long time. During that time Mrs. Mackey had to be hospitalized which meant we were now covering two locations as well as doing our own work. The long and short is that they had few family members and many broken relationships within that small circle. Mr. Mackey was very adamant that my dear husband should be his (and Mrs. Mackey's) Power of Attorney. This is NOT something my husband desired...so he tracked down a nephew to be part of the package.  We have sitters and they have been living in their own home.  But, early Saturday morning Mrs. Mackey died in her sleep. This has been very hard. She was 83 yrs. and as far as we know, she never made a profession of faith.  Only God knows if we will see her in eternity. Over the years we presented the gospel in various ways to both of them...all to no avail. These last two months we have prayed over and read and spoken God's word over them at different times...hoping and praying that God would open their ears and understanding one more time.  Since the beginning of Dec. Mr. Mackey has also been experiencing dementia/alzheimer symptoms. Please pray for him...and all of us as we go through the funeral on Tues.  There are so many other pieces to the puzzle.  Having written all of that....my dear Uncle Bob went to be with the Lord on Jan. the 11th...he also went in his sleep. I have always thought that would be a sweet way to go.  His funeral was on Jan. 16th, which was my father's 75th birthday.  When I tell you the rest of the news you will understand when I say that this past week I have had to very deliberately choose to praise the LORD...minute by minute.  I will back up to the first of this month when a WICKED virus came through our home without warning. I had never seen our Julia so sick. In the middle of that our miniature jersey bull died very suddenly on New Years Day...from of all things his spine breaking!  Then this last Wed. one of our goats died as a result of being butted down by Sarah's ram in the cold and rain and being stuck...until we found her the next morning.  We took her to the barn and nursed her, carefully turning her every few hours and trying to get her up...all to no avail. The good news is that just before all of this the LORD led me to begin reading Job again. So that as soon as the hard things came...I was already reminded to say with Job, shall we accept good and not evil? And even though I have been VERY exhausted trying to keep up with wifely duties, mothering, home keeping, home schooling, book keeping, nursing--supervising multiple medications, etc. I have a deep peace and joy knowing that I am exactly where Yahweh wants me.  To my "Anonymous friend in Idaho"...who happens to be getting all of the snow that our children so desperately want ...I hope this helps you understand why I haven't posted. I will try to do better. Thank you for your sweet comments and gentle reminders. I forgot to say that we have 2 graduating this year...and I am busy with grades, transcripts, and more paper work. May the Lord richly bless you as you walk daily with HIM!
Grace and Peace,
Ruth

Why does that sound like a broken record?  At 49 I never thought I would be thinking and saying what my parents said so often..."time is flying so fast!"  I keep working on ways to slow down time...I wonder if it is even possible.  But, I have noticed that when I stop and don't try to cram one more thing in...I am able to rest better and meet the almost daily crises with peace and more logical thinking.  Whereas when I am trying to catch up to my schedule or push four more things into an already full day...everything that was not planned appears to be a crises.  Take for example last Tuesday evening...my husband and I were supposed to be getting ready to leave for the monthly Gideon's meeting when our son came in with a report that our daughter's horse appeared to be colicky.  (Not a good thing for horses!)  Just as we were trying to process that piece of information, the telephone rang...it was our middle daughter calling (we were at our business) to say our youngest daughter's puppy (the one we picked up in IN earlier this year) had followed her into the garage as she was putting up her bike and...ate rat poison!  Both of these things can be fatal to the animals. So...we took a deep breath, called the vet, sent our middle son up to administer 2 TBS of hydrogen peroxide to the puppy to make her throw up QUICKLY before it got to her blood stream... and saddled up the horse for a LONG ride....it also happened to be raining. After the puppy had thrown up the requisite amount of poison eaten we got ready and arrived about 20 minutes late for Gideons.  I was NOT calm for hours...in fact I had lost my peace...I am not sure I had it ALL day!  By Friday, I knew I needed to reconnect with HIS peace. I had been having my quiet time every morning...but my outspoken prayer time had been rather skimpy...and my time of truly praising HIM was hardly there at all. In truth I felt as if I had lost my joy in the journey.  SO, I spent time in wonderful, generous outspoken prayer...with a LOT of thanksgiving! What a difference it made in my outlook.  We had a sweet peaceful Friday evening dinner.  I haven't said a whole lot about how we 'keep' Friday and Saturday. More than a few years back...in our homeschooling we were studying our 'traditions' and where they had originated...boy, were we in for a shock.  At the same time we were studying the Old Testament.  The children asked why we didn't 'keep' the 10 commandments.  I was shocked and said, "Of course we keep the 10 commandments!" They said, "What about the Sabbath Day?" I replied, "That was changed in the New Testament when Jesus rose from the dead."  They then asked, "Where does it say that?" In my best "mother knows these things, after all she went to Bible College and Grandpa IS a Baptist pastor" voice, I assured them I couldn't quite remember chapter and verse...but I would find it and share it with them soon.  The only problem was...I couldn't find it...and neither could my husband. SO we began an earnest study that tied into our other study of traditions.  When it was all said and done...is it EVER ALL said and done?!?...my husband VERY carefully decided that it was worth doing an indepth study on the Biblical Sabbath. After having done that and with much prayer (and trembling), after all this was totally DIFFERENT from anything either of us had been taught, we began to simply try to 'keep' the Sabbath. We had studied together with the children and they were more ready for this than either my husband or me. So, we plan all week to celebrate the beginning of Sabbath on Friday evening.  The laundry is done, the house cleaned, the food prepared ahead of time. (Mama can't rest if everything isn't ...mostly..tidy!)   Then as it gets dark...the table is set with a beautiful cloth, the china, silver and crystal and a special meal and dessert are prepared.  We light oil lamps and candles all over the house and turn off the lights. Usually I put on peaceful, quiet music.  As we come to the table, Bobby asks if there is anything anyone needs to confess or make right. This is a sweet...and sometimes hard and tearful...time. There have been some nights when it has taken quite a while. I should add, no one is forced, accused or condemned...it is ALL voluntary and comes from each one's heart.  Once everything is straight we have communion and say blessings. Then we can pray and eat and TOTALLY enjoy a restful Sabbath with clear consciences. That was one of the sweetest pictures to us about the Sabbath. It is a picture of our salvation...a rest from sin, it is a picture of eternity...a rest from our work on earth AND sin, and it is a gift from God to us each week. After dinner we stay together as a family...reading, singing, sometimes watching an uplifting film, and ending by reading God's word, praying and daddy giving blessings and going to bed for REST! Saturdays are spent resting...doing together things...like a walk, etc. and meeting with other believers. When it is at our place we meet in the upstairs of our barn other times we meet at someone else's place. This past Saturday morning we were awakened early by a telephone call that my dad had been taken to the hospital in the night. (Today he was released...with several tests to be done in the next few days...after having 2 units of blood.) I was thanking the Father that HE had helped me to "Be Still..." on Friday...HIS peace is still here. All day on Friday, during all of the busyness, the LORD had been bringing my dad to mind to pray for him...and even in the night I woke up and prayed and went back to sleep. So, when the call came...it didn't 'feel' like a crisis. Why can't we remember this ALL of the  time?!? There are so many to pray for right now...so many walking through hard times...and yet NONE of this takes our GOD by surprise.  HE is so faithful.  Hallelu Yah!!  Having written this about how we spend Sabbath...normally...sometimes we spend it 'not so normally.'  We have made choices about how best to serve the LORD...sometimes it means going to serve a family / individual in distress or with special needs, sometimes it means serving by singing/playing for others. After studying God's word we found He had specific guidelines and we do our best to stick to those. We DO NOT believe that any of the ways we have chosen to serve HIM add to or take away from our salvation.  Our salvation is/was a free gift from HIM that we receive BY faith and confession ( seeJohn 3:16, Ephesians 2:8-9, Romans 10:9-10), on the contrary all of our 'righteousnesses' are compared to filthy rags. We do believe and can testify that 'keeping' the Sabbath for us helps us 'make it through' our week.  It give us a chance to refocus on HIM and His faithfulness and praise Him for all of HIS benefits that He daily pours out upon us. (Psalms 16:6-9, Psalms 136, etc.) Looking ahead...the squares on the calendar are filling up...but, I want to remember to: "Be still... We have two fairly large dinners to set up for, prepare, and clean up (that is the part that some of us aren't as excited about). We also have three playing/singing engagements. " On the "school" front...we have two getting ready to take the ACT,  and everyone is moving along nicely in their assignments.  We have not yet started a Dickens...I am not sure when we will.  We are making a lot of 'gifts'.  Julia has made 10 pairs of potholders so far! The fabric is purchased...but the work not begun on baklavas ( a type of hood). I am working on a rather labor intensive cross stitch project and have yet to begin making aprons. We also are planning some soap making evenings. Please remember to pray for the Estes family as they are back at the hospital with Noah...it is SO hard on a family...but once again, none of this takes HIM by surprise. Also continue to remember Josephine and her family. Grief does not 'go away', you DO get through it...NEVER over it and ONLY by God's grace. Please pray for Ellen Foote and her family as they are still grieving the loss of husband, daddy and grandpa in March of this year.  Also, the Hoffman family in their loss of wife and mother.  It has been an eventful year.  Thank you.
Grace and Peace,
Ruth