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posted by Dad on 12/9/07

I had been hunting in ideal weather conditions but without success for six days. For three of these days there was not even a sighting of a deer. The strangest things seemed to happen on the days deer were in the area. On several occasions I had a deer in my sights, but it would have been an unsafe shot; either a sky shot or a shot into the open woods of a neighbor. I let a very small deer, probably born this year, walk past. Another deer came trotting, stopped directly behind a stand of trees, and scampered off into a thicket. Then there was the deer I spotted walking slowly toward my tree stand about 50 yards away. Somehow it literally disappeared from sight then reappeared 20 yards directly behind me. I was beginning to get a complex. However, I took last Friday off work to try again. The only problem was I could not get off to an early start because our son would be calling from Taiwan at 6:30 am. The Lord encouraged me to keep my priorities straight and I was eager to talk with Donald so I decided to just get out as soon as I could. However, God’s plan was for Donald’s call not to work out until 8:30 am. We had a nice long talk and I finally left for the woods at 10:00 am. The cold snow crunched under each step. When I reached the tree stand it started to sleet so I had to remove the crackling plastic from my vest to cover the gun while I climbed up to my seat to remove 6 inches of snow. As I scraped it off it fell 30 feet to the ground below. Scrape … splat; scrape … splat. Following a discussion on the walkie-talkie about the location of a book in our library that was needed for the day’s home education class it was 11:00 am and I was finally situated.

“This is useless,” I thought, “I’ll just consider this a preparation day for hunting again tomorrow.” But that is when God likes to show Himself strong; and He did! Only 1 hour later three large doe came grazing into a shooting lane. I got one and Michael got another. On a day like this I would never have guessed for success, but it will ever be a reminder to me that as long as I keep my priorities straight, God will take care of the rest - sometimes in mysterious ways.

3 Comments » | posted in Family News, Possessing the Land

posted by Michael on 11/8/07

The finishing of a project always takes longer than its basic construction. To help put up the soffet and facia Uncle Alan came again on July 12, and the same day we were also able to put up the plastic wrap and install the doors and windows. This went smoothly because we had bought the windows and doors before we built the shed, and had been able to make the openings just the right size.

The next step was to put up the cedar siding to match the house. Donald, Jonathan, and David had stained it ahead of time, and even though Dad and I worked together on it whenever we had time, it was over a month before that step was complete.

To make the shed useable, we needed plenty of shelf space. I came up with a plan for the shelves based on what they would be used for, and as it turned out some of our stored lumber worked perfectly. With other projects going on simultaneously, building the shelves took five weeks.                                                              .

For easy lawn mower access, we planned to make a ramp up to the door. But before building it, we made sure to install the underground drain pipes to carry the water from the gutters to the creek. Meanwhile we had poured a little concrete pad in front of the door as a landing for the ramp. It was into October before the ramp was built.

Lastly, on October 12 we put up the gutter and downspout. The shed is now fully functioning and things around here are becoming much more organized. The feeling of completion is amazing – but a combination of patience and determination is required to bring any project to the finish line.

Determination:

Purposing to accomplish God’s goals in God’s time regardless of the opposition.

6 Comments » | posted in Family News, Possessing the Land

posted by Michael on 09/30/07

With our work on the fence coming to a close around mid June, we realized that we needed to begin in earnest on the new 360 square foot storage building. If we would be able to use Dad’s time off work around the 4^th of July to put the structure under roof, we now had only 3 short weeks to complete the foundation. One of those weeks we would be hosting a speaker from Colorado. We had yet to begin the excavation (making a flat place in West Virginia is always a big job), dig the footers, pour concrete, and get the block up and lumber delivered, all involving the schedules of other people, some of whom were likely to be booked already. Was it possible?

We were happy to find that our friend’s backhoe would be available! On June 15^th we picked it up but were unable to begin digging until the following day. Surprisingly, in one day’s work we accomplished the excavation and dug most of the footers. Although much could have gone wrong, things went very smoothly. Another friend was even able to lend us his transit, making it easy to verify correct elevations.

Monday and Tuesday we finished digging the footers, double checking their exact location, trimming the sides, and driving the pins.Our concrete contractor’s schedule was full, but since our job was so small, he finally agreed to fit us in. Wednesday morning the 20th we put gravel in the holes and that afternoon the concrete was poured! We were concerned that the activity of the concrete truck and workers on that day might conflict with that of the carpet people (another project). To our amazement the carpet people called just in time to move their appointment one day later!We did not have enough block left over from other projects to finish this one, and were expecting to have to order the block. But to our surprise and delight, a neighbor offered to give us some extra block that he didn’t need! Donald went to see them that same day, found that they were exactly what we needed, and brought them home. That evening we cut one more tree that we decided was too close to the new building. The next day, Thursday the 21st, we thought the block layer was going to look at the job. Actually, he DID the job! In a short amount of time he had all 52 block laid neatly in ten piers, simply using mortar that was left over from a bigger assignment. His schedule was packed tight, but that afternoon a window of opportunity had opened for him, probably the only one in a long time. If we had waited one more day to cut the tree, it would have been too late. It had fallen across where two of the piers now stood.Friday the 22^nd Dad and Mom left for Indianapolis Indiana. It was hard to believe all that God had put together in a single week! We were now ready to focus on a week of ministry with our dear friends from
Colorado. All things are possible!

8 Comments » | posted in Family News, Possessing the Land

posted by James on 09/19/07

Have you ever never mowed your lawn? Well, this year was the first time for us. No, it wasn’t intentional; it was just that our lawn mower kept breaking down and has thus been in the shop all summer. Of course we keep the grass around our house cut really nice (that is Jonathan’s job!) but as for the rest of the seven acres, we let it grow wild!

If you ask me, I think it is kind of nice to have a “real” field. It’s beautiful to see the grass waving back and forth as the wind blows down the valley. The color is simply spectacular too. When the late afternoon sun streams over the grass, the hillside glows with golden light. The tall grass also provides a great habitat for countless insects and wild flowers, which, in my opinion, are great photographic subjects. Of course, if you ever have to wade through it in the morning before the sun has time to dry up the dew, then there’s no way to keep from getting completely soaked. But what’s wrong with that?!

We are thankful for the backyard arboretum but we are still praying that the mower will be fixed soon. “In everything give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you.” I Thessalonians 5:18.

8 Comments » | posted in Photography, Possessing the Land

posted by Michael on 09/10/07

For the past two years the orchard has been expanding. It expanded so much, in fact, that half of it was located outside the original orchard fence! We had no choice but to also expand the electric fence, or face the possibility of being decimated by the ravages of wild beasts (deer). The whole project has been an outstanding example of availability on the part of many people.

Project planning and getting all the materials together was a job of its own that took a lot of rethinking due to our small level of experience. Taking time to pray and think carefully in the planning stages saved us a lot of trouble later on.

My brothers Donald, Robert, James, Daniel, and Jonathan and even my sister Esther pitched in to help dig the holes for the posts at the corners and gates and set them in concrete. This was the most labor-intensive part of the work. A visiting friend from Indiana, Clayton Rothenauser pitched in too.

Our wonderful neighbor and friend Randy Plaugher generously gave us the service of his tractor and post driver, as well as his precious time, to drive the rest of the fence posts. He even showed me an excellent method of bracing the end posts and corner posts to prevent the tight wires from pulling them in.

When it came time to put up the wire, more volunteers were there to help. Dad, Donald, Esther, Jonathan, David, and even cousin Tricia all contributed significantly to the success of the project. This was probably the most time consuming job. Thank you one and all for your endurance in the hot sun, your availability, generosity, and diligence. I know these virtues are a result of your submission to Christ, allowing His Spirit to conform you to His image. “According as His divine power hath given unto us all things that pertain unto life and godliness, through the knowledge of Him that hath called us to glory and virtue” 2 Peter 1:3. Grace and peace be multiplied to you!

Availability:

Making my own schedule and priorities secondary to the wishes of those I am serving.

6 Comments » | posted in Possessing the Land