Many years ago on a Christmas Eve…

Mom had been baking all day to prepare for Christmas day and was tired.  We didn’t know what we would have for supper, so Dad prepared special cheeses and crackers with different fresh fruits on plates and we were ready to eat.  We ate this special meal in candle light.  After supper was over we had a birthday celebration for Jesus – complete with cake and singing.

Our family has been keeping this tradition every year for as long as I can remember.

 View attached file.

Near the end of our vacation last week, one of our activities was to each write a timed essay about our time at Sandbridge.  Mine was in verse - here it is:

A vacation to the beach is a restful retreat

You have little to do, but plenty to eat

Such was our lot as at sandbridge we stayed

From the break of dawn to the end of the day

A break from the norm – that's what it was

A time to do nothing one usually does

We weathered a storm, we went for a run

Took photos of ocean, of sand and of sun

We never got bored, for through the whole place

We saw many an evidence of our God's grace

Incredible animals in a big tank

Caught our attention, and others in rank

Some fish and crabs we caught on our own

We brought them right out of the water and foam

The fish are alright, but the crabs are not

For few were left, after they fought

I read a new book, each and every day

I learned of great men, and their God, that way

We listened to tapes and CD's in the van

Such as the family two hundred year plan

We're sad to leave, but glad to get back

For life must continue, and work – or we'll lack

But as we return may we closer be

To God and each other, in harmony

On Monday afternoon we drove out to the Wilkes' land in Culpeper. When we arrived, some of us helped water their orchard, and train some of the apple tree branches. After finishing the work, the families: Thrash, Matich, Hynes, and Wilkes gathered together for a hearty potluck supper.  Then everyone took turns skeet shooting, and playing volleyball.

As soon as the shooting was over, everyone hurried up to a hill to watch the sun set. Reaching the hill, we discovered that the sun was already behind the trees, but it was a spectacular sight nevertheless. I enjoyed experimenting with silhouettes, as I had never done before.  The children tossed around footballs, kicked around the soccer ball, or just played tag. Others talked together till evening waned into twilight.

Everyone trekked back to the campsite where we gathered around a blazing bonfire. Over a dessert of hand roasted s'mores and tasty cookies, we sang our favorite hymns, and shared testimonies of how God worked in our lives. As I am learning the harmonica, I was glad to be able to accompany some of the songs.

We were delighted to be able to spend some time working and playing with like-minded families. Thank you Wilkes Team for your hospitality!

The first weekend in August our family attended a mini conference hosted by the Wilkes and Staddon families.  The purpose of the conference was to encourage and challenge each family to develop a vision.  It is very important to have a vision as Proverbs 29:18a says:  "Where there is no vision, the people perish."  

On Friday night the Staddons encouraged the men to be spiritual leaders in the home, and to have specific family visions. One the things that seemed important to me was the fact that good things are often the enemy of the best things we do.  We need to make sure we spend our time doing the best things we can.

Saturday morning the Staddons gave testimonies of practical ways to work out our Christian lives. We had a break at noon - the dads prayed together, the moms prepared lunch, and the children released all their excess energy by playing outside. After lunch we split into men and ladies sessions for more teaching.  To close the day we gathered together for testimonies, singing, and special music. 

A few of the families from FEW worshiped with us at the Wilkes house on Sunday.  Highlights of the day were: the morning service, lunch & fellowship, testimonies & singing, discipleship soccer, and supper. 

We were encouraged and uplifted by the whole weekend, and hope there will be an opportunity of another FEW in future. My family has a vision, and through this weekend we've been encouraged to re-evaluate, and revise it. Thank you Staddons and Wilkes for uplifting and edifying the Body of Christ!

Truly loving and seeking after God with all our heart, mind and strength

• High priority on study of the Word, meditation, and doing good works
• Keeping clear consciences
• Yielding personal rights and expectations
• Believing that God loves us and will take care of our true needs

Kind, loving, and caring most of all to each other, then to believers, and even to unbelievers

• Not doing anything to anyone that we wouldn’t want them to do to us
• Making active efforts to benefit others; investing in the lives of others
• Not harming people through careless actions
• Being gentle with our beasts

Keeping together inter-generationally

• Not anxious to move away; and even making some level of sacrifice to stay geographically close
• Working together in a family business that could reduce or eliminate the need for employment
• Parents and grandparents helping children and grand children
• Children helping parents, especially as they grow old

Producing, performing, and sharing quality goods and services of value

• In the name of Christ
• Sometimes for free
• Sometimes for a reasonable price

Excellence in everything we do from academics, to chores, to relationships, to play.

Last Saturday we had another Music Night at our house.  I always find it very encouraging to see all of the young people who have prepared special music. These Music Nights are lots of fun, but the best part of it is I know they are pleasing to the Lord too. Mr. and Mrs. Graf (friends of ours, and missionaries to Papua New Guinea) were able to attend this time.

A big thanks to Andrew Bailey for doing the recording for us this time.

This Sunday for church, we went to Cacapon State Park.  It was a 2-hour drive for us.  We worshiped with some other families, and were especially blessed by Mr. Staddon's sermon on hope.  He talked about how hope relates to love and faith in first Corinthians 13(and how hope relates to us!)  It was cold in the morning, though.  In the afternoon, we played soccer, and a lot of people were taking off sweater, jackets, and coats.  This was a rather significant place for our family because on Dad and Mom's honeymoon they went canoeing on Cacapon River.  So we got to actually be near where Dad and Mom had part of their honeymoon!  Wow!

Last Saturday, we were working on lumberjacking some trees, because we had run out of firewood.  We also stacked some new, wet wood to cure for next year.  We had a lot of fun and found some interesting objects, like a deserted bird nest.  We only got one tree done and cleaned up in the morning.  Then we went back up the hill and got ready for Angela to come.  She came, and we all enjoyed showing her the fish tanks.  Angela said she had gone diving a lot of times(I'd like to go scuba-diving sometime, too).  Then we sat down to eat, and Em served us by making the base sandwiches, so we could put the rest of the stuff in.  Later, after Angela had left, we went back to work, and felled some more trees.  Dad worked as the chainsaw man, with me as his stick lady(I moved the measuring stick so he could see how big to make the logs), Tim and Jon were the choppers, and us girls dragged brush and stacked wood. We also took the chickens out into the garden, so they could wander around.  By the end of the day, I was getting pretty tired.   

           

About four times a year we host a Music Night at our house. Everyone has an opportunity prepare music ahead of time to present. One of the elements that makes these nights special is the 20 minute break in the middle. We take this time to prepare on-the-spot specials to present during the second half.

Last Saturday we hosted another Music Night at our house. There were many attendants, including a family all the way from North Carolina. It was a joy to be with fellow like minded believers singing God's praises, and fellowshipping together.

One of the Specials-

Last Sunday we met with the Wilkes and some other families for a worship service.  After lunch, we played soccer.  We very soon found that the playing field was quite mushy, but started anyway.  Then it began to drizzle and people really started sliding!  Pretty much everyone got mud spattered on them (what fun), more or less, and no one wanted to pick up the ball, because it was wet and dirty.  But we all had lots of fun, and probably all thought it was worth it (I can't speak for everyone).  We were especially blessed by Em afterwards, as she willingly washed all the dirty shoes for our family.  You can see what dirty shoes we took off at the Wilkes' front door:

Yesterday(Sunday the 23rd) we went to the Wilkes house for church. It was planned that everyone would go out caroling in the evening, after the service. When we arrived at the Wilkes in the morning it was drizzling rain. Later on the rain was really pouring down. Everyone was hoping and praying that we could go caroling as we had planned. Isn't God's timing perfect?!  Just as we were finishing the after-meeting, the rain stopped, and as we looked out we saw the rain clouds being rapidly blown away. Minutes later the clouds had cleared and revealed a beautiful moon. Before everyone went out, the ladies prepared little bags filled with goodies to give out after we sang the songs. We gathered outside for a quick prayer, and then we were off to the first house.

The carolers met with a big variety of responses. Most people were cordial, and some even sang with us.   As we gathered back at the Wilkes house for supper we all agreed that the event was a success. We had fun singing the songs, but I trust that they were also a blessing to the hearers.  As our family arrived home at 10:00PM we all agreed that it had been a profitable day- but a long one.

Wilkesteam- For more photos download the attachment.

View attached file.

Our logo is an image of the official Hynes coat of arms.