Vineyard Gleanings

I am doing a little better with my tendinitis today, so I am typing with my wrist stabalizer on, with my thumb tucked in so that it will not move. So I am typing with 9 fingers. :)

The Lord gave us such a huge blessing this past Sat. First, a little backround. As we drive into Greenville, there is a really pretty shortcut down a picturesque road that has been special to us since we found it. On this road there is a hundred acre vineyard that is absolutely beautiful. Acres and acres of grape vines in neat and orderly rows. There are several beautiful houses within this vineyard, and I had my little fairytale story of who lived in these homes. We always wondered what the true story was of this poetic place.

This past Sat our dear friends the Huddles were visiting us. We were heading into town to show them our lovely downtown area. As we passed by this restful spot we saw that it was harvest time for the vineyard. There were a few people on the side of the road, so we decided to roll down our windows to inquire as to their history? As soon as we stopped this dear woman says, "Are you in a hurry?" After we excitedly told her no we were not, she said "Just pull your car right up here into the driveway". After we all piled out of the van, these two women instantly became treating us as though they had known us for years. They were neighbors and each owned part of the vineyard. Mrs. C told the children to all pile onto her golf cart and began driving them all around. Remember, the Huddles were here, so that was 10 children! Of course, they were delighted, and hurried to comply. She then went in and got them all buckets and bags and told them to pick muskadines to their hearts content. The big machinery was chugging away this whole time, harvesting these juicy delights.







As we spoke further with the woman and her husband we learned that these grapes were harvested for Duplin Winery (the largest winery in the south) and that this 100 acre vineyard was the largest in both the Carolinas. Their portion of the propery (there are five divisions of the acreage) belonged to her husbands family from the 1700s. She does geneologies, and in researching her husband's family, they went looking for the land. As they drove up and found the historic spot, there was a for sale sign on the exact place! Of course, they bought it, restored the neglected vineyard (Which has been there 30 years), and made it their home. How is that for the Lord's providence.
Mrs C. spoke of how this was the Lord's vineyard and she wanted to give her first fruits to Him, thus she opened her home to us in the most beautiful way. Her openness with us, really defined the term southern hospitality! What an extra special gift from the Lord to us that stop was!

There are so many references in the scriptures the the vineyards. It would be so good to reflect on them in our hearts.

We are the Lord's vineyard....



Isaiah 5
1Now will I sing to my wellbeloved a song of my beloved touching his vineyard. My wellbeloved hath a vineyard in a very fruitful hill:
2And he fenced it, and gathered out the stones thereof, and planted it with the choicest vine, and built a tower in the midst of it, and also made a winepress therein: and he looked that it should bring forth grapes, and it brought forth wild grapes.
3And now, O inhabitants of Jerusalem, and men of Judah, judge, I pray you, betwixt me and my vineyard.
4What could have been done more to my vineyard, that I have not done in it? wherefore, when I looked that it should bring forth grapes, brought it forth wild grapes?
What could have been done more for us by the Lord? Yet, we bring forth wild grapes. Of ourselves there would be no hope for our vineyards are trodden down with sin and defilement. Standing before the Lord alone we would only be able to partake of the grapes of His wrath. We have need of a Savior. There is one who has trodden the winepress alone....even Jesus Christ.

"Who is this that cometh from Edom, with dyed garments from Bozrah? this that is glorious in his apparel, travelling in the greatness of his strength? I that speak in righteousness, mighty to save. Wherefore art thou red in thine apparel, and thy garments like him that treadeth in the winefat? I have trodden the winepress alone; and of the people there was none with me: for I will tread them in mine anger, and trample them in my fury; and their blood shall be sprinkled upon my garments, and I will stain all my raiment...in his love and in his pity he redeemed them; and he bare them, and carried them all the days of old. " Isaiah 63:1-3, 9b

Christ Jesus fully drank the cup of wrath down to the bitter dregs for His people. The Just for the unjust. He drank the dregs, so we might taste and see that He is good. That we might taste the sweet wine of his love. In Christ there is mercy.

"Let him kiss me with the kisses of his mouth: for thy love is better than wine" Song of Solomon 1:2

When we are Chist's He keeps us as a precious vineyard, that is His own dear possession.

"In that day sing ye unto her, A vineyard of red wine. I the LORD do keep it; I will water it every moment: lest any hurt it, I will keep it night and day. Fury is not in me: who would set the briers and thorns against me in battle? I would go through them, I would burn them together.Or let him take hold of my strength, that he may make peace with me; and he shall make peace with meHe shall cause them that come of Jacob to take root: Israel shall blossom and bud, and fill the face of the world with fruit.. Isaiah 27:2-6

Return, we beseech thee, O God of hosts: look down from heaven, and behold, and visit this vine; And the vineyard which thy right hand hath planted, and the branch [that] thou madest strong for thyself. Ps. 80:14 and 15

Oh, to be planted by the Savior in this pleasant garden of the Lord!

Happy Birthday!!

Happy Birthday to my DEAREST Daddy and brother!! I won't tell you how old my Daddy is, but my bro is 20 and he was born on Daddy's 40th. I love you both! (I would love to type more, but I have a pretty bad tendonitus injury and am one handed)

Playing Around...

E's Cast is off!

National Air and Space Museum Slideshow

Well, now here we are E has her cast off and everything went fine. We will post some pics of it soon. This is when we went to D.C at the National Air and Space Museum.

Virginia Trip Slideshow

So I am in town on errands today, getting ready to take E to get her cast off, and I decided to bring my computer along and connect via free WIFI and try and get some slideshows uploaded. You see, I have several that I have made but my satellite is so slow that it is so hard to get them up here. So, here is the first one...you already got one from our trip up to our dear friends the Myers. Here is another slideshow of the great time we had up there! This may be all I can get to today, we will see....

Puppy Love

Ok, so a puppy isn't another child, but I am beginning to see some similarities...

Do you know the messes puppies can make?

Do you know that you have to check on them before you go to bed at night after you have checked your children?

Do you know that puppies run to greet Daddy when he comes home from work too?

Do you know that puppies like to join in on all the fun everyone else is having--peeking their heads in the front door to beg to not be left out?

Do you know that when you are trying to sweep the front porch they think that the broom is a toy and chase after it, grabbing it with their mouth?

Do you know that when you clean up outside, you realize that even if you don't let your children outside, it may not stay that way?

Do you know that the seemingly boundless energy of youth is in puppies as well as children?

Do you know that this puppy is really cute and has won her way into our hearts already? I think I am smitten with puppy love.

Tuesdays Thanksgivings

Things I am thankful for today:

The delicious hint of coolness that washes over my face with the breeze as I am sitting outside (yes, we are getting to experience what fall is like.)

Getting to watch the trees as they are ever so gently changing color

The picturesque view of the horses grazing in the meadow on the otherside of the backyard.

The sound of the giggles of the children jumping on the trampoline

The cuteness of new life in a bouncing playful puppy--no cares, just pure puppy happiness

The enjoyment of playing frisbee with my husband and sons, hearing the laughter and bantering that comes with it

The smell of the meatloaf baking in the oven, ready for our enjoyment

The mess of the rooms, that speaks of a productive, lively day

The blessing of being told (at the ultrasound office) my little daughters kidneys are poster perfect (in this family that is big news)

The contentment when your son tells you he could not eat another bite after dinner (that is a feat for this number one son!)

The little dirty faces that patter up to give kisses to their mommy

Yes, I am blessed, oh so blessed. Thank you Lord for your kindnesses this day.

W's writing assignment

My Great Trip to Caterpillar Family Day
Personal Narrative: September 23, 2008
Two months ago, my family got to go to Caterpillar family day, to see a Caterpillar race-car. I couldn't wait to see it! Dad works for Caterpillar, so that is why we got to go there. I was excited! I knew mind-blowing things were there.
First, I went over to the race-car, but nobody was in the car. I observed that it was a one seater, but no one was driving it. It had not been started yet.
Finally, they started the engine! The car sounded booming and it smelled like gasoline. I felt thrilled! The car had it's own truck. The man said, "This truck has gone 1,000 miles with no exhaust residue on the muffler." I also surveyed thta the truck had a C7 engine on it.
After a while, it was time to go home. I thanked Dad for the great trip! I was exhausted and fell fast asleep. I can't wait until next year. I had alot of fun there!
The End

J's writing assignment

My Trip to Washington
Personal Narrative: September 23, 2008
A couple of weeks ago, my family and I visited Washington. We had some great fun. Let me tell you about it.
It was around 4:00pm. I looked around, and saw a white house with a porch, and two cars in the gravel driveway. Our van pulled up, and Dad shut the car off. All of us climbed stiffly out of our vehicle. The Myers, some of my mom and dad's old friends, came out to greet us. I was really eager and expectant! I said hello to the children, and shook hands with the father and mother.
Jackson, who was seven said, "Wanna see my room?" My brother and I both said, "Okay", so we headed off to his room. A few minutes later, we went to the basement with Jackson's sister Katie, and my sisters. We played tag and hide-and-seek for the rest of the day.
Three days later, we went to Washington D.C, since the Myers live in Virginia. First, we had lunch by the Washington Monument. Then we purchased tickets to go up in it.
Our monument tour didn't start till 6:30 pm., so we went to the Capitol next. Most of the Myers stayed behind for this event, since they had been there several times already before. But, Jackson and our family went right up on the steps! We took a few pictures, and I said, "Is this all marble?" I thought that it was quite a historic place.
Later, we went to the Washington Monument. We waited in line, checked in the tickets we had purchased earlier that day, and rode up to the top. The view was heart-stopping. At 555 above the ground, the people were 1/4 tall, it seemed. The Capitol appeared to be 6 inches tall and 4 inches tall.
Eventually, it was time to go back to our home in South Carolina. We said goodbye to our good friends. On the way home, we took a break from our journey at the famous Stonewall Jackson's house. Later, we stopped at our friends, the Wilson's house, for a few hours as well. Finally, we arrived home. I fell asleep before my head touched the pillow, to dream about all the good times I had in Washington, D.C.

The End

Pressure Cooker Mothering

I cannot vouch for everything that Ann believes, but I have found great profit from many of her blog entries. Her entry this morning almost knocked me off my chair, because of it's application to my life. This was the Lord speaking to me today. May it bless each of you as well....

Of Pressure Cookers and Staying Present
from Holy Experience by Ann Voskamp @Holy Experience

Sometimes, the pressure gets to me.
Come noon, and I am feeling it, like someone turned the heat to searing high.
Farmer Husband walks in back door looking for a heaping plate of steaming hot food, toddler is rubbing her eyes with her pudgy fist, whimpering loudly for sleep, one child needs to know what 9 books would cost if 3 books cost $76, while two others scuffle and yelp over a disputed eraser.
Anyone know the escape route to the big flashing exit sign? But I have to feed them all first.I toss the potatoes into the pressure cooker and lock on its lid. Levi, waiting for me to announce his next spelling word, looks up from his stool perch at the island. “What is a pressure cooker, anyways?”Scooping up a crying little Shalom whose yanking desperately on my pant leg, I mumble out an explanation.“A pressure cooker is a pot with a lid that doesn’t let the steam escape. Put the pot on the heat, the heat brings the water to the boil, and if the steam doesn’t escape, the food cooks faster.”I look around at counters with books and papers, sideboards of teetering stacks of laundry. Over the whistle of the pressure cooker, I think I hear Caleb ask me something about how to figure out the plural accustive case of the first declension in his Latin exercise.I’d like to escape: read a few pages of the book in the washroom, check email, see if anthing on the pantry shelves can sweetly transport. Let off some steam.I have forgotten:
Habitual escapism, when the heat of life gets turned up, circumvents the efficacy of the Refiner’s Fire.
It's why I cook in the pressure cooker: to dramatically lessen the cooking time. Pessure does the work faster than the slower means of low boiling, steam escaping from lid. And isn't that why living in a pressure cooker does His work faster in me? So I'm learning:Lock the lid on.Let life get hot.Stay present. Don’t escape.Let the pressure do its quick, good work.
Lord, I long for You to refine me. Let Your heat do its work...
Isaiah 48:10 I have refined you, but not as silver is refined. Rather, I have refined you in the furnace of suffering.

An announcement

Will try to post some pics soon of our puppy. But, this is a little news flash....beep, beep, beep....beep, beep, beep. "We interrupt this program to make an important announcement. The name of our puppy has been slightly changed from Blackie...to Black Beauty." Yes, our boy dog...is a GIRL. You know, ever since we have been married I have wanted a girl dog. D on the other hand, wants to trade her in. But, you know what? He already loves her. So Beauty she is. But...we still call her Blackie. She is the cutest little thing you have ever seen...ok, my own childen were cuter, but still she is CUTE! More later....

Stepping Heavenward

This is a quote from a book that I have really been enjoying reading lately, I thought I would post it here....

"Meanwhile, I want to ask you one question. What are you made of that you can turn from one thing to another like lightning? Talking one moment as if life depended on your every word, and then frisking about with those wild boys as if you were a child yourself?" I saw Una look up curiously, to hear my answer, as I replied, "I have always aimed at this flexibility. I think a mother, especially, ought to learn to enter into the gayer moods of her children at the very moment when her own heart it sad. And it may be as religious an act for her to romp with them at one time as to pray with at them at another." Stepping Heavenward pg 364, 365

Oh to be so selfless as to think of the good of my children, before I think of how I feel!

New arrival

Ok, so I really should not be posting, I am SOOO busy. But, I wanted to quick say hello and fill you just a wee bit. Life has been so busy lately. Between being in the midst of have company three weekends in a row (it has been so wonderful!!), caring for a girl with a cast, teaching school, taking my daughter to the Dr today (she might be dealing with a kidney/bladder infection), starting a ladies email loop for our church, not to mention sleeping sometimes in there...life has been a blur of activity! The latest exciting news though, is the announcement of our newest family addition...due to arrive tomorrow morning. Now lest you think that was a very quick pregnancy...I will post his photo here. His name will be Blackie. Of course, the children squealed with delight when we told them. More later, DV!

Slideshows

Happy Monday to all! EVERYONE must go over to JESSICA'S BLOG to see the lovely slideshows she has put together of our recent trip to see them, and our tour of Washington D.C. Her blog proves that we DID sleep (right Andrew?), even if it was just a few winks at a time. Really, if we had stayed much longer we might have all had to have been admitted for sleep deprivation. Coffee, anyone??? Also, my children were very impressed that we made the newspaper on her blog too. You can tell how much the children loved each other, that's for sure. I guess now I need to get my act together and put together some slideshows of my pictures from the trip too, huh? One of these days......but for now, enjoy the two wonderful shows that Jess put together.

Our Dear E and her continuing adventure...

Getting her half cast off.....
This was last week when she got her half cast on....

The Doctor putting her full pink cast on....

Pretty in pink!
Loving on her sister...
Even a two year old wants to comfort...

R's Writing Journal

This video is so funny!

Funny!

With all this hype about Sarah Palin, S and I came up with a new famous quote that just might go down in the history books.....

What's the difference between a homeschool mom and a pitbull?

a DENIM JUMPER!!

(To the tune of "The 12 Days of Christmas")
On the first day of home school my neighbor said to me, "Can you home school legally?"
On the second day of home school my neighbor said to me,"Are they socialized?Can you home school legally?"
On the third day of home school my neighbor said to me,"Do you give them tests?Are they socialized?Can you home school legally?"
On the fourth day of home school my neighbor said to me,"What about P.E.?Do you give them tests?Are they socialized?Can you home school legally?"
On the fifth day of home school my neighbor said to me,"YOU ARE SO STRANGE!What about P.E.? Do you give them tests? Are they socialized?Can you home school legally?"
On the Sixth day of home school my neighbor said to me,"How long will you home school?YOU ARE SO STRANGE!What about P.E.? Do you give them tests? Are they socialized?Can you home school legally?"
On the seventh day of home school my neighbor said to me,"Look at what they're missing?How long will you home school?YOU ARE SO STRANGE!What about P.E.? Do you give them tests? Are they socialized?Can you home school legally?"
On the eighth day of home school my neighbor said to me,"Why do you do this?Look at what they're missing?How long will you home school?YOU ARE SO STRANGE!What about P.E.? Do you give them tests? Are they socialized?Can you home school legally?"
On the ninth day of home school my neighbor said to me,"What about graduation?Why do you do this?Look at what they're missing?How long will you home school?YOU ARE SO STRANGE!What about P.E.? Do you give them tests? Are they socialized?Can you home school legally?"
On the tenth day of home school my neighbor said to me,"I could never do that!What about graduation?Why do you do this?Look at what they're missing?How long will you home school?YOU ARE SO STRANGE!What about P.E.? Do you give them tests? Are they socialized?Can you home school legally?"
On the eleventh day of homeschool my neighbor said to me,"Can they go to college?I could never do that!What about graduation?Why do you do this?Look at what they're missing?How long will you home school?YOU ARE SO STRANGE!What about P.E.? Do you give them tests? Are they socialized?Can you home school legally?"
On the twelth day of homeschool I thoughtfully replied:"They Can go to college!Yes, you could do this!They can have graduation!We do it cuz we love it!They are missing nothing!We'll homeschool forever!WE ARE NOT STRANGE!We give them P.E. !We give them tests!They are socialized!AND WE HOMESCHOOL LEGALLY!"
On the thirteenth day of homeschool my neighbor said to me,"How can I get Started?Why didn't you tell me?Where do I buy curriculum?When is the next conference?WILL PEOPLE THINK WE'RE STRANGE?I think we can do this ... if you will help us, can we join P.E.?and we'll home school legally!"~ author unknown

We are home!

Well, after an exciting several days we are home. In 5 short days we packed in...

~the Manasses Battlefield in Virginia, where General Jackson was first named "Stonewall"
~A RPCNA psalm sing in Maryland
~A day in Washington DC where we saw:
the outside of the Capital, the White House, the National Archives, etc.
Toured the National Air and Space Museum (it was SOOO cool to see the actual spacecrafts that were in space, the ORIGINAL Spirit of Saint Louis, Amelia Earhart's plane, the plane the Wright brothers flew...these are the real thing!)
We went up in the Washington Monument---so amazingly high, great view of the city.
We even got to see the President's official helicopter flying overhead us!
~On the way home we stopped in Lexington, Virginia and saw Stonewall Jackson's house and cemetary.
~We also stopped on the way home and visited with some friends that were enroute, about an hour and half from home (we did not get home about 12:30 or after!)

On top of all that we talked, and laughed and cried with our dear friends till the wee hours of the night every single night! We had the BEST time with the Myers. We have not been together for 10 years, and yet we just picked right back up. Now we each have families and we loved sharing our lives together again. The children absolutely "clicked" with each other and got along famously. They played and played. They also slept together a couple of the nights, so they also giggled and had fun till the wee hours of the night. These little people were friends for life almost from the first second they laid eyes on each other. Jessica was a fabulous hostess and we enjoyed all the meals she lovingly prepared...and did you know that Andrew can make famous hot cocoa????? We miss them all already and are looking forward to hosting them in our home soon, soon, right Jess?

I have lots of pictures that I will be putting together for slideshows, but for now I will just give you a link to Jessica's blog where she has put just a few up. I also made some slideshows on my laptop during the car ride, so soon I will be posting those. They are from way back starting in the spring. You can click HERE for Jessica's blog.

For today we are catching up on laundry and sleep. The children have been doing some school as well. You should have seen E "teaching" D how to read...very cute! It's a great motivator for her to review.

I am waiting to here from S. in about 40 mins when he gets off work he is going to look at a certain possible surprise for the children. Hint: it's tiny (4-5 weeks old) and really needs to be adopted. We will see if we have a new addition to our family or not. :)

Thats all for now!