Blessing of the Day

Since we have moved to Ohio, Cracker Barrels are not as commonplace. We make up for that by eating at them when we are on vacation as often as possible. We also make up for that by going to Bob Evan's. Whether it be their I'm Smiling at You sundae or the Chili & Cheese Taco Salad , it is sure to be a hit with our crew.

Last Saturday we stopped for lunch and before our meal was over, the waitress gave us seven coupons for a free kid's meal with drink. We used three that day, and OBT said that we probably saved $9 on our meal. Thank you, waitress, and thank you, Lord!

Ice Storm 2009 - in pictures

our driveway

OBT met the mail lady with rubber hammer in hand for breaking the ice off of the mailboxes on that day.

The branches hung low on the line that day.

Cincinnati Observatory

When we moved to OH, I had no idea that we were moving to the state containing the world's oldest telescope still in use. This year our study of Astronomy coincides with the International Year of Astronomy. What better time to invite some friends and to take a trip to an observatory? We opted for a tour on Sunday afternoon. The tour was excellent, and the only thing we missed was being able to actually use one of the telescopes. A return trip may be in order when the skies are clear.

the main building

A BIG telescope

Here to learn

the second building

What could you see with this?

Read To Your Bunny

In tribute to the inspiration for Sarah's pj party, author Rosemary Wells first came into our lives through a now worn and torn copy of "Read to your Bunny".

The Most Important Twenty Minutes Of Your Day ALL OF US love our children more than anything in the world. In their first years we feed them so they grow. We bring them to the doctor so they are healthy. We strap them in car seats so they are safe. But the most important thing in the first years of life is the growth of the mind and spirit. This is when a child learns to love and trust, to speak and listen. After a child turns two years old, these things are very difficult to learn or teach ever again. Trusting, singing, laughing, and language are the most important things in a young child’s life.

And so they must come first for mothers and fathers, too. Because we can never have those years over again. Every day, make a quiet, restful place for twenty minutes. Put your child in your lap and read a book aloud. In the pages of the book you will find a tiny vacation of privacy and intense love. It costs nothing but twenty minutes and a library card.

Reading to your little one is just like putting gold coins in the bank. It will pay you back tenfold. Your daughter will learn, and imagine, and be strong in herself. Your son will thrive, and give your love back forever. – R.W.

Reprinted from "Read to your Bunny" published by Scholastic Press

Sarah turns seven

Last month was a month of celebrating and thanking God for the gifts He has given us. Sarah, our oldest, is another year older now. Inspired by "Max and Ruby", she requested a pajama party. I agreed to a birthday party on the day and a pj party on Friday night.

Reading her own cards now What could it be?

Happy Birthday!

Strawberry and chocolate - by requestReady for the movie

What's a party without treats and a movie without popcorn?

Winter Storm (sung to "Summertime" from "Porgy & Bess

Winter storm, and the livin's not easy.
Snow and ice. Several inches deep.
Kerosene heaters and no electricity.
Pipes, don't freeze.
For three whole days in the dark we see.

Winter storm. No warm water, no coffee,
no television, no lights nor internet for me.

Winter storm. Temps are dropping to 13.
Things we take for granted now they cannot be.

Winter storm. We got through it with God's help.
In our weakness, we know that He is our Strength.
He's our God and always deserving of our praise.
We'll bless and honor Him in easy times and hard.

2/1/2009

Dependence

We have power again as of last night after three days without. On Tuesday there was snow and then ice on top of that snow. By Wednesday morning we lost our electricity for about an hour. We were glad when it came back on and thought that all would be well. OBT was home Tuesday and Wednesday as the roads were too dangerous to travel. Our roads were considered on a Level 3 which means that you could get a ticket for even being on them without a very good reason.

An hour later the power went off again and stayed off. Our house has only electricity, and now it had none. We had no backup heat or power. Things did not look good. We decided to try and get somewhere with heat for the night while leaving the faucets dripping at home. As we left the garage and headed up the driveway, there was enough of a slope that it was difficult to make it. On the third attempt, our van slid back into a culvert, and we were stuck with the tires in the air. Almost immediately it seemed our neighbor came over in his tractor to pull our van out. He also cleared a pathway to the road and offered for us to stay at his house for the night. They had a generator. We took him up on the offer.

The next day OBT went to work on the still icy roads. Even though OBT was supposed to be there, not many people were able to come in. After a while, OBT found out that there were ten kerosene heaters in South Charleston, WV. He ordered them online and then called the store to make sure that they were there. The person he talked to first said that they were sold out. When she checked in back, she found that a truck had brought in ten the day before. OBT told her that he had paid for and was coming to get two of them. He drove two hours both ways to get them and three tanks of kerosene. When he got back, he could not get the truck up our road after several attempts. So our neighbor's wife and I drove down to pick him up. We took him to our house where he set up the heaters. Then he came next door for dinner, and we made the decision to return to our house to keep an eye on the heaters.

The house was warm. The faucets were dripping. Thursday OBT got up early and refilled the heaters. Then he went to work, and we had school. That night OBT heated up dinner on the grill in the garage. After dinner OBT talked to the children about our situation and how that in the dark we can see. It made me think of Saul or Tarsus when he was blinded so that the Lord could show His glory to Him. I once was blind, but now I see. Friday morning OBT again went to work, and we carried on here. Later that day OBT told Sarah that we might have power if we didn't live so far out in the boonies. Sarah then said that we lived in the "Daniel Boonies" which made us laugh. For dinner we heated up leftovers on top of the kerosene heater and ate ice cream soup. That night the low was predicted to be zero but only went down to 13. Still our pipes did not freeze.

On Saturday morning OBT went to get more propane for the grill and a heater our neighbor lent us. By Saturday night we were having baked sweet potatoes and pork riblets (grilled). Then the water stopped dripping, and we thought the pipes had frozen. Our power did come back on after the children were in bed. I called our neighbor to make sure they knew and found out about the water. The water tower runs on electricity and barring that on water pressure. The pressure had gotten so low that the water was no longer enough. We were so relieved to find that out.

Today our power is still on, and we were able to get to church this morning. The temperatures have been up in the 40's, and much of the ice on the roads has melted. We have had our moments of frustration, anger, fear, and despondency, our up's and down's, but we also have been reminded of how little we are and of our dependence on One who is able to do all and carry us through. We praise and thank Him for getting us through this winter storm and all of you who were praying for us during this time.