Winter is Finally Here!

But wait ... hasn't winter been here for two months?

When I think of winter I think of soft white snow, blanketing the fields and the housetops, creating a cozy environment inside your warm house as you cradle your steaming mug of hot chocolate and watch the atmospheric water vapor frozen into ice crystals falling outside.

But, unfortunately, winter doesn't necessary guarantee snow, as we learned painfully this past December of 2021. To my recollection, not a single flake of snow fell during the entire month, leaving us with only disappointing temperatures and leafless trees. Snow and ice, though relatively little, did come on the first of January, New Years of 2022, and thus began a rather snowy winter!

I was very happy when we got another 3 inches of snow later in January, and now, on February 5, we have somewhere between 7 - 10 inches lying around our yard in drifts. ! It's so nice to wake up in the morning, expectantly awaiting a sunrise that would bring you a view of everything white -- which, as aforementioned, is the proper look for winter.

Another thing I really enjoy about winter are **drumroll** -- the birds! As a gift for my last birthday, one of the things I received was a greatly anticipated birdfeeder, which I promptly filled with birdseed and hung outside a sun-room window -- in full view so we could watch the adorable phoebes, bold bluejays, and stunning cardinals.

So far, if my bird documenting skills are correct, I've seen quite a few Eastern Phoebes. Here is one who braved the danger on the ground for a snack.

Unfortunately, the bird itself is in slight danger of becoming a snack, thanks to our very sweet, adorable, and innocent looking cat, Ebony.

Ebony has an unfortunate tendency to ... well, be a cat. Whenever she sees a bird she'll creep up and eventually pounce. So far she hasn't successfully caught any birds, thankfully. The birdfeeder was not intended as bait. XD

Getting outside and playing in the snow is so much fun, especially when there are huge drifts to be discovered ...

... and annihilated.

Well, there's an update on us enjoying the beginning of 2022! Go have fun in the snow, whenever there's some available, and stay warm! 

(Two things you can easily do together ;)

Chloe

WotR Research Special - Carlisle Castle - Also Happy New Year!

This starts out with as a random post with a random topic, but it gets more serious, I promise :D

I've been researching for the Wars of the Roses recently (again; it's a continuous thing) and realized that I didn't know what a certain castle looked like, even though it featured in the story. 

I am very easily distracted by researching, mind you, but this kind of detail is very important to me---you can't write a scene well if you don't know the surroundings.

So I did a little digging and was quickly blown away. 

Presenting Carlisle Castle.

 

These are just a few of the pictures that I instantly wanted to save. The crazy thing is, I already had the sloping steep ground (see picture #2) in my head when I was imagining these scenes, so it's great that it's actually there.

Researching and writing down notes is so fun, you guys. Like I said, I tend to get distracted by it when I should be plotting or outlining, but the details almost always help. (Almost.)

Carlisle Castle is located in the North of England, and was controlled, at the time of my story, by the Neville family---a rich, well known and wide spread House of the nobility.

My characters who arrive at the castle (about 1/3 through the story) are a young servant boy and girl, whose already unsteady lives are shaken up even more by the quick move to Carlisle Castle. Along with them is their adult friend, a kind, wandering minstrel who promises that he will return to visit them when he leaves.

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I could go on but I'd better not. Despite the fact that I'm writing this post, I actually haven't got to do much writing of any sort recently---life's been busy, but in the good way. :)

Of course, there's been sickness and traveling and a bunch of school as well. My goals for the next few years are becoming more clear, and I'm praying that the Lord will help me to accomplish them so I can be ready for whatever---or whomever :D---might come my way. :)

Looking forward into the New Year, we should remember to take it step by step, month by month, and not to stress about things that needn't be stressed about. "Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Savior Jesus Christ," as Titus 2:13 says. And you know, there's more than one way we should be looking for God. Waiting for Him to come back, of course...but also in all the things we do, in things we say, in the people we talk to---if these things are not reflecting the things of the Lord or His commandments, should we really be doing them?

One thing I pray for 2019 is that people will be able to see more of God's light in me.

Happy New Year, everyone! God bless!

~Lindsey

Pictures from Pinnacles

Late November, around Thanksgiving, there was a beautiful uncomplicated day in between all the cold and busy days. Dad and Mom decided to pack us up and drive to Pinnacles, a Missouri National Park that is practically in our backyard, it's so close. Despite living where we have for 6 + years we still hadn't gone to check it out.

It was amazing, and so much fun! It was a really good family outing, and a perfect day for it! The Lord really blessed :)

Here's a bunch of pictures:

Aaron

We climbed up this rather steep hill...

Then headed right back down again. :D

I love this picture of Chloe :)

Ending with dear little Bubs...love him so much! :)

 Hopefully sometime we can go back. We all really enjoyed it. :)

~Lindsey

The Creation and Ark Adventure ~ Blog by Chloe

We had a great time at the Creation Museum!

When we arrived at the museum entrance, there were two long-neck dinosaurs there to greet us. They were tall and still, (which wasn't surprising, seeing that they were statues.)

Then we entered the building. The ceiling was high, and hanging from it were two, very long Chinese dragons. They didn't have legs, though. :)

There were lots of neat things. Dinosaurs, statues of people that moved, lots and lots of insects, cool rocks, and much more. All of it pointing to God's wonderful designs in creation.

Later in the day we went the planetarium. It was one of my favorite parts of the whole vacation! It was quiet and dark, and we were all in soft seats that could lean back so we could see the ceiling. The screen was above us on the ceiling, and it felt like we were looking up into an upside down bowl.

The show was about the Created Cosmos. It started with earth, and then went to our solar system, and then moved on to our galaxy, all the way up to what we know of the universe.

The stars and planets were beautiful, and the animation was wonderful! It made us so amazed at how big God is!

We all had a very good time. Then, the next day, it was on to the ark!

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A life size version of Noah's ark!

We had a great time at the Ark Encounter. It was neat to look on the outside and see how huge it was for real. 

Here's the whole thing.

Though the ark isn't as neat in pictures as it is in person, it's the next best thing.

When we arrived at the parking lot, we got on a bus and drove down to the bus stop, and after a few minutes, headed to the huge thing we had come to see. (On foot)

On the way there, we saw statues of animals and tall, stone blocks with pictures telling a story carved on them.

The inside gave you some idea of what life for Noah and his family was like for the 370 or so days that they lived there. Here's a lot of pictures:

It can be hard to understand what you are seeing in these pictures if you haven't been there, so seeing it in person is best of course.

The whole trip was a very fun experience, and we learned some new things. God is very good to his children, in the past and present!

Well, that's all for now!
~Chloe

Introduction to Stories from 2018

Hello all!

Here I am to tell some stories of the past year, for the simple reason of...well, it's almost been a year since I've written :D But a lot of little things happen in life that take up time, and if we don't stop and care for the little things, then what good are we with the big ones?

Then again, it is good to have a habitual posting when you have a blog. I'm going to have to get better at that, and the fact that I have several posts lined up should help.

So. Summer and Fall of 2018 was really good. Traveling, love, worshiping the Lord with His people, family fun, friendships blossoming, and reminders of God's workings and God's goodness.

On the way to a church meeting we stopped
by a zoo. Fun times!

Snowy skies

Winter puppies!

Jonas dancing to his music :)

It hasn't been trial free, of course. Nothing ever is. We stumbled through two major family illness during summer, and we had a health scare regarding my Mom. But through it all we have been so, so, blessed. I can't even begin to tell you how much. Our church family has helped us out so much, bringing meals and lifting up prayers, and those prayers have been answered.

I think the Lord has been trying me through it all. I need more patience I think...to rest in His will and let Him take care of the flow of life.

A couple of things that we did this summer I will leave my sister Chloe to tell you. She's quite a writer herself. :)  Anyway, she wrote a few posts, and they'll be posted next.

~ Lindsey

Crumbs - A Short Funny Moment

I'm sweeping the dinning room floor. Aaron suddenly materializes close by, but instead of running through as usual, stops and looks at my work in progress with a bit of thoughtfulness and confusion. I am pulled from my thoughts as I notice him, and give him a curious glance. Sometimes I can see a glimpse of the future person my siblings might become, and it intrigues me to no end.

"Where do the crumbs come from?" Aaron suddenly asks as he examines my pile. The "crumbs", as it happened, was actually dirt that had been drug into the house.

Thankfully he was asking a question to which I have a ready answer. "Well, some of them come from outside, when someone walks in the house with shoes on. They fall off the shoes and get on the floor."

He frowns, and watches for a moment longer as I continue to sweep. I can tell he is thinking about it in great length.

Finally he asks, as if it were the simplest solution in the world, "Then why don't they just take off their shoes at the door and the crumbs won't come?"

Five sarcastic replies pop into my head at once, one of them being, You finally get it! After all those reminders!

I giggle inwardly, but I don't say any of them. Instead I nicely explain that sometimes, he and others forget to take off their shoes. He realizes this and nods understandingly, like the little man he is, and then runs off.

I melt into giggles, both at his four-year-old smartness, and at my sarcastic thoughts.

**************

I still laugh about it, even though it's been awhile. But then, I really do love to answer his questions about the world. Things like the solar system, or the global flood, or the way windmills work :)

I love to teach, and I've so grateful that God has given all of us the ability to teach. Helping others learn about Him and the super complex world He's given us is one of the best things we can do. I can't wait to do it as a mother :)

(And one thing I've learned is that you really don't realize how complex a thing is until you try to teach it, lol.)

~Lindsey

Goals to Aspire to, Things to Remember.

Let love be without dissimulation. Abhor that which is evil, cleave to that which is good.

Be kindly affectioned towards one another in all brotherly kindness. In honor, preferring one another.

Not slothful in business; fervent in spirit; serving the Lord.

Rejoicing in hope; patient in tribulation; continuing instant prayer.

Distributing to the necessity of the saints; given to hospitality.

Bless those that persecute you; bless, and curse not.

Rejoice with them that rejoice, and weep with them that weep.

Be of one mind toward one another. Mind not high things, but condensed to men of low estate. Be not wise in your own conceits.

Recompense no man evil for evil. Prove things honest in the sight of all men.

If it be possible, with as much that lieth within you, live peaceably with all men.

~Romans 12, verses 9 to 18

I am trying to memorize this passage right now. Very good things to have floating around in your minds all day, so I encourage you to try it too! It's challenging, but worthwhile! I particularly love the last verse.

I've had a lot of people on my mind for the last few weeks. Friends, friends of friends, family...I just wanted to let you know that I love all of you and care more deeply than you may know. Everyone has trials in life, everyone passes through times of cold and emptiness. But don't give up, please don't give up! Don't live your life without purpose. You have people who love you, one of them being me, but I know so many others who are praying for you and think of you often.

So just keep trying, and remember.

Prayers for you all! 

Love,

Lindsey