Rowen's personal musings...

Last Saturday, June 14th, Janet and I had the privilege of attending the last day of the three-day annual conference of the Christian Home Educators of Colorado (CHEC) in Denver. You can download and listen to any of the workshops HERE. For the cost of only two tanks of gasoline, you could be blessed or challenged for many hours!

We enjoyed all of the workshops that we went to, but I wanted to mention a couple of things that stood out to me; those things that I'm still contemplating a week later...

The most significant to me was the workshop entitled "Battling Satan on Behalf of Your Ministry, Family, and Home School" by Chris Klicka, an attorney for HSLDA (You can download an actual MP3 of his talk HERE).

Points I'm pondering: Please take time to consider these thoughts and see if they aren't true for you and your family, as well as mine...

• All Satan wants to do in well meaning Christian families is to neutralize the parents, and then the children. The devil wants parents to shoot dull, deformed arrows (children), incapable of hitting the desired target (righteous lives, soul winners, and ultimately Heaven).

Psalm 127:3-5 "Behold, children are a heritage from the LORD, The fruit of the womb is a reward. Like arrows in the hand of a warrior, So are the children of one's youth. Happy is the man who has his quiver full of them; They shall not be ashamed, But shall speak with their enemies in the gate."

• Men (and women?) start out strong, then let down - when we lose our vision.

• "High-tech" often hides or softens the distinction between right and wrong.

This is not a statement about technology, but rather an observation about the human heart as changes or "improvements" come in technology.

It occurs to me that this has to do with any place and time, not specifically in the United States in the 21st century. But - we are here and living now, and we need to think about it. I enjoy the internet; reading, listening, watching, posting pictures and thoughts, etc. I obviously don't consider the technology to be evil. But does the fact that I have highspeed access to the internet at home and at work (really 24/7) cause me (or my family) to lose my vision, neutralize my life purpose, energy, or fervor, and do I have a firm understanding of what right and wrong are? Perhaps a worthwhile exercise would be to take time (away from any technology!) to thoughtfully, prayerfully consider and write down these things:

My vision - like a mission statement for the rest of my life

Our family vision - what is our purpose, responsibility and goals - as a family?

Am I, and are we on track? If not, where did we get off track, and what adjustments, large or small, do we need to make to get back? Do I (we) have the gumption to make any such changes?

Mr. Klicka then went through Ephesions 6: 10-18 about the armor of God - most of which was not new to me, but I needed the reminders.

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The other workshop was by Dr. Jay Wile, the author of our homeschool science curriculum (Apologia). He presented: ""Eco-hysteria: A Scientist Examines the “Environmentalist” Movement".

He called the hype about global warming the "Hoax of the Century", then proceeded to provide scientific evidence to back up his claims. If you are interested, please get another cup of coffee or iced tea and study the data on these relevant websites:

Global Warming Petition Project

Junk Science

Eco-Hysteria

Dr. Jay Wile on the need for Critical Thinking

A Visit from Rowen's cousin and his wife

On Monday afternoon, Wes and Joan Reiff came to see us. They live in Aztec, NM. He is one of Rowen's cousins. Rowen is the youngest Reiff cousin and he is 50. His oldest cousin, Lucy, died recently, and she was in her 80s. Wes and Joan are in their 70s but they have a lot of health issues that made it a particular blessing that they were able to make this trip to Colorado to see some of their family again. Wes was an only child so cousins are very important to him. We enjoyed visiting with them and praying together. We hadn't seen them since 2002, and may not get to see them again this side of heaven, but we were glad for this opportunity. They went on their way back to NM on Tuesday morning after staying the night with us.

A "new" work car for Rowen

We got this car, a 1998 Ford Contour, today and got the dealership to take our tornado damaged Aerostar off of our hands!! We are very thankful to the Lord and trust it will be very good for us.

Please read this well written post by a thinking Christian

I urge all of our readers to take a couple of minutes to read and contemplate this thought provoking article, then comment here about it.

"Politics of Faith"

"The Lord is the strength of my life; whom shall I fear?" - Psalm 27:1Another election year is upon us. A time to look forward to new beginnings, to experience some trepidation about the foreign and domestic policies of the upcoming president, and to either reminisce on the good times with current administration or to curse its inevitable missteps. That is, unless you're a Christian. If you're a Christian, each new election is another chance to slip from serene, faith-based rationality into frenetic, emotionally-charged panic.

Every four years, a notable percentage of the Christians I know (and many of those I don't) forsake all semblance of reason to spread unsubstantiated rumors about the possible misdeeds of "the other candidate," usually a Democrat. They spend the months leading up the election is a worried state not much different from mild dementia, their voices trembling slightly as they inform everyone they meet that the world is ending if the wrong person gets into the White House. This year, I've had people tell me they'd be surprised if we ever held another free election if Obama is elected. I've received countless email forward indicating Obama doesn't salute the flag; he doesn't support the troops; he's a radical Muslim in disguise; and so on. I have yet to receive one that indicates that he is black, but I suspect it will be forthcoming before this election cycle is over.

This eleventh hour panic of the faithful seems very strange to me. Of all people, shouldn't Christians be the ones least concerned with those in political power? Paul, writing during the time of the Roman Empire (a greater threat to Christians than even Obama and his pastor), had very little to say about the political climate. I can find in his letters no overexcited hyperbole urging Christians to hand out poorly-researched political pamphlets, lest another pagan be elected Caesar. Paul's only nods toward politics seem to instruct Christians to obey the government as much possible and to focus on spreading the Gospel of Christ. "The king's heart is in the hand of the Lord," Proverbs says, but to hear my fellow Christians discuss politics, you might be forgiven for thinking they don't have an Old Testament. Modern Christianity has transformed itself from a grassroots movement that sought to change society by changing lives, into a Political Action Committee trying to enforce morality through legislation, a plan that might change the nation's actions but can never change its heart. Even if it succeeded, it would only create a nation of pretty tombs, gleaming rocks full of dead bones.

The notion of the apolitical Christian is anathema in modern Christianity, but historically the church's greatest successes have always been those that started with the people and worked up, rather than starting with the government and working down. Unfortunately, many Christians have alienated the very people they are supposed to be reaching by focusing their considerable energies on opposing same-sex marriage, Roe vs. Wade, and gun control instead of building real, genuine relationships with those around them. Christians need to realize there is never going to be nationwide repentance just because we have a Conservative Supreme Court. True change comes only from knowing Jesus Himself, something no law can ever cause.

This year, instead of getting caught up in exactly which end-time prophecies Obama is fulfilling or making bullet-pointed lists of the ways the McCain resembles Hilary (I found 19 parallels!), I'm trying to keep a proper perspective. The hearts of kings are in the hand of the Lord--what do I have to be afraid of? Besides Muslim, gun control, and gays, that is.

Written by Brent Waggoner, Frankfort, IN June 16, 2008

2008 Walker Hymn Sing

Last night our family was blessed to be able to attend the 2008 Walker Hymn Sing, as we have for three of the past five years that they have had it. It was held on the lawn of the Walker Mower Manufacturing facility near Timnath, CO. Last night there were 942 people in the crowd, of all ages and walks of life. It was about 80'F, clear blue sky with a very gentle breeze. A perfect Colorado early summer evening.

The thing that we really enjoy about it is the fact that they provide a new songbook each year for everyone, with all old hymns, with a few songs written in the 1950 -1960s that Janet and Rowen grew up with. The Walkers are old-time Nazarenes in Loveland, Colorado, and the two brothers who own the Walker Mower manufacturing company are both singers themselves. They are in their fifties -sixties, so they enjoy the old style that they and we grew up singing.

On the sound stage there is an acoustic (real) piano, an organ, and a violinist; all are amplified, but old style. This year's SING included these 25 songs, of which we sang nearly every word of every verse and chorus. Some of our voices were strained at the end! Bob Walker himself led the last third of the songs.

Afterward we visited with a few friends who were there; Steve, LaDeana (Janet's cousin) and Tiffany Desmond, and Don, Zonya, Hannah, Abigail, and Phineas Campbell. That was a blessing, as well as the worship time of singing.

On our way home, we stopped for Sonic ice cream cones - but they were out of cones, so gave us our softserve ice cream in dishes instead. It was an enjoyable family outing.

A Visit with Bill and Elaine Hunt

Last week we had the privilege of spending some time with our friends, Bill and Elaine Hunt. They live in KC, but were vacationing in Colorado. We always appreciate them letting us know when they are out here so we can get together. Rowen took this picture of the rest of us at the Country Buffet in Longmont Twin Peaks Mall where we ate together on June 2. Then on June 5, they came over to our house and spent the evening hours with us. They are precious people who love the Lord, care about us, and always have interesting stories to tell!

Workin' in the Yard 'n' Garden

Last evening, Rowen and the children worked hard in the garden and yard while I was sewing on the wedding dresses. Here Rowen is pulling weeds from the green beans on his hands and knees.

Jason, Emily, and Beth also worked hard on the green bean rows. Jeffrey was on the deck taking the pictures and casting the shadows. (Hard work for him! HaHa He was already cleaned up from his day of lawn mowing, so we gave him dishes duty!)
After the garden work was done, they moved to the front yard where our Linden tree needed some trimming. Beth had the opportunity to use the chain saw to cut up the branches Rowen had cut down. Here you see her "getting up her nerve!"
Success! And what fun it was!
It was Jason's first time too. It was a "thrill a minute." Then they tied the cut branches in bundles.

The tree looks better now and will not impede the sunlight to the mound as much as it has been.This picture may better show what Rowen's windshield suffered through the tornado.

Wedding Stuff!

I am getting some things finished up for the wedding. This is Lexi Peterson, who will be the flower girl in Tim and Brenda's wedding, in her dress. She is standing on the guest room dresser, so that she looks like she is beside herself! She is a sweetie.This is the vest and bow tie I made for Quil to wear at the wedding. I hope it fits him. I sent it in the mail, so he can try it on. The color is exactly the same as Lexi's dress, even though it doesn't look like it. Trust me!
I have also finished Emily's and Beth's dresses completely. Mine is waiting to be hemmed. Brenda is at home in New Jersey hemming and finishing her sisters' and her mom's dresses.

Our Friend's New Piano CD

I recently bought a piano CD from our family friend, Becky Bennett, who is a missionary to the Navajo Indians in AZ and NM. I wanted to tell you about the CD, so that you can get one if you want to. The CD’s name is “His Love” and has 23 songs or medleys (hymns, present day choruses, and one song she wrote); all of them are played beautifully by Becky on the piano. (63 minutes of music that will absolutely bless your heart!!) Our family bought 6 and have been listening to them a lot. We love it! 1 CD = $12 (+ shipping and handling), 2 or more CDs = $10 (+ shipping and handling). Becky did not ask me to announce this, but it will be a blessing to you and to her if you buy one or more. Her address is:

Becky Bennett
421 N. 5th Street
Williams, AZ 86046.

Tell her I told you about it!!
- Beth

If you want to hear a sound clip of it just comment here, or email us, and we'll email it to you! Tell us which song you'd like to hear...

Memorial Day Annual...

Window washing and spring cleaning. We all work together every year to do this big job, and are done by suppertime. Mother washes all the windows and screens in the bathtub, while Daddy works on cleaning tracks and taking out windows. Brenda helped Mother in the bathroom with wiping and shining the windows. The rest of us work on all the smaller jobs, washing the large living room windows, vaccuming, dusting, and using the webster on the corners of the rooms. Jeff barbecued hot dogs for lunch. Then Dad took us all out to eat at Johnson's Corner (the resturant that makes world famous cinnamon rolls) for supper.

Jeff dusting fans and fanblades.
Mother taking out a bathroom window to wash it.
Emily spraying window blinds with water.
These two pictures go together from inside and outside.
Jeff making lunch.

Flower pictures

Here are a few of the flowers we've enjoyed this year. This is an iris in our neighbor's yard. She always grows lots of pretty ones each year.
This is one of lots of purple blooms on one of our two clamatis plants. Both of our clamatis plants are doing wonderfully this year. And below is one bloom from the red one.
Here is a picture of a snipit of the flower bed we have in our backyard. It is the prettiest it's ever been this year. Purple irises, red clamatis, yellow irises.
We have only one poppy flower this year in front of our house.
This is a picture I took in our backyard. The light coming through the trees above this bush cast a lovely shadow on the board below.

Scrapbook for Grandma

As a Mother's Day gift, my children presented a small scrapbook to me that will portray my grandson Quil's first year of life in pictures. They had kept it a secret for awhile, but needed to let the secret out so they could make more progress without having to be secretive about it.

A couple of the pages from the album

Painting the bench

Painting must run in our family! This picnic bench badly needed a facelift. Daddy sanded it and let Beth and Emily stain and varnish it. It looks lots better.

A lunch visit 5-29-08

Last Thursday Nicole and Phoebe Hinkle came to see us for a few hours. Brenda was leaving for NJ the next day and it was kind of a goodbye visit for Brenda with our Hinkle friends. Brenda had made a flannel baby blanket for their coming new baby and gave it to Nicole then. (Notice: You can see how much the bench needed the facelift in the other post.)This is a close up of the blanket. Bren embroidered it and crocheted around the edges.
We enjoyed our time with Nicole and Phoebe and had a pizza lunch.

Jason's mustache: missing in action!

This is the mustache that Jeffrey helped Jason to shave off. And look how happy he was about it!

NEWs

The other day we got a new picnic table from Sams that folds up. The same evening we also got a new barbecuer and set it up after supper - which was eaten on our new picnic table! Beth (me), Jason, and DadWhile Dad, Jason, Jeff, and I set up the barbecuer, Mother planted some more new green bean seeds where some did not come up. Mother, straddling the bean rows and planting more.

We have always had a turtle dove couple live in our area. Some years, their nest has been in our Blue Spruce tree where we could watch the babies grow up. We understand that doves mate for life, so we figured this was the same couple year after year that spent time on our property. Last week, we found one of the doves dead by our driveway, close to the highway. Jason and Emily gave it a decent burial. After that as we have eaten on the deck several days, we noticed this lone turtledove sitting atop a telephone pole. He or she is most likely the mate of the deceased. We feel sorry for him or her.

Rowen's Work Update

As you may know, and as written about earlier in this blog, on Thursday May 22, about noon, an F-3 tornado went directly over the building in which I work in Windsor, CO. The storm took out the electricity, with severe damage to the high voltage towers, several substations, and hundreds of poles in the region. The tornado severely damaged the plant-site cooling tower, where they make hot and cold water and steam for manufacturing processes. (NEW LIVE VIDEO!) It damaged the HVAC (ventilation systems) in our building complex, including the Carestream Health sensitizing machine where we make photographic products (XRAY film, Color Paper, Ink Jet Paper). It flipped over several cars in the parking lot, ripped out many trees, and broke lots of windows. The site was closed on Friday May 23 - Monday May 26 (memorial day weekend). Everyone reported to work on Tuesday May 27, where they had several huge generators providing power to part of the building at a time, no ventilation, pallet loads of bottled water, and free lunch! All production workers and staff were put to work cleaning everywhere that was found to be safe for asbestos in the air, and on the horizontal surfaces. Most of the building did have such contamination, from the asbestos insulation that was blown onto the ceiling surfaces when the building was built in the late 1960's. The tornado knocked lots of it loose, and the high wind swirling through the knocked-out windows spread it everywhere. Two highly trained asbestos contamination removal firms were brought in to clean up the dust, and to test the areas until the levels were found to be below the allowable limits. Finally, last Wednesday - late afternoon - I was allowed back in my microscopy lab, to begin my own cleaning (without power - used my Christmas-present headlamp!). On Thursday morning (one week after the tornado), the full power was restored to the plant site, and I was back on the job! All areas were asbestos safe, and work began in earnest to restore the production facilities. I took Friday off to go to the state Republican convention, but last I heard they anticipated making product today (Sunday, June 1). They will be functioning on a portable hot / cold water and stream unit for several months. I am on call today, to help troubleshoot if they have problems or make defective XRAY film when they start up. Thank the Lord, our company made the decision to pay us in full for the entire time that the building was down; many area businesses did not do that for their employees. My poor little 1989 Ford Aerostar van has a terribly damaged windshield and I have taped plexiglas over the drivers door window and passenger side sliding door windows that were blown out. I will get the windshield replaced, but without comprehensive insurance on this old vehicle I hate to spend money on the side windows. This van is too old and feeble to put money into, and too good to junk. I'm not sure what to do about it yet. THanks the Lord, we had no lasting damage at our house, just 12 miles from the tornado path.

Some miscellaneous catch up pictures!

On my post about Brenda's birthday (April 12 was her birthday), I mentioned that Joy had made Brenda a hat birthday cake. We finally got the pictures of the cake. So they are below.
This is another picture from the Schermerhorn Park picnic/hike that we did when we celebrated Joy's birthday. (Rowen added this picture into his note about our trip, but in case people don't go back and read old posts, I wanted you all to see this.) This is Tim and Brenda in front of a hollow tree that we found on our hike.
In another post, we mentioned that the Hinkles spent most of the day with us on Easter. We neglected to get a good picture of them that day, but took this one since then. We have Bible Study with Mathew, Nicole, and Phoebe twice a month, and always enjoy our time together in the Word. They are going to have an addition to their family in June. We are looking forward to meeting the new little Hinkle.

The following are two pictures representing many hours of work, making 4 bridesmaids' dresses and one flower girl's dress for the wedding coming up in July. We just have hems to go!

The following two pictures represent many hours of work making cream cheese mints for the wedding reception. On the table are pictured 3 batches. We actually made 4 batches, so we should have plenty of mints. They are yummy!

This is what guys do when girls make mints! We were listening to Lum 'n Abner cassette tapes as we worked! We were given a bag of pecans as a gift from the people for whom we babysit.We got the Pampered Chef order from the Bridal Shower for Brenda. This is Brenda with those gifts. She was very happy with all that she has already gotten as gifts. The apron is a gift from the Pampered Chef consultant. Everyone at the party signed it and wrote advice on it.