Be Not Weary

Sometimes, when I am toil-worn and aweary,
And tired out with working long and well,
And earth is dark, and skies above are dreary,

And heart and soul are all too sick to tell...

These words have come to me like angel fingers
Pressing the spirit's eyelids down in sleep,

'Oh let us not be weary in well doing,
For in due season we shall surely reap.'

Oh, blessed promise! When I seem to hear it,
Whispered by angel voices on the air,
It breathes new life and courage to my spirit,
And gives me strength to suffer and forbear.

And I can wait most patiently for harvest,
And cast my seeds, nor ever faint, nor weep,
If I know surely that my work availeth,
And in God's season, I at last shall reap.

When mind and body were borne down completely,
And I have thought my efforts were all in vain,
These words have come to me so softly, sweetly,
And whispered hope, and urged me on again.

And though my labour seems all unavailing,
And all my striving fruitless, yet the Lord
Doth treasure up each little seed I scatter,
And sometime, sometime, I shall reap the reward.

Ella Wheeler Wilcox

Virtue Through Adversity

It is easy enough to be pleasant,
When life flows by like a song...










But the man worthwhile is one who will smile,
When everything goes dead wrong.
For the test of the heart is trouble,
And it always comes with the years,
And the smile that is worth the praises of earth
Is the smile that shines through tears.

It is easy enough to be prudent,
When nothing tempts you to stray,
When without or within no voice of sin
Is luring your soul away;
But it's only a negative virtue
Until it is tried by fire,
And the life that is worth the honor on earth
Is the one that resists desire.

By the cynic, the sad, the fallen,
Who had no strength for the strife,
The world's highway is cumbered today;
They make up the sum of life.
But the virtue that conquers passion,
And the sorrow that hides in a smile,
It is these that are worth the homage on earth
For we find them but once in a while.

My dear friend Lady Lydia sent me this poem that her daughther Lillibeth memorized as a young woman. It meant so much to me, that I wanted to share it with you all too. This truly expresses the qualities developed as we go through the trials of life. To somehow rise above them beautifully with God's grace as we humbly take refuge in Him.

Harvest Celebration:"Making Memories With Our Sons"

What could be more glorious!...



for a boy...



Big


....or small,


than to catapult pumpkins high in the air and watch them splat on the ground!

We mothers think, "ohh..no how many pies could I have made from that?"


These are "The happy ways" our family is celebrating the Fall, Harvest and Thanksgiving Season. Our friends the Feist family invited us to join in the festivities and I wanted to share some ideas for those who want to throw their own celebration.
Our son Samuel was having the time of his life. Look at the face of the big guys here, I think the "little boy" in them was having just as much fun as our son!

One, Two, Three....Look at this homemade catapult... "I hope it holds up!"

Our pumpkin flew pretty far before it landed in the fields close to a barrel. It almost made a hole in one!

In this series I call "Making Memories With Our Sons", gathering friends and family together for a harvest celebration is a wonderful memory for the whole family!



No..."We are the Happy Ones!"

We feel so blessed to have such creatively resourceful friends who are so edifying to be around!

We look forward to God's plan and those friends He has yet for us to meet!

Here are some ideas for an outdoor

"Harvest Celebration"

If your friends or family have horses, hay rides are a wonderful experience. If you don't have a horse than a tractor or truck will do. Put some hay or whatever best to sit on-to give a view-in the back of a wagon, trailer or truck bed...then throw a few blankets in and viola! I should add this works best in the country, slow going to enjoy nature at its finest.

You'll Have A Happy Harvest Ride!

Be sure and look at all the beautiful colors and point out God's handiwork to your children. He shows his designs magnificently this time of year. Let us give Him praise for His enduring faithfulness throughout each season. Remember to sing songs while you take your trail ride. I like "She'll be coming around the mountain" and I love "For the Beauty of the Earth"... which is so glorifying to God when sung A cappella.

Games: There are many memory making games that are simple which our Forefathers and the Pioneers enjoyed~ like three legged races, potato sack races, rope pulls, apple dunking and foot races. This year we did blind folded wheelbarrow races (Samuel was in the barrel:>). It takes fast concentration as the lead man gives the instructions with a blindfolded teammate pushing the wheelbarrow as fast as they can through obstacles like cones and flags. One realizes the importance of clear communication! I could almost do a Titus 2:5 humorous analogy on this...but I will leave that for those with comical imaginations! Our son hung on for dear life criss- crossing over dividing ropes and flags as his Christian sister Katie Feist ran full speed to the end. We laughed and had great joy cheering him on.

Making meaningful memories does not have to cost a great deal of money when you join forces with good friends and neighbors. God has given each of us abilities and blessings. Some are talented at building catapults while others have a wheelbarrel, or a field of pumpkins to share. One mother designed beautiful face paintings of horses and animals on the children while another helped them make bracelets..." masculine for boys and feminine for girls". Some young women helped the children color pictures of leaves for a contest while others served refreshments.

To celebrate this beautiful"Season" the Lord gave us, each household can contribute something needed that will make the day special. I recall a book I read to my son called "Bunny Get Well Soup". Each little forest animal brought in one vegetable to the host and working together created a lovely feast that made their soup taste delicious. By sharing of your bounty with family, friends and neighbors, you too can have a delicious day in the Lord!

Happy Trails To You!

Harvest Home

"Making Memories With Our Sons"

It's that time of year again!

The leaves turn brilliant colors, radiating the excitment of the season. I love the vibrant crisp energy as everyone rushes around preparing for a lovely long winter. The wood piles are bursting at the seams, the happy voices sipping hot apple cider as friends and families gather to usher in another Harvest Season.

This hand carved "Fall Pheasant" is a tradition we just started this year. My nine year old son and I went exploring on our property for Fall colors bringing a brilliant palate to our centerpiece. We were having ministry guests for dinner and Samuel helped create a wonderfully masculine Harvest display for our table. It was so simple and very uplifting in "real life". We had so much fun finding unique fauna while working together.

Making opportunities with our sons is just as important as with our daughters. My boy was such a blessing as he cut sharp, thorny plants for me and helped carry in our bounty. Working with sons, gives them a tangible appreciation of the Lord's faithfulness throughout the changing seasons while touching God's living artwork. These are the memories that will delight a young man's soul... and will last a lifetime.

"his delight is in the law of the LORD; and in his law doth he meditate day and night.
And he shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that bringeth forth his fruit in his season; his leaf also shall not wither; and whatsoever he doeth shall prosper"