Reasons to Start Training Early and Joyfully

There need not be any contest for power. For where a child has been accustomed to obey, even from an infant, the yoke of obedience will generally be light and easy. . . . Children who find the parental yoke a burden are not very likely to look upon that of Christ as a benefit.

--John Angell James (1785-1859), Free Grace Broadcaster #204

A Slightly More Conventional Celebration of Fall

Pumpkin Carving 101--Instructor: Daddy

A pic of the results will follow.

For When There's Not Enough Time to Cook--Proverbs 15:15

All the days of the afflicted are evil: but he that is of a merry heart hath a continual feast.

Arkansas Fall Fun

It was a nice, blustery day yesterday. Not having any kites on hand, the kids improvised. If you look in front of the tree foliage, you can see Ian's stringless "kite." It's from my favorite store. This is not the first time they've done this either.

Economics Crash Course

Titus watched all of this rather lengthy video entitled "Money as Debt," and though he disagreed with some of the assumptions, he found it so helpful as a general overview that he asked me to post it here. I tried the embedding trick I just learned when posting Gianna Jessen's video, but I couldn't get it to work for me this time. Back to the Help Desk for me.

http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-9050474362583451279&hl=en

Cause for Generational Rejoicing--Psalm 112:1-2

Praise ye the LORD. Blessed is the man that feareth the LORD, that delighteth greatly in his commandments. His seed shall be mighty upon earth: the generation of the upright shall be blessed.

Our Budding Agrarian

Tractor Day has been one of Lewis's favorites from our current round of library books. Candice Ransom's poetry is very simple, great for a new reader, and we all thoroughly enjoy Laura J. Bryant's colorful illustrations.

Where the Rubber Meets the Road

The most important part of this process [of sanctification] is the specific application of the Scripture to specific life situations. We are prone to vagueness at this point because commitment to specific actions makes us uncomfortable. But we must avoid general commitments to obedience and instead aim for specific obedience in specific instances. We deceive our souls when we grow in knowledge of the truth without specifically responding to it.

--Jerry Bridges in his book The Pursuit of Holiness

The Gianna Jessen Story

The second part to this speech is posted on You Tube as well.

Divine Compassion From Earliest Cradle to Grave--Isaiah 46:3-4

Hearken unto me, O house of Jacob, and all the remnant of the house of Israel, which are borne by me from the belly, which are carried from the womb: And even to your old age I am he; and even to hoar hairs will I carry you: I have made, and I will bear; even I will carry, and will deliver you.

Fashion Forward

It is simply amazing what can be done with tissue paper and newspaper if one has the proper creative streak. This week, the girls got these hats back out which they made during their stay with friends in August. Don't know why I never thought to snap this pic before!

A Fun Change of Pace

Breakfast Balls

2c. old-fashioned oats
Up to ¾ c. chunky natural peanut butter
Up to ½ c. honey

Stir above ingredients together in medium-sized bowl. Then select add-ins from the list below or from your own inspiration:

¼ c. raisins or currants
2 bananas, mashed
2-3 T. finely shredded coconut
¼ c. chocolate mini-chips
1-2 T. unbleached flour to help hold mixture together
1 T. or more sesame seeds
2-3 T. raw wheat germ


Stir each optional ingredient into the first mixture, adjusting the amounts until you like the consistency. Form tightly packed but chewy balls in any size you wish. Makes a great lunch or snack, too!

Mudslingers

This is what's been going on around here for the last several weeks. The junior members of the drywall finishing crew are working in the back corner.

Lewis on Campaigning Candidates

"Their threats are terrible enough, but we could bear
All that; it is their promises that bring despair . . ."

C.S. Lewis, in a segment from his poem "Lines During a General Election"

**Borrowed this quote from Douglas Wilson's Blog and Mablog. Tried to link, but it turned into too much of an ordeal.

An exhortation for those of us who view children as assets--Proverbs 27:23-24

Be thou diligent to know the state of thy flocks, and look well to thy herds. For riches are not for ever; and doth the crown endure to every generation?

Ten Plagues in Verse

Blood and frogs and lice and flies;
Death to the cattle and boils on the hides;
Hail and locusts, followed by night;
Death to the firstborn showed God's might.