One Family's Thanksgiving...

While listening to some old Thanksgiving radio shows, we found this Father Knows Best. While the TV episode (in this clip, anyway) differs slightly from the radio program, the prayer Father prays (probably the best prayer I've heard in a movie) is the same one he prayed on the radio.

We hope you all enjoy it.




Have a happy Thanksgiving giving thanks for all the blessings our Heavenly Father has bestowed!

From August... To Forever...

Not quite the photo I wished, but how often may one sit a table with one pair of engaged friends and view the other framed by the first?

Oh, if I were any happier or more excited, I believe I'd burst!

Garden Hopes

Waaaaay back on Memorial Day, our dear friends the Plumleys came for a few days and graciously taught helped us to plant our over 2,000 square foot garden. Many hands made light work, and before we knew it, we had completed our task (hopefully, gardening parties will become a tradition...) ! Our free time was filled with watching BBC's 1970's version of Sense and Sensibility, fellowshipping, and a marvelous hike.

Thank you dear friends, our lovely garden is growing well, producing squash, zucchini, and much leafy vegatables. We're rather fond of it.

Happy Independence Day!!!!

[It] will be the most memorable epoch in the history of America. I am apt to believe that it will be celebrated by succeeding generations as the great anniversary festival. It ought to be commemorated as the day of deliverance, by solemn acts of devotion to God Almighty. It ought to be solemnized with pomp and parade, with shows, games, sports, guns, bells, bonfires, and illuminations, from one end of this continent to the other, from this time forward forever more.

~ John Adams on celebrating the signing of the Declaration of Independence to his wife Abigail ~

Just a Thought...

Not even Josh Groban hits all the right notes all of the time...

What We’ve Been up To…

Happy May!

Nearly half a year gone by, I wonder what the rest will hold...

For the Carey Family, January –Mid April have been filled to the brim.

You see…

Father has a consulting business – Heritage Communications. Its purpose is to assist churches, homeschoolers, and others who wish to protect and defend their God-given liberties, rights and freedoms. Currently, Heritage is assisting one state, but our desire is to equip others to defend themselves across the country.

This state’s Legislative Season (the time of year in which the legislative bodies gather to pass legislation) is a 60 period, this year from – to - , but the six weeks previous are dedicated to organization and preparation. Once the Legislative Season starts, the preparation time seems easy…

In the beginning, Father goes weekly to the capitol (a couple hour drive away), and comes home to write synopsis of events, explain bills of importance, and generally inform and educate clients about the legislature. We (primarily Mother and Mia) edit his articles and newsletters (I assist with content). Dad and I set up the webpage (I’m in charge of maintenance, finding bills of note, and whatever else Dad needs me to do). We prepare Heritage (and ourselves) for the weeks ahead…

It is interesting to note that though 2000 bills may be introduced over the session, only ten percent of those become laws. Perhaps this gives an indication of the magnitude of what is accomplished in the official 60-day session.

As the Legislative Season continues, Father stays at the Capitol City for longer and longer periods, communicating ideas with legislators, defending Biblical freedoms, writing articles and working with legislation. We stay on-call at home, ready and waiting of whatever he needs us to do (while we have gone to the Capitol with him, our staying at the “base of operations” is usually of more assistance). While it can be "long periods of boredom punctuated by moments of sheer terror," the “periods of boredom grow increasingly shorter as the legislative season progresses.

We pray to be faithful to accomplish the Lord’s purposes. We do not believe that “salvation for a nation comes through legislation,” but rather that by defending Biblical principles down at the capitol, we are making Christ Lord of every area of our lives and declaring his dominion over all things, including the affairs of men.

The last two weeks of the session are the busiest; as no more bills may be introduced and those that have been tend to progress rapidly. Vigilance is key, and we strive to make certain that all literature is perfect; no bills are overlooked, and whatever Father needs is supplied swiftly and simply.

And then - at midnight of the 60^th day - it is all over. Though there will be committee and interim meetings once a month, no more bills may be introduced or run until the next legislative season…

"I have set watchmen upon thy walls, O Jerusalem, which shall never hold their peace day nor night: ye that make mention of the Lord, keep not silence, and give him no rest, till he establish, and till he make Jerusalem a praise in the earth."

~Isaiah 62:6-7

We are not weak if we make a proper use of those means which the God of Nature has placed in our power…The battle, sir, is not to the strong alone; it is to the vigilant, the active, the brave.

~ Patrick Henry

Speech in Virginia Convention,

St. John’s Episcopal Church

Richmond, VA [March 23, 1775]

(from his “Give me liberty or give me death!” speech)

Likes # 10 ~ A Giggle of Girls

One late June day in 2006, Mia and I accepted an invitation to a week-long conference hosted by a church and held on a college campus. Ready for adventure (though admittedly a bit nervous), we accepted. A few weeks later we drove up, pulled in, and headed for the Registration table. After signing in, we carried our things up to the college dorm room which would be ours for the duration of the conference. After settling in (by the loving help of our family – thank you so much, Father for those fans!!!), we bid our kin adieu, and went out to see what we could see.

We knew next to no one attending, and though not the shy and timid sort, we were a bit uneasy. I think we went to a session before dinner, thoroughly enjoyed it, and found ourselves spiritually challenged, personally encouraged, and frightfully hungry. After walking to the cafeteria, we served ourselves, and choose a seat. A few minutes later, a very gracious lady seated herself across from us and began to converse. Her care and attention helped to set us at our ease. After the meal, (lunch, I think?) we left the cafeteria feeling much more confident.

And then it happened.

I can’t recall if we met the Mortons first, but with increasing rapidity, we met over a dozen young ladies. Most had attended the conference since its founding, but a few (like us) were new attendees. We palled around all week, gathering new friends, exchanging physical ( as well as e-mail) addresses. When we weren’t chatting, we were singing.

Oh, the singing! While some of our songs were simply enjoyable rounds, most of the songs we sang were from the Hymnbook or Psalter. There are few things as delightful, uplifting, and memorable as raising our voices together to the King of Kings.

That is how the Giggle of Girls began. By God’s grace, we have seen most of these young women at our conference. Every year, Mia and I anticipate their fellowship at the conference. We pray throughout the year for our fellow “Gigglers” and (as time permits) exchange e-mails. More have been added to our numbers. Some have not been able to return, but we cherish their memory and delight in the ones who’ve stayed. Others have attended our Southern Balls (and we theirs).One pair of sisters are now members of our church! As the Lord brings changes, blessings, and challenges in our lives, we anticipate with joy our fellowship and friendship both now and hereafter.

How good it is to know other like-minded young ladies!

The Morton’s old blog has some marvelous pictures of past conferences, and the Giggle of Girls. I am (again) unabashedly posting pictures from their blog.

Resurrection Day!

1 Who hath believed our report? and to whom hath the arm of the LORD been revealed?

2 For he grew up before him as a tender plant, and as a root out of a dry ground: he hath no form nor comeliness; and when we see him, there is no beauty that we should desire him.

3 He was despised, and rejected of men; a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief: and as one from whom men hide their face he was despised, and we esteemed him not.

4 Surely he hath borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows: yet we did esteem him stricken, smitten of God, and afflicted.

5 But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed.

6 All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way; and the LORD hath laid on him the iniquity of us all.

7 He was oppressed, yet he humbled himself and opened not his mouth; as a lamb that is led to the slaughter, and as a sheep that before her shearers is dumb; yea, he opened not his mouth.

8 By oppression and judgment he was taken away; and as for his generation, who among them considered that he was cut off out of the land of the living? for the transgression of my people was he stricken.

9 And they made his grave with the wicked, and with the rich in his death; although he had done no violence, neither was any deceit in his month.

10 Yet it pleased the LORD to bruise him; he hath put him to grief: when thou shalt make his soul an offering for sin, he shall see his seed, he shall prolong his days, and the pleasure of the LORD shall prosper in his hand.

11 He shall see of the travail of his soul, and shall be satisfied: by his knowledge shall my righteous servant justify many: and he shall bear their iniquities.

12 Therefore will I divide him a portion with the great, and he shall divide the spoil with the strong; because he poured out his soul unto death, and was numbered with the transgressors: yet he bare the sin of many, and made intercession for the transgressors.

Isaiah 53 (ERV)

IF there is therefore any comfort in Christ, if any consolation of love, if any fellowship of the Spirit, if any tender mercies and compassions, fulfill ye my joy, that ye be of the same mind, having the same love, being of one accord, of one mind; doing nothing through faction or through vainglory, but in lowliness of mind each counting other better than himself; not looking each of you to his own things, but each of you also to the things of others. Have this mind in you, which was also in Christ Jesus: who, being in the form of God, counted it not a prize to be on an equality with God, but emptied himself, taking the form of a servant, being made in the likeness of men; and being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, becoming obedient even unto death, yea, the death of the cross. Wherefore also God highly exalted him, and gave unto him the name which is above every name; that in the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven and things on earth and things under the earth, and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

Philippians 2:1-11 (ERV)

He is not here; for he is risen,
even as he said.

Matthew 28:6a (ERV)

Please Pray!

Three-year-old Noah Estes has a form of Mito, which means that every cell in his body is mutated. It takes about $1,000 a day to keep this little one alive.

I've been following the Estes family blog for about a year now and Noah has been steadily getting worse (in fact, the Make a Wish Foundation sent the Estes family on a rush trip a few weeks ago). In the words of his mother,"Noah seems to have entered another one of his little downhill spirals. He will stay pretty stable for a while then gradually get subtly sicker . . . then maintain . . . then get sicker. This time we've been noticing that he is eating and drinking FAR less for the last few weeks. He was asking for things, but not eating/drinking them - then asking for things but just holding them and crying - and now he doesn't often ask and will generally cry if we offer. The exception is that sometimes he seems frantic in his desire for a drink. Even so, he won't drink much. He even refused coffee the other day. The only thing protecting his liver from the devestating effects of TPN are the calories he gets through his gut, so this is very hard to see. He is also fussier and tiring more easily. Sometimes he sort of comes back up from these downward spirals and other times they level out and become his new baseline."

Currently, Noah is in the hospital with high fevers and is sick every few minutes. The Dr.s and nurses are not certain what his problem is. Plus, he is not responding well to his medications.

Please pray for this homeschooling family of eight children (all of whom are under the weather at this time- none of Noah's siblings have Mito), read their blog, and let them know you are praying for them.

Thank you,

Lynne

Likes # 9 ~ The Mortons, Past and Present

These are the Three Morton Maidens who captured our hearts at a conference several summers ago. Constrained by distance, we kept in touch through e-mail, our yearly conference, and the Morton Household Blog (a marvelous site, full of delightful photography, fun descriptions, and joy in the Christian Life). We would visit at each year at conference and the summers were good.

One tends to anticipate a good thing lasting forever, but all things must change, usually for the betterment of something or someone...


First, Meg began to court, and wasn't certain if she'd be able to come to conferences after marriage because of distance (much better for her, the loss was for us).

Then, when the Mortons couldn't come to the next conference, as Meg had married and was waiting for JuneBug to arrive, we missed our dear sisters, but were overjoyed for them all.

Now, with their moving, Kate now courting (how fantastic!), and the conference several months away, we don't know when we'll next see our dear friends...

But, the Lord has blessed us with visits at unexpected times.In fact, we've seen them more in the past 6 months, than we have since we first met! Such tender mercies.



'Til we meet again!

N.B.

The Mortons now have new blog - Morton Household Blog II.

Meg's family has a blog - Family Happenings.

Kate, when you've your own family, please make a blog!


P.S. All photos are unabashedly copied off of both the Morton Household blogs. For more delightful offerings, please visit their blogs!

Likes # 7 ~ Historical Exploration

Fort Necessity - Washington's First Command

Inside the museum- It was very well done and enjoyable to walk through and learn from.

Outside the Reconstructed Fort

Just behind the mound.

The Good "Guys" and... The Bad Ones
Sadly, the folks on the right won.

Following the walking trail from the fort, we came to an inn along the National Road.

Just the thing for weary travelers.

I believe this is all from the early 1800's.

The last stop on our National Road travels was a toll station.

Here we are standing outside the closed toll station. The other photo is a close up of a reproduction of the original sign. It's to the left, and partially covered by a pillar in the left hand photograph.

The only site we explored post 1865, Arthurdale was Eleanore Roosevelt's pet project. Primarily an unsuccesful government-funded utopian community, the Historical Explorer is made to ponder the purpose, result, and future of Arthurdale...

The Forge, view of an Aurthurdale farm, the ruins of an Arthurdale factory.

Afterwards, it was back to the 1700's. Namely, the Albert Gallatin beloved house, Friendship Hill. Gallatin was a secretary of the treasury and masterminded ways for the fledging United States to stay debt free. We should know more of this man.


The original part of the house is to the left. At the right is Gallatin's son's addition (his father was much less than pleased - he'd set his son to build a Georgian addition, not a peasant's cottage).




One of the rooms in Friendship Hill and a pleasant Gazebo overlooking the Mon (a foursome could squaredance inside).



After enjoying Friendship Hill's lovely museum, we went outside to the pleasant grounds and several miles of walking trails. From left to right, Kate admiring the Gallatin's well (the well, though formerly used by the family, is boarded up, but still lovely. Then we girls sat and pondered the fate of Gallatin's first wife. Following the trail beyond, we came to a lovely trail and hiked some miles through the woods. Such fun.



On our last day, we visited a Kincell Family Favorite - Prickett's Fort. It was soon to become one of our favorites.

Prickett's Fort is a living History Museum. Though quite small, it remined me of Williamsburg's ability to transport one back in history. We Carey Girls can hardly wait to take our family there. How Murray would love to throw a tomahawk!

N.B. Each of these sites deserves multiple postings of its own. Sadly, this is not possible. Hence the hyperlinks on each of the sites. I hope you find them informative and inspire your own Historical Explorations!

Likes # 6 ~ Creative Problem Solving

Based on the number of "likes" posted, one would assume the Carey family cares for very little! However, allow me to justify the lack of posts as the result of the start of Legislative Season of the state of Father's consulting business (how's that for confusing?).

That said, I've decided to solve the problem creatively (hence the title of this post). The series of "Likes" will continue until the end of the Legislative Season.

As the Careys are a family of a great many likes, this should prove interesting.

...hopefully....

Likes #5 ~ The Kincells

The Kincell Family contains five of our favorite people. Kiri, Keely, and Kelsie are very dear friends of Mia, Kate, and myself, while Mother and Father relish the company of Mr. and Mrs. Kincell. We have known them for many, many years, mostly interacting in the homeschool arena (and they don't generally look like this).

The Kincells are a blogging family and have a well-written and enjoyable blog named The Kincell Family Blog which they have been writing since Jamestown’s Quadricentenial.

Last August, Mia, Kate, and I traveled to their house to spend a week of laughter, discussion, and historical exploration. The Kincells live in a history-rich area, and we vistors reveled in visiting as many sites as we could.

First, we visited Fort Necessity, Braddock's grave, and spots along The National Road. The next day we studied Arthurdale. I believe it was the first American Federal Government funded utopia. Friday found us at Friendship Hill, and Albert Gallatin's House. On our last day of historical exploration, we visited the Kincell Family favorite - Prickett's Fort. Oh, we had such fun! And... We hope to return the favor. Our area is stuffed with history, which we long to learn and share (we also want to sew and stitch together).

Likes #4 - <3

Happy Anniversary, Father and Mother!

15,779,520 minutes = 262,992 hours = 10,958 days =
360 months = 30 years

Happy Valentine's Day!

I will sing to the Lord, for He hath dealt lovingly with me.

Psalm 13:6b

Likes # 3 - The Homeschool Song

This video is a definite family favorite. Come on... altogether... "'cause I'm homeschooled!"

Likes # 2 - Being Tagged!

The Morton Maidens of the Morton Household Blog tagged me! I’ve always wanted to be tagged!

The rules are:

1. go to your documents/pictures.

2. go to your 5th file.

3. go to your 5th picture.

4. blog about it.

5. tag 5 people …...

And this is the result:

Striking, no?

Nearly two years ago, we Careys embarked on the experience that is Ebay. It didn’t last very long – I personally didn’t find the effort compensated for our returns, and I don’t particularly care for the fees. We took a great many pictures in preparation for selling a variety of items and objects that had been freely bestowed upon us. Half of them were never posted. I’m not sure what became of these patterns and others like them. If we still own them, they will probably be posted on Etsy where the fees and terms are much, much better.

There.

I now tag Miss A, Mrs P, The K Family, Mrs M, and Miss Rose

Likes #1 ~ Molly

As this is the month of Valentine's Day, I thought that it would be fun to post many of the things I (and my family) like/love in no particular order.

Here is the first item: Molly, the newest member of our family, sleeping on Mia's lap. Don't they look contented?





Bliss from Miss Carey on Vimeo.


This is also an experiment with YouTube and Vimeo. I'd like to know what you all think of these online video providers and how they compare.

Happy New Year!

Though perhaps, as it is February 2nd, “new” may not be quite the right word. How about “fresh”? As in - this is a fresh year with few mistakes in it.

Unfortunately, one of my mistakes this fresh, new year is procrastinating so long on this blog! In the Lord’s Providence I hope not to allow this to happen again!

It seems a good way to begin to celebrate a new year is to rejoice in the delight and blessings of the last one (particularly when one is behind with the sharing of said delight). A full listing of our joys this past year would probably rival a dictionary in length and as this blog is concerned with our new home and life, here is a thankful glance at a sampling of the fun we had last fall.

The last few days in September, began our readying our dear little house in the valley for our “occupation”.

There was much to be done. The two-story house hadn’t been inhabited for six years, and there was much dust and many dead Asian beetles. The floor had to be mopped, the walls needed to be scrubbed, and the old furniture had to be moved out.

Father was needed at work, but the rest of we Careys were not alone. Two dear families from church came and helped with the work. Cheery Mrs. E and her four delightful children, and lovely Miss. A with her youngest brother, Master A.

Dear Mrs. E kept her baby in his snuggly while wiping down the walls with a mop (Did you know that wood paneling tears up a sponge mop? Never thought about it until it was done). Both mother and son appeared quite content with the situation.

Mr. B (our landlord), one of his friends, and a family from our church with strong young men, moved the heavy wood furniture out of the attic, the second story, and the first floor.

Masters E, A, and Murray all assisted as young boys might, with enthusiasm, gusto and diligence. We were all very pleased, proud, but not surprised with them. Oh, how I wish we had pictures!

During that afternoon, the threesome discovered an empty old chest in the attic. Mr. B told them how his uncle had once kept all the arrowheads found on the property in that chest. The boys were fascinated. Not only with the story of the arrowheads, but also with the conviction that before holding arrowheads, the chest had obviously been the property of pirates! I wonder how it came here…

By the end of the day, most of the work was done, and we all went home with the satisfaction and pride of a job well done!

Two days later, we moved in (I had hoped to have some photos of this momentous day, but alas no Carey was wielding a camera. Hopefully I will be able to beg photos from friends and then post them in this spot…).

The love and gracious outpouring of friendship as old friends and new assisted us with moving day, and then helped to arrange our rooms for living until we were fully settled (several ladies from our church opened all our kitchen boxes and arranged our cabinets for daily life) was overwhelming. Our cups overflowed.

The evening was spent in fellowship and the relishing of chili, and that night we slept for the first time in our new house, then rejoiced in the 25 minute drive to church (it had been over an hour). It probably bears mention that it takes about half an hour to get anywhere here, but let me assure you that this life is more that worth it. A new state, a new life, a new era had begun!

Most of October was spent settling in. There were still things that needed to be taken from the old house and brought to the new one. There would be two more “movings” before we were completely settled. It’s truly amazing how much effort goes into creating a home and an uplifting living space.

One day, after we were mostly settled, we went to visit some dear friends for many years who are like family. Mr. and Mrs. S own an old farmhouse called Green Pastures. While there, we picked apples and enjoyed sweet fellowship together.

Later that month, we had an adventure. One crisp and dew-damp Saturday morning, Mom and Dad weren’t home and we at home were completing the household tasks when my younger sister (Mia) noticed something unsettling – a bull calf in the yard! Our house is separated from a cow field by a fence and gate, but this black, wooly, muscular fellow descided that take what it may, he must absolutely get the grass from our yard (Thirty-some acres to choose from, and he fights through a metal fence, pulling some hair off in the process just to make it to a garage-sized plot of grass! Hmm… is there some kind of spiritual analogy here…). He looked content and we doubted our ability to herd him to the cow pasture.

It did take awhile. He paid little attention to the apples we kept throwing, but finally, he did o interested and with perseverance and teamwork on our part, we lured him into the cow field, shut the gate behind him, and blocked up his hole with rope we found in the shed. That mostly ended the adventure, however, until he was taken to market, if I wore a certain outfit, he’d come to me expecting apples.

Towards the end of the month, we drove several hours northwards to the Southern Fall Ball hosted by our friends the K’s and the M’s!!! We danced old dances, learned new ones, made friends, and generally had a thrilling time!

Sadly, our computer with photos of most our adventures died a tragic death (I didn't know that computers could scream). Therefore, I am unable to post our own photos and must direct you to a friend's slide show of some of the images. Thus, here is the Old South Ball

November saw us beginning to engage in hospitality as our dear friends the P’s on Kate’s birthday! What fun! We had a delicious meal, talked for hours, hiked, and even began a wigwam (in an undisclosed location, of course – it’s a secret!). The littlest Miss P seems to have been struck with the cows.


The next week we enjoyed a square dance and ball hosted by Miss A, and our friends of many years, Dr. and Mrs. F. I’ve never been to a costume ball, and it was simply delightful! Kate was a 1950’s young lady, Murray was Daniel Boone, Mia was Maid Marion, and I was a 1930’s housewife. The six hours we danced were not enough...

Again, I must needs direct you to the same friend's slide show. Here is the Costume Ball

More delight was on its way, as Uncle and Aunt D came to visit. We'd not seen Aunt D for quite some time and reveled in the visit!





Our Thanksgiving was unlike any we have ever experienced! Lacking nearby family members we planned to celebrate alone, however, the Lord had other plans- the delightful E family! Frankly, it had never occurred to me contemplate celebrating Thanksgiving without blood relatives. How glad I am that we did!

We ate.
We decorated Cookies.
We played Spoons.
We had so much fun

And the E's still have the pictures...


The month of December, was primarily spent in Christmassing. Someday, before I’m 90, I plan to have my Christmas gifts completed (and wrapped!) two weeks ahead. I may die in the attempt, but I’m still going to try.

We had the best Christmas ever. I look forward to the day when there are more of us, when six families gather at Christmas and not merely one, but even then, I don’t see how we could top the joy and fun we have savoring presents. At least, we children do. At our house, quality, not quantity is what is important. We have had our thin as well as our fat years, and we have learned whatever the case to savor the gift, joy in the giving, and relish our Lord’s manifold blessings; it took five hours to finish savoring.

Then we took a hike up the hill. The weather was right balmy 51 degrees, and perfect for hiking. We marched up to the top of the hill to observe an outcropping of rocks dubbed “The Cliff”, walked along the backbone of the hill, and enjoyed a picnic on a flat spot of the hillside seated on a fallen birch tree. The repast consisted of oranges, nuts, three kinds of cheeses, crackers, gingerbread cookies, and some of us had candy canes. The walk down the hill and across the meadow was fairly leisurely, and we enjoyed our Christmas Dinner about 3:00.


In early January, a very old friend came back to live with us forever. Mother's Great Aunt Daisy's beloved Upright Grand Piano has returned home after visiting with some of our friends. tree was put up a week later than is tradition, so we kept it up a week later! Thus, I have a lovely picture of our Living Room just before we began to take down Christmas (hence the box). Note Bene the Piano to the right.


Some of our faithful church family helped with the piano, and then stayed for Spoons!



During the same week, we had fun HB family vist. Where we live is perfect (if I do say it myself) for kite flying. JHB and BHB are working on setting up their stunt kites, while Mr. HB, Mrs. HB, Miss HB are with the Rest of the Careys in backyard flying our kites.





We also welcomed two dear girls to our home – Miss A, who stayed for a week, and Molly, our dearly loved puppy from the P’s who is half Newfoundland, half Border Collie and VERY intelligent.




We had a great deal of fun with Miss A, and anticipate with great joy her visiting us again!



Molly is learning her place in our pack and seems to appreciate every one of us. We hope and anticipate to be good stewards of our Furry Little Friend (FLF).

The month of January ended (as it always does) on Mia's birthday. We attended a beautiful Sweet Sixteenth Ball of a dear friend of ours who birthday is the same as Mia's. I believe there are few better ways to end a month than with a Big Beautiful Ball...