Persuaded...

louiegiglio Louie Giglio

A rare KJV tweet--I am not ashamed: for I know whom I have believed, and am persuaded that he is able.... (2 Timothy 1:12)

27 Sep

 

...from Passion's LiveLink this past Monday...headed to the Dome in January!

 

Dino -- what in the world are you doing?!?!?

"Who, me?  Well...I noticed this nice, tall, green grass on the other side of the fence that you won't let me eat.  I was leaning over the fence this morning to munch on some breakfast and suddenly the fence rail just came undone.  Being the quick learner that I am, I decided to knock off all the top rails so I can eat this yummy grass a lot easier.  This way my neck doesn't hurt so much."

Eight top rails later and I finally decided I'd better let him in the front pasture before he knocked down the entire fence.  Scott was in Virginia Beach Monday through Thursday, so I needed a temporary solution until he returned home.  Dino had free reign and an "all-he-could-eat buffet" for a few days...until Scott got home.  Dino is not very happy right now since Scott immediately put up electric tape along this side of the fence too.

Dino has worn a trail along the fence line...We think he'd be much happier and content if he had a horse friend...We've learned that horses are herd animals and most of them prefer company.  And...this 40 year old fence is no match for this eight year old, massive -- and mischievous -- equine!  His owner just mentioned to me the other day that really he could jump all three rails with no problem.  They (Dino and his owner) used to do it all the time before his injury.  Let's hope he doesn't want to make the effort!  Fortunately, she doesn't seem worried...

This boy is wearing us out and ... this is not his first naughty deed.  We drove up to my parents' house this past Saturday for a family reunion and returned home late that night to find that Dino had broken a rail and loosened a post near the barn.  We decided he was safe and we would take care of it after church the next day.  The next morning we were driving past the pastures on our way out to Sunday school and noticed that he had somehow gotten on the other side of the electric fence.  So he was stuck in a 9 foot wide strip between the electric tape (which wasn't working) and the neighbor's fence. 

We presume that lightning struck our new electric box because it was dead after only one week of use and we recently had a big lightning storm, but we didn't think Dino would test it.  Well, he figured out that the tape wasn't zapping him and he wanted to be next to his friends (the neighbor's horses).  Ugh.  I trudged over to him, put his harness on, and led him to the front pasture.  We then drove to Lowe's to buy a new box and returned home to install it.  Dino was not happy.  He "charged" the barn at full gallop from the opposite side of the pasture a few times.  It was all a bluff -- he didn't hurt anything.  We made it to church just before our pastor started the sermon -- a little dirty.  Oh well.  The joys of "farm living".  I wonder if I smelled like a horse?!?  ;-)  We're definitely not making money on this deal!  Just gaining lots of experience!

Daniel's Gotcha Day (late posting) -- September 22, 2011

Wow -- three years already!  We celebrated Daniel's Gotcha Day on September 23 this year (due to schedule conflicts) which is the day we all entered the United States (Atlanta) from Seoul, South Korea.  We actually "got him" the day previous, September 22, in Seoul.  We enjoyed ice cream at Ben & Jerry's -- yummy "Phish Food" (my, the price of ice cream has gone up!)!  We thank God for you, Daniel!  He has great plans and purposes for your life!  We love you!

"Love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength.  These commandments that I give you today are to be upon your hearts.  Impress them on your children.  Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up."  ~ Deuteronomy 6:5-7

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"...when you eat and are satisfied, be careful that you do not forget the LORD, who brought you out of Egypt, out of the land of slavery.  Fear the LORD your God, serve him only and take your oaths in his name.  Do not follow other gods, the gods of the peoples around you; for the LORD your God, who is among you, is a jealous God and his anger will burn against you, and he will destroy you from the face of the land.  Do not test the LORD your God...Do what is right and good in the LORD's sight, so that it may go well with you..."  ~ Deuteronomy 6:11-18



Homeschool days...

Connor with our two gliders for our science experiment on flight...

Getting ready to fly the first glider...

Recording the results -- ie, distance flown.  Our variable is wing dimensions.

Our first field trip this school year -- New Market Battlefield (Civil War). 
We love the Virginia mountains.  Beautiful day trip -- a much needed day of rest.

19th Century Bushong Farm

Going to "class" -- our first year at Classical Conversations which meets at a nearby church every Tuesday.  We love it!  One of our big projects for this year is memorizing 192 history timeline cards in order -- wow! 

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"The purpose of education is to know God and to make Him known."
(CC's purpose statement)

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"The shepherds are senseless and do not inquire of the LORD;
so they do not prosper and all their flock is scattered."  ~ Jeremiah 10:21

"I know, O LORD, that a man's life is not his own; it is not for man to direct his steps." 
~ Jeremiah 10:23

Ms. Rachel...photographer...piano teacher...author...blessed...

Ms. Rachel is a homeschooler with multiple God-given talents.  She is teaching Ashley, Hannah, and Connor piano...and she recently came over and took some beautiful family photos on our property...She is a blessing to us...

We remember...9/11...

Psalm 46

For the director of music. Of the Sons of Korah. According to alamoth.^[b] A song.

 ¹ God is our refuge and strength,
   an ever-present help in trouble.
² Therefore we will not fear, though the earth give way
   and the mountains fall into the heart of the sea,
³ though its waters roar and foam
   and the mountains quake with their surging.^[c]

 ⁴ There is a river whose streams make glad the city of God,
   the holy place where the Most High dwells.
⁵ God is within her, she will not fall;
   God will help her at break of day.
⁶ Nations are in uproar, kingdoms fall;
   he lifts his voice, the earth melts.

 ⁷ The LORD Almighty is with us;
   the God of Jacob is our fortress.

 ⁸ Come and see what the LORD has done,
   the desolations he has brought on the earth.
⁹ He makes wars cease
   to the ends of the earth.
He breaks the bow and shatters the spear;
   he burns the shields^[d] with fire.
¹⁰ He says, “Be still, and know that I am God;
   I will be exalted among the nations,
   I will be exalted in the earth.”

 ¹¹ The LORD Almighty is with us;
   the God of Jacob is our fortress.

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Today was Hannah's due date, ten years ago.  We are so thankful that God chose to bring her into the world nine days earlier (9/2/01).  We thank the Lord for His mercy and grace in protecting our nation these past ten years and for thwarting the plans of the wicked.  We pray for those who suffered the loss of loved ones on 9/11/01.  We pray for our leaders to fear and love the Lord Jesus ... to seek Him alone for wisdom and guidance.  We confess our sins ... we are so unfaithful to the Lord ... we demand our own way instead of submitting to His plan ... we turn back to Him.  He is good, all wise, ever present ...Freedom is not free.

Welcome, Dino!

What a learning curve!  When Tye, Justice, and Cherry stayed with us in the spring, their owner took complete care of them including installing the electric fence.  This time with Dino, we are changing his water regularly and we installed the electric fence.  Right now he is just eating grass and getting occasional carrot or apple treats.  The electric tape is located about 9 feet from our neighbor's fence so the horses can't touch each other (per our neighbor's request).  Dino got shocked once, let out a loud "neigh", and ran a fast lap around the pasture.  So grateful that we were out of his way!   I don't think he's touched the "tape" since!  He is 8 years old and HUGE, but quite gentle and friendly.  He sustained a leg injury while jumping several months ago (his owner used to show him) and has had two surgeries.  His rehab now includes quiet pasture time while his owner, Ms. Mary, hopes that he recovers well.  She doesn't think he'll be able to jump again though.  So...the fast lap around the pasture was not a good thing...He is also supposed to wear a muzzle to slow down his eating, but I can't get it on him!  He knows what that thing is now, so as soon as he sees it coming, he lifts his head up high where I can't reach or keeps it low and eats!  Dino is so strong that I can't make him lift his head...so...he's not wearing a muzzle right now...He's never experienced a muzzle or electric fence before this, so he has had a big learning curve too!

Fun on the Great Wicomico River! Happy Labor Day!

Happy 10th Birthday, Hannah! Go Tides!

Hannah's birthday!  Lots of Cuttlebug accessories for the girls!

Go Norfolk Tides!

Daniel was terrified of "the blue guy", so Scott took him downstairs. 
Ashley, Hannah, and Connor with Riptide.

Ashley's and Hannah's birthday party on the back deck...