Never Heard of Happy Ballantyne's Day?

...In all my writings I have always tried — how far successfully I know not — to advance the cause of Truth and Right and to induce my readers to put their trust in the love of God our Saviour, for this life as well as the life to come. —R.M. Ballantyne, from Personal Reminiscences in Book-Making

R.M. Ballantyne(1825-1894)
Well, this is our way of remembering the rip-roaringest, globe-trekkingest, Christian boys adventure writer of the 19th century.
Born April 24, 1825, he was perhaps the most influential writer of boys’ literature from his generation. He was also a devout Christian of the Scottish Covenanter kind, and a first class adventurer whose sturdy prose earned him the moniker “Ballantyne the Brave” from none other than Robert Louis Stevenson.

Celebrate Ballantyne’s Day with 50% savings from Vision Forum! From now through April 28, 2009, pay only $220 for the entire 20-volume Ballantyne Christian Adventure Library. This is a savings of $220 off the per-book retail price of $22.
Offer expires at midnight (CDT) on Tuesday, April 28, 2009.

The Moore Young Men

What a blessing to have Greg and Nathan visit us for lunch today!

The Popchenko Boys

Andriy is 8 month old

Sashko is 7 years old

Yurko is 4 years old

What a delight for our family to enjoy a few days with the boys!!

The Popchenko Family

A beautiful family from the Ukraine stayed with us for 5 days this past week. Yura(the dad) spoke on Saturday night and Sunday morning about his work of translating the Bible into the Urkainian language. Wendy (the mom) taught us girls to make a delicious Ukrainian meal. Visit them at www.bibleua.com to learn all about their work.

Today marks the beginning of the much-anticipated sale on History of the World Curriculum Megapack, a gargantuan collection of scholarly, yet accessible resources that explain God’s hand in world history.Don't let the title fool you. This very important resource can be enjoyed by the whole family, and is perfect as the backbone of a world history curriculum. This is the perfect time for the homeschoolers you know to start thinking about next year's plans.

Now through April 21st the HOTW Megapack is 60% off. That's just $143 for:
The History of the World: B.C. (CD album)
The History of the World: A.D. (CD album)
The History of the World (DVD collection)
Providential Battles (CD album)
Providential Battles II (CD album)
Sabers, Spears, and Catapults (CD album)
52 CDs
10 DVDs
63+ hours of combined audio and video

Fortunate to be Women

"Why do women want to dress like men when they’re fortunate enough to be women? Why lose our femininity which is one of our greatest charms? We get much more accomplished by being charming than we would by flaunting around in pants and smoking. I’m very fond of men. I Think they’re wonderful creatures. I love them dearly. But I don’t want to look like one. When women gave up their long skirts, they made a grave error." By Tasha Tudor

It is sad to see the women of our generation do not see the need for being feminine, lovely women! I pray more women would come to this realization from the Lord.

For You They Signed

The recent presidential election has brought to power an administration that has openly criticized the Constitution and questioned the wisdom of the brilliant and patriotic men who ricked everything to create America. For you They Signed is the perfect answer to the revisionist distortions of history that permeate civic and political discussion today. Save 30% through April 13 from Vision Forum. Order one today from my link on the bottom of this page.

A Dark Day for the USA

Vermont has now become the fourth US state to "legalize" sodomite marriage. Our children and our grandchildren will grow in a society with a very different worldview on marriage and life in general. 1 Peter 5:8 says Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour:
There is a battle against the family and against those that believe in Christ Jesus.

Nehemiah 4:14 And I looked, and rose up, and said unto the nobles, and to the rulers, and to the rest of the people, Be not ye afraid of them: remember the Lord, which is great and terrible, and fight for your brethren, your sons, and your daughters, your wives, and your houses.

Doug Phillips describes our day and our mission very well. Read it here Permalink

Does Socialism Work?

An economics professor at Texas Tech said he had never failed a single student, but had once failed an entire class. The class (students) insisted that socialism worked since no one would be poor and no one would be rich, a great equalizer.
The professor then said, "OK, we will have an experiment in this class on socialism.""All grades will be averaged and everyone will receive the same grade so no one will fail and no one will receive an A."
After the first test the grades were averaged and everyone got a B. The students who had studied hard were upset while the students who had studied very little were happy.
But, as the second test rolled around, the students who had studied little studied even less and the ones who had studied hard decided that since they couldn't make an A, they also studied less. The second Test average was a D.No one was happy.
When the 3rd test rolled around the average grade was an F. The scores never increased as bickering, blame, name calling, all resulted in hard feelings and no one would study for anyone else.To their great surprise all failed.
The professor told them that socialism would ultimately fail.The harder people try to succeed the greater their reward (capitalism) but when a government takes all the reward away (socialism) no one will try or succeed.

Proverbs 18:9 says He also that is slothful in his work is brother to him that is a great waster.
Revelation 22:12 And, behold, I come quickly; and my reward is with me, to give every man according as his work shall be.

Not my timing, but God's

Thursday, we were fininshing up our shopping: Quilt shops, primitive country stores, Stew Leorards and finally the gas station for a fill up before our trip home. We've been with Rebecca for a week and anxious to go home. We were just about 5 or 6 miles from Rebecca's new house to take her home and we would go on to New Hampshire, when we heard a loud pop and then the engine got really loud. At first I thought I ran over something...but it continued for about 1/2 mile and then I pulled over to the side of the road. After calling AAA and several folks for a ride home for the children, the police stopped to assist, other drivers also stopped to offer help. Soon Roman Kresina came and determined it was a blown spark plug - just 1 of 10. The tow truck came and took our van to a local garage...that had been recommended to us. I was disappointed as I was ready to go home. But another night at Rebecca's proved to be a blessing. We watched Joyful Home webinar on Friday morning. After unpacking a few more boxes and cooking dinner, the van was ready for us to take home.

I am remembering that God's plans for us are not always what we have planned. I can't see the road in front of us...but He has seen it and directed our paths. So now we go home!!!

Are you a Fool?

The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge: but fools despise wisdom and instruction. Proverbs 1:7



Here's a great quiz put together by the Botkin siblings. Enjoy comparing your own thoughts about foolishness against what Scripture has to say!

This is not a “Test your knowledge” quiz, nor a “See if you can score higher than your friends” quiz. This test was made as a tool to help us search and try our ways.

Lamentations 3:40 says Let us search and try our ways, and turn again to the LORD.
2 Corinthians 13:5 says Examine yourselves, whether ye be in the faith; prove your own selves. Know ye not your own selves, how that Jesus Christ is in you, except ye be reprobates?


It will be most helpful to you if you answer honestly and humbly, and then carefully study all the verses after each question.

Happy First Day!

In each day find something good...and remember that -- Happiness

Helping Rebecca Move

Last Thursday, March 26,2009, Lydia, Deborah,Moriah,Keziah, and myself traveled down to Connecticut to help Rebecca and Chris move from their apartment in Sandy Hook to their Home in Newtown, about a 15 minute difference. Moving is always alot of work, but there is always the hidden rewards!

It may not appear that we packed, moved, and unpacked boxes...which we did. But Abigail was the part that was worth the trip!!!

Little House in the Big Wood

Chris and Rebecca's New England Cape

It is painted a creamy yellow with true red doors. Although the house was built in the '50's, most of the windows have been replaced with double pained ones. They have about 1200sq ft in this little house, on a bit more than 1 acre of wooded property on a very quiet road. In the early morning one can see a beautiful sunrise out the kitchen window, squirrels racing from tree to tree, with birds chirping in the trees close by. During the day, one can see beautiful horses in the pasture at the horse farm across the street. Just enough sunshine filters through the windows to light the house. In the evening one can see the sunset from the living room, while listening to the frogs croak in the stream at the bottom of their property. It will be fun to see what they do with this little cottage in the years to come.

Study to show thyself approved

Keziah reading His word.
Photographer Mandy L. Pena, shot with digital Canon Rebel XTI, natural lighting