Abigail - Musician in the Making

Photographer: Mandy L. Pena, shot with Canon Rebel XTI, natural lighting on March 30, 2009

Character - Fortitude

Fortitude is moral courage, the strength to persevere and do the right thing in the face of adversity or challenge. We have no guarantee that doing the right thing will make us comfortable, successful, or even happy. In fact, doing the 'right' thing is often costly to our immediate happiness. Ask the martyrs of old if standing up courageously is easy. Ask Wilberforce, who stood up against the slave trade. Ask Thomas More, who stood up for his own conscience against the command of his king. Ask Dietrich Bonhoeffer, a brilliant theologian and pastor who died at the hands of the Nazis.
Fortitude is the ability to "hang in there!" even when doing the right thing extracts a price. It is the ability to courageously obey the dictates of our conscience rather than follow expediency or comfort. Life presents us with many temptations; fortitude is the ability to keep on doing the right thing no matter what the immediate consequences.

"Do right till the stars fall." ...Bob Jones, Sr.

Joy in what is Good

"All of us wat pleasure ad happiness. Nobody desires to be unhappy. But Much depends on what we value as real pleasure. A natural prerequisite for virtue is to learn to desire the right thinngs, to take joy in the pleasures of the good, to find delight in the things of God, to feel the satisfaction that comes from serving God and from being a person of character. "... Terry W. Glaspey

No man can live without delight, and that is why a man deprived of spiritual joy goes over to carnal pleasures." ... Thomas Aquinas

If we find our joy in that which is truly good, we will not waste our lives chasing after transient pleasures.

Virtue

"Virtue is he ability and power to chase good, which arises from a transformation of our heart and mind. If we are not virtuous people, we are ontrolled by the desires and tendencies of our fallen nature.
In our society we talk a lot about freedom. By this we usually mean the freedom to do what we want to do. But virtue is a higher freedom--the freedom to not do what we know we should not do. It is the freedom to resist the control of our lusts and volatile emotions and to make holy, just, and righteous decisions. True freedom is the ability to obey God's commands and to act as we know we ought..." by Terry W. Glaspey

True Beauty: Cultivating Christ-Centered Father-Daughter Relationships

I was so excited listening to these 8 CD's published by Vision Forum. Each of the men and the Botkin Daughters have been a great encouragement to me, showing insight on building Biblical relationship with our daughters and our sons for that matter. Since what is being taught comes from the scriptures the priciples apply to our whole families. Scott Brown has such conviction from the scripture his beliefs of women's roles in this world today and our homes. Steve was especially encouraged by the messages from Geoffrey Botkin. Of course all of our girls and both Steve and I have always enjoyed Doug Phillips' words of wisdom.
I truely recommend these CD's to all parents especially when your girls are very young...or even before you have any to prepare you as the parents to guide them in the ways of the Lord. Of course I think all young ladies beginning in their early teens and the way up would be greatly blessed by the words of these men of God.

God’s Word speaks volumes to the relationship between fathers and daughters. One of his most sacred duties is her protection and preservation from childhood to virtuous womanhood. In these powerful messages given at the 2008 Father and Daughter Discipleship Retreat, speakers Doug Phillips, Scott Brown, Geoffrey Botkin and daughters Anna Sophia and Elizabeth Botkin illustrate elements of this important priority as they explore such topics as how to build the father-daughter bond, true feminine beauty, the Proverbs 31 woman, how to transition from beautiful girlhood to noble womanhood, and how to prepare daughters for marriage. Other highlights include a look at examples of godly, dominion-oriented womanhood from the young pioneer girls of the nineteenth century, as well as the special importance of the thirteenth year in a girl’s life

The Sweet Smell of Spring: Maple Syrup

New Hampshire has many seasons. Sugaring is just one of them...but a sweet one. This Sunday four of the Sugar houses in Walpole were open for visitors...this is a tasty educational adventure the whole family just loves!!!

Our 1st stop was Great Brook Farm just around the hill from us. We were given a tour and shown the different types of taps that have been used over the years. We enjoyed tasting fresh maple syrup--Grade A medium and also Maple Walnut ice-cream from the Creamery. Ummmm.

Sweet Smell of Spring Part 2

Our second Sugar House stop was at Ken McGill's Farm. We have bought our syrup from Ken for about 15 years!!! New Hampshire syrup Grade A medium or Grade B is the best. Ken still fires his operation with wood - about 40 cord just during the sugaring season. Just when one walks into the Sugar House the smell of the syrup boiling engulfs you completely. We also enjoyed a taste of his syrup and took home with us New Hampshire imprinted maple sugar candy! What a treat!

Sweet Smell of spring Part 3

Our third stop for the day was: Dip and Stick Sugar House on route 12. We had never been here before, but it was a real treat hearing the stories of the sugaring process that they have had over the years. The sap is gather at the trees, mostly with tubing that is gravity fed to plastic tanks in the woods. They take their trucks and pump the sap from the tanks to bring to the sugar house. The sap is boiled to 219 degrees for the syrup. It must be carefully watched to keep from burning. 40 gallons of sap makes only 1 gallon of syrup.

It has been such a joy to visit the Sugar houses today. We have a chance to see how the sugaring process is carried out...still much like the old timers have done in the past, but with many modern supplies. I thank the Lord for this wonderful natural resource. Yes, one last time today...we were able to taste freshly made maple syrup! Yum!

Temporary

When this poem was first read to me yesterday, I thought about what I have(own). It is only temporary and I will not take anything with me when I leave this world. The LORD could remove all from me in a moment, just like Anne. ...thank you LORD for giving me simple pleasures to enjoy in this life for a time. Help me not to hold them tightly in my heart.

Verses upon the Burning of our House
on July 18, 1666 by Anne Bradstreet

In silent night when rest I took,
For sorrow near I did not look,
I waken'd was with thund'ring noise
And piteous shrieks of dreadful voice.
That fearful sound of "fire" and "fire,"
Let no man know is my Desire.
I starting up, the light did spy,
And to my God my heart did cry
To straighten me in my Distress
And not to leave me succourless.
Then coming out, behold a space
The flame consume my dwelling place.
And when I could no longer look,
I blest his grace that gave and took,
That laid my goods now in the dust.
Yea, so it was, and so 'twas just.
It was his own; it was not mine.
Far be it that I should repine,
He might of all justly bereft
But yet sufficient for us left.
When by the Ruins oft I past
My sorrowing eyes aside did cast
And here and there the places spy
Where oft I sate and long did lie.
Here stood that Trunk, and there that chest,
There lay that store I counted best,
My pleasant things in ashes lie
And them behold no more shall I.
Under the roof no guest shall sit,
Nor at thy Table eat a bit.
No pleasant talk shall 'ere be told
Nor things recounted done of old.
No Candle 'ere shall shine in Thee,
Nor bridegroom's voice ere heard shall bee.
In silence ever shalt thou lie.
Adieu, Adieu, All's Vanity.
Then straight I 'gin my heart to chide:
And did thy wealth on earth abide,
Didst fix thy hope on mouldring dust,
The arm of flesh didst make thy trust?
Raise up thy thoughts above the sky
That dunghill mists away may fly.
Thou hast a house on high erect
Fram'd by that mighty Architect,
With glory richly furnishedStands
permanent, though this be fled.
It's purchased and paid for too
By him who hath enough to do.
A price so vast as is unknown,
Yet by his gift is made thine own.
There's wealth enough; I need no more.
Farewell, my pelf; farewell, my store.
The world no longer let me love;
My hope and Treasure lies above.

But they are ALL beautiful pictures!!

Abigail Anne Galla

7 months old

Being a Grandma is so hard when it comes to picking out the very best picture. They are all so adorable.

Children are truely a gift of God. Imagine; my little girl's little girl. I still can hardly believe it.

Happy 12th Birthday Moriah

Washing the feet of the saints

Moriah always enjoys serving others. Lately she has enjoyed giving us foot soaks on Sunday evenings. I am so thankful that the Lord has placed within her a servants heart. She is not a respector of persons...she invites all her family...even her big sister, Rebecca, when she is visiting. Thank you, Moriah.

Make a Joyful Noise Unto the Lord

It's winter. Yes, we do run the wood stove...fairly hot!! No, I don't believe Moriah is freezing...just having fun with her practicing.

She worketh willingly with her hands

Amanda made a quilt for her mom's birthday...but she didn't have the time to finish the binding. So after the worship, teaching, and fellowship meal...the girls gathered around the living room taking a section of the binding to sew it on. It didn't take long and the project was completed. They had a great time talking while working. What a great way to serve others.

Winter Wonderland

These pictures were taken this morning. Once again we have snowball snow. That's the type of snow we have at this time of year.
This is a view of our hill in the back -- apples trees at the bottom.

Here we have our blueberry bushes with a coat of snow.

The swing set doesn't get much use in the winter, but it makes mighty nice winter pictures!

Soon, we will be changing seasons...so all this beautiful white covering will be melting away. A new season will be upon us..stay tuned!

Winter Ice Fishing

This is a frozen pond with plenty of fish still ready to take the bait! There are plenty of fisherman out there to entice them to bite. This particular pond is in Swanzey, NH across from the airport(small airport --very small).
No boat is needed here. Just your icehouse!

A hole is drilled in the ice and a line dropped down...for the unsuspecting water animals of the 5th day.

By the looks of so many ice houses on all the ponds and lakes, it would seem that a good many people enjoy this winter activity...not me I just ride by and take the pictures for those folks in the deep south that have never seen real winter!

The Making of Frosty the Snowman!
First, there must be lots of snow...this year we had lots of snow!

The girls made this wonderful snow man one evening in the dark!! This project was truely a challenge. Snowball snow is quite heavy. To get the middle(tummy) and the top(head) they had to make a ramp. We have been studying ancient Egypt so this helped them with the idea of a ramp--I suppose. Once the snowballs are in place (Our Frosty is at least 7 foot tall, mind you!!), he must be decorated. Forks from my flatwear drawer were used to secure the buttons(apples) into place. The carrot nose was attached as well as two strong (stick like) arms -- later mittens were added. Then the eyes, hmmm, it seems that they glow in the dark-- truly!!! Christianna topped him with the knitted wool hat she had just made for Steve! That night the girls strung popcorn and cranberries to drape around him. 'Frosty' blessed us and our visitors for several weeks!

A Daughter and Her Daughter

Rebecca and Abigail Galla. Mother and Daughter. At 6.5 months old, Abigail is such a delight to our family. All the Aunts pamper her...sometimes Grandma gets to entertain her also.

These pictures were made, Sunday, March 8,2009

A Girl and her Cat

Moriah and Eppy!!!

Knitters Haven

Training to be Keepers of the Home


She seeketh wool, and flax, and worketh willingly with her hands.

Proverbs 31:13

On Tuesday afternoon we have a few moms and some young ladies over for a time of knit and crochet instructions and much conversation. Brenda Eno has taughter us to crochet grannie squares and snowflakes. She also has inspired us to knit projects such has winter hats and scarfs. Each one is at a different skill level and all are working on different types of projects. So it is really exciting week after week to see how all are progressing.

A Very Happy Birthday Celebration Gift from

Our Maidens at Home

Steve and I enjoyed a splendid lunch at Burdick’s Restaurant in Walpole, New Hampshire. Its charming yellow walls and fine white molding provide the perfect setting for a birthday celebration. Housed within a long, two-story clapboard building on Main Street, it’s also the location of the chocolate shop!! We began our lunch with a tasty cup of Italian Wedding Ball soup and fresh whole grain breads. Then, for our main meal I had a beautiful salad with grilled chicken and Steve had the House Pork Sausage meal. We enjoyed both very much. Of course to finish the meal properly we sampled some wonderful morsels of Burdick’s dark chocolate in the Chocolate shop. Yum!! I can’t think of a better place to celebrate.

Thank you so very much, Christianna, Lydia, Deborah, Moriah, and Keziah for your wonderful love gift. I love you.

About the Town

Sunday, March 1, 2009. March came in as a lion..will it go out as a lamb...time will tell. It is so good to be out in the fresh air...so a walk in the village was what we needed. It was a beautiful evening walk.

Duet 6:7 says... And thou shalt teach them diligently unto thy children, and shalt talk of them when thou sittest in thine house, and when thou walkest by the way, and when thou liest down, and when thou risest up.