Christmas Picture 2022

I am not happy with the background, but the gang grumbled about going outside.
However, we got the picture on the first try.

I am just thankful everyone was able to be here under one roof!

I hope each of you had a wonderful Christmas.

If we haven't heard from you in a while, let us hear from you.

Love to all!

We might have...

found a freshly roadkilled squirrel and hid it in under a box in the girl's bedroom.

After she got a good look at it, Emily threw her head back and laughed and laughed and laughed. Hannah was laughing too. We watched Caleb's and Josua's reactions to the video we took. They were laughing too!

That was the goal!

The bin came from a dead fridge we were throwing out and was conveniently in the back of the suburban at just the right place and time!

The old year is going out with lots of fun, laughter, and memory making!

Merry Christ-a-must!

Merry Christ-a-must!

to our family and friends

near and far, old and new
close and estranged

May the true meaning of Christmas
be apparent in your homes
and your heart!

A good time was had by all!

Even when we are tired from working hard against deadlines, we make some time for fun, especially with our volunteer first responders. Clint and I had the crew laughing. Then we heard them radio to the rest about our antics. The reply "Alright! We'll be over there in just a second." :-) A good time was had by all!

Warning: There is a video of Clint and me dancing floating around out there somewhere! There is another one of Emily and Hannah dancing in the street to the Christmas music that was playing the whole time during the jolly visit.

TODAY is the day!!

 Bethany 

arrives 

later this evening!!

It's no longer enough to teach our children Bible stories; 
they need doctrine and apologetics. 
-William Lane Craig*

I only half agree with this statement. 

It has never been enough and they have always needed doctrine and apologetics along with the stories of the Bible. They need to be able to spot false teaching as soon as they hear it. They also need to make the connection between the heroes in the Bible to engage their hearts. 

Dear Reader, Clint and I used ABeka Bible Doctrines for Today with all of our children and with some of our young friends. It can be found used for much less money. It is great for young people and adults and makes a good faith-building refresher course. My love to all!

*Never assume that because Clint and I agree with one thing a person says that we agree with all the things they say. We disagree with Mr. Craig on the earth's age and a few other things. There are other people we have quoted that have good points of wisdom with which we disagree on other things. 

Christmas Forest

Bethany named this our little Christmas forest.

On the brink of what? The choice is yours.

Dramatic warning: "The world is on the brink..."

Israel has released the first national intelligence report that says the world is on the brink of a tectonic shift that will change the planet's geopolitics.

The Israeli Ministry of Intelligence has prepared a report warning that the world is on the verge of a transition to a new global order, the Jerusalem Post announced. The document is defined as the first report of the Israeli National Intelligence Service

It's just a matter of time before courageous leaders step out of the shadows and full peace is achieved between all the children of Abraham," said Danon, speaking of the Abrahamic Accords.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MHyLM571MjM&ab_channel=Busy4theLord

"out of the shadows" shadows = darkness = evil They tell us exactly what we need to know. 

And he shall confirm the covenant with many for one week: and in the midst of the week he shall cause the sacrifice and the oblation to cease, and for the overspreading of abominations he shall make it desolate, even until the consummation, and that determined shall be poured upon the desolate. Daniel 9:27 

Make haste to get yourself right with Christ. Don't delay. You will wake up one day to realize you have run out of opportunities.

"For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God." Romans 3:23

"For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord." Romans 6:23

"There is a way that appears to be right, but in the end it leads to death." Proverbs 14:12

"But your iniquities have separated you from your God; your sins have hidden his face from you, so that he will not hear." Isaiah 59:2

"For there is one God and one mediator between God and mankind, the man Christ Jesus." 1 Timothy 2:5

"For Christ also suffered once for sins, the righteous for the unrighteous, to bring you to God." 1 Peter 3:18

"Yet to all who did receive him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God." John 1:12

"If you declare with your mouth, 'Jesus is Lord,' and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved." Romans 10:9

Dear Reader, I care about you and your loved ones. Please do not put off getting yourself right with God through Jesus. If you have that blessed salvation through grace, then please share the gospel with others.

If the world is on the brink of a leader who will make the Daniel 9:27 peace treaty, then the Church is on the brink of the rapture. I believe we are so very close. There are Christians claiming we have another 10-20 years. I could be wrong, but I just do not see that myself.

Don't Give Up

Amanda was working on a machine that kept going down. She'd get it running and it would work fine for a while and shut down again. The battle between my girl and the machine went back and forth all day. A co-worker stopped her as she went back to make it start again and asked "Don't you EVER give up?!" As she proceeded walking she looked at him and said, "That's the one thing my parents never taught me."

their day is coming

 The wicked plot against the righteous and gnash their teeth at them;

13 

but the Lord laughs at the wicked, for he knows their day is coming.

Psalm 37:12-13

No time to "play it safe!" Warn them!!

Son of man, I have made thee a watchman unto the house of Israel: therefore hear the word at my mouth, and give them warning from me. When I say unto the wicked, Thou shalt surely die; and thou givest him not warning, nor speakest to warn the wicked from his wicked way, to save his life; the same wicked man shall die in his iniquity; but his blood will I require at thine hand. Yet if thou warn the wicked, and he turn not from his wickedness, nor from his wicked way, he shall die in his iniquity; but thou hast delivered thy soul. Ezekiel 3:17-19

Dear Reader, While this verse is referring to the nation of Israel, we can understand the principle given and apply it to the time we are living. If we know danger is coming and do not warn others, we will be found with blood on our hands. It is very clear to those who are the Lord's Watchmen that the End Times are fast approaching. We are at the end of the Church age and the period of grace it has given mankind. The Rapture of the Church and the Tribulation is ahead. This is no time to be shy, hesitant, or afraid. It is a time to speak out and be bold. Witness today before your opportunity is gone. If you love them, share the gospel with them. Warn them. Don't let their blood be on your hands.

55 mph Photography

This old barn along the Blue Ridge Parkway always captures my imagination. I took this picture while Clint was driving. I take pictures while we are driving a lot. I call it 55 mph photography. Sometimes it's 75 mph photography! It amazes me how well pictures can come out while we are moving.

But now we have been released from the Law, having died to that by which we were bound, so that we serve in newness of the Spirit and not in oldness of the letter. Romans 7:6

Four days...

 until Bethany is home!!!

we have a building from God

railroad tie home with natural stone fireplace and chimney, internet says probably late 1800s to early 1900s, someone put shingles on it at one point, seen in Nelson County, VA

 For we know that if the tent that is our earthly home is destroyed,
we have a building from God,
a house not made with hands,
eternal in the heavens.
2 Corinthians 5:1

Dear Reader, While I am still healthy and active and have little pain to complain about, I am in my fifth decade of life. Every once in a while, I get a hint of what old age may feel like. Our bodies deteriorate like an old house. They were not made to last us forever. God has a plan for that too. 

Praise Him in All Things

 "Health is a good thing; but sickness is far better, if it leads us to God." ~J.C. Ryle

The Kitchen

My golden oak kitchen cabinets are about 10-12 years old. I could find the receipt and calculate the exact date, but I feelin' lazy. They were looking pretty rough the last few years, but I put up with them because we were working on other projects. We are still working on one big project, but I got fed up with the kitchen and started doing something about it.

To faux finish my kitchen would have cost $7500 due to the number of cabinets and the trim work I have and how many steps were involved. That also includes the price for the hardware. I've done without knobs and handles all this time. I can do all of it myself for under $250. So that is what I am doing. 

I'd rather leave them white (it really made the kitchen bright and clean looking-which I love) or another light solid color, 

BUT, 

I have a large family. A large family means things don't stay new looking for long. I know the white would get stains on it in short order, so I gathered ideas and settled on this one. For good or bad, this is what I am doing with my time today.

I truly do not know if I will like it once it is done. The color of the cabinets in the kitchen is not about having my way. It's about what works best for the good of the family. 

At least it will hide the grease monkey stains several members of our gang leave all over everything. And, no, that is not a complaint. I am very proud of them for having the skills to do things themselves. Having a family with strong skillsets mean messes left behind, but it is a very rewarding trade-off. 

My love to all!

Prayers for very close family friends

Please pray for a very close and very dear family friend who received very bad news about her father, mother, and son. I am the only person she has told other than her boyfriend who was there when the news came in. She is heavily burdened and heartbroken to the point she is very physically ill. It is like she has been body slammed and her lungs collapsed! She is gasping for air. She needs prayers for a voice, strength, peace, rest, and to keep herself firmly in agreement with God's Word. 

Dear Reader, Storms blow hard on this earth. They wreak havoc and try our hearts and minds. I think if we truly understood how hard the enemy is coming at us, we would take prayer so much more seriously. Please know, I consider it a big gift to me and my family and loved ones when you pray earnestly for us. Thank you so very much. Reach out to me through the email in the header or through Facebook to let me know how #TeamAsbell can join you in prayer also. If you ever need to talk, ask me for my phone number. I am here if you need someone to listen and team up with you in prayer. My love to all.

What's in our camping/off-roading garage bucket?

This post was made per request after our First Off Roading Mishap. I also shared what I keep in my backpack aka "my purse." The garage bucket goes with us everywhere. With what we keep in our backpacks and in the suburban (see previous posts), we can be fairly comfortable anywhere for up to a week.

The reason the bucket is lined with a trash bag is so that we can pull everything out quickly and keep it tidy in case we need the bucket. Since the bucket is tightly packed, the roomy trash bag also allows us to easily rifle through the contents to find what we need if we are pressed for time.

There is an itemized list taped to the front of the 7-gallon bucket. There is another itemized list inside the bucket.

I bought the 7-gallon brewery bucket and lid from Amazon for $23. It gives a bit more room but does not take up any extra floor space.

Contents: 

Sawyer mini 1-gallon filtration system

P-51 can opener (kept in the bag with the itemized list)

Hose clamps (various sizes) with small screwdriver

Small pair of scissors

Duct tape

Fishing line and hooks

Cotton ball fire starters

Tent sealant and repair

Tent screen repair patches

Electrical tape

Mylar blanket

Lighter x2

Headlamps x4

Knife

Dog tie outs, leashes, harnesses

Two man mylar tent

Tire repair kit with extra plugs

Camp shower hose and nozzle

Safety goggles

Trash bags (so many uses)

Gloves x3

Silicone tape

Bungee cords

Fix a Flat XL x2

Slime tire sealant

Mallet

Cable Ties

Rope

Folding saw

Folding shovel/pickaxe/axe

Bike inner tube repair kit

Liquid Glass Metallic Sealup: seals cracks in engine blocks, radiators, heads, heater coils, freeze plugs

Pocket saw

Rubber cement

LED roadside flares with magnetic bottoms x6

Dear Reader, When we had our mishap, we did not have the stressors of not being prepared and not having ways to care for our immediate and short-term needs. You may not live the kind of off-roading and outdoor-loving lifestyle that I do, but I do hope you take steps to prepare the best you can for likely scenarios in your own life. My love to all!

full refreshment

 There is a quiet rest and full refreshment in Christ for sinners that are weary and heavy laden with sin.

-Jonathan Edwards

Douglas Falls, WV

I'd like to go back here to play in the water in the summertime.

Free Tents (You pick up)

If you are in Hampton Roads or the surrounding area, I have a 17 x 17 tent. An average-height adult can stand up inside the center. It divides into four rooms. The person who gave it to our family said they bought it, put it up in the yard to make sure they could do it, and then never went camping. It is in very good condition.

I also have a smaller 4 man tent (probably more suited for two). Same story as above.

I have not put either of them together myself.

Contact me through the email in the header if interested to arrange a pickup time or place. Pickup can possibly be in Williamsburg, Suffolk, Cobbs Creek, Gloucester, Mathews, or Isle of Wight. It depends on the day and time. 

Big Leaf Big Smile

He is like a tree 

planted by streams of water 

that yields its fruit 

in its season, and 

its leaf does not wither. 

In all that he does, 

he prospers. 

Psalms 1:3 

 Emily loved finding these big leaves on the Appalachian Trail. That leaf is from an American Sycamore tree.

Please pray for Caleb

Update 2/11: I should have posted this yesterday, but I was very, very busy and moving between two different locations. As of yesterday, the bleeding from his teeth has stopped. Caleb has a piece of Kevlar glued to the back of several teeth to hold them all in place. He can feel them tugging at the Kevlar. Other than that, he is doing very well. Because so many have asked, the dentist told him to brush as normal and to use mouthwash to prevent infection. Thank you for all of your concern, love, and prayers. We love you too!

Update 12/9:Thank you for the many messages and calls regarding Caleb. He still has some slight bleeding in his mouth, but it is less than it was. Other than that, he is OK. He is back at work. He has come up with a plan to prevent the accident from happening to someone else. The dentist said the teeth may turn grey or blue, but even then they still might survive. He has a good chance they will survive because they were not knocked out just back. We will have to see what happens over the next six weeks.

12/7: Caleb took a very hard blow to the head while at work yesterday afternoon. Please say a prayer that Caleb's head, teeth, and neck heal completely. We will not have answers on his teeth for six weeks. He had to have at least one of them put back into place. He is home today to rest.

Clint and I are very thankful he is still with us and that his injuries were not worse than they are.

under the ruse of personal autonomy.

 "Satan disguises submission to himself under the ruse of personal autonomy. He never asks us to become his servants. Never once did the serpent say to Eve, 'I want to be your Master'. The shift in commitment is never from Christ to evil; it is always from Christ to self. And instead of his will, self-interest now rules, and what I want reigns. And this is the essence of sin." Dennis F. Kinlaw

Selfishness and pride are destructive to both our relationship with Christ and with one another.

Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves, not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others. Philippians 2:3-4

Sincerely Seek the Lord for Guidance before Sending Your Child to College

Lately, a lot of pastors have been warning about the hidden agendas being taught in colleges around our nation. My response to that is, "Where have you been?! It's been going on for decades." 

I am very thankful for the counsel (warning) several strong Christians gave Clint and me early on about sending our children to college. We took it to the Lord and did our own research. We sought out other counsel. Our homeschooling community gave us the same strong warning and told us stories about what was happening inside the walls of many of the popular choices. Many of them learned about the sad situation after sending their first child and seeing the effect themselves. 

Even the "Christian" colleges are not what they seem.

The stories we have been privileged to hear would shock most Christians. The situations we have been asked to pray over are heartbreaking. "I had no idea!!" is something we have heard a lot from our friends once we share with them what we have been taught.

We sat down with each of our children at the right time, prayed, and discussed the many warnings we had received. Each child, thus far, has chosen to stay home and learn through online colleges which gives them acredited degrees that all of the HR representatives we spoke with said they accept at the SAME LEVEL as the popular choices. They make no differentiation in college degrees as long as the college is accredited.

It was very reaffirming when a child would come to us with something they were being taught and ask our perpsective and opinions on it.

After seeing many of our friends' children being led away from their faith and their families to embrace worldliness in disturbing ways, we are very humbled and very thankful the Lord provided us this warning.

The bragging rights of sending our children to brick-and-mortar colleges did not compare to our obedience to where God led us and our children's spiritual well-being. Seeking Him has led us to a very favorable place in life and we, again, are so very thankful!

To this, I want to add that just because homeschooling or online college is chosen does not mean your children will choose to follow the Lord. It will reduce some of the dark influences though. We still pray for each of our children to resist the very strong pull of this world and sin. 

If you are a younger parent, know that your children are likely to hurt you, disappoint you, and fall into sin sometime or another. They are imperfect human beings in desperate need of a Savior. Look around at all of the confusing messages they are receiving. There are ways you can show them love and grace while still firmly holding onto your convictions. 

Hear the Warning

They heard the alarm but ignored it,
so the responsibility is theirs.
If they had listened to the warning,
they could have saved their lives.
–Ezekiel 33:5

Natural Spring

When we 4WD and camp in our suburban (overland), we look for places we can fill up our water tanks. This is a natural spring. We noticed locals were filling up water jugs here, so we inquired about the water. A very fun and engaging man with a t-shirt that said "Bad Example" drank big gulps right from it to prove to us it was safe. We drank the fresh mountain spring water with no issues. We shared the good news of the Living Water with the local residents at this spot.

 But whosoever drinketh of the water that I shall give him shall never thirst; but the water that I shall give him shall be in him a well of water springing up into everlasting life. John 4:14

Prayers Please

One of our family members has been injured at work. They took a blow to the face that moved their teeth. They have seen a dentist and had their teeth put back into place. Clint came home to take them to the ER. Right now, they do not want their name published because they want to rest.

Please pray there is no concussion and that the blood supply to the teeth is still healthy.

Seahorse Mailbox

Pretty, isn't it?

My son Caleb was paid to make a repair on this and thought I'd enjoy seeing it.
I thought you might enjoy seeing it also.

Prayers Please

A gentle person I have learned a great deal from regarding natural medicine is about to pass from life to death. Please pray for their salvation. Thank you.

You were made for freedom!

 But I say unto you which hear,
Love your enemies,
do good to them which hate you,
Luke 6:27

Don't allow your WOUNDS to become WALLS. JESUS died to give you FREEDOM.

Mike Rowe: This story is everywhere, and it's not being covered | Brian ...

My Bag

This is a partial response to the questions I received after people learned we had an off-roading mishap. This is the bag I take when traveling whether it be off-road or otherwise. Most of the time, if I am more than 30 miles from home, this bag goes with me. I know I can take care of basic needs for myself and my family for a few days as long as I have it. This bag is not packed for backpacking/hiking. I could use it for that, but I would take out some things and add others. Depending on how far I had to travel, I might work to lighten it. It weighs just under 20 lbs as it is. It has another bag that attaches to it which I will explain later. 

In addition to this bag, we also had our "Garage Bucket." I will share what is in that in another post. 

Clint has a trunk of tools he always takes with us and had an inverter, power tool battery charging station, and battery-powered tools. We were staying in motels on this trip, but we took a few extra blankets, camp chairs, and our 12-quart Dutch oven with us. We like to stop and cook over a campfire when we travel and know several places we can do that. We also had a cooler and a box of food. We also had traction boards strapped to the top of our suburban. Clint took down the full-sized shovel we keep on the suburban and forgot to put it back. We had to use the backup--the folding camp shovel.

We also have a very nice first aid kit that has been beefed up with several trauma kit items and also contains several OTC meds. It also has scissors and nail clippers. I also added saline solution to rinse debris from eyes and wounds. That stays in the suburban at all times. 

Brandon has this identical MOLLE backpack which he fills with much the same and keeps in his car. To help us differentiate them, I have an extra attached MOLLE bag and have my initial in red on the top.

hiking poles (one has a good measure of duct tape wrapped around one pole for blisters-works better than a bandage for me), telescoping fishing pole (recent gift from my husband), black bag with white zipper contains new and used paracord, six headlamps, multi-tool, 4 lighters, sweatpants, shirt, shemagh (useful for SO many things!), hat, underwear, socks, 2 pair of gloves, knife, large poncho that can be used as a tarp or tent, ground cover, fishing kit (burgundy/white container), first aid kit, pocket saw, magnesium bar, überleben Zünden ferro rod (not visible in picture-in a pocket I missed!), firestarter aid (petroleum jelly in cotton balls in recycled pill bottle), sanitation kit (bar of soap, 4 washcloths, hand sanitizer, razor), five mylar blankets, Sawyer mini, P51 can opener (in the bag with the filter), water purification tablets, collapsible canteen, instant coffee and electrolyte packets, five protein granola bars. I also have a flashlight clipped to the side of the bag (not easily visible in picture). The flag item is a bandana with cooling beads. I also have carabiners in different sizes on the outside of the bag. I also have a clear plastic compass but it was not with the bag because I had broken the one I had and had to buy another to replace it. A CPR mask is attached to a zipper on the back of the bag. 

The fishing pole will probably get zip tied under the hood of the suburban. My reel is not pictured because the pole is new and the reel is on the way. I live around the water, so if I have my pole, I can take advantage of opportunities.

The poncho is the same one pictured in the Mishap post. I have added one to the garage bucket since the trip. One worked great but having a bigger sidewall to the tarp we put up as a rainfly would have trapped more heat to help us dry some clothing quicker.

I don't always take a Dutch oven, so I'd like to find a small, lightweight pot to add to my pack or the garage bucket.

This is the bag that attaches to the MOLLE system at the top of the backpack. With a smile and a twinkle in my eye, I call the whole backpack "my purse," but this has more girly items. My phone has a wallet-style case that contains my money and ID, so that is about all I take into a store. The big bag pretty much sits in the suburban until I need something out of it. I do find I need things from it more than I thought I would. I take it into the house with me when I return home.

Fun story: I use to keep the machete inside the big bag. It zips up fine with it inside but I like saving that space so I stick on the side now. Clint and I were somewhere working a job, and he looks at me and asks without any hope: "You wouldn't happen to have brought a machete, would you?" I told him to hand me my "purse." He smiled so big when I pulled it out of the bag. He bragged about it to the guys at work the next day, and they think I am one cool chick. :-)

The smaller bag contains makeup, nail polish, essential oil (my kind of perfume), another lighter, another flashlight and headlamp, snacks, keys, gum, nail clippers, a small microfiber towel, etc. There is another CPR mask attached to the zipper. I've not weighed this one, but it is fairly light.

I've kept a bag like this since about 2015...almost 8 years. I inventory and make changes every few months. Clint has a similar bag that he has kept in his car since 2015, but he has different tools. I made a backpack similar to this for all of our children that year too. Most of them keep them in their vehicles. Some of them have upgraded or added new items. One of them lost theirs.

So, this pack combined with the stuff we had in/on the suburban and in the "garage bucket" kept us very comfortable despite the unexpected situation.

Dear Reader, I know I am "weird" in what I keep with me, but I have learned from many experiences that life can change in a second. I've never fit in any box (category) people tried to put me in any way, so why should I start now?! :-) I'd rather have it and not need it than need it and not have it. That way of thinking really paid off for us recently!

It's an eternity changing truth

"I do believe we slander Christ when we think we are to draw the people by something else but the preaching of Christ crucified."
-Charles Spurgeon

called out of the world

Much of the modern church is trying to erase this division--between Christ and the world. The true church understands that it has been called out of the world. -Grant R. Castleberry

Dear Reader, In reading this, I ask myself what ways can I draw closer to the Lord and further away from the world? 

Coke Ovens

What is coke?

A coke oven is an oven coal was heated in to turn it into coke. Coke is made by heating coal at high temperatures (1650 F to 2000 F) for a long time (15-36 hours depending on the composition of the coal) through a process called thermal distillation. I have heard it equated to baking. Coal is a primary fuel source. Coke is a secondary fuel source. The advantages of coke are that it gives off intense heat with little to no smoke. These ovens have a tunnel that runs under them. Those tunnels were used to heat the coal. The coal was put into the hole at the top. The coke was harvested aka "pushed" from the open side. Coke is necessary for the manufacturing of steel upon which we are heavily reliant. It not only melts the ore, but it also removes the O2 to make the iron "pure." You could see where the chemical changes from the heat had left a glass-like sheen on the bricks. Across the street was a mine entrance and more coke ovens, but the brush was thick and full of poison ivy so we left it alone. I learned later that there is a nice hike up a steep old railroad grade that goes to a pretty waterfall, so we may go back and explore more. There were a couple of places to camp at the end of the road right next to a small waterfall. We also found some evidence of campfires inside some of the ovens. There are something like 150 ovens in this area from what I was told.

54 Years Closer to Meeting Jesus Face to Face

 

the sunrise from the precarious place
It was much prettier in person with so many colors the camera did not capture.

It's my 54th birthday!

My husband and children gave me a party on Saturday so Brandon could be there before he left for a month. He will be in Memphis until just before Christmas. Our gang showered me with thoughtful gifts and a ton of love. Today, on my actual birthday, I am spending time alone with the One who loves me more than any other doing Bible studies. 

God has his own name for us, and I am eager to hear mine. I am eager to worship Him in His presence and thank Him for all He has done for me. I'm so weary of this world and its many facets of brokenness, but I also want more time with my family and to keep telling others about Jesus.

If you scroll down the blog, you will see where Clint, our two youngest girls, and myself were stranded in a remote area in a precarious position. I was unable to sleep that night, so I chose to sit up in one of the chairs we had brought along for our breaks from the truck. 

That night and the next morning were very special to me.  It was "me and God" time. I thanked Him and talked with Him. I prayed for people I care about off and on all night. I invited Him to watch the sunrise with me. I am so thankful I had those unique circumstances that created those precious moments. I will treasure that night and that sunrise forever. 

I have a lot to be thankful for this year. Jesus! My husband, children, and home.  My external family members and Christian friends who check in on me, uplift me in prayer and encourage me when I need it. Ministry opportunities. Abundance and the ability to share God's provision with others. Plenty to keep me busy and challenge my mind. So many answered prayers in this last year. 

My health is nearly excellent except when I am battling CA-EBV which is mild compared to many others who have it. The flare-ups are less frequent than they use to be, but I've been dealing with one lately. The herbal medicine I am taking now is working to knock it down. I'm almost 100% but not quite there yet. I am not on any Rx medications and do not wear Rx glasses. I rarely have pain in my joints. 

I just moved two large pieces of crate furniture and several other large pieces around someone's house by myself. I'm still fairly strong and my mind is still sharp.

If you've read the aforementioned post, you know I was just mistaken for my late 20s. I think she must have been heavily vision impaired, but I'll take the compliment. :-)

I could be weak-minded and find many things to be offended over and complain about, but I choose to focus my mind on the just, pure, lovely, of good report, and anything that has virtue. (Philippians 4:8) God's Word has given me a strong mind and following His ways for self-disciplining my mind has carried me through some very challenging situations.

You know, I came to salvation and gave my life to Jesus in my first decade. "Gave my life" means I tried to give up doing what came naturally in the flesh and tried to walk in the spirit according to His Word. I have tried but have not been perfect in that. Even with my imperfect performance, He has seen my efforts and has blessed me with a fantastic life in return. I've lost nothing of value but have gained so very, very much. I give so very little, but God gives so very much!

Lord, help me to live my very best for your glory. That grace that you applied (and continue to apply) so generously to me, help me to apply it generously to others. Help me to love like you love. Help me be better tomorrow than I am today. And, thank you, Lord, for joining me for that special sunrise!

For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain. Philippians 1:21 

Black Fork Grade

This uniquely steep grade on the former West Virginia Central and Pittsburg Railroad, later the Western Maryland Railway, is located just past the location of a rail bridge and demonstrates the obstacles faced in transporting coal and other goods in this part of West Virginia. Few rail routes required more machinery or personnel to keep coal moving up the Blackwater Canyon grade. To get a loaded, 90-car coal train up to Douglas and into Thomas, it took nine locomotives to pull the coal hopper cars up the 3% grade of the Blackwater Canyon. Downhill trips were also difficult: in the 19th century, brakemen walked the car tops to set each car’s brakes by hand. Later, air brakes could stop an entire train from a valve in the engine cab, but still required great skill for safe use. source

From the sign: "Living near the train track was noisy, and dirty because of all the cinders and smoke coming from the locomotives. Passenger trains would go by 4 times a day...and coal freights...twice a day. It took 40 minutes for a steam engine to get from Hendricks to Douglas. You could hear them blow the whistle at the Handrics crossing, and then time them coming up the grade.

Kids would put soap on the rail, which would make the trains get temporarily stuck as the wheels slipped and spun in place. This generated a lot of smoke which was bad if it was a Monday and everyone had laundry hanging out on the line..." Richard Crawford, recalling childhood in Douglas in the 1940s. 

W's note: I bet they got a switch to their behinds!!

Waiting on Daddy

Penny, Ratchet, and Marty waiting on their favorite guy to return.

Happy Giving Thanks Day!

                                          Happy Thanksgiving!

to our family and friends
near and far, old and new
close and estranged
You are loved!

Most of our family* is gathering together to give thanks to the Lord, enjoy a feast, play some games together, and watch some movies.

I hope that wherever you are on this day, you take time to thank the Lord. No matter what is going on in the world, there is always something for which we can be thankful.

*********

*God has really blessed us through the years! This is the very first year our family has not been together for a holiday. Bethany celebrated with Winter's family in Chicago but we all heard from her.

Blackwater Falls

Blackwater Falls State Park

Off-Roading Since the 80s, First Mishap

SO, when our off-roading friends are next talking about their trail mishaps, we now FINALLY have a story to share. :-)

First of all, know we were not being reckless. We were on a road that had an official road sign at the entrance. At a certain point, the road ended but the sign saying so had been removed. There is no way we could have known that. Until we got over the hill, there was no change in the appearance of the road to make us question anything. GPS does not work in these areas, but we did have an app that showed a road where we were heading. There were also a few recently used campsites along the way making us think we were still on a good trail.

With young people reading and the danger involved, we don't feel comfortable sharing where we were, and hope you can understand. There are also people poaching in this area right now which adds a whole other factor of danger.

Clint and I have been with each other since 1985 and we have always loved getting away from the hustle and bustle. I never heard the terms off-roading back then, but that's what we were doing as teens together. We'd explore undeveloped areas with trails and just pitiful roads and had great fun doing it! We bonded closely with each other while talking to each other as we rode around. From then to now, no problems at all. Until...

The hill in the picture had a steep descent, and the road was narrow and off-camber. The tire track depressions you can make out in this photo made us think others had come through here. We now think poachers parked at the top of the hill. 

We had walked to check the conditions of a previous hill we couldn't see over JUST before this hill. I took a picture of Clint looking at it. We should have walked this one too. Not doing so is what caused us to get stuck on a sheer cliff. If we had known what was ahead, we wouldn't have gone any further. That's where we messed up. We should have scouted to know what we were getting ourselves into before going ahead.

Monday night quarterbacking: A winch might have been helpful in this case if we had used it as an anchor BEFORE we started our turnaround to keep us from sliding. I don't think we would have put the winch on it at that point. Using a winch would not have helped after we became hung up on the stump unless we also used a jack. The ground was so muddy, I don't know if that would have been safe to do. We have a friend whose husband used jacks multiple times daily for a living. He was seriously and permanently injured (actually died and was revived) using a jack in muddy conditions. However, neither a jack nor a winch was what we really needed. You'll see why...

We actually had the plan to buy a winch, but we agreed to wait to do it after we accomplished a certain goal. We have not accomplished that goal yet, but we have a winch now. 

No going forward: Emily and Hannah later scouted the rest of the road to learn if there was a way out, a nearby home, resources we could use, if they could get cell reception with any of our phones, etc. They reported the road narrowed more and became more off-camber and ended at a big boulder with nowhere to turn around. They could not get reception on any of our phones. They also found corn that had been spread around indicating poachers. We heard a gunshot very early the next morning fairly close to us. We weren't the only ones out there in the dark. And yes, we were prepared for meeting an unfriendly too.

I considered the upslope fog a positive because it helped us not see how deep the drop was.

The day before we left on this excursion, some of our Appalachian Trail friends warned us they were almost seriously injured and others in their party were injured due to the heavy leaf litter and wet conditions. We knew we'd not do a lot of hiking, but we didn't think about how it could affect driving.

We could not back up the steep hill either. Too slick. There was only one choice for turning around, and it was not optimal. As soon as we pulled forward into the small cliff that had a steep drop-off to the front and passenger side, we felt the truck both sink into the mud/leaf litter and slide towards the passenger's side. Ugh! We were still thinking we'd get out of there though.

As we tried to back up, gravity wanted a part in the fun and caused us to slide sideways into the first of the two small trees. We were so firmly against the first tree that the truck could not make any backward progress. We couldn't pull forward either. With the slope and drop-off, not a single one of us wanted to pull forward either. We were still thinking we could drive ourselves out. Clint even broke off the passenger side mirror with only his bare hands to give less resistance to the tree. Even folded in, it was sticking too far out.

from passenger window

from behind truck

We were about 10-12 foot from the drop-off.

Right around that log was a thin layer of leaves on top of small loose boulders. I learned this when I walked it and poked it with my hiking stick. I am very thankful for those trees that kept us from sliding further.

Situation: stuck, sheer drop off in the front, sheer drop off on the passenger side...suddenly, I wasn't enjoying the view as much. :-)

The license plate was edited out.

So, we cut down the first small tree. As soon as we started trying to move backward, we slid sideways and forward onto the second small tree which you can see against the suburban in the picture above. The area right in front of the truck is sloped with another drop off even though you can't tell it from the picture angle. Clint could not get the suburban to move backward. The angle of the truck made it so you had to brace yourself while inside. I needed a break from that, so I climbed out through the driver's side. Emily and Hannah wanted out too.

Emily and Hannah got bored and started throwing sticks and rocks off the cliff. Waiting for the crash and then for the crashes to stop is what told us how far it was down. Oh my, it was a LONG way down!!! I walked the very slippery road with my trusty ole Whistle Creek hiking stick which I purchased at Wintergreen many years ago. I never could find the bottom of that vast hole. I thanked God for trees and nicknamed the canyon the "Bottomless Gorge."

As I was watching Clint work on cutting down the second tree with the battery-powered chainsaw, I thought about something. I interrupted Clint to share my theory. He checked and sure enough, we were stuck on the stump of the first tree. That's why the truck could not go backward. We felt certain that if we got off of that, we'd be able to get out easily. We were correct in this theory.

He started cutting that stump out. Then, his battery charger was not working efficiently. His batteries for the chainsaw were not getting fully charged. He had less and less time to cut with each battery. That issue kept getting worse until we could not use the chainsaw at all. ARGH!

FYI, we carry a battery chainsaw because they are the only ones allowed to cut up fallen limbs in some of the areas we travel. It's quiet and does not bother anyone else in the area. We own three or four gas-powered chainsaws, but we never foresaw them being so critical. We will keep a gas-powered chainsaw with us going forward. Having that one tool would have had us out of this situation in one hour or less.

At this point, we knew we were stuck overnight. We had a camp shovel/axe combo that worked OK on the tree, but it was impossible to chop at the stump under the truck because the undercarriage was in the way. We needed a working chainsaw.

On gear...the "tarp" Clint is lying on in the picture was the most surprising. I have purchased five more since returning home and plan to buy one for every family member. I will share details about it in an upcoming post.

I sent Emily and Hannah off to gather firewood. I gathered what I needed to start my fire with my magnesium and flint which I keep in my "purse." I had a few lighters too. I firmly believe in the "If you have one, you have none. If you have two, you have one." rule. The experiences God has allowed into my life have taught me to be prepared as I can be. I also knew the magnesium would help get the fire started in the wet conditions.

I reheated food we had prepared the night before. We had marshmallows, so Emily and Hannah enjoyed those. We had enough food and water to last very comfortably 4-5 days.

We had not been able to text anyone at all. We would get service for a few seconds only. We kept a message loaded up and ready to go just in case. We also had three different cell phone providers between our five phones. The service we pay the least for is the one that worked the best!! (Visible) We also tried Clint's HAM radio and morse code with the truck's horn.

Clint thought he had a message go out from Hannah's phone around 6 p.m. but we never heard back from any of our children.

We sat in our camp chairs, put up a rainfly, put up three side walls (2 mylar blankets, 1 two man mylar tube tent)  to trap the heat of the fire. We were pretty cozy! We used the bathroom downhill on the path to keep it away from where we were.

We cleaned up with baby wipes I keep in the truck (aka suburban) before bed. We had our toothbrushes and toiletries with us too.

Since it was secured by two trees and a stump, we slept in the truck. We had the blankets that we had taken to use in the motel. However, the sub was tilted forwards and sideways and was so uncomfortable! I gave up after a couple of hours and asked Clint to get out so I could climb out through the driver's side again. For the rest of the night, I sat in a camp chair and prayed and contemplated our situation. 

I heard a deer snort loudly-probably disapproval for us being in its path. That's the second time I've been snorted at by a deer in the woods. The first time was a buck angry I was in his path. I also heard and smelled what I BELIEVE was an animal in the Mustelid family off and on for a few hours.

I stayed up all night which paid off for all of us...

Around 3 a.m., I had great cell phone reception on my phone for about half an hour. I texted several messages with GPS coordinates and instructions to all of our children. Caleb woke up at 5 for work and saw the messages and was able to get a message back but it only went to Hannah's phone. That woke Clint up and he replied with our "loaded" message. Clint was able to text him continually until Caleb arrived to help.

I named them the three sisters. This was directly behind where we got stuck as we tried to turn around. We could hear wind coming through the forest, but we were sheltered from it so we stayed warmer than we might have. We've slept on the windy side of a mountain (in late winter) before..during a steady rain. It's not an experience I care to repeat.

Caleb pulling out the gear.

Caleb first called Brandon to let him know. Brandon was in Memphis, TN. Then, Caleb gathered everything he thought we'd need and headed our way.  Without revealing our location, I'll say it was a good little drive. Our son gave up a day's worth of work to come to help us. He also took his Excursion where he said he'd never take it...off-roading. We paid him back for everything he purchased and for most, if not all, of his gas.

Although we had sent GPS coordinates, Clint hiked out with a backpack to make sure Caleb could find us. As he waited, he found a heart-shaped rock and set it aside to give to me once we got out. It's now in our bedroom.

Awake all night, I had a lot of time to think and pray about our situation. Before Clint left, I suggested we air down the tires to get better traction. That's a tip we got from an off-road driver a long time ago. It works in sand, snow, and mud. Pay attention to things you can learn from others because you never know when you might need that knowledge. Clint thanked me for the reminder and let some air out. 

I also suggested we put logs between the tires and the next tree to keep us from sliding and getting stuck against the next one like the previous two times. Clint thought that would work, so we did that. It had an unexpected benefit. It did help the suburban stay off the tree. But, the logs also helped quickly and sharply pivot the suburban around the tree which kept Clint from having to pull forward and back up again a few times in that very narrow space. (The mountain was against the other side of the road.) It was a little unnerving for me to watch, but it saved him from having to pull forward into that muck again.

But as soon as the suburban got turned around and the logs were free it slid into the big tree that was labeled in the picture. It was from a different direction this time. I was up the hill for this part. I did not enjoy seeing the suburban with my husband inside start sliding again. The sub was pretty firmly against the tree. Moving the sub either backward or forward was going to heavily damage the door.

At this point, Clint looks right at me. After 37 years together, I knew he was asking me how much I cared about the door that was firmly against the tree. I nodded and yelled, "Just get her out of there!" So, he drove/slid it back a bit to get the momentum he needed to get up that slippery slope. Then he charged up that hill! At first, it looked like it would be easy.

Then as she spun wheels at the very top of the hill. Oh how my stomach sank!

For several seconds, I didn't think she was going to make the climb. There was a great effort made by the suburban and the driver. Clint started using a back-and-forth motion with the front tires to find a place to get traction...and the tires finally gripped something! My knight and his white steed crested that hill!!! Freedom!

As soon as the suburban was parked, we started putting gear away and preparing for the trip home. We have an air compressor on board, and we used that to pump up the tires. Then, instead of heading straight home, we finished exploring the area to complete our trip goals. Plucky people persist! THEN we headed home.

We would never take a new vehicle off-roading, so she was never perfect. There are other new dents along the side of the suburban but this is the worst area.

The door will not open from the outside but will from the inside. The window is trapped and can't roll all the way up. The door will cost $62 to replace. The other dents, we think we can pop out. Caleb has the set up to paint it so we just need to buy the paint.

We were stuck in place for about 24 hours. We were comfortable and in good spirits. The slanted sleeping accommodations and Clint having to use a day of vacation are the only real complaints we had. I was the only member of the family who could not get any sleep, but I do well with little sleep for about three to four days.

Practicing and teaching your children self-discipline pays off. No one said anything negative. No one showed a bad attitude. Everyone remained calm and optimistic and kept working together for a solution. Everyone thanked the others for their contributions and praised each other's efforts. It was very rewarding to see the seeds of self-discipline that Clint and I planted bear fruit once again in Emily and Hannah.

It was good to see how being prepared with gear and skills can make a less-than-optimal situation much easier for everyone. It was rewarding to see how creative and "outside of the box" thinking everyone was too.

It was also very touching to see how concerned and determined to help Caleb was and how he was willing to sacrifice a day of work on our behalf. His boss did not mind at all, and he made up the day later that week. God blessed him that weekend with a car he purchased for $200 and had offers for $2k immediately. (He works on and flips cars sometimes.)

Homeward Bound!

After off-roading for more than three decades, we had a mishap...

but we survived with good attitudes and got ourselves out.

Did it ruin our love of off-roading adventuring? Nope! We already have another trip in mind for the spring.

Like I said before, we finally have a story to share when we are talking with our wheeling buddies about issues on a trail.

Before I posted this, some off-roading friends asked what gear we found useful and what gear would we add since this. I PLAN to write that soon, but I am in the middle of a very busy season. Please be patient. My love to all!