Prayer Request

Still needs prayer

from 2/7/23: I have shared in the blog a few times now where my adult children have had to stand up to friends who were sinning. Through the blog because of those situations, I have challenged others to be as strong in their own relationships as my children were. If you love people and respect (fear) the Lord, you tell them God's truth. If you are seeking to please the person, you let them stay in their sin and let them think you agree with them. That's not true love. It's a trap you fell into and is aiding them in their sin. Ignoring it is the same as agreeing with it.

 The fear of man lays a snare, but whoever trusts in the Lord is safe. 
Proverbs 29:25

God answered prayers in those situations and built my children's faith stronger. They are still friends with all of the people who turned their lives around.

Now we know of a family friend, professing Christian, and a prominent businessperson in the Hampton Roads area who is falling back into alcoholism. They had decades of sobriety under their belt. This friend has walked beside our family through some difficult situations. We are aware of stressors in their life that have probably contributed to their weakening in this regard.

This is going to be a hard thing to address, but someone who cares for them must try to get through to them before they destroy everything they have. Someone needs to join voices with their family.

I think the Church will see more of this sort of thing as we get closer to the Lord's return. The world situation continues to darken and adds stress and despair to daily living. People are turning back to coping mechanisms they know even if the choice is not a healthy one. We must keep our eyes firmly fixed on the Lord. We must cry out for His help and his strength during these last moments of the Church age. We must look after each other.

We, as a Church, need to 

• reach out to each other for prayer for our loved ones
• take prayer seriously and battle hard for people as the Body of Christ
• share our own struggles and ask for prayer
• check up on each other more often
• slow down and LISTEN to them
• encourage each other to stand strong and build one another up
• remind them how important they are to God and to us
• remind them that Jesus said these hard things MUST happen but we also know there is a definite end in sight
• remind them that God chose them for this season one earth for a reason

Please pray for Clint and me as we seek the Lord on the best time and method to gently confront this person. We want to let them know others are seeing through the facade, remind them God has already set them free from this, and that this road is very destructive to them, their family, their testimony, and their many businesses. Pray they take our concern to heart and stop the drinking before it gets severe.

I know I have not updated the other prayer requests in a long while. I am waiting for news on some. 

It wasn't a candle.

When Amanda came in to do Bible study with us, she handed this to me. I was excited because I thought she was gifting me a candle.

Nope. It is plastic that extruded from a rupture disk (pressure release valve). The PSI on the rupture disk is 7500 psi.

The plastic came out pretty though, didn't it?

I love that she enjoys her job and wants to share it with me.

There's no place like home! -The Wizard of Oz

We are home! We had such an amazing trip, hiked many miles, saw so many beautiful places and rock formations, and came home with many wonderful and fun memories! "Hey! Do you have any grapes?" 

We made it to SEVEN states instead of six. 

We met so many nice people. I had packed plenty which worked out because we were able to help so many hikers.

We were also able to share the gospel of Jesus with 200 people in those seven states.

We are glad to be home and to see the rest of the family. Clint and I are planning a short camping trip together somewhere. Then, once we complete the next goal, we hope to take a longer overlanding trip together. 

Home is the nicest word there is. -Laura Ingalls Wilder

Pretty Penny the Poodle

Pretty Penny is one smart puppy, and that makes her a handful!

She is a delight!

Her exceedingly great exuberance for life and our family is inspiring.

She jumps up into my arms when I return home and has already learned several words.

She and Marty get along fairly well. Marty is 13, so she gets a little grumpy with the young pup now and again, but their relationship is working well.

I absolutely love poodles! They are one of the smartest dog breeds and such a pleasure to train.

Potential Road Closure of Crabtree Meadows Jeep 4WD Off-roading Overlanding

Please share this with overlanding, 4WD, Jeep, and other offroading communities. 

If you enjoy 4WDing or overlanding and like the little bit of access we get now in our eastern US public lands, you might want to call to learn more so you can give an educated opinion on this potential 4WD road closure at Crabtree Meadows Jeep Trail.

This was posted right at the bathrooms before the road gets rocky. I have emailed and asked very specific questions regarding the newly found federally protected species, road impact and maintenance vs other offroads, etc.

I have received back three emails with brief answers, but no information that was not already on the sign.

Clint is going to call sometime this week if he can get a moment free to do so. I encourage others to do so also. James Keith Whalen Acting District Ranger p: 540-291-5205 pc: 479-970-2436 james.whalen@usda.gov The number on the sign is: 540-291-2188 but that guy David Whitmore only redirected us to James Whalen.

All of that beautiful scenery will become closed to only hikers which will end the enjoyment of that area for many disabled, special needs, and senior citizens who can only access that area by 4WD. Not only that, but the hikers that use that area will not have the benefit of the 4WD for directions, information, supplies, and rides in case of injury. We will also not be able to clear the roads or pick up trash to help the rangers. The 4WD community does a lot more than most realize.

UPDATE 4/2/2023: (This is what I shared with our off-roading community/4WD/Jeep groups.)

We received some information from the Glenwood-Pedlar District. The ranger in charge of it, James Whalen, has only been on the job for three weeks. 

He said he only knows that the 4WDers are driving into fields where the rusty patched bumblebee (the endangered species) lives which is messing up their habitat. Some drivers have also driven onto the AT access. Others are not sticking to the road. They have tried to put up signs to discourage these behaviors, but the signs are getting pulled down. 

If you call or email James Whalen he can add your contact info to a list. Right now everything is very preliminary but the plan is to move forward. They will take public comment at a later date. James Keith Whalen Acting District Ranger p: 540-291-5205 pc: 479-970-2436 james.whalen@usda.gov The number on the sign is: 540-291-2188 but that goes to David Whitmore who redirected us to James Whalen.

I know on other off roads it was the local young people with 4wd causing the trouble and breaking rules, so maybe signs about cameras (whether they exist or not) and moving boulders to block the problem areas can be utilized before they close the road. 

While camping at Scales Campground two weeks ago, we met a hiker who was excited to see us. He has disabled family members who cannot access that area through hiking or horseback riding. He plans to borrow a 4WD and take them there. If more roads are closed to 4WD, the disabled community will be the ones to suffer the most because 4WD is the only way they can get to those places. I had not considered this until we spoke with that hiker. 

How did you like how I cleaned out your fridge?

That smile and twinkle in his eye are because of the clown mask in his fridge. This "cleaning fairy" leaves surprises behind.

Traffic Tale

 

 Caleb walked into my bedroom saying, "Don't worry! I didn't do anything illegal." LOL! I never know what this one will bring home next. He received this from a man who runs a company. The light was removed from the property and left behind for years so eventually, the owner of the place took it home. He used it in his workshop until Caleb did a favor for him and his mother, so he gifted it to Caleb. Caleb plans to put it in his workshop.

Are you just playing around? or are you life and death serious?

 I'd rather have ten people that want God 

then ten thousand people who want to play church. 

-Leonard Ravenhill

The ones who want God seek Him out in His Word. 
That is the way He chose to communicate with us and is where He is found. They surrender to the leading of the Holy Spirit even when it goes against their own desires. They follow His ways even if it makes them afraid of the path ahead. They give advice that might offend the seeker but pleases the Lord. They aren't perfect but they are mission-minded. I have been blessed with several serious Christian mentors. I spotted them when I was young and watched them over the decades. It is they I go to when I need prayer support or counseling.

The ones who are playing church do what they want instead of what God's Word tells us to do. They surrender very little of their lives, if any at all, to the Lord. They ignore His instruction and the leading of the Holy Spirit. They give advice that pleases the seeker instead of what pleases God. "You/I don't need to do anything."  "You/I don't need to change." "Do what makes you happy/comfortable/get what you want." Today's churches and church leadership positions are overflowing with people who are merely playing church...and we are seeing the fallout in families and society where confusion and chaos reign. We know who the author of confusion and chaos is.

Sunbeam Battles

I'm doing research for Clint for an upcoming event. As I started organizing the paperwork, I foolishly set my computer in the sunbeam. 13-year-old Marty, the long-haired chihuahua, had a strong opinion about that.

I never get tired of hearing this...

plastic pile

This is what happens when the takeoff stops 

but the extruders keep running.

-Clint

so we don't change, we don't grow, we don't even fully live

"[The enemy] wants us to live surrounded by people but never deeply connected to them, so we don't change, we don't grow, we don't even fully live -- and we mostly end up stuck in self-pity about how we don't have any friends when dozens of people in front of us certainly would welcome someone reaching out to them in the very least." by Jennie Allen in Find Your People

Ain't No Grave (LIVE) - Bethel Music & Molly Skaggs | VICTORY

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nGncW_ueyHA&ab_channel=BethelMusic

Play this at my "gone to Jesus" party.

Escaped!

Amanda and her co-worker, Kim, went to an escape room.

They received kudos for escaping since only 33% succeed in this room.

They plan to go again and asked yours truly to come along.

Guitar Face

Not only can Caleb play a little, but he plays by ear like his great-grandfather Rollis did.

And, he builds some of his own instruments!

This is a black walnut guitar face. He sent me the picture by text to show me while I was away from home.

Bethany Boo's New Do

The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise,

But do not forget this one thing, dear friends: With the Lord a day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years are like a day. The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. Instead he is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance. But the day of the Lord will come like a thief. The heavens will disappear with a roar; the elements will be destroyed by fire, and the earth and everything done in it will be laid bare.
2 Peter 3:8-10

Answer: Every chance I can.

The question: How often do you try to make others smile?

With those I am comfortable with, I am very playful. Knowing Jesus has given me a lot of joy and it overflows into the lives of those around me. I know some of you get tired of hearing about Him, but He is all there is for me.

Chicago Kitty

Bethany's Grey aka The Chicago Kitty

Cameo

Amanda liked the rat I put in Brandon's fridge, so I bought one and put it in her fridge. She was so tired when she came home that night, she never saw it until the next morning. Now, it is making cameo appearances in the pictures she sends me by text.

My Menopause Testimony

When I was 49 years old, I asked the Lord that since I had had so many (9) miscarriages and stillbirths if He could bless me with an easy menopause. I never had another period after that prayer and have had an easy time of it. I am now 54. He answered my prayer! -me, Wendy

Gone...

Well, we're off doing the trip I mentioned previously.

Two weeks

Six states

Four Asbells

Two Canines

A Handful of Other 4WDers

Many Mountains

Overlanding Adventures

We have more trips planned this year, but this will be the longest.

Two of the nights in the northernmost mountains will be down to 21F. 

We're packing many blankets.

I know our off-roading friends say that if you haven't been stuck to the point you have to have help, then you haven't really been off-roading hard enough. We've met their requirement on a previous trip.  However, I do not want to add any extra stories to our experiences. :-D

I should have great reception until we get into the off-roading areas. From experience, we know some of those "way out there" places don't have the best of coverage. If you are family or a close friend and need something and can't get ahold of one of us, contact Amanda, Joshua, or Caleb. We will stay in a hotel two nights in Atlanta towards the middle of our trip. We will be going from isolated wilderness off-roading to a big, bustling city!

Amanda is the heroine in this story.

I've known what a starter in a car looks like since I started dating Clint at 16 and kept him company while he put one in his Chevelle.

The starter went out on our Suburban last night. We are on a fairly tight deadline to leave for a trip. Clint and Caleb took the bad starter off last night.

I told him I would try to get the starter installed today before he got home. Note my wording. My plan was to ask Amanda to put it in, and she did. I am very thankful to her for that.

However, Clint thought **I** was going to try.

So, me, being me, I knew I could have some fun with him.

I sent him this text this morning, and I had fun with him asking really dumb questions until he figured out I was playing with him. He caught on when I sent a video of the truck running and accused me of having co-conspirators! HA!

I am so thankful the Lord gave us a sense of humor so that we can ease the stress of daily living for our loved ones.

(That is most definitely NOT a starter in the picture. It's a master cylinder to a Cougar.)

That's Our Girl!!

One Nut Inside of Another

Bethany inside of an industrial nut near Katherine Lake, Illinois.

Now I know why Grandma got so sad as we drove off...

I miss seeing my grandmother Elsie Harrell Bailey blowing kisses at us and catching ours and putting them to her chest. She was truly sorry to see us go.

We only had a few hours with Brandon before he was gone again for two weeks. This is his personal car. He has a brand new company car he drives for work.

Jalapeno Poppers

Our family LOVES jalapeno poppers, so I try to keep some in the freezer.

I go ahead and bake them so they just need reheating.

Then I set them on a foil sheet and place another foil sheet on top.
Then I roll the edges closed which you can see in the packaged jalapenos at the top of the picture.

For a small packet of jalapenos, I might do 6 poppers and use one sheet folded on itself.
I can get a couple of dozen poppers in one package IF I stack some on top of each other.

I buy jalapenos 5-7 pounds at a time and make them all at once. I've been making them for years. When I first started ordering that many jalapenos at one time, they would call me and ask me if I was sure I wanted that many. Now, they know I do.

merciful and gracious, longsuffering, and abundant in goodness and truth

And the LORD passed by before him, and proclaimed, The LORD, The LORD God, merciful and gracious, longsuffering, and abundant in goodness and truth," Exodus 34:6

O taste and see that the LORD is good: blessed is the man that trusteth in him." Psalm 34:8

"For the LORD is good; his mercy is everlasting; and his truth endureth to all generations." Psalm 100:5

Prayer Request: Fatal Motorcycle Accident

Darcy (a relatively new friend, Christian homeschooling mother of 14) and her husband Chad had just landed for their trip when their phones started working. They learned their 22-year-old SIL had been in a bad motorcycle accident. They immediately purchased plane tickets to go home to be with their daughter and family. The SIL did not make it. Please pray for Lucy and their two young boys as well as the rest of the family. Please pray for the Lord to enable Darcy to really help and comfort her daughter. She says it is excruciating seeing her child suffer so badly. 

Caleb is a nut!

They still come...

They still come to our room late at night to tell us a story from their day or show us something they found.

God blessed us with a rare thing (several friends' words, not mine) when He gave us to each other in marriage.

Then He did something very special in our family.

We do not take it for granted. 

We are truly blessed and very thankful to have the marriage and family we do!

Don't Quit

 When things go wrong, as they sometimes will,
When the road you’re trudging seems all uphill,
When the funds are low and the debts are high,
And you want to smile, but you have to sigh,
When care is pressing you down a bit,
Rest if you must, but don’t you quit.

Life is queer with its twists and turns,
As every one of us sometimes learns,
And many a fellow turns about
When he might have won had he stuck it out.
Don’t give up though the pace seems slow –
You may succeed with another blow.

Often the goal is nearer than
It seems to a faint and faltering man;
Often the struggler has given up
When he might have captured the victor’s cup;
And he learned too late when the night came down,
How close he was to the golden crown.

Success is failure turned inside out –
The silver tint in the clouds of doubt,
And you never can tell how close you are,
It might be near when it seems afar;
So stick to the fight when you’re hardest hit –
It’s when things seem worst that you must not quit.

~John Greenleaf Whittier

Joshua

Work as unto the Lord

Amanda did not know her father snapped this picture of her as she worked.

Most people would balk and complain about being left alone to do a hard job. Our girl kept at it! We are very proud of the woman she is!

Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters, since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward. It is the Lord Christ you are serving. Colossians 3:23-24

He knows me better than I know myself

Clint knows me better than I know myself.

He knows when I need some time in nature to regroup and is willing to give it to me night or day. We have a spot where we are free to explore thousands of acres about 45 minutes from our home.

Ghost

My children named him Ghost.
I guess that is appropriate since he's not supposed to be in the house, yet, he mysteriously gets in quite often. I put him out and POOF!!, he's right back in staring at me.

Burgers and The Good News

ALL things

"All things work together for good."

    This must be so for three reasons. First, because all things are under the absolute control of the Governor of the universe. Second, because God desires our good, and nothing but our good. Third, because even Satan himself cannot touch a hair of our heads without God's permission, and then only for our further good. Not all things are good in themselves, nor in their tendencies; but God makes all things work for our good. Nothing enters our life by blind chance; nor are there any accidents. Everything is being moved by God, with this end in view—our good. Everything being subservient to God's eternal purpose, works blessing to those marked out for conformity to the image of Christ. All suffering, sorrow, loss, are used by our Father to minister to the benefit of the elect.

From “Comfort for Christians: The Christian’s Assurance”

Suffolk Scales

While we were in our hometown visiting with family, we stopped by where Clint used to work. He wanted to show some of our children.

Another company has purchased the business, but the old scales are still there.

I remember riding through the scales in a dump truck with Clint way, way long ago....before and after we were married. His boss Benford liked me. :-)

The scale reads 7060 in case you are wondering.
That suburban isn't light!

One Truth is Greater Than the Other

Frosty Feisty Furry Ford

Clint warming himself by the kerosene heater with Shodan while waiting on Ford.

Ford is the kitten one of our rescued Persian cats stole from a neighbor's cat's litter. Kali, the Persian, could not have kittens due to very poor health, so she found a way to get herself one. Only, she couldn't feed it, so she dumped it in my closet where it made noises for a couple of days before we finally found it. Ford was fostered by our cat, Miracle, who has her own amazing story.

Ford does not like it when Brandon leaves and will misbehave in a heartbeat.
 Every. single. time.
I wanted to document at least one of his temper tantrums.

Of course, Ford would pick the coldest night of the year to rocket through our legs into the night! 16 degrees with 25 mph wind. Ugh! We knew he could end up with frostbitten ears or die of hypothermia, so we determined to wait him out. For six hours that evening, the feisty feline refused to come inside. Oh, he'd venture to the door and let us see him...and as soon as we made eye contact or said his name, he let us know just how angry he was by taking off again.

We begged, pleaded, fussed at, used scents of his favorite foods, cooked people food he likes, ordered pizza (he knows the pizza guy and likes pizza), had Emily and Hannah come over to help coax him in, left him alone, left the door open, shut the door, used recorded cat meows, etc. What a doodle that cat can be!

Clint and I eventually figured out that the best way to get him inside was to leave. We left Brandon's front door open the width of a shoe. Clint and I put some tracts out and went back to check after half an hour. No Ford. Another half an hour...Ford was inside warming himself by the heater. He was not a happy camper, but we had all of that furry attitude contained within four walls again. Then we set Brandon's faucets to drip and went home and crawled to bed.

Brandon was upset that Ford did that to us while we were there to look after his home. I told Brandon, "There are no perfect parents, no perfect children, no perfect grandchildren, and no perfect furry grands. He's OK. He's letting us know the only way he can that he is upset you are gone which is a sign he is smart enough to communicate that to us. I will wait him out. I have plenty of patience from raising seven strong-willed children!"

Spider Saga

 Me: How many of those spiders have you found?

Amanda: I don't know. Not that many.

Me: Do they ever scare you?

Amanda: Not really. Every once in a while I do a double take.

Me: Do you laugh and remember how much I love you when you see one?

Amanda: Yes. I do.

(Pause)

Amanda while laughing: Mom, I am never going to find ALL of those spiders. (There are 480 of them.) I'm going to be really old like 98 years old and find the very last one and die of fright. (laughs) When I see you in Heaven, I am going to say: (points an accusing finger at my face) YOU DID THIS! (laughs)

(Pause)

Amanda; (mock serious tone) I should have listened to Hannah when she said not to hide that spider under your covers.

I have a hair appointment with her on March 11. I'm a little nervous. :-)

Legos: Not Just For Children

We are proud of family friend Jett for his beautiful builds that were displayed recently in the Norfolk Naval Museum. Jett owns the Legos, created the design, and will disassemble the carrier to create something new. He is known for his amazing creations and builds something spectacular every year.

Shrimply the Coolest Encounter

Amanda's Pacific Cleaner Shrimp gave her a quick manicure while she was cleaning her tank.

Excuse the punny title. I wanted to keep it shrimple, but that might have been over-krill. :-)