Dad's Lunch Bucket

Some folks may call it a lunch pail, a lunch box, but my dad always called it his lunch bucket.  He carried it everyday along with a thermos of hot coffee to work at the Sintering Plant in Saxonburg, PA.  For many years of cold winter mornings and hot summer days, the lunch bucket would make it's trip to Saxonburg from Meridian.  When we moved to the farm, the commute was longer and there were barn chores to do when he got home.  We all chipped in, of course.  Since my dad worked shifts, the three of us siblings would do the afternoon chores...bottle feeding the new calves, throwing down hay bales and making sure the water hadn't frozen over and the electric fence was on.  The several times the cows broke out, my dad was always working midnight.  He would come home to a worn out family who had been chasing cows all over kingdom come, laugh and go to check the fence and head for bed.

He did the majority of the work around the farm.  He worked two jobs and really loved the farm work best of all.  I believe it helped him relieve the stress of working at the mill.  The farm gave me the opportunity to watch and learn.  To work along side of him burning calves horns, mending fences, cleaning out the barn, working the top of the hay mow in July, and helping in the garden.

After years of constant use, the clasp on the lunch bucket broke, there was certainly no need to get a new one.  A big ole paper clip would fix it.  It would work until he retired.

When my mom was moving, I claimed the lunch bucket.   This is just one way we keep dad in our thoughts at Christmas.

All-wise God,
Thy never-failing providence orders every event.
   sweetens every fear,
   reveals evil's presence lurking in seeming good,
   brings real good out of seeming evil,
   makes unsatisfactory what I set my heart upon,
   to show me what a short-sighted creature I am,
   and to teach me to live by faith upon thy blessed self.

--a portion from Peril, from The Valley of Vision

Frosted Friday

The sky was beautiful and clear--full of stars last night.  Driving home from a meeting last night, I could see the frost forming when I looked at the bright parking lot lights.  It was almost as if it was "raining" frost. This morning, everything looked as if it had a light coat of snow, but it was frost!


Frosted hedges




Frost on our Burning Bushes

It certainly made things a bit chilly for hanging out some sheets.  Even the clothesline was covered with frost!

O LORD,

No day of my life has passed

   that has not proved me guilty in thy sight.

Prayers have been uttered from a prayerless heart;

Praise has been often praiseless sound;

My best services are filthy rags....

...I appeal from the throne of perfect justice

   to thy throne of boundless grace,

Grant me to hear thy voice assuring me;

   that by thy stripes I am healed,

   that by thy stripes I am healed,

   that thou wast bruised for my iniquities,

   that thou hast been made sin for me

      that I might be righteous in thee,

   that my grievous sins, my manifold sins,

      are all forgiven,

      buried in the ocean of thy concealing blood....

...Open to me the springs of divine knowledge,

   sparkling like crystal,

   flowing clear and unsullied

   through my wilderness of life.

--an excerpt from The Broken Heart, from The Valley of Vision



Post-Thanksgiving Family Time

Neither my husband nor I grew up with guns in the house.  My husband's previous profession required him to be ready to use a handgun at a moment's notice.  He also had to be familiar with rifles. 

I've taken a women's handgun safety course promoted by the local sheriff's department.  ( I have a certificate and everything!)  Alas, still no gun.

My husband was given my father-in-law's .22 rifle, that no one knew he had, when his mom passed away this summer. 

We share a common problem with our eldest son and his family--groundhogs.  We lent the gun to him to use to try and clean up some of his problems.  It is with great pride that I can report that my daughter-in-law actually hit a groundhog twice (she doesn't think she killed it right away).  The funny part of this story is that she called her dad and my son in tears that she didn't kill it.  Her father said that it was so sad that she didn't kill it right away and the poor thing would suffer and he understood her soft heart towards animals.  My son told her she was wonderful and that it was a groundhog--and she needed to call me.  When I heard her news, I told her that she was amazing and that I had never shot a critter and that I was so very proud of her.  I also told her that it was a groundhog--they will eat your children--and have destroyed everything you have ever planted.  She did OK.  I bought her more ammo.  She has also become a legend among the men at church.

The day after Thanksgiving, our son invited us and our younger son to come out to enjoy some shooting.  My husband brought his "professional" weapon for us all to shoot as well.  Our target:  A very large pumpkin!

It was a great bonding time for the boys and their dad.  He was able to give some great tips and make sure we were doing everything safely.  And, realized that I was using my left eye.  It was no wonder I couldn't hit anything!

My youngest son admiring his shot.



My husband shooting and my eldest son watching.



Our target...and yes, I actually surprised myself and hit the bulls eye!  It is amazing how much better I did when I used my right eye!!!

My youngest son put and apple on top, but it was my husband that blew it away!  As you can see, some of us need a bit of practice yet.

We had a great time and hope to enjoy this family fun more often.

Happiness Arrives in the Mailbox

It is not even December and Johnny's Seed Catalog has arrived!

It used to be that my mom would say that the Sears or JC Penney Spring/Summer catalog would arrive on the coldest day of the year.  (It is not that cold today...yet.  The wind is picking up and the weather people are forecasting a wee bit of snow.)

Being that I still have the remains of Thanksgiving that need to be dealt with, this lovely catalog filled with colors and great ideas arrives today to tempt me away from my chores.

Even though we have had plenty of rain and our yard is still very green, it is nice to see some color.

Right after Christmas cards, decorating, baking, more cleaning and presents purchased and...well you get the idea...sometime in January, I'll get my list started for next season's purchases.


O God of the Highest Heaven,

...O help me then to walk worthy of thy love,
   of my hopes, and my vocation.
Keep me, for I cannot keep myself;
Protect me that no evil befall me;
Let me lay aside every sin admired of many;
Help me to walk by thy side, lean on thy arm,
   hold converse with thee,
That henceforth I may be salt of the earth and a blessing to all.
--an excerpt from Regeneration, from The Valley of Vision

Family Farms

When I pulled this article from the Drudge Report, I knew it was going to be sad.  Indeed, it is a sad day for America when the small family farms continue to be sold at an alarming rate.  A source of family traditions and rural wisdom that is rapidly disappearing.  It won't be long until the "old ways" are only remembered by a few...and that is when we just might need them.

Wishing everyone a very Happy Thanksgiving!

My God,
...Thy bounteous goodness has helped me believe,
   but my faith is weak and wavering,
   its light dim,
   its steps tottering,
   its increase slow,
   its backslidings frequent;
It should scale the heavens but lies grovelling in the dust.
...Lord, awake faith to put forth its strength
   until all heaven fills my soul
   and all impurity is cast out.
--an excerpt from, Faith, in The Valley of Visions

What is Reformation Day?

Tomorrow, Sunday, October 31, is Reformation Day.  What does that mean for us?

Here is a good article by Robert Rothwell, Associate Editor of Tabletalk magazine.  In this piece he explains what Reformation Day is and how it came to be.

Wishing you a blessed Reformation Day.

Anyone who is to find Christ must first find the church. How could anyone know where Christ is and what faith is in him unless he knew where his believers are?

and

Beautiful music is the art of the prophets that can calm the agitations of the soul; it is one of the most magnificent and delightful presents God has given us.


and

I am afraid that the schools will prove the very gates of hell, unless they diligently labor in explaining the Holy Scriptures and engraving them in the heart of the youth.


by Martin Luther
Read more: http://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/authors/m/martin_luther.html#ixzz1cD4yMMrV

It's About the Gospel

With Reformation Day just around the corner, I wanted to share this link to The White Horse Inn and an article written by Michael Horton, It's Not About Luther, It's About the Gospel.

"The Reformation isn’t over. Not by a long shot. What we need most right now is not the rehabilitation of Luther, but the rehabilitation of true proclamation. We need it now, even in Protestantism-perhaps especially in Protestantism, more than ever." -- Michael Horton