In the Morning . .

"In the morning, O lord, you hear my voice;

in the morning I lay my requests before you

and wait in expectation."

Psalm 5:3

Photo courtesy of Lydia

A Movie Review

A review of the movie “Expelled, No Intelligence Allowed”

By Kyle

"Expelled" is a documentary of creation vs. evolution, and how many teachers are being expelled from teaching because they have mentioned the words “intelligent design” in their classrooms.

There was a time when Ben Stein, the main character in the documentary, thought that no one would get fired for saying their opinion on a matter. Until, he meets a scientist who got fired for mentioning his opinion that maybe there could be an intelligent designer.

When Ben Stein looks into the case more, he discovers a dozen teachers/scientists who have been “expelled”.

But what grounds do scientists have for believing in Darwinism? Darwin claims the world started with a big bang. Then a simple life form took place after millions of years. But the more Ben Stein looked into the theory, the more he is convinced that it is impossible!

He then is reminded of the Holocaust, when the Jews were expelled from jobs and their children were not allowed in schools. It got so bad that Jews were killed by the millions in concentration camps.

Mr. Stein points out that currently in our country people are getting fired from their jobs for thinking twice about Darwinism, which is a fairy tale and a pack of lies. What might be next? He encourages us to stand against this wall of untruth!

Ten Puppies!

Proud Papa!

Happy Birthday, Nathaniel!

Nice
Awesome cousin
Thankful
Happy
Always kind
Notably unselfish
Intelligent
Excellent friend
Loving

Dear Nate,

May the Lord bless you in every way on this special day.

Love,
Kyle

“But the loving-kindness of the Lord is from everlasting to everlasting on those who fear Him.” Psalms 103:17

The Happy Couple

The round-the-clock monitoring has begun! The kids set five different alarm clocks last night, and at five different times, five different dedicated volunteers checked on one very pregnant Allie throughout the night. Alas, to no avail. But that's okay, they actually think it's fun!

Thanks Meemom!

Thanks Meemom for all the fun we had together while you were here!

Thanks for keeping us warm on all those snowy days!

Thanks for playing all sorts of games with us!

Thanks for all the books you read to us!

Thanks for all the enjoyable meals we shared together!

Thanks so much for coming to see us! We are sad to see you go today, but have so many wonderful memories to cherish until we see you again in a few months!

And thanks to Papa Bob, too, for being without you for all these days while we enjoyed your presence here!

We're Dreaming of a Green Springtime . . .

Lydia took these pictures YESTERDAY, as Ted and I drove our big white sleigh through this springtime wonderland to Seattle for a homeschool conference.

Our Newest Additions to the Farm

Meet "Joy" and "Sunshine"!

Caroline and Victoria pooled their savings together to purchase these two little doelings. They have been visiting them for several weeks now, and finally, after anxiously waiting what seemed like months, they were ready to come home to our farm yesterday! It was a big day for these young goat ranchers!

Over the Hills and Through the Woods . . .

. . . . to the grandkids' house she goes!

After much anticipation, Meemom is here!

A Great Start to the Season!

By:

One Happy Baseball Player!

My Mossyrock majors team kicked off our season with a tournament this past Saturday and Sunday. It was so fun!

We won all three of our “seeding” games on Saturday (11-1; 2-1 in the second extra inning; 13-1). I got a chance to pitch in the third game for three innings. With God’s help, I struck out 5, walked none, and allowed one run.

Then on Sunday we got a bye in the first round since we were seeded #1. We won our first game 8-2 to make it to the championship game.

We played Napavine for the Championship, and since it was at Napavine it was like a home game for them. We won the coin toss, though, and were home team in that way. In the first inning we jumped ahead by scoring three runs. We added one run in the second; then held them scoreless till the top of the fifth, when they scored one on a throwing error. In the top of the 6th, Napavine loaded the bases with two outs. Their “giant” clean-up hitter got a double, but we were able to hold the runner at third so only two runs scored. Then Shawn, our pitcher, struck out the next batter for the 4-3 win! Our team went wild!

Honoring Our Creator

What a great time we had Friday night with several dozen friends and an awesome presentation by our friend Russ Miller, of Creation, Evolution and Science Ministries. He presented a new talk he has put together called “If the Foundations Be Destroyed”. It shows that the Biblical truth of God as Creator is foundational to both our political freedoms and our freedom in Christ!

The Miller’s have a series of seminars available on DVD’s and they can be found on their website at: http://www.creationministries.org/. (This is their original website which is currently being updated to provide some audio and video samples of his seminars and his newer talks. These will be available in a week or two!) Some of these include: 50 Facts vs. Darwinism in the Textbooks; An Old Earth or A Global Flood; The 3-Day Formation of the Grand Canyon; Pre-Flood World; Noah’s Ark and Dinosaurs; What the Bible Says About Creation Week; Intelligent Design; The Evil Fruits of Darwinism.

You might want to check it out!

Practicing Hospitality

Our dear friends Russ and Joanna Miller arrived here yesterday from Arizona after several months of the Bowes Family excitedly anticipating their time with us. We feel very blessed to be able to enjoy their fellowship through Saturday!

And as they were arriving yesterday just before the dinner hour, a realtor called, and said he and his clients would like to come visit us too . . (well, actually, our home) . . . today . . . at 2:00!

Blessed be the name of the Lord . . . . just as soon as the initial panic wore off, our loving and sovereign Lord gently reminded us . . . .

"Be still and know that I am God."

Go Diamondbacks!

By Kyle
By winning their home opener on Monday, and winning again last night, the Diamondbacks climbed to the top of their division (6-2)! They also lead all major league teams in home runs with a total of 17 so far!

Daddy and I enjoy watching their games from afar on our computer. And on Monday night, I even got a play-by-play from Papa, on his cell phone, who was sitting above home plate at Chase field! For me, that was almost as good as being there!

Indescribable!

She Works With Her Hands In Delight

The girls just finished their very first quilts!

Thank you Miss Debbie for all you did to help us and teach us so patiently!

Nine square "Log Cabin" quilt put together in three different layouts.

The Good Shepherd

By Lydia

Three months ago, on Dec. 3rd, major parts of our county experienced a devastating flood. Hundreds of homes were destroyed and thousands of farm animals were drowned. Some people in the area lost their home and their family businesses, such as cow dairies, as most all their animals were swept away in the fast-moving flood waters.

Unfortunately, our good friends, the Gregory’s, own a sheep farm right on the edge of the Chehalis river. (They are the owners of Black Sheep Creamery, a sheep dairy and cheese making farm.) When the water started to rise, the only time they had was to grab a few important belongings from their first floor, and then run up to the second floor of their house. They probably watched helplessly as their carefully bred, raised, and much loved sheep and their cheese making facilities were being engulfed in the muddy flood waters.

This picture is of the Gregory's sheep barn. You can see the water line about half way up the outside wall of the barn.

Soon rescuers came to save their family and they had to jump from their second story windows into the boat, as the water was already several feet high.

Later, when the water had receded and the Gregory’s could return home, devastation met their shocked eyes. A foot or more of deep mud was everywhere and dead sheep lay in piles here and there.

However, much to their surprise that day, they found 22 of their sheep had survived, along with their sheep guard dogs, Jewel and Brutus. Later, as they searched through piles of dead sheep they found one more sheep alive. They thought for sure that they would have to put her down (as did a few others) because she was limping badly. But a friend offered to take “Emily” and all their surviving sheep to their home to give the Gregory’s time to restore their farm.

So, this brought their total number of surviving sheep to 23! Though this was only 25% of their flock, as you can imagine that particular number has a very special significance! (Thank you, Papa, for bringing this to our minds!)

Psalm 23 . . . what a special passage of scripture, especially to shepherds! How good God, our Good Shepherd, was to preserve 23 of their sheep, so that they, and all of us, could sense His love and care and see His sovereign hand working through this trial!

And through their friend’s tender loving care of these sheep and God’s healing touch, all 23 of their bred ewes thrived, gave birth to 47 lambs, and have recently returned back home with all their offspring!

And now I am excited to report that our farm has been blessed with one of God’s little miracles from the Gregory’s farm . . . “007”, a ram lamb! Isn’t he cute?

This is "Isaac"!

Now I have an official, reproducing flock! Thank you, Lord . . . . my Good Shepherd!

As Joseph would say, "Uh, Oh!"

By Reporter Kyle Bowes

Much to the dismay of its master architect and builder, Caroline Bowes, and the airport's controller, Timothy Bowes, one of Mossyrock's small airports was recently overtaken by "King Kong!" Before he moved on, and in a matter of minutes, the airport was completely leveled, and is awaiting a willing volunteer to reconstruct it! The wages will be a big slobbery kiss from the very friendly "King Kong!"

Thanks Be To God! ~ Part 2

Kyle is thankful for . . .

• Trials, such as Mommy’s aneurism and losing my baby sister, Susannah. These hard times strengthen us in the Lord and show His sovereignty as He gives and takes away.
  
• Our freedom to homeschool.
  
• Being able to be loved by a perfect and awesome Creator even as a sinful person.
  
• My baseball team and being able to be a light to them.
  
• Our freedom to worship.
  
• All the wonderful Christian leaders in the world.
  
• Being in God’s plan.
  
• Parents who teach us in the ways of the Lord.
  
• The freedom to pray.
  
• My siblings.
  
• Being homeschooled.
  
• Being with such a wonderful family.
  
• This house and a Daddy who works hard to keep us in a warm house.
  
• My yellow lab, Danny.
  

Lydia is thankful for . . .

• All of our wonderful grandparents, and all the many things they’ve done for me.
• All our aunts and uncles and cousins who are so fun to be around.
• All the wonderful friends God has blessed us with.
• The blessing of Mr. Dennis, the kind man who sold back the lambs to me.
• The amazing blessing of my new lambs.
• For Allie and the puppies she’s expecting.
• All of the wonderful music God helped people to create.
• The freedom to worship God freely, without persecution.
• For the way Daddy works so hard to provide for all our needs, and encourage, teach, and train us in the Lord.
• For how Mommy has taught us so many lessons in how to cook, clean, and take care of babies.
• For how God led us to a good church, where I can bring cookies each Sunday.
• For all the wonderful people we have met in our church.
• For all of my sweet sisters and brothers who have always been there for me, and play all sorts of games with me.
• God’s enduring care and protection over us during this year.
• Our sweet sewing teacher who taught us so much this year!
• Our sweet piano teacher who has been so loving and fun to learn from this year!
  

Victoria is thankful for . . .

• My goat, Faith.
• Our house.
• My sweet mother who is so patient with me.
• The Bible that teaches God’s word.
• All my sisters and brothers.
• Our clothes and food that supply us everyday.
• My father who takes us on fun trips and works so hard everyday.
• Our tribulations and trials.
• Our sweet grandparents.
• Our church.
• The loss of life that teaches us that God is in control.
• All the pretty flowers that brighten our days.
  

Thanks Be To God!

Valerie is thankful for . . .

My Heavenly Father's protection over our whole family.

Our parents, who are standing strong in their faith and who are teaching us of our Lord Jesus Christ.

Meeting many new families that are also strong in our Lord and are so encouraging to us.

My sisters and brothers as they comfort and encourage me when I’m down.

My loving grandparents who are always there for me.

My sweet dog, Anna, and how God used the death of my sheep to bring us together.

My violin teacher who has been so patient with me as I have many questions.

God’s provisions and protection over our dog business so far.

My dear friend and how she is my encouraging pen pal.

My daddy and mommy, who love me enough to discipline and train me in the way God shows them to.

My bible and how God has answers in it for us everyday.

The wonderful freedom to homeschool.

For the rare blue skies here in Washington State.

Our house.

The joy of being one of God’s children.

Caroline is thankful for . . .

· My wonderful mommy and daddy.
· My encouraging siblings.
· My sweet friends.
· My sweet piano teacher who teaches me patiently.
· My cute new goat, Goliath.
· My warm, cozy house.
· My God who lovingly created me.
· Our health.
· My Godly grandparents who taught mommy & daddy about the Lord.
· Our food and clothes.
· Our pastor and church members.
· Trials and tribulations.
· Allie, our chocolate lab who will have puppies soon.
· The fair.
· Our piano.
· My Christian cousins.
· My wonderful aunts and uncles.