Posts have been infrequent and will be for a little while longer, while several of us work through some medical issues.

This was taken yesterday.  Karen will be in recovery from ankle surgery for the next two months. 

In our home we have books, many of them.  They come in all shapes and sizes, about a variety of topics.  Some of these books teach us to do things like cook, clean, and garden.   Some tell stories of long ago.  Some are testimonial, and tell us what people did and why.  Some are expository, and explain the meaning of that most wonderful book, the Bible.

I want my children to read books.  I want them to understand the purpose of books, to use them wisely, and to see all of them through the lens of Scripture. 

Toward that end, my oldest daughter is beginning a book review section that she will be hosting on her blog.  Her first book review is on a book about Elizabeth Prentiss and can be read here.

Recently we observed Valentine’s Day.  Here is some historical background from George Grant: 

Valentine was likely a third century pastor from the southern Umbrian town of Terni who was imprisoned for his faith during the great persecution of Claudius II. According to a popular legend, he wrote small pastoral notes to members of his congregation on leaves he was able to pluck from a maple tree just outside his cell. These little “Valentine’s cards” expressed his love for the flock, and his desire that they demonstrate like love toward one another. Gradually the tradition grew up for Christians to exchange notes of love and encouragement to one another on this, his birthday.

In our day we have destroyed the spirit of Valentine’s Day by turning into a day of selfishness, self-gratification, licentiousness, and more. 

At our home, we prepared a special dinner and some exchanged some cards of love, affection, and even some humor.

Emily prepares parfaits with strawberries, angel food cake, and whipped cream.

Abigail and Kimmy Joy clean out the bowl of whipped cream.

One of my favorites is simmering on the stovetop: stuffed mushrooms.

Italian stuffed shells is the main course.  Mmm.

Kimmy and Abigail are ready to eat.

The rest of the family begins to assemble.

Kimmy plays the food critic.   She gave it a thumbs up.

As I’m pondering the events of the Men’s Advance I’m considering how is it that a father can make his home a Christian home, and be successful in his efforts toward that end?

I’m convinced that the state of the home is largely dependent on the state of the marriage.

Recently I was reading about the sixtieth anniversary of Scott Brown’s parents.  He lists four ingredients of his parents’ successful marriage.

• Seeking the Lord: As they sought Christ, they kept growing closer together.
• Leisure time together: They did not have such high objectives that they could not relax and go places together and just be together.
• Oneness: They loved to be together and had the same hopes and dreams for  their lives.
• Grace: I do not ever remember hearing a cross word spoken between them, and their speech was always seasoned with salt.

Read more here.

While many friends and acquaintances around the country are dealing with cold and snow, last weekend this trio had some sandbox fun in 70 degree weather.  Note the casual observer in the corner of the picture.

Today Abigail lost her first tooth.  Our little girl is growing up!

This past week we celebrated Emily’s birthday.  Here are some highlights:

Emily displaying a watch necklace.

Opening a present.

Reading a birthday card from Grandma and Grandpa.

 Lunch with Mom and Dad at Jason’s Deli.

Working on her dollhouse with Dad.

Looking through her baby picture album.

The family gathers for a birthday dinner.

Checking out the cake, made by big sister Kathy.

Click here for more.

While at Jason’s Deli, the cashier showed Emily how to balance a dime and nickel on top of a quarter.  Here she demonstrates her prowess.

A present from big sister Karen.

A porcelain doll to add to her collection.

Once the celebration was finished, here is a creative thing to do with balloons.

Under the direction of expert potato peeler Emily, Kimmy learns the art of peeling potatoes. 

This past weekend we celebrated the birthday of Karen Elizabeth. She is our oldest child at twenty one.

Karen and I share many things in common: we have a firstborn tendency toward family responsibility; we love the many aspects of God’s creation, we have a deep appreciation for the fine arts, we love history, and we have a curiosity about everything. Many of the photographs on this blog were taken by Karen, who is also our budding family historian.

Before we had children, doctors had labeled Hope to be infertile. So it was with a deep gratitude toward the Lord that He gave us Karen (and then six more children; so much for infertile).

I am personally thankful that Karen has weathered the storm of her mother and me moving from a cultural Christianity to a biblical one. Major changes in direction can be difficult, and Karen has seen many, and yet has adopted these changes in her own life as her own and not just her parents.

Here are some of my favorite pictures of Karen…

One year old - in Longview, TX.

Learning to make pies.

Age two and a half - Dallas, TX.

Age three, just after we moved to Carrollton, TX.

The love of horses started early. Then…

…and now (one corner of her room).

About age 12 with little sister Kathy.

Horseback riding.

With little sister Abigail in Fredericksburg, TX.

From early childhood Karen loved to draw. She drew on everything: paper, napkins, boxes, even walls. We had a hard time keeping supplies of paper. Today her room and our house is full of paintings, drawings, sketches, and the like. It’s wonderful to have the work of your child’s hands displayed; it is a reminder of how God uses us to accomplish His purposes.

The latest artwork - in progress.

In my opinion, one of the highest forms of literature is the writing of great, theological truths in a poetic form. Karen shares this opinion, and so a treasured gift I received from her last year was a handwritten hymnbook consisting of old hymn tunes set to new lyrics, with artwork (she being the author of the lyrics and artwork).

Fishing in the Hill Country of Texas.

Karen’s graduation was held in Thorncrown Chapel in Eureka Springs, Arkansas. The owner of the chapel attended our family graduation ceremony and we had the opportunity to explain to her who we are and what we were doing. She was delighted we used her chapel for this purpose.

Karen with me at Callaway Gardens in Georgia. She is wearing a Regency dress that she made.

Karen’s birthday celebration was a low key affair. The highlight was a trip to two libraries, where books abound.

At this time of the year in Texas it is usually hot and dry. Not so this year. Karen’s birthday this year will be remembered for the abundance of water. Click here for more rain.

The birthday cake, in this case the birthday cheesecake. For this birthday I attempted to make an authentic New York style cheesecake. Upon close inspection, you will see that my culinary effort was somewhat deficient, however it was appreciated by the birthday girl.

I like to think that we are a musical family. Many of us play instruments, we listen to music all the time, and we love to sing. It is with much embarrassment, however, that we heralded Karen’s twenty-first birthday with this pitiful effort of singing. Click here to listen.

A gift of music.

The love of a sister, a precious gift indeed.

This last picture is of Karen’s ruby ring. In our family, a daughter wears this ring to signify that she has given her heart to Mom and Dad, and she is under their authority as she waits and prepares for marriage, working to become a virtuous woman whose price is far above rubies. This is the window of opportunity, which I’ll discuss more in an upcoming post.

Today our family celebrated Abigail Jane’s fifth birthday.

There is something special about this little lady. From the days of pregnancy until today, things are just different when Abigail is around.

Hope’s pregnancy with Abigail was different than the other children; it was fraught with complications. At birth Abigail weighed ten pounds, and the birth itself was by far the most difficult. For awhile I thought the two midwives were going to break Hope in two as they labored to birth this baby.

The events surrounding Abigail’s birth were also somewhat unusual. Here are some highlights:

-Two weeks prior to the birth we bought a boxer puppy for Kathy.

-Around that time our cat gave birth.

-Our oldest daughter Karen was in a cast and was unable to assist in anything.

-Emily slipped on some stones and broke open a huge gash on her nose.

-In my haste to get her to the emergency room, I ran over Hope’s dog (a sheltie).

-Our washing machine flooded twice.

-We had an appliance fire in the kitchen.

-I had an important appointment scheduled with my boss on June 26. For months I had been telling Hope she could have the baby any day except that one. Abigail was due on July 6 and since all of our babies had been born later than their due date, June 26 seemed safe. Of course she was born two weeks early on June 26, causing me to miss my appointment.

-We had a poisonous snake lurking around during this time that I finally killed right after the birth.

Needless to say, the Lord preserved us through these events and through all of them we still delighted in the fact that He gave to us another daughter.

Abigail is known as the Sunshine Girl. She brings a unique pespective to everything. Her exploits have become the source of family legends, so much so, that some of them were committed to a family comic strip named, “The Adventures of Abigail.”

Abigail is a Daddy’s girl, and is usually the first to run out of the house to greet me when I arrive home from the office.

I am thankful God blessed us with this little daughter.

Here are some of my favorite Abigail pictures.

My grandmother (95 years old) holding 5 month old Abigail.

About nine months old.

Age one birthday.

Do you think you can open that mouth any wider (age one)?

Mother, this is the proper way to play the piano.

Now I understand what snow is. What’s next?

Ready for adventure (one and a half). It was around this time that the many escapades of Abigail were, due to constant telling and re-telling, compiled into what is known today as “The Adventures of Abigail.” These adventures detail the events of life from the fertile imagination of Abigail (also known as ‘The Ab’). The last frame shows the reality of the situation. Click here to view.

This is a fish (age two).

Cute and knows it.

Learning to bake apple dumplings with big sister Karen (age two).

First time to the beach at Mustang Island, TX - age three.

Age three at a playground in Kerrville, TX.

Most of our children learned to ride a bicycle (without training wheels) at age five or six. Not Abigail. She mastered the bicycle at age three and a half.

Fishing at Beaver’s Bend, OK at age four.

Abigail’s first trip to the dentist occurred at age four. What an experience!

Abigail submitted an Everyday News Report about the Grand Canyon at age four. Click here to listen to the report.

The day began with dark clouds on the outside, but bright hearts on the inside.

The birthday celebration started with balloons and breakfast, made to Abigail’s order.

A trip to the park began well but quickly ended in rain.

Plan B was a trip to Half Price Books, a family favorite. Rarely do we leave that store without armfuls of books.

Lunch was a “tea party” with pigs in a blanket, Pringles, and pudding parfaits. Interesting menu, wouldn’t you say?

Abigail delighting in her pudding parfait.

Click here to watch Abigail open a birthday present.

Dinner was at Jason’s Deli.

The cake was by Kathy.

Click here to watch Abigail with her cake.

We have delighted in this little girl from the beginning…

…to now. May God bring her to Himself in His time.