March 2016

Helloooo!

I'm back and showing you last months pictures!

It was a marvelous month-- sunny, windy, gloomy, rainy, cold....

It had a little bit of everything.

This set is on a sunny day trip to Gee Creek!

It's the new cousin!!

Such a cutie!

Climbin' the swing set.

Dear little friend from far away!

She's a sweetheart!

My growing cuz.

He keeps measuring how tall he is to me!

Almost there, bud!

This dude is already taller than me!

That is, when I'm not wearing my heels.

Finally we got in the river.

It was FREEZING!

Someone was smart enough to wear boots while the rest were

barefoot.

Such a pretty area.

And now, finally, our feet got numb, but our legs hurt 'cause

it was sooooo cold!

Don't remember what that face was for...

Then, the little dudes found the water...

And mud...

Talk about a dramatic looking off into the distance.

Yeah, I don't know what they're looking at.

I probably took this pic when this bud was talking.

He likes to talk.

Well, there is our Gee Creek adventure!

We take quite a few adventures there.

But it's such a beautiful place, how can you not?!

I hope you enjoyed this post!

Until next time, dearies!

Lady Jenny

Two Weeks Off, Now Ready to Report!

Wow.  It has been a long two weeks since last I really sat down to blog.  I am soooo behind in my blog-readings...  And yes, though I missed it, our time was spent on more important things.  Blogging is not a top priority.  God first, family second, work next, THEN fun.

This post is practically just another update to let you know we are still here.  =]

So...  To my report!

The first week, we were in the hay field.  Nearly every day.  But I am not complaining!  Have I ever mentioned that it's my favorite season!!!  Alas, I do not have pictures of us maidens working those red Farmalls and raking hay, or on the hay wagon stacking square bales, or sweating in the big barn unloading said bales and re-stacking them in the loft.  I do, however, have a few pics of our time in VBS this year, to be featured in a later post.  While we had a great time teaching the songs for this year's theme, The Kingdom Chronicles, and hosting the preschool crafts, we can give a whole-hearted sigh of relief that the crazy week is now over.  It was definitely fun and exciting, made even more so by the fact that there was nine professions of faith during the week.  All praise to the King!

. . .

Hang on.  I am not finished with you yet.  =D

That Saturday we left early in the morning to make the hour and a half journey to Dollywood, where we spent the WHOLE day walking around enjoying Bluegrass & BBQ, roller-coasters, kettle corn, shops, and the like.  It was great!  My sisters and I were able, for the first time, to have our pictures taken at the Flashbulb Photo Shoppe, where you can dress up either in Victorian, Western Saloon, or Gangster styles.  (We chose Victorian.)  Loved it! although I had the most trouble finding a decent dress... They make it really easy for you, though.  Each outfit is fully made to where you pull the dress on, tie the strings together in the back, and you're good to go.  See right for our picture.  It's the 3Maidens, Victorian style!

With that said, I leave you with a promise to post more pictures as soon as possible and wish you a happy week full of blessings.

Fairfarren, for now!

Faith, Family, Freedom

I know not all who read our blog are within the home-educated sphere, but everyone needs to hear about a certain home-educating family.

You may indeed be aware of the plight of the Romeike family, a Christian family from Germany, who are even now facing the possibility of being deported back to their homeland where the government would almost undoubtedly confiscate their children.

If not, you need to be.

Answers in Genesis has an article that I would encourage you to read.  Here are a couple paragraphs that stood out to me:

"As far as liberty in the U.S. is concerned, attorney Michael Donnelly, HSLDA director of international relations, shared with AiG staff the day after the oral arguments that he found it “very troubling what the Obama Administration was arguing in court” about homeschooling. He observed that the U.S. Attorney General was supporting the German government’s assertion that homeschooling is not a parental right. In essence, the Obama Administration was endorsing a belief that the upbringing of children really belongs to the government, not to the parents, and that governments have a right to educate children in the way they alone determine. As the Obama Administration chips away at the right of parents to homeschool their children, it is undermining the biblical admonition that children belong to the parents and that parents are responsible for the education of their children."

"The shadow of the Romeike case stretches not just to homeschooling families, however, but also to all Americans who value their constitutionally protected religious freedom. You see, the Obama Administration’s Department of Justice, by its claim that the Romeike's religious freedom is not being threatened because not all Christians want to homeschool, is suggesting that religious freedom is only the freedom to conform to a religious group, not the freedom to have individual religious convictions. This sort of thinking in the Obama Administration represents a worrisome threat to the religious freedom of all Americans, not just Christians who homeschool."

I don't know know about you, but something about this situation, not to mention many others, frightens me.  I am very much reminded of the families that, so long ago, came to a strange, distant land because of the persecution of the government.  They endured incredible hardships all because they desired to truly live for God as He had convicted them.

To think the very country that was born out of the faith, convictions, and determination of those families would even consider denying a family such as this the ability, the God-given blessing, of raising, teaching, and training their own children in the way that God has convicted them to (Deuteronomy 6:4-9), is absolutely mind-blowing to me!

You can keep up with the Romeike's case on HSLDA's case page of their website here; be sure to watch the video located on either the AiG article or the case page as well.  Above all, please be in prayer for this family and our country.

If the Romeike's are denied our country's protection,

MAY GOD HAVE MERCY

Sunday Hike (Belated)

Here are the promised pics from our Sunday get-away.  Because of the gorgeous day, perfect weather, and friendly company, we took a drive to the mountains.

Don't you just love mountain rivers?

We hiked to a waterfall and back, then drove to the campground, where we played frisbee and tag.  The following pics are from the waterfall hike.

Here's Jen and Ju.  =D

 Made it!  It was a good climb to get where Jen, Ju, Jamin, and cousin R are.  But we did it!  Even me!  And I'm terrified of heights...

The pool where the waterfalls flows into is a good swimming hole, according to the cousins.  (This was our first hike to the place.)  The water was clear and blue, though you probably can't tell in the pictures...  Below, there is a pic of just the pool.

I rather liked this one of Julia.

Here's a look from the top of the falls.  Please excuse the blur...

My lovely Keen shoes.  VERY comfortable.

I love taking pics of trees.  These two were growing in a gradual spiral. 

Here is the swimming hole!  Not sure the exact depth, but deep enough to jump in from the rocks on top.  (I wouldn't jump off of 'em, though... Yes, I admit, too chicken to try such a daring feat.)  ;D

This is K and her Baby W.  He was tickling her with the hemlock twig and laughing.  It was adorable!

As you can see, he's got some great expressions.

I had to get this one.  Too funny!  This is cousin S with Baby W.  When you are climbing downhill with a baby in your arms, you need a free hand.  So, he stuck the pacy handle in his mouth as he descended.

The campgrounds have a nice little playground for the kids.  And let me tell you, you can never get too old for the swings!

The last three pics are of the Bloodroot flower.  If you dig up the roots of these flowers and cut them open, they leak a red-orange juice, hence the name.  If I remember correctly, I think the Native Indians used the juice as paint.

We had never seen Bloodroot flowers with a purple tint.  These were beautiful!

This is the flower in full bloom.  You can find it featured at DeviantART.

And that concludes this post of our hike.  I apologize for the wait... It was almost three weeks ago when we went.  *heheh*

Thanks for stopping by!

Daddy-Daughter Date

 Last Friday, our daddy took us out on a date.  Traditionally, every Spring we attend the Daddy-Daughter Dance at the local high school.  But the last few years, it's just not been worth it.  We don't care for the modern songs by Taylor Swift and Justin Bieber.  And though they usually play some of the classics such as Daddy's Hands by Holly Dunn and maybe Butterfly Kisses, the other songs and "entertainment" has not made it enjoyable, at least for us.  For example, one year they had an Elvis impersonator... Yup, you read right.  And another year they had some guy in a chicken suit.  Seriously.

We're kinda old-fashioned, if you haven't figured that out yet...

Anyway, Dad had the idea of skipping this year's dance, which would have been our fourteenth straight year of attending, and go on a date instead.

Maiden Photography

So, that's what we did!  It was great!  We girls had a wonderful time with just us and our daddy.  He bought us a beautiful bouquet of flowers with three roses (for three girls) and lilies, then took us to Ruby Tuesdays, a real treat.

After that, it was on to the Art Center where they were hosting a concert by a group of musician/singers called Harpeth Rising.  They specialize in the violin (whose player sang and played at the same time), the cello (with great percussion every now and then), a banjo (which you don't usually see together with the classical instruments...), and a percussionist.  Three women, one man - who after graduating college hit the road with their instruments and have been playing ever since.  Very talented, they are.  Very.  Awesome music.  Though I must warn you, their style is folk.  And if you know folk, well, the songs can be rather... bizarre.  But the music made up for the weirdness.  =D

Below, you can see a pic of us all decked out and dressy.

Google

I was so excited!  I had saved up to buy a really nice dress and found this one on Etsy, custom made from Ukraine.  (I did pay a little extra to get the red flax instead of cotton.)  Yes, the style is medieval - 13th to the 14th century to be exact.  ;D  I love it! and plan to wear it sometime for VBS this year - the Kingdom Chronicles!

We had a great time, and concluded the evening with a stop by the gas station for a couple Yoohoos, some juice (for Ju), and a chocolate milk - oh, and some doughnut holes.  By the way, if you have never had a Yoohoo, you are missing out!  It's my favorite chocolate drink!!!

Anyway, we had a wondrous time.  The food was delicious, the concert was great, and hey, what better way to top it off then with a Yoohoo?  We have the best daddy in the world!

(L to R) Sarah, Daddy, Jenny, and Julia

We love you, Dad!  Thank you for a great date. 

And thanks to you, dear readers, for stopping by!

Coming next, our trip to the mountains: Sunday Hike.

P.o.t.W.

Pinterest

I saw tomorrow marching

On little children's feet;

Within their forms and faces read

Her prophecy complete.

I saw tomorrow look at me

From little children's eyes;

And thought how carefully we'd teach

If we were really wise.

Unknown

Happy Birthday, Jamin!

Yesterday, our little brother turned 17.  

It seems just a few days ago, we were teasing him of his dimples and height.  Then out of the blue, he's taller than us and we rely on him (and our daddy, of course) as our protector and friend.  He does so much around the house and on the farm, we [I] usually take him for granted.

I'm so glad God blessed me with a brother and sisters!  I know for a fact, I would be a terribly, lonely, miserable creature had I been an only child.  I guess God knew what I needed, and in His mercy, granted it.

Thank you just doesn't quite cover it, does it?

But He understands.
=]

------------------------

Happy Birthday, Sir Jamin!

We love you!

Your sisters,
Sarah, Jenny, & Julia

Thanksgiving Summary

Ok, this is really, really, really late.

But here is a summary of our Thanksgiving this year:

Basically, we had a total of 25 people sitting around one table (actually several tables put together), passing food from one end to the other and listening to various conversations all at once.  It was quite an experience and I wouldn't trade it for anything! 

I had a ton more pics to upload (mostly pictures of glorious food), but due to this post's tardiness, I decided to summarize...

Blessings,

Sarah

P.S. As you might have noticed, we're back on board!  Thanks to the spectacular advice of a lovely follower, we can now upload pics (via Photobucket).  Thank you, Katherine! 

Brand New Film (In the Making)!

Guess what!

Did you see the big poster pictured above?  You better have, HOW COULD YOU MISS IT?? 

Anywho, Burns Family Studios (Pendragon: Sword of His Father), an independent film company, has just begun filming a new adventure titled Beyond the Mask. 

You can read the story introduction below, from the film's website:

Beyond the Mask is an action-fused historic adventure, set in the international turmoil of the mid 1770s.  Running for his life, an East India Company assassin buries his past in a quiet English village, assuming the mantle of an Anglican priest.  But this disguise won't last for long when a woman he loves and a war he no longer wants force him to confront the question of who he really is.  In the face of a looming global conflict, he discovers for himself the meaning and source of true justification and freedom.

Fundamentally, this is a story about where we find our identity.  Each of us asks: Why am I special? why is my work significant? who am I? why should people respect me?  The answers we find to these questions define how we live our lives.  At Burns Family Studios, we believe that the greatest story ever told is the good news of Jesus Christ - that the human condition to prove oneself over and over by performing to the critics doesn't impress God, and He accepts us in His Son, in spite of, not because of, our best efforts.  With this unmerited acceptance comes the only sure foundation for life.

As mentioned above, the studio began filming on September 3rd of this year.  I'm not sure the exact release date for the film, but I'm positive they will post it soon.  Anyway, you can follow their progress on the movie's website: beyondthemaskmovie.com, where they have posted pics, and a few videos, of the production and actors/actresses, etc.  It looks fantastic!

Also, they have just announced the name of the actor who will play the villain, none other than John Rhys-Davies, known for his role as Gimli in the Lord of the Rings trilogy! 

The main character, William Reynolds, is played by Andrew Cheney from Seasons of Gray.

Click here. 

The lead lady, Charlotte Holloway, is performed by Kara Killmer.

Click here.

These actors and actress are joined by others to make a cast of over 30 respected artists.  Included in this number are Ade M'Cormack of Lost and Thomas Mahard of Gran Torino.

I so wish my family could be a part of this production!  

But seeing as they are filming in the northern state of Michigan... it doesn't look like it will happen.  However, if you are in driving distance you can volunteer to feed cast and crew, work on sets and prop construction, or even act as a extra!  And, of course, if you are able financially, you can donate money and/or materials to assist in the making of this Christian film or sponsor a stage set, character, clothing, etc. and have your name listed as one of the sponsors.

Get involved and spread the news about this film and its company who, through hard work and ceaseless efforts, wish to carry the message of the Gospel through media and film!

Fairfarren for now, my friends!
Thanks for reading!

Sarah (Elisera)

P.S. Check out our mother's blog!  She's hosting a giveaway for the new VeggieTales movie, The Penniless Princess.  Comment to enter and win!