"My folks they were always the first family to arrive
With seven people jammed into a car that seated five
There was one (!) bathroom to bathe and shave in
Six of us stood in line
And hot water for only three
But we all did just fine

Talk about your miracles
Talk about your faith
My dad he could make things grow
Out of Indiana clay
Mom could make a gourmet meal
Out of just cornbread and beans
And they worked to give faith hands and feet
And somehow gave it wings

I can still hear my dad cussin'
He's working late out in the barn
The spring planting is coming
And the tractors just won't run
Mom she's done the laundry
I can see it waving on the line
Now they've stayed together
Through the pain and the strain of those times

Talk about your miracles
Talk about your faith
My dad he could make things grow
Out of Indiana clay
Mom could make a gourmet meal
Out of just cornbread and beans
And they worked to give faith hands and feet
And somehow gave it wings

And now they've raised five (7) children
One winter they lost a son
But the pain didn't leave them crippled
And the scars have made them strong
Never picture perfect
Just a plain man and his wife
Who somehow knew the value
Of hard work good love and real life

Talk about your miracles
Talk about your faith
My dad he could make things grow
Out of Indiana clay
Mom could make a gourmet meal
Out of just cornbread and beans
And they worked to give faith hands and feet
And somehow gave it wings"

Song "First Family" by Rich Mullins

We weren't ever the first family to church and we had ample room in the car to boot, but this song just about says it about our family. When my parents vowed "for better or worse" I don't think they knew the gravity of those words but now I think they understand it better than most. My parents have been an example to us children of faithfullness, longsuffering, and most of all the amazing gift of God's joy thankfull for it the good and the bad, they have showed us what it means to truly be blessed.

Today marks the twenty seventh anniversary of my parents wedding vows and the words still ring in their ears.

May God's grace and joy that surpasses understanding be with them always.

-Jedediah

Little green figures of happiness

In todays everything is instant. Instant gratification is everywhere in almost everything and if it is not people are trying to make a way for it to be. Instant coffee (yuck), microwaves we wish would hurry up and finish that forty five seconds. We have instantaneous music, you want it, you download it, you play it. I think music is more universally available now than almost any time in history, and it's getting easier. Books stores. Think about it when have books ever been so available with almost every author at your finger tips available in 2-3 bussiness days with expidited shipping. Our seasons run together, each being varying degrees of hassle or expense. But we work 260 days a year rain, shine, or snow, as long as we can make our commute. The commute where we travel in an hour the trip that used to take 2 days, and when you made it you stayed for a week to make it worth it. We can get fruit/food from all over the world, in and out of season...still fresh no less! No waiting for harvest to get grain, store it, use it, run out and not have bread till next year. Computers are a part of every day life getting faster and smaller by the day. Where you can sit down in a coffee shop and connect with the world at the touch of a button. We live in a commercialized world of immediacy. But... there is still a part of life that is simple, a small green vested figure in your door way (or if your rural, at a table at wal-mart) reminding of that certian things are best waited for. That little round piece of tranquility, along with the joy and happiness it brings. My friends we are a blessed people, we have girl scout cookies, and we must cherish them while there here. For they will be gone, and we must wait another year that will no doubt fly by ever faster!

Musical Life

Happy New Year!

May it be a blessed one!

More aimless ramblings

Another Christmas behind us, another year is upon us. We seem to live in chaos one to the next never slowing down. But then amidst it all you stop. The chaos continues, the hurried holiday rudeness manifested in traffic still goes on, but you realize the peace that surrounds you. Knowing that Christ has atoned for our sins while we were even yet sinners.

Today My family and I drove for an hour and a half to see a Christmas light show (along with 2000 other people), do some shopping, ride a steam powered train, and just "waste" the afternoon. Four million lights makes a pretty spectacular show! A giant tree that had light in tune with the music! And they actually sang real CHRISTmas music! We got  home and my Dad decided to show us all how cart-wheels were done (something he hasn't attempted in thirty years!(It too was a spectacular show)). A day well wasted.

May the peace of our Lord fill you all this Christmas season.