Bits and Pieces . . .

Thanks for reading and greeting, Shannon, another HAH friend! So good to hear from you! I trust the Lord is blessing that sweet family of yours. Yes, RG has just about passed up everyone in the family except his granddaddy and Uncle Jay. Come down and see us some time!

This past Thursday morning, Kitty and Gracie participated in the Rotary speech contest locally, and Gracie won first and Kitty third. They are becoming quite confident at being ready always to give an answer. It was quite interesting last week at the children’s state competition to see three of the cousins who usually do not want anything to do with public speaking. Callie, R.G., and Sarah, who have no trouble performing music in front of hundreds, decided to enter the oratory competition. They wanted to try for a leadership award which Gracie and Kitty always try for, and they needed a public speaking event to add to academic, arts and crafts, and music in order to qualify. So, each of them had written an essay, and they decided to present their essays as oratory.

What a blessing to see them speaking persuasively and convincingly, because it came from their deep convictions. RG spoke on the concept of states rights; Sarah on daughters giving their hearts to their husbands to prepare for giving their hearts to their husbands; and Callie spoke on the noble calling of motherhood. It was new for our family, but it was a wonderful experience! More power to you, children! The Lord needs good spokespeople!

Last night was the last Bluegrass Jamboree at Miller’s General Store until the snowbirds come back in the fall. It was a fun evening! The children played and sang, and, as the evening wore down, some of their other homeschooling friends got up on the stage (a hay wagon) and joined in the fun. It was what family fun should be – just like my mother telling me about how they used to sing around the piano on Saturday nights in the old days. Before WWII, her father and brothers would play bluegrass instruments, and her mother would play shaped-note music on the piano, and what a wonderful time they had! I can see the warmth of love and closeness in her eyes when she tells about it. Now, we feel like we are bringing that sweetness back, because the children love to play and sing and share with others what the Lord has placed in their hearts.

RG has turned 16 this week. Oh, my goodness! Danny and I have been giving the girls a lovely tea for their 16th birthdays, and we pondered what to do for the boys at that milestone. Danny has decided to do a canoe trip down the Peace River for the honor boy and men of the family, as well as little brothers and cousins and other friends. It is still not too hot for a nice river trip, so it should be a good time. We’ll pack a cooler for them and then wait for the stories of gators and turtles and overturned canoes . . . Better them than me!

Oh, one other thing . . . Beth’s family is so excited! They qualified for the Vision Forum Jamestown400 Treasure Hunt order of 1000! This is an online mystery hunt which will culminate with an actual treasure hunt for 400 gold coins at the Jamestown 400th anniversary celebration in June. Most of our family is planning to go, for the historical experience of God’s providential faithfulness to His people. But the treasure hunt has made it all the more exciting! Even if they don’t make it any further, it has been so much fun, and we have learned so many things about our founding that most people never hear about. Thanks, Vision Forum.