The Last Shall Be First :)

Okay, the pictures I meant to be last are actually first . . . but who's keeping track! Just bear with this granny-brain, folks! All the precious maidens of virtue
Sir Cuthbert Higgleston gets his plume!
Weaving the May Pole -- the girls were fascinated by how their interaction produced such an attractive pattern of ribbons on the pole. By the way, our lovely sugar sand in the background behind the little guest house and hanging moss in the other pictures don't exactly evoke medieval visions, do they??

Ye Maidens Faire continued

As you can tell, I continue to get confused on how these posts are actually going to show up! So I guess the "continued" will be before the original! Oh, well. You get the idea.

The sweet Stricklen girls, Molly's family, with Grandmother and Great-grandmother. Little William "snuck" into the ladies' festivities.
Gracie (center) with her sisters (except baby Emma) and Mama, Grandmama, and Great-grandmama.
Aunt Katie and her only little princess Rachel,with Great-grandmother Harris

Sarah hits a bull's eye.

Ye Maidens Faire . . .

The maiden of honor, Gracie (center) with friend Christiana (left) and cousin Mary (right) as the festivities begin!
"She strengtheneth her arms . . ." Beautiful, ladylike maidens who also value strength and vigor. Left to right: Cousin Mary (hidden), sister Kitty with bow, sister Sarah, cousin Abby, sister Markie, and little cousin Rachel. It was amazing how many bull's eyes were hit!
Joyous mothers at the pavillion. Left to right: Daughter-in-law Ashley, Me, daughter Beth (Gracie's mother) daughter Katie, my beautiful mother and Gracie's great-grandmother Frances, and daughter Molly

What a wonderful time we had! Tantalizing medieval treats, sumptuous decorations, lovely home-made costumes, and beautiful godly maidens enjoying each other's company, honoring their friend and sister, Grace. It was my privilege to hostess the event and ask the Lord's blessing on the day and on these precious young ladies who will carry the torch into the future.

Oh, I forgot!

I forgot to add:

Matthew is doing fine. Thank you, dear Heavenly Father.

My mother is doing well. She gets weepy easily, but after 62 years devoted to helpmeeting one man, it is natural. She continues to shine as an example of a precious godly woman. Thanks to all who have asked about her and Matthew.

Woe Is Me . . . !

I cannot believe it has been three weeks since I posted anything! Well, you have been very understanding about my father's homegoing and Matthew's illness, and I appreciate it. I will, of course, try to make excuses, but don't believe them . . .

I have had a bad cold (I guess that is what it was -- it was bad congestion and coughing, etc. God has delivered me, and I am on the mend).

Umm . . . I was waiting for daughter Molly to send me pictures of Thanksgiving (hint, hint . . . I still don't have them!) So I didn't want to post until I was able to put up pictures, too. (Am I getting any sympathy yet???)

Okay, I give up. No excuse. Just inertia. Well, since I don't have any pictures I want to put up right now, I will just do a short update:

1) Thanksgiving was very blessed and special. The whole family was here, except for faithful trucker Robert. We canceled our trip to Indiana because of Matthew's hospitalization, so Katie's family didn't get to meet up with their daddy :( But we had a wonderful time anyway. The food was great and bountiful, and the fellowship was precious.

2) Gracie's medieval party is here at our home this Friday! What a joy it has been to help these girls make their beautiful dresses! Still a few details to go on a couple of dresses, and tomorrow will be filled with decorating (setting up pavillions and maypoles, etc.), Hope to have some sweet pictures soon.

3) I just tonight finished dear husband Danny's invitations for his "Christmas BBQ", something he is trying to make a tradition of sorts, as a thank you for his drafters and customers. It was fun last year, as well as being a great opportunity to demonstrate to interested folks "what the Lord can do through one family who is committed to His ways and to each other". (This is the "Country Cousins" motto) The grandchildren will help serve and will play Christmas/bluegrass. There will be trap shooting and hayrides, as well as great barbeque. Hey, y'all . . . wanna come?

4) The busy season for performances is upon us, so the children (and their grandparents) will be hither and yon around the county. God's grace will be sufficient!

Hope to get back more often! God bless you all as you contemplate His amazing grace in sending His beloved Son to bring us into His family.

Amazing Praise Report!

Matthew and his little cousin William. A real man of God in the making!


We are thanking the Lord tonight for His amazing hand of mercy -- Matthew was sent home from the hospital this afternoon! Yesterday, the doctors prepared Katie for a much longer recovery time, but today, he had healed significantly and was able to come home. And he was ready! Katie's boys are active boys who love to keep busy, and Matthew was not caring for the sedate life of the hospital.

Thank you, faithful heavenly Father . . . "In my distress I cried unto the LORD, and he heard me." (Psalm 120:1) Matthew brought home some meds for the next few days, and his eyes are still slightly puffy, as the air has not dissipated yet. In addition, he still will have to take it easy for a week or so, but he is truly on the mend.

Again, we are so grateful for your interceding on behalf of Matthew and his family. God bless you and your families as we all prepare for a season of true Thanksgiving.

Matthew Update

Thank you so much to all who have lifted up Matthew and our family to the throne of grace. God is faithful. He has been so good to our family in the last 24 hours. The hospital was able to get Matthew on oxygen right away, and they informed us that state law requires children in intensive care to be moved to a hospital with a pediatric intensive care unit. So Matthew, accompanied by his mother, took an ambulance ride from Bartow to St. Joseph's Children's Hospital in Tampa about 3:00 this morning.

He has some sort of puncture or tear in one lung. They do not know how it happened, but it is allowing air to escape into the body cavities, puffing his body up, and not be exhaled the regular way. His face last night looked like he had gained 50 pounds instantly! They have him on 100% oxygen to heal the tear and are giving him breathing treatments for the congestion he has developed.

Katie was home a few hours today to nap and nurse Samuel. The other children are staying with various families members, and she has taken Samuel back to Tampa with her. Her inlaws are in the Tampa area and can help with Samuel when she is at the hospital.

The doctors believe it will take 5 days minimum for the tear to heal, so Matthew will most likely be in the hospital until Sunday or Monday. The trip to Tampa is usually an hour, so prayers will surely be appreciated for traveling mercies. Robert is praying he can arrange to get home for a couple of days (he is in the San Antonio TX area today). Our whole family had planned to try to go to Indiana for Thanksgiving, but that has been laid aside.

Once again, we praise the Lord for His people, the community of faith, who have taken us to their hearts and prayed for us. Thank you so much.