Youth Fair!!

Benny, receiving his award (a trophy, a new whip, and $150) for first place in the Junior Whip Popping contest. I don't know who the other little person is -- probably a judge's youngin'.
RG, who won 2nd in the Senior division, man-handling 4 whips at a time! No one else did that. (hey, they weren't crazy!)
Gracie telling her version of the 3 little pigs, in the Storytelling contest. She won first in the Senior division. You can go here http://www.thedischerfamily.blogspot.com/ on her family's blog to see more pictures of the Youth Fair, as well as a link to a video interview done by our local newspaper. Hope your server will run the whole interview -- in the last part of it, she slips into her Scottish brogue, and it is hilarious!! My server only lets me see part of the interview.
Little Margaret Anne won first in the Junior division in Storytelling with her "Tater Family" story. She is a natural!

In our county, the extension service holds a Youth Fair, like an old county fair, for young people in FFA, FHA, and 4-H. It features showing farm animals and plants, animal and plant judging, baking, canning, sewing, arts and crafts, public presentations, consumer quizzing, and on and on. Over 1,000 children participate, and many of them are homeschooled. It is a great outlet for children of all interests.

Our grandchildren love to enter the Youth Fair and to go and see all the other exhibits. One of the favorite events is the whip popping contest. Usually several of the grandchildren compete, although the girls have been dropping out of it, since the rules changed to eliminate separate boys and girls categories. This year, only Kitty and Markie competed (Markie placed 3rd in Jr.) And it isn't easy to pop a whip in a skirt! But what a clear testimony it is!

Today will be the last day, and we will know the results of several other competitions. I will try and list them soon. Hey, who in the world would ever suggest that homeschool children aren't socialized!? They don't know this family!

PS: I decided to go ahead and post the link for Gracie's interview here -- but be sure and check out the Discher's blog for more pictures!!
http://www.theledger.com/article/20080228/NEWS/802280539/0/ABOUTLEDGER99

Junior State Convention

Puzzling over a Pace Bowl question -- I KNOW that, it's right on the tip of my tongue!!
Markie practicing for her expressive reading
Abby and Margaret Anne's instrumental duet. Thank the Lord, Abby's cast is now off, and her leg is healing fine!
The whole (or most of) the family (and friends, the Stevens). Everyone pitches in to help the younger ones succeed and polish their God-given talents.
Markie entered this photo still life in honor of her Great-grandfather Harris, my daddy, who was a veteran of major WWII campaigns as an 18-year-old.

The younger grandchildren (ages 8 to 12) had the enjoyable experience of participating in the S. FL Jr. State Convention of A.C.E. a couple of weeks ago, and what a good time we had! Of course, the preparation and practice is intense and time-consuming, but it is such a good experience for them.

They participate in such events as academic projects and quizzes, arts and crafts, races and field events, vocal and instrumental music, and platform and drama events. Abby, Markie, Benny, Margaret Anne, and their friend Andrew (not cousin Andrew) made up our little contingent, and they came home with many awards to remember their hard work by. It is always a sweet time, especially since the whole family tries to go to the 2-day event in support. What a blessing to be able to make family time a priority!

Good Times

The younger ones having fun at "the swamp" before getting back on the road.

The sweet Stricklen and Whiddon girls in the Whiddons' lovely new school room
We enjoyed a concert of beautiful music by Laney (cello), Nina (violin) Brooke (violin) and Mallory (harp). What a blessing to see the girls using their God-given talents so generously!

Our trip to Missouri started out with dreary weather and tail lights on the trailer that must have been malfunctioning from almost the start of the trip! The dear Whiddon family asked us to stop by their house for supper, so after a day of travel and dealing with unexpected circumstances, we rolled into their lovely property about 9:30 at night! We had suggested that we stop for supper earlier so they could put little ones to bed, but they would have none of it! The girls had spared no effort in preparing a feast for us, and we couldn't disappoint them.

What a beautiful setting and what a wonderful warm welcome as we gathered and enjoyed time with them. Then, they insisted that we stay the night, and the girls gave up their rooms for us. In the morning, once again, the delicious home-style breakfast was just perfect. We lingered as long as we dared, and, after some much-appreciated help by their "Uncle Jim" in fixing the lights, we reluctantly went on our way. Thank you so much, dear friends! We hope you will come down and let us return the hospitality soon!

Home!

Thanks be to our merciful Heavenly Father! We got home safe and sound on Wednesday evening, after some major rain and wind most of the way home. Crossing the state line into wonderful Florida, however, brought back sunshine and warmth!

Please forgive the lack of updating -- we are having major difficulties with our satellite Internet service (Hughesnet -- Lord, help us out of this contract!!) and right now, I am using that same little Samsung Blackjack cell phone I was using on the road as a modem. It is the best way to get and stay online right now, and I am thankful for it.

Thanks to all who prayed for our safety and blessing -- God is good. More later, y'all. Have a wonderful Lord's Day tomorrow.

Another Quick Update

Weary travelers at Rainbow Trout Ranch. We are on our way home, in Alabama on I-65 right now. I am still amazed that I can be online on the road. My little Samsung Blackjack cell phone acts as a modem for my laptop, and it is almost more reliable than the satellite at home!

The children are watching a Gene Autry movie on the dvd player in the Stricklens' RV, and the potty and fridge are handy -- how much more convenient can you get!! Much as I love old times, modern times sure have their upside!

We had a wonderful visit with my Aunt Joyce and her family in Huntsville AL. They fixed us a delicious lunch, and Margaret Anne, Callie, and Mary treated them to some musical numbers. We had such sweet fellowship in the Lord, learning about how my cousin Denise and her husband are preparing to move to Germany to be permanent missionaries there, and praying for each other's "ailments".

Our next stop was supposed to be a visit with Mrs. Jennie Chancey and her family. Her websites are Ladies Against Feminism and Sense and Sensibility patterns. She and Mrs. Stacey McDonald have recently published a wonderful, encouraging book, "Passionate Housewives Desperate for God". Mrs. Chancey has just recovered from a head cold, and the timing of our visit would have coincided with their family busy evening time. Although she insisted it would be fine, Danny and I felt it would be prudent to reschedule -- and we will, Lord willing!

We are going through Birmingham now and on our way to visit with the Lains in Graceville FL. What a sweet family! They are always so willing to be hospitable and love to have us stop by. Then on to home, sweet home! Molly called a bit ago and said that they arrived at the Orlando airport right on time and were heading home -- she flew home with Chris, Abby, CJ, and baby William and left Callie, Mary, Margaret Anne, and Andrew to ride home with Grandmother and Granddaddy in the RV. It has been a wonderful, though exhausting, trip. Thanks for your continued prayers on our behalf as we make the last leg. Hope to be back to updating soon!

On the Road

Quick update here: We are on the road to Missouri to look at land. It is cold. That is all there is to say. Cold. I wanna go back to Florida! More coming about our sweet time with the Whiddons in GA, the battlefield in Mississippi, the formation of ducks overhead, etc. It has been a good trip with Molly and her children and little Andrew, and tomorrow, the Lord willing, we will finally be there! More to come . . .

Beautiful time . . .

Kitty with her mama, Beth, and grandmama, me.
Gabriel giving Kitty a token of the occasion, a sweet necklace. Sister Markie in her ball dress, right.
Cousins and sisters and friends, Oh My! Kitty's cousin Callie, sister Gracie, cousin Mary, and Gabriel's sister Christiana enjoy the occasion.
Kitty and her suitor Gabriel with the "courtship cake".

Saturday was the re-enactment of the Brooksville Raid at Brooksville FL. Almost all of our family was there, and several of the grandchildren participated. The re-enactment went well, but after the battle was the best part. Our family and home church have been friends with a sister church about 45 minutes away for several years. These folks have like-minded families, and the fellowship between our young people has been a blessing.

Seven months ago, one of their young men asked our oldest daughter Beth's husband if he would consider letting him court our oldest granddaughter, Kitty. The father gave him some guidelines and said he would be watching his life and praying about it. Well, our son-in-law felt the time was right, and yesterday, at the battlefield, this young man was taken to the medics "wounded", and Kitty was his "ice-angel".

When she brought him water, he told her he had been waiting seven months for this moment and would she allow him to court her? Of course, once she realized he had her parents' permission, she said yes! We joined them at a barn dance get-together last night -- it was pouring down rain, but what a special time it was! The absolute beauty of precious innocence and a God-honoring relationship far surpass the world's idea of "romance". So now we are looking forward to the sweet progress of their relationship. God bless you, Kitty and Gabriel, as He guides you on this path.