Tuesday, December 20, 2011

Christmas Gift


Our new niece Heidi. We are so thankful and blessed!






Friday, November 11, 2011

In Honor of Veterans Day (Armistice Day)

There are somethings that were written within a certain time, and place, for a specific event. Some things that are written are eternal. They contain an overarching principle that applies to all ages. This song is one of them.



In Flanders fields the poppies blow

Between the crosses, row on row,

That mark our place; and in the sky

The larks, still bravely singing, fly

Scarce heard amid the guns below.

We are the Dead. Short days ago

We lived, felt dawn, saw sunset glow,

Loved and were loved, and now we lie,

In Flanders fields.

Take up our quarrel with the foe:

To you from failing hands we throw

The torch; be yours to hold it high.

If ye break faith with us who die

We shall not sleep, though poppies grow

In Flanders fields.

-Lt. John McCrae-

Thursday, November 10, 2011

Hind's Feet



The phrase 'hinds' feet' is used in the Bible to denote an ability to overcome difficult challenges successfully, as in Verse 33 from Psalm 18 which reads 'He maketh my feet like hinds' feet, and setteth me upon my high places.' A hind, which is a female red deer, is able to move quickly and easily across the rocks of a mountain, leaping from one rock to another without ever losing its footing. Thus the biblical verse means that God has inspired his believers and empowered them to overcome the obstacles which confront them, doing things that would otherwise be difficult or impossible without divine aid.

Deuteronomy 33:29 "Blessed are you, O Israel; Who is like you, a people saved by the LORD, Who is the shield of your help And the sword of your majesty! So your enemies will cringe before you, And you will tread upon their high places."



2 Samuel 22:34 "He makes my feet like hinds' feet, And sets me on my high places.

Psalm 18:32-33 The God who girds me with strength And makes my way blameless?
makes my feet like hinds' feet, And sets me upon my high places.

Psalm 27:1 LORD is my light and my salvation; Whom shall I fear? The LORD is the defense of my life; Whom shall I dread?

Psalm 46:1 God is our refuge and strength, A very present help in trouble.

Isaiah 45:24 "They will say of Me, 'Only in the LORD are righteousness and strength.' Men will come to Him, And all who were angry at Him will be put to shame.

The LORD God is my strength, and he will make my feet like hinds' feet, and he will make me to walk upon mine high places. To the chief singer on my stringed instruments.

Habakkuk 3:19




Tuesday, November 1, 2011

The Great Change

Today while I was out running I suddenly became overwhelmed by emotion. So much so, that I has to stop running and walk. It was about halfway into my run I was feeling great, then all of the sudden, emotion. I began to think of God. Where I have been, what He has taught me, where he has brought me. I know He is writing a story, a poem, of my life, if I will but let him lead the way. This past weekend I attended a camp and ran into an old friend of the family who does quite a bit of missionary work. He began talking to my brother and I about knowing the Lord's will. The key he said is to be willing. To go where He wants you to go, to be what He wants you to be. God convicted my heart there and then that I needed to be willing. I sort of knew this before, but now it was made really clear to me. If you want to be used of God you must be willing to go where he sends. It does NOT mean you stand still and do nothing, It does mean that you are watching for His guidance in what you may think are the mundane things of life.

There was a special speaker at the camp. He talked about salvation. What it means to disciple your sons as younger brothers. Also, what it means to be a "standard bearer" and what it means to be and "image bearer". Standard bearers do what they do so that others may see how well they match the required standard (or what is perceived as the required standard). Image bearers, on the other hand, bear in themselves the image of God.

Another thing the speaker spoke of was how to know if you or your son has experienced salvation. He called it the "great change". It is marked by brokenness over sin. Not just a mental assent to the truth of Christ as Savior, but a broken heart over the blackness of your sin compared to the beauty and character of God. He told of his own salvation, how he prayed the sinner’s prayer, and went up for renewal many times, but it was not until he was 29 that he experienced the "great change".

I first prayed the sinner’s prayer at age 6. I also re-committed multiple times, but it was not until age 14 that I experienced the "great change". All the sudden my hidden sin(s) hit me square in my face; I knew that I deserved the wrath of a righteous, holy God. It was a very painful time for me, as my sister and parents can attest, I honestly never want to repeat it again. But, up until that time, I was self-righteous; believing I could keep my little sins and still be a Christian (after all I could repent of them and be forgiven, right?). God wanted to free me from the bondage I was in. Christ never left me during that time, even though half the time I felt as if I would never find Him.

The speaker ended with "we serve a God who is living today, and who still works." He is the one who works in people to save them.

I hope that this post is a blessing to someone out there. God is living and alive and willing (quite willing) to save.



Monday, October 31, 2011

The Children's Bible in a Nutshell

(This essay was in an email I was sent by a friend).

In the beginning, which occurred near the start, there was nothing but God, darkness, and some gas. The Bible says, 'The Lord thy God is one' but I think He must be a lot older than that.

Anyway, God said, 'Give me a light!' and someone did.

Then God made the world.

He split the Adam and made Eve. Adam and Eve were naked, but they weren't embarrassed because mirrors hadn't been invented yet.

Adam and Eve disobeyed God by eating one bad apple, so they were driven from the Garden of Eden.....Not sure what they were driven in though, because they didn't have cars.

Adam and Eve had a son, Cain, who hated his brother as long as he was Abel.

Pretty soon all of the early people died off, except for Methuselah, who lived to be like a million or something.

One of the next important people was Noah, who was a good guy, but one of his kids was kind of a Ham. Noah built a large boat and put his family and some animals on it. He asked some other people to join him, but they said they would have to take a rain check.

After Noah came Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. Jacob was more famous than his brother, Esau, because Esau sold Jacob his birthmark in exchange for some pot roast. Jacob had a son named Joseph who wore a really loud sports coat.

Another important Bible guy is Moses, whose real name was Charlton Heston. Moses led the Israel Lights out of Egypt and away from the evil Pharaoh after God sent ten plagues on Pharaoh's people. These plagues included frogs, mice, lice, bowels, and no cable.

God fed the Israel Lights every day with manicotti. Then he gave them His Top Ten Commandments. These include: don't lie, cheat, smoke, dance, or covet your neighbor's stuff.

Oh, yeah, I just thought of one more: Humor thy father and thy mother.

One of Moses' best helpers was Joshua who was the first Bible guy to use spies. Joshua fought the battle of Geritol and the fence fell over on the town.

After Joshua came David.. He got to be king by killing a giant with a slingshot. He had a son named Solomon who had about 300 wives and 500 porcupines. My teacher says he was wise, but that doesn't sound very wise to me.

After Solomon there were a bunch of major league prophets. One of these was Jonah, who was swallowed by a big whale and then barfed up on the shore.

There were also some minor league prophets, but I guess we don't have to worry about them.

After the Old Testament came the New Testament. Jesus is the star of The New Testament.. He was born in Bethlehem in a barn. (I wish I had been born in a barn too, because my mom is always saying to me, 'Close the door! Were you born in a barn?' It would be nice to say, 'As a matter of fact, I was.')

During His life, Jesus had many arguments with sinners like the Pharisees and the Republicans.

Jesus also had twelve opossums.The worst one was Judas Asparagus. Judas was so evil that they named a terrible vegetable after him.

Jesus was a great man. He healed many leopards and even preached to some Germans on the Mount.

But the Republicans and all those guys put Jesus on trial before Pontius the Pilot. Pilot didn't stick up for Jesus. He just washed his hands instead.

Anyways, Jesus died for our sins, then came back to life again. He went up to Heaven but will be back at the end of the Aluminum. His return is foretold in the book of Revolution.

Friday, October 21, 2011

Order of the Orange and the Battle of the Diamond

The Battle of the Diamond birthed the Orange Order in Ireland that still exists to this day. The story of the battle has always been near and dear for two reasons. 1) Because one of the main players, Dan Winter, is one of our direct ancestors, and 2) because it is a true story of heroism and of men willing to take a stand for right, and defend that right when attacked with no cause. Dan Winter and his sons were working on their farm in Ireland, when they and the other Protestants in the area were warned that a band of the Defenders were on their way with weapons to attack the Protestant families that lived in Armagh. (Now you must remember that Ireland was split between Catholic and Protestant). The Defenders were of the Roman Catholic persuasion and determined to drive the Protestants out of the country. Dan Winter's property was right in the middle of the battleground he and his sons holed up in it until it was lit on fire and they had to retreat to Diamond Hill. The Protestants lost no lives; the Defenders (I find it ironic that they have the name "Defender" when they were the attackers) lost thirty. From this battle was birthed the Order of the Orange (The Irish flag has both green and orange signifying Protestant and Catholic). One of my dreams is to go to Ireland and see Dan Winter's cottage. If you would like more information about the Battle of the Diamond and the Order of the Orange go to: http://www.orangenet.org/winter/battle.html

The Battle of the Diamond

(21 September, 1795)

It was not in faction, it was not in hate,
 That we men of the North assembled;
 It was that our own and our children's fate,
 In the balance no longer trembled.

For there came - 'twas at night, a lawless band,
 Their ranks like a torrent swelling,
With the weapon of slaughter in each man's hand,
Where we in our homes, were dwelling.

Darkly they came, in the dead of night,
 They gave no word of warning,
 And they laughed at the blaze their brands should light, 
And the smoke that should greet the morning.

They paus'd--did they fear the storm they'd woke?
 That they faltered as forth we sallied?
 For we saw when the light of the morning broke,
 On the Diamond Hill they'd rallied.

What though they were many, and we but few,
Yet each to the conflict hasted,
 And the shot was sharp, and the aim was true,
 While that fearful struggle lasted.

Yes, last it did - aye, many a day!
 But the shield of our God was o'er us;
 Till at last, like a quarry long held at bay,
We drove them like chaff before us.

Then blame us not, when all was o'er,
 And we looked on the dead around us,
If then, and for ever, an oath we swore,
To be found as that day had found us.

Stern and steadfast, and linked as one,
 On God and ourselves relying; 
Seeking quarrel or feud with none,
 But all on our hearths defying.

Traverse who will that wretched land, 
Now rife with revolt and riot;
 And where'er ye shall hear of our loyal band
 There alone shall ye find it quiet.

Yes! cold suspicion, and scoff, and scorn, 
And caiumny, have assailed us; 
Aye! hard though it was - all these we've borne,
 Not once have our true hearts failed us.

We have bided our time - it is well nigh come!
 It will find us stern and steady;
 It will need not to rouse us with trumpet or drum,
 For our hearts and our arms are ready.

Wednesday, August 24, 2011

The Mariner's Song


This is the last part of a long song that Grandpa recites to us grandkids. I have named it "The Mariner's Song" but you could equally substitute "hymn" for song. Grandpa told us kids that during his navy days they didn't have TV or Internet on shipboard so they had to make up their own entertainment. This song was taught to him by old British sailors who had become naturalized American citizens. It is their contemplation of the sea, nature and God. I told Grandpa I was surprised how much philosophy and wisdom was contained in the stanzas. Enjoy!


The seas, like time, take everything down

they retain what they claim and return what is found

their mysteries are kept in eternities vault

they make no mistakes and are never at fault

no favors to buy, no patience to try

its motives are pure; the judgements are sure

there is no deceit to be laid at its feet-


There is only one Power they've been known to obey,

The One that saved Peter when he looked away.


WinterHaven © 2011

Saturday, August 20, 2011

My Inbox

I once got this email from a friend that said that God has three answers:

1. Yes.

2. Not yet.

3. I have something better planned.

All too often we forget that we are his children, and he loves us and wants only the best for us.

I found this encouraging and I hope you do too.

Chapter III

Joy's Photography


Where were we?
On the road:)
This is a short excerpt taken from Dicken's "A Tale Of Two Cities." It has always fascinated me how he captured exactly what you thought but never put into words.


The Night Shadows
A Wonderful fact to reflect upon, that every human creature is constituted to be that profound secret and mystery to every other. A solemn consideration, when I enter a great city by night, that every one of those darkly clustered houses encloses its own secret; that every room in every one of them encloses its own secret; that every beating heart in the hundreds of thousands of breasts there, is, in some of its imaginings, a secret to the heart nearest it! Something of the awfulness, even of Death itself, is referable to this. No more can I turn the leaves of this dear book that I loved, and vainly hope in time to read it all. No more can I look into the depths of this unfathomable water, wherein, as momentary lights glanced into it, I have had glimpses of buried treasure and other things submerged. It was appointed that the book should shut with a a spring, for ever and for ever, when I had read but a page. It was appointed that the water should be locked in an eternal frost, when the light was playing on its surface, and I stood in ignorance on the shore. My friend is dead, my neighbour is dead, my love, the darling of my soul, is dead; it is the inexorable consolidation and perpetuation of the secret that was always in that individuality, and which I shall carry in mine to my life's end. In any of the burial-places of this city through which I pass, is there a sleeper more inscrutable than its busy inhabitants are, in their innermost personality, to me, or than I am to them?

Tuesday, August 16, 2011

July is The Month . . .

of Winters birthdays.
It seems that there are more birthdays in that month than any other month or maybe the people who have a birthday in that month are more significant? just kidding:) Not really. Grandpa Fred Douglas has a birthday on July the second and his first great-grandson-son Jedidiah Arial (my nephew) was born on the same day. Pretty amazing huh?
Yes we noticed the cake is upside down!

Out of Business

Look at that handsome brown face.
when Sadie Baby was less than a year old.
Bunny ears by which aunt???


Borders is going all out and we have gotten a few good books for a great price.
Cacey loves Robert W. Service and was able to find a book with some of his stuff. Maybe when I can get a hold of it I will put some of the writings on here.

Logic will get you from A to B. Imagination will take you everywhere.
~Albert Einstein

However, we must always remember. . .


Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on thee: because he trusteth in thee.
Isaiah 26:3

Wednesday, August 3, 2011

Safari Girl Birthday


Cacey's birthday was July 21st which we celebrated. However, in honor of her special day I thought I would post one of her notes more commonly known as her "musings".

I cannot sleep. I am thinking. I am noticing a trend. A common thread through some persons personality and charisma of what defines them as an “artist.” An artist is a selfless person. It sees others and other things that others do not see or notice. They are a detailed person and yet see the entire canvas finished and completed before it is started and begun.

Their well is deep and water plenty. Their cup is never full long. It is emptied and refilled over and again. Layered changes and old ways. Blank untouched spaces and filled palettes. Their water becomes colored and streaked by life, experiences, thoughts and wants so they are constantly purifying and thinning. Stripping and basing. Eliminating and replenishing. The water in their cup is never still. It is constantly quivering from hands that dip and bring the water up to their lips to sate their drained thirst that can only be sustained from these artists defined strength that are never dry.

An artist has a different perspective from those around them. Is this not what defines a Christian? Or should define a Christian? Christ is the Master Artist. He already knows the outcome, the canvas, and yet He is still painting it right now. Painting the deepness and lightness. He is everywhere. His technique is gentle and light. Very few artists actually live among you.

Artists have learned, through life, not to be become conditioned to the circumstances around them. But they are fully aware of their surroundings. They are a sojourner. A pilgrim. Their home is not here. Their land elsewhere.

There are those artists who are always in the clouds above the clouds even. The sky, the stars, the moon, the sunrise, the secret inner chamber of an opening flower. The Holy of Holies. They are close to beauty. Near to God. Their heart is pure. Their vital body is down here with you, caught in time, but their spirit and soul is a clear crystal star up there. They see and love in terms of feelings that questions rationality in whether they are, or not, capable of feeling such volumes and vastness of love and joy in the world around them. They express this in gentle, giving, works of art that beautify the world but does not really change the circumstances in front of them but they cannot see it, even if you do, because they see what you cannot.

These artists are relaxing to be around. Warm and real. They are on the surface. They hide nothing. They give freely. They are never to busy to be kind. Beauty is everywhere for them even in the grotesque. They are consummated. Full and overflowing. They never reach the goals that people set for them. But, in their hearts they are content and they reach the goal many times in one day and to God this is all He ask from these artists. They look forward to the day can really be up there with Him and see beauty as it was meant to be and He looks forward to the day when He can walk more closely with them in His realm as it is meant to be.

There are those artists who soar like an eagle but nest like a falcon. They feel deep, they change, they waver, they wonder, they ask, they despair. They deviate between staying down with the cynical and soaring up to the clouds and drugging themselves into a false idea of reality and beauty that does not exist for them because they see all so very clearly and yet at the same time they see the monstrous right next to it. Where there is good for sure evil is not far away.

In their traumatization they reveal the scarred up protrusions around them and then paint the most exquisite works of humanity that one cannot feel that God touched their painting with His brush to help elevate the pain that they were feeling while trying to express their red coaled alive vision as they see it before it hits the bucket of ice cold reality in need and want. These artists love deep. They are true. They are sincere. They dream. They give sparingly but willingly and never turn anyone away. They know what it means to be a stranger in a strange land.

God loves these artists. They know all to well their failures and inability to achieve what the epitome of beauty is. But, this is all God ask of them. They know and He knows. He knows their trying. They try and because of that when they come to Him He says to them, “Well done, good and faithful servant; thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things: enter thou into the joy of thy Lord.” They have earned their crown of gold and He clothes them in pureness of form that they could never achieve on their own because they would never believe it until He did it.

There are those artists who are on ground level. They see what is wrong. They see what is right. They see how to go about salving and balming the wounds of this world. Even if they do not see it right away they will find out. They have a face that I cannot describe here but only see and know about. They have shoulders wide enough, a back of boned strength, arms bendable and long enough, wrists, ankles, elbows and knees flexible enough, hands large enough, hips immovable enough, thighs and calves strong enough and feet flat and firm enough that one knows these artists can handle more than the average person and they will not fall.

They are Hercules. They are the powerful controlled silverback gorilla in the jungle, the mighty commanding and heavy maned lion of the endless plains, the faithful loving swan of the calm lake, the protective and all seeing free eagle in the sky. Because of their knowledge, their strength and their abilities much is required of them. The standard is higher. The standard is high for everyone. No one gets away from a standard that is universal. But these artists, they have come to the ground from the top they must strive harder, go farther, give more, expect less of those around them and ask more than expected. They belong - pride - but sometimes they wander nomadically.

They know and have experienced much more than average and have moved beyond their pain. Because of this God requires these artists to shepherd and help those who are still descending to ascend again when the time comes. These are the ones that nothing fazes them. They understand what love is. They understand that the line between love and hate is so very small in this world. Their well is always full of vital life giving water and ready, with a dipper, for anyone who needs revivement. They receive their strength not of themselves but of God. They understand that it is not numbers and statistics but calculations, thought and strategy. Action, work and sweat. They see the long term goal. The consequences and impacts. They get results.

These artists mere presence is comforting and assuring. That the world had more men like this. These artists have come from above and stay under to help others. Between them and God is a mutual, close, sharp, loving relationship. They know Him and He knows them. They know what is at the end of this path-light called life and God has more reward for them then they can know. He cannot wait for them to come home and be with Him when the time is ready. But, until then, they have a duty to perform and they know it well.

Artists try very hard, all of them, to varnish and highlight to others the beauty as they see it without marring your perception of things around you whether good or bad. They, most of the time, do not understand they are the stepping stones. The living stones. The stones that support others weaker than them. Just as Christ is the Chief Corner stone that supports them they are the base stones that help the less strong around them. It seems almost that they have difficulty letting go. Letting go of their perceptions and fears and just allowing God's encouragement to open them up so He can direct them as needed that others might get such encouragement from them.

God uses you, an artist, if you allow Him to use you. Sometimes it is a step from oneself to what God requires of you. A step that is hopefully just one step of faith not hundred to the top of the stairs or the other side of the bridge. But life is a series of bridges and stairs, storms and thirst, questions and resolutions. A retake of steps. Backwards and forward. Onward. Narrow and defined. Steps of faith. Faith of things hoped for but not seen. If you cannot see the top that is normal. I do not believe anyone can. Maybe. I don't know sometimes I think I can see the top or the other side. I know I am sounding confusing now. I cannot remember what I was thinking earlier. It was something very specific. Maybe I will remember and add it later.

Today: I never remembered.

What Is An Artist?© Cacey Ariana

Wednesday, July 27, 2011

Friends and Family

I once saw this saying in a frame that said, "The best things in life are not things."


































Saturday, July 23, 2011

Been Reading . . .

"A daughter of the Huguenots" About the French Protestants during the Renessaince of the late seventeenth century. I am loving it. Each chapter starts with a little piece of poetry or prose and I am going to post one on here for you today.

Well first then of Duke Ercole; a man

Cold in his manners, and reserved and silent,

And yet magnificent in all his ways;

Not hospitable unto new ideas,

But from state policy and certain reasons

Concerning the investiture of the duchy,

A partisan of Rome, and consequently

Intolerant of all the new opinions . . .

How could the daughter of a King of France

Wed such a duke?

-Longfellow, "Michael Angelo."

Currently listening to Masquerade. Love that song:)

How about a picture to finish this post off nicely?

(Jill wth a sweet little kitten).

Friday, July 8, 2011

Celebrating the 4th and July Birthdays

Now the Lord is the Spirit; and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty.

2 Corinthians 3:17-18.