The Vision of a Thirteen-Year-Old Young Man

This Is the House That David Built
by Doug Phillips

What are your boys doing today? Plugged into a video game? Watching television? Hanging out with fellow teenagers?

He was only thirteen years old when he approached his father with a vision to build his very own home on the family property. Earlier that year his father had called for a father and son conference. The mission: Come up with a five year game plan to help his son David redeem the time for the glory of God.

Now, after years of listening to his father encourage him to redeem the time and prepare for his future marriage and life work, something took. David decided that there was no time like the present—to build his very own house!

But that was not all. David made it clear that his mission was to build the home. This would mean that when God sent him the woman of his dreams, David would be ready to take action, to provide for her and to have a family. The decision to build a home meant tough choices. And David acknowledged that he was making a conscious choice to forgo teenage years of a dating culture, team sports, and entertainment, in exchange for making sacrifices for a woman and a future that would be years away.

So David went about the business of personally studying the building codes, of meeting with the county planning department, and of learning the nuts and bolts of putting together a great architectural plan. David wanted to take the bull by the horns and learn and lead every aspect of the project. And after some thought, his father let him do just that.

One of the benefits of the sweat and effort is that the project has forced David to think very specifically about his duties as a man, and the way he hopes to express love for the future family he hopes God will give him. This means thinking about the size of the closet his wife will need, anticipating the number of bathrooms necessary for a growing family and a home given to hospitality.

David is now sixteen, and the vision of a home is quickly becoming a reality. With a little help from his friends, and three years of perspiration, savings, hard work, and planning, David’s dream home is inching ever closer to completion.

Standing before this amazing structure built by the hands of a sixteen-year-old boy, three things came to my mind. First, fathers have a duty to encourage their boys to invest their time wisely. Dads will either guide their sons to make noble time investments, or sons will squander the precious years of their youth on the activities that will mean precious little to them in twenty years. Second, boys need to make choices. They can invest their time in worldly folly or godly dominion. Both choices tend to yield dividends—but not of equal value. Third, the power of a positive example is stunning. I could not but help to thrill as I watched my own boys start to dream big dreams as one of their dear friends and peers proved that his dream was attainable.

Down with the game boys, up with the sheet rock! May God give us boys of decisive manly action who will someday be fathers of faith and fortitude.

Lanita's Favorite Hymn

It Is Well With My Soul
by Horatio Spafford

When peace like a river, attendeth my way,
When sorrows like sea billows roll;
Whatever my lot, Thou hast taught me to say,

It is well, it is well, with my soul.
It is well, with my soul,
It is well, with my soul,
It is well, it is well, with my soul.

Though Satan should buffet, though trials should come,
Let this blest assurance control,
That Christ has regarded my helpless estate,
And hath shed His own blood for my soul.

My sin, oh, the bliss of this glorious thought!
My sin, not in part but the whole,
Is nailed to the cross, and I bear it no more,
Praise the Lord, praise the Lord, O my soul!

And Lord, haste the day when my faith shall be sight,
The clouds be rolled back as a scroll;
The trump shall resound, and the Lord shall descend,
Even so, it is well with my soul.

A Day Of Baking & Working in the Kitchen

Here I am making a Kefir smoothie for snack.
Alicia grinding wheat for Gingerbread Cake

Here I am stirring the batter for our Gingerbread Cake

Granola that Alicia and I made.
A Carrot cake that Alicia and I made yesterday.

Exciting News!

Here is a photo of my brother on his ship

My brother is coming home on Friday the 30th. It will be nice having him home for a little while. He is the best brother on earth!

Helpful Girls and Gardens

Alicia helping Daddy unload dirt


Daddy's right hand ladies



"Ok, girls fill those holes!!"
Daddy doing the heavy work!!

Hannah washing dishes

Alicia doing my ironing

Hannah's corn @ 1 week

Alicia's radishes @ 1 week

Mom's Pole Beans @ 1 week

From Voddie Baucham Ministries

"John Wesley on Education"

http://www.voddiebaucham.org/vbm/Blog/Entries/2008/5/26_John_Wesley_on_Education.html

Gardens and Grooming Dogs

Today was definitely a busy day. After the special breakfast for Alicia, I groomed our poodle. She does not cooperate so she got a couple of nicks and some places are still a little shaggy.

Angelita jumping for the camera ("I am finally through getting groomed")

Angelita Noel and her better side after being groomed


We also watered our garden, as it was getting warm today (in the high 70's) and it was looking like it could use some water. We found that Alicia has some radishes coming up, I have some lettuce (along with my tomato and jalapeno pepper plants already growing) and Hannah had some peas growing. We look forward to seeing much bigger plants in the next few days.

Alicia's radish

Alicia and her garden

Hannah by her garden

Me by one of my two garden beds

A Special Breakfast for My Daughter

This morning I got up and made a special breakfast for my 2nd daughter. Let me back up a bit. I gave all three of my daughters coupons for Christmas. One of the coupons was a special breakfast from Noa's Cafe. So Alicia came to me on Thursday and asked if she could redeem her coupon. I told her of course. She asked if she could invite her sister and Dad, and of course I agreed. Then I asked her what she would like to eat, she told me just scrambled eggs and bacon, but didn't sound real thrilled. Well, earlier in the week we had been going through my cookbook and came across Crepes and the girls showed interest in it. So I got up this morning and made Strawberry-Blueberry Crepes topped with sprinkled powdered sugar and a sprig of lemon balm, bacon, milk and a cup of coffee. I lit three candles and set the plates already arranged on the table before I invited the girls out for breakfast (Ralph was already there). Alicia was beaming when she saw the table (I wish I had thought to have the camera ready). Everyone sat down and really enjoyed the meal.
We usually only have "hot breakfasts" on Tuesday evenings. Most mornings we have granola, toast, or oatmeal. So this was a real treat. I thoroughly enjoyed doing this for her and hope this will be a great memory for her.

Welcome to our new blog

Welcome to our new blog. I decided to change sites so I could have more freedom to add as many photos as I want and make my family apart of the fun. Be watching for comments and happenings from Alicia and Hannah.