Can Grandpa come out to play?

It is spring break week here for the Fort Payne Schools, the weather is great and we have kids all over.  Actually, they are accumulating in the Patterson/Davis yard to play.  It is good.   Yesterday, two boys came up on the deck (not a Patterson among them) and I asked what they wanted.  They wondered   “Is Grandpa home?”  I called Terry and he went to see them.  They wanted to know if grandpa could come out to coach them in football! I guess they feel at home which is what we want for this space the Lord has given us.

Just an update on the yard.  The blackberry and raspberry bushes are all coming up. The peas and brocolli in our box look great. And, after a couple of days of really hard rain,  the unusual looking planter we bought (picture in the previous blog)  is putting out green sprouts all over.  Not only on the potted plants, but on the wood the thing is made of!!!

Looking ahead…next week a team from North Carolina is coming to help us bless Fort Payne in many ways.  Please keep us all in your prayers!

We have an Awesome God!!!!       Joyce

‘fiddlin’ for worms

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Saturday was a most amazing day for us.   In the morning , Terry and I went to the Collinsville Trade Day and were able to purchase a weeping cherry tree, a magnolia tree, a hibiscus, a big fern, a camelia, a star magnolia and an interesting planter all for our garden and for a very reasonable price.

When we got home, we changed clothes and went to our friend Emily’s father’s farm with Katie, Owen, Jonathan, and Corban to get horse maure for our gardens.  We were able to shovel it into big plastic containers on the back of the trailer we took with us.  Emilily’s sister gave us 19 raspberry cuttings,  and about 5 blackberry runners.

Then we went up the hill with Emily’s father to get some worms.  To go fiddlin’ for worms you need a bucket and a hand saw.  He chose a small tree about 2 inches in diameter and cut it down to about 2 feet tall.  Then he took the saw and started sawing into the tiny trunk. The vibrations bring the worms to the surface.  Well, at least that is what they say.  We didn’t get many worms, but usually the  worms are plentiful and you can pick them right off the ground.

We came home, had lunch and then went outside to shovel manure and dirt into the little trailer on the back of the lawn mower to move it to our new boxes we had made for the peas and broccoli.  We had wondered where we were going to get dirt for our garden boxes, but then we dug the trenches for the drainage pipes and we had a lot of dirt (mostly clay) sitting in piles around the yard.  Katie, Gavin, and I worked at this.  Soon our 10 year old neighbor Kimmy came over and she helped shovel.  She is quite the worker.  Then Owen came out with Warren, Kimmy’s brother, and they started hauling dirt with the wheelbarrow.  Soon we had our garden boxes filled.  The kids went down to work on digging out a hole for the pond.  Terry says to let them go for it!

Then we planted the berry bushes.  During this time, our neighbor, Phillippe came over with a brown turkey fig tree for us.  And add to that the 9 blueberry bushes, two sour cherry trees, quince cuttings , hibiscus seeds and cuttings of some unnamed grounded cover we had  gotten from our old neighbor up on the mountain in Mentone on Friday.   Wow!  We are overflowing with abundance! Katie says she feels like things are accelerating.  God is so good!  It was a day of great blessing for us.  Praise the Lord!

Joyce

Moving Forward in the Business Mountain

There are seven spiritual mountains that affect American culture; family, religion, arts & entertainment, media, education, business, and government. One of the first areas we as a ministry stepped into was the business mountain. I specifically seem to have been called to this mountain. Each Monday, I go to various businesses in Fort Payne and talk to and pray with the owners of those businesses. Several of the owners have commented on my presence in a very positive and affirming way. The first Monday of each month at 8:30 a.m., we hold a prayer meeting to talk and to pray for the businesses of Fort Payne.

I believe that a very significant event has occurred within the past several weeks. Several of the owners met with the intent of forming a Fort Payne Merchants Association. They met again today and were positive in their comments and ideas. They are actively looking for ways to draw people to town to shop. They are considering staying open later one Friday a month (normally the town rolls up the sidewalks at 5 pm, even on Friday’s!), how to take advantage of other events that draw people to the area, and how to dress up the city. The first meeting had 12 people in attendance representing 7 different businesses. Today there were 14  present with 6 of them being new. There were also two radio stations, a local newspaper, and the director of DeKalb County Tourism present!

As word spreads about this new organization, the comment has been heard several times, “That has been tried before and it failed.” I am contending that “with God, all things are possible!”

Terry

gardens, chickens, and more…

I wrote the following in a note to our financial supporters and thought, hey that would make a good blog.  So to our supporters…this was written especially for you, but now I’m sharing it with the world…or at least the 22 folks who view our blog :0)
     Although Spring seems to be teasing us all, it is that time.  Our family, along with Joyce and Terry, and some faithful friends are excited to be making plans for gardens, ponds, chicken coops, and the like.  We have grand visions to cultivate our small little piece of land into heaven on earth.  We want the land to be open to the community with winding paths that hold surprises around every corner – arbors, benches, fruit trees, ponds (with fish and turtles), beautiful flowers, chickens, boxes of squash and tomatoes and broccoli and herbs, gates with peas and kiwis…anyway I hope you are seeing it. 
     This vision has three purposes.  1.  To provide a place of sancuary for the community.  Where folks are free to walk around, bring their families to picnic, pray, pick berries, experience God in the purest, simpliest form.   2.  To provide food for our family – fruit, veggies, nuts, fish, chicken, eggs.  3.  To extend that provision to the families we serve.  As we are planning we are not thinking just broccoli for our family and some to freeze, but to take to the families in need in the area.  With the prices of everything rising around us, we want to be faithful with our own resources, but also give freely from those resources.
     So, some of the steps we have taken so far….we have begun to dig drainage and irrigation systems at the base ( and the starts of a pond!), we have learned how to butcher our own chickens and have plans to get some coops and chicken tractors built, have broccoli and spinach growing in my laundry room, and in the process of transplanting various berry bushes.  The mission team coming in April will be building a handicap ramp, building a main pathway from our home to Joyce and Terry’s home, and building garden boxes.
       I look forward to the day that we deliver a basket with a fresh, free-range chicken, eggs, a huge butternut squash, green beans, basil, and plums to a neighbor in need and offer them the love of Jesus through this provision.

I will follow up with pictues once we get them loaded…our main computer is on the fritz!    —Katie
    

A book recommendation

I have recently gone through a phase in my homeschooling life that left me every day saying, “What are we doing?”  “Did they learn anything today?”  Homeschooling was getting stale and uneventful, not at all what I want our days to look like.  I do know from experience, however, that eventually we turn a corner and are inspired once again. 

Well, we have turned that corner thanks to a recent read – A Thomas Jefferson Education  by Oliver Van DeVille.  This was recommended by some friends from our homeschool co-op.  This read has reminded me of all the basics I have always believed in and brought me back to the way I used to do things before I felt the need to do something “measureable” for the rest of the world. 

I am once again inspired – Thank God!  I think I can make it another 6 months at least off of this one!  If you are a homeschool parent I would highly recommend A Thomas Jefferson Education.  It is worth the read even if you don’t agree or choose to use the information – it will inspire!

–Katie

He came…

I’ve been part of lots of different kinds of church and revival services.  It’s always so exciting when God’s manifest Presence shows up in a big way.  I mean I know He’s always with us and I do talk with Him daily, but there is just something really cool about when He comes into a room during corporate worship!  And no matter how much I believe this will happen, it still blows me away everytime He walks into a room.  Whew!  I hope that never goes away.

This is what happened this past Sunday morning.  God had a surprise for us.  It was the one year anniversary of LivingStone Church.  He wanted to celebrate with us.  The minute the music came through the speakers the anticipation was in the air…the tension…of waiting and knowing.  Well, He came in and it was one of those times where I wanted to fall on my face before my King and twirl and dance with the Lover of my soul all at the same time.  I wanted to laugh with the fullness of Joy and weep from the deep places.  I got the privlege of experiencing this with my new church family. 

He came.  He came and He healed.  He came and He restored.  He came and He refreshed. He honored and He blessed.  He came.                     —Katie

I have a burning question…

I have a burning question that I intend to discover the answer to.  This is not hypothetical in nature – this is real.  Is a biblical, church-run welfare system possible in my city?  How about yours? 

Leviticus 10:9 – 10  “When you reap the harvest of your land, you shall not wholly reap the corners of your field, nor shall you gather the gleanings of your harvest.  And you shall not glean your vineyard, nor shall you gather every grape of your vineyard; you shall leave them for the poor and the stranger:  I am the Lord your God.”

Deuteronomy 14: 29  “And the Levite, because he has no portion nor inheritance with you, and the stranger and the fatherless and the widow who are within your gates, may come and eat and be satisfied, that the  Lord your God may bless you in all the work of your hand which you do.”

Deuteronomy 24: 19 – 21  “When you reap your harvest in your field, and forget a sheaf in the field, you shall not go back to get it; it shall be for the stranger, the fatherless, and the widow, that the Lord your God may bless you in all the work of your hands.  When you beat your olive trees, you shall not go over the boughs again; it shall be for the stranger, the fatherless, and the widow.  When you gather the grapes of your vineyard, you shall not glean it afterward;  it shall be for the stranger, the fatherless, and the widow.”

Galatians  2: 10  “  They desired only that we should remember the poor…”

James 1:27 ” Pure and undefiled religion before God and the Father is this; to visit orphans and widows in their trouble, and to keep oneself unspotted from the world.”

…just to name a few Scriptures….

What would happen if every family that professes Jesus Christ  adopted just ONE orphan?  What would happen if every family that professes Jesus Christ discipled ONE family needing love and direction?  What would happen if every business owner that professes Jesus Christ hired just ONE person with a criminal background in spite of the risk?  What would happen if every Church that professes Jesus Christ opened their doors to the homeless and the hungry?  What if a family did?  What if we actually believed God when He said “Bless the Lord, O my soul, And forget not all His benefits;  Who forgives all your iniquities, WHO HEALS ALL YOUR DISEASES” and prayed for the sick and crippled outside of a service?  What if we just trusted God first, not the doctors?

Can you picture it yet? I sure can!  And you can plan on seeing it come to pass in my city!  How about yours?   -Katie

Winter Wonderland

 

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We knew that when we moved to Alabama things would be different but different for those already here!? This past summer  the area had record breaking heat with continuous days over 90 and 100.  The people said it was most unusual.  And now it is a winter wonderland!  We had a white Christmas, much to the delight of the people here until they couldn’t get up the mountain to see Grandma.  The Pattersons just walked across the back yard to see us. (photo 1) This last week we had a record breaking snowfall that has closed schools all week.  The neighbor kids made a snowman for the first time in their lives.  My family made a snowfort and an igloo.  Owen called the snowballs snow boulders because they were so big. (photo 2)  Our friends in Michigan were teasing us about being wimpy drivers and not wanting to go anywhere but it is one thing to go in the ditch in Ohio and another to fall off the mountain in Alabama!  Yesterday we finally ventured down our semi icy city street to find much of the city finally cleared.  However, we had to park across the street when we got home because we couldn’t get up the incline of our driveway.  I mean, after all, we sold the snowblower before we moved (and the driveway is gravel anyway). The grandchildren find it a good hill to slide down. Fortunately, they stop before they reach the street!  (photo 3-see car across the street (the people live in Florida)) It is suppose to warm up this weekend and maybe things will clear.

We hope you all are staying cozy warm and enjoying this weather.

Blessings,   Joyce

Here we go again….

Soooo,  It has been a couple of months since our last blog. Sorry. No excuses.  We will try to do better but I make no promises…  I think that there are two reason mainly that make this blog hard for me particularly.    

  1 I feel like I should have something worthy to say. you know something profound and thought-provoking. But truth is I don’t always have that much to say, let alone something profound.   I forgot that a blog can just be day-to-day stuff.  quite truthfully my day-to-day is not all that exciting. Which brings me to number 2. 

2. My day-to-day involves people. They have their own stories and challenges and I don’t feel that It is my always my place to share them. I don’t ever want someone to feel betrayed by me or my team. So some of what we experience here I just can’t share. Maybe in a few years but not right now.  I take serious confidences and protecting those I work with. So that has been part of my struggle to blog.  Please forgive.

We are going to start taking turns with the blog so that we may be able to be more consistent in keeping you up to date on what is going on here.  And so that something may actually be written.

so here we go again!

For the King!

–Chris

Now hope does not disappoint…

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This is a home we have made over with the help of the Lord and this community!  Thank you to everybody who was involved.  We have given hope where hope was lost.

BEFORE

SOMEWHERE IN THE MIDDLE

AFTER

BACK OF THE HOUSE BEFORE

SOMEWHERE IN THE MIDDLE

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ROOF BEFORE

BEING REROOFED

NEW ROOF

WINDOWS BEFORE

WINDOWS IN THE MIDDLE

WINDOWS AFTER

BOYS ROOM BEFORE

DURING DEMO

SOMEWHERE IN THE MIDDLE

BOYS ROOM AFTER

GIRLS ROOM AFTER DEMO

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FLOORS BEFORE

FLOORING BEING INSTALLED

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HALLWAY BEFORE

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HALL BATH BEFORE

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HALL BATH AFTER

KITCHEN BEFORE

GUTTING THE KITCHEN

MOVING KITCHEN

NEW KITCHEN SPACE CREATED FROM OLD BEDROOM

KITCHEN AFTER

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LAUNDRY SPACE BEFORE

LAUNDRY SPACE AFTER

LIVING ROOM BEFORE

DEMO ON LIVING ROOM

SOMWHERE IN THE MIDDLE

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GRANDMA’S ROOM BEFORE

GRANDMA’S NEW BED/BATH SPACE

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GRANDMA’S BATH BEFORE

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WELCOME HOME!