Gathering Round the Looooong Family Table

Well, the children and I just finished making up a squasherole, broccoli rice and cheese, green bean casserole, different flavored jellos, cheesecake, chocolate pudding pie, 2 huge pans of dressing and various other things (Buddy washed dishes while we cooked). My eggs are waiting in the pot, all boiled and ready to be transformed into Angel Eggs (the Agees don't eat deviled eggs). I'll bake the casseroles tomorrow but they're on deck in the fridge. Adam is about to make the crust for 2 cherry pies, 1 apple, 1 peach, 1 pumpkin and 2 pecans. I am going to make some orange balls tonight and get the turkey ready. Tomorrow will be mostly cooking, because the preparing will already be done. I'll have both ovens going, I'm sure. And, of course, we'll get to adorn the table (my favorite part of a dinner), with Old Country Roses-the most beautiful china in the history of mankind. This year I even have the flatware to match because Chris got it for me for Christmas last year. I abso-freakin-lutely love setting the table! I once read a book by Edith Shaeffer (sp? Francis's wife) called The Hidden Art of Homemaking and it revolutionized my thinking in this area. Since then I have found such joy and purpose in the presentation of things. I bought 4 bottles of sparkling cider in the fancy bottles. They have been chilling for about a week in the 2nd fridge. I thought the kids would enjoy having that poured into their goblets tomorrow. So, I'll put the turkey on in the morning around 5 am-my least favorite part-haha. Oh and Chris and I saw a demonstration on TV about the proper way to carve a turkey. So, I'm excited about it actually looking like the pictures you see of other turkeys (our is always mangled up-haha). Chris better do it right-jkjk. Right now the kids are sitting on the old computer looking at old pics and howling with laughter-so I can't concentrate but it's a good thing. Sam said Chris is upstairs getting his back walked on which probably means I won't see him until tomorrow (it always puts him to sleep). But y'all...Happy Thanksgiving. It is so good to know that around so many tables sit families I love so dearly who will truly be thanking Almighty God from whom all blessings flow. Tomorrow, when we raise our glasses for a toast, we will remember all our beloved friends and family and lift a prayer for a wonderful Thanksgiving for you all.
Lovingly and with Thanksgiving to the Living God,
The Agees

Born From Above

Have you ever wondered about your salvation experience(s)? I mean, trying to make sense of how one can believe as a child but feel as though you weren't 'saved' or 'born again' until that second time when you were older. Well, I've thought a lot about it. I've heard a lot about it. But, a year or so ago, it was settled in my mind. I felt as though the Lord Himself had taught my heart. You know those times when you have that light bulb experience and you try to share it with others but it doesn't affect them the same way? Years ago, I began taking my own informal survey of the age when one is saved. Time after time I would hear someone say something like "Well I was saved when I was a child, but I dedicated my life to Christ when I was in college." I noticed that the first experience usually happened somewhere between the ages of 9-12 and the second between 17-25. For my own life, I don't actually remember a time when I didn't believe in Jesus, but at 9 years of age at the Joliet General Baptist under Reverend Maricle (yes, that was his name and to a child miracle and maricle sound the same-we were in church, he was the preacher, it made sense to my childbrain) I had my first experience. I went down front and was 'saved'. I was baptised and continued to act, basically, the same, I think, but I always knew I was His and when I wasn't doing right, I felt guilty. So, while I wasn't necessarily obedient, I did feel a responsibility to God. Funny enough, around 14 or 15 yrs I became aware of the hypocrisy in my life and my thoughts were something like "I am a Christian but if I died right now, I wouldn't go to heaven." That's because I didn't understand God's Grace and the impossibility of being a Christian and not going to heaven. So, anyway, at 17, at a Methodist Church in Tuscaloosa, AL I had my second experience, where I 'rededicated' my life to Christ. From this point on, my life did change. My desires did change. My actions even changed. Whatever it was, it was real and lasting-in fact everlasting. Fast-forward to my thoughts today. What actually happened to me on those two occasions. Here's what I believe. Warning: Some of you theologians out there may be tempted to teach me about context and the order of salvation and etc. etc.
My first experience was when I came to Jesus and He said "let the little child come to me and do not hinder her."
My second experience was not when 'I made Jesus my Lord', it was when Jesus said "Follow Me." And what else could I do? I am one of His sheep, I heard His voice and I followed.

Abraham Lincoln and Barack Obama

I have been reading a biography about, arguably, the most interesting president of our nation's history-Abraham Lincoln. The book is called Abraham Lincoln: The Prairie Years the War Years. Today, I arrived at the point in the book that documents his shooting at Ford's Theatre and subsequent death across the street at the home of Mr. Peterson. As I read the account, I couldn't help but cry. In fact, I could've cried like I was right in that room as he drew his last breath, if I hadn't made a concerted effort at controlling myself. I am the type of person that when I read a book or watch a movie, I feel extraordinarily connected to the story, even fiction (this is why I CAN'T watch horror movies, although, not why I won't) (I just dropped a chicken nugget on my brand new computer keyboard-don't tell Chris). Anyway, back to President Lincoln. Back in 1998, we visited Washington D.C. and the various monuments. I was, indeed, awed as I stood in front of the statue of Mr. Lincoln (because of the sheer size and the powerful words on the wall), but I didn't know much of him. Now, I feel as though I know him. I hope he is in heaven, I really want to meet him. I hate to admit it, but all through the recent campaign, a nagging voice kept suggesting similarities between Mr. Lincoln and Mr. Obama-beginning with their homestate of Illinois (where, incidentally, I grew up). Many historical elements are interestingly connected, to say the least. Presidency's have a way of transforming an individual. The president is the personification of America for the duration of his tenure as president. He is asked of, accused of, praised for, blamed for, smiled at, scowled at, prayed for and cursed. There is no way a person can remain untouched in a position such as this. The only power he can, logically, turn to is one higher than himself-Almighty God. My hope is that when he finds himself inadequate for the task, as all men are, he will call out to God and God will make his path straight. It can happen.
Linda

Just Stuff...

Good morning blog friends!
Yesterday was a half day of school for the Agees who attend CVCS and they are off today also. They all brought friends home last night so we had a pretty big crowd! All the girls (and I) rode horses. The guys played basketball, and worked on the fence. After that, we all sat around the family table and ate a hot meal of chili and rice with homemade biscuits. It was fun. After the big cleanup, the girls played on their myspaces and facebooks and the guys played some video games. Oh, and Abbey finished an essay titled "Hands" that she had to e-mail to her English teacher. I proofed it for her. It was really good. She is quite the writer! A few of the kids went home last night but a few stayed overnight. Sam just came in and discovered that he is NOT off school today (he is homeschooled). He just automatically thought he would be off since the big kids are. So, right now, the younger kids are in the kitchen making their breakfasts. Of course, the teenagers are sleeping! A favorite activity (non-activity) of that age, it seems. Chris is grading papers and getting ready for 9 weeks report cards. Soon, I will go to parent/teacher conference-which is kinda weird for me, having homeschooled the kids all their lives. I have found that to be one of the things I don't deal with well, not having the input I have always had. There is still plenty of homework to help them with. Believe me, they pile it on. But, the boys have a very good teacher. Her name is Anne Sullivan and she has been teaching for 30+ years. The boys just love her. A few weeks ago they (all by themselves) made her a homemade apple pie. She is that kind of rare teacher that everyone would wish for their children. Abbey kind of had a meltdown night before last. She was finishing a physics assignment here at home and she felt her teacher (Daddy) wasn't helping her enough. She cried and wailed about how she didn't know what she was doing (all along she and Chris have been telling me that she was doing well in Physics so I didn't know where to put this). I asked Chris why all of the sudden she was in a panic like this. He said "My guess, PMS." So, I told her to take a break, go check her myspace or facebook, get something to drink and come back. She did and when she came back, I never heard another whimper out of her. She had literally worked herself into a frenzy over it! Sometimes you just gotta change directions to get where you wanna go. Frustration is not a road that usually leads to success.
Well, I'm working on the 3rd annual Harmony Hill Christmas. I've ordered a few bell songs and I'm choreographing my and Abbey's tap #. It's a lot of hard work but it's worth it to see people enjoying themselves around the Holidays. It's funny how Christmas music never gets old. Well, I better go homeschool and make sure nobody makes any huge messes. I made it to the bottom of the laundry barrel last night...yeah!!! I even washed all the bathroom rugs that have been waiting in the basket for so long. I can only wash those when all the clothes are done and that doesn't happen very often! Well, I'm sure that once everybody took off all their clothes last night and put on their PJs they added about 3 more loads. Because, in truth, around here, laundry never gets done for long!

Sad.......

Well, I know that many of you are in shock about last nights results. While we can be happy that it is proven now that America is a different country (with regard to race) than she was in centuries past (and finally, Jesse and Al can shutup for good and get real jobs), we are still sad about the outcome. You (and I ) face a good bit of persecution for our beliefs with regard to this election. No matter what your real reason for not wanting Barack Obama, his supporters think you oppose him for only one reason-because he is black. I, personally, am proud that America has reached a point where we aren't collectively so predudice that only a white male can be president. But! In my opinion, Barack Obama is a con man who believes in killing babies, has close associations with anti-american people and he is not going to bring blessing upon our country. Be prepared people. Be vigilant. Watch and wait.
Linda

Scout-dini the Escape Artist!

Yesterday I corralled Scout 3 times. 2 times he was in the yard grazing but the 3rd time, he went through the woods and someone down on Aubrey Sanders Road called and said 'your horse is about to poop in the road over here'. So, still in my PJ's (which is nothing abnormal even WELL into the day), I load the littles up in the truck, and drive down the road, put Scout on a lead and lead him out the window of the truck while I drive. Thankfully, at the end of that road (out on the main road) is the Crown Point Discount Grocery. Some friends of ours from Vermont own it and it's only about 1/4 mile from our house. So, I park, walk up to the grocery store door, leading Scout. I open the door and there's Marion checking someone out. She and the customer just kinda look at me and laugh. I tell her the story and how I need to walk him home without driving the truck because he may freak with all the traffic on the main road. Another worker there, a horse person, suggests that Marion follow along behind me with flashers on. So, up the road we go, our little peculiar caravan. But, the drivers behind Marion were so impatient, they started passing her AND me and Scout. Ugh! So, anyway we make it home, I tie Scout up and offer to carry Marion back down to the store but she wanted to walk. I had to be convinced that she really wanted the stroll! She is a great person. She and her husband John are a blessing to our community. As I said, they live in Vermont (their children go to school with our children and John and Marion are very active in the school, John is on the board and Marion, among other things, runs a thrift shop that supports the school with it's proceeds) but their grocery store is in Crown Point, NY. I don't know what I would do without that store! So, thanks Marion! And, guess what, despite all the efforts to fix any way for Scout to break out, he's already out again this morning. This time I just tethered him and he's out in the front yard at this moment grazing-whew, nadm!

Yield Sign Mystery Exposed!

Okay-so somewhere in the recesses of my brain, I remember having a 'discussion' with someone (prob Chris) about the color of a yield sign. So, last week, at school, one of the boy's teachers mentioned a yield sign and it being yellow and black. Jesse, pipes up: "Actually, Mrs. Murphy, I believe a yield sign is red and white." To which she answered: "No, it's yellow and black." A discussion began and Adam concurred with Jesse. Only one other student, one of the principal's sons, agreed that a yield sign was red and white. The rest of this little enlightened community basically laughed at the boys for 'thinking' a yield sign was red and white. On the way home, the boys ask their Daddy what color a yield sign was. Guess what Daddy said? That's right.....yellow and black! So, they arrive home and Jesse greets me with the same question to which I answer 'Red and White' for which I'm rewarded with a high-five! So, Jesse begins relating the school story to me. I know this teacher, and I really like her, so I know she wasn't being prideful or obstinate (I couldn't say the same for the group of dk's in the classroom). To the computer we go, to look up yield signs, where we find that indeed a yield sign IS red and white. But, we also found that there is a great debate out there on this topic. You may wonder how there can be a debate about something that is answerable by simply looking at a yield sign. But, to a person who thinks it is yellow or yellow/black, simply proving it to them will not be sufficient. It is so imprinted on their brain that they are convinced there IS a breed of yellow/black yield signs. Well, indeed, there used to be a yellow/black yield sign but that was so long ago, that most people arguing weren't even born or couldn't remember them (They have all been red/white since 1971). For one, they were also triangular and had the word 'yield' on them but directly under that the words 'right of way'- even yellow yielders don't have that memory...lol. I'm not making fun of anyone, I just think that this phenomenon is amazing. MOST people you ask will say that a yield sign is yellow or yellow/black....try it. If it isn't most, it's an inordinate number for a sign that doesn't exist! So, if you thought a yield sign was yellow/black, you are in the majority. If you thought it was red/white, you are correct. I can only think of one reason why people think that yield signs are yellow/black. And that is because it is imprinted on the American brain, that yellow means slow down or caution, so much so that it overrides reality with regard to the yield sign. So get out there and do your own personal survey. It is rather amusing. Look it up online and see the 'discussions' including statements like this: "I don't know what country you live in but in the United States yield signs are yellow and black" to which someone replies: "They are red and white you ignorant bas#$%^!". So, there you have it-the yield sign mystery exposed. I would like to hear your yield sign thoughts and experiences. As Stacey says, don't be a blog stalker...lol.
McCain/Palin: Power to the People!