Well it has been another few months since my last post. Between seasonal activities, work and facebook it can be hard to set aside time to keep things uptodate.

We traveled to California in August and have been preparing for winter lately. Cutting wood canning food and preparing to process pigs in December. The kids have been involved with a Christmas Dance for the Dicken's Festavil.



Samuel graduates in December from the Community College and then heads off to a four year school.



Joshua is working on putting a band together, finishing his guitar and starting on his surf board.

I have tried and tried to get some pictures to upload but it just isn't working today.

The Chicken Coupe

We finally finished the chicken coop after several weeks. The ground was rocky and the pole setting was tough. Joshua and Samuel did most of the digging. Zech helped we do a lot of the finish work.

It is 12' by 16' pole barn structure with metal roof and siding with a window in the rear and an open front. We installed three nest boxes made of ols 5 gallon buckets with a small land roost. The feeder is made from a left-over peice of corner trim and some scrap 2" by 4".

Well that's all for now. And we are off to California for a few days of vacation before school starts back up. Sherman

Long Break since our last post...

We have been sick, busy, lazy, distracted and generally forgetful when it has come to keeping the blog up to date.

We took a trip to Missouri to buy a 16 ft trailer from Laura's folks. Buttinz wanted to go but she didn't care for the cramped conditions.

Our two oldest boys went to church camp with the youth from Theta Baptist. They had a very blessed time. From the sermons to the songs (live band Lazar Lazar).

This has been a mild summer. So much for global warming. We had some deer coming up close to the house the other day. The boys are looking forward to the early bow season in August.

Our pigs are growing little by little. They are funny to watch but will taste even better come late fall.

Mike and Krista came up for a visit and we all had a blast. It was a really good time had by all.

Well I will try to keep things more current, we are going to California for a few days in August.

Till then

sherman

This was one funny site. One of the college students had been skateboarding through the parking lot while playing a Mandolin - only in Kentucky...

Berea Kentucky Folk Dance Festival

Samuel and I went up to the Berea College Folk Dance Festival recently. It was a fun experience. We traveled up by ourselves and met up with the rest of the folks from the Homeschool COOP.

There were times of intense practice as well as time for some fun and relaxing.

The final performance was very nice. Depicting various forms of dancing from a variety of countries.

One thing I find to be sad is that this festival started out as a Christian outreach to the local impoverished children. But today the college still gives lip service to its Christian roots but is truly that in name only - it is more a humanistic secular college that sees any reliogion as being the same and simple filling a place in life. The outreach has become just another place for people to come and learn and perform. If we are not faithful to pass on the wonderful truths of Chirst to our children it will soon be forgotten.

Judges 2:10 And also all that generation were gathered unto their fathers: and there arose another generation after them, which knew not the LORD, nor yet the works which he had done for Israel.11 And the children of Israel did evil in the sight of the LORD, and served Baalim:

Party Anyone?

We had a wonderful graduation celebration for our oldest son Samuel this past Saturday. Several friends that we hadn't seen in a while were able to come as well as family and some church family.

Joshua shared a song modified from a poem Laura had written. Zechariah shared some thoughts about his big brother. Laura shared some prayers over the years from time without children to Samuel's' cancer to today as he enters college.

It took all week to empty and transform the shop. Laura didn't miss a detail. She is really quite gifted in this area. Trisha, David and Stephny really helped us out the day of cleaning and making final preparations. They ere all such a blessing to our family.

It was really uplifting that Mike and Krista plus kids (cousins) were able to come and stay Sunday for a visit.

To see how God has changed Samuel's heart to love as he has been loved is a blessing beyond measure.



It is really hard to believe that we had snow just a week prior. Six inches at that. The weather was beautiful. Chrissy put on a wonderful Contra dance as usual. It really was a fun time. We just want to thank everyone who came and celebrated with us.

Blessings to you all.

Sherman

1 John4: 7 Dear friends, let us love one another, for love comes from God. Everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God.8 Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love. 9 This is how God showed his love among us: He sent his one and only Son {9 Or his only begotten Son} into the world that we might live through him.10 This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for {10 Or as the one who would turn aside his wrath, taking away} our sins.11 Dear friends, since God so loved us, we also ought to love one another.12 No one has ever seen God; but if we love one another, God lives in us and his love is made complete in us.13 We know that we live in him and he in us, because he has given us of his Spirit.

Around the House

Some friends from the Nut Cave Trout Farm pickuped some extra quail for us recently. We now have 5 males and 5 females. I am not sure what we are going to do with them in the long term (table, release, breed). These are Georgia Bobwhites, about 6 months old.

Lately, we have been trying to clean things up in preparation for the contra dance the first Saturday of March. This means moving everything out of the shop to the garage except the heavy equipment. Along with making a couple of more beds for the spare kid's room.

Our wood supply for the furnace has been running low. So we have been kept busy cutting down a few more trees. Eventually we will clear one side of the property about 150 ft wide and 1300 ft long for pasture. This is where we are selectively cutting our firewood. There should be plenty, as it may take me several years to clear out this section of woods.

We bought a chainsaw sharpener. I was tired of paying $7.00 per chain each time they got dull. For $50.00 you can buy a unit that does a good job. It is not meant to be used in commercial sharpening, but it only takes me about 5 minutes to sharpen my 20" Stihl chain. I still use a file in between major resharpenings.

As the winter time is now fading and we anticipate spring, planting time will be right around the corner. We need to find a tiller for the garden this year as well. I would really like to find an older Troy Buily Horse for around $500.00 with a plow attachment.

Take time to examine your heart before the Lord as we think of the coming spring time. Thank Him for the life He has granted you, along with His manifold blessings. It is our own sins that separate our hearts from the blessings of God. Fear of the Lord is another way of saying to hate your own sin the same way God does. Don't coddle it - rather put it away.

Jerimaih 5:23 'But this people has a stubborn and rebellious heart; They have turned aside and departed.24 'They do not say in their heart, "Let us now fear the LORD our God, Who gives rain in its season, Both bthe autumn rain and the spring rain, Who keeps for us The appointed weeks of the harvest."25 'Your iniquities have turned these away, And your sins have withheld good from you.

sherman

The Table has Turned




Keith from Viola way recently made us a new table. The design is very unique as is the size. When I first saw his table I knew in the future I would want one. When we moved into this new house with its large kitchen I pursued Keith to make me one.














He uses basic pine 2 x 6's for the table and legs. It has pin lumber of lumber plus his labor. The finished took another month due to family, visits, etc... and I added another $80 to the project with some other items thrown in for various projects (like Sam's room).













It measures a full 9.5 ft long and 4o inches wide. Notice the single leg in the center. This is a nice touch and it leaves the sides free for more chairs without someone incurring a leg.













Next we need to find some chairs to finish off the project. It was rather nice having the convenience of a heated shop to prepare and finish the table. I sanded the top, side and legs in three steps down to 220 grit using a random orbital sander. Next cam the Minwax sealer/primer followed 15 minutes later by Minwax golden pecan stain. The top has 6 coats of Formby's tung oil (really a rub on laquer - not a true tung oil). It is easy to apply and only requires a rag and a few minutes for each coat along with 24 hours between coats. The legs and the base only received 4 coats. I use some heavy metal brackets to secure the table and to remove a slight bit of cupping in the top. Give it a little time for the forces to work themselves out and it will be ...well... staright as a board.


The table even survived a nightly on slt of rip stick, skateboards and scooters in the shop. That is what happend when you have a 40 x 60 shop with very little equipment to fill in up. It seems more like a skating rink.


Again much thanks to Keith. Be sure to catch his blog at Allelon Farm and you might request your own table. I think he is moving into small scale custom commercial production. You just can't find table of this size and quality.

sherman

Titus 3:3 For we ourselves were also once foolish, disobedient, deceived, serving various lusts and pleasures, living in malice and envy, hateful and hating one another. 4 But when the kindness and the love of God our Savior toward man appeared, 5 not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to His mercy He saved us, through the washing of regeneration and renewing of the Holy Spirit, 6 whom He poured out on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Savior,7 that having been justified by His grace we should become heirs according to the hope of eternal life.

Merry Christmas ~ Jesus iz Lord!

J is for Joshua. He is now a handsome young man. Definitely on the threshold of adulthood at 15 years old (and very handsome mom says!). He has really matured a lot this year. It has been neat to see how God has grown him. He has an incredible passion for the lost. I pray that we as parents will not hinder his enthusiasm and that he will “sail like the wind” on the “oceans of love” to those Christ came to save. He is still “hog chasing” through school, wishing he was skate boarding through! He is now in high school and counting down the years till graduation where he can take “that pig to market”! He has flourished in his guitar playing. He often gets “strung” out when he gets some free time. He is “fiddling” around with both welding and instrument repair as possible future endeavors. He still holds his dream to be a surf board designer: JAW’s Boards. He just needs to convince his parents to buy a jet plane and a condo in CA!

E is for everyone else in the family. Really as far as I know all of Laura’s sisters are doing fine. Stephny Laura’s niece had another baby girl named Kiley. We are told she is adorable! Another of her nieces went off to college, the first in that family to “fly the coop”. Her parents still live in the countryside in a small town in Missouri. We went on a family reunion in St. Louis in June to see them. It was nice to see everyone. Sherman’s mom still lives near Memphis, she is doing well. Sherman’s sister had cancer this year and though she has been a real “trooper” through much much suffering, the doctors are not sure she is out of the woods yet. Our family is dear too us. We love and care for all our loved ones so much. We have tears in their sorrow and rejoice in their happiness.

S is for Sherman. He still works down in Huntsville at the DIA. He really loves his job. He also enjoys coming home and doing projects with the boys. He noted recently that the boys can carry more weight for a longer time than he can! That was a sobering thought! He is getting older ya know! He also had about of pneumonia that set him back a few months. Just two weeks ago, he landed a tree on his truck, while he was in it ~ almost totaling the truck! (He is trying to grey Laura!!) Above all he loves to be in The Word. He has had a few preaching opportunities and that he says is a blessing above anything in his life. He enjoys still doing our own cows and chickens for meat. We have even helped a few other families. Strange what we call “entertainment” these days! But coffee and rocking chairs on the front porch still remains one of his “down time” relaxers.

U is for Unity in the bond of Christ. This has always been of most importance in our lives!! We were very blessed this year to have a very close family come and stay with us for almost 2 months. It was sweet. We also went to Springs of Grace for a visit. This was so very special to us. It really took us back in time to a tender moldable time in our lives. Most of the folks who knew us then welcomed us again with open heart and arms (and even ones who just meet us!). It was just what we needed. They do an awesome ministry of the gospel there that is life changing. We will forever have Springs in our hearts. We love you guys! No matter who we visit, where we go or who comes to see us, if it is “family of Christ”, we can pick up anywhere. That is the most beautiful example of unity we know! Where “blood” relations really go deeper, that is the blood of Christ, that unifies His children to one another! What a privilege to have moved often, the more “body parts” you get to experience “unity” with!

S is for Samuel. He only just turned 17 but he really is becoming a man! Not only in his physical body, but his heart too. He is very sweet. He really desires to be obedient to God. You will often find him witnessing where he goes of what God has done in his redemption. He will be graduating by the time you get this card! I just can’t believe it! And by that same time he will have completed 7 college classes too! He has mapped out his college days and He is hoping to go to Patrick Henry in 1 year after getting his associates here. He also had a wonderful St. Jude’s visit. He is really the “poster child” for survivors. He has done so well it offers hope to others who are in his “old shoes”, stricken with cancer! Of course we know that it is ONLY by God’s healing that he is with us today! The only problem “bee” is that he will have to leave his “honey” behind. And we don’t mean girlfriend either. He has done well with his beehiving and we have gotten the results, lots of yummy sticky honey! He also planted a lot of fruit trees this year. So we are expecting him to return in the summers to help us can it all!


I is for incorporating foster kids into our family. This has been a real trial in “pouring ourselves out” for the Lord. For this calling that He has called us to is not easy. In many ways our first attempt was a failure and we were not able to keep the 3 precious children. And though it literally tore our hearts out, we are learning to trust God in all things, even when we do not understand. We took a few months break and will try again soon as we follow the Lords leading. We desire to have more children and this is the journey God has taken us to gather a “table full of children”. We started in Jan. this year with 12 classes 1 ½ hours drive, each way, 3 hours a night once a week. Then all the way through our home study, tons of paper work, finger prints, check lists, only to redo some of it in the new house we journeyed. We finally got certified at the end of Aug!! So I am looking forward to what I write about in this area next year ~ The Lord willing……….

Z is for Zechariah. This little guy, growing fast to keep up with his brothers is still very much the “farmer at heart”! He just loves the animals. He (we) took a hard hit this year in the barn yard. All our cows and sheep died. We had gotten a cow that had a disease and it spread like wild fire until all were gone. It was a hard blow for us all, but especially Zechie. He is a big 11 year old and a good student when he wants to be. He has been enjoying the new freedom of our place and big workshop. He enjoys “American Folk/English Country dancing” when he gets a chance (the only time he appreciates having girls in this world!) But he still wants to “hire out a girl” to help with canning (anyone interested?! Haha!). He just don’t quite got this girl thing down! God is still doing a work in him. He often finds himself in the middle of “understanding” & “obedience”. He does not have the concept of “his days are numbered” so quite often as most little boys do, they waste precious time on themselves. But I do see God changing that, as only God can do! I am looking forward to watching what God does in his life!


L is for Laura. This year has had it’s health struggles for her. She is very aware that though her body is weak, her Spirit is strong! She had a 5 hernia repair surgery in February, and then recently had another hospital stay. She is doing better. She is still rag quilting and has designed a few more this year. She has also gone into a few other products. She is very thankful that she can be at home with her kids from the time they are born until they finish their learnin’! She still is very much in love with her husband after all these years! (We will celebrate our 25th in June of next year) Her passion is still in making cards, that is her very heart. If you want to take a peek at her heart, look at her cards! There is no greater joy than to encourage someone else she says! She has put her hand to finally writing too! Maybe next year she can give you some titles! The whole family has joined in her support! But above all she desires for others to know where her affections are. He love for the things of God has grown more and more. It is her desire to please God in everything in her life.

O is for our On Line Store. We are still in the process of getting this going. We had hoped to give you the sight info. in this card, but it will be a bit longer. Since we live waaaaaay out in the “boon docks” we are having a hard time getting faster internet service! But we hope to soon be able to offer the quilts, cards, baby items, other rag items, books, other wood crafts, inspirational items etc. to you for your encouragement and to encourage others. We will send out a notice when it is in full swing!

R is for re-location! We finally moved! It took about 7 long months of “keeping a clean house!” to finally sell our lovely cottage in the woods! We moved to a very simple, well built house. It is upstairs and down stairs and has a basement. Also a HUGE workshop (Sherman’s new haven!), detached garage nestled in a hollow at the foot of a hill of a fully treed forest. We love it! The house was decorated very very plainly, so Laura set to change it to a homier atmosphere. It was fun to do (still doing!)! The color change was awesome, I mean outside! Our home is surrounded by hills of pastures & forest. The front porch rockers are hard to resist ~ the view is spectacular! We have to say that we are enjoying the space too. We have a room for everyone, including you! So we do hope that you will join us for some front porch sittin’ and Iced Tea a’sippin!

D is for Disciples of Christ. Without Christ there is nothing worth writing about, without Christ there is nothing to live for. So, We can not be silent as disciples of Jesus Christ our Lord. May this be the most Christ centered Christmas ever for you. May you come to know Him in life and may He know you in death!

God Bless each of you!

Love
The Wiggin Family
Sherman, Laura, Samuel & Zechariah