New Friends and Family

I'm sorry that we have not posted in awhile, but things have been crazier than usual around here. Will's parents and our friends Hennie and Nanny(from Holland) were here. We had a wonderful splendiferous time with them and I am so glad they came to see us. We sure fit lots of stuff into a couple of days, but I think it went amazingly well and we all enjoyed each other bunches!
My Dad and I took Jacob to Riverside Bible Camp yesterday after church. He was so excited. His friend Alex from church went with us. I sure got an education on 14 year old boys when they talked. I think everything that they mentioned and then laughed about concerned some bodily function. If it was about some type of human waste product coming out of some body orifice it was fair game. Gross! I didn't really stop them until it got too gross because they were happy and that was what was important. Even happiness based on disgusting subjects is better than unhappiness or whining. I must be getting old.
When Will's parents were here we went to a cheese shop and tried all of the cheeses. Will and I have lived here 14 years and we have never gone to this shop. It was great fun. I picked out some white cheese with leeks and wild morel mushrooms in it. Will bought this 11 year old cheddar. Let me tell you right now that I don't appreciate that cheese like he does. They all just thought it was so lovely and just oohed and aahhed over it. Yuck! He paid a lot of money for something that sucks the spit right out of your mouth. It was like eating alum when I was a kid. I was tricked into it so don't go thinking I'm an idiot. Anyway the two things have the same effect on me. Except the cheese leaves this coating on the inside of your mouth that is like really thick soap scum. I think I would rather eat tar! He does not have to worry about coming home and finding that I've eaten the last little bit.
Jessalyn went to camp last week. She came home exhausted and we are paying for it. She is not a happy person when she is tired. Last night we were all tired and it was a pitiful excuse for an evening. I did not feel well, so I just laid around reading. Will had made doors etc all day at work so he was beat up, worn away and pretty much just sat too. Jessalyn on the other hand had energy, but also had "attitude". Not a good combination. We had a family discussion (Will did the talking) and then we all went to bed. Not a good evening and I hope that we can do better tonight. I just wish that I could get rid of this cold/allergies. It only seems to come on in the late afternoon, so I have no idea what it is, but it sure is a pain in the neck.
We are still working on our "evacuation plan" for Cranfest. Will has offered to be the "voice of emergency" which would consist of him getting on the loud speaker and saying "Run for your lives!". My hubby is soooooo helpful.
I need to tell you a little about what we did after Niagara Falls on our vacation so that we can get this picture show on the road literally....
We left Niagara on our way to where my parent's (both sides) families come from. You see while I was searching for my Oakes family (I had not started on my Mom's side yet) I noticed that one of the ladies that had so graciously helped me in my quest was named Edmonds. I asked about it and found out that she is married to my Mom's cousin and had that whole family tree done. What a blessing from God. Now I could really focus on the Oakes side on the trip and Mom would focus on her side and we could go over it all when we got back.
Well we left Niagara on our way to St. Thomas, Ontario. It is a wonderful community and felt like home in many places. My great, great, great great grandfather helped to establish the community years ago. Brenda and Chuck were wonderful and helped us get to the cemetery that you saw in the pictures before this. I will write more about that experience next, but I have to take a minute to gather my thoughts on that one. It was one of the most "profound" moments in my life.
Well time to leave for work. Actually, I am running late. Peggy and Amanda came in to "gab" and I lost track of time.
Have a blessed day.
dea

Oakes Family church since early 1800's

Jessalyn, Will (me), Dave, Annette, Deanna, Jim, and Jacob
Around the sign of the New Sarum Baptist Church.
Family ancestor Garrett Oakes was founding member
and helped establish it in the early 1800's

No Caretaker but God

they aren't lily of the valley (or the field) but I would say
they are "clothed" fair enough...Wouldn't You?
God is a Very good Caretaker!

Come to the church in the wildwood...

There was no church of course (that I could see) but this
picture reminded me of the hymn. I don't know why..

Don't you wish..

...you were there? We wish you were. Really, Honestly,
without exaggeration, it was much more beautiful than
this picture suggests. Keep in mind all these pictures
were taken with "point and click" 2 megapixel camera,
and this is a compressed j-peg image!

Just a little walk in the woods

Hard to believe these aren't tended gardens.

Really way too beautiful!

After a beautiful walk through fantastic wildflowers there
is this Charming little bridge over a wonderful little
brook. Certainly a Blessed day.

At the Gravesite.

Jacob, Jessalyn, Deanna, Annette and Dave at the
replaced tombstone for Garrett Oakes:
1791 -1881 The theory is the tombstone may have
been replaced by one of his children. Certainly a beautiful
spot to be laid to rest.

Yes, it really was prettier in person!

I'm not sure, but isn't this the picture in the dictionary
next to the word Idyllic? (After I typed this, I made
Jessalyn look up the word just to be sure -No Kidding-
and this is certainly what the definition describes!
Check it for yourself!)

Now you see her...

Sure, it's easy to see Dea in this pic but check out the
next one!

Really! Deanna is in this picture!

If you look close at the base of the big tree you can see
Dea's face. It should give you some perspective on just
how big that tree really is!

Really! We haven't forgotten you!

I know it's been a week since we last posted. Funny, most of the blogs I visit haven't posted anything new either; I guess it's been a busy week for everyone! All kinds of things going on around here. I had hoped to build a small 6 foot by 10 foot screen porch before we get company sometime in the next two weeks, but that isn't going to happen.
They've changed the zoning laws again. It's now going to cost more to get permission to build this screen porch than it will to actually build it. They have to actually send someone over here to physically inspect the spot before I build it. Ironically, I don't need an inspector after it's done; go figure. Anyway, that is just one of the things we've been dealing with. Also there have been some shake ups at church that are very stress full right now. We would love your prayers there. It should be interesting for the next couple of weeks; sigh. Well there's a quick update for you.

I will continue to post pictures of our Canadian Vacation (and there are some great ones coming) but we are at a stage where Deanna will have to explain some of them after I post them. (She doesn't "post" pictures and I can't remember all the details of her family heritage).
Until then, May the Lord increase His blessings upon you!
Will.

The end of the Falls

The Following pictures should be about the last of
the pictures I have for Niagara Falls. We will continue
with the rest of our vacation after this; with occasional
breaks to keep you up to date with all that we're doing
now. We love you all! God Bless!
Will.

upstream from the American Falls

Looks like a commercial for Peppermint Patty!

shower anyone?

Row, Row, Row your boat....

Little boat full of blue sardines:

interesting note: The "maid of the mist" pool at the
bottom of the falls is as deep as the falls are high.

Hey! Don't push!

If only I could have recorded the sound! Huh!?!
What did you say?!? What?!? Huh!?!

The last thing you see if you fall in:

That's alot of water!

keep in mind that the water pouring over is about
6 feet deep. If you put your arm in there it would
tear it off; No Kidding.

Check THIS link!

http://www.house.gov/house/Educate.shtml

As it is Independence Day here in these United States of America, I have posted the above link.
It is the Government link to both photos and transcripts of the original documents of:
The Declaration of Independence
The Constitution of the United States
The Bill of Rights
Additional Amendments to the Constitution.

This link also includes some of the history surrounding the documents but not enough.
The history is equally as important as the documents themselves.
I say this because if you don't understand why someone speaks, you probably don't understand what was spoken.

Mostly I encourage Everyone to study the what these documents say and the history surrounding them. I say everyone because this country has a significant effect on the planet as a whole and it is in the worlds best interest to understand these things.
Why? Because we have more than a few laws that are themselves technically illegal.
No, I will not elaborate. The point here isn't whether certain laws are themselves illegal;
the point here is that if they are or not, would you know?

At first it seems impossible that such an elaborate organization (The United States Government) could possibly make/allow such a thing to take place. Then you start to consider it's history and realize that not only is it possible, but probable.

Which laws? What actions have we as a State or Country taken that may have been -if not illegal, then against the original intent of that first government and its Documents?

The greatest evil done to this United States is that we are indeed prosperous. We have become
so focused on our desires that we have forgotten our responsibilities. I know Christians who refuse to vote "...for the lesser of two evils". Saying its a trap. I know non-Christians who say it is not their concern and there is nothing they can do about it anyway because they are not in government. They say their one vote is too insignificant.

Keep in mind I hold myself to blame as well for not doing more, but both of the above examples forget the most important part of our government:

"We the People"

Anyone get that?

"We Are The Government."

How about now? Try this:

We the people ARE the Government. This isn't a right or a privilege. This isn't a promise of opportunity, This is a responsibility.

It is not a responsibility that can be refused if you claim to be an American Citizen.

It is our jobs as Americans that we too often fail to perform because we let other more personal desires get in our way.
To those who don't live in our country, it would be more than to your advantage to understand these things, because you know as well as we do that as a country, we are capable of great good as well as great evil.
This country is not deaf. Especially when other countries quote us our own laws.

Here is a test that I would fail; How about you?

Who is your town mayor?
Who sits on your town board or
who are its commissioners?
Who is your states Governor?
... Senator?
...Representatives to the House?
In fact how many Local, State and Federal government positions can you name?
How many of those positions do you know the name of the current holder?

Again, I hold myself in poor light this morning as I remember the men and women who gave their lives for this great country so I can:
have the day off from work,
shoot some fireworks,
raise a flag and spend the rest of the year grumbling and complaining but unwilling to do anything about, this United States of America.

Click the link above. Save it to your "favorites" or "bookmarks" or just write it down and put it on your refrigerator. Then go back and check it every once in a while.
Myself, I will be spending a lot of time going back and rereading often.
Remember, if you are not willing to be part of the solution, you can't complain; because you are part of the problem.

Oh Lord, Please forgive us our sins and Bless this United States of America!
And May the Lord truly Bless You.
(By the way Lord, thank you again that I live in a country where I can pray and praise your name out loud and in public! For the Name of Jesus! Amen!)

Will

Had one of those "proud Mamma" moments tonight..

Tonight Jacob and Jessalyn were invited by their Young Eagles instructor to go up in a plane for some learning/fun time. It was wonderful to watch both kids work with Gordie on their "preflight check list". They were checking fuel levels and bolts and flaps and wings and tires and just about everything else that needed checking. They did great! Then the "big moment" came for Jessa and she took to the pilot seat and helped to taxi the plane out to the runway. Well they were out there a "LONG" time and then they taxied back in. She had worked herself into a tizzy and made herself sick worrying about being in the pilot seat etc. She came back in and sat the rest out with us. A friend of ours who is also a flight instructor was there and he helped to make her feel better about her nerves and jumpy stomach.
Jake jumped in the plane and never looked back. While his proud parents watched he helped Gordie taxi out and then take off. He flew almost 90% of the time by himself. They did very simple maneuvers and found our house, Jacob's school, his friend Luke's house, the local roads, checked out some fires that were burning etc. In general they had a great time and Jake was really excited when they were done. I guess that boy was made for planes.
I am just as proud of both of my kids as I could be. I cannot imagine at their age learning to "fly". What an opportunity and what a kick for them. I am grateful that we have such a great bunch of pilots at our airport that really love to fly and want to pass that love on to future generations.
What a great set of kids we have.
dea