posted by Staddon Family on 11/30/08

The week of Thanksgiving was full of happy reunions. Michael, Robert, and James drove in Saturday and Esther arrived on Monday! Then on Wednesday we met the Wilkes team from VA at the ice skating rink! The two hours were packed with fun as we played the ice version of Bible runners. The game was especially adapted so that skaters of all speeds could play because it’s more fun with everyone. The climax of this outing came right before leaving when James shared the good news to another young man who was ready to receive Christ as his personal savior. James’ example was an encouragement to always be ready to share the hope that is within Christ.

We celebrated thanksgiving the next day with both sets of grandparents, while the Wilkes spent the day in Elkins with their cousins. One of the major blessings we are thankful for is our grandparents love and prayers for us! Good family relationships are not to be taken for granted and it is good to set aside a day to express our gratefulness to the Lord.

The next morning, we gathered in the living room for a good time of sharing what God is doing in our families to make us spiritual salt and light for Christ in our culture. In the afternoon, we followed Jonathan’s special treasure hunt all over the property from the dog house to the loft in the barn! It was unique how Jonathan researched facts and used Thanksgiving trivia to develop this fun game. Obviously, it was designed for a crowd because it’s more fun with everyone!

We were eager to have a game of Settlers of Catan but only had one board. It would simply not do for only half of us to play because it’s more fun with everyone. So we started thinking. Before long we came up with a quite complex rotation plan that worked splendidly! There were also about 5 different versions of ping pong invented over the weekend to expand the range from 4 to 14 players. Why? Because it’s more fun with everyone!

I see an analogy between this week and the way the church functions. Not independently or competively but in unison as the body of Christ. “So we, being many, are one body in Christ, and every one members of another.” Romans 12:5 It was a motivational week for us as we experienced this truth in the many opportunities we had for everyone to participate. We found that it is truly more fun with everyone!

9 Comments » | posted in Family News

posted by Donald on 11/28/08

Not many would argue with the fact that it is becoming increasingly difficult to tell the difference between what is artificial and what is genuine.
Learning to “tell the difference” is one thing I appreciate about birding–and after being in Taiwan for a year, the opportunity came at last to make a certain identification amongst a group of heron-like species called egrets.
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Egrets in the States can be a little difficult to distinguish sometimes when compared to the rare white herons (like albinos) which do occur. In Taiwan however, there are five species of egrets alone. They too are distinguishable but I hadn’t gotten a good look until this October when Po Hau, a teacher and good friend, took me on a bike ride through the countryside surrounding the school on the evening of the 18th. Returning by train early on the morning of the 30th (and thanks to the binoculars Po Hau let me use!) I finally learned to differentiate the Intermediate, Cattle and Great Egrets.

Also at this time of year they have pumpkins in Taiwan: mottled orange and green, small, round and very sweet. At the English Village Market class we have pumpkins too. Like the other fruits and vegetables there, I was amazed at how realistic they were. They wouldn’t do well in a Thanksgiving Day pie but they’re a sweet teaching aid when we try to convey what it’s like to find the best fruit at the market and barter for it in English!

This reminds me of a conversation I had with Austin (whose birthday was also on October 30). Discussing what it’s like to be on a team of young people, he and I agreed that sincerity was a key factor. As time progresses and it becomes an increasing challenge for all of us to tell the difference between what is genuine and what is not, it will be important to guard against artificiality in our own personal lives. Then when something (or someone) is tested and found genuine, they are appreciated all the more! Austin, you’re a good cook and a great communicator but the sincerity you demonstrate is one thing I appreciate most. It is something the Lord will greatly use at our time in history. Have a great year and thanks again for all you bring to the table.

2 Comments » | posted in Family News, Tidbits

posted by Michael on 11/26/08

On Opening Day, no Staddon hunters saw any deer at all and had to end the hunt early due to a drizzly rain that wouldn’t stop. This was unusual and a bit disheartening. That evening, I didn’t know if I wanted to hunt the next day or not—I needed my rest before Thanksgiving and I had a lot to do. So I decided not to set my alarm.

Tuesday morning I suddenly woke up at 4:30 and felt completely rested! “Should I go hunting?” I wondered. I decided to check the weather but the forecast looked uncertain. I couldn’t decide one way or the other so I opened my Bible. A verse stood out to me in Proverbs that read, “A just man falleth seven times, and riseth up again”. I thought, “We’ve only failed once! Why should I be discouraged?” Inspired by the testimonies I had heard from Larry Guthrie two weeks before, I asked the Lord to give me a testimony with this hunt.

Getting on my gear, I headed outside, only to realize that a wet snow was already falling. As I walked through the woods, however, I noticed that the snow was accumulating on the ground! This was a blessing because it would create excellent visibility! I had decided to take a different path into the woods than usual and hunt in an unusual spot, but when I reached the tree stand I decided just to stay there. It amazes me how all these factors came into play to make the hunt successful. When I first saw the deer it looked like a decent size and when it moved out of the brush I noticed the antlers. It had apparently spent the night in the bramble patch, which meant that if I had come in the way we normally do I would have jumped it up and scared it off! I watched it for a long time as it made its way closer and closer to me. Finally it stood broadside in a clear place giving me an excellent shot.

I praise the Lord for putting everything together in a way that I never could have done on my own, from waking me up to guiding my decisions, my steps, and the weather, and of course for bringing it in to supply the needs of the family.

4 Comments » | posted in Family News

posted by James on 11/25/08

I’m beginning to see some common threads. I really need to work on composition to heighten emotional impact and focus on getting the exact exposure to maintain maximum interest. I’ve got one more week to work on it! But for now, here is week three.

Day 11: Breakfast

Simplicity was the goal here. I wanted to create a picture of a bowl of oatmeal like you would find on a breakfast menu of some classy restaurant. The lighting helps to achieve this end.

Instructor Review and Critique: “Very nice! I love the cozy, intimate feel of the low perspective. You’ve done a really good job with the exposure, drawing attention to the oatmeal. You need to watch the color of the orange juice, it needs to be more orange/yellow, less orange/brown/green.
I don’t like the extreme tilt. This is especially true when you have a cup with liquid. You don’t loose the simplicity or interest by pulling the image back level. This would also allow you to add the spoon handle back into the shot–creating the feeling that this is the viewer’s bowl.”

Day 12: Pinecone

I decided that this assignment would be a fun one to shoot with a macro lens. I used a tripod because of intricate subject positioning and low lighting. At first, I didn’t like the background, so I found a yellow leaf and set it in behind the pinecone where it would be out of focus and add some color and character to the picture.

Instructor Review and Critique: “Wow! Nicely done. I love the texture and light on this unique perspective of a common pine cone. You’ve got great

(more…)

6 Comments » | posted in Photography

posted by Mom on 11/22/08

You can’t judge a book by its cover; well, you can’t judge a pumpkin by its shape either.

Actually, I am not talking about a pumpkin but a “melon squash” or “sweet necked squash.”

Some look at its shape and call it a gourd, but when you cut it open you see a solid orange neck and a hollow bulb full of seeds. We dry the seeds to plant in the spring or eat. Michael started growing these squash when he learned that they were sweet enough to eat raw. However, they are best when cooked and used in recipes which call for pumpkin.  They make perfect pumpkin pies.

One squash goes a long way. I cut up one that was fourteen pounds last week and was able to can five quarts of pumpkin with three cups left over for soup!  They also keep well in the cellar.

In all the pumpkin recipes posted, I have used this squash either fresh or canned. My latest experience with this delicious vegetable has been a pumpkin cake roll.  This is a cake rolled up with cream cheese.  This recipe is going to take some practice!  Does anyone have any pointers about how to make a pumpkin roll? Mine tasted good but did not look “like the picture.” 

“Judge not, that ye be not judged. For with what judgement ye judge, ye shall be judged: and with what measure ye mete, it shall be measured to you again.” Matthew 7:1,2

14 Comments » | posted in Recipes