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posted by Esther on 04/12/12

We are so blessed to have a virtuous mother! Her dedicated love, hard work, and God-honoring life style are a testimony to all! What a joy to honor her on her special day. In fact, there was more than one celebration of her birthday this year! The first was at the Neely’s with the most beautiful, delicious cakes you could ask for! The second was a a party for her and Grandpa at Manard’s Spaghetti Inn where Uncle Tim took us all out to eat! Last of all we celebrated with a Hawaiian theme and went to a piano concert in Clarksburg. We love you, Mom and thank God for who you are!

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7 Comments » | posted in Family News

posted by Donald on 04/10/12

1912 was an interesting year.

For one thing it was the year of the Titanic. Today marks the 100th year anniversary of its propitious launch. Who could have guessed what would happen four days later? It has been said that no historical subjects have attracted such long-lived popularity as the first coming of Jesus Christ, the American Civil War, and the classic tragedy of the Titanic.

1912 was also the year that our 47th and 48th states were admitted to the Union: Arizona and New Mexico.

But in our town, it was the year of the new depot. Built by the railroad for the people of the town who knew how much it meant to make a good first impression on the many travelers riding the B&O, the handsome building has stood the test of time and been a part of the city’s Apple Butter Festival every year. Aside from roof damage due to a very unfortunate fire, it retains the air of respectable architecture and has been kept up by the faithful efforts of Jim Helmick, Bill Price and others. It can be seen from the North Bend Rail-Trail that runs the 70 miles from Clarksburg to Parkersburg. As boys, Michael, Robert and I spent a lot of time riding this section of the trail on our bikes and I can still remember the trains that used to pass our grandparents’ house that way.

In commemoration of the centennial, and the heritage the town has associated with it, we are glad to present a Christmas ornament featuring a fine line drawing of the building in red, circled with a wreath of green on a white background. Ornaments are lightweight and shatterproof. They are available throughout the year this year. In the summer and fall we will hope to have the bulbs present at several Fort New Salem events where I would be happy to sign one for you on the reverse. Long distance orders may be made through the Staddon Family online store under the category of Home Accents (see the tab above).

Just as we would do well to remember the Alamo or the Titanic and those who rose to the occasion at those times, we will neither forget nor underestimate the important part small towns have played and continue to play in the growth and heritage of a great nation.

2 Comments » | posted in Art Work, Historical Glimpses

posted by Michael on 04/9/12

As the United States Supreme Court heard the case against government controlled health care less than two weeks ago, over 4,000 freedom-loving Americans rallied in Washington DC and let their voices be heard. It appears federal government thought it could nail down its absolute control over every last corner of our lives and decisions, no matter what the people or the constitution say. Good Samaritan Ministries reports that “The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services recently made the final announcement confirming that federal health care regulations will be forced on citizens, even those with opposing beliefs.” But as the administration puts its foot down, it finds a lot of nails standing up in the opposite direction.

It could be that Europe has experienced some benefits along with their government-run health care. But that’s Europe. Americans don’t give up freedom for ease. Otherwise the United States would never have been born. Remember Patrick Henry. Remember our fathers who against all foreseeable odds set their firm reliance on divine Providence and won the liberty for good people to make their own decisions without hindrance.

And the voice of freedom will again be heard. No matter how hard the tyrants press the people to conform to their agenda, true American patriots will still say “Give me liberty or give me death.” And we praise the Lord for those patriots who make their voices heard to avoid the deadly “spiral of silence” before it is too late. Lord willing, the Supreme Court will have the wisdom to remember that we have a government of the people, by the people, and for the people. And if not, well, the fight has just begun.

2 Comments » | posted in Family News

posted by James on 04/8/12

At 6:30 this morning, we all quietly and quickly got out of bed and climbed up the hill to have our Wisdom Search during the sunrise. Because it was April 8 we read Psalm chapter 8 which turned out to be a very fitting passage for this day of remembrance for the resurrection of our Savior!

Psalm 8

“O LORD our Lord, how excellent is thy name in all the earth! who hast set thy glory above the heavens. Out of the mouth of babes and sucklings hast thou ordained strength because of thine enemies, that thou mightest still the enemy and the avenger.

“When I consider thy heavens, the work of thy fingers, the moon and the stars, which thou hast ordained; what is man, that thou art mindful of him? and the son of man, that thou visitest him? For thou hast made him a little lower than the angels, and hast crowned him with glory and honour. Thou madest him to have dominion over the works of thy hands; thou hast put all things under his feet: all sheep and oxen, yea, and the beasts of the field; the fowl of the air, and the fish of the sea, and whatsoever passeth through the paths of the seas.

“O LORD our Lord, how excellent is thy name in all the earth!”

Happy Resurrection Day!

5 Comments » | posted in Family News

posted by Donald on 04/7/12

There were two trees needing taken down.

They stood on the edge of our property near a road. Thankfully both trees leaned inward, towards our property, one slightly downhill—that would be a simple cut—the other slightly uphill—that would be a different story.

Soon the first one was down. It lay facing the southeast. We would have quite a few mulching chips from its branches! But that was only half the job. The second tree, approximately the same size and height, had its branches growing all towards the northeast. If it fell that way it was in danger of destorying Michael’s walnut saplings or a young elm that we wanted to keep. (They’re a rarer species now.) More than that however, if it fell in that direction, the one cutting it would be put in a tight spot between the falling tree and the fence. The only escape route was down a steep hill. And, what’s more, the wind was against us.

Our goal then was to fell the tree as far southward as possible. Michael was the one cutting. First he notched it on the southeast side, about 90 degrees perpendicular to the way it was leaning. Then he began his cut from the back, coming from the north so that the bark remaining in tact on the south side would tend to pull the falling tree in that direction. Would it work?

About that time, Jonathan came out for a shift. He had come at an interesting time and would be a witness to the things that happened next. At about this point something amazing happened. The wind, which had quieted, now started to blow from the north—in our favor. I had never thought of that! We had prayed before the operation. We had asked God to bless us with safety and give us alertness. But we had never thought to ask Him to change the wind! Almost as quickly as I thought these thoughts, the wind reversed itself and blew very strong from the south. I picked some grass and sprinkled it in the wind. It flew almost horizontally the breeze was blowing so hard.

But then something else happened . . . the chain saw sputtered and stopped. Just stopped! At that point, it did not seem to us that things would go the way we hoped. We had cleaned the air filter on the chain saw earlier so we checked the gas and the sawdust around the sprocket. No problems there. Patiently and deliberately, Michael retrieved the second saw from the back of the truck. It roared to life and we repositioned ourselves. Michael stood on the north side of the tree with a good angle on the blade. I stood uphill. As soon as I saw the tree leaning to one side or the other I would signal to Michael. Jonathan stood directly behind me.

The morning sun shown from the other side of the towering maple. The wind blew. The cut on the back of the tree deepened. But the tree did not fall. Michael paused and looked up at the tree trying to discern which way it would go. A truck passed.

Jonathan and I were praying the Lord would either change the wind or cause it to subside. Finally we cried out for the Lord to change the wind again.

The saw blade width was now entirely within the trunk of the tree. We couldn’t go farther. To completely cut through the bark on the south side would free the tree to fall in any direction. We had done all we could. I remember Michael waiting there for a second or two at the base of the tree. Then all at once I realized that the wind was coming from my left, from the north, ever so gently but unmistakably real and steady, and the tree was falling. Hinged perfectly, and aided by the breeze, it slowly tilted, fell through the air, and landed in almost perfect parallel with the tree that had gone before it! There it lay.

Praise the Lord! He had given us one more instance of His delight in hearing and answering us. In every aspect of life He works according to His ways and waits for us to lean on Him. “Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge Him and He shall direct thy paths” . . . and thy trees’ paths as well!  (Proverbs 3:5-6).

2 Comments » | posted in Possessing the Land, Tidbits