Memorial Day 2007

King David was probably the most loved leader that Israel ever had. He had a respect and appreciation for the common person that won their hearts and devotion. He knew how to respond in various situations in ways that won the loyalty of his subjects and helped to unite the kingdom. A good example of this is found in the book of First Chronicles, chapter eleven, verses ten through twenty.

From the context of these verses it appears that the writer is remembering , or commemorating, mighty men who served David during David’s reign. The writer tells of a time that Israel was at war with the Philistines near the town of Bethlehem. The Philistines had a strong garrison and David was in a stronghold nearby. David made a statement that was a little bit selfish, but it was not a command, the Bible calls it a longing. The scripture says, “David longed, and said, Oh that one would give me drink of the water of the well of Bethlehem, that is at the gate.”

Imagine David’s surprise when a while later, three of his mighty men appeared, bloody, worn, and weary with a container of water from the well that David had mentioned. The Bible says that they broke through the host of the Philistines and drew water out of the well.

Now we see David’s heart in action, and David being the man that God described as “a man after my own heart.” When David received the water he would not drink it. David said, “My God forbid me, that I should do this thing: shall I drink the blood of these men that have put their lives in jeopardy?” Then David poured the water out as a sacrifice, and a memorial to the Lord.

When David realized the depth of love of his soldiers and that they had risked their lives for his comfort, the water took on a new meaning. The water became something sacred, too valuable to squander on selfish needs. On this Memorial Day I am thinking about the freedom and liberty that has been provided for us at great cost by our veterans, many risking their lives, and many giving their life in defense of our nation. I realize that this freedom and liberty we have is not to be taken for granted. It is too precious to be consumed in selfish pursuits. The way to honor those who have made those sacrifices is to use this freedom by pouring out our lives in service to others, to be good citizens, loving parents, and faithful children.

Galatians 5:13 For, brethren, ye have been called unto liberty; only use not liberty for an occasion to the flesh, but by love serve one another.

Yes, thank goodness we are free, but freedom isn’t free, it comes with a price, a price that thousands of US military vets have been willing to pay. On behalf of all the crew on Wolfhill, “Thanks! We will never forget!”


Ronnie

This is the Life!!

A couple of weeks ago I was rebuilding a fence and Sunnie and Tyler were hanging out with me. Tyler went up the hill to try and catch his mule, while Sunnie rode her bike to her house for ice water and a snack. They had already spilled half of my water and poured most of the other half on their chests trying to drink out of the spigot.

Sunnie returned shortly, with a baggie of ice cubes and a peanut butter bar in a sack. She looked up at me all red faced, sweaty, and grimy and said, “Ronnie, this is the life isn’t it?!” I smiled and said, “Yes it is Sunnie, blue sky, fresh air, birds singing, you can’t beat it.” Sunnie said, “I’m so glad we live in Texas, I just don’t know why anybody would want to live in the city!”

I have to admit, that made me feel pretty good. I want my grandchildren to love living in the country the same way that I do, and I almost felt sorry right then for city folks. Then as I thought on it a little more, I could see in my mind’s eye, little kids all over the world, many in city parks, or at the zoo, or in their yard, looking up at a parent or grandparent and saying, “this is the life isn’t it?”

I don’t think it is a location that determines whether “this is the life” or not, rather the fact that we are with people with love, enjoying what our Creator has provided for us. Children can be happy anywhere if they are the recipient of an adults love and attention. We can be like a child in that way also because of our Heavenly Father's love. The apostle Paul said that he had found that he could be content in any situation, and on Wolfhill we take Jesus at His word when He said, “ I came that they may have life and that they may have it more abundantly.”

Happy Birthday Caleb

Caleb, Bradley, Ben, Tyler, Sunnie and KaseyCaleb and Brandon Notice the Longhorns patio decoration
Bethany and Ronnie playing a game of pool. Notice the Burnt Orange felt on the pool table, Jeff is really a Texas Longhorns fan!!
Sunnie enjoying the swing and Ben playing the exercise ball game. Misty in charge of the DOGS




Party time again!! Caleb our oldest grandson had an important birthday on May 3, his sixteenth. Wow!!! He should still be a little boy. We are so proud of you Caleb. You are kind and sweet and we love you very much.

Seems like the older they get its harder to get them into the Birthday Party Mode they just want Cash for gifts and some fun with a couple of friends. We actually celebrated 2 times. On Sunday we had a family dinner and later in the week Caleb and a couple of friends went over to Bethany and Jeff's to play pool and some weird game they invented with Bethany's exercise ball.

The best gift of all was the old Chevy Truck his parents bought for him to drive to school. Drive safe Caleb and OBEY the speed limit.

Happy Birthday We Love You.

All Hat and No Cattle

Jeff had been considering buying a couple of cows or heifers for a while. He had gone to the sale barn a time or two but still hadn’t found what he wanted. What he did discover at the sale barn though, was that he needed a bigger truck. He told Bethany that his little Ford Ranger looked puny next to all of the farm and cattle pickups.

Also, he began to feel the need for a cowboy hat which he remedied soon enough with a modest investment. When he came home wearing the hat, my daughter Bethany, showing her usual measure of restraint and tact, ridiculed Jeff mercilessly. She was accustomed to seeing him in golfing attire and the like. The hat seemed totally incongruous.

When Bethany told me about the hat, I told her that it was a good idea, since Jeff would be out in the sun tending cows with me. I guess she wondered what the difference was in golfing in the sun every weekend, as opposed to tending cattle. She apparently knows very little about cows. Almost everyone knows that cows would not respect someone wearing Dockers shorts, a collared knit shirt, and a Ping cap. How many cows do you see out on golf courses?

I admonished Bethany to stop poking fun at Jeff and his hat. I did warn her, however that he really shouldn’t wear the hat until after he had bought some cows, or he would be in the unenviable position known in Texas as “all hat and no cattle”.

Well, about two weeks ago we went and bought some cows. Jeff bought a cow with a five month old heifer calf, and the cow is bred back already. We bought a cow that is due to calve in a few months. Both cows are BIG nice Beefmasters. Jeff has a good start in the cow/calf business. My Mom looked at the big pretty cow that Jeff bought and said, “anybody that owns a cow like that can wear any kind of hat they want to.”

Adoption Update for May

The Referrals are in the States for the Month of May. We are a little closer. The CCAA matched through November 1, 2005. Our date is December 9, 2005. Our little girl still does not have a name. Visit our China Hope site and click on "What's Her Name" on the right side at the top of the blog and leave a comment with your favorite of the names we are considering or even a new suggestion!

Happy Birthday Ben

We recently celebrated Ben's Birthday in the pear orchard. Most of the pear trees are gone now but we still call it the pear orchard.

As soon as it starts to warm up the whole family is ready for a wiener roast and we especially love to celebrate birthdays here.

Hey Carmen, maybe you should feed that one to the DOG! Ben turned 12 years old (that seems impossible) on March 7 and we had lots of fun. Aunts, uncles, grandparents, and lots of cousins came to help Ben celebrate.

Sunnie and Nautika

Rick and Austin
Doris and Nautika

Charles and Nanny

Doris and Grandma
Austin loves those boots!!

Sarah

Maddie


Bethany and Sunnie

Sunnie and Gwen
Doris Austin and Rick



We really enjoy each other!!

Wade and Gwen

Party Crashers!!! You can always count on a visit from the bull, cows, and calves when there is a party going on.

This is "Oreo" and "Milk Shake's" first weiner roast

Then the sun went down and we enjoyed the fire and each other.

A last bit of fun beside the fire, what a great party Ben. We love you very much, and hope you really enjoyed your party...we all did!!

Ben's birthday post was recently deleted and edited. Here is the new and improved version of Happy Birthday Ben