All for Medina!

The last several days we've been working on painting two 4'x8' Debra Medina signs. We finally got them done 2 days ago, and installed them on our trailer. This enables us to have "advertisement on wheels". Please check out Medina's website, and if you live in Texas, vote for her on March 2nd!

Art

During the process of painting the first sign

Caleb & I working at finishing the first sign

A unique perspective

Number one is finished!

Caleb putting in the final screws

All for Medina! :)

(L to R): Yours truly, Jaden, Abby & Caleb

Casabiance

I found this interesting poem in the "McGuffey Second Reader", of which we own a copy. It it entitled "Casabianca," by Felicia Hemans:

The boy stood on the burning deck, whence all but him had fled;
the flame that lite the battle's wreck, shone round him over the dead.
Yet beautiful and bright he stood, as born to rule the storm;
a creature of heroic blood, a proud, though childlike form.
The flames rolled on; he would not go without his father's word;
that father, faint in death below, his voice no longer heard.
He called aloud- “Say, father, say if yet my task is done.”
He knew not that the chieftain lay unconscious of his son.
“Speak, Father,” once again he cried, “If I may yet be gone.”
And- but the booming shot replied, and fast the flames rolled on.
Upon his brow he felt their breath, and in his waving hair;
and looked from that lone post of death, in still, yet brave despair;
And shouted but once more aloud, “My father, must I stay?”
While o'er him fast, through sail and shroud, the wreathing fires made way.
They wrapped the ship in splendor wild, they caught the flag on high,
and streamed above the gallant child, like banners in the sky.
Then came a burst of thunder sound- the boy-oh! Where was he?
Ask of the winds, that far around with fragments strewed the sea.
With mast, and helm, and pennon fair, that well had borne their part;
but the noblest thing that perished there, was that young and faithful heart.”

More Snow Pictures

I'm finally getting around to posting pictures from the snow on the 11th of this month. Pictures do no justice to the beauty of the thick blanket of snow on EVERYTHING! "Awesome" is a very good word to describe it.

A lone rabbit out in the snow

As you can see, the snow was thick even on the road (it doesn't get much traffic)

The beauty of snow of the bushes, trees and the chain-link fence

In this spot we got 5 inches. There were some spots with as much as 6 inches. Our Uncle & Aunt in Ft. Worth got 13 inches! Unbelievable!

One word: BEAUTIFUL!

Winter wonder land! Are we in Narnia?!

Having fun with snow balls :)

Our second snowman... the first one toppled over. :)

Let us know how much snow you got in that snow storm by leaving us a comment. Thanks!!

Some photos

A sweet model for my photography, Deborah W.


Ha! Really? The speed limit is only 55 in our playhouse? That's scary. :P


Cups, cups, cups! I took this photo when we went out to eat with some friends, but at the time I had only seen 2 or 3 cups. But if you look closely you can see about 6 cups!

Vote MEDINA 2010!

If you live in Texas, we would urge you to cast your vote for Debra Medina for Texas Governor on March 2nd.

She takes a stand, unashamedly, on:
- the Second Amendment
- Biblical, traditional marriage
- State rights, and sovereignty
- the Sanctity of all Human Life

We Texans... Common Sense and Common Values.

Watch Debra Medina in the two Texas Gubernatorial debates, here and here.

"Outside the snow is fallin'..."

...and brothers and sisters are callin', "you-hoo". Yep. That's right, snow in Texas. A LOT of snow!

This morning I woke up around 7:15 and looked out the window and it was snowing! The ground was already covered in 1-2 inches. And it hasn't ceased to snow at all today. We have received around 5-6 inches, and in some places there's an accumulation of 7-8 inches! When was the last time THAT happened in Texas??

We've had fun making snowmen, snow forts, an igloo and having [friendly] snow ball fights. :) After being out there for several hours (not in a row), I'm inside, ah, um, freezing. It's cold inside too! :)

The beauty of snow on trees

Our backyard

A little more than 2" at around 9am. Since then we've gotten a lot more.

Jaden doing jumping-jacks laying down (i.e. making a snow angel) :)

God's Way is the Best Way

Please go to Dad's blog and read the latest sermon, God's Way is the Best Way. He preached this sermon on Sunday, February 7, 2010 (last Sunday). It is VERY good!

Taken from Psalm 1, Psalm 18:28-33, Isaiah 55:1-3, 6-9 and John 14:6. Very powerful!

Here are the first few paragraphs:

I’ve got a two-question survey I’d like to conduct this morning – and guess what? Your number is the one I’ve dialed and I’ve got you on the line… So, will you participate with me in this?

Question number one is designed for you to show your response to what I
ask, by raising your hand. But, question number two – let’s just say that I
invite you to take it up with the Lord, just between Him and you – without any
visible response on your part at this time…

Here’s the first question: “How many of you believe that God’s way – His plan – is the BEST way to go?” Raise your hand, please, if you agree with that statement.

Okay, now to question number two – and, again – I urge you to take this one up with the Lord, just the two of you. Here’s the question: “If people watching your life were to try to discern whether or not you really believe that God’s way is best, what would they say – what conclusion would they draw, based upon the way you live your life?”

“God’s way is the very best way” – our survey says that an overwhelming majority of this crowd, at least, really believe that to be the case. But, the question – the one that makes us squirm in our seats, the one that pricks our consciences, or maybe even causes our blood pressure to go up – is not: “Is God’s way the BEST way?” But, rather, “Does my life line up with my acknowledgement and confession that God’s way is best?”

David Hames

Please go to Abby's blog, and read the post about David Hames. Among other things, he did not survive the earthquake. Please pray for his family.

Jo's Birthday Pictures

I got around to posting pictures sooner than I thought! Enjoy!

The cup cakes rising to a nice rounded top

Frosting the cup cakes with cream cheese frosting (let me know if you want the recipe, it's very simple)


Frosting the cake (which was made out of the same batter as the cup cakes)

Spooning the frosting into a plastic bag to decorate the cake

Now for the fun of decorating :)

The flower on Jo's cake


Jo helping to decorate her own cake :)

The finished product

Preparing the cheese quesadillas

The delicious filling

Altogether now!


The finished cup cakes. The green frosting we just drizzled on top.

The delicious birthday meal: Quesadillas, vegetable stir-fry, whipped pinto beans and guacamole/salsa

Caleb preparing a special drink: Blueberry/Pomegranate "wine"

Jo opening her gifts. Jaden gave her balloons along with several smaller items

Caleb's card with a wax seal he made

Jo also got stickers from Jaden. He was very generous :)

The food posters by Jaden and Phoebe

Lighting the candles... make a wish...

"Wait! I thought you were supposed to eat the cake, NOT the candles!"

Jo and all of her gifts

Johanna wanted everyone to know that the dress she wore, is the dress she's worn for the past 4 birthdays. :)

Happy Birthday, Jo - 1 Day Late

Johanna Ruth Kautt

Yesterday was Johanna's 12th birthday. I was so busy baking her cake and cup cakes, along with preparing for her special supper meal, that I wasn't able to post something about her birthday, ON her birthday.

Please visit Abby's blog, and read the post about Johanna's birthday. Abby always says it so well!

We had a great celebration last evening, with cheese quesadillas for the special part of her meal. Then, for dessert we had hummingbird cake, with mango coconut milk ice cream. Then to top it off, a very mysterious-cold dessert. Very fattening. :)

I hope to post pictures soon, possibly tomorrow.

Christmas photos?!

Everyone,

We are sorry that we never posted any photos from Christmas. We haven't developed the photos yet, so it might not be up in a LONG time! Dad had the digital camera with him in Germany while we were in Tyler and we only had a film camera with us.

~Johanna (for the Kautt Clan)

An Ancient Hymn

The Trial of Jan Hus

Even before I read the thrilling fictional work Crushed Yet Conquering I was impressed by Jan z Hus (John Huss) and the stand he took for the Gospel of Christ.

Last year our family purchased a CD of A capella hymns from ancient to the classics of the late 1700s. One of the beautiful hymns is Hus’ To Avert From Men God’s Wrath which is set to the oldest Moravian hymn known. This slow and beautiful song has an even more powerful message. I know now why the Roman Catholics couldn’t stand him.

To avert from men God’s wrath,
Jesus suffered in our stead;
By an ignominious death
He a full atonement made;
And by His most precious blood
Brought us, sinners, nigh to God.

That is the first of 4 verses included on this CD, and all of them have a powerful Gospel message contained therein.

I am fascinated by the way God uses ordinary people, who are courageous enough to stand on God’s Word alone!

Although, we would not necessarily agree with everything that Jan z Hus stood for from a theological perspective, he and others like him (Tyndal specifically) blazed a trail with their ashes for what would later become known as the Prostestant Reformation, and would produce such men as Luther, Calvin and Zwingli.

His testimony reminds me of these verses:
32 And what more shall I say? For time would fail me to tell of Gideon, Barak, Samson, Jephthah, of David and Samuel and the prophets— 33 who through faith conquered kingdoms, enforced justice, obtained promises, stopped the mouths of lions, 34 quenched the power of fire, escaped the edge of the sword, were made strong out of weakness, became mighty in war, put foreign armies to flight. 35 Women received back their dead by resurrection. Some were tortured, refusing to accept release, so that they might rise again to a better life. 36 Others suffered mocking and flogging, and even chains and imprisonment. 37 They were stoned, they were sawn in two, they were killed with the sword. They went about in skins of sheep and goats, destitute, afflicted, mistreated— 38 of whom the world was not worthy—wandering about in deserts and mountains, and in dens and caves of the earth.
Hebrews 11:32-38