Owen Family

Listen to this!

2007-03-06T06:10:00.000-08:00

Take a minute and listen to the Davis Senior High School Madrigal Choir from California perform this heavenly piece. It is certainly worth it!

Visit the website for information about this internationally known choir.

It's hard to describe how beautiful it sounds. It inspires, refreshes and quiets the soul... and yet it excites one too. What is your take on it?

On Trusting & Praying

2007-03-02T19:36:00.000-08:00

"Learning to pray is learning to trust the wisdom, the power, and the love of our Heavenly Father, always so far beyond our dreams. He knows our need and knows ways to meet it that have never entered our heads. Things we feel sure we need for happiness may often lead to our ruin. Things we think will ruin us (the chariots of Egypt, the waters of the sea, etc.), if we believe what the Father tells us and surrender ourselves into His strong arms, brings us deliverance and joy.

The only escape from self-love is self-surrender. "Whoever loses his life for Me will find it" (Matthew 16:25 NIV). "Dwell in my love. If you heed my commands, you will dwell in my love. I have spoken thus to you, so that my joy may be in you, and your joy complete" (John 15:9-11, NEB). Whenever I have resisted Him, I have cheated myself. Whenever I have yielded, I have found joy.

William Kay, who translated the Psalms in 1870, gives this note on Psalm 73:22: "Though I was supported by Thee and living 'with Thee' as thy guest, yet I was insensible to Thy presence; - intent only on a small section of the visible course of things; - like the irrational animals that are ever looking down at the ground they are grazing. "Yet I am perpetually with Thee, Thou hast laid hold on my right hand," wrote the psalmist. "Thou wilt guide me with Thy counsel and afterwards receive me in glory ...And as for me, nearness to God is my good; I have put my trust in the Lord God" (vv.23, 24, 28, WK)."

Excerpts from Keep A Quiet Heart, by Elizabeth Elliot

Fun on Thanksgiving Day!

2006-11-28T16:04:00.000-08:00

With food in the oven, Delaney, Merritt and I headed toward our mini-playground outside for some fresh air and fun! :o)

More on New Mexico

2006-11-16T18:32:00.000-08:00

Here are several more pictures from our outing to Monjeau Lookout in Ruidoso, New Mexico (taken this past July)...

::singing:: "The hills are alive..."

Atop Monjeau Lookout (Delaney and Cale look sick, don't they?? :o)

We were fooling around and Cale decided to act as though he was meditating (rather fits with the scenery, doesn't it?).

Woods surrounding Monjeau. It was such a treat to just sit there, nice and quiet-like, and soak in the peacefulness made by the gentle rustling sound amongst the birch trees, surrounding hills and warm sunshine. Totally refreshing!

Merritt and Mommy enjoying a picnic lunch.

The yellow sign on the right reads, "Narrow - Rough - Road". It immediately made me think of the pathway to heaven. (Matthew 7:14)

::Sigh:: What an awesome day that will not soon be forgotten!

Wedding pictures coming next (not that you're so interested in viewing them, I just like posting -- I consider this our family journal, in a way). :o)

Our trip to New Mexico

2006-07-23T13:57:00.000-07:00

It's about time I resurrected this blog! Below is an account of our trip to New Mexico...
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What a beautiful and diverse place New Mexico is (and by diverse, I mean terrain), a true feast for the eyes. It certainly has a unique "flavor" all it's own. From mountains to deserts, there is much to explore and experience. We all had such a wonderfully refreshing time during our vacation in the mountain town of Ruidoso, where my mother grew up. I wish we could've stayed longer than just a week...

The main reason for this excursion was to celebrate my cousin's wedding; but it also provided a prime opportunity to bring my mother, her two brothers and my grandmother together under one roof. Something that hadn't been facilitated in about six years, primarily due to distance between individual families and our differing schedules. Besides the wedding, nothing topped witnessing "the kids" close to Grandmother and her "pleased mother hen" expression on her dear face (though, a late night chat with my cousin, Tonia ranks up there too).

We flew into El Paso, Texas on Tuesday afternoon. The flight from Tampa-Dallas-El Paso was actually rather relaxing. I was half expecting to feel totally drained after a full day of traveling, but it was a pleasant surprise to find the opposite -- though, I can't speak for the rest of my family on that score.

After a brief drive through El Paso, I fully realized that it's the next-to-the-last place I'd want to live in. When we were getting our rental car it was ninety-eight degrees of intensely dry, hot air (though, I won't complain too loudly, because Florida's heat and humidity can be harder to deal with than just plain heat)! It's hard to find anything that resembles "green and cool", though. While flying in, Dad pointed out White Sands to us. In two words I can describe El Paso: shimmering heat. I apologize if I've created a prejudice against this barren city - maybe if I had spent a little more time there I wouldn't have such a harsh view... :o)

After a two hour drive to Ruidoso, New Mexico we parked at Uncle Clifton and Aunt Dee Dee's home. We were definitely ready to unwind and stretch our legs (that makes it sound as though we were curled up in balls all day long!). We didn't stay at Aunt Dee Dee's because other relatives were going to, but we were blessed with the residence of Uncle Clifton's friend, Robyn. It could not have worked out better. We were so close to Uncle Clifton's that on several occasions, Delaney and I walked down the main street and up to their house.

One thing Delaney and I noticed about Ruidoso and the surrounding area, is the amount of shops with names ranging from the unique to just plain hilarious (for some, I wondered if they were a prank to lure customers in). One that really stuck out was "Split Ends Salon". Odd isn't it? Do I come out with split ends...or do they take care of them? :o)

The days leading up to the wedding were filled with an abundant amount of laughter, talking, shopping/browsing (Ruidoso boasts of some fun little shops, even though they might have weird names), hiking, picnicking, and late-nights. Oh, and a highlight of the week: arranging my cousins "bazillion" roses in Capitan's local grocery store refrigerator (Capitan is a town outside of Ruidoso) -- that was certainly a first!

Now, enough words. How about I let the pictures do the talking (they'll do a better job anyway). First, here's a picture of some of us cousins sitting around the picnic table at my uncle's house:

Uncle Clifton and Mom:

One day, we "climbed" Monjeau lookout. It was definitely a piece of cake (actually, we drove -- and yes, that's cheating!).

The view from part way up:

The steps leading to the tower:

Proof we were there (elevation: 9, 641):

The tower:

Blogger is not allowing me to post more pictures, and it's late, so I'll upload them tomorrow...hopefully I'll having wedding pictures up in a couple of days. Thanks for stopping by!

Quote

2006-07-21T19:44:00.000-07:00

"The Christian religion is, in the long run, a thing of unspeakable comfort. But it does not begin in comfort. It begins in the dismay I have been describing, and it is no use at all trying to go on to that comfort without first going through that dismay."

C.S. Lewis

Reasons for Summer

2006-07-19T11:23:00.000-07:00

1. Visits from friends
2. Picnics
3. Fireworks
4. Night swimming

5. Vacation time
6. Baseball games
7. Hiking
8. Beach combing
9. Weddings
10. Relaxed routine!

Check. Did those. And to think, summer isn't quite over yet! :o)

Rachel H., Delaney's best friend from Kentucky, came to visit during the early part of July. Delaney and I (Chelsea) enjoyed boating with her and Mr. H. by Caladesi Island, and then visiting Busch Gardens to ride Sheikra - the park's wild roller coaster that boasts a ninety degree drop. I...uh...chickened out on that one and volunteered to hold the back-pack and water bottles. Here's a few pictures that attempt to capture some of our favorite moments.

Delaney and Rachel grazing for sand dollars and other pretty shells...

Rachel is holding up a massive whelk that her father found:

This picture of Rachel is one of my favorites (doesn't she look sweet?!). The flower in her hair is native to Hawaii, and it smells absolutely heavenly!

There's an extensive safari park at Busch Gardens and we had the pleasure of a leisurely train ride through it (very nice alternative to a stomach-churning roller coaster ride!). It was hard to get a clear picture as the train was moving along, but here is one of a giraffe.

Close-up, wasn't it? :o) The following series of shots are of the female ostrich and her eggs. She appears to be a little alarmed...

For independence Day, we joined friends at The Winning Inning and feasted on Chef Denny's BBQ'd ribs, burgers, and dogs. Before night fall we played a kids-verses- adults game of kickball, then we unwrapped the sparklers! While we danced around with the sparklers in hand a friend continued deploying his set of fireworks. What an original show he put on too! :o) I love this particular holiday - mainly because there isn't any gift-giving and very little expectancy, just a jolly good time reveling in our country's freedom with your neighbors and friends. Actually, after thinking about it, that's what makes this particular celebration so unique - a feeling of unity permeates the air as neighbors share food and fun.

Here's a few pictures from our fourth of July:

Next post will probably be about some friends visiting and our trip to New Mexico...so stay tuned! :o)

Checking in

2006-07-18T11:18:00.000-07:00

Greetings -

The Owen family is still alive! :o) Between a job interview, Bright Lights, out-of-state friends visiting, traveling to New Mexico for an informal family reunion, and among other things -- life has been rather busy for me, to say the least. Anyway, just wanted to touch base and let you know that I have some very interesting pictures to share over the next several days...

But before then, here's a great article (re: delighting in the Lord and a nine member family) found on Mrs. Chancey's website: Ladies Against Feminism. Take a peek, it's sure to be an encouragement!

Good Dog!

2006-06-23T05:33:00.000-07:00

Lilly is waiting so patiently! :o)

(This post is for you, Delaney!)

For those of you who don't know, Delaney is visiting friends up in Kentucky right now. She's been gone for at least a week (seems a lot longer than that) and won't be back till next Thursday. *sniff, sniff* We all miss her around here!

Cheese souffle + Iced Peach Tea + Warm, hospitable hostess = a jolly good time!

2006-06-21T05:38:00.000-07:00

Mom, Merritt and I went to Aunt Patty's place for lunch yesterday. They live in Tarpon Springs close to Lake Tarpon - in fact, they can actually walk to it by way of a shaded boardwalk. We had a delightful time chatting with Aunt Patty and enjoying her talent for cooking a scrumptious luncheon. I tried cheese souffle for the first time; and also had a sprig of fresh mint in a glass of peach tea -- both are quite good! Aunt Patty relayed to us that while she was growing up, particularly in Georgia, that fresh mint and sugar was a must in any glass of iced tea.

It's rather amusing how, by just sitting before a laced tablecloth adorned with a lovely floral arrangement and table setting, encourages oneself to be prim and proper (of course, there is the "southern" hostesses lovely example too). Some of us at the table, me in particular, had to search HI and low for ultra-lady-like manners. I finally found mine tucked away and in need of updating. Merritt, on the other hand, was doing a fine job practicing her manners. During the course of the meal she enthusiastically piped up with, "Out to sea and back to me!" -- referring to the direction one's spoon is supposed to go while tasting soup. Now, that's a little too detailed for me, I prefer to just worry about keeping my mouth clean and not talking while chewing! So, I turned to Mom and commented, "I'm happy to be a hick." :o)

It was such a beastly hot day that after taking a stroll to view their aviary garden and snip mint leaves thriving from the asphalt driveway, Merritt and I were game for a swim. The pool was surprisingly cool and refreshing. While Mom and Aunt Patty conversed in the shade and I dried off in the sun, Merritt splashed about and found numerous new ways one could utilize an inflatable pool lounge "thingy". :o)

Of course, every time spent at Patty G.'s is delightful and this visit was no exception. I hope that one day I'll be half the hostess that she is.

Nature on our doorstep...literally!

2006-06-20T06:08:00.000-07:00

There once was a mother bird in search of a nest,
Who found what she thought, was the perfect place to rest.

Upon tucking each twig, grass and moss into her new abode
She established her very own temporary zip code!

Okay, how about I spare you the rest of the poem? Anyway, yes we do, or rather did have a little brown bird erect a quaint residence right in our mailbox. At first we tried to discourage her, but she was so persistent and industrious that we allowed her to make her own way. Soon we discovered two brown speckled eggs...then three...and then ultimately five speckled eggs comfortably situated in our brass mailbox. This diligent bird crafted such a beautiful little nest; though sharp twigs protruded here and there, none-the-less the cone shaped roost appeared quite comfy inside.

Eventually these baby birdies flew the coop and I have to say we, or at least Merritt and I were remorse to see them leave. We enjoyed watching the ugly little things mature, and witness how patient and constant the "mommy" bird cared for her offspring. Now, all that's left is a shabby, worn down nest -- no cheery chirping from babies, or dive bombs from mother bird as we step out our front door...it kind of resembles a ghost town.

Life and Medical Ethics

2006-06-12T11:32:00.000-07:00

Did you read the article in today's news about the brain-dead woman who gave birth, by C-section, to a premature little girl named Cristina?

Over at Doug Phillip's blog, he commented on this unique story. Rather thought provoking article...

Just out of curiosity, do you think this human "incubator" was already dead, soul-less and everything, before the doctors performed the delivery? Another question came to mind after reading Mr. Phillip's post: what if this young mother was literally being kept alive by the aid of machines (breathing and blood circulation, etc.), or was she still capable of doing some of these functions on her own? Would she have already passed away if she had not had the assistance of medicine?

Things can get so complicated. What do you think about this whole matter?

Though there might be controversy regarding this woman's death, etc. Nonetheless, I am so glad the baby was saved.

Graduation

2006-06-11T11:49:00.000-07:00

Now, a weekend go Cale could've swished that tassel off to the side, adjusted his gown (okay, a "robe" sounds better for a guy) and full of confidence at his achievement, walked onto a stage and graciously taken his high school diploma. Rather, upon his request, he found himself sitting in front of a large stove at a Japanese restaurant, laughing as the oriental chef "sprinkled" him with pepper, offering congratulations for Cale's graduation. No joke! Our whole family spent the evening celebrating my little brother's milestone. The chef, who really reminded us of Mr. Miyagi (he was cleaning the stove and chanting "wax on, wax off") - accent and all - did a great job entertaining us with bursts of flames and fancy knife handling. But, at one point during our dinner he had Merritt convinced he had lost a finger...poor girl just about lost her appetite, but thankfully his finger appeared in time.

Here is the only picture we got of our evening out (so sorry it's blurry!)

(all the flashes from the camera surprised us!)

There were no tears that evening, just smiles. I don't think any of us want to face the reality of homeschooling is now complete for Cale and now he'll be heading off to college this fall. *sigh* But this is just another stage in life.

Bright Lights Mother & Daughter Tea Party

2006-06-05T12:37:00.000-07:00

"In China, serving tea is a symbol of togetherness and a customary way of showing respect for visitors. In Ireland and England, tea is taken with milk and sugar, and in Russia, it is served with a slice of lemon, along with a dollop of raspberry jam or a lump of sugar to hold between the teeth. In Tibet, tea is customarily served with churned yak butter and crushed walnuts, peanuts, salt, or sugar to make a thick beverage called tsampa. Moroccan shopkeepers greet prospective customers with a glass of mint-flavored green tea, and in Egypt, guests are served strong and heavily sweetened black tea prepared by the male head of the family. In Japan, the serene tea ceremony has been described by Yasunari Kawabata as 'a communion of feeling, when good friends come together at the right moment, under the best conditions'. "

(Excerpt from Afternoon Tea Serenade by Sharon O' Connor)

There were twenty-four ladies seated around lace-covered rectangular tables, sipping tea and enjoying the pleasantly nostalgic ritual of "high" tea. A charming tea book perfectly stated our sentiments, "Charmed by the smallness of the cups and saucers, delighted with tiny sandwiches and other treats, we were thrilled to step away from our everyday selves and enter a world of beautiful politeness." What a enchanting time we had on Saturday afternoon. Everyone looked so nice in their "Sunday best", tea cups in hand. Plus manners mirrored their fine attire -- such a great group of girls I've been blessed to get to know through Bright Lights! :o)

We savored scones, cookies, tarts and sandwiches, while relishing cups of English Breakfast, Earl Grey and peach teas. Nothing like a dollop of Devonshire cream and strawberry jam spread on a "simply sweet scone". Yummm! *licking my lips*

About midway through our polite murmuring, tea sipping and managed excitement we had the pleasure of being serenaded by a talented violinist, guitarist and pianist. After Jessica, Tara and Stefani (thanks again for playing!) entertained us with such favorites like "As the Deer" and "Amazing Grace" we all couldn't contain our delicate voices any longer and joined in with the remaining verses. By the time we tired of such delights, we had sung four or five songs through.

It was such fun to put this social engagement together. I'm afraid I would've been thoroughly stressed if it hadn't been for Mom, Patty G. And Delaney lending their hands and suggestions. We turned the drab church kitchen into a lovely tea parlor (you should've seen how many silk plants Mrs. G stuffed into her car -- it was amazing!). I even got to drag out my box of chipped china to use! What memories! :o)

Now, since we all acted like proper ladies this week, how about next week we have a regular rowdy time together at a park or something?? :oD

FPEA Florida Homeschool Conference

2006-06-04T15:06:00.000-07:00

Homeschool conferences are hectic and they can be overwhelming, but they're definitely fun!

We haven't gone to a homeschool conference in years, mainly because we already have plenty of "school material" to work through and these type of functions can be stressful. But then on the flip side, the literature selections are very enticing (you can never have too many good books for your personal library!) and the array of speakers at state-wide conventions are generally really good. I wanted to attend this years homeschool conference for the purpose of being a Bright Lights representative from Florida at the Mally's booth (currently there is only one group meeting here in Florida...and that one is mine). In case you're unfamiliar with the Mally family: Harold and Rebekah Mally have three children, Sarah, Stephen and Grace and as a family they share a ministry called Tomorrow's Forefathers. The "kids" collaborated and wrote a book on sibling relationships titled, Making Brothers and Sisters Best Friends (they really aren't kids any longer, but some of them were when they wrote the book :o). Sarah has also started Bright Lights, which is a discipleship program for young ladies. Recently, she completed an excellent book on purity called Before You Meet Prince Charming. They came last year to speak at a couple of churches in our area and that's how we got to know them. This year they came down for the homeschool conference in Orlando.

The Lord worked it out for Delaney and I to catch a ride over to Orlando with the Mosterts (they introduced our family to the Mallys and their two girls, Danielle and Rachel go to the BL group here) on Saturday. It turned out to be a busy day! We spent time helping at the Mally's booth, walking around, watching the Mallys seminar, book shopping...etc. I really enjoyed chatting with the parents who came by to ask about Bright Lights. It was so exciting to see a mother's eyes light up as I explained the numerous benefits the Bright Lights material provides, and the importance of encouraging their daughters in their personal relationship with Christ. In some you could see the burden for their daughter's futures grow heavier, yet their vision for their "little women" was renewed and strengthened. I only wish we could've interested more parents!

I wasn't planning on getting any books, but I just couldn't help myself! I spent a lot of time over at the Vision Forum booth. I came away with three books from this particular location: Verses of Virtue, the poetry and prose of Christian womanhood compiled and edited by Elizabeth Beall Phillips, How To Be A Lady, useful hints on the formation of womanly character by Harvey Newcomb (I thought this book might provide some unique excerpts for my Bright Lights talks since it was printed in 1850) and Emotional Purity by Heather Arnel Paulsen. At another booth I picked up Debi Pearl's book Created to be His Help Meet.

Delaney and I thoroughly enjoyed our time at the conference (I can't wait to go back next year!). Here are a couple of photos Grace Mally took of their booth...

P.S. Tomorrow I hope to post some pictures of the lovely tea party our Bright Lights group had on Saturday! :o)

The Need of the Hour

2006-05-30T07:02:00.000-07:00

What does our country need? Not armies standing

With sabers gleaming ready for the fight;

Not increased navies, skillful and commanding,

To bound the waters with an iron might;

Not haughty men with glutted purses trying

to purchase souls, and keep the power of place;

Not jeweled dolls with one another vying

For palms of beauty, elegance, and grace.

But we want women, strong of soul, yet lowly

With that rare meekness, born of gentleness;

Women whose lives are pure and clean and holy,

The women whom all little children bless;

Brave earnest women, helpful to each other,

Women who hold the names of wife and mother

Far nobler than the title of a queen.

Oh! These are they who mould the men of story,

These mothers, ofttime shorn of grace and youth,

Who, worn and weary, ask no greater glory

Than making some young soul the home of truth;

Who sow in hearts all fallow for the sowing

The seeds of virtur and of scorn for sin,

And, patient, watch the beauteous harvest grwoing

And weed out tares which crafty hands cast in.

Women who do not hold the gift of beauty

As some rare treasure to bought and sold,

But guard it as a precious aid to duty -

The outer framing of inner gold;

Women who, low above their cradles bending,

Let flattery's voice go by, and give no heed,

While their pure prayers like incense are ascending

These are our country's pride, our country's need.

Ella Wheeler Wilcox

(Excerpt from Verses of Virtue compiled by Elizabeth Beall Phillips)

Birthday Girl

2006-05-28T12:40:00.000-07:00

Last Thursday marked a special day in our family. Six years ago a little one was born after ten hours of a labor, nine months of waiting and two heart-wrenching miscarriages previously. She's special, a valuable pearl to our family, and as one close friend wrote, "...a happy part of my [our] life!" (Now, with that said, I will mention that we are trying not to spoil Merritt.)

Celebrating this little girl's sixth birthday was so much fun! There were no presumptions, no expectations (she really wanted a bike, but when Momma asked her how it would be if she didn't get one, Merritt sensibly replied, "That'd be okay") and every activity experienced throughout the day, no matter the size, was thoroughly enjoyed with such passion, it rivaled the glee felt on Christmas morning.

Merritt wanted pop tarts for breakfast...so Momma created this for her:

We scattered the gift giving throughout the day so they would be appreciated appropriately. After breakfast she received Black Beauty on CD, accompanied with a delightful picture book.

Do you think she liked the "big girl" bike?

Six candles burning brightly on a chocolate cake with pink icing + one happy girl = satisfied. It takes a lot of air to extinguish those flames! :o)

In her own words, "This birthday was totally compafidy - which translated means incredible!"

P.S. I admit, we make a big to-do about birthdays...but, then again, they only come once-a-year. *smiling*

The Year of the Weddings

2006-05-06T12:32:00.000-07:00

...that's what my mother has dubbed it. So far, we only know of four this year (many people could rival that, I'm sure) but the year is still young...

In this post I'd like to share with you a few pictures I captured of a very dear friend's wedding that took place on April 15th,plus a few days before the event.

The day before the wedding (Friday) a bunch of us girls headed up to the chapel ( a 200 year old New England church that provided squeaky floors, rich history and quaint setting!). The previous day we had cleaned the chapel thoroughly in preparation for decorating. The bride and her sisters did a wonderful job implementing several different colors to the scheme; and by the time the "decorating crew" had completed their job the chapel looked truly beautiful! Lots of tulle, ribbon, bows, flowers, tablecloths, and...tape. Another friend and myself put together two picture boards - one full of photographs of the bride through her "growing up years" and the other one of the groom (it was fun listening to the stories behind the pictures, and see their cute baby ones!).

On Friday night we tied the bridesmaids hair in rags, and the bride in curlers. I hadn't ever "ragged" someone before, so it was fun to learn this new curling technique. We had a grand time together, often laughing uncontrollably - probably due to the lateness of the hour. Here's a picture of the bridesmaids awaiting assistance on the wedding day...

Here is a picture of the bride and her father waiting to leap into the horse drawn buggy that would transport them to the chapel. Joanna and I left as soon as they were off...we had to hurry to get back to the chapel ahead of them so I could fix the bride's veil and dress before entry! :o)

The ceremony was absolutely beautiful and rightly centered on the Lord Jesus Christ - which made it all the more special! The gospel was clearly given to the 100+ guests, and the parallel between the inspiring picture of Christ and His relationship with His beloved church and a married couple's made it deep and meaningful. Of course, the newlyweds just glowed afterwards, especially the bride. This next picture was taken just after the ceremony - all the guests, including the bride and groom, were singing "To God be the Glory". The couples sweetness, love for each other, simple reliance on God and pure relationship made the wedding what it was: delightful and inviting.

Even though several states would've separated me from the wedding, I'm grateful I didn't let that deter me from attending. What fond memories were made that week: late-night brisk walks, dinner with the "AOG girls" (not to mention, huge salads...heehee :o), singing, rowdy capture-the-flag games at night, snapping pictures of a black bear and strutting tom turkeys...tears, hugs, smiles, simple quiet conversations between sisters, and a birthday dinner with another dear family. That week in Connecticut passed too quickly! :o)

Left to right: Arielle, Sarah (bride), me, Rachel. The four of us used to produce a bi-monthly magazine titled, Apples of Gold. It was specifically designed to encourage girls to love the Lord and follow Him with all their heart.

Puppy!

2006-05-02T13:24:00.000-07:00

Life changed dramatically for us, especially Delaney, when we brought home a squirrelly little puppy-dog last Tuesday. She's as cute as a pumpkin, so gentle and lady-like, the opposite of our big, protective German Shepherd. Those were our initial expressions. Ahhh, we should've known better. Yes, she's cute as a button and those eyes of hers just make your heart melt like cold butter on a hot biscuit, but she's totally rambunctious, annoying at times and goes zooming around literally in search of the next table leg/sock/ankle/dog tail to latch onto. But, with all the early morning potty runs, occasional whining, harassing of Cowboy, and testy nature -- her puppy love completely makes up for it all. So, without further adieu, let me introduce the newest member of our family: Lilly Mae (though, we are contemplating changing it to "ornery" pronounced with a French accent :o).

She's rather scrawny right now, but will grow (she's a hound dog through and through). Mom saw the dark spots and jokingly suggested that we call her "liver".

So far, Lilly has proved herself to be a smart dog -- "No" is definitely becoming a key word in her vocabulary, along with sit, wait and okay. Pretty good for the first week, don't you think? I can brag without apprehension because Delaney is the one training her...

Lilly might look like the perfect "precious moments" hound angel, but don't let her apparent peacefulness fool you! She likes to pounce, run around like crazy, climb, ride our slide and stalk big dogs that would consider her a snack. We're hoping her name will motivate her in becoming more ladylike.

For all of you who know our other pooch, Cowboy -- he's been a perfect gentleman with her. She's constantly pestering him, but he takes it like a saint (even allowing her to grab his toys and treats from him). Yes, we were rather surprised too!

Lilly Mae's original name was Lilly Pad, but we immediately knew the "pad" had to go. Who wants a dog named after a water plant?! Anyway, as for her history: this little gal, along with 200 other animals, were rescued from a "horder's" home in Pasco county. Out of the 200 taken, only Lilly and her mother survived! She's part beagle/blue-tick hound and about eleven weeks old. She shouldn't get any bigger than thirty pounds.

In the coming weeks I hope to post more pictures of Lilly (it's rather like having a baby in the house again, the camera is permanently out to capture those "oh, look what's she's doing now" moments). We appreciate you stopping by, please leave a comment...

P.S. In the next couple of days I'm planning to post tons of new photos that I've gotten within the last month or so...wedding, beach, playing around, etc. It should be fun! :o)

Quaint Painting

2006-04-06T11:47:00.000-07:00

I love this painting, though not totally sure why just yet. There's something so simple and beautiful about it -- maybe it's the young lady's engaging smile. Hmmm...what do you think she's saying?

Satisfying

2006-04-04T13:55:00.000-07:00

Ahh, yes, that would be the word to describe what we've been up to recently. From strawberry picking, canning jam,"outside" work, to digging up a pipe line, our lives have felt very productive lately (due to that very satisfying feeling one gets when, with a simple sweep of the wrist, one can check off a chore or two from the immense to-do list).

Being the complete picture nut that I am, I have plenty of visuals to document our activities. To me, pictures convey so much more than words ever attempt to.

March 26th marked Cale's 18th birthday! What a godly man he is maturing into. Whenever we have a birthday around our house we make it as unusual as possible; generally by creating unique decorations and funny cards. This year Cale was treated to a pirate theme birthday (we don't live too far from Tampa Bay!). Merritt, Delaney and I had a blast putting together his costume...

He was trying not to smile but I don't think it worked - Merritt has the right face for it though!

Last Thursday Merritt, Delaney, Mom, Olivia Silver (a good friend of ours) and myself headed out to a farm to acquire some strawberries. It's nearing the end of the season for this delicious berry, but we didn't have a problem finding an adequate supply to fill every container we brought. We were a little zealous picking though, by the time we finished canning on Saturday we were so sick of those red things (can't bring myself to say their name!) we just about swore we'd never eat another one again. We have a plenty of jam to last us the next twenty years, plus bags and bags frozen for smoothies and pies. It's very satisfying to provide for our family and we did have a pleasant time of it, which is testament to the fact that there's always a positive side to anything! Watch out, you might get a jar sometime... :o)

We picked scads and scads of berries...that picture doesn't show them all.

Delaney is just a-washin' and a-choppin' away while I'm stirrin' an overflowing pot (LOL).

Frequently, my favorite store to browse is our local Hallmark Gold Crown shop around the corner. The proprietor is very friendly, and the cards provide such unique entertainment - they make us either groan or laugh. Sometimes I just can't contain myself and I buy one too many cards for my own good - though, my best excuse is that no matter what, those cards won't go out of style!

I had such a wonderful time with a dear friend last Saturday! We went to the Budweiser American Invitational CSI 4* grand prix event at Raymond James Stadium - what a neat experience! I've read about several of the Olympic riders that competed that evening, but never saw them ride their steeds in person. The combination of stimulating company, elaborate (and imposing) fences, beautiful horses propelling themselves over jumps, and great riders made for an exciting and memorable evening. We, Mrs. G (that "dear friend) and I, arrived early, enjoyed a delicious picnic and then walked the course to get a sneak-peek at what the riders would be facing. We witnessed thirty riders make an effort for the #1 spot but by the time the evening had concluded the winner was the great Brazilian, Rodrigo Pessoa (what an absolutely beautiful horse he has!).

Rodrigo Pessoa surveying the jumps before "take off".

Awhile back Daddy reinstated family prayer times again, which has been such a blessing. If you have any prayer requests we could remember, would you mind passing them along? It would be greatly appreciated.

Recently our chapel had taken a missionary off our support list and replaced the empty spot with another. One of our elders wrote to the new addition. To our amazement, upon their reply we found that they were commended from a "closed" gospel hall and would not be permitted to speak, let alone fellowship with us! We all were disappointed to hear this. I was really puzzled as to why they wouldn't - actually I was rather flabbergasted, having never heard of a "closed" gospel hall before. One of the elders gave me a quick synopsis of why there's a rift, etc. I still don't understand it completely, and probably because I have this one particular question swirling around in my head: "How does that line up with scripture?" To me, it doesn't.

We've been having some very interesting, labor intensive plumbing problems of late (due to an old broken, root clogged pipe that goes slightly up-hill). But I think we've just about got it resolved, thanks to a super helpful and reasonable plumber (the Lord sure brought the right person to us!). The following picture is of Cale's ditch (and yes, it's in our front yard):

Last Friday night we had Bright Lights - here's a pic of the girls enjoying a game of Twister:

Thanks for stopping by - don't forget to leave a comment!

"The Look"

2006-04-04T11:34:00.000-07:00

"I saw one hanging on a tree in agony and blood, who fixed His loving eyes on me as near His cross I stood. And never till my dying breath will I forget that look.

It seemed to charge me with His death, though not a word He spoke.

My conscience felt and owned the guilt, and plunged me into despair. I saw my sins His blood had spilt, and helped to nail Him there.
But with a second look He said, "I freely all forgive. This blood is for your ransom paid. I died that you might live."

Forever etched upon my mind, is the look of Him who died, the Lamb I crucified. And now my life will sing the praise of pure atoning grace, that looked on me and gladly took my place."

-John Newton/Bob Kauflin (I'm listening to this song from Songs for the Cross Centered Life CD)

"O teach us, Lord, Thy search-less love to know, Thou who hast died!" - James Boyd

"That God could become human, be incarnate, means that humanness can be made sacred, can be sanctified. This means that humanness and sinfulness are not synonymous." - M.S.A.

"Let our gladness proclaim that we serve a good Master." - C.H. Spurgeon

"Health Agent" and "Foreign Alien"

2006-03-18T13:01:00.000-08:00

AHHH-CHOO! excuse me, just dusting off this ol' blog. It has been awhile hasn't it?

Now, you're probably wondering what on earth the title means, right? (lol) The first phrase Merritt can take credit for dubbing and the other one is mine (of which, I'm not exactly proud of. Let's just say I was ready for bed when I pronounced that oh-so-clever epithet). Little sissy's phrase has a funny story attached: Mom and Merritt were riding in the car the other day when they stopped near an ambulance at a red light. Merritt has been identifying various vehicles such as trucks, buses and garbage trucks in a non-chalant way. Anyway, she noticed the ambulance and tried to recall it's proper title but all she could think of was "health agent". :o) So, to all me EMT friends in Merritt's eyes you're really agents of health.

Because of the time lapse between this post and the last I have amassed a fortune of photos that I'd like to share (actually, I've been contemplating beginning a separate photography blog). So, go grab yourself a good cup of something for you might be here awhile! :o)

Let's start with the Supps visit. From the moment we greeted them in our driveway till the time we waved goodbye we didn't stop talking (great to catch-up on what's going on the lives of our Connecticut friends -- now we know what y'all have really been up to since we've moved!), laughing, praying, "hiking" (we may not have hills here in Florida but sand can be a real work-out too...), and yes, playing a game or three of CatchPhrase. :o) We're so glad (and grateful) they came to visit us! Perhaps other friends would follow their esteemed example...

We went for a walk in Hammock Park ("hammock" expresses the tone the park exudes precisely - so relaxing). Here's a few pictures from our excursion.

Julie and I talking... We came across a cute little tortoise while there (only a girl would call a tortoise "cute"!). Just look at those "puppy dog" eyes!

Ladies chatting in the kitchen. What a surprise, huh?

Last but not least, here's a picture of the Supp and Owen girls together (Merritt is obviously tired of all the photo shoots).

Merritt and I have been busy nurturing our little cantaloupe and sunflower seedlings. We hope to eventually harvest something from them -- no doubt an excellent learning experience, but hopefully some edible fruit too. Besides cantaloupes and sunflowers, Mom and I have been busy with a minor landscaping job involving the front of our house. Petunias, Snapdragons and "Monkey" grass are just a few we're using. Thankfully, nothing has died yet...

Just this last week I (Chelsea) had the opportunity to waitress at a local restaurant again. This is no ordinary restaurant: the price is fixed, there's seven courses to work through, an entree option includes huge prawn, and a slide-show presentation on where the chef obtains chocolate (awesome pictures). Very fine dining indeed! You can take a peek at it: www.savantfinedining.com. Fortunately, the first night I worked there were no faux-pas, I had a squeaky clean record. But the following night I had a bad case of "dropsies". Thankfully, the fork didn't impale the man! My fellow co-worker and sus-chef, Julian, is from Mexico and a very agreeable person. We decided that when I work there he'll help me with Spanish and I'll assist him with English. So far we've discussed homonyms, the Bible and simple greetings. I have difficulty grasping the pronunciation of certain words in Spanish, so I generally ask him to write it for the purpose of having a visual. I feel so productive after working there! :o)

Bright Lights was last Friday (March 17th) and several of the girls showed up in green shirts, earrings and hair elastics - I wish I'd gotten a picture! That evening the lesson was on self-control and we had a great time discussing different issues girls face in cultivating this virtue and what the Bible says about it. After the lesson we broke into two groups and attempted to put our assigned verses to song -- for spur-of-the-moment they did great!

Oh, this was interesting. Last Bright Lights meeting (not referring to the above mentioned) we convened at Clearwater Christian College to hear an evangelist. This evangelistic attraction is that he's a "one man volleyball team"; having played over five thousand games and only losing a fraction of them. His gospel presentation was strong, engaging and vivid, although his voice was a decibel or two too loud for me. At one point he mentioned how we all need to take responsibility for our witnesses and be lights to those around us, I wanted to nudge the girls and say: "Amen!" :o) After his presentation our little group congregated at the college's cafe to chat and share prayer requests. We ended-up playing a short game of Monopoly and scooping the bottom of the ice-cream barrel, compliments of the cafe. You know, it is so much fun to assist in memory making!

Last weekend Cale and I spent the evening at CCC (Clearwater Christian College) attending a late-night improv' show, which happened to be a fundraiser for a family in need. We got headaches from laughing so much! Ahhh...I'm still trying to recover.

We've been swimming, Merritt has be playing BoggleJr. by herself (even though she can't read!) , Delaney has been searching for a puppy, Cale has had games, volunteer work, and school; Dad has been super busy with issues at work, and Mom has been running our house like a well-oiled machine (I love watching a pro at work!). So, everything is still just about the same.

I visited a blog the other day that contained a real pearl of wisdom. The writer, a young married woman, was contemplating the greatness that stems from the simple, but rich life of being a quiet house-wife who lovingly does her job and how the world deems it unworthy to pursue (that sums it up rather inadequately, so how about visiting her blog: http://rowannrose.blogspot.com?). Here's the excerpt from the blog: "What brings meaning to life lived in quiet? To a wife who lives to please her husband and her God? The world shakes its head at all she could have been. She smiles, knowing she has found all she was ever searching for. No talent, no gift, no life is ever wasted when poured out in love for another."Âthe greatest of these is love."" - Elizabeth

I often visit our blooming citrus tree, sitting underneath it's branches. The scent is so refreshing, not in the least bit over-powering. My mom would sometimes tease us when asked, "What's for dinner?" Her reply would be, "Air, take a big bite." When your nostrils are pleasantly feasting on the aroma of citrus, it's almost as if you could fill yourself on such a diet.

Well, that's all for now. Thanks for visiting!

Lunch at the G.'s

2006-02-26T17:24:00.000-08:00

Sunday started wet and dreary but by mid-morning, though, the sun began to penetrate through the clouds. It was pleasantly cool and windy which made the day all the more delicious!

Fellowshiping and worshiping with believers was good, as usual.

After church we went to Mr. and Mrs. Gianeskis's home for lunch. They're such wonderful hosts; immediately you feel graciously welcomed. Mrs. G, as we call her, has a real gift of hospitality and uses it splendidly - I love to watch her in action! Following a scrumptious meal we went on a walk along a nature trail that lead to Lake Tarpon. As you'll witness in the following pictures (I can't resist bringing the camera along when nature and people are intertwined) our final destination was a dock looking out to the natural lake. We saw a few boats...and some wildlife. :o)

Can you see the alligator? It's that dark log shaped thing floating on a huge styrofoam cube through the grass... Now I wish I'd "zoomed" in more.

There's such a magically captivating feeling that heavily resides in a forest of pine trees dripping with Spanish moss. Some may disagree with me, seeing nothing special in a semi-swamp. Don't ask me to explain why I so fondly embrace the breeding grounds of mosquitoes and alligators; but! it's something that I've come to treasure about Florida. Yet, nothing enhances the ambiance more then an aged and worn board-walk cutting through the trees, pressing you on to explore what's beyond the next eighty degree turn up ahead.

The picture right above is of Jesse, the G's dog. He's older, loves food, and faithfully willing to give a "smile" through a wag of his tail. I rather like how the picture came out, though I wish his ears had been forward... Oh, and yes, Merritt is wearing her "Indian" dress. :o)

My daddy.

Sisters.

Mr. G. had some wonderful stories to tell of growing up here in Florida - a canoe trip down an alligator infested river when the black of night seemed almost impenetrable, "borrowing" watermelon from a farmer, running away to an abandoned shack near the gulf and traveling alone on a bus to visit relatives living across the state.

On Saturday we had a Father/Daughter breakfast for all the girls attending the Bright Lights Bible study. I believe we all had a wonderful time! One father shared from the Word, Daddy shared what he'd prepared and then soon all the fathers were commenting and giving their insights. Many of the girls made the breakfast goodies they'd brought, which provided a wonderful opportunity for the fathers to openly praise the girls about their cooking/baking. I saw more than one beaming face! Here's a picture of our breakfast banquet table (situated in our church kitchen)...

Yesterday, I got Cale to pose for me...kind of looks "L.L. Bean-ish" (or Elvis-like with that hair-do). (LOL!)

Enjoy your day!

Chelsea

Heritage Village

2006-02-24T08:51:00.000-08:00

It was a beautiful day yesterday, so Mother and Merritt decided to take a trip over to Heritage Village (similar to Sturbridge Village, but on a much smaller scale). Merritt has a wonderful imagination; she revels in exploring the dramatic side of that by-gone era of simpler and slower lifestyles. She loves to engage whoever is willing to accompany her through the untold deprivations of an orphans life or act out anxious deathbed scenes. Quite the dramatic one. Living like that makes life out to be a great adventure where surprises abound...every day.

So of course, she thoroughly enjoyed the outing! Mom said that as soon as they entered the village she squealed with delight and began rushing here and there to peek into each "time capsule".

Anyway, Mom was able to snap a couple of quick photos before Merritt dashed off to visit the next school house, church or the mercantile.

Merritt mentioned that one of her favorite stops at the Heritage Village was the caboose. Learning can be so much fun!

Fun with Friends - Installment #2

2006-02-22T08:08:00.000-08:00

Hello there!

The house smells like French toast and bacon, yum! Although bacon is a pain to clean up, there's nothing quite so pleasantly cozy as maple leaf bacon; the smell, the taste and the ambiance it creates. Mom cooked it to perfection this morning and we could barely contain ourselves from eating beyond our fill. There was enough bacon grease to top off our jar in the cupboard (strictly saved for "southern" nights at our house when we fry chicken). :o)

On Monday, Delaney and several of her friends took a plunge into our pool. It was only 68 degrees! Yes, I agree, they're crazy. On top of that, they swam late in the afternoon. I certainly won't dive in until it's a comfortable 78 degrees, at least. Thinking back now, Merritt was the first one in (brave little girl, though I'm sure it was just sheer excitement of getting to use our very own pool that drove her to it). Here's a couple of pictures (judging from her expression, Merritt looks a little cold):

Either she's numb or simply trying to make the best of it:

Then on Tuesday Delaney, Cale and Merritt jumped in again. I opted out, volunteering to document the insane event with the camera. So, here's proof that on February 21st they went swimming. :o)

This one is of Cale going down the slide:

Delaney's plunge into frigid waters...

I can't pass up the opportunity to share this picture with you. A proper caption for this photo could be "conquering captain courageous". Any other suggestions, though? :o)

Other bits and pieces from our lives: Daddy went on a business trip to Miami for the annual boat show, we got another computer (from our deceased grandfather), and then we had Dad's laptop repaired as well.

Lately, I've been studying Ezekiel with a local Bible study. Its been excellent! This is the first time I've sat down and really read through and pondered the words written in this book. The Lord had Ezekiel do some pretty unusual activities to capture the exiled Israelites attention. For example: cooking meager rations over cow dung (it would've been human excrement, but Ezekiel implored the Lord to change that part). Building a wall to represent Jerusalem and besieging it (rather like a little boy playing "soldiers"?). Ezekiel, the prophet, is made out to be insane, and yet he willingly is "misunderstood" to glorify God. This book is full of wonderful examples of God's mercy, indefatigable faithfulness and love toward the Israelites. In one particular chapter the reader gets a real glimpse at the heart-wrenching anguish God has for the wayward Israelite nation. Right now, a good word to sum up Ezekiel is: powerful.

I took a picture of Jack Russell Stadium for memory's sake. So, I thought I'd share them with you since you frequently hear it mentioned. The photo to the right is of the stadium:

We're grateful for your interest in our lives - thank you for praying for us!

Enjoy your day!

Fun with Friends - Installment #1

2006-02-21T12:57:00.000-08:00

Yes, that's the theme for the last couple of weeks. Our "special memories bank" has had an abundance of deposits lately, of which, we're very grateful to those who've contributed so generously. Now I'd like to share with you the happenings through the eyes of a digital camera. Get ready for a lot of pictures!

Okay, to get started, my memory has to travel back a few weeks since I've been rather lazy about posting and keeping this site updated. Time has gone by like a blur -- a happy blur that is.

During the second week in February Nathan, Sarah, Moriah (what a cute little one!), and Josh Hebert and Rebecca Hall spent the night with us. As you'll see in the following pictures, we had a blast together. Naturally, we stayed up late talking and laughing (a few games of CatchPhrase too!). The following morning we ate brunch - due to our late night - and then took a refreshingly brisk walk. It was so nice to chat with Rebecca, getting to know her more. But I would definitely have to say that the highlight of their visit was getting to hold darling Moriah (what wonderful parents Nathan and Sarah are!) Here's a group picture:

Merritt holding Moriah:

Here's another one, except it's just of us girls.

That huge tree right behind us is causing us plumbing problems, but that's a whole other matter...

Want to see a couple photos of our rowdy CatchPhrase games?? :o)

The day the Heberts and Rebecca left, I (Chelsea) flew over to West Palm Beach to see a close friend. Not only did it turn out to be an educational weekend (learning about show jumping equines) but a fun one at that! In between watching my friend ride, walking the show grounds (I spotted a pair of $43 flip-flops. Outrageous! and no, I didn't indulge), catching some rays, following the Olympics, Starbucks trips (nothing like a peppermint mocha to get you going in the morning) we slipped in an hour or two of shopping -- we simply can not do without a girlie outing whenever we get together.

This last week is categorized as a "wind down" one for all of us. We slowed our schedules down and took it easy -- something we all need to do once in a while. Bright Lights was on Friday and that went really well. There were seventeen girls there, and we studied the subject of humility. When preparing the lesson I came across a neat story with unselfishness and humility as central themes. It goes something like this: "There was a kind young man in grade school, he was known as a leader in both academics and sports. One day a friend of his was over at his home and notice a plaque on his wall with these simple words inscribed on it, "I am third". In turn, his friend inquired as to their meaning and the young man replied, "It stands as a reminder to me that God is first, others second and myself third."" Mom liked the statement so well that she wrote on a piece of paper and stuck it to a pillar in our kitchen for all to see.

Over the weekend I watched two girls so that their parents could hideaway for their anniversary. Samantha and Olivia were such fun! We went to breakfast Saturday morning and then took Cowboy to a local park to explore and get dirty (that turned out to be a very successful venture as I found out in full detail yesterday as I cleaned out my car!). The girls, myself and Cowboy thoroughly enjoyed our outing. The day was magnificently beautiful as we marched along the sandy, palmetto lined trails keeping watch for "banana" spiders, snakes and streams. At one point we had the pleasure of meeting a rather large tortoise. Unfortunately, I forgot my camera so there's no visual of that fabulous day. :o( We were famished afterwards, so on the way home we stopped by a fast food place and grabbed a burger, fries and a drink. It would be totally unfair to leave Cowboy out -- so he got his own Jr. cheeseburger. I found out that he really likes ketchup too. :o)

On Sunday afternoon we headed over to a local bowling alley to try and knock down a pen or two. We got a little rambunctious with the bowling while taunting "gutter ball". We, the Owen family, haven't bowled in ages so we were pretty pathetic -- but that made it all the more fun! Here's a couple of pictures from that hilarious afternoon (I have two or three short video clips, but I don't know how, or even if I can, upload them onto blogger).

Cale had a game last Friday night -- boy! was it an exciting one. I only showed up for the last two innings, but I watched the guys beat the best team in the southern part of the county 2-1.

Anway, this is going to have to be installment #1 since it's getting rather late. I'll have some more news and pictures tomorrow. Thanks for stopping by!

Super Bowl & Catchphrase

2006-02-05T18:10:00.000-08:00

What do those two things have in common?...they're both games. One you watch, and the other one you play while waiting for all the commercials to finish. :o)

Unfortunately, since it was "big-sis-sick" day we stayed home from church. We ended-up having a brunch at a local cafe and then came back a did some studying on humility (how God views it, etc.). It was neat to get a closer glimpse at how much our Lord values humility, how precious this quality is to God. With many of the verses we looked at there was fear for the Lord tagging right along with humility -- it's hard to have one without the other.

Here's a couple of pictures of us sitting in Bell-air Cafe:

The sun was shining today (yeah!!), so Delaney and Merritt took every opportunity they could to enjoy it. Here's a photo of Merritt trying to use a scooter.

Some of us worked on various "house" projects, like sorting through odd stacks of things or unpacking items (yes, we still have boxes here and there). We listened to music, played "Catchphrase" with some neighbor kids, and just simply enjoyed having the windows open with the day streaming in. Nothing like a gentle Sunday afternoon to revive you for the week ahead! (Craig Morgan's "What I Love about Sundays" says it all!)

Our carpet in the sun room is slowly drying out. I woke up this morning and smelled a strong scent of mildew, so I knew it needed some prompt attention. So far my "prescription" has worked, the mildew smell has vanished...just about.

Well, I better head off to bed. We had a splendid day and hope you did to! (I think we had too much fun while Mom and Dad were gone!) :o)

gulp...gulp...

2006-02-03T12:18:00.000-08:00

When it rains it pours! The street was flooding, our pool overflowed and part of our sun room carpet is soaking wet. A man on the radio just mentioned that Pinellas Park (which is not too far from us) had gotten a foot of rain since the deluge commenced this morning.

*Update*: fourteen inches of rain in our county thus far... (Someone call the Coast Guard!)

Not only has it been cloudy outside lately, but inside things have been rather dreary. Our paternal grandfather passed away last Wednesday, just as my parents were flying out to see him. We had gotten a call Tuesday evening and learned that Grandad had taken a turn for the worse. We heard Wednesday morning that Grandad was taken to the hospital and placed in ICU, and was administered blood transfusions and his body was going into "septic". Without wasting another minute Mom and Dad purchased tickets and set out for Denver that very day, looking to arrive close to 8:30 pm. Grandad had courageously fought cancer for the last several years. He never complained or wanted to talk about his problems, but instead he'd rather find out how you were doing and what was going on in your life. As his physical mobility decreased he found pleasure in giving his young grandchildren "whizzing" rides down the nursing home corridors on his scooter. We teased him that he better not be offering rides to nurses! I have fond memories of a generous grandfather, a grandfather who loved to laugh and someone who enjoyed a good discussion on opinions. Phillip Owen: brother, uncle, father, husband and grandfather -- we'll miss you.

Right now, we (kids) are waiting out the thunderstorm, playing ping pong, keeping tabs on the slow leaks into the sun room (coming from the ceiling and floor) and talking about what we want to do next. Watch a movie, clean out the fireplace or play another game? That's the question of the day. Can you tell we're slightly bored? :o) I (Chelsea) am trying, rather unsuccessfully, to get over a cold. I even had to cancel Bright Lights this evening because of it. The Lord always works these things out for the best, though. It's allowed me to slow down a bit more.

Merritt had a friend over this week and, from the picture to the left, it looks like they played "pretend". I'm not quite sure why their so serious...perhaps the kingdom is experiencing some difficulties? Oh dear!

I love collecting quotes. Though, I have to make sure not to get gluttonous about it. :o)

Here is a quote from Spurgeon:

"Let your first care be to glorify God to the utmost of your power where you are. Fill your present sphere to His praise, and if He needs you in another He will show it to you."

Life can be so simple when we focus on glorifying God in our "sphere".

Before I go, here's a picture of our sun room that Cale took. We like it for it's unusual qualities.

C.H. Spurgeon & A.W. Tozer

2006-01-26T18:13:00.000-08:00

Two of my favorite authors right now. I've especially enjoyed reading Tozer's Knowledge of the Holy. There might only be 117 pages but each one is full of deep exhortation and encouragement regarding the attributes of the Lord. I thought I understood a teaspoon of the character of God, His awesome omniscience, omnipresence, immutability and self-sufficiency. This little book exposed a deeper meaning to each wonderful attribute of our Creator's character, His absolute purity and holiness, divine infinitude and wisdom. Without realizing it, I foolishly underestimated His greatness till I opened the pages of this book (::sigh:: the origin of sin - humans assuming that they're more than what they really are). Between meditating on His perfect word and perusing this book, it has drawn my hearts gaze closer to my Savior. I thank the Lord for godly men (and women) who seek only to draw others unto Him!

Child care was on my agenda everyday this week. It was an excellent "boost" in multiple ways. My wallet is grateful, I now know how far my patience "tank" can really stretch (of course, longer than what I thought!), and my reservoir of ideas to keep little ones busy has grown. The biggest challenge was finding ways for a two year old to be content and busy while I read my Bible out loud. :o) ...also, I believe I've met this week's quota for changing diapers.

It was so convenient to have a park within walking distance for me to take the kids to -- and every day was brimming with sunshine and pleasant weather! Here's a picture of my charges (I had about a two second window of time to snap that photo):

I took Shane to Sam Ash (music store) yesterday and we both had fun trying out the bongos!

Grandma and Grandpa, thank you for the box of clothes for Merritt. It came in this afternoon and she has already modeled for us. :o)

During my quiet times this week I've had the pleasure of reading in the Psalms. Here's a verse that brought great encouragement to me: "Wait for the Lord; be strong and let your heart take courage; yes, wait for the Lord." (Psalm 27:14)

Before I sign off I'd like to share this quote from A.W. Tozer's book, Knowledge of the Holy.

"With the goodness of God to desire our highest welfare, the wisdom of God to plan it, and the power of God to achieve it, what do we lack? Surely we are the most favored of all creatures."

"In all our Maker's grand designs, omnipotence with wisdom, shines; His works, through all this wondrous frame, declare the glory of His name." Thomas Blacklock

Sunshine 'n smiles,

Chelsea

A mommy-in-training...

2006-01-23T11:46:00.000-08:00

...it's intensive stuff. Here's a picture of eighteen month old Selah playing "life". :o)

Fascinated with lizard "innards"

2006-01-22T19:14:00.000-08:00

I thought the title might catch your attention. You definitely know you're a "home-schooler" when, in the church parking lot, you find a poor deceased lizard with it's innards cascading onto the pavement and you (and your brother) stop to examine it. After careful scrutiny, we determined that the amphibian had suffered from a heat stroke and had burst open, thus the intestines coming out of it's mouth -- though, it may have well been smashed by an unsuspecting car. I will spare you any more gruesome details, for those of you who are "tree/animal huggers". It's just too bad that I didn't catch that candid moment in science on camera. :o)

As for an update...let's see how my memory serves me:

Today is of course eighty degrees outside (c'mon this is January!) and the sun is pleasantly shining here in Florida. It just seemed like yesterday that I was numbly fiddling with my hockey skates so I could join my friends on a frozen pond in Connecticut. Everyone had rosy cheeks and pink noses from the fifteen degree weather. I'm so glad that I've had a chance to experience different climates...

During this last week Cale's baseball picked up. He made the local high school team and began team practices. He also had a chance to continue a dialogue about the Lord with a lady he met a while back. It seems like this particular lady has begun to steadily read His word and attend a church. On a side note: for all of you who enjoy sports, Cale got the chance to "catch" Tommy John when he worked at the Yankee's Fantasy Camp. :o)

Delaney has been busy with school and various other activities (washing cars, polyurethaning a rather large cabinet, organizing stuff around the house, and continuing to enlarge her baking expertise). And yes, her room is orange. :o) She did a wonderful job "framing" that picture you see behind her. She found a neat poster that accented her room well, located several bamboo poles, cut them to size and fitted it all together -- what a clever girl!

Merritt's week was a normal one: playing, listening to books on tape, pretending, exploring, attending ballet class, and entertaining the elderly folks at a local nursing home. Merritt's new addition to her vocabulary is "furtherwise" -- meaning: in addition differently (combination of furthermore & otherwise). And yes, I certainly think it should be added to the dictionary. :o) I love sharing pictures so here is one of Merritt in her ballet outfit, ready to go to class...

The rest of us are either busy with work or household stuff. During his spare time, Daddy has been steadily pecking away at the various "home" projects, like more painting and fixing things. Mom has been dealing with a very annoying clogged tear duct. She went to an optometrist then saw an ophthamologist to get it flushed, but we're not totally sure that cured it. That could be a matter of prayer (this issue has been going on for a good two months and the alternative to that procedure is surgery, something Mother would like to avoid). Thank you!

Mom, Delaney, Merritt and I had the rare privilege of visiting a nursing home last Thursday. We don't get to go as often as we'd like because of our schedules. The following is a picture of Delaney and a lady we met there, named Sydney. Doesn't Sydney have a wonderful smile?

In case you've had trouble leaving a comment, I have fixed the settings so that whoever wants to, whether they're a "blog" member or not, can freely do so.

Mr. Mills, no pictures of Dad this time but here's one of Cowboy (taken today). :o)

We had to visit the vet yesterday and, at the risk of sounding boastful, he was highly admired (the ladies just gushed over him with comments such as: what a handsome dog, etc. He practically beamed!). I was rather surprised to find out that he weighs 109 lbs. -- I guess I've been over super-sizing his meals.

It's time for me to go. Thanks for visiting!:o)

~Chelsea

P.S. Merritt's effort at picture taking (it's of me, by the way):

Delighting in life!

2006-01-17T16:13:00.000-08:00

There were strong gusts of wind, warm sunshine and four "happy hearts" this afternoon. Mom, Delaney, Merritt and I (Chelsea) enjoyed a leisurely hour soaking in the sun. Yes, it all sounds rather lazy of us, but it's good to delight in life! The picture to the right is of my youngest sis wearing my hat...

What a cute expression!

Our dog, Cowboy, sure enjoyed the company outside today. I threw one of his "prized" sticks into our pool for him to fetch, but the chicken wouldn't jump in. He'll place his paws on the first step but that's as far as his courage will take him. He raised quite a protest, howling and barking as though I was torturing him. But, I can't be unkind so I gave him a little hand and pushed him in... ;o)

I hope you're enjoying life!

~Chelsea

"Delight yourself also in the Lord, and He shall give you the desires of your heart." Psalm 37:4 (that includes the simple things in life!)

Babysitting

2006-01-16T12:31:00.000-08:00

Good afternoon!
I thought it would be fun to post a picture of the toddler I watch on Mondays and Wednesdays! She's the sweetest little girl, with the most agreeable disposition of any eighteen-month-old that I know. We all enjoy hearing her tiny feet pattering here and there, and listening to her attempts at talking. I think everyone should have a baby about the house! :o)

January 15, 2006

2006-01-15T21:50:00.000-08:00

Welcome to the Owen family blog! We welcome you in for a bit of southern hospitality! To our family and friends: hopefully this blog will keep you updated on the happenings around our house (not to mention a few pictures now and then!) -- in the past, we haven't been very successful with even once-a-year letters...so, please don't get your hopes up! :o) A new year is always good for new intentions.

~ Chelsea (for those of you who don't know me, I'm the oldest of four kids...)

Here's a visual (although, this photo isn't the best -- we're hoping to get an updated one in the next few days):