Josiah: "I only have three hands."

Dad: "You mean two hands."

Josiah: "No, my third hand is my mouth."

Josiah "what day do your feets and ankles grow the most?"

Dad "I don't know? What day do you think?"

J "probably Saturday."

Sent from my iPhone

Josiah: "Dad, what is it like to be a parent?"
Me: "It is pretty great!"
Josiah: "I guess I believe you."

Firefighter Exam

extraordinary

Orion EFT-1 (Exploration Flight Test)

This is the new rocket I am working on.  Specifically, the adapter between the Delta IV 5m kick stage and the Orion vehicle.

"Piercing the Darkness" Frank Peretti

Final Analysis: This is the second time I have read it.  Though fictional, it makes me think about spiritual things differently.  A recommended read.

"Forgotten God" - Frances Chan

Final Analysis:  see http://the3-twelve.blogspot.com/2010/07/forgotten-god.html for some good comments

"mom, you have snowmen on your po po!", Josiah 5.5

His comment about Patty's snowman sweatpants!  Po po meaning bottom.
Sent from my iPhone

"Mom, I think one of my finger ankles are bleeding", Josiah age 5.5

Sent from my iPhone

"I'm old enough for hulk mommy, don't be a hurting feelings lady", Josiah, age 5.5

in response to mommy saying Josiah is not old enough.

"Mom and Dad, I won't be home for Christmas. I'll be at the dentist."

Sent from my iPhone

"Levi acts so grown up doesn't he? He act like a 15 year old when he is only 2". Josiah, age 5

Sent from my iPhone

"Daddy, you have an orchard of children!" Josiah age 5.5 yrs

Sent from my iPhone

"Do you know what an earthquake is? It's a party in the ground!", Josiah Age 5

"tell me a story about superman, cause I bet you were all over superman when you were a little boy" Josiah, age 5

Sent from my iPhone

"people who have mustaches voices change!" Josiah, age 5

Sent from my iPhone

"Maybe there is a paleontologist for snowflakes" Josiah, age 5

In reference to my question about how do we know there are no two snowflakes alike.

"I like my hair longer because it hides my secret eyebrows" Josiah, Age 5

Josiah Quotes

1 - "I know when Levi and I are hungry, its when my stomach has an infection"  Josiah Age 5

2 - "Mommy I think I am allergic to you because I keep sneezing"

3 - "Dad, you sure do know a lot, you must have asked mommy a lot of questions"

Drifting

you would make uncle Jesse and Cooter proud!

Josiah (age 5) "I feel like I have rotten ant bites on my arm"

Sent from my iPod

really?

Jesus answered, "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the father except through me." John 14:6

Deception is rampant in the US. Jesus Christ is the only way! Please pray that the blinders would be removed from the unbelievers, so that they can see the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ (ref: 2 Cor 4:4)

Walk for Life

"Walk for Life" to remember those who died from cancer, those who defeated it and those fighting it. This is in honor of my dad, our friend Lynn, my cousin Steve and Sally.

(17) Manhattan Project: The Untold Story of the Making of the Atomic Bomb

Final Analysis: What a well written book.  I felt like I was watching all the development of the atomic bomb.  It was clear there was a much greater motivation for the engineers, scientists, technician and military personal than just their own careers.  They were not sure if it was possible, many new materials, processes and extraordinary amounts of work were completed in short amounts of time.  I wish I could work in that environment where the overall goal is much more vital than the individual.  Can you imagine a football team where everyone does their own thing and does not care about the rest of the team.  From this book I gathered that the entire (25,000+) people involved worked fluidly, though turbulent.  

Josiah: "Do you know who my enemy is? It is the bad robot gadspickedy.

Hanging out with the maples

Bill and Shannon

Josiah and Hunter - Best Buds

Josiah: dad I love you inject 4600 six times to the moon and back.
Me: what does inject mean?
Josiah: it means I love you so much I want to kiss you.

Sent from my iPod

Louis Armstong - Mack the Knife

I admire this man, because at 17 he adopted the mentally retarded orphan son of his deceased cousin.  He continued to care for him the rest of his life.  See http://www.villagevoice.com/2003-04-15/music/satchuated/ for more details.

The Manhattan Project

"  Despite constant improvisation, the outcome proved to be one of the most skillful jobs of town planning ever seen.  The town itself was a narrow strip less than one mile wide and six miles long, following a major ridge and crisscrossed by small ridges.  The original development was designed for three thousand cemesto-type, permanent homes.  Later thousands of prefabricated houses were added.  There were shipped to Oak Ridge in prefabricated sections, complete with walls, floors, room partitions, interior wiring and plumbing.  Even furniture was placed in the sections before shipping.  Most of the houses were factory built in Indiana, and by late 1943, the roads leading southward to Tennessee had become congested by a constant stream of trailer trucks, each carrying a piece of house which, with one side temporarily covered by canvas and some furniture already placed, resembled an oversized doll house.

Since time was too short for conventional building, new methods had to be devised.  Detroit’s assembly-line techniques were adopted, and construction was divided into separate operations, each performed by a specialized crew of workmen.  The system proved so efficient that workers were soon completing a house every two hours and turning them over for occupancy at a rate of 30 to 40 a day

.

.

.

Despite this, Oak Ridge was not divided into a monotonous grid, with right-angle streets going in one direction from 1 to 100 and in the other from A to Z, but was designed to take advantage of the hills’ contours.  The streets followed the natural curves of the terrain without ever becoming too steep.  Shopping centers and schools were designed within easy reach of residential areas; each neighborhood had ready access to all services and facilities.  "

Citation: Stephane Groueff, "Manhattan Project, The Untold Story of the Making of the Atomic Bomb," 1967

Letter to Black Oak Ridge, TN resident purchasing their land by immanent domain 

Additional References:
http://ltc4940.blogspot.com/2008/09/oak-ridge-tn.html

Adoption

Our application for an international adoption has been accepted.  This Friday we have the first "in-home"  meeting with our social worker to begin the home study.

A little background: while dating, Patty and I discussed and agreed that we wanted many children.  10+ years later we are blessed with three children... so far.  Throughout our life together, we have often discussed orphans, children, and special needs.   Based on many discussions, prayer, personal history, testamonies of friends who have adopted, literature, and much more, we have decided to seek a child from China.   I would be pleased to discuss it further if anyone would like to, email (patrickandpatty@me.com) or submit a comment and I will respond. 

 I recommend the following book (warning: difficult book to read!)

and Voddie Baucham's sermon on adoption (http://www.sermonaudio.com/sermoninfo.asp?SID=113101250246)

Visit to Oak Ridge, TN

Levi visiting the sheep

Hunter, Josiah and Maddie (cousins)

Hipstamatic: Jimmy Lens, Kodot XGrizzled film

Hipstamatic: Jimmy Lens, Kodot XGrizzled film

Papa during his second week of Chemo and Radiation cancer treatment

Hipstamatic: Jimmy Lens, Kodot XGrizzled film

We packed up and left in 45 minutes to visit our family in TN. We met up with Maddie an Hunter.

Pencil Carving

http://ubersuper.com/pencil-tip-micro-sculptures/

We were having a random discussion at dinner that Canada has blue jays..
Josiah- "Canadians are thieves"
Mom - "where did you hear that?"
Josiah - "from Minnesota cuke." (veggie tales)
Mom - "hmmm... That's what you came away with?"

Disclaimer: we made sure to clear this one up.

Sent from my iPhone

Super fast merry go round!

Sending cards to God

Josiah - "Mom, I want to write God a card.  How can the mailman float it up to heaven?"
Mom - "We can write down your thoughts and pray it to God, that is how he hears us."
Josiah - "Does God have a fridge?"
Mom - "I don't think God needs one."
Josiah - "Then where does he hang his cards?"

Lens: Helga Viking, Film: Kodot XGrizzled

Handwork in Wood, by William Noyes

The project Gutenberg, Handwork in Wood.,  If I use this book then that means I am working a lot on my farm.  I do think I prefer a tractor over a donkey.

Handerpants?

www.handerpants.com

What's on my bedside table...

Hipstamatic, Helga Viking Lens, Kodak XGrizzled film

Books

1. "Manhattan Project, The Untold Story of the Making of the Atomic Bomb," 1967, Stephane Groeff

2-3. NAS and NIV Bible

4. "Big Truths for Young Hearts", 2009, Bruce Ware

5. "Story of Stories," 1991, Karen Hinckley

6. "Hayford's Bible Handbook," 1995, Jack W. Hayford

Photos
Lt. Abby and Daddy
Rt. Paba


Lamp
Meixia, Courtesy of Bill Job

Hipstamatic, Kaimal Mark II Lense, Ina's 1969 film

(16) Shepherding a Child's Heart

Final Analysis: This is the best book I have read on parenting.  Mr. Tripp clearly has insight on what scripture says about our role as parents.  We have the responsibility to "drive the foolishness/folly out of our children" and "bring them up in the training and instruction of the Lord".  My two favorite quotes from this book are on communication and worship.  I highly recommend this book to parents who seek to raise their children in a way pleasing to the Lord.  While there is much opposition to the teachings of the bible and the interpretation of these verses by Mr. Tripp, it is the opinion of this reader that, if followed, this book can be beneficial to raising children.

We as parents can only seek to influence our children and shepherd them through the formative years in the most Godly way possible, the heart is really up to the Lord.

Communication: Parents and Children

    "There is a simple way to look at the cost of deep, full-orbed communication.  You must regard parenting as one of your most important tasks while you have your children at home.  This is your calling.  You must raise you children in the fear and admonition of the Lord.  You cannot do so without investing yourself in a life of sensitive communication in which you help them understand life and God's world.  There is nothing more important.  You have only a brief season of life to invest yourself in this task.  You have only one opportunity to do it, you cannot go back and do it over."

Citation: Tedd Tripp, "Shepherding a Child's Heart

Camping and watching for tornados

Our tent from inside grandma and papa's camper

Josiah with his new spiderman blanket from Grandma

Levi and Woody

All picture taken with iphone Hipstomatic.

"Bob the tomato and I are a lot alike, we both think about God a lot" Josiah (age 5)

He said what?

We were at Lowes today looking at some chemicals... and the following discussion took place

Daddy: "I would like to get some wax that is heavy duty."
Josiah: "Why did you say doodie?"

I am not sure where he gets this from, I guess his mama.

Happy Birthday 'Siah!

I love you buddy!  You are such a gift to our family.  We thank God daily for bringing you to us.  I sure did enjoy building your special truck with you.

Best Day in FIVE Years!

Abby had some much needed surgery last Monday in Birmingham, AL.  When I say 'much needed' this is not an embellishment or magnification, Abby has hurt for many years due to reflux.  It is much more severe then that occasional spicy meal.  It was bad enough to cause her to stop eating by mouth (going on 7 years now).

So why was it the best day in 5 years with Abby?   There was no biting, moaning, fussing, and NO HURTING for my girl.  I really don't have words to say that describes watching her hurt or the process of a continual surrender of her to the Lord or my gratefulness of a new beginning for her.

In Preparation of Celebration!!

Josiah turns 5 tomorrow.  So tonight we prepared 'treasure' cupcakes (see the Cupcake Doctor).