Puddledum with Roman

Update: this is a little something I wrote back when Roman and Caitlin were courting. I don't know why I never published it.

It was a lovely Saturday evening. Roman to dinner, sunny weather, a nice day...a walk was in order. So we all headed down to Swan River Nature Trail to work off our dinner of barbecued chicken, corn on the cob, stuffed mushrooms, and sourdough bread.
It was beautiful. Roman picked flowers for Caitlin, and we went down to the river, which is going fast right now:


We found a big rock in the sunlight. Happiness.

And then the pranks started.

The first one was pretty. Mother picked some little white flowers and told me to put them over Caitlin and Roman. I sprinkled them over. They looked lovely in her hair...not so much in his. So he picked them out and set them gently on Caitlin (don't worry, he did not touch her), and gave her a Romeo (I did not a misspell that!) look. All happy and tingly. I think everything else fell away.




With all the rain lately, there's been a lot of puddles. Roman started walking real close to Caitlin as we passed a puddle, forcing her towards it. She avoided it, but his evil grin said that there was more mischief in store.

Big puddle and courting couples spell danger. Roman jumped full in like a little boy, intending to splash Caitlin....and got me soaked. Oh, Caitlin got a little wet, but that's it. Caitlin jumped in a later puddle to get back at Roman, and got me wet again.

Once more, as the walk was almost over, the last puddle in sight, of course I jumped full in...and got my self soaked once more.

Moral: Stay a good 10-20 feet away from courting couples taking a walk. You never know what could happen.

In Christ,

Jillian

The story of Jonah as Told by the Cutest Little Girl

 Take  eight minutes out of your day to watch and listen to a little girl tell the story of Jonah as if she were reading it from a book...I wonder how old she must be. Not very old. She does this all from memory! It puts me to shame.
 Click HERE  to see it.
In Christ,
Jillian

This Day will Live in Infamy

Yesterday, December seventh, my dad asked me at the dinner table,
"Do you know what today is?"
I shrugged. "Uh, today is today", was my less than intelligent answer.
"Start listing off what today is"
"Tuesday"
"Yessss..."
"December seventh"
"And?"
" I dunno."
"What happened today?"
He let me sit there with my half eaten burrito, thinking hard about what happened. It was driving me nuts, so I cheated and looked at our calender, walked back to the dinner table, and announced:

"Pearl Harbor was attacked by Japanese bombers"

 

I was pretty ashamed that although doing a study in WW2 not to long ago,  I did not remember. In my defense, I can remember events, but I am terrible at dates. 

Later, my Father played a radio recording on his cellphone, from December eighth, 1941. It was Franklin Roosevelt's declaration of  war against Japan. Here is a bit of it:

"Yesterday, December 7, 1941 – a date which will live in infamy – the United States of America was suddenly and deliberately attacked by naval and air forces of the Empire of Japan... 
....In addition, American ships have been reported torpedoed on the high seas between San Francisco and Honolulu.
Yesterday the Japanese Government also launched an attack against Malaya.
Last night Japanese forces attacked Hong Kong.
Last night Japanese forces attacked Guam.
Last night Japanese forces attacked the Philippine Islands.
Last night the Japanese attacked Wake Island.
This morning the Japanese attacked Midway Island...
...As Commander in Chief of the army and navy I have directed that all measures be taken for our defense..."

It felt a little odd, listening to fuzzy radio waves in a modern home, on a modern device. I tried to imagine what it was like for the families that had a loved one in the Naval forces, or simply someone who lived in the United States, dreading this war and concerned greatly about how it would turn out. And it got me to thinking about the Atom bomb:

 

What if it had been completed sooner? Could thousands of American lives been saved?

What if it had taken longer to complete, or had never been invented? How many lives would have been lost? How much longer would the war have lasted

It all goes to show that God chose just the right time for it to be invented, completed, and dropped on the Japanese cities of Hiroshima and Nagasaki. Why not sooner? Why not later? And a bigger question of: 

 why did God allow it to happen at all? ( click here to see my answer to that)

What do you think?

In Christ, 

Jillian

Thou Shalt Not Murder....?

I've done it. I've gone and killed something. And it was great fun, ladies and gents.

Ever since I took a hunters safety class back when I was 13, I have always wanted to hunt. And this year, both me and Hayley got to. My Dad took us out on a few occasions, and Roman took us out too(on a side note: I love having a big brother!) Anyway, a couple of days before hunting season was over, Hayley spotted a buck out on our property...we have five acres, by the way. I watched from the window as Hayley and my Dad tried to get it...they told me later the deer ran away. Later that day, I saw the same ignorant fellow in the exact same spot he had been sighted earlier. At first I just ignored it, and then thought...I'm gonna do it! So I grabbed my coat, boots, Dad, and a gun I had never used before. My Dad gave me a two minute crash course on how the gun worked. I ran out...and well, this picture tells you the rest...

 

click on image to enlarge

Its a four by four rack, its rather hard to tell from the picture. Roman came over and helped me gut and skin it...we got pictures but they aren't very pretty, so I think I'll just stick with this one. One thing I must confess: 

As we were skinning it my knife slipped and I gave Roman a really nasty cut on his finger...and whenever he gets asked what happened to his finger, he just says "I cut it skinning a deer..."  man, I got the best big brother ever....

 In Christ,

Jillian 

If I were...

If I were a gemstone, I’d be an Amethyst

If I were a scent, I’d be Chamomile

If I were a pair of shoes, I'd be sneakers(I  won't do a picture)

                                      If I were the weather, I would be warm, happy sunshine

If I were a facial expression, I'd be a knowing smile.

 

If I were a car, I'd be a little silver truck

 

If I were a time of day, I’d be at sunset.

If were a month, I’d be May

                                     

If I were a place, I'd be a farmhouse

If I were a liquid, I’d be water.

If I were a taste, I’d be a sweet and sour

If I were a sea animal, I’d be a dolphin

                                         

If I were a food, I’d be smarties

 

If I were a color, I'd be dark purple

If I were a musical instrument, I would be the violin

If I were a flower, I’d be a lily.

                                        

If I were a song, I’d be"The Coast of Galacia" By Celtic Woman

 

If I were a planet, I’d be Neptune

If I were an object, I would be a book!

 

If I were a fruit, I'd be a strawberry

 

If I were a sound, I’d be wind rustling in the trees

If I were a day of the week, I’d be Friday

I tag...

Anyone who wants to do it!

Jillian

Under Constuction

We are changing a few things on our blog, so please excuse all the rearranging until were done. Thanks!
Jillian

Honeymoon

Roman and I are safely back and well settled into our home, so now it is time you will see just a little glimpse of our honeymoon. The first night was spent at a lodge on Big Mountain, so not a long drive. We left late Sunday morning and drove to Moses Lake, WA. Seven wonderful hours in the car, visiting, listening to John MacArthur, sharing stories, and enjoying music and silence together. It really was the first time we had been alone. No siblings or parents close by, just the luggage. We both were so glad that we waited until now to hold hands and hug. It was easy to settle in and the waiting had taught us both a great deal of both patience and self-control. I can say very honestly that I do not regret the boundaries we set in our courtship and engagement.

Now all is very delightful indeed.

We reached our destination Seaside OR on Monday after several hours in the car. I was thrilled when Roman told me that we were going to the coast. It has to be one of my favorite places on God's earth.

Long beach walks and picnics was how we spent the time. It was so nice to just relax, and not have to do anything at all.

The locals were very kind to ignore all the romance of a happy, young couple.

The driver did a great job, never got lost once. That was the navigators fault (yours truly).

We are praising God for the work He has done for it is wonderful to us. May God bless you as you see His work in your lives.

Caitlin

I Won!

Hayley

No Longer 18

Laurel, as of Sep. 29, has turned 19!
Happy Birthday!
Sorry I did not get around to it yesterday, but we have been having a lot of trouble with blogger ever since Caitlin moved out and changed her email slightly. The rest of us were not able to sign in!
Anyway, Laurel, I love you, and hope your birthday was fun.
Laurel made a scrumptious dinner last night of tea soaked chicken, fresh fettucine Alfredo, and green beans, with a chocolate ice cream pie with Orea crust for dessert. It was so good!
Lets all wish her a happy birthday!

In Christ,
Jillian

Presenting Mr. and Mrs. Roman Mallery!

More pictures and details later!

Here we Go!

(Not my picture)

As of this afternoon and especially tomorrow, aunts, uncles, Grandmas, Grandpas, and friends will start coming through our door. Some to stay at our house, others to say hi and give us all big hugs.

And were sick.

Its not that bad, just a very annoying cold and cough, but at a time like this, lets just say we really did not need it. We all feel a little tired, and the real excitement is just beginning. And we don't want the bride to be sick on her honeymoon. But thankfully she seems to be getting better.

So, Please pray that we would all feel better...and soon!
See you after the Wedding!

In Christ,

Jillian

Contending

"I felt the necessity to write to you appealing that you contend earnestly for the faith, which was once delivered for all the saints."

Jude 3

The calling of any Christian is to live in such a way as to stand out from the world, and to walk as a Christ walked. For Christian women it is set forth that we are to represent the Bride of Christ. In this capacity we are to contend for the faith. Our faith is that Christ will return and take us to live with Him, that we will attain the fullness of the salvation of God. Then He will judge if we have lived in such a way that He was the center of every action, every decision, every area of life. He will judge if we have contended for the faith.

As a single young woman it has been my goal to glorify God in every thing I do, and to follow the instructions of 1 Corinthians 7 that young women be concerned about the things of the Lord, that they may be holy in body and in spirit. (verse 34) I have spent time studying His Creation through gardening, studying different theology books available that I may have a ready answer for those who ask about why I do what I do. I have endeavored to proclaim the gospel to the employs of my work, and share the beauty of music in praising God. with piano students. I have sought to learn more of the history of the world by pursuing a college degree in history, and this has brought new areas of study and ministry to me. In all this I have never left my parents home. Never went on a mission, never stayed in a dorm, never had a boyfriend. I simply tried to contend for the faith in the areas of my daily life. In doing laundry, weeding, planning costume parties, and working in a restaurant. The Lord calls us to do it all for Him.

Next week my life will change to a new direction. I will no longer be single, but the wife of Roman Mallery. I will have a new way to contend for the faith. To honour marriage in a culture where it is slighted. To love a husband in an active and real way, not based on feelings, but a daily decision of the will. I have been prepared by my mother to be a homemaker, and by my father to be a faith contender, and by my Lord to take all these duties into the building of a new family.

To all other handmaidens out there, singleness is not a time for inactivity. Marriage does not mean greater ministry. We are all in unique circumstances, but the one thing that is the same is our calling to contend for the faith. To give an answer for the hope that lies within us. May each young lady see that she is doing well, when she is doing daily what God has asked her, cook a meal, write a paper, play an instrument, or change a diaper. May you all contend for the faith by daily seeking to glorify God.

The best preparation for the future is the present well seen to, and the last duty done.

~George MacDonald

Day 30

My last Day! I had so much fun with this! A motto or philosophy: I had a hard time with this one...I asked mother and she said "Chocolate chocolate, always chocolate." That is an interesting philosophy! ;)

But I think I'll do this:


I'll keep posting a lot, although maybe not daily: Coming next "I'm a woman, not a noodle"
Inspired by Caitlin

In Christ,
Jillian

Day 29

Hopes, dreams, and plans you have for the next 365 days:

I want to read a whole long list of books I have.

I want to improve my violin and handwriting skills.



I want to write a 150 page novel before December 30th.


I want to dissect a frog, worm, crawdad, and what ever else I can dissect. I
have always wanted to ever since I took biology last year.


I want to start earning money for my future life.
I want to read my Bible a lot more:

I want to the time in my hands as wisely as possible.

In Christ,
Jillian

Day 28

A scar I have and its a story: I'm doubling up today, since I did not post yesterday.
I have 1 chicken pox scar on my forehead. That's all. No story. I don't get injured much. So I decided to ask...what about you? Got any good scars with story's?
Jillian

Day 27

Sorry I missed a day. Sunday was pretty busy, and so I did not have any time to post.Anyway, a physical feature I love: Hands. I was going to do eyes, but that has been done already. I like watching hands, watching them knit, crochet,
write

play instruments, watching all the fingers move in the coordination that they need to.

It is so fascinating all the things that hands do. I even like watching hands fly across the keyboard.


In Christ,
Jillian