Category Archive

  I used to love making hand made cards; it was a hobby for me. The girls would sometimes gather around and make their own renditions of the cards I had made. As a 9 year old, Erin in particular, loved to “help me.”  I used calligraphy in my cards, and I began to notice how beautiful Erin’s handwriting was …

We love fall and we love homecoming at the Museum of Appalachia! Since it’s just minutes from our house, we get to enjoy the many crafts and the old fashioned setting. It was a special treat to have Sarah join Zach in singing a duet together (“Consider the Lilies”). Carlin and Josie sold crafts they had worked on for the …

Fall is my favorite time of year, so I took some of our younger ones for a play day with church friends at Life Down on the Farm corn maze in Powell, TN. (http://www.lifedownonthefarm.com/) The children romped in the huge corn boxes, raced ducks in the water troughs, bounced on the gigantic air filled trampoline, petted the many farm animals, …

 Zach’s trip with the Reith family was an incredible 3 week experience. Their singing engagements gave opportunity for them to see some of America’s beautiful countryside. They visited Glacier National Park and Yellowstone National Park during their trip, and marvelled at God’s handiwork. As fascinating as it is to see how God has formed and created the beauty around us, …

Michaella, Lawson, & Addee accompanied Zach to the Reith’s house in Missouri for a few days just before Zach embarked on a 3 week excursion with the Reith family. The Reiths sang in various churches and festivals in Minnesota and Montana. The trip gave them a wonderful opportunity to minister and share their faith. It also gave Zach & Sarah …

We attended the Labor Day Turning Hearts Celebration hosted by the Bontrager family in Kalona,Iowa. It was a sweet time of fellowship and music.  Gil gave two encouraging messages for strengthening families: “Beware Where You Stare; It May Become a Snare” and “One Failure No Family Can Afford to Make.” It was exciting to see such a large crowd of …

Nathan’s birthday recently gave us opportunity to host a father/son camp-out at Watts Bar Lake. Our boys have always enjoyed their father/son retreats with Dad and other participating families. No matter what the activities may include: rafting, camping, repelling, hunting… the time to get away for fellowship and Bible study has been time well spent! These weekends remind us how …

Every year our girls look forward to a summer music camp called Musicollege hosted by Majesty Music (http://www.majestymusic.com/). The day is divided into different classes taught by skilled musicians such as Ron and Shelly Hamilton, Faye Lopez, Matt and Rachelle Whitcomb, Frank and Jean Garlock, and others. Not only is it a time to enhance music skills, but even more …

A few weeks ago we had opportunity to have a Duggar/Bates Reunion at our home. It was a sentimental occasion because it was the first time the entire Duggar family has been able to see the finished results of our house renovations they began 2 years ago! Little Josie Duggar was able to accompany the family after successfully achieving so …

We were invited to sing and participate in a week of tent meetings in Camden, Michigan. We were so encouraged by the diligence exhibited by Mr. Harold Walker, who hosted and planned the entire event. As mayor of his township, he envisioned doing something that would help the community; so with much prayer and initiative he and his family went …