Discovering the Nature of Light Beams

"I have a little shadow that goes in and out with me,

and what can be the use of him is more than I can see.

He is very, very like me from the heels up to the head;

and I see him jump before me, when I jump into my bed."

~Robert Louis Stevenson

F is For Fennel Plant

I love learning from and being inspired by the people God has placed together in our family. To witness the variety of budding gifts and ability in our household and to see each person contributing to the family culture, this is beautiful.

This month two of my dear siblings have enriched our home in a small way with the beauty and creativity of the English language. These two, Annie Hope and Daniel, have been exploring the art of writing basic poetry. Although they have heard verse since infancy and memorized poetry from early childhood, this has been their first experience with writing their thoughts and ideas in poetic form.

When my sister Emily was a young lass, she wrote a charming poem complete with artistic flair, whose stanzas were alphabetized. She was inspired by a book that had winsome verses woven together with lovely illustrations. The topic Emily choose was God's created work in nature.

F is for fennel plant

Very fern like and tall;

Delicious in cooking:

For sausage, soups and all.

These attempts are not perfect, nor professional, yet they enrich the culture of what Spurgeon once called, "the grandest of all earthly institutions," the home.

Two Hundredth Anniversary of Darwin's Birth

"Although much remains obscure, and will long remain obscure, I can entertain no doubt, after the most deliberate study and dispassionate judgement of which I am capable, that the view which most naturalists entertain, and which I formerly entertained -- namely, that each species has been independently created -- is erroneous. "

Charles Darwin, from the introduction to On the Origin of Species

On this day in 1809, a baby was born in the town of Shrewsbury, England. This baby would fifty years later publish a book that would greatly sway and influence the world in a way that few books have. In this book, Charles Darwin proposed a theory known today as evolution.


Darwin was not the first one to distort the history of God's creation of man; however, he is often heralded as the father of evolution. Darwin's book, On the Origin of Species, was published 150 years ago today, and its results are clear. When we forsake the Word of God, and resort to human reason and speculation as our final authority, we justly receive God's judgment. We can see the effects of one person's influence in 150 years; what will your influence be?


Science has had its interesting history in our personal family. My mother majored in biology and was keenly aware of Darwin's theory and worldview. Because of this, it has been imperative for our family to reform our view of science and man's beginnings to the Scriptures. In a practical sense, this was done through reading and studying the Word of God, and discussing what we learned.


We were also able to study under Christian scientists, such as John Witcomb, Henry Morris, John Baumgardner, Andrew Snelling, Russell Humphreys and others, through their writings and talks. The very first creation science book that I began reading was The Genesis Flood. As a young girl it was a difficult read, yet at the same time it instilled a delight in researching evidences of Biblical events.


Several resources that have been helpful to our family as we learn about God's creation are,

Biology 101

A wonderful DVD Biology course.

The Exploring Series

From mathematics to medicine this series is an engaging and thought-provoking read, even for small children. Click here to read a review.

The Wonders of God's Creation, by Moody Press

A DVD series that shows forth God's power and purpose in creation.

Acts and Facts

One of the ministries of Institute for Creation Research is this highly informative periodical.

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The latest edition of Acts & Facts, was replete with a wide range of interesting articles on the life and theories held by Darwin. Christine Dao wrote the following about Charles Darwin,

"He has been elevated to demigod status and given a place of esteem in the public arena, where any ideas outside his outdated theory are systematically and unfairly expelled.

But Darwin wasn't a god. He wasn't even a demigod. He was a man whose speculations of long ages of death and mutation offered an anti-Creator explanation for the diversity of life observed on earth. Two centuries after his birth, it is time for Darwin to come off his throne long enough for us to examine the man behind the monkey. "

Click here to read entire article.


On this historic day, I would encourage each of us, as Christian young ladies, to study what the Scriptures say regarding the creation of the world and the Creator. It is vitally important that we, as future mothers to the next generation, know and understand the true account of man's genesis. By God's grace, may we teach this to our children with knowledge and clarity.

Mothers and Daughters, Wives and Sisters, Remember...

"that you have the making of the future of this great country, and rise at once to your high and holy duty.... Take those little curly-headed boys, and teach them all you would have men to be."

From Daughters of Destiny

A Tribute to My Beloved Parents

Recently, the Lord blessed me with another year of life. On that day, I gave the following tribute.

"For thou hast possessed my reins: thou hast covered me in my mother's womb.
I will praise thee; for I am fearfully and wonderfully made: marvellous are thy works; and that my soul knoweth right well. My substance was not hid from thee, when I was made in secret, and curiously wrought in the lowest parts of the earth.
Thine eyes did see my substance, yet being unperfect; and in thy book all my members were written, which in continuance were fashioned, when as yet there was none of them."
(Psalm 139:13-16)

The very fact that I stand here today is a result of God’s grace and mercy, and it is to Him that I first give all glory and praise.

Secondly, I would like to speak of two dear people, the authors of my being, my dear parents. With the exception of my Lord and Savior, they have together been the most influential force in my life as they stood together and taught me when they sat in the house, and when they walked by the way, and when they lay down, and when they rose up. (Deut. 6:7)

In a day when many marriages end in divorce and when the world’s message is to greedily live for the gratification of self’s fulfillment, my parents have lived lives in stark contrast. Daily laying down and finding their lives through Christ, my parents have modeled a beautiful marriage by exemplifying Biblical marriage. There have been defining characteristics in the lives of my parents that molded me and taught me more than I often realize.

The first quality I would like to mention is perseverance in my mother’s life. Like the woman in Proverbs 31, she is an example of feminine strength and fortitude. I have seen her leave all that she had ever known and loved to follow my father to a different land. I have daily listened to words of perseverance since she became a Christian over 19 years ago. I have felt her persevering love through my entire life which began with the discomfort and trials of childbirth and continues to this day as she is an older woman to a sinner saved by grace.

If one word could describe my mother it would be gratefulness. She is a grateful woman. She is grateful for her husband and children. She is grateful to be the daughter to her parents and a sister to her brother. She is grateful for her heritage and that she is an American. This quality is not emotionally fleeting, or flippantly felt, but by God’s grace is part of who she is.

She sings for joy in times of sorrow or prosperity and never forgets who she is in Christ. And it is with Him, her Lord and Maker, that she spends her happiest moments in times of quiet worship or in periods of bustling activities.

Some of my sweetest memories from my childhood are rising from the night’s repose to find my mother reading God’s Word. Her heart was this:

“When morning gilds the skies, my heart awaking cries,
May Jesus Christ be praised! Alike at work and prayer,
To Jesus I repair; May Jesus Christ be praised.”

I would now like to speak about my father. My father has loved us with his life, challenged us by his instruction, encouraged us by his praise, and taught us by his example.

Since the day I was born, my father has laid down the prime of his life daily for my sake. And not just in the way of working "by the sweat of his face” to provide daily necessities, but also in providing protection, counsel, and fatherly love.

One way my father has challenged me, by the very way he lives his life, is to have no fear of man. This fearless attitude has allowed him to follow Christ even when it meant living a life that was counter-cultural for Christ’s glory. My father is also a careful man. These two seemingly different characteristics are not incompatible as I have seen my father carefully count the cost before fearlessly pursuing what is right.

He also bolsters us with his praise. As a little girl through to this day, few things delight my heart more than knowing that I have pleased my father.

One example that has always been clear to me is my father’s trust in the Lord’s sovereignty and resting in God’s providence. In the darkest hours, I have heard him repeat the word’s of Job, “the LORD gave, and the LORD hath taken away; blessed be the name of the LORD.”

In the most joyous hours, his response is to give praise to God.

But I with lasting confidence will hope continually,
And I will add still more and more to all the praise of Thee.
For, God, Thy righteous extends into infinity;
And Thou has wrought such miracles, O God, who is like Thee?

Both my parents are purposefully united in the way they and our household live our lives that it might be a God-glorifying home, and from its heart, would live out the gospel of Jesus Christ. From their purpose stems many goals and standards for our lively family.

Here are the first three: that they would raise children who would, number one, love God.

"And thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thine heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy might." Deuteronomy 6:5

Number two, that we would love people.

“Be kindly affectioned one to another with brotherly love; in honour preferring one another.”
Romans 12:10

And number three, that we would have a love of learning. Not only that we might have a life full of discovery and learning, and not just for the sake of education, but for the glory of God.

"Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth." 2 Timothy 2:15

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Now, on this day, twenty-one years after my birth, I would like to call your attention to these two people, my mother, whom I rise up and call blessed, and my father, the man of God who is my loving patriarch. May God continue to bless them as they have touched many lives in powerful ways and still more that are yet unborn.

Where Website Training and Daughterhood Meet

As it was mentioned in the previous post, my father has been involved in an interesting, yet arduous task of building a website, a website that involves different customer levels and the ability to cater to international customers . Working together with Acumium, an e-business consulting and development firm, this website was officially launched for Tandy Leather Factory in early January.


Investigating and evaluating different database/website design firms proved to be a laborious experience as the range of strengths and weaknesses exhibited in the numerous providers is great. The capable men at Acumium were chosen, not only for their stellar ability to juggle complicated database issues, but their success at designing previous sites.

After the consulting firm was chosen, the real task of completely redesigning began. The goal was to have a workable and efficient website for those using it, those in administration, and most importantly the customers. From a user's standpoint, several of the new features would include:

The ability to email product links and information to others

Tab-style product descriptions

Expedited shopping and checkout process with or without an account

Order status updates via email

Track orders online

Access order history

Throughout the entire process which began months ago, my father included his family in this process. From working in design and database computer programs to proofing writings and web details, few ventures have been this educational. It has given us the unique opportunity to learn a skill that is both valuable and important to our father.


As daughters, and as appropriate, we should learn and understand what our fathers do. I know daughters who have educated themselves to assist their fathers in accountant work, film production, music, agrarian pursuits, theological work, writing projects and entrepreneurial ventures. From the extremely practical to the more complex, daughters have the blessed opportunity of seeking to know the hearts of their fathers. This will often happen when daughters give their hearts to their fathers and desire to be united with their fathers' visions.


On the topic of practical training in our fathers businesses, we might meet several challenges. In today's society of diverse vocational occupations, this type of training may not always be practical or even possible. However, as daughters in our fathers' homes, we are living and breathing in the very center of our fathers' most important sphere of ministry, the home. In the home, what can you learn that would benefit and bless your family? Today, how can you further your father's desires for your household?