Life is Wonderful

Are You a Wise Woman?

"Every wise woman buildeth her house: but the foolish plucketh it down with her hands."

Proverbs 14:1

When Thy Sister Takes Thee to a 21st Century Millinery Shop...

Thoughts on Serving Our Families

By Emily and Annie Hope Jones

"Remembering to lay down our own life for others is something we try to keep before us. It can be easy for us to spend our free time on activities we like to do, but we try to remember to put aside those things and ask one of our siblings what they want to do; then we purpose to do it. We endeavor to help our father and mother as much as we can; reminding ourselves that true helping is not doing what we think they need help with, but rather having a humble, servant-like spirit, being ready in season and out of season to do whatever they ask of us. We have so much to learn and the Lord is ever faithful!

Being part of our family is an exciting adventure. There are many duties, responsibilities, challenges, joys, and blessings that come with being part of this household. We are grateful to the Lord for his plan for us as daughters in our father’s house. May the Lord bless each one of you as you follow His perfect will for you as a daughter in His kingdom."

An excerpt from an article in Virtuous Daughters magazine

Dried by Fire

Several days before the fire broke out, my grandmother placed fresh larkspur seeds on her retaining wall to dry. Upon returning home after the five day evacuation period, the seeds were found in the same location, dried completely and dusted with a layer of ash.

Fulfilling His Word - The Jesusita Fire

"The voice of the LORD divideth the flames of fire."
Psalms 29:7

Imagine being born, having a family and still residing in the same town now in your twilight years. Imagine still living in the house that you purchased over half a century ago. It is a peaceful day, a normal day when a wildfire breaks out unexpectedly and endangers your home within several hours. Years of work is jeopardized by its ferocious flames. Innumerable antiques carefully stored and preserved for future generations are only separated from the fire by walls. Decades of memories connected with a house that is in the path of one of the worst wildfires in forty years... and you have to leave.





Three weeks ago today, a fire broke out across the Mission Canyon area of Santa Barbara, CA. This area had not burned since the 1960's, and accumulative undergrowth from the past 40 years was perfect kindling. The fire's lashing flames were reported across the nation as dozens of homes and properties were consumed. Regardless of its recent publicity due to the fire, Santa Barbara is a special city in our family's history.

It is the hometown of my father, where he was born and grew up. It continues to be important to our family as my paternal grandmother resides in our family home of over fifty years. Some of my earliest memories were the lovely days at her home, eating succulent fruits, picking gorgeous flowers, and feeling the cool sand shift under my feet. God's creation of this part of the California coast is truly spectacular.

Annie Hope and Emily

Notwithstanding the tropical climate and the natural beauty, Santa Barbara (and surrounding cities) also claim very dry and brushy hillsides, and dusk winds that tear through canyons at speeds up to 90 mph, known as "sundowners." Together these variables are the perfect environment for roaring fires and mass destruction. (Note: here is a brief post of last year's fire, the Tea fire.)

Four o'clock doves

The Lord in His providence protected our family's home, and allowed the fire to only get within three feet of its walls. For this we are very grateful. However, my grandmother's land was not without damage. In fact, significant foliage damage did occur on one side of her property. Flames made their way to the macadamia tree and roasted many nuts. Thankfully the old tree has survived the shock of fire burn. One of my sisters is holding some of the Jesusita Fire roasted macadamia nuts.

The Lord in His providence also knew that many homes would burn. One home belonged to a long-time family neighbor, Mr. Pratini, whose fire-engulfed home is pictured below.

"You always have a glimmer of optimism," said Mr. Pratini, who had lived in this house since 1960. "You build up a lot of memories, and a lot of attachments."

The aftermath

During the suspenseful days of May 5-7 when the fires roared up and down familiar streets, our prayer was that God would accomplish His perfect will, and conform our desires to His will. We looked forward to seeing how He would use this troubling natural element for His glory and purpose.

A pencil sketch of damaged or destroyed areas

We also prayed that first of all, those who were in some way touched by the fire would seek those things that moth and rust can't destroy. Secondly, that we would surrender all aspects of our lives to Him completely. That we might be faithful with the earthly blessings and treasures, and yet know that they are His, to be used and disposed of for His glory. And lastly, that He might teach us all that He desires. In times of trial, He has our attention in a very real way. May each of us learn what He would have us to learn in every season.

Grace intently studying a Santa Barbara Newspress article and pictures on the Jesusita Fire

"Praise the LORD from the earth, ye dragons, and all deeps:Fire, and hail; snow, and vapour; stormy wind fulfilling his word..."

Psalms 148:7-8

First Official Optical Appointment

A brave young man passed each test with a steady gaze...

while little sister and brother stood by for moral support.

Five Ways to Bless and Encourage Younger Sisters

1. Point them to Christ

The most important way we can encourage younger sisters is to point them to our Saviour. We can do this by the way we live our lives and in conversations with them. Learn with your sister and engage in the blessed duty of honoring our parents and having servants' hearts, as you follow Christ's example.


2. Praise the virtues of femininity and modesty

Praise them for dressing in a way that not only pleases their Daddy and Mommy, but also their Father in heaven. The world's message is loud and bold on this issue, and as sisters we can use our special influence in a way that no billboard or program can, by speaking into young, impressionable lives with tender affection and praise for all that is truly beautiful. May we give them a picture, imperfect though it is, of Biblical beauty and feminine modesty in our words, actions and clothing.


3. Pray for them

We have the blessed opportunity to bear our younger sisters' burdens and pray that they would:

• love the Lord



• love His Word



• grow up to be virtuous women



• be faithful in all their duties



• be content in every circumstance



• remain pure in an impure world



• diligently seek Christ from their youth

We can also pray that the Lord would pour out a blessing for them as Rebecca's siblings beautifully did as recorded in Genesis 24:60,

"Thou art our sister, be thou the mother of thousands of millions, and let thy seed possess the gate of those which hate them. "

4. Provoke them unto love and to good works

What we love, we do, and what we do, we do zealously. Perhaps one of the most influential elements in the home is enthusiasm. What are you passionate about? What are we provoking in the lives of our sisters?


5. Enjoy and cherish them

Sometimes we all get caught up in daily living and sinfully forget to be thankful for all the blessing in our lives...perhaps our precious little sisters. Go so far as to purposefully delight in the tea parties, the lace and frills, the prancing, the little dolls laying about, the braids and pigtails. Appreciate the small things and the commonplace. How blessed we are!

My Little Girls Grow Up

Since they were small, I have lovingly called them, "my little girls." They have brought me unspeakable delight. Now on the brink of womanhood these two, are a living, vibrant picture of enthusiasm, industry and joy. In seven years, they have grown into "my little women." The delight continues...

2002

2009

The Fruit of the Womb is His Reward

Grace Hammitt

Pencil Art 101 in Action

A Happy Hammitt Maiden

Sisterhood in Christ

Future Men, Future Leaders

Recently, our family was blessed with a visit from our dear friends, the Hammitt family, who visited from Indiana. The older sons from both families organized a time of praising the Lord through music, specifically piano, recorders and voice. Matthew, Branson, Noah and Daniel are a blessing in the land, and what a joy to see future leaders joining together to bless and edify their families to the glory of God.

A Virtuous Woman

A dear mother of many...The precious bride of her groom...A beautiful woman in Christ...An inspiration to many,

Mrs. Hammitt