The Wilkes Team

Is a difficulty a problem or an opportunity? When viewed from the rock that is higher than us (Psalms 61:1-2), difficulties are opportunites, but from our perspective they are more often ‘problems.’ I was reminded of this important principle just recently. Only a few days ago, the Verizon phone company installed a new form of wiring (fiber optics). The result was to be a faster internet connection. I accompanied the 2 knowledgeable installers through much of the process and enjoyed much excellent conversation with one installer in particular. Crawling all around in the dusty, box filled attic while running the new wires (hoping there were no snakes ) was a worthy excercise!

With wiring completed, now came time for testing the new connection. Errors were all I received. Oh me, I was now somewhat bewildered. My limited knowledge of computers and networking was being put to the test. Three steps forward, two steps back and one step forward but then two steps back. From trying to connect to the internet to assisting the computers in recognizing each other so we could access all the printers and files on every other computer, there was new problems popping up everywhere. And yes, discouragement was setting in, especially when I saw all the tasks that were being delayed as I was slowly discovering solutions.

Dad’s timely advice to view all difficulties as opportunities hit home. As I was once exhorted by a good friend, ‘It is a choice to rejoice.’ With this the charge, the more this difficulty was viewed as an opportunity, the more joy began to flow. A second needed essential was prayer. The network was lifted up in prayer to the Lord and His will requested. Praise & Prayer! Why art thou cast down oh my soul? And why are thou disquieted within me? Hope thou in God for I shall yet praise Him, who is the health of my countenance and my God (Psalms 43:5).

With a renewed focus, I dove back into the problem. A big thank you to each Wilkes Team member for their patience! And for a time, I continued to stumble around; but then, the Lord gave wisdom and revealed the simple (isn’t that way some problems are ) solution for the downed network. Praise the Lord, for we are now up and running even better than before. As a result of this ‘opportunity,’ valuable knowledge and a wonderful reminder to be networked to prayer and praise was obtained. I wonder how many happy endings I have missed because I avoided prayer and praise.

4 Comments » | posted in Family News

What a joy Hannah is to our home! We often call her ‘Happy Hannah’ because she is constantly encouarging us all to look on the bright side of difficult situations. The joy of the Lord is definitly Hannah’s strength and she readily shares that joy with all those she comes in contact with. 

Just the other day I was trying to use my time wisely and do mutiple things at one time :o) Helping get the lunch meal ready as well as preparing two big batches of corn bread for a family get together that night at Grandma’s. I put the corn bread in the oven right before lunch and sat down to eat with much satisfaction. What a delightful meal it was! We were enjoying our lunch as a family so much, that unbeknown to us all, the timer had gone off for the corn bread and it continued to bake away in the oven!

 Towards the end of the meal Dad turned to me and reminded me to not forget to make the corn bread for dinner at Grandma’s. It was then I remembered with horror that I had let the corn bread bake for over an hour! I ran to the oven pulled out the 2 big pans of corn bread aaannnnndddd they were the blackest looking corn bread I had ever seen! I was, I have to say very dissapointed! It was at that moment, Hannah piped up and said ” Don’t worry Jenny, just let them bake a little longer and they will be perfect brownies! It is really okay Jenny, we like brownies!” Everyone smiled and wished that it truly could happen. We all appreciated Hannah’s response to the situation. She encouarged us all once again to look at things with a new perspective and I know this wont be the last!

With many helpful hands we were able to whip out two more batches of corn bread, clean the kitchen up, and get all the things together that we needed to take and still made it in great timing to Grandma and Grandpa’s home!

6 Comments » | posted in Family News

Last evening could of been just like any other one. The day was drawing to a close, eyes were beginning to grow heavy.  Until there was suddenly a cry or perhaps it was an anouncement.  Could it really be? Daniel and Kenan had news, just minutes old to their ears. According to weather forecasters in the Northern Virginia area, satellite cameras were reporting a low pressure cloud formation heading our way. With unbelievably low temperatures, excitement began to buzz…….snow was on the horizon. 

And guess what, our stack of firewood in the garage had gone low and needed refilling. Little concern was had for the Wilkes Team rallied for the occasion and Matthew, Kenan, Daniel, Sarah, and I made our way out to into the bitterly cold night. Each one worked together with enthusiasm and diligence insomuch that our job was quickly finished. Daniel & Matthew split almost 2 dozen logs while the rest of us wheelbarrowed the logs up to the garage.

We all dashed back in as soon as possible for a rewarding board game. The snow began to fall around 9pm and continued through much of the night to create a beautiful sight the next morning.

The verse that comes to mind after watching everyone work so well together is Proverbs 25:13, “As the cold of snow in the time of harvest, so is a faithful messenger to them that send him: for he refresheth the soul of his masters.” Thank you to each hard worker!

5 Comments » | posted in Family News, Outdoor Adventures

For Christmas I received a science expirement kit. I am having fun trying out different experiments. This week I decided to try out the Small Potato Gun. First I got a pen and then took off both ends. It looked like a small pcv pipe. Afterwards I cut a slice of potato 3\8 of an inch thick. One end of the tube is pushed into the potato. The pen is then removed with a chunk of potato jammed into the larger end of the tube. This is then repeated on the smaller end of the tube. There should be a gap inbetween the 2 chunks of potato inside the pen.

After this was done, I took the ink cartridge and pushed it down the larger end of the hollow pen. There was a pop and the chunk of potato flew  through the air very fast. The farthest distance it shot was about 6 feet.

3 Comments » | posted in Family News

This is a recipe Markie and I made for dinner. It was a fun way to strengthen our relationship. I usually double this recipe for our family. These biscuits are among our family’s favorite foods. Enjoy!

Ingredients:

1 1/4 C. Whole wheat flour

3/4C. Flour,all-purpose

1 Tbsp. Baking Powder

1 tsp. Salt

 1/4 C. Butter,cold

1cup + 1 Tbsp. Milk

3 Tbsp. Honey   

Procedure:

1.Combine dry ingredients in a bowl.

a. Cut butter into Tbsp-size pieces

b. Add butter to dry ingredients all at once

c. Cut butter into flour with a pastry blender until the butter is the size of large peas.

2. Combine milk and honey.

 a. Add to dry mixture

b. Mix just until combined

3.  Pour a little flour into a bowl for tossing biscuits.

4. Scoop batter into flour, one biscuit at a time, and toss to cover.

5. Toss back and forth to remove excess flour.

6. Place in greased, 8″, round or square baking pan

7. Bake at 425 degrees for 15-20 minutes or until well browned and cooked through.

This will make approximately 12 biscuits.

9 Comments » | posted in Recipes

It was Wednesday evening, around dinner time, January 31^st 2007. The pleasant Kitchen of the Wilkes team was fulfilling its life purpose; providing an agreeable environment for hungry appetites. Mom, with her dexterous hands made the Kitchen so, by filling the room with delightful aromas and empty pots and pans with fascinating foods. The deep freeze, another important contributor on that wonderful evening, dumped out of its vast resources the world’s greatest dairy product—ice cream. This produced the finishing touch to an already near to perfect setting. The Kitchen was living one of its greatest moments. Unfortunately (or depending on the perspective, fortunately), it was all shattered by a question with vast implications; What Game should we play tonight?

The Kitchen completely lost its hold on the atmosphere and before another second past, the pleasant Kitchen with hearty eating individuals, turned into a think tank of idea developers. Game names flew around the table: Taboo, Pictionary, card games, etc. etc. yet, all were rejected. Silently, the deviser of the question, stood up from the table. He had an answer for the question; at least he was pretty sure. All others were oblivious to his movements as He quietly walked out of the room. The game name fire shooter slowly died down and then came to a complete stop. No names had been accepted, what was to be done now? Then through the double doors the deviser entered and in a questioning manner began: How about playing a game of….. He held up a game box, still wrapped in its plastic…. Settlers of Catan? Many must have thought “we don’t have that game” but then looking at what was in his hand—a genuine box holding genuine pieces of Settlers of Catan. Amazing! There was no discussion or remonstrance. It was given a vivacious reception.

Now, as quickly as it had come, the think tank disappeared. The Kitchen regained the attention of the idea developers, and they quickly became dish cleaners and washers. All were in anticipation over what the next few hours of the evening would hold with Settlers of Catan in their possession.

The evening turned about to be fun and enjoyable. We actually were not able to finish the game, but on Thursday evening all of us gathered around the table and played another. Joshua (the deviser) won .

5 Comments » | posted in Family News