The Wilkes Team

We had a special end of the year celebration last night. To help us start the year right, Mom set the kitchen clocks forward 3 hours so all could see the clock strike 12:00 and get a good night sleep – Thank you Mom! Much eager work went in to preparing for the evening. There was fresh deer meat from Dad’s buck to slice up for our traditional New Year’s Stir Fry. A tasty punch was prepared with pineapple juice, strawberry ice cream, gingerale, and a little rasberry sherbert. The trial run on a homemade shrimp dip proved successful. The table was set with fine dinner ware, and a very thoughtful person chose paper plates to help the dish crew out later on (thank you). Dinner time was a joyous occasion. Different ones shared their most memorable events of 2007 as we recollected on the past in preparation for the future before us.

After dinner, Joshua, Hannah, and Markie began making milkshakes. There were peppermint, vanilla, cookies & cream, and vanilla with chocolate swirl shakes. A cup or two of ice cream with a spoonful of malt and an ice cube chopped in the blender makes a scrumptious dessert.

As the bustle in the kitchen quieted down and with milkshakes in hand, everyone gathered together to share insights on books Dad had given us to read. Dad then proceeded to lay out a broad vision for the year. He exhorted us to prayerfully consider what secret disciplines God would have us engraft into our lives. 2008 is now upon us. Who would the Lord have us disciple this year? To whom should we express gratefulness? How will we be different between 1/1/2008 and 1/1/2009?

There are so many ways to conclude a year. Doug Phillips of Vision Forum provides a series of meaningful activities to bring a transpired year into proper perspective that we would encourage you to browse through as you conclude your journals and begin a new year.

7 Comments » | posted in Family News, Tid Bits

One early morning this past December, Dad,Matthew,Daniel and I headed down to Culpeper to hunt. After an hour of driving, We all got out and headed to our hunting stations. Dad and I went to the tree stand.Daniel went to the blind and Matthew headed for the fox house. Daddy and I finally arrived at the treestand. While in the tree stand things kept falling and with all the noise, our hopes of seeing anything began to go down. The Lord prompted me to pray that His will would be done.

Not long after (only about 5 minutes), I heard something running torward us. All of a sudden a large six point buck (almost 8 points) came into the clearing. Our guns were lying on the floor of the stand but Dad and I froze, not moving a muscle. The deer starred at us for about 30 secconds before going down to sniff the ground. Daddy then bent down to pick up his gun when the buck looked at us again. Dad patiently stayed in the bent position until the deer looked away. Suddenly, it began to run, but right before it would of dissappeared, it stopped to look at us one more time. Daddy quickly fired his gun and the deer fell down right where it was. After processing it, we had almost 45 pounds of meat – our biggest deer ever! Watching Dad’s endurance, even when it was painful while standing in an awkward position, encouraged me.