The Wilkes Team

Oh the memories, the adventures, the camaraderie, the   opportunities, the giggles, the fun, and the way life wondrously slows down as the snow descends!

Northern Virginia has weathered seven fantastic snow storms this winter: breaking all time national weather service snow accumulation records (since their inception in the late 1800s) across the region. Our little corner of Virginia has seen close to 75 unprecedented inches of snow.

Reports and stories have come from far and wide! And though there were the long lists of canceled appointments, changed plans, and government, school, & business closings, it was the resulting family time, Providential protection, reaching out to neighbors, and enduring hardness through somewhat extenuating circumstances that resulted in opportunities for families to draw closer to each other, serve their local communities, and rejoice in the  marvelous doings of our Creator God!

God thundereth marvellously with his voice; great things doeth he, which we cannot comprehend. For he saith to the snow, Be thou on the earth; likewise to the small rain, and to the great rain of his strength (Job 37:5-6).

A Highlight of the last big snow was having our cousins over to sled on the big tubing hill which was created under the creative leadership of Daniel & Dad!

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The actors, even before the light illuminated the stage, had begun their performance. Once the lights arrived, an eager and surprised audience watched an incredible display of curiosity and acrobatics. One actor jumped and then sniffed, another licked and enjoyed an oozing blob of peanut butter, they ran hither and then thither and whether else the audience wasn’t sure. A car horn honked – the actors froze – they looked around wonderingly; then continued their interesting performance.

Bodies crammed to the front of our van, for we being the audience watched with surprise as mice, the actors, scampered around our precious bee hives. Earlier they had tried some scavenger practices but now with metal mesh and staples their endeavors have been successfully halted.

Shining the car headlights on the hives, we observed the mice quickly moving around. Our mice hunter, Adam, had placed several traps around the area – one mouse actually tried licking the tempting PB morsel off a trap. The audience was somewhat hoping the trap would spring but it ended up doing otherwise.

Because of time, the van moved away from the hive site, got on the main highway, and began heading back. Occupants were comfortable and ready to enjoy the hour long trip back home, when.”WAIT A MINUTE!” echoed from the back seat, “I FORGOT SOMETHING AT THE LAND” was the conclusion of the outburst.

Finding out what it was and perceiving the importance of retrieving it, the driver took the next available U-turn. Arriving back, we pulled into our property, the hive site not faraway. A skunk lumbered in front of us.  After observing the skunk, the retrieving of the forgotten was quickly accomplished. Then it was decided to take one last look at the hive site. We soon realized there was one less actor on the stage. Somehow, we believe, the PB wasn’t coming off smoothly enough, and.well. the trap was forced to do it’s work, and I have to say, did it in the most efficient and sufficient manner.  

Finally back on the road, no more “wait a minutes” were heard and closure was brought to yet another evening in this fast paced life God has called us to wisely steward and enjoy.

1 Comment » | posted in Outdoor Adventures, Sunny-Side Up

As the leaves were falling this autumn, some of the Wilkes Team put their minds together and came up with a creative idea. Our yard was covered with an abundance of leaves. We decided to make use of this wonderful resource.

Using rakes, we began creating trails that zigzagged back and forth all across the yard in what became a maze full of many trails and dead ends .

After the raking, we played a game of freeze tag. During the game, one person would go around and either open up or close trails making the game full of much adventure and unexpected’s.

It was a blast watching both the older and younger ones run up and down the trails having so much fun. We’re looking forward to next fall already!

4 Comments » | posted in Family News, Outdoor Adventures

Psalm 16:11 says,

" Thou  (God) wilt shew me the path of life: in thy presence is fulness of joy; at thy right hand there are pleasures for evermore."

Why do we fear the future? Why do we worry about the unknown? We must remember that the thoughts that the Lord has towards us are not evil but peace, to bring us to an expected end. (Jer 29:11)

We can boldly step forward and do what God has called us to do. Not because we feel like we have it all figured out but because we know the one who does! Be willing to do the not so popular thing. Be  men and women of your word. Stand for truth sell it not!

The world is looking for answers. We as followers of Jesus Christ must be blameless and harmless, the sons of God, without rebuke, in the midst of a crooked and perverse nation. Why? So we may shine as lights in the world! (Php 2:15)  This will only be possible once we allow the truth of God’s word dwell in us richly, then apply it to our every day living!

Isaiah 30:21 says, "And thine ears shall hear a word behind thee, saying, This is the way, walk ye in it, when ye turn to the right hand, and when ye turn to the left."  Praise the Lord that we have the promises and the truths of God’s word!

These thoughts were spurred by this picture below. We are all on this faith walk together! We must continue to lift each other up in prayer before the throne of grace.

Earlier this month we took a hike with some dear friends through a section of the Shenandoah Mountains known as White Oak Canyon. It was absolutely stunning, and breath taking!

As we were pulling out Dad said " Here we are overwhelmed and delighted by the beauty of God’s Creation, can you even imagine how beautiful this world must have been before the fall?"

One day we will see Him in all of His beauty! What a glorious day that will be!!

9 Comments » | posted in Outdoor Adventures, Photography

And he said unto them, Come ye yourselves apart into a desert place, and rest a while… (Mr 6:31).

And that, knowing the time, that now it is high time to awake out of sleep: for now is our salvation nearer than when we believed (Rom. 13:11).

While putting together the schedule for this year’s Family Camp Out and Revival, the Lord brought to mind these two verses as a focus for the weekend. We have a need, as the  Body of Christ, for revival. Living in an age, as described by John of the Laodicean church, where many are satisfied with lukewarm Christianity not knowing that they are actually poor, lame, blind, and naked, it is time to buy the Gold that has been tried in the fire (Rev. 3:15-19).

And so in the spirit of the old camp meetings of yesteryear, we gathered in a field around a glowing campfire under the starry skies of Culpeper for three evenings of Revival Meetings.

Thursday centered on the call God has given to each and every Christian. Friday centered around exhorting the Christian to unabashedly confront our culture with the life changing love of Jesus – this is worship. Saturday’s focus was twofold: First on being a doer, not just a hearer of the Word. Second: understanding the importance of convictions and standards in our lives and how imperative it is that we never live our lives in such a way so as to offend the weaker brother. These were timely messages, laid on the hearts of Dad, Joshua, and Mr. Bolster (dear friends of the Butler family).

…Come ye yourselves apart into a desert place, & rest a while…

The weekend was restful. Free from many of the world’s distractions, we found ourselves rejuvenated through this time apart in a deserted place. Refreshing mornings around the campfire centered  around the Word, scrumptious family style meals from our first class team of camp chefs, relaxing walks with one another, afternoon naps, team building projects, melodious singing, and uplifting conversation.

Salt was savored, lights refueled, and the Body of Christ revived and drawn closer one to another. Living as Christians in our present world, we have a call to live in the world, but this call must never drive us to isolating ourselves from the Body of Christ. It is becoming increasingly imperative that we exhort one another daily lest an evil heart of unbelief in departing from the Word of God develop in anyone of us.

3 Comments » | posted in Family News, Outdoor Adventures