The Wilkes Team

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

Spackle…paint…scrape…the work was being done…sand… sand… and more sanding…M2 was hard at work. He moved a sanding  block and with vivacious vigor smoothed out all the roughage and unevenness of a spackled wall corner. M1 painted over pencil marks and misc. other defects. M2 soon finished his work providing the symptoms which characterize diligence and endurance. Then both M’s together re-spackled the wall corner. This corner has suffered many afflictions with the most notorious cause being a certain easel board. This easel board  would serendipitously plunge towards the poor corner injuring and harming tremendously. After multiple plunges some very wise individuals decided to provide a new placement for such notoriety. Nevertheless the damaged corner was still there and proved to be a wonderful eye sore.

The M&M Team were excited about this eye sore. They had the necessary medicine to cure it and they were ready. Though not completely finished (spackle drying), the corner is healing from it’s former sufferings and, Lord willing, by Monday, the nasty eye sore will be gone and a damaged corner will become orderly and appealing. M1 and M2 enjoyed this opportunity to be back in business and are anticipating the next wonderful eye sore.

7 Comments » | posted in Home maintenance, Sunny-Side Up

One of my many favorite traditions to do around Christmas time, is to go with my family and pick out our Christmas Tree. We usually go in the evening when all  the Christmas lights are on in the neighborhood and when the busy-ness of the day is past. This year we decided to get our tree at the wonderful store: Home Depot. Upon arriving, we invaded  the place in search of the best and loveliest Christmas Tree for the Wilkes team’s home.  Looking, seeking, peering, and trying to find a tree isn’t an easy task for a family of eleven . When someone would think they had the right one, we all would  gather around and inspect it, but none of them were quite right. What could be our problem?

  

Finally after looking at ten to fifteen trees and about  thirty minutes later the answer came. One of the employees came to the rescue. He seeing that we were in need of a tree, went to work on finding one. All of us stood back wondering if he would be able. To our amazement, he chose the best one for us out of the many long rows of trees. Cheers rang out as he showed us the perfect tree that would soon be in our living room. Quickly and happily we all piled back into the car with the Christmas tree and drove home.

9 Comments » | posted in Family News, Sunny-Side Up

… it was the worst of times…*

The cup was half empty, The cup was half full

The milk dumped all over the floor! There still was a whole cup’s worth in the jar!

The right shoe always seemed to be missing! The left shoe was always in it’s place!

The Car constantly has problems! The Car ran smoothly yesterday!

The weather rained incessantly. The sun peeped through off and on.

The bugs infested the salt shaker. The salt shaker was bug-less plus one.

The tomato was half rotten. Half a tomato was perfectly ripe.

The children hardly ever obey! The children are hardily learning to obey!

For all the effort, it twas only a few solitary pennies. For all the effort, it twas a blessing of pennies.

Oh what a chair – it’s leg just had to give way! Oh what a chair – it lasted for so long!

If there is a God, why do people die? If there is a God, why do people live?

The sinner’s destiny is hell! The sinner’s salvation is Christ!

The Wicked are multiplying like weeds in a garden. The harvest is plentiful and the righteous must be ready!

Sin is always at the door. Christ is always the doorkeeper.

Death is tormenting. Death holds no sting.

No Christ no heaven, Know Christ no hell.

The glory of man is his strength. The glory of God is His strength.

It was the period of languishing. It was the period of rejoicing

Joy emerged. despondency ruled.

Everyone understood. No one understood.

It truly was the best of times and it truly was the worst of times.

How can this all be true?

Because perspective determines the proper response. For example, one individual perceives his life as full of problems and he is sad, yet just change his perspective and the same problems can be the means of bringing tears of joy.

Reader, may your perspective be in accordance with God and his word. May you see as He sees. May his Word lead you and guide you into the understanding of all Truth. May you rest in His holy promise (even when you feel otherwise) that “all things work together for good to them that love God and to those who are the called according to his purpose.”** Yes, situations may seem at their worst  but from God’s perspective they are working according to his best and perfect plan. Trust in him.

*A quote from a book by Charles Dickens

**Romans 8:28

9 Comments » | posted in Sunny-Side Up, Tid Bits

The Honey Brook News wishes to issue the following Special Report featuring the Honey Brook Publication Department.

From time to time throughout the year, the services of our in house, "Honey Brook Publications Dept" are called upon. The precise process from the original ‘idea’ to final ‘production’ is a rather simple series of steps but one worthy of explanation to the general public. It has thus been decided that a behind the scenes ‘tour’ would prove beneficial to our reading audience.

We find each part to be essential for the achieving of optimum results. In the absence of any one of these critical team members, the operations are hindered immensely.

Not more than a fortnight or two ago, the Honey Brook Publications Department took part in the production of a particular document that was to be mailed. As the document was completed with the usual alacrity and felicitous behavior of the members of the said department, opportunity was afforded for company photos. These photos will help to highlight the important steps of their production line.

And so without further ado, we wish to introduce you to the various and sundry participants of the Honey Brook Publications Department:

Thank you for tuning in for today’s Special Report made possible by the refreshing and scrumptious meals of our dear Mother and the provision of our wonderful Father.

There is joy & an abundance of memories in simply working together in harmony as a family and as a team!

12 Comments » | posted in Sunny-Side Up