Spring Project: A New Dog Yard!

Spring 2023 Updates!

 It seems like we 'just' moved to Cleveland, how has it been two and a half years?!

We are mostly settled in, lol, one more building project and some interior painting to do... and (you know me) there will always be 'one more project'!

So, what's new?  Molly and Jon were married last October <3  Sam and Hannah are expecting a little fella!  The grandgirls are grand!  Joseph is officially as tall as his Daddy!  Of course, everyone is taller than me except the little girls ;)  

We (me and MaryVance) are still working on the shop, though it's been more 'miss' than 'hit' the past year.  We did decide to rename and rebrand when we moved since 'on Jordan Creek' was actually where we lived before.  We wanted something not geographically-based (since not even the locals know where Cleveland is!) and something more bag-centric and something that eluded to our names... so, Merry Day Bag Co was born!  Merry for MaryVance and Day for me ;)  

The Poikas began last February building an online reselling business through eBay.  Their store is Waywalkers   They buy and resell shoes, clothing and small electronics mostly.

Let's see, what else?  Caleb is not with Greenville Media anymore.  He is working to finish his associates degree, one class left!  Praying and trusting God's leading for his next job and whatever the Lord has for him in that area.

Luke graduates May 5 from BJU with his BS in Engineering, Civil emphasis and was hired last month by a local engineering firm, all praise to God.

I think that's a good update for now, holler if you have questions!  

Family Bible Time Thoughts "Living in the Spirit" -Joseph

If we walk in the spirit then we are denying our flesh, and since we LIVE in the spirit let us also walk in the spirit.

That is a combo of two verses from Galatians chapter 5;16,25


What does it mean to live in the spirit?

Living in the spirit is a daily thing. to deny the lust of the flesh. We do not have to give in to the flesh, though we are flesh, we have something that is greater than our flesh, we have the Spirit we as Christians live in a constant war-zone, flesh against the spirit, and we are the deciding factor in our daily battle we can decide to back up the flesh, six days a week, and on Sunday we can give reinforcements to the spirit. But that is not what Walking In the Spirit is really about. (here is the Websters 1828 definition)

WALKING, participle present tense Walking. Moving on the legs with a slow pace; moving; conducting ones self.

Since walking is a present tense it means that it is constant, if God told us to take a lap with the spirit, then doing it once a week would be enough, but that's not what he is talking about. It is not a suggestion, look at the way the verse is worded

"This I say then, Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfil the lust of the flesh.”

If it said. This I say then, when you walk in the spirit ye shall not fulfil the lust of the flesh.
Then that is different

These are two totally different ideas, for instance, if when God gave Moses the ten commandments. instead of commandments he put suggestions, or if the Bible said to love your enemies only when you feel like it. When he says to walk in the spirit it is a command, we as Christians live in the spirit, we become dead to our flesh and become God's children, but our flesh is still there even though it is dead. And we can still give in to it. I know its hard not to give in to the flesh, because up to the point we become Christians that is all we know, it reminds me of what Jesus said about the two masters, he said that you will either love the one and hate the other, or you will hold to one and despise the other you CANNOT serve God and mammon.
If we live in the spirit then there are certain characteristics that we have, we have fruits from living a walking life with God, fruits from the Spirit love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, temperance. If we want those characteristics all we have to do is put our flesh with the affections and lusts on the cross, we cannot do that without God because without God we have no cross to nail them to.

In conclusion we can either serve our flesh the thing that is so easy to do, but all it does for us is deceive us and leads us in an unfruitful life.

But if we live in the spirit, then there is so much more for us, we can live a life that is pleasing to God, bringing people to him, and helping other Christians grow, we can have a reason for being here in this confused world, if we want to here Jesus say to us "well done my good and faithful servant " than we need to live for in all we do and he will take care of everything. 

Family Bible Time Thoughts "Love in Deed" -Elijah

       "Love in deed"       IV-XIII-MMXXII

1 John 3:18

1 Cor 13:1   | If we love in word and in tongue,

                     | but not in deed and in truth, then

                     | we aren't really loving at all. Love

                     | in word and tongue only, isn't

                     | committing to love when it is hard.

To love in word is easy. But to love in deed

takes effort, but it isn't hard in itself. The hard

part is choosing to let go of what we want, to

do what others need. 

That is sacrifice. 

That is true love.

But what are we sacrificing?

Our time and energy that we wish to spend on

ourselves. But if we instead invest in service

to others, we find that it is full filling to our

own spirit, and makes us more like Christ.

To live Christ-like is to live giving away ourselves to others(saved and lost).

So if you want to live like Christ, and love in deed, you must sacrifice your life(pleasures, desires, and dreams) daily, to those God puts in your path.

Choose to love the souls God has made.

John 13:13-15

Hello, it's me again...

 Oh dear!  It's been so long... I haven't posted pictures in so long because my phone and blogger do not get along together, at all... It couldn't be that I am technology-challenged... not at all.  Ugh.

I'm going to attempt to post some photos, let's see how it goes...

Well, what do you know?!  It worked!!  Woohoo!!! This lovely young woman in all three photos is MaryVance!  I know!  She's such a lovely young woman, a true delight to my soul!  She's posing with Joseph (now the tallest Lewis son!) and Brandy (her dear friend and our "niece" by choice!)  

Isaac's half birthday lunch at a cute local 50s-esque diner!

We've been doing a lot of projects around here, painting inside, working on finishing out the garage, lots of yardwork.  It's a busy season of life but I do love being busy :)

Thanksgiving 2020

So I've been researching and learning about our new town...

 and I thought I'd share with y'all!

Cleveland is an unincorporated community in Greenville County, South Carolina, United States. Cleveland is located on U.S. Route 276 and South Carolina Highway 11, 8.7 miles (14.0 km) north-northwest of Travelers Rest. Cleveland has a post office with ZIP code 29635, which opened on April 9, 1900. (wikipedia)

Cleveland (zip 29635)'s population is 1,243 people.

Where we live in Cleveland is 16 miles to Pickens, 21 miles to Easley, 8 miles to Slater-Marietta, 7 miles to Pumpkintown, 10 miles to Dacusville

It’s Impossible Not To Love The Most Eccentric Town In South Carolina

Nothing says South Carolina more than the tiny lovable little communities scattered all over our fine state. Some of them are just census-designated with seemingly no desire to incorporate into an official town. But we still use the word “town” interchangeably due to the sense of community found in these small places. Such is the case with the little “town” community of Cleveland, SC – where what you see is not what you get. This eccentric little community has plenty of delightful surprises. ... read more here

Caesars Head State Park is in Cleveland.

Pretty Place Chapel is located in Cleveland, but again you'd never know it passing through "town."

READ MORE

More things to see and do here

Bald Rock Heritage Preserve

Mountain Bridge Wilderness Area

This massive tract of unimproved land features waterfalls, lakes, hiking trails & nature viewing.

Jones Gap Falls

Wildcat Branch Falls

Moonshine Falls

Ashmore Heritage Preserve Trail

Wildcat Wayside

Raven Cliff Falls Trailhead

Raven Cliff Falls on Matthews Creek in Caesars Head State Park, Greenville County, South Carolina, is the tallest waterfall in South Carolina. Although the waterfall is described as having a 400 foot drop, topographic maps suggest a height between 320 and 350 feet

Confusion Falls

Amazing, amazing photos linked here

Welcome to our home!

                        Thought I'd pop some pictures in here as we get settled.  

These are all pics from the front porch and drive by the house

The Laundry room

Project: Screened Porch Remodel

BEFORE:

This is the view from the Music/School area, kitchen is to the right of this door.

 

These stairs go down to the garage, storage rooms, exercise room, etc...

 Days 1 and 2...

DURING....