The Treasure Hunt/Old Lighthouse Site

A picture of the Cape Hatteras Lighthouse, taken from the original site of where it stood for many years.


Some pictures of the "treasure hunt". This was meant to be at the end, but can't seem to move it - the chest after being dug up.





At the site where the other part of the treasure map was supposed to be. This is where the Cape Hatteras Lighthouse stood for several years, before it was moved to prevent further erosion from the ocean. There remains a circle of stones that were part of the foundation. Each stone lists lighthouse keepers of the lighthouse and the year(s) they were there, such as this one below:


This stone just has what the stones are about. And also has my niece's shoes on it. :-)

And lastly, the futile hunt in the middle of the stones for the treasure map, which was never found.

Vacation pictures. The House

Here are a few pictures of the house, and pictures taken from the house. First up, the swimming pool, taken from the top deck.
The picture below is a view from the top deck shot toward the front of the house. You can see the ocean above the trees.

The next picture is shot also from the top deck toward the rear of the house, and you can also see the ocean - the part they call "The Sound" (not sure why)

View of the deck from my room below.

View of my room from the deck. It was decorated with an airplane them, geared for young boys. What can I say, I liked it too.

The last picture, above, is a view of the front of the house. I meant to take more pictures inside, but never did.

Vacation 2009

We arrived back from vacation around 6:45 this evening. Thanks to anyone who prayed for us as we traveled all of those miles. We saw a couple of accidents, but we all made it safely down and back. I am going to post some pictures on a few different posts, so they won't take forever to load for anyone who may want to view them, but will tell a bit about our vacation on this post, for anyone who cares :-).

We left Lisbon at 3:30 am last Saturday, May 30th. We met up with Vicki, Steve, and my nieces at Harry's Bar across the PA border around 4:00, then headed out together for Breezewood, PA where we planned on meeting up with Paul & Pam and their boys. We had about a 3 hour and 15 minute trip to Breezewood, and Paul & Pam had a 2 hour trip, so they got to sleep in later. Something neat happened with our meeting plans. We had to travel quite a ways on RT 76 before we hit Breezewood, and Paul & Pam had about 15 miles to travel on 76. As we were getting close to Breezewood and was passing an exit ramp onto 76, Dad told us that was the exit that Paul & Pam would be coming onto Rt 76. We glanced over and to our surprise - and their's - Paul and Pam were coming onto 76 at that very moment and were beside us. I don't think we could have done that had we tried!

We stopped at McDonalds for a quick breakfast and played musical vans. Joey wanted to ride with Katie, of course, and Benjy wanted to ride with Stephanie. We reached Nag's Head, NC around 3. There is a Ben Franklin Store there that has tons of awesome souvenir stuff, so we hit it first. I got myself an Outer Banks Hat for $5.99, and everyone else got a few things too. We then ate, and headed for Hatteras Island.

We got to Avon, where we always stay, around 5:30, got the keys, and headed to the house to unpack.

The House

What can I say about the house? It was awesome! I want to live there always! It had 3 stories. The bottom had a bedroom/bath (Vicki & Steve's), a game room with a pool table - which ended up being a clothes folding table and pretty much had clothes on 24/7 - and a washroom with washer & dryer.

Second floor: my bedroom, which had 2 single beds, and opened out on the deck - which ran on 2 1/2 sides, a bathroom across the hall way, a bedroom with a pyramid bunk - the kids' room, and Paul & Pam's room with bath, and a sitting room. It and Paul & Pam's room also opened onto the deck. On the deck, in addition to furniture, was also a hot tub. Halfway up the stairs to the 3rd floor was a half bath.

Third floor: Mom & Dad's bedroom, which opened onto the top deck, and had a bath with a jacuzzi, the living room, which opened onto the top deck, kitchen, dining area, and bar. The dining area opened onto a screened in dining area, which opened onto the deck. The dining area had a large table that seated everyone but 3 kids, who sat at the bar.

We also had a 14' by 28' swimming pool that was a big hit - and we were modest in it you holiness folk. :-) I got made fun of a lot - in good fun. Water scares me. I can't swim at all, so I wore a life jacket, an inflated tube around my waist, and also used a large horseshoe shaped inflated object. The kids said I looked like a turtle, and Allie bought me a small plastic turtle because of that. I may have looked ridiculous, but I felt safe. :-)

We shopped a lot, went to the go karts one night, mini golf another, ice cream a few times, and the beach several times. We usually walk, but that part was too crowded, so we drove a short distance to go where no one else was. My dad and two brothers-in-law fished a lot and caught around 100 fish - not all that they could keep. We did bring a lot home and had a great meal of fish. Speaking of meals, did we ever eat!

On Monday or Tuesday, we had a treasure hunt for the kids. There were 25 clues hidden in and around the house that they had to read and find in order. Clue 25 led to a drive to the original site of the Hatteras lighthouse - it was moved some years back due to erosion from the ocean. Steve had hidden part of the treasure map inside the stones that were part of the foundation, but it could not be found, so we drove up the road to where the treasure chest was buried. The kids dug it up - a wooden chest filled with candy, toys, etc. They seemed to enjoy it, and it was fun watching them.

On Wednesday, we boarded a ferry that took us to Okracoke Island. We went to the lighthouse there and to Teach's Hole - a gift shop and exhibit dedicated to the pirate Blackbeard, who was killed in the harbor at Okracoke. We ate lunch there - subs that we had taken, and went to the beach while Peter, James, and John fished. (aka, my dad and brothers-in-law).

I managed to read 8 or 9 books - lost count, but think it was 9. Last night, we drove down to the Hatteras lighthouse and got some pictures and enjoyed seeing it.

We left this morning around 6:15 and made a safe trip back home, exhausted, but happy we had a great vacation.

I did almost close without telling an amusing story. First, a little background. Our family does not drink alcoholic beverages. Never have. Not even when my parents were not Christians, though not to start a debate, that is why we don't now. Anyway, back about 4 years....

There is an ice cream place that also has mini golf. The place is called "Uncle Eddy's", and they make their own ice cream. We were there on this one visit and they had an ice cream called "Drunken Monkey". Steve or I asked what was in it. In addition to other things, the guy listed bourbon. Now I am not so holy that it would bother me that much, but it didn't sound good, so we passed. We were surprised a minute later when my sister Vicki ordered it. As she started eating it, I asked her if she knew it had bourbon in it. She replied, "what is bourbon?" After Steve and I laughed ourselves silly, we told her it was an alcoholic beverage. Steve asked her "why do you think it is called "drunken" monkey?! We have teased her mercilessly since then.

Now onto this year: Paul, Pam, Vicki, and I were shopping one evening. The store had a sign out front "Going out for business sale. up to 70% off" - not sure what the "for" means, but we went in. Not much was 70% off, but there was some 25 and 50 off. My sisters found shirts they liked on a rack and called Paul & I over to look. To our amazement, the shirts had "Cornona" on the front, and "Lite" on the back. Paul asked them "do you know what Cornona is" - which they did not. When we told them it was beer, they cracked up. They said they would have bought them if we had not been along and had no clue.

12 hours til lift-off

Last night was the awards banquet for our academy. I wasn't too thrilled about going, but felt it was my duty as a loving uncle. I'm glad I went. It was very nice and there was a lot of good food -one of those "potluck" deals where everyone brings food. And there were lots of desserts, including my favorite kind of pie - rhubarb! Good stuff there. Wasn't quite as good as Mom makes, but it was close. :-)

My "middle" niece, Allie, had a rough start in school. By the time first grade ended, she just wasn't getting it, so my sister & brother-in-law decided to hold her back a year. She has been doing tons better since, and especially this year. At the awards banquet, they give awards for the Principal's list - students who maintained an A average all 4 quarters, and also to those who maintained at least a B average all 4 semesters. For the last few years, the other two have got either the Honor Roll or Prinicpal's list, and Allie has missed it by one quarter. This year, she made it, and got an award and Walmart gift card for $10. I was so happy for her!

There was a neat thing done last night at the banquet. Brad Forrider, who goes to my church and is the brother of our principal, is in the Air Force Reserves and just got back from a 5 month overseas duty in Darfur - wherever that is. He presented to the school a flag with a certificate that was flown from a C134- I assume that is a ship of some kind. And it was the flag that was flown, not the certificate. :-) See what you home schoolers miss! :-)

As I type this blog, it is almost 12 hours until "life-off" - 3:30 am. I didn't know 3:30 came twice a day! My suitcase is packed - also taking a duffel bag which I will toss last minute stuff in. I have 8 books to take along, which should be enough. Maybe I should stick a couple more in....

Dad rigged up an interesting contraption to help fit more in the van. The back seat flips forward and lays down. He made a piece of plywood that lays on that and has legs on the back, which makes a lot of space on top of the plywood to stack on and room underneath, which will mostly be taken up with 2 large ice chests. Since I snapped this picture, 2 suitcases have been added among other things. Other than the ice chests which will be last minute for obvious reasons, and a few other small odds and ends, it is pretty much packed.

We are pulling out of here at 3:30, God willing - and meeting up with Steve, Vicki, and the girls around 4. We will travel together to Breezewood, PA, where we will be joined by Paul & Pam and their boys, making a caravan of 3 mini vans. Paul & Pam are lucky. They have a 2 hour trip to Breezewood, and we have about 3 hours and 15 minutes - they can sleep later. Oh well.

It is about a 12 hour trip to where we are going, so we should hit Nag's Head around 2-2:30 where we will eat, then head on to Avon, where we are staying. If you think of us, pray we all make it safely. Paul is taking his laptop, so I may blog some. Until then, for me it is Bon Voyage!

PS: Dad said the plans for his space saver above can not be copied or sold..... :-)

Memorial Day 2009

I love holidays - it is so nice to have a day you can bum around and not feel guilty. Yeah, I contemplated on what this day is about too. I am very thankful for the people who have fought and given their lives to preserve our freedoms. Now if we could get the military to kick that guy out of the White House to help preserve our freedoms right now. Did I actually type that?! :-)

I decided to start the day off with another trip to the used clothing store in Austintown - I'm not too proud to shop there! I wanted to pick up some more nylon type pants - much cooler than jeans for vacation. Today was not only 50 cent tag day, but also 20% off the entire purchase. I decided to go with Mom and Dad, who unfortunately overlooked the fact that holidays are a good day to sleep in, so I was roused at 7:30.

I did find what I was looking for, and a shirt I saw last week for $6 but wasn't about to pay that - was the 50 cent tag color today, so I am happy. :-) The pants I got are a bit long, but have elastic at on the pant legs, so they should work. Last week, I tried to hem 2 pair of pants I got with the sewing machine. I never hemmed before - I can sew on a button that a nuclear blast wouldn't budge - but never hemmed. Also never used a sewing machine. Needless to say, the stitches were not anywhere close to straight. Mom hemmed the second pair, fortunately. I also picked up two games - Guesstures & Outburst Jr packaged together for 60 cents. I love bargains!

My sister Vicki had to work at her waitressing job, so our cook-out didn't happen til 3:30. Hamburgers, hot dogs, barbecued chicken, baked beans, and potato salad for those who like cold potatoes smothered in mayonnaise. Excuse me while I throw up.......

They also decided to celebrate my birthday today instead of tomorrow since Vicki and her gang was here. I got 3 more books in addition to what I already got for my birthday, new tennis shoes, shaving cream, and money. :-) Almost makes turning 40 worth it. :-)

The rest of the day was slow. My dad and brother-in-law went fishing, 2 of my nieces commandeered the computers, and the youngest laid around sick and napped some. I read a book. After they left, I looked up our vacation house and looked at the pictures. Looks awesome. It also looks like I may have a bathroom pretty much to myself. There is one right by my bedroom, and the kids will use the bathrooms in their parents' rooms for baths. Also, by the looks of the floor plan, the hot tub is right by my room also. How convenient! I can't wait. Vicki and her family were here for lunch yesterday and afterwards we sat on the porch and talked about vacation. I even dialed Pam up and put her on speaker phone so she wouldn't feel left out.

Only 5 more days!

I knocked off 2 books already, Fatal Illusion by Adam Blumer & Shepherd's Fall, by Wanda Dyson - I highly recommend both books for anyone who likes suspense in a Christian story. I am trying to save some books to take on vacation. The rest of my "birthday books" are:

The Missionary by Carmichal & Lambert
Blown Coverage by Elam & Yohn
Higher Hope by Robert Whitlow
The Rose Conspiracy by Criag Parshall

Added to that are a few others I have been trying to save for vacation, and a free book sent to me by an author after I emailed him and told him I liked his books. How cool is that?! One year we went to the ocean, I read 10 books. Another year, I ran out of reading material and got desperate enough to check out the books at the place we were staying and actually read a Steven King book. Pretty weird, but wasn't too bad. Everyone goes to bed too early on vacation, so I stay up and read. Of course they then want to rise early and I want to sleep in.

I made a vacation list. Tried to list everything I need to take on vacation from sunblock- gotta watch my head! - to the charger for my Ipod. Gotta have my 'tunes!

The Abortion Debate And An Open Mind

Long, but excellent blog post by Brock & Bodie Thoene. If you care about the abortion issue, it is worth reading.

Barak Hussein Obama, the first African-American President of the United States, stood before America and the Catholic graduates of Notre Dame University. He declared that there will never be a resolution to the issue of abortion. He invited “open hearted and open minded” discussion and dialogue about abortion.

We must accept his challenge and arm ourselves with TRUTH.

In spite of his words, Obama’s 100% NARAL (National Abortion Rights Action League) approved voting record proves that he supports late term Partial Birth abortion as well as supporting infanticide of babies born alive after a botched abortion so a “mother” would not be “forced to choose twice.”

But, by his invitation, the abortion dialogue continues. So we ask the first African-American President: Who should have the Constitutional RIGHT TO LIFE?

Let the Pro-Abortion crowd speak first--
1. On blacks, immigrants and the poor: “negros are…human weeds…reckless breeders… human beings who never should have been born…” Margaret Sanger, founder of Planned Parenthood. (Pivot of Civilization)

2. On the purpose of birth control: “to create a race of thoroughbreds…” Margaret Sanger (Birth Control Review, pg. 2, Nov, 1921)

3. Another famous admirer of Margaret Sanger speaks: “Historical experience offers countless proofs of this. It shows with terrifying clarity that in every mingling of Aryan blood with that of lower peoples the result was the end of the cultured people. North America, whose population consists in by far the largest part of Germanic elements who mixed but little with the lower colored peoples, shows a different humanity and culture from Central and South America, where the predominantly Latin immigrants often mixed with the aborigines on a large scale. By this one example, we can clearly and distinctly recognize the effect of racial mixture. The Germanic inhabitant of the American continent, who has remained racially pure and unmixed, rose to be master of the continent; he will remain the master as long as he does not fall a victim to defilement of the blood." Adolf Hitler (Mein Kampf)

4. WHEN DOES A ‘FETUS’ HAVE THE PROTECTION OF CONSTITUTIONAL RIGHTS? The Senate considered the late term Partial-Birth Abortion Ban Act on October 20, 1999. The most revealing part of the debate was the exchange between the chief sponsor of the bill, Senator Rick Santorum (R-Pa.) and the leading opponent, Senator Barbara Boxer (D-Ca.). This discussion appears on pages S12878-80 of the October 20 Congressional Record.

"I Am Not Answering These Questions!" – A Senate Exchange on Partial Birth Abortion

Senator Santorum: I think the issue of where we draw the line constitutionally is very important. And I’m sure the Senator from California [Senator Boxer] agrees with me. I think the senator from California would say that she and I, and the senator from Illinois, and the senators from Arkansas and Kansas here, we are all protected by the Constitution with a right to life. Would you agree with that, senator from California -- [would you] answer that question?

Senator Boxer: I support the Roe versus Wade decision.

Santorum: So you would agree any child that’s born has the right to life; is protected under the Constitution? Once that child is born?

Boxer: I agree with the Roe v. Wade decision. And what you are doing goes against it and will harm the women of this country. And I will speak to that issue when I get the floor myself.

Santorum: But I would like to ask you a question. You agree, once that child is born, is separated from the mother, that that child is protected by the Constitution and cannot be killed? Do you agree with that?

Boxer: I would make this statement: That this Constitution, as it currently is -- some of you want to amend it to say that life begins at conception. I think when you bring your baby home, when your baby is born -- and there is no such thing as partial-birth -- the baby belongs to your family and has all the rights. But I am not willing to amend the Constitution to say that a fetus is a person, which I know you would.

CONCLUSION OF PRO-ABORTION ARGUMENT: Following Margaret Sanger and Adolf Hitler, the supporters of Partial Birth Abortion like Barbara Boxer and President Obama believe a full term baby may be killed for any “health” reason, including the mother’s MENTAL health. According to Obama’s unbroken pro-abortion voting record, a living baby in or out of the womb, remains a fetus UNTIL the mother or the State calls it human. A living baby has NO right to life until the “mother chooses” to take it home.


NOW THE PRO LIFE POSITION:
What does God’s Word say about all human life within the womb?

1.“For You created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother’s womb. I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well. My frame was not hidden from You when I was made in the secret place. When I was woven together…Your eyes saw my unformed body. How precious toward me are your thoughts, O God! How vast is the sum of them! Were I to count them they would outnumber the grains of sand.” King David, a song of thanks for the miracle of LIFE beginning in the womb, sung to his Creator (Psalm 139: 13-18)

2. “Then the king of Egypt said to the Hebrew midwives, ‘When you act as midwives to the Hebrew women…if it is a son, you shall kill him…’
But the midwives feared God and did not do as the king of Egypt commanded, but let the male babies live…So God blessed the midwives…and because the midwives revered and feared God, he blessed their households…” Moses recounts government-sanctioned population control. (Ex.1:15-21)

THE TRUTH FROM HEAVEN SPEAKS TO YOUR HEART TODAY:
Jesus said to his disciples…
But when He comes, the Spirit of truth,
He will guide you to all truth.
He will not speak on His own,
but He will speak what He hears,
and will declare to you the things that are coming.
He will glorify me,
because He will take from what is mine and declare it to you.
Everything that the Father has is mine;
for this reason I told you that He will take from what is mine
and declare it to you." JESUS CHRIST (John 16: 12-15)
Praise to You, Lord Jesus Christ!

Margaret Sanger, founder of Planned Parenthood, laid the foundation for today’s pro-abortion supporters. Adolf Hitler literally wrote Sanger letters of admiration and support. It is ironic that the first African-American President, or anyone of Jewish heritage, can support an evil so clearly borne of racial hatred.

We must never forget those who first supported and encouraged abortion as a means of racial selection.

Jews and Christians! Keeping our hearts and minds open, as Obama challenges, means that we must research and discover the historical roots of this “debate.” In generations past, who would have agreed with Obama about abortion? Do you want to agree with the people responsible for the murder of millions?

These historical facts can only lead to one choice.
Today, CHOOSE LIFE. For the sake of your eternal soul, follow the teaching of SCRIPTURE. Abortion is the murder of a living human being in (or now even out of) its mother’s womb.
At the risk of ‘demonizing’ those ‘open-hearted’ folks on the other side of the argument, we must ask, “Who BUT a demon would abort a living child and then refuse to give it medical aid when it struggled to survive?”

We can only wonder how much longer the blood of the most innocent of humankind can continue to water this fallen world. How long will the infant martyrs cry out to Almighty God?

I think not much longer.

Blessings in Jesus’ Name,
Bodie Thoene

Blood Bayou & Bargains

I got enough Swag Bucks to get another order from Amazon.....have I mentioned how much I love getting getting free books via Swag Bucks?! So far, I have cashed in $50 worth of free books from Amazon - every time I get 45 Swag Bucks, I turn them in for a $5 Amazon gift card - I have for $5 cards waiting for me to use, though 2 hasn't cleared yet, so that makes $70 I have made from Swag Bucks, though much has come from people signed up under me........anyone else want to sign up? :-) Just click on the banner and try it!

One of the books in my last order is "Blood Bayou" by Karen Young. Secular author writing her first Christian suspense book. I loved the book. Not only was there mystery & suspense, it also showed the redemptive power of God in the worst of sinners. She has another book coming out in the Christian market next year, and I look forward to reading more from her.

"Blood Bayou, set in Louisiana Bayou Country, is a story of redemption and forgiveness. Because of her husband's alcoholism, Camille St. James divorced Jack Vermillion after a tragic accident. Seven years later, Jack has turned his life around and is a minister, but Camille, unsure of her own beliefs, doubts his sincerity. God may have forgiven him, but she won't! Then they are reunited by the murder of Jack's sister by a prisoner recently exonerated and freed through the Truth Project, an organization which Camille runs. She is convinced the accused man is innocent and sets out to prove it. Jack is sure he did it and blames Camille for freeing him. But as she works to find the real killer, someone is determined to stop her by any means" (CBD)

I went to a yard sale this morning of a pastor I know who is moving out of state. He also managed a Christian bookstore, and they had tons of books - I'd say a couple thousand - for sale, 25 cents each. Between Mom & Dad, my sister, and I, we walked away with quite a few. My best buy was a bonded leather Life Application Study Bible in the box with a CD for 25 cents. All that is wrong with it is a name imprinted on the cover - was a mistake, but for 25 cents, I can live with that. :-)

We are all gearing up for vacation. We are pulling out very early in the morning a week from tomorrow, and I can't wait. I don't have much $$ tied up in the vacation, which makes it nice - they won't let me pay much. I can't wait!