Happy New Year!

Happy (early) New Year to everyone! Hope you all had a wonderful Christmas! We sure did! We were blessed to be able to spend Christmas Eve with my dad's side of the family and then Christmas day with my mom's side of the family. It's a blessing to have both grandparents so close.

For New Year's Eve we are planning lots of games and lots of snacks! Yum! And of course, staying up till midnight! It's so nice to lay all of the busyness aside and spend time with family! Wishing you all a wonderful New Year!

Posted by Kelsey

The Sufficiency of Scripture Conference 2009

We're home! We just got back from the Sufficiency of Scripture Conference 2009 up in Cincinnati, Ohio. We left on Tuesday, the 8th, and got back on Monday, the 14th. Travel up there went well. Ethan and I battled really bad head colds all week, but things got much better the day that the conference actually started (...hmmm, divine intervention?) The weather up there was beautiful ( a little chilly for Mom), with a little bit of snow dusting the earth one day. We all went out & played in it though, no matter how small it was!
By registering for the conference we also received a free pass to visit the Creation Museum. It was amazing to see how everything taught in our modern school system and everything talked about in the news was Biblically and soundly refuted in this Museum. Every exhibit and presentation were beautifully done, and our family would highly recommend this museum.
The conference itself was also wonderful! We feel like we really pulled a lot out of this conference and learned a lot. There were many speakers there: Scott Brown, Doug Phillips, Voddie Baucham, Kevin Swanson, Ken Ham, and many others. But my personal favorite speaker was Paul Washer. He was a missionary down in Peru for 10 years and is now the director of HeartCry Missionary Society. He spoke late one night on "The Sufficiency of Scripture and the Gospel". He spoke with such a passion and urgency as I have NEVER heard before, nor will probably ever hear again. He had a way, as one friend put it, to "stick a knife in you, pull it out, and bandage it up, only to stick the knife back in, pull it out, and bandage it again". I was completely blown away by this message, as well as severely convicted of the apathy in my own life, especially as far as what Jesus went through for me.
We also met several new friends which is always a plus! It's wonderful when you meet another family and instantly feel like you've known them for years. It's the Spirit!
It was a wonderful week of learning for all of us, and we are so very glad that we went!

Posted by Kelsey Ann

Farm Pics

Here are some pictures of our farm for our family and friends. ENJOY!

Taking a walk down one of our paths.

Our authentic, one of a kind, scarecrow. Almost!

This is actually Ethan.

Our summer garden

Four of our milking does

(Dreamer, Allie, Faith, and Dora)

Butch Cassidy

(one of last years babies)

Posted by Jordan

A New Addition

Meet the latest member of our farm...Stormy, our 7 month old Great Pyrenees guard dog!

So far she is working out really well with our cow. The two adore each other. He rubs his head on her, and she chews on his ears. If its gets really cold, you'll sometimes see them laying side by side, but we're yet to get a picture of that!

Posted by Kelsey

When Country Kids Go To The City...

We recently went to the Augusta Mall to do our Christmas shopping. We go every year and we always go together! And since we only go once a year, what's our favorite thing to do? Ride the escalators and elevators, OF COURSE!!!

So we rode the "escavator" (as Noah calls it) up...

...and down...and back up... and back down...about 4 times throughout the day!!! Not including the elevator rides...

We browsed through the bookstore for quite a long time. That was probably our favorite shop there! It was a wonderful day and we all had lots of fun!

DHEC Again...

Okay, so we had DHEC come out again, but this time it wasn't for our milking barn/cheese room. This time it was for our adoption! Many of you know that we have been working on adopting for the past couple of months, and today we had our DHEC inspection. And I'm glad to report that all went well! The ONLY thing that we have to change are the blinds in the girls room. They were found to have a trace of lead in them(?). Thankfully, that was all & everything went well!
Posted by Kelsey

A Beautiful, Old Hymn

"He Giveth More Grace"

By Annie J. Flint

He giveth more grace as the burdens grow greater,

He sendeth more strength as our labors increase;

To added afflictions He addeth His mercy,

To multiplied trials He multiplies peace.

When we have exhausted our store of endurance,

When our strength has failed ere the day is half done,

When we reach the end of our hoarded resources

Our Father's full giving is only begun.

Fear not that thy need shall exceed his provision,

Our God ever yearns His resources to share;

Lean hard on the arm everlasting, availing;

The Father both thee and thy load will upbear.

His love has no limits, His grace has no measure,

His power no boundary known unto man;

For out of His infinite riches in Jesus

He giveth, and giveth, and giveth again.

You Are

As we were driving around town today, I saw a church sign today that read as follows:

CH_ _ CH

What's missing?

( I thought it was neat!)

DHEC

We have wanted for a while to do a certified DHEC milk processing room, as well as a certified cheese making room. We have kicked around different plans and ideas, and finally found one we like. So, today we had Mr. Bruce Rushton (the DHEC inspector) come out and tell us what we will need. He was very encouraging and we can't wait to get started. We hope to have it up and running by spring. Lots of work ahead of us; I'll try to post a picture of our plans as soon as we finish the details.

Posted by Kelsey

Meeting the Family

(Dad & Mom)

Dad (Kelly) is the pastor of a family integrated church. He is the leader of our family, the man who keeps us all laughing, and greatly loved by all who know him!

Mom (Shelly) is our loving, stay-at-home mother. She is our teacher, nurse, best friend. She selflessly gives of herself day in and day out and we love her for it!

Jordan is the oldest at 20. She is graduated and enjoys sewing, singing, swimming, cooking, reading, singing, playing the hammered dulcimer and piano, (did I mention singing) and loves children! She currently babysits our 3 year old, twin cousins who you'll see in many of the pictures.




(Savannah & Jordan)

Kelsey, 18, is also graduated. She enjoys riding horses, spending time with animals, playing jokes, playing the piano and learning the violin, sewing, baking, swimming & writing. She is preparing the be a missionary to Mexico.

(Savannah, Kelsey & Mom)

Savannah is 15 and is in 10th grade. Savannah also likes

animals (especially the kittens) and riding horses, as well

as reading, drawing, sewing, drying flowers, swimming and

taking pictures.

(Savannah)

Ethan, 10, (almost 11!) is all boy and energy! His favorite things are Legos, guns, pocket knives, throwing knives, watching Errol Flynn movies, swimming, football, soccer, baseball, & playing jokes. He plans on being and doing so many things when he gets older, that I just can't write about them all!

(Ethan)

Noah is the youngest at 9. He loves doing puzzles,

playing with animals, reading, digging for buried

treasure, digging holes in general, swimming all

summer, laughing, getting his picture taken, and

playing with his big brother. He wants to be a

fireman when he grows up!

(Noah)

Just a little about us:

Our grandparents live right down the road from us, and we don't know what we would do without them. We live on a 10 acre farm where we own horses, goats, chickens, dogs, cats, and one fish. We milk our goats and make goat milk cheese, lotions, and soaps. We grow a garden every year, and make our own bread. We have our own milk, eggs, cheese, bread, veggies, and some fruits. Mom and us girls like to wear skirts, and all of us kids have been homeschooled since Jordan was in first grade, & we absolutely love to be with each other! (Jordan, Gram & Pop)

Welcome to the Hammond Family Blog!