An Ode To Knight’s Prairie Church

In the summer of 1885, along a winding stretch of the Old Goshen Road in Hamilton County, Illinois, a 30 by 40-foot frame structure was erected for the sole purpose of worship to the Lord Jesus Christ. 

The original building of log construction was built when the church first organized in 1840 on the southeast corner of the cemetery. Later, a second building was constructed near the center of the burial ground, but was blown down by a tornado in the spring of 1885. By November of that same year, the hard work was completed and the new building on the west side of the cemetery was dedicated on Thanksgiving Day at a cost of $700.

Genealogy Trails

One hundred and twelve years later, we first laid eyes on the abandoned structure as we traveled the Old Goshen Road for the first time to our newly purchased property one mile from the edifice. It stood alone, tall and stately, with a slight lean, yet with a strong demeanor. Later, we explored the dust filled chambers, with the inside being a shamble due to teenage vandals and lack of usage. Broken pews, disheveled pulpit, and an old clunky piano were the last reminders of the vibrant worship that once filled the dwelling. We pondered what it would have been like to worship in such an atmosphere, and after singing a few songs of reminiscent praise and an inspection of the bell tower, we departed the gloomy scene.

Time has continued to take its toll on the old white icon with the only real activity being a swarm of bees that took up residence in the clapboard siding and the removal of the bell to a tower in the cemetery. With most of the windows broken out, a leaking roof, and a rotting foundation, the building began to lean more and more until it had become a safety hazard. The hard decision to wisely destroy the structure was finally made and the end of an era came to pass. With November 1885 as its beginning, September 2023 marks the end of the Knight’s Prairie church building. However, since the church is not a building, but rather the people that gather, I am sure there are descendants of those who once congregated in the Knight’s Prairie church still faithfully serving the Lord throughout the country.

As a dedication to the memories that are associated with the church and those buried in the cemetery, a picnic shelter has been erected near the old site. The large, dignified building is gone. Time passes and brings change with it, along with new hopes for tomorrow. Who knows what another one hundred and twelve years will bring, but we can ponder what the apostle Paul wrote in Philippians 13:13-14, “ Brothers and sisters, I do not regard myself as having taken hold of it yet; but one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and reaching forward to what lies ahead, I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.”

~Mark McDaniel

The Tall, Charming, Athletic, Happy, Wonderful Season

Fall time is in the air, and that brings joy to many people. In fact, 41% of U.S. adults identify fall as their favorite season. My personal favorite is autumn, or fall, or the harvest, whatever you might choose to call it.

Autumn is the only season with three names. Why is that? In 12th and 13th century Middle English, the season following summer was known as “haerfest” and was when they took in crops. Thus came our word “harvest.” The French word for fall was “autompne”, borrowed from the Latin “autumnus.” That is the origin of the word “autumn.” When people started moving from rural America to the cities and towns, the season was more associated with the falling of leaves than the harvest. The word “fall” originated from the phrase “the fall of the leaf” in the same way that “the spring of the leaf” designated the vernal equinox. The term “fall” is more commonly used throughout North America.

It is said that people born in the autumn generally have a longer life span. We have several fall birthdays in our family. Studies show that since they were born this time of year, they are apt to grow taller and be more athletic. This might be due to the increased sun exposure of the expectant mamas, and the resultant increased production of vitamin D. Those harvest time babies are also prone to be more charming and friendly due to the extra snuggle time while very young during the long winter months. On the downside, they are said to be more subject to allergies and asthma. Dad fits all of these excepting the one downside of allergies. The tall, charming, athletic, happy, lucky fellow is turning sixty this year in October!

Autumn came to visit us on the 23rd of September. The Gregorian calendar is not perfectly aligned with the orbit of the earth and due to this ever-so-slight discrepancy, the autumn equinox will vary occasionally, and sometimes falls on September 22nd, 23rd, or 24th. The last time it occurred on the 24th was 1931. Mark your calendars for September 24, 2303!

Favorite season or not, fall is a beautiful time of the year. It is the time we wind down our summer projects and prepare for winter. It is the time for hiking, raking paths in the leaves and playing “fox and geese,” taking picnics, and enjoying the colorful display of the changing foliage. Whether you call it autumn, harvest, or fall, it makes for a tall, charming, athletic, happy, wonderful season for all. Happy fall!

~Jayla

What I Found In My Net

With the net from Critter Corner, I strolled to the hay field, to see what kind of insects I might capture. As I walked through the tall grass, I swung the net in front of me to catch anything in my path. When I thought the net was full, I moved to a clearing to investigate whether there was anything trapped in my net.

As I slowly looked in, I saw something green climbing up the side. To my excitement, it was a praying mantis! Mantids come in various colors- white and red, green, brown, grey with black spots, and a lot more selections. I put my green insect in the container I had brought with me. After a little more searching, I headed down to the house to add the new insect to Critter Corner.

Then I had an idea. Why not catch and raise these remarkable creatures? I took our butterfly house and put about two inches of dirt in the bottom of it. I dug up grass with its roots to plant in the soil. When that was completed, I placed the praying mantis in his new home. I had to supply his food, so I returned to the field to gather grasshoppers for him to eat.

With nearly ten grasshoppers now in with the mantis, I went out to gather more mantids. I was incredibly pleased that I ended up catching three more praying mantises that day! The insects were about three inches long, and some were brown and others green.

To hunt, the mantis sits very still and waits for its prey to come to him. A praying mantis is the only insect that has stereo-vision. This means that both eyes can focus on the same target at the same time. When the insect gets into reach, as quick as lightning the mantis shoots out its arms, grabbing the insect to devour. Its front arms are covered in little jagged barbs. These help it grip its meal in a firm hold.

After keeping the insects for about a month, it was time to let them go. I took them to a tall grassy spot and watched them crawl away. It was a little sad to see them go, but I knew I would see them again next year as a new generation of mantids. Praying mantises are very amazing insects and are wonderful to see and study.

~Jonah

Can She Bake an Apple Pie?

In answer, I give an emphatic, “Yes!!”

We have made it our ambition to be sure that each of our daughters is equipped for whatever life may throw at them. A repeated recommendation I convey to them is that they “Learn everything they can about everything they can.” One doesn’t know where life might take them!

Homemaking skills are essential to everyone. Knowing how to organize, declutter, clean, care for, and maintain a home are often overlooked skills that young married people struggle to perform. As part of our education, we wanted to ensure that our children were/are fully equipped. All the facets of these endeavors are valuable in developing the ability to make prudent decisions and execute plans.

Our education encompasses becoming proficient in culinary skills. This does not mean that our children are only assistants in the kitchen. Eventually, they can plan and prepare not only one meal, but weeks or months of sustenance for the family. It is essential to operate a kitchen with careful timing and organization. One must be attentive to detail.

Knowing how to precisely measure ingredients is important. So is an organized workspace. That is often the difference between success and failure. I am pleased that my girls know what they are doing when it comes to cooking. Confidence is an important character quality.

Recently, Unique, our youngest created her first apple pie. In reality, baking is more a form of science than cooking. She had recently begun making mini pies and was adept at that skill. Mastery requires a lot of time and practice. Functioning well in the kitchen necessitates excellent hand-eye coordination as well as the ability to train your mind to read and follow instructions. Having become proficient in her mini pies, Unique was ready to try her first full size pie. Cutting up apples from our orchard, and following the recipe, she made a delicious creation! Making a pie allows one to unleash their creative side! Fluting the crust, cutting the vent holes into a beautiful piece of art, she was pleased with her new accomplishment!

Several years ago, while Amanda and Rachel were still at home, there was a pumpkin pie competition in McLeansboro. We all decided to enter. Who might win? We each used a different recipe- one from the back of the can, one from the Betty Crocker cookbook, and one that was passed down to us by Mark’s mom, Doris. Part of learning to cook or bake involves learning to humbly take criticism and to learn from others. We were ready for whatever came. We had our pies ready and transported them to the local contest. The tension rose. When the winners were announced, my daughters and I took first, second, and third places in the county! Did I say that I was proud of my daughters?!

From winning prizes in local contests, to winning the hearts of their husbands, to winning at life skills, from oldest to youngest, each of our daughters can cook and bake! We are proud of who they have become and who they are becoming. 

Our girls know how to give and take clear communication, they work well with others, they practice patience under pressure, and know how to express their own likes and styles with food. Can she bake an apple pie? Yes sir, she can!

~Rhonda

Three, Two, One, Go!

Two years ago, Jonah, Samuel, and I got laser tag sets for our birthdays. We were so excited when we opened our gifts. We had an old laser tag set, but it didn’t work very well anymore. These sets were a lot better, and we were eager to play with them.

The best place to play laser tag is on the porch when it is getting dark. You can’t see each other very well and this makes it more exciting. Many times, when the Cox family comes to visit us, we like to play laser tag with them. There are more people to play, and this makes it more fun.

Sometimes we make rules that no one is allowed to go off the porch. We usually have three people on a team all on one side of the porch and three people on the other side. Each laser tag gun has a button that changes the colors. If two people are on the same color, then they can’t shoot each other, but if they have different colors, then they can shoot each other. That’s how we know who is on your team, and who to shoot.

The game starts when someone yells out, “Three, two, one, go!” The porch and playground start to brighten up with lots of yellow, blue, green, and red lights, produced by the guns and glasses. If we are off the porch, the lights soon disappear behind all the trees and cars. Every little hiding spot is taken.

 

We have lots of fun with our laser tag sets. It is always one of my favorite things to do when it is getting dark. It is a gift that we can play with for a long time. I always look forward to hearing the words, “Three, two, one, go!”

~Isaac

A Magical World of Creativity

Sitting up on the game closet shelf is a village of tininess. This town has been there for about three years. Calico Critters are one of my favorite little toys to play with. They have been for a long while now. Calico Critters were first made in Japan in the year 1985.

There's a large variety of miniature critters with homes, furniture, and lots of different kinds of accessories. I have a lot of the animals that there are. I have gotten many over the years as gifts. Calico Critters are sold in so many families, such as the rabbits which are some of my favorite ones to play with when I do have them out. There’re big ones, smaller ones, and cute little baby ones. All of them are one-of-a-kind. The animal figures are very amazing because they are made of a special cloth that gives them a soft feeling.

Using my Calico Critters, I have made many stop motions films. It makes the animals seem to come alive! They are easier to make when you have the small little pieces to work with. My Calico Village is a happy place. All of the critters have a special part in the town, just like in the actual world. I have made approximately five stop motion films, most of which are currently in production.

My Calico Critters sometimes get dusty while they are sitting there on the shelf waiting for me to play with them. I don't play with them as much as I used to. Nevertheless, I still love them just as much as I did. Calico Critters still is a magical world of creativity in our home.

~Unique

My Most Embarrassing Moment

I’m sure everyone has experienced at least once in their life, that cheek burning, stomach knotting, humiliating, wish the ground would swallow you up embarrassing moment. I have, several times, but my most embarrassing episode occurred last July, at Restoration Acres in Ohio, while we were attending Hillsboro Family Camp.

Fun after the evening session

We have been going to Hillsboro Family Camp for the past several years. It is a week in the summer we all look forward to with anticipation. This year was no different, except that we all felt an added bit of nervous excitement on account of the fact that we had been asked to sing a fifteen-minute evening concert for one of their sessions. With around fifteen hundred people in attendance, this would be our biggest event yet!

After a full two and a half days rolled by in Ohio, the time came for us to perform. It was a scene of energetic bustling in our camper as seven o’ clock approached Tuesday evening. Hair fixed, clothes changed, instruments checked, brief inspection of everyone, and we felt we were ready. All dressed in black, white, or gray, we walked up to the pavilion where we were to sing. I thought to myself how nice we all looked and hoped that our songs would glorify God as well as encourage and uplift those who heard us.

Pre-concert practice in the camper

We took our seats at the side of the stage and after the introductions and some opening words, we filed up the stairs, and stepped into our places. An intro was played, and our concert had begun. I don’t remember much of what happened during those fifteen minutes, for it always feels like a dream to me after I’ve been on stage. So, after the applause died down, we placed our instruments back in their cases and filed slowly around the pavilion back to our normal seats, saying a quiet thank you to people who encouraged us with their kind words.

I remember sitting down again, then standing up to take my sleeping nephew out of his sister’s tired arms. It was at that moment I realized, well Jayla realized, that my dress was unzipped! My dress’ zipper was not in the typical location a zipper is normally, that is down the back. It was placed running down my side underneath my left arm. As I grabbed Nathaniel, Jayla could see a one-to-two-foot section of my left side, along with undergarment unmentionables, bared for the quiet assessment of public eyes! Immediately I felt my face turn hot and my stomach begin to churn. My symptoms turned infinitely worse when a friend came up, relieved to find we had corrected the problem she had noticed just seconds earlier!

A worn-out Gideon 

Zip!!! As I sat down, the full import of Jayla’s disastrous discovery fell on me. I had, from the moment we walked into the pavilion, to the time we took our places on stage, during our entire performance, while we walked around the entire crowd to our normal seats at the back of the pavilion, smiling and waving to friends the entire way, been exposing two feet of my left side to the general view! I was humiliated!

My feelings started to abate, only after I had talked to several friends and realized that none of them had noticed anything. I still couldn’t believe it though; Even now, I get flushed just thinking about it! I am sure I will never forget my most embarrassing moment yet, and I hope it stays just that, my most embarrassing moment. May I never have to relive another of those kinds of episodes, even if they do make humorous stories years down the road for future listeners!

~Halayah