vacation planning guide

You can tell where we are going on vacation by the links below, but we only have one week and so many things to see and do . . .

The Legend of Pickles Gap

Calico Rock was an important river port on the Upper White River as early as the first half of the 1800s.

At Blanchard Springs Caverns enter an active cave where glistening formations like stalactites, stalagmites, columns, and flowstones are still changeing.

Riddle's Elephant and Wildlife Sanctuary was established by Scott and Heidi Riddle in 1990

Enjoy traditional American folk culture, crafts, music, and festivals in the Ozark Mountains

Situated in the Arkansas foothills of the Ozark Mountains, Fairfield Bay offers the perfect opportunity for rest and relaxation

Arkansas has over 9,000 miles of streams, and a good deal of this mileage is perfect for floating - be it by canoe, johnboat, raft or kayak

And, of course, don't forget the Arkansas Mall!!

take time to thank a veteran

A very special Memorial Day Concert took place in Washington, DC, and was broadcast live on PBS stations. The PBS.org website has more to read such as Remembrance and Healing from the Iraq War.

The National D-Day Museum located in New Orleans, LA, strives to preserve the legacy and lessons of World War II through the stories of those who experienced the war.

The Oral History project brings history to life as students become historians of war, culture and heritage experiences. This streaming media project, in partnership with the Library of Congress, is intended to preserve and honor the oral histories of Americans.

The Veterans History Project relies on volunteers to collect and preserve stories of wartime service. Its primary focus is on first-hand accounts of U.S. Veterans from the following 20th Century wars:
World War I (1914-1920)
World War II (1939-1946)
Korean War (1950-1955)
Vietnam War (1961-1975)
Persian Gulf War (1990-1995)
Afghanistan and Iraq conflicts (2001-present)

Heaven on my mind

I think there is an old gospel song that starts with
these words, "I woke up with heaven on my mind..."

Well, I woke up yesterday two or three times during the night with another old "classic" gospel song playing in my head. That song was "Jesus is Coming Soon" which was written by R.E. Winsett in 1942. His music publishing company in Tennessee was a stong hold of southern gospel shape-note music in the first half of the 1900's.

Jesus is Coming Soon

Verse 1:
Troublesome times are here, filling men's hearts with fear,
Freedom we all hold dear now is at stake;
Humbling your heart to God saves from the chast'ning rod,
Seek the way pilgrims trod, Christians, awake.

Chorus:
Jesus is coming soon, morning or night or noon,
Many will meet their doom, trumpets will sound;
All of the dead shall rise, righteous meet in the skies,
Going where no one dies, Heavenward bound.

Verse 3:
Troubles will soon be o'er, happy forever more,
When we meet on that shore, free from all care;
Rising up in the sky, telling this world goodbye,
Homeward we then will fly, glory to share.


This song was made popular in 1970 by many gospel quartets, the most famous version being sung by the Inspirations Quartet from N.C. The words remind us to be prepared for the Rapture or the return of Jesus Christ to take all Christians home to heaven. This could happen any day and the Bible tells us that no one knows the hour when Christ will come. We need a sense of urgency in our daily lives to serve the Lord and reach others for Christ!

1 Thessalonians 4:14-17
For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with him. For this we say unto you by the word of the Lord, that we which are alive and remain unto the coming of the Lord shall not prevent them which are asleep. For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first: Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord.

BJU summer ministry teams

Here are links to the Bob Jones University summer ministry teams. We here in the south will miss out this time as one team will be in the mid-Atlantic states and one will be traveling in the midwest states. Stephen's church in Beaver Dam, WI and Josh's church in Hanover, PA will have one of the teams at their church in June. Hope you will get to go to one of these presentations, as you will surely be blessed.

Sacred Sounds Itinerary

Truth In Action Itinerary

storm video

With hurricane season starting in June, I thought I would post this link to videos of Hurricane Katrina as well as other natural events like blizzards and tornados. Weather has always been fascinating to me. I guess that why we drive back home to be here when the hurricanes hit, like in 1979 when Hurricane David passed about 60 miles offshore of Jax. We had a flat tire on I-95 at 11:00 pm and about 45 minutes from home. (We found out later that same hour was when David was closest to Jax!)

check out this site for storm video footage

photo gallery

That baby sure is growing! Looks like it is going to be a boy-at least that's my guess!!

the Creation Museum

The Creation Museum is an outreach of Answers in Genesis, a non-profit ministry located near the Cincinnati International Airport, in northern Kentucky, USA. This 50,000 square foot facility will proclaim to the world that the Bible is the supreme authority in all matters of faith and practice and in every area it touches on. Scheduled to open in 2007, this “walk through history” museum will be a wonderful alternative to the evolutionary natural history museums that are turning countless minds against the gospel of Christ and the authority of the Scripture.

Visit the Answers in Genesis web site to hear today's radio broadcast or to read updates on the progress of the Creation Museum. Even Ken Ham has a blog called "Around the World with Ken Ham". Other articles and information to read posted on line such as "Legal Consequences When Creation Is Forgotten"

Blue Devils 2006 signing class

Duke basketball has commitments from four outstanding high school stars for their 2006 freshman class...

Duke basketball coach Mike Krzyzewski announced Monday that the University has received a signed letter-of-intent from Lance Thomas, a standout forward from Newark, N.J. Thomas joins Gerald Henderson, Jr. (Merion Station, Pa.),Jon Scheyer (Northbrook, Ill.) and Brian Zoubek (Haddonfield, N.J.) to make up Duke's incoming freshman class for the 2006-07 season.

At Scout.com you can read all about the four recruits. Brian Zoubek is 7-1 and should give Duke a solid replacement for the "landlord" - Shelden Williams.

You can read the latest headlines about Duke players past and present at dukereport.com

Shelden Williams and J.J. Redick are preparing for the June 28th NBA draft and you can read J.J. Redick: In His Own Words from the Duke Chronicle.

attacks on Christianity

Attacks on Christians and Christianity and Jesus are nothing new. The Bible tells us "the fool hath said in his heart, there is no God." This was written centuries ago in Psalm14:1 and Psalm 53:1. Maybe it is just me, but it seems recently that attacks on our Christian beliefs have increased. Through the media, the movies, you name it - people are "freely" mocking and casting doubt on our Biblical beliefs. A few weeks before Easter, National Geographic Channel presented their "discovery" of the "Gospel of Judas". The May 2006 issue of National Geographic has the article about this discovery, even though the bound papyrus text was actually discovered in the 1970's. It is true that there are many more "gospels" or letters that were written in the first two centuries after Christ was born. We believe, as the Bible teaches, that the books of our Bible are the only truly inspired writings and have been preserved complete throughout history by God. It does not surprise me that someone wrote a "gospel of Judas," but we should not use this fact to question the validity of the Bible. Since we believe the Bible is complete and that there are no contradictions in the Bible, why should we give importance to another "gospel" that is a contradiction?

In the same magazine issue of National Geographic, they interviewed a scientist who specializes in zoology and the study of ants. He uses this forum to speak out against intelligent design. He takes a strong stance "against the mingling of religion and science" and even though he grew up in the Southern Baptist tradition, he has "went away from the faith." Maybe we need to put a PG-13 label on magazines like the National Geographic, so that young minds will not be influenced by reading these articles.

Now adding to the attacks on Christianity, we have the Da Vinci Code movie release this week. If you did not see this interview on NBC, in which one of the actors states, "the Bible should have a 'fiction' disclaimer," you can read about it at newsbusters.org

family photo album

See the new photos posted of our granddaughter at this link to Little Natalie - Natalie Turns Two, May 2006.

be patient mom, we do grow up

fun times in Arkansas


with the grandparents in Florida





the clan in Texas



my favorite Christmas pic

Here are some photos from the past just for Mother's Day!
To all you new moms out there, remember these days for they do not stay that way for very long...

just humor me...

Did I read that sign right??

In a restroom: TOILET OUT OF ORDER. PLEASE USE FLOOR BELOW

In a Laundromat: AUTOMATIC WASHING MACHINES: PLEASE REMOVE ALL YOUR CLOTHES WHEN THE LIGHTGOES OUT

In a London department store: BARGAIN BASEMENT UPSTAIRS

In an office: WOULD THE PERSON WHO TOOK THE STEP LADDER YESTERDAY PLEASE BRING IT BACK OR FURTHER STEPS WILL BE TAKEN

In an office: AFTER TEA BREAK STAFF SHOULD EMPTY THE TEAPOT AND STAND UPSIDE DOWN ON THEDRAINING BOARD

Notice in health food shop window: CLOSED DUE TO ILLNESS

Spotted in a safari park: ELEPHANTS PLEASE STAY IN YOUR CAR

On a repair shop door: WE CAN REPAIR ANYTHING. (PLEASE KNOCK HARD ON THE DOOR - THE BELL DOESN'T WORK)

web watch

Yahoo has a new site which links articles with product reviews from Consumer Reports and PC Magazine and offers helpful advise and information using the search feature at this link to Yahoo! Tech


Zillow.com offers free evaluations of real estate. Zillow.com is designed to help people get estimates on home valuations and gather all sorts of detailed information in their quest to sell or buy property.


Do you like to shop at Kohl's? Maybe you should check out their new website called transformation nation.com .


National Conservative Weekly magazine has been around since 1944 . They also have a web site for those who like to keep up with the latest in conservative politics at humaneventsonline.com


With baseball season in "full swing" (pardon the pun) don't forget about the official website of the Atlanta Braves.

the pooh controversy

This is actually quite funny when you think about. This article was posted on line at the Drudge Report the other day and when I read it again today, I just knew I had to post the link. There are now 14 comments from people around the world. Some of these poeple are quite upset. These people take their "pooh bear" seriously, I guess. Read it for yourself at this link -
Pooh Bear unveils 80th birthday portrait

Winnie the Pooh has joined the Queen in having an 80th birthday portrait.

one of the comments...
Did anyone notice that the Pooh bear in the picture has no honey?

Could this be a faux Pooh? Or maybe Pooh is on Atkin's?

redneck medical terms

I found these Redneck Medical Terms on wokv.com, so pardon the puns and attempts at humor today!

Benign ................................What you be after you be eight
Bacteria...............................Back door to cafeteria
Barium................................What you do with dead folks
Catscan................................Searching for the cat
Cauterize..............................Made eye contact with her
Coma....................................A punctuation mark
D&C .....................................Where Washington is
Dilate....................................To live longer than your kids do
Enema..................................Not a friend
Fester...................................Quicker than someone else
Hangnail..............................What you hang your coat on
Labor pain............................Getting hurt at work
Nitrates................................Cheaper than day rates
Node.....................................Means "I knew it"
Outpatient............................A person who has fainted
Pap Smear............................A fatherhood test
Pelvis....................................Second cousin to Elvis
Tablet...................................A small table to change babies on
Terminal Illness...................Getting sick at the train station
Tumor...................................More than one
Urine.....................................Opposite of you're out
Varicose................................Near by

mountain strings

I started thinking about vacation this weekend as I read this article in our local paper. The excerpt below is from the South Florida Sun-Sentinel and was written by Thomas Swick, the travel editor. It reminded me of our trip to the Ozark Folk Center last summer.

It happens every spring, and lasts until the end of October,
this annual migration of fiddles, banjos, dulcimers and guitars to
Mountain View, Ark., a kind of melodious Capistrano of the Ozarks.
The musicians gather in the afternoons and evenings on the courthouse square, or in the neighboring "Pickin' Park"...

Read the entire article at this link to Mountain Strings

know the truth, share the truth

Focus on the Family has created a web site devoted to the learning the truth about The DaVinci Code book and movie called Know the Truth, Share the Truth

family updates for May

Special dates to remember this month . . .

• May 01, 2004 . . . Brandy (Baggett) and Patrick McDonald were married
• May 02, 2004 . . . Natalie Marie Franklin was born
• May 08, 1935 . . . Winifred Marie (Richardson) Baggett was born
• May 10, 1981 . . . Leah Marie (Johnson) Franklin was born
• May 14, 2006 . . . Don't forget - Mother's Day
• May 21, 1981 . . . Lori Ann (Baggett) Wardlaw was born
• May 29, 1971 . . . Zachary Forest Baggett was born

Baby news . . .

We have four babies on the way as of this month:

My nephew Kenny and Casey Arthur (in SC) are expecting a boy in July.

My oldest son Josh and Janelle Franklin (in PA) are expecting a baby around Sept. 10th.

My wife's cousin Noel Baggett and his wife (in CA) are expecting their second child.

My son Stephen and Leah Franklin (in WI) are expecting their second child in December.

Other family updates include ...

Josh and Janelle have finally found a home to buy in Hanover, PA. They hope to be closing around June 19th.

My sister Debbie and her daughter April Logan will be heading to the Dominican Republic for a mission trip in July. They will be spending time with missionaries Doug and Paula Hodges, who used to be on staff at our church in Jax about 25 years ago.

Vacation time for us is about a month away! We are looking forward to seeing all the family at Fairfield Bay Resorts in Arkansas.

getting ready for world cup soccer

USA TODAY.com has a new site just for keeping up with the latest soccer news, profiles of the USA team, and more... or read the latest on the 2006 U.S. World Cup Roster at this link...


Nike has just started a site for die-hard soccer fans. You just need a Google login and password and you can join this site at joga.com... According to Nike, fans worldwide can chat, post photos and videos and blog about favorite players or teams.

Of course, as I mentioned in an earlier blog, the official site for the 2006 World Cup is fifaworldcup.com .

World Cup, Germany
June 12 — U.S. vs. Czech Republic (Gelsenkirchen)
June 17 — U.S. vs. Italy (Kaiserslautern)
June 22 — U.S. vs. Ghana (Nuremberg)

meanwhile, down on the farm

This site is not connected with the "original"
Farmers' Almanac
that is published each year.

Check it out when you have time at

www.farmersalmanactv.com


wit & wisdom from the home page:

Discourage weed from growing in the cracks of the sidewalk. Zap them with a sprinkling of salt.

• There are videos to watch - such as the "combine demolition derby of Lind, Washington"

• Read the lastest post in the "Barn Blog" such as "Planting and Caring for blueberries in the home garden"

Natalie, two years old today!

May 2004 was just a few days ago...







just last summer, 2005




December 2005



My how fast the days go by. Our Natalie is already two!

baby franklin update

We have good news and bad news! As you can see from these photos, the baby is healthy, but the doctor could not tell is the baby will be a boy or girl. Josh and Janelle will have to wait to find out. And, poor grandma! She has been so eager to start buying those baby clothes, she is taking this really hard! We saw the cutest outfit with frogs on it, but girls do not like frogs you know, so we will have to wait on that one. Maybe some of you with medical expertise can look at these photos and tell us whether this is a boy or a girl. Everyone wants to know!