Bells Across the Snow
O Christmas, merry Christmas,
Has it really come again,
With its memories and greetings,
With its joy and with its pain!
Minor chords are in the carol
And a shadow in the light,
And a spray of cypress twining
With the holly wreath tonight.
And the hush is never broken
By laughter light and low,
As we listen in the starlight
To the "bells across the snow."
O Christmas, merry Christmas,
It's not so very long
Some other voices blended
With the carol and the song!
If we could but hear them singing,
As they are singing now;
If we could but see the radiance
Of the crown on each dear brow;
There would be no cry to cover,
No hidden tear to flow,
As we listen in the starlight
To the "bells across the snow."
O Christmas, merry Christmas,
This nevermore can be;
We cannot bring again the days
Of our unshadowed glee,
But Christmas, happy Christmas,
Sweet herald of goodwill,
With holy songs of glory
Brings holy gladness still.
For peace and hope may brighten,
And patient love may glow;
As we listen in the starlight
To the "bells across the snow."
Frances Ridley Havergal
from Streams in the Desert
Wednesday, December 24, 2008
Sunday, December 21, 2008
Sunday Hymn
Ding Dong, Merrily on High
Ding dong! Merrily on high, in Heav’n the bells are ringing,
Ding dong! Verily the sky is riv’n with angel singing.
Gloria, hosannah in the highest!
E’en so here below, below, let steeple bells be swungen,
And io, io, io, by priest and people sungen.
Gloria, hosannah in the highest!
Pray ye dutifully, prime your matin chime, ye ringers;
May ye beautifully rime your evetime song, ye singers.
Gloria, hosannah in the highest!
This video is the same performance I have on an old Christmas collection of choirs singing. It's a beautiful arrangement, although the video isn't that great.
Thou Didst Leave Thy Throne
Thou didst leave Thy throne and Thy kingly crown,
When Thou camest to earth for me;
But in Bethlehem’s home was there found no room
For Thy holy nativity.
Refrain
O come to my heart, Lord Jesus,
There is room in my heart for Thee.
Heaven’s arches rang when the angels sang,
Proclaiming Thy royal degree;
But of lowly birth didst Thou come to earth,
And in great humility.
Refrain
The foxes found rest, and the birds their nest
In the shade of the forest tree;
But Thy couch was the sod, O Thou Son of God,
In the deserts of Galilee.
Refrain
Thou camest, O Lord, with the living Word,
That should set Thy people free;
But with mocking scorn and with crown of thorn,
They bore Thee to Calvary.
Refrain
When the heav’ns shall ring, and her choirs shall sing,
At Thy coming to victory,
Let Thy voice call me home, saying “Yet there is room,
There is room at My side for thee.”
My heart shall rejoice, Lord Jesus,
When Thou comest and callest for me.
An accapella version of this hymn:
Ding dong! Merrily on high, in Heav’n the bells are ringing,
Ding dong! Verily the sky is riv’n with angel singing.
Gloria, hosannah in the highest!
E’en so here below, below, let steeple bells be swungen,
And io, io, io, by priest and people sungen.
Gloria, hosannah in the highest!
Pray ye dutifully, prime your matin chime, ye ringers;
May ye beautifully rime your evetime song, ye singers.
Gloria, hosannah in the highest!
This video is the same performance I have on an old Christmas collection of choirs singing. It's a beautiful arrangement, although the video isn't that great.
Thou Didst Leave Thy Throne
Thou didst leave Thy throne and Thy kingly crown,
When Thou camest to earth for me;
But in Bethlehem’s home was there found no room
For Thy holy nativity.
Refrain
O come to my heart, Lord Jesus,
There is room in my heart for Thee.
Heaven’s arches rang when the angels sang,
Proclaiming Thy royal degree;
But of lowly birth didst Thou come to earth,
And in great humility.
Refrain
The foxes found rest, and the birds their nest
In the shade of the forest tree;
But Thy couch was the sod, O Thou Son of God,
In the deserts of Galilee.
Refrain
Thou camest, O Lord, with the living Word,
That should set Thy people free;
But with mocking scorn and with crown of thorn,
They bore Thee to Calvary.
Refrain
When the heav’ns shall ring, and her choirs shall sing,
At Thy coming to victory,
Let Thy voice call me home, saying “Yet there is room,
There is room at My side for thee.”
My heart shall rejoice, Lord Jesus,
When Thou comest and callest for me.
An accapella version of this hymn:
Encouraging Quote
From Streams in the Desert (Dec. 21):
Every difficult task that comes across your path - every one you would rather not do, that will take the most effort, cause the most pain, and be the greatest struggle - brings a blessing with it. And refusing to do it regardless of the personal cost is to miss the blessing.
Every difficult stretch of road on which you see the Master's footprints and along which He calls you to follow Him leads unquestionably to blessings. And they are blessings you will never receive unless you travel the steep and thorny path.
Every battlefield you encounter, where you are required to draw your sword and fight the enemy, has the possibility of victory that will prove to be a rich blessing to your life. And every heavy burden you are called upon to lift hides within itself a miraculous secret of strength.
Every difficult task that comes across your path - every one you would rather not do, that will take the most effort, cause the most pain, and be the greatest struggle - brings a blessing with it. And refusing to do it regardless of the personal cost is to miss the blessing.
Every difficult stretch of road on which you see the Master's footprints and along which He calls you to follow Him leads unquestionably to blessings. And they are blessings you will never receive unless you travel the steep and thorny path.
Every battlefield you encounter, where you are required to draw your sword and fight the enemy, has the possibility of victory that will prove to be a rich blessing to your life. And every heavy burden you are called upon to lift hides within itself a miraculous secret of strength.
Sunday, November 30, 2008
First Sunday of Advent
Come, Thou long expected Jesus
Born to set Thy people free;
From our fears and sins release us,
Let us find our rest in Thee.
Israel’s Strength and Consolation,
Hope of all the earth Thou art;
Dear Desire of every nation,
Joy of every longing heart.
Born Thy people to deliver,
Born a child and yet a King,
Born to reign in us forever,
Now Thy gracious kingdom bring.
By Thine own eternal Spirit
Rule in all our hearts alone;
By Thine all sufficient merit,
Raise us to Thy glorious throne.
Friday, November 28, 2008
A Thanksgiving Poem
This was posted to an elist I'm on and I really like it so I thought I would post it here.
Thanksgiving
I thank Thee, O my God, that through Thy grace
I know Thee, who Thou art;
That I have seen the beauty of Thy face
And felt Thee in my heart.
I thank Thee, O my Savior, who hast deigned
To stoop to even me;
Within my inmost soul hast ruled and reigned,
And will my ransom be.
I thank Thee, Holy Spirit, that Thy wings
Brood o'er my wandering mind;
Bringing to my remembrance sacred things
To which my eyes were blind.
I thank Thee, Triune God! But oh, how cold
The warmest words I speak;
For love and goodness strange and manifold,
All human words are weak.
O teach me, then, to praise Thee with my life,
With stern obedience;
To make the atmosphere about me rife
With silent eloquence!
Elizabeth Payson Prentiss
Thursday, November 27, 2008
Thankful Thursday
I'm thankful today for all the good books and resources that are available now. Here's some that have been particularly helpful lately:
Suffering and the Sovereignty of God by John Piper - this is a collection of messages from the 2005 Desiring God Conference.
Spurgeon's Morning and Evening
Streams in the Desert
Homeward Bound - a friend lent me this book. I've found it very interesting and very helpful too. Here's the blurb from the back:
When my friend lent it to me, she didn't realize the background to the book. But God in His providence knew that this was a book for me to read right now, especially the beginning chapters about God's providence.
Come Weary Saints
The Valley of Vision - both CDs from Sovereign Grace Music
Psalm 42 Message by CJ Mahaney - Speaking to yourself
I haven't listened to this for a while but I have often thought of the main idea from the message. Instead of letting our minds get on the "hamster wheel" of the same thoughts we always have and listening to ourselves, speak God's word to yourself and see what a difference it makes in your life.
Suffering and the Sovereignty of God by John Piper - this is a collection of messages from the 2005 Desiring God Conference.
Spurgeon's Morning and Evening
Streams in the Desert
Homeward Bound - a friend lent me this book. I've found it very interesting and very helpful too. Here's the blurb from the back:
“Few things more attractively display and persuasively commend the glory of God in the life of a Christian than a Christ-centered marriage and a Christ-centered family… one that would cause the watching world to sit up and take notice.” So writes Ed Hartman as he contemplates the news that his young wife is probably suffering from a brain tumor.
It was a wake-up call to raise his family with a more eternal perspective.
When my friend lent it to me, she didn't realize the background to the book. But God in His providence knew that this was a book for me to read right now, especially the beginning chapters about God's providence.
Come Weary Saints
The Valley of Vision - both CDs from Sovereign Grace Music
Psalm 42 Message by CJ Mahaney - Speaking to yourself
I haven't listened to this for a while but I have often thought of the main idea from the message. Instead of letting our minds get on the "hamster wheel" of the same thoughts we always have and listening to ourselves, speak God's word to yourself and see what a difference it makes in your life.
Tuesday, November 25, 2008
Thankful Tuesday
I'm reminded again that Rebecca is encouraging us all to be thankful this month. Although I often think of it, I rarely post what I'm thankful for.
Today, I'm thankful for family. I'm thankful that we can be open with each other and how that leads to a deeper, more open relationship. I'm thankful that even through sorrow and grief, we can see God's gracious hand in bringing us closer together.
Today, I'm thankful for family. I'm thankful that we can be open with each other and how that leads to a deeper, more open relationship. I'm thankful that even through sorrow and grief, we can see God's gracious hand in bringing us closer together.
Tuesday, November 18, 2008
The First Snowfall
THE SNOW had begun in the gloaming,
And busily all the night
Had been heaping field and highway
With a silence deep and white.
Every pine and fir and hemlock
Wore ermine too dear for an earl,
And the poorest twig on the elm-tree
Was ridged inch deep with pearl.
From sheds new-roofed with Carrara
Came Chanticleer’s muffled crow,
The stiff rails softened to swan’s-down,
And still fluttered down the snow.
I stood and watched by the window
The noiseless work of the sky,
And the sudden flurries of snow-birds,
Like brown leaves whirling by.
I thought of a mound in sweet Auburn
Where a little headstone stood;
How the flakes were folding it gently,
As did robins the babes in the wood.
Up spoke our own little Mabel,
Saying, “Father, who makes it snow?”
And I told of the good All-father
Who cares for us here below.
Again I looked at the snow-fall,
And thought of the leaden sky
That arched o’er our first great sorrow,
When that mound was heaped so high.
I remembered the gradual patience
That fell from that cloud like snow,
Flake by flake, healing and hiding
The scar that renewed our woe.
And again to the child I whispered,
“The snow that husheth all,
Darling, the merciful Father
Alone can make it fall!”
Then, with eyes that saw not, I kissed her;
And she, kissing back, could not know
That my kiss was given to her sister,
Folded close under deepening snow.
~James Russell Lowell
And busily all the night
Had been heaping field and highway
With a silence deep and white.
Every pine and fir and hemlock
Wore ermine too dear for an earl,
And the poorest twig on the elm-tree
Was ridged inch deep with pearl.
From sheds new-roofed with Carrara
Came Chanticleer’s muffled crow,
The stiff rails softened to swan’s-down,
And still fluttered down the snow.
I stood and watched by the window
The noiseless work of the sky,
And the sudden flurries of snow-birds,
Like brown leaves whirling by.
I thought of a mound in sweet Auburn
Where a little headstone stood;
How the flakes were folding it gently,
As did robins the babes in the wood.
Up spoke our own little Mabel,
Saying, “Father, who makes it snow?”
And I told of the good All-father
Who cares for us here below.
Again I looked at the snow-fall,
And thought of the leaden sky
That arched o’er our first great sorrow,
When that mound was heaped so high.
I remembered the gradual patience
That fell from that cloud like snow,
Flake by flake, healing and hiding
The scar that renewed our woe.
And again to the child I whispered,
“The snow that husheth all,
Darling, the merciful Father
Alone can make it fall!”
Then, with eyes that saw not, I kissed her;
And she, kissing back, could not know
That my kiss was given to her sister,
Folded close under deepening snow.
~James Russell Lowell
Thursday, November 06, 2008
I'm Thankful for...
our library system. I was on the Christianbook.com website looking up some books and thought I would check our library system. They have almost all of the books so I was able to order them. This way I can check out and see what they are like and if we really like them, then I buy them. Having a great library system is such a blessing.
I was looking for books on grief, especially as it relates to children. I'll take suggestions too. I would love to find some that are Christian in nature, especially more from a reformed perspective. I would also love to find something for our younger ones to read on their own or with us. Suggestions?
I was looking for books on grief, especially as it relates to children. I'll take suggestions too. I would love to find some that are Christian in nature, especially more from a reformed perspective. I would also love to find something for our younger ones to read on their own or with us. Suggestions?
Sunday, November 02, 2008
Thankfulness
I was just reflecting on the many blessings our family has experienced in the past month and then saw Rebecca's theme for November - Thankfulness. Here are some of the ways we have been blessed (in no particular order):
- friends who provided meals for us. I didn't cook supper for a full month and many of our lunches were from the freezer as well. I was ready to get back to cooking (still need to do a menu for November) but it was a blessing to have it for that long
- cards and letters still coming
- friends who call or write and ask how we are doing
- friends and strangers who put together 4 boxes of homemade cards for me to use - in every theme you can think of
- friends who put together a gift basket filled with coffee, chocolate & scrapbooking supplies
- friends who let us come over and just be ourselves
- a church family that has supported us in so many ways, we just can't count them all up
- a town that still thinks of itself as a community and hurts with us
- packages that come in the mail with books and cds to encourage us
- God who has brought us through this past month and continues every day to remind us of His love and care
- friends who provided meals for us. I didn't cook supper for a full month and many of our lunches were from the freezer as well. I was ready to get back to cooking (still need to do a menu for November) but it was a blessing to have it for that long
- cards and letters still coming
- friends who call or write and ask how we are doing
- friends and strangers who put together 4 boxes of homemade cards for me to use - in every theme you can think of
- friends who put together a gift basket filled with coffee, chocolate & scrapbooking supplies
- friends who let us come over and just be ourselves
- a church family that has supported us in so many ways, we just can't count them all up
- a town that still thinks of itself as a community and hurts with us
- packages that come in the mail with books and cds to encourage us
- God who has brought us through this past month and continues every day to remind us of His love and care
Thursday, June 05, 2008
Precious Remedies Against Satan's Devices
May's Puritan reading was Precious Remedies against Satan's Devices by Thomas Brooks. I'm almost done it. This quote caught my attention today:
All divine power and strength against sin flows from the soul's union and communion with Christ. While you keep off from Christ, you keep off from that strength and power which is alone able to make you trample down strength, lead captivity captive, and slay the Goliaths that bid defiance to Christ. It is only faith in Christ that makes a man triumph over sin, Satan, hell and the world. It is only faith in Christ that binds the strong man's hand and foot, that stops the issue of blood, that makes a man strong in resisting and happy in conquering. Sin always dies most where faith lives most. The most believing soul is the most mortified soul. Ah! sinner, remember this, there is no way on earth effectually to be rid of the guilt, filth and power of sin, but by believing in a Saviour. It is not resolving, it is not complaining, it is not mourning but believing, that will make thee divinely victorious over that body of sin that to this day is too strong for thee, and that will certainly be thy ruin, if it be not ruined by a hand of faith.
All divine power and strength against sin flows from the soul's union and communion with Christ. While you keep off from Christ, you keep off from that strength and power which is alone able to make you trample down strength, lead captivity captive, and slay the Goliaths that bid defiance to Christ. It is only faith in Christ that makes a man triumph over sin, Satan, hell and the world. It is only faith in Christ that binds the strong man's hand and foot, that stops the issue of blood, that makes a man strong in resisting and happy in conquering. Sin always dies most where faith lives most. The most believing soul is the most mortified soul. Ah! sinner, remember this, there is no way on earth effectually to be rid of the guilt, filth and power of sin, but by believing in a Saviour. It is not resolving, it is not complaining, it is not mourning but believing, that will make thee divinely victorious over that body of sin that to this day is too strong for thee, and that will certainly be thy ruin, if it be not ruined by a hand of faith.
Wednesday, March 12, 2008
Puritan Reading Challenge - The Rare Jewel of Christian Contentment
In January, I took up Timmy Brister's Puritan Reading Challenge. I read The Bruised Reed first.
Next, since we didn't have February's title yet, I picked up The Rare Jewel of Christian Contentment by Jeremiah Burroughs. I finished it just a few days into March.
I've read The Rare Jewel before but this time was particularly meaningful. February was a hard month spiritually. I was challenged with some issues about myself and I am thankful to God for bringing these things to my attention. I don't think it was any coincidence that I was reading this book at the time.
The Rare Jewel is not necessarily easy to read, in more ways than one. I began it at the beginning of February and after a couple of days, went back and started outlining it as I went so I could keep track of all his points. That helped a lot. It's laid out well but there are subpoints of subpoints so sometimes I got a little confused until I started writing it down.
It's also not that easy to read because it's challenging spiritually. Here are some quotes and points from it. In italics are the direct quotes.
Contentment is an inward quiet gracious frame of spirit.
Contentment is freely submitting to and taking pleasure in God's disposal.
A Christian comes to contentment, not so much by way of addition as by way of subtraction.
(I can't tell from my notes if this next is an exact quote - I think so but I'm not sure)
Not only in good things does a Christian have the dew of God's blessing and finds them very sweet to him, but in all the afflictions, all the evils that befall him, he can see love and can enjoy the sweetness of love in his afflictions as well as in his mercies.
God is most honoured when I can turn from one condition to another according as he calls me to it.
Speaking of the providence of God...
No more can you make the providence of God alter and change its course with your vexing and fretting; it will go on with power...
God may have some work to do twenty years hence that depends on this passage of providence that falls out this day or this week.
If you have a love and friendship to God, be willing to be crossed... that the Lord may have his work go on in general.
By contentment we come to give God the worship that is due to Him.
Burroughs spends quite a bit of time on the evils of a murmuring/discontented spirit. It's very convicting!
One quote that particularly affected me:
The great design God has in afflicting you is to break and humble your heart; and will you maintain a spirit quite opposite to the work of God? For you to murmur and be discontented is to resist the work of God. God is doing you good if you could see it and if He is pleased to sanctify your affliction to break that hard heart of yours and humble that proud spirit of yours, it would be the greatest mercy that you ever had in your life.
From ch. 12: Considerations to content the heart in any afflicted condition
1. consider the greatness of the mercies we have and the meanness of what we lack
2. The consideration that God is beforehand with us with his mercies should content us
3. The consideration of the abundance of mercies God bestows and we enjoy
etc.
Highly recommended in any season of life. I am hoping to reread each of these books over the next few years because there is so much in them, I can't possibly get it in one reading.
We are studying the Puritans in our history study in school right now and I'm finding it interesting to be reading some of their works at the same time as I am reading about them. Sometimes I don't seem to be reading about the same people!
Next, since we didn't have February's title yet, I picked up The Rare Jewel of Christian Contentment by Jeremiah Burroughs. I finished it just a few days into March.
I've read The Rare Jewel before but this time was particularly meaningful. February was a hard month spiritually. I was challenged with some issues about myself and I am thankful to God for bringing these things to my attention. I don't think it was any coincidence that I was reading this book at the time.
The Rare Jewel is not necessarily easy to read, in more ways than one. I began it at the beginning of February and after a couple of days, went back and started outlining it as I went so I could keep track of all his points. That helped a lot. It's laid out well but there are subpoints of subpoints so sometimes I got a little confused until I started writing it down.
It's also not that easy to read because it's challenging spiritually. Here are some quotes and points from it. In italics are the direct quotes.
Contentment is an inward quiet gracious frame of spirit.
Contentment is freely submitting to and taking pleasure in God's disposal.
A Christian comes to contentment, not so much by way of addition as by way of subtraction.
(I can't tell from my notes if this next is an exact quote - I think so but I'm not sure)
Not only in good things does a Christian have the dew of God's blessing and finds them very sweet to him, but in all the afflictions, all the evils that befall him, he can see love and can enjoy the sweetness of love in his afflictions as well as in his mercies.
God is most honoured when I can turn from one condition to another according as he calls me to it.
Speaking of the providence of God...
No more can you make the providence of God alter and change its course with your vexing and fretting; it will go on with power...
God may have some work to do twenty years hence that depends on this passage of providence that falls out this day or this week.
If you have a love and friendship to God, be willing to be crossed... that the Lord may have his work go on in general.
By contentment we come to give God the worship that is due to Him.
Burroughs spends quite a bit of time on the evils of a murmuring/discontented spirit. It's very convicting!
One quote that particularly affected me:
The great design God has in afflicting you is to break and humble your heart; and will you maintain a spirit quite opposite to the work of God? For you to murmur and be discontented is to resist the work of God. God is doing you good if you could see it and if He is pleased to sanctify your affliction to break that hard heart of yours and humble that proud spirit of yours, it would be the greatest mercy that you ever had in your life.
From ch. 12: Considerations to content the heart in any afflicted condition
1. consider the greatness of the mercies we have and the meanness of what we lack
2. The consideration that God is beforehand with us with his mercies should content us
3. The consideration of the abundance of mercies God bestows and we enjoy
etc.
Highly recommended in any season of life. I am hoping to reread each of these books over the next few years because there is so much in them, I can't possibly get it in one reading.
We are studying the Puritans in our history study in school right now and I'm finding it interesting to be reading some of their works at the same time as I am reading about them. Sometimes I don't seem to be reading about the same people!
Tuesday, March 11, 2008
I Now Understand...
what my parents went through.
I took my son driving today. First time for me with him, about his second or third time driving but it's been a while.
He did fine. We didn't run into anything. He didn't speed - much. We got there in one piece and I didn't even have to raise my voice.
But I was tense all the way and I felt like I was doing what I used to make fun of in my mom. You know, when your right foot is firmly pressed to the floor to help brake...
It was a good experience for both of us. I'm sure he'll learn how to moderate his speed and his braking speed and how to navigate around corners so we only go in one lane. And I'll learn how much to say and not to say.
Since I want him to do some driving on an upcoming road trip, he needs to practice and drive every day. But I think I might let his dad do a few of the driving practices. It's hard to be a mom sometimes.
I took my son driving today. First time for me with him, about his second or third time driving but it's been a while.
He did fine. We didn't run into anything. He didn't speed - much. We got there in one piece and I didn't even have to raise my voice.
But I was tense all the way and I felt like I was doing what I used to make fun of in my mom. You know, when your right foot is firmly pressed to the floor to help brake...
It was a good experience for both of us. I'm sure he'll learn how to moderate his speed and his braking speed and how to navigate around corners so we only go in one lane. And I'll learn how much to say and not to say.
Since I want him to do some driving on an upcoming road trip, he needs to practice and drive every day. But I think I might let his dad do a few of the driving practices. It's hard to be a mom sometimes.
Sunday, February 24, 2008
Sunday Hymn - O Sacred Head
O sacred Head, now wounded, with grief and shame weighed down,
Now scornfully surrounded with thorns, Thine only crown;
O sacred Head, what glory, what bliss till now was Thine!
Yet, though despised and gory, I joy to call Thee mine.
What Thou, my Lord, hast suffered, was all for sinners’ gain;
Mine, mine was the transgression, but Thine the deadly pain.
Lo, here I fall, my Savior! ’Tis I deserve Thy place;
Look on me with Thy favor, vouchsafe to me Thy grace.
Men mock and taunt and jeer Thee, Thou noble countenance,
Though mighty worlds shall fear Thee and flee before Thy glance.
How art thou pale with anguish, with sore abuse and scorn!
How doth Thy visage languish that once was bright as morn!
What language shall I borrow to thank Thee, dearest friend,
For this Thy dying sorrow, Thy pity without end?
O make me Thine forever, and should I fainting be,
Lord, let me never, never outlive my love to Thee.
My Shepherd, now receive me; my Guardian, own me Thine.
Great blessings Thou didst give me, O source of gifts divine.
Thy lips have often fed me with words of truth and love;
Thy Spirit oft hath led me to heavenly joys above.
Here I will stand beside Thee, from Thee I will not part;
O Savior, do not chide me! When breaks Thy loving heart,
When soul and body languish in death’s cold, cruel grasp,
Then, in Thy deepest anguish, Thee in mine arms I’ll clasp.
The joy can never be spoken, above all joys beside,
When in Thy body broken I thus with safety hide.
O Lord of Life, desiring Thy glory now to see,
Beside Thy cross expiring, I’d breathe my soul to Thee.
My Savior, be Thou near me when death is at my door;
Then let Thy presence cheer me, forsake me nevermore!
When soul and body languish, oh, leave me not alone,
But take away mine anguish by virtue of Thine own!
Be Thou my consolation, my shield when I must die;
Remind me of Thy passion when my last hour draws nigh.
Mine eyes shall then behold Thee, upon Thy cross shall dwell,
My heart by faith enfolds Thee. Who dieth thus dies well.
I've been humming this one for the past few days for two reasons. First, because Easter is approaching and I've been thinking about it. And I'm also working on playing this on the cello. The notes are easy but making it sound good is the challenge. I've been learning vibrato this year so I'm trying to apply it to this song and work on the phrasing too. I'm hopeful that with practice it will sound like it does in my head.
Or as it does on this album:
We first bought this album as a cassette tape after hearing John Catchings play with Michael Card and loved it then. I think this is part of the influence for me in wanting to learn cello. Then we didn't hear anything of John Catchings for a long time, until one day I was listening to one of the Sovereign Grace albums, probably The Valley of Vision and heard the cello in the background. We checked the album notes and sure enough, it was John Catchings. I've noticed his name on a few other albums too.Last night I decided to check itunes for his album and there it was! Highly recommended.
Saturday, February 16, 2008
Sunday Hymn
Yes, it's true, I'm posting a Sunday hymn. Whether I do it for more than one week in a row remains to be seen. But for now, here is "I Sing the Mighty Power of God" which I believe we'll be singing in church tomorrow.
I sing the mighty power of God, that made the mountains rise
That spread the flowing seas abroad, and built the lofty skies.
I sing the wisdom that ordained the sun to rule the day;
The moon shines full at God’s command, and all the stars obey.
I sing the goodness of the Lord, who filled the earth with food,
Who formed the creatures through the Word, and then pronounced them good.
Lord, how Thy wonders are displayed, where’er I turn my eye,
If I survey the ground I tread, or gaze upon the sky.
There’s not a plant or flower below, but makes Thy glories known,
And clouds arise, and tempests blow, by order from Thy throne;
While all that borrows life from Thee is ever in Thy care;
And everywhere that we can be, Thou, God art present there.
I sing the mighty power of God, that made the mountains rise
That spread the flowing seas abroad, and built the lofty skies.
I sing the wisdom that ordained the sun to rule the day;
The moon shines full at God’s command, and all the stars obey.
I sing the goodness of the Lord, who filled the earth with food,
Who formed the creatures through the Word, and then pronounced them good.
Lord, how Thy wonders are displayed, where’er I turn my eye,
If I survey the ground I tread, or gaze upon the sky.
There’s not a plant or flower below, but makes Thy glories known,
And clouds arise, and tempests blow, by order from Thy throne;
While all that borrows life from Thee is ever in Thy care;
And everywhere that we can be, Thou, God art present there.
Monday, January 07, 2008
Kick Starting the New Year - a Puritan Challenge
Timmy Brister, at Provocations & Pantings, has started a Puritan Reading Challenge for 2008, which includes reading a Puritan book each month. Since I've been thinking for a while that it would be a good idea to read some more of the Puritans, this provides a good push to do so.
Here's the link for the post with all the details.
Would you like to join too?
Here's the link for the post with all the details.
Would you like to join too?
Saturday, December 29, 2007
Prayers for Preteens
This list of daily prayers for preteens came from Family Life but I can't find it on their site any more. I think it would be suitable to pray for all ages of children. Unfortunately, there are only 26 items but you can either add something to the bottom for the last five days of the month or just spread it over the month.
1.. Pray that God will protect your preteen's innocence.
2.. Pray that God will bring godly friends into your preteen's life.
3.. Pray that your preteen won't forget how to laugh.
4.. Pray that God will draw your preteen into a relationship with Him ordeeper into the relationship that's already established.
5.. Pray that God will bring other godly adults into your preteen's life.
6.. Pray that your preteen will be grounded in the spiritual disciplinesof Bible study, prayer, and worship.
7.. Pray that your preteen will learn to love the unlovely (reach out to other kids).
8.. Pray that God will bring about tests of character into your preteen'slife to help him learn how to stand strong in his convictions.
9.. Pray that your preteen will develop humility.
10.. Pray that you will catch your preteen in sin in order to haveopportunity to train him.
11.. Pray that your preteen will develop a larger peer group of believersthat can have its own identity --- enjoying music, parties, and memories together.
12.. Pray that intellectual understanding of the changes in your preteen'sbody will give your preteen cause to praise God for His glorious creation.
13.. Pray that your preteen will respect and treat the opposite sex in a biblical manner.
14.. Pray that your preteen will develop his own convictions about what hewatches, listens to, and reads.
15.. Pray that your preteen will learn self-control.
16.. Pray that God will allow you to catch your preteen in a lie. Pray also that God will give you the courage to follow through with the restitution and the repentance.
17.. Pray that your preteen will not give in to temptation to use drugs or alcohol.
18.. Pray that your preteen will be loving and caring to his siblings.
19.. Pray that your preteen will learn how to manage his anger.
20.. Pray that your preteen will learn how to control his tongue.
21.. Pray that God will protect your preteen's mind from being burned bypornographic images and ideas.
22.. Pray that your preteen will not develop an attachment and preoccupation with material things.
23.. Pray that God will keep the communication lines open between you andyour preteen during the teenage years.
24.. Pray that your preteen will develop biblical convictions.
25.. Pray that your preteen will stand strong when peers pressure him to do something contrary to those convictions.
26.. Pray that your preteen will begin to understand God's mission for his life.
1.. Pray that God will protect your preteen's innocence.
2.. Pray that God will bring godly friends into your preteen's life.
3.. Pray that your preteen won't forget how to laugh.
4.. Pray that God will draw your preteen into a relationship with Him ordeeper into the relationship that's already established.
5.. Pray that God will bring other godly adults into your preteen's life.
6.. Pray that your preteen will be grounded in the spiritual disciplinesof Bible study, prayer, and worship.
7.. Pray that your preteen will learn to love the unlovely (reach out to other kids).
8.. Pray that God will bring about tests of character into your preteen'slife to help him learn how to stand strong in his convictions.
9.. Pray that your preteen will develop humility.
10.. Pray that you will catch your preteen in sin in order to haveopportunity to train him.
11.. Pray that your preteen will develop a larger peer group of believersthat can have its own identity --- enjoying music, parties, and memories together.
12.. Pray that intellectual understanding of the changes in your preteen'sbody will give your preteen cause to praise God for His glorious creation.
13.. Pray that your preteen will respect and treat the opposite sex in a biblical manner.
14.. Pray that your preteen will develop his own convictions about what hewatches, listens to, and reads.
15.. Pray that your preteen will learn self-control.
16.. Pray that God will allow you to catch your preteen in a lie. Pray also that God will give you the courage to follow through with the restitution and the repentance.
17.. Pray that your preteen will not give in to temptation to use drugs or alcohol.
18.. Pray that your preteen will be loving and caring to his siblings.
19.. Pray that your preteen will learn how to manage his anger.
20.. Pray that your preteen will learn how to control his tongue.
21.. Pray that God will protect your preteen's mind from being burned bypornographic images and ideas.
22.. Pray that your preteen will not develop an attachment and preoccupation with material things.
23.. Pray that God will keep the communication lines open between you andyour preteen during the teenage years.
24.. Pray that your preteen will develop biblical convictions.
25.. Pray that your preteen will stand strong when peers pressure him to do something contrary to those convictions.
26.. Pray that your preteen will begin to understand God's mission for his life.
Thursday, December 27, 2007
Daily Prayers for our Husbands
Years ago, I was given a list of daily things to pray about for my husband, one for each day of the month. I've been a little lax in doing it over the past few years so this morning, I decided to write them out in my devotional book. As I was doing that, I realized that some of you may not have seen these before.
Although we all know it's important to pray for our husbands, if you are anything like me, you'll know that it's also hard sometimes to think of what we should be praying about, other than generalities or "bless his day". This list helps to dispel some of that fuzziness.
I'm not sure who wrote it originally so there is no credit given. My apologies if you know the person who wrote it.
1. That he might become a holy man, a man of prayer, mature in the Lord, growing in his knowledge of the Lord. I Thessalonians 5:23, Colossians 4:12, Ephesians 1:18-19, 3:16-19, 6:18.
2. That he might grow in all 11 descriptions of a man who will not be shaken as listed in Psalms 15.
3. That he might be a man of contentment as seen in Proverbs 15:16, Philippians 4:11, I Timothy 6:6-8, Hebrews 13:5.
4. That he might learn to take every thought captive, to not be conformed to the world’s thinking and to think scripturally. Romans 12:2, II Corinthians 10:5.
5. That he might daily seek God with all his heart, walking in the Spirit moment by moment, growing in his dependence on Him. Psalms 119:1-2, Proverbs 3:5-6.
6. That he would ever be captivated by my love. Proverbs 5:18-19.
7. That he would be a man of courage. Deuteronomy 31:6, II Chronicles 19:11.
8. That the Lord might give him wisdom to lead his family physically, emotionally, mentally and spiritually. Ephesians 1:17-19.
9. May he always look at the plank in his own eye before seeing other’s sawdust. Matthew 7:3.
10. That he might become a called man, not driven, with well thought through and prayed through goals in life. I Corinthians 9:24-27.
11. That he might be a man of prayer, guarding his heart and mind, putting into practice what he ahs heard, seen and learned. Philemon 4:4-9.
12. That he might stand firm against the schemes of the devil and resist Satan in all circumstances. Ephesians 6:10-18, James 4:7.
13. That he might grow in spiritual maturity by putting away childish things, cultivating, understanding, striving after the Christ ideal, partaking of the deeper truths of the gospel, and overcoming temptation. I Corinthians 13:11, 14:20, Ephesians 4:13, Hebrews 5:14, I John 2:14.
14. That he might make me holy, cleansing me by the washing with water through the word. Ephesians 5:26.
15. That he would learn to not depend on his circumstances for happiness but on God alone. Hab 3:17-19.
16. That he would be a man who enters into spiritual warfare. Ephesians 6:11-12, I Thessalonians 5:8.
17. That he might have new strength in the midst of his busy schedule and that the Lord might infuse him with His strength. Isaiah 40:31, Ephesians 3:14-19.
18. That he might have a burden to see lost people come to know Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior. Matthew 28:19-20.
19. That he would be kept from strange women and evil men and that his friends would be men and women who walk with God. Proverbs 13:20.
20. That his self image might be a reflection of the Lords thoughts toward him. Ephesians 1:17-19, Romans 12:3, Psalms 139.
21. That he might be a man responsible for family spiritual growth. Proverbs 4:1-14.
22. That he might not be deceived into unbelief, sin or bitterness. Matthew 13:8-10.
23. That he might learn to love as God has commanded. I Corinthians 13:4-7, Romans 12:8-10, Ephesians 5:25.
24. That the fruit of the Spirit might be exhibited more and more in his life. Galations 5:22-23, John 15:8.
25. That he might grow humility and being a shepherd. I Peter 5:2-6.
26. That he might grow daily in character. II Peter 1:5-8.
27. That he might keep a clear conscience I Peter 3:16-18.
28. That the Lord might protect him, guarding his course. Proverbs 2:8.
29. That he might learn to manage his time well. Ephesians 5:15.
30. That the Lord would put a song in his heart. Psalms 33:3, 40:3, Job 35:10.
31. That he may have a holy fear of God. Psalms 34:11, 111:10, Proverbs 9:10.
Although we all know it's important to pray for our husbands, if you are anything like me, you'll know that it's also hard sometimes to think of what we should be praying about, other than generalities or "bless his day". This list helps to dispel some of that fuzziness.
I'm not sure who wrote it originally so there is no credit given. My apologies if you know the person who wrote it.
1. That he might become a holy man, a man of prayer, mature in the Lord, growing in his knowledge of the Lord. I Thessalonians 5:23, Colossians 4:12, Ephesians 1:18-19, 3:16-19, 6:18.
2. That he might grow in all 11 descriptions of a man who will not be shaken as listed in Psalms 15.
3. That he might be a man of contentment as seen in Proverbs 15:16, Philippians 4:11, I Timothy 6:6-8, Hebrews 13:5.
4. That he might learn to take every thought captive, to not be conformed to the world’s thinking and to think scripturally. Romans 12:2, II Corinthians 10:5.
5. That he might daily seek God with all his heart, walking in the Spirit moment by moment, growing in his dependence on Him. Psalms 119:1-2, Proverbs 3:5-6.
6. That he would ever be captivated by my love. Proverbs 5:18-19.
7. That he would be a man of courage. Deuteronomy 31:6, II Chronicles 19:11.
8. That the Lord might give him wisdom to lead his family physically, emotionally, mentally and spiritually. Ephesians 1:17-19.
9. May he always look at the plank in his own eye before seeing other’s sawdust. Matthew 7:3.
10. That he might become a called man, not driven, with well thought through and prayed through goals in life. I Corinthians 9:24-27.
11. That he might be a man of prayer, guarding his heart and mind, putting into practice what he ahs heard, seen and learned. Philemon 4:4-9.
12. That he might stand firm against the schemes of the devil and resist Satan in all circumstances. Ephesians 6:10-18, James 4:7.
13. That he might grow in spiritual maturity by putting away childish things, cultivating, understanding, striving after the Christ ideal, partaking of the deeper truths of the gospel, and overcoming temptation. I Corinthians 13:11, 14:20, Ephesians 4:13, Hebrews 5:14, I John 2:14.
14. That he might make me holy, cleansing me by the washing with water through the word. Ephesians 5:26.
15. That he would learn to not depend on his circumstances for happiness but on God alone. Hab 3:17-19.
16. That he would be a man who enters into spiritual warfare. Ephesians 6:11-12, I Thessalonians 5:8.
17. That he might have new strength in the midst of his busy schedule and that the Lord might infuse him with His strength. Isaiah 40:31, Ephesians 3:14-19.
18. That he might have a burden to see lost people come to know Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior. Matthew 28:19-20.
19. That he would be kept from strange women and evil men and that his friends would be men and women who walk with God. Proverbs 13:20.
20. That his self image might be a reflection of the Lords thoughts toward him. Ephesians 1:17-19, Romans 12:3, Psalms 139.
21. That he might be a man responsible for family spiritual growth. Proverbs 4:1-14.
22. That he might not be deceived into unbelief, sin or bitterness. Matthew 13:8-10.
23. That he might learn to love as God has commanded. I Corinthians 13:4-7, Romans 12:8-10, Ephesians 5:25.
24. That the fruit of the Spirit might be exhibited more and more in his life. Galations 5:22-23, John 15:8.
25. That he might grow humility and being a shepherd. I Peter 5:2-6.
26. That he might grow daily in character. II Peter 1:5-8.
27. That he might keep a clear conscience I Peter 3:16-18.
28. That the Lord might protect him, guarding his course. Proverbs 2:8.
29. That he might learn to manage his time well. Ephesians 5:15.
30. That the Lord would put a song in his heart. Psalms 33:3, 40:3, Job 35:10.
31. That he may have a holy fear of God. Psalms 34:11, 111:10, Proverbs 9:10.
Tuesday, November 13, 2007
Thankful Tuesday
Cindy at Dominion Family has been posting advice from older mothers to younger mothers. The series is very good and the comments are well worth reading.
I was thinking about it this morning and realized that I am thankful for the good parenting resources that are available. Our #1 choice is Shepherding a Child's Heart, by Tedd Tripp. One of our Sunday School classes is going through the video series and I am reminded again of how valuable the information is.
Pastor Tripp doesn't just focus on external behaviours (do this or that and your child will behave perfectly). Instead, he takes us to the Bible and shows how the hearts of our children should be our focus, rather than their behaviour. When their hearts are right with God, their behaviour will follow.
Over the years, we personally have found that this type of discipline and training leads not only to obedient children but children who want to follow God. Our parenting journey isn't over, by any stretch, but at this point, we are trusting that our children will continue on the path they have started with God.
I have also appreciated various messages and workshops put out by Sovereign Grace Ministries. Covenant Life church has a "Family Room" section and the messages linked through that have been excellent as well.
As parents, we do need to be careful to sift through all the resources available and make sure that what we are reading and studying lines up with Scripture. More specifically, the resources need to always point parents and children to the gospel of Christ. It is only through the grace of God that any of us are able to stand; this applies to parenting just as much to any other aspect of our lives.
I was thinking about it this morning and realized that I am thankful for the good parenting resources that are available. Our #1 choice is Shepherding a Child's Heart, by Tedd Tripp. One of our Sunday School classes is going through the video series and I am reminded again of how valuable the information is.
Pastor Tripp doesn't just focus on external behaviours (do this or that and your child will behave perfectly). Instead, he takes us to the Bible and shows how the hearts of our children should be our focus, rather than their behaviour. When their hearts are right with God, their behaviour will follow.
Over the years, we personally have found that this type of discipline and training leads not only to obedient children but children who want to follow God. Our parenting journey isn't over, by any stretch, but at this point, we are trusting that our children will continue on the path they have started with God.
I have also appreciated various messages and workshops put out by Sovereign Grace Ministries. Covenant Life church has a "Family Room" section and the messages linked through that have been excellent as well.
As parents, we do need to be careful to sift through all the resources available and make sure that what we are reading and studying lines up with Scripture. More specifically, the resources need to always point parents and children to the gospel of Christ. It is only through the grace of God that any of us are able to stand; this applies to parenting just as much to any other aspect of our lives.
Friday, November 09, 2007
Thankful for friends
I woke up this morning thinking about friends. Specifically, the ones God has blessed me with. I realized that I have about 5 or 6 close friends that I see regularly (and always wish I could spend more time with them). Then there are others that I really enjoy being with but our schedules don't allow visiting that often, except at church or in passing. But when we do spend time together, it's great.
Conventional wisdom used to say that pastors' wives (or pastors, for that matter) shouldn't have friends in the church. I've always thought that was silly and I am thankful that these days, it doesn't seem to apply. I am also thankful for where God has placed us so that we can have these friendships.
I imagine that part of the problem for some pastoral families is that it takes a long time to develop close friendships and pastoral families are often not in a church for that long. I just googled it and this page says that the average length of time for a senior pastor is 7.2 years and slightly longer for bigger churches at 8.7 years. That's actually longer than I expected. This site quotes Barna research and says it's 5 years on average. That's the figure I'm familiar with.
At any rate, if after 5 years, the pastor typically moves on to another location, how can he and his wife develop close friendships in the church? I think it would be very difficult, especially after the 3rd or 4th move. We've been at this church for 10 years. I know that if anyone had asked 5 years ago or 8 years ago how I felt about friends I would have said that we had a few close friends. Now after 10 years, the Lord has blessed us with many more and part of that is from having 10 years together. Some of my friends are new to the area but overall, it's the women that I have worked with and raised my kids with and gone to different activities with that have developed into the lasting friendships.
I must admit to being somewhat cynical about the "forwards" and posters about friendship that I get occasionally. And no, just because I don't send them on to 10 people and back to the person I got it from, doesn't mean that I don't value that friendship. I just don't value the forwards. But in thinking about friends this morning, I have to say that sometimes the fancy posters do say it well.
Actually the Bible says it even better:
"I thank my God upon every remembrance of you, always in every prayer of mine making request for you all with joy."
Phil. 1:3-4
Conventional wisdom used to say that pastors' wives (or pastors, for that matter) shouldn't have friends in the church. I've always thought that was silly and I am thankful that these days, it doesn't seem to apply. I am also thankful for where God has placed us so that we can have these friendships.
I imagine that part of the problem for some pastoral families is that it takes a long time to develop close friendships and pastoral families are often not in a church for that long. I just googled it and this page says that the average length of time for a senior pastor is 7.2 years and slightly longer for bigger churches at 8.7 years. That's actually longer than I expected. This site quotes Barna research and says it's 5 years on average. That's the figure I'm familiar with.
At any rate, if after 5 years, the pastor typically moves on to another location, how can he and his wife develop close friendships in the church? I think it would be very difficult, especially after the 3rd or 4th move. We've been at this church for 10 years. I know that if anyone had asked 5 years ago or 8 years ago how I felt about friends I would have said that we had a few close friends. Now after 10 years, the Lord has blessed us with many more and part of that is from having 10 years together. Some of my friends are new to the area but overall, it's the women that I have worked with and raised my kids with and gone to different activities with that have developed into the lasting friendships.
I must admit to being somewhat cynical about the "forwards" and posters about friendship that I get occasionally. And no, just because I don't send them on to 10 people and back to the person I got it from, doesn't mean that I don't value that friendship. I just don't value the forwards. But in thinking about friends this morning, I have to say that sometimes the fancy posters do say it well.
Actually the Bible says it even better:
"I thank my God upon every remembrance of you, always in every prayer of mine making request for you all with joy."
Phil. 1:3-4
Sunday, November 04, 2007
Thankful November
Rebecca at Rebecca Writes is once more asking for posts of thankfulness during the month of November. This has spurred me on to actually post something on this blog. Hopefully, it will happen more than once in November, although if I judge by the way October flew by - well, we'll see what happens.
I'm thankful for technology. I'm thankful especially for my ipod and how many great things I can store on that one small item. I'm especially thankful for it at the gym. It's going to be my new best friend for the next 4-6 months as my gym partner is having a baby this month and is taking a few months off. I expect to work hard and learn lots in the next 6 months!
I'm thankful too for the computer and for the internet. It's amazing how much is out there - and there's lots of really great stuff. Through facebook, I've connected with some old friends and some cousins that I haven't been in touch with for years. I'm able to download messages to listen to on my ipod and I do lots of school planning too.
Of course, technology is like cars - it's wonderful when it works and horrid when it doesn't. But overall, I think that technology has enhanced my life and enabled me to both grow spiritually and to be in contact with other people who help me to grow and learn. And that's a good thing.
I'm thankful for technology. I'm thankful especially for my ipod and how many great things I can store on that one small item. I'm especially thankful for it at the gym. It's going to be my new best friend for the next 4-6 months as my gym partner is having a baby this month and is taking a few months off. I expect to work hard and learn lots in the next 6 months!
I'm thankful too for the computer and for the internet. It's amazing how much is out there - and there's lots of really great stuff. Through facebook, I've connected with some old friends and some cousins that I haven't been in touch with for years. I'm able to download messages to listen to on my ipod and I do lots of school planning too.
Of course, technology is like cars - it's wonderful when it works and horrid when it doesn't. But overall, I think that technology has enhanced my life and enabled me to both grow spiritually and to be in contact with other people who help me to grow and learn. And that's a good thing.
Tuesday, September 04, 2007
Shameless Plug
If you click on the above, you can not only enter a draw for a giveaway at challies.com but you can help me by using my referral so maybe one of us will win!
Enjoy!
Sunday, August 26, 2007
Sunday Hymn - Glorious Things of Thee are Spoken
Glorious things of thee are spoken,
Zion, city of our God!
He, whose Word cannot be broken,
Formed thee for His own abode.
On the Rock of Ages founded,
What can shake thy sure repose?
With salvation’s walls surrounded,
Thou may’st smile at all thy foes.
See! the streams of living waters,
Springing from eternal love;
Well supply thy sons and daughters,
And all fear of want remove:
Who can faint while such a river
Ever flows their thirst t’assuage?
Grace, which like the Lord, the Giver,
Never fails from age to age.
Round each habitation hovering,
See the cloud and fire appear!
For a glory and a cov’ring
Showing that the Lord is near.
Thus deriving from our banner
Light by night and shade by day;
Safe they feed upon the manna
Which He gives them when they pray.
Blest inhabitants of Zion,
Washed in the Redeemer’s blood!
Jesus, whom their souls rely on,
Makes them kings and priests to God.
’Tis His love His people raises,
Over self to reign as kings,
And as priests, His solemn praises
Each for a thank offering brings.
Savior, if of Zion’s city,
I through grace a member am,
Let the world deride or pity,
I will glory in Thy Name.
Fading is the worldling’s pleasure,
All his boasted pomp and show;
Solid joys and lasting treasure
None but Zion’s children know.
Friday, August 24, 2007
She's Alive!
Yes, indeed, I am still alive. The summer has gone by quickly and we are ramping up to fall here. The weather has been behaving like it really is fall but I'm trying to ignore that. Of course, the fact that I've worn shorts once since we got home from holidays 3 weeks ago doesn't really help.
So what did I do this summer? Worked at camp, worked at VBS, went to BC for two weeks of gloriously warm holidays, planned for school, ignored my garden (except to pull out the incredible weeds that shot up during the two weeks we were gone), planned for school some more, practiced cello, cooked, processed in various ways about 80 lbs of peaches, organized the church library with my kids, enjoyed visiting with friends, welomed our son home from camp (and had a panicked 30 minutes when he didn't show up on the bus we thought he was on), celebrated our 18th wedding anniversary (we went for coffee and a walk) and watched swimming lessons every day for an hour for two weeks. And read a fair number of books, although never as many as I would like.
All in all, a pretty good summer. I think we're all starting to get to the point of looking forward to the structure of fall, although I'm trying not to think about how busy it's going to be. One more week left. We're heading to the city for today and tomorrow and I think we'll take a day away in Jasper next week and then *boom* - fall will start!
My tip of the day regarding computer use:
When I sit down to the computer, I try to remember to check the time. Then I decide right then how long I will be on the computer and keep an eye on the time. Sometimes I go over but it's helpful to get me off, especially if I'm just being lazy and surfing and not doing anything worthwhile. I'm 5 minutes overdue right now but that's because I decided to blog about 7 minutes ago! I just find that little check to be helpful to remind myself to get up and get going on other pursuits.
A photo for your enjoyment (I would post an old picture of ourselves but I don't have any scanned - you'll have to make do with a flower):
So what did I do this summer? Worked at camp, worked at VBS, went to BC for two weeks of gloriously warm holidays, planned for school, ignored my garden (except to pull out the incredible weeds that shot up during the two weeks we were gone), planned for school some more, practiced cello, cooked, processed in various ways about 80 lbs of peaches, organized the church library with my kids, enjoyed visiting with friends, welomed our son home from camp (and had a panicked 30 minutes when he didn't show up on the bus we thought he was on), celebrated our 18th wedding anniversary (we went for coffee and a walk) and watched swimming lessons every day for an hour for two weeks. And read a fair number of books, although never as many as I would like.
All in all, a pretty good summer. I think we're all starting to get to the point of looking forward to the structure of fall, although I'm trying not to think about how busy it's going to be. One more week left. We're heading to the city for today and tomorrow and I think we'll take a day away in Jasper next week and then *boom* - fall will start!
My tip of the day regarding computer use:
When I sit down to the computer, I try to remember to check the time. Then I decide right then how long I will be on the computer and keep an eye on the time. Sometimes I go over but it's helpful to get me off, especially if I'm just being lazy and surfing and not doing anything worthwhile. I'm 5 minutes overdue right now but that's because I decided to blog about 7 minutes ago! I just find that little check to be helpful to remind myself to get up and get going on other pursuits.
A photo for your enjoyment (I would post an old picture of ourselves but I don't have any scanned - you'll have to make do with a flower):
Saturday, June 30, 2007
Catching up
I'm heading out tomorrow morning with two of our kids to this place
located on the beautiful Shuswap Lake in the BC Interior.
I won't be spending too much time at the beach since I'll be working in the kitchen but I still plan to get some swimming and beach time in.
I'm also taking books and scrapbooking supplies to work on during an afternoon break (after the nap and swim) and evenings. I know I'm taking too much but I might just need them all! :-)
My husband gets to stay home and work at home all week with the two younger children. I wonder if he's regretting these plans yet?
Back in a week. No promises to posting speed (I always wish I could post more but life seems to get in the way. Of course, if I stopped reading other people's blogs maybe I'd have more time but even that blog reading has been sparse lately) but I am hoping to take some pictures every day. I'll try to keep up a little better.
Summer Reading Challenge Update
My update comments are italicized:
Seasonal Soundings is encouraging us all to read over the summer with her Summer Reading Challenge. Here are the books I'm hoping to get through:
On Teaching the Piano - by Hetty Bolton. I've read this before but since I'm going back to some piano teaching in the fall, I thought it was a good time to reread it. I'm about halfway through. Now about 3/4 of the way through. It's a good reminder to be purposeful in my teaching.
Rhythmics, Dynamics, Pedal - by Leimer-Gieseking. As above. Not yet.
Classical Rhetoric for the Modern Student - Corbett. I won't complete this before the end of the summer as I'm participating in an online study group that will go until February but I will be reading this weekly. We're working through logic this week.
This is going well. We have a week's break this week so I'm hoping to get caught up. It's a good thing I didn't have to do some reading this week - lots of running around.
Great Books -
VIRGIL - Aeneid (Robert Fitzgerald translation) - I'm on book 5. Finished! I really enjoyed it - that was a surprise to me. A little gory in places but generally very interesting. I'll be interested to listen in on the lectures in the fall.
LIVY- History of Rome (de Selincourt translation) There are 5 books (main sections). I'm about 3/4 of the way through the first one. However, I have more time for reading next week, I hope, so I'm hoping to make it through it. It's surprisingly interesting. The Great Books are really not that hard to read.
SALLUST - The Jugurthine War / The Conspiracy of Cataline
CAESAR - The Conquest of Gaul
CICERO - Selected Works
PLUTARCH-Lives of Noble Grecians and Romans, vol.2 (Dryden translation)
TACITUS- The Annals of Imperial Rome
SUETONIUS - The Twelve Caesars
JOSEPHUS - The Jewish War
EARLY CHRISTIAN FATHERS
EUSEBIUS- The Church History (Maier translation)
ATHANASIUS- On the Incarnation (with introduction by C. S. Lewis)
ATHANASIUS - Athanasius : The Life of Anthony and the Letter To Marcellinus
AUGUSTINE - Confessions
For our summer book club:
Winter Birds - by Jamie Langston Turner. Most of the books for the book club came but there are two still on their way so I've been restraining myself from reading the copy that I have sitting here. I'm tempted though.
Living the Cross-Centered Life - by CJ Mahaney
In my morning devotions
A Call to Commitment - a commentary on Hebrews by William Lane. I'm at ch. 3-4 and it's very interesting. It's funny but I hadn't really thought about reading commentaries until I saw it mentioned on girltalk. Then I was scanning bookshelves downstairs and discovered this one.
Not too much further. Maybe in a couple of weeks I'll get back to it.
You will notice there is very little fiction on that list. That's because I read fiction all the time, whether it's on the list or not. I have been reading through Patricia Veryan's books again, and I am at the point of needing to read all of her Riddle books (not my favourites out of hers but I'll force myself to read them again...).
The Riddle of the Shipwrecked Spinster
The Riddle of the Deplorable Dandy
The Riddle of the Alabaster Royal
The Riddle of the Lost Lover
The Riddle of the Reluctant Rake
I was in the city library shortly after I posted this and found 4 out of the 5 on the shelf and had the 5th one at home. I had a good binge and read them all. Mostly satisfying. I haven't reread one other series by her yet so maybe I'll get to them as well.
I'm working on a biography of Alexander Graham Bell that is very interesting. I also read Not Buying It and hope to post a review at some point. I read a Helen MacInnes the past few days - The Double Image. I really enjoy MacInnes' writing. She's very thoughtful too - it's not all action.
Happy reading!
Project 365 - June 24
Driving home from Edmonton one night about 10 pm, the sky was beautiful. Under the darker clouds, the sun painted beautiful colours. These pictures were taken out the car window so they aren't as clear as they could be if we had stopped but still beautiful colours.
Friday, June 22, 2007
Friday, June 15, 2007
Recipe Round-up - Rhubarb Kuchen
Rhubarb Kuchen
This is a wonderful dessert for this time of year, when the rhubarb is sweet & tender. Actually, it's good anytime! I think this recipe came from Canadian Living years ago.
3/4 c. butter, softened
1 1/2 c. sugar
1/3 c. plain yogurt
1 egg yolk
1 t. grated orange rind
2 c. flour
1/2 t. baking soda
3/4 c. sliced almonds
5 c. chopped rhubarb
1 T. orange juice
Glaze: 1/3 c. strawberry jelly (or jam)
In bowl, cream butter with 3/4 c. sugar; beat in yogurt, egg yolk & orange rind. Combine flour, baking soda, and 1/2 c. of almonds; gradually stir into butter mixture until incorporated. Using wet spatula or hands, spread evenly onto bottom & 3/4" up side of greased 10-in. springform pan.
Toss rhubarb with remaining sugar & orange juice; arrange evenly over dough. Sprinkle remaining almonds around edge. Bake in 350 oven for 45-50 minutes or until pastry edge is golden brown and rhubarb is tender. Let cool on rack. Remove sides of pan.
In small saucepan, bring strawberry jelly & 3 T. water to boil, whisking constantly. Reduce heat & boil gently, whisking often, for about 3 minutes or until thickened. Brush over rhubarb & sides of cake. Let stand for 5 minutes. Makes 12 servings.
Enjoy!
This is a wonderful dessert for this time of year, when the rhubarb is sweet & tender. Actually, it's good anytime! I think this recipe came from Canadian Living years ago.
3/4 c. butter, softened
1 1/2 c. sugar
1/3 c. plain yogurt
1 egg yolk
1 t. grated orange rind
2 c. flour
1/2 t. baking soda
3/4 c. sliced almonds
5 c. chopped rhubarb
1 T. orange juice
Glaze: 1/3 c. strawberry jelly (or jam)
In bowl, cream butter with 3/4 c. sugar; beat in yogurt, egg yolk & orange rind. Combine flour, baking soda, and 1/2 c. of almonds; gradually stir into butter mixture until incorporated. Using wet spatula or hands, spread evenly onto bottom & 3/4" up side of greased 10-in. springform pan.
Toss rhubarb with remaining sugar & orange juice; arrange evenly over dough. Sprinkle remaining almonds around edge. Bake in 350 oven for 45-50 minutes or until pastry edge is golden brown and rhubarb is tender. Let cool on rack. Remove sides of pan.
In small saucepan, bring strawberry jelly & 3 T. water to boil, whisking constantly. Reduce heat & boil gently, whisking often, for about 3 minutes or until thickened. Brush over rhubarb & sides of cake. Let stand for 5 minutes. Makes 12 servings.
Enjoy!
Wednesday, June 13, 2007
Summer Reading Challenge
Seasonal Soundings is encouraging us all to read over the summer with her Summer Reading Challenge. Here are the books I'm hoping to get through:
On Teaching the Piano - by Hetty Bolton. I've read this before but since I'm going back to some piano teaching in the fall, I thought it was a good time to reread it. I'm about halfway through.
Rhythmics, Dynamics, Pedal - by Leimer-Gieseking. As above.
Classical Rhetoric for the Modern Student - Corbett. I won't complete this before the end of the summer as I'm participating in an online study group that will go until February but I will be reading this weekly. We're working through logic this week.
Great Books - my son will be doing Great Books II with Schola Classical Tutorials this fall. Since I wasn't very successful last year in keeping up with the reading, I'd like to do the majority of it this summer. We'll see how that works. (You can all stop snickering now, unless you want to look at this cartoon.)
VIRGIL - Aeneid (Robert Fitzgerald translation) - I'm on book 5.
LIVY- History of Rome (de Selincourt translation)
SALLUST - The Jugurthine War / The Conspiracy of Cataline
CAESAR - The Conquest of Gaul
CICERO - Selected Works
PLUTARCH-Lives of Noble Grecians and Romans, vol.2 (Dryden translation)
TACITUS- The Annals of Imperial Rome
SUETONIUS - The Twelve Caesars
JOSEPHUS - The Jewish War
EARLY CHRISTIAN FATHERS
EUSEBIUS- The Church History (Maier translation)
ATHANASIUS- On the Incarnation (with introduction by C. S. Lewis)
ATHANASIUS - Athanasius : The Life of Anthony and the Letter To Marcellinus
AUGUSTINE - Confessions
LIVY- History of Rome (de Selincourt translation)
SALLUST - The Jugurthine War / The Conspiracy of Cataline
CAESAR - The Conquest of Gaul
CICERO - Selected Works
PLUTARCH-Lives of Noble Grecians and Romans, vol.2 (Dryden translation)
TACITUS- The Annals of Imperial Rome
SUETONIUS - The Twelve Caesars
JOSEPHUS - The Jewish War
EARLY CHRISTIAN FATHERS
EUSEBIUS- The Church History (Maier translation)
ATHANASIUS- On the Incarnation (with introduction by C. S. Lewis)
ATHANASIUS - Athanasius : The Life of Anthony and the Letter To Marcellinus
AUGUSTINE - Confessions
Wow, that list does look a little daunting. I think I should be checking the study guides to see if the students will be reading all the pages.
For our summer book club:
Winter Birds - by Jamie Langston Turner
Living the Cross-Centered Life - by CJ Mahaney
In my morning devotions
A Call to Commitment - a commentary on Hebrews by William Lane. I'm at ch. 3-4 and it's very interesting. It's funny but I hadn't really thought about reading commentaries until I saw it mentioned on girltalk. Then I was scanning bookshelves downstairs and discovered this one.
You will notice there is very little fiction on that list. That's because I read fiction all the time, whether it's on the list or not. I have been reading through Patricia Veryan's books again, and I am at the point of needing to read all of her Riddle books (not my favourites out of hers but I'll force myself to read them again...).
Sheesh, some of those covers just scream "romance novel". Veryan's books are romance, true, but her writing is much better than most romance novels. And there are no icky bits. I enjoy her characters & stories.
I'll be interested to see what I manage to get through this summer! Maybe this list is why I rarely write down what I plan to read!
Monday, June 11, 2007
Trail Ride
My eldest daughter & I went on a trail ride on Saturday. It was an all day ride to raise money for a local Bible camp - Brightwood Ranch Camp. They raised almost $21,000 which is fantastic, especially since this particular camp is focussed on inner-city kids and they don't charge the campers to come.
June is a beautiful month in northern Alberta. I think it's maybe the prettiest month of the year, although each season has its own beauty. We rode mostly on a Jack Pine tree reserve that the camp has permission to use.
This is the first time the camp has done this rideathon. They were hoping for about 30 riders. Instead, they had over 70. It made for quite a group. These pictures don't even show all of them. There were also two wagons that accompanied the riders. At the point these pictures were taken, we were waiting for some of the riders at the end to catch up.
We rode a little through trees but mostly over beautiful meadows.
We rode for about 2 1/2 hours and then stopped for lunch. The camp brought up lunch for all the riders and it was a nice break for both riders & horses.
I tried to get a nap....
I rode a wonderful horse. Our daughter's riding teacher graciously hauled horses for us and Zimra did really well all day. She liked to trot or canter, especially on the way back, and we weren't supposed to be going too fast so I had to hold her back but that was okay. Everyone else was having the same "problem". We held them down to a jog for most of it but occasionally we'd let them speed up, then reluctantly bring them back to a jog.
Zimra even held mostly still for me to take pictures as I rode, although she did have a tendency to start moving just as I got the camera turned on.
I don't have any pictures after lunch because the storm clouds rolled in and we had thunder & rain most of the way home. Thankfully, the thunder wasn't too close and I only saw one flicker of lightning in the distance. We were wet and cold by the time we got back but it was still a great ride.
This was the longest ride I've done and it was a wonderful day. I'm sure my husband is very thankful we live in town and not on an acreage or the push to own horses would be much stronger!
June is a beautiful month in northern Alberta. I think it's maybe the prettiest month of the year, although each season has its own beauty. We rode mostly on a Jack Pine tree reserve that the camp has permission to use.
This is the first time the camp has done this rideathon. They were hoping for about 30 riders. Instead, they had over 70. It made for quite a group. These pictures don't even show all of them. There were also two wagons that accompanied the riders. At the point these pictures were taken, we were waiting for some of the riders at the end to catch up.
We rode a little through trees but mostly over beautiful meadows.
We rode for about 2 1/2 hours and then stopped for lunch. The camp brought up lunch for all the riders and it was a nice break for both riders & horses.
I tried to get a nap....
I rode a wonderful horse. Our daughter's riding teacher graciously hauled horses for us and Zimra did really well all day. She liked to trot or canter, especially on the way back, and we weren't supposed to be going too fast so I had to hold her back but that was okay. Everyone else was having the same "problem". We held them down to a jog for most of it but occasionally we'd let them speed up, then reluctantly bring them back to a jog.
Zimra even held mostly still for me to take pictures as I rode, although she did have a tendency to start moving just as I got the camera turned on.
I don't have any pictures after lunch because the storm clouds rolled in and we had thunder & rain most of the way home. Thankfully, the thunder wasn't too close and I only saw one flicker of lightning in the distance. We were wet and cold by the time we got back but it was still a great ride.
This was the longest ride I've done and it was a wonderful day. I'm sure my husband is very thankful we live in town and not on an acreage or the push to own horses would be much stronger!
Sunday, June 10, 2007
Sunday Hymn - In Christ Alone
In Christ alone my hope is found
He is my light, my strength, my song
This Cornerstone, this solid ground
Firm through the fiercest drought and storm
What heights of love, what depths of peace
When fears are stilled, when strivings cease
My Comforter, my All in All
Here in the love of Christ I stand
In Christ alone, who took on flesh
Fullness of God in helpless babe
This gift of love and righteousness
Scorned by the ones He came to save
'Till on that cross as Jesus died
The wrath of God was satisfied
For every sin on Him was laid
Here in the death of Christ I live
There in the ground His body lay
Light of the world by darkness slain
Then bursting forth in glorious Day
Up from the grave He rose again
And as He stands in victory
Sin's curse has lost it's grip on me
For I am His and He is mine
Bought with the precious blood of Christ
No guilt in life, no fear in death
This is the power of Christ in me
From life's first cry to final breath
Jesus commands my destiny
No power of hell, no scheme of man
Can ever pluck me from His hand
'Till He returns or calls me home
Here in the power of Christ I'll stand
"In Christ Alone"
Words and Music by Keith Getty & Stuart Townend
Copyright © 2001 Kingsway Thankyou Music
He is my light, my strength, my song
This Cornerstone, this solid ground
Firm through the fiercest drought and storm
What heights of love, what depths of peace
When fears are stilled, when strivings cease
My Comforter, my All in All
Here in the love of Christ I stand
In Christ alone, who took on flesh
Fullness of God in helpless babe
This gift of love and righteousness
Scorned by the ones He came to save
'Till on that cross as Jesus died
The wrath of God was satisfied
For every sin on Him was laid
Here in the death of Christ I live
There in the ground His body lay
Light of the world by darkness slain
Then bursting forth in glorious Day
Up from the grave He rose again
And as He stands in victory
Sin's curse has lost it's grip on me
For I am His and He is mine
Bought with the precious blood of Christ
No guilt in life, no fear in death
This is the power of Christ in me
From life's first cry to final breath
Jesus commands my destiny
No power of hell, no scheme of man
Can ever pluck me from His hand
'Till He returns or calls me home
Here in the power of Christ I'll stand
"In Christ Alone"
Words and Music by Keith Getty & Stuart Townend
Copyright © 2001 Kingsway Thankyou Music
Wednesday, June 06, 2007
Monday, June 04, 2007
Project 365 - June 4
The vegetable garden. Tomatoes on the left, chives & sorrel in the front, lettuce in the 1st bed and radish & carrots planted behind. Peppers & basil are in the little greenhouse & beans are planted in the far right bed (lengthwise).
Saturday, June 02, 2007
New Attitude
Last year & this year, I wished I could have been at the New Attitude conference, put on by Sovereign Grace Ministries. Thankfully, even though I couldn't attend (and I'm not even sure if I would be allowed to as I'm not a young adult or young married anymore - do pastors' wives count?), they make available the messages from the conferences.
This year, the theme was discernment. I have listened to 3 1/2 messages so far and they are excellent. I highly recommend them to anyone - young or old. And the folks at Sovereign Grace Ministries are offering the mp3s free of charge.
You can go here to download them. Do it now! You will be blessed, challenged & encouraged.
This year, the theme was discernment. I have listened to 3 1/2 messages so far and they are excellent. I highly recommend them to anyone - young or old. And the folks at Sovereign Grace Ministries are offering the mp3s free of charge.
You can go here to download them. Do it now! You will be blessed, challenged & encouraged.
Friday, June 01, 2007
Project 365 - June 1
Wednesday, May 30, 2007
Project 365 - May 30
It's a beautiful spring evening here. After our long winter, the warmth of the past few days has been wonderful. All the trees are budding and many are blooming. These pictures are from around our front yard.
Lungwort & gout weed. Sometimes black & white works. Sometimes not so much...
Forget-me-not, gout weed & lungwort (in the back). And a lone dandelion. Wretched things.
This is the "there's something wrong with this picture" picture. Can you tell me what it is?
Lilac leaves & buds.
Lungwort & gout weed. Sometimes black & white works. Sometimes not so much...
Bergenia - one of my favourite spring flowers.
Forget-me-not, gout weed & lungwort (in the back). And a lone dandelion. Wretched things.
This is the "there's something wrong with this picture" picture. Can you tell me what it is?And for those of you for whom all these spring flowers are long gone, well, rejoice with me! Our bulbs are blooming beautifully and I'm so happy to have them. The irises are just barely starting and the mid-season tulips are just coming. Spring in northern Alberta! Considering we just had snow last week, I think we're doing OK. LOL
Tuesday, May 29, 2007
Sunday, May 27, 2007
Sunday Hymn - Like a River Glorious
Rebecca was asking this week about favourite hymns. I commented that this is mine. I think I have probably posted it before under Sunday hymns but a little repetition never hurt anyone.
I think this is my favourite because of the confidence expressed in God's provision and peace. I also love the alto line.
Like a River Glorious
Like a river glorious, is God’s perfect peace,
Over all victorious, in its bright increase;
Perfect, yet it floweth, fuller every day,
Perfect, yet it groweth, deeper all the way.
Refrain
Stayed upon Jehovah, hearts are fully blest
Finding, as He promised, perfect peace and rest.
Hidden in the hollow of His blessed hand,
Never foe can follow, never traitor stand;
Not a surge of worry, not a shade of care,
Not a blast of hurry touch the spirit there.
Refrain
Every joy or trial falleth from above,
Traced upon our dial by the Sun of Love;
We may trust Him fully all for us to do.
They who trust Him wholly find Him wholly true.
Refrain
I think this is my favourite because of the confidence expressed in God's provision and peace. I also love the alto line.
Like a River Glorious
Like a river glorious, is God’s perfect peace,
Over all victorious, in its bright increase;
Perfect, yet it floweth, fuller every day,
Perfect, yet it groweth, deeper all the way.
Refrain
Stayed upon Jehovah, hearts are fully blest
Finding, as He promised, perfect peace and rest.
Hidden in the hollow of His blessed hand,
Never foe can follow, never traitor stand;
Not a surge of worry, not a shade of care,
Not a blast of hurry touch the spirit there.
Refrain
Every joy or trial falleth from above,
Traced upon our dial by the Sun of Love;
We may trust Him fully all for us to do.
They who trust Him wholly find Him wholly true.
Refrain
Project 365 - May 27
As you can see from the previous photo and today's, it's dandelion season here. You can also see from this photo that it's time to plant the garden. I am way behind this year but a big part of it is that spring was about 2-3 weeks (felt like months) behind this year. So the project this week is to get the garden dug and planted. Hopefully I will be able to post a pretty picture sometime later this week.
Saturday, May 26, 2007
Friday, May 25, 2007
Thursday, May 24, 2007
Project 365
Wednesday, May 23, 2007
Ipod Meme
Rebecca posted this meme and invited others to play. I'm sitting at the computer, scanning pictures for a scrapbooking weekend coming up so thought it was something to do. And the bonus is that I'm actually posting!
Here are the instructions:
Here are the instructions:
Get your ipod or media-player of choice, select your whole music
collection, set the thing to shuffle (i.e., randomized playback), then post the
first ten songs that come out. No cheating, no matter how stupid it makes you
feel!
I have a pretty eclectic mix on my ipod so it will be interesting to see what pops up. It is supposed to be completely random, according to the Apple people.
Chromatic Fantasy, Bach, played by Angela Hewitt
The Kraken, from Pirates of the Caribbean, At World's End (oldest son just bought the soundtrack yesterday in anticipation of the movie coming out this weekend)
Remember, sung by Zelos, a new band that was featured at the New Attitude blog
Requiem, with no other information. I'm honestly not sure what this is but it may be something else Pirates-related. I'll have to ask my children!
The Brethren Court, from Pirates of the Caribbean, At World's End
How Deep the Father's Love, sung by First Call, on their "Rejoice" album. We bought it a couple of months ago and have been somewhat underwhelmed. It's an album of accappella hymns but they have jazzed up most of the hymns, not that successfully, in my estimation. It's OK but not a favourite
God Follower, sung by Steven Curtis Chapman
Prelude No. 6 in D minor, from The Well-Tempered Clavier, Book 1, played by Angela Hewitt
Lifesong, from the Lifesong album by Casting Crowns
I Hate Everything (But You), from the Mockingbird album, by Derek Webb
If you have an ipod and a blog, play along and leave a comment. If you have an ipod but not a blog, leave your list in the comments.
Friday, May 04, 2007
7 Random Things
Kim has tagged me with 7 Random Things about myself.
I have about 7 minutes before we're to be picked up to head out to our last quiz meet. So here goes:
1. I have been coaching Bible quizzing this year for the first time and I really enjoy it.
2. I love choir. I've been asked to be involved in a community choir next year and I'm seriously considering it. But only if Terry will do it with me. I told him it could be our date night... (we've never actually had a date night so whether that is a plus or minus I'm not sure)
3. I am learning to play the cello. I was wondering the other day when I can actually say I play the cello as opposed to learning it.
4. I'm starting a ladies' book club at the church (or for anyone, really) and we are going to read Faithful Women and their Extraordinary God by Noel Piper for the first one.
5. I finished a knitted baby sweater & bonnet for my yet-unborn (supposed to be by today!!) niece or nephew a week or so ago. Then I promptly started another sweater - there's several babies arriving in our church this summer & fall. I like knitting baby sweaters.
6. I prefer black licorice to red but I'll take red if I can get it.
7. I always have a minimum of two books on the go but often 3 or 4. It depends on my mood as to what I want to read.
There - that's seven & our ride isn't even here yet. Off to find a missing bathing suit. Anyone who hasn't already done this meme can do it - just leave me a comment. I'm still waiting on that other book & movie one. :-)
I have about 7 minutes before we're to be picked up to head out to our last quiz meet. So here goes:
1. I have been coaching Bible quizzing this year for the first time and I really enjoy it.
2. I love choir. I've been asked to be involved in a community choir next year and I'm seriously considering it. But only if Terry will do it with me. I told him it could be our date night... (we've never actually had a date night so whether that is a plus or minus I'm not sure)
3. I am learning to play the cello. I was wondering the other day when I can actually say I play the cello as opposed to learning it.
4. I'm starting a ladies' book club at the church (or for anyone, really) and we are going to read Faithful Women and their Extraordinary God by Noel Piper for the first one.
5. I finished a knitted baby sweater & bonnet for my yet-unborn (supposed to be by today!!) niece or nephew a week or so ago. Then I promptly started another sweater - there's several babies arriving in our church this summer & fall. I like knitting baby sweaters.
6. I prefer black licorice to red but I'll take red if I can get it.
7. I always have a minimum of two books on the go but often 3 or 4. It depends on my mood as to what I want to read.
There - that's seven & our ride isn't even here yet. Off to find a missing bathing suit. Anyone who hasn't already done this meme can do it - just leave me a comment. I'm still waiting on that other book & movie one. :-)
Wednesday, May 02, 2007
Book & Movie Meme
My husband and son recently tagged me for a book meme and a movie meme. I shall combine them both here, just because I feel like it. Anyone who would like to continue the tag is welcome to do so - just let me know in the comments.
Name three characters (from books)...
1). You wish were real so you could meet them.
Anne Blythe
Elizabeth Darcy & Jane Bingley (same book so counts as one)
Margaret something from Jamie Langston Turner's books
2). You would like to be.
This is a hard one. Anne Blythe (she had her Susan as a housekeeper and lived in a beautiful place and had lots of children)
Susan from Narnia
Elizabeth Darcy (really, who wouldn't?)
3). Who scare you.
The spider & Sauron in Lord of the Rings. Oh and the Nazgul - I remember first reading that series & being terrified by them.
**************************************************
Movies
Name a movie you have seen more than 10 times. I've never seen a movie more than twice.
Name a movie you’ve seen multiple times in the theater. Never.
Name an actor who would make you more inclined to see a movie. Colin Firth
Name an actor who would make you less likely to see a movie. Tom Cruise
Name a movie you can and do quote from. The Princess Bride (not often but I have)
Name a movie musical in which you know all of the lyrics to all of the songs. Singing in the Rain; White Christmas; Holiday Inn; Sound of Music; Fiddler on the Roof
Name a movie you have been known to sing along with. See above.
Name a movie you would recommend everyone see. BBC Pride & Prejudice
Name a movie you own. Lord of the Rings
Name an actor who launched his/her entertainment career in another medium but who has surprised you with his/her acting chops. I have no idea
Have you ever seen a movie in a drive-in? Never
Name a movie you keep meaning to see but you just haven’t gotten around to yet. Can't think of one. I just got caught up with Pirates of the Caribbean 2
Ever walked out of a movie? Which one? Nope.
Name a movie that made you cry in the theater. Almost anything. Probably Narnia last.
Popcorn? Depends on the price
How often do you go to the movies (as opposed to renting them or watching them at home)? Once or twice a year
What's the last movie you saw in a movie theater? Night At the Museum (I think)
What’s your favorite/preferred genre of movie? "Chick" movies (within reason) or fantasy
What’s the first movie you remember seeing in the theater? A friend & I went to see a Woody Allen movie when I was about 16. That was the first movie I saw in a theatre. I can't remember what it was called but it seems to me it was weird.
What movie do you wish you had never seen? the half of Napoleon Dynamite I saw
What is the weirdest movie you enjoyed? The Village
What is the scariest movie you’ve seen? The Village (recent watches - when I was a teen, I saw parts of the Rambo movies & I think maybe parts of one of the slasher movies and those were scary - even with my hood over my face, it was scary!)
What is the funniest movie you’ve seen? I have no idea - probably the Pixar movies?
Name three characters (from books)...
1). You wish were real so you could meet them.
Anne Blythe
Elizabeth Darcy & Jane Bingley (same book so counts as one)
Margaret something from Jamie Langston Turner's books
2). You would like to be.
This is a hard one. Anne Blythe (she had her Susan as a housekeeper and lived in a beautiful place and had lots of children)
Susan from Narnia
Elizabeth Darcy (really, who wouldn't?)
3). Who scare you.
The spider & Sauron in Lord of the Rings. Oh and the Nazgul - I remember first reading that series & being terrified by them.
**************************************************
Movies
Name a movie you have seen more than 10 times. I've never seen a movie more than twice.
Name a movie you’ve seen multiple times in the theater. Never.
Name an actor who would make you more inclined to see a movie. Colin Firth
Name an actor who would make you less likely to see a movie. Tom Cruise
Name a movie you can and do quote from. The Princess Bride (not often but I have)
Name a movie musical in which you know all of the lyrics to all of the songs. Singing in the Rain; White Christmas; Holiday Inn; Sound of Music; Fiddler on the Roof
Name a movie you have been known to sing along with. See above.
Name a movie you would recommend everyone see. BBC Pride & Prejudice
Name a movie you own. Lord of the Rings
Name an actor who launched his/her entertainment career in another medium but who has surprised you with his/her acting chops. I have no idea
Have you ever seen a movie in a drive-in? Never
Name a movie you keep meaning to see but you just haven’t gotten around to yet. Can't think of one. I just got caught up with Pirates of the Caribbean 2
Ever walked out of a movie? Which one? Nope.
Name a movie that made you cry in the theater. Almost anything. Probably Narnia last.
Popcorn? Depends on the price
How often do you go to the movies (as opposed to renting them or watching them at home)? Once or twice a year
What's the last movie you saw in a movie theater? Night At the Museum (I think)
What’s your favorite/preferred genre of movie? "Chick" movies (within reason) or fantasy
What’s the first movie you remember seeing in the theater? A friend & I went to see a Woody Allen movie when I was about 16. That was the first movie I saw in a theatre. I can't remember what it was called but it seems to me it was weird.
What movie do you wish you had never seen? the half of Napoleon Dynamite I saw
What is the weirdest movie you enjoyed? The Village
What is the scariest movie you’ve seen? The Village (recent watches - when I was a teen, I saw parts of the Rambo movies & I think maybe parts of one of the slasher movies and those were scary - even with my hood over my face, it was scary!)
What is the funniest movie you’ve seen? I have no idea - probably the Pixar movies?
Tuesday, May 01, 2007
Book Review - Wisdom and Eloquence
Before I put Wisdom and Eloquence: A Christian Paradigm for Classical Learning (by Robert Littlejohn & Charles T. Evans) on the shelf, I decided to sit down and do a quick review of it.
Wisdom and Eloquence is a description and defence of classical Christian education. It is written primarily to Christian school teachers and organizers and this audience would be the ones to benefit most by it. However, the description of classical education is useful for anyone, be they teachers, administrators or homeschool parents. Littlejohn and Evans cover the purpose of education, philosophy of classical education (including what it is not), worldview in light of the liberal arts, and curriculum. Curriculum choices do not include specific texts or authors but instead which subjects to include in a classical education.
The most helpful concept for me as a homeschool parent was the concept of 12-K. The authors recommend that instead of starting at Kindergarten and working up to grade 12, that those planning curriculum for a school begin at the end - what should an ideal grade 12 student look like? What end product are we looking for? Then work backwards throughout the years to ensure that what is taught is always working towards that goal.
One of the most difficult things I have found as a homeschooling parent trying to educate my children classically is to know where we are going. It's easy to say that students will follow a typical school curriculum. But part of the reason we homeschool is that we have a different ideal for our children. And because we haven't been through this process before sometimes I don't know where to turn or how to achieve the results that we are hoping for. I am greatly indebted to an online community of homeschooling classical educators - I could never have gotten this far without their support, help, ideas and recommendations. However, sometimes I still feel like I'm in a bit of a fog - not really knowing where we are going. Wisdom and Eloquence helped to clarify that it's better to start at the top and work backwards and that has helped greatly. It's still foggy sometimes but it encourages me to keep on going.
I recommend Wisdom and Eloquence to anyone interested in education - whether public, private or homeschool. If you are in a public school, I hope that you will catch a vision for Christian education. If you are in a private school, classical or not, I hope that you will also catch a vision for what classical education can be and how beneficial it is to students. And if you are a homeschool parent, I hope that the concepts in this book will be encouraging and help you to have a vision for classical Christian education if you don't already and if you do already have that vision to help you to know that you are not alone and it's worthwhile to keep striving in the education of your children.
Wisdom and Eloquence is a description and defence of classical Christian education. It is written primarily to Christian school teachers and organizers and this audience would be the ones to benefit most by it. However, the description of classical education is useful for anyone, be they teachers, administrators or homeschool parents. Littlejohn and Evans cover the purpose of education, philosophy of classical education (including what it is not), worldview in light of the liberal arts, and curriculum. Curriculum choices do not include specific texts or authors but instead which subjects to include in a classical education.
The most helpful concept for me as a homeschool parent was the concept of 12-K. The authors recommend that instead of starting at Kindergarten and working up to grade 12, that those planning curriculum for a school begin at the end - what should an ideal grade 12 student look like? What end product are we looking for? Then work backwards throughout the years to ensure that what is taught is always working towards that goal.
One of the most difficult things I have found as a homeschooling parent trying to educate my children classically is to know where we are going. It's easy to say that students will follow a typical school curriculum. But part of the reason we homeschool is that we have a different ideal for our children. And because we haven't been through this process before sometimes I don't know where to turn or how to achieve the results that we are hoping for. I am greatly indebted to an online community of homeschooling classical educators - I could never have gotten this far without their support, help, ideas and recommendations. However, sometimes I still feel like I'm in a bit of a fog - not really knowing where we are going. Wisdom and Eloquence helped to clarify that it's better to start at the top and work backwards and that has helped greatly. It's still foggy sometimes but it encourages me to keep on going.
I recommend Wisdom and Eloquence to anyone interested in education - whether public, private or homeschool. If you are in a public school, I hope that you will catch a vision for Christian education. If you are in a private school, classical or not, I hope that you will also catch a vision for what classical education can be and how beneficial it is to students. And if you are a homeschool parent, I hope that the concepts in this book will be encouraging and help you to have a vision for classical Christian education if you don't already and if you do already have that vision to help you to know that you are not alone and it's worthwhile to keep striving in the education of your children.
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