Last fall I found a book on worldviews I wanted to read out loud with my 16yr. old son. It's called The Deadliest Monster by JF Baldwin. Have you read it? We haven't yet, because he bases the book on two stories: Dr. Jekyl and Mr. Hyde and Frankenstein. We've never read Frankenstein so I decided we should read that before we read the book by Baldwin so we would know what the guy was talking about as he made reference to the story.
Anyway....for the last several weeks I've been reading Frankenstein out loud each morning, a chapter or more a day. Wow...that was such a fascinating story. I am so glad I read it.
Toward the beginning of the book Dr. Frankenstein says this:
The first of those sorrows which are sent to wean us from the earth, had visited her.....
From what I gather Mary Shelley was not a Christian. But isn't that quote beautiful? That's what the Lord does for us. Sorrows, hard things, disappointments, confusions, broken dreams...He uses all those things to wean us from this sickly planet and show us that it's only in Him that we find our heart's needs met. He is it. He is all we need. And I've noticed that He does wean us, gently, from this earth. Just like a nursing mother weaning a baby. Step by step He shows us there is food that is Eternal and way more fulfilling and satisfying than the things here we cling to and hope in......
January 20, 2009
January 5, 2009
This Year is Not That Year
Well, we are mid-way through our 18th year of home schooling. In all those years we've only had what I'd call One Golden Year.
What that means is
-one year where our marriage was thriving
-one year where my relationship with the Lord was thriving
-one year where we were quite comfortable financially
-one year where all the boys were still at home, but independent and creative enough that I had some free time. (As opposed to now where I have some free time, but it's intermingled with the heartache of a half-empty nest.)
-one year where all the boys liked their curriculum
-one year where I stayed on top of lesson plans and grading
-one year where school seemed fun for all of us-I was creative and we had a lot of hands-on activities.
-one year where the rivalry of siblings was at an all time low
-one year where I was able to keep the house fairly clean and felt organized and was able to plan healthy meals for our family
-one year where I felt like I wasn't stretched too thin by outside activities but wasn't a hermit either
-one year where I had tons of energy and felt great
-one year where I felt completely confident and was sure the boys were actually learning something
And all this during one. Single. School. Year! No wonder it seemed like a Golden Year.
I'd like to tell you this year is not that year. This year has been normal. It's been filled with weariness, doubts about curriculum, and piles of math papers waiting to be graded.
That year we should've been photographed and placed on the front cover of several, if not all, the home school magazines being published.
The amazing thing to me is this. We've had One Golden Year. If you do the math, that leaves 17 years of Not-So-Golden. However, even without piles of gold to stumble over, three of our sons have grown into young men who love Jesus. They love others. They hunger for the Word. They
have jobs they actually get paid to do and they can even read and write.
The Lord is able to Accomplish with or without the shiny stuff.
What that means is
-one year where our marriage was thriving
-one year where my relationship with the Lord was thriving
-one year where we were quite comfortable financially
-one year where all the boys were still at home, but independent and creative enough that I had some free time. (As opposed to now where I have some free time, but it's intermingled with the heartache of a half-empty nest.)
-one year where all the boys liked their curriculum
-one year where I stayed on top of lesson plans and grading
-one year where school seemed fun for all of us-I was creative and we had a lot of hands-on activities.
-one year where the rivalry of siblings was at an all time low
-one year where I was able to keep the house fairly clean and felt organized and was able to plan healthy meals for our family
-one year where I felt like I wasn't stretched too thin by outside activities but wasn't a hermit either
-one year where I had tons of energy and felt great
-one year where I felt completely confident and was sure the boys were actually learning something
And all this during one. Single. School. Year! No wonder it seemed like a Golden Year.
I'd like to tell you this year is not that year. This year has been normal. It's been filled with weariness, doubts about curriculum, and piles of math papers waiting to be graded.
That year we should've been photographed and placed on the front cover of several, if not all, the home school magazines being published.
The amazing thing to me is this. We've had One Golden Year. If you do the math, that leaves 17 years of Not-So-Golden. However, even without piles of gold to stumble over, three of our sons have grown into young men who love Jesus. They love others. They hunger for the Word. They
have jobs they actually get paid to do and they can even read and write.
The Lord is able to Accomplish with or without the shiny stuff.
December 19, 2008
A Fun Meme
I woke up this morning feeling slightly more alert than usual. My brain normally takes about 3 hours to catch up with the rest of me once my feet hit the floor in the morning. However, I'm not awake enough to come up with any original ideas for a post-I had this idea set aside for a rainy day and since it's pouring, and my brain is only semi-alert, I thought I'd follow this meme I found at As A Parent, The Days Are Long.....
In your entire life, have you ever......
gone on a blind date? Yes, twice. Once when I was in high school I went out with a college student. He was already balding and he took me to the art museum. At the time those were two strikes against him. The next, and only other time I ventured into the world of blind dates I went out with a guy who was missing a few screws. He really gave me the creeps and boy howdy, was I happy when he dropped me off at my apartment. (I think my roommate set me up with him so she and her boyfriend could have our apartment to themselves for an evening.)
skipped school? Yes.
watched someone die ? Yes. I worked in a nursing home when I was 18. I was with one of the little grandmas when she died. I had to wash her body before the hospital staff could take it to the morgue. I also watched my mom die and was with my dad as he was dieing.
been to Canada? Yes, just once.
been to Mexico? No, but I peeked at it from across the border of New Mexico.
been to Florida? Yes, I actually spent an entire month there when I was 20.
been on a plane? More times than I can count....
been lost? Yes, but only one time was I really worried about it. I got lost in a nasty little area of London.
been on the opposite side of the country? Yes, up and down, east and west.
swam in the ocean? No. Does wadding count? I've done that...
had your booze taken away by the cops? No....
lettered in high school sport? Ha!
cried yourself to sleep? Definitely...
played cops and robbers? Not that I remember....
played dolls? Oh yes. That was my most favorite thing to play.
sung Karaoke? Are you kidding me?
done something you told yourself you wouldn't? More times than I can count.
cheated on an exam? Well, to be honest, yes.
made prank phone calls? Yep.
laughed until some kind of beverage came out of your nose? Only once or twice.
caught a snowflake on your tongue? Yes....
danced in the rain? No....but I've played in the rain and splashed in the mud with our sons.
written a letter to Santa Clause? not that I can remember
watched the sunrise with someone you care about? Oh yes....
been kissed under the mistletoe? Yes, but they weren't romantic kisses.
Ever been arrested? Nope....
blown bubbles? Yes....
gone ice-skating? Yes. Many times.
been skinny dipping outdoors? Another "Ha!"
had a nickname? Nutley and Jude
been to Africa? No....
eaten cookies for dinner? No, but I have 2 every morning with my coffee.
been on TV? Only if home movies count.
been in a car accident? Yes, but I was so young I don't remember them.
What is your Mother's name? Juanita Esther. How's that for a girl who was 100% German?
favorite drink? water
favorite alcohol? Well, when I was 9 or 10 my brother Jimmy used to take me to the bar with him so he could hang out with his friends and play pool. He would buy a Tequila Sunrise and plop me on a bar stool in front of it while he played. Is there a ten year old on the planet who wouldn't want to taste something so pretty? I loved them! Now the only alcohol I like is pink champagne.
birthplace? the windy city. (Chicago)
favorite vacation spot? road trips with my husband
favorite salad dressing? balsamic vinegar and olive oil
favorite pie? Apple or Derby. Derby pie is just a pecan pie with chocolate chips thrown in. It's so good I never make it because, well, I'd eat it.
favorite number? 18 or 22
favorite movie? A&E's version of Pride and Prejudice, Jane Eyre, Master and Commander, Lord of the Rings Trilogy....probably others I can't think of right now
favorite holiday? Thanksgiving
favorite food? depends on the day but I do have an emotional attachment to Pizza Hut pizza
favorite day of the week? Monday
favorite brand of body wash? Prairieland Herbs Sugar Scrub-Rosemary and Mint. (Thank you sooooo much Rachel!)
favorite toothpaste? Crest
favorite smell? Baking bread, new babies, rain, mint, eucalyptus, patchouli, lavender, brownies baking, etc.
Do you have any tattoos? Ha!
body piercings? Only ears.
Do you drive a 2-door or 4-door vehicle? 4-door.
What do you do to relax? Read, blog, walk, hike, coffee with friends
How do you see yourself in 10 years? That's a gloomy picture. Our youngest son will be 17 and I'll be looking at a truly empty nest. I'm not going to go into all that right now.
In your entire life, have you ever......
gone on a blind date? Yes, twice. Once when I was in high school I went out with a college student. He was already balding and he took me to the art museum. At the time those were two strikes against him. The next, and only other time I ventured into the world of blind dates I went out with a guy who was missing a few screws. He really gave me the creeps and boy howdy, was I happy when he dropped me off at my apartment. (I think my roommate set me up with him so she and her boyfriend could have our apartment to themselves for an evening.)
skipped school? Yes.
watched someone die ? Yes. I worked in a nursing home when I was 18. I was with one of the little grandmas when she died. I had to wash her body before the hospital staff could take it to the morgue. I also watched my mom die and was with my dad as he was dieing.
been to Canada? Yes, just once.
been to Mexico? No, but I peeked at it from across the border of New Mexico.
been to Florida? Yes, I actually spent an entire month there when I was 20.
been on a plane? More times than I can count....
been lost? Yes, but only one time was I really worried about it. I got lost in a nasty little area of London.
been on the opposite side of the country? Yes, up and down, east and west.
swam in the ocean? No. Does wadding count? I've done that...
had your booze taken away by the cops? No....
lettered in high school sport? Ha!
cried yourself to sleep? Definitely...
played cops and robbers? Not that I remember....
played dolls? Oh yes. That was my most favorite thing to play.
sung Karaoke? Are you kidding me?
done something you told yourself you wouldn't? More times than I can count.
cheated on an exam? Well, to be honest, yes.
made prank phone calls? Yep.
laughed until some kind of beverage came out of your nose? Only once or twice.
caught a snowflake on your tongue? Yes....
danced in the rain? No....but I've played in the rain and splashed in the mud with our sons.
written a letter to Santa Clause? not that I can remember
watched the sunrise with someone you care about? Oh yes....
been kissed under the mistletoe? Yes, but they weren't romantic kisses.
Ever been arrested? Nope....
blown bubbles? Yes....
gone ice-skating? Yes. Many times.
been skinny dipping outdoors? Another "Ha!"
had a nickname? Nutley and Jude
been to Africa? No....
eaten cookies for dinner? No, but I have 2 every morning with my coffee.
been on TV? Only if home movies count.
been in a car accident? Yes, but I was so young I don't remember them.
What is your Mother's name? Juanita Esther. How's that for a girl who was 100% German?
favorite drink? water
favorite alcohol? Well, when I was 9 or 10 my brother Jimmy used to take me to the bar with him so he could hang out with his friends and play pool. He would buy a Tequila Sunrise and plop me on a bar stool in front of it while he played. Is there a ten year old on the planet who wouldn't want to taste something so pretty? I loved them! Now the only alcohol I like is pink champagne.
birthplace? the windy city. (Chicago)
favorite vacation spot? road trips with my husband
favorite salad dressing? balsamic vinegar and olive oil
favorite pie? Apple or Derby. Derby pie is just a pecan pie with chocolate chips thrown in. It's so good I never make it because, well, I'd eat it.
favorite number? 18 or 22
favorite movie? A&E's version of Pride and Prejudice, Jane Eyre, Master and Commander, Lord of the Rings Trilogy....probably others I can't think of right now
favorite holiday? Thanksgiving
favorite food? depends on the day but I do have an emotional attachment to Pizza Hut pizza
favorite day of the week? Monday
favorite brand of body wash? Prairieland Herbs Sugar Scrub-Rosemary and Mint. (Thank you sooooo much Rachel!)
favorite toothpaste? Crest
favorite smell? Baking bread, new babies, rain, mint, eucalyptus, patchouli, lavender, brownies baking, etc.
Do you have any tattoos? Ha!
body piercings? Only ears.
Do you drive a 2-door or 4-door vehicle? 4-door.
What do you do to relax? Read, blog, walk, hike, coffee with friends
How do you see yourself in 10 years? That's a gloomy picture. Our youngest son will be 17 and I'll be looking at a truly empty nest. I'm not going to go into all that right now.
December 15, 2008
We Should've Known Right Then and There
One afternoon, when my firstborn son was four, he climbed up onto my lap for some cuddle time. He was silent for a long time and I wondered what little thoughts were floating around in his head.
Is he thinking about the dinosaur book we'd just read? Maybe he's wondering what kind of snack he'd like? I bet he's wondering where his favorite plastic pony is....
Suddenly he took a deep breath and looked at me,
"Mommy, if I would've been born god, would you have named me Benjamin David God?"
Is he thinking about the dinosaur book we'd just read? Maybe he's wondering what kind of snack he'd like? I bet he's wondering where his favorite plastic pony is....
Suddenly he took a deep breath and looked at me,
"Mommy, if I would've been born god, would you have named me Benjamin David God?"
November 18, 2008
One Thing
There are things that stir my soul....watching children, even children I don't know, perform in an orchestra, a play, or ballet moves me to tears every single time. Even if it's a "happy" performance.
People weeping cause my heart to bleed.
Once in awhile I've seen my husband put his elbows on the table and bury his face in his hands in complete weariness and hopelessness. That breaks my heart.
When I look at my sons and see stubble on their chins and exhaustion in their eyes I feel indescribable pain.
However, there is one thing that connects my heart to Jesus' heart in a way that nothing else does. Violin music.
When I hear a violin being played I melt inside. Have you seen the movie Anne of Green Gables? The long version that I think was made for PBS? Do you remember the scene where Anne and Myrilla are talking about prayer? Myrilla wants Anne to get down on her knees and say a bedtime prayer and Anne replies sort-of like this: "If I were to really pray, I would go out into a meadow, look up into the sky, and just feel a prayer."
That is what violin music does to my soul. I stop inside and just am. My heart is peeled back before Jesus, nothing hidden. I allow Him to look, dissect, instruct, hug, exhort or encourage me. Whatever He thinks I need. It's all there for Him to see anytime, but violin music causes me to willingly lay down before Him and expose it all. All my need. All my ugliness. All my desires. I literally feel a prayer to Him and weep before Him.
Is there anything that stirs your soul? That moves you to complete abandonment before your maker?
People weeping cause my heart to bleed.
Once in awhile I've seen my husband put his elbows on the table and bury his face in his hands in complete weariness and hopelessness. That breaks my heart.
When I look at my sons and see stubble on their chins and exhaustion in their eyes I feel indescribable pain.
However, there is one thing that connects my heart to Jesus' heart in a way that nothing else does. Violin music.
When I hear a violin being played I melt inside. Have you seen the movie Anne of Green Gables? The long version that I think was made for PBS? Do you remember the scene where Anne and Myrilla are talking about prayer? Myrilla wants Anne to get down on her knees and say a bedtime prayer and Anne replies sort-of like this: "If I were to really pray, I would go out into a meadow, look up into the sky, and just feel a prayer."
That is what violin music does to my soul. I stop inside and just am. My heart is peeled back before Jesus, nothing hidden. I allow Him to look, dissect, instruct, hug, exhort or encourage me. Whatever He thinks I need. It's all there for Him to see anytime, but violin music causes me to willingly lay down before Him and expose it all. All my need. All my ugliness. All my desires. I literally feel a prayer to Him and weep before Him.
Is there anything that stirs your soul? That moves you to complete abandonment before your maker?
November 13, 2008
Not Again!
Well, I really need to hire an I.T. guy. Or at least a 9 year old to come over anytime I want to work on the computer.
I was trying to set up a new blog just for recipes and once again, I deleted the "About Me" from this one.
Anybody wanna write one for me? :-)
I will try and come up with something soon. This time I will print out what I say so I don't have to try and write it a 4th time!
While I'm here I have a question for any regular readers I may have. I've been thinking about changing the flavor or tone of this blog. I have some ideas I may or may not try. But I was wondering if anyone has any special requests? Anything you'd like to see this blog focus on? What have been your favorite posts? Which posts could you live without?
I have a family to feed so I better get busy-I hope you have a lovely evening!
I was trying to set up a new blog just for recipes and once again, I deleted the "About Me" from this one.
Anybody wanna write one for me? :-)
I will try and come up with something soon. This time I will print out what I say so I don't have to try and write it a 4th time!
While I'm here I have a question for any regular readers I may have. I've been thinking about changing the flavor or tone of this blog. I have some ideas I may or may not try. But I was wondering if anyone has any special requests? Anything you'd like to see this blog focus on? What have been your favorite posts? Which posts could you live without?
I have a family to feed so I better get busy-I hope you have a lovely evening!
November 9, 2008
Jesus' Saving Grace
Along with "Salvation" as in "Eternal Life", here's a list of 11 things Jesus has either saved me from, or is the processing of saving me from:
(Just in case you're interested)
1. bitterness
2. not respecting my husband
3. gluttony
4. death by drowning in the Colorado River and death from an ectopic pregnancy
5. idolatry
6. temporary insanity and panic attacks
7. self-pity
8. fear
9. a very strong will that demanded my own way
10. feelings of purposelessness
11. not seeing the importance of being in the Word every single day
Being confident of this very thing, that He who has begun a good work in you will complete it until the day of Christ Jesus.
Phil. 1:6
(Just in case you're interested)
1. bitterness
2. not respecting my husband
3. gluttony
4. death by drowning in the Colorado River and death from an ectopic pregnancy
5. idolatry
6. temporary insanity and panic attacks
7. self-pity
8. fear
9. a very strong will that demanded my own way
10. feelings of purposelessness
11. not seeing the importance of being in the Word every single day
Being confident of this very thing, that He who has begun a good work in you will complete it until the day of Christ Jesus.
Phil. 1:6
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