These final days leading up to Easter, we've continued to open the Easter Story Eggs and read the related passages from the Gospels.This week in our reading, we came across another critical moment in the story that's not represented in the egg collection. So, to enrich the journey, we added a symbol in another egg and inserted it directly after the praying hands. … [Read more...]
Vacate
From Prayer, by Philip Yancey:"Be still and know that I am God": the Latin imperative for "be still" is vacate. As Simon Tugwell explains, "God invites us to take a holiday [vacation], to stop being God for a while, and let him be God...God is inviting us to take a break, to play truant. We can stop doing all those important things we have to do in our capacity as God, and … [Read more...]
Slow-Down Fast: A Slow-Down Smile
After attending a bridal shower on Saturday, I drove home and changed into running clothes fully intending to get out and pound the pavement.Instead, I climbed into bed and fell asleep.Four hours later, I woke up.I needed exercise, but I guess I needed to slow down and rest even more. … [Read more...]
Curiosity Journal: April 6, 2011
Curiosity Journal: a weekly recap of what I’ve been reading, playing and learning; what I’m reacting to and writing. Inspired by Monica of Paper Bridges, I’m occasionally recording a Curiosity Journal. Tag words are: reading, playing, learning, reacting…and writing.My husband requested time off last week for spring break, but it didn't look good; the department wanted him … [Read more...]
Slow-Down Fast: Easter Story Eggs
Years ago we bought a set of "Resurrection Eggs," twelve plastic eggs filled with small symbols representing moments in the Easter story, including a donkey for Palm Sunday, a tiny metal wine goblet and plastic bread for the Last Supper, and a rock for the stone rolled in front of the tomb. The kids would take turns opening an egg each night at dinner and we would read the … [Read more...]
Slow-Down Fast: Music and Silence
My nine-year-old son spent most of Wednesday curled up on the couch recovering from a stomach virus while I worked on the computer at my desk a few feet away. At some point, he got up to get a book, and when he returned he stuck a Mozart symphony in the CD player and pressed play.Music filled the room.I sighed. … [Read more...]
Slow-Down Fast: Pondering Pace
We home educate, which allows considerable flexibility in our schedules throughout the week. But we supplement with once-a-week classes in a cooperative effort involving multiple families. The parents share the teaching, and I offered to teach high school writing.This means, of course, that I assign, read and evaluate a lot of papers. Last week I finished grading the last … [Read more...]
What Fills Us Is More Than Bread – It’s One Another
"Is it this simple, then, assemble these few everyday materials from my cupboards and I will create perfection?" (Fields 247). Leslie Leyland Fields writes about making the perfect loaf of bread in the essay she contributed to The Spirit of Food. She's made bread for years, but this time she is attempting a different method that requires only a few kitchen items (mixing … [Read more...]
Slow-Down Fast: Undivided Attention
The morning began very slowly, causing me to write and publish this later than I intended. Perhaps that is somewhat appropriate for a "slow-down fast"?Sunlight streamed through the windows as I sat at the kitchen table this morning. This is noteworthy, after countless days of sorrowful gray skies. As the heat hit my cheeks, I felt myself warming and thought of Psalm 36:9, … [Read more...]
There & Back Again: My First Ash Wednesday
I pulled my hair back this morning. Normally I wear it down, but long strands will sometimes flop down against my face, angling in such a way that it cuts right across my forehead. Today, I swept my hair back. My forehead was bare. At breakfast I told the kids I would be attending an Ash Wednesday service at a church near ours. The service was at noon, I said, so I … [Read more...]
Slow-Down Fast: Singletasking
As I said on Thursday, I'm trying to stay open as I prepare for this Lenten Slow-Down Fast. I'm willing to slow down in all areas, from my schedule to my spending; from my technology use to my thought patterns.As I simplify and slow down, my desire is to find the right pace for preparation—I want to slow down for the 40 days of Lent in order to walk through Maundy … [Read more...]
There & Back Again: What to Bury?
Thursday isn't my official "Slow-Down Fast" posting day, but I was inspired to think and write about Lent today, as well as Saturday. So, at risk of causing confusion, I stuck the button on this post. For more thoughts, check in again this Saturday.As I prepare for the Slow-Down Fast this Lent, I am open. I am willing to slow down in all areas, from my schedule to my … [Read more...]
Slow-Down Fast & Simplify: To-Do/Not-To-Do List
Join me as I embark on a “Slow-Down Fast”: a season dedicated to humbly and boldly simplifying and slowing (schedule, habits, activities, thought-patterns) in order to experience a more focused and intimate relationship with God in my everyday life.The "fast" will begin Ash Wednesday, March 9, and end on Easter Sunday. … [Read more...]
There & Back Again: Grandma’s Cookie Pan
I remember the back door of Grandma's house swinging open. I can still hear the spring stretching, squeaking and pulling the door shut with a solid thunk. I can see the porcelain kitchen sink, the linoleum floor and the baker's cabinet where she stored all that she needed to make noodles or cookies...I can still see it all. In my mind, I can return to the times when I … [Read more...]
Curiosity Journal: Feb 23, 2011
Curiosity Journal: a weekly recap of what I’ve been reading, playing and learning; what I’m reacting to and writing. Inspired by Monica of Paper Bridges, I'm occasionally recording a Curiosity Journal. Tag words are: reading, playing, learning, reacting...and writing.Reading: One Thousand Gifts by Ann VoskampJust about done reading Ann V's book. The world is a richer place … [Read more...]
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