It's hard to believe, but Mega Memory Month officially ends today.And that means today, Friday,[Updated: Obviously too many snow days threw me off--today is Saturday], January 31st, is MMM Celebration Day!Not only have I ordered this modest fireworks display, I also decorated the blog in honor of this event -- I've situated the promised balloons you previewed the other … [Read more...]
He Can Do This
Monday night I attended an event where Jill Savage of Hearts-at-Home spoke.I heard about it from another blogger, Wani of Wani's World (updated with correct link). She kindly invited me, since we live fairly close to each other. I remembered that one of my friends has been a friend to Jill Savage since their childhood, so I invited her to come along. We rode together and … [Read more...]
Steel Cut Oats Bonus Track
I love to be helpful, so when I manage to provide readers with something useful, thought-provoking, or dig up information they can use to solve a problem, I'm thrilled. That's why it's been unexpected but delightful to discover that one particular blog post seems to fit the bill. This post, explaining step-by-step how to cook steel cut oats overnight by using a crock … [Read more...]
Child of the King
The geneology of Jesus found in Matthew starts with Abraham and leads up to Joseph, "the husband of Mary, of whom was born Jesus, who is called Christ."It's the bloodline of Joseph, Jesus' adopted father.In Luke, Jesus' geneology follows Mary's bloodline.A few weeks ago, our pastor pointed out that both bloodlines trace to David, to royalty.But Joseph was a carpenter. He … [Read more...]
The Big Advent Collection
I'm a little late, as we're already in the midst of the Advent season, but I've had fun searching the Internet for useful, Advent-themed links to collect in one place and share with you. And it's not too late! You can jump in on the countdown ideas, Advent wreath or Jesse Tree. Just start where we are in the month and take it from here.A word of caution: don't get … [Read more...]
For All His Gifts
(Post-Feast Promenade, Thanksgiving Day 2008)Let us give thanks to God our Father for all his giftsso freely bestowed upon us.For the beauty and wonder of your creation, in earth and sky and sea,I thank you, Lord.For all that is gracious in the lives of men and women, revealing the image of Christ,I thank you, Lord.For my daily food and drink, my home and family, and … [Read more...]
Pumpkin Pie and Potato Preparation Primer
Well, I'm pretty late posting my Wednesday, pre-Thanksgiving helps.But just in case someone needs a last-minute mashed potato preparation or pumpkin pie tip, let me share with you a brief story.This took place before the days of Martha Stewart's TV show or Internet search capabilities.One time, shortly after I was married, The Belgian Wonder and I visited his family in … [Read more...]
Taste and See
My mom ordered an ice cream cone for herself when I was a baby.While she held me with one arm, balancing me on her hip, she took the cone in the other hand.I stared at the cone.I don't think I'd had any solids yet.I stared so intently, she let me taste it.I licked the ice cream.And then...I slammed my face into it!(Mom can elaborate in the comments, but I think that's the … [Read more...]
The Search for Solitude
My soul thirsts for God, for the living God. When can I go and meet with God?(Psalm 42:2)This morning I spoke at a MOPS group about the search for solitude.It's extremely challenging for moms of young children to find any time alone. In a household with small kids, it's hard to take a shower or use the bathroom without an interruption! So the thought of regular … [Read more...]
Free To Follow
This morning, the guest speaker at our church told a story about Abraham Lincoln that he said was most likely apocryphal, but was a good story regardless of its veracity. I looked it up online and found reference to it here. Blogger Ken Stoll said the story is recounted in a book by Steve Brown, A Scandalous Freedom: Abraham Lincoln went to a slave market. There … [Read more...]
Tightwad on Tuesday, Pt. 2
Already there have been some great comments and links to the Tightwad on Tuesday post.Apparently we're not the only ones who have made changes after all, contrary to what my informal local survey revealed.Nor are we the only ones who have been more on the tightwad end of the spectrum for some time. We've always been pretty cheap thrifty, but I can see right away that many … [Read more...]
Tightwad on Tuesday
Not long after the national -- now global -- financial upheaval dominated the news, I conducted an informal interview of friends and neighbors.While chatting with someone at the soccer field or church, I would sometimes inquire, "Have you made any changes as a result of this whole big economic scare?"They all answered, "No."I was surprised, because in these days of … [Read more...]
In Which I Provide Perspective
Rita Rose, a friend of my mom, recently came out with her first book entitled World's Tallest Woman: The Giantess of Shelbyville High. Rita gave the book designer a stack of photos to choose from for the cover. Out of that stack, the designer selected this one (from the book's Amazon listing): Sandy's shirt reads, "I'm With Shorty."I'm "Shorty."Before you have some fun in … [Read more...]
Do Not Let Your Hearts Be Troubled
On October 22, Sara posted an excerpt of My Utmost for His Highest, and I was drawn to this portion in particular:There was nothing of the nature of impulsive or thoughtless action about our Lord, but only a calm strength that never got into a panic. Most of us develop our Christianity along the lines of our own nature, not along the lines of God’s nature. Impulsiveness is … [Read more...]
In Him. In Me. Mystery.
The elders stood in pairs -- one with a basket of bread; the other with goblets.The one with the bread looked me in the eye and said, "The body of Christ, broken for you, Ann."Hearing my name made it so personal. The body of Christ, broken for Ann. For me.The elder next to him held the goblet. He said, "The blood of Christ, shed for you."This week, we were to dip the … [Read more...]