One major revelation I walked away with from the Festival is my need to improve my note-taking skills. I have only sparse, sketchy sentence fragments to work with. Normally I record interviews and messages so that I can review them later, but the organizers didn't allow it. So my final notes are from Katherine Paterson's closing session. She said a few things that stood … [Read more...]
Books offer a Rehearsal for Life
At the Festival of Faith & Writing, children's book author (twice awarded the Newbery Medal) Katherine Paterson sat with her son David to discuss the process of transforming the story of Bridge to Terabithia from book to film. (EW interviewed David for a story about the process with some of the same information.) David was co-writer and producer for the film. He … [Read more...]
You. Are. Blessed.
During the festival, I spent time with several single people. I was walking with one of them to a lecture and mentioned that I was blogging. He said that some friends of his were bloggers, as well. I asked if they had a particular topic that they focused on, or if they just wrote about life.He said that one of them was married, and she and her husband were trying to have a … [Read more...]
Little School in the Woods
I've been thinking back on our week of camping and how we were immersed in nature 24 hours a day (excepting the two or three evenings we escaped the mosquitos by retreating to the camp's clubhouse, which was outfitted with a pool table, cable TV, two leather recliners, and two public computers where the kids took turns logging onto Webkinz...can it still be considered … [Read more...]
Time to Run
Along the path to the Gulf we admired trees that don't grow in Indiana--for Midwesterners, this is the stuff of postcards and screensavers. And yet, there we were, walking right past them, on our way to dig holes in the sand and make drip castles.Friday night we all took a long walk to what eventually became known as "Hermit Crab Cove," near the place formerly known as my … [Read more...]
More vacation pictures–and a gross face-in-place
It's a nature bonanza here on the coast of Florida! Last night, we fell asleep to an owl's hooting. As I walked to the bath house this evening at dusk, I heard a mockingbird going nuts, singing a crazy medley of migrating birdsongs one after another fast and furious. This Great Blue Heron hangs around near the fishermen. So regal. He moves with smooth … [Read more...]
WFMW Containerize Kids Laundry
Shannon is suggesting a "Greatest Hits" edition of Works For Me Wednesday. While last week's overnight crockpot steel-cut oatmeal instructions were wildly popular, this post was a big hit in its day. It first appeared in February 2007.I’ve never liked doing the laundry–especially for six people–but what aggravated me the most were two particular steps in the process: … [Read more...]
Monday FunDay (week 10)–Get Up and Play
Welcome!You've arrived at home base for Monday FunDay, a carnival dedicated to swapping simple, amusing–maybe even silly–everyday ways you enjoy good, clean fun.Monday FunDayTo participate in Monday FunDay, just post a story, idea, or explanation at your blog of how you and/or your family has livened up Mondays (or any day).Then link up via Mr. Linky below (if you don’t … [Read more...]
This Weekend, We Visited Heaven
I snapped this shot of The Belgian Wonder's niece standing next to some of our kids as they stared at the Heaven Room at the Billy Graham Center, where the "Hallelujah Chorus" plays continuously.Our niece, a student at Wheaton College, walked us through the exhibit during a campus tour.I wanted to post this while I was there, but had trouble with the hotel connection, … [Read more...]
Overnight Crockpot Steel Cut Oatmeal
With only a few seconds of preparation the night before, you can awaken to steamy, creamy, perfectly prepared steel cut oatmeal. It's like you're suddenly transported to a cozy bed-and-breakfast where the hostess bustled around in the kitchen early in the morning in order to serve you this healthy breakfast treat at the moment you're ready. Steel cut oats take a long … [Read more...]
The Blessing of Boredom
"I'm bored," a child whines. Oh, no! Quick, pull out the paints or Playdough—heaven forbid the child actually sits with nothing to do. In our entertainment-obsessed society, we almost panic at the thought of having nothing to do, at being bored. The world seems to want to fill every spare moment with productivity or fun. But is boredom such a bad thing? Could boredom … [Read more...]
Monday FunDay (week 9)–Easter Fun Continues
Happy Easter Monday to you!And welcome to home base for Monday FunDay, a carnival dedicated to swapping simple, amusing–maybe even silly–everyday ways you enjoy good, clean fun.Monday FunDayTo participate in Monday FunDay, just post a story, idea, or explanation at your blog of how you and/or your family has livened up Mondays (or any day).Then link up via Mr. Linky below … [Read more...]
WFMW "Truth or Bare" Modesty "Tests"
My tween-aged daughters appreciated this outside, objective source of advice for determining the modesty of an outfit from The Secret Keeper website: "Truth or Bare," a set of modesty "tests." Obviously, a reader's personal standards might be much more or much less conservative than this, but it's a starting point to discuss modesty standards, and why they matter. … [Read more...]
Kid-Hosted Tea Party
The kids knew that we were planning on a tea party in the afternoon, so as I worked on something else, two of them set the table with a blue cloth and prepared the treats. They artistically arranged Girl Scout cookies, Trader Joe's Oreo-style cookies, truffles, and Andes mints on plates and pulled silk flowers out of the storage cabinet for a centerpiece.The small white … [Read more...]
Monday FunDay (week 7)–Tea Party
I'm a little late with my Monday FunDay post. I'm still in the post-retreat Slow Zone (sigh). Please accept my apologies. Welcome to:Monday FunDayWhat? You didn't know about Monday FunDay? Why, it's a carnival dedicated to swapping simple, amusing–maybe even silly–everyday ways you enjoy good, clean fun.Just post a story, idea, or explanation at your blog of how you and/or … [Read more...]
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