It's the last Monday in September, and October arrives mid-week.Mega Memory Month is just about to arrive.Here's the visual reminder:As so much news about the economic and political challenges swirls around us, it feels like we're caught in a tornado of change.It might seem kind of trite, simplistic or disconnected to commit to a month of memory work in the midst of all of … [Read more...]
Memory Aids to Help Hide It in Your Heart
I can't remember the details of Fahrenheit 451 (which is, ahem, ironic, given that I'm writing about memorization), but I recall that the protagonist committed some Scripture to memory in a world where books were being destroyed.At the end, when the rest of the world is apparently bombed, a remnant, if you will, of people remains--those who have memorized at least portions … [Read more...]
The Parable of the Lost Nickel
As I was leaving the post office, I heard the jingling of loose change hitting the sidewalk. The lady in front of me--from whose hand or purse it must have dropped--glanced down, but didn't stop. She kept walking. I stopped.I saw a nickel and picked it up.I looked around, because it sounded like more than one had fallen, but only found the nickel.I thought about my … [Read more...]
Frugal Friday Thoughts: Old Brown Teapot
Years ago, I found a humble, old, brown, "Made in England" teapot at Goodwill.I loved that old teapot. It was just the right size for a couple of cups of tea in the morning with extra for iced tea later. Or it would serve two cups each to a friend and me.The old brown pot wasn't ornate or delicate; rather, it was simple, sturdy, and useful -- just what this tea-drinker … [Read more...]
"Quatre Quarts" Translates to a Common American Dessert: Guess Which One
Our French visitor offered to make a cake for us. "It's very simple and common," she said. "Everyone makes it." She called it "Quatre Quarts."There are only four ingredients, all in the same amounts. That is, if you weigh your ingredients, like the Europeans do. She didn't know how we managed to cook without a good scale. To a girl used to working in grams, all of those … [Read more...]
Dealing with a Mess (a delicious mess)
I picked what I think is considered a "mess of beans" the other day.From my own little backyard garden!I couldn't believe our meager plot produced so many beans!I wanted to get a picture of them just picked and piled high in my basket, but the kids had borrowed my camera to go to the zoo. I had no idea I'd be at home wanting to take bean pictures (obviously I haven't … [Read more...]
Improve the Mind; Find a Friend
Science Daily summarized a University of Michigan study thusly:Spending just 10 minutes talking to another person can help improve your memory and your performance on tests.And to think that the time you've invested in reading and playing Sudoku could have been replaced by a few minutes with friends!I wonder, though, does it matter what you talk about?Do you have to … [Read more...]
Eco-Friendly Experiments: Bicycling to Church (and thoughts on patience)
This past week we've only had one van. The other one is in the shop for repairs. As a result, we've been creative with transportation solutions, running errands by bicycle or simply staying home some afternoons.Inspired by this forced experiment (and with this post from Anne Jackson still affecting me a little every time we fire up the van on a Sunday), we decided to ride … [Read more...]
Lake Michigan!
When I sat on the sand and watched the water crash against those rocks and send up that spray, I thought, "Why, this could almost be California!" Yet, we only had to drive a few hours to enjoy this Lake Michigan beach.I guess I was surprised that the lake was able to offer such an ocean-like display of power.But when on the drive home I phoned my parents and mentioned the … [Read more...]
Crock-Flops and Minor Crock-Successes
I was so eager to try some new recipes in the crockpot after being inspired by A Year of Crockpotting that I did a little online search and came up with this highly recommended stew: Crockpot Chicken & Quinoa. It looked soooo good in the photograph. The instructions were easy. I even shocked myself by having on hand in my cupboard a box of quinoa and in the freezer, … [Read more...]
Backyard Bounty
It isn't much, but given that I'm a novice gardener harvesting a small, weedy plot...Basil, cucumbers, zucchini, and tomatoesI'm pleased. … [Read more...]
If You Want Something Done, Give It to a 10-year-old Girl
One time a speaker said that if you want to get something done, give it to a ten-year-old girl. They're enthusiastic, diligent, hard-working, determined, industrious, earnest...not yet consumed by the boy thing or makeup, yet able to tap into their childlike energy and accomplish a lot. As my kids have one by one turned ten, I've thought how true that is.They're … [Read more...]
Thankful Thursday
Prairie Prologue reminded me that it's Thankful Thursday. She linked to the carnival hub at Sting My Heart.So I pause, in my thinking and learning and reading and writing and cleaning and planning, to give thanks: Laughter from upstairs. Two children putting dresses on stuffed animals. Neighborhood swimming pool. Having one's own pool sounds like a lot of fun, but sharing … [Read more...]
Let the Little Children Sit by the Water's Edge and Come to Him
Last Saturday, as we anticipated our last day all together in Holland—and given our little family's impending departure, our extended family's last day all together for a very long time—we considered where we might gather the next morning for family devotions. We could have simply cleaned up from breakfast and gathered around the table in one of the rented cottages. Then … [Read more...]
Travel Tips
I'm home. Finally.Two loads of laundry out of the way. Most bags unpacked. Travel successes and failures still fresh in my mind.Here's are several things that worked for me on this vacation:Nylon sports bag.I threw this in my suitcase at the last minute, not knowing how much I'd use it.It became the ideal daypack, very flexible. For example, it stays inconspicuous as it … [Read more...]
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