Breakfast Revisited

For those of you homeschoolers who receive the same literary magazine I do and got a copy this week, you may have noticed this post was published... a tweaked and edited version of it.

As a follow-up, I would like to post the following picture:

Now, I have made pancakes since originally writing on the topic and they were pancakes. They weren't bad, weren't fabulous. There was one morning though when I put too much salt, they were nasty, and not even the littlest dude would eat them...

On Christmas morning when I made the pancakes of the photo, well, they were perfect. As I scooted the spatula beneath and flipped them, up, up, splat & sizzle- the motion was smooth as cream. Golden and round and the way pancakes were meant to be; they were good.

I would now like to take this opportunity to say what someone else once said.

“Life is easy to chronicle, but bewildering to practice." E.M. Forster
Those words have not much to do with anything else I've said and making pancakes really is not bewildering. But it's a good quote... at the very least just a spin off from "practice makes perfect."

Star Light Star Bright

Sometimes... you can see really amazing photos by flickr exploring. Today I saw something ca-ute!

I reeeeally like Christmas tree stars. When we went antique shopping earlier this month, tin, paper and aluminum stars caught my eye. The aluminum stars remind me of the aluminum tree along with the color twirlerDad reminisces about having as a kid. They were made to have white lights inserted into them and the light to peek through holes.

So this post celebrates Christmas stars... one of my favorite things!

a photo taken last year of our tree star, a stained glass design

And God made the two great lights—the greater light to rule the day and the lesser light to rule the night—and the stars.
Genesis 1:16

When I look at your heavens, the work of your fingers, the moon and the stars,(I) which you have set in place, what is man that you are mindful of him, and the son of man that you care for him?
Psalm 8:3

...Behold, wise men from the east came to Jerusalem, saying, "Where is he who has been born king of the Jews? For we saw his star when it rose and have come to worship him."
Matthew 2

Frozen Strawberries

We pick strawberries every summer, eat them until we're sick of them, and then freeze the rest. During winter nights, we pull out a bag and sprinkle some sugar on top for a special snack. Last night we did just this while watching family movies. There was a lovely fire in the fireplace. It's something we all like and worth documenting I thought!

Smoothies are also enjoyed around here. The latest recipe, incredibly simple yet delish, cranberry juice and strawberries.

As I Wait

I read my email. I perused through google reader then I decided to browse The Rebelution.

...God’s promise is true when He says that everything works together for good for those who love Him and are called by Him — even repeated failure.

Failure is never wasted if we learn to do the following: (1) turn to God and become more reliant on Him, (2) learn from our mistakes, and (3) get back up and try again.

...what she hadn’t done before was to give things up to God. “Funny how we forget that sometimes,” she wrote, “I guess I’ll just wait until my next math test, study harder, and first and formost, give it to God.”

Gracie’s failure was invaluable because through it she learned to depend on God. Doing hard things has made her faith stronger and birthed in her the mindset of an overcomer, and that’s more important than all the success in the world.

When You Fail at Hard Things

I had two tests in pre-calculus before break. The first grade was no different yet no worse then what I've been getting. The second, I haven't seen yet. My "failure" hasn't had drastic consequences or a massive emotional impact on my life. But it hasn't had to. When you study as hard as you know how, ask questions, make the effort to get extra help and still don't get a higher grade, discouragement sets in. Browsing The Rebelution and reading that post helped!

How could I forget this part of the post. I've only felt the exact same way!

This last Saturday I was standing in line to take my SAT World History Subject Test, when a guy behind me started saying, “Yeah, World History is so easy. I didn’t even study for it and I scored 780.”

I wanted to strangle him.

When You Fail at Hard Things

Would you do it?

"It certainly doesn't help the pro-life movement to...participate in this kind of public way in the inauguration for one who holds to a very radical pro-abortion position," he said.

"...the context of this inaugural ceremony would not allow me to accept." -Al Mohler

"Many in the "emerging" and "Emergent church" movements also state their intention to transcend the divisive issues like abortion and homosexuality. Some of these represent the quintessence of cool in cultural identification. But for how long? Eventually, the issue of homosexuality will require a decision. At that point, those churches will find themselves facing a forced decision. Choose ye this day: Will it be the Bible or coolness?"

from an article exploring Rick Warren's invitation
to speak at Obama's inaugural ceremony

[the 3rd quote really has not so much to do with the question, but it stood out]

It's the Holiday Season

It's December 16th and not a single thing have I posted with even a hint of Christmas. We spent a day tree-hunting, pizza-eating and movie star hand-shaking after Thanksgiving. We decorated the tree to classic holiday music while munching on pretzels.

The piano and mantel are festooned and topped with beautiful decorations. All the musical ones and Christmasy carolers are on the piano of course! I'm so glad I bought the SGM Volume 3 song book. It contains the Savior CD songs, some of which I've been playing for a week or so now. A bright red, green and gold table clothe adorns the dining room table and it cheers me up each time I sit down and face my -ugh- school work... being that it's a Martha Stewart find at the thrift store makes me even happier.

A group of younger girls came over to make some ornaments and decorate gingerbread cookies. This was the first time I can remember doing something like this, a day to just be Christmasy and make stuff. I want to do it again and again!

I haven't bought any Christmas presents. I haven't made any Christmas presents. It's bothering me... yet, I'm not going to write anymore about it until I do something about it.

I hope everyone's preparations have been going well. More importantly though, I hope you are enjoying the brightness, hope, peace and joy of the days of celebration!

John 1

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was with God in the beginning. Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made. 4In him was life, and that life was the light of men. The light shines in the darkness, but the darkness has not understood it. The true light that gives light to every man was coming into the world. He was in the world, and though the world was made through him, the world did not recognize him. He came to that which was his own, but his own did not receive him. Yet to all who received him, to those who believed in his name, he gave 

the right to become children of God— children born not of natural descent, nor of human decision or a husband's will, but born of God.

The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. 

We have seen his glory, the glory of the One and Only, 

who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.

Large pictures in this post... uploaded a different way today and hence the change =]

Tagged

I posted "It's the Holiday Season" and had forgotten about this! 

1. Wrapping paper or gift bags? Wrapping paper.
2. Real tree or Artificial? Christmas trees and I have a history... but that's many other stories. I like real ones because they feel nice.
3. When do you put up the tree? the day after Thanksgiving, or it might have been the day right after that
4. When do you take the tree down? Januaryish
5. Do you like egg nog? I do NOT like eggnog cheesecake. I probably don't like eggnog either.
6. Favorite gift received as a child? oooh. let me think - my pink & black camera comes to mind. I was ecstatic when I received an American Girl doll.
7. Do you have a nativity scene? We have a large one on top of the piano and a few small ones scattered.
8. Hardest person to buy for? My grandparents... friends can be stumping too.
9. Easiest person to buy for? I'm usually quick to decide for my littlest brothers
10. Mail or email Christmas cards? We were just discussing the lower cost of email cards. But there's nothing like seeing the cards all hanging in the doorway!
11. Worst Christmas gift you ever received? Probably baby pink and blue toe socks... or the Precious Moment's "Round the World" spinning clock.
12. Favorite Christmas movie(s) ? The Nativity Story, The Shop Around the Corner, It's a Wonderful Life
13. When do you start shopping for Christmas? ooh depends on the year
14. Have you ever recycled a Christmas present? yes. quilty but not ashamed.
15. Favorite thing to eat at Christmas? cookies cookies cookies! And fruit. Not fruit cake - fruit.
16. Clear or colored Christmas lights? Colored for outdoors. I'm unsure about on the tree... we have colored.
17. Favorite Christmas song(s)? The First Noel, Winter Wonderland, Baby, It's Cold Outside
18. Travel at Christmas or stay home? I've never traveled.
19. Can you name all of Santa's reindeer? Dasher, Dancer, Blitzen, Cupid, Prancer, Dixon... Rudolph?
20. Angel on the tree top or a star? star definitely.
21. Open the presents Christmas Eve or morning? We've always done Christmas morning for our family. But we visit extended family Christmas Eve and open some anyway
22. Most annoying thing about this time of year? modern Christmas songs instead of classic ones. Weird decorations.
23. Favorite ornament theme or color? what a question! I adore our antique ornaments. I also like simple glass balls. and tinsel!
24. Favorite dinner for Christmas? uuhh Christmas dinner? Okay, okay, a straight answer- turkey, mashed potatoes, pretty similar to Thanksgiving but with twist...
25. What do you want for Christmas this year? Shall I really list them? hmm. Homemade things =] One can never have too many scarves... an abort73 tshirt would rock, an external hard drive, a 1.8 or zoom lens'd be nice (ok, more than nice!) but that's like shooting for a standard height basketball hoop when you're five years old - might happen, but probability's against ya. And one of these have all been on the brain.
26. Do you bake lots of goodies during the holidays? Twice so far - sugar cookies and gingerbread - hopefully more!
27. Do you decorate different rooms of your home? Mainly the living room, abit in the dining room and porch room. The game room mantle also get decorated.
28. What decorations do you put outside? Lights on the house, garland a bow and lights on the lamp post, an old old! plastic nativity set, a plastic snow man, some light up candy canes, candles in the windows and a wreath
29. How do you spend Christmas Eve? With family. Taking photos and eating and playing games.
30. Is Christmas your favorite holiday? hmm. I like the mellowness of Thanksgiving, and the freedom of summer... but Christmas is pretty awesome that's for sure!

one of the first photos taken with my canon last year

Love that Never Fails

"There is no spot in thee." -Song of Solomon 4:7

"Jesus Christ has no quarrel with His spouse. She often wanders from Him, and grieves His Holy Spirit, but He does not allow her faults to affect His love. He sometimes chides, but it is always in the tenderest manner, with the kindest intentions: it is "my love" even then. There is no remembrance of our follies, He does not cherish ill thoughts of us, but He pardons and loves as well after the offence as before it. It is well for us it is so, for if Jesus were as mindful of injuries as we are, how could He commune with us? Many a time a believer will put himself out of humour with the Lord for some slight turn in providence, but our precious Husband knows our silly hearts too well to take any offence at our ill manners."

Dec. 3rd Morning and Evening

O to grace how great a debtor daily I'm constrained to be! Let thy goodness, like a fetter, bind my wandering heart to thee. Prone to wander, Lord, I feel it, prone to leave the God I love; here's my heart, O take and seal it, seal it for thy courts above.

Come Thou Fount of Every Blessing

Going

By faith Abraham, when called to go to a place he would later receive as his inheritance, obeyed and went, even though he did not know where he was going.
[Hebrews 11:8]

There is a time for departure even when there's no certain place to go.
[Tennessee Williams]

And on that note, I'm sending one of two college applications today!

ET- Feminism Series

credit Empowered Traditionalist

Real life connection: 

Last night at forensics, we were discussing a bill that circled around whether women should be permitted to fight in front lines combat in the armed forces. Most of the girls were citing "women's rights" and "equality" as to why they thought it right. I stood con to the idea, but admitted it was on personal belief and not any legal basis. 

Is it feminine to fight war on  front lines, in the trenches? 

Someone brought up the point: Women are affected by the results of what happens on the front lines. Why not allow them to do something about it by fighting? 

I read the series conclusion today and the term "gender neutrality" jumped out in relation to the discussion last night. 

Watch it here. 

"Everybody wants this ladder..."

God is God

This Sunday afternoon was mellow. My mom and I spent some time together this afternoon. At the gas station, I flipped on the Christian radio station while she was busy filling the tank. The following song was playing. It happens to be a previous favorite; but this afternoon it took on special meaning. More than just a song... a means of seeing a glimpse of an invisible God.

And the pain falls like a curtain
On the things I once called certain
And I have to say the words I fear the most
I just don’t know

And the questions without answers
Come and paralyze the dancer
So I stand here on the stage afraid to move
Afraid to fall, oh, but fall I must
On this truth that my life has been formed from the dust

God is God and I am not
I can only see a part of the picture He’s painting
God is God and I am man
So I’ll never understand it all
For only God is God

And the sky begins to thunder
And I’m filled with awe and wonder
‘Til the only burning question that remains
Is who am I

Can I form a single mountain
Take the stars in hand and count them
Can I even take a breath without God giving it to me
He is first and last before all that has been
Beyond all that will pass

Oh, how great are the riches of His wisdom and knowledge
How unsearchable for
to Him and through Him and from Him
are all things

So let us worship before the throne
Of the One who is worthy of worship alone...

Oh Now Wait a Minute Now

"Hey Noah, keep cool. Hey Noah, I'll take care of the rest, I'm the weatherman."

From WorshipGod 08

The following videos were just posted on the SGM youtube channel. These recitations were a powerful part of the conference for me. To hear scripture orated put life into the words. They're worth watching. I considered posting them one at a time so that the videos would be watched one at a time. Instead I'll just make a suggestion: when you watch them, watch all the way through. Stopping in the middle of the passage, I think you'd miss out.

Psalm 145


Psalm 25


Psalm 22

Guest Post for Forthright Fixation

This post is to let you know that I don't plan to post anything today because you can go read this.
...it's a long one.

Someday I'll Learn

Yesterday we set out to get my driver's learner permit. 
We made sure we had everything needed- forms, payment, ID. 

Driving learner's centers are closed on Mondays.  

So we went again today. They are open on Tuesdays. And everyone knows it- it was 2 pm. The room was filled. 

I didn't know there was a distance vision test... and my glasses were at home in my school tote bag.
I use them during math class to see the chalkboard. 

Third times the charm? 

The boys kept asking, "When are we leaving for your driving lessons? Are we going with you for your driving lesson?"

All this reminds me somehow of Driving Miss Daisy.

Minor News

Yesterday marked a major advance on the getting-my-locker-open front. 

I asked the girl next to me to help me (this was the second time) and took note of what she did and how. In the process I learned her name, that she's a senior, the colleges she's looking at and that she's a cheerleader. I met someone! 

I practiced the combination this morning during the 15 minutes I have when the only people in the building at 6:45  are the janitors and a few devoted teachers. It's taken two and a half weeks, but as of today, I am now able to open my locker.

What minor news that seems in light of all of life right now. School has been like a gigantic wave, pulling me under with its power and sheer volume. But as this week closes, I recognize that God IS faithful. He has calmed the waters, even just a little, so that my head is above, and I am able to take a deep breathe of His grace and peace... whether or not I got a passing grade on my pre-calc test today. 

I'm so grateful to be able to head out tonight to enjoy the company of friends He has gifted me with... at our book study kick-off!

Proverbs 24

If you say, "Behold, we did not know this,"
   does not he who weighs the heart perceive it?
Does not he who keeps watch over your soul know it,
 and will he not repay man according to his work?

My son, eat honey, for it is good,
   and the drippings of the honeycomb are sweet to your taste.
Know that wisdom is such to your soul; 
   if you find it, there will be a future,
   and your hope will not be cut off.

...for the righteous falls seven times and rises again...

Prepare your work outside;
   get everything ready for yourself in the field,
   and after that build your house.

A Strong Branch

“Imagine you are on a high cliff and you lose your footing and begin to fall. Just beside you is a branch sticking out of the edge of the cliff. It is your only hope and seems more than strong enough. How can it save you?

If you’re certain the branch can support you, but you don’t actually reach out and grab it, you are lost. If instead your mind is filled with doubts and uncertainty that the branch can hold you, but you reach out and grab it anyway, you will be saved. Why?

It is not the strength of your faith but the object of your faith that actually saves you. Strong faith in a weak branch is fatally inferior to weak faith in a strong branch.”

—Timothy Keller, The Reason For God (New York, NY: Dutton, 2008), 234

found on FirstImportance.org