Two Belated Posts

The draft feature is great... it's downfall might just be however that posts sit there so long they start to make it their home instead of right here where they can be seen.

Two posts that have been making a home elsewhere until today are right below this =]

[have a whimsical wednesday]

it's coming... or maybe it's already here.

I finished my American Lit book today! It's now forward on to British. I wish I could think of some quote about marching on, Britain, troops...

I threw a baseball a few minutes ago. The boys are playing outside. 

Walking out to get the mail as become a habit; it's origin points straight to waiting for college acceptance letters. But even before that, at the old house, it was great fun to stand right inside the door, lean out and lift the lid to the metal mailbox. It was a familiar sound, a comfortable normal detail of life. Since we've moved, walking down the driveway to get the mail has served as five minutes to inhale, to step away for perspective and generally say hello to the neighboring houses and outside world. 

Today, I donned my blue Adidas sandals and worn grey sweatshirt for the venture. Old clothes are good friends. I grabbed a letter from one of the two universities I applied and am accepted. It's probably just another student-to-student letter. I laughed when I opened it standing in the kitchen; it was another acceptance letter. I laughed. It was the third or fourth acceptance letter they've sent me. I get it--you like me, I'm in, yes we can, okeydokey. 

A new hair cut has added interest to my day. I probably won't be wearing my hair in a bun so frequently. I woke up, let my hair down, and it was all over the place. Six inches disappeared with the stroke of Mom's comb and scissors. 

Have you smelled spring yet? The great February thaw occurred this week. I'm not sure that it's really all that "great," but it sounded official and annual. The sky is bright. The grass is muddy beyond muddy. I stuffed my scarf in my backpack this afternoon because I didn't need it; it was warm. A breeze races through your hair when you go out. Spring is riding on that breeze; it's coming. The lightness of nature is making me attitude light too or at least lighter.

I've gotten an atrociously small amount of schoolwork done today. As much as I see responsibilities calling in my thoughts for attention, I'm not wrapped up in the work. It is possible to enjoy something you are not consumed with. At least I would say and keeping hoping so from where I currently sit. My schoolwork is not overpowering, and I am still fighting to enjoy it. But today, there's a settled feeling that's right alongside of it all. Is this peace?

Independence

Perhaps the most significant thing you will sacrifice is the spirit of independence which is destroying women. There is no room for the independent spirit in a woman’s life: we simply cannot love a man, children, or others well if we are entangled in this popular mentality that we are the center of the universe and we should have everything our way and we should be able to accomplish everything we desire and we shouldn’t have to answer to anyone but ourselves.

If you want to be great in God’s kingdom, learn to be the servant of all.

In the world’s eyes, you will be sacrificing so much, but in God’s eyes, you will be the lifeblood of His next generation, a generation who will praise His name.

taken from Empowered Traditionalist

It makes a difference.

Changing how you say something makes all the difference even if you're still saying the same thing.

Commanding that "This is not a cartoon we watch," searching for the remote and abruptly changing to a better show brings a response of anger. Not to mention that fact that it happens to be rude.

Asking "Is this a good cartoon?" and waiting for an answer, in contrast, ends in a peaceful transition from bad to good. Instead of taking over with the force of despotism, the actions become helpful... which is the intent anyway!

For I do not understand my own actions. For I do not do what I want, but I do the very thing I hate. Romans 7:15

Do not provoke [your] children to anger... Ephesians 6:4

Lit, American p. 303-10

Light-bulb moment: I am enjoying my literature this year! I have thought and spoken multiples of multiples of times, specifically this past weekend, of my yet fulfilled desire to find enjoyment in my work.

"I have come to an applicable quote everyday for some time now... Transcendentalism, Emerson, Moody, Edwards, Rockwell...I've read great American poets, short stories, excerpt, sermons. I am liking this..."

Whether or not I like it, I have to do it. Liking it makes life so much more pleasant though... Hooray!

"Before they call I will answer; while they are still speaking I will hear." Isaiah 65:24

"As water cannot rise higher than its source, so the moral quality in an act can never be higher than the motive that inspires it." - A.W. Tozer

I found this quote applicable to the call to "pick ourselves up, dust ourselves off, and begin again the work of remaking America."What is the inspiration to do this remaking; how "high" is the source?

I need to get back to page 303...

#241

Post 241... it's been a lovely, lovely, day and it's only 10:21 AM. I wish I could think of a better word than "lovely."

6:13 AM wake up, realize my clock was unplugged, wonder what time it is. the little guys bumped the plug while sleeping on the futton.
7:something AM wake up for real. brush my teeth. examine the dining room table, math homework, work for the day

Then I remembered a part of this video I watched three times yesterday, hoping each time that more of it would sink into my brain... "Where is you BEST time? Your BEST energy?" 

PS. go watch the video!! =]

Getting towards 8 o'clock: impelled to do devotions.
Prayed. Read Spurgeon, January 16th Morning.

"I will help thee, saith the Lord."—Isaiah 41:14

I went to math class at approximately 8:45 AM on the impression that there was a 2-hour delay. The place was deserted. I quickly deduced that, in fact, the school was closed. I was the silly person who showed up when no one else did... good thing we live so close! It could have been embarrassing to be that person; but no one was there! No one cares! Why should I care? And no one [except all you nice readers and my family] will know about this morning. Even in the doltishness of the act, I had gained a silly trivial secret. I smiled getting back into the car.

With a stop at the bakery, I came to possess a blueberry muffin. With a stop at Giant Eagle, some orange juice. At home, oh my my my my my - the muffin was filled with blueberries in the cake; the top had a half an inch of crumbly crunch of cinnamon and sugar yum-E-ness.

The world is glistening today. The road glistens as you drive down it. Soft diamond sparkling particles of snow are escorted across the open space of our yard by the biting wind. I am so privileged to sit here watching it. To be able to say I've seen something exquisitely beautiful. That's the definition of lovely, exquisitely beautiful.

This morning was a one for photos... I wish I had taken one or two. I dedicate this post to the effort to document it all. 

God met me this morning. I can't take a photo of that; but I need to remember. Today I have to make decisions, simple, daily life decisions; but that's hard for me. He's promised to help me.

"Consider what I have done already." 

[Spurgeon from above source]

In this Moment

Not seizing an opportunity feels lousy... disappointing. 

22 Words

This blog just got added to my Google Reader. 

To describe what I read on it: novel, edifying, Biblical, thought-provoking. 

Why four words? Because that's how many I wanted to include. 

This post contains more than 22 words... 

Distraction from the Remarkable

I believe they are everywhere--remarkable signs of God's sovereignty, if we only have eyes to see them.

What if everywhere around us is an unfolding story that we cannot see, because we are too distracted by the movies, the television, the gossip and little stressers of the day? What if we are, in fact, on a grand adventure, but we cannot see the immortal view because we are too easily entrapped by more boring things?

Every day, we awaken to a far greater drama than we can imagine. We live with the reality that God died for us. We exist with a knowledge that He is currently preparing a home for us to live in with Him. Unlike so many others, we have the opportunity to delve into a personal friendship with our Maker. What could possibly be more splendid? What could possibly induce us to forget it?

authorship of Beauty from the Heart

An Atheist on Evangelism

I am subscribed to  Josh Harris's blog and watched the following video today. 

How pleased the Lord must be with His servant, the man who gave that Bible! I could not help but thinking that should the Lord open Penn's eyes one day, what he will feel when he remembers the man... how he might search out that small Bible, read it, and be forever changed.

10For as the rain and the snow come down from heaven
and do not return there but water the earth,
making it bring forth and sprout,
giving seed to the sower and bread to the eater,
11so shall my word be that goes out from my mouth;
it shall not return to me empty,
but it shall accomplish that which I purpose,
and shall succeed in the thing for which I sent it. 

Isaiah 55

Quicky

Still sick but taking stuff.
Behind in understanding math because of being sick.
However, verifying trig identities is "fun." It's like factoring in algebra, which I liked.
Just beginning to think about the fact that I have to write the ending to the story in English class... tomorrow...
Going to view senior pictures tonight finally!

Currently reading When I don't Desire God: How to Fight for Joy. Although, I've been sort of reading it since the summer... it would be more accurate to say that I picked it up again.

I got books out of the library today about Morocco! And about random things to do around the city when you can't think of anything to do.

Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, 2through whom we have gained access by faith into this grace in which we now stand. And we rejoice in the hope of the glory of God.
Romans 5:1-2

15 Things

1. My favorite spot in our house is the brown leather recliners in the living room. ah... relaxation!
   
2. The first time I ate black raspberry frozen yogurt was tasting some of my gramma's. I've liked it ever since.
   
3. I think orange is the happiest color.
   
4. If you haven't had the peppermint whipped cream at Starbucks, go, now and get some. Get extra. It's yummy!
   
5. I wish my hair was wavier.
   
6. I'm fairly sure I will not become a lawyer.
   
7. Glass fascinates me - earrings, bowls, windows, sculptures.
   
8. Homemade things make me happy.
   
9. I wish I had a better eye for color in buying clothes. I dislike wearing black as much as I tend to.
   
10. From the little bit of traveling I've done, it's something I really like.
    
11. Taking pictures around the house can settle me down when I'm frazzled.
    
12. Revolving doors are a novelty.
    
13. I'm sick right now.
    
14. On my twelfth birthday I received a Samantha American Girl doll, a pink cradle, some home-sewn dresses, and the small accessories for her.
    
15. Sometimes I think about how it will feel when/if I'm a grandmother, I've lived my life... and how I'll think about the years I was in high school.
    

Note: After thinking about it, I'm pretty sure it wasn't my twelfth birthday... somewhere more around my sixth or seventh.

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