Who Knew I Had That Much to Say?

Post 500.

Wow.

What to say, what to say??

Let's see...shall I entertain you with "500 Things About Me"?

No! Wait! Don't click away!! I was only kidding!!

I knew this was coming and kept thinking that I should have some inspiring post for #500 but life just kept getting in the way of me thinking wise and deeply pondered thoughts.

Well since there seems to be no super post magically creating itself, I will just say thank you to everyone who has been so kind and gracious and made me feel like this blogging thing was more a conversation with some fascinating friends, than me just blabbing to myself online.

Who knew you could make so many lovely friends across the country and even around the world by peering at the screen and pecking away at the keyboard?

Wishing we could have tea party or koffee klatch around my table to celebrate. But I guess for now we'll have to share a "cyber-mug."

Looking forward to:

Always in Him,

Julie

Like...You Know...

Too funny not to share.

Grains of Gratitude—The Late Monday Edition

We were supposed to clean the garage Satuday. Sounds like a great time, huh?

No? I didn’t think so either, but was prepared to forge on and find room in the chaos. I never had visions of being able to park in there—just walk. But my husband did the unexpected, and offered an alternate plan. Would I like to take the boys to play miniature golf and to go visit a relatively new store I’d not seen yet?

Hmmmm…

Work—Play. Work—Play? Which one would I like?

Well the garage isn’t clean, that’s for sure. But we had a fantastic time with the boys. We’ve been promising either the driving range or miniature golf, but every time we’ve planned it in the last two weeks there’s been a wild weather and we’ve had to settle for games of Clue or movies.

Sunday? The garage didn’t get cleaned either. But we had a wonderful day, in spite of my hot flashes.

Last week was full of things to be grateful for. We spent a day at the Franciscan Mission Warehouse. The boys had so much fun the first time we went, that we decided to make this a recurring event. This will be one place for us to do service projects and we are so grateful for the opportunity. We sorted and packaged school supplies that will be sent to Nigeria and Tanzania. The boys were able to work and know that their efforts were for a good thing.

I am grateful we were able to get a zoo pass and a pass to our local art museum. We will use this all school year, but for the next four weeks it is important to Boo and I because Roo is going to be taking classes in a summer intensive program for about seven hours each day. Boo has a chance to for classes too, but it will be for just an hour three days a week. The program is a fair distance from home and with gas prices soaring I will not be driving back and forth. Boo and I will do school work in the a.m. but need to have some things to entertain us after his class. So we will be doing lots of art appreciating and zoo-ing. We will also be visiting friends and the farmers market. I am grateful the boys have this chance, and also grateful for the fun opportunities Boo and I will have.

There have been a couple sets of circumstances have been weighing heavily on my heart lately and last week I gained insight into two of them. The situations aren’t really improved or resolved but understanding has allowed me to hopefully be more patient.

This week will be a challenge for us as we transition from a very relaxed style of schooling with late starting days to a very fast paced and out of the house all day style of living. Thankfully it will only be for four weeks. I’m grateful for the opportunities, but I am sure I will be grateful when we finish too.

What are you grateful for?

Christine at Brady’s Bunch is the originator of Grains of Gratitude. She’s always got something to share that makes me smile. I’m grateful she had the idea!

I am going to be blogging from the library near the school the boys will be at. I will be trying to do some scheduled posting that Blogger offers. So if my times seem a bit odd--that's why. Trying to move into the technology age. Baby steps...LOL!

Sharlie came to my house.

Sharlie came to my house. (No, not Charlie. Sharlie.)

He brought a parcel of friends w/him. Bucko, Jacko, Izzy, Addie and some other strange characters. He was Boo's best friend.

He had a lot of pets. He had no bedtime. Sharlie was in his 20s and drove a car. He did extraordinary things that my five year old only dreamed of doing. My son spoke constantly of Sharlie’s exploits. Of course, Sharlie was only in my son’s imagination.

Why do some children have imaginary friends? Do they fulfill dreams that can only remain dreams for most children? Roo never had imaginary friends. He played imaginary games in which all the world revolved around him—but it was different. Boo joined him most of the time. But sometimes Sharlie had to be included and that was where things got a little dicey. Roo didn’t always like Sharlie’s rules. Boo of course thought if Sharlie said it, it was law. Hmmm…wonder why?

Funny, but I never heard Boo talk to Sharlie. I had an imaginary friend and I talked to him all the time—alone, in public, bedtime. (I of course don’t do that anymore. He left for foreign lands in about first grade.)

It was at the dinner table that I heard of Sharlie’s adventures of the day. How many fish Sharlie caught. How late he stayed up. How many kittens he had. How big his fish tank was. How fast his car went. Sharlie was the expert on boy humor also. Humor involving the things that get one in trouble (especially at the table). Sharlie also didn’t have to help his parents. I think he may have helped too much and they kicked him out. That was why he lived with us.

Sharlie moved in for long enough that I was wondering if he needed a plate and his own towel. But he disappeared as quickly as he appeared.

I miss Sharlie sometimes.

I Heard the Voice of Jesus Say

Matthew 11

28Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.

29Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls.

30For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.


I Heard the Voice of Jesus Say

I heard the voice of Jesus say, “Come unto Me and rest;
Lay down, thou weary one, lay down Thy head upon My breast.”
I came to Jesus as I was, weary and worn and sad;
I found in Him a resting place, and He has made me glad.

I heard the voice of Jesus say, “Behold, I freely give
The living water; thirsty one, stoop down, and drink, and live.”
I came to Jesus, and I drank of that life giving stream;
My thirst was quenched, my soul revived, and now I live in Him.

I heard the voice of Jesus say, “I am this dark world’s Light;
Look unto Me, thy morn shall rise, and all thy day be bright.”
I looked to Jesus, and I found in Him my Star, my Sun;
And in that light of life I’ll walk, till traveling days are done.

Words by Horatius Bonar, 1808-1889
Music: Kingsfold; Traditional English Melody arranged by Ralph Vaughn Williams



I Heard the Voice of Jesus Say has other melodies associated with it. The Kingsfold Melody is my favorite. This melody also goes with these words by Louis F. Benson


O Sing a Song of Bethlehem

O sing a song of Bethlehem, of shepherds watching there,
And of the news that came to them from angels in the air.
The light that shone on Bethlehem fills all the world today;
Of Jesus’ birth and peace on earth the angels sing alway.

O sing a song of Nazareth, of sunny days of joy;
O sing of fragrant flowers’ breath, and of the sinless Boy.
For now the flowers of Nazareth in every heart may grow;
Now spreads the fame of His dear Name on all the winds that blow.

O sing a song of Galilee, of lake and woods and hill,
Of Him Who walked upon the sea and bade the waves be still.
For though like waves on Galilee, dark seas of trouble roll,
When faith has heard the Master’s Word, falls peace upon the soul.

O sing a song of Calvary, its glory and dismay,
Of Him Who hung upon the tree, and took our sins away.
For He Who died on Calvary is risen from the grave,
And Christ, our Lord, by Heaven adored, is mighty now to save.

A Rose for the Crown by Anne Easter Smith

A Rose for the Crown by Anne Easter Smith

Spending a lot of hours parked in parents’ waiting rooms gives one a lot of time for reading. I found this book through a fellow historical fiction-loving parent. She was reading Daughter of York also by Anne Easter Smith and recommended her as an author.

The book is what I would call r0mantic historical fiction, not quite a r0mance novel, definitely not a “b0dice ripper,” but certainly a work of fiction intent on focusing on an invented r0mance of Richard III. It is noted in records that he had two illegitimate children and Easter-Smith starts her story giving those two children the same mother.

The book starts at the end of the story with a gruesome execution of a purported traitor to the throne of King Henry Tudor. A mature Katherine “Kate” Bywood-Draper-Haute and her son are witnesses. Then the next chapter sweeps the reader back thirty-two years to find Kate as a nine year-old peasant girl.

The first half of the book is actually a nice piece of fiction and moves along rapidly. Kate’s early years are engaging and bordered and shaped by various historical events. Sadly the second half of the book becomes a bit predictable and slows down. It does finish well—depressing, but well. The last few chapters are well done and make it worth working through.

This book took me quite a while to read. As I said, the first half was a quick read and then I stalled out and put it aside for quite a while. I have a hard time not finishing books and so finally returned to it. I’m glad that I did. I was able to regain interest in it and felt that closure one finds finishing a large book.

Anne Easter Smith has researched her setting well. Her characters are inconsistent, sometimes rich and sometimes a bit flat. She provides 636 pages of pretty good fiction and the edition I read offered a reading group discussion guide and an interview with the author, something that might be of interest if looking for a book club book.

Overall I would recommend this for historical fiction lovers if they don’t mind r0mance in their fiction. I would equate Anne Easter Smith with Philippa Gregory and Diana Gabaldon. I wouldn’t put it in the same category with my beloved Morland Dynasty series, but it was pretty good. If you are looking for a good summer read, not terribly complicated this might be it.

Wordless Wednesday

Scarlet Macaw

Wordless Wednesday--go see some more!

Dancing with Joy

I Am Bored

I am bored—

Before you haul out the standard answers...

Just a thought:

Roo sat down by me the Thursday and said, “Mom I’m bored.”

Now conventional wisdom says, “You’re bored? You. Are. BORED?? Have I got chores for you, buddy.”

But Roo is a good kid and this was only the fourth day of a vacation. This is part of the reason we school year round with smaller breaks (living well with a routine—more on that in another post).

I had to stop and think about what he was really saying. He had toys and games. I was not limiting video games this week. He really. Didn’t. Want. To play. The X-box. He had read several books!! He had played the piano.

What was not being said? What was he asking without knowing?

My decluttering project is taking the slow track this week, I’ll admit. I’ve been busy, but not that busy. And I was actually taking a moment to goof off when he said it.

So I offered the suggestion list: Outside? Computer? Television? LEGOs? No, no, no, no. Thank you.

Ummmm…would you like to play a game of Othello with me?

Now I had his attention. He wanted a few minutes of Mom time.

We actually ended up playing Phase 10 instead. I won. (But who’s gloating?) He tells me I humiliated him. Yeah? Well…I’m an awful mom.

But 30 minutes of one on one with Mom gave him a fresh look. I suggested that he read the rules to two new games we’ve not played yet afterwards so we could play them later. Which he did. He thoroughly enjoys reading directions for games. I am so proud. Because I totally hate reading directions and if he does it, I don’t have to I mean because I’ve done such a good job teaching him.

Shortly after (and totally expected) a curly headed Boo quietly insinuated himself into my lap (I was goofing off again.) “I heard you played a game with Roo.”

“Well, yes, Son I did.”

“Oh.” (Imagine a very neglected tone.)

I asked, “Would you have time to play a game with me?”

“REALLY??!!!”

So we played a couple games of checkers. And life was good.

Last week, their first week of vacation, I had them come up and offer to help when I was working on a project. I’ve had them seek me out just to chat. I had offers for serenading me with music. I had offers to join them in video pandemonium.

With summer vacation here for most families, and some parents are already yearning for fall, I just want to offer the thought that these moments are fleeting. It is annoying sometimes to hear the words, “I’m bored.” But before dismissing the child uttering those fateful words with chores, ultimatums, or a quick "Go play outside!" double check and make sure the statement doesn’t really translate into,

“Mom, can I spend a little time with you?”


Edited to add: I saw Shannon at Rocks In My Dryer's WFMW is about children being bored, so I am tossing it up on her Mr. Linky. Looks like it is a busy one. Check it out.

Come Ye Sinners

Come Ye Sinners - Amy Grant & Fernando Ortega




Traditional Hymn by Joseph Hart

Come, ye sinners, poor and needy
Weak and wounded, sick and sore
Jesus ready, stands to save you
Full of pity, love and power

I will arise and go to Jesus
He will embrace me in His arms
In the arms of my dear Savior,
O, there are ten thousand charms

Come, ye thirsty, come and welcome
God's free bounty glorify
True belief and true repentance
Every grace that brings you nigh

Come, ye weary, heavy-laden
Lost and ruined by the fall
If you tarry 'til you're better
You will never come at all

I will arise and go to Jesus
He will embrace me in His arms
In the arms of my dear Savior,
O, there are ten thousand charms

See Him Prostate in the garden
On the ground your Maker lies
On the bloody tree, behold him
Sinner, will this not suffice?