Category Archives: Big Thoughts

Covenant

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"And God said, 'This is the sign of the covenant which I will give between me and you…'" 

oil spot
Rainbows aren't always overhead, in sun-splashed parting clouds. 

Very often they are right there underfoot, in the midst of our messy spills,

the sticky spots.

You just have to look for them.

Sharing a moment of grace with the ladies at Suscipio this week:
"They were there, these moments of grace. They may have been fleeting and the noise and demands of life may have tried to drown them out, but they were there."

Yarn Along – to infinity and beyond

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Joining Ginny for Yarn Along again this week:

Alannah has taken up the needles again and has undertaken an ambitious first project – an infinity scarf, ambitious more for the size than the difficulty.  We found several patterns online, but none exactly right for our yarn and skill level. We ended up modifying a pattern.  She cast on some couple hundred stitches onto the largest circular cable we had.  Then has been alternating knit and purl stitches every three rows to make gently rolling ribbing.

knit

Of course it had to be white to contrast nicely with her red wool peacoat. 

knit
Noteworthy reads this week include the Little Housekeeping book I quoted yesterday.  I thoroughly enjoyed this one although I feel the need to go scrub something with turpentine now. <g>  I think my favorite part was the discussion amongst the tutors as to whether to cover laundering in the lessons, it finally being decided in favor, however unlikely it was to come up.

A few children’s books we loved this week:

The Boy Who Drew Birds: A Story of John James Audubon 

The 39 Apartments of Ludwig Van Beethoven

Snook Alone

The Beethoven book has architecture so very like what we see here.  Snook was a story of a dog who belongs to a monk.  He is left behind on an island for some time.  In the course of the story a great deal of naturalist information is imparted.  This seems to be a theme because the Audubon book describes the journals and specimen collections of the famed artist.  Inspires me to get everyone back out and collecting.  Well, maybe when the temperature inches above 20 degrees anyway. Brrr. 

read
That weather has made Aidan’s celestial navigation course a challenge but that course is prompting a great deal of astronomy related reading for everyone. 

read
In other news, I picked up Keep a Quiet Heart by Elisabeth Elliot.  I have long loved Elisabeth’s sensibility.  I have been pleasantly surprised and encouraged to see so many saints quoted as the basis of her essays in this volume.  

One passage really spoke to where I am at this moment:

“There are times when the entire arrangement of our existence is disrupted and we long then for just one ordinary day – seeing our ordinary life as greatly desirable, even wonderful, in the light of the terrible disruption that has taken place.  Difficulty opens our eyes to pleasures we had taken for granted.”

I don’t mean to sound pitiful when I say that plenty enough such disruptions have visited me that I have come to truly relish and delight in the ordinary. I spent two hours ironing my husbands work clothes this evening.  What a wonderful blessing it was: the steam, the rhythm, the quiet after little people had settled into bed, the old Ozzie and Harriet episodes keeping me company.  A very good night ending with a quiet heart.  

I’ve many a cross to take up now,

And many left behind;

But present troubles move me not,

Nor shake my quiet mind. 

and what may be tomorrow’s cross

I never seek to find;

My Father says “Leave that to me,

and keep a quiet mind.“

– Anonymous


I can’t say this has always been my MO, having been as perpetually preoccupied with tomorrow’s crosses as I have often been.   I do feel convicted that this must be the course to set from here out however. 

Slipping away from the screen on that note.

The Gift

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"There was given to me a thorn…

thorns

Three times I pleaded with the Lord about this, that it should leave me.  And He said to me,

'My grace is sufficient for thee:

for my power is made perfect in weakness.'"

2 Cor 12:7-9

 

And therein lies the paradox of the cross, both for Him and for us. 


keep peace in your soul

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I have loved this poem since I was a child and it hung in my grandparents' home. I would like it better with "whatever you conceive him to be" edited, for that nearly implies that God is a human construct, or at least relative to man's perception.  He is not.  

Without that phrase, however, it clearly conveys my modus operandi. The goal, anyway.  There is a great deal of user error in the playing out of it.

desiderata 

trier cathedral

Go placidly amid the noise and haste, and remember what peace there may be in silence.

As far as possible, without surrender, be on good terms with all persons. Speak your truth quietly and clearly; and listen to others, even to the dull and the ignorant, they too have their story. Avoid loud and aggressive persons, they are vexations to the spirit.

If you compare yourself with others, you may become vain and bitter; for always there will be greater and lesser persons than yourself. Enjoy your achievements as well as your plans. Keep interested in your own career, however humble; it is a real possession in the changing fortunes of time.

Exercise caution in your business affairs, for the world is full of trickery. But let this not blind you to what virtue there is; many persons strive for high ideals, and everywhere life is full of heroism. Be yourself. Especially, do not feign affection. Neither be cynical about love, for in the face of all aridity and disenchantment it is perennial as the grass.

Take kindly to the counsel of the years, gracefully surrendering the things of youth. Nurture strength of spirit to shield you in sudden misfortune. But do not distress yourself with imaginings. Many fears are born of fatigue and loneliness.

Beyond a wholesome discipline, be gentle with yourself. You are a child of the universe, no less than the trees and the stars; you have a right to be here. And whether or not it is clear to you, no doubt the universe is unfolding as it should.

Therefore be at peace with God, whatever you conceive Him to be, and whatever your labors and aspirations, in the noisy confusion of life, keep peace in your soul.

With all its sham, drudgery and broken dreams, it is still a beautiful world.

Be cheerful. Strive to be happy.

Max Ehrmann c.1920

 

 

Daybook

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FOR TODAY

Outside my window… It has been gray and misty most days.  The rain has come down in a fine spray which wafts across the valley rather horizontally.  Today outside I saw a…..

bird 2
bird 3
any ideas?  Never have seen one of these out back. 

I am thinking… about the difference between unconditional love and unconditional approval.   Specifically, thinking how difficult it is not to let one compromise the other. Either way. 

I am thankful… for mild weather during our recent travels, for some long teary talks, for finishing the last of my follow up bloodwork, for letters from old friends, for happy children. 

In the kitchen… Coconut Cake for Brendan's birthday.  It was much like a Tres Leches cake.  Otherwise, I need to draft some menus for the new year aptly dubbed The Year of the Vegetable after hearing my husband tell the kids on New Year's Eve, "Let's get something good for tomorrow, then on Monday we all start to eat like Mom." ; ) 

bday

bday

He is 7 today btw : )  The beardless one, that is. 

I am wearing… boot cut jeans, a slouchy sweater in blue's, silver earrings, clogs.  I am longing to return to more skirts however and have been working on leg and footwear. Found some promising 'thermal-strumpf-hosen' (tights) today which really do look warm.  

I am creating… new themes for a new year at the Snapshots Around the World blog.  Asher and Colin are on board as guest bloggers from Korea and Colorado. This has been such a cool project.  Come join us! I-phonography welcome!  

I am going… back to the dance class routine this week. A couple big trips in the works for spring. 

I am reading… The Coming of the Monster, the last of the Francis Owen Dudley novels I began last year.  Will share more tomorrow. 

I am hoping… Colin has a safe trip back across the ocean as Zach did, and that the little ones slip back into their routine easily. They have had a fabulously fun few weeks but are a bit overstimulated.  We all needed this time together though. 

I am learning…  about flash photography.  (not as quickly and easily as I would like) 

Around the house… beds have been changed, towels all washed again.  The tree and decorations are still up but a walk with Moira after dark tonight revealed that all the neighbors' houses look the same.  Reminded myself that the Christmas season rightly begins on Christmas Eve, not ends.  Still, it will be a good week before the house recovers from several weeks of surface cleaning. 

A favorite quote for today… found on Jen's blog. 

One of my favorite things… family game nights. There is an animated game of Apples to Apples going on next to me right now.  There's been a lot of late night game playing around here.  It is late here now.  But I can't bring myself to break it up knowing Colin flies out tomorrow.  I can't bring myself to go to bed either.  Just hanging on for a few more moments.  My table lately…

table

wrestle

http://thesimplewomansdaybook.blogspot.com/

Feast of the Holy Family

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stained glass

(Cologne Cathedral window)

 "In Nazareth, home life was sanctified, and a perfect example was given to every Christian family.

Grant, we beseech Thee, that we may fully comprehend and faithfully imitate the virtues of the Holy Family so that we may be united with them one day in their heavenly glory.

Through the same Christ our Lord. Amen."

trier holy family

(Trier Cathedral bas relief)

What He thinks….. instead

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Sometimes we need to remember Whose opinion truly counts…. 

 

Again there she stood with glasses and braces,

uncontrollable hair and cumbersome graces.
So back to herself in that hall all alone
she set down her cup and turned to go home.

“Excuse me young lady,” the voice asked.   “If I might, with permission of course, have the last dance tonight.” 


"With me?"  She asked startled, as she turned to the voice. 
You must be mistaken.  I’m an awful poor choice.

Who told you you're awful?” He asked. “How do you know?” 

“Can’t you see for yourself,  the whole world tells me so.” 

Then onto the dance floor walked the King as he said:  “Would you like to my child, hear what I think instead?”
Then the hall filled with music as the king took her hand. 


She asked “Your Majesty, please, I don’t understand?”

“I think you’re beautiful,” the King said as he smiled. 
“I treasure you deeply. You’re lovely my child.
I think you’re beautiful – your hair and your braces,
your glasses and clothes your cumbersome graces.
And many more traits which I could speak of, there’s nothing about you I don’t truly love. You’re kind and you’re honest, funny and smart.  You’re really quite charming you have a good heart.”


“Your majesty,” she asked as a tear came in view.
"I’d like to believe you, is that really true?”


“Of course it is true, every word that I say.
Daughter, I am the King.    I made you that way.

I delight in your beauty, you’re wonderfully made.
I knew you before the foundation was laid.
You’re precious to me, every hair on your head,
daughter hear and believe.” The snoodle king said.

– Veggie Tale's Snoodlerella. 


Bird flying vintage image graphicsfairy005sm

Use Your Talents

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bird seed
           "Use what talents you possess.  The woods would be very silent if no birds sang except those that sang best."
 
                                                             - Henry Van Dyke
                                    (base photo caught on our walk the other night)