The list gets shorter

From the beginning of my dip into the blogging world, I have had a list of bloggers I longed to meet in real life. I appreciate the chance to learn from people from around the world that cyberspace offers, but there is something extra special about looking someone in the eye, spending time pouring over their bookshelves and losing sleep talking.

Well, thanks to the generous hospitality of Magistra Mater and her husband and son, my list has gotten shorter. Their family opened their warm home to us, seven strangers, and welcomed us as friends. Carol and I talked as late as we possibly could and found our kindred spirit correspondence upgraded to a real life friendship. As an added bonus, our husbands had so much fun talking that they suspected that they were the true reason God had our families meet.

The entire drive north and east we felt like we were being pursued by threatening weather. We had a few moments of "Yikes, if the weather is like this the rest of the way, we might not make it," but it only succeeded in enhancing our prayer life , not hindering our travels. We got the pleasure of breath-taking views and snow play without once putting on chains!

When we packed up to leave, I was sad to say good-bye. The time went oh-so-fast, and we had only begun to solve all the problems of the world *smile*. I can only hope and pray we can do it again and soon.

Two of my children told me, "Mom, she is so much like you, it's scary." I take that as the highest of compliments. When my sister died in 1993, little did I guess how many sisters the Lord would provide, and through something as seemingly impersonal as the internet. Who would have thunk?

I miss you, my friend.

The sky was breath-taking this morning. I had a few quiet moments with the trusty camera as the early morning sun turned the clouds all shades of pink. The frosty air and the quietness of the valley made for a perfect start to a day of joy and family and relaxation.

For unto us a Child is born,
Unto us a Son is given;
And the government will be upon His shoulder.
And His name will be called
Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God,
Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.
Isaiah 9:6

MERRY CHRISTMAS!

Today's walk

Swinging while the rest of us got ready to go.


My fellow-walkers



Somehow this lonely hydrant looked festive in the green field.


The view of the pond from the lower road.


But then there was the guy who turned back:




You may have noticed a glimpse of a crutch in the group photo. Well, it was our dear, wild man middle child. He made serious contact with a wheelbarrow in the dark during a game of tag. Yes, tag, dark and a wheelbarrow. Sigh.



After a week of pain, and a rather impressive looking gash on the leg, we made a visit to the doctor and the radiology department. But, it is NOT broken. It will make a he-man scar, but it is all in one painful piece. Since the itinerary for the next ten days includes swing dancing in Idaho and competitive speech and debate in San Diego, we all breathed a collective sigh of relief and a group prayer of thanksgiving.

Patches of Godlight

The other day Donna asked us to share a favorite quote. I immediately reached for this volume:


Patches of Godlight: Father Tim's Favorite Quotes by Jan Karon

Designed as if it really is Father Tim's own chapbook, it is printed as a handwritten volume with quotes on everything from faith, the literary life, friendship and love, by such favorites as C.S. Lewis, Madeleine L'Engle, G.K. Chesterton, Aristotle and Dave Barry (yes, Dave Barry.)

A few favorites:

"Courage is what it takes to stand up and speak; courage is also what it takes to sit down and listen." Churchill

"...it is very well worthwhile to be tormented for two or three years of one's life, for the sake of being able to read all the rest of it." Jane Austen

And the one I shared in the Quiet Life comment section:

"Oh, the comfort, the inexpressible comfort of feeling safe with a person: having neither to weigh thoughts nor measure words, but to pour them out. Just as they are - chaff and grain together, knowing that a faithful hand will take and sift them, keep what is worth keeping, and then with the breath of kindness, blow the rest away." George Eliot

For those who don't know, Jan Karon is done with her Mitford series, and she has a new series started about Father Tim. The first volume is on the shelves:


Home to Holly Springs by Jan Karon

Yes, the plot takes unbelievable turns and at the same time is predictable...but I love Father Tim. I am glad to know more about his childhood, as I can relate to dark childhood days being redeemed by faith in Christ. That redemption makes for a vibrant adult life, but it still requires healing and forgiveness.

Lauren Winner's thoughts on Jan Karon:
Sherry with Father Tim: A conversation with Lauren Winner about Jan Karon's fiction.

Come Thou Long Expected Jesus

Come, Thou long expected Jesus
Born to set Thy people free;
From our fears and sins release us,
Let us find our rest in Thee.
Israel’s Strength and Consolation,
Hope of all the earth Thou art;
Dear Desire of every nation,
Joy of every longing heart.

Born Thy people to deliver,
Born a child and yet a King,
Born to reign in us forever,
Now Thy gracious kingdom bring.
By Thine own eternal Spirit
Rule in all our hearts alone;
By Thine all sufficient merit,
Raise us to Thy glorious throne.

My favorite rendition is on Steve Bell's Feast of Seasons

Twilight of the Books

What will life be like if people stop reading?
by Caleb Crain

Perhaps readers venture so readily outside because what they experience in solitude gives them confidence. Perhaps reading is a prototype of independence. No matter how much one worships an author, Proust wrote, “all he can do is give us desires.” Reading somehow gives us the boldness to act on them. Such a habit might be quite dangerous for a democracy to lose.

Read the article here: New Yorker 12/24/07

HT: Wittingshire
via Mental Multivitamin

Homeschool blog awards interview

As a 2005 winner of the Best Arts blog from the Homeschool Blog Awards, they asked me for an interview for their Winner Wednesday post. You can find the interview here.

I've been the interviewer many times for The Old Schoolhouse Magazine, but this was the first time at being the interview-ee. I enjoyed it very much.

But, as my friend Miz Booshay said, "Now, get blogging!" I agree. I must get back to the keyboard more often. It's a good habit, for my brain and my soul, and I look forward to it.

So grateful

One of my favorite nights of the year is the Friday night when Christmas break starts for my husband. Twenty-two years ago, on Friday December 20th, we got engaged to be married. I am more grateful than ever that my husband was a visionary and could see beyond the twenty-six-year-old I was then.

"All my soul follows you, love....and I live in being yours." Robert Browning

previous post