Nana's cookies...just like hers

I made my grandmother's cookie recipe today. Ah, they turn out just like hers. I used to walk into her kitchen and look up to the top of the refrigerator to see if she had these in a container. Soft molasses cookies. Yum. Linnea and Will made the dough in order to make their annual movie character shapes, but they never did get around to baking them. So now we'll enjoy them just plain round with sugar....and remember Nana.

Holiday get together

All throughout the holiday season I want to get together with various and sundry friends who live nearby. I always want to do more than I actually do. We have a quiet Christmas with no family nearby, so I like to get with friends. It took me several tries, but I finally got a group together today. It turned out that both families have ties to a church I went to while in college, Walnut Ridge in Waterloo, Iowa. John Meyer grew up there and the other family, the Hamiltons have a brother-in-law who went there! Small world. Connections. I had a good time, and I hope everyone else did, too. I made lasagne. That's easy to do ahead of time and then the mess is already cleaned up. We just ate the leftover Christmas candy and cookies that were around. The time is always too short, though. Good times. Good food. Linnea leaves tomorrow, sad.

St. Stephen's Day/Boxing Day

We have The Chieftans Christmas CD. The second song is called, "The St.Stephen's Day Murders". It's a funny song about the day after Christmas, and the "carcass of the beast leftover from the feast" and sundry other things that happen the day after. Is this day called "Boxing Day" in a Protestant country and "St. Stephen's Day" in a Catholic country? Just wondering.

The working men, Denny and Andrew, are back in the workforce today. I got things tidied up and cleaned up around here after sleeping late. The other two are up, continuing to enjoy the academic break and watching Gilmore Girls 7th season that Linnea got for Christmas.

We enjoyed a relaxing Christmas day as usual. Nothing unusual. Took pictures with the new camera that Den bought me for Christmas, opened presents and had a lovely traditional Christmas dinner with our Christmas crackers, too. Only this year we didn't have Christmas pudding. We usually get it at World Market, but they didn't order any this year. We weren't too sad. Mostly everyone loves the lighting of it the most, rather than the eating. We watched a couple of our new videos in the evening. No football today. Hmm. Seemed unusual.

Merry Christmas!

Our celebration began last night, so here we are to say "Merry Christmas" to all you wonderful friends and family. The "children" aren't up yet, but everything is ready in anticipation. Isn't it great to see our whole family together?

Looking forward to hearing from all of you. Have a blessed Christmas Day!

Crazy Christmas Capers

Things get wound up around here about the time Mom says she's going to bed. I was downstairs last night and it sounded too fun up here, so I came back up. Here's what was going on around 11pm!

The Nativity Story

When I substituted last week, the teacher had me show this video to both of her Bible classes. It makes for an easy sub job to push a button on a DVD machine. I hadn't seen this yet, and I don't generally like Bible-based movies. I'd rather the images stayed in my head. However, even after watching this two times, I still wanted to show it to my Wednesday evening class at church. It was amazing. The story of the birth of Jesus became new, fresh and alive. It transformed from being just a story, to reality. We always picture Mary as a mature woman even while we say she was just a girl, which she probably was. I never really thought about the story itself past just what the words say. But what did Mary feel like being pregnant as a young girl? Did she tell her mother? Would her mother believer her? So she went to visit Elizabeth for three months or so. What did Joseph think when she returns obviously pregnant. We know he must've thought she had been unfaithful because the Bible tells us he thought he'd quietly divorce her. How crushed did he feel? Then the film shows how Mary gradually grows to love Joseph who probably had been chosen FOR her, not BY her. The birth is amazing. I cried every time. So if you get a chance to see this, it is well worth your time. The Christmas story will come alive to you. The fact the God himself became man with all our weaknesses, including that of infancy, will cause you to worship HIM.

Thou who was rich beyond all splendour, all for love's sake became poor.
Thrones for a manger didst surrender, sapphire-paved courts for stable floor.

Thou who art God beyond all praising, all for love's sake became man
Stooping so low, but sinners raising heavenward by thy eternal plan

Thou who art love beyond all telling, Saviour and King, we worship thee
Emmanuel within us dwelling, make us what thou would have us be.


Chip Stam writes: "This hymn was written at a particularly difficult time in the history of the missions to China. Missionaries had been captured by the communist Red Army and released in poor health after over a year of suffering. Others had been captured never to be heard from again. In 1934 the young missionaries John and Betty Stam (my great aunt and uncle) were captured in Anhwei and beheaded . The news of these sorrows had reached the mission's headquarters in Shanghai. Though this was a very dangerous time for both the Chinese Christians and the foreign missionaries, Frank Houghton decided he needed to begin a tour through the country to visit various missionary outposts. While traveling over the mountains of Szechwan, the powerful and comforting words of 2 Corinthians 8:9, "though he was rich, yet for your sake he became poor," were transformed into this beautiful Christmas hymn."

Thought you might enjoy hearing about the background to the hymn. I did. If you click on the link, you'll see where I read it.

Alive and ...well....

I've been substituting full time all week for one teacher who joined her family in Florida..early! It's been good so far, but I am NOT getting anything done around here. I just don't feel like doing much once I get home. MOnday Will was hacking away at the two inches of ice and packed snow that still remained in the driveway when I got home, so we worked together on that for awhile. The sidewalk is still covered... He got a bad cold and hasn't felt well all week, but he has long quiet days to get over it while I'm gone. Yesterday a friend dropped off my fruit order and we had a quick visit over peppermint tea and Mom's sweet bread. Yummmm. I should get groceries, clean up around here, hack the ice off the sidewalk and front walk, ah, but it's cozy in here. I have to run out to church for several hours tonight, then one more day of subbing. Linnea arrives about the time I get off tomorrow, so that's convenient. Christmas shopping, hahahahahaha!! I've ordered some things. Will gave me a list yesterday. We'll see about what we can do Friday and Saturday. The weather doesn't sound too good, so maybe it will be a Christmas Eve rush. Our 28th wedding anniversary is Saturday, the 22nd. On a Saturday once again. We hope to go out with friends. We'll see what the weather's like.

We really enjoyed hearing the Messiah last weekend at Augustana College in Rock Island, IL. Magnificent! It is really a worship service from beginning to end. The whole gospel story, all about Jesus. By the time I got to "Worthy is the Lamb" I was ready to stand up with my hands in the air! It brings tears to your eyes and a swelling in your chest just to hear those words and worship. Wow!

We also enjoyed another family get together. Seven of us grown-ups packed our car. Jenny, my sister came with us by herself. Will got there at 4am Friday after driving all night from Covenant, so he was with us. (The people he rode with were there, too!) Ron and Dennis thoroughly enjoyed being crazy together. Sometimes, one cannot even get a word of sense into them at all. Jen was trying to give directions to the college and they were messing with her the whole time. She's so good natured, she just sighs, and sits back in the seat. Oh, well.

I was a bit worried when we got up on Saturday and it began to snow. Andrew called and said it was bad here and that his friend's flight had been cancelled from Chicago. We started out and had wet and a bit slippery roads from LeClaire west a ways. DesMoines was wet and everything was dry from there on out! Yeah! Took us just a little longer than normal. I'm looking forward to a weekend at home with no Saturday afternoon practices and no out of town places to go!

Think I'll go tackle one of those jobs.....

Wintry Cold Monday Morning

Winter has arrived in Nebraska. Not officially, but we are getting snow on snow. It is a gorgeous morning. My friend and I did our 3 mile walk in 10 degrees( F not C) this morning. With no wind, we were very warm. Once I get into the house, the layers come off. Whew! I was very warm.
She came in to see the new carpet. YEA!!!! It was put down on Saturday afternoon. It was one of those things, too, they were supposed to be here by 10, never came, never came. I had to leave, but Denny was here. They showed up about 2:30!! So many things we had planned to get done that day didn't get done. I'll try to do them today. We had to go to Den's work Christmas party, so by the time the carpet lay-ers left, we only had time to put the couch back in. I really need someone to move out, or Andrew's girlfriend to get her own apartment so that I can give her all this stuff I don't want! We have enough to furnish an apartment down there! However, in spite of all the stuff, the room is looking quite cozy. We still have to finish putting up molding and baseboards. But the carpet makes it so light and dressy! It will be a great hangout place for the kids and their friends while everyone is home. Today I need to tidy up all the other rooms that held the stuff from this room.

Will gets home on Saturday after we go over to my mom's and get him. He gets a ride that far every year, and we go get him. That way we see Mom at Christmas and she gets to see Will, too. Dad's birthday will be the 21st and their anniversary the 31st, so she will be missing him very much this year. My brother and his wife, my sister and a couple of her children are joining Mom and us at a Messiah performance at Augustana College Friday night. It will be a good time together. Messiah performances have been part of our family for many years. It will be fun to go together again.

Linnea gets home the 20th. Then we'll have our cozy Christmas family all together!

I'm still trying to figure out Christmas presents. No one really wants or needs anything. And I want to be practical. It seems dumb to buy presents just for the sake of buying presents! And I do not like shopping. Anything I've gotten so far I've ordered online. I LOVE that kind of shopping.

We have bright sunshine today, finally! But a winter storm arriving tomorrow. Better get some groceries today.

Contemplating the weekend

I've been trying to get myself to blog ever since I got home, but just haven't known what to say in this forum. I wrote it all down in my journal, but what does one share with the world?

I do have to remind all of you who read this of the great blessing of a covenant family. Every time we get with our family, we are overwhelmed with God's goodness in that regard. We had four generations together this time. Dad's family, our family, our children and two little ones from the next generation. How God does honor His word! Who wouldn't be clamoring for what we have? And how God has blessed spouses who don't have this in their own families but are experiencing it in our family. This picture is the seven of us. Contrary to my last post that said Dad was 26 when the last one was born, he was 36. There are 16 years between me and Jenny (front right).

Friday evening we all had dinner together. There were 63 just family. Two of my kids couldn't make it, and Jeannette's husband. There were several friends, too, that seem like family. Lots of action, lots of talking. We did have a short (too short for some of us) formal sharing time. Fun to hear Dad's family sharing their stories. We haven't known them as well as Mom's. Dad was referred to as a "brute" on the football field by his brothers. One brother said that Dad would ask his family to pray for him before he left for each game. Sam said he'd pray for the other team! Dad was also very musical. Another story was that when Dad got the lead in Oklahoma! his family got tired of hearing the "O-oooo, kla-ho-ma...!!!!" every time he came around. He also sang "Old Man River" in Showboat. I remember him coming home with a black face, and being a very little girl at the time, it was very scary. And then he'd sing in his very big voice! Oooooo.

We also had informal times, more stories, in the breakfast room, lobby, hotel room or at Sneaky Pete's, the local hangout in LeClaire. After the lunch on Saturday we went back to the hotel to take family photos. (see above!) My Flickr has more. The electricity went out before we finished! When it came our family's turn, Den said he felt like a celebrity with the papparazzi!! The electricity was off for 3 hours. We got candles from Mom's house (she didn't have any electricity either) and had our lunch leftovers in the breakfast room by candlelight! Just a tad disappointing when the lights came on. Some of the guys went to find a sports bar to watch the BCS game. Andrew and Den got to know Dad's brothers a little better there! Rather, they got to know Den....but I won't say more.

The weather was the other main factor. ICE! Our hotel was on the Iowa side of the Mississippi and the church was on the other. The cemetery was on the Iowa side, the lunch was on the Illinois side. They were the last and first exits off the freeway, but still crossing that bridge in ice with semis whizzing, windshield wipers barely keeping the ice off...it wasn't fun. Thankfully no one even fell down. And it probably was the shortest graveside service ever. My uncle had his hand on the tent ceiling because it was so loaded with ice we were hoping it wouldn't collapse until we were done.

In a way, I'm sadder this week than last week. We were so relieved to think that Dad was delivered from his body; that at last he is singing in heaven and walking with Jesus! Now we are thinking about what we had, and what we will miss. We heard a lot about our dad this weekend. It was good to remember, and learn new things. We're glad that death does not have the last word, that because of Jesus we will go on living as well. This is just a temporary separation. And as the pastor said, Dad has left a great legacy. Dad lives on in all of us and what he taught us. We all see bits of Dad in each other and in our children.

For those of you that I saw this weekend, it was great being with you! I love you!

Remembering Dad

I'm just going to begin this today. I went to WalMart and scanned the few pictures I could find of Dad. Guess we just didn't take too many when he was around. And we were out of the country for 11 years.... Here's the funniest one I have taken in 2000 after our first Johnson family reunion. There are four more on Flickr. I cropped them, but Flickr took the originals off the CD, rats. The quality isn't too good, but you'll get the idea!
More about Dad later. I'm wanting to finish painting that room before I leave!!

I finished the room, now I'll write a little more. If you've already started reading this, I guess you'll have to come back and check to see if I've updated it.

One picture I asked my sister to find is one of us two oldest, maybe Melinda is in it too, but we're at Lake Michigan on the beach and Dad is walking in front, and we are following behind trying to walk only in his footsteps. Not only is it a good photo, but it is a good lesson. Following in his steps.

I think we older siblings have different memories, and really a different Dad from the younger ones. He was only 20 when I was born and 26 when the youngest was born. He was athletic and musical. He was our active parent in sports. He took us swimming, ice skating, sledding, roller skating, and played in the water with us at the beach. He didn't just watch us do these things either. Usually he was chasing us, playing games, swimming underwater to grab our legs, teaching us to do figure 8 on the ice or skate backwards either ice skating or roller skating. He also taught us how to sing. "Breathe with the diaphragm; don't let the candle flame flicker; use your natural voice; don't yell". My sister probably remembers a lot more about that. We sang harmony from very early on. I don't remember ever having to learn it. Our mom always harmonized when we all sang, so I suppose we heard her, too. We sang three parts in the car, while washing dishes and just whenever we felt like it and had people to sing. I think Dad never wanted us to get a dishwasher because he would miss his after dinner concert from the kitchen!! He'd go take a nap in the living room while we cleaned up. He had a recording business of sorts, as a hobby mostly, so we had microphones and reel to reel tape recorders around. One time when we were very young, he set it all up at the bottom of the stairs while we were supposed to be taking our Sunday afternoon naps. That must've been fun to listen to; too bad the tape never got saved!

He slipped the surly bonds of earth...

To touch the face of God. I think that's a beautiful picture. Ron called last night about 9:30 and said, "Dad's with Jesus." Jenny called a few minutes later and said, "He's been delivered." What peaceful and joyful ways to express the passing of a parent. "Death is ended..death is swallowed up in victory!"

Thanksgiving 2007

This year we went to my brother Ron's for Thanksgiving. It was fun to be with family, and especially Ron since there is never a dull moment when he's around! We left Thursday morning and went up to get Stephanie who was able to come with us. It had snowed about 4 inches in Des Moines on Wednesday, so we loaded up boots, gloves, hats and coats. Ron cooked his turkey in the deep fat fryer out in the garage while we women worked on dinner in the kitchen. It was a cloudy snowy day all day, so it was cozy to be in the house. Meredith kept giving me a hard time about not working...or not wanting to work. Huh. Ron and Dennis were in rare form during dinner....or is it rare anymore? Anyway, I never laughed so much. Neither did Den. Ron's plate was totally clean and Den's was still full. Denny is still trying to figure out how Ron can eat and keep everyone laughing all at the same time. I bet Stephanie has never had a stranger Thanksgiving!

We played Pictionary and Spoons in the evening. I think the Minich family won the Pictionary game. *smile* Thanks to the Thompson help. (How COULD she tell that was a hammerhead shark????) Stephanie fit right in and didn't seem a bit uncomfortable with this crazy family. Ron got out the gator and we hooked up the dogs' plastic swimming pool behind it. Then we sat in the pool and he pulled us around on the snow. It was so cool!! Like tubing only in the snow. Of course he'd whip the thing around so it spun fast and the snow flew up and over the pool, covering the rider in snow! Friday Andrew and Stephanie made a snow bunny, I guess since there really wasn't enough snow for a snow man. It was cold, but beautiful. Friday was clear and sunny. Den and Ron got a big burn pile started after the disastrous Nebraska football game. Maybe they were wanting to put someone's effigy on the bonfire?

Meredith picked up one of her photos that had been made into a huge poster. It is of a lavender aster taken in England. You can even see drops of water on it. Gorgeous!

We got home on Friday night about 7:30. We felt like we got to know Stephanie much better. And we have great memories of a family get together.

Christ in you, the hope of glory

I thought I'd share some of Mom's thoughts as we wait to see what will happen with Dad. Yesterday the doctor told her four to seven days. These are her thoughts this morning. What a joy and privilege to know God's peace.

Thanks to your prayers I am jubilant this morning, the song ,Victory in Jesus, came to my mind so I tried to remember the words , I think I have it , at least the chorus: 'Victory in Jesus, my Savior forever, He sought me, He bought me with His redeeming blood, He loved me 'ere I I knew Him and all my love is due Him, He plunged to victory in His redeeming blood.'
I am going thru the Proverbs, I thought what will I receive from them in my current state: chp 11:6a, 8a, 30, talking about the blessings of the righteous, 1Cor 2:5, our faith is in he power of God, 9' Eye hath not seen nor ear heard...the things God has prepared for those....' 12.. we have received the Spirit which is from God that we might know the things that have been freely given to us by God'. Knowledge gives me great hope in believing.
This funeral will be like my Mom's, full of rejoicing along with the tears.I am so full of joy....

rejoicing because of Jesus

May this encourage you in your walk with God today. It does me. I am so thankful for my godly heritage! And so humbled.

How do we pray?

Yesterday's sermon was on prayer and the gospel. The text was the Lord's Prayer. The message helped us gain perspective on prayer. God is not a vending machine. The prayer begins, "Father" we have a close relationship with God. Then He asks that God's name be holy and His will would be done on earth. God's will is the big plan. We only see our little threads in the tapestry, and sometimes those aren't very clear, either. So we pray that what we ask would be part of His big plan.

In August I wrote about my dad and his leadership in our family. Last Friday he was taken to the hospital with another stroke, they think. Right now they are feeding him through a tube or IV and he just sleeps, Mom says. They are going to do an EEG this morning to determine if he is having more strokes. He hadn't been eating the day before.

It is difficult to watch your dad slowing slip away. One wants things to move quickly one direction or another. How do we pray? What does God want? The difficulty for me is not the slipping away, but the slowness of it. Do we hang on and hope for a miracle? How does a Christian face these moral dilemmas differently than those who would say, "Just get it over with?" God uses Mom in the lives of all those she contacts during this time as well. So my prayers are for her. For peace, strength and wisdom. A loving Father is caring for her and Dad and will give what we ask. As we pray, God works through His Spirit in us, too. For His glory.

The bells bells bells bells bells

I know my friend could is also going to post about this, but many of you don't read hers as well, so I'll write about it, too. Hers will be far wittier, anyway! (Maybe you should read hers. *smile* )

Our church homeschool group borrowed some bells from a local university for their children's choir. Yesterday a few of us got together to test our sight reading, wrist snapping ability. We are playing "Infant Lowly, Infant Holy" which is a nice even piece and not too complicated. But it's funny when we get lost in the piece or we keep trying to get that thing to ring. For some reason, my right arm/wrist works far better than the left. It was so much fun, and so rewarding to get it right that we kept playing and playing.
I've loved the bells ever since I first heard them my senior year in high school. And even though the only people I've ever seen play them ever since are groups of old ladies, I am thrilled to be able to try it out for myself.
Maybe I'm the old lady now anyway. (According to Andrew, he doesn't want me telling all my "old lady friends" what's going on in his life! So maybe I'M an old lady, too!)

More work in progress....

The work center. This is the reason I haven't been blogging. I've been working on this room or else substituting. I've been at a school three days out of the week for the last three weeks. That's good, but when it rains, it pours. I scramble from one job to the next.

In our frenzied attempts to rid our house of the mouse infestation that seemed to be taking over our lives, we ripped out a closet in the bedroom that used to be a garage. Not only did we just take down the frame of the closet, but we ripped out the walls, too, thinking we'd find the mouse nest. No such luck, but we haven't seen any more mice in there. Hence, the room is now getting a much needed makeover.
It used to be Andrew's bedroom. Then Den bought a TV that I didn't want up in the living room, so he put it down there. Andrew moved up to Linnea's old room and the room became the media room. It had never been redone since we moved in 8 years ago, and it's been stuck in the 80's ever since. Oh, except we ripped out the navy blue/rose wall paper that was on the wall, and primed the walls. So, as you see, the rose-colored carpet is now gone. The walls were so badly marked up from darts, holes punched in the wall, irregular wallboard seams (before our time) that we decided to wallpaper it with paintable textured wallpaper. I'm nearly finished. As you can see, though, we have a few wallpaper problems, too. Hopefully by the time the gang comes over for Christmas they will enjoy the new media room-fit with new sound system as well. Looking forward to it!

The true philosopher's stone

I've been reading All Things for Good by Thomas Watson this afternoon. It is a book that expounds Romans 8:28. After discussing the fact that every seeming evil that befalls us, God always turns for our good, he says:

See then what encouragement here is to become the godly. All things shall work for good. Oh, that this may induce the world to fall in love with religion! Can there be a greater lodestone to piety? Can anything more prevail with us to be good, than this; all things shall work for our good? Religion is the true philosopher's stone that turns everything into gold. Take the sourest part of religion, the suffering part, and there is comfort in it. God sweetens suffering with joy; He candies our wormwood with sugar. Oh, how may this bribe us to godliness!

How sweet it is.

We've come a long way....!

From the old covenant's way of sacrifices to remove our sin!!

I've been reading through Hebrews this month. Wow, it is fantastic in its logical arguments for Christ being the end of the old covenant and its way of doing things. It's hard some days to stop reading at the end of the day's reading because the logic is taking me on and on. Today's reading repeats this phrase "for all time" or a variation like "once for all" three times. The author is telling us that the old sacrifices were only shadows. They could not do anything to take away sins or to clear my conscience. When Christ came, His sacrifice was the sacrifice to end it all.

"He abolishes the first [old covenant sacrifices] in order to establish the second. And that by that will [the Father's will] we have been sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all"( Heb. 10:9-10) "But when Christ had offered for all time a single sacrifice for sins, HE SAT DOWN at the right hand of God"(v. 12) "For by a single offering he has perfected for all time those who are being sanctified." (v. 14)

Then the author inserts the passage from Isaiah about God writing the laws on our hearts and minds. So not only does Christ's sacrifice now cleanse our conscience, which the old law could not, but He writes it on our hearts and minds. The chapter closes with "NO MORE". "I will remember their sins and their lawless deeds no more."

I need these reminders. I think that God sometimes is only rather tersely pleased with me. It's hard to feel that He doesn't even remember what I've done. So as an act of the will and with the help of the Holy Spirit, I can come to God knowing (what is true and not my feelings) that God accepted Christ's sacrifice and I am perfected. And I am being sanctified....it's a process.

Ending with the last verse of today's Psalm, (108:13) "With God we shall do valiantly; it is he who will tread down our foes."

Man, it's all about God, isn't it??

Katherine K. Davis

I was reminded of K.K.Davis, an old friend of ours, this morning when a friend from Scotland wrote to ask how she could get a copy of a song we sang together. Well, KK Davis is sort of a friend. When we were in high school our girls' septet sang several classical music pieces arranged by her for three women's parts. We had a lot of fun with it. The Green Hills Book became a staple at school reunions and family get-togethers. I bought one and continued to sing those arrangements with my five sisters. We even made a very informal recording of some of them! Then when I moved to Scotland I took the book and some of us women sang an arrangement of Psalm 23 called "The King of Love". It is an arrangement of an Irish tune. The book doesn't give me any more information than that, so if one of you friends or family can tell me the name of the tune, friends in Scotland want to sing it again!

I would love to sing some of these songs with women again. We just have to find the right women who sing the right parts. When we sang these in high school and with my sisters, I never guessed how precious those musical times were.

If you want to know more about her, here is the link.
She died in 1980.
Back to housecleaning....thanks for the break, Mairead! *smile*!

Great ideas from friends.

I've gotten the idea for this post and the links for the last post from friends' posts. Boy is it nice to stay connected! I learn so many cool things! This is from my friend from the Heartland. This is from the movie Les Choristes. We've seen it twice and it's fantastic! These boys sing like angels! Go to "Notes from the Heartland" for the movie trailer. And then go check out the movie. You will cry from the beauty of both music and story. Caveat, if you're watching with your kids. Some vulgarity, like one scene and some violence. It's PG-13.

Montana Cougars

The homeschool volleyball tournament was here in Omaha this weekend. I wouldn't have paid much attention to it if it hadn't been for my old high school friend, Al, and his daughter Victoria who arrived here late Wednesday evening with their team from Montana. Our local news station even covered the event. It was fun to watch these fired-up girls play ball. They ended up in second place in their division, an excellent feat since they had never come to the national tournament before AND had the added disadvantage of playing together only for an hour and a half before coming! Their team was a combination of the Bozeman and the Billings homeschool volleyball teams. Our family enjoyed catching up with Al and Victoria as well as getting to meet some of their friends. We had a relaxing evening of visiting and eating at China Buffet on Thursday night. Although our visit was short and sporadic, mostly late at night, it was good to have an old friend in our home. And this friendship goes back nearly 40 years....if you can believe that!!! The Eagles new album came out on Thursday, so our visit will be remembered every time we listen to that music. Wow, they have fantastic harmony. And Al can do it too! *smile*

Return to Capitol Steps

Here's the link to the "American Pie" song on globalization, mostly about China. It IS funny!

Green and Gold. Good smells. Home smells.

Has a nice ring to it, doesn't it? I subbed today in Bellevue. It was one of those "need a warm body" days in a resource room. (Do we wonder why the public school system needs so much money??) This is the same class where I subbed a few years ago and read, O Pioneers all day. That day I got the book finished. Maybe I was a little more diligent than today. But today I got just over half-way through A Swiftly Tilting Planet. For some reason, I'm in to Madeleine L'Engle lately. I was hoping it was on Linnea's shelf when I got home, but alas, I'll have to go get it from the library. The title of the blog entry is a line from that book. I thought it described me and my house. Andrew thinks I paint everything green and yellow. Well..... And I used to write letters to friends in the summer and talk about Iowa's green and golden evenings...ah. Green and golden. Good smells. Home smells.

Caught up with the day

Finally, I got my whole job list done, and I can relax for awhile. Al, my friend from high school, is coming tonight with his daughter and her volleyball team to play in the national homeschool volleyball tournament held here in Omaha. Looking forward to having them here! Well, only part of them actually HERE.

It's Halloween. I've never been a fan of Halloween. It's usually Denny who passes out the treats. And he isn't here this year! Andrew had some of his friends over, so we had a bonfire and cooked out hamburgers and hotdogs. The weather is PERFECT for that. This was Andrew's perfect fire, started from scratch with no artificial help! I'm sure it made a difference this time that it hasn't rained in nearly two weeks! He looked like a young Abe Lincoln swinging that hammer wedging the log apart. And what a satisfying crunch as it pulled apart. I can't figure out how he manages to hit that wedge square on! Guess he could go live in the woods now. There is something about a fire that nudges quiet conversation on into the night. One of these days, I'LL get to sit by the fire with my friends. For now, I don't want to crash the party...

A Quickie from NPR

I was listening to NPR as I drove home from the commissary this morning. It was the very end of the Halloween program of Capitol Steps. I don't know what the whole program was, but the part I heard was a song to the tune of "American Pie" all about the scary imports from China. It was sooo funny! Here's the link for the website. The program is listed in the left column. You can hear some of the song if you listen to the promo. For those of you who have time....it's worth it! I may blog more later. I just went to the link, you may have to listen to the program. You get the idea at the promo, though. oh well.

World Series Final Game..Times Two

Uncle Lester time again, and that's just about the same time as the World Series. He loves baseball and Denny enjoys watching, though I'm not sure who he was rooting for in this series. The two of them enjoyed Saturday and Sunday evening at the "ballpark". Last year the St. Louis Cardinals were playing, and we were all very much into THAT series!! It was a sweep last year, and the series was a sweep this year, too. And Uncle Lester happened to be here both times! We always have such a good time when he comes to visit. Lots of interesting stories! He's an easy guest. We look forward every year now to our end-of-October visit with Uncle Lester! Don't they look relaxed?

My official season change

I have two, the first is when I pull all my plants out of the house in the spring and the second is when I drag them all in again. Well, I don't drag them, the two strong men that live in my house do! Man, am I thankful for them! This is the first arrangement. I've since rearranged. That rosemary is only one. The other is on the other side of the room. I really have to do SOMETHING about her this year.... She's been living in a pot for 7 years now. I may cut all the branches around Christmastime and make garlands for Christmas. Then it can start all new branches. The room is lovely with all this green in here!

Villa Accetta

I just want to call attention to a new link that I've added to my blog. Our friend Kiki has a marvelous villa on the coast of Italy. She just sent me the link to her website. All you friends of Italy, check it out. It will make you want to take off tomorrow!!! Ah, remember New Year's Day there? And Avery slipped on slimy rocks, fell and got all wet? I remember floating out in that bay and going around the point to the Formia side. And the sunshine and the view. And also feeling the icy water coming from the spring underneath the house. Oh, what a super place! I think we should all plan a trip back...at the same time!

Marathon man repeat performance

The blog site isn't letting me upload photos, but I'll just say that Denny finished his SECOND marathon! A brilliant October day dawned with NO RAIN. It was still dark when they left, but in 20 minutes it was light. Ron went out with him to the starting line; too cold and dark for me. The starting line was right in front of the hotel, and they circled back by the hotel at 5 1/2 miles, for Den about an hour later. So Ron and I went out again and cheered him on from there. We went and ate breakfast, then drove out to Stone State Park where he should have been coming out. He ran by JUST AS WE DROVE UP! Awesome timing! That was about mile 17. Ron had to harass him for a few feet, we jumped out and took a photo then drove on to mile 20. We parked and waited. This is where Ron went up the road a few hundred yards and ran down with Denny. (Photos are on Flickr) Then we went downtown and joined the festive throng cheering each runner as they rounded the final block and headed up the last three blocks into downtown Sioux City. The announcer called everyone's name, number and hometown as they came down the final stretch. Ron went and told the guy that #144 turned 55 TODAY!, so when he rounded the corner the guy called him "Marathon Man, The Flash, turned 55 today." Then his name ..... Of course Den knew who was behind THAT!! He seemed pretty cheery as he came down the homestretch. After walking around, eating oranges and bananas and drinking, we went in for free pizza and coke where they were giving out awards. (More pictures on Flickr.)

Absolutely perfect weather. Probably in the upper 60's by the end. No clouds. Clear sky.
A fantastic drive home in golden sunshine with brilliant scarlet trees along the freeway. (What ARE those trees?) Combines were back in the field today, but lots of fields have standing water in them.

Hey, Forrest Gump ran with him, too!

One could understand Sun worship!

After nearly a week of constant dark clouds and pouring rain, THE SUN IS SHINING!!! What a feeling of exhilaration to see the sunshine dancing through the shadow of leaves on my living room wall. In prayer meeting on Wednesday we prayed for wind and sun. Today the winds may gust to 40 mph!! The sunshine inspired my Bible reading. "...in the heavens you established your faithfulness." (Ps. 89:2) "The heavens are yours; the earth also is yours; the world and all that is in it, you have founded them." (v. 11) Global warming won't be destroying God's faithful guardianship of the earth! And then in Jeremiah when God promises that He will be faithful to Israel and particularly the line of David, He says that faithfulness is based on his covenant with the day and the night and the fixed order of the heaven and the earth.

The theory of evolution is so heinous because it is a slap in the face of the Creator. In reading through the Bible year after year I've seen this fact of God as Creator is of supreme importance. God calls himself and is called the Creator/Maker over and over. In nearly every single day of my Bible reading, I find verses referring to God's making the heaven and the earth. Praise God for making the Sun!!! Sun, glorious sunshine!

Den runs in the Sioux City marathon tomorrow. Ron and Diana are going to meet us there tonight. Den can go to bed, and we can party! He gets so nervous. Afterwards will be fun, though. It's suppose to be sunny and 75! yeah! We'll try to catch up with him at different mile markers. Part of the route goes through a state park, so we could go for a walk while he's panting his way up the hill. Go, baby! Pictures to follow....*smile*

Fall Break is Here!

Fall break, or any break that Will comes home, means that the gang is here. And I love it! I'm trying to upload photos, but I saved them in a different file when I took them off my camera, and now I can't find them. Why don't I just keep doing things the way I know it works??? I get different pop-up questions when I plug in my camera now, and so I think I'll do something different. Argh! Different isn't always better, it's just different! (Obviously I figured it out and fixed it. Ah!)

We have had a fun, full weekend. Rain, rain and more rain, though. Friday night's football game with BOTH of my boys there was great, and the fact that their alma mater played the best game of the year and WON made it even better. Andrew and friends went to Vala's Pumpkin Patch, in the rain. (It began raining as soon as the game ended!) This photo was saved in a different place! While Andrew was with his crowd, Will's crowd came over here. That is James and all the girls from the class. One of the girls now has a boyfriend, too, so he and James were watching football downstairs while Will and the girls were making caramel apples in the kitchen. Photos coming....

Saturday Andrew and Den had some plumbing jobs to do for me. And we were tearing out a closet in our, what is now shall I say, the media room. TV, computer, stereo......a guy thing, you know. It was a terrible day, weather-wise. Will's friends came again, only this time they bought pumpkins and spread them out on the dining room table to carve. I'll have to get one of them to send me photos of the finished products.

Sunday worship was great. Refreshing. Another dark, rainy day, but a stab of sunlight at sunset gave us a brilliant rainbow! Ah, that was marvelous! Harold and Beth came to share their Saturday evening leftovers with us. Yummy! Beth and I discussed how I can rearrange and decorate the downstairs, while Harold and Den either watched the football game or slept! At least Harold could drive home! *smile*! Friends who know H. will understand this comment!!!

Today Will needs to renew his driver's license. We went on Friday afternoon--BIG MISTAKE. It was packed. He now understands the inefficiency of government bureaucracy! We decided to try a different time!

The weather creates an atmosphere for hot tea and a good book or a movie. Not unlike Christmas break. Now where's the tea....

The foundations of the earth are shaken

This phrase caught my attention in today's Bible reading. I wondered if it meant actual physical destruction or moral/spiritual destruction. Since we are blessed with numerous commentaries from a lifetime of buying books, I looked this verse up (Psalm 82:5) in Keil and Delitzsch's commentary on Psalms. Here's the whole verse: "They have neither knowledge nor understanding, they walk about in darkness; all the foundations of the earth are shaken." This describes the current lot of presidential candidates from both parties, if you ask me. No one's ideas seem reasonable, logical or wise. They all seem to be saying only what they think the people want to hear in order to get them elected. And Al Gore getting the Nobel Peace Prize illustrates what I'm saying even more. Here's what the commentary has to say about this verse (bear with me):

"No result is to be expected from the divine admonition: they still go their ways in this state of mental darkness and that implies stalking on in carnal security and self-complacency. The commands, however which they transgress are the foundations, as it were the shafts and pillars, upon which rests the permanence of all earthly relationships which are appointed by creation and regulated by the Torah [Law]. Their transgression makes the land, the earth, to totter physically and morally, and is the prelude of its overthrow."

Wow. That answered my question. Our refusal to listen and obey the moral commands of God personally and as a nation and world ultimately results in the destruction of our relationships and even the world itself! It is only through the wisdom of God and obedience to what He says that these things can be healed. Earlier in that chapter we are commanded to "give justice to the weak" and "maintain the right of the afflicted and destitute...deliver them from the hand of the wicked". I think that's why America has traditionally gotten involved in "foreign wars". Because of our Biblical worldview roots, we see our responsibility to deliver the weak from the hand of the wicked. And that's a moral issue.

So global warming? Not a MORAL issue, but I am responsible to do my part in having dominion, caring for my corner. I'm not sure what that should look like as a nation. Back to dealing justly with and for the weak.

Abortion? Well, that one seems pretty obvious. We ARE dealing with the weak here. Helping to deliver from oppression? God's command is clear. Our nation may continue to choose to disobey, but not with impunity.

This is why Christian education is so important. We are teaching those who are weak and young, who need to know HOW to think in a world that is so full of fools who forget God. Our prayer is that they would grow wise and be the ones who help and deliver the weak, destitute, fatherless and afflicted.

Honey from the rock

The other night at prayer meeting our pastor read from Psalm 81 that ends with, "..and with honey from the rock I would satisfy you." He said he wasn't sure what honey from the rock was, so I thought I'd look it up. (That's the advantage of substituting. I have time for extended Bible study on days when I don't teach. ) It refers to the water that came from the rock in the desert when the children of Israel were wandering. The beginning of the chapter talks about their wandering. God will satisfy us like a drink in the desert if we will do as verse 10 says, "open your mouth wide, and I will fill it." That chapter was my Bible reading for the next morning and then I thought of that phrase during the night last night.

My 100th post

And some said that it would be just a flash-in-the-pan. Guess they didn't know me. I started this just over 9 months ago. It has been fun for me just to write generally, spontaneously and to everyone. Sometimes I can't write as freely if I focus on a particular audience, so this has been fun for me. Some of you, too, have been so encouraging that it stimulates me to write even more.

Well, today's email is a little late, too, because I'm writing about a sister whose birthday was yesterday. She's younger than I; we'll just say that much. She's the sister with whom I had to share a room, a bed, and I even borrowed her clothes occasionally (her skirt would be shorter on me!) Both being rather opinionated and strong willed, we had some wild times. She was probably far more patient with me. But she was messier than I. Anyway, she is one who can whip out a pie or a whole meal that tastes delicious at a moments notice. She is smart, helpful and witty. She can belt out an aria as well as parse a Latin sentence. She also has two+ grandchildren (yeah, and she's younger than me!) Her husband is pretty cool, too, but we'll save him for another blog.... And her blog is linked to mine. If you want some good reading, go there sometime. Happy Birthday, Nin.

Today's funny

I was called to sub on the spur of the minute this morning. They ask, "How soon can you be here?" while I'm still in my housecoat and pj's... "Um, give me 45 minutes." So I scrambled and left the house in shambles. But the money's worth it...and every little bit helps.

Today I was in what used to be called "Home Ec" at Bellevue East high school. I really don't find these kids much different from OCA. They are generally quiet, respectful and get down to business. Every school has its mouthy ones and "slackers". This was no different. They don't really bother me. I only had three periods. Two of them worked on a chapter review worksheet. I should say "worked" because a few slept/copied/or played around. But while I was standing guard I saw this funny anecdote on the teacher's desk.

Husband has just taken a phone message for his wife. Message reads as follows:
"Someone from the Gyna Colleges called.
They said the Pabst beer is normal.
I didn't even know you liked beer!"

Now wasn't that worth a 1/2 day substituting?! Gave me a good laugh.

One more thing. I cleaned out my email address book this weekend. I sent an email to find out if they were all getting anywhere. Many were and I heard from sooo many old friends! Thanks to any of you who are now reading this as a result. It was great to hear from people. Even got a couple of photos!

An afternoon in Sioux City

We took off about 1:30 today to scope out the next marathon route. Makes me tired just to think of it. It was another hot, windy day, but clear and beautiful. Combines were working away cleaning the soybeans off the fields. Few cornfields have been done yet. I love to see them all out there. We stopped just south of Sioux City to visit Sgt. Floyd's monument. He was the first casualty of the Lewis and Clark expedition. I think he had an attack of appendicitis, no battle with Indians or anything. He is buried near the monument there on a high bluff overlooking a spectacular view of the Missouri River and beyond.
We bought a map of Sioux City and managed to get to most of the parts of the marathon route. It is going to be hilly-er Or is is hillier? (Looks like "sillier") Anyway, Sioux City has grassy places all the way down to the river, so the trail runs right along the river. Far more beautiful than the Omaha one. Also once they climb up the bluff, they run through a state park. It's rather hilly, too. Den had a few second thoughts, but he doesn't want to be a quitter. He says this will be his last one, though. HA!
I'm tired now. Sorry I haven't had much to say this week. Maybe I'll be more inspired tomorrow!

One more for the month

This is the last day of September and if I want to get one more in before the month ends, it had better be tonight. Besides, I know all of you are looking for some new entry.

We are battened down here facing the fierce winds on the prairie. Yesterday and today would be counted as hurricanes, nearly, if we had been on the coast. Denny wanted to get the pool closed up, but the wind would have ripped the tarp out of his hand and blown it into the next state, literally! So now it's just getting all the dead corn leaves blown into the water. One less/more job. Lovely sunny days, though. The temperature dropped about 15 degrees from 85 to 70 in a couple of hours. Now to go out it feels cold. (Den just said it's 60!) That's the weather in Lake Wobegone!

Great service this morning. Harold and I led the worship music. It's fun to sing parts with him. A Mighty Fortress was one of them. I've sung this for years, but the words are fresh and alive and have even more meaning each time I sing them. Each verse continues the thought of the verse before, like a message. The first verse speaks of the "ancient foe" who is armed with "cruel hate". Wow. That's pretty powerful. And it even goes on to say that there is no equal on earth. Gives you shivers, doesn't it? But then the next verse gives hope saying that we don't confide in our own strength, or we'd all lose, but we have the right man, the One God chose, Jesus Christ and then He is called, "Lord Sabaoth".(Lord of hosts). The third verse continues the theme of evil in the world going even as far as to conjecture that if the world was FILLED with devils we would not have to fear because His TRUTH would triumph THROUGH US!! We don't even fear the prince of darkness because we know his ending is sure through the Word. And because of the Word we have the Spirit and the gifts, and He is with us. Finally the theme of TRUTH returns. Because of that truth, God's abiding, everlasting truth, His kingdom lasts forever. We ultimately triumph because of the person and work of Jesus Christ. I did so feel like I worshiped when that song ended!

That's been the theme of my morning Bible reading through the book of Isaiah. I challenge you to go through chapters 40-55 or so and underline all the times God says that He is God and there is no other, and that He made the heavens and earth and everything in them. Just lets you know WHO'S in charge! What a wonderful reading. It will encourage any of the most depressed and discouraged. His triumph is NOT in some future eschatalogical kingdom, but NOW!
That's my Sunday thoughts for September 30th! Have a great week!

Marathon photos

This is the fastest and easiest way to let you all see the "official" photos of Dennis' Omaha marathon. Hopefully this link will work. If you want to order photos (hahahahahah) you can! He has his shirt on in a few of them! *smile*

Tired of hearing about the marathon? Well, what do you think it's like around here!!!

October 20th is the next one. I wrote "October 6th" to my cousin yesterday. What was I thinking?!!

My Adventurous Husband

And here's what Den ended up being. It's perfect. I'll have to highlight some of it, or you can figure out the perfect bits yourself!

You're Adventures of Huckleberry Finn!

by Mark Twain

With an affinity for floating down the river, you see things in black
and white. The world is strange and new to you and the more you learn about it, the less
it makes sense. You probably speak with an accent and others have a hard time
understanding you and an even harder time taking you seriously. Nevertheless, your
adventurous spirit is admirable. You really like straw hats.


Take the Book Quiz
at the Blue Pyramid.

Friends and celebrating early

Just one more quickie before I type up my lesson for tonight... Today my friend Sharon took me out for my birthday. She has been so kind ever since we met several years ago when I was her daughter's teacher. What an encourager! We went to a little bistro in Countryside Village and had simple, but most delicious food. Part of our visit was intended to catch up on her recent trip to Ireland. Ah, what lovely scenery, broad vistas, fog enshrouded mountains, burnt yellow painted houses along the village street and stately cathedrals, castles and monasteries. She also brought me a packet of delicious Oat Crumbles that I'm munching on while I sip tea. (Preparing to get that lesson typed....!)

I'm so thankful for ALL my friends! What a glimpse into the fellowship amongst the Trinity a good friend is. Sometimes I wonder if my friends are more important to me than God, but then I realize that my friends show me God. Our friends reflect different facets of our personality. Some I am just plain crazy with. Some help me to think through issues. Some keep me cheered up; some bring me back to earth. Some sharpen and stimulate and some sooth and encourage. Some of them do more than one of these things! Some go back to my childhood, some I've only met recently. I wish they were all nearby, but that's what heaven is for...one thing anyway! Thanks, Friends!

BTW, Den is planning to run the Sioux City marathon on October 20th! He figures if he's already done all this training, he may as well keep using it. Some people are gluttons for punishment... He is inspiring to others, though! Stephanie's dad told me today that Den has inspired her to get out there and run!

Little did I know what a jock I married 28 years ago!!!

An explanation

"Prone to Wander" just did this book quiz and posted it on her blog. There are only about 8 questions, but being a book lover, and a lover of the classics, I thought it would be fun. Does this sound like me? The post includes the link.

Try it...you'll like it!

Another view of my personality!

You're To Kill a Mockingbird!

by Harper Lee

Perceived as a revolutionary and groundbreaking person, you have
changed the minds of many people. While questioning the authority around you, you've
also taken a significant amount of flack. But you've had the admirable guts to
persevere. There's a weird guy in the neighborhood using dubious means to protect you,
but you're pretty sure it's worth it in the end. In the end, it remains unclear to you
whether finches and mockingbirds get along in real life.


Take the Book Quiz
at the Blue Pyramid.

Yep, Marathon Man at 55

Yes, he did it, ran all 26.2 miles. The photo on the left is of the last few feet before the finish line. They came in along the Missouri River. The photo on the right was taken by our friends, the Happy Wanderers, along about mile 18 or so. See, he's even smiling. He said it wasn't bad until the last four miles or so. By then he was tired, it was HOT and the hot wind was blowing against him. He looked good coming in to the end, though. And he's feeling very pleased that he was able to run the whole thing. He did it in 5 hours. He averaged about 5.4 miles/hour, and kept a steady pace through the whole "race". He got water frequently and "ate" these gel packs filled with nutrients to keep him energized. (Chuck said, "speed"!) Chuck and Judy met him a couple of times along the course while Andrew and I were still in church and sprayed him and gave him water. Check out Chuck's blog for their view. Andrew went up the course a ways after we got there and saw Den as he came around the last curve. They were out of my view, but he ran along with him a little way and got Den psyched up for that last 500 yards or so. The marathon people gave him a device to attach to his shoe that kept track of his time. You can go to the marathon site and type in his name and number 271 for more info. I don't think they have the pictures uploaded yet. He has a gps gizmo he wears like a watch that tracks his route, his pace and number of calories burned. He loads the information into the computer, and it comes out on a graph. He also keeps track of every time he runs, and then compares them. It's a fun toy for him. What's next? You'll have to ask him. He talked to Charysse yesterday. They could speak each other's language. They may run together sometime. Well, at least in the same race. She runs the Chicago marathon on October 7th. She was his inspiration at our family reunion!

It was also his 55th birthday, so we had a celebration with 8 of our friends from church. It was a gorgeous evening, so we sat out by the pool, which we haven't closed yet, ate finger food, drank wine and had birthday cake and coffee. This picture was taken when he opened this really funny birthday card. Isn't his expression priceless?!

Early Birthday Present

Denny surprised me when I got home from church tonight with an early birthday present. He couldn't wait a week to give it to me; what a sweetie! He'd probably forget that he'd gotten it with all the excitement of the coming weekend! The CD has many favorites that I never tire of: Nessun Dorma, Con te partiro, Nella Fantasia, You Raise Me Up.... The link is to Amazon, so you can check it out for yourself. I'm glad to support this young man's debut into the music world. Thanks, World Mag, for introducing him to us!
Guess you can tell that we like all kinds of music!
And speaking of that...Den ordered his tickets for the Bob Dylan concert here at the Qwest Center, October 26th. He and Andrew are going. Will and Linnea, we feel your pain...!!!

Red Hot Chilli Pipers

I'm going to try to add something to this new post. I typed one and then figured out how to put the video right on to my blog so that you don't even have to click on the link. Learning something new all the time!

I just went to the Caithness.org website this afternoon and clicked on their link to this band. It was so good! They were playing in Wick this weekend or lately anyway. So after I got on the YouTube site, I started listening to all their other stuff posted on there. This piece is great. Put rock n roll in bagpipe music and you get some real dancin' music. Turn it up and dance around the room! I love the sound. Other clips may be better, if you have time to look/listen around!

If you prefer a more traditional yet upbeat sound, try this link that I first heard on the Caithness website.

Psalms, Isaiah and American politics

I have to admit, I get discouraged, disillusioned and sometimes even depressed when I spend any length of time reading current events. I want to stay informed and involved, so I keep up with what's going on. I form my opinions just like anyone else. Sometimes I know I get too emotional about it all. But that's when I am thankful for the hours that I've spent reading and studying Psalms and Isaiah. This morning as I read through the weekend comments of current candidates for American President I felt overwhelmed by the bickering, backstabbing and foolish ideas. Panic seized me. Then I remembered Psalm 2, here are verses 1-4:
1 Why do the nations conspire
and the peoples plot in vain?
2 The kings of the earth take their stand
and the rulers gather together
against the LORD
and against his Anointed One.
3 "Let us break their chains," they say,
"and throw off their fetters."
4 The One enthroned in heaven laughs;
the Lord scoffs at them.

Humanity wants to "break their chains" and "throw off their fetters". These chains and fetters are God's law, and they refuse to obey it, nor do they even want to be bound by it. Those chains and fetters of marriage, purity, compassion, protection for the weak. We are consumed by the desire for our own personal peace and affluence. But God is still in control and laughs at their attempts to throw off His rule over them. Later the Psalmist writes that "he will dash them in pieces".

I use the One Year Bible for my devotions. Every year at this time the OT readings are in Isaiah. And they are most encouraging when reading the news and thinking about current leaders and those who want to be the leaders. God raises up those who are His plan for our country and the world. None of it is pure chance. Isaiah 25, the reading for today says, "for you have done wonderful things, plans formed of old, faithful and sure. For you have made the city a heap..." In chapter 22 Isaiah tells the people that they laid all the plans for defending the city, put everything in place, YET "you did not look to him who did it, or see him who planned it long ago." Our current election results are not up for grabs. We plan and do our part, but as Isaiah said, God planned the results long ago. How reassuring that is! Nothing is out of control. Not George Bush, nor Putin, nor the Iranian guy whose name I can't spell, not anyone. "The king's heart is in the hand of the LORD; he directs it like a watercourse wherever he pleases."(Prov. 21:1)

So if you're feeling overwhelmed, like me, at all that's going on in our world, take heart, God is on His throne. He has his plans and He directs hearts, even the hearts of Bush, Putin, and A...!

Porridge weather

It's 10:15 and not even 50 this morning. It was 39 when we woke up. Poor Den was pacing the floor knowing that he had to get out and do his run in that freezing cold. But I stayed in the house and enjoyed my Bob's Red Mill Scottish Oatmeal.
This is especially delicious because the house is 63 degrees and I don't want to turn on the heat! (BTW, the first mouse of the season just showed up! argh!)

When we first came back to America from Scotland in 1989, I brought oatmeal back with me. Then we visited in 1990, and I did the same. Every visit I'd bring it back. Then I found Bob's Red Mill when I was in Wild Oats. It's exactly like what we got in Scotland! It was expensive there, so I ordered a 20 pound bag online. When that was finished, I found it in Baker's grocery store. It isn't all that cheap, but I get a little at a time. We brown it and eat it like dressing with roast chicken. Most delicious. I have yet to make oatcakes, which I LOVE!

So grab a bag of porridge oats, make yourself a bowl of porridge and a pot of tea and welcome autumn!