A little bit of Thankfulness

The living room was rearranged so this year our family could host Thanksgiving. With family, seminary students who became adopted family, and friends who feel a lot like family we gathered around the table to indulge in foods made once a year....ok twice if you include Christmas. Pictures were scarce since I stayed in the kitchen most of the day, but use your imagination. Some watched the football game, others discussed the various guns owned, fired, tried, or wanted, the Gentleman kept a close eye on the Turkey frying in the back yard, ladies helped out in the kitchen stirring, peeling, filling, mixing, adding, and chatting, while children ran upstairs and down. Food was delicious, desserts were heavenly, fellowship was sweet and cherished.
I am thankful for the home the Lord has blessed us with.
I am thankful for those who came.
I am thankful for God's gift of friendships that are so sweet that they feel like family
I am thankful for family who serve others readily without hesitation
I am thankful for friends who jump into our family and quickly become a part of it.
I am thankful for seminary students we can 'love on' - giving them a bit of home when theirs are so far away.
I am thankful for the 'Little Stove that did'
I am thankful for the beautiful weather that allowed windows to be open.
I am thankful for the conversations that had us in stitches.
I am thankful for others not wanting to leave. I knew we made them feel welcome & loved.
I am thankful for the comfortable bed I have.

Birthdays galore

November marked birthdays of 'adopted' family..... Neither expected a cake, let alone the opportunity to blow out candles.

Mr. Josh

Zoe girl - now she can claim a decade.

A Christian's Contentment - or - The Tortoise & the Hare

I am currently reading through 3 books: The Rare Jewel of Christian Contentment by Jeremiah Burroughs, God's Battalions: The Case for the Crusades by Rodney Stark, and Radical Womanhood by Carolyn McCulley. Last night I jumped into Christian Contentment for a little "light" reading before bed. If you wish to be convicted about personal behavior just grab a Puritan Paperback. These books show the life of a puritan held deeper thought and reflection on a single page than I have in a week. I went to sleep feeling uneducated, flippant, shallow, and heathenistic. But, it also gave me pause - to see those areas in my own life and realize that I still need to seek for change, to still seek Him with heart, soul, and mind. I may do that, but I fall short in quality .....often.
Anyway, what I read last night caused reflection:

 "Contentment is not merely one act, just a flash in a good mood. You find many men and women who, if they are in a good mood, will be very quiet. But this will not hold. It is not a constant course. It is not the constant tenor of their spirits to be holy and gracious under affliction....A Christian who, in the constant tenor and temper of his heart, can carry himself quietly with constancy has learned this lesson on contentment. Otherwise his Christianity is worth nothing, for no one, however furious in his discontent, will not be quiet when he is in a good mood." (pg 29)

This statement paralleled the Tortoise & Hare fable I have been using with the writing students. I found similarities between the tortoise and a contented Christian. No matter the trial or circumstance do I continue on toward the goal. Do I count all things joy? Do I plod faithfully? or am I more like the Hare? boastful about minor accomplishments, quick off the starting block, whine loudly and claim many a "Woe is me" to garner attention? So confident in my end goal that I forget to even run the race that is set before me?



from Disney cartoon

The Eyes have it.

The yearly checkup showed that C. does not have perfect genes. Alas, she needs vision enhancement too. Off we galavanted to the nearest Lens Crafters where we enjoyed the Goldilocks process of selecting eye wear.

Option #1 - Flashback to the days of Cat eyes. Toooo pointy

Option #2 - The ode to Harry Potter.  Toooo round

Option #3 - the cute and Buggy look.  Toooooo BIG

Option #4 - Blue Steel. Toooo um, just Not.

Fitting the frames to the lady's head

Victoria, the lovely associate who helped us.
She happens to go to Faith Baptist. =>

Drumroll.............

These are juuuuuust RIGHT!

Finding Cleopatra

Today we joined the masses and a few friends at the California Science Center to enjoy the Space Shuttle Endeavor, the Imax movie on the Myiiiiiisterrrrries of Egypt (suspenseful music), and the Cleopatra Exhibition.

The Space Shuttle was really fascinating. The museum has made it as much of a personal experience as possible. One is able to rrrreach to touch the bald tires, complete with gouges and scrapes from the multiple landings on rough tarmac. Pay $5 and one may take a flight simulator ride to feel what space might be like if gravity existed in the bleak, black expanse. The shuttle is raised off the floor so the visitor might walk beneath and around the massive plane while marveling at the numerous scorch marks that created the re-entry 'scars'. The timeline running along 3 walls tells the story of each mission the Endeavor journeyed on, along with pictures of the crew members or aspects of the missions.

 "Mysteries of Egypt" opened with re-enactments of Carter searching for King Tut's tomb, then moves into a Soarin' Over California scene flying over the turbulent waters that begin the Nile River. It was impressive how much water runs North to establish Egyptian life.

The Cleopatra Exhibition opened with a short video about the discoveries found within the submerged city of Canopus and the search for the Pharaoh Queen Cleopatra. While the relics they pulled from the waters are quite fascinating there was much conjecture and speculation. The recordings we heard were creatively done, many in the first person as if the Queen was giving the tour. The speculation came when they described artifacts as ones Cleopatra may have walked past, may have worshiped at, or may have worn something similar to the one displayed. I found it thought provoking that the tour attempted to create an image of this queen as one who was a poor, loving mother, and misunderstood ruler who just did what was justifiably necessary for the good of others. What I noticed was that she lived in a city similar to Canopus that was filled with "lascivious behavior and revelry" and had no sense of decorum or morals. She was a manipulative woman who used her children to maintain power and duped men to attain what she desired. Her children were fathered by men who were enemies, leading me to think that she used them to create a bond that would instill her good standing with whomever may have power at the moment.  My uneducated guess is that those who still search for her tomb may never find it. The powers of Rome who conquered Egypt hated Cleopatra enough to have every statue of her likeness destroyed. If the queen died to keep from being taken prisoner, Rome would have wanted to see her body; I doubt they would have given her a burial fitting an Egyptian monarch. Though our romantic imaginations would wish otherwise, I wouldn't doubt that she was buried like a commoner, or tossed to the fishes or dogs.

Those Under the Weather Read Books

With a mild cold one can't possibly do SCHOOL WORK!? Right? Of course not, but you may read the Bronze Bow since we are currently studying Ancient Greece & Rome. That isn't school, no, not at all.

Pinterest Possibilites #2

I found another tip/trick I decided to try.

Remove fogginess from car headlights with toothpaste

Here is the Before of my truck's headlight.

This is After with some elbow grease and toothpaste.

I think it may need one more treatment....but it did work. Who woulda thunk it!

Keep Calm and Carry On

          This was the first election in a long time where our family watched every debate, followed the news (which I hate with passion. Yes, I'm biased), and monitored the little maps showing the electoral college numbers. Our wish was that the other guy would win. As wonderful as the idea of 'our guy' winning, it was with greater saddness than just 'being the losers' that we watched the results roll in. No, this isn't the end of the world, but it did show the direction our society is moving.

The History Sentence from Classical Conversations

"Taxes, slavery, unemployment, and diseases all contibuted to the fall of Rome."

continues to play in my mind like a broken record.

At the height of the Roman Empire the people became greedy, wanted more without working for it, were taxed beyond belief  thereby causing business to move away or close, the free thinking beliefs regarding sexual behavior became common, and the diseases and passions that reigned within the Roman Army all led, in part, to its downfall. When military has no discipline while leadership in government hold to loose standards, morals, and laws the people become unruly and the nation crumbles. It seems to me the 'Roman' Empire' is falling again.

Thankfully, our hope isn't held in the waffling hands of our government and the mortal man. Rather, we are confident that the Lord knew and indeed wanted the leadership we have placed where they are. While we know that the turmoil and consequences that must be faced may be difficult, we are given nothing that we can not bear. He has been faithful in the past to care for our family. He will be faithful in the future. We need to trust Him. Hold things Loosely. Remain Faithful to the tasks given to us. Remember that our time is short.

All Hallows' Eve

Like most children who enjoy dress up, ours take that concept and perform it with relish. H's school has an Oktober fest with games, etc, including a costume contest. He decided to go as a Slender Man - a creature that has no facial features, wears a black suit, and evidently is quite fascinating among the high school students of today. C has been planning, since the days of unpacking lots of boxes LAST November, to be the Bubblewrap Queen. She saved tons of the packing material so that we could assemble her dress. When we took her out she received many comments, several strangers took pictures, and she only popped the bubbles that she accidently stepped on. - much to the amazement of facebook friends.

Is Nature History?

The first field trip of the year sent us to our local Natural History Museum. In we walked, ready to view the same ol' same old stuff we see every year. Not so! Much to our surprise the museum has changed some of their rooms, added new exhibits, and given the toured an opportunity to touch and play with some of history. The students loved it. The Parents loved it too.
Beginning with the new dinosaur rooms, we explored those that are long gone. We were still inundated with the MILLIONS of YEARS theory.. They have put lots of effort into promoting the ideas - even coming up with some new whoppers that they unknowingly contradicted  within the same exhibits - It made me wonder if they had one person read everything or just trust that everyone must write and believe the same thing, therefore it will all be correct.
I found the most fascinating display was of the dinosaur fossil found in Kansas of a Plesiosaur type animal that died while still carrying the unborn fetus. How did it and the other water dwelling fossilized animals get in Kansas you ask? Well their idea is that there must have been an ocean that ran through the middle of North America ages ago.  Hmmmmm. I have another theory....
Despite the lack of clear logic in some of their arguments we all enjoyed the lovely exhibits displaying the variety and creativity of God's creation. Does Nature tell a history? Yes, if you know where to look.

 "O Lord, our Lord, how majestic is Your name in all the earth,

who have displayed Your splendor above the heavens!

When I consider Your heavens, the work of Your fingers,

 the moon and the stars, which You have ordained;"

 Psalm 8:1, 3

 

God designed Tic Tac Toe anyone?