Appetizer: When was the last time you had your hair cut/trimmed?
Let's see, I had it butchered cut at Not-So-Fantastic Sam's the first week of April, right before Lily's birthday party. I don't get it trimmed at all during the summer, usually. Why bother when I'll probably be wearing it up every day, right?
Soup: Name one thing you miss about being a child.
This one is easy...camping! I have so many memories of camping that I could literally write all day if I had the chance. There's just something about being out in nature, with few distractions, that calms my soul just thinking about it.
Salad: Pick one: butter, margarine, olive oil.
Hmm...well, if we're going for what I use the most, that would be olive oil. But who doesn't love butter?
Main Course: If you could learn another language, which one would you pick, and why?
Spanish would probably be the most useful, but I would love to learn Greek. The kids and I adore Greek food and have been mentally planning a trip there someday.
Dessert: Finish this sentence: In 5 years I expect to be…
I can't say that I really expect anything. I don't want to come across as not caring, I certainly have goals and dreams. It's just that I've learned the hard way that our goals and dreams aren't necessarily what God has for us, and that we need to remain flexible.
I found this fun little meme over at All That Naz today!
You can list any nine things that you like, and I picked the 9 fiction books on my shelves that I want to read before the summer's over. I am a bargain book shopper, and I pick up lots of books for a quarter or fifty cents here and there. If only I could get around to reading them! Here are the top 9 that I'd like to tackle next:
1. The complete Chronicles of Narnia. We've had this collection since picking it up for next to nothing last year, but I have yet to read through it completely. (Although we have listened to The Magician's Nephew and Prince Caspian on audiobook.) I really enjoy the puns and general word fun that I find in Lewis' fiction.
2. Shoot the Moon by Billie Letts- This author's Where the Heart Is remains one of my favorite books of all-time. I loved it so much that I picked this book up off the clearance rack at Barnes and Noble without even knowing what it was about. I still have no idea, but I'm determined to find out.
3. Family Linens by Lee Smith- I'd read her Fair and Tender Ladies in a contemporary American lit class in college, and I've loaned it out to everyone that would take it. Something about the personal style of writing in letter form, plus the familiar setting of the Appalachians...(I am a Tennessee girl at heart, y'all)...well, that book just tore at my heart. I picked up this book by Smith for a quarter at a library sale, and it has decorated my bookshelf very nicely ever since.
4. Tess of the D'Urbervilles by Thomas Hardy- This is a total guilt read. My AP English teacher in high school assigned me a paper on this book. I read part of the book, then got the Cliffs Notes and wrote the paper. (Hey, now, don't tell me you've never done it!) It has always bothered me, though, and this book still sits on my shelf unfinished. It's time to end the guilt!
5. Schindler's List by Thomas Keneally- Okay, truth be told, I just want to read this so that I can watch the movie. I have this thing about not watching the movie until after I've read the book. It's just not the same.
6. Night by Edie Wiesel- I think just about everyone in the world was assigned this book at some point in time except me. My husband has even read this, and anything that he finishes has got to be really good. And historical.
7. Cheaper by the Dozen by Frank Gilbreth- I have heard so much about this book, and it's been on my list for a long, long time. I found it at Goodwill (oh, excuse me, the G.W. Boutique) a couple of months ago for a big whopping quarter. I might start with this one because Ben wants me to hurry up and pass it on to him.
8. Heavenly Date and other Flirtations by Alexander Mccall Smith- This was another one that I picked up just because I loved the author so much. And if you haven't read any of his No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency series, you are missing out!
9. Eragon by Christopher Paolini- Okay, so I know it's not very "girly," but I loved this movie. Loved it. And I heard the book's better. And, well...I borrowed it about 6 months ago and haven't given it back yet. It's time to stop procrastinating.
What books are on your shelves that you'd like to finish this summer? And while you're thinking, hop on over to All That Naz and read about her top 9 favorite love songs!
A snippet from the dentist's office Monday morning:
Lily: "Mommy, did Kate have to have a filling too?"
Me: "Yes, Lily, Kate had to have fillings when she chipped her teeth."
Lily: "Ohhhh....(giggles)....did she have to wear the pink nose like I do?"
Me: "Yes, as a matter of fact, I think she wore the same one you're wearing."
Lily: "Hahaha. We're related."
This is followed by complete silence by Lily, in which I am desperately trying to control my own laughter. A few seconds later...
Lily: "Mommy, please do not put that on your blog."
Me: (still snorting) "Well, we'll talk about that later."
(This post brought to you courtesy of nitrous oxide.)
Saturday, July 5, 2008
During our recent road trip I had the opportunity to rediscover some old CDs that I hadn't listened to in a while. I was listening to Watermark's self-titled CD, which I have always adored, when a song hit me in a way it never has before:
(For some reason I'm having to push play twice on this song before it will play while I'm previewing it. I'm not sure that will be the case once I've posted it, but I wanted to give you the heads-up so that you don't miss it.)
Verse 1:
Dusty feet, tired from walking
But You have beautiful feet
You walked those roads, and You gave hope to me
Calloused hands, tired from working
But You have beautiful hands
And the wounds therein have given life to me
Chorus:
And I want to know Your beauty
To hold it here in my heart
Oh Lord, of only I could make my road look like Your road
If I could love the way You love
If Your word in my heart was the only thing I used to fill me up
I want to place my feet where the wounded walk
Where you learn to love no matter what the cost I want to go
I want to know how to walk Your road
Verse 2:
A broken heart for the wounded
And Yours is the most beautiful
Looking past our faults, dying to meet our need
Weeping eyes for the sinner
There's nothing more beautiful
And Lord, I want the passion of those tears
Repeat Chorus
What if His word in our hearts was the only thing we used to fill us up?
What if, when we found ourselves empty, we ran to Him every time?
Last week, with five kids playing outside in hot summer temperatures, I made a lot of lemonade. If one of the kids came in for lemonade and the pitcher was empty, they would bring it to me and ask me to refill it. Then they would stay next to me and wait until the pitcher was once again full, and they could get a drink and get back to the important work of getting their feet dirty.
When our own "pitchers" are empty, where do we go for a refill? Do we pick up the phone to search for a listening ear to commiserate? Do we pick up the remote for a little down time? Or do we sit at the feet of the One that can refill the pitcher, so that we can get back out and get our feet dirty?
You see in the long run, it's not the pitcher that matters.
The kids didn't care that our pitcher was plastic. Or that we bought it at Big Lots. Or that it had cracked, and Jonathan had glued the outside of the crack so that it wouldn't leak. (Although they thought that was pretty cool!) They just knew that it held what they needed.
I know that when people look at me, they know that I'm not perfect. They're going to see my cracks. But my prayer is that they're going to look at me and see what I'm filled with, and that I'll be able to point them to the One that will give them the strength to also walk His road.
Wednesday, July 2, 2008
Did you know that there are meanings attributed to each of the 13 folds of the American flag? According to Truth or Fiction, neither these meanings or even the ceremonial folding practice are included in the Federal Flag Code. However, both have become widely accepted, even being included in government and military manuals.
Here is the list of meanings (also from Truth or Fiction):
WHY THE AMERICAN FLAG IS FOLDED 13 TIMES
Have you ever noticed on TV or at military funerals that the honor guard pays meticulous attention to correctly folding the American flag 13 times?
I've known how the 21 gun salute was determined (adding the individual digits of 1776), but only recently learned why the flag was folded 13 times when it is lowered or when it is folded and handed to the widow at the burial of a veteran.
HERE IT IS: The first fold of our flag is a symbol of life.
The second fold is a symbol of our belief in eternal life.
The third fold is made in honor and remembrance of the veterans departing our ranks who gave a portion of their lives for the defense of our country to attain peace throughout the world.
The fourth fold represents our weaker nature, for as American citizens trusting in God, it is to Him we turn in times of peace as well as in time of war for His divine guidance.
The fifth fold is a tribute to our country, for in the words of Stephen Decatur, "Our Country, in dealing with other countries, may she always be right; but it is still our country, right or wrong."
The sixth fold is for where our hearts lie. It is with our heart that we pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States Of America, and to the Republic for which it stands, one Nation under God, indivisible, with Liberty and Justice for all.
The seventh fold is a tribute to our Armed Forces, for it is through the Armed Forces that we protect our country and our flag against all her enemies, whether they be found within or without the boundaries of our republic.
The eighth fold is a tribute to the one who entered into the valley of the shadow of death, that we might see the light of day, and to honor mother, for whom it flies on Mother's Day.
The ninth fold is a tribute to womanhood; for it has been through their faith, their love, loyalty and devotion that the character of the men and women who have made this country great has been molded.
The tenth fold is a tribute to the father, for he, too, has given his sons and daughters for the defense of our country since they were first born.
The eleventh fold, in the eyes of a Hebrew citizen represents the lower portion of the seal of King David and King Solomon, and glorifies in their eyes, the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.
The twelfth fold, in the eyes of a Christian citizen, represents an emblem of eternity and glorifies, in their eyes, God the Father, the Son, and Holy Spirit.
When the flag is completely folded, the stars are uppermost reminding us of our nation's motto, "In God We Trust". After the flag is completely folded and tucked in, it takes on the appearance of a cocked hat, ever reminding us of the soldiers who served under General George Washington, and the sailors and marines who served under Captain John Paul Jones, who were followed by their comrades and shipmates in the Armed Forces of the United States, preserving for us the rights, privileges, and freedoms we enjoy today. There are some traditions and ways of doing things which have deep meaning. You will see many flags folded in the coming weeks, and now you will know why.
