A Patch of Old Snow

There's a patch of old snow in a corner

That I should have guessed

Was a blow-away paper the rain

Had brought to rest.

It is speckled with grime as if

Small print overspread it,

The news of a day I've forgotten-

If I ever read it.

Today, I am announcing my first guest blog.

Today's guest is Ms. Sarah Westphal, age seven. She is an avid reader, writer, and enjoys typing as well. I hope you enjoy her book review.

Library Lion-- A Book Review by Sarah Westphal

The Library Lion is written by Michelle Knudsen and illustrated by Kevin Hawkes.

This story is about a lion and a library. The lion goes into the library and becomes friends with the children and helps them reach high places. The lion loves story time. When they are done reading, the lion roars at the storyteller and Miss Merriweather tells him not to roar at the story teller. The lion helps the librarian (Miss Merriweather ). But Mr. Mcbee doesn’t like the lion. I like the book because it has a library and a lion and because it has the lion help the children and because Miss Merriweather always says, “Don’t run in the library.”

One day when Miss Merriweather was trying to reach a book, she fell off her stool and she couldn’t get up and so she told the library lion to go get Mr. Mcbee to come and help her. So the library lion ran to Mr. Mcbee’s office and roared in his face. Mr. Mcbee said, “You are not being quiet. You are breaking the rules.” The library lion knew that he broke the rules. The library lion left. Mr. Mcbee ran calling, “Miss Merriweather! The lion broke the rules!” Miss Merriweather was not in her chair. She said, “Sometimes there is a good reason to break the rules. Even in the library.” Miss Merriweather said. Miss Merriweather’s arm was broken.

The next day things were back to normal. Miss Merriweather’s left arm was in a cast and the doctor told her not to work hard. Miss Merriweather said, “Well, I have my lion to help me.” But the next morning the lion didn’t come. At three o’clock Miss Merriweather went to the story corner and the lion was not there. The people kept looking for the lion but they couldn’t find him.

One evening, Mr. Mcbee stopped by Miss Merriweather’s office on his way out. She was sad. He thought there probably was something he could do for Miss Merriweather. Mr. Mcbee left the library. But he did not go home. He walked around the neighborhood, looking for the lion. Finally he circled all the way back to the library. The lion was sitting outside, looking in through the glass doors. He told the lion, “No roaring allowed, unless you have a very good reason.”

The next day, Mr. McBee told Miss Merriweather, “There’s a lion in the library.” Miss Merriweather ran to meet her lion.

It is a very good book and well thought out. There are also very good illustrations in this book. You should read it.

Your Move

"Poets do not go mad; but chess-players do." ~Gilbert Keith Chesterton, Orthodoxy

Recently, (okay, not THAT recently), I visited a Christian coffee shop I love and played Scrabble with the man. If you have ever played Scrabble with the man you will know that he is a canny strategist who must weigh each decision. For him, scrabble is chess. This leaves a little down time between moves for me.

So I wandered to the books...bible, bible, Dobson,...a few others, but Nooo christian poetry...(well, other than the Bible, psalms, parts of the prophets, etc...) Not even good old dependable Helen Steiner Rice. What a travesty!

I was a little disappointed. I told the man. He muttered something about getting a z on the triple word score and didn't even make eye contact....I decided I must get some Christian poetry over here soon. Young minds are being deprived!

Later, when I returned home, I realized I did not want to part with any of my Christian poetry books. I love my Elizabeth Rooney, my Lucy Shaw, my Ruth Calkin, and even my Robert Frost (a small well worn paperback book I left at a park somewhere, arghh...must replace that soon). This resolve may be more costly than I'd supposed...

Good intentions sometimes lie dormant....no, I have not yet made my poetry delivery, but I found a wonderful poem to share today....if not with the coffee shop goers, then at least with my own little blog world.

It's Your Move

All through the long dreary hours

Of this rough toilsome day

I have struggled to believe

That Your plan is good

that the blows and bruises

Will stablish me

That the staggering changes

Will settle me.

I have struggled to believe

That Your way is perfect.

But waiting here alone

Shrouded in thick loneliness

I confess I don't see it.

Frankly I just don't see

That Your way is perfect.

And now I hear You say

I didn't say you would see it--

I only said--it is.

So, Lord, it's Your move.

Good-night.

By Ruth Harms Calkin

Five Things (Books this time)

Five Things (I try to post my "Five Things" on a semi-regular basis so if you see "five things" in my label list, some interesting things may turn up.)

five things (18)

The five books closest to this computer are:

EsEssentials of Strategic Management (school book for Ryan)

2. 2. Love Wins (Liberal Theology)

3. 3. His Thoughts Toward Me (uber devotional)

4. 4. B-I-B-L-E (Real Theology J

5. 5. Clep guide to Algebra (for Ryan’s school)

Weird, there were no kids' books in my five….

Okay, five books that are in the library bin.

1. Biography of Charles Lindbergh

2. The Prince and the Pooch (Wishbone’s take on the classic Prince and the Pauper)

3. Crab Cab (Can you say learning to read?)

4. The Periodic Table of Elements (Yep, that’s science)

5. Mercy Watson Thinks Like a Pig (By the way, Mercy really is a pig)

Homeschooling Without a Dedicated Classroom

http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/7833136/homeschooling_without_a_dedicated_classroom.html?cat=7

Homeschooling without a dedicated classroom. Click the link for tips.

The Continuing Adventures of Crazy Mom-- Episode 3, the Field Trip

Today Crazy Mom was feeling especially adventurous. She even let those kids destroy an old dolly bed with a hammer. Can you say demolition? Can you say repurpose? Can you say tiny bits of wood all over the place that had to all be picked up and swept up by the four happy hoodlums. In an especially generous moment, she also let them get out the legos. Yup, the tiny ones that usually hide in the back of the closet (Crazy Mom’s own closet). Yes, Crazy Mom was feeling especially jazzy.

Spontaneously, she declared it a field trip day. She stalwartly refused to leave the house until all those itty-bitty-teeny-tiny-owie-to-step-on-little legos had been picked up. She also used her drill sergeant voice to encourage shoe putting-on and coat zipping-up. The six year old twins grinned, the daughter placated, and the nine year old boy actually rolled his eyes. Hup, 2, 3, 4, Hup…

Crazy Mom was in a mood. She was rejoicing in the day that the Lord had made. The sun was shining. She had been up early. She had her coffee and her BBB (Bible Before Breakfast). She was ready! And, now, let the field trip begin.

They arrived at the Frederick Meijer Gardens to view the butterflies in the tropical conservatory. But first, they had to park in East Kabudaville (That’s Crazy Mom talk for “wow, we had to park far away” and “whoa, what a hike to that, what do you call it? Oh yeah, the entrance.”)

So it was a little busy. There were masses of children here to see the butterflies. Unfortunately, most of the visitors were of smallish size similar to that of the four happy hoodlums. Crazy Mom instructed the troops to stay close but Lucas’s eyes were already sparkling. He had spotted his first “new family” of the day. He was already making friends with the four year old blonde while mom hung up all five coats. The nine year old looked impatient…think..think…aha! Crazy mom handed him the camera. Sure enough, his eyes lit up as he wandered away. Crazy Mom silently praised that God of hers for such a great idea.

She made her way out of the coat room back into the large entrance hall. The daughter stuck like glue, but not those boys..Was that Marc? “Marc,” hollered Crazy Mom, “get back here and get your coat off.” No, wait, it was just a boy weating a coat just like Marc’s. That’s not fair, she thought, Marc already has a twin. Aha! There was Marc. She marched over to take his hand and turned to see a boy who was far too old to be lying on the floor actually lying on the floor. He was looking at the sculpture suspended from the ceiling. His camera looked very familiar. Oh dear, Crazy Mom prayed for patience as she snapped her fingers. “Just a minute, Mom…there! Now that’s a picture, look!” Poor boy, he got the “Yes, dear, that’s very nice…please don’t lie on the floor…now where are your brothers?” speech.

Crazy Mom deep sighed, “Alright, Lord,” she prayed silently, “I’m responsible for Your kids on this field trip. Thank-you for allowing me to be the one they call Mom.” Crazy Mom felt the peace that passes understanding wrap itself a little tighter around her heart and she actually smiled and truly admired the boy’s photo—it was a unique shot. Her aspiring photographer beamed at the genuine praise and surprisingly, even offered to let his sister take a picture.

While this moment of sharing happened, Crazy Mom realized Marc was still nowhere to be seen and Lucas was….she scanned the area… Of course, he was chatting up the blonde and her family. But they were ready to move on. The mom pointed out Crazy Mom to Lucas but he pretended not to see. Crazy Mom had to actually walk over to collect him.

Then she heard a small slam. The sound was familiar..she tried to connect it to something…anything….piano? aha! A piano. A piano lid over keys, that’s it..that’s MARC! Plink plink. “Honey, don’t touch this piano, it’s not yours.” “But mom, we don’t have a piano.”

Okay, collect Marc. Return to see three children lying on the floor under the suspended sculpture taking more pictures.

As Crazy Mom reminds herself to lean not on her own understanding but to trust in the Lord with all her heart, she realizes she can still see the coat room, and they have not seen a single butterfly. As she lies on the floor and studies the sculpture, yes, it is a unique perspective, she realizes it may be awhile before another spontaneous field trip.

Join us next time when Crazy Mom discovers teaching the art of sharing is far more difficult than she realized.

A Wink from Heaven

Don’t you love accidental Bible look ups? I think they may be God’s way of making us smile, kind of a wink from heaven.

My first remembrance of an accidental look up was when I was a teenager and that awful boy, Ryan, broke my heart and broke up with me AGAIN! I cried and cried and my friend encouraged me by sending me little slips of paper with Bible verses like Psalm 147:3, “He heals the broken-hearted, binding up their wounds.” But that wasn’t my favorite…I’m not sure what she originally intended, but I looked up Hebrews 7:17, “You are a priest forever in the order of Melchisedec.” Given my very limited knowledge of scriptural types and shadows in eschatology, et cetera, and having no idea how to pronounce Mel-kis-a, Mel-chis-a…..it just made me laugh.

I called my friend immediately to ask her if she knew that we could be priests forever in the order of Mel-cheese-a-deek. This verse became a standard of encouragement between us for years. I think God was winking at me back then and winks at me still. (After all, He is the creator of my individual slightly warped sense of humor).

Recently, I headed to Galatians for a word of encouragement after a particularly difficult day dealing with those other human beings on the planet. (I can tell from your expression that you’ve met them too.) I was headed for Galatians 5:25, “if you live by the Spirit walk by the Spirit”. That one seemed to fit right in with how I was feeling toward those people. You know, a “just keep swimming” verse.

Instead I turned to Galations 5:15, which was actually much more convicting of my own attitude and actions. It stated, “But if you bite and devour one another, take care that you are not consumed by one another.” Ouch.

Perhaps that one was a wink AND a reprimand. So next time you have an accidental look up, take a moment and reflect. It may have, indeed, been intentional on the part of Him who created you and knows you best.

Dinosaur Cookies –How to Entertain Your Grandma

If you are seven and you want to entertain your Grandma, you should mention that you like to make cookies. You should show excitement when Grandma shows you her “dinosaur” cookie cutters. Wash your hands and be ready to roll out the dough.

You should push the cookie cutters into the dough all the way. Always put love in the cookies. Make the love sign by crossing your arms over your chest and pretending to put some love in the cookies. Be patient with your older brother as he shouts, “Love Gun!” and pretends to machine gun the cookie dough.

You should use the spatula to move the dinosaur from the counter to the cookie sheet. Stay calm if his foot falls off and Grandma will stay calm too. She will show you how to push it back onto his leg.

You should watch the cookies through the little oven window as they grow and spread. Grandma says “Be careful, it’s hot,” lots and lots of times so stand back from the oven so you won’t make her nervous.

While the cookies are cooling, help Grandma make several colors of frosting. Gather paintbrushes and anything else Grandma needs.

After the cookies have cooled, paint with colors and keep smiling. Use lots of yellow and don’t get frosting everywhere. Remind your younger brothers not to put the frosting brushes in their mouths. Grandma will remind you, “Don’t get carried away with that frosting.” While the frosting is setting on the cookies, you can find some books for Grandma to read. Try to pick the ones you know she likes best.

Don’t forget to say thank-you when it is time to eat the cookies. They will taste great and make sure Grandma eats one too.

The Ruined Waistband

The Ruined Waistband

The human brain loves illustrations. We like stories that make a point, poetry that must be tasted, and even jokes and riddles that make us laugh. Humanity was designed this way. From the parables of Jesus to the fables of Aesop, we love those “aha” moments.

The Word of God is sometimes like that big box of your great great aunt’s jewelry that “you kids are allowed to play with carefully” when you visit great grandma’s house and all the grownups want to do is talk, talk, talk. Inevitably, you discover that one beautiful piece you hadn’t seen last time and its beauty delights your sense of touch and sight.

An avid Bible reader for decades, today I touched a jewel. In Jeremiah 13, Jeremiah bought a beautiful linen waistband and wore it for awhile. Then he hid it in rocks by the Euphrates River and later, retrieved it. It was ruined.

Verse 10 says, “This wicked people, who refuse to listen to My words, who walk in the stubbornness of their hearts and have gone after other gods to serve them, let them be just like this waistband, which is totally worthless.”

I can see Jeremiah, stretching forth the ruined waistband, seeking desperately for the people to turn their hearts to God.

I do not want to walk in the stubbornness of my heart.

I do not want to serve other gods of my own making.

I want to be wrapped tightly to the waist of God, to cling to His truth and justice, for His praise and glory.

I want to listen and obey. I want to be fine linen, and not a ruined waistband.