Just a quick check in and a note or two...	February 24, 2006

I'm home following surgery and a couple of days' stay in the hospital this past week [It was sort of a resort... well, a last resort, maybe and I did receive lots of personal attention there---so much so, that I can't sit here very long.]  Will resume blogging when possible.

Our sincere condolences to the Anthony Burger family in the event of the sudden passing of Anthony Burger, the gifted pianist who had accompanied the Gaither Vocal Band for many years.   Details are few, but he apparently suffered a heart attack during one of the performances on a Gaither cruise to the Bahamas. The ship was to dock in Nassau, and the family started the process of returning to the states. Please remember this family in prayer as they face the days ahead.

A few slices...	February 16, 2006

Following a short stay at a local resort with lots of personal attention, I'll be taking a little rest from things domestic and cyber. I'll be journaling a bit about my little journey and will post it here in the "medical" section of our website.  Hopefully, I can share some things that will be of help and encouragement to other women---especially moms of many children.     ---ps
 

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I would love to have shown pictures of the beautiful dinner Kathryn prepared for us.  Wes's camera was stolen (Wes had his briefcase bag stolen from his truck the other day.  In the bag was his camera, CD player, CD's, headphones, etc.,  his school text books, numerous papers, etc.).  He had received a phone call from a detective that his checkbook had been found in a stolen vehicle!  I thought: wow---the thief had stolen a car and other stolen things were in that vehicle as well.  I imagine he must've been disappointed that Wes's account didn't finance him very well.   So far nothing's been reported found---but we still hold out hope!  We were sorry about that situation and all disappointed for him as he regretted the loss of not only those more expensive things, but his papers and textbooks for his class and... the older children lamented... that daddy couldn't take pictures of his little dolly, Amelia.   He regretted not being about to use it to take pics of pool jobs---something he does at the completion of pools is to take pics so that other customers can have a visual of what they might choose for their own pool.

So... eBay.  Maybe one of the cameras on eBay will fill the hole left by the loss. 

Another Marvelous Epicurean Delight	February 15, 2006

For our twenty-eighth anniversary *and* Valentine's Day, yesterday evening, Kathryn prepared a sumptuous feast for us.  After spending the day traveling to and from Canada where Wes had a dentist appointment to take care of a painful tooth, we so looked forward to the meal Kathryn would have waiting for us upon our return home.

O, that delicious feast!!!  Another dinner prepared and served last night by Kathryn --- and I mustn't neglect mentioning her sparkling, delightful and able kitchen crew cleaning (and sampling!) for her!!

I will post (ASAP) the menu and recipes that she prepared so that should anyone decide they'd like to prepare the meal themselves, her recipes would really be an encouragement and a help in doing so.  She continues to amaze me in her cooking ability.  Her attention to presentation and detail is inspirational to me.  I find lately, that  I tend to be more "institutionally" minded in meal preparation and less concerned with style and presentation at meal time.  I used to pay strict attention to balance and variety, unique or complimentary tastes and visual appeal.  I'm sorry to say that many days in the last few years, I concern myself so much with simply producing volume that I don't attend to small, but critically imperative, details like unique dishes, ambiance and time to linger over a meal.  I find that meal time is too often simply a perfunctory obligation instead of a daily opportunity for refreshment and encouragement. 

Set the table... eat together... talk... make time to not be in a hurry... plan ahead... be creative... be interested... be interesting... *all* of these are imperatives that we mothers tend to neglect or become careless about.  We especially do so when there are "collisions of reality" as I call them.  When the reality of life collides with another reality of life---such things as illness, new baby, various work-schedules, unexpected difficulties or unexpected blessing.

 As we lingered over dinner last night, we marveled at the changes, marveled at the accomplishments of the older children and delighted in the time together.  We also had a wonderful surprise visit by some friends who came by to bring a gift.  The gift was a wonderful, lavish surprise that we needed to complete a project Wes needed to do!   I couldn't have imagined or chosen a more perfect curtain... it's simply beautiful.

After all this time in this home and many years of talking about fixing that bathtub to accommodate a shower, Wes put up a circular shower curtain rod and shower extension for the bathtub---we've talked for years about getting a new faucet to make a shower and curtain for it.  So... the gift, two beautiful white embroidered shower curtains, two white liners, and two sets of beautiful blue floral hooks to hang the curtain. 

With all the excitement, we stayed up late (---O, well, Wes did all the work!!) to hang the new shower-curtain ring and install the new shower fixture on the old claw-foot bathtub.   I had the sweet job of stringing the hooks, hanging up the new shower liner/curtain and standing back to admire the beautiful curtain.  It's a white embroidered voile "Simply Shabby Chic" curtain with blue & white ceramic hooks.  This morning, as I looked at it, I couldn't but stand there amazed at the mercy and sweet kindness of the LORD through our friends who made this possible.  And to Wes who always takes care of things that are needed.

Valentine's Day

February 14, 2006

Valentine's ideas for you in your home  and  Old Fashioned Living.
 

Some Home Making's	February 13, 2006

I had (late last night) decided that in the morning I'd like to share "Some Home Making's" for today's blog---and how faithful is the LORD---I had a direction late yesterday and He showed that He had a purpose for it today.

Our friend sent us an email this morning: "Type in your home address or a family members' address. The web site will bring up a map of your neighborhood with small colored boxes on it. The small House icon represents your address; the colored boxes represent sex offenders in your area.   Click on the colored boxes and it will bring up the offender's photograph and the locations, names and employers.  Click ALL AROUND, you will be amazed at the information you get!"   http://www.familywatchdog.us/   So, out of curiosity,  I did a check and was also amazed.  I also found that I just was reminded to be more careful about "strangers" and to talk to the children about "strangers" and the need to be cautious as we go about our business in town or at the park, etc.  I find that I need these simple reminders to talk to the children about the realities of life. 

I think, as mothers of many children, we might sometimes tend to be lax or think we've covered the bases, so to speak, and sometimes forget "who knows what" as far as the different children in the family are concerned.  For example: the other day I was asking one of the younger children to do a particular task and they sort of glazed over and didn't know what to do---and so I smiled and asked, have I not taught you that yet?  No.  No, I hadn't.    Teaching, teaching, teaching.  It never stops---it mustn't stop.  But we get weary in the well doing sometimes.  But again, we mustn't let weariness lead to neglect or indifference or wavering---or worse: giving up.  That's not an option---it may feel (some days) like an option---especially if we listen to bad counsel or the coarse talk of the day that is obnoxious and rude about the precious value of motherhood, parenting and children.

We need to stop and assess, from time to time, the understanding or knowledge of each of the children.  Not just a "what are their strengths and weaknesses" sort of assessment, but: do they know this or that basic skill.  Do they know particular numbers, protocol for different situations, how to find information they need, what would they do in this or that circumstance, etc., etc.  I always amazes me when I realize that one of the younger children missed a particular teaching and how they just went on without it or compensated for it in some other manner.  This could be anything from handwriting (how they come up with a particular formation of a letter that looks alright but is incorrectly performed) to sewing, cooking, math, cleaning, personal hygiene (bathing, flossing, tooth-brushing, wiping, etc.),  housekeeping or whatever.  Skills need to be learned, perfected and maintained.  But it requires attentive attention.  (sort of the way the LORD told the disciples:  "And he said unto them, With desire I have desired to eat this Passover with you before I suffer."  --Luke 22.15) 

It's attentive attention.  It's hearing *and* listening.  With desire we must desire to parent and care for the children.

So, this has led to some "drilling" around here.  Perhaps not all at once and not in a scary or confrontational way, but it has meant asking questions (from time to time---for clarity and reinforcement)  of different age groups of children , from basic questions like: what is your full name, what is your address, what is your age, what is your phone number, what is your dad's and mother's name, what is your birthday, what do you do if a fire starts here or here, what do you do if the toilet overflows, what do you do if someone comes to you in the yard and mother is in the house, what do you do if a person we do  or do not know tells you to do something we have told you not to do,  what do you do if someone touches you inappropriately, what do you do if your are cut or injured or whatever, what do you do if someone tells you not to tell mother and dad about something---and you know it's not a birthday surprise or something you need to discern as a "good" secret, etc., etc.   All of these things require discretion. 

And then, to older children, we need to evaluate from time to time, their responses to some of those similar questions that would be occurring in their lives.   They need to know all those same answers throughout their childhood, but the scenarios will necessarily be different as they grow and mature and as their activities increase and their circle of freedom increases.  They'll have more and more opportunities to be "out" for parental sight or supervision and will be in settings where they will have to have earned privileges and trust and will have opportunity to demonstrate maturity and trustworthiness.  For the older children, whether in home or public school, I think it's vitally important to ask and receive answers to these and many more questions resulting from dialogue each day.  I guess we cannot just assume they know answers and right responses and we must be very careful to correct wrong assumptions and wrong responses.  This is easier said than done if the teens are older and communication has been compromised or limited.

Talking, talking, talking trough the years---and it's never too early, I'm convinced, has astoundingly important implications and results.  Totally open communication really and truly appears to be key in any relationship----most especially in marriage and parenting.  I'm also pretty sure it's never too late.

So, what did all this have to do with the registered sex-offender link and information?   Everything.

	Tomorrow's Valentine's Day... be a sweet heart to your family... they need you.
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Whaddya guess that Vice President Dick Cheney is saying: "ooops!"
And, maybe, the Google boys are saying: "ooops!"

More thoughts on End of the Spear	February 12, 2006

I felt certain that I would appreciate the commentary by Doug Phillips regarding the film, End of the Spear, and I surely was not disappointed.  And now, I pray many will read his commentary and see the clarity with which he writes and the wisdom of his commentary on the controversial issues surrounding the film. 

I wrote back and forth with Mart Green of Every Tribe Entertainment, the man who ultimately hired the actor that played the part of both Nate and Steve Saint.  In his replies to my letters, his answers were vague to my many points of disagreement for their decisions and reasons for them.  [I totally understand that he is a very busy man---inundated with mail---so for him to reply at all was extremely generous.  I further shared that I disagreed with Randy Alcorn's summation of the situation and felt they'd both compromised in their stand and reasoning.

This, a portion of the letter I sent to him in response to his letter advising me to reread Randy Alcorn's letter about End of the Spear and ETE:

"Fear of man bringeth a snare."

I wrote back to say that I felt sure that he and Randy Alcorn and the who Saint family must be anguishing over all of this.  My intent wasn't to add to that at all, nor was it to fuel the flames of controversy.  It was simply to take a stand for the Truth and not stand idly by.  Some may feel it inappropriate to write to such individuals---we did not feel it inappropriate but necessary.  Christians should and must take a stand against evil.  Let us not esteem lightly what the Word says and what the LORD has done for us.  Let us not cheapen the grace of God by what we allow, nor by what we esteem lightly.

In our fellowship this afternoon, we were hearing of what it is to gather and what is the LORD's supper, and after all that, I've been mulling over what it is to have a clear conscience before the LORD... to not partake unworthily.  I thought back on that conversation as I mulled over Doug Phillips' blog and additional entries he made.  I thought on the precise and specific wording of the Scriptures and thought... would God have differing standards for different portions of our lives---would His holy standard be lessened by circumstances? 

Consider 1Corinthians 11.28-32  
"But let a man examine himself, and so let him eat of that bread, and drink of that cup.  For he that eateth and drinketh unworthily, eateth and drinketh damnation to himself, not discerning the Lord's body.  For this cause many are weak and sickly among you, and many sleep.  For if we would judge ourselves, we should not be judged. But when we are judged, we are chastened of the Lord, that we should not be condemned with the world.

With all the controversies, all the moral failures, greed for success, fame and fortune, with all the scandalous behaviour and reports of compromise by Christian individuals and groups, we must hold fast to the profession of faith.   Doug Phillips shared much more, perhaps even more troubling commentary, that's worth reading.

Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching. Heb 10:25
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And now abideth faith, hope, charity, these three; but the greatest of these is charity. 1Corinthians 13.13

Another Saturday Morning	February 11, 2006

It's early... one of the kinds of mornings I treasure so much... spending time with one child---the little early-birdie who brings the sunshine in!   Standing at the counter, and he sitting on the stool with the cutting board pulled out to form a table for him next to the toaster, we enjoyed tea and toast together. I'm purposefully etching the moment into my memory... for the days are fleeting.

I've browsed the paper (yes, the paper-paper----I remembered where I'd last set my glasses and thankfully, didn't have to ask for the billionth time to no one in particular: "has anyone seen my glasses?") and then I came into the sunroom to see the mails and messages on the computer.    Two letters, in particular, stood out to me this morning... one encouraging me to get back on track writing to and about homemakers/homemaking and the other, an encouragement to keep on doing the work I'm doing. 

So, I mulled over the letters, the other mail and more news stories.  I studied more about (what I've not talked about at all here) an upcoming surgery I will have next week.  And, like the gift of a mother's laryngitis to her children ~wink~ I'll be a bit too pre-op-upied to blog and too post-op-upied to tell about it.  Anyway, I'm creating a page... a journal of sorts that details the journey a bit and gives a bit of information on options and surgery, etc.  I'll share later about this thrilling adventure---sparing the not-so-entertaining details of course.  I am smiling as I suppose were I to blog this time next week... the writing might be very amusing---that, or they'd lock me away for certain and toss away the key when the entry looks like:

But that's a blog for another day.  Okay, so, I know I've been inordinately preoccupied with the social trends and will likely continue to be so---to a degree... it's just a reflection of who I am----but I'm also preoccupied with marriage and family.  These all seem to, with the influence of societal assaults, intersect and sometimes, collide. 

I don't know if I think it's my duty or obligation or just what, but I do feel constrained to share from time to time (and I'll concede it's really been overboard lately) the societal trends and trends in the church.  I do this for many reasons, not the least of which is stand against the gradual inclination for Christians to blend with society or to have society blend into them.  I share different things or different angles of things because I feel I cannot idly sit at the intersection and not sound the horn when fully loaded semi carrying toxic waste is careening toward the van that's carrying innocent children and is sitting in harm's way.  This probably sounds overly dramatic... but really, when you think about it... it's not. 

So, I guess all that to say: O, we must be more purposeful in the training up of our children, more decisive in choosing what is best, more diligent in teaching and demonstrating faith in the LORD, more determined to live in obedience to God's Word and unwavering in our resolve to be ready to give an answer to anyone who asks the reason of the hope that is within us.  We must be more resolute to give respect to our husbands, and to be sweet and loving in our homes.  Our homes must stand as beacons of light and truth----love and joy in the LORD.  This necessarily means being aware of the dogs... being aware of the wolves that lurk about---the enemy: that  roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour.  These are all very real---all very necessary to see and understand.

Please pardon me for what seems to have been a bit of over attention to societal reflections and reactions --- I would adjure everyone---husbands, fathers, wives, mothers, young people... be aware of what's going on around us.  This is not to say to be familiar with evil, but to be aware.  Pay attention to the signs of the times. Unmask the ploys of the enemy.  Very simple lies have become truths to Christians---the slow and calculated indoctrination of lies have weakened and drawn away many.   Be aware of what's going on in society.  Be aware of what's on your computer---really---check the history, be aware of where the clicks have taken the computer users in your home.  Get the kids *off* "My-Space" and guard their time and conversations, friends and activities.  Be aware of the subtle influence of "sensitivity training,"  "diversity," "sexual-orientation," and a myriad of other phrases, concepts and liberal-speak.  I do not say this meanly, spitefully, or in anger.  I am saying all of this in an attempt to bring awareness of the tidal wave that is carrying away the church... and the church is getting carried away in its attempt to be all things to all people in all places.

I'll get to talking about other stuff...  and there really are lots of other things going on.  Lots of other things.  I know, I know... I'm really overboard sometimes---passionate to a fault! 

So a bit of family musing this morning... as I was kissed and hugged awake by a little sunshine earlier this morning.   

Our family sort of seems to have come in "sets" of children.  First, we had our "trainer set" and then a foursome and then a trio and then a pair in the last of the "sets."   So, the Trainer Set grew up, moved on and now have homes of their own.  The foursome---still asleep as I type this, are lively, busy, interesting and are each on the brink of the vast expanse of "the first day of the rest of their lives" as they, each one, prepare for what the LORD has for them.  The third set, the 'trio,' is also still sleeping yet this morning---having stayed up late to watch videos last night.  (Friday nights are the only nights we watch videos or movies, here) 

This brings me to the sunshine and flowers... that's what Andrew and Amelia are to me.  Though they are two years apart, they're essentially the same age in terms of skill, interest and verbal ability.  Though their specific activities are not always similar, they always play together---or at least in proximity if their actual choice of activity/toy/game/etc. is different.  They're in no hurry to not be little... thoroughly delighting in the softer things of life... fuzzy blankets, teddy bears, sippy cups, Blue's Clues, stringing beads, shaping play-doh, making cards for everyone and colouring pictures for the fridge... they love bubble baths, quilts and story books.   They are the sunshine and flowers of my life... and I suppose, if this is so, the others are the fragrance and music and my husband is my inspiration.

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Another slicing of a lie	February 10, 2006

Remember: repeat a lie often enough, and people will begin to permit it to be common and then begin to accept it as truth. 

Such is the case with the so-called "homosexual movement."  This, from Worldnet Daily: "A leading homosexual activist group is b