Thursday, January 28, 2016

fini


I had to read some parts of ORBITING JUPITER by Gary Schmidt to my high school students
this morning. Parts about the cold and snow in Maine. Then had them write for 10 minutes
on the snow or a really cold snowy memory and use very descriptive words. I finished
the book this afternoon. Bawled. Now why am I telling you to read this book. 
You will be changed. 


Wednesday, January 27, 2016

half way through



Gary Schmidt's new book and have cried and cried ..... good writing and a good redemptive story....could finish tonight as the story has held my heart. Have to tomorrow. The story beckons.




Tuesday, January 26, 2016

ok... getting more time


I just finally was able to renew for a library audio book that I can't find  and this is the greatest sense of GRACE.  Someone had a hold on it but there were several copies and tonight I renewed my lost copy. I have until Feb. 16th to find it. 

Ok.This sense of relief of having more time to look for something is full of freedom and a taste of GRACE that is so sweet. 

I do have one " bonus" cd that was in my car cd player so today  the librarian said to 
listen to it and then maybe I will find the whole audio book. Hmmm... I was checking to see if I had turned it in. 

Thinking Christmas did something to it with all the comings and goings and packings and cleanings and all that glittery stuff. 

Her e it is  this: ( listened to some  just because it is Lorelai , ok , I love Gilmore Girls --re the book she wrote because I love her speech and acting 

( one of my favorite scenes called :  I SMELL SNOW which my daughter texted me this weekend from NYC as the snow fell )












Sunday, January 24, 2016

handwritten letters


I just signed up for a pairing of handwritten letters writers from the UK' Silver
Pebble. I think it is more than penpals. I did this once with Tonia at STUDY in BROWN and am still writing back and forth to Gilmer, Texas with this friend. You become friends 
and the gift in the mail always makes my day. 

Reminds me of Podso's post on MAIL. 


Write a letter by hand





Saturday, January 23, 2016

thinking a snowy sabbath


photo from here


"I will rejoice and be glad in Thy mercy: 
for Thou hast considered my trouble;
Thou hast known my soul in adversities; 
and hast not shut me up into the hand of the enemy: 
Thou hast set my feet in a large room. ( Psalm 31 )

David exults here in a God of magnanimity -- a God who not only delivers him out of the darkness of adversity, but goes far beyond mere rescue to establish David in a space of remarkable expanse and liberality.  God gave David exactly what he needed, and then far more.


 "Sabbath rest means coming before the Lord in stillness,
in a turning away from exertion and anxiety,
 so we can consecrate a space in time "to rejoice and be glad in Thy mercy." 

It makes sense to me, in this context, that worship is the only true source of leisure --
 for if we do not cast our cares upon Him, if we do not trust in His finished work,
 we can never be truly at rest.  Worship is indeed what allows us to have leisure in our souls, for the purpose of glorifying and enjoying fellowship with God." 
From Lynn Bruce of Ambleside Online. 


Thursday, January 21, 2016

like snow


 from here



Suppose we did our work
like the snow, quietly, quietly.
leaving nothing out.
Wendell Berry from his collection Leavings, (Counterpoint, 2009)
now this is f l a t .... from The Murmuring Cottage

Wednesday, January 20, 2016

still thinking about this word




Pointed out by Gladsome Lights ( love that blog name):

"Learners" I believe, but is "diligent" the right word to apply to activity that is, for me at least, so compulsive and disorganized?

Remember the quote: 

“People with large book collections are almost always diligent learners.”
The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up, Marie Kondo

I am so compulsive and disorganized too. AND I do have a large book collection.

Diligent means attentive, careful, assiduious ( attending; continually present, incessant; busy; constant)

So in this way, those with large book collections are attentive learners ... or constant learners... or incessant learners.

I am beginning to like the other ways of looking at stacks of books.

 Hard working learners? 

Walnuts Farm

Today I bought a stopper paintbrush for LETTERING!




LINKS TO LETTERING BLOG:

jeanne oliver 

Jeanne has a free friday's prompt and print out here. 


thisisyouryear_zps52sjqbir



Tuesday, January 19, 2016

organizing


                                          Jessica Chorley, London

classes
books
trips
book club
books
wedding
lessons
rooms

Trying to believe this sentence. 

“People with large book collections are almost always diligent learners.”
The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up, Marie Kondo


Monday, January 18, 2016

low roofs


I would never have guessed Gauguin painted this winter painting.
Isn't the yellow so warm on the white snow?
Isn't the low roof covered with snow so cozy?
This needs a poem. 

Sunday, January 17, 2016

good quote

"I write for the unlearned about things in which I am unlearned myself." – C.S. Lewis


Saw it here.

Lewis' quote from Reflections on the Psalms.


.
such beauty comes from here

snow flurries



Quite pretty this morning and then the flurries stopped. The sun came out
and the Panther's football game had bright light to win in! Andrew Nemr brought
a bouquet of magical wonder to my soul. Not many do that .... in 45 minutes of dance
and song. I am so struck by his words about bringing life to what you do and work hard at it : that is where the joy is. 

These two Portland girls ( 3191) send out a weekly email and I echo these word: 

We are deep into January, and I’m not sure that I’ve found my 2016 rhythm yet. Life has been very full and busy ...

That's me!

Books in my stack: 

This book is by a student of Marilyn Robinson.








Thursday, January 14, 2016

quiet



There's a hush in our house tonight. Very quiet.
It doesn't feel empty as the saying goes but there is a hush. 
Life is very full and not empty but now the bedrooms are empty.

I am going to see this guy this weekend. Saw him in NYC at the 
International Arts Movement Conference in 2013. He bundles up 
joy in those tapdancing feet and spreads goodness in his life story. 




Wednesday, January 6, 2016

2 0 1 6





Here we are in 2016.  did write it correctly while dating a thank you note.
But........it will take me a while to remember. I do  like 16. 

Back in the saddle: The Odyssey one more time...wth another group of high schoolers.
Daughter still home until Sunday. Bought school supplies today which included lotion and 
vitamins.  

I loved this quote  today: 


What great wealth our culture has lost in losing the fear of the Lord. This is not an ugly fear that chokes or diminishes. It is a fear that opens us up, expands us, deepens us, makes us curious, makes us visionary, makes us capable of receiving beauty we can hardly imagine. (Rebecca Reynolds)

Here is a very good list of books that my friend Liz read last year. She is blind. Period.
Writes for The Story Warren too. I read a few of the books to her via my audio file on my
 phone but I am so impressed. Some titles are what she read out loud to her two youngest
 sons. I found a few titles I want to read. How's your stack this New Year?