almost friday

and I finished Kate DiCamillo's new children's book which made me cry and laugh. I read it in two days although it has 51 chapters. Not sure what level this is for but I would start with adults and go down to maybe a 10 year old who has seen life , so to speak. 

I was right. It say this on her site: 

		available April 12, 2016 read an excerpt back to Novels Candlewick Press, 2016 ages 10 and up ISBN 978-0763681173

caring about words

I couldn't resist posting  this cute hare. Love the etymology. 

harebrained

ETYMOLOGY:

From the allusion that a harebrained person has the brain as small as a hare’s. From Old English hara (hare) + braegen (brain). Earliest documented use: 1548

USAGE:

“Hagrid had some harebrained scheme in hand, which might make him miss Sirius.”

JK Rowling; Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire; Bloomsbury; 2000.Art: Louise BurstonPhoto: Karen van der Zijden

Robert Browning's words

It was these 3 lines in bold  that sparked my soul this morning from The Cloud of Witness.
I found these part is from a Robert Browning poem called " Christmas Eve."
Christmas Eve is when my first son was born, very early in the morning so I labored 
on December 23rd. My mama's heart being fed by the Holy Spirit. 



"God who registers the cup
"Of mere cold water, for his sake
"To a disciple rendered up,
"Disdains not his own thirst to slake
"At the poorest love was ever offered:
"And because my heart I proffered,
"With true love trembling at the brim,
"He suffers me to follow him
"For ever, my own way,--dispensed
"From seeking to be influenced
"By all the less immediate ways
"That earth, in worships manifold,
"Adopts to reach, by prayer and praise,
"The garment's hem, which, lo, I hold!"



 suffers: To endure; to support; to sustain; not to sink under.
Our spirit and strength entire,
Strongly to suffer and support our pains.

To allow; to permit; not to forbid or hinder. Will you suffer yourself to be insulted?

I suffer them to enter and possess.

Thou shalt in any wise rebuke thy neighbor, and not suffer sin upon him. Lex.19.

more thoughts on motherhood

from Rebecca Reynolds

Thoughts from an older mom (#568)

I think it's okay to share funny stories involving your kids, and by "funny," I mean those little foibles they can laugh about now or soon.

However, sharing your teenager's grave or humiliating mistakes, character flaws, or rebellion with the world is wrong--and it is especially wrong if you are using those mistakes as examples to fuel your own Biblical teaching.

Teenagers need space to grow up.

They need room to goof up.

They need the sacredness of the circle of family in which to fail.

Teenagers don't need predator parents trying to build mommy-writer/speaker platform on the quivering years of adolescence.

I don't care what sort of teaching gifts you have.

I don't care how many likes you get when you expose your children's flaws to the world.

I don't care if writing either Super Mom or Fatigue Mom posts wins trust with other parents.

You are a mother first.

Do motherhood well, then worry about building the kingdom up.

And yes, motherhood done well should cost you some blog posts, because motherhood is loyal. Motherhood is kind. Motherhood sees past the present into the future of a child.

Motherhood cares more about what's good for her kids than what is good for her audience.

If you can't illustrate your point without taking advantage of your own kids' weaknesses, don't illustrate your point. No wisdom you think you have to impart to strangers is worth your child's heart.

Whatever identity you are trying to gain as a teacher isn't worth the trust of the disciples you already have.

the world is upside down

Here. 

The world is watching our city every day and every night. 
Have a son down there protecting us. 
Lord have mercy. 

studying up for Picture Study tomorrow

found this gem on the way to Whistler: 

                       The Quiberon coast in Brittany, France by Leon Duval-Gozlan 

                           found while looking for The Coast of Brittany by James Whistler

Almost done with this book

My daughter want to read this book after reading "Surprised by Oxford" this past summer.
Both are memoirs and I have found good writing to encourage me. She took Carpe Diem and did this with it : take hold of God–carpe Deum!

Perhaps the answer lies in when carpe diem evokes worship, whenit is a form of honoring the God who is honoring us with his presence. Put another way, when carpe diem becomes carpe Deum, or, translated loosely for our purposes here, "seize God!" Scripture constantly reminds us to seize God.

(page 97)

Peek into is Carolyn's website. She has a new book of poetry out. 

making these to freeze and eat

Breakfast Cookies

from Bread & Wine

Serves 12

3 large ripe bananas, well mashed (about 1 1/2 C)

1/4 C coconut oil warmed to a liquid (you can also substitute olive oil)

1 t vanilla

1 C rolled oats

2/3 C almond meal

1/2 t baking powder

2/3 C shredded coconut

1/2 C chopped walnuts

1/4 C chocolate chips

Instructions:

In a large bowl, mash the bananas with a fork, then add in coconut oil and vanilla.

Add the oats, almond meal, salt, and baking powder, and stir until combined.  Add the coconut, walnuts, and chocolate chips, and stir again.

Form the dough into 12 balls on a parchment-lined baking sheet and flatten them a little bit.  Bake at 350 degrees for 14 to 16 minutes.

thinking

I have been thinking about the vocation of motherhood this week. 
I had the best mom and hope you did too. She cared for my heart and soul
until she died. She always wanted to make sure all was well. 
I have been thinking about this vocation and how God made us as mothers. 
Any thoughts? 

september

This is the month for school. I listened one morning early to see if there were any buses coming into our neighborhood. Most of the kids have grown up. There was the hum...
and it was so early. Not being a morning person, I thanked the Lord I didn't have to get up way so early when I was young. This year I start my classes at 10:00 or 11:00 depending
on which day. There is a peacefulness already to the pace. 

I am very thankful for a British educator: Charlotte Mason. I wish I had gone to one of her schools. I always wanted my own children to go to a PNEU school. The best they got was me and then the books of teachers like Shakespeare, etc... 

I guess the best news around here is that a baby granddaughter is coming in Feb.  




 ( from the murmuring cottage)