Her speech about suicide was well written and well delivered.
Way to go, 47th Pea!
Friday, April 28, 2006
Olympic gold
Candace won 1st place at the IUK Speech Olympics!
Her speech about suicide was well written and well delivered.
Way to go, 47th Pea!
Her speech about suicide was well written and well delivered.
Way to go, 47th Pea!
Tuesday, April 25, 2006
24 hours
Like guessing games? Okay, here's one for you.
For what purpose did we gather the following documents?
Any ideas?
If you guessed: visa application - you're right.
Beth, a good friend in Airdrie, was absolutely right when she advised us to work hard compiling a comprehensive array of support documents to send with our visa application. I mailed all our paperwork via FedEx yesterday and the Lord certainly did bless. Just over 24 hours later (26 to be precise), we received an email from the UK consulate in Chicago saying ...
"Your applications have been approved and the visas have been issued."
Spontaneous celebration broke out at our house. We never dreamed our visas would be approved so quickly.
All praise be to God for another confirmation that He is indeed leading us in this direction. I'm overwhelmed.
For what purpose did we gather the following documents?
- letter from our church
- another letter from our church
- yet another letter from our church
- letter from the church in Scotland
- copy of Rob's seminary diploma
- kids' original birth certificates
- copy of our marriage license
- letter from Rob's work
- letter from our Presbytery
- letter from a friend we met in Scotland
- letter from another friend we met in Scotland
- letter from yet another friend we met in Scotland
- separate forms for each member of our family
- other docs with important info
- our passports
Any ideas?
If you guessed: visa application - you're right.
Beth, a good friend in Airdrie, was absolutely right when she advised us to work hard compiling a comprehensive array of support documents to send with our visa application. I mailed all our paperwork via FedEx yesterday and the Lord certainly did bless. Just over 24 hours later (26 to be precise), we received an email from the UK consulate in Chicago saying ...
"Your applications have been approved and the visas have been issued."
Spontaneous celebration broke out at our house. We never dreamed our visas would be approved so quickly.
All praise be to God for another confirmation that He is indeed leading us in this direction. I'm overwhelmed.
Saturday, April 22, 2006
Briefly, before I nap
Really tired right now, but must tell you something.
It's confirmed, we're gonna be moving to Scotland in July.
(Deo volente.)
It's confirmed, we're gonna be moving to Scotland in July.
(Deo volente.)
Thursday, April 20, 2006
Figgy pudding
It's open window weather! Hurray!
Last night I went on a walk with Miriam. We had night air, brisk strides, and relaxed conversation. My kind of exercise.
Today, my English Lit class listened to about 20 Shakespeare sonnets. The audio CD was hosted by Kathleen Turner, an actress from my time, who gathered some recognizable and not so recognizable actors to read the complete Shakespeare Sonnets. We heard men and women from both Britain and America of various ages and ethnic backgrounds all taking turns reading English sonnets. It's not surprising that first-time high school listeners reacted with comments and chuckles. That's a pretty normal first reaction to new territory. Not only does it take a little getting used to - to comprehend the meaning of the poetry, it also takes a little getting used to thinking that such a wide variety of readers can be so passionate about Shakespeare. It certainly came out as each one lended their personal flare to each sonnet. I like to take my young Padawans to these new horizons. Makes me happy.
Also in English Lit, a discussion arose as we reacted to a comment made by the author of our text book while she matter-of-factly asserted that a certain female character in a play would be happier if she were free from her domestic existence. You often hear this train of thought from feminists whether explicitally or implied that a woman is happier if she has the "freedom" to keep or give away her family like a shirt to be worn or traded in on a new one. She can be happy if she only has the "freedom" to "get out of the house and live her own life" and not to let her family hold her back. We talked about that narrow position. Politically correct, but not very representative of many of the women I know.
I'm so happy. Next week, we are going to start studying Hamlet.
::rubs hands together, grinning in anticipation::
Tomorrowat at Butler University, Canny, as a member of the IUK Honors Society, will read an essay she wrote. The essay is a critical analysis of a short story. She was selected to go to this literature conference and represent IUK. Go Canny! She read it to me this morning and I've asked her to read it to my English Lit class next week.
Amy's enjoying her new job at Big Ben's Coffee Shop. (For you Nac people, Big Ben's is very much like Java Jack's.) The idea that one of my children is becoming a coffee-making expert pleases me. You go, girl!
Ben goes to work with his buddies for this local man who always has a lot of outdoor and indoor projects going. His name is Mr. Anderson. ::said in my best Agent Smith voice::
Let's see. Robert still loves his job at the Men's Rescue Mission, and he's always writing sermons and working on other important paperwork. We still get in our walk most days or at least sit out on the patio before he has to leave.
In closing, we talked about figgy pudding in class today. I think I'll entitle my post "Figgy pudding". That way, you'll read the whole thing wondering how figgy pudding will prove to be relevant.
And you won't understand until now. :0D
Last night I went on a walk with Miriam. We had night air, brisk strides, and relaxed conversation. My kind of exercise.
Today, my English Lit class listened to about 20 Shakespeare sonnets. The audio CD was hosted by Kathleen Turner, an actress from my time, who gathered some recognizable and not so recognizable actors to read the complete Shakespeare Sonnets. We heard men and women from both Britain and America of various ages and ethnic backgrounds all taking turns reading English sonnets. It's not surprising that first-time high school listeners reacted with comments and chuckles. That's a pretty normal first reaction to new territory. Not only does it take a little getting used to - to comprehend the meaning of the poetry, it also takes a little getting used to thinking that such a wide variety of readers can be so passionate about Shakespeare. It certainly came out as each one lended their personal flare to each sonnet. I like to take my young Padawans to these new horizons. Makes me happy.
Also in English Lit, a discussion arose as we reacted to a comment made by the author of our text book while she matter-of-factly asserted that a certain female character in a play would be happier if she were free from her domestic existence. You often hear this train of thought from feminists whether explicitally or implied that a woman is happier if she has the "freedom" to keep or give away her family like a shirt to be worn or traded in on a new one. She can be happy if she only has the "freedom" to "get out of the house and live her own life" and not to let her family hold her back. We talked about that narrow position. Politically correct, but not very representative of many of the women I know.
I'm so happy. Next week, we are going to start studying Hamlet.
::rubs hands together, grinning in anticipation::
Tomorrowat at Butler University, Canny, as a member of the IUK Honors Society, will read an essay she wrote. The essay is a critical analysis of a short story. She was selected to go to this literature conference and represent IUK. Go Canny! She read it to me this morning and I've asked her to read it to my English Lit class next week.
Amy's enjoying her new job at Big Ben's Coffee Shop. (For you Nac people, Big Ben's is very much like Java Jack's.) The idea that one of my children is becoming a coffee-making expert pleases me. You go, girl!
Ben goes to work with his buddies for this local man who always has a lot of outdoor and indoor projects going. His name is Mr. Anderson. ::said in my best Agent Smith voice::
Let's see. Robert still loves his job at the Men's Rescue Mission, and he's always writing sermons and working on other important paperwork. We still get in our walk most days or at least sit out on the patio before he has to leave.
In closing, we talked about figgy pudding in class today. I think I'll entitle my post "Figgy pudding". That way, you'll read the whole thing wondering how figgy pudding will prove to be relevant.
And you won't understand until now. :0D
Tuesday, April 11, 2006
Evan did you really tag me?
I just happened to read on Evan's blog (are we allowed to use real names here?) that I was tagged for this. I will hold up my end of the bargain by participating, but as usual, won't tag others.
It goes like this:
"Okay, okay, I'm it."
... then ...
"I quit."
Eight years ago I was: living in the middle of the most beautiful piece of land hanging clothes on the line, and then watering strawberries.
*5 years ago I was: almost home from our private school reading aloud Stonewall Jackson, ready to dote on my lovely chickens.
*1 year ago I was: memorizing Hebrew vocab along with other fast-paced city stuff.
*Yesterday I: was working on visa docs for Scotland.
*5 songs I know all the words to: Bridge over Troubled Water (Simon & Garfunkle), The Brady Bunch Song, Into the West (that's my cell phone song), Be Thou My Vision, and Tura-Lura-Lura (an Irish lullaby)
*5 things I would do with 100 million dollars:
(1) Give to the church
(2) Educate the children
(3) Go wild with charities
(4) Over-achieve
(5) Buy some chickens
*5 things I would never wear:
(1) Black shoes & socks w/shorts
(2) Nylon jumpers
(3) Certain interesting selections at Goodwill (although I do like to shop there)
(4) Errings (except in my ears)
(5) Tatoos
*5 favorite tv shows: Haven't watched TV shows in forever (that means a very long time)
*5 bad habits:
(1) Not being able to think of my bad habits
(2) Being able to readily identify other's bad habits
(3) Barging into rooms without knocking
(4) Taking some very loooooong short-cuts
(5) That's about it
*5 biggest joys:
(1) Living to Christ and dying to self
(2) Thinking of heaven
(3) Living this really great life with my hubby and kids
(4) Connecting with people
(5) Chickens
*5 people I tag to do this: "I quit"
It goes like this:
"Okay, okay, I'm it."
... then ...
"I quit."
Eight years ago I was: living in the middle of the most beautiful piece of land hanging clothes on the line, and then watering strawberries.
*5 years ago I was: almost home from our private school reading aloud Stonewall Jackson, ready to dote on my lovely chickens.
*1 year ago I was: memorizing Hebrew vocab along with other fast-paced city stuff.
*Yesterday I: was working on visa docs for Scotland.
*5 songs I know all the words to: Bridge over Troubled Water (Simon & Garfunkle), The Brady Bunch Song, Into the West (that's my cell phone song), Be Thou My Vision, and Tura-Lura-Lura (an Irish lullaby)
*5 things I would do with 100 million dollars:
(1) Give to the church
(2) Educate the children
(3) Go wild with charities
(4) Over-achieve
(5) Buy some chickens
*5 things I would never wear:
(1) Black shoes & socks w/shorts
(2) Nylon jumpers
(3) Certain interesting selections at Goodwill (although I do like to shop there)
(4) Errings (except in my ears)
(5) Tatoos
*5 favorite tv shows: Haven't watched TV shows in forever (that means a very long time)
*5 bad habits:
(1) Not being able to think of my bad habits
(2) Being able to readily identify other's bad habits
(3) Barging into rooms without knocking
(4) Taking some very loooooong short-cuts
(5) That's about it
*5 biggest joys:
(1) Living to Christ and dying to self
(2) Thinking of heaven
(3) Living this really great life with my hubby and kids
(4) Connecting with people
(5) Chickens
*5 people I tag to do this: "I quit"
Saturday, April 08, 2006
Out of hibernation
Hope your Saturday was sun-shiny, too.
Anticipating that our "heat of the day" walk would be worth photographing, I brought the camera.
You have to understand that Robert and I walk together almost every day although Rob would debate me on that. He likes to point out that I went into hibernation for most of the winter. I guess he's right though I don't like to admit it. I fancy myself to be like all the other hearty Hoosiers around here.
But back to what I was saying. We have three different kinds of walks: the neighborhood walk, the alley walk, and (the best sounding) the WALK OF EXCELLENCE. Our walk today incorporated all three. See thusly for yourself.
1) Here's our den before leaving. Candace accompanied us on today's walk.
2) The WALK OF EXCELLENCE, so dubbed by the City of Kokomo, meanders through a city park by Wildcat Creek.
3) Duckies swim here. Rob says the ducks never get wet.
4) Trees lean over the water.
5) Trash cans lend a quaint outline to our beloved alley walk. Rob didn't appreciate the great artistic beauty that the trash cans added to this picture. But you see it, don't you?
6) Another alley.
7) Here's a typical Kokomo sight on our neighborhood walk.
8) Glaring at a squirrel who's glaring right back. Rob thinks of his gun, but doesn't say anything.
9) Walnut Street. Almost home.
10) Wind chimes by the back door. Compare to the photo in my "What gives" post - a couple of posts ago. This is the same view - only it's from outside instead of through the window.
Three walks in one - Praise God for Spring!
Anticipating that our "heat of the day" walk would be worth photographing, I brought the camera.
You have to understand that Robert and I walk together almost every day although Rob would debate me on that. He likes to point out that I went into hibernation for most of the winter. I guess he's right though I don't like to admit it. I fancy myself to be like all the other hearty Hoosiers around here.
But back to what I was saying. We have three different kinds of walks: the neighborhood walk, the alley walk, and (the best sounding) the WALK OF EXCELLENCE. Our walk today incorporated all three. See thusly for yourself.
1) Here's our den before leaving. Candace accompanied us on today's walk.
2) The WALK OF EXCELLENCE, so dubbed by the City of Kokomo, meanders through a city park by Wildcat Creek.
3) Duckies swim here. Rob says the ducks never get wet.
4) Trees lean over the water.
5) Trash cans lend a quaint outline to our beloved alley walk. Rob didn't appreciate the great artistic beauty that the trash cans added to this picture. But you see it, don't you?
6) Another alley.
7) Here's a typical Kokomo sight on our neighborhood walk.
8) Glaring at a squirrel who's glaring right back. Rob thinks of his gun, but doesn't say anything.
9) Walnut Street. Almost home.
10) Wind chimes by the back door. Compare to the photo in my "What gives" post - a couple of posts ago. This is the same view - only it's from outside instead of through the window.
Three walks in one - Praise God for Spring!
Thursday, April 06, 2006
Silly rabbits
Sure, you can take tons of photos with a digital camera. The digital camera has brought out the free-clicking maniac in us all – but it comes with a price. Finally, after your computer is loaded with 650 memories of friends, scenery, kittens, and babies, you have to actually DO something with the darn things!
Options:
- Make them all into prints – yeah right. Too expensive.
- Burn them on a CD – sounds good unless your CD burner doesn’t work too good. Like ours.
- Ignore them and let them lie around on your computer – bad idea. Very irresponsible.
- Grow irritated and throw them all away in a huff – not too smart. You’ll be sorry later.
- Take them to the local CVS drugstore and burn them on a take-home CD – now you’re talking.
- Upload them on a photo storage website – sounds like a plan. Still checking on that one.
Do you ever bound into Spring Break with huge plans to tackle that stack of dandy projects you’ve been ignoring?
So did I.
I would personally rather not spend one second of time on considering digital photo options.
::Sigh::
To live in the modern age is to spend a huge amount of time considering options. That’s the stuff that life is made of. And choosing from so many options takes time – lots of it.
I’m torn. I like options just as much as the next person. But options burn me out. I want to choose to the glory of God. Trouble is I sometimes spend too much time tarrying on the options that just gratify … me.
I hope I can strike the balance of being wise by investing time in things worthy of the heavenly kingdom (computer skills among them, I think) and cutting back on the time spent in chasing silly rabbits.
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