Friday Already!!!


Feast One Hundred & Twenty Four



Appetizer
How do you usually celebrate on New Year's Eve?

Soup
Name one thing unexpected that happened to you in 2006.

Salad
Where was your favorite place that you visited in 2006?

Main Course
What resolution is your top priority for 2007?

Dessert
Using just three words, describe 2006.

*************


Here is what I have been up to the last few days...



It looks difficult...but it's not.
Cool, huh?

Here is the free pattern for the Jaywalker socks



*********


Have fun with those Friday Feast questions...
It may take me a day or two to come up with good answers.

Have I ever told you how much I hate New Years Eve?

I have never in my whole life enjoyed a New Years Eve. Perhaps I should high tail it down to Missouri some year and party with Cindy and Sue...I'm sure those two know how to have a fun time on New Years Eve...although I happen to remember a really boring New Years up in Minocqua with Cindy.
But I think that was B.M. (before Margaritas)

he


Encourage one another,
Donna

December 30th UPDATE:
Hey all! I am going to leave this up again today.
I haven't answered the questions yet...
and I haven't heard much about the socks...
funny how it's the knitting talk that really thrills me....
but, alas, this is not a knitting blog...

Lynn!!!!
Come and knit with me!
You would love this jaywalker pattern!

ttfn
Donna

well...this should be simple..
I'm going to piggy back off of Janet's post.

For Christmas, her husband surprised her with a trip to Tucson to watch the Wildcats play basketball. Now, this is her dream trip. And she is delighted.
Dear Dave even arranged the babysitting!

So....

What would you just love to do...over a weekend, say, that would be a grand getaway...a romantic adventure...
with just you and hubby?

(if no hubby available...take a friend along :o)


I'm sure my trip would be to New York.
Tickets to Regis and Kelly and a big show.
Lunch at Carnegie Deli.
Boat ride to see the Statue of Liberty
and a quick trip to the top of the Empire State Building.


That sounds like perfection.


How about you?

Encourage one another,
Donna

Patrick, Patrick, Matthew, Melinda (Matthew's girlfriend), Emma and Katie.
click on the picture to see their beautiful mugs :o)

Dinner was casual but delicious.

We ate at 1:30 and I had to request that 'if you wore it to bed last night...you can't come to the table in it."

After a few shocked looks and grumbles....
clean clothes were donned.

It was Christmas dinner afterall.

We forgot to put the Mandarin Salad on the table.

Doesn't that always happen?

It's usually the jello.


*********

Ya know who I'm thinking about today?

Dana in Ga.

Her daughter is getting married today.

Dec. 27 is a very special anniversary day in their family! I think this will be wedding #4 on the 27th of December.


Blessings to you and your family, on this, your daughter's wedding day.

May God be with you all!


Encourage one another,
Donna

Overheard





In the living room,Katie played quietly and contentedly with her new toys on Christmas morning.
In the family room ET flickered on the set.
Katie toddled in for the last five minutes of the movie.
(She must have heard the dramatic score)

Just as ET placed his newly lit finger near Elliot's forehead and uttered those famous words,

"I'll be right here."

Katie blurted,


"In his nose?!"




We will laugh about that comment for years.
ET will never be the same.


Encourage one another,
Donna

Tears are falling, hearts are breaking
How we need to hear from god
Youve been promised, weve been waiting
Welcome holy child
Welcome holy child

Hope that you dont mind our manger
How I wish we would have known
But long awaited holy stranger
Make yourself at home
Please make yourself at home

Bring your peace into our violence
Bid our hungry souls be filled
World now breaking heavens silence
Welcome to our world
Welcome to our world

Fragile finger sent to heal us
Tender brow prepared for thorn
Tiny heart whose blood will save us
Unto us is born
Unto us is born

So wrap our injured flesh around you
Breathe our air and walk our sod
Rob our sin and make us holy
Perfect son of god
Perfect son of god
Welcome to our world


You can listen to this song on youtube.
The video isn't the best...but the song...
well, the song is so lovely...

Merry Christmas

Love,
Donna

O the beautiful old story.




1. O the beautiful old story!
Of the little child that lay
In a manger on that morning,
When the stars sang in the day;
When the happy shepherds kneeling,
As before a holy shrine,
Bless’d God and the tender mother
For a life that was divine.

2. O the pleasant, peaceful story!
Of the Youth who grew so fair,
In His father’s humble dwelling
Poverty and toil to share,
Till around Him in the temple,
Marveling, the old men stood,
As through His wise innocency
Shone the meek boy’s angelhood.

3. O the wonderful, true story!
Of the messenger from God,
Who among the poor and lowly,
Bravely and devoutly trod,
Working miracles of mercy,
Preaching peace, rebuking strife,
Blessing all the little children,
Lifting up the dead to life.

4. O the sad and solemn story!
Of the cross, the crown, the spear,
Of the pardon, pain, and glory
That have made His Name so dear.
His example let us follow,
Fearless, faithful to the end,
Walking in the sacred footsteps
Of our Brother, Master, Friend.

Louise May Alcott


Merry Christmas!


God bless you all,
Donna

Just one question on this busy day...

What will you do on Christmas Eve?

Our Booshay Christmas Eve has been bumped up to tonight.
Our relatives are leaving for Egypt tomorrow morning so we will celebrate tonight.
Here.

It has become a tradition to come to our house for the gift exchange on Christmas Eve.

I like it this way, truly.

On the menu;

Barbecued Pork
Turkey
Buns

Broccoli/Cauliflower Salad
Mandarin Orange Salad

veggie platter
cheese and sausage platter
jello
Ruffles
Cool Ranch Doritos

carrot cake

cashews, honey roasted peanuts, Frango mints, M & M's


We don't have room to seat 16 at a table...so we wander and scatter to different rooms. It's very casual.


It's a nice tradition.

Katie's birthday will be celebrated in relative quiet this year.
I told her she could open her presents in the morning (Sunday). Yippee!
And we will attend a Christmas Eve service.

It should be a very quiet day.

I feel the peace already.

Dona nobis pacem.
Dona nobis pacem.


Look closely at the girl in the white apron in Carl Larsson's painting.
She is me.
My cheeks will be flushed just like hers tonight.




Carl Larsson

see a larger version of The Christmas Eve here


I have a special poem to post tomorrow,
but after that I shall be quiet until Tuesday.


Off to work.

Encourage one another,
Donna

I didn't yell once.
I must be mellowing.

When I am working very hard (shampooing carpets) it is easy to lose my temper.
But, I didn't.
Hooray.

And behind me I hear the fan blowing and blowing away at the wet spots...and there are still pieces of furniture and baskets of books all over the kitchen.

But the carpets are clean.
And I feel fine!

Yes, I am moving at a hen's pace. Pecking off one thing at a time.

Then, last night was topped off beautifully by a sweet Chrismas serenade by the Awana children.

The children sang a few songs, the lights were dimmed and a small portion of Luke was read...and that was it.

It was sweet.

Katie and I always wave at one another just before the performance starts.
She likes knowing where I am...and I like that she knows where I am :o)

Oh, sometimes the most simple things are the sweetest.


*************


I was sent a little humor via email last night.
Thanks, Randy.

Enjoy!

Subject: Neologisms
Once again, The Washington Post has published the winning submissions to its yearly neologism contest, in which readers are asked to supply alternate meanings for common words.

The winners are:
1. Coffee (n.), the person upon whom one coughs.

2. Flabbergasted (adj.), appalled over how much weight you have
gained.

3. Abdicate (v.), to give up all hope of ever having a flat
stomach.

4. Esplanade (v.), to attempt an explanation while drunk.

5. Willy-nilly (adj.), impotent.

6. Negligent (adj.), describes a condition in which you
absentmindedly answer the door in your nightgown.

7. Lymph (v.), to walk with a lisp.

8. Gargoyle (n.), olive-flavored mouthwash.

9. Flatulence (n.) emergency vehicle that picks you up after you
are run over by a steamroller.

10. Balderdash (n.), a rapidly receding hairline.

11. Testicle (n.), a humorous question on an exam.

12. Rectitude (n.), the formal, dignified bearing adopted by
proctologists.

13. Pokemon (n), a Rastafarian proctologist.

14. Oyster (n.), a person who sprinkles his conversation with
Yiddishisms.

15. Frisbeetarianism (n.), (back by popular demand): The belief
that, when you die, your Soul flies up onto the roof and gets stuck there.

16. Circumvent (n.), an opening in the front of boxer shorts worn
by Jewish men.

Do you have a favorite?

I like 2,9,10.
And #10 reminds me of a very funny scene in "A Fish Called Wanda"

K-K-K-Ken.


**********

And one more piece of good news.
Our Patrick is home.

He and his father will go to the Packer game tonight.
It may be Brett Favre's last home game....ever.
We hope not.
(Rumors abound that Brett may retire)
But if it is his last game,
Patrick and Patrick will witness Packer football history.

I hope they win.
And I hope Brett stays.
I can't imagine football without Huck Finn in cleats.


Encourage one another,
Donna

Five days.

I know you are all terribly busy.
Most likely, you have no time to read long blog entries.
So, don't read this now.
But, remember it is here.
Come back when the house is quiet or print off the whole article and read it in bed.




Three Ideas

"In Everything God Works for Good with Those Who Love Him." A third shattering realization was that Romans 8:28 was literally true: "In everything God works for good with those who love him." This is surely the most astonishing verse in the Bible, for it certainly doesn't look as if all things work for good. What awful things our lives contain! But if God, the all-powerful Creator and Designer and Provider of our lives, is 100 percent love, then it necessarily follows, as the night the day, that everything in his world, from birth to death, from kisses to slaps, from candy to cancer, comes to us out of God's active or permissive love.

It is incredibly simple and perfectly reasonable. It is only our adult complexity that makes it look murky. As G.K. Chesterton says, life is always complicated for someone without principles. Here is the shining simplicity: if God is total love, then everything he wills for me must come from his love and be for my good. For that what love is, the willing of the beloved's good. And if this God of sheer love is also omnipotent and can do anything he wills, then it follows that all things must work together for my ultimate good.

Not necessarily for my immediate good, for short-range harm may be the necessary road to long-range good. And not necessarily for my apparent good, for appearances may be deceiving. Thus suffering does not seem good. But it can always work for my real and ultimate good. Even the bad things I and others do, though they do not come from God, are allowed by God because they are included in his plan. You can't checkmate, corner, surprise, or beat him. "He's got the whole world in his hands," as the old gospel chorus tells us. And he's got my whole life in his hands, too. He could take away any evil—natural, human, or demonic—like swatting a fly. He allows it only because it works out for our greater good in the end, just as it did with Job.

In fact, every atom in the universe moves exactly as it does only because omnipotent Love designed it so. Dante was right: it is "the love that moves the sun and all the stars." This is not poetic fancy but sober, logical fact. Therefore, the most profound thing you can say really is this simple children's grace for meals: "God is great and God is good; let us thank him for our food. Amen!" I had always believed in God's love and God's omnipotence. But once I put the two ideas together, saw the unavoidable logical conclusion (Rom 8:28), and applied this truth to my life, I could never again see the world the same way. If God is great (omnipotent) and God is good (loving), then everything that happens is our spiritual food; and we can and should thank him for it. Yet how often we fail to recognize and appreciate this simple but profound truth.

This is just a portion of an essay by Peter Kreeft.

This comforts me.
This thinking about God.

That little baby in the manger was/is 'the love that moves the sun and the stars'.



Encourage one another,
Donna

Sights and Sounds of the Season


Katie's dance class performed their Candy Cane dance for the 'big people' yesterday!
They danced to The Nutcracker, of course :o)


click to see larger





ta da!





Very special bell ringers!
I'm proud to know ya!


It's easier to sign up than you know
Ringbells.org
It seems like a nice way to teach your children about charity and getting involved!

Merry, Merry.


Encourage one another,
Donna

It's a Monday.

I was asked by a friend to ask my readers "Has anyone flown on the AirBus? What was it like?"


and since I'm asking questions...here are a few more.


If you had a great voice and were given a contract to record an album, what style of music would you sing?

Do you think that gift cards are suitable gifts to give at Christmas? Are they too impersonal?

Have you ever gone out in public with your pajamas on?





Yes.
It was a fraternity party at Hillsdale. PJ Night!
Yeah. You heard right. Me, at a fraternity party.

Wearing a flannel nightgown.

I was not alone in my Lanz pajamas. In fact, I fit right in.
Hillsdale is known for being a conservative place...
and our pajamas were a testament to that :o)



Encourage one another,
Donna

A word from Elisabeth Elliot

My prayer is,

"Teach me to receive thankfully those things in my life that cannot be changed."

"For I have learned in whatever state I am, to be content."
Philippians 4:11






Encourage one another and build each other up,
Donna

click here and go to BooMama's tour of homes

You are now entering Donna's modest tour of her home...





O, Christmas Tree
O, Christmas Tree
O, little, scrawny,
Christmas Tree





"His eyes-how they twinkled! his dimples how merry!
His cheeks were like roses, his nose like a cherry!"





For unto you, is born this day, in the city of David, a child,
which is Christ the Lord.






Our children gave this Christmas tree farm to me a few years ago.
They love all of the small pieces.






You could not tour our home without running into Katie Gracie.
Our Christmas baby who is always full of Christmas cheer!


***********


Friday Feast

Feast One Hundred and Twenty Two
Appetizer
What was your very first job with a paycheck?

Soup
Did you ever lose something really important to you?

Salad
What is the best Christmas present you ever received?

Main Course
Tell about a favorite "hang out" place for you and your friends when you were in high school.

Dessert
Name something that always brings a smile to your face.



See you in the comments!

Encourge one another,
Donna

I saw this picture last Friday at Carol's site.
It now greets me as the backdrop on my computer.






There is no charm equal to tenderness of heart.
Jane Austen



I had a dream-filled morning today.
(Do you ever have those?)

And I keep hearing this song over and over in my sleepy head;



Softly and Tenderly Jesus is calling



Softly and tenderly Jesus is calling,
Calling for you and for me.
See, on the portals, He's waiting and watching;
Watching for you and for me.

Chorus:
Come home, come home,
Ye who are weary come home;
Earnestly, tenderly, Jesus is calling;
Calling, "O sinner, come home!"

O for the wonderful love He has promised,
Promised for you and for me.
Though we have sinned He has mercy and pardon;
Pardon for you and for me.


Johnny Cash sings Softly,Tenderly


Encourage one another,
Donna

Fluff




Sarah Ferguson to dance on American Television...
Dancin with the Stars!

It's in the works.

Fingers crossed...I hope the rumors are true!



Youtube video of...
Prince Harry and Prince William talk about a concert to honor their mum

They are so cute...and remind me of my sons...
except, well, the royal part, the prince part and the organizing a charity concert part...
but...
you know...

:o)


*********

We started listening to The Best Christmas Pageant Ever on CD yesterday. The book is read by Elaine Stritch. (Thank you for the recommendation, Lynn)

And it is fabulous!

See if your library has it!

Barbara Robinson is really a wonderful descriptive writer!

I love her description of the charm bracelet, and what happens when you bring a really mean cat to school!


Do you remember show and tell?

Can you remember what you brought for show and tell?


I brought a lobster tail. (The meat had been consumed by one of my parents. I thought the shell was really cool)

I left it in my desk for a long time.

It started to stink.


I don't remember anything else from that whole year of school.

But the smelly lobster, I remember!



Encourage one another,
Donna

I opened my email this morning and I found a letter from a famous author in my mailbox.

She liked the socks :o)

I learned of her and her books from you all. Many of you read her most famous book over and over.

She was friendly and open and very kind.

Care to guess?

One more clue.

She is from England.


************

I went to the Dr. yesterday, now I will wait for test results.
My hair seems to be falling out less lately.

The return to white flour and white sugar did the trick!

he he


************

I am chipping away at my long Christmas list. I see some progress and that is a relief :o)
The cards are addressed and all they need is that newsey letter to go inside.
I will attempt that today.

For my sisters:
We received a card and picture from Mr. and Mrs. Williams yesterday. Inside was a picture of Diana, Jon, Brent, Karen and Christopher. They were together to celebrate their parents 50th year as a family. I will see if I can make a copy and sent it to you all. I know you would love to see all of their dear faces!

(The Williams family lived next door to us in Wheaton. They were very special neighbors.)

***********


What book do you pick up and read every year at Christmas time?



Encourage one another,
Donna

A little sock perspective.






My first pair of manly socks. Finished!
I'm back to knitting ornament socks.

It took a week of knitting to make one manly sock.
One day of knitting for the teeny one.

I love those teeny socks!


A little parenting perspective


Sent to me via email this week;

....and you probably had hopes that your parenting would help them(your children) avoid all this junk and go straight to the good like you could envision for them. (An improvement on the next generation, if you will.) Well, that is humanism, and it isn't true.
God doesn't have grandchildren, only prodigals who have to come to their senses before they come to Him and say, 'Please, fix this for me."

True words that hit the spot :o)



Christmas decorating perspective.



Boomama is hosting a Christmas Tour of Homes.
BooMama





Come back on Friday for a tour of our home...and of a Friday Five, of course :o)
My husband snickers and scoffs at the tree every time he passes the living room.
Come by on Friday to see what is so darn funny!

And feel free to join in the fun! (Not the mocking of my tree, the home tour, silly!)
You have four days to decorate!


Encourage one another,
Donna

And the winner is...

Margaret in Va!








A close up of the sock ornaments




There were twenty-names in the pot....
Janice accounted for five of those names....
So much for odds :o)


I'll come back later today with some pretty pictures of the Capitol and our girls.

UPDATE:




A beautiful setting for a concert.




I guess this is what I look like now. I don't recognize myself, really I don't..and why O why didn't I wear any makeup.
I know my children don't care. This is how they know me.
But it's not really how I know me.
In my minds eye,
I am still 21.




And when we left the Capitol, I turned around and took a look...
and it was beautiful...
How about that sky?

Life is good.
Yes, indeedy.

Encourage one another,
Donna

Friday Feast


Appetizer
Which language would you like to learn and why?

Soup
What's the funniest thing you've heard or read so far this week?

Salad
Which movie was so bad you couldn't watch the whole thing?

Main Course
If there were a holiday in your honor that didn't use your actual name, what would the day be called?

Dessert
Name one movie which is coming out soon that you would like to see.


Hey! I really like all of those questions this week.
Good job Miss Friday Feast



Fine Art Friday




Unknown

Isn't that a stunning poster?



Happy Friday!

Encourage one another,
Donna

Just an observation.

Katie is reading Days Go By to me. It is a Pathway Reader.
Pathway readers are Amish/Mennonite books. In the past I have enjoyed them very much.
The stories are innocent and clever and keep a child's attention.

However the last three stories bother me a little. ( just a little, really)

Andrew and Peter ask for a puppy and soon get Rover.

When Andrew and Peter are not around Rover starts getting into things.

(Just what you would expect from a puppy)

But when Rover gets caught,
1. eating daddy's shoe
2. getting into the sheets on the line
3. ripping Rachel's dolly to shreads

The parents 'do something to Rover' and 'Rover does not like it'.


Now, I'm not an animal trainer but this just doesn't seem to be the best strategy, does it?

Katie doesn't like when the puppy gets spanked. In fact, she doesn't want to believe that 'do something to Rover' even means spanking.

I'm mostly frustrated that the parents don't tie the dog up or get it a stick and a ball.

Yeah, I know, it's just a first grade reader, but Katie and I feel badly for the puppy.


So yesterday, I closed the book and asked Katie.

"Is there anything the family could be doing differently with Rover?"


Critical thinking starts early around here.


*********


I am getting my hair colored today.

I sincerely hope the hair coloring is not the reason for my hair loss. I have put it off for a month at least...but with a business Christmas party on Saturday I really want my hair to look nice.

Hopefully my doctor appointment on Monday will provide the answer.



*********

Turtles on the fly can be made while watching House.
Well. At least the unwrapping of all the Rolos.






Speaking of sitting on your butt, making candy while watching television...

Is anyone watching Biggest Loser?


Encourage one another,
Donna

Simple Life Christmas Candies
from me to you :o)

Remember the Ring Pretzels with Hershey Kisses and M&M's?

Pretzel Kisses

Set out the ring pretzels on a parchment covered cookie sheet. (As many as you can fit on a pan) Place a Kiss on each pretzel. Put these in the oven at 275 degrees for 2-3 minutes to melt a little.
When you take them out of the oven, place an M&M on top of each kiss. Pressing down a little.

Here is another variation...It sounds like a little turtle candy.

We shall call them....

Turtles on the fly

????

Small pretzel rings
Rolo candies (little caramels)
Pecan halves

Preheat oven to 325.
Put pretzel rings on baking sheet lined with parchment paper.
Unwrap Rolos and put a Rolo in each pretzel ring.
Bake 4 minutes.
Take out of oven and squish a pecan half onto each Rolo.
Cool on sheet and remove when completely cool

It helps to put in the fridge to cool and harden the chocolate.


Now, I must tell you. I have not tried these yet.
But I am going to try them today.


Check out the Christmas Candies

I have not seen most of those in 30 years!
It sure brings back memories.
(I just read the website...no wonder these are familiar to me...they were made in Chicago! I don't remember even liking them...but we always had them.)





Ho Ho Yummy Yo
Ho Ho Ho
I love this time of year.
I love it so.


Did your mother put out a dish of candy or nuts when company was coming?


Encourage one another,
Donna

I felt your prayers during the day yesterday and again last night as I fell asleep without much tossing and turning.

I actually thought...
'gosh, I'm feeling rather peaceful tonight...
it must be all of those prayers.'



Your wise counsel is very much appreciated. I take the comments very much to heart.
And I hope the encouragement sent to me was a blessing to the other doubting, worried moms out there.

Almighty God, to you all hearts are open,
all desires known,
and from you no secrets are hid:
Cleanse the thoughts of our hearts by the inspiration of your Holy Spirit,
that we may perfectly love you, and worthily magnify your holy Name;
through Christ our Lord.
Amen.

The Book of Common Prayer

Sent from Lynn;

God Moves in a Mysterious Way

God moves in a mysterious way his wonders to perform;
He plants his footsteps in the sea, and rides upon the storm.

Deep in unfathomable mines of never failing skill
He treasures up his bright designs, and works his sovereign will.

Ye fearful saints, fresh courage take; the clouds ye so much dread
Are big with mercy, and shall break in blessings on your head. [my favorite line!]

Judge not the Lord by feeble sense, but trust him for his grace;
Behind a frowning providence he hides a smiling face.

His purposes will ripen fast, unfolding every hour;
The bud may have a bitter taste, but sweet will be the flower.

Blind unbelief is sure to err, and scan his work in vain;
God is his own interpreter, and he will make it plain.

William Cowper, 1774
the tune is from the Scottish Psalter, 1615.

Both of us love the following line the most;


Ye fearful saints, fresh courage take; the clouds ye so much dread
Are big with mercy, and shall break in blessings on your head.


Thank you all for the encouragement.

Love,
Donna


P.s. Just for fun.

Click on the link below

Online Advent Calendar

I especially liked Day 3's Guest Memory.

The five senses of Christmas.
According to you.

(I read this at Elizabeth's blog over the weekend and thought you would all enjoy it.
Check out her answers at Maple and Oak )

Christmas favorites...


Sight: Squinting my eyes while looking at the Christmas tree, candlelight service on Christmas eve.
Sound: Snowfall too :o)
Smells: Turkey dinner
Things to Touch: Kissing any cheek
Taste: Enstrom's toffee

**************


I am looking for a little Christmas cheer today :o)

I am burdened my many worries and doubts today.

I am doubting the wisdom of trusting my children (older ones)to God and not controlling them.

Today I am leaning toward being a controller.


Encourage one another,
Donna

The concert went beautifully, wonderfully,
perfectly!

So much hard work...over in one night.

Flash.



Guess who forgot her camera?

I was so concerned with getting to the church on time....

I will try to hold the memory in my mind (steel trap that it is :o)


I loved the Virgin Mary song sung by the Joy Choir. They played maracas!
It was adorable and lively!

I also loved the Virgin Mary song sung by the Concert Choir.
Breath of Heaven.
Such a pretty, touching song.
Sung so well.

The last verse and chorus;

Do you wonder as you watch my face,
If a wiser one should have had my place,
But I offer all I am
For the mercy of your plan.
Help me be strong.
Help me be.
Help me.

Breath of heaven,
Hold me together,
Be forever near me,
Breath of heaven.
Breath of heaven,
Lighten my darkness,
Pour over me your holiness,
For you are holy.

Next up.

Christmas Cards
Christmas gifts
Decorating house and tree
cleaning carpets
Christmas shopping
Christmas party for hubby's work (yikes! what to wear?)
Katie's birthday
and
Christmas


It really is an exciting and fun time of year!

Wishing you joy in your preparations and memorable memories :o)

And a thankful heart.

The bossy butterfly incident is behind us now.

This mommy has a very good stage memory to replace it.

Merry Christmas to me.


Happy weekend!

Encourage one another,
Donna

Feast One Hundred & Twenty



Appetizer
Have you ever flown in a helicopter?

Why, yes. I have.
DuPage County Air Show.
No doors.
Pretty cool!

Soup
What color is your warmest coat or jacket?
Black

Salad
What is your favorite rainy day activity?
Staying inside. Anywhere.
I really can not stand wet feet or wet hair or a wet coat.


Main Course
Describe your hands.



My hands are pink and tan and wrinkled.
I like them very much.
They serve me well.

Dessert
If you could eat only one nut for the rest of your life, what nut
would you pick?

Cashews! Yummy. I love cashews with lots of salt.





I'm looking forward to the Christmas Choir Concert tonight.
I think I will have butterflies for Katie.
Actually, I know I will.

She knows her lines by heart but she has a little trouble knowing when to say each line. There will be helpers (Emma, I think) So it will be fine...
but still....

She is not nervous or worried at all...

I don't know why her mommy is so worked up.

I guess I will be working on having a quiet and gentle spirit.

Again.



Big hug on this chilly December morning!

XOXO

Encourage one another,
Donna

I'm late, I'm late for a very important date.
No time to say hello, good-bye, I'm late, I'm late, I'm late
I'm late and when I wave, I lose the time I save.
My fuzzy ears and whiskers took me too much time to shave.
I run and then I hop, hop, hop, I wish that I could fly.
There's danger if I dare to stop and here's a reason why:
I'm over-due, I'm in a rabbit stew.
Can't even say good-bye,
hello, I'm late, I'm late, I'm late.

And, to think many women must be up and out of the house by Eight O'clock...
every morning.

I suppose it gets easier with practice :o)

And speaking of practice...
That is where we are heading.

Today and tomorrow the girls practice for the big Christmas Concert.

Dress Rehearsal today.

Very exciting! We're off to make a joyful noise :o)







Encourage one another,
Donna

Newfound buried treasures









Cute books!

I found Angus and the Cat a little choppy to read outloud and even thought it might be missing pages, it was that choppy.

Angus and the ducks is just right.


Great Book study for Emma and me.





We each have a copy and I will have to buckle down to keep up with Emma. Her book came in two days before mine (at the library).

The folks at Mitford will have to wait. They seem a patient bunch.
I am reading At home in Mitford like a true resident of that sleepy hamlet.
SLOWLY.


I am also studying;





this language program on loan from the library.
I will let you know how much I can learn in two weeks.
It is a brand new item at our library (I'm the first to use it) perhaps I can renew it multiple times before other folks know it is there :o)


Finally I have a request from Katie;
She wonders if other children have imaginary friends when they are seven.

I told her I would ask you all.

She's hoping someone will say it is still okay to have an imaginary friend at nineteen.

I just smiled when she said this...but thought, yes some folks do still have imaginary friends when they are nineteen, but most of them are on medication; poor dears.



What are you reading and learning about this week?


Encourage one another,
Donna

Something to mull over....


From Called to Obedience by Howie and Denny Dowell

Letting Christ Satisfy and Fulfill You

*understand and believe that Christ is all you need to be fulfilled
*understand that desires are not needs
*is focusing on obedience to Christ and trusting in His Character, commands and promises.

Deep, spiritually challenging words, I know.

But words of wisdom, like those above, are what get me thru the very toughest times,
especially trusting in His Character.

In a world filled with pain, suffering and confusion it is hard to really grasp the idea that God loves us.

Believing the Bible is True is critical.

Once I was certain the Bible was God's word I was able to sincerely believe His promises and trust Him.

I'm also certain I wouldn't have been able to do any of this(trusting and understanding) without the Holy Spirit guiding me along.

It seems so very complicated but I think it is as difficult and easy as abiding.


John 15:1,7

Abide in me, and I in you.

He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit:for with out me ye can do nothing.


abide

satisfy


"Thus, if you have really handed yourself over to Him, it must follow that you are
trying to obey Him.
But trying in a new way, a less worried way. Not doing these things in order to be saved, but because He has begun to save you already.
Not hoping to get to Heaven, as a reward for your actions, but inevitably wanting to act in a certain way because a first faint gleam of Heaven is already inside you."

C.S.Lewis


Oh how I love that...first faint gleam of Heaven is already inside you.

Sometimes it may seem like just a dull burning ember....
but on a good day..

it's that first faint gleam.


Encourage one another,
Donna

Katie and I were invited to a special event last night.

We watched "Molly:An American Girl on the Home Front" with a big group of homeschool mothers and daughters.

The girls were invited to wear an outfit like Molly and bring a treat that the folks in the 1940's would have enjoyed.

The movie was very sweet and innocent. (and very sad, many families lost sons in the war overseas)

The tragedy of death is not a concept that Katie is ready to understand.
When I asked her if she cried she said,

"Well, I almost cried." said Katie.
"When was that?", I asked.
"When the girl had the nightmare."


Ah. Nightmares she can relate to. Interesting.


********


I was thinking of family traditions this morning.

And I forgot to tell you something special we have always done on Thanksgiving.

We send the kids bowling.





~Paul Martin/Art.com


Doesn't that just say Happy Thanksgiving?

:o)


**********

My Christmas cards have been shipped! I created and ordered them from Shutterfly.

My hubby thinks this may be the earliest I've gotten the cards.

I told him, that may be....

but I still have time to drag it out.

Once here, a letter needs to be written for the cards, they must then be addressed and stamps must be purchased.

It's a big job.

But worth it, to me.


Will you send out Christmas cards?


Encourage one another,
Donna

I choose us.


Patrick and I watched Family Man last night.
In the movie, in different circumstances, at different times, Jack and Kate tell one another,

"I choose us."

It the most important line in the movie.


Patirck and I have said that very thing to one another, in word and in deed over the last 26 years.

We wouldn't be celebrating our anniversary tomorrow,
if we hadn't chosen to love and forgive and honor and trust.

Over and over.
Again and again.


I choose us.




Encourage one another,
Donna

Hi there!

Hope your day was a great big success :o)
I posted that Scooby Doo cause he is so funny and makes me smile :o)
Believe it or not, I don't think I have ever seen a whole episode of Scooby Doo...but I know how he talks.
Like Astro and a bit like Tigger.
Woo-who-who-who!!!


I wanted to tell you about a fun game we played over at the relatives house yesterday.

It is called Ticket to Ride.





This link will tell you all about the game.
Emma just now tells me she played this in England with the Waldeckers last summer.
She also said it was the #1 board game in Germany in 2004.

************

Guess who has been shopping already this morning?

Moi.

Yep.

Bought something.


But, I did not leave the comfort of my computer seat.

So smart :o)


Really I didn't plan on buying anything today.
But, this pattern just became available so I ponied up the five buckeroooos
and now I'm excited to knit a pattern designed by beautiful and talented, Wendy.


************


Do you go out into the fray to shop today?
I don't.
Millions love it, love it, love it!

But not me.
I feel a bit un-American :o)

Emma, however, will be working all day today and tomorrow at Old Navy.
She's young. She will not complain.

Enjoy those leftovers...
and your families :o)


Encourage one another,
Donna

Rappy Franksgiving Reverybody!






Encourage one another,
Donna

A quiz and a meme...

You Belong in Winter

Quiet, calm, and totally at peace... You're happy to be at home, wrapped in a blanket, completely snowed in Whether you're lighting a fire or having a snowball fight, you always feel best in the winter.

What Season Are You?

Favourite Animal: A good dog.
Favourite Bad Habit: watching tv
Favourite Cookie: My hubbies iced cut-outs
Favourite Drink: Dr. Pepper
Favourite Egg Style: Sunny side up!
Five Favourite Fiction Books: Where the Red Fern Grows, The Princess Bride, Seventeenth Summer, To Kill a Mockingbird, Sister of my Heart
Favourite Gadget: My sweet digital camera
Favourite Hymn: How Great Thou Art
Favourite Ice Cream: Mint Chocolate Chip ( I change this answer every time)
Favourite Jam: Strawberry
Favourite Kid's Books: Madeline
In an old house in Paris
that was covered with vines
lived twelve little girls
in two straight lines...



Favourite Love Song: I Remember You
Favourite Memories: Usually involve laughing with loved ones.
Favourite Nonfiction Book: Ina Garten cookbooks, The Excellent Wife by Martha Peace, Poetry and quotes in Gateway to Joy by Elisabeth Elliot
Favourite Operatic Song: Nessun Dorma ( I had to looks listen to the snippets at Amazon this morning from the only Opera Cd I won; The Three Tenors, to find a song I liked. This is a beautiful and dramatic piece. You would know it too, if you heard it :o) My opera is basically limited to background music from cartoons and movies.
Favourite Piece of Music at the moment: How to save a life (Grey's Anatomy music sung by the Fray)
Favourite Quiet Spot: The couch.
Favourite Reading when you're sick: I am so rarely sick. Once when I was recovering from a ruptured appendix and I was very sick a friend brought me the book A Wrinkle in Time to read. She thought it would help....it did.
Favourite Song that you want played at your funeral: In Christ Alone
Favourite Task: Knitting
Favourite Ugly Animal: pig



Favourite Vintage Book: My little collection of Dorothy Aldis poetry. 1920's.
Favourite Writing of C.S Lewis: Mere Christianity
Favourite Word That Starts with X: xenophobia
Favourite Zoo: Brookfield...I have good memories of this zoo. I remember the huge lawn and fountain...and the dolphins.


a wish


I wish for you all... a day with plenty of time to organize and prepare for tomorrow.
Safe travels for all of you who will be on the road,
cheerful visitors,
hungry tummies,
big laughs,
grateful hearts
a clean kitchen and enough room in your fridge for all the leftovers :o)

Happy Thanksgiving Eve Day!

Encourage one another,
Donna

The tears kept showing up, unexpectedly through the day....

So I just decided not to think about it. Just like Scarlett.
Even thinking about it in a positive way was not working.
But, distraction worked pretty well.

Call it what you will...

It has been said that denial is like a warm coat.
You keep it on because it is awfully cold when you take it off.
You wear it for a reason.

So Emma and I searched for and booked hotels in Paris, Florence and Rome.
I tried to book rail passage from Paris to Florence.
It seems to be a little early to do that.

We watched the first part of Lady Jane.
I waited for months for this movie to come in at the library.
Did one of you recommend it?

Katie and I read The Courage of Sarah Noble.

I have to bribe Katie to read to her. Isn't that sad.

So I scratched her back and read two chapters.

Then I read to her when she ate dinner.

This was genius.

Katie ate very well and she finally got interested in the story.

We sat on the couch to finish the final two chapters.

She listened willingly.


Here is a poem I just stumbled upon this morning in Step by Step (A Pathway Reader)

Forget each kindness that you do
As soon as you have done it;
Forget the praise that falls to you
The moment you have won it;
Forget the slander that you hear
Before you can repeat it;
Forget each slight, each spite, each sneer,
Whenever you may meet it.

Remember every kindness done
To you, whate'er its measure;
Remember praise by others won
And pass it on with pleasure;
Remember every promise made
And keep it to the letter;
Remember those who lend you aid
And be a grateful debtor.

Remember all the happiness
That comes your way in living;
Forget each worry and distress,
Be hopeful and forgiving;
Remember good, remember truth,
Remember heaven's above you,
And you will find, through age and youth,
True joys and hearts to love you.

~Delores Henderson


Sweet poem.
Good advice!

Encourage one another,
Donna

Now Thank We All Our God



Now thank we all our God,
With heart and hands and voices,
Who wondrous things has done,
In whom this world rejoices;
Who from our mothers' arms
Has blessed us on our way
With countless gifts of love,
And still is ours today.

O may this bounteous God
Through all our life be near us,
With ever joyful hearts
And blessed peace to cheer us;
And keep us still in grace,
And guide us when perplexed;
And free us from all ills,
In this world and the next.

All praise and thanks to God
The Father now be given;
The Son, and him who reigns
With them in highest heaven;
The one eternal God,
Whom earth and heaven adore;
For thus it was, is now,
And shall be evermore.

Sing along here




It is going to take a grand effort on my part to be thankful this week.
The fact that the boys are not going to be here makes me very sad and I could easily wallow in pity for the entire week ahead.

But, I know it is wrong to be so ungrateful of all the other blessing in my life and I will try to concentrate on so many other very good things.


Don't let your children ever leave home.

Ha.

Good luck with that :o)


Encourage one another,
Donna

Tragedy :o(




My favorite socks
made with my favorite sock yarn
sprouted a big fat hole
Woe



Triumph





I'm loving this color combo.
I toyed with the idea of some forest green...
but this Grinch green
makes me smile







***********


Carmon posted this poem yesterday.

Katie is going to be working on it next week.
She has the gift of memorization :o)
(I hear it has something to do with her age.)


Forefather’s Day
by Edgar Guest

Look back three hundred years and more:
A group upon a rock-bound shore,
Borne by the Mayflower o’er the sea,
Pledged hearts and lives to liberty.

They were the few we hail with pride
Singing: “Land where our fathers died,”
Daring to die that this might be
Forever: “Land of the noble free.”

At Plymouth Rock they could not know
How far their shadows then would go,
That freedom (as today we sing)
From every mountainside should ring.

“Our Fathers’ God to Thee” I pray
That we, devoted as were they,
Who sing: “Long may our land be bright”
Shall cherish: “Freedom’s holy light.”



Isn't that a fine poem?


Encourage one another,
Donna

Hey! It's the Friday Feast


Appetizer
Do you believe there is intelligent life on other planets?

No. Not really.

Soup
What is one thing you said you'd never do, but you eventually did?

Marry a smoker.


Salad
Who is the teacher that influenced you the most in school?

No one. I was influenced by neighbors and friends and family and authors but not by any teachers that I can think of.


Main Course
If you could trade places with anyone for one day, who would it be and why?

I think I would like to be Oprah.
Cause I could really do that show.
And I would love to get to ask the questions.
And there would be a chef and trainer and Chicago and I would be building a school in Africa.
Yeah.
It would be an interesting day.


Dessert
What is your favorite dish to prepare?

It's more like...favorite dish to eat after I have prepared it. I don't know that I actually like the preparation time. Just the eating.
Actually the making is a pain in the butt. The gravy making comes at the most stressful time. I have the big roaster turned sideways so it sits on two burners. It's super hot in the kitchen.

But the results are delicious.

Homemade turkey gravy.



Fine Art





You must click on this painting by Swiss artist Albert Anker to see the home-y details.
Notice momma resting in the shadows.
I happen to love the linens.

Here is a link to more of his art.

The little girl holding the baby is so sweet.
See the baby's sweater?


Gotta run. See you in the comments :o)

Encourage one another,
Donna

Lovable Jock Wins Dance Crown

All I could think of when I read this piece from the Edmonton Sun was...
those Canadians are Fun-ee

Read about the Dancing with the Stars finale here

"But Smith, aside from being a football hero, family man and all-around decent dude, represents what people love about reality TV: That it could be us up there, going from shuffling newbie to king of the swing in 16 short weeks, and taking home the big prize."
Steve Tilly, Edmonton Sun

And to think...neither of my sisters called to gloat.
Ain't they sweet :o)


******

Katie went with the dental assistant happy as a lark,
and emerged five ten minutes later,
thinking her mommy was a big fat liar.

"It did not even hurt one little bit."

Once the dentist got a good look at the little tiny cavity, he decided to scrape away a bit of the decay and just placed a sealant on it.
No drilling needed.

Painless....and cheaper.

Hooray!

So we went to Whole Foods and bought some yummy treats (strawberries for Katie, Curried Chicken Salad for me) and some Burt's Bees lip gloss for Katie.

*****





Three days = three tiny socks ornaments for teacher gifts.

I hope to find some red sock yarn...soon.....


*******


I'm hungry, let's talk about food :o)

If you could go out to eat tomorrow night...anywhere in the world;
Where would you go?



Encourage one another,
Donna

Katie has a filling today.

I was not going to tell her.
That it might hurt a little.
Emma told me I should tell her.
So I did.

She took the news with a calm 'uh huh'.

Phew.

I can imagine crying and wailing. Really.
(Katie does not handle the hair brushing well.)

My sister Cindy, screamed and kicked and had a fit one time at the dentist.
Oh it was a shocker!

How old were you Cindy?

It was rather scary, back then, wasn't it?

Until today, the Dentist is a place of smiles and attention for Miss Katie. ( She even wants to work there.)
I'll let you know what she thinks after today.


*********


Emma took Katie to Flushed Away last Sunday. They both liked it very much. Emma especially liked the setting. London, England.


********

Who will win?

Emmitt or Mario?

I called in five times for Mario.

It seems Emmitt has the popular vote.
But this is not a popularity contest.
It's dancing with the stars.

Mario wins!

(Bring it on)

********

Someone very special is celebrating her One Year Blogiversary!

Please stop by and give her a little encouragement.
(Which means leave a comment :o)
It would mean a lot to her.

We Glyman girls live for the comments.

Well...not entirely...but you get the drift :o)

(Her post for today is not up yet as it's 7:28am...you may need to give her a little time as she is in Arizona. But don't let that stop ya!)


******


Thanks for being such loyal readers, visitors and commenters to my blog.
It would be rather lonely without ya!


Encourage one another,
Donna

Souls are not made sweet by taking [ill tempers] out, but by putting something in -- a great Love, a new Spirit, the Spirit of Christ. Christ, the Spirit of Christ, interpenetrating ours, sweetens, purifies, transforms all. This can only eradicate what is wrong, renovate and regenerate, and rehabilitate the inner man. Will-power does not change men. Time does not change men. Christ does. Therefore "Let that mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus."
Henry Drummond, The Greatest Thing in the World

Encourage one another,
Donna

Book club discussion at Barnes and Noble.com


Fascinating and informative reading on the Thirteenth Tale forum!
If you have read the book...you will love this link!

The Thirteenth Tale book club

I spotted this link at Crissy's a few weeks ago and just remembered to go and see it this morning.



And speaking of lurking in the recesses of your mind....

Christmas is six full weeks away. Six weeks of shopping and planning and shipping and decorating.

Oh dear.

I had better get busy. I think I will make a list. That's always a great place to start.

I did something last spring that is going to give me so much peace this Christmas season.

I saved a nice chunk of money from our tax refund.
Earmarked- Christmas.

I will be able to shop without worry and stress.

How do I spell relief?

Savings account!


Thanksgiving is only ten days away. I don't think the boys will be coming home.
This is terribly terrible.
It's just not right.

Matthew's favorite meal is the Thanksgiving meal.
Waaaa!




Have you started planning for Christmas?
How is Thanksgiving coming along?

Did you know Dana is planning a wedding just a few days after Christmas?

I can do all things,
thru Christ who strengthens me.
~Phil 4:13

Encourage one another,
Donna

On Wednesday it was 70 degrees here in Wisconsin.
Yesterday afternoon we had our first WINTER STORM WATCH.
Our weather people are sooooo dramatic!

I, thankfully, just got to watch it all from the warmth and comfort of the family room.

Big, fat, floaty flakes.


The driving in it...now there's the rub.


SNOW

The fenceposts wear marshmallow hats
On a snowy day;
Bushes in their night gowns
Are kneeling down to pray-
And all the trees have silver skirts
And want to dance away.

~Dorothy Aldis




~My precious Dorothy Aldis library.

Who is your favorite children's poet?

I love Aldis and Stevenson.

Encourage one another,
Donna

Friday Feast...
is taking a break...so here is a do-over with some adjustments.


Appetizer
Where do you plan to go on vacation this year, or where would you want to go?










It's true.
The airplane tickets have been purchased.
We are going to Paris, Florence, and Rome in the Spring.

I am planning a fine Senior trip for Emma and two of her friends.
After 12 years of homeschooling (classical, of late) I thought Europe was the best place to visit, especially for a girl like Emma.

She will spend her 18th birthday in Paris!

I am so excited!


Soup
What color is your bedroom? If you could redecorate it, what would you change?

White now.
Light blue.



Salad
Do you have a bumper sticker on your vehicle? What does it say?

Nope. Hubby hates 'em.
Can't get 'em off.




Main Course
What’s the worst pain you’ve ever been in?

Emotional pain.
Nuff said.



Dessert
Do you have a hero?

Elisabeth Elliot.


Fine Art Friday, too....




William Bouguereau
The Little Knitter


Bouguereau is a new discovery for me.
I adore his work.

Now I would like to know how to pronounce his name.
Can anyone help me with that?



See you in the comments.


Encourage one another,
Donna