Friday, December 9, 2011
Scraps and Snippets from a Morning
I woke up late. Aleady chasing the day. But what to do except just the next thing. And get a move on already! The laundry. The dishes. The toys. The usual really, but today it's all yesterday's leftovers. When I got out of the shower, all was fairly quiet. I could hear Josh's breathy whistling downstairs - "When Johnny Comes Marching Home Again- Hurrah! Hurrah!" I entered the kitchen and found this: (Join me here to read more...)
Thursday, December 8, 2011
Names and Places
I think it's kind of fun to know how or why a place got its name, the history behind it. This fall for our history studies, Joshua and I read about the founding of the Jamestown colony. The colony was given its name for obvious reasons-- in honor of King James I of England, who had granted a charter to the Virginia Company of London in 1606 to explore this new land in hopes of gaining territory and riches for England.
Several years ago when the girls were still at home, we did a study on the community of Browerville, where we were living at the time. Browerville was originally called Hartford and was located on the Long Prairie River about three miles north of where it is now. It was moved because of the future construction of the Great Northern Railroad. The owner of the land to which this community would be relocating was J.V. Brower, and so the new location was given his name.
Often times places, whether it be cities, landmarks, or even things of nature such as rivers and mountains, are given the name of a person. Sometimes, that person is yet living when the name is given, as was the case when the colony of Jamestown and the community of Browerville were given their names. Other times, a name may be given to honor a person who has passed. Lincoln, the capital city of Nebraska, was orignally called Lancaster, and was renamed in 1867 to give honor to the recently assassinated President Abraham Lincoln.
Sometimes the name of a location might simply be a description, like North Branch. Or it may have a hidden meaning. Not intentionally, but because languages change or become obsolete. For instance, the community where we now live is called Menahga. The name is descriptive of what once grew in abundance here, and it is an Ojibwe word which means "blueberry". Not something just everybody knows because the Ojibwe language is not a common language. I don't know a single person that could speak or even understand Ojibwe. Most of us know Philadelphia as the "city of brotherly love". But do you know that its name is derived from the Greek words phileo, which means "to love", and adelphos, which means "brother"? I know only a few people who have a working knowledge of Greek. Sometimes the history of a name takes a little digging, but I think it's definitely worth the effort. Knowing those little tidbits of information gives a better understanding of the place.
There is certainly historical significance to the naming of a place, whether it be remembered by many for generations or by only a few for a short while. There are reasons places have the names they have. This is true all through the ages. In Biblical times, places were often named because of an event that happened at that location. Babylon is from the Hebrew word Babel, as in the Tower of Babel, and it means "confused". So named because until the building of the tower, mankind had one language. When they tried to build themselves a tower to heaven, God confused their language and the place become known as Babel, or Babylon. (Genesis 11) When Jacob had the dream of the stairway to heaven and the Lord told him that his descendants would be like the dust of the earth, Jacob woke up afraid and said, "surely this is none other than the house of God" and he named the place Bethel, which means House of God. (Genesis 28:10-22)
In our Bible reading the other day I came across this again, something I had forgotten but want to remember. I thought about sharing it, in hopes that it would help me to remember. Bethlehem. It's a city we remember during this Christmas season. We sing of it and read of it and know that it is the city where Jesus was born. But have you ever considered its name? What it means? I find this to be so fascinating! Bethlehem. I've never been to this city. Not literally, but I do know a little something about it. I know what it means, and the Person for whom it was named. Bethlehem means "house of bread". Maybe at first read that doesn't do much, but consider this: Jesus called himself "the bread of life". (John 6:35 and 51. Why not read the whole chapter?) I find it fascinating that long before Jesus would leave his throne in Heaven to be born in a humble stable, the name of the town to which he would come was well established as Bethlehem. House of Bread. And from within its borders, sustainance would be given for the whole world.
My prayer for you during this Christmas season is this: No matter what city you may be in or traveling to, that you would journey for a while to Bethlehem. Go inside the House of Bread and find there the Bread of Life.
Several years ago when the girls were still at home, we did a study on the community of Browerville, where we were living at the time. Browerville was originally called Hartford and was located on the Long Prairie River about three miles north of where it is now. It was moved because of the future construction of the Great Northern Railroad. The owner of the land to which this community would be relocating was J.V. Brower, and so the new location was given his name.
Often times places, whether it be cities, landmarks, or even things of nature such as rivers and mountains, are given the name of a person. Sometimes, that person is yet living when the name is given, as was the case when the colony of Jamestown and the community of Browerville were given their names. Other times, a name may be given to honor a person who has passed. Lincoln, the capital city of Nebraska, was orignally called Lancaster, and was renamed in 1867 to give honor to the recently assassinated President Abraham Lincoln.
Sometimes the name of a location might simply be a description, like North Branch. Or it may have a hidden meaning. Not intentionally, but because languages change or become obsolete. For instance, the community where we now live is called Menahga. The name is descriptive of what once grew in abundance here, and it is an Ojibwe word which means "blueberry". Not something just everybody knows because the Ojibwe language is not a common language. I don't know a single person that could speak or even understand Ojibwe. Most of us know Philadelphia as the "city of brotherly love". But do you know that its name is derived from the Greek words phileo, which means "to love", and adelphos, which means "brother"? I know only a few people who have a working knowledge of Greek. Sometimes the history of a name takes a little digging, but I think it's definitely worth the effort. Knowing those little tidbits of information gives a better understanding of the place.
There is certainly historical significance to the naming of a place, whether it be remembered by many for generations or by only a few for a short while. There are reasons places have the names they have. This is true all through the ages. In Biblical times, places were often named because of an event that happened at that location. Babylon is from the Hebrew word Babel, as in the Tower of Babel, and it means "confused". So named because until the building of the tower, mankind had one language. When they tried to build themselves a tower to heaven, God confused their language and the place become known as Babel, or Babylon. (Genesis 11) When Jacob had the dream of the stairway to heaven and the Lord told him that his descendants would be like the dust of the earth, Jacob woke up afraid and said, "surely this is none other than the house of God" and he named the place Bethel, which means House of God. (Genesis 28:10-22)
In our Bible reading the other day I came across this again, something I had forgotten but want to remember. I thought about sharing it, in hopes that it would help me to remember. Bethlehem. It's a city we remember during this Christmas season. We sing of it and read of it and know that it is the city where Jesus was born. But have you ever considered its name? What it means? I find this to be so fascinating! Bethlehem. I've never been to this city. Not literally, but I do know a little something about it. I know what it means, and the Person for whom it was named. Bethlehem means "house of bread". Maybe at first read that doesn't do much, but consider this: Jesus called himself "the bread of life". (John 6:35 and 51. Why not read the whole chapter?) I find it fascinating that long before Jesus would leave his throne in Heaven to be born in a humble stable, the name of the town to which he would come was well established as Bethlehem. House of Bread. And from within its borders, sustainance would be given for the whole world.
My prayer for you during this Christmas season is this: No matter what city you may be in or traveling to, that you would journey for a while to Bethlehem. Go inside the House of Bread and find there the Bread of Life.
Tuesday, December 6, 2011
Mom Heart
In recent months, I have been so freshly inspired in my role as a mom and as a homeschooler by the writings of Sally Clarkson. She has "been there and done that" and writes to encourage moms, whatever the season of motherhood one might be in. I only wish I'd found her sooner! I write this post to all moms and moms-to-be to encourage you to stop by her blog and read her heart. You will find it in the right sidebar and can visit with just a click. And if you are considering homeschooling, or maybe you already are and just need some fresh perspective and inspiration, I highly recommend the book she co-authored with her husband, Clay, Educating the Whole Hearted Child!
Below, you will find some information for her upcoming Mom Heart Conferences. ( I am hoping for a little getaway in January (maybe even with my girls!) to attend the conference in Colorado. Yay!)
Below, you will find some information for her upcoming Mom Heart Conferences. ( I am hoping for a little getaway in January (maybe even with my girls!) to attend the conference in Colorado. Yay!)
For Your Mom Heart!!
(For more information, scroll down and click the Mom Heart button in the sidebar! Once there, find the location you are interested in and click on the "more info" link to see workshop topics and scheduled speakers. :O) )
When Blessings Come Priority Mail
One afternoon in late May, I loaded the boys into the car for a trip to town and an appointment to have highlights added to my hair. Knowing we would be there for a while, I made sure the boys "packed a bag"---books, paper, markers, and whatever else they wanted that would be quiet and entertaining for them. And they did. Not only did they have all of the above, but also small scissors and tape.
We arrived just early enough to get them settled into their chairs and my stylist, Laura, called me to "come on back".
We hadn't been there long when I could hear that Josh had taken up a conversation with someone. I kinda half laughed and said, "I hope he's not talking someone's ear off !" It would be possible. Laura assured me that the someone Josh was conversing with was a "good guy" and thoroughly enjoying himself.
During that whole appointment, I don't recall the boys coming back to check on me at all. Unusual. Laura looked in on them to assure me that all was well. She told me they were spread out on the floor and making paper airplanes. Oh.
If you know Joshua at all, you know that he doesn't make a typical paper airplane. No. He rolls paper and folds paper and cuts paper and then tapes the paper and then draws designs on paper to make paper airplanes. I was imagining quite a littering of scraps to clean up.
Right now, as was true last spring and has been true for about two years now, airplanes are his "thing". More specifically, military aircraft. And it turns out that on this particular May afternoon, God would have it that in a little hair salon, Josh would meet up with a retired military pilot. Amazing. And I'm pretty sure they talked airplanes. And I know for certain that while I was sitting in a chair flipping through some celebrity magazine, Josh made this retired military pilot one of his special airplanes. And they struck up a sort of friendship. And it was just one of those nice sort of days, when all the world seemed to be smiling down on Joshua.
Well, who can know what would seem to be a chance meeting may turn in to. Of course, nothing really is just chance. And all of these moments woven into a story.
On an afternoon months later in September, Joshua receives a box in the mail. At first, I wouldn't even let him open it because I didn't know the name of the person in the return address and I thought maybe it had been delivered to us by mistake. But curiosity did get the best of us and so I agreed that he should open the box.
Wow. There was a little excitment at our house that afternoon. I even called the hair salon just to confirm that this was indeed the same person. I never met him that day because his wife was done before I was and they left before I had a chance to come out and say "hello".
Doesn't it make you wonder what God is weaving together in all of this? I do.
So with a little help from the Hubby, Josh got his model airplanes put together, and when they were complete we snapped a picture and Josh wrote out a little thank-you to send with it.
But then TODAY...
The mailman brought us another surprise package for Joshua!!
TWO MORE AIRPLANE MODELS and a NOTE explaining the reasons for choosing these two models. The one, this airforce pilot had trained in, and the other he flew his missions in. And Joshua's connection to his dream of being an airforce pilot himself suddenly seems more real. And he wonders as we drive past the little airport on the way to Tae Kwon Do if he'd be able to work as an airplane mechanic there to get some training until he's old enough to go to college and the military. I don't know. But I do wonder. And I sent up a little thank- you prayer for God being the Giver of Dreams to my favorite ten-year-old boy.
Again, how God weaves meetings and moments together. And such surprises, like little love notes.
Priority Mail.
We arrived just early enough to get them settled into their chairs and my stylist, Laura, called me to "come on back".
We hadn't been there long when I could hear that Josh had taken up a conversation with someone. I kinda half laughed and said, "I hope he's not talking someone's ear off !" It would be possible. Laura assured me that the someone Josh was conversing with was a "good guy" and thoroughly enjoying himself.
During that whole appointment, I don't recall the boys coming back to check on me at all. Unusual. Laura looked in on them to assure me that all was well. She told me they were spread out on the floor and making paper airplanes. Oh.
If you know Joshua at all, you know that he doesn't make a typical paper airplane. No. He rolls paper and folds paper and cuts paper and then tapes the paper and then draws designs on paper to make paper airplanes. I was imagining quite a littering of scraps to clean up.
Well, who can know what would seem to be a chance meeting may turn in to. Of course, nothing really is just chance. And all of these moments woven into a story.
On an afternoon months later in September, Joshua receives a box in the mail. At first, I wouldn't even let him open it because I didn't know the name of the person in the return address and I thought maybe it had been delivered to us by mistake. But curiosity did get the best of us and so I agreed that he should open the box.
Inside were two model airplanes and a note to Joshua from the retired military pilot.
Doesn't it make you wonder what God is weaving together in all of this? I do.
So with a little help from the Hubby, Josh got his model airplanes put together, and when they were complete we snapped a picture and Josh wrote out a little thank-you to send with it.
The mailman brought us another surprise package for Joshua!!
TWO MORE AIRPLANE MODELS and a NOTE explaining the reasons for choosing these two models. The one, this airforce pilot had trained in, and the other he flew his missions in. And Joshua's connection to his dream of being an airforce pilot himself suddenly seems more real. And he wonders as we drive past the little airport on the way to Tae Kwon Do if he'd be able to work as an airplane mechanic there to get some training until he's old enough to go to college and the military. I don't know. But I do wonder. And I sent up a little thank- you prayer for God being the Giver of Dreams to my favorite ten-year-old boy.
Priority Mail.
Sunday, December 4, 2011
It's A Wonderful Life
It's our family tradition.
The night we put up our Christmas tree, we drink hot apple cider, eat popcorn, and visit George Baily again in Bedford Falls. It used to be when all the girls were still at home that we would watch Little Women. But with boys, we felt our movie selection would need to be a little more "manly". Something more fitting to the ninja warriors that live here.
So tonight, after church and grocery shopping, after lesson planning and another Green Bay Packers win, (insert a rebel "woohoo" yell) we took the boxes out of the utility room downstairs and carried them upstairs to carry on the tradition. As we decorated the tree, Jim Brickman played the piano and the delicious aroma of apple cider wafted through the house. Well, kind of.
We were so involved in making our tree beautiful and remembering each ornament as we took it out of the box, that we forgot about the apple cider. The aroma was more that of "burned" apple cider than "delicious".
Once the tree was decorated, the boys made the popcorn.
Then, just like years past, we traveled back to Bedford Falls.
And snow or no snow, we believe...
 |
| A |
Once the tree was decorated, the boys made the popcorn.
And snow or no snow, we believe...
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
