Alter Your Course

Alter Your Course

The captain of a ship looked into the dark night and saw lights in the distance. Immediately he told his signalman to send a message: "Alter your course 10 degrees south."

Promptly a return message was received: "Alter your course 10 degrees north."

The captain was angered his command had been ignored. So he sent a second message: "Alter your course 10 degrees south - I am a captain."

Soon another message was received: "Alter your course 10 degrees north. I am seaman third class Jones."

Immediately the captain sent a third message, knowing the fear it would evoke: "Alter your course 10 degrees south - I am a battleship."

Then the reply came: "Alter your course 10 degrees north - I am a lighthouse."


I just love that illustration. I've heard it before, but it is a good one. My voicelessness at the moment is causing me to alter my course. Trying not to panic, but I need my voice. Have heard many stories of those of you who have experienced this over the years. I think I might need to publish a book on the funny things that are said and happen in the home when mom can't use her voice!

Keep Silent

The Lord was painting in our sky again this evening!
One of my favorite praise songs is one sung by Amy Grant based on Habakkuk 2:20 which says, "But the Lord is in His holy temple. Let all the earth be silent before Him"
I am being forced to be silent by a severe case of laryngitis. I got sick and it attacked my vocal chords. I have been put on complete voice rest. The above verse takes on new meaning for me.
Another one of my favorite (yet difficult to do) parts of scripture is in the very next chapter of Habakkuk. I've been praying it a lot recently.

Though the fig tree should not blossom and there be no fruit on the vines,
Though the yield of the olive should fail and the fields produce no food,
Though the flock should be cut off from the fold and there be no cattle in the stalls,
Yet I will exult in the Lord, I will rejoice in the God of my salvation.
The Lord God is my strength, and He has made my feet like hinds' feet,
And makes me walk on my high places.
Hab. 317-19

Views of Thanksgiving

Thankgiving

A friend read 1 Chronicles 16 to me the other day.....had to post it. Happy Thanksgiving.

“Oh give thanks to the Lord, call upon His name; Make known His deeds among the peoples.

Sing to Him, sing praises to Him; Speak of all His wonders.

Glory in His holy name; Let the heart of those who seek the Lord be glad.

Seek the Lord and His strength; Seek His face continually.

Remember His wonderful deeds which He has done, His marvels and the judgements from His mouth.

…Sing to the Lord, all the earth; Proclaim good tidings of His salvation from day to day.

Tell of His glory among the nations, His wonderful deeds among all the peoples.

For great is the Lord, and greatly to be praised; He also is to be feared above all gods.

For all the gods of the peoples are idols, But the Lord made the heavens.

Splendor and majesty are before Him, Strength and joy are in His place.

Ascribe to the Lord, O families of the peoples, Ascribe to the Lord glory and strength.

Ascribe to the Lord the glory due His name; Bring an offering, and come before him; Worship the Lord in holy array.

Tremble before Him, all the earth; Indeed, the world is firmly established, it will not be moved.

Let the heavens be glad, and let the earth rejoice; And let them say among the nations, “The Lord reigns.”

Let the sea roar, and all it contains; Let the field exult, and all that is in it.

Then the trees of the forest will sing for joy before the Lord; For He is coming to judge the earth.

O give thanks to the Lord, for He is good; For His lovingkindness is everlasting.

They say, Save us, O god of our salvation, And gather us and deliver us from the nations, To give thanks to Your Holy name, and glory in your Praise.

Blessed be the Lord, the God of Israel, from everlasting even to everlasting.

Then all the people said, “Amen,” and praised the Lord.”

Leaves and Chickens

They don't really go together or do they...? They are busy, they are curious, they are fun to be with, they provide for our family (food and entertainment), they are friendly, they look forward to every day waiting with anticipation to experience whatever the day might bring, they sleep well at night, they love to be free to roam. Elena and our chickens do have a few things in common.

Finishing with Integrity

It is done. The final cone picked up. The balls in the ball bag. The practice pinney's washed and sorted. Soccer is done! "My boys" finished with a three game tournament today. We were picked to win it all, but took a loss in our second game....sigh. My voice is horse and I am exhausted. It takes a lot of energy to corral those boys and motivate them in the right direction. I will miss this particular team. They are the sweetest group of boys. I have enjoyed every minute I have had with them and feel honored to have been their coach. They played with integrity no matter what was going on around them. I am confident they will succeed in life....they sure are on the right track. Go Green Goblins!!!!

I See the Lord

I see the Lord seated on the throne, exalted

And the train of His robe
Fills the temple with glory
And the whole earth is filled
The whole earth is filled
And the whole earth is filled
With His glory

Chorus:
Holy, Holy, Holy, Holy
Holy is the Lord
Holy, Holy, Holy, Holy
Holy is the Lord

Chris Falson

I was speaking to a friend regarding this song recently. I was explaining the first time I heard it (another post at another time). It sure brings you out of your own little world....

Helping Hands

Time-Tested Beauty Tips

For attractive lips, speak words of kindness.
For lovely eyes, seek out the good in people.
For a slim figure, share your food with the hungry.
For beautiful hair, let a child run his fingers through it once a day.
For poise, walk with the knowledge you'll never walk alone ...

People, even more than things, have to be restored, renewed, revived,
reclaimed and redeemed and redeemed and redeemed. Never throw out anybody. Remember, if you ever need a helping hand, you'll find one at the end of your arm. As you grow older you will discover that you have two hands. One for helping yourself, the other for helping others.

Sam Levenson

Aches and Pains

It isn't often that little ones get hurt in soccer. The speed and impact of the players are not at the point in which contact usually leaves anything other than some bruising. Today was a different day for that theory. No, it wasn't one of my children, but it was one of the player's on my boy's U10 team. My heart and those of my parent group and team are breaking this evening as they witnessed a very bad injury of one of their teammates today. A severely broken leg. I won't go into graphic detail, but oh my....I felt and feel so bad for him. He is in surgery as I write this. We are praying for the best as the severe break occured within the growth plate region of his upper tibia/fibula and tibial plateau (for you anatomy folks!) The best part of the experience was a good family friend of the boy coming onto the field and openly praying over all of us as we were aiding the boy. That was bold (and deeply appreciated)! Injuries happen....I know that, but I still hate to see it.

A Little Live History

My kids school did a little live history today. They created tableau's of famous paintings from the Renaissance. Here are some pics....

Jacob's class recreated The School of Athen's
(he is Alexander the Great on the left of this pic)

The original painting

Emma's class recreated The Judgement of Solomon

The Original

Joey's class recreated Death of a Virgin

The original

It was a lot of work for many people.....thank goodness for those creative types. There were 13 Tableau's in all! It does bring history to life, though.

Psalm 27

"One thing I have asked from the Lord, that I shall seek: That I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life, to Behold the beauty of the Lord and to meditate in His temple." Psalm 27:4

Expanded Ecclesiastes

I wanted to add to the previous post on Timekeepers, but frankly I just ran out of time. I love the verses from Ecclesiastes 3. Becky Freeman in her book Chocolate Chili Pepper Love wrote expanded verses to each of the Ecclesiastes verses. I thought you would enjoy it.

A Time to be born...A season of Eden-like love--the idealized, wonderfully romantic time when our affections for each other are as fresh as a newborn baby.

And a time to die...There also comes a time to die to our unrealistic fantasies, such as having, or being, the perfect mate. This necessary loss that author Judith Viorst described has to occur before mature love can begin.

A time to plant...Then just as the young family gets settled, a notice arrives, signaling it's time to start all over. Move, start a new job, face new challenges. Yet, these times of uprooting and re-settling can even be adventurous, producing a "you and me against the world" kind of feeling in a marriage.

A time to kill...No, not each other. (though there may be times we're tempted) There comes a season of reflection when we ask God to destroy sinful patterns that have crept into our marriages. Proverbs 27:17 says, "As iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another." One reason God places us together is to unveil each other's blind spots--self defeating and harmful ways of reacting. This season is perhaps the most painful of all--it gets awfully hot when iron is at the task of sharpening iron.

A time to heal...After having gone through the refining fire of brokeness, couples need a season of healing, a time to cool off and comfort one another. Think of it as becoming each other's aloe vera.

A time to tear down...Occasionally, Scott has had to help me tear down a wall of pride or self importance. This guy who knows me best calls me on those pesky, subtle sins that others let me get away with. A time to build...On the other hand, when my selfesteem has been bruised by the world, my husband is the one I want at my side to make it all better again. He builds me up.

A time to weep...I'm not sure a couple can fully understand the concept of "becoming one" until they've wept together in a time of deep sorrow.

A time to laugh...It also helps becoming one to laugh so hard they fall off the bed and onto the floor together. A time to mourn...During those days of numbing sadness, after the weeping, the best gift yo have to offer each other is a hand to hold and a shoulder to lean on.

A time to dance...These are the seasons of festivity, when the pleasure of being old people in love bubbles up and overflows--when a husband spontaneously invites his wife into his arms for a spin around the kitchen floor, just for the fun of it.

A time to embrace...I'm looking at a black and white picture of a man swirling a woman around in the kind of embrace you see in old movies, usually at train stations. These are the Home-Sweet-Home times; moments of reuniting at the end of an absence or simply at the end of a long day.

A time to refrain from embracing...This can be a healthy and necessary part of growing in love. Not only do we need times of solitude for personal reflection, but it's often in the lonely times that God reminds us why we need each other after all.

A time to keep...There are special moments in marriage we want to freeze in time, to treasure in the memory bank of our mind--births of our children, anniversaries, walks by the sea. A time to throw away...Then there are those memories we need to toss. We all have to periodically toss the garbage of grudges into the bin of forgiveness.

A time to be silent...That's right--silent. We forgo our own agenda to focus on our mate--listening without judgement, without hurrying, listening below the surface of words for the feelings underneath. Giving our spouses focused attention is a rare and precious treasure.

A time to speak...Then comes the time to speak up. Yes, sometimes we have to speak in confrontation. But more often may it be "I love you," "I'm sorry," or "You're precious to me" that leaves our lips and enters nto our loved one's ears.

A time for war...Fights and disagreements will come, so we don't need to be terrified when they happen. Though painful, an argument can clear the air and allow for a new start. To disagree and argue are parts of what it means to be a human being.

A time for peace...Would we really appreciate peacetime if we'd not survived a few marital battles? I love the delicious relief, the joy of everything being okay between us again. Ah...peace--a season to savor.

Who is the Time Keeper?

"The owner bought this small, spherical pocket watch or Bisamapfel watch in the year 2002. Due to the absolute rarity, the curiosity was aroused and so the investigation and research was started. He asked the seller for the phone number of the first owner and contacted him to find out more about the watch. The first owner told that in 1987, as a watchmaker’s apprentice, he took part in a school trip to London. There, he bought for 10 Pound Sterling at a flea market a box with old metal and watch parts. In this box he later also found this small, rusty and defective watch, to which he did not pay a lot of attention. Only in 2001, he had the idea to get this little watch going again. He replaced two defective 5-pinions with 6-pinions on hand from another watch, as there were no 5-pinions available for such an old watch. But the watch also worked with the replaced 6-pinions. (One old defective 5-pinion was still at hand and was given to the current owner). An outer crown gear and the winding spring were also replaced. After the watch was intact again, he sold it to a watch collector, who later sold it to the current owner.
This gave cause for further investigation. It was established, that so far nobody had offered a pomander in an auction or anywhere else, neither an original nor a replica. Also, there have been no counterfeits.
5 specimens were only preserved up to World War II, some of which have been lost during the war confusions. After previous investigation, there is only one nearly complete pomander with clockwork from the year 1530 (Illustration 12) in existence apart from the completely unknown watch described here. This other watch has the following inscription on the bottom „PHIL. MELA. GOTT ALEIN DIE EHR 1530“ (Phillipp Melanchton) [translated: Phil. Mela. God alone the glory 1530]. This watch is located in Baltimore/USA (The Walters Art Museum). It is assumed that this watch was built by Peter Henlein, although no signature was found. According to this, there are only this completely preserved pomander watch described here and the pomander watch in Baltimore left over! Despite extensive investigation, there are no other existing specimens known. An empty housing can be found at the Wuppertal watch museum.
The watch was shown to a few befriended watch connoisseurs and watchmakers. The first impression due to the coarse inscription and the relatively bad engraving was rather negative. Nevertheless, these watch specialists needed to acknowledge that you can only reverse engineer such a watch if you have an original as a master. Even then, a reproduction would still be rather laborious. A complete replica without master would be impossible, and you still would not have harmonious wear and symptoms of old age. Furthermore, it would hardly be possible to make such a casing with the existing signs of aging. Should this watch be an original, the clockwork - due to its unique design (like no other portable watch has!) and with a complete running time of only approx. 12 to 13 hours – should be placed at the absolute beginning of the time string. Even Cochläus already writes in the year 1511: „So produces Peter Henlein, a still young man, works, which even the most learned mathematicians admire, because he makes from a little iron a clock with a lot of wheels, which, however you might turn them, show and strike 40 hours without any weight, even if they are at the chest or in the purse.“
There was the thought that this watch was probably also made by Peter Henlein. From the early 16th century, there are no other watch makers known, which could make small, portable watches."

The above excerpt is from some research my son did in preparing to write a research paper on Peter Henlein. It is very fascinating. The study of time and the history of time keeping boggles the mind. It made me think Ecclesiastes 3:1-8

There is an appointed time for everything. An there is a time for every event under heaven
A time to give birth and a time to die;
A time to plant and a time to uproot what is planted.
A time to kill and a time to heal; A time to tear down and a time to build up.
A time to weep and a time to laugh; A time to mourn and a time to dance.
A time to throw stones and a time to gather stones; A time to embrace and a time to shun embracing.
A time to search and a time to give up as lost; A time to keep and a time to throw away.
A time to tear apart and a time to sew together; A time to be silent and a time to speak.
A time to love and a time to hate; A time to for war and a time for peace.

The Christmas Card

It may be 80 degrees outside, but Christmas card preparation has started.....
first the picture.....

12, 10, 8 and 6 years old......

A little October 31 Fun

Pumpkins all a glow...

A rare picture of mom!

Our neighbor Doug (dressed as Dorothy) and the newest member of the 'hood, Maggie.

The world war I flying ace...

Quick...a picture before you get dirty.

Always the princess!