The Simple Woman’s Daybook

Posted on August 18, 2008 by Barbara Harper

Special note: MSNBC has a poll up concerning the motto “In God We Trust” on our currency, here. Really, God is God whether our money affirms it or not, but I would hate to see this country take a further step away from acknowledging Him or the people who want every vestige of God removed from public life awarded another victory. If you read anything of the founding fathers’ official documents you see that they did not deem that mentioning God was akin to establishing a national religion. But that’s another post. If you have opinions on the issue you might want to let it be known there. I don’t know how long the poll will be up.

Outside My Window...looks like a nice day — not too bright or hot.

I am thinking… about plans for the day.

I am thankful… that Jason got home from his summer in CA safely last night.

From the kitchen …besides a birthday cake, not much today. I mentioned last week we’re celebrating my two older boys’ birthdays this week since they both wanted to wait til Jason got back. We took Jeremy out for dinner (at Fuddruckers) on his actual birthday and will tonight take Jason out to the restaurant of his choice.

I am wearing… my nightgown and robe still….with everyone home and one shower, I’ve been waiting for my turn.

I am creating… a birthday cake…though cakes are not my best thing.

I am going… out to eat. 🙂

I am reading… To Kill a Mockingbird still and Simple Gifts by Lori Copeland. I volunteered to do a book review for the latter on anther site and didn’t get to it…so I wanted to reread it and work on that review.

I am hoping… that a friend is able to get back into school this semester…either that the Lord will provide the finances or the business office will be merciful

I am hearing… my neighbor hammering.

Around the house…I got some clutter taken care of last week but have more to tackle, plus I hope to work on family room curtains soon.

One of my favorite things… is when the family is all together enjoying each other.

A Few Plans For The Rest Of The Week: the aforementioned decluttering and curtains, plus Jesse’s school orientation Friday night.

Here is picture thought I am sharing…of the birthday boys.

More daybook participants are here.

The Simple Woman’s Daybook

Posted on August 11, 2008 by Barbara Harper

FOR TODAY … August 11, 2008

Outside My Window… bright but not so hot — at least, not so far.

I am thinking… about some ideas for some writing projects and also about “birthday week.” Jason’s birthday was in July but he wanted to wait to celebrate til he came home. Jeremy’s is Friday but he wants to wait til Jason gets home. Mine is Thursday of next week.So we’re going to have a whole lot of celebrating going on…

I am thankful for… my husband and family,God’s love and car, and air conditioning 🙂 Honestly, I don’t know how I would live without it, I get so hot so easily..

From the kitchen…a light day since it is a busy day, but I do need to do something with ripening bananas soon.

I am wearing… a green and blue plaid seersucker dress. I love it for summertime — it’s much cooler than many of my other clothes.

I am creating… I am still working on my new cross stitch project. It will take a while. In fact, I am so tempted to go work on it now, but I have other things to do. Progress as of Friday is at the bottom of this post, though I have worked on it a little more since then.

I am going… I actually already went…to take my mil to an audiologist’s appointment Tonight we have a ladies’ meeting with one of my favorite people.

I am reading… To Kill a Mockingbird and It Happens Every Spring still. Almost done with the latter.

I am hoping… to get a nap in today — I got up earlier than usual for summer, but I am going to have to get used to that again soon when school starts.

I am hearing… Jesse absentmindedly bumping his leg against the desk.

Around the house… I have some piles of clutter I need to sort through and put away.

One of my favorite things… is hot Krispy Kreme donuts. 🙂 We passed by there on our way home from my mil’s appointment, and I introduced to to the joys of Krispy Kreme. She is now a convert.

A Few Plans For The Rest Of The Week: Besides the clutter control, I need to make some appointments for Jesse (I listed that last week but didn’t get to it), get the rest of his school supplies, shop for birthdays, dust and vacuum my bedroom, clean Jason’s room in time for his return this weekend (Yay!)

Here is picture thought I am sharing…

I had noticed a lovely sunset and went out to try to get a picture of it, then on my way out to the front yard I noticed this reflection on the car that I thought was kind of neat. But by the time I got my camera, went outside, and then took this picture, the sun had gone down too much. I tried taking a couple more pictures, but I was directly facing the neighbors across the street — whom I don’t know — and felt awkward that they might be thinking I was taking pictures of them or their house, so I gave up.

The Guidelines for the Daybook are here at The Simple Woman, who created and hosts this weekly meme.

Thursday Thirteen: Items from a baby boomer’s childhood

Posted on August 7, 2008 by Barbara Harper

Someone sent me this in an e-mail, and I thought it was fun. I do remember these, though I had not thought about many of them probably since childhood! I don’t know who to credit the pictures to.

1. Spindles for 45 records.

2. Aluminum Christmas trees and
3. The rotating multicolored light that shined on it.

When I was growing up people had these in the living room and a “real” tree in the family room/

4. Metal ice trays with handles that you pull up to loosen the ice.

5. Chatty Cathy dolls.

I don’t think I ever had one of those, but I remember them being advertised.

6. Coca-cola for 5 cents.

7. Flash bulbs

I don’t know if this particular kind were the ones used with cameras, but I remember those plus big bulbs that you’d have to take out of the back of the TV and replace.

8. Tinker Toys

My kids did have these, too, but they had a lot of plastic pieces in them. In my childhood they were all wood.

9. Test Patterns.

10. 5 cent stamps.

11. S&H Green stamps.

We used those for all kinds of things. I remember once getting a little toy tea set when my parents let me choose a toy with a portion of them.

12. Jiffy Pop popcorn.

Lots of fun to watch the flat silver package inflate into a ball!

13. Drive-In Diners.

Sonic is based on this idea. We used to go to dinner at a place like this every Friday night after getting groceries.

This has jogged my memory to other things common in my childhood: rabbit ears (with foil on the ends) on top of TVs, big heavy TV and stereo cabinets, “dinette” sets, 5 cent milk cartons for school lunches, Barbie dolls with a ponytail right at the crown of the head, toy guns made out of metal (I had to get a toenail removed after one of my brother’s toy guns dropped on my foot), baseball cards with a stick of gum in the same package, little wax soda-bottle shapes with flavored liquid kind of like Kool-aid in them; glass bottle on windowsills with colored water in them…

Anyone else remember these?

Other Thursday Thirteeners are here.

Repost: The Claims of Christ

Posted on July 24, 2008 by Barbara Harper

I first posted this on October 5, 2006, and for some reason it has been on my heart to post it again. Perhaps someone reading needs the truth of these verses.

Some years back I read that someone said that Jesus Christ never claimed to be God. I was astounded that anyone would say or think that. Sure, He never stood on a mountaintop and said, “I am God” in those exact words. But He did proclaim His Deity. The next time I read through the New Testament, I put a “C” (for “claim”) next to every verse I found where Christ claimed something about Himself. Here’s what I found:

1) When the devil tempted Him to throw Himself off the pinacle of the temple if He was the Son of God, Jesus answered, “Thou shalt not tempt the Lord thy God.” I think He was referring not only to the situation of doing something foolish and expecting God to intervene, but I think He was also referring to Himself as God who should not be tempted. (Matthew 4:5-7)

2) He claimed the authority and the ability to forgive sins.

Matthew 9:6: But that ye may know that the Son of man hath power on earth to forgive sins, (then saith he to the sick of the palsy,) Arise, take up thy bed, and go unto thine house. (In Mark 2:5-11 and Luke 5:18-25, those listening to that claim acknowledged that only God can forgive sins, but they did not accept that Jesus was God: they thought He was blaspheming. His subsequent healing of the man was to give them something they could see that demonstrated Who He was.)

3) He claimed to be greater than the temple.

Matthew 12:6: But I say unto you, That in this place is one greater than the temple.

4) He claimed to be greater than Jonah.

Matthew 12:41: The men of Nineveh shall rise in judgment with this generation, and shall condemn it: because they repented at the preaching of Jonas; and, behold, a greater than Jonas is here.

5) He claimed to be greater than Solomon.

Matthew 12:42: The queen of the south shall rise up in the judgment with this generation, and shall condemn it: for she came from the uttermost parts of the earth to hear the wisdom of Solomon; and, behold, a greater than Solomon is here.

6) He confirmed that Peter’s proclamation of Him as the Christ, the Son of God, was revealed to Peter by the Father.

Matthew 16:15: He saith unto them, But whom say ye that I am?

16 And Simon Peter answered and said, Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God.

17 And Jesus answered and said unto him, Blessed art thou, Simon Barjona: for flesh and blood hath not revealed it unto thee, but my Father which is in heaven.

7) He claimed to be the Lord of the Sabbath (in response to the Pharisees fussing about his activities on the Sabbath).

Mark 2:29: Therefore the Son of man is Lord also of the sabbath.

8 ) He proclaimed His purpose in coming was to give Himself as a ransom.

Mark 10:45: For even the Son of man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister, and to give his life a ransom for many.

9) He claimed to be the Christ.*

Mark 14: 61 But he held his peace, and answered nothing. Again the high priest asked him, and said unto him, Art thou the Christ, the Son of the Blessed?

62 And Jesus said, I am: and ye shall see the Son of man sitting on the right hand of power, and coming in the clouds of heaven.

63 Then the high priest rent his clothes, and saith, What need we any further witnesses?

10) He claimed to be the One whom Moses, the prophets, and the Psalms foretold and the One in whose name repentance and remission of sins should be preached.

Luke 24: 44-47: And he said unto them, These are the words which I spake unto you, while I was yet with you, that all things must be fulfilled, which were written in the law of Moses, and in the prophets, and in the psalms, concerning me.
Then opened he their understanding, that they might understand the scriptures, And said unto them, Thus it is written, and thus it behooved Christ to suffer, and to rise from the dead the third day: And that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in his name among all nations, beginning at Jerusalem.

11) He claimed to be in heaven even while He was speaking to someone on earth, indicating omnipresence.

John 3:13: And no man hath ascended up to heaven, but he that came down from heaven, even the Son of man which is in heaven.

12) He claimed that whoever believed in Him would not perish but have everlasting life.

John 3:14-16: And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of man be lifted up. That whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have eternal life. For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.

(Also John 6:47; 10:28-29)

13) He claimed to give “living water.”

John 4:10, 13-14: Jesus answered and said unto her, If thou knewest the gift of God, and who it is that saith to thee, Give me to drink; thou wouldest have asked of him, and he would have given thee living water….Jesus answered and said unto her, Whosoever drinketh of this water shall thirst again: But whosoever drinketh of the water that I shall give him shall never thirst; but the water that I shall give him shall be in him a well of water springing up into everlasting life.

John 7:37-39: In the last day, that great day of the feast, Jesus stood and cried, saying, If any man thirst, let him come unto me, and drink. He that believeth on me, as the scripture hath said, out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water. (But this spake he of the Spirit, which they that believe on him should receive: for the Holy Ghost was not yet given; because that Jesus was not yet glorified.)

14) He claimed to be the Messiah.*

John 4: 25-26: The woman saith unto him, I know that Messias cometh, which is called Christ: when he is come, he will tell us all things. Jesus saith unto her, I that speak unto thee am he.

15) He claimed to be the Son of God many times over: here are two examples:

John 5: 17 But Jesus answered them, My Father worketh hitherto, and I work.
18 Therefore the Jews sought the more to kill him, because he not only had broken the sabbath, but said also that God was his Father, making himself equal with God.

(The reaction He got indicates they understood what He meant in claiming to be the Son of God.)

John 9: 35 Jesus heard that they had cast him out; and when he had found him, he said unto him, Dost thou believe on the Son of God?

36 He answered and said, Who is he, Lord, that I might believe on him?

37 And Jesus said unto him, Thou hast both seen him, and it is he that talketh with thee.

38 And he said, Lord, I believe. And he worshipped him.

(See also John 10:36)

16) He claimed that whoever heard His word and believed on Him that sent Him would not come into condemnation, but would pass from death unto life.

John 5:24: Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that heareth my word, and believeth on him that sent me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life.

17) He claimed that the Scriptures testified of Him.

John 5:39: Search the scriptures; for in them ye think ye have eternal life: and they are they which testify of me.

18 ) He claimed to be the bread of life.

John 6:35: And Jesus said unto them, I am the bread of life: he that cometh to me shall never hunger; and he that believeth on me shall never thirst.

John 6:48: I am that bread of life.

John 6:51: I am the living bread which came down from heaven: if any man eat of this bread, he shall live for ever: and the bread that I will give is my flesh, which I will give for the life of the world.

19) He claimed He would raise up those who believe on Him at the last day.

John 6:39-40: And this is the Father’s will which hath sent me, that of all which he hath given me I should lose nothing, but should raise it up again at the last day. And this is the will of him that sent me, that every one which seeth the Son, and believeth on him, may have everlasting life: and I will raise him up at the last day.

20) He claimed to be the light of the world.

John 8:12: Then spake Jesus again unto them, saying, I am the light of the world: he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life.

(Also John 9:5)

21) He claimed to be from above and not of this world.

John 8:23: And he said unto them, Ye are from beneath; I am from above: ye are of this world; I am not of this world.

22) He claimed that if whoever does not believe in Him would die in their sins.

John 8: 24: I said therefore unto you, that ye shall die in your sins: for if ye believe not that I am he, ye shall die in your sins.

23) He claimed to be not only before Abraham but to be the “I am” who spoke to Moses (Exodus 3:13-14):

John 8:58: Jesus said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Before Abraham was, I am.

(The reaction to this statement shows they knew exactly what He meant [though they did not accept it] and to me this statement is one of the strongest proofs of Christ’s deity.)

24) He claimed to be the door of the sheep.

John 10: 7-9: Then said Jesus unto them again, Verily, verily, I say unto you, I am the door of the sheep. All that ever came before me are thieves and robbers: but the sheep did not hear them. I am the door: by me if any man enter in, he shall be saved, and shall go in and out, and find pasture.

25) He claimed He came that we might have life, and have it more abundantly.

John 10:10: The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly.

26) He claimed He is the good shepherd.

John 10: 11, 14: I am the good shepherd: the good shepherd giveth his life for the sheep. I am the good shepherd, and know my sheep, and am known of mine.

27) He claimed to be one with the Father.

John 10:30: I and my Father are one.

28 ) He foretold His betrayal so that when it happened they would know who He was.

John 13:18-19: I speak not of you all: I know whom I have chosen: but that the scripture may be fulfilled, He that eateth bread with me hath lifted up his heel against me. Now I tell you before it come, that, when it is come to pass, ye may believe that I am he.

29) He claimed to be the true vine without Whom we can do nothing.

John 15: 1, 5-6: I am the true vine, and my Father is the husbandman. I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing. If a man abide not in me, he is cast forth as a branch, and is withered; and men gather them, and cast them into the fire, and they are burned.

30) He claimed that we have peace in Him and that He had overcome the world.

John 16: 33: These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.

31) He claimed that eternal life is knowing the Father and Himself.

John 17:3: And this is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent.

*For an explanation of what is meant by the terms “Messiah” or “Christ,” please go here and put the term “Messiah” in the search box. (I couldn’t get the direct link to the definition to work.)

Well, I think that adds up, don’t you? If I have overlooked any, please let me know in your comments. Some of these make more sense and have greater meaning in context. There are other things that attest to Christ’s Deity: the fulfillment of prophecy (something I did at the same time as this study was to also put a “P” in the margin beside every verse in the gospels and the first few chapters of Acts which spoke of some prophecy being fulfilled), His works, the testimony of others, the testimony of the Father (”This is my beloved Son in Whom I am well-pleased.” )

I hope and pray that any of you who have not recognized Him as Lord and Saviour would believe on Him even today, and I hope that the faith of believers will be strengthened by these truths.

(I am submitting this to Thursday Thirteen for the day though there are more than thirteen claims.)

A quirky meme, an award, and a blessing

Posted on July 22, 2008 by Barbara Harper

I’ll start with the blessing first. 🙂 My mother-in-law has been hard of hearing for as long as I have known her, about 30 years. But it has progressively gotten worse. In the last ten or so years she hasn’t been able to hear but about five words of the sermon at church, yet she still went faithfully out of obedience and for the fellowship.

Our church just recently got some sort of hearing device that somehow connects with the sound box through an FM transmitter (I think…I am not entirely sure how it works). My mother-in-law has trouble hearing sometimes even with her hearing aid (she’s getting a new one next week which I hope will help), and she had to take her hearing aid out to use this — but she was able to hear the sermon for the first time in years! She eagerly looked up every passage the pastor referred to and was just delighted. It was so fun just to watch her reaction — and such a rebuke in that I can hear easily and yet get distracted or sleepy so often and forget what a privilege it is to hear the Word of God preached.

Mama Bear at Bear In Exile tagged me for a meme in which I am supposed to:

1) Link to the person who tagged me.
2) Mention the rules.
3) Tell six quirky yet boring, unspectacular details about myself.
4) Tag 6 other bloggers by linking to them.
5) Go to each person’s blog and leave a comment that lets them know they’ve been tagged.

Quirky? Me? 😀

Let’s see —

1. I am directionally challenged. If the sun isn’t rising or setting for me to have a reference point, I have no idea which way east or west or any other direction (except at home, of course, where I can remember which way the sun rises and sets). I need to have directions written in exact detail — and even then I sometimes miss a turn.

2. I love fall colors (orange, rust, yellow) outside in autumn but don’t like them in decorating or on my clothes.

3. I can’t wear my wedding ring because, since TM, I have sensory problems with my left hand, and wearing my ring causes a hitting-the-funny bone type sensation in my finger.

4. I am a fanatic about hand-washing before eating or handling food. With soap. (I have had to add that in in my instructions before meal times to my kids even through their teen-age years).

5. Susan‘s egg carton quirk reminded me of my own, only mine is opposite to hers. I get my eggs out of the carton first from the middle, then subsequently to the right of the middle and then to the left (ok, I am not so quirky as to go in definite right to left order, but I go from one side to the other), so that the eggs on either end are last to be removed. I do actually have a reason for that. 🙂 Once or twice I picked up the egg carton from one end when all the eggs were at the other, and consequently almost dropped it because all the weight was on one end. So I do it this way so the weight is balanced. Really. It’s not because of any OCD tendencies. 😀

6. I cant stand when people jiggle or bounce their foot up and down when sitting. Somehow I pick up on the vibrations and it feels very disconcerting to me.

OK, now to tag six more people and find out their secret quirks. 🙂 I have actually seen this meme around and can’t remember where all I have seen it, so if I name you and you have already done it, please forgive me. And as always, a tag is not binding — only do it if you have time and want to.

1. Alice at Hello, My Name Is Alice
2. Jen at My 3 boys and I
3. Bet at Dappled Things
4. Ann at From Sinking Sand
5. Linda at 2nd Cup of Coffee
6. Susanne at Living To Tell the Story
7. Melli at Insanity Prevails.

…and anyone else who would like to!

Finally, my sweet blog friend Alice awarded me the

Thank you, Alice! I so appreciate it!

I have seen this around, too, and wish I knew where it originated. But I want to pass it on to Ivory Spring, Linda at 2nd Cup of Coffee, Susanne at Living To Tell the Story, Susan at By Grace, and Rita at The Jungle Hut.

Have a great Tuesday!

Thursday Thirteen: Books I read to my children

Posted on July 16, 2008 by Barbara Harper

When I made up my book meme a couple of weeks ago, one of the questions I asked concerned book we may have read to our children. I found so many others books that I had forgotten about mentioned in other people’s answers that I decided to focus a Thursday Thirteen on books I enjoyed reading to my children.

1. The Little Engine That Could.

2. Gus the Bus. This appears to be out of print not, but it’s one my kids loved reading over and over even after we had to tape it together. It’s about a dutiful school bus whose tires one day get too much air in them, which sends him through meadows chasing horses and such while all the kids are in school. When the bus driver finally finds him, discovers the problem, and brings him back, He goes back to his routine, but with a little smile and a daisy stuck next to his mirror.

3. Jesse Bear, What Will You Wear? by Nancy White Carlstrom as well as others in the Jesse Bear series. Sweet stories, lovely art work.

4. Dr. Seuss, especially, of course, the perennial favorites The Cat in the Hat and Green Eggs and Ham.

5. Blueberries for Sal by Robert McCloskey.

6. Make Way for Ducklings by Robert McCloskey.

7. Keep the Lights Burning, Abbie by Peter Roop. This was one of my favorites, about a girl who has to keep the lighthouse lamps burning when her father is delayed from getting back home due to a storm.

8. P. D. Eastman. books, especially Go, Dog, Go, and Are You My Mother?

9. The Puppy Who Wanted a Boy by Jane Thayer.

10. Golden Books, especially The Poky Little Puppy, The Little Red Caboose, Scuffy the Tugboat.

11. Mike Mulligan and His Steam Shovel by Virginia Lee Burton.

12. Arch books, but I was choosy with those. I don’t like Bible story books that are flippant or where the characters are drawn in a cartoonish way. I wanted my children to respect those stories and to differentiate between them and other stories.

13. The Bible in Pictures for Little Eyes by Kenneth N. Taylor or one like this.

We read multitudes of books when they were younger, but these are the standout favorites that come to mind. As they got older they liked Encyclopedia Brown by Donald J. Sobol and Cloudy With a Chance of Meatballs by Judi Barrett and Ron Barrett and others.

I can’t wait to read some of these to my grandkids some day!

You can visit other Thursday Thirteeners here.

(Graphic Courtesy of Grandma’s Graphics.)

Works-For-Me-Wednesday: Go ahead and get in the picture

Posted on July 8, 2008 by Barbara Harper

Have you ever been trying to take a group picture only to have one of the subjects strongly protest, put a hand in front of her face, or run off? Most people do this because they feel self-conscious. But what they don’t realize is that they are calling even more attention to themselves when they protest or run or make disparaging remarks about themselves. And sometimes they even mar what was intended to be a commemoration of a memorable occasion.

I know sometimes when we see ourselves in a picture, we’re shocked. The image differs from what we see in the mirror. All our flaws seem seem to stand out. But everyone has already been seeing us that way and they still love us. 🙂 And they want the picture because they like you and want to remember you in that way.

After all, when you look over pictures of relatives or special occasions, you’re not looking for super-model subjects, right? You’re looking at people who mean something to you and remembering the good time you had together. That is all that the people who want your picture desire as well.

So go ahead and get in the picture and smile. 😀

That works for everyone.

For more tips each Wednesday see Rocks In My Dryer.

Meme catch-up

Posted on July 7, 2008 by Barbara Harper

I have seen and/or been tagged for a few memes over the past few weeks, and I thought I’d put them all in one post rather than spread them out.

Found this at Linda’s. It’s a challenge for me because, as you know succinct answers are not my forte. But here goes:

1. Where is your cell phone? Purse.
2. Your significant other? Kind.
3. Your hair? Straight.
4. Your mother? Giving.
5. Your father? Angry.
6. Your favorite thing? Chocolate.
7. Your dream last night? None.
8. Your favorite drink? Decaf-tea.
9. Your dream/goal? Pending.
10. The room you’re in? Sunroom.
11. Your church? Friendly.
12. Your fear? Everything…
13. Where do you want to be in 6 years? Home.
14. Where were you last night? Home.
15. What you’re not? Lithe.
16. Muffins? Apple.
17. One of your wish list items? Sofa.
18. Where you grew up? Texas.
19. The last thing you did? Read.
20. What are you wearing? Dress.
21. Your TV? Off.
22. Your pets? Suzie.
23. Your computer? Active.
24. Your life? Blessed.
25. Your mood? Peaceful.
26. Missing someone? Mom.
27. Your car? Mini-van.
28. Something you’re not wearing? Hat.
29. Favorite store? Michael’s.
30. Your summer? Busy!
31. Like(love) someone? Jim.
32. Your favorite color? Pink.
33. Last time you laughed? Today.
34. Last time you cried? Unsure…
35. Who will repost this? Melli?

I saw this at A Country Girl at Heart a few weeks ago but am just now getting to it:

Name 5 things I do for myself (wasn’t sure if this meant as in not delegating it to someone else or as in personal pleasure, so I included some of each.):

1. Read.
2. Clean.
3. Cook.
4. Crafting.
5. Typing.

Name 5 kind things I do for friends, my children, or partner:

1. Cook.
2. Clean.
3. Laundry.
4. Curl MIL’s hair.
5. Listen.

Name 5 things I’ve done for a stranger:

1. Opened a door.
2. Lent phone.
3. Gave a sandwich.
4. Gave directions.
5. Greeted.

Name 5 hobbies I enjoy:

1. Reading.
2. Cross stitch.
3. Paper crafts (scrapbooking techniques for cards, plaques, other things).
4. Decorating.
5, Writing.

And then a long time ago writer2be tagged me for a 5 Things Meme, and more recently Mog’s Blog tagged me for a shorter version of it. (Please forgive me for taking so long!) Actually I think I have done this or one like it before, but that’s fine.

What were you doing five years ago?

As far as I remember, much the same as what I am doing now: SAHM, active in church and with ladies’ group. I think that was Jason’s first summer away from home, so that was hard.

What are five things on your to-do list for today (not in any particular order)?

1. Read Bible and pray.
2. Visit MIL.
3. Sort through some things to be given away.
4. Clean burner pans on stove top
5. Plan dinner.

What are five snacks you enjoy?

1. Chocolate chip cookies.
2. M&Ms.
3. Peanut butter crackers.
4. Sour cream and onion chips.
5. Brownies.

What five things would you do if you were a billionaire?

1. Give a portion to church and someone in need.
2. Finance the college education of one we know who struggles in that regard.
3. Buy new house.
4. Invest.
5. Set up trust funds for each of the kids.

What are five of your bad habits?

Ugh!

1. Eating too much/wrong things (see snacks above).
2. Not taking care of priorities first.
3. Procrastinating.
4. Not exercising.
5. Hesitating til opportunities are past.

What are five places where you have lived?

1. Corpus Christi, TX
2. Taylor, TX
3. Houston, TX
4. Greenville, SC
5. Douglasville, GA

What are five jobs you’ve had?

1. Baby-sitter
2. Librarian
3. Fabric-store sales associate
4. Inventory counter
5. Wife/Mom

I’ll forgo tagging anyone, but grab any of these you’d like to do, and let me know!

(Graphics courtesy of the stock.xchng)

I Remember Laura blogathon, Week 5: Heirlooms and Treasures

Posted on June 30, 2008 by Barbara Harper

Miss Sandy of Quill Cottage is hosting an “I Remember Laura” blogathon on Mondays through the month of June in memory of Laura Ingalls Wilder, author if the “Little House” series of books. There will also be an art swap going on each week in connection with the theme: Click on the picture for more information. Also throughout the month she will be sharing parts of an interview with Laura Ingalls Gunn of Decor to Adore, a fourth cousin of Laura Ingalls Wilder.

I do distinctly remember the little shepherdess figurine that was always on display in Laura’s homes and how it just made each place feel like home. Though our little treasures are just “things,” yet they do give us that feel of homeyness and a link with our loved ones’ memories.

Unfortunately, for various reasons there hasn’t been much in the way of family heirlooms passed down from my ancestors. But I do have a few things, most of which have appeared on my blog before.

This is a crocheted bedspread made by my great-aunt Dot. I told more about it here.

My mother, Dorothy, was named for her, and I remember her and another great-aunt as a pair — it seemed like they were always together. We had this on our bed for a while, but, for being crocheted, it is very heavy, so it is in the closet for now.

Last fall my step-father and sisters came to visit and brought a big box of mostly pictures and papers. What a treasure trove! My mom’s baby book was in there as were the recipes I shared a few weeks ago. But one of my favorite things was this college graduation book of my mother’s mother. Her name was Harriet, and I hadn’t known before that she went by Hattie:

Inside was a place for autographs, school colors, and a homecoming ribbon:

Her school song:

And notes from the Commencement sermon:

My grandmother passed away when I was four years old. To have some her her things written in her own hand is very gratifying to me. I enjoyed getting to know her a little bit through these items.

My mom passed away two and a half years ago, and there are so many things in our home that she gave to us. Much of my Boyd’s Bear collection came from her. This is one of the favorite prints she gave me (she was a big Home Interiors fan):

I don’t have many things of my dad’s: he passed away several years earlier. This is a medal he earned for sharpshooting while in the service. Some day I want to make a collage or shadowbox of this plus pictures and one of the shells from the twenty-one gun salute at his funeral.

My father’s mother used to constantly have crochet projects she worked on almost any time she was still. This is a baby blanket she made for my firstborn and a doily.

At this point in time, my sons aren’t terribly interested in family heirlooms, but I wasn’t either at their age. I hope they will be in the future, Miss Sandy mentioned Laura was the memory keeper of her family, and that’s what I want to be. Some years back I began writing down some family stories mostly as a way to trace God’s hand in our lives after hearing a message from Psalm 78:

4 We will not hide them from their children, shewing to the generation to come the praises of the LORD, and his strength, and his wonderful works that he hath done.

5 For he established a testimony in Jacob, and appointed a law in Israel, which he commanded our fathers, that they should make them known to their children:

6 That the generation to come might know them, even the children which should be born; who should arise and declare them to their children:

7 That they might set their hope in God, and not forget the works of God, but keep his commandments:

8 And might not be as their fathers, a stubborn and rebellious generation; a generation that set not their heart aright, and whose spirit was not stedfast with God.

I need to get back to that! I have also saved letters I have written to them through the years. I have a box for each of them with cards, notes, some of their art work, etc. I wished I had saved things more systematically — when they were little I was doing good just to toss a few things in a box. I also hope to see some of the things I have made in a grandchild’s room one day. 🙂 I’ve mentioned before that most of the things I’ve made have been for gifts and I didn’t have many at home. But the room I made the most things for was my children’s room when they were little. Most of those things are packed in the attic, but this was one of the first things I made and one of the last to be taken down.

Of course, I know that when they marry, their wives will have their own tastes and decorating ideas, so I don’t want to “push” the idea of their using anything from their childhood room, but I want them to feel welcome to them. I have thought we’ll probably have a playroom or something for grandkids and we might put some of those things up there.

Thanks so much to Miss Sandy for hosting this blogathon. I have enjoyed the focus each week and meeting new bloggers who have some of the same interests. I didn’t participate in the art swap (would have loved too — just didn’t have time) but when she receives those things she will post them.

A brand new book meme!

Posted on June 26, 2008 by Barbara Harper

Since I love books, and several of my blog friends do as well, I’ve been mulling over some questions for creating a book meme. And here it is!

1. Do you remember how you developed a love for reading? I think it began in school: I don’t really have a memory of reading before that.

2. What are some books you read as a child? A Child’s Garden of Verses by Robert Louis Stevenson, A Child’s Garden of Bible Stories by Arthur Gross, Little Golden Books and Dick and Jane readers.

3. What is your favorite genre? Biographies and Christian fiction.

4. Do you have a favorite novel? It’s hard for me to have just one favorite. 🙂 A Tale of Two Cities by Dickens and Les Miserables by Victor Hugo.

5. Where do you usually read? Um…in the bathroom. 😳 But evidently that’s not uncommon. I sometimes read at the table while eating (though I know they say not to do that) or on the loveseat in our family room. I also take a book any time I am going to have to sit and wait, like doctor’s offices. I just can’t stand to sit and stare at walls or look through old magazines. Plus reading helps reduce nervousness of some of those waiting times by helping to get my mind off of whatever I am waiting for.

6. When do you usually read? Well, besides whenever I go to the bathroom 🙂 I love to read on Sunday evenings after church. I read some weekday evenings as well. Reading is a relaxing way to end the day or to take a break. And, as I said before, I love to pass waiting times with reading.

7. Do you usually have more than one book you are reading at a time? Yes, one for each bathroom. 🙂

8. Do you read nonfiction in a different way or place than you read fiction? Yes. Fiction I can usually get into any time anywhere. Nonfiction in the form of a story I can usually read most anywhere. But most other nonfiction takes more concentration. I can “get” the “lesson” in a story easily and retain it easily (which is one reason why I love Christian fiction and one reason why I believe Jesus told parables). But for nonfiction written in an instructive form I need to be without distraction to get anything from it, and I often read it with a pencil in hand to mark key points. I sometimes incorporate Christian non-fiction into my devotional time, though I try to keep that primarily straight Bible reading. I also need to read in defined sections (chapters or smaller divisions) whereas fiction or a biography I can put down and then get back into at any point.

9. Do you buy most of the books you read, or borrow them, or check them out of the library? Most of the classics I check out of the library, and then if I really like them and think it’s something I’ll treasure and reread, then I’ll buy it later. Most Christian fiction I buy: the local libraries carry some of it, but not much and not what’s current.

10. Do you keep most of the books you buy? If not, what do you do with them? I keep a few, but most I pass on to my mother-in-law. The ones I don’t think she would be interested in I give to Salvation Army.

11. If you have children, what are some of the favorite books you have shared with them? Were they some of the same ones you read as a child? I did specifically look for some of the books I mentioned on question 2 when my children were smaller. I also sought out The Little Engine That Could. the Little Bear books were favorite as, were, of course, Dr. Seuss. With my youngest two we also discovered the Jesse Bear series by Nancy White Carlstrom. I loved it for the sweet stories and rhymes and beauitful art work, but then when we named my youngest Jesse (after a former pastor, not after the bear) it was especially fun. I also book a Bible in pictures book because I remember being awed and fascinated by one when I was younger. We used it for family devotions when they were preschoolers.

12. What are you reading now? The Count of Monte Cristo by Alexandre Dumas and South Carolina by Yvonne Lehman.

13. Do you keep a TBR (to be read) list? Yes. I have a list on the computer where I can easily add books that I see other people recommend. I also list classics I want to read.

14. What’s next? The next classic I want to read is To Kill a Mockingbird. I am not sure about the next Christian fiction. I don’t think any of my favorite authors has anything new coming out just now.

15. What books would you like to reread? Les Miserables, Jane Eyre, The Becky Miller books by Sharon Hinck, the Little House series, some of the Anne of Green Gables series, Little Women, Changed Into His Image by Jim Berg, Amy Carmichael of Dohnavur by Frank Houghton, By Searching and In the Arena by Isobel Kuhn, Goforth of China and Climbing by Rosalind Goforth. Some of these, particularly the last several, have already been read more than once, but I could still reread them several times.

16. Who are your favorite authors? Dickens, Louisa May Alcott, Laura Ingalls Wilder, Amy Carmichael, Isobel Kuhn, Rosalind Goforth, Sharon Hinck, Terri Blackstock, Lori Wick, Beverly Lewis. (Writer2be reminded me of Elisabeth Elliot. How could I have left her off??!! I probably quote her more than anyone else.

I am going to tag some specific people who I know love to read: Alice, Susanne, Barb, Katrina, Deena, writer2be, Cindy, and Bet. But I also want to leave this wide open to anyone who would like to do it — let me know if you do and I will be glad to come and read your answers! I’d love it if you’d link back here, too.

(Photo courtesy of the stock xchng.)