Friday’s Fave Five

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friday-fave-five-springSusanne at Living to Tell the Story hosts a “Friday Fave Five” in which we share our five favorite things from the past week. Click on the button to read more of the details, and you can visit Susanne to see the list of others’ favorites.

My favorite moments from this week:

1. Easter weekend and the Living Gallery performance that Jason was a part of.

2. Spring/Easter break! No alarm clocks! And Jim, Jeremy, and Jesse are beginning to paint the outside of the house.

3. Favorite funny moment of the week: Jim gets a car allowance through his work because he uses his car so much for his job, and he was really in need of a new car: his old one was starting to, as he said, not nickel and dime us to death but $100 and $200 us to death, and it was just becoming unreliable. He found a good deal on an Explorer, and it is a newer model than he usually buys, with a few bells and whistles, one of which is a hands-free phone set up: there is a place to plug in his cell phone, and he can give voice commands to dial a certain number, then the conversation comes in through the speakers. When he took his mom for a spin in it and demonstrated the phone system by calling the house, she said, “I feel like I’m in Star Trek!”

4. I received the “mother of the groom” dress I ordered (shown at the bottom of this post). I like it! It’s going to need a little bit of altering, but overall I am very pleased.

5. One of my favorite quotes of the week from Nancy Wilson at Femina the day after Easter:

But secondly, when the disciples heard and really believed that Christ was risen, the celebration didn’t end the next morning. We live in the light of the risen Christ. The good news continues to be good news from one morning to the next. So, even though I’m mopping up from the feasting, the rejoicing extends from one Sunday to the next, all year long.

Appearances

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Have you seen the video seen round the world, Susan Boyle’s surprising performance in Britain’s Got Talent?

What a magnificent voice! And what a sweet little lady she seems to be. Diane has some more information on her here: evidently she suffered a bit of brain damage at birth, has been taking care of her mother for years, was unable to sing for two years since her mother’s death, and went on the show because her mother had wanted her to.

But as fun as the “Cinderella story” is, I am just appalled at the audience’s initial reaction and at the reports that Susan was picked on as a child. Think of the utter ridicule she would have suffered on that stage if she had not had a good voice — and how sad it would be that people would think such ridicule is justified. Why, with all the emphasis on tolerance in the last several years, has society missed the most basic tolerance that people should be valued because we are all created in God’s image whether we’re “beautiful” by society’s standards or young or old or talented or not or whatever.

I appreciate and agree with the article Diane linked to, The Beauty That Matters Is Always Inside by Colette Douglas Home of The Herald, especially the last two paragraphs.

Melli’s ABC Photo Challenge: Y and Z

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It’s time for the last edition of Melli’s ABC photo challenge! Most of you know the drill by now, but in case there is anyone new, Melli challenged us to find letters of the alphabet in the things around us. We’re not to make the letter out of anything or take a picture of the letter itself in a sign: we’re supposed to find it “as is” in nature or in an object where you wouldn’t normally look for a letter. We’ve been taking two at a time, and this week we’ve been looking for Y and Z.

I had planned to have this up last night because some of the ABC participants come by pretty early. But I forgot to take a picture of my Z — even though I pass by it every day and have been planning to use it for weeks! So I had to wait til this morning, but here I finally am.

I see a lot of Ys here:

ABC Photo Challenge: Y

I think I counted over 11 — not including the reflection on the car windshield.

And here’s my Z:

ABC Photo Challenge: Z

I’ll be curious to see what others found, especially for the Z. If you like you can see what they came up with at f Melli’s .

Thanks, f Melli and everyone! This has been fun!

Pop quiz!

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You Are Stylish

You look good, but you aren’t trendy or over the top about it.There’s a good chance you know what works for you. You have an established look.

You know how to dress well, but you may have trouble breaking out of your comfort zone.

Try a new color or new accessory. Staying stylish is about trying new things and taking risks.

Hmm. I would never have thought of myself as stylish, at least not by Stacy and Clinton’s standards, but I don’t think I am totally out of touch, either.

You Were the Brainy Kid

In high school, you were acing AP classes or hanging out in the computer lab.

You may have been a bit of a geek back then, but now you’re a total success!

Pretty much. Geek, that is.


You Are Bert


Extremely serious and a little eccentric, people find you lovable – even if you don’t love them!

You are usually feeling: Logical – you rarely let your emotions rule you

You are famous for: Being smart, a total neat freak, and maybe just a little evil

How you life your life: With passion, even if your odd passions (like bottle caps and pigeons) are baffling to others
I’m not sure why the little borders around each quiz aren’t showing up like they were before I hit “publish” and why some things are centered and some off to the side when it is all centered when I edit it…but, oh well!

Living Gallery and Easter 09

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Saturday we drove over to Jason’s college to attend the Living Gallery that he was a part of this year. A famous painting is depicted on stage, and the “living” part of the living gallery are the people who are positioned into place as some of the characters in a painting. Musical numbers are performed while the paintings are on stage, and in between the painting and music there is a play going on. This year the crucifixion and Easter story were depicted through the eyes of Joseph of Arimethea, “an honourable counsellor, which also waited for the kingdom of God, came, and went in boldly unto Pilate, and craved the body of Jesus” in order to bury it in his own tomb. (Mark 15:43.) He had been “a disciple of Jesus, but secretly for fear of the Jews” (John 19:38), and the play depicted the struggle he probably underwent from being a secret disciple to making this bold request, which would have then branded him as a follower or at least a sympathizer.

Everything was so well done. The music was beautiful and touching. The story realistically portrayed not only Joseph’s struggle, but the effect of the events of the crucifixion on everyone from Pilate and his wife to the disciples. Then the confusion, disbelief, and finally understanding joy of His own when they learned He was alive! When the program ended with the Hallelujah chorus, though I am not a hand-waver in worship by nature, even I felt like raising my arms or at least placing my hand over my heart. I smiled as a little child somewhere near us was humming along — I wanted to sing along myself! And I did, in my heart.

The painting Jason was in was Ecce Homo (meaning “Behold the Man“) by Antonio Ciseri.

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This is just the painting: I don’t have any pictures of the performance with the live people in place — understandably we weren’t allowed to take pictures during the performance. It would have distracted from the music and program. Jason portrayed the guy at the far left with his hand on his hip.

But up close he looked more like a zombie:

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Striking his pose:

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For some of the paintings, like Da Vinci’s Last Supper and Rembrandt’s The Storm on the Sea of Galilee (one of my all-time favorites), at first they had the live people moving a bit, then the lights flashed off, then when they came back on the people were all “frozen” in place like the painting. For most of the paintings they also did different things with the lighting that brought out different aspects of it. The live people gave it 3-D effect. I found it ironic that my child who was the least “still” of my three had to stand still for this production. I don’t know how any of them held their poses for so long, but Jason said each scene was only up for about 3 minutes. It sure seemed longer! I don’t think I could have done it. Some of them, like the ones in the sculpture of Sansovino’s Descent from the Cross (couldn’t find a picture) were held in harnesses because the Christ figure was in a horizontal position while being taken down from the cross.

All together 9 paintings and 3 sculptures were portrayed. They did a wonderful, amazing job, and it blessed my heart immensely.

It was a great way to celebrate Easter as well!

Easter morning we had our traditional Resurrection Rolls with breakfast, a good Easter service at church, a good dinner, our unique Easter egg hunt, a bit of a nap, a great musical and narrative presentation at church Sunday night, and strawberry shortcake to top the evening off!

Hope you had a blessed Easter as well.

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Jesse is out of school for Easter break this week, and Jim took off to begin painting the house — but it is raining today. I’m in high gear preparing for the ladies’ meeting tonight and the luncheon in a couple of weeks.
Happy Monday!

He Is Risen!

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cradle

The Cradle is empty, because Jesus had to grow up a righteous man, fulfilling the prophecies of the Messiah, and take our sins on Himself, that we might be made the righteousness of God.

cross

The Cross is empty, because when He said, “It is finished”, it was. And He died.

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The Tomb is empty, because death could not hold Jesus, and He is risen, and in some mysterious way is seated at the right hand of the Father in heaven, making intercession for us, and yet amazingly dwells in His children, “Christ in you, the hope of glory”.

The Cradle, the Cross and the Tomb are all empty, that we might be filled with His Life.

~ Terry Rayburn


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Morning breaks upon the tomb,
Jesus scatters all its gloom.
Day of triumph through the skies–
See the glorious Saviour rise.
Christians! Dry your flowing tears,
Chase those unbelieving fears;
Look on his deserted grave,
Doubt no more his power to save.
Ye who are of death afraid,
Triumph in the scattered shade:
Drive your anxious cares away,
See the place where Jesus lay.

~ William Bengo Collyer
1782-1854

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Far be sorrow, tears and sighing!
Waves are calming, storms are dying,
Moses hath o’erpassed the sea,
Israel’s captive hosts are free;
Life by death slew death and saved us,
In His blood the Lamb hath saved us,
Clothing us with victory.

Jesus Christ from death has risen,
Lo! His Godhead bursts the prison,
While His Manhood passes free,
Vanquishing our misery.
Rise we free from condemnation;
Through our God’s humiliation,
Ours is now the victory.

Vain the foe’s despair and madness!
See the dayspring of our gladness!
Slaves no more of Satan we;
Children, by the Son set free;
Rise, for life with death has striven,
All the snares of hell are riven,
Rise and claim the victory.

~ Unknown author, possibly 13th century

Am I a stone and not a sheep?

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Am I a stone and not a sheep
That I can stand, O Christ, beneath Thy Cross,
To number drop by drop Thy Blood’s slow loss,
And yet not weep?

Not so those women loved
Who with exceeding grief lamented Thee;
Not so fallen Peter weeping bitterly;
Not so the thief was moved;

Not so the Sun and Moon
Which hid their faces in a starless sky,
A horror of great darkness at broad noon –
I, only I.

Yet give not o’er,
But seek Thy sheep, true Shepherd of the flock;
Greater than Moses, turn and look once more
And smite a rock.

~ Christina Rosetti (1830-1894)

I see the scourges tear His back,
I see the piercing crown,
And of that crowd who smite and mock,
I feel that I am one.

‘Twas I that shed the sacred blood,
I nailed Him to the tree,
I crucified the Christ of God,
I joined the mockery.

Yet not the less that blood avails,
To cleanse away my sin;
And not the less that cross prevails
To give me peace within.

~ Horatius Bonar

Friday’s Fave Five

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friday-fave-five-springSusanne at Living to Tell the Story hosts a “Friday Fave Five” in which we share our five favorite things from the past week. Click on the button to read more of the details.

1. Blooming dogwoods. Most of the dogwoods in the neighborhood are in pretty much full bloom now. So pretty! I love how they flowers seem to float around the tree.

Dogwood

2. Bird bell feeder. We used to have a bird feeder, but it was on a wooden stand that rotted over time, and we’ve never gotten it back up. But I got one of those bell-shaped bird seed hangers and hung it within view of the kitchen window. It was a couple of days before it was noticed, but now it has regular visitors.

3. Finishing Les Miserables!

4. Testimony service. Though the death and funeral of a friend could not be listed as a favorite thing, I enjoyed a testimonial time Sunday night at church in which many people shared her impact on their lives, plus many of the things that were said at the funeral. Pastor said, “You never had to guess what she was thinking because she would have already told you.” So true. She was kind of a crusty New England transplant to SC and was very direct, though never unkind. He also said, “Her best days were worse than our worst days.” She had a host of physical problems, yet kept active and kept a cheerful attitude. She took a warm personal interest in other people, especially young people. She dealt with problems and issues in a matter-of-fact way. The many things various people said about her life were a reminder of the influence, example, and encouragement we can be to others.

Now thanks be unto God, which always causeth us to triumph in Christ, and maketh manifest the savour of his knowledge by us in every place. For we are unto God a sweet savour of Christ, in them that are saved, and in them that perish. II Corinthians 2: 14-15.

5. Easter week. I love this season of the year to reflect and remember that God loved us enough to send Christ to pay our sin and its penalties on Himself on the cross, and demonstrated His power and victory over the grave. One of my favorite Easter poems is the following:

Tomb, thou shalt not hold Him longer;
Death is strong, but Life is stronger;
Stronger than the dark, the light;
Stronger than the wrong, the right;
Faith and Hope triumphant say
Christ will rise on Easter Day.

– Phillips Brooks, An Easter Carol

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That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation. Romans 10:9-10.

Melli’s ABC Photo Challenge: W and X

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It’s time for the next-to-the-last edition of Melli‘s ABC photo challenge! Most of you know the drill by now, but in case there is anyone new, Melli challenged us to find letters of the alphabet in the things around us. We’re not to make the letter out of anything or take a picture of the letter itself in a sign: we’re supposed to find it “as is” in nature or in an object where you wouldn’t normally look for a letter. We’ve been taking two at a time, and this week we’ve been looking for W and X.

For weeks the only W I could find was in the structure over a street. You can see Vs and Xs there as well, but I am using it for W.

ABC Photo Challenge: W

But then on the way to dinner at the mall tonight, Jeremy pointed out a W tree:

ABC Photo Challenge: W

And at the mall I noticed the “bark” on this fake palm tree looked like Ws. It’s not the clearest picture — it was taken with Jer’s cell phone.

ABC Photo Challenge: W

I found Xs in a multitude of places. The first ones were these little camp tables:

ABC Photo Challenge: X

The fencing that this morning glory was climbing last summer:

Morning Glory

Another fence in someone’s neighborhood:

ABC Photo Challenge: X

In the road:

ABC Photo Challenge: X

On the door and window of this little house:

House candle holder

This one I happened to remember from my archives when I saw a real red barn today. Years ago I was on a committee to redecorate the toddler nursery at church, and we chose a barnyard theme. This is the door, with Jeremy demonstrating how it works. He’s about 5 there. He’s in most of the pictures I took of the project with his arms spread in a “Ta-da!” pose. It was cute.

Nursery door

And here is the wall:

Nursery wall

I didn’t paint the mural — my good friend Valorie who is VERY talented did. But I did help stencil the little animal border on the other walls. That was a fun project.