Sunday's Hymn: How Sweet and Awful is the Place

How sweet and awful is the place
With Christ within the doors,
While everlasting love displays
The choicest of her stores.

While all our hearts and all our songs
Join to admire the feast,
Each of us cry, with thankful tongues,
"Lord, why was I a guest?

"Why was I made to hear thy voice,
And enter while there's room,
When thousands make a wretched choice,
And rather starve than come?"

'Twas the same love that spread the feast
That sweetly drew us in;
Else we had still refused to taste,
And perished in our sin.

Pity the nations, O our God,
Constrain the earth to come;
Send thy victorious Word abroad,
And bring the strangers home.

We long to see thy churches full,
That all the chosen race
May, with one voice and heart and soul,
Sing thy redeeming grace.

Isaac Watts, 1707
Tune: St Columba, Old Irish hymn melody

Update: As AuntE pointed out in her comment, the word "awful" did not mean what it means to us when Isaac Watts used it in this hymn over 200 years ago. I know that some newer hymnals substitute the word "awesome" in its place. "Awesome" or "full of awe" is what the word "awful" meant in Isaac's time. But we sang the hymn in its original form this morning in church so that is how I posted it.

Snow Drops!!

Look, look!! Those little green shoots are the snow drops coming up! Its February 7th and the snow drops are starting to come up!

Now, I do know that spring really isn't here yet and that they'll probably get snowed on quite a bit more before they actually do sprout up enough to have flowers on them but for today...I am so happy to see them! Its been quite a spring-y day!!

Equal Exposure

Andy was complaining that Charlie gets many more pictures on my blog than he does and I suppose its true. So here they both are. And if you look closely, there are some mud spatters on Andy's jeans and boots too. Mostly from Charlie kicking up his back legs at him. But aren't they a handsome pair?!

Mud Season!

Its sunny and 55 degrees today! Yesterday was sunny and 41 degrees Fahrenheit! Our plentiful snow is melting fast and it feels so warm and spring-ish! All of us, Andy, Charlie and myself, just want to be out there! So we took a nice, long walk. The problem is that there is muddy snow melt everywhere. At first, Charlie was trying to walk out around the puddles. He's really not a water lover. But pretty soon, even he realized it was hopeless and just waded through. Here's the result. Mud and white dog are not a great combination.

15 Words or Less Poem

Atomic clock?
I think not.
Digital face?
Not my taste.
Character is what its got!

More 15 Words or Less Poems at Laura Purdie Salas's place. Why not try your hand?

Big Brown Eyes

Have you seen the photo of her dog, Eve, that Kim is submitting to iheartfaces for both the eyes category and the pets category? I saw it yesterday and that lovely photo of Eve's warm eyes inspired me to enter one of my own sweet Charlie in the same categories. Thanks, Kim!

This photo was taken several years ago right after a bath. Charlie always runs around like crazy rubbing his face wherever he can after a bath! Even now at 13 years old! In this photo, I caught him running around (literally) in Emily's comforter. That's why some of his hair is sticking up like it is. Talk about a bad hair day! But its the look in those big, brown eyes that got to me.


Why not submit a photo of yours to one of this week's contests over at iheartfaces? The guidelines are listed here and I'd love to see the beautiful eyes, pet or people, that are a part of your life.

A Destination Walk

We're having our third day of mostly sunny and decidedly warmer weather today and Charlie and I have gotten in TWO walks! Now let's keep things in perspective here. That would be warmer than single digit, both positive and negative, degrees Fahrenheit. This afternoon, it is 26 degrees out there and yesterday was 34. I think Saturday made it all the way to 37 degrees! Still, relative warmth and sun...that's a good thing! The blue skies and the white snow are making it quite lovely...if you don't look at the melty, muddy patches underfoot.


I snapped this picture of what is now known as the Lakeside Legacy Arts Park over the weekend. The cottage is located just a block behind this historic complex which consists of Dole Mansion, the Victorian mansion on the left of the picture, and Lakeside Center, the obviously "newer" addition which was added to acommodate an early transformation of the property into Crystal Lake's first country club. There have been several owners and uses of the building throughout the years including a stint as a prepratory seminary for the Fransciscan Order. Now the vision for this building is as a home for various arts education programs. We do enjoy its presence in our back yard and walking around "the Dole" is a great short walk for Charlie!

Sunday's Hymn: O Worship the King

O worship the king all glorious above,
O gratefully sing his power and his love;
Our shield and defender, the ancient of days,
Pavilioned in splendor, and girded with praise.

O tell of his might, O sing of his grace,
Whose robe is the light, whose canopy space.
His chariots of wrath the deep thunderclouds form,
And dark is his path on the wings of the storm.

The earth with its store of wonders untold,
Almighty, thy pow'r hath founded of old;
Hath stablished it fast by a changeless decree,
And round it hath cast, like a mantle, the sea.

Thy bountiful care what tongue can recite?
It breathes in the air; it shines in the light;
It streams from the hills; it descends to the plain;
And sweetly distils in the dew and the rain.

Frail children of dust, and feeble as frail,
In thee do we trust, nor find thee to fail;
Thy mercies how tender, how firm to the end,
Our Maker, Defender, Redeemer, and Friend!

O measureless might! ineffable love!
While angels delight to hymn thee above,
The humbler creation, though feeble their lays,
With true adoration shall lisp to thy praise.

Sir Robert Grant, 1833
Tune: Lyons, Arr. from J. Michael Haydn, 1737-1806

A New Treasure

I am not Russian but I love matryoshka dolls. There is something about the simple shape of them and the revelation of each one inside of the one a bit bigger that I find captivating. And knowing that some artist painted every one individually just makes each doll have her own unique beauty. I have four complete sets of them of varying qualities and I love them all.

This morning, Andy and I went to Caribou for scones and tea (for me) and coffee (for him). Its a ritual that we really enjoy and even more so today since he was gone last weekend! Afterwards, we stopped at the Good-Will thrift store that opened close by there a few months ago. Andy found some kind of special computer cable that he'd been wanting and I found this lovely matryoshka! She's all alone though...no "sisters" inside of her...but somehow that makes her even more captivating to me. I wonder how many sisters she once had, especially since she's all of 9 inches tall! And how did she get separated from the rest of her family? No matter, she now belongs on the hutch in my dining room. I can't imagine her anywhere else!

15 Words or Less Poem

Labels lean
Towards your identity;
Not mine.

Find more 15 Words or Less Poems inspired by this picture at Laura Purdie Salas' Live Journal. Or contribute one of your own!

Andy's Home!

Yes, last night Andy finally got home! He had to extend his stay one extra night which made neither of us very happy but I was consoled by an invitation to Kim's house for dinner that extra evening. Last night, I was happy to be making dinner with the expectation that Andy and I would be sharing it once again. And we did! Life is good again!

Sunday's Hymn: The Lord's My Shepherd

The Lord's my Shepherd, I'll not want;
He makes me down to lie
In pastures green; he leadeth me
The quiet waters by.

My soul he doth restore again;
And me to walk doth make
Within the paths of righteousness,
E'en for his own name's sake.

Yea, though I walk in death's dark vale,
Yet will I fear none ill,
For thou art with me; and thy rod
And staff me comfort still.

My table thou hast furnished
In presence of my foes;
My head thou dost with oil anoint,
And my cup overflows.

Goodness and mercy all my life
Shall surely follow me:
And in God's house for evermore
My dwelling place shall be.

A paraphrase of Psalm 23 from the Scottish Psalter, 1650
Tune: Evan, William Henry Havergal, 1846

I know that I posted this hymn just over a month ago so its a bit of a repeat. However, we sang it in church this morning and I felt so uplifted by it that I am going to post it again. Besides, in December, we sang it to the tune Crimond and today we sang it to Evan. And I just read about William Henry Havergal who composed this particular tune a week ago at Conjubilant with Song. Evan is only one of two William Henry Havergal tunes still in use today and I really like it!

National Handwriting Day

So here it is. A sample of my handwriting with the message to share yours with Kim at Hiraeth in recognition of National Handwriting Day. Just leave your link in a comment and Kim will add it to her list.

Home Alone

Well, not exactly. Charlie is here with me. But Andy is gone for a few days on a work mandated trip. I miss him. He really does not travel for work very much so we're not used to this. Still, I've found plenty to keep me busy. I've got my Bible studies to work on and go to as well as my usual duties around home. And I'm reading Team of Rivals by Doris Kearns Goodwin for my book discussion group. That is a huge undertaking! The book is 754 pages! But it really is an engrossing read despite who recommends it. I never knew so much about Abraham Lincoln and his close political associates. Nor about the politics of the man, Abraham Lincoln. And I certainly never knew so much about the political climate of the times of the Civil War. I love biographies and this is a very detailed, well written one. That makes for slower reading but I am using this time to get ahead so I can finish it by February 6th, the date of the next book discussion meeting. Being involved in a good book helps me set aside how much I miss Andy and pretty soon, it will be Monday evening and he'll be home! Yes!!

15 Words or Less Poem

Stumbling through the trials of life;
Eyes focused on the light of His grace.

To see more 15 Words or Less Poems or (contribute one of your own!), visit Laura Purdie Salas.

Sunday's Hymn: Guide Me, O Thou Great Jehovah

Guide me, O thou great Jehovah,
Pilgrim through this barren land;
I am weak, but thou art mighty;
Hold me with thy pow'rful hand;
Bread of heaven, Bread of heaven,
Feed me till I want no more.

Open now the crystal fountain,
Whence the healing stream doth flow;
Let the fire and cloudy pillar
Lead me all my journey through;
Strong Deliverer, strong Deliverer,
Be thou still my Strength and Shield.

When I tread the verge of Jordan,
Bid my anxious fears subside;
Death of death, and hell's Destruction,
Land me safe on Canaan's side;
Songs of praises, songs of praises
I will ever give to thee.

William Williams (Welch), 1745
St. 1 translated by Peter Williams, 1771
St. 2 and 3 translated by William Williams, c. 1772

Tune: CWM Rhondda, John Hughes, 1907

Warmth!

Its 22 degrees F. today! Yesterday evening Andy and I were laughing together about how the high of -1 degrees F. felt so warm next to the -22 degrees F. of the early morning...or even the -8 degree F. high of the day before. How quickly our perceptions change! Today we took advantage of our balmy weather to finish moving the vestiges of the last snow from the walkways and driveways at the cottage, the bits that we couldn't face in that frigid weather. But its still cloudy today and there is an 80% chance of flurries. Who knows what wild things we might do on Monday or Tuesday when not only are the temperatures in the 20's but there is sun in the forecast too!

A New Beginning

Some of you may have noticed (or maybe no one did) that I took a blogging break. It wasn't planned. It just sort of happened. First, I was enjoying some time with Emily while she was home on Christmas break but then I did some reading and studying, a few projects around the cottage and before I knew it, a real break was occurring! And you know what? It felt good! Don't misunderstand. I do enjoy blogging and I am not going to give it up but sometimes you just need to step back and take stock of things and re-balance them. Isn't that traditionally what the New Year is about? So we'll see if anything really looks different on my blog but I can tell you already that my attitude about it is different. Its a case of who owns what and not the other way around.

Sunday's Hymn: Praise the Lord, Ye Heavens Adore Him

Praise the Lord: ye heavens adore him;
Praise him, angels, in the height;
Sun and moon, rejoice before him;
Praise him, all ye stars and light.
Praise the Lord, for he hath spoken;
Worlds his mighty voice obeyed:
Laws which never shall be broken
For their guidance hath he made.

Praise the Lord, for he is glorious;
Never shall his promise fail:
God hath made his saints victorious;
Sin and death shall not prevail.
Praise the God of our salvation;
Hosts on high, his pow'r proclaim;
Heaven and earth and all creation,
Laud and magnify his name.

Worship, honor, glory, blessing,
Lord, we offer unto thee;
Young and old, thy praise expressing,
In glad homage bend the knee.
All the saints in heaven adore thee;
We would bow before thy throne:
As thine angels serve before thee,
So on earth thy will be done.

Stanzas 1 and 2, Anon., c. 1801
Stanza 3, Edward Osler, 1836

Tune: Faben, John H. Willcox, 1849

Sunday's Hymn: Hail, Thou Once Despised Jesus

Hail, thou once despised Jesus,
Hail, thou Galilean King!
Thou didst suffer to release us:
Thou didst free salvation bring.
Hail, thou agonizing Saviour,
Bearer of our sin and shame!
By thy merits we find favor;
Life is given through thy name.

Paschal Lamb, by God appointed,
All our sins were on thee laid;
By almighty love anointed,
Thou hast full atonement made:
All thy people are forgiven
Through the virtue of thy blood;
Opened is the gate of heaven,
Peace is made 'twixt man and God.

Jesus, hail! enthroned in glory,
There for ever to abide;
All the heav'nly hosts adore thee,
Seated at thy Father's side:
There for sinners thou art pleading;
There thou dost our place prepare;
Ever for us interceding,
Till in glory we appear.

Worship, honor, power, and blessing
Thou art worthy to receive:
Loudest praises without ceasing,
Meet it is for us to give.
Help, ye bright angelic spirits,
Bring your sweetest, noblest lays;
Help to sing our Saviour's merits,
Help to chant Immanuel's praise.

John Bakewell, 1757
Enlarged by Martin Madan, 1760
Alt. by Augustus M. Toplady

Tune: St. Hilda, Sir Joseph Barnby, 1861