Thankful Thursday

We returned this past Saturday evening from our two weeks in Northern Wisconsin. It was a wonderful time of rest and relaxation. Decisions consisted of shall we go fishing or just relax by the cabin? What game shall we play tonight? Should I read or crochet? You get the idea. It was just wonderful! And I am so thankful that God's provision for us included this special time together!

We came home to all kinds of catching up at the home front. Some things we expected, others we didn't and they are still not fully dealt with. But I am also thankful to God for His provision of this home to come to, this life that He has given us, and the strength to deal with the issues that awaited us, fully aware that that strength comes from Him.

Each Thursday of this year, I am joining with Kim of The Upward Call and others in praising God for the good gifts He gives us. What has He given you this week? Please share in the thanksgiving.

Sunday's Hymn: Thou Art the Way

Thou art the Way: to thee alone
From sin and death we flee;
And he who would the Father seek
Must seek him, Lord, by thee.

Thou art the Truth: thy Word alone
True wisdom can impart;
Thou only canst inform the mind,
And purify the heart.

Thou art the Life: the rending tomb
Proclaims thy conquering arm,
And those who put their trust in thee
Nor death nor hell shall harm.

Thou art the Way, the Truth, the Life:
Grant us that Way to know,
That Truth to keep, that Life to win,
Whose joys eternal flow.

George W. Doane, 1824
Tune: Arlington, Arr. by Ralph Harrison, 1784
from Thomas A. Arne, 1762

Sunday's Hymn: How Lovely Shines the Morning Star

How lovely shines the Morning Star!
The nations see and hail afar
The light in Judah shining.
Thou David's Son of Jacob's race,
My Bridegroom and my King of Grace,
For thee my heart is pining.
Lowly, holy,
Great and glorious,
Thou victorious
Prince of graces,
Filling all the heav'nly places.

Now richly to my waiting heart,
O thou, my God, deign to impart
The grace of love undying.
In thy blest body let me be,
E'en as the branch is in the tree,
Thy life my life supplying.
Sighing, crying,
For the savor
Of thy favor
Resting never
Till I rest in thee for ever.

Thou, mighty Father, in thy Son
Didst love me ere thou hadst begun
This ancient world's foundation.
Thy Son hath made a friend of me,
And when in spirit him I see,
I joy in tribulation.
What bliss
Is this!
He that liveth
To me giveth
Life forever;
Nothing me from him can sever.

Philipp Nicolai, 1597
Tr., composite
Tune: Wie Schon Leuchtet Der Morgenstern, Philipp Nicolai, 1599
Arr. Johann Sebastian Bach, c. 1730

Sunday's Hymn: Under the Care of My God

Under the care of my God, the Almighty,
Safe in the secret place of the Most High!
He is my Refuge, the Lord is my Fortress,
Him I am trusting when trouble is nigh.

Under his wings, under his wings,
Safe in the refuge hide thee;
Trusting his truth and faithfulness,
No evil can betide thee.

Be not afraid for the terror of midnight,
Nor for the arrow that hasteth to slay;
Fear not the pestilence walking in darkness,
Nor the destroyer that wasteth by day.

Seek the Most High for thy sure habitation,
Unto Jehovah for refuge now fly;
There shall no evil befall thee nor harm thee,
Unto thy dwelling no plague shall come nigh.

Love thou the Lord, surely he will deliver;
He will exalt thee and answer thy prayer;
He will be with thee to honor and give thee
Life without end, his salvation to share.

From Psalm 91
United Presbyterian Bible Songs Hymnal, 1927
Tune: Under His Wings, Ira D. Sankey, 1840-1908

Thankful Thursday

There are two things on my mind this morning that I am especially thankful to God for. First, He has called me to return to a position of leadership in a Bible study program that has been important in my life for several years now. I am feeling so joyful about that privilege!

And secondly, we are embarking on a two-week vacation on Saturday! We'll be spending that time in the beautiful Northwoods of Wisconsin doing some fishing and reading and relaxing together. I am so thankful for this time of renewal and refreshment that God is providing for us! So I've got my Sunday hymns ready to publish automatically on the next three Sundays but other than that, its going to be very quiet over here at Field Stone Cottage.

So what are you thanking God for today? Please join with Kim of The Upward Call and several others of us who are sharing our praises of God for His good gifts to us each Thursday of 2010.

Sunday's Hymn: From Every Stormy Wind that Blows

From ev'ry stormy wind that blows,
From ev'ry swelling tide of woes,
There is a calm, a sure retreat,
'Tis found beneath the mercy-seat.

There is a place where Jesus sheds
The oil of gladness on our heads,
A place than all besides more sweet;
It is the blood-stained mercy-seat.

There is a spot where spirits blend,
Where friend holds fellowship with friend,
Tho' sundered far; by faith they meet
Around the common mercy-seat.

Ah, whither could we flee for aid,
When tempted, desolate, dismayed,
Or how the hosts of hell defeat,
Had suff'ring saints no mercy-seat?

There, there on eagle wings we soar,
And time and sense seem all no more,
And heav'n comes down our souls to greet,
And glory crowns the mercy-seat.

O may my hand forget her skill,
My tongue be silent, cold, and still,
This bounding heart forget to beat,
If I forget the mercy-seat.

Hugh Stowell, 1828, 1831
Tune: Retreat, Thomas Hastings, 1842

Thankful Thursday

I'm so thankful for a good cardiology report for our little Charlie today! It was the day for his annual echocardiogram to check on his mitral valve problem and the result is that his murmur is actually less than it was a year ago because there is less leakage through that valve and, according to his cardiologist, Charlie is compensating very well for his heart problems! The cardiologist said that for this to occur is so rare that they don't even tell people that it is a possibility at all. She was delighted with the news and so are we! Praise God!!!! We love this little 14 and a half year old dog of ours and want him to enjoy a healthy life with us as long as possible!

Each Thursday of 2010, I'm joining with Kim of The Upward Call and others in thanking God for His good gifts to us. Join us, won't you?

Happy Mother's Day!

Sunday's Hymn: O Perfect Love

O perfect Love, all human thought transcending,
Lowly we kneel in prayer before thy throne,
That theirs may be the love which knows no ending,
Whom thou for evermore dost join in one.

O perfect Life, be thou their full assurance
Of tender charity and steadfast faith,
Of patient hope, and quiet, brave endurance,
With childlike trust that fears nor pain nor death.

Grant them the joy which brightens earthly sorrow;
Grant them the peace which calms all earthly strife,
And to life's day the glorious unknown morrow
That dawns upon eternal love and life.

Hear us, O Father, gracious and forgiving,
Through Jesus Christ thy co-eternal Word,
Who, with the Holy Ghost, by all things living
Now and to endless ages art adored.

Dorothy F. Gurney, 1883
St. 4 by John Ellerton
Tune: Perfect Love, Sir Joseph Barnby, 1889

Thankful Thursday

The electrician finished up the big electrical project on Tuesday and the city inspector approved it this morning. Meanwhile, the roofers came and repaired a section of the roof that had been damaged yesterday. I think we're done with contractors doing work around here for a while and for that I say, thank you, God! These men were all nice people who were very competent and I am thankful for that too but its so nice to have the house back to ourselves! Plus I'm thankful not to be running up any more expensive home repair bills! There are finishing-up bits of work to do in the wake of the electrical project but us homeowners can handle that. I'm also thankful for a very handy husband who knows how to do a lot himself and I'm always happy to help him. In fact, its fun to work together!

Each Thursday of 2010, I am joining Kim of the Upward Call and other blogging friends in thanking God for the good gifts He gives us. Won't you share in the thanksgiving?

Sunday's Hymn: Blest be the Tie that Binds

Blest be the tie that binds
Our hearts in Christian love:
The fellowship of kindred minds
Is like to that above.

Before our Father's throne
We pour our ardent prayers;
Our fears, our hopes, our aims, are one,
Our comforts and our cares.

We share our mutual woes,
Our mutual burdens bear,
And often for each other flows
The sympathizing tear.

When we asunder part,
It gives us inward pain;
But we shall still be joined in heart,
And hope to meet again.

This glorious hope revives
Our courage by the way,
While each in expectation lives,
And longs to see the day.

From sorrow, toil and pain,
And sin, we shall be free;
And perfect love and friendship reign
Through all eternity.

John Fawcett, 1782
Tune: Dennis, Arr. from Hans G. Nageli by Lowell Mason, 1845

Thankful Thursday

Tuesday of this week marked the completion of the study of Revelation that I've been doing this year. At the beginning of the book, in Revelation 1:3 is this promise: "Blessed is the one who reads the words of this prophecy, and blessed are those who hear it and take to heart what is written in it, because the time is near." This promise is repeated near the end of the book in Revelation 22:7 with these words: "Behold, I am coming soon! Blessed is he who keeps the words of the prophecy in this book."

I have been truly blessed by the study of this book and I am so very thankful that I have had the opportunity to study it! I've been blessed by an expanded understanding of the very nature of God, His character and His attributes and His eternal plans and purposes. Who could ask for more? But there were further blessings for me. I've experienced an increased understanding of other passages of Scripture because of my new knowledge of Revelation. I have read the warnings of Revelation with an increased sense of the urgency of sharing the gospel. And reading the commendations and warnings to the churches of Asia Minor was of particular relevancy to me as a member of a relatively new and small church plant. So I praise God and thank Him for the blessings He has so graciously given me through this study, blessings I did not anticipate from studying this particular book.

What are you thanking God for this week? Each Thursday of 2010, I am joining with my friend, Kim, of The Upward Call, and others in giving thanks to God for His good gifts. Please join us!

Rhubarb, Rhubarb, Rhubarb!

Rebecca is inviting us all to join in a big ole' celebration of the joys of rhubarb! A rhubarb fest! And I love, love, love rhubarb!!! I love it almost any way you can serve it...in pie, a sauce, rhubarb cake, rhubarb muffins, in a crisp, a cobbler. Oh, and rhubarb anything jam! Can't forget that! But for the celebration, I'm going to share this recipe for Honey Rhubarb Betty. Its tried and true and if you love rhubarb, I can't imagine that you won't love it.

Honey Rhubarb Betty
1 lb. or 4 cup rhubarb, cut into 1/2 inch pieces
3/4 cup sugar
1/2 teaspoon nutmeg
dash of salt
2 tablespoons water
6 tablespoons butter or margarine
1/2 cup honey
5 slices bread, torn or cut into cubes

Combine rhubarb, sugar, nutmeg, salt and water in a 10 X 6 X 1 1/2 inch baking dish. Blend butter and honey; stir in bread cubes. Spoon evenly over top of rhubarb. Bake in 375 degrees (Fahrenheit) oven about 30 minutes or until topping is a light golden brown. Yield 4-6 servings.

I doubled the recipe and used a 9 X 13 inch baking dish.

And here are couple of rhubarb recipes that I've shared in the past; rhubarb muffins and blueberry rhubarb jam. I think you'll like them too!

I've had rhubarb growing at some of the places we've lived before but I don't have a patch here. I was planning on correcting that this spring but along came the big electrical project which involved ditches and men tromping over the planned patch. The project is nearing completion and I'm hopeful that it won't be too late to get in a patch this year. I've had some very generous friends who have kept me in the stuff in recent years but its past time to correct that and be on the giving side of sharing rhubarb.

For information on growing rhubarb, rhubarb varieties, rhubarb history, rhubarb festivals (other than Rebecca's), rhubarb recipes, non-food uses of rhubarb and just about any other sort of rhubarb information you can think of, I've found The Rhubarb Compendium to be the go-to site.

Now its your turn to join the celebration of this wonderful plant. Put up your own rhubarb post and share the link with Rebecca. Or leave your rhubarb thoughts in a comment at her site. Just do it by Thursday to be at the party. See you there!

Sunday's Hymn: To God Be the Glory

To God be the glory, great things he hath done!
So loved he the world that he gave us his Son,
Who yielded his life an atonement for sin,
And opened the life gate that we may go in.

Praise the Lord, praise the Lord,
Let the earth hear his voice!
Praise the Lord, praise the Lord,
Let the people rejoice!
O come to the Father through Jesus the Son,
And give him the glory, great things he hath done!

O perfect redemption, the purchase of blood!
To ev'ry believer the promise of God;
The vilest offender who truly believes,
That moment from Jesus forgiveness receives.

Great things he hath taught us, great things he hath done,
And great our rejoicing through Jesus the Son;
But purer, and higher, and greater will be
Our wonder, our transport, when Jesus we see.

Fanny J. Crosby, 1875
Tune: Praise the Lord, William H. Doane, 1835-1916

Thankful Thursday

I have a cold today...a miserable one that's really laid me low, praise God. Now, I know you think that's a pretty strange thing to be thanking God for but hear me out on this one.

What I am really thanking God for today is His omniscience. He is all-knowing and that knowledge includes His knowledge of me. He made me! And I am an introvert and a homebody! I've learned to temper those qualities over the years but I still need more alone time than many other people I know and my most satisfying alone time is spent at home.

But I've had various people in the house for the last 10 days or so working on this electrical project. People, nice as could be but...they are not even friends let alone family members!

Yesterday marked the end of phase one on the project and we get a few days off until the power company gets the approved inspection and schedules their part of the job. I did have some commitments today and tomorrow but God in His infinite knowledge of me and His loving kindness forced me to cancel them and stay home. In fact, He made the cold of enough magnitude to force me to rest at home!

I've been thinking of Psalm 139 today, a psalm that praises our Lord for His omniscience. Here it is in its entirety:

O LORD, you have searched me
and you know me.

² You know when I sit and when I rise;
you perceive my thoughts from afar.

³ You discern my going out and my lying down;
you are familiar with all my ways.

⁴ Before a word is on my tongue
you know it completely, O LORD.

⁵ You hem me in—behind and before;
you have laid your hand upon me.

⁶ Such knowledge is too wonderful for me,
too lofty for me to attain.

⁷ Where can I go from your Spirit?
Where can I flee from your presence?

⁸ If I go up to the heavens, you are there;
if I make my bed in the depths, you are there.

⁹ If I rise on the wings of the dawn,
if I settle on the far side of the sea,

¹⁰ even there your hand will guide me,
your right hand will hold me fast.

¹¹ If I say, "Surely the darkness will hide me
and the light become night around me,"

¹² even the darkness will not be dark to you;
the night will shine like the day,
for darkness is as light to you.

¹³ For you created my inmost being;
you knit me together in my mother's womb.

¹⁴ I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made;
your works are wonderful,
I know that full well.

¹⁵ My frame was not hidden from you
when I was made in the secret place.
When I was woven together in the depths of the earth,

¹⁶ your eyes saw my unformed body.
All the days ordained for me
were written in your book
before one of them came to be.

¹⁷ How precious to me are your thoughts, O God!
How vast is the sum of them!

¹⁸ Were I to count them,
they would outnumber the grains of sand.
When I awake,
I am still with you.

¹⁹ If only you would slay the wicked, O God!
Away from me, you bloodthirsty men!

²⁰ They speak of you with evil intent;
your adversaries misuse your name.

²¹ Do I not hate those who hate you, O LORD,
and abhor those who rise up against you?

²² I have nothing but hatred for them;
I count them my enemies.

²³ Search me, O God, and know my heart;
test me and know my anxious thoughts.

²⁴ See if there is any offensive way in me,
and lead me in the way everlasting.

But it is verse five that I am especially meditating on today. You hem me in--behind and before; you have laid your hand upon me. I needed that hemming today. I needed the shepherding that He provided for me, His stupid sheep that probably would not have done what was best for herself, canceling commitments and taking a day of rest, without His tender care. I'm praising God for His hand upon me!

Each Thursday of this year, I am joining with Kim of The Upward Call and others in giving thanks to our loving God for the good gifts He gives us. Won't you join us?

Sunday's Hymn: My God and Father, Day by Day

My God and Father, day by day,
Far from my home in life's rough way,
O teach me from my heart to say,
"Thy will be done."

Though dark my path and sad my lot,
Let me be still and murmur not,
Or breathe the prayer divinely taught,
"Thy will be done."

What though in lonely grief I sigh
For friends belov'd, no longer nigh,
Submissive still would I reply,
"Thy will be done."

If thou shouldst call me to resign
What most I prize, it ne'er was mine;
I only yield thee what was thine,
"Thy will be done."

Let but my fainting heart be blest
With thy sweet Spirit for its guest,
My God, to thee I leave the rest:
"Thy will be done."

Charlotte Elliott, 1834
Tune: Almsgiving, John B. Dykes, 1823-1876

Thankful Thursday

Once again, I am thanking God for something I previously took for granted--hot water at a turn of the faucet. Our electrical project has been added onto. We're having a gas line run to the back patio since we have a ditch dug already for the new underground electric service. The gas line is so we can have a natural gas grill back there instead of relying on our old charcoal grill. So today the gas had to be turned off to do some of that work. That meant that the dishes couldn't be washed in hot water unless I boiled it in the electric teakettle or heated it in the microwave. A minor inconvenience but one I noticed. Thank God the gas is back on in time for hot showers tonight after doing some refilling of ditches and replanting of moved plants.

I don't have my gas dryer back yet and probably won't for a couple more days but, since I generally do laundry as it accumulates and never have much of a backlog, that's not such an inconvenience. So for today its that hot running water that I'm especially thanking God for.

Kim of The Upward Call and several others of us are posting our thankfulness to God each Thursday of this year. Won't you join us?

Charlie...

...really didn't want to get up this morning.

Sunday's Hymn: Father, I Know That All My LIfe

Father, I know that all my life
Is portioned out for me;
The changes that are sure to come,
I do not fear to see:
I ask thee for a present mind,
Intent on pleasing thee.

I would not have the restless will
That hurries to and fro,
Seeking for some great thing to do,
Or secret thing to know;
I would be treated as a child,
And guided where I go.

I ask thee for the daily strength,
To none that ask denied,
A mind to blend with outward life,
While keeping at thy side,
Content to fill a little space,
If thou be glorified.

In service which thy will appoints
There are no bonds for me;
My secret heart is taught the truth
That makes thy children free;
A life of self-renouncing love
Is one of liberty.

Anna L. Waring, 1850
Tune: Morwellham, Charles Steggall, 1826-1905

Thankful Thursday

We're getting some much needed electrical work done on the cottage. I won't bore you with the details but its a major project undertaken for safety concerns and its rather expensive. This week I am feeling especially thankful that God has provided not only the money to do this project but also a contractor whom we have confidence in. Some outside digging is necessary and the vacillation of spring weather has slowed that aspect of the project down a little this week but its begun and I'm looking forward to the completion of the work.

And my God will meet all your needs according to his glorious riches in Christ Jesus.
~Philippians 4:19

Each Thursday of 2010, I am joining with Kim of the Upward Call and many others in giving thanks to our God for His good gifts. We'd love to have you join us!

Sunday's Hymn: How Calm and Beautiful the Morn

How calm and beautiful the morn
That gilds the sacred tomb,
Where Christ the crucified was borne,
And veiled in midnight gloom!
O weep no more the Saviour slain;
The Lord is ris'n; he lives again.

Ye mourning saints, dry ev'ry tear
For your departed Lord;
Behold the place, he is not here,
The tomb is all unbarred;
The gates of heath were closed in vain:
The Lord is ris'n; he lives again.

Now cheerful to the house of prayer
Your early footsteps bend;
The Saviour will himself be there,
Your Advocate and Friend:
Once by the law your hopes were slain,
But now in Christ ye live again.

How tranquil now the rising day!
'Tis Jesus still appears,
A risen Lord to chase away
Your unbelieving fears:
O weep no more your comforts slain;
The Lord is ris'n; he lives again.

And when the shades of evening fall,
When life's last hour draws nigh,
If Jesus shine upon the soul,
How blissful then to die!
Since he has ris'n that once was slain,
Ye die in Christ to live again.

Thomas Hastings, 1831
Tune: Hastings, Thomas Hastings, 1831

Thankful Thursday

The one thing that I am most thankful for this week is the visit of old friends to our church on Sunday. These "old friends" are actually a young family. We became acquainted in the days before we had a regular man to fill our pulpit each Sunday. This young man, Rich, was one who often came to preach for us. It was great fun to see him and his wife and their little son again and to meet their seven month old daughter for the first time.

Rich is an excellent preacher and I've always enjoyed his sermons but this past Sunday's has had me contemplating it all week. The sermon text was a familiar one, John 2:1-11, the story of the wedding at Cana where Jesus changes water into wine. But Rich compared the wedding described in the gospel of John, the wedding that occurred under the law, with the wedding of the Lamb, the wedding feast yet to come at which Christ takes the church as His bride, the wedding described in Revelation 19. He compared the water that was in the stone jars to be used for purification under Jewish law with the wine that replaced it, the wine of the gospel. He pointed out that there were six stone jars, one short of the perfect number 7, just as the Mosaic economy is one removed from the New Covenant that replaced it. The act of Jesus in changing the purification water into wine, about 125 gallons of the "best wine", reveals His abundant grace as well as the inadequacy of the Mosaic economy in cleansing us from sin. Only the person and work of Jesus Christ can atone for our filthy sins and make us righteous and clean before God. And Jesus points to that future time, the time mentioned in Revelation 19, when we as His bride will wear the clean linen of righteousness as we are fully united with Him, by saying "My time has not yet come" in John 2:4.

I've been studying the book of Revelation in depth this year, for the first time. Revelation 1:3 says "Blessed is the one who reads the words of this prophecy, and blessed are those who hear it and take to heart what is written in it, because the time is near." God's blessings to me have been abundant throughout the study. A perfect example is having this sermon of Rich's fall in the week of my study of Revelation 19. As Rich commented when I told him of this timing, "We know the Spirit is always at work and sometimes we get to see it." I am overflowing with thankfulness this week!

I'm joining with Kim of the Upward Call and several other bloggers in posting my gratitude to God for His goodness to me each Thursday in 2010. Won't you join us?

Sunday's Hymn: There is a Fountain Filled With Blood

There is a fountain filled with blood,
Drawn from Immanuel's veins;
And sinners, plunged beneath that flood,
Lose all their guilty stains.

The dying thief rejoiced to see
That fountain in his day;
And there have I, as vile as he,
Washed all my sins away.

E'er since by faith I saw the stream
Thy flowing wounds supply,
Redeeming love has been my theme,
And shall be till I die.

Dear dying Lamb, thy precious blood
Shall never lose its power,
Till all the ransomed church of God
Be saved, to sin no more.

William Cowper, 1771
Tune: Fountain, Lowell Mason, 1830

Thankful Thursday

This week God has given me such joy in His call to serve Him in a particular way. He has called me to return to leadership in a woman's Bible study this fall and I couldn't be more happy about it!

You have made known to me the path of life;
you will fill me with joy in your presence,
with eternal pleasures at your right hand.
~Psalm 16:11

Kim of the Upward Call is posting her thankful thoughts each Thursday of 2010 and I am joining her, along with several others. Please share your praises to God this week too!

Sunday's Hymn: Blessing and Honor and Glory and Power

Blessing and honor and glory and power,
Wisdom and riches and strength evermore
Give ye to him who our battle hath won,
Whose are the Kingdom, the crown, and the throne.

Soundeth the heav'n of the heav'ns with his Name;
Ringeth the earth with his glory and fame;
Oceans and mountain, stream, forest, and flower
Echo his praises and tell of his power.

Ever ascendeth the song and the joy;
Ever descendeth the love from on high;
Blessing and honor and glory and praise—
This is the theme of the hymns that we raise.

Give we the glory and praise to the Lamb;
Take we the robe and the harp and the palm;
Sing we the song of the Lamb that was slain,
Dying in weakness, but rising to reign.

Horatius Bonar, 1866, alt.
Tune: O Quanta Qualia, Le Feillee's Methode du Plain Chant, 1808

First Day of Spring at the Cottage

The snowdrops:

The crocuses:

33 degrees and snowing.

Who Knew?

Guess what I just found out? March is National Crochet Month! Who knew such a thing was celebrated? Not me, but I do love to crochet. Its kind of like drinking tea in a way...calms me down when I'm upset, enhances clearer thinking, that sort of thing.


My current project is this afghan. Its a wedding present for a dear niece.

So, any other crocheters out there? Hold those hooks high and let's share our current projects!

Thankful Thursday

I'm thankful for a week of warmer sunny days that have allowed Charlie and me to do quite a bit of walking. I'm thankful that Charlie, despite being 14 years old, still wants to go for a walk every time he sees me put a sweater or jacket on...if its not snowy or rainy, that is. And I'm thankful that I am able to do the walking too and that through these walks, God has shown me just how much my hip has healed since late last fall. Thank you, Lord!!!

I am thankful for spring flowers!

I am thankful for the gift of a friend who listens to me with more than just her ears.

And finally, I am thankful for the opportunities God gives me to serve Him.

Every Thursday of 2010, I am joining Kim of The Upward Call and others in thanking God for His good gifts to me. Won't you join in too?

An Irish Quote

Wherever they went the Irish brought
with them their books, many unseen in
Europe for centuries and tied to their
waists as signs of triumph, just as Irish
heroes had once tied to their waists their
enemies heads. Wherever they went they
brought their love of learning and their
skills in bookmaking. In the bays and
valleys of their exile, they reestablished
literacy and breathed new life into the
exhausted literary culture of Europe.
~Thomas Cahill

Spring at the Lake Shore

The ice is melted back about two feet by the shore of Crystal Lake except for the thin, clear patches around rocks and branches. If you look out across the entire lake, its the right color for water but its still substantial ice with a rough surface. That makes it look almost like the water in an oil painting...the right color, almost the right surface texture, but unmoving.

I took these pictures at noon today on the walk we shared (Charlie came too!) while Andy was on his lunch hour from working at home. That was about four hours ago. The temperature now is 65 degrees! And its sunny! It won't look like this much longer!

Spring Flower Number Two!

Lovely Snowdrops

They first poked up around the lingering snow almost two weeks ago but today, they are fully in bloom. And so welcome! Perfect on this beautiful sunny afternoon after a week of intermittent rain. While snow is not completely out of the realm of possibility for our area yet, these lovely little snowdrops are, for me, the declaration of spring!

Sunday's Hymn: Look, Ye Saints, the Sight is Glorious

Look, ye saints, the sight is glorious;
See the Man of Sorrows now;
From the fight returned victorious,
Ev'ry knee to him shall bow:
Crown him! crown him!
Crowns become the Victor's brow.

Crown the Saviour, angels, crown him;
Rich the trophies Jesus brings;
In the seat of pow'r enthrone him,
While the vault of heaven rings:
Crown him! crown him!
Crown the Saviour King of kings.

Sinners in derision crowned him
Mocking thus the Saviour's claim;
Saints and angels crowd around him,
Own his title, praise his Name:
Crown him! crown him!
Spread abroad the Victor's fame!

Hark! those bursts of acclamation!
Hark! those loud triumphant chords!
Jesus takes the highest station;
O what joy the sight affords!
Crown him! crown him!
King of kings, and Lord of lords.

Thomas Kelly, 1809
Tune: Coronae, William H. Monk, 1871

Thankful Thursday

Its been rainy every day this week so far but it is warm rain. Yesterday's high was close to 60 degrees! I'm thankful for the warmer weather and I'm thankful for the rain. I'm thankful that the rain has washed away much of our dirty snow as well as a great deal of the winter grime from our cars.

I'm also thankful for the occasional bits of sunshine peeking through the clouds every day this week. Sunshine on a rainy day is especially welcome!

And I'm thankful to have finished doing our income taxes today! Not my favorite job but it falls on my side of the division of labor in our household and really that's okay.

Oh, and I am especially thankful for dear friends that feel like family! And the addition of their sweet little granddaughter to our church!

God is so good! There is always so much to praise and thank Him for! Kim from The Upward Call and several others (including me!) are sharing in thanksgiving to Him each Thursday of this year. Please join us!

Sunday's Hymn: All Glory Be to Thee, Most High

All glory be to thee, Most High,
To thee all adoration;
In grace and truth thou drawest nigh
To offer us salvation;
Thou showest thy good will to men,
And peace shall reign on earth again;
We praise thy Name for ever.

We praise, we worship thee, we trust,
And give thee thanks for ever,
O Father, for thy rule is just
And wise, and changes never;
Thy hand almighty o'er us reigns,
Thou doest what thy will ordains;
'Tis well for us thou rulest.

O Jesus Christ, our God and Lord,
Son of the Heavenly Father,
O thou who hast our peace restored,
The straying sheep dost gather,
Thou Lamb of God, to thee on high
Out of the depths we sinners cry:
Have mercy on us, Jesus!

O Holy Spirit, precious gift,
Thou Comforter unfailing,
From Satan's snares our souls uplift,
And let thy power, availing,
Avert our woes and calm our dread.
For us the Saviour's blood was shed;
We trust in thee to save us.

Tr. from German version of Latin hymn, Gloria in Excelsis
Tune: Allein Gott In Der Hoh'
Geistliche Lieder, Leipzig, 1539
Arr. by Felix Mendelssohn-Bartholdy, 1809-1847

Thankful Thursday

I've got a list of things that I'm thankful for today!

1. I'm thankful that Andy was able to work from home again this past Tuesday. That's the usual routine but the last couple of weeks saw one complication after another arise for him at work which translated to his having to go in to the office on those days. So I especially enjoyed having lunch with him at home this past Tuesday.
   
2. I'm thankful for my dear friend, Kim! She and I have the best conversations and share many similar interests and points of view. But most importantly, she's a dear sister in Christ who spurs me on to love and good deeds.
   
3. I'm thankful for Emily and her willingness to help with whatever is needing to be done. She helps Andy with snow removal every time it snows, especially since my hip has been so painful. Yesterday, we cleaned house together in preparation for prayer meeting last night. And she faithfully takes Charlie out several times a day. But its not just the labor that I'm thankful for. I'm thankful because she does it out of a loving spirit of service.
4. And I'm thankful for warmer temperatures and sunny days this week. Today it was 42 degrees when Charlie and I took a nice, lingering walk around the neighborhood. Spring is really coming!

What are you thankful for today? I am joining Kim of the Upward Call and several others in posting the things I'm thankful for each Thursday of this year. Please join us in giving glory to God for His good gifts to us.

Spring is on the Way!

Andy just came up to take a tea break from work a little while ago and spotted these snowdrops beginning to emerge between the cottage and the receding snow. To us, they are the first sign that spring is really on its way to our part of the world! A very welcome sign, a might add!

Sunday's Hymn: Thou, Whose Almighty Word

Thou, whose almighty word
Chaos and darkness heard,
And took their flight,
Hear us, we humbly pray;
And, where the gospel's day
Sheds not its glorious ray,
Let there be light.

Thou, who didst come to bring
On thy redeeming wing
Healing and sight,
Health to the sick in mind,
Sight to the inly blind,
O now to all mankind
Let there be light.

Spirit of truth and love,
Lifegiving, holy Dove,
Speed forth thy flight;
Move o'er the waters' face,
Bearing the lamp of grace
And in earth's darkest place
Let there be light.

Holy and blessed Three,
Glorious Trinity,
Wisdom, Love, Might!
Boundless as ocean's tide,
Rolling in fullest pride
Through the world far and wide
Let there be light.

John Marriott, c. 1813; st. 4, line 1, alt.
Tune: Denbigh, Welch melody

Thankful Thursday

This week, we've experienced the return of normal sleep patterns! That's because there is already marked improvement in Charlie's sarcoptic mange. He is so much more comfortable and that means we are too! Thank you, Lord!

I'm also finding myself thanking God for the conviction of sin through scripture this week. Conviction of sin may seem like an odd thing to be thankful for but I want to experience the forgiveness that comes with true repentance. I want the fellowship with God that follows. I want the progressive sanctification too. I am so very thankful for what Jesus Christ has done for me!

This is the message we have heard from him and declare to you: God is light; in him there is no darkness at all. If we claim to have fellowship with him yet walk in the darkness, we lie and do not live by the truth. But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus, his Son, purifies us from all sin.

If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness. If we claim we have not sinned, we make him out to be a liar and his word has no place in our lives. ~I John 1:5-10

There are so many more good gifts from God that I am thankful for but these are the two that are at the forefront of my mind this day.

I'm joining Kim of the Upward Call and several others in posting my thankfulness each Thursday of this year. Won't you join us?

Another Winter Day

Wet snow, the kind we get when its just below 32 degrees Fahrenheit, makes the prettiest pictures! Don't you think so?

Sunday's Hymn: Praise Ye, Praise Ye the Lord

Praise ye, praise ye the Lord
In yonder heav'nly height;
Ye angels, all his hosts,
In joyful praise unite;
O sun and moon, declare his might,
Show forth his praise, ye stars of light.

Praise him, ye highest heav'ns,
Praise him, ye clouds that roll,
Created by his pow'r
And under his control,
Ye heavens that stand eternally,
Established by his firm decree.

Ye creatures in the sea
And creatures on the earth,
Your mighty Maker praise
And tell his matchless worth;
Praise him, ye stormy winds that blow,
Ye fire and hail, ye rain and snow.

Ye hills and mountains, praise,
Each tree and beast and bird;
Ye kings and realms of earth,
Now let your praise be heard;
By high and low, by young and old,
Be all his praise and glory told.

By all let God be praised,
For he alone is great;
Above the earth and heav'n
He reigns in glorious state;
Praise him, ye saints, who know his grace
And ever dwell before his face.

From Psalm 148, The Psalter, 1912
Tune: Columbia, Leonard Cooper Blanton, 1951

Thankful Thursday

I have so much to be thankful for today...and every day, truth be told! But today....Andy comes home! He only left on Tuesday morning but I'm so thankful that by tonight, he'll be home. If the flight is on time, he'll join Emily and me for dinner at the usual time.

I'm also thanking God for a clear diagnosis for Charlie's skin problem...at last. It appears that he has picked up sarcoptic mange from the wild foxes in our neighborhood. I've certainly enjoyed seeing those beautiful red creatures trot down the sidewalk in the past but I'll be viewing them with different eyes from now on. But I am praising God that this is a problem that has a clear-cut cure. Our fear was that Charlie would prove to be allergic to his food, his prescription food that prevents the formation of bladder stones. So believe it or not, sarcoptic mange is a "good" diagnosis for Charlie. Our nights of interrupted sleep are coming to a close in the near future, Lord willing.

Its 36 sunny degrees (Fahrenheit, that is) here in Crystal Lake, IL today and I just came back from a short walk with Charlie. It was such a pleasant walk with the edges of the snow melting and revealing the muddy grass by the driveways and sidewalks. Spring is in the air! Thank you, Lord! And thank you, Lord, too, that I could take that short walk and enjoy it without experiencing any pain in my hip! The bursitis does still cause pain at times but yesterday my orthopedic doctor gave me another cortisone shot in that hip and this one seems to be helping more than the last one. I pray it lasts.

What good gifts are you thanking our God for today? Why not join Kim at the Upward Call and several others of us who are praising Him for His provisions each Thursday of this year.

Update: Its 3:00PM now and the outdoor thermometer says 41 degrees!! Woohoo!!

Sunday's Hymn: Alas! And Did My Saviour Bleed

Alas! and did my Saviour bleed,
And did my Sovereign die!
Would he devote that sacred head
For such a worm as I!

Was it for crimes that I had done
He groaned upon the tree!
Amazing pity! grace unknown!
And love beyond degree!

Well might the sun in darkness hide,
And shut his glories in,
When Christ, the mighty Maker, died
For man the creature's sin.

Thus might I hide my blushing face
While his dear cross appears;
Dissolve my heart in thankfulness,
And melt mine eyes in tears.

But drops of grief can ne'er repay
The debt of love I owe;
Here, Lord, I give myself away,
'Tis all that I can do

Isaac Watts, 1707
Tune: Martyrdom, Hugh Wilson, c. 1800

Lemon Chicken Rice Soup

Here it is...the recipe for the soup I made last night. Kim and Sam liked it and so did we!

8 cups chicken broth
2 chicken flavored bouillon cubes
1/2 cup uncooked regular rice
1/2 cup thin sliced carrots
1/3 cup finely chopped green onion (The original recipe called for finely chopped celery but Andy is not too crazy about celery and I had green onion on hand so I substituted that instead.)
1/3 cup finely chopped white onion
1 1/2 cup cubed cooked chicken
2 tablespoons butter
2 tablespoons flour
3 eggs
2 tablespoons lemon juice
salt and pepper

1. In a large pot, combine chicken broth, bouillon cubes, rice, carrots, green onion (or celery) and white onion. Bring to a boil. Reduce heat, cover and simmer for 20 minutes or until rice and vegetables are tender. Stir in chicken. Remove from heat.

2. In a small saucepan, melt butter. Stir in flour. Cook one minute stirring constantly until smooth and bubbly. Gradually stir in 2 cups broth mixture. Cook until slightly thickened stirring constantly.

3. In a small bowl, beat eggs until frothy. Gradually beat in lemon juice and two cups thickened broth mixture. Slowly add to large soup pot stirring constantly.

4. Heat gently until soup thickens. Do not boil. Add salt and pepper to taste.

Enjoy!

Thankful Thursday

Its been a beautiful sunny winter day here at the cottage! The sky is blue, blue, blue and the fresh snow from earlier in the week just sparkles. Yesterday and the day before were full of unanticipated problems, big and small...the kind of things that mark our lives this side of eternity. But they've been dealt with and today I was able to focus on the fun of having Kim and Sam join us for supper tonight. The house is clean, I've shopped and have the ingredients all prepared and in the fridge for a new recipe....Lemon Chicken Rice Soup. I'll share it, if its good.

So this afternoon, I am thanking God for His blessing of good friends to share a simple meal with; the kind of friends that feel like family sitting around the table; the kind I can try a new recipe on without trepidation.

I'm also thanking Him for His presence and His guidance and His strength as we face life's challenges, big and small.

God is our refuge and strength,
an ever-present help in trouble.~Psalm 46:1

I'm joining Kim of the Upward Call and others in giving thanks to God each Thursday of this year of 2010. Won't you join us?

Early Morning Tremblor

Charlie is still uncomfortably in the throws of this dermatitis. We got in a couple of nights of not taking him outside during the night. Instead, I was able to calm him down so we could all fall asleep again. But now we're back to getting up with him a time or two each night. I think the cold, and especially the rolling on the cold snow, helps with the itching.

But last night (or should I say "a couple of hours ago"), he became restless and got us up to take him out at 4 A.M. Andy, bless him, did the honors so I was still in bed but wide awake when there was a rumbling and the whole house shook. It made me nervous that the two of them were outside because it was similar to the sensation when a large amount of snow (we got just about one foot of new snow yesterday and into last night) slides off the aluminum roof of the cottage...but not quite. I came downstairs to meet them at the door and Andy thought it was snow coming off the other side of the cottage.

I dried Charlie off and took him into Emily's bed, his usual early morning haunt, and asked her what she felt or heard. Nothing.

We went back to bed (couldn't sleep though) for the next hour but promptly when we got up at 5AM, I checked the local news. Yes, an earthquake occurred just about 35 miles southeast of us in Sycamore, IL! 4.3 on the Richter scale! Felt as far away as Indiana and Kentucky!

I've heard that dogs have a sense of impending storms and seek shelter before they hit. Do you suppose that could have been Charlie's excuse for restlessness this morning and it wasn't the dermatitis after all? I'm hoping.

Update: The U.S. Geological Survey has downgraded the earthquake to 3.8 but determined that the epicenter was actually the village of Gilberts, IL which is about 10 miles due south of Crystal Lake, IL.

Sunday's Hymn: I Belong to Jesus

I belong to Jesus;
I am not my own;
All I have and all I am,
Shall be his alone.

I belong to Jesus;
He is Lord and King,
Reigning in my inmost heart,
Over ev'rything.

I belong to Jesus;
Blessed, blessed thought!
With his own most precious blood
Has my soul been bought.

I belong to Jesus;
He has died for me;
I am his and he is mine,
Through eternity.

I belong to Jesus;
He will keep my soul,
When the deathly waters dark
Round about me roll.

I belong to Jesus;
And ere long I'll stand
With my precious Saviour there
In the glory land.

M. Fraser
Dedication, M.A. Sea

Thankful Thursday

There's nothing like losing something you once had to make you yearn for it with thankfulness. That's how I am feeling about a good night's sleep right now. Poor Charlie is suffering from some sort of skin affliction and its making him scratch and lick and bite and chew himself in an effort to relieve the itching. Its most likely an allergy of some sort and we have a really good vet who is making every effort to track down the likely culprit. In the meantime, she's tried several medications to minimize the discomfort for Charlie...and us. I really, really mean that "and us" part because we do love Charlie but also because he sleeps with Andy and me at night. And if he's not sleeping because he is so restless, then we aren't either. And there's been several "we aren't either" nights lately.

So I'm not of a mind to take those nights when we have slept well for granted. I am thankful that God in His wisdom made night and day and that He intended us to be refreshed and rested in a good night's sleep. And I am so thankful when I get it.

when you lie down, you will not be afraid;
when you lie down, your sleep will be sweet.~Prov. 3:24

Each Thursday of this year, I am joining Kim of the Upward Call and several others in praising God with thanksgiving for His provisions to us. Why not join us?

Cardamom Shortbread

I brought these cookies to our church fellowship dinner last night and Kim really liked them. They are not the really sweet kind of shortbread; more the melt-in-your-mouth buttery kind. Perfect with a nice, hot cup of Earl Grey/Irish Breakfast blend! I think I'll put them on the menu at my Tea House.


1/3 cup sugar
1 cup butter
2 1/2 cups flour
2 teaspoons cardamom
1 teaspoon vanilla
1/4 teaspoon almond extract

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Line 9 X 13 inch pan with foil so it extends over the sides. Spray foil with non-stick spray.

In a large bowl, combine sugar and butter and beat until light and fluffy. Add all remaining ingredients and mix well. Dough will be crumbly. Press into the bottom of the foil-lined pan.

Bake for 24 minutes or until light golden brown. Cool in pan for 10 minutes. Cut shortbread while warm and remove from pan by lifting foil. Cool completely (about 15 minutes).

If preferred, you can make the dough in two 9 inch pie pans and cut into wedges. You may need to shorten the baking time by a few minutes.

Sunday's Hymn: Come, Let Us to the Lord Our God

Come, let us to the Lord our God
With contrite hearts return;
Our God is gracious, nor will leave
The desolate to mourn.

His voice commands the tempest forth,
And stills the stormy wave;
And, though his arm be strong to smite,
'Tis also strong to save.

Long hath the night of sorrow reigned;
The dawn shall bring us light:
God shall appear, and we shall rise
With gladness in his sight.

Our hearts, if God we seek to know,
Shall know him, and rejoice;
His coming like the morn shall be,
Like morning songs his voice.

As dew upon the tender herb,
Diffusing fragrance round,
As show'rs that usher in the spring,
And cheer the thirsty ground;

So shall his presence bless our souls,
And shed a joyful light;
That hallowed morn shall chase away
The sorrows of the night.

John Morison, 1781
Tune: Soho, Sir Joseph Barnby, 1881

Hot Tea Month--Week Four

Hot Tea Month--Week Four? It can't be! Its been so much fun, this focus on tea each week! Thanks so much to scrabblequeen who has been our gracious hostess! This week's theme is:

Whom have you met because of something related to tea? Share something about this person and how your relationship blossomed.

I'm not sure that I can honestly say there is anyone in my life that I've met because of something related to tea...except perhaps scrabblequeen herself and her tea friend, Chan, both of whom I've met because of this blog-a-thon. We're at the very early stages of getting to know each other but the potential for our relationships to blossom is apparent because of our shared love of tea and dogs...and maybe the knitting thing. I don't really knit much but I do love to crochet so I'm going to stretch it here and say we share interests in "fiber arts."

There are some other bloggers I've gotten to know who are tea lovers as well. It was Ellen's blog that first alerted me to the Hot Tea Month Blog-a-Thon, in fact. And I know Rebecca and Willow both enjoy a nice, hot cuppa. But I can't say for any of them that it was tea that caused the first connection. Its more like a love of tea was just an extra perk to the relationship.

In real life, I have a few good friends with whom I just love to share a nice, hot cuppa. Kim is right at the top of that short list even though coffee is her first hot beverage love. But she is a dog lover!

I'm thinking, though, that what makes a friendship for me is not whether a person drinks tea per se. Its more whether we can sit down and linger over conversation together, in person or in bloggyland. Tea is just sort of representative of that lingering. And it certainly enhances it on my part!

So, I'm off to make a nice, hot cuppa. Join me?

John Brown on Christian Unity

Genuine Christians feel towards one another as brethren; and when they see their Christian brethren suffering for the cause of Christ, they naturally, though not directly, attach themselves to, take part with, their suffering brethren, and thus come in for a share of the public scorn which is poured on them.
~John Brown, Hebrews, p. 481, in reference to Hebrews 10:32-34

Thankful Thursday

Its a frigidly cold day here in Crystal Lake, IL but the sunshine just streamed into my kitchen window this morning and for that I am thankful...even though it revealed a couple of cobwebs I'd missed. Or maybe that's another reason to be thankful.

Actually, its a cold week here and so I am thankful for the heater in the Honda Ridgeline. We've never had a vehicle that got warm inside as fast as this one does!

And I'm thankful for my sweet little dog, Charlie, who warms...uh, I mean, sleeps on my side of the bed.

I'm also thankful for a receiving a letter this week from an old friend in New York. It warmed my heart to hear from her.

But what warms my soul is the Word of God. I am so very thankful for the many opportunities for rich study of His Word that God has given me.

Every word of God is flawless;
he is a shield to those who take refuge in him.
~Proverbs 30:5

Each Thursday of this year, I am joining Kim of the Upward Call and many others in sharing my thankfulness to God.

Sunday's Hymn: By the Cross of Jesus Standing

By the cross of Jesus standing,
Love our straitened souls expanding,
Taste we now the peace and grace!
Health from yonder tree is flowing,
Heavenly light is on it glowing,
From the blessed Suff'rer's face.

Here is pardon's pledge and token,
Guilt's strong chain for ever broken,
Righteous peace securely made;
Brightens now the brow once shaded,
Freshens now the face once faded,
Peace with God now makes us glad.

All the love of God is yonder,
Love above all thought and wonder,
Perfect love that casts out fear!
Strength, like dew, is here distilling,
Glorious life our souls is filling,
Life eternal, only here!

Here the living water welleth;
Here the Rock, now smitten, telleth
Of salvation freely giv'n:
This the fount of love and pity,
This the pathway to the city,
This the very gate of heav'n.

Horatius Bonar, 1808-1889
Tune: Stabat Mater, John B. Dykes, 1875

Hot Tea Month--Week Three

Its the third week of Hot Tea Month hosted by scrabblequeen already! This week, the theme is:

"If I could have my own Tea House, this is how I would run things...."

Well, for starters, my Tea House would be a cottage in a lovely little town not too far from the bigger city. We do need customers, you know! It would be on the main street of that little town but it would have a sweet little garden to walk through (on a stone path) to get to the door of the tea cottage. And that little garden would extend around one side of the Tea House where there would be a stone patio with four round tables for taking tea outside on a perfect, warm day. Next door, there'd be a used book store for perusing after teatime. On the other side, a quilt shop. And down the street, a couple of antique stores, as well. Hey, I can make up the whole little town, can't I? This is my dream, we're entering here.

Back to the Tea House. Inside, a hostess would greet you. She'd be dressed in the sort of dresses the Bennet sisters wear in Pride and Prejudice (the A & E version). In fact, all of the waitresses would be dressed like that! The surroundings would be sort of English farmhouse feeling. Not the frilly Victorian stuff so much. More sturdy and homey. And fresh flowers on every table.

The teapots (complete with cozies) would be the heavier kind that actually pour without dripping (I hate drippy teapots) and the tea would be very hot! Also of the very best quality. We'll serve all kinds and varieties of tea...even the stuff that is not really tea!

The food is all homemade, of course, and of the highest quality. That goes without saying! Scones of several varieties, lemon curd, Devonshire cream. Sandwiches of many kinds. Salads of every sort. And soups. Quiches! I do love a good quiche. Muffins and sweet breads and cookies (but we'd call them biscuits).

And over in an alcove, my daughter, Emily, would be playing her harpsichord. On Fridays, she'd have a couple of violins and a cello playing with her. Perhaps a flutist would join them on occasion.

There's a little gift shop off to the side with all kinds of tea things. You can buy those non-drippy teapots there. And our high quality teas. And tea cozies and all sorts of tea accoutrements.

I was sharing my dream with my dear friend, Kim, last night and she suggested Wi-Fi. At first, I was taken aback. Wi-Fi in my sweet old Tea House? "But you'll want people to feel like they can stay and enjoy a respite from the world," she said. And yes, I want that. So this is what I'm thinking. Maybe an adjoining room, more like a lounge with couches and chairs and low tables (I'm not sure I want to use the word "coffee" in this post) where you can take your tea after you've eaten and just sit and sip and relax. Again, the decor is sort of English country manor. A roaring fire in cooler weather. And bookshelves. Lots of bookshelves filled with all kind of books to peruse. But no wait staff over there so you can take the pot and refill your own cup. And when that pot is empty, come get another. We'll have the Wi-Fi area over there for those who don't want to pick up a book. Oh, and I'd love to have you bring your embroidery or knitting!

So, I can't wait for the grand opening! Please say you'll come.

Thankful Thursday

My dear friends, Kim and Carol, have just left after our weekly Bible study together. I'm so thankful for both of them! I'm thankful for the insights that they bring as serious students of God's Word. I'm thankful for their encouragement. And I'm thankful for the accountability that I can depend on in our relationship. But most of all, I am thankful for God's Word. As a young preacher who ministered to our little church on a number of occasions used to say, "It is God's most direct communication with His people."

Many of us are joining Kim from The Upward Call's lead and posting our thanksgiving to God each Thursday of 2010. We'd love to have you join us!

15 Words or Less Poems

Play or be dinner.
No wonder its called a game.





To share a poem of your own or read more, visit Laura Purdie Salas.

Photo by Norbert Rosing

Freezing Fog

Today is the first day since last week that I didn't wake up to it. I miss the fairy tale look of the world.









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Sunday's Hymn: Man of Sorrows!

Man of Sorrows! what a name
For the Son of God, who came
Ruined sinners to reclaim:
Hallelujah! what a Saviour!

Bearing shame and scoffing rude,
In my place condemned he stood,
Sealed my pardon with his blood:
Hallelujah! what a Saviour!

Guilty, vile, and helpless, we;
Spotless Lamb of God was he;
Full atonement! can it be?
Hallelujah! what a Saviour!

Lifted up was he to die,
"It is finished!" was his cry:
Now in heav'n exalted high:
Hallelujah! what a Saviour!

When he comes, our glorious King,
All his ransomed home to bring,
Then anew this song we'll sing:
Hallelujah! what a Saviour!

Philip P. Bliss, 1838-1876
Tune: Man of Sorrows, Philip P. Bliss, 1838-1876

15 Words or Less Poem

Slogging and sweating
through sticky woods;
awaiting clear, tranquil water.
Worth every drop.

More 15 Words or Less at Laura Purdie Salas's place. Try your hand?

Thankful Thursday-Part II

I have even more reason to be thankful today! I had a stress test yesterday and my doctor called just a little while ago to tell me that it came back perfectly normal! My heart is just fine!

The back story is that the EKG I had on December 31st as part of my yearly physical showed some abnormalities. While my doctor said that this particular abnormality can be caused by something as insignificant as a headache or even hyperventilation, she wanted to check it further because of my family history and some ambiguous symptoms I've experienced in the past.

I'm thankful for my doctor's thorough and cautious approach that ruled out any heart problems for me now! And I'm thankful to get those results much sooner than I expected!

Thankful Thursday

I am thankful for renewed energy today! It took a while to get that energy back after being off my synthroid. Then the feeling of being overwhelmed from all that didn't get done while I was hypothyroid was discouraging too. But finally, I feel ready to tackle anything...well, almost anything! And that's despite the fact that my tent is still not 100%! But that's a post for another day. Right now, I am thanking God for this renewed strength and energy.

I can do everything through him who gives me strength.~Philipians 4:13

Please join in the thanksgiving to God and share your praise of Him.

Hot Tea Month--Week Two

Its week two of the Hot Tea Month Blog-a-Thon graciously hosted by scrabblequeen. Now is the time to share our favorite teas! Do you prefer black, green, white, red or "herbal"? Do you like added flavors such as fruit, flowers, vanilla, chocolate or spices...or are you a "purist"?

My favorite teas are definitely black! Earl Grey (Twinings, to be really specific), Irish Breakfast, P.G. Tips. I've learned to like the smoky lapsang souchong that my husband, Andy, loves. And I have a black tea that a Turkish friend gave me a few years ago that I ration out because we've lost touch and I really don't know how to get any more of it. These teas I take strong and hot so that I can add a bit of milk and its still strong and hot! No sugar, thank you.

There a few "flavored" black teas that I like...primarily the citrus-y and spicy ones...but mostly I'm a purist when it comes to black tea. The flavored black teas, I take with a bit of sugar or honey.

Green tea is only tolerable with some flavor to mask the grass clippings taste. And at that its only tolerable. I am not a fan of green tea.

I like the red (rooibos) teas but they are not really teas. They come from an entirely different plant! And they have no caffiene! But I like most of them with a pinch of sweetness. My favorite is a lemon rooibos that I get at Tea Gschwender.

White teas are really from the tea plant but I think of them in the same way that I think of rooibos tea. I like them well enough but they are not really tea for me. I really am a black tea person! So you can probably guess that I am not much into herbal teas (tisanes! NOT tea) either. Herbals I mostly only drink "for medicinal purposes." Ginger is for a sore throat. Chamomile for an upset tummy. I hate peppermint tea!!

Well, I'm off for a nice, hot cuppa with my family right now. Its a perfect way to end the day!

Decorated Trees

Driving to church every Sunday, we pass this group of evergreen trees but we've never seen them looking quite like this before! Remember we had quite a bit of snow in these parts on Thursday and into Friday? Well, yesterday was a beautiful, sunny day with temperatures rising all the way to 24 degrees. This is the southern face of these trees and all that warm sunshine caused quite a bit of their snow decoration to melt and and then refreeze into these gorgeous icicles as temperatures dropped back to -4 degrees overnight.

Here's a close-up of those sparkling ornaments on the branches. Aren't they lovely?

Sunday's Hymn: I Love to Tell the Story

I love to tell the story of unseen things above,
Of Jesus and his glory, of Jesus and his love.
I love to tell the story, because I know 'tis true;
It satisfies my longings as nothing else could do.

I love to tell the story, 'twill be my theme in glory
To tell the old, old story of Jesus and his love.

I love to tell the story; more wonderful it seems
Than all the golden fancies of all our golden dreams.
I love to tell the story, it did so much for me;
And that is just the reason I tell it now to thee.

I love to tell the story; 'tis pleasant to repeat
What seems, each time I tell it, more wonderfully sweet.
I love to tell the story, for some have never heard
The message of salvation from God's own holy Word.

I love to tell the story; for those who know it best
Seem hungering and thirsting to hear it, like the rest,
And when, in scenes of glory, I sing the new, new song,
'Twill be the old, old story, that I have loved so long.

Katherine Hankey, 1866
Tune: I Love to Tell the Story, William G. Fischer, 1869

"Reblooming" Poinsettia

This poinsettia continues to amaze me! It came to my house as a gift from my dear friend, Kim, on Thanksgiving of 2008. That's over a year ago! I blogged about it last May when it still looked pretty much like it did when it arrived. Over the summer, it went completely green but it never faded and died. I did some research on poinsettia and came to the conclusion that if I treated it very well, I could probably keep it healthy but it would remain green from then on. I was given to understand that the brilliant red bracts were encouraged by some means that commercial growers had access to but a mere houseplant enthusiast like myself could not replicate. So I accepted that and continued to care for my green foliage poinsettia just the same.

Just after Christmas, it began to get some faint red in a few of its bracts. Since then, the red has deepened and appeared in more bracts. Here it is the end of the first week of January and the plant is healthy and the red, while maybe not as dominant as in the plants of the local nurseries before Christmas, is quite pronounced!

Hot Tea Month--Week One

What a perfect blog-a-thon topic for the cold, cold month of January! As a dedicated tea drinker, I couldn't resist participating! Scrabble queen is our hostess and each week of the month, there is a tea-related topic to post on. This first week it is tea as a mood lifter: How does tea improve your day? What is your favorite time for a nice, hot cuppa?

Well, dare I mention that "other" drink, coffee, right off the bat? Let's just say I don't drink it at all. It makes me terribly ill. So I start my morning off with the far more refreshing beverage, tea, right after I kiss Andy good-bye and watch him head off to work.

My next cup is usually after lunch with Emily, although I do put the kettle on at any time of day that I may feel tired or down or need to relax. Tea is the perfect mood lifter! It just is!

My favorite cup of the day is after supper though. We never fail to brew a pot and share it in the evening, the two of us. Three, if Emily is home. Its the perfect way to wind down and end the day companionably relaxing together!

What about you? What are your daily tea-drinking habits? Can't wait to hear!

Thankful Thursday

They say that "imitation is the sincerest of flattery." Well, actually, Charles Caleb Colton said it first but I do appreciate the truth of it. And in that spirit, I'm going to copy Kim of the Upward Call who is copying Rebecca of Rebecca Writes in posting thankful thoughts. In fact, I'm going to really copy Kim and try to post those thankful thoughts every Thursday of 2010! And Kim invites us all to join in!

So on this snowy, snowy day, I am very thankful for my warm little cottage. Here's a photo of what I am thankful for the protection from this Thursday! We're supposed to get lots of it!

Sunday's Hymn: Immortal, Invisible, God Only Wise

Immortal, invisible, God only wise,
In light inaccessible hid from our eyes,
Most blessed, most glorious, the Ancient of Days,
Almighty, victorious, thy great Name we praise.

Unresting, unhasting, and silent as light,
Nor wanting, nor wasting, thou rulest in might;
Thy justice like mountains high soaring above
Thy clouds which are fountains of goodness and love.

Great Father of Glory, pure Father of Light,
Thine angels adore thee, all veiling their sight;
All praise we would render; O help us to see
'Tis only the splendor of light hideth thee!

Walter Chalmers Smith, 1824-1908
Tune: Joanna, Welsh hymn melody