to happen exciting

Here is something. I came across it today and am impelled to do something cheering with them in a creative way, because I love the wonderful characters of the Hundred Acre Wood.

I got my Mumford album today and am listening currently. While Norah eats crackers and apple, plays on the front sunshiny porch, breathing in the air-smelling-of-bonfires.

I do not doubt God is teaching me patience for the evidence is twofold: He gave me Norah, and He did not give me any other children yet. [Brett made me add 'yet' to the end of that sentence, but he's right.] I'm very thankful for patience. Really, very. Often angry about it, but not today.

  
“When you wake up in the morning, Pooh," said Piglet at last, "what's the first thing you say to yourself?"

"What's for breakfast?" said Pooh. "What do you say, Piglet?"

"I say, I wonder what's going to happen exciting today?" said Piglet.

Pooh nodded thoughtfully. "It's the same thing," he said.

here we are

My sister and brother can be seen live on street corners in Bakersfield California.

succor

My brother Sol and sister Lauren posted a video on facebook:
http://www.facebook.com/video/video.php?v=950330143675&comments
...and I just love the words, so here they are.

Hail to the Lord's Anointed,
great David's greater Son!
Hail in the time appointed,
his reign on earth begun!
He comes to break oppression,
to set the captive free;
to take away transgression,
and rule in equity.

He comes with succor speedy
to those who suffer wrong;
to help the poor and needy,
and bid the weak be strong;
to give them songs for sighing,
their darkness turn to light,
whose souls, condemned and dying,
are precious in his sight.

He shall come down like showers
upon the fruitful earth;
love, joy, and hope, like flowers,
spring in his path to birth.
Before him on the mountains,
shall peace, the herald, go,
and righteousness, in fountains,
from hill to valley flow.

To him shall prayer unceasing
and daily vows ascend;
his kingdom still increasing,
a kingdom without end.
The tide of time shall never
his covenant remove;
his name shall stand forever;
his name alone is love.

what is best

once earthly joy I craved
sought peace and rest
now Thee alone I seek
give what is best

-"More Love To Thee" Elizabeth P. Prentiss, 1818-1878
Fernando Ortega: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zl1nL6M7ogc
Isaiah 55:8

reformation halloween

"All who call on God in true faith, earnestly from the heart, will certainly be heard, and will receive what they have asked and desired, although not in the hour or in the measure, or the very thing which they ask. Yet they will obtain something greater and more glorious than they had dared to ask."

- Martin Luther

I could complain when Brett has to work on a Saturday, but that would be ludicrous when I have so much to be thankful for. Like the fact that I have a husband who works hard with nary a grumble for his family and God.

So while Brett put in hours and the sun shone, Norah and I walked to the thrift store to buy some clothes for the fast-growing Ryott. How fun is it to have a nephew?! For only ten bucks I got at least five adorable like-new outfits. Blue for his eyes, orange and green and brown for his outdoorsy dad, stripes for his style-savvy mama, warm and hardy fleece, thermal, and corduroy for a midwest winter, and two reversable beanies for his darling head.

On our walk we were surprised by -but quickly made friends with - a trio of beautiful dogs, two dobermans and a golden retriever whose owner apologetically explained "they are very quiet and friendly, but they think they own the sidewalk" while Norah fended off enthusiastic canine kisses. I'm glad Norah can grow up with a large (understatement) dog like Vic, but it is funny to hear her mimicking bellow "Quiet Bikdur!"

Sunday I was up early before church to bake cupcakes and cornbread, wrap gifts, and put the finishing touches on Norah's costume for a fall family birthday fest in the afternoon. She was a wild tawny lion, or possibly an ewok.

Needless to say, between our recently acquired ship's helm and my cousin's little boy Edmund Petersen, I am incredibly stoked for this year to culminate with my favorite Narnia book of the them all: Voyage of the Dawn Treader coming to theatres in December.

http://www.imdb.com/video/screenplay/vi732235289/


Or if you're in the mood for some local music, here is a hymn by Owl City, playing at his own Owatonna high school today.

http://owlcityblog.com/2010/10/25/my-hope-is-found/

Even Though It All Went Wrong

I am one tenth of the way to 25 Silver Years with the man of my dreams. Two point five years have flown and trickled by. Even now I anticipate growing weary of this transition time, but I work at thankfulness, contentment, and most of all patience, meantime.

That verse of Leonard Cohen's song sticks with me:

I did my best, it wasn't much
I couldn't feel so I tried to touch
I've told the truth, I didn't come to fool you
And even though it all went wrong
I'll stand before the Lord of song
With nothing on my tongue but Hallelujah

...for I will yet praise Him (and curse Him less) no matter how wrong everything feels. I came to fool no one. Though I stumble I will not be hurled headlong.

Being also the 224th anniversary of my nation's birth, and the corn being well over knee high most places, we celebrated today listening to teaching in the gospel of John, eating bean burgers, melon, coleslaw, and patriotic chilled dessert, watching a movie, and Norah got to stay up to watch the fireworks from lawn chairs in the park. She loved them! And I must admit I totally thought of Gandalf's famous pyrotechnics at Bilbo's birthday under the Party Tree.