A Powerfully Moving Song: Too High a Price

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A Fun Weekend of Surprises

I am so proud of these two kids!

We have been having a very busy, but fun weekend so far.  Dan went to a Boy Scout Leader’s Training Camp this weekend, so while he has been out “roughing it,” I have been having some fun times with the kids here at home!

I do try to have fun things planned for times that Dan is gone, so last night we ordered in pizza and then played a Mario Party game all together.  Brock had been asking me for weeks if I could join in one of their games, but this gave me the perfect excuse to do so!  I used to not try very hard and still won these games, but I knew that the challenge now might be more because my kids play a lot while I don’t.  Boy, was I right!  The kids beat me to a pulp!  🙂  Luckily, I had my trusty partner, Kara, to help dig me out of the hole a few times!

Then we listened to a key episode of Down Gilead Lane before we went to sleep.  We have a family devotional time followed by story time each evening, and we alternate between the Sugar Creek Gang book series and the Jonathan Park and Down Gilead Lane radio series that we have on CD’s.  I recently purchased seasons 4 and 5 of Down Gilead Lane, so these are new stories to us, and that is very exciting!  You see, there has been an on-going mystery ever since the very first episodes of season 1 involving one of the main characters that has gradually built up suspense.  We thought the mystery was going to be revealed in the episode we listened to last night, but still it drags on……  So, hopefully tonight we will know the “Secret of Grace Andrews”–but we won’t tell!  You’ll have to listen to the programs to find out!  🙂

This morning turned into quite an adventure for John, Kara, and me.  Where we live, there is a neat program that sells groceries at a greatly reduced price in exchange for community service in whatever capacity one wants to give.  I used to buy groceries through this program every month, but shortly after Luke was born, we kind-of got out of the routine.  Recently, Dan thought it would be good to try it again, so I signed up, and today was the pick-up day.  The food is delivered and distributed by volunteers, and when we showed up to get our food items, we discovered that they were in desperate need of help!  Several people that usually helped with the distribution had called in sick or something, and there just wasn’t enough people there to unload the truck and sort out everything.  So, one of the ladies asked if I could help.  Well, we were kind-of stuck there anyway until the truck could be unloaded, so I told them that I could.  I was so proud of John and Kara who had come to help me bring home the groceries!  They jumped right in there and helped unload the truck and then they even helped to fill people’s baskets!  Wow–that was a blessing to this Mom!

The rest of the day has been fairly normal with the rest of our weekly shopping and cleaning.  Dan is supposed to be home in a little while, so he’ll be able to listen in on Down Gilead Lane tonight to learn THE BIG MYSTERY!

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Scripture Memory Grading Time–again!

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Book Review: Why Geese Fly Farther than Eagles by Bob Stromberg

I just finished reading Why Geese Fly Farther than Eagles by Bob Stromberg, and I highly recommend it.  It is an enjoyable collection of short, humorous stories that illustrate spiritual truths.  It has attracted the attention of my whole family–in fact, my daughter Cosette picked it up yesterday and read the story entitled “The Screamin’ Lucy,” and she really loved it.  This little story is about some children who all want the same fancy bicycle for their birthdays, and all of them but one actually get them.  At first the boy who got the “different” bike was disappointed, but after a few seasons of heavy use, he discovered that the fancy bikes were all broken up, ready for the dump while his “different” bike still had plenty of use left in it.  The lesson in this story is evident:  the “fancy” things of this world don’t last or bring nearly as much satisfaction as the eternal things (that may not seem as “fancy” to the world).

I liked the chapter entitled “I Was There” the most.  In this chapter, the author describes childbirth from his experience as a dad.  It was so realistic and funny that I am going to put this book away for my kids when they grow up and have children of their own.  We will all certainly get a big laugh!

Usually once I have finished reading a book, I am ready to sell it or give it away.  But that is not the case with this book.  I have already had it for several years, and I plan to put it back onto my shelf to enjoy again in a few more years down the road.

By the way, in case you are wondering why geese do fly farther than eagles, it is because they work together and support one another on their long migrations while eagles soar alone.

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Brock Earns His Bear Badge

Well, things have been going along pretty well, I guess.  Pretty much just daily routine.

Last night Brock received his Bear Badge at the Cub Scout Pack meeting.  He has done a really good job this year, and we are proud of him.  He is really excited about moving up to Webelos.  In fact, his group is going to start meeting with the first year Webelos next week so they can start learning some outdoor skills to put into use this summer camping.  The cubmaster announced the up-coming Webelos camp, and Brock was delighted to learn that he can go since he will be in Webelos next fall!  So, Dan wrote it down on the calendar in June.  Our summer is already starting to fill up…….. 🙂

I have been working on getting out spring/summer clothes.  This is one of those love-hate activities for me.  I always DREAD sorting through everything, but once I get started, it’s fun to see what fits whom.  It’s really fun getting things out for Kara because my only other girl is 3 years older, and it’s neat being able to get out the old clothes that she used to wear and look so cute in again! (Of course, Kara is so much tinier than Cosette was–the clothes that she fits in now fit Cosette when she was 2-3 years old, so it really has been awhile since we had these out!)

Everything else is pretty much routine–we are certainly on the countdown for getting school done!  We just completed Lesson 135 out of 170, so the end is in sight!

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The Celebration Continues for Eternity: How Great Thou Art and Champion of Love

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My Kingdom by Louisa May Alcott

A little kingdom I possess
where thoughts and feelings dwell,
And very hard I find the task
of governing it well;

For passion tempts and troubles me,
A wayward will misleads,
And selfishness its shadow casts
On all my words and deeds.

How can I learn to rule myself,
to be the child I should,
Honest and brave, nor ever tire
Of trying to be good?

How can I keep a sunny soul
To shine along life’s way?
How can I tune my little heart
To sweetly sing all day?

Dear Father, help me with the love
that casteth out my fear;
Teach me to lean on thee, and feel
That thou art very near,

That no temptation is unseen
No childish grief too small,
Since thou, with patience infinite,
Doth soothe and comfort all.

I do not ask for any crown
But that which all may win
Nor seek to conquer any world
Except the one within.

Be thou my guide until I find,
Led by a tender hand,
Thy happy kingdom in myself
And dare to take command.

    

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Resurrection Celebration: I’ve Just Seen Jesus and Because He Lives

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Resurrection Celebration: Arise, My Love and Love Crucified Arose

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Remembering the Price My Dear Savior Paid: Watch the Lamb and When I Survey the Wondrous Cross

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