Hymn Candle

Inexpensive pillar candles can be easily transformed

 into something unique and meaningful.

- Pick up an old hymnbook from a yardsale or library discard box. Carefully pull your 

favorite song*  from the book and trim the edges with a paper trimmer.

Please squash any guilt you might have about taking a page from a book that was going to be 

discarded anyway. You will be using the page, displaying it for thoughtful consideration. 

Isn't that better than tossing it on the trash heap to decay next to dirty diapers?

- Scrub whatever sticker it came with until the glass is completely clean.

- Wrap the trimmed page around the pillar candle and secure with glue or scrapbooking adhesive tape.

- Embellish the candle with a long strand of raffia or ribbon. Add extra charm with

an old key, a small seashell, or vintage button.

Make a bunch and have a bright bank of lit hymn candles.

*

Take one to a new neighbor with a plate of cookies.

*

Use a holiday hymn to create a glowing centerpiece on your celebration table.

However you use your hymn candle, you'll be putting the gospel on display.

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I remember this song from Sunday nights services in the Methodist church we attended when I was 

elementary age. My heart was so tender toward Jesus right at that time, and the

 Holy Spirit dropped this hymn right down into the center of my soul. 

O soul, are you weary and troubled?
No light in the darkness you see?
There's a light for a look at the Savior,
And life more abundant and free!

Turn your eyes upon Jesus,
Look full in His wonderful face,
And the things of earth will grow strangely dim,
In the light of His glory and grace.

For your further investigation - go here, check this out, and make time for this.

It's Dark

Now, I admit to being a tiny bit sensitive to all things bearing an evil tinge.

And even though I find scary babies in antique stores  fascinating,

I have to cover my eyes  or squint  through every horror flick commercial.

Orcs pretty much traumatize me.

All that to say, I thought St. Augustine was a dark sort of city. 

Lots and lots and lots of history regarding native massacres, plagues, 

religious murders and pirate killing sprees.

So seeing this as we waited at our trolley stop was not so shocking.

Looks like a  headless Spaniard ... or is it a headless Huguenot ... a headless Englishman? 

OK - it was shocking, at least for me.

White as Snow

Sparkly snow in our backyard - I took this photo from the kitchen window. Even with the kid tracks and grass sticking up through it, doesn't this snow look so clean and pure? Reminds me of this scripture:

"Come now, and let us reason together,"

says the LORD,

"Though your sins are as scarlet,

They will be as white as snow;

Though they are red like crimson,

They will be like wool."

Isaiah 1:18

(Check out this short clip from a pastor we listen to online)

Band

I was in band for a very few years in my tender youth. In sixth grade it was the flute - poor Mr. Daniels. I was fascinated that he could bear to listen to us and not run out of the school gym - it was that terrible. Continuing in junior high school for seventh and eighth grades, I competed very poorly for 'first chair' flute with the truly talented whose names I have forgotten, even though I remember what they looked like so plainly - wait... Jill ...nevermind. I spent time admiring the saxophone players, the trombone players, and the drummers - cute boys, all, to us giggling young flutists. (hahahahahaha - never could a term be used more loosely than that) High school band camp was not allowed to me --- not exactly sure why, unless it had to do with going away to a camp with boys,for a week, much too far from the supervision of my vigilant parents. I didn't regret letting band go, since I knew that I was not a really band person. Band, and my lack of talent there, is still in my dreams, though. Yes, inadequacy dreams - oh, the relief of waking! Especially from the one in which I am surprised to find myself in the band room again, realizing that I am (the only one) completely unprepared, and the conductor is about to raise his baton to signal Begin!

Nightmares aside, I remain mesmerized by orchestral music. That these people can work together, each doing their part, which, when played alone, often sounds nothing like anything at all, and it all fits together to make - WOW - something so beautiful! I can't express clearly enough how impressed I am with this:

"It Doesn't Taste Like Pumpkin Pie"

Sometimes they come and get my camera...and take it outside.  

"What are you going to do with it?"  "Just mess around - you know."

No, really, I don't. I hear them laughing wildly, later, and a muffled replay on the computer - over and over and over. They've video-ed themselves doing some fool thing. Again.

Thought you might enjoy seeing just one example of their videography. My talented Man Sons! I'm in the video - watching through the window, just for a second. I didn't even see that they were video-taping; I only notice the outrageous design on the pumpkin. Not something that I approved of. I'm sure I'm frowning. This pumpkin never did get completely carved or lit, thank the Lord above! I would've had to roll it over the hill myself. I thought butt humor would wear off after they were well past potty training, but it doesn't. And I'm sorry about that. Very sorry.

I may have been ruined by living among males for too long, and with five months distance from the event ... I think it's very funny! 

Extravagant Valentine Blessing

My Dear Husband has been my Valentine for 25 years.  We met at the YMCA when I was only 17, a senior in high school, and he was 20.  This photo was taken when we were about that age. It seems like a long time ago. He won me, at first, with his snort-producing sense of humor, his sparkling brown eyes, and his awesome red mustang. 

As we continued in our relationship, he began his relationship with Jesus, and soon after, I lost my heart to him entirely. It surely didn't resemble the careful procedure of "courtship", but that's how it went. He came to my school dances, later he took some college classes just to spend time with me, he always opened doors for me. 

He was the most kind and thoughtful of new daddies, helping me and whatever baby or toddler we had with any and every task. Nothing was too dirty or beneath him in those demanding days. Now, with teens challenging the system, we often excuse ourselves to another room, and he holds my hand as we try to figure out a game plan to deal with the ever-changing demands of parenting.

In 2007, all the wheels came off, and my health went in the can. You find out what's really inside your spouse when hardship presses in. That September, I sat in a doctor's office and heard the words 'thyroid cancer'. During the next year, My Husband showed me what Jesus looks like in skin. All the hospital visits, body scans, cuttingdrainingtestingpokingprodding - he was there, always with me, holding my hand. No one could have been more gentle, more faithful, or strong - and each just at the right time. 

I used to wish  that we'd have more money, maybe live in a bigger house, drive newer (faster) vehicles. Now, standing where I am, and having been where I've been, I know that I'm already rich and have been for some time! God  has given me the extravagant wealth of a truly loving husband and a fulfilled marriage. 

The hurt of unhappy marriages has been all around me lately. Because of this and more than ever, I feel the urging to guard and treasure this gift. If you have been given the same wonderful gift, I'm rejoicing with you and encourage you to also guard your treasure. 

A sermon series that I think is applicable on Valentine's Day - a teaching on the Song of Solomon by Marc Driscoll. It's a little edgy, and  he does very plainly discuss intimate issues - but, it is Song of Solomon, after all! I found a lot of useful things here, about how to tend a marriage:

Finding the Perfect Tree

TUG FORK TREE FARM

This is where we always get our Christmas tree!  What fun hunting for the perfect tree....well sometimes not so much fun.  We all have our opinion of what is the "perfect" tree - it really comes down to skinny tree vs. fat tree, doesn't it!?  Of course, I'm in the skinny tree camp.  I'm the only one in that camp.  

I don't approve of the tree that they chose, but was forced to get in the photo, so I got in BEHIND the too-fat tree.  Typical of me, I couldn't keep my opinion to myself (thumbs down).  This is upsetting My Youngest, who is firmly in the fat tree camp, and later he will become angry about my 'freedom of expression' about the too-fat, t00-tall tree.  Oops.

It was agreed (among the men) to cut the top out of this enormously tall tree.  I think it's wasteful, but the farm owner advised this practice himself.

See movie below to find out how unruly and wrestle-y the trip actually was.  I don't know why it seems like such a wonderful insult to take someone else's shoe and throw it...

Thankfully, we were pretty much the only ones on the tree farm that day.  It was fun to be with the boys!  Boys are so roly-poly, rollicking and wild - it's fun just to watch them with their dad!  I'm grateful for my guys!