The Correspondent

When You Come to a Fork in the Road, Take It! was a breezy read on some of Yogi Berra’s witticisms and their origins. We are probably all familiar with his stock phrases, such as, "It’s like déjà vu all over again," "Ninety percent of the game is half mental," and the ever popular, "It ain’t over ‘til it’s over."

I learned several new ones as well, such as:

If you don’t know where you’re going, you might not get there.
You can observe a lot by watching.
We made too many wrong mistakes.
Nobody goes there anymore, it’s too crowded.
We have deep depth.
The future ain’t what it used to be.

I’ve never known much about Yogi Berra except that he was a baseball player, and he said funny things. His offbeat maxims always gave the impression he wasn't too smart, but as I read this book, I realized how wrong my assumptions were.

Although he dropped out of school after the eighth grade to help support his immigrant family, Yogi not only had good common sense, but amazing insight as well. I was duly impressed by his reflections as a major league catcher:

To me, there was always something in the way a batter stood, the way he held his bat, to tell you what pitch he was looking for. Always notice the little stuff, it helps ... [During the ’53 World Series] I was watching how the batters’ feet were pointing, and how our pitcher was keeping the ball where I wanted it. I could just tell the bunts were going to the left of the plate – and that’s where they went.

Although he won MVP three times, played in fourteen World Series, and hit the first pinch hit home run in World Series history, he didn’t always win, and I applaud his advice on losing:

But I learned a long time ago that losing is a learning experience. It teaches you humility. It teaches you to work harder. It’s also a powerful motivator. I’ve always said, somebody’s got to win, somebody’s got to lose. Accept the losses and learn from them.

This reminds me of a scene from a children’s movie where a young boy’s inventions repeatedly fail, and he’s ready to give up altogether, but some wise adults respond this way to his latest disappointment:

You failed!
And it was awesome!
Exceptional!
Outstanding!
From failing you learn.
Like my husband always says, keep moving forward!

Yogi balances his view of failures with this perspective:

I like to say there’s mistakes – and there’s wrong mistakes. What I mean is that wrong mistakes are more serious, more avoidable, more costly. They’re usually more mental than physical. I really think most car accidents are mental mistakes – not paying attention, even for a split second, is as wrong a mistake as you can make.

His pithy “It ain’t over ‘til it’s over” are words to live by:

Never assume anything’s really finished or officially happened … until it’s really finished or officially happened. It can be a ball game or a closing on a new house. It can be a war or an election. It’s like they tell you as a kid – don’t count your chickens before they hatch … Nothing’s final or official until it’s final or official.

How true. And so many hasty people get into trouble by not waiting “until [they] learn how the matter turns out” (Ruth 3:18).

The short, blocky catcher/manager/coach was no stranger to derision, and he offers these words on the subject:

Being personally ridiculed is a test of character. You can’t bury your head. Take it in stride. It may hurt underneath, but you can’t let that stuff affect your attitude or performance … It takes discipline and maturity to walk away.

Always his own person, when he was named as manager to the New York Yankees, he said,

When people asked me in 1964 if I would manage like Casey Stengel or Ralph Houk,I said, "I’ll manage like Yogi Berra."

While the book doesn't make it into my Top Fifty Faves, I enjoyed this relaxed memoir and its peek into the life of an unassuming baseball great.

The Week in Review

The Correspondent

It's that time of the week when I share some random highlights from the previous seven days. These are a smattering of things I'm grateful for.


1. A New Favorite – A couple of decades ago when I was an income-earning member of America’s work force, a colleague brought me a pineapple as a souvenir from her Hawaiian trip. I appreciated my friend’s thoughtfulness, but I was somewhat put off by the fruit’s spiky exterior and fibrous interior. I was also skeptical about the taste, so I quietly gave it away to someone who could appreciate it more than I could.

Now twenty years later, I bought a container of pre-cubed pineapple chunks from my grocery’s produce section, and when I popped a piece in my mouth, my taste buds did back flips as I experienced the surprisingly soft consistency and sweet flavor. It’s now my new favorite fruit.

2. Healthy Once More -- Christiana completely recovered from her nasty cold, and I’m thankful she is feeling better again. Now if Mockingbird and the boys would follow suit.

3. New Acquisition – Since I am extremely particular about the sunglasses I wear, any old pair simply will not do. I prefer a specific type of eyewear, which is quite difficult to find these days as mercurial fads dictate our retail choices (or lack thereof). As a result, I’ve been clinging to a very old, dilapidated pair of shades for years, cannibalizing cheap imitations for spare parts when needed. But I recently found a perfect substitute, and I bought a pair for me and a pair for Mockingbird, who has been asking for some sunglasses. Let the sun shine.

4. Another acquisition – I found a sign that reminded me of Mr. Knightley, so I bought it and hung it in our bedroom.


I especially like that the message ends with an ellipsis because, despite the conclusive sound of this phrase which often wraps up a fairy tale, the real story begins with the wedding.

5. “Hey, honey, why don’t you get out your clarinet?” – Speaking of Mr. Knightley, he was listening to the boys play our percussion instruments on Thursday night, and above the cacophony of hand bells, maracas, triangles, and tambourines, he suggested I get down my old instrument and blow a few notes.

I only play my clarinet about twice a year – a pitiable amount that my brother calls “a waste” for this former music major/scholarship recipient/John Phillips Sousa Award winner. I repeatedly resolve to play more often, especially following my bi-yearly jams when my lungs feel as if Jabba the Hutt used them for seat cushions and my lips look like they received a collagen overdose.

You see, once I start playing, it’s very difficult for me to stop, and I usually perform for hours because I enjoy it so much, even though I’m long past such elite pieces as Elsa’s Processional to the Cathedral, Toccata and Fugue in D minor, and Carmina Burana. These days I’m content with Beyond the Sea, Oh You Beautiful Doll, Sentimental Journey, and other standards that favor the lower register.

I got cocky toward the end of my recent binge, however, and flourished with The Entertainer as a grand finale, although I was sincerely shocked that I could still belt out that stratospheric E. Don’t be too impressed, though … I was slumming with a size 2 ½ reed. At least it was a Vandoren.

I need to remember to take the time to play more often. It’s such relaxing fun.

6. Holiday Tryst – Mr. Knightley and I spent time on Friday chilling out, drinking java, and playing Scrabble at My Favorite Corner Coffee Shop. Although a masterly competitor, he’s somewhat British in his opposition, frequently complimenting my word choice and high score – “Outstanding!” “Oh, great job.” “Good play!”

I’ll let him tell you who won.

The Eleventh Hour

The Correspondent

The Eleventh Hour: A Curious Mystery by Graeme Base
Copyright 1988
Published in 1989 by Harry N. Abrams, Inc., Publishers, New York

A book is read, a story ends, a telling tale is told.
But who can say what mysteries in a single page may hold?
A maze of hidden codes and clues, a clock at every turn,
And only time will tell what other secrets you may learn …

I picked up this used book at a library sale, mainly because I was drawn to the illustrations (No pun intended. Involuntary equivocations occur regularly due to my repeated exposure to The Pun Master [aka Mr. Knightley]).

As I perused the book, I realized it was an intricate whodunit with a captivating rhythm.

When Horace turned Eleven he decided there should be
Some kind of celebration. ‘For my friends,’ he said, ‘and me.
For though I’ve been the age of eight and nine and six and seven,
This is the very first time that I’ve ever been Eleven!’

Horace invites some friends over, prepares an exquisite banquet, then welcomes his guests and the party games begin – a sack race, musical chairs, cards, etc. When it’s time to devour the food, the feast has already been consumed, and it’s your job to figure out who the perpetrator is.

Filled with riddles and codes, mysteries and hidden messages, The Eleventh Hour is a fun book to solve. I recommend reading the story first, then going back to the beginning and focusing on the details. Every number and letter on every page should be taken into consideration. Each picture contains clues to solving the book’s puzzle.

If this sort of stuff makes your head hurt, just enjoy the story and the illustrations, then turn directly to the answers at the end.

Sleuth up, readers.

Time Keeps on Slippin' Into the Future

The Correspondent

The many clocks in our house are not in sync. The dining room clock runs fast while the three den clocks tick away to the beat of their own drummers. Even clock radios within the same bedroom don’t agree on the time.

Recently, the battery in the kitchen wall clock ran out of juice, and it stopped completely. Rocko noticed the discrepancies and said, “None of the clocks in this house show the same time. Which one is right?”

Christiana cheerfully took the opportunity to mess with her brother, and she responded, “The one with the correct time.”

“Which one has the correct time?” Rocko asked.

“The one that is right,” Christiana teased.

“How do I know which one is right?” Rocko asked exasperatedly.

“It’ll be the one with the correct time,” Christiana grinned.

At this point, I stepped in and ended the cycle of circular reasoning. I also made a mental note to change the battery in the kitchen wall clock.

I decided we need at least one clock in the house that is consistently set to the standard -- Greenwich Mean Time (GMT) or Zulu Time (Z) or Coordinated Universal Time (UTC), whichever title floats your boat. Then we can check the one clock that we know is displaying the correct time and adjust the others accordingly. I made a mental note to undertake that simple project as well.

Just as I need a clock set to the standard of time, my life needs to be set to the standard of Scripture. This analogy eventually breaks down because Greenwich Mean Time doesn’t apply to the entire world, but the Scriptures apply to everyone because we all have the same root problem (Rom. 3:23; 5:12).

I’m thankful that as our standard – our guideline, our straight edge – the Bible gives us the antidote to our problem (Romans 5:8; Ephesians 2:8-9; Acts 16:31) and instructions on how to live the Christian life (See the entire book).

If I want my clocks to be right, I set them to Greenwich Mean Time. If I want my life to be right, I read, memorize, meditate on, and apply the words of the Bible.

Since time keeps on slippin’ into the future, I want to spend more time reading, memorizing, meditating on, and applying the words of Scripture so that my life is in sync with the word of God. Six weeks ago or so, I began embracing those responsibilities with fresh fervor, and I’m enjoying anew storing up God’s word in my heart, despite my dwindling brain cells.

It’s such a blessing to have pertinent verses on hand when I’m tempted in various situations. For example, when I’m ticked off about something, I remember, “Good sense makes one slow to anger, and it is his glory to overlook an offense” (Proverbs 19:11). When I slip into the blame game trap, I call up, “Forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead, I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus” (Philippians 3:13-14). When my children are pestering one another, I remind them, “Love is kind” (1 Cor. 13:4). This has made a world of difference in my life lately.

My family’s commentary is the best gauge for how faithfully I’m staying on track. Now if they’d only remind me to fix the clocks.

Another List

The Correspondent

Another week, another set of blessings to be grateful for.

1. Pressure wash -- The outside of our home is shiny and clean again thanks to the pressure washing guys. As trivial as it sounds, it makes me happy.

2. Momma Knows -- Before the blood work results came back from the endocrinologist's lab, my mommy diagnostics accurately predicted that Christiana's thyroid levels were low and she’d need a higher dosage of medication. I’m so thankful for doctors, but I really like the ones who listen carefully to an attentive parent’s insights.

3. Whoo-Hoo! -- We celebrated the grand event of Mr. Knightley completing 46 revolutions around the sun this week. Everyone at Barchester is immensely grateful for you, Mr. K. We love you!

4. The Yogi Influence -- I mentioned in a previous post that I'm reading a book by Yogi Berra entitled When You Come to a Fork in the Road, Take It! which explains where some of his quirky statements originated. I think the book is rubbing off on me because last night before we ate our breakfast dinner (and after I accidentally burned the meat for the meal), I told my family, "I'm sorry, you guys, but I totally fried the bacon."

5. Acceptance – I made a snap decision a couple of weeks ago (how unlike me), and while sitting in the swivel-y chair at the salon, I allowed my hair to be cut short. Very short.

When the deed was halfway done, I suddenly changed my mind and wanted it shoulder length again. It was, of course, too late, and as I panicked and fought back tears, I wondered why I do these things to myself.

Six inches later, I had a Katie Holmes haircut.



My hairdresser touted the benefits of such a short cut – “It’ll be cooler to wear and easier to fix … Here let me show you.” And she proceeded to blow dry and comb my new ‘do to look just like Katie’s in under three minutes.

Sadly, I’m not a laid back kind of gal. I have something of a fussy personality, so naturally, my hair style is going to reflect my temperament. A friend once addressed me in an email as “Her Royal High Maintenance” (no need to mention names; he knows who he is [unless dementia has already set in] ).

So, when I blow dry and comb and mousse and brush and curling iron and hairspray and fuss and fix my hair in the mornings, the style (but not the hair color) looks something like this:

I’m learning to live with this knee jerk mistake decision.

And I’ve already begun letting my hair grow out again.

"Read, read, read" -- William Faulkner

The Correspondent

Other than an occasional picture book review, I haven’t talked about books as much as I’d like on the blog, partly because I don’t have nearly the time to read these days that I used to. However, that doesn’t stop my eyes from growing bigger than my leisure time, and where books are concerned, I’m still like a child in a candy shop, grabbing for more than I can possibly consume.

In addition to the titles listed below, I placed a recent ILL request for a book I’ve wanted to read for a year AND the library is holding two other books that I asked for within the system AND I came home with a handful of used books I purchased last week. See what I mean?

I’d like to begin a reading journal, even if I only write down the titles and the dates I complete them. I also hope to become more disciplined in my reading habits. We’ll see how it goes.


Currently Reading

I’m really into memoirs, letters, and journals, and while perusing the biography shelves of the library for nothing in particular one day, I borrowed these two titles and began reading them:

When You Come to a Fork in the Road, Take It! By Yogi Berra – This one speaks for itself, I think. I’m enjoying the easy reading of the back stories to forty of Yogi’s witty sayings.

Life is So Good by George Dawson and Richard Glaubman -- Born in 1898, George’s life spanned three centuries before he passed away at the age of 103 in 2001. Through an adult literacy program, he learned to read when he was 98 years old. The first chapter was harrowing in parts and humbling in others. I’m looking forward to the rest of the story.

I’m not sure why, but I don’t tend to include the reading I do for the kids’ schoolwork. I’ll add the titles here to help me feel a little better about myself:

Twenty-One Balloons by William Pene du Bois – This is my current read-aloud with my two elementary-aged children.

Beowulf translated by Seamus Heaney – This is the literature selection for my two high schoolers. I’m so glad I’m finally reading this classic.

A History of the English-Speaking Peoples by Winston Churchill – This four-volume tome is the history selection for my high schoolers. It’ll take a while to finish it.


Books I Pretend That I’m Reading But Don’t Really Have Time For:

e-Bay for Dummies by Marsha Collier – At this rate, I may never get my desired e-Bay store up and running.

Accelerated Distance Learning by Brad Voeller – I’m already behind in this area. My oldest will be a high school junior in the fall.


Completed Reading:

Last night I finished Dream Thief by Stephen Lawhead. I read this science fiction book for the first time about four or five years ago after enjoying the author’s writing style in The Song of Albion. Mr. Lawhead weaves an exciting story, creates memorable characters I care about, and uses powerful language.

Recently, I purchased my own used copy of Dream Thief, and although I’m enjoying the positive aspects the second time around, a couple of issues now plague me:

1. Although Stephen Lawhead is a Christian, he is an evolutionist. I wish he understood and embraced the literal six-day creation account in the Bible. Dream Thief would have been so much better within the context of that truth.

2. Mr. Lawhead not only placed life on other planets, but some of them were regenerate and some were unregenerate. I have multiple issues with this position. Because of Adam’s sin, the whole creation is cursed (Romans 8:20-22). As a result, every living soul is in need of salvation, and “faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of Christ” (Romans 10:17). So how do the extra-terrestrials get saved? Since Christ came to die only once (1 Peter 3:18; Hebrews 9:28), He didn’t travel to every planet to be crucified and resurrected over and over again. Thus the dilemma.

I’m a science fiction fan, but I wish more writers – especially Christian writers – would construct their stories within the principles of the word of God.

Keep reading!
“When you come, bring … the books, and above all the parchments” – 2 Timothy 4:13.

A Tribute to Mr. Knightly

Mockingbird

Some of my favorite times with Dad were when he would tell us bedtime stories when we were younger. The stories took the disappointment out of having to go to bed, I think! We’d get in our pajamas, brush our teeth, then we’d get into bed, and he’d tell a story using the Winnie the Pooh characters, weaving events of our day into his tale. For example, if we had gone to the park that day, he’d say, “Once upon a time, Christopher Robin and Pooh went to their favorite park, and Pooh made a friend there . . .” We’d sit transfixed during the entire story, and when it was over, we'd beg for another. After a couple of narratives, Dad would sing a hymn, pray with us, and turn off the lights. I love the fact that he always closed our days with hymns and thoughts of Jesus.

As we got older, the stories became more advanced, and we began family read-alouds with titles such as Treasure Island, the Lord of the Rings Trilogy, Pride and Prejudice, and Kidnapped.

Now that I’m a young adult, there aren’t as many stories as there are heart-to-heart talks --talks about spiritual things, personal issues, and the events of the day.

Thank you, Dad, for the time that you spent playing dolls and telling us Pooh Bear stories when we were very young, for the read-alouds and just one more chapter, even when your voice was about to give out. Thank you for talking to me late at night, even when you’re too tired to think and need to go to bed.

Thank you for being the father that you are, the father that I love.


Happy Father's Day, Dad. I love you!

Is It Friday Yet?!

The Correspondent


It has been one of those weeks where I wake up every morning, asking, “Is it Friday yet?!” And then when Friday finally gets here, it doesn’t make much difference.

Still, there’s a lot to be thankful for. My motto has ever been, “It can always be worse.” And in Scripture, we’re told to give continual thanks (Eph. 5:20, Phil. 4:6, Col. 3:17, 1 Thess. 5:18, to name a few).

So. Some of this week’s blessings were:

1. A New Vacuum – Our previous vacuum underwent several rounds of surgery over the years before heading to that big dustbin in the sky. It lived a good, productive life, and I wasn’t sorry to see it go, especially since it took to shocking me in its final hours. Now we have a fresh, shiny machine with clean filters and that new vacuum cleaner smell. I am grateful.

2. Mr. Knightley’s New Toy – In an attempt to make it possible for Mr. K to get some law work done from our office at home (rather than spending so much time in The Big City), we invested in a brand new laptop for him -- with wireless Internet, of course. We’re all very excited for him and for the possibility of having him here more often.

EJ and MB inherited our older laptops (no ‘Net access), and we named all the machines because we’re odd that way. EJ uses Mr. K’s laptop from his previous job, and she calls it “Rudolph” (the built-in mouse is a red dot in the center of the keyboard, if you can imagine). MB now has my old laptop, and because it is the oldest machine in the house, she dubbed it “Elijah”. My family has called my laptop “Baby Dell” since I adopted him two Christmases ago. They seem to think I love him more than I should. Silly family. Our all-purpose desktop is called “Darth Sidious” for obvious reasons.

So now it was up to Mr. K to christen his new addition, and he immediately chose the name “Luther” (as in Martin Luther). It’s very fitting, I think. I’ve often called Mr. K himself my own Martin Luther because of his application of Biblical truth.

So now the adult members of the family are all outfitted with aptly named 21st century mechanisms.

3. New Food – I tried a couple of new recipes this week that everyone seemed to like. One was a super quick and super easy quiche from my E-mealz.com subscription, and the other was a homemade recipe from my friend who is a gourmet chef, Lydia Cate. At least, I call her a gourmet chef.

4. A Perfect Record No More – In all my years of borrowing from the library, I’ve never ever lost an item. Until now. I checked out an American History book to read to the middle two children, and now it’s missing. It must be in the house somewhere, but where? I penitently confessed to the librarian this week, and she simply renewed the item for me (even though I’ve already had it for nine weeks), giving me a grace period of three more weeks to find the missing book. That was a blessing because it’ll take at least that long to turn this house upside in search of it.

5. Life Could Be a Dream – The main road in our village desperately needed repairing, and we could always sing along with the repetitive “Ka-DUNK Ka-DUNK Ka-DUNK Ka-DUNK” that our van made as we drove along it. Recently, the main road received a face lift, and it’s so smooth and quiet now. I find myself humming Life Could Be a Dream whenever I’m traveling on it (for those of you who are familiar with the movie Cars).

6. Rejoice in the Lord – As the spiritual leader of the family, Mr. Knightley is faithful to teach us from the Scriptures at night after dinner, and he recently began a new study in Philippians. The first couple of nights, we read from Acts 16:11-40 (the founding of the church at Philippi) and Acts 28:11-31 (Paul's circumstances when he wrote the letter to the Philippians) for some background. Then we began the first two verses of Philippians and talked about what we already knew about Paul and Timothy based on the Scriptures. For the benefit of the middle two, Mr. K briefly discussed how to use a concordance to find information in the Bible. He also talked about how New Testament writers identified themselves at the beginning of the letters as opposed to how we sign our letters at the end these days. We’re all eager to study this book of the Bible under Mr. K’s tutelage.

7. Dinner Date with Mr. Knightley – Pure bliss.

Jubilation

The Correspondent

It has been another busy week. But aren’t they all? I had hoped to get more entries posted this week, but I can’t imagine what possessed me to think that might happen.

We’re celebrating Father’s Day today because I can’t read a calendar. I even had Mr. Knightley’s Dad’s Day gift shipped via two-day express (at three times the regular shipping rate) because I erroneously thought the holiday was June 14 instead of June 21. Mr. Knightley suggested we go ahead and celebrate this weekend since everything is already in place – the gift, the special Thanksgiving-food meal, and eager children. He’s such a trooper.

I found a number of blessings throughout the week – which isn’t really hard to do if one simply turns one’s attention to the effort – and they’re even organized in categories this time. Bonus!


In the Situations Resolved category, we have:

1. Attorney’s Best Friend – Mr. Knightley thought he’d left his PDA charger in the hotel room during his out-of-town law trip this week, but he later found it in his car.

2. Significant Math – The van had been acting funny recently, and our self-diagnosis of the problem was that it was a computer issue which would cost thousands of dollars. As it turned out, it was a very simple matter costing only $143. We also had the air conditioner line cleaned out so the passenger-side flooding will cease.

3. Speaking of Air Conditioners and Flooding – Our beloved Cary began leaking water onto the attic floor which in turn dripped through the light fixture and onto the vehicles and all over the garage. It took the A/C guy three separate visits to finally fix it. Cary is now working better than ever, and it’s no longer raining in the garage.

4. Unclean No More! – I’ve completely recovered from the shingles I mentioned in an earlier post. A couple of the kids might have caught the chickenpox from me, but they had extremely mild cases.


In the Children Are a Gift from the Lord (Ps. 127:3) category, we have:

1. New Sport – Our newest summer hobby is water guns! You have no idea how fun they are until you try them.

2. New ‘Do – Christiana, who gets pitifully low press on this blog, got a shorter, cooler haircut that she absolutely loves. I think the hair stylist took off about eight inches.


3. Little Bro – I enjoyed watching two-year-old Honorable Judge toddle outside behind his six-year-old brother, saying everything Rocko said and trying to do everything Rocko did. It was a visual image of Proverbs 18:24 -- "… there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother."

4. Big Bro – I likewise enjoyed watching Rocko interacting with The Honorable Judge. Rocko would carefully lift THJ into a swing and give him gentle pushes. Rocko plays very well with his toddler brother, and it brought to mind Psalm 133:1 – "Behold, how good and pleasant it is when brothers dwell in unity."

5. Summertime and the Livin’ is Easy – But not around here. We began our Summer School Schedule this week, and as usual, there were blessings, and there were challenges (which will eventually turn into blessings, I’m sure, once we get the kinks worked out).

In the Bear One Another’s Burdens (Galatians 6:2) category, we have:

1. My friend Lydia Cate – She drove all the way across town (30+ minutes) to bring me a package and to take me to the Car Fixing Place to pick up my repaired vehicle. Her phone call and offer were divinely timed.

2. E-mealz.com – I learned of this economical service from a new friend last month. A three-month subscription costs $15.00, and each week you receive access to seven days of dinner menus, complete with recipes and a shopping list.

3. My Hero – Since this was the first week of our new summer school schedule, and since we faced a number of challenges, and since I became somewhat distraught by the time Friday rolled around, Mr. Knightley stepped in and rescued me during his mid-day phone call. He took several errands off my plate, made suggestions for scheduling changes, and filled my heart with gladness, took away all my sadness, and eased my troubles, that’s what he did. Mr. K, have I told you lately that I love you?

And finally, in the Quotables category, we have:

1. Tough Guy – For history, my high schoolers are using A History of the English-Speaking Peoples by Winston Churchill. This week they learned that 800+ years ago when Richard the Lionhearted was in France whoopin’ up on King Phillip, he [Richard] built his own Minas Tirith (which he called Chateau Gaillard). Churchill records this exchange between Phillip and Richard regarding Chateau Gaillard, which I found hilarious:

“If its walls were iron,” said Phillip in his wrath, “I would take it.”
“If they were butter,” retorted Richard, “I would hold it.”

2. Different Perspective – On the back windshield of a very dirty van that I saw this week was a different sort of motto. Where you ordinarily see the plea, “Wash me!” etched in the grime, someone had instead penned this message:

Dirt don’t hurt!

3. How’s That? – When I popped into the post office to mail a package, one of the regular postal clerks asked me, “So, how’s your tribe?” My tribe? The other clerk said, "Yeah, you guys should have your own t.v. show."

I’m continually amused at people’s amazement that we have five children, especially since we have many friends with six, eight, nine, ten, and thirteen!

Have a great weekend everyone! And Happy Father’s Day. :-)

The one good thing about not seeing you is that I can write you letters. ~ Svetlana Alliluyeva

The Correspondent

I love personal letters – writing them and receiving them. I’ve corresponded with many folks over the years, but no one writes as often as they used to anymore, including me. As much as I enjoy the activity, lack of time is my copious adversary.

However, I enjoy reading other people’s correspondence in the form of books. Some of my favorite titles are 84, Charing Cross Road, Daddy Long Legs (with major thematic caveats), and the picture book I’d like to share with you today:

Dear Peter Rabbit by Alma Flor Ada, illustrated by Leslie Tryon.

This delightful children’s book is a clever compilation of letters between Peter Rabbit and The Three Little Pigs, Goldilocks (who turns out to be Farmer McGregor’s daughter) and Baby Bear (whose items Goldilocks always preferred), and a few other familiar storybook characters.

The book begins with a letter from Pig One, inviting Peter Rabbit to his housewarming party now that he is comfortably settled in his home of hay. Goldilocks and Baby Bear are also making plans to get together.

As the book progresses, each letter recounts the events of the fairy tales, adding some creative background and expounding on the details. For example, Peter Rabbit must write Pig One, apologizing for missing the housewarming party because of his close call in Farmer McGregor’s garden and subsequent illness. As it turns out, Pig One writes that there wasn’t a housewarming party after all because The Big Bad Wolf blew his home of hay down, and he had to take refuge with Pig Two in his abode of sticks.

I love the way the author weaves her invented back story into the letters and how the various storybook characters are friends. Ms. Ada also wrote two other books in this style -- With Love, Little Red Hen and Yours Truly, Goldilocks. These are some of my favorite picture books.

Thursday's Thanks

Dear Readers,

I’m posting my Fave Fives early this week and with a specific theme in mind. Let me give you a bit of background first.

At some point over the weekend, I noticed a terrible stinging and itching sensation to the right of my lower back. Upon investigation, I discovered a cluster of suspicious-looking red bumps. I can’t see that area of my body very well, so I had Mr. K take a look. I thought they might be spider bites; he was uncertain.

I lived with the stinging and itching (and burning and pain) for a couple of days, and then I finally went to the doctor yesterday, hoping it wasn’t something scary like spider bites, but also hoping it wasn’t something silly like an isolated outbreak of acne.

The diagnosis was something I never expected: shingles. To say shingles are painful is like saying the sun runs a little hot. This might explain why I was restless Tuesday night and saw the clock hit 3:30. And 4:30. And 5:30. And 6:30. And finally 7:30.

My particular eruptions are on the top part of my back right hip. You know the area. It’s where your waistband typically rests and where your purse persistently thumps as it hangs from your shoulder.

I found out that shingles are a viral infection of the nerve roots that occur when the dormant chickenpox virus reawakens in your body for various reasons. I also found out that I can actually give my family the chickenpox until my rash clears up, and this is worrisome to me because Mr. Knightley has never had the chickenpox.

The doctor cautioned me to stay away from pregnant women, babies, and people with the HIV virus. I should also try not to: (1) touch anyone or anything, (2) shed dead skin cells, or (3) exhale. I asked for a prescription to check into a hotel for the next five to seven days, but the doc simply said, “The couch will do.”

So here’s why I’m thankful:

1. I actually went to the doctor to have the rash looked at. I almost didn’t go because the last thing I wanted to do was to pay a medical professional to tell me that I have a bad case of runaway blemishes.
2. I was able to breeze in and out of the doctor’s office in less than an hour.
3. The doctor prescribed an anti-viral medication to hopefully shorten the duration of the illness.
4. Mr K and the kids are extremely compassionate and helpful during my difficulties.
5. I have Darvocet.

I would appreciate your prayers for my family’s health. The situation could certainly be worse, but I would still appreciate your prayers.

Abounding in thanksgiving (Col. 2:7),
Lisa the Correspondent

A Sunday Sampling

The Correspondent

Whew! What a week. There was a lot to be thankful for.

1. Memorial Day -- We enjoyed the holiday by sleeping late, getting in some driving practice, doing a little shopping, eating barbeque, and playing a family game of Word Sweep (Christiana and I won – WOO HOO!). Mr. Knightley also did some work on his sermons for next month, and Rocko and I played Go Fish and War. It was a good day.

2. The Relatives Came – My dad and mom were in town last week. Some of the festivities included lunching at a favorite tea-room-type restaurant, fishing at the neighborhood lake, sharing family stories and reminisces around the dinner table, and looking through some old family photos from the 1920s, ‘40s, ‘50s, and ‘60s.

3. My Nightstand Conquests – I don’t have nearly the toppling tower of titles on my nightstand that I used to, but this week I did complete Daughter of Time by Josephine Tey. This is an interesting and engaging mystery about a modern-day Scotland Yard inspector who is laid up in hospital recovering from on-the-job injuries as he sets out to prove that Richard III did not, in fact, have his two nephews murdered before his death in 1485 as all the history schoolbooks report. I enjoyed the writing as well as the detective work that relied on primary resources, but I recommend brushing up on the Plantagenet/Tudor portion of English history before reading it.

Now I’ve begun yet another Stephen Lawhead reread.

4. Ordering my Ducks – I made tremendous headway on our summer school plans. We’re year-round home educators who apply the three-weeks-on/one-week-off method, so we continue our academic work through the summer. I also worked on the high schoolers’ transcripts (a long overdue project) and began organizing my thoughts for the fall/winter semester coming up. Home education is not for the faint of heart.

5. Ordering the Books – I placed orders for various and sundry schoolbooks, literature, and new curricula we’ll need for the summer and fall/winter sessions. I love to order schoolbooks, literature, and new curricula. It makes me happy for some reason.

6. Summer Sewing – Speaking of summer education, I registered my oldest two for the sewing classes they’ve been asking for. Although Elinor Jane and Mockingbird have been hand sewing their own elastic waist skirts for years, they now want to pick out patterns, expand their repertoire, and use the sewing machine, so we’re outsourcing. An added boon is that the sewing teacher comes to our house to give the classes.

7. Take the Afternoon Off – The kids and I saw the new Pixar flick Up at the matinee this week. It was a bit different from what I expected, but we all enjoyed it. The Honorable Judge had to lay his head on my shoulder for a few loud and adventurous scenes, but otherwise he did great.

It was fun sharing the theater with so many children. Young children are extremely literal and candid and forthright. During one sad, quiet scene in the movie when you could’ve heard a pin drop, either one tender viewer was asked by another viewer what had just happened on the screen or she simply felt the need to narrate because in the semi-dark stillness, a small voice suddenly emphasized quite emphatically, “She died.”

8. Graduation – The Honorable Judge made the transition from crib to Big Boy Bed (i.e., the crib converted to a toddler bed). Another new era has begun.

9. A Godsend – I received a very timely note in the mail that did more to encourage and inspire me than I can communicate. I’m looking forward to the long-term effects that I hope this note will bring.

10. A True Sabbath Rest – The Honorable Judge has had a fever for a couple of days, several of us are feeling exhausted, etc., etc., etc., so we stayed home and rested today. Truly rested. Amen.


Be thankful. "The one who offers thanksgiving as his sacrifice glorifies me" -- Psalm 50:23a (ESV).