I'm at Bible College

More later! (I hope :o)

At Last!

The quilt is finally done! Basically, I did all the piecing and Mother did all the quilting. (just because she really likes to quilt). Here we are with it -

We're Back!

We returned last week from a full and interesting two-week trip/vacation. With college less than three weeks away now, life is busy. I sometimes wonder if I should still take the time to blog. But if my few readers have as little time to read blogs as I have, then they won't mind bi-weekly posts! :o)

A few pictures from the trip...

beautiful Michigan

Tahquamenon Falls

Lake Superior - sparkling and cold...

...but not too cold for the boys to take a swim.





By Clark Lake - a place that seemed like the hollow of God's hand

"Thou art, O God, the Life and Light

Of all this wondrous world we see;

Its glow by day, its smile by night,

Are but reflections caught from Thee;

Where’er we turn, Thy glories shine,

And all things fair and bright are Thine."

- Thomas Moore

A Good Way to Use Less than Modest Clothing

I almost threw this shirt away but found a better use for it in cutting out a square to cover a jar and create a cute vase!

For Father's Day

My Daddy is a thinking man
and likes to contemplate
And tries to do the best he can
to keep things neat and straight.

My Daddy is a witty guy
and likes to make things fun
If there's a twinkle in his eye
Be ready for a pun.

My Daddy is a man who prays
A child before God's throne
And seeks to know his Father's ways,
While caring for his own.

My Daddy does a lot of things
He walks, he talks, he plays
He preaches, washes dishes, sings
But best of all he prays.

And so today on Father's Day
Amidst the busyness
I want to stop and, thankful, say
Father, thanks for this.

"Strength of my heart, I need not fail

Not mine to fear, but to obey;

With such a Leader, who could quail?

Thou art as Thou wert yesterday.

Strength of my heart, I rest in Thee,

Fulfill Thy purposes through me!"

-Amy Carmichael

Reading "War of Words"

I'm currently reading the excellent book War of Words - Getting to the Heart of Your Communication Struggles, by Paul David Tripp. I keep on being amazed at the things I'm learning about the words I say. Here are some excerpts that I wrote in my notebook.

"often our words reveal an attempt to control things for our own good. We are moved by a personal sense of what we want or what we think would be good, and so we speak in a way that guarantees we will get it. We defend, accuse, inflict guilt, manipulate, rationalize, argue, cajole, beg, plead, or threaten all for the purpose of controlling a person or situation. Sometimes we do this out of fear. It really does feel as if our lives are spinning out of control. It does seem as if the people around us are standing in the way of what is best. It seems right to take control. If we don't, then what will happen? But fear-driven talk forgets one of the post precious promises of the gospel: that Christ right now, at this moment, is ruling all things for our particular benefit as his children.
...our words often reveal that we are not so much trusting in the Lord as trying to be
Him."

"Our words are one of the ways we seek to gain, maintain and keep what is realliy important to us, what we really want and what we are living for."

wow.

"Only when I submit to the rule of God, who has a perfect plan and is in complete control, will I begin to live and speak as he has purposed."

I hope others find these things encouraging and inspiring. May the words of our mouth and the meditations of our heart be pleasing in God's sight.