Completely & Officially Tied & Knotted

My dearest sister has married her best friend, my new brother. I don't have any pictures yet (we are anxiously awaiting!), but as their own personal paparazzi for the last several years...here's a few of them for you to enjoy from my archives.

Lilies That Fester

I read some of Shakespeare's Sonnets last night, and I happened upon the following:

XCIV

They that have power to hurt and will do none,
That do not do the thing they most do show,
Who, moving others, are themselves as stone,
Unmoved, cold, and to temptation slow,
They rightly do inherit heaven's graces
And husband nature's riches from expense;
They are the lords and owners of their faces,
Others but stewards of their excellence.
The summer's flower is to the summer sweet,
Though to itself it only live and die,
But if that flower with base infection meet,
The basest weed outbraves his dignity:
For sweetest things turn sourest by their deeds;
Lilies that fester smell far worse than weeds.

–William Shakespeare

I was especially moved by those last two lines. What an apt description of the importance of our conversation - our behavior, our conduct, our speech. These things require daily tending. And we must always be aware of the temptations lurking at our door.

It's a new day, it's a new dawn

I started reading My Utmost for His Highest by Oswald Chambers on Jan. 1st of this year. Each day has a short, one-page devotional with an excerpt from scripture included. A friend gave me this book several years ago, and I have read several passages from it, but I have never read it all the way through, each day for a whole year. I hope to shares passages as they inspire me, encourage me, convict me...as they teach me. The very first one of these was on Jan. 4th:

"When God brings the blank space, see that you do not fill it in, but wait. The blank space may come in order to teach you..."

This devotion spoke specifically to waiting on God. Do not try to rush God or act before He would have you to act. If you are uncertain, wait. God may be trying to teach you something. Mr. Chambers gave the example of Peter in the Bible. Peter said he was ready to give his life for Christ, and Christ told him he would deny him three times that night - because God knew Peter better than Peter knew himself. Peter needed to be converted first.

I have been thinking over these words, and particulary the phrase "blank space", for several days now. (I guess 14 days to be exact!) When it seems like you have been sitting on the bench game after game (can I use a sports analogy as a female?), it's reassuring to read that God knows exactly where you are and who you are, and try to learn in the blank space.

I'm happy! Are you happy?

Happiest States Revealed by New Research



Is it any surprise that 6 of the top 10 happiest states are in the South?? Have you ever met anyone living in the South that said, "Gee, I really wish I lived somewhere else. " I don't think so.

We have the best of the best. Four seasons. Grits. Fried food, and just good home cookin' in general. Trees of all shapes and sizes. Hospitality. And thousands of other things.

I'm so thankful to live in my happy state.

With a Grateful Heart

Thanks to all my Heroes. Thanks to those who have given me my freedom and who keep me free. Thanks for your service and selfless devotion. Thanks for all the many things words can't express.

You are not forgotten.

Poetry Ceilidh via The Beehive!

Eletelephony

By: Laura Richards

Once there was an elephant,
Who tried to use the telephant-
No! No! I mean an elephone
Who tried to use the telephone-

(Dear me! I am not certain quite
That even now I've got it right.)
Howe'er it was, he got his trunk
Entangled in the telephunk;

The more he tried to get it free,
The louder buzzed the telephee-
(I fear I'd better drop the song
Of elephop and telephong!)


Thanks to the Beehive for suggesting this poetic week! This is one of my favorite poems from childhood. I am so very thankful to my first grade teacher, Mrs. Peccorino, for introducing me to it, and making us copy a poem each morning. Your class stands out among all the rest for your devotion to creative writing.

Daylight Savings

Twas a quarter 'til five when I looked out the window,
And there I was met with a great reminder.
Our summer has ended, long days are gone.
Winter is upon us - shorter, colder, and dimmer.