It is difficult to define Hiraeth, but to me it means the consciousness of man being out of his home area and that which is dear to him. That is why it can be felt even among a host of peoples amidst nature's beauty. D. Martyn Lloyd-Jones
. . like a Christian yearning for Heaven. . .
Saturday, August 21, 2010 at 12:10PM We are like dwarfs sitting on the shoulders of giants. We see more, and things that are more distant, than they did, not because our sight is superior or because we are taller than they, but because they raise us up, and by their great stature add to ours. - John of Salisbury, 1159.
Thursday, August 19, 2010 at 02:47PM Today I am thankful that my husband will be home again soon. He's had to travel more frequently with his job recently and I just never get used to it.
I'm joining my friend, Kim from the Upward Call, and others in giving thanks to God on Thursdays in 2010. Won't you join us?
Sunday, August 15, 2010 at 06:52AM Here's a great article from R. C. Sproul for this Sunday morning: Renewing the Mind
Coram Deo: Renew your mind today by immersing it in God’s Word.
2 Thessalonians 2:1–2: “We ask you … not to be soon shaken in mind or troubled.”
1 Corinthians 2:16: “For ‘Who has known the mind of the Lord that he may instruct Him?’ But we have the mind of Christ.”
2 Corinthians 10:4–5: “For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal but mighty in God for pulling down strongholds, casting down arguments and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ.”
Sunday, August 15, 2010 at 06:49AM MIGHTY GOD, WHILE ANGELS BLESS THEE
Mighty God, while angels bless thee,
May a mortal sing thy name?
Lord of men as well as angels,
Thou art every creature's theme.
Alleluia! Alleluia! Alleluia! Amen.
Lord of every land and nation,
Ancient of eternal days,
Sounded through the wide creation
Be thy just and lawful praise.
For the grandeur of thy nature,
Grand beyond the seraph's thought;
For created works of power,
Works with skill and kindness wrought.
But thy rich, thy free redemption,
Dark through brightness all along,
Thought is poor, and poor expression,
Who dare sing that awful song?
Brightness of the Father's glory,
Shall thy praise unuttered lie?
Fly, my tongue, such guilty silence,
Sing the Lord who came to die:
From the highest throne in glory,
To the cross of deepest woe,
All to ransom guilty captives,
Flow my praise, for ever flow.
Saturday, August 14, 2010 at 07:17AM There is much to be learned through a serious study of the history of the world and the history of the Christian faith, and how other generations and other societies have understood the Word of God and its application to their life situation. By doing that, we’ll readily see elements of scriptural instruction that the church of all ages has understood not to be limited to the immediate hearers of the biblical message but to have principle application down through the ages. RC Sproul, The Applicability of God's Word.
Nearly all the quotations I post every week come from my reading in the previous week. Sometimes what I'm reading reminds me of something else I've read and I'll go find that quote. Today's quote is a bit of a departure; I just read this article by RC Sproul this morning and thought it was a good one to share. I have a strong desire to study church history (thanks, Kim!) and American History. Doesn't the world seem crazy right now? I think a study of God's Word, Church History, American History, and World History is just the ticket right now. I'm thinking of a way to incorporate all four of those topics in my reading starting this fall.
Any ideas on how to structure that? Anyone want to join me?
Thursday, August 12, 2010 at 04:56PM 
This picture cracked me up. Buster peeking out of the box. Fresh, local produce, indeed!
Thursday, August 12, 2010 at 03:50PM What a week this had been so far! Is it Thursday already?
I have so much for which to be thankful!
Tom returned home safely from a business trip last night. Nothing feels quite right when he's not here.
After about 4 hours on the phone and on hold today, I think I have Jake's insurance problems sorted out. Whew!
I had a major spill in my studio yesterday, but I was able to get most of it out of the carpet.
I'm thankful that the seating chart I hoped to complete tomorrow doesn't really NEED to be done until late next week. I've lost a lot of time between phone calls and cleaning carpet.
I'm thankful that I have the whole day ahead of me tomorrow to work on said seating chart. At least I hope to! (I thought the same thing on Wednesday and today. . .)
I know I've said this many times, but I'm glad that Evie is still here with us. It's hard for her--and for us, this getting old and deaf and blind. She gets all trembly now when she gets confused. It's sad to see. But she's happy when she's aware we're near her and still very loving.
I'm thankful for a cool house to come home after runnning errands in this dreadful heat and a willing son to help me bring in the groceries.
I am thankful.
I'm joining my friend, Kim from the Upward Call, and others in giving thanks to God on Thursdays in 2010. Won't you join us?
Two of my blogging friends joined us this week, Da'i G Bear at Hiraeth in the Hurt Locker, and my good blogging friend I know as Lucky Dog.
Thursday, August 12, 2010 at 10:48AM This is a remarkable series of letters, definitely not to be missed.
Made me feel all warm and fuzzy inside.
Sunday, August 8, 2010 at 09:09PM For years and years I've loved Olive Garden's stuffed mushrooms. We've lived in Ohio, Kentucky, Pennsylvania, and Illinois and no matter what state we've been in or which Olive Garden we've eaten in, the stuffed mushrooms are just, well, yummy. I've been trying to figure out what makes them so much better than any other stuffed mushroom--every time I eat them I try to identify what makes them so special. Yeah, that's me; a food detective. Olive Garden uses clams, but clams can be tough and chewy. I decided to use crab meat in place of the clams.
Tonight I decided to put all my tasting and cooking skills to the test to see if I could come up with a stuffed mushroom that rivals Olive Gardens--and I honestly think I have!
Here's my version of Crab Stuffed Mushrooms
Ingredients:
6 tablespoons butter, melted
16 oz. of large, fresh button mushrooms
2 tablespoons finely minced sweet onions
2 tablespoons finely minced red pepper
1 teaspoon lemon juice
1 cup crabmeat (I used claw meat)
1/2 cup fresh, soft bread crumbs and more for topping
1 egg, beaten
1 teaspoon minced parsley
1/4 cup shredded provalone
Preheat oven to 400 degrees.
Remove stems from mushrooms and finely chop. Remove the 'gills' from the inside of the mushroom caps with a spoon and set caps aside.
Gently mix together all ingredients except butter and mushroom caps. Toss ever so carefully so the crab stays as intact as possible.
Fill the caps and then over-stuff mushrooms. Do not compress the filling! Place on foil covered pan (don't crowd) and drizzle with melted butter. Top with fresh bread crumbs
Bake for 15-20 minutes until brown and bubbly.
Crab Stuffed Mushrooms in Recipes Sunday, August 8, 2010 at 06:58AM Saturday, August 7, 2010 at 06:00AM One of the coolest and wisest hours a man has, is just after he awakes in the morning.
Herman Melville, Bartleby the Scrivener
A good reason to pray before getting out of bed, eh?
Friday, August 6, 2010 at 06:51AM yeuk\ YOOK \ , noun;
1.An itching sensation.
verb:
1.To itch.
Here's another one for the 'I've never come across THAT word before' list. Appropriate for this time of year, though, at least in the Northwest Suburbs of Chicago. The mosquitos are out in droves--aggressive and persistent. I'm itching from several I received yesterday while talking to Dorothy in her driveway.
This morning I'm going to be working in the yard so I better spray myself or I"ll be yeuking some new bites!
Thursday, August 5, 2010 at 04:23PM I'm thankful for our generation's Paul Revere, Glenn Beck.
I'm joining my friend, Kim from the Upward Call, and others in giving thanks to God on Thursdays in 2010. Won't you join us?
Sunday, August 1, 2010 at 10:04PM Disliking the direction in which our nation is heading.
Knowing that God is sovereign.
Sitting on the couch for a change.
Watching Glenn Beck, Thursday's episode. (GB: America are you going to bury your head in the sand or draw a line in the sand?)
Fielding questions in our family discussion about who is going to win the Next Food Network Star. Tom? Aarti? Tom? (OK, that was stretch, but I had to think of something.)
Digesting classic macaroni salad.
Drinking a glass of Clos De Bois Savingnon Blanc.
Reading Les Mis, Bartelby the Scrivener.
Thinking eagerly about tomorrow's study in Hebrews 11:13-16
Celebrating 'A believer at death is freed from sin; he is not taken away in, but from his sins; he shall never have a vain, proud thought more; he shall never grieve the Spirit of God any more. . .'
Thanking God for Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God.
Lisa from A Complete Thought kicked it off this month. . .
Sunday, August 1, 2010 at 04:11PM A believer at death is freed from sin; he is not taken away in, but from his sins; he shall never have a vain, proud thought more; he shall never grieve the Spirit of God any more. . .Death smites a believer as the angel did Peter, and made his chains fall off. . .Believers at death are made perfect in holiness. . . Oh! What a blessed priviledge is this, to be without spot or wrinkle; to be purer than the sunbeams; to be as free from sin as the angels! This makes a believer desirous to have his passport and to be gone; he would fain live in that pure air where no black vapours of sin arise.
Thomas Watson, A Body of Divinity, quoted in Hebrews by Richard D. Phillips. (Chapter 42 Hebrews 11:13-16)
Sunday, August 1, 2010 at 06:51AM FATHER OF HEAV'N
Father of heav'n, whose love profound
A ransom for our souls hath found,
Before thy throne we sinners bend;
To us thy pardoning love extend.
Almighty Son, incarnate Word,
Our Prophet, Priest, Redeemer, Lord,
Before thy throne we sinners bend;
To us thy saving grace extend.
Eternal Spirit, by whose breath
The soul is raised from sin and death,
Before thy throne we sinners bend;
To us thy quickening power extend.
Jehovah! Father, Spirit, Son,
Mysterious Godhead, Three in One,
Before thy throne we sinners bend;
Grace, pardon, life, to us extend.
Trinity Hymnal #88
Thursday, July 29, 2010 at 07:30PM I'm thankful to have a whole day tomorrow to clean my house and do my laundry.
I'm thankful that the grocery shopping is done.
I'm thankful that there are leftovers for lunch tomorrow so I don't have to dream up something.
I'm thankful I've got a pot pie in the freezer for dinner tomorrow night so I don't have to cook.
I'm thankful that the house will be clean for the weekend.
I'm thankful for the job I just finished and mailed off today.
I'm thankful for the job that starts next week.
I'm thankful for several good night's sleep in a row this week.
I'm thankful.
I'm joining my friend, Kim from the Upward Call, and others in giving thanks to God on Thursdays in 2010. Won't you join us?
Sunday, July 25, 2010 at 07:59AM People need to be reminded more often than they need to be instructed. Samuel Johnson