Turning the Last Page

"You know you've read a good book when you turn the last page and feel a little as if you have lost a friend."

 Paul Sweeney

The first book that comes to mind for me is The Return of the King.  I was in late elementary school or early Junior High when I read the Lord of the Rings for the first time.  When Sam Gamgee sat in his chair and drew little Elanor onto his lap I felt bereft of, well, something.  I didn't really know what, but I knew I didn't want to leave that world.  Turns out I really didn't need to and I never really have.

What book have you read that made you feel this way?

A Christian's Hope

It's pouring rain this morning; the perfect background to my thoughts.

For several weeks, I, along with my church and many others, have been praying for a 12 year old girl I've never met.  She bravely battled a tenacious, stubborn brain tumor and this morning around 4 am she went to be with her Lord.

As I sit here with that knowledge, so new, my heart is a jumble of sadness and joy, peace and turmoil, resignation and hope.  I am grieving--not as a stranger who never knew this child-- but as a Christian; not as others do who have no hope, but with the peace that passes all understanding.

At times like this, one question always comes to my mind; how in this world do people live their lives without Christ?  Where would the answers be?  Where the comfort?  Where the strength?  Where the courage?

It is only to be found in Christ who is seated at the right Hand of the Father, interceding for His people.  What an amazing truth to contemplate!

Now this family's long journey of pain and suffering and loss has ended and yet it has just begun.  Christ is interceding for them.  His people will continue to pray.

Her name is Hope. 

May the Lord Jesus Christ Himself, and God our Father, who loved us and gave us eternal comfort and good hope through grace, comfort their hearts and establish them in every good work and word.

Sunday Hymn: Lord, Like the Publican I Stand

LORD, LIKE THE PUBLICAN I STAND

Lord, like the publican I stand,
And lift my heart to thee;
Thy pard'ning grace, O God, command,
Be merciful to me.

I smite upon my anxious breast,
O'erwhelmed with agony;
O save my soul by sin oppressed,
Be merciful to me.

My guilt, my shame, I all confess:
I have no hope nor plea
But Jesus' blood and righteousness:
Be merciful to me.

Here at thy cross I still would wait,
Nor from its shelter flee,
Till thou, O God, in mercy great,
Art merciful to me.

Trinity Hymnal #407

Quote of the Week: Adams

Our contest is not only whether we ourselves shall be free, but whether there shall be left to mankind an asylum on earth for civil and religious liberty.

Samuel Adams 

There's a first time for everything

Tom, Sam, and I played Scrabble.  For the first time ever, we were all able to play down to our last tile.  Every single tile on the board. 

So far, there still isn't a second time for everything.  I've still only been beaten once at Scrabble.  Having said that, we're going to play another game.  I may have to update this post if I lose.

Sunday Hymn: Oh, Lord, How Shall I Meet Thee

OH LORD, HOW SHALL I MEET THEE

O Lord, how shall I meet thee,
How welcome thee aright?
Thy people long to greet thee,
My hope, my heart's delight!
O, kindle, Lord, most holy,
Thy lamp within my breast
To do in spirit lowly
All that may please thee best.

Love caused thine incarnation,
Love brought thee down to me;
Thy thirst for my salvation
Procured my liberty.
O love beyond all telling,
That led thee to embrace,
In love all love excelling,
Our lost and fallen race!

Rejoice, then, ye sad-hearted,
Who sit in deepest gloom,
Who mourn o'er joys departed
And tremble at your doom.
Despair not, he is near you,
Yea, standing at the door,
Who best can help and cheer you
And bids you weep no more.

Sin's debt, that fearful burden,
Let not your soul distress;
Your guilt the Lord will pardon
And cover by his grace.
He comes, for men procuring
The peace of sin forgiv'n,
For all God's sons securing
Their heritage in heav'n.

Trinity Hymnal #119

Quote of the Week: Barrie

Always be a little kinder than necessary.

James M. Barrie

Recipe: Lemon Rosemary Chicken Hash

Tuesday I made a recipe from my friend, Shanna's, blog--Food Loves Writing:  Roasted Lemon Chicken with Potatoes and Carrots.  It was GORGEOUS!  The chicken skin was browned and crispy, the meat was moist and tender, the potatoes (white, red, and sweet) were beautifully caramelized.

Did you notice I never said it was delicious?  Sadly, I couldn't smell or taste a thing on Tuesday because of my dreadful cold.  But Tom and the boys COULD taste it and they thought it was great and said that they wouldn't mind having it again as soon as I am able to taste again.

There was quite a bit of chicken left once I picked the bones and a few potatoes, too.  I had Tom taste the pan drippings and he thought they were really, really good, so I put the potatoes in one refrigerator container and the chicken and drippings in another, along with the juice from the platter.

Today I made a really yummy hash from the leftovers.  If you've ever made a hash before, you know it's pretty standard--leftover meat, leftover potaotes, (veggies if you have 'em) and broth.  Brown the potatoes in a non-stick pan, add the meat and broth, salt and pepper to taste, sprinkle with flour to coat and then cook until the liquid reduces, then slip a little butter under the hash and brown.  Simple.

I put a little more effort into this one and it was worth it.

I started my sauteeing some thinly sliced and chopped onion and celery.  Then I added the potatoes and followed the usual routine.  Before I started the browning process, I added some finely minced, fresh rosemary and lemon zest--about a tablespoon of each.  It was so good; lemony and herby, richly caramelized, savory YUM!

If I were you, I'd make Shanna's Roast Chicken tomorrow and my hash on Sunday.  Really. 

Next time I make this (yes, there will be a next time!) I think I'll increase the rosemary, either that or not mince it so fine. 

Ivy

Thankful Thursday 2010

After being sick for a week, I am so thankful that, since Monday, each day I'm getting better. I was well enough to thoroughly clean the house this morning and then spend a few hours this afternoon over at my friend, Dorothy's house for a cup of tea and conversation.  It was good to get out of the house and even better to engage in interesting, encouraging conversation.  We talked about lots of things; history, politics, scripture, babies, books, reading--the usual kind of wide ranging conversation we enjoy--but today it was especially sweet since I've been 'out of it' for a week.

There's nothing like being really sick to make you appreciate feeling well!  It also made me realize how often I complain about aches and pains and tiredness when, really, I should be grateful for the many blessings God has given me!  One of the scriptures Dorothy and I talked about was Philippians 4:6-8:

[d]o not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. 7 And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

8 Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things.

I'm so thankful that God has blessed me with a friend like Dorothy who is an example to me and exemplifies verse nine:

What you have learned and received and heard and seen in me—practice these things, and the God of peace will be with you.

OH!  I'm also thankful that I will be seeing Elliott and Madelyn tomorrow night!  I've missed them so much!  I'll be taking the camera so get ready for some pictures!

It's a glorious sunshine-y day today--the sun is streaming in the windows in all the 'almost springtime' spots.  The icicles are dripping like crazy and the air smells clean and fresh.  How do I know that?  Well, I don't really because I still can't smell (or taste) much but somehow I just know fresh air when I 'see' and feel it!  I know we're not done with winter but I'm so very thankful that spring is on its way!

I'm joining my friend, Kim from the Upward Call,  and others in giving thanks each Thursday in 2010.  Won't you join us?

Quote of the Week: Calvin

As often as we call God the Creator of heaven and earth, let us remember that the distribution of all the things which he created are in his hand and power, but that we are his sons, whom he has undertaken to nourish and bring up in allegiance to him, that we may expect the substance of all good from him alone, and have full hope that he will never suffer us to be in want of things necessary to salvation, so as to leave us dependent on some other source; that in everything we desire we may address our prayers to him, and, in every benefit we receive, acknowledge his hand, and give him thanks; that thus allured by his great goodness and beneficence, we may study with our whole heart to love and serve him.

John Calvin, Institutes of the Christian Religion, Book One, Chapter 16

Elliott and Madelyn

This poor Grandma hasn't seen her grandbabies since Wednesday.  I've been sick with a nasty cold since Thursday and can't be around them, but John has been sending pictures to my phone.

Yesterday, he sent me a series of pictures of Madelyn getting a bath.  They reminded me so much of one of my favorite pictures of Elliott when he was a newborn, so I put them together in a comparison shot:

And here's a picture he sent of the two of them together:

Aren't they sweet?

Sunday Hymn: Thee We Adore, Eternal LORD!

Thee We Adore Eternal Lord

Thee we adore, eternal Lord!
We praise thy name with one accord.
Thy saints, who here thy goodness see,
Through all the world do worship thee.

To thee aloud all angels cry,
The heavens and all the pow'rs on high:
Thee, holy, holy, holy king,
Lord God of hosts, they ever sing.

Apostles join the glorious throng,
And prophets swell th'immortal song;
Thy martyrs' noble army raise
Eternal anthems to thy praise.

From day to day, O Lord, do we
Exalt and highly honor thee!
Thy name we worship and adore,
World without end, for evermore.

Trinity Hymnal #18

Meet a Master Calligrapher

Here's an interesting video of Master Calligrapher, Paul Antonio.  I especially enjoy seeing the images of his studio--jars and jars and jars of pens!

Lost and Found

This morning I rediscovered an old blogging friend.  She had taken a rest from blogging and I lost her.  This morning, a series of seredipitous clicks led me back to my old friend.

Shanna has a new blog, devoted to food--and everything else.  If you're a foodie, or even if you're not, why don't you hop over to Shanna's blog, Food Loves Writing, and say hello.  Tell her Kim sent you.

I think you'll be hooked.

Thankful Thursday 2010

I'm sick today.  Runny nose, cough, headache, sore throat--the whole nine yards.

I'm thankful that I was able to stay home and take a nap this afternoon, even though that meant cancelling our Thursday afternon Bible study. 

I'm thankful for understanding friends.

I'm thankful for hot ginger tea with honey, soft tissues, and cough drops.

And everytime I get sick, I stop and appreciate how seldom I really do get sick!

'night, all.  Hopefully, tomorrow I'll be thankful that I'm feeling better!

I'm joining Kim, from the Upward Call, in giving thanks on Thursdays.  Happy Birthday, Kim!  I'm thankful for your friendship!

Quote of the Week: The Joy of Birth

Of all the joys that lighten suffering earth, what joy is welcomed like a newborn child?
Dorothy L. Nolte 

When a woman is giving birth, she has sorrow because her hour has come, but when she has delivered the baby, she no longer remembers the anguish, for joy that a human being has been born into the world. John 16:21

More Madelyn

Sunday Hymn: Break Thou the Bread of Life

BREAK THOU THE BREAD OF LIFE

Break thou the bread of life,
Dear Lord, to me,
As thou didst break the loaves
Beside the sea;
Throughout the sacred page
I seek thee, Lord,
My spirit pants for thee,
O living Word.

Bless thou the truth, dear Lord,
To me, to me,
As thou didst bless the bread
By Galilee;
Then shall all bondage cease,
All fetters fall;
And I shall find my peace,
My All in all.

Thou art the Bread of Life,
O Lord, to me,
Thy holy Word the truth
That saveth me;
Give me to eat and live
With thee above;
Teach me to love thy truth,
For thou art love.

O send thy Spirit, Lord,
Now unto me,
That he may touch mine eyes,
And make me see:
Show me the truth concealed
Within thy Word,
And in thy Book revealed
I see the Lord.

Trinity Hymnal #256

Meet my Granddaughter

Madelyn Ailene Shenberger

Born February 13, 2010 at 10:50 am

7 pounds, 13 ounces      21+ inches

Grandpa and Grandma are over the moon!  What a sweet little Valentine!