writer's block fill-ins

"Doc, I can't stop singing 'The Green, Green Grass of Home.'"

"That sounds like Tom Jones Syndrome."

"Is it common?"

Well, "It's Not Unusual."

(Hannah, Kyle, and Allyson are probably too young to get this one.)

My (edited) Word Cloud

This was fun. I edited mine a bit, though. I made sure that the names of all my family are included and I capitalized the names of God and the pronouns that refer to God. (I am a stickler for that!) I also took out a couple of words I didn't want, like 'mean' (I am not mean and I am pretty sure I did not mean that kind of mean!) So my word cloud is a cloud of my own choosing.

I don't remember where I saw this first as yesterday seemed to be a very cloudy day in the blogosphere.

[UPDATE: Kim asks how to find it:

Here is the link if you want to play along! (You'll have to copy and paste it into a document)

God's Minute 2/1

February 1

Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of His might. Put on the whole armor of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual widkedness in high places.--Ephesians 6:10-12

OUR Heavenly Father, we thank Thee for the rest of the night, and the light of this new day. We also thank Thee for food and raiment and for every other blessing which inThy goodness and wisdom Thou hast provided for our need and comfort.

We beseech Thee, grant us grace for the temptations of the day, and strength for every duty that may lie in our pathway. Help us truly to represent Thee today, and to this end may we hide "The Word" in our hearts, that we may not sin against Thee or our fellow men. Grant us the guidance and help of Thy good Spirit. Do Thou protect and defend us from all harm and danger, and when the day's work is done, bing us all again in safety to this, our home.

These things we ask in the Name of and for the sake of our Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ.

Amen.

James. M. S. Isenburg, D.D.,
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

John

From the time they tucked that little sweet smelling bundle of baby boy into my arms I have wondered, "What will he be like? What kind of man will he grow up to be? Who will he marry? What kind of father will he be? What will he make of his future?"

I have had reason to reflect upon these thoughts anew because our firstborn son, John, is getting married. I've been going through his pictures one by one. Each one brings along with it a memory of John. John as a newborn. John the night owl. John, the toddler, who learned to walk at nine months and run soon after. The first day of kindergarten. His first pair of glasses. Playing Little League Baseball. Learning to drive. His first job. Graduating from college.

Parents pay attention to the way their children's characters are developing. I can say without hesitation that in every way, John has grown into the kind of man that we hoped and prayed he would be. I have tried to think of a single word that describes John. Many come to mind: kind, patient, hard-working, easy going, fun loving, conversationalist. He is all those things--and more--but the word I would use is faithful. John is faithful in the big things and the little things. He is a man who can be counted upon.

Our future daughter in law is a lucky girl. She is marrying a man who is faithful--to his family, to his values, to his God.

Memories are made of this

When Sam was in the fifth grade, I read The Lord of the Rings to him from my big, red book. We read a little everyday. Some days we read a lot. Now, I've been reading Tolkien's works since I was in junior high and have always loved them, but there was just something special about reading this book to my son as he lay on his tummy on the bed, pouring over the maps with a faraway look on his face.

When we read the last sentences, "He drew a deep breath. 'Well, I'm back,' he said"; we both drew a deep breath. It was one of those moments. I had planned for a long while to give Sam my copy of the Red book when we finished reading. When I told him that I wanted him to have the book for his own, he protested. "No, Mom. It's your favorite." I reminded him that I still had my original trilogy, given to me by my parents when I graduated from high school. I told him that I wanted him to have it and read it to his children someday. He finally accepted the gift and then, with an impish grin and a sparkle in his eye he broke the intensity of "the moment" by asking, "Can I have the bookmark, too?"