dear emily,
are the kids excited about saint patrick's day? i used
to forget and get pinched to death at school, so this
is their 'green' warning.
i recently enjoyed stephen lawhead's patrick, son of
ireland, and now i know why all of ireland loves
him so!
did you realize the holiday has been celebrated for over
1,000 years? apparently, the irish are allowed to suspend
their lenten restrictions for that one day to feast, dance,
and drink, not necessarily in that order.
saint patrick was born to wealthy parents but kidnapped
by irish raiders when only sixteen. sadly, he spent the
next six years tending sheep in near solitude.
because of his terrible loneliness, he derived solace from
his faith and became a devout Christian. it is believed
that he had at least two divine revelations: the first to
leave for britain and the second to then return to ireland
as a missionary.
it's interesting that upon his homecoming, he didn't try
to remove irish mysticism, but instead he assimilated
Christian life into their traditions. he had bonfires at
easter and added the symbol of the sun to the cross,
making the celtic cross that we all know.
class dismissed!
love,
lea
". . . i have become all things to all men so that by all
possible means i might save some." 1 corinthians 9:22b
Saturday, March 13, 2010
Friday, March 12, 2010
a leprechaun for sunday
dear emily,
we have been fervently praying for our daughter, sunday,
this term while she has been studying abroad, but we could
never have imagined the variety of ways the Lord would
show His love for her.
while spending a few extraordinary days on the canary
islands, she was splashed by a swimmer in the pool.
"i beg your pardon, my dear darling lassie!" said the
musical irish voice.
sunday was pleased to see the twinkly blue eyes that came
with the apology and assured him splashing didn't bother her
at all. he remarked that she had a verra' american accent.
after an entertaining and amusing conversation, the elderly
irishman said, "good health to you and a pleasant sleep."
the next morning while enjoying her tropical fruit by the
seaside, she heard a now familiar voice asking, "now,
would you be thinking me too forward if i asked to join
you for breakfast?"
seeing his book of mark, sunday exclaimed, "i just was
reading in mark!"
"well now, and maybe i should be telling you, sure, that
i just was saying a prayer for you in mass, wasn't i?"
as they were saying their farewells, he said, "the funny
thing about life is you often end up saying goodbye more
than once."
i wonder if he has a grandson her age?
love,
lea
"do not forget to offer hospitality to strangers...for through
it some have entertained angels." hebrews 13:2
we have been fervently praying for our daughter, sunday,
this term while she has been studying abroad, but we could
never have imagined the variety of ways the Lord would
show His love for her.
while spending a few extraordinary days on the canary
islands, she was splashed by a swimmer in the pool.
"i beg your pardon, my dear darling lassie!" said the
musical irish voice.
sunday was pleased to see the twinkly blue eyes that came
with the apology and assured him splashing didn't bother her
at all. he remarked that she had a verra' american accent.
after an entertaining and amusing conversation, the elderly
irishman said, "good health to you and a pleasant sleep."
the next morning while enjoying her tropical fruit by the
seaside, she heard a now familiar voice asking, "now,
would you be thinking me too forward if i asked to join
you for breakfast?"
seeing his book of mark, sunday exclaimed, "i just was
reading in mark!"
"well now, and maybe i should be telling you, sure, that
i just was saying a prayer for you in mass, wasn't i?"
as they were saying their farewells, he said, "the funny
thing about life is you often end up saying goodbye more
than once."
i wonder if he has a grandson her age?
love,
lea
"do not forget to offer hospitality to strangers...for through
it some have entertained angels." hebrews 13:2
Thursday, March 11, 2010
the emily goes to...
one of my angels gave me the best advice that i just cannot
seem to follow: "mom, you need to hold back on those posts
to once a week. no one really wants to read more than that."
as karen says, "i love her like the daughter i had committed
against her will."
this is not a post but a tiny thank you to the lovely people
who have encouraged my pitiful attempts at logging. ha!
Blogging.
to visit their gorgeous, witty, and reflective blogs, just look
for their comments in one of my past postings. they each
visit and comment daily, for which i am very grateful.
margaret: your witty and perceptive writing has inspired
each post i make. you have easily earned the right to be
called my 'nanablog.'
vee: i have learned a great deal from your magnanimous
and gently encouraging nature. when you linked to me in
january it gave me the boost i needed to find my way.
joan elizabeth: you are my scarecrow, a woman of few
words, each deliberately chosen to express wisdom,
strength, and grace.
emily: thank you for being such a Godly inspiration to
my girls and for your four (five) precious little ones who
we adore!
but the winner is: HANS, who runs a standard & poor
500 company but believes i am doing the most important
job in the world.
who asks questions like, "did you read max's email, isaac's
text, shelby's application, sunday's paper, and hailey's
facebook message?"
. . . and who never says, "no" to me. :)
gratefully,
lea
"i have not stopped giving thanks for you, remembering
you in my prayers." ephesians 1:16
seem to follow: "mom, you need to hold back on those posts
to once a week. no one really wants to read more than that."
as karen says, "i love her like the daughter i had committed
against her will."
this is not a post but a tiny thank you to the lovely people
who have encouraged my pitiful attempts at logging. ha!
Blogging.
to visit their gorgeous, witty, and reflective blogs, just look
for their comments in one of my past postings. they each
visit and comment daily, for which i am very grateful.
margaret: your witty and perceptive writing has inspired
each post i make. you have easily earned the right to be
called my 'nanablog.'
vee: i have learned a great deal from your magnanimous
and gently encouraging nature. when you linked to me in
january it gave me the boost i needed to find my way.
joan elizabeth: you are my scarecrow, a woman of few
words, each deliberately chosen to express wisdom,
strength, and grace.
emily: thank you for being such a Godly inspiration to
my girls and for your four (five) precious little ones who
we adore!
but the winner is: HANS, who runs a standard & poor
500 company but believes i am doing the most important
job in the world.
who asks questions like, "did you read max's email, isaac's
text, shelby's application, sunday's paper, and hailey's
facebook message?"
. . . and who never says, "no" to me. :)
gratefully,
lea
"i have not stopped giving thanks for you, remembering
you in my prayers." ephesians 1:16
Wednesday, March 10, 2010
bridge
dear emily,
i have to warn you about something, and i don't really
know how to say this.
so, i'm just going to blurt it out! because you're so smart
and will want to keep your brain facile and undemented,
at my age, you will probably play, ahem, bridge.
when i was a sweet, spry, lovely thing like you, i used to
smirk at the little, old ladies with hats and gloves looking
primly at their cards. "that's something i will never do!"
little did i know that counting those tricks and conniving
to win lots of points to the cheers from the stands would
be so fun.
not to mention bridge clothes! we only allow prada,
chanel, and versace at our table. the butler will not
give access to any flip-flops or sweatpants.
and here's the best part: bridge food! some folks only
come for the cuisine, but i am a purist and have played
with a solitary glass of water. . . while i heaped the
dainty cucumber sandwiches, fresh veggies, and bite
sized lemon tarts upon my wedgewood plate.
so sorry for the bad news,
lea
"there is a time for everything, and a season for every
activity under heaven. . ." ecclesiastes 3:1
i have to warn you about something, and i don't really
know how to say this.
so, i'm just going to blurt it out! because you're so smart
and will want to keep your brain facile and undemented,
at my age, you will probably play, ahem, bridge.
when i was a sweet, spry, lovely thing like you, i used to
smirk at the little, old ladies with hats and gloves looking
primly at their cards. "that's something i will never do!"
little did i know that counting those tricks and conniving
to win lots of points to the cheers from the stands would
be so fun.
not to mention bridge clothes! we only allow prada,
chanel, and versace at our table. the butler will not
give access to any flip-flops or sweatpants.
and here's the best part: bridge food! some folks only
come for the cuisine, but i am a purist and have played
with a solitary glass of water. . . while i heaped the
dainty cucumber sandwiches, fresh veggies, and bite
sized lemon tarts upon my wedgewood plate.
so sorry for the bad news,
lea
"there is a time for everything, and a season for every
activity under heaven. . ." ecclesiastes 3:1
Monday, March 8, 2010
dear emily,
my post on dinner time has convicted me of something. it is
just too easy to see the deficiencies in our children, bad eating
habits, for instance, and overlook the weaknesses in ourselves.
what have i been eating lately? first of all, way too much t.v.!
my grandmother called it the 'boob tube' because of its ability
to waste our time and its total lack of purpose. she spent her
time reading, studying, writing, teaching, and gardening. you
can read about her in the following post.
i also feed myself too many negative thoughts. if i used my
healthy imagination in the manner of c.s. lewis or lewis carroll,
i might have something wonderful to show for it. instead, i
have needless wrinkles to prove what lies within me.
ralph waldo emerson said, "what lies behind us and what lies
before us are tiny matters, compared to what lies within us."
my young friend liz wrote a disarming piece on the joy set
before Jesus. she said that instead of focusing on our
suffering, we should set our eyes on the prize.
when asked what food He had to eat, Jesus said, "i have
food that you know nothing about...My food is to do the
work of Him who sent Me..." john 4:32, 34
now that is something to feast upon. it's amazing how much
of the bible is devoted to banquets and feasting. how did we
ever let ourselves focus so on the fasting?
love,
lea
my post on dinner time has convicted me of something. it is
just too easy to see the deficiencies in our children, bad eating
habits, for instance, and overlook the weaknesses in ourselves.
what have i been eating lately? first of all, way too much t.v.!
my grandmother called it the 'boob tube' because of its ability
to waste our time and its total lack of purpose. she spent her
time reading, studying, writing, teaching, and gardening. you
can read about her in the following post.
i also feed myself too many negative thoughts. if i used my
healthy imagination in the manner of c.s. lewis or lewis carroll,
i might have something wonderful to show for it. instead, i
have needless wrinkles to prove what lies within me.
ralph waldo emerson said, "what lies behind us and what lies
before us are tiny matters, compared to what lies within us."
my young friend liz wrote a disarming piece on the joy set
before Jesus. she said that instead of focusing on our
suffering, we should set our eyes on the prize.
when asked what food He had to eat, Jesus said, "i have
food that you know nothing about...My food is to do the
work of Him who sent Me..." john 4:32, 34
now that is something to feast upon. it's amazing how much
of the bible is devoted to banquets and feasting. how did we
ever let ourselves focus so on the fasting?
love,
lea
Sunday, March 7, 2010
dinner time!
dear emily,
a sweet, young mommy asked me what she could do to help
her toddler eat better. she said that he only wants snacks and
won't eat a bite at meal time.
"it's just the biggest battle every meal and i'm so afraid he isn't
getting enough to eat!"
it took a lot of will power not to smile and say, "honey, you
will look back on this, when he is screeching on two wheels
of his truck out your driveway, and wish this was all you had
to worry about!"
instead, i told her that there were some tricks in establishing
healthy eating habits. if possible, she should save all battles
for any other time, so that her little ones would have happy
memories of family dinner.
easier said than done. we had some doozies at our house, but
here are some pretty fail proof tips to get your toddler to eat:
1. hide all snacks so that is not even an option.
2. put a few healthy, yummy choices out for each meal. who
wants to eat lima beans from a can? gag.
3. make sure your little guy works up an appetite from running
and playing, and i promise he will eat.
4. no dessert until he has eaten the good stuff.
the first day may be rough, but they are such smart little guys
and will fall into line if they see you really mean it. if your
precious angel is especially stubborn, a banana before bed
will help you sleep better.
i used to hide my peas under the cushion of my chair.
love,
lea
"how sweet are Thy words...sweeter than honey..."
psalm 119:103
a sweet, young mommy asked me what she could do to help
her toddler eat better. she said that he only wants snacks and
won't eat a bite at meal time.
"it's just the biggest battle every meal and i'm so afraid he isn't
getting enough to eat!"
it took a lot of will power not to smile and say, "honey, you
will look back on this, when he is screeching on two wheels
of his truck out your driveway, and wish this was all you had
to worry about!"
instead, i told her that there were some tricks in establishing
healthy eating habits. if possible, she should save all battles
for any other time, so that her little ones would have happy
memories of family dinner.
easier said than done. we had some doozies at our house, but
here are some pretty fail proof tips to get your toddler to eat:
1. hide all snacks so that is not even an option.
2. put a few healthy, yummy choices out for each meal. who
wants to eat lima beans from a can? gag.
3. make sure your little guy works up an appetite from running
and playing, and i promise he will eat.
4. no dessert until he has eaten the good stuff.
the first day may be rough, but they are such smart little guys
and will fall into line if they see you really mean it. if your
precious angel is especially stubborn, a banana before bed
will help you sleep better.
i used to hide my peas under the cushion of my chair.
love,
lea
"how sweet are Thy words...sweeter than honey..."
psalm 119:103
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