Good Friday thoughts

Hubster and I grew up in homes that didn't participate in Good Friday. Easter was special, but we celebrated Christ's death, burial, and resurrection every Sunday.

In parenthood, The Hubster, aka Dread Pirate Sparsebeard, and I made a point to change the way we celebrate religious holidays and give them more spiritual significance in our lives. As a first, some in our family even participated this year in giving up something from Lent to Resurrection Sunday, to find our supply and fill that void with The Lord. Totally unheard of in the church-of-my-youth. There are many things I appreciate about my heritage, and I'll share those another time.

We made one other change to our usual routine this year. Instead of spending it as we have so many times in the past (preparing to sing for an Easter musical, Good Friday service or be a part of Easter service worship team or chorus), we've taken time off from those ministries and are helping direct family members, instead. Hubster took our youngest two boys to help do some serious yard work at the Grandparents' home. It is getting to be too much for them as Poppy fights off another bout with cancer. Dd and I stayed home to do some deep cleaning and meal planning for company coming several times this weekend.

My boys are having company over tonight and tomorrow, then Hubster's brother and family will be joining us in Worship on Sunday, then coming home for Easter Lunch. In one way, I consider NOT participating in any music events this year a form of rest.

Thinking of you all and praying you have a bless-ed Holiday.

Javamom

Settling down

Our family has had exciting times of late, and been on the go with some big commitments and opportunities. My mother always told me that this season of life is the busiest. She reiterated that message to me when we saw her this past weekend, her healing leg propped up on a cushioned chair.

We all drove several hours to the city for her Mother's 90th Birthday party at the old Church of Christ building near Mammaw's home in Oklahoma, the one that holds so many special memories for me. One in particular being that it is the place where I really began to get to know my hubby back in 1984.

He was a youth minister-intern at my Grandad's congregation one summer (he was so surprised when I told him who my Grandad was-one of the elders at the church), and that is where we decided that we needed to go have lunch together a couple of times that next week. I was to head off to Germany for the summer, and he wanted to see me before I left. It is where we met up again after I returned at the end of that summer, as I went back to college a little early, staying with my Mammaw and Grandad until the dorms opened.

But back to the party...all of my aunts and uncles from both sides of the family were there, except the one who lives in Louisiana. He and his wife were waiting out Hurricane Rita. They made it through with just some fence damage and maybe a downed tree or two.

We made it home safely, and just in time to head over to our Art Gallery Photography Exhibit Reception on Saturday evening. It was *such* a special night! Even the President of Izamal, Yucatán and his wife flew in (around Hurricane Rita!) to be there with us and to give a speech. I was humbled and amazed. The Korean Missionary we stayed with in Izamal was also there for this special night of celebration.

Ds and I both have one print each that has sold so far!

I am tired, even though we had a restful Sunday and Monday. It is the *good* tired, the feeling of accomplishment. Today, I've had a lot of time to prepare for teaching American Lit. class tomorrow. I have a couple of good exercises planned regarding Benjamin Franklin's aphorisms.

I'll post more about my Grandmother and her surprise birthday party later.

For now, please go read a most inspiring post by my friend at Liberty and Lily. Take a little time to let her words and thoughtful writing sink in. The post is titled "Ready for Anything," and I'm sure you'll agree that it is more than worth your time to read.

Goodnight, all!
Javamom

Getting Settled

My family is happy that I'm home, and my kitty is too! He promptly found a napping spot on my luggage. I keep trying to load that picture, but my three photo-hosting options are not working! Some gremlin has messed up my settings or passwords, or some other strange thing. I cannot get it figured out and I really am not interested in wasting a lot more time online.

When I wanted to check my e-mail while at my folks' house in Oklahoma, I had to go over to Dad's prison ministry office, behind my parents' home. On top of that, they live in a tiny town with old phone lines...thus pretty bad internet connections, when one can get online. This really allowed me to be more focused on family and less distracted by technology, and made me reconsider how easy it is to be distracted by the computer when I am here in my own home.

Anyway, I am restless. It's not easy for me to switch gears since returning home, for some reason. Laundry is caught up, but I haven't wanted to cook. It is so hot and dry here that nothing sounds good, except watermelon and oriental cabbage salad! I needed to go to the grocery store, so I finally got that accomplished today. I still need to vacuum the carpet. I'd rather repair and restore an old, sentimental domino box for a friend; it would be much more fun.

I've been doing light reading for the most part, working my way through Tears of the Giraffe by Alexander McCall Smith. It is the second book in the Number One Ladies' Detective Agency series. It really is just what the doctor ordered! I am also still reading Charlotte Mason's Volume 6 again.

I rediscovered an old favorite CD while on the road the last two weeks. It is Carolyn Arends' album from the 90's with "Seize The Day" on it. It is an awesome, folksy, acoustic project. I love it, love it, love it. I also listened to Michael W. Smith's Instrumental project, "Freedom," which is another all-time favorite from my collection.

Smith's versatility, his orchestrations and arrangements range from simple and elegant to layered and intricate. He is such a talented artist and musician, which is why I think he has had such staying power for so long. Think about it, he was one of the first popular artists in the contemporary Christian music market (I first heard him in the early 80's), and has continued to produce projects and work with/promote other artists on a consistent basis, in spite of my brother or nephew's opinion that he cannot sing. I beg to differ. His voice is nice and different, which is one of the things I really like about it. I get tired of formulaic arrangements and voices. I think that the proof of his talents has been borne out by the market over time. So there. :-P That's your baby sis' opinion, whether you like it or not, and you, dear brother are free to disagree with me!! It won't hurt my feelings one bit. ;)

Cheers!!

Day of Rest

Ah, Rest!

That's what today was for, after a busy weekend. We visited friends all day Friday, went to the funeral on Saturday, after an early morning vocal practice. Saturday afternoon was spent shuttling some of the kiddos to help babysit at a parents' night out at church. Dear Daughter, who is very much a "Lizzie" or an "Emma" is now sick with a cold. Sunday meant singing at two services. We four female vocalists did a neat arrangement, trio style, of the old song "Take it To The Lord in Prayer," while our worship leader played soulfully "Ray Charles" style on the keyboard. Right after second service, I dashed off to my vintage book restoration class, where, as always, I picked up more information and knowledge. I also picked up the latest book I re-backed and re-cased. It is a sentimental copy of an old poetry book from childhood, that is pretty popular in homeschooling circles. I returned home to find that a good, old (okay, not old but long-time) friend from Colorado was about to show up to have dinner and capuccino with us, since he is in town on business all week. While he was visiting, I had to go pick up a couple of the boys, who'd spent their afternoon chatting and playing with friends. I fell fast asleep after reading a bit of my new book, _The Number One Ladies' Detective Agency_, thanks to a friend who brought me a copy of my very own at church yesterday (thank you, Allison :-)!

But today, we did not have to leave the house at all! Most of us worked on handicrafts in the afternoon to sell at the church's "marketplace" sale this weekend. "Emma"-daughter worked on beaded bracelets and quilted coasters, until the sewing machine gave up on her. Ds, Androcles, worked on yarn bracelets, while I cut boards and paper to make hand-bound journals.

Rest is *fine!*

It is back to our regular, busy schedule tomorrow of driving 16 yo "Ansel Adams" to his Worldviews of the Western World class. Errands and park day for the rest of us, while he is there. Although ds, "Audubon," will be staying behind to go to the park with a neighbor friend and work on their fort, ride bikes, draw, play computer; generally all-around, outdoorsy "guy" time.