Just For Fun Friday!!

Occasionally, I enjoy a strange generated quiz. They make me laugh...and take minimal thought. Just for fun check out Blogthings sometime. Today I have shared with you my Native American Name, my inner Sesame Street character (in honor of their anniversary), and a fun Halloween quiz about candy apples. Oooo...yummmm...drool!!
Your Native American Name Is: Meoquanee Shuman
Your name means: Red Wearing Rattlesnake

You Are Big Bird
Talented, smart, and friendly... you're also one of the sanest people around.

You are usually feeling: Happy. From riding a unicycle to writing poetry, you have plenty of hobbies to keep you busy.

You are famous for: Being a friend to everyone. Even the grumpiest person gets along with you.

How you live your life: Joyfully. "Super. Duper. Flooper."

You Are Innovative and Brilliant
You're the type of person who likes to do Halloween your way. And what "your way" is changes every year.
Maybe you'll dress up. Maybe you'll build a haunted house. Or maybe you'll start your own tradition.

Your favorite Halloween celebrations involve you, and maybe a couple close friends. That is, of course, if you feel like celebrating at all.
You march to your own spooky beat, and you're just as likely to be trying to scare the neighbor kids as you are to hand out candy.

A pretty song with a little Latin translation & trivia!

A few days ago I posted beautiful Autumn pictures with an arrangement of For The Beauty Of The Earth by John Rutter. I mentioned how much I enjoy his music. I was looking for Gloria ...

John Rutter: Gloria - 1. Gloria In Excelsis Deo - Polyphony, The Wallace Collection , the City of London Sinfonia; Andrew Lumsden, organ; Stephen Layton conducting

...something I'd sung in college...a real goosebump song. As I was looking for it I came across some John Rutter trivia. I was sort of bummed to read the following.

"Despite composing and conducting much religious music, Rutter told the US television program 60 Minutes in 2003 that he was not particularly a religious man, but he is inspired by the spirituality of sacred verses and prayers."

I was further bummed by this because I had recently come across his Te Deum...a little Latin translation for ya'll...Te Deum is the beginning of the phrase Te Deum laudamus: te Dominum confitemur, which means O God, we praise Thee: we acknowledge Thee to be the Lord. All Te Deum's go on to speak of God's awesomeness in all aspects. Anyone wanting to read a full Te Deum go here.

Yes, I know that he is not the first composer to say he wasn't religious, etc. but after singing several of his works I'd sort of hoped he was a professing Christian. His music is something like what I imagine heaven will sound like...and I'm hoping I can join the heavenly choir!!

I do agree with something else I read about him. He holds "singing days" and says, "It is wonderful to go to a choral concert, to hear a choir sing. But I think the deepest joy of all is to actually sing.”

Oh, and the translation for Gloria...

Gloria in excelsis Deo. Glory to the highest to God.
Et in terra pax And on earth peace
hominibus bonae voluntatis. to men of good will.
Laudamus te. We praise thee.
Benedicimus te. We bless thee.

You's a good MomE too...

I was making baby gifts for some expectant friends...and gave Emmy my prototype messed up first one. She found her favorite dolly...and cooed and crooned to her for hours.
At one point, she said to me, "You's a good MomE too!" Awww...I told her how nicely she was holding and treating the baby. She later taught her brudder how to hold the baby! It was sooo cute. He wasn't really interested in holding her baby at all...but he humored her for a tiny bit!
I was pretty happy with how things turned out. I got the ideas from Little Birdie Secrets.

Word FILLED Wednesday: Are you a worker?

I was recently challenged about my attitude toward the unsaved. The challenge actually started in a discussion that pointed out that there is no genuine turning to Christ in faith without repentance. That would mean that you can't clean up your act before you come to Christ. Of course, you have no power. When talking with sinners the issue is not their present sin but their need of a Savior!

Think about the woman at the well...Jesus cuts right to the issue with her...he asks her a question that convicts her of her sin! Conviction is purely God's Work..followed by Contrition, a real sorrow for that sin...and Conversion, turning from that sin. We cannot allow ourselves to be offended by the world.

The question was asked, "Who have you ignored or disliked because you're offended by their worldliness? We cannot expect regenerate behavior from those who haven't yet been changed. We need to see their need for salvation from sins. We need to see their thirst that only the Living Water can quench! I love this quote from St. Augustine, "God, you have made us for yourself, and our hearts are restless till they find their rest in you."

I want to be a worker in His fields that sees the plentiful harvest...and isn't repelled by it...but runs to it with tools in hand to bring it into His storehouse!

Please join all the Word-filled folks at Susan's blog where she is....Forever His!

For The Beauty Of The Earth...

For the beauty of the earth
For the glory of the skies,
For the love which from our birth
Over and around us lies.

Lord of all, to Thee we raise,
This our hymn of grateful praise.

For the beauty of each hour,
Of the day and of the night,
Hill and vale, and tree and flower,
Sun and moon, and stars of light.

Lord of all, to Thee we raise,
This our hymn of grateful praise.

For the joy of ear and eye,
For the heart and mind's delight,
For the mystic harmony
Linking sense to sound and sight.

Lord of all, to Thee we raise,
This our hymn of grateful praise.

For the joy of human love,
Brother, sister, parent, child,
Friends on earth and friends above,
For all gentle thoughts and mild.

Lord of all, to Thee we raise,
This our hymn of grateful praise.

For Thy Church, that evermore
Lifteth holy hands above,
Offering up on every shore
Her pure sacrifice of love.

Lord of all, to Thee we raise,
This our hymn of grateful praise.

For the martyrs' crown of light,

For Thy prophets' eagle eye,
For Thy bold confessors' might,
For the lips of infancy.

Lord of all, to Thee we raise,
This our hymn of grateful praise.

For Thy virgins' robes of snow,
For Thy maiden mother mild,
For Thyself, with hearts aglow,
Jesu, Victim undefiled.

Lord of all, to Thee we raise,
This our hymn of grateful praise.

For each perfect gift of Thine,
To our race so freely given,
Graces human and divine,
Flowers of earth and buds of Heaven.

Lord of all, to Thee we raise,
This our hymn of grateful praise.

I came across this arrangement while looking for the traditional one...so thought I'd use it instead! I love John Rutter's work...very interesting to this vocalist! Makes me really really miss college chamber choir! There are several verses not included in this recording...so I italicized them for you...so you can benefit from them all!

For The Beauty Of The Earth - The Cambridge Singers

Memory Monday: Hummmm...

Proverbs 31:26, "She speaks with wisdom, and faithful instruction is on her tongue."

As I meditated on this during the week...I realized that, for me, this means saying ALOT less. I've put a little hummm in my speech too. It makes me put my lips together and think before correcting or speaking or saying anything... I soooo want to be a Proverbs 31 Mom, and Wife and Friend!

Caffeinated Randomness: My blog's a teacher too!

I decided to follow Critty Joy and psychoanalyze my blog. It was fun...and very interesting. I still have a typical teacher Myers Briggs result...ESFJ...

E STANDS FOR EXTROVERSION

I prefer to get my energy by socializing in the outside world.

S STANDS FOR SENSING

I prefer to experience the world through my five senses in the actual, present moment.

F STANDS FOR FEELING

I prefer to make decisions based on my feelings and values.

J STANDS FOR JUDGING

I prefer a lifestyle that is structured, scheduled, and time-sensitive.

HA! I'm not sure how accurate the typealyzer is...but even the Keirsey type agreed that I'm a teacher idealist!

ESFJ - The Socializers

The social and opinionated type. They are especially attuned to the feelings of themselves and others. They tend to be very aware of the values of their peer-group and tend to see things as either right or wrong, good or bad. They tend to be traditional and value their friends and family the most.

The Socializers are down-to-earth, practical people and very keen on making sure everyone is alright. This quality makes them enjoy social work places. Since they enjoy being and keeping things neat and tidy, they often also enjoy working in such environments.

I found this excerpt from the Kiersey study to be most accurate but a little too positive. I would love to say everything about my personality is positive...but many of these things lead to pride and selfishness. Ahh...another post perhaps?

In whatever field they choose, Teachers consider people their highest priority, and they instinctively communicate personal concern and a willingness to become involved. Warmly outgoing, and perhaps the most expressive of all the types, Teachers are remarkably good with language, especially when communicating in speech, face to face. And they do not hesitate to speak out and let their feelings be known. Bubbling with enthusiasm, Teachers will voice their passions with dramatic flourish, and can, with practice, become charismatic public speakers. This verbal ability gives Teachers a good deal of influence in groups, and they are often asked to take a leadership role.

Teachers like things settled and organized, and will schedule their work hours and social engagements well ahead of time-and they are absolutely trustworthy in honoring these commitments. Valuing as they do interpersonal cooperation and harmonious relations, Teachers are extraordinarily tolerant of others, are easy to get along with, and are usually popular wherever they are.

Teachers are highly sensitive to others, which is to say their intuition tends to be well developed. Certainly their insight into themselves and others is unparalleled. Without a doubt, they know what is going on inside themselves, and they can read other people with uncanny accuracy. Teachers also identify with others quite easily, and will actually find themselves picking up the characteristics, emotions, and beliefs of those around them. Because they slip almost unconsciously into other people's skin in this way, Teachers feel closely connected with those around them, and thus show a sincere interest in the joys and problems of their employees, colleagues, students, clients, and loved ones.

Word FILLED Wednesday: Dust Covered?

I heard something a few weeks back...and wanted to share it. I saw this picture...and knew it was another opportunity to completely confuse you...er, I mean to share something super neat!

I'm learning so much in the book of John...can't believe I'm only on chapter four this week. Way back in chapter one, we were studying the story of Jesus as he started to call his disciples. We noticed how John the Baptist pointed him out to his own disciples...and they saw the "lamb of God" and followed him. We saw how Jesus knew their hearts and asked them,"What do you want?"...when they expressed interest in him and where he was staying...he invited them to "follow him and come and see."

They called him rabbi. So, it was mentioned to me how the disciples of a rabbi would follow him about....from place to place and a literal cloud of dust would be kicked up. There were some interesting things said about this in the Mishnah, a collection of rabbinic thoughts on the law. One from the Sages of the Mishnah is summarized,

"May you be covered in the dust of your rabbi."

MISHNAH 4. Yose b. Yo'ezer (a man) of
Zeredah, and Yose b. Yohanan [a man] of
Jerusalem received [the oral tradition] from
them. Yose. b. Yo'ezer used to say: “Let your
house be a house of meeting for the sages
cover yourself with the dust of their feet, and
drink in their words with thirst.”

This encouraged the disciple to not just physically follow their rabbi but to really study the man...to accept his way of teaching the law...to emulate his mannerisms in dealing with God and people.

I am so challenged to consider whether I'm truly covered in the dust of my Rabbi... Jesus, the Christ! Do I study Him and His Word? Am I a good student? Do I copy His way of dealing with people (with children)? Do I give Him the respect He deserves? So, I'll pray for you...

"May you be covered in the dust of your Rabbi."

Tube Tuesday: Take the stairs for fun?

Memory Monday: Choose carefully...

"The rod and reproof give wisdom, But a child who gets his own way brings shame to his mother." Proverbs 29:15

I chose this verse two weeks ago for Memory Monday. I think Satan thought it was funny and is poking my children to make them behave wildly. HA! Seriously though, it is interesting how when you commit to things that will be great for your Christian walk and growth...the oddest things start to happen. I'm an incredibly obsessively early person...and now suddenly I can't get out the door on time. I'm usually prepared overly for appts. of every kind...and now I forget the activity bag and my sweet boobahs are having public meltdowns. Ahh! I guess I'll just figure I'm doing something right...and keep pushing along. Looking for His daily sufficient grace!

Word FILLED Wednesday: Look for help!

I elaborated a bit over where I'm MomE and Loving It!!!

Tube Tuesday: Ukelele Love...

I'm having some serious ukelele interests these days. It also adds to my "strings" indoctrination for my little ones...hahaha! Pretend ukeleles all over the place.

Here's the words to "Way Back Home" by Priscilla Ahn...for my Loverbrains...

Don't you go,
Away, I know,
Without your love,
I'll never find my way back home

'Cause you and me,
So happily,
Make all our dreams of make believe reality

La la la La la la La la la la la

Troubles, never find us there
Oh, bubbles, float through the air,
Float through the air
Float through the air air air air

La la la La la la La la la la la

So don't you go,
Away, I know,
Without your love,
I'll never find my way back home,
I'll never find my way back home,
No, no,
I'll never find my way back home,
No, no,
I'll never find my way back home.

Birthday Bonanza...B, B, B...

BIRTHDAY BOUQUET!

For some crazy reason I'm alliterating everything today...with the letter B. Of course, B is the letter of the week this week...hmmm? My dear friend Cathy brought me flowers and a gift...on my blue Friday! I love her...she knows me...she REALLY prays for me! Do you have a friend like that? In the words of Dr. Suess, "If you don't, you should!"BIRTHDAY BALLOONS!

We celebrated my birthday at my husband's parent's house. They had balloons and zany decor for me...and for entertaining the grandkids. My mother in law very thoughtfully got happy birthday candles so I didn't have to look at the numbers.....30! HA!

BIRTHDAY BREAD BOX!

I bought myself a bread box on ebay...for $4.99...plus that in shipping. It was dirty but scrubbed up beautifully! Awww! She likes it in my kitchen...can you tell?

BIRTHDAY BLING!

They got me a beautiful red/rust necklace, bracelet and earrings. I wore them Sunday! My Loverbrains got me a blessed mother necklace...hammered copper, brass and silver. I couldn't get a good close up of mine...so here's her site picture. I love love love it! Of course, mine has the names of my children on it!

Caffeinated Randomness: Birthday Blues...

I've got the birthday blues. I'm turning 30 tomorrow. I know, I know...many sweet pigeons out there are older...and scoff at my moanings...but I figure they must've given it some thought when they hit these milestones too. It's not that I don't have what I want...it just seems impossible. Not to mention that there are many sayings such as, "It all goes down hill after 30" etc. that make me feel depressed. Part of me feels like there's not so much to look forward to anymore.

Okay, it's my party and I'll cry if I want to...

yes, I know this is a pity party...

yes, I know I have to get over it!!

As strange as it seems the rainy cold Fall weather adds to my blues...as do the long hours my hubs has been working...and the sniffly health of the sweet boobahs here about. *Sigh*

One bright spot today was discovering that Critty Joy shares a birthday with me...as does my Great Aunt Dot. And it seems like half our church has birthdays all around this weekend...so I won't be alone in Sunday School when the church sings Happy Birthday.
The funniest saying I've heard lately,

"When did we become grownups...and how do we make it stop??"

Don't worry...I'm usually a "cup overflowing" type person...so I'll be back on top by Monday!

ALL THINGS...

"I can do all things through Him who strengthens me." Philippians 4:13

MomE's need this verse. Okay, everyone needs this verse....but I cling to it sometimes. Thankfully, nothing catastrophic has occurred...don't mean to worry anyone. I just am tired of dealing with illness...especially in my sweet baby boy. Our Dr's appt. today pretty much assured me that it's been a long Fall and will be a long Winter. I know that it is that way for many people. I worry (sin) about every little detail...his immunities, his weight, etc. but the only thing remaining when it's all said and done is to trust the Great Physician with His perfect care! Anything we are going to face in the days ahead...years ahead...are completely known by Him and He will provide the strength we need to endure! Thinking maybe I need a nap too today! Pray and use lots of hand sanitizer, sweet pigeons!

Word Filled Wednesday: Cucumber or Pickle?

No, I haven't lost my mind with the pickle picture. I just started a rather intense Bible study. I'm learning so much. It's thrilling! We are digging into the book of John. Today our speaker talked about the Greek word baptizo meaning complete immersion...complete change. Just like a cucumber is dunked into the pickling liquids and spices and comes out a pickle...we should be totally regenerated into new life by the power of the Holy Spirit.

She said that following in obedience can only take place as we know the One that we follow. Admiration doesn't equal change! The challenge was: When you are confronted with truth, how do you respond? Do you change?

A Thoughtful Tuesday...

I heard recently that peace has been defined as "every man under his own fig tree with God." I think this was based on this...
John 1:47-51 "Jesus saw Nathanael coming to Him, and said of him, “Behold, an Israelite indeed, in whom there is no deceit!” Nathanael said to Him, “How do You know me?” Jesus answered and said to him, “Before Philip called you, when you were under the fig tree, I saw you.” Nathanael answered Him, “Rabbi, You are the Son of God; You are the King of Israel.” Jesus answered and said to him, “Because I said to you that I saw you under the fig tree, do you believe? You will see greater things than these.” And He said to him, “Truly, truly, I say to you, you will see the heavens opened and the angels of God ascending and descending on the Son of Man.”
Micah 4:4, "Each of them will sit under his vine And under his fig tree, With no one to make them afraid, For the mouth of the LORD of hosts has spoken."

Certain resources I looked at said it was a Hebrew idiom...that "under the fig tree" meant peace. That would mean that if you were sitting under a tree you weren't behind safe walls to defend yourself...giving the idea of peace times.

Zech 3:10, "In that day (another idiom for when the Messiah comes) each of you will invite his neighbor to sit under his vine and fig tree,' declares the LORD Almighty."

Maybe when Jesus told Nathanael that he had seen him under the fig tree before Philip called him, he was not only showing his omniscients (all knowing God characteristic) but also clearly sharing to someone as devout as Nathanael that he was the Messiah!

Okay, maybe you read stuff and get those nuances right off the bat...but for this chiccy...well, it's just awesome...in the true use of that word...AWESOME GOD!

Memory Monday with the Kiddos!

"Devote yourselves to prayer, keeping alert in it with an attitude of thanksgiving." Col. 4:2
Wahoo...no mistakes. I'm on a roll! I even got the kids saying their verse! Sweet girl can say the whole thing without stopping but she won't on video...so I humor her. He just likes to be included! We've been keeping our verses in a tiny basket on the kitchen table and every time we sit down there (which is a lot with either meals or crafts) we practice our verse. I gave them two weeks on theirs...cuz it's new and all!

Caffeinated Randomness: Septober...argh!

I'm experiencing Septober...you know that odd time where two calendar months collide? Sometimes things on the flip of the calendar sneak right up on you...and WHAM...you're busy. AND if you happen to get sick at that same time...well, hang on it's gonna be a wild ride!

I've had Sinusitis...a really good case of it. You know, when a Dr. says, "You're a real trooper" it's not really a compliment...it means..."You're really sick...and should have come in sooner." He prescribed a codeine (narcotic) based pain killer with my antibiotic cuz my sinuses were killing me. I took one at night...and even in the night they have horrible adverse effects on me. I had wild dreams and sweats and in the morning felt like I was full of cotton and fuzzy. Eww! Nope...no more narcotics for me.

Then, the little man was sick again. He's sick about every two to three weeks for those keeping track. Sure enough...ear infections...antibiotic...again! I'm still trucking a long in my own strength. Dumb...very dumb! Okay, to be honest I had thought of--

"Trust in the LORD with all your heart
And do not lean on your own understanding.
In all your ways acknowledge Him,
And He will make your paths straight." Prov. 3:5-6

Notice...I said I thought of it...doesn't mean that I stopped trying to make everything right necessarily. I sort of gave it to God. You ever do that?? Dumb...very dumb...just give it over!

Next, Loverbrains starts saying how tired he is...and probably has a cold...and am I loving and understanding? Oh no! Pure selfishness screamed, jumped up and down, and cried at the thought of yet another sick person to take care of. For heavens sake, it's my turn to be sick. I told a friend that I just didn't think I could face it. She said...in all caps...

"I CAN DO ALL THINGS THROUGH HIM WHO STRENGTHENS ME." Phil. 4:13

Ah..that's right! I am not alone and dependent on my own strength. God is in control today...and He isn't needing my help! The fact that we are all sick is no surprise to God. He knows that we are going out of town for a college reunion. He knows I had a bushel of apples to fully freeze, can, dehydrate and care for!! So why would He allow us to be sick? What is He trying to teach me? Hmmmm?

"And He has said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for power is perfected in weakness." Most gladly, therefore, I will rather boast about my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may dwell in me." 2 Cor. 12:9

"Be still and know that I am God." Ps. 46:10

God has a funny way of making me stop and take account of myself. I have a major "trust God" problem...not with big things so much as the little things! Still dangerous! Maybe more so...cuz it sneaks up on you...and Satan tiptoes in and helps you feel all self sufficient and mighty. Sickening! God is God...and I am NOT! If it takes me being sick to see God's proper powerful place in my life...bring it on! AND...double challenge...better make sure that Christ can be seen in me even when I'm sick. Let me just say that I'm mean when I'm sick...so is Loverbrains...and it makes for an ugly marriage! So, who needs to say they're sorry...ME!!!

"Open my eyes that I may see wonderful things in your law." Ps. 119:18
I see so many good things about God when I'm sick. No, it's not the drugs! I see beauty out the window in His Creation. I see wonderful things in my kids playful ways. I see mighty and comforting things in His Word. God is good to His children! I know that sounds sort of crazy...from a sick person...but I know He loves me and He's in control.

So, even if Septober snuck up on me...and I'm buckling up for a bumpy weekend...it'll be alright...cuz I'm not driving! Metaphorically and Literally...God is driving my life...and Darren's driving to Cinci!