tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-79443482234216195712024-03-13T03:37:20.996-04:00The Wright Place~Where we live out, laugh about, and love our life together~Gretchenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00466944413387670548noreply@blogger.comBlogger605125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7944348223421619571.post-15953305477920851092019-08-19T12:19:00.001-04:002019-08-19T12:19:42.031-04:00A Church of One's OwnMy family and I recently had the opportunity to visit a church far away from home. Darrin looked online and found a few options for the upcoming Sunday morning and a church was selected and plans were made. It is an odd thing to be a VISITOR at not-my-own church. Are we dressed ok? Are we going to stick out as much as it feels like we will? Will there be a pew to fit us all?<br />
<br />
As we pulled into a full parking lot ten minutes early all of those thoughts landed on me. My kids were all eyes and ears and felt all of the awkward unknown. We quickly chose a pew near the back and filed in. Soon the sanctuary began filling with all manner of characters. We scoured the bulletin and discovered that the main pastor was not there as his family had welcomed a new baby that week. The very young associate pastor (pastors keep seeming younger and younger to us for some reason?) would be delivering the message on Psalm 16.<br />
<br />
We stood to sing the opening hymn and though it was well known to us, the missing of our own church increased. We listened to the Scripture reading and the voice coming through the speakers felt all off. We listened to announcements that we didn't feel responsible for, which was nice, and then we sang more beloved hymns but without the familiar voices singing alongside. We listened and took notes on the sermon just like we would've at home and nodded in ascent as the pastor made his three points and well-linked illustrations. At the close of the service a lady seated behind us told us to please come back again. She was the first to speak to us and because we scurried away 2.7 seconds after Darrin shook the associate pastor's hand, she was the only one who had looked in our direction.<br />
<br />
When we are at home, in our own pews, at our own church, among our own church family we often say of visitors when they scurry away, "Wow, they were sure in a hurry to get outta here." We always hope that Darrin hasn't been the only one to talk to them and are confident, most Sundays that this has not been the case. We do understand a little better how visitors feel every time we assume the role ourselves. We <i>really</i> didn't want to be approached or chatted with. We <i>really</i> did want to slide in and worship and slide out. However, when we got into the car with the doors safely closed one of our kids said, "Wow, I miss the friendly people in <i>our</i> church." I was reminded that even when we are away, our hearts still need to experience the "one another" parts of a worship service. Certainly the worship of God is priority, but the being among other members of a congregation is also important and we missed that on that Sunday.<br />
<br />
It seems that visiting not-my-own church is a lot like visiting someone else's grandma. She is sweet and welcoming and nice and so happy to see me but she's always going to be happier to see her own grandchild, likewise, I am always going to be happiest to see my own grandma. I know she loves me, I know where the candy drawer is in her kitchen. I know what kind of meal I will be served and I know where forks and plates go when I help put the dishes away afterwards. At not-my-own-grandma's there will be cookies and candy and warm welcome, but it just cannot be the same. The food will be different, I won't be permitted to help clean up. Things will be nice but not known.<br />
<br />
Don't we all love the known? As we come to the end of our time away from our home and from our church I am filled with a renewed appreciation to God for the home and for the church where I belong, where I know and where I am known. One of the greatest gifts in my life is my church family and I am looking forward to returning, renewed and refreshed for the next season we will all encounter…together.<br />
<br />
My heart sings with Paul's when he says to the Philippians…<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
I thank my God in all my remembrance of you, always in every prayer of mine for you all making my prayer with joy, because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now. And I am sure of this, that he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ. It is right for me to feel this way about you all, because I hold you in my heart, for you are all partakers with me of grace…For God is my witness, how I yearn for you all with the affection of Christ Jesus.</blockquote>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
</blockquote>
Gretchenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00466944413387670548noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7944348223421619571.post-30539776322689041282017-06-22T08:32:00.000-04:002017-06-22T08:32:51.816-04:00The End of an Era (Another One) <div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
We thought we'd never see the end of Molly's softball season this year. The league's championship game which had gotten rained out the night before was to be continued this past Monday evening. The team we were playing was one who shellacked us on Saturday 23-8 or something awful like that giving us our very first loss of the season. That same team was the team we beat in a very close game at the beginning of the tournament, giving them <i>their</i> very first loss of the season. It was going to be a tense game and quite frankly, the rain on Sunday evening was a relief and a bummer at the same time. So, Monday evening we saddled our lawn chairs and settled in for a game and a half. The forecast was clear and we were ready to take our beating…or so I thought. </div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
Happily our girls were able to hang pretty well and keep the score close through the first two innings and then in the third inning they kept the other team from scoring at all. By the end of the fourth inning, our team had pulled the lead to 10-5 in with our very own Molly hitting a triple and driving in a few runs and then being driven in herself with the next batter. </div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
As Molly was rounding the bases to third, the skies unloaded in protest to the clear forecast <i>just like they had the night before!</i> Since the game was considered complete at the end of the fourth inning, all we had to do was wait for the umpire to call the game (which was bound to happen since they field had quickly turned into one huge puddle), and collect the trophies. We all agreed that this was surely a bitter pill for the opposing team and felt a <i>bit</i> bad for them but we enjoyed the victory all the same, especially as it was Molly's last year and last game on this special team.<br />
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtpnNx-7WXn8tq5A4oPh4Hd30AXQs7Ob0M-kjKM6Hgw7PHq2DJ0r55XjLzgb64ovfdyaV-1jEZJm87OChkQ8Mhqg8K34CPNQtm3OmvTzYS2UYyScBwk7d-7u__OSnC45_ehDeaWH4O-KY/s1600/IMG_1474.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtpnNx-7WXn8tq5A4oPh4Hd30AXQs7Ob0M-kjKM6Hgw7PHq2DJ0r55XjLzgb64ovfdyaV-1jEZJm87OChkQ8Mhqg8K34CPNQtm3OmvTzYS2UYyScBwk7d-7u__OSnC45_ehDeaWH4O-KY/s640/IMG_1474.JPG" width="480" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwJ6nIwp0ygae22FPhVGnu1PD21jQsOx14MkRyLNGHccRkNHR8aNvwe2AUD7yBpKkyvmQYp7xvekIfukHimeLoS0v2UQRkcFYbT236TBjbAT_TPoaBxNXimpUlMX7kQxEOL97tP_c4RPU/s1600/IMG_1477.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwJ6nIwp0ygae22FPhVGnu1PD21jQsOx14MkRyLNGHccRkNHR8aNvwe2AUD7yBpKkyvmQYp7xvekIfukHimeLoS0v2UQRkcFYbT236TBjbAT_TPoaBxNXimpUlMX7kQxEOL97tP_c4RPU/s640/IMG_1477.JPG" width="480" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
They celebrated at McDonald's afterward with chicken nuggets and ice cream cones and so ended the Wright family's career in Foxtail Softball. </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
Gretchenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00466944413387670548noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7944348223421619571.post-74931156267224293202016-06-13T09:49:00.000-04:002016-06-13T09:56:00.869-04:00Rolled Eyes and Reluctant Readers (or How to Get your Kids to Read in the Summer)This…the 142 post about books here at The Wright Place. Summer is here and we are reading. Some of us by choice and others by sheer force.<br />
<br />
My children, particularly the misfits among us for whom reading is not their first "go to" summer activity are nearing the point already in early June of spraining their eye sockets with all of the eye rolling because of conversations like this…<br />
<br />
"May I watch a show?"<br />
<br />
"No, go read a book,"<br />
<br />
"Can I play a game on my tablet?"<br />
<br />
"No, go read a book."<br />
<br />
"Can I clean my room instead?<br />
<br />
Pause…<br />
<br />
"Yes, but then go read a book."<br />
<br />
Then there's the end of the day query made by the parents:<br />
<br />
"Have you read for 30 minutes today?"<br />
<br />
Oh…the eye rolling…<br />
<br />
You know what though, eye rolling doesn't hurt the one receiving it at all and so…we the parents will continue to insist and they the kids will continue to read… and, I am sure, to roll their eyes.<br />
<br />
This week, the requirement as increased to 45 minutes and the eye rolling has increased accordingly. Not all of the kids need such requirement, but some do. Our hope, of course is that by the end of 45 minutes, they'll be good and carried away by the story they are reading that they'll just keep on going and get all of those good words and plots and characters and settings into their heads and hearts! It's a perfect plan, right?<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNbr6v1v7yhZZiiHkj6l9y7TyFDVZebC_rUzCLUsi3BOnQkRTk1P0iasK95wwxT4tNE2_0y5YcJFAP6ITh3pFUNRgY9heS-RqHz7SZa3a3esZAYZhphw4BHjkAyEIkdw-36k9xHjFIbwU/s1600/IMG_6863.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNbr6v1v7yhZZiiHkj6l9y7TyFDVZebC_rUzCLUsi3BOnQkRTk1P0iasK95wwxT4tNE2_0y5YcJFAP6ITh3pFUNRgY9heS-RqHz7SZa3a3esZAYZhphw4BHjkAyEIkdw-36k9xHjFIbwU/s400/IMG_6863.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
We shall see…<br />
<br />
Kate and Molly and I just finished our very first Roald Dahl book, <i><a href="http://www.amazon.com/BFG-Roald-Dahl/dp/0142410381?ie=UTF8&keywords=the%20bfg%20book&qid=1465311453&ref_=sr_1_1&sr=8-1" target="_blank">The BFG</a></i> in time for the movie of the same title. We busted our still-during-the-school-year bedtimes reading late into more than a few nights to see what would happen to Sophie and The Big Friendly Giant. We thoroughly enjoyed the parts concerning the Queen of England. The book was delightful and I am more than a little nervous about the <a href="https://youtu.be/tQaG_95WQUg" target="_blank">movie</a> living up to it. We initially borrowed <a href="http://www.amazon.com/BFG-Roald-Dahl/dp/0142410381?ie=UTF8&keywords=the%20bfg%20book&qid=1465311453&ref_=sr_1_1&sr=8-1" target="_blank">The BFG </a>from the library but after finishing it, we loved it so dearly that we decided we needed our very own copy for our very own shelves.<br />
<br />
We highly recommend this and feel that it simply MUST be read out loud.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbdrQHhwGwAJh4VzZFSVFqQ_h1QlkhwCsWvZbztpEZ4kP44JTb2iugSPGAEigE8OUKSLLG5BEYvA75jg4RO4UU42kx_HaSghMJfpCS8QrafhGr5phJUEentUPTDKF1852Hoe1eS-zz5Wg/s1600/30183187.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbdrQHhwGwAJh4VzZFSVFqQ_h1QlkhwCsWvZbztpEZ4kP44JTb2iugSPGAEigE8OUKSLLG5BEYvA75jg4RO4UU42kx_HaSghMJfpCS8QrafhGr5phJUEentUPTDKF1852Hoe1eS-zz5Wg/s320/30183187.jpg" width="237" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
We moved immediately into <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Matilda-Roald-Dahl/dp/0142410373?ie=UTF8&keywords=matilda&qid=1465311847&ref_=sr_1_2&sr=8-2" target="_blank">Matilda</a>, also by Roald Dahl, upon completion of The BFG. Matilda has quite a different feel to it, but we are already charmed by her and disgusted by her parents…just, I think, as the author intended.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgB1T6v1ahS5WOxULt8ZPxS6itxwnFroYZmXrm6kXBCag0hyphenhyphenRyi8wIaWWgZTDDuIt97AICP1u93jmD6e4kOBPR06SjQEyC7oCX98yXANzPegZcfIXc3iROG3kLIsdw7kWaHABMUB9vIa1M/s1600/39988.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgB1T6v1ahS5WOxULt8ZPxS6itxwnFroYZmXrm6kXBCag0hyphenhyphenRyi8wIaWWgZTDDuIt97AICP1u93jmD6e4kOBPR06SjQEyC7oCX98yXANzPegZcfIXc3iROG3kLIsdw7kWaHABMUB9vIa1M/s320/39988.jpg" width="208" /></a></div>
<div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Molly has been into the series books lately and is particularly enjoying the <a href="http://www.amazon.com/dp/0545415683/ref=rdr_ext_sb_pi_sims_6" target="_blank">Whatever After</a> series by Sarah Mlynowski. Each book in the series tells the story of a known fairy tale but puts a major spin on the plot. Lots of fun and lots of books in the <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Whatever-After-Boxset-Books-1-6/dp/0545855764/ref=pd_sim_14_17?ie=UTF8&dpID=51dxVbCgRtL&dpSrc=sims&preST=_AC_UL160_SR141%2C160_&refRID=NVGA4Z4VPKTS7D1X381Y" target="_blank">series</a>.</div>
<div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijG8wRdjl-727Q1KcIjHBclnx5pptwjNeAsxLIkYw4M4xxhsQCrj5Bvi1XNWh8m1IJ349IbxMQAsPJx_Wr_vy_qbcRANynMHpLzV2NgBYI5XKygVR3-37VujPeVrKpL18BhYiP-6ZqStM/s1600/14759306.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijG8wRdjl-727Q1KcIjHBclnx5pptwjNeAsxLIkYw4M4xxhsQCrj5Bvi1XNWh8m1IJ349IbxMQAsPJx_Wr_vy_qbcRANynMHpLzV2NgBYI5XKygVR3-37VujPeVrKpL18BhYiP-6ZqStM/s320/14759306.jpg" width="232" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
And she is over-the-moon happy to curl up with her hero <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Secret-Agent-Jack-Stalwart-Book/dp/1602860041/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1465821649&sr=1-1&keywords=jack+stalwart+box+set" target="_blank">Jack Stalwart</a> as she reads about him in the fourteen book series by Elizabeth Singer Hunt. Jack is a spy which rings all of Molly's requirements for a good read. She is nearing halfway in the series and is waiting not-so-patiently for her dad to click the buttons and make the next one appear ("In paperback please," she instructs, "I like to bend them.").</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtn3klivaV68iShovN5ussxldYgdPYIZd4VEo3xvhH2Yk7yuo24tVaUTi1zTu2alazIWZyDh7dABORk_-LzHOAkQzNayXob4JwwAMkvmWVm7i9NUN0IMDfaszY-O4I0Kcx7gSSdoXnaxc/s1600/2004117.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtn3klivaV68iShovN5ussxldYgdPYIZd4VEo3xvhH2Yk7yuo24tVaUTi1zTu2alazIWZyDh7dABORk_-LzHOAkQzNayXob4JwwAMkvmWVm7i9NUN0IMDfaszY-O4I0Kcx7gSSdoXnaxc/s320/2004117.jpg" width="230" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Megan read and enjoyed <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Blue-Castle-L-M-Montgomery/dp/1402289367/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1465819950&sr=8-1&keywords=the+blue+castle" target="_blank">The Blue Castle</a> by L. M. Montgomery of Anne of Green Gables fame. The Blue Castle is written for an older reader than the Anne books and both Meg and I loved this story. I read it last year in about a day and a half, and Meg read it between her school readings this year. (Bonus: its <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Blue-Castle-Lucy-Maud-Montgomery-ebook/dp/B00MACH26Q/ref=tmm_kin_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&qid=1465819950&sr=8-1" target="_blank">$0.99 on Kindle</a> just now.) </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_BOFIwjLgxxkxS4aSByJ-NyiUigEAsrB01H7_9I-tTA9KAic-rfdED23GYGTVVLzWpremCFHUoF_PD_-wiHutwTktwCQM1_McDSKVLK2QxO73wC0LxYkOtN0GA8J6kMjwBoynDs3M1zs/s1600/18615067.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_BOFIwjLgxxkxS4aSByJ-NyiUigEAsrB01H7_9I-tTA9KAic-rfdED23GYGTVVLzWpremCFHUoF_PD_-wiHutwTktwCQM1_McDSKVLK2QxO73wC0LxYkOtN0GA8J6kMjwBoynDs3M1zs/s320/18615067.jpg" width="212" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Meg's summer fiction has included the book <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Passenger-Alexandra-Bracken/dp/1484715772/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1465820099&sr=8-1&keywords=passenger" target="_blank">Passenger</a>, recommended <a href="http://modernmrsdarcy.com/young-adult-summer-reading-list/" target="_blank">in this post from Modern Mrs Darcy</a> </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3wMaIi5htvwAljNRMJNztZ6bciRlsIiTB4vgCMDJH4wk0U_Pw213xCDjSq82OrUB7ApsRcK29oG67U4IDqf6GALGeK_eKCyiUSLq3CtfDQs00Rxt57W9n9-aqhf0TCirWoPOapp3yDhA/s1600/20983362.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3wMaIi5htvwAljNRMJNztZ6bciRlsIiTB4vgCMDJH4wk0U_Pw213xCDjSq82OrUB7ApsRcK29oG67U4IDqf6GALGeK_eKCyiUSLq3CtfDQs00Rxt57W9n9-aqhf0TCirWoPOapp3yDhA/s320/20983362.jpg" width="210" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
and <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Sweetness-at-Bottom-Pie/dp/0385342306?ie=UTF8&SubscriptionId=1MGPYB6YW3HWK55XCGG2&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=0385342306&linkCode=as2&redirect=true&ref_=x_gr_w_glide_bb&tag=x_gr_w_glide_bb-20" target="_blank">The Sweetness at the Bottom of the Pie</a> by Alan Bradley (read and adored years ago by yours truly) which both she and Cole are reading for a summer book club. </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9b6FD1AKc3CxxRjavubw5AGZQv74zi06VkN3Ps2wCSjdJ9_1SLje1MZCg47qkjRcfBohO-R9uXzS5Tz74Xf-q4_S63GwQsXNUqlfyt6R9HHA4PXP0jU6aYEORYUvgCtiHEjr7cAFAqjw/s1600/6218281.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9b6FD1AKc3CxxRjavubw5AGZQv74zi06VkN3Ps2wCSjdJ9_1SLje1MZCg47qkjRcfBohO-R9uXzS5Tz74Xf-q4_S63GwQsXNUqlfyt6R9HHA4PXP0jU6aYEORYUvgCtiHEjr7cAFAqjw/s320/6218281.jpg" width="214" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="text-align: center;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Kate is reading <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Flunked-Fairy-Tale-Reform-School/dp/1492620815/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1465822248&sr=1-1&keywords=flunked" target="_blank">Flunked (Fairy Tale Reform School)</a> by Jen Calonita… </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVMmHWuftYJYGguzmCefUMtzWiPpBaQw7n51Vw2sQ8wMK5UnLc8LxAM0VXeDbn-mjGcM6kLU3ad440NRAoXCi0zqu4nNEzfyrzEj0AiLuaJn5EpoR7a3PMHxnBvh9VPN7_3WhHVq9aMjQ/s1600/21996359.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVMmHWuftYJYGguzmCefUMtzWiPpBaQw7n51Vw2sQ8wMK5UnLc8LxAM0VXeDbn-mjGcM6kLU3ad440NRAoXCi0zqu4nNEzfyrzEj0AiLuaJn5EpoR7a3PMHxnBvh9VPN7_3WhHVq9aMjQ/s320/21996359.jpg" width="234" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
…and has read aloud the rest of our growing <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Roald-Dahl/e/B000AQ0WGQ/ref=sr_ntt_srch_lnk_1?qid=1465822504&sr=1-1" target="_blank">Roald Dahl</a> collection to Molly (in the misery loves company category:-). </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5wjkd2TZSZVjJaNV8_w-Cifr26SD2wH0NzekiDcaAnsaNSJT323IbCODBiUA6pjXJI8bgF3caOAmCMG2nDVd1CNvKmli7ps2ThK5wiVdyzW-2Va6xTgLXECNypVc_fAs1-FxawsAmGKE/s1600/photo.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5wjkd2TZSZVjJaNV8_w-Cifr26SD2wH0NzekiDcaAnsaNSJT323IbCODBiUA6pjXJI8bgF3caOAmCMG2nDVd1CNvKmli7ps2ThK5wiVdyzW-2Va6xTgLXECNypVc_fAs1-FxawsAmGKE/s640/photo.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
Their read-alouds have included:</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJix_gkstcDF0OYQNfPvaYlpj8i_ANAqhapk5jA0xCQfgCo6JnBjAoDUgZtsquzFjjfqiKYspTSGnid_jfDPoeUZlegjs_tCNDzWfoTDn_p5UKMFBTUz7Xdp5msXRXkpMFOOBZ9FYHDIU/s1600/6694.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJix_gkstcDF0OYQNfPvaYlpj8i_ANAqhapk5jA0xCQfgCo6JnBjAoDUgZtsquzFjjfqiKYspTSGnid_jfDPoeUZlegjs_tCNDzWfoTDn_p5UKMFBTUz7Xdp5msXRXkpMFOOBZ9FYHDIU/s320/6694.jpg" width="246" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://www.amazon.com/Giraffe-Pelly-Me-Roald-Dahl/dp/0142413844?ie=UTF8&ref_=asap_bc" target="_blank">The Giraffe and the Pelly and Me</a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5hV7tPJ8fk11pqGyhL2UpiyvCLfcML3hYaAUqPxIQy5byHG1rmjE7riTds9deslnKLB4wSajnhkVd0KZ-76qwpBW7c2b68T0u_U0oKEYpcvvCRz_THOeQV2OhxXjrkLn8WIF_xu2jkY4/s1600/74532.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5hV7tPJ8fk11pqGyhL2UpiyvCLfcML3hYaAUqPxIQy5byHG1rmjE7riTds9deslnKLB4wSajnhkVd0KZ-76qwpBW7c2b68T0u_U0oKEYpcvvCRz_THOeQV2OhxXjrkLn8WIF_xu2jkY4/s320/74532.jpg" width="220" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://www.amazon.com/Georges-Marvelous-Medicine-Roald-Dahl/dp/0142410357?ie=UTF8&ref_=asap_bc" target="_blank">George's Marvellous Medicine</a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJqrPEiHvCJcblW9zolxDEial7HUL3mBbNC9HIT052OZs7p7y9SL4To0dmQYWfZiQPwZOeIIyjKNweMb2rZ8NfbKeJ7LCtppJBGLGloOvQWb-gK_0i_VBnXRu_zJV19Z0-Qd4VQqPGT4Q/s1600/194755.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJqrPEiHvCJcblW9zolxDEial7HUL3mBbNC9HIT052OZs7p7y9SL4To0dmQYWfZiQPwZOeIIyjKNweMb2rZ8NfbKeJ7LCtppJBGLGloOvQWb-gK_0i_VBnXRu_zJV19Z0-Qd4VQqPGT4Q/s320/194755.jpg" width="218" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://www.amazon.com/Esio-Trot-Roald-Dahl/dp/0142413828?ie=UTF8&ref_=asap_bc" target="_blank">Esio Trot</a> </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
(which is tortoise spelled backwards!)</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<a href="https://coleswright.wordpress.com/" target="_blank">Cole</a> (and Meg and my Man and I) is in the midst of the <a href="http://www.challies.com/resources/the-2016-reading-challenge" target="_blank">Visual Theology 2016 Reading Challenge</a>. Highly inspired by challenges and goals, and seeing most of life as a competition of some sort or other, Cole is pursuing his summer reading like it's his JOB. He has posted his Summer 2016 book list and recommendations on his <a href="https://coleswright.wordpress.com/2016/06/05/what-im-reading-this-summer/#comments" target="_blank">own blog</a>. I'm a tiny bit proud of <strike>him</strike> <a href="https://coleswright.wordpress.com/" target="_blank">it</a>.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
I hope your summer reading is full and fantastic. Here's to cold drinks, loads of sunshine, and abundant pages!</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAuTR5CEe7PH-bW86B8Pw6d-Nutm7OEoEXsDqHJoFFT3H7LMn04mA7Xn98RVWb38YlRo9eLvqTmNemIWmgkPXt6XVlqCk3VrkR4-H4BG4GHCSM1XUysg03gwIhUiNnpdkCoxtBD7pUlxw/s1600/IMG_6849.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAuTR5CEe7PH-bW86B8Pw6d-Nutm7OEoEXsDqHJoFFT3H7LMn04mA7Xn98RVWb38YlRo9eLvqTmNemIWmgkPXt6XVlqCk3VrkR4-H4BG4GHCSM1XUysg03gwIhUiNnpdkCoxtBD7pUlxw/s640/IMG_6849.JPG" width="480" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<i><span style="font-size: large;">A book is a gift you can open again and again. </span></i></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<i><span style="font-size: large;">~Garrison Keillor</span></i></div>
<br />Gretchenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00466944413387670548noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7944348223421619571.post-48571505124501815092016-05-20T10:32:00.001-04:002016-05-20T10:32:18.439-04:00Molly and the Internet...<br />
Molly rushed into the house with solemn purpose a few afternoons ago. She was so intent on her mission that she'd forgotten to take off her shoes and her bike helmet before coming inside. I gave her a long sideways glance.<br />
<br />
She took one sheepish breath and said, "I'm sorry, I forgot about my shoes. See, Abby (the neighbor friend with whom she'd been playing) is learning sign language on the computer and her sign for "mother" is this (showing me with her hands) but I think it's this (again, a slightly different motion) because that's what I learned at co-op. So, I'm going up to my room to get my <i>book</i> because, you know how the internet is wrong <i>sometimes</i>…."<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhaxPP7FpXG_RoFZKboJPp12rvNLyQXxJyPvMzlP8okzEcSA087cS8ZGwpKYZw_aarJbJq_BHQpakf32cFeZuobj0gVZKj8qMEejjtbbhkz6f17pfr0FezNfm-Ib5eqU3ZNv23yNu7GvU/s1600/IMG_6800.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhaxPP7FpXG_RoFZKboJPp12rvNLyQXxJyPvMzlP8okzEcSA087cS8ZGwpKYZw_aarJbJq_BHQpakf32cFeZuobj0gVZKj8qMEejjtbbhkz6f17pfr0FezNfm-Ib5eqU3ZNv23yNu7GvU/s640/IMG_6800.JPG" width="480" /></a></div>
<br />
I wanted to ask her about her experience with misinformation and the internet, but she was in a hurry to defend her case in the neighborhood…<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMn2f8qFiXOwdfrffMT3hw8Q8wEM6NLiTEecTTqug-U9yaQ0LDOfpkbtIVzOqfOUkRzU-HdwzzfuLFl133lp4QxVw-OLi_WEWW14Ab-4bZ_3BSoFI2YUx_Qz1VFFjc6Z0gbgh9KRmIO7o/s1600/IMG_6801.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="317" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMn2f8qFiXOwdfrffMT3hw8Q8wEM6NLiTEecTTqug-U9yaQ0LDOfpkbtIVzOqfOUkRzU-HdwzzfuLFl133lp4QxVw-OLi_WEWW14Ab-4bZ_3BSoFI2YUx_Qz1VFFjc6Z0gbgh9KRmIO7o/s400/IMG_6801.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i>"The internet is just a world passing around notes in a classroom." ~Jon Stewart</i></div>
<div>
<i><br /></i></div>
Gretchenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00466944413387670548noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7944348223421619571.post-35564735554284659232016-03-30T09:00:00.003-04:002019-08-19T12:21:01.101-04:00A Good ChurchWe were just about finished running errands for the afternoon, Molly and I, when we passed a church.<br />
<br />
"Is that a good church, Mom?" she asked, pointing out the window.<br />
<br />
"Well, what do you mean by <i>a good church</i>, Molly?"<br />
<br />
"I mean do they preach good things about God there?"<br />
<br />
I shared with Molly what I knew of the church but told her that I'd not been to a worship service there so I couldn't answer her fully. As always, it was enlightening to get to hear a bit of what was going on in her mind—to catch a glimpse of what she is thinking as we tool about town doing our normal things. I was just beginning to wonder why, out of the blue, Molly was asking about churches besides our own when she added a thought which explained <i>everything</i>.<br />
<br />
"I need to <i>know</i> about these things Mom, so that I will know which church to take my kids to someday."<br />
<br />
I grinned and looked forward to telling my Man, my <i>preacher</i>-Man, all about this conversation. It became as fun as I'd imagined it was going to be when he said indignantly, "Is there some reason, I wonder, why she wouldn't just bring her family to <i>our</i> church?"<br />
<br />
"She's seven," I reminded him, "you've got a year or two to win her loyalty…"<br />
<br />
Preachers…sometimes they can be sooooo sensitive.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbHMV00mKEvpAW-ZMf5F42NcrHh_bD2qwLj6q6LCgcvZZo4IMqKLKMrmsryEyT_e9Pnp4nWQmPkq3xW2R1lBAewCickFL7HlTZYVdtOhG7cJoSBD_4TgeST1sEuUlmAcZnAW68nHOV7Xk/s1600/IMG_6527.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbHMV00mKEvpAW-ZMf5F42NcrHh_bD2qwLj6q6LCgcvZZo4IMqKLKMrmsryEyT_e9Pnp4nWQmPkq3xW2R1lBAewCickFL7HlTZYVdtOhG7cJoSBD_4TgeST1sEuUlmAcZnAW68nHOV7Xk/s640/IMG_6527.JPG" width="480" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
From Easter Sunday…back in the day when Molly still attended church with us.</div>
<br />
<br />Gretchenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00466944413387670548noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7944348223421619571.post-33702961926555036102016-01-06T09:51:00.001-05:002016-01-06T14:31:11.515-05:00It's 2016 and we are BACK with a few of our Favorite Things!<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">I woke this morning and greeted the hermit crab who has taken up residence in our bathroom because it is not warm enough in his upstairs home these winter days. There is a heater on its way to us from Amazon because my Man and I, though we are used to sharing our bathroom with all manner of children, are weary of sharing it with a hermit crab named Charles. </span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; line-height: normal; min-height: 13px;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Charles joined our family last summer straight from a mall kiosk and provided by Mammaw and Pappaw. He had been the quietest and lowest maintenance creature around these parts, until the temperature dropped and we had to shop for the heater and all. We have gotten used to him though, and are glad that he will be with us in this new year. There are a few other fun things that we discovered in 2015 that are helping us to hit the ground running in 2016.</span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; line-height: normal; min-height: 13px;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><b>The Wunderlist app</b>. I heard about this easy-to-use app on a podcast and downloaded it post haste. I was soon recommending it to my mom and sisters. It is essentially a list making app that allows you, if you choose, to share lists with others or to just make really nice lists (with subcategories even!) for yourself. My Man and I share a running grocery list which helps to ensure that it is always up to date when one of us is headed to the store. My mom and my sisters and I used Wunderlist to plan and assign who would make what for Christmas dinner...from three different states. It was a thing of beauty...and dinner wasn't bad either! The best part about it is the lovely little "DING" of accomplishment that it makes when you check something off of your list. I understand now how Pavlov's dog must have felt! I'm also keeping various lists of books that I'm hunting down for the new year and also a list of books that I plan to read in the new year.</span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; line-height: normal; min-height: 13px;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Speaking of books...</span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Toward the end of December, my Man came across <a href="http://www.challies.com/resources/the-2016-reading-challenge">The 2016 Reading Challenge</a> on one of his favorite blogs <a href="http://challies.com/">challies.com</a> . We took things a bit further and assigned point values to each book category according to length, difficulty, and importance and we are competing individually, on teams (kids vs. parents), and with some members of our extended family. I finished my first book this morning (<a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0060684127?keywords=aw%20tozer&qid=1452087747&ref_=sr_1_1&s=books&sr=1-1" target="_blank">The Knowledge of the Holy</a> by A. W. Tozier...highly recommend for short chapter-a-day devotional reading) for which I earned three points and the distinction of being the first at The Wright Place to finish a book for the challenge. Our goal is to expand our reading horizons and be more widely read readers. </span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; line-height: normal; min-height: 13px;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">The teenagers taught me about <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/dmusic/promotions/prime.html?tag=googhydr-20&hvadid=44462347203&hvpos=1t1&hvexid=&hvnetw=g&hvrand=11965993366343655340&hvpone=&hvptwo=&hvqmt=b&hvdev=c&ref=pd_sl_9mechqhww1_b" target="_blank">Amazon Prime Music</a>. It's also an app and it works much like Spotify. If you are an Amazon Prime member you can stream all sorts of music to your device AND you can even download certain selections to listen to when you are not in an area with wifi. Because of this app and the Bluetooth speaker I received for Christmas, our home has lately been filled with the sounds of the<a href="http://lso.co.uk/" target="_blank"> London Symphony Orchestra</a> and T<a href="https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B015VYJOPG?ie=UTF8&qid=1452089220&ref_=sr_dm_pl_1_5&s=dmusic&sr=1-5-mp3-playlist-bar-strip-0" target="_blank">he Boston Pops</a>. Lest you think us highbrow, we are listening to those two sets of gifted musicians play movie soundtracks including and especially the Star Wars themes. We are pretty sure Darth Vader is just around the corner waiting to march down our hallway and stir up all sorts of trouble. </span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; line-height: normal;">
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div>
</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/1sgEie6cQ6A" width="420"></iframe><br /></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; line-height: normal; min-height: 13px;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Finally, the girls and I have been intending to watch the series <a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0238784/?ref_=fn_al_tt_1" target="_blank">Gilmore Girls</a> together all year and just before year's end we sat down and dialed up the first episode and before we knew what had happened, we'd polished off three episodes. We were all kinds of smitten and giggly and amazed that three episodes had just flown by like that. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://encrypted-tbn0.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcTgmM7IqAwMSFUQWfuEDdHMrIya3eUf1Am8ecXIHzPP6Ftxz6OT" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://encrypted-tbn0.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcTgmM7IqAwMSFUQWfuEDdHMrIya3eUf1Am8ecXIHzPP6Ftxz6OT" width="387" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Kate said, "You mean we've watched THREE? It didn't seem like it?" To which her older, wiser sis explained, "THAT is what you call BINGE watching Kate!" We are still watching our way through season one of the seven that lay ahead of us. </span><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Lofty goals we have over here! Note: though FULL of charm, there are portions of the show that may not be suitable for younger children. So far, we haven't encountered anything "fast-forward" worthy, but I recently felt the need to preview a few scenes of an episode before letting the little girls watch. Mostly though, we just laugh at the sparkly dialogue and talk about the characters as if they were real people in our lives as we go about our days. </span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; line-height: normal; min-height: 13px;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">I hope this finds you and yours enjoying your first few days of 2016! </span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; line-height: normal; min-height: 13px;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div>
<br />
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">All of us at The Wright Place ( and Charles-the-Hermit-Crab ) wish you the happiest and most fulfilling New Year!</span></div>
Gretchenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00466944413387670548noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7944348223421619571.post-15070635685627196642015-12-04T22:00:00.003-05:002015-12-04T22:05:52.267-05:00Twenty-three Years Ago Today...To my Man,<br />
<div class="p1" style="color: #454545; line-height: normal;">
<span class="s1"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="p1" style="color: #454545; line-height: normal;">
<span class="s1"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Twenty-three years ago today we went on our first date. You know this better than I do, being the one of us who is comfortable with the calendar. We didn't know that twenty-three years ago though. We knew so very little then. We really only knew that we'd end up together. We just weren't sure how it was going to happen. We were all butterflies-in-the-belly and less feet-on-the-ground in reality. <span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>Twenty-three years ago we went to a movie as a couple for the very first time, after spending a semester becoming best friends...all these years later I'm so glad that we still are ... both. </span></span></div>
<div class="p1" style="color: #454545; line-height: normal;">
<span class="s1"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWXiapX804pZsDj8_3JQUtdSco4xAqvBpm01cW-3qVL6_bNV7MxVYEGqVn3gLYM2UUyhRR902wekUtJlYg2kTBWAfO0xboujpmrKIing8nuRhinGNBZTDgjpq9g3QbzRilhhb0cZIpmY0/s1600/IMG_3456.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWXiapX804pZsDj8_3JQUtdSco4xAqvBpm01cW-3qVL6_bNV7MxVYEGqVn3gLYM2UUyhRR902wekUtJlYg2kTBWAfO0xboujpmrKIing8nuRhinGNBZTDgjpq9g3QbzRilhhb0cZIpmY0/s400/IMG_3456.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="p2" style="color: #454545; line-height: normal; min-height: 20.3px;">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span class="s1"></span><br /></span></div>
<div class="p1" style="color: #454545; line-height: normal; text-align: center;">
<span class="s1"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">I call that a victory. </span></span></div>
<div class="p2" style="color: #454545; line-height: normal; min-height: 20.3px;">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="p1" style="line-height: normal;">
<span class="s1"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="color: #454545;">Twenty-three years ago, victories don't look like what they do today. Back then a victory was scheduling a few classes together in the business building and getting to spend time together in class. Now, a victory is scheduling a meal together and getting to talk about our very separate days. Then a victory was a good movie at my place, curled up on the couch with a pint each of Ben and Jerry's, today…well, we <i>still</i> consider that a victory... only now the couch is a bit more crowded. </span></span></span></div>
<div class="p1" style="line-height: normal;">
<span class="s1"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="color: #454545;"><br /></span></span></span></div>
<div class="p1" style="line-height: normal; text-align: center;">
<span class="s1"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="color: #454545;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPxOsrq992K0c5RDBrizdRMzSyYu1G7_hpB9tUtA8A5l-mBwzhP7nFNvIPnkf5WS0SnkA7KkiDCog-bPb7AkCpjohJ9C7y2fqtvNjQHMAsNzAK-Z209pVlhLzqNxwNgpG0PJuhKmCGSdE/s1600/image1.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPxOsrq992K0c5RDBrizdRMzSyYu1G7_hpB9tUtA8A5l-mBwzhP7nFNvIPnkf5WS0SnkA7KkiDCog-bPb7AkCpjohJ9C7y2fqtvNjQHMAsNzAK-Z209pVlhLzqNxwNgpG0PJuhKmCGSdE/s640/image1.jpg" width="640" /></a></span></span></span></div>
<div class="p1" style="color: #454545; line-height: normal;">
<span class="s1"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="p1" style="color: #454545; line-height: normal;">
<span class="s1"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">We had no way of knowing then, what our life together would look like but we had some hopeful ideas and some far off dreams. Now, here we stand in that far-off looking back for a moment and I'm just so thankful. </span></span></div>
<div class="p2" style="color: #454545; line-height: normal; min-height: 20.3px;">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span class="s1"></span><br /></span></div>
<div class="p1" style="color: #454545; line-height: normal;">
<span class="s1"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">I am so thankful to be yours. </span></span></div>
<div class="p1" style="color: #454545; line-height: normal;">
<span class="s1"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="p1" style="color: #454545; line-height: normal;">
<span class="s1"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Honestly, I don't think we'll ever be voted Marriage All Stars or anything like that because...we ARE, after all, us. You, the right-angle-loving, routine-living, order-craving, detail-focusing, list-checking, life-planning one and me, the scatter-brained, angle-bending, list-losing, big-picture-dreaming, order-wrecking, anti-calendaring one. That the dear Lord put us together, is real testament to His creativity and general sense of humor. </span></span></div>
<div class="p1" style="color: #454545; line-height: normal;">
<span class="s1"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="p1" style="color: #454545; line-height: normal;">
<span class="s1"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZSvezrEIE0qjyWb9Gn9TBIDdhAbIlAXB8yPZaOz-5QGn5Z1kSRlnj6uypRFGknGuNbU4OPRiqGrF-cOD57NTC1xe3_4ajr1HVyotsoES4NMa4CAmT_eK4Mqxvvn9dSn8UzyXoYyRnFkc/s1600/IMG_3114.JPG" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZSvezrEIE0qjyWb9Gn9TBIDdhAbIlAXB8yPZaOz-5QGn5Z1kSRlnj6uypRFGknGuNbU4OPRiqGrF-cOD57NTC1xe3_4ajr1HVyotsoES4NMa4CAmT_eK4Mqxvvn9dSn8UzyXoYyRnFkc/s1600/IMG_3114.JPG" /></a></div>
<div class="p1" style="color: #454545; line-height: normal;">
<br />
<span class="s1"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Twenty-three years ago, I might have dreamed of a life full of fiery romance and nail-biting adventure but these days I'm so much more grateful for our current reality. The one in which I tell you that all I need is for you to come home every night and you chuckle as if to say that the standard I've set is a pretty low one. But is it really? Isn't it in the daily things where victories secured? Isn't it in the often and always where hearts are knit and mended and where the important parts of life are lived? Therein, lies the romance. </span></span></div>
<div class="p1" style="color: #454545; line-height: normal;">
<span class="s1"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifu2xHa_pJdeL9TU3Sigy2zHdKlCNpAi34aN1GjbYzdtr1KA_tqD9bSoFlNHyTX-9Yg2q6fANkjhsL_NFFvje4LtUU9g7BN4A5QzGmhxH_Uz1B0Atvi37mvMyfzJAQJchHJGwxOd8tJs4/s1600/IMG_4857.JPG" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifu2xHa_pJdeL9TU3Sigy2zHdKlCNpAi34aN1GjbYzdtr1KA_tqD9bSoFlNHyTX-9Yg2q6fANkjhsL_NFFvje4LtUU9g7BN4A5QzGmhxH_Uz1B0Atvi37mvMyfzJAQJchHJGwxOd8tJs4/s640/IMG_4857.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="p2" style="color: #454545; line-height: normal; min-height: 20.3px;">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span class="s1"></span><br /></span></div>
<div class="p1" style="color: #454545; line-height: normal;">
<span class="s1"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">I ask for everyday and you've faithfully given that and then you've filled those days with the kinds of adventure two college kids on their first date twenty-three years ago could never have imagined.</span></span></div>
<div class="p1" style="color: #454545; line-height: normal;">
<br /></div>
<div class="p1" style="line-height: normal; text-align: center;">
<span class="s1"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="color: #454545;">Thanks for asking me out. </span></span></span></div>
<div class="p1" style="line-height: normal;">
<span class="s1"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="color: #454545;"><br /></span></span></span></div>
<div class="p1" style="line-height: normal; text-align: center;">
<span class="s1"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="color: #454545;">It was a brave move. </span></span></span></div>
<div class="p1" style="line-height: normal; text-align: center;">
<span class="s1"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="color: #454545;"><br /></span></span></span></div>
<div class="p1" style="line-height: normal; text-align: center;">
<span class="s1"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="color: #454545;">But not <i>nearly</i> as brave as having come home every. single. night. twenty-three years later.</span></span></span></div>
Gretchenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00466944413387670548noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7944348223421619571.post-76172224145723446862015-12-01T08:32:00.002-05:002015-12-02T08:10:35.692-05:00When You Are Not Feelin' All Advent-yWe began our Advent celebration last night around the table after a long day of school and errands. We'd ordered pizza for dinner because the Thanksgiving leftovers had run out along with my desire to produce anything more from the kitchen for a time. My Man had instructed the kids to clean off the dining room table so that "in a while we can do Advent." Then he set about paying the bills and getting the paper of our lives in order.<br />
<br />
I was working on a season related project and the kids, after finishing their task, had migrated to the couch in front of the TV and had begun watching a show after a bit of fussing about what to watch at all because "there is NOTHING on!"<br />
<br />
One child was particularly angsty because we'd made all indications that we'd be decorating the Christmas tree today and we'd not gotten nearly that far and she was both disappointed and determined that progress would be made before she was sent to bed. Her determination added a special challenge to our evening.<br />
<br />
I was so over the day. The LAST thing my heart wanted to do was lean into this season of love and togetherness and my family gathered around the table humming Silent Night.<br />
<br />
Ok, we don't <i>ever</i> hum Silent Night, but we do log some time around that table and I wasn't feeling it. I'd eventually found the beginnings of tree decor and Kate and I were making slow progress and soon my Man appeared with the Advent wreath and four sorry looking candles in his hand— he was on his way to the Christ candle to finish the set. Soon the call went out, "OK everyone, come in here for Advent!"<br />
<br />
We gathered, I handed out pieces of fudge, given us by a friend, to fuel our focus. There was a new <a href="http://amzn.to/1QRtlbZ">Advent book</a> this year and it is simple and clear and easy<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1939946530/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=1939946530&linkCode=as2&tag=thewripla053-20&linkId=TTDHNLT2BV5TGX7S" rel="nofollow"><img border="0" src="http://ws-na.amazon-adsystem.com/widgets/q?_encoding=UTF8&ASIN=1939946530&Format=_SL250_&ID=AsinImage&MarketPlace=US&ServiceVersion=20070822&WS=1&tag=thewripla053-20" height="320" width="199" /></a><img alt="" border="0" src="http://ir-na.amazon-adsystem.com/e/ir?t=thewripla053-20&l=as2&o=1&a=1939946530" height="1" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important;" width="1" /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="text-align: start;">We spent ten minutes together all pondering the message of hope from Isaiah—our reading from last night. There was a candle with a flame and a happy child chosen to light it.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="text-align: start;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9kkLZHdpwUPWfTot7c2t2W_9a0ZRMchup3yFWhm4jnydX8EBVoi5N4YNS-gOLpOzyiui3Y7TEZ8oq7NGCOtZ2wKAKc0fF5SiYrvtS80ZCB2uLl0qX_oUrnl4hSCAWb6AxcqTGxHumGWs/s1600/IMG_5837.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9kkLZHdpwUPWfTot7c2t2W_9a0ZRMchup3yFWhm4jnydX8EBVoi5N4YNS-gOLpOzyiui3Y7TEZ8oq7NGCOtZ2wKAKc0fF5SiYrvtS80ZCB2uLl0qX_oUrnl4hSCAWb6AxcqTGxHumGWs/s640/IMG_5837.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: start;">
There was a seven year old reading the Scripture and stumbling over a word or two from behind bangs that need some attention. Fudge was eaten, prayer was offered, and the smoke from the extinguished candle marked the end of our celebration. </div>
<div style="text-align: start;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: start;">
We didn't do it perfectly—we cannot. </div>
<div style="text-align: start;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: start;">
We didn't do it grandly—we know not. </div>
<div style="text-align: start;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: start;">
We didn't do it eagerly— we were not. </div>
<div style="text-align: start;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: start;">
But there remains the simple practice of simply showing up and doing a thing and last night we just did that — we did the least.</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-oIJ6G1HYoBzj0Za6JXJSRk00AH6hwlppV6FJM025gsl_t9sqb4BrNH01O-zHDI4RORhs_mpG0g_9UXNkhVC1xHfWKnmhsKhEkR_92Zf_UX2vMNuqGQ95SEO0-rXPWQiXOSDTtghvycM/s1600/IMG_5838.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-oIJ6G1HYoBzj0Za6JXJSRk00AH6hwlppV6FJM025gsl_t9sqb4BrNH01O-zHDI4RORhs_mpG0g_9UXNkhVC1xHfWKnmhsKhEkR_92Zf_UX2vMNuqGQ95SEO0-rXPWQiXOSDTtghvycM/s640/IMG_5838.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<br />
It was plain and simple and soon over. We gathered and pondered the Hope of the coming Savior and we left the table a little more hopeful and a little more inclined to be less about ourselves and what we felt like (or didn't) and more about the reason and Giver of our Hope.<br />
<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: "georgia" , "utopia" , "palatino linotype" , "palatino" , serif; font-size: 15px;"><i>...I wish there were ten or a dozen Christmas-days in the year; for there is work enough in the world, and a little more rest would not hurt laboring people. Christmas-day is really a boon to us, particularly as it enables us to assemble round the family hearth and meet our friends once more. Still, although we do not fall exactly in the track of other people, I see no harm in thinking of the incarnation and birth of the Lord Jesus.</i></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: "georgia" , "utopia" , "palatino linotype" , "palatino" , serif; font-size: 15px;"><i>~Charles H. Spurgeon~</i></span></div>
Gretchenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00466944413387670548noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7944348223421619571.post-42381752907718852612015-11-07T01:11:00.003-05:002015-11-07T01:11:49.286-05:00From Around the World, Stories from Nepal<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="text-align: start;">We are five days into my Man's 10 day trip to Nepal. </span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPkb6oZjP1uL8sLujbPU6D0pEcHPyWwUORjV6s7P4hH94eAboi8r2Rd_arBXWc7HalQnM0f8qu_TE3ptHQkFQAbfNAWj_66qGYwgDMsCyNfKbBi1hj56lxrmZGot10unzAw3pIQtIdMr0/s1600/IMG_5485.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPkb6oZjP1uL8sLujbPU6D0pEcHPyWwUORjV6s7P4hH94eAboi8r2Rd_arBXWc7HalQnM0f8qu_TE3ptHQkFQAbfNAWj_66qGYwgDMsCyNfKbBi1hj56lxrmZGot10unzAw3pIQtIdMr0/s400/IMG_5485.JPG" width="300" /></a></div>
<br />
God has been awfully good to us and we are doing well. Darrin and three men from our church left at 4 am Monday morning and spent the next day and a half traveling across the world. His purpose there is to teach and encourage the Nepali people.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaUUgg3o8sBBLmfzynZJlI8arbz4ISCtt4jwZ4ZUzZI5-z4zR_zHKK01BNUXED8VW7gehm1TeoYDmEh2icaWFmqnJ0g7EnnFRXFpvfAwwcOp8TZYKesmOftkzb_-MAIuSGtuwwhnAqPao/s1600/IMG_5518.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaUUgg3o8sBBLmfzynZJlI8arbz4ISCtt4jwZ4ZUzZI5-z4zR_zHKK01BNUXED8VW7gehm1TeoYDmEh2icaWFmqnJ0g7EnnFRXFpvfAwwcOp8TZYKesmOftkzb_-MAIuSGtuwwhnAqPao/s400/IMG_5518.JPG" width="300" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
We are able to send texts back and forth which has been a wonderful perk but since the time difference is nearly 11 hours, there are just a few windows of time in 24 hours where both of us are awake enough to communicate.<br />
<br />
When I wake up in the morning the training that he is participating in is just finishing and by 10 am in my morning, he is hitting the sleeping bag in his night time. As the days are ending for the kids and I here and we are crawling into our beds, Darrin is eating breakfast and preparing to teach for the day.<br />
<br />
So, we've taken to writing things down on our "Nepal Wall" so that we can remember to tell him and ask him when we have the opportunity.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<br />
We are keeping to our normal schedule during these days and the time seems to be passing as quickly as we'd hoped.<br />
<br />
I've been writing daily updates at our <a href="http://fbcwheeling.org/">church's website</a> and you can access them via the link below…<br />
<br />
<ul>
<li><a href="http://www.fbcwheeling.org/blog/post/nearing-nepal">Nearing Nepal </a></li>
<li><a href="http://www.fbcwheeling.org/blog/post/safe-and-set-up">Safe and Set Up</a></li>
<li><a href="http://www.fbcwheeling.org/blog/post/teachers-and-students-first-day-of-class">Teachers and Students… 1st Day of Class</a></li>
<li><a href="http://www.fbcwheeling.org/blog/post/on-family-food-and-an-unfortunate-chicken">On Family, Food, and an Unfortunate Chicken</a></li>
</ul>
<div>
Check back in a few days for some daddy's gone tales...</div>
Gretchenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00466944413387670548noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7944348223421619571.post-88495157099915026682015-10-22T23:12:00.002-04:002015-10-22T23:12:47.752-04:00The Lunch Lady and the Lunch LoserEvery Wednesday <a href="http://thewrightstuffforus.blogspot.com/2012/05/teacher-and-taught.html">Kate</a> awakens with a bit of a spring in her step, a hitch in her giddy-up, a sparkle in her eye. Wednesdays are Kate's day to shine. Kate, this middle daughter of mine stands out from the pack on Wednesdays and for good reason…she's the provider of Thursday lunches for the six of us and she takes her job so seriously that she begins prep for her task first thing on Wednesday morning. With a spiral notepad in hand she bops from sibling to sibling and from parent to parent attempting to discern what we'd like in our Thursday lunches.<br />
<br />
Her efforts are often met with one syllable grunts or even a vague brush-off and instructions to "ask me later." It is after all, way before coffee has been adequately consumed and it is also a smidgen early and therefore difficult to decide if mustard <i>and</i> mayo on your next day's lunch would be best, or if ham or turkey or both is preferable and should one go with cheese or without?<br />
<br />
After being diverted to her math book and her grammar lessons and <i>anything else</i> we can aim her towards, Kate is no less determined to collect the data and get down to business. We have decreed that no Thursday lunch-making is permitted until after our post-church dinner on Wednesday evening.<br />
<br />
However, all throughout Wednesday afternoon clues appear here and there about the house that Thursday lunch is weighing heavily on Kate's mind. A loaf of bread from the freezer magically appears on the countertop so that it can be thawed before it is called into action later in the day, and a laundry basket, filled with empty lunch bags, mysteriously makes it way to a forgotten corner of the dining room.<br />
<br />
Finally, after we all roll in the door from church and eat and scatter toward homework and lesson plans and bed, Kate, with the kitchen all to herself, gets down to business. With her notepad beside her, she fills the orders, adds some extras and a water bottle and a napkin, always a napkin, and somehow finds a way to place all six lunch bags in the fridge for the night.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOJHJyIhgIahfhcH98cVDZmaaYRfNAFq72-dfIaCz4vbQ2JAN6AHUTfDDmUWbG9BoqCwO8OkOqv9IgSyJN97-Y6BFGicY57pXDVaD-k8iI8kzptF5EmyNz84wOt72UNWOJvaMDmwFXbeM/s1600/IMG_5360.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOJHJyIhgIahfhcH98cVDZmaaYRfNAFq72-dfIaCz4vbQ2JAN6AHUTfDDmUWbG9BoqCwO8OkOqv9IgSyJN97-Y6BFGicY57pXDVaD-k8iI8kzptF5EmyNz84wOt72UNWOJvaMDmwFXbeM/s640/IMG_5360.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
When Thursday morning dawns, she eats breakfast and sets our lunches out on the counter for us to grab on our way out the door. It's a perfect system…unless, even after being reminded, you forget to grab your lunch…like I did this morning. I am the only one to have forgotten their lunch so far this year…I felt special.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7KeMMQ96n6pFXH012NddkIGiuH6CJqbeUV55Zr-HZpVFdnkJBjXAoqYf-b0LfwLE8MexHtb7EICpeXPLls-hcw0Wy1oiwe1G7bHw0P_5-ka_z8MxxnS5US_CcGwzMfAyk0jFToAbcGU8/s1600/FullSizeRender.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="298" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7KeMMQ96n6pFXH012NddkIGiuH6CJqbeUV55Zr-HZpVFdnkJBjXAoqYf-b0LfwLE8MexHtb7EICpeXPLls-hcw0Wy1oiwe1G7bHw0P_5-ka_z8MxxnS5US_CcGwzMfAyk0jFToAbcGU8/s320/FullSizeRender.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
I happily ate the spare sandwich Kate had packed for Cole and all was right in my world. I came home and my lunch bag was waiting for me exactly where Kate left it for me.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjP6zbMaPE5vPI1u7vxfSHlbblLF85zYZGWHTaUhhjj6GKf4bBwPJM9BEp_jxZahELPDbzu4mdhI_1lKJ3UU2TNAeiwIU9T28IkgxwZUV9lkCt0-da1iAKVbsj1pbRQG7sfApp8KpIZE7k/s1600/IMG_5446.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjP6zbMaPE5vPI1u7vxfSHlbblLF85zYZGWHTaUhhjj6GKf4bBwPJM9BEp_jxZahELPDbzu4mdhI_1lKJ3UU2TNAeiwIU9T28IkgxwZUV9lkCt0-da1iAKVbsj1pbRQG7sfApp8KpIZE7k/s640/IMG_5446.JPG" width="480" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
…which means that I'll be in good shape tomorrow when everyone else is looking for <i>their</i> lunch!</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwKRbU52r-g7HHu2zoZyLox7jPTvfWBxEjGVEKsYEIvhB-QPAFExqXnAFDIp9_NXriQckT6JROl3liVSv9l3z6SpSN-9pj1yCvJbwxc_fHHL_8XLG9qLyo1eBBnbqJHhZLv_7qSPV3caY/s1600/FullSizeRender.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwKRbU52r-g7HHu2zoZyLox7jPTvfWBxEjGVEKsYEIvhB-QPAFExqXnAFDIp9_NXriQckT6JROl3liVSv9l3z6SpSN-9pj1yCvJbwxc_fHHL_8XLG9qLyo1eBBnbqJHhZLv_7qSPV3caY/s640/FullSizeRender.jpg" width="480" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
…unless, of course, Kate beats me to it.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
All of this rushing out of bed and getting dressed as quickly as we can, throwing papers and books into our backpacks, inhaling breakfast and trying to remember to take our lunch and all four kids with us as we pile into the car makes me ask again, </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
"How do regular, normal families <i>do this</i> day in and day out?" </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
This, dear reader, is possibly the most compelling reason that we homeschool…ok, that and the thought of signing 3 dozen Valentine's Day cards <i>times four</i> every year. </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
Deep and compelling, that's us!</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjveGZ4pDgMDKtXLjBZ3fWyIExbn1UghUJHnh7Is4wtilrWVcPv5lMb39J_z8J-Be-wXHTumG7zH9H-xc-5YCt5brMzu_fYaHi_T68KxWgqYJ9BZVWzvSlmNjOkmWrGDIPD7ApO3Efh_mk/s1600/DSC_1275.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjveGZ4pDgMDKtXLjBZ3fWyIExbn1UghUJHnh7Is4wtilrWVcPv5lMb39J_z8J-Be-wXHTumG7zH9H-xc-5YCt5brMzu_fYaHi_T68KxWgqYJ9BZVWzvSlmNjOkmWrGDIPD7ApO3Efh_mk/s640/DSC_1275.JPG" width="426" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
Happy Weekend!!</div>
<br />
For more adventures with Kate:<br />
<a href="http://thewrightstuffforus.blogspot.com/2012/05/teacher-and-taught.html">The Teacher and the Taught</a><br />
<a href="http://thewrightstuffforus.blogspot.com/2011/01/in-kitchen-with-kate.html">In the Kitchen with Kate (and a recipe)</a><br />
<a href="http://thewrightstuffforus.blogspot.com/2013/07/in-which-kate-learns-about-botox.html">In Which Kate Learns About Botox</a><br />
<a href="http://thewrightstuffforus.blogspot.com/2015/01/in-which-i-almost-let-down-ups.html">In Which I Almost Let Down UPS!</a><br />
<a href="http://thewrightstuffforus.blogspot.com/2010/04/kate-great.html">Kate the Great (and oldie)</a><br />
<a href="http://thewrightstuffforus.blogspot.com/2011_04_01_archive.html">Kate the Great (a title so nice I've used it at least twice!)</a><br />
<br />Gretchenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00466944413387670548noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7944348223421619571.post-57885361911314848332015-10-12T08:41:00.004-04:002015-10-12T08:42:18.470-04:00School Stuff and Such … Lots of Links I Like In the last few months I've met many young families who are considering or who have decided to begin homeschooling their children. I'd like to say right now…in the middle of October when the novelty is getting a little less shiny and feeling a bit less like a cool new thing and is hinting like it's going to be a bit more of a challenge...<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
Welcome to the Adventure!</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
You are gonna love it, and you will also be terrified.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
You are going to learn so much, and wonder if your children are learning enough.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
You've probably already declared your purpose and your reasons aloud but question your every decision in the quiet of your heart.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
You can't believe you GET to participate so deeply in helping your sweet kids as they learn and you can't believe you are ACTUALLY responsible for helping your sweet kids as they learn!</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
You get to choose what your children learn…WAIT!... you must decide what they need for life?</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
You will wake up each morning (in September) and eagerly call the kids to their lessons, but there will be other mornings (in say…February) when you will not want to get out of bed at all.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Eventually you realize that bad days don't equal failure, they make you a better teacher and they make your students better learners and <i>that</i>, dear homeschoolin' mamma is great success indeed.<br />
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhtGuFjcok26WVWqspr9HN-nYaQrVQsGv6aGA7QduePtquqfSlcIQze5XRDQiDuNR1Gr-F6DizGgYR9-Sw6TM5bWuOE2b2IxGYODoLAAo5TNaMm1fdtTN2lt3BI92-eqK58MqD-XWXy9A/s1600/photo.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhtGuFjcok26WVWqspr9HN-nYaQrVQsGv6aGA7QduePtquqfSlcIQze5XRDQiDuNR1Gr-F6DizGgYR9-Sw6TM5bWuOE2b2IxGYODoLAAo5TNaMm1fdtTN2lt3BI92-eqK58MqD-XWXy9A/s640/photo.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Below are some resources and links that I've found helpful in the last little bit that have helped me on this homeschooling adventure…</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Podcasts:</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Tsh Oxenrider interviews homeschooling "legend" Susan Wise Bauer on her podcast. Susan's wise words helped me as I approached the education of my young grade-schoolers and my high schoolers.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="http://homefries.com/show/the-simple-mom-podcast/a-well-trained-mind/">http://homefries.com/show/the-simple-mom-podcast/a-well-trained-mind/</a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Lee Binz's goal with her site The Home Scholar is to help homeschooling parents successfully teach their students through high school. A friend told me about The Home Scholar earlier this summer and I've learned so much. Even if you aren't ready to even <i>consider</i> high school education for your little ones just yet, Lee has shared a free webinar in which she interviews Dr. Jay Wile (author of my kids' science texts) about what studies are showing about homeschooled kids. There are lots of charts and graph and statistics but I found them all very interesting and not too overwhelming. I listened to it while I prepared dinner and am going to share it with my kids and my Man as soon as we are all home together again at the same time…maybe next October? </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="https://thsvideos.s3.amazonaws.com/why-homeschool-works/why-homeschool-works.html" style="font-family: Noteworthy-Light; font-size: 18px; text-align: start;">https://thsvideos.s3.amazonaws.com/why-homeschool-works/why-homeschool-works.html</a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
I've already mentioned that one of my favorite podcasts is called Read Aloud Revival and Sarah Mackenzie, the host and creator, has begun season 2. There are so many gems from season 1 that will encourage new homeschoolers including:</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="http://amongstlovelythings.com/1/"> Episode 1: Reading Aloud to Older Kids </a> (but it's not just about that…there is gold here for newbies) Sarah interviews Andrew Pudewa (author of my kids' writing curriculum and learning expert who's words on any topic are always worth leaning in to hear) </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="http://amongstlovelythings.com/2/">Episode 2: How to Talk to your Kids About Books</a> an interview with Adam Andrews </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="http://amongstlovelythings.com/4/">Episode 4</a> and <a href="http://amongstlovelythings.com/5/">Episode 5 </a>Jim Weiss Shares Tips for Reading Aloud and Jim Weiss on the Importance of Reading Aloud Imperfectly. (Once more, these two episodes include way more than their titles suggest. Mr. Weiss has been around the homeschooling community for many years and has many great thoughts to share.)</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
I think that once you've gotten these podcasts into your ears, you'll be excited to listen to all the rest as well. They are excellent.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
A new podcast just dropped which is all about what we call Morning Time (I talked about <a href="http://thewrightstuffforus.blogspot.com/2014/10/nourish-everyday-something-known.html">Morning Time at The Wright Place</a> <a href="http://thewrightstuffforus.blogspot.com/2014/10/nourish-everyday-something-known.html">HERE</a> last school year.) Pam Barnhill of <a href="http://edsnapshots.com/">EdShapshots</a> is the host of <a href="http://edsnapshots.com/ymb1/">Your Morning Basket</a> and in <a href="http://edsnapshots.com/ymb1/">episode one</a> she interviews the guru of Morning Time Cindy Rollins. </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Nurturing Competent Communicators is a FREE audio download from the aforementioned Andrew Pudewa. I was able to hear Mr. Pudewa give this talk live at a homeschool conference and it's worth WAY more than free. </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Here's the download link: </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="http://iew.com/shop/products/nurturing-competent-communicators-andrew-pudewa"> http://iew.com/shop/products/nurturing-competent-communicators-andrew-pudewa</a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeBWpg2h04IDSif2Qkc_x1DMWIJaMCrglszTK0cCVuh-QQJqzGJuYLUGcFSrJqYuu9w4DS_l74EklVO70Hpwu2jXC0vdDvPLMpP9gOCcgjm0nKC88ZdoOwnfMBYGB659FQw3bwfAT2LqA/s1600/IMG_3734.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeBWpg2h04IDSif2Qkc_x1DMWIJaMCrglszTK0cCVuh-QQJqzGJuYLUGcFSrJqYuu9w4DS_l74EklVO70Hpwu2jXC0vdDvPLMpP9gOCcgjm0nKC88ZdoOwnfMBYGB659FQw3bwfAT2LqA/s640/IMG_3734.JPG" width="480" /></a></div>
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
When you finish getting an earful here are some handy resources for the actual teaching and such:</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
Free handwriting printables are found at<a href="http://www.handwritingforkids.com/handwrite/index.htm"> Handwriting for Kids</a> . Take time to look around this site, it's full of super tools.</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
For awesome book recommendations get beg, borrow or steal (ok, don't steal…but it'd be worth your punishment) <a href="http://amzn.to/1JqvAP9">Honey for a Child's Heart</a> by Gladys Hunt. Book recommendations are sorted by age and the descriptions make it easy to discern if a book will be a good fit for your child or not. </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0310242460/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=0310242460&linkCode=as2&tag=thewripla053-20&linkId=5ZYNFWRRIJIPXEBS"><img border="0" src="http://ws-na.amazon-adsystem.com/widgets/q?_encoding=UTF8&ASIN=0310242460&Format=_SL250_&ID=AsinImage&MarketPlace=US&ServiceVersion=20070822&WS=1&tag=thewripla053-20" /></a><img alt="" border="0" src="http://ir-na.amazon-adsystem.com/e/ir?t=thewripla053-20&l=as2&o=1&a=0310242460" height="1" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important;" width="1" /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
One of my favorite websites for booklists for children is <a href="http://www.mthopechronicles.com/">Mt. Hope Chronicles</a> which is currently in the middle of a series featuring one children's book per day for 31 days. Click over there for some inspiration…book lists abound!<br />
<br />
Already mentioned above, Sarah Mackenzie blogs at <a href="http://amongstlovelythings.com/blog/">Amongst Lovely Things</a> and provides book recommendations and lists and general homeschooling helps and tricks.<br />
<br />
I learned about Melissa Wiley from The Read Aloud Revival podcast and have come to enjoy her blog <a href="http://melissawiley.com/blog/">Here in the Bonney Glen</a> which is also, full of books and schooling.<br />
<br />
Finally, you may enjoy a quick hop over to <a href="http://www.storywarren.com/">StoryWarren.com </a>, it's a sweet quiet place to ponder and gain encouragement for the journey ahead. Their tag line is "Allies in Imagination" and they are that.<br />
<br />
Blessings on you and your students as you learn together.<br />
<br />
We're cheering you on from over here at<br />
<br />
<a href="http://thewrightstuffforus.blogspot.com/2009/09/homeschooling-whod-have-thought.html">The Wright Academy</a>.<br />
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLzRLg44TbXuoLJZDtxad_ISBLTgIv0zLkaJSdCRZGPDLIxW25hj_8Pdhv2xmrLPCVqEw754MIpm7oS7ToVS03PbL5G7wGDUPDZeFdGRWSoa8Xl5vTMZjEtiP7HWdTNPAdoVD-qxVgDug/s1600/IMG_5238.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLzRLg44TbXuoLJZDtxad_ISBLTgIv0zLkaJSdCRZGPDLIxW25hj_8Pdhv2xmrLPCVqEw754MIpm7oS7ToVS03PbL5G7wGDUPDZeFdGRWSoa8Xl5vTMZjEtiP7HWdTNPAdoVD-qxVgDug/s640/IMG_5238.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<br /></div>
Here are a few more posts on our homeschooling adventures:<br />
<br />
<a href="http://thewrightstuffforus.blogspot.com/2009/09/homeschooling-whod-have-thought.html">Homeschooling "Who-ha"</a><br />
<br />
<a href="http://thewrightstuffforus.blogspot.com/2012/08/homeschool-yearbook.html">Homeschool Yearbook</a><br />
<br />
<a href="http://thewrightstuffforus.blogspot.com/2015/09/helllooooo-we-are-still-present-in.html">In Which We are Joined by Aristotle</a><br />
<br />
<a href="http://thewrightstuffforus.blogspot.com/2015/08/awwwww-nuts-its-time-for-school-again.html">Awwwww NUTS!! It's Time for School Again!?</a><br />
<br />
<a href="http://thewrightstuffforus.blogspot.com/2009/09/school-pictures.html">School Pictures</a><br />
<br />
<a href="http://thewrightstuffforus.blogspot.com/2014/09/home-is-where-they-school-ya.html">Home is where they school ya</a>!<br />
<br />
<a href="http://thewrightstuffforus.blogspot.com/2014/11/writing-for-rolos.html">Writing for Rolos (Super Easy Recipe here)</a><br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.pinterest.com/pin/create/extension/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.blogger.com%2Fblogger.g%3FblogID%3D7944348223421619571%23editor&media=https%3A%2F%2F1.bp.blogspot.com%2F-9EDvyLGAG14%2FVhunD3ZCIhI%2FAAAAAAAALUQ%2Fl8hQcSx8Zy0%2Fs640%2Fphoto.JPG&xm=h&xv=sa1.37.01&xuid=1X2cN3uLvtzq&description=" style="background-color: transparent; background-image: url(data:image/png; border: none; cursor: pointer; display: none; height: 20px; left: 42px; opacity: 0.85; position: absolute; top: 468px; width: 40px; z-index: 8675309;"></a><a href="http://www.pinterest.com/pin/create/extension/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.blogger.com%2Fblogger.g%3FblogID%3D7944348223421619571%23editor&media=https%3A%2F%2F1.bp.blogspot.com%2F-9EDvyLGAG14%2FVhunD3ZCIhI%2FAAAAAAAALUQ%2Fl8hQcSx8Zy0%2Fs640%2Fphoto.JPG&xm=h&xv=sa1.37.01&xuid=1X2cN3uLvtzq&description=" style="background-color: transparent; background-image: url(data:image/png; border: none; cursor: pointer; display: none; height: 20px; left: 42px; opacity: 0.85; position: absolute; top: 468px; width: 40px; z-index: 8675309;"></a>Gretchenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00466944413387670548noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7944348223421619571.post-35811430575939082712015-09-29T08:42:00.003-04:002015-09-29T08:42:41.874-04:00Your WHAT?!?!She stepped out onto the porch looking at her hands quizzically.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhG8-oB1kTo5NNBpMZxvGGwhKRrv0HPHEuW7-m2_Af3rW5KAdYy2Ym86SWqzV1OHkj4QJgq9W0qPIFGJr6irPRHf-4j_c7P_Ap85Ii5oWw53NE5O22I_NVVV_3zfexm7t_1NLFYcKjKnKU/s1600/IMG_5210.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhG8-oB1kTo5NNBpMZxvGGwhKRrv0HPHEuW7-m2_Af3rW5KAdYy2Ym86SWqzV1OHkj4QJgq9W0qPIFGJr6irPRHf-4j_c7P_Ap85Ii5oWw53NE5O22I_NVVV_3zfexm7t_1NLFYcKjKnKU/s640/IMG_5210.JPG" width="480" /></a></div>
<br />
"Which one of these is my cuss finger?"<br />
<br />
"What?" I asked, "What do you mean?"<br />
<br />
"The other day Kate told me not to hold up a finger all by itself because it was bad. I asked Dad if that was true and he said that when you hold up that one finger it means the same as a cuss word," she explained.<br />
<br />
"Oh," I said, still trying to catch up with the story.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgK140HTz7svC-cQTjf3LkFeOwMJyvfpNfHJs6pYnRtTTBoxZaHTuJlriReXRTTt3oA0BSA_BmYd9uqK0DKmm-1xWnUXniQBNLRY9imFVg2qSMBh5HYdpET87anxY3PxmpvoLY0WrdbubM/s1600/IMG_5300.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgK140HTz7svC-cQTjf3LkFeOwMJyvfpNfHJs6pYnRtTTBoxZaHTuJlriReXRTTt3oA0BSA_BmYd9uqK0DKmm-1xWnUXniQBNLRY9imFVg2qSMBh5HYdpET87anxY3PxmpvoLY0WrdbubM/s640/IMG_5300.JPG" width="480" /></a></div>
<br />
"<i>And</i>," said she in a huff, "Daddy wouldn't even tell me which cuss word it meant. He said I was too little."<br />
<br />
To Molly being told she was too little was as much an insult as the witnessing the cuss finger personally.<br />
<br />
"So," she continued getting back to her point, "which of these is my <i>cuss finger</i>?"<br />
<br />
Pointing to the appropriate finger (or inappropriate finger as was the case), I smothered a grin thinking that I'd not planned to cover such things so early in second grade this year…or any year for that matter!<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigq2-eekhIRG4dWNuwde9uJ_6OtplgvU2zKIQqIN19ty8v50md2h9tqrKW6WZUZB7gsMXThC-x9gLfBfmsH16wd5XMGofr7KE5PaPJH4xeyw_QqBcVDhraflfNSUe2usRf17oDB9FgGOA/s1600/IMG_5299.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigq2-eekhIRG4dWNuwde9uJ_6OtplgvU2zKIQqIN19ty8v50md2h9tqrKW6WZUZB7gsMXThC-x9gLfBfmsH16wd5XMGofr7KE5PaPJH4xeyw_QqBcVDhraflfNSUe2usRf17oDB9FgGOA/s640/IMG_5299.JPG" width="480" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<br />Gretchenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00466944413387670548noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7944348223421619571.post-47235157137039645232015-09-09T14:53:00.001-04:002015-09-09T14:54:10.368-04:00In which we are joined by Aristotle…sort of.Helllooooo!<br />
<br />
We are still present in the universe…the real live one, not very much in this virtual one lately. Things in our world have been humming along as usual and we've finally begun our school year. Yesterday was our first official day, though last week we began a test run to stretch our school muscles.<br />
<br />
This year I've students in high school and grade school. Next year I'll have students in high school, middle school and grade school…but I'd rather not ponder that just now!<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTwH2sPPlp38emumYyIokDPGPAK-9rDuuVMTmSIf2uTEMu_OzS2N-g4kL6jL54CmGOkICmNYUVAIZ1tQmgLUD8J33SkpTr7sfKRJ0xMT3qLUwPeKOEX-VYGpERO9bQg5WxSiCqGsWB_vs/s1600/IMG_5238.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTwH2sPPlp38emumYyIokDPGPAK-9rDuuVMTmSIf2uTEMu_OzS2N-g4kL6jL54CmGOkICmNYUVAIZ1tQmgLUD8J33SkpTr7sfKRJ0xMT3qLUwPeKOEX-VYGpERO9bQg5WxSiCqGsWB_vs/s640/IMG_5238.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
A new feature for our learning this year is the once-a-week addition of an assistant teacher to teach science and any other subjects that may become necessary to Kate and Molly so that I can focus my anxious attention onto the high schoolers and feel more confident getting them ready for a little thing called…THE REST OF THEIR LIVES! No pressure!<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOVH_afx29gIhFrIj5WOhxTjHywmdOIrzMu-ZIY0LLVPNQ510sbu0JtAfJwvTCsKet4I8ypHm9D5-XiXxv1yvCEhV_nM99RhPLXcUB2Zt6TwBiIjfjjqDF2iz2yiOCaBZKZGNlh3ha4II/s1600/IMG_5236.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOVH_afx29gIhFrIj5WOhxTjHywmdOIrzMu-ZIY0LLVPNQ510sbu0JtAfJwvTCsKet4I8ypHm9D5-XiXxv1yvCEhV_nM99RhPLXcUB2Zt6TwBiIjfjjqDF2iz2yiOCaBZKZGNlh3ha4II/s640/IMG_5236.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
The implementation of Science Tuesday worked well yesterday and am hoping that it serves us all well as the year progresses. Because of her status as Science teacher, we've begun to refer to my Mom as Aristotle…we think it works!<br />
<br />
Our morning time line up (for now) is:<br />
<br />
A daily devotion from <span id="goog_1734668961"></span><a href="http://amzn.to/1O1IExd">New Morning Mercies</a><span id="goog_1734668962"></span> by Paul David Tripp<br />
A reading from <a href="http://amzn.to/1FybVI3">Reformation Heroes</a> by D.M. and Diana Kleyn<br />
A song often written by <a href="https://itunes.apple.com/us/artist/keith-kristyn-getty/id255469767">Keith and Kristin Getty</a><br />
We are working our way through retellings of Shakespeare plays in <a href="http://amzn.to/1Fychyb">Tales From Shakespeare</a> by Charles and Mary Lamb (currently The Tempest)<br />
At this point we shoo the high schoolers off to begin work on THE REST OF THEIR LIVES while<br />
Kate and Molly and I (and Aristotle if it's a Tuesday) read a chapter or two from <a href="http://amzn.to/1O1JgD8">North Or Be Eaten</a> by Andrew Peterson<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i><br /></i></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i>"The capacity to learn is a gift; the ability to learn is a skill; the willingness to learn is a choice." ~Brian Herbert</i></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;">May we ALL choose with wisdom!</span></div>
<br />Gretchenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00466944413387670548noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7944348223421619571.post-27667777191354082452015-08-25T10:38:00.002-04:002015-08-25T11:20:40.099-04:00Awwwww NUTS!! It's time for school again!?<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<span style="font-family: Noteworthy-Light; font-size: 18px;">School is just about to be in session here at The Wright Place and the teacher and the youngest pupil are ready to roll. The others simply need convincing. Classes are planned, study materials have been ordered and have arrived, pencils have been sharpened and notebooks have been labeled. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Noteworthy-Light; font-size: 18px;"><br />
</span> <br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbSXcItmqNPrZ5GvRuxWkbcalC-8TI701u9WXWBf5-_oqMjdWv0tzI_AtOD7BXoKo6vHAplTAwjGk2XfhK2_ShJTrLW5F-9hmippSVnA8Iyj2x7xG4cXhTd-OFdSTfPsRh3BSuIlgVFRE/s1600/FullSizeRender.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbSXcItmqNPrZ5GvRuxWkbcalC-8TI701u9WXWBf5-_oqMjdWv0tzI_AtOD7BXoKo6vHAplTAwjGk2XfhK2_ShJTrLW5F-9hmippSVnA8Iyj2x7xG4cXhTd-OFdSTfPsRh3BSuIlgVFRE/s640/FullSizeRender.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br style="font-family: Noteworthy-Light; font-size: 18px;" />
<span style="font-family: Noteworthy-Light; font-size: 18px;">School things are in order but as prepared as I think I am there will be gaps in our days right out of the gate. Some of the gaps will be surprising to The Academy but one gap I am already aware of ...there will be hungry students and they will be hungry at the most surprising times of our school day. Every year it happens, every year it is a surprise. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Noteworthy-Light; font-size: 18px;"><br />
</span> <br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcHPbZpmT-qPbFKbTi-G3n9-Qq2hmM3tOwRJCxNmw_zNk2agOkdmf6XwSF3M-5HOG2Xvvn5K22xD0Hjw-jseU1ZM9zKnapo8fi8sSyLRauVZkCOZHJoPesChSPcaLTiegvsd31TVeCSQg/s1600/IMG_1786.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcHPbZpmT-qPbFKbTi-G3n9-Qq2hmM3tOwRJCxNmw_zNk2agOkdmf6XwSF3M-5HOG2Xvvn5K22xD0Hjw-jseU1ZM9zKnapo8fi8sSyLRauVZkCOZHJoPesChSPcaLTiegvsd31TVeCSQg/s640/IMG_1786.JPG" width="480" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikRXROaPGa6BeeNzeZw25tCbTGIq9nvo9eRUvdpflGhb90k8SoJXApw7qC4PymvwEvOCOmnJYKox8jMB1h_PiI056TNeDK4MmdX0I51ZDl4iELt13N9EPcCPH0EU4NHJgvTCC-LFDxfms/s1600/IMG_5140.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><br />
</a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikRXROaPGa6BeeNzeZw25tCbTGIq9nvo9eRUvdpflGhb90k8SoJXApw7qC4PymvwEvOCOmnJYKox8jMB1h_PiI056TNeDK4MmdX0I51ZDl4iELt13N9EPcCPH0EU4NHJgvTCC-LFDxfms/s1600/IMG_5140.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><br />
</a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikRXROaPGa6BeeNzeZw25tCbTGIq9nvo9eRUvdpflGhb90k8SoJXApw7qC4PymvwEvOCOmnJYKox8jMB1h_PiI056TNeDK4MmdX0I51ZDl4iELt13N9EPcCPH0EU4NHJgvTCC-LFDxfms/s1600/IMG_5140.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><br />
</a><span style="font-family: Noteworthy-Light; font-size: 18px;">Actually, <i>every day</i> it happens and <i>every day</i> I am surprised BUT not unprepared. As we </span><span style="font-family: Noteworthy-Light; font-size: 18px;">make our lists for our biweekly trips to the grocery store we always check to be certain we are well stocked with almonds and peanuts and some sort of dried fruit, usually cranberries, and if I'm feeling particularly fond of my students I just might add some chocolate chips to the list. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Noteworthy-Light; font-size: 18px;"><br />
</span> <br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikRXROaPGa6BeeNzeZw25tCbTGIq9nvo9eRUvdpflGhb90k8SoJXApw7qC4PymvwEvOCOmnJYKox8jMB1h_PiI056TNeDK4MmdX0I51ZDl4iELt13N9EPcCPH0EU4NHJgvTCC-LFDxfms/s1600/IMG_5140.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="232" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikRXROaPGa6BeeNzeZw25tCbTGIq9nvo9eRUvdpflGhb90k8SoJXApw7qC4PymvwEvOCOmnJYKox8jMB1h_PiI056TNeDK4MmdX0I51ZDl4iELt13N9EPcCPH0EU4NHJgvTCC-LFDxfms/s400/IMG_5140.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Noteworthy-Light; font-size: 18px;">With these ingredients in my cabinets, my kids are free to get snacky anytime they want. They love this simple mix (equal parts of all ingredients) and they can make it for themselves in what ever amount is necessary to satisfy their desperate pangs. Usually they need to make approximately 4-5 servings because after years at this game I know that hunger seems to be contagious. </span></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgI-BCUp_motiJCzQPVV5n_JVc5O4Qe0oUoOBfyzxrpHvgIZQb1cZgiQ6Lour2zABIMIh2PGSoSMFwHF4EaYlxm1UI9vA0m-_KoKLGOW1n14mhgA0ySkkMefrrbjZwCXx3ShmLZOfxQZHM/s1600/IMG_5141.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgI-BCUp_motiJCzQPVV5n_JVc5O4Qe0oUoOBfyzxrpHvgIZQb1cZgiQ6Lour2zABIMIh2PGSoSMFwHF4EaYlxm1UI9vA0m-_KoKLGOW1n14mhgA0ySkkMefrrbjZwCXx3ShmLZOfxQZHM/s400/IMG_5141.jpg" width="300" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Noteworthy-Light; font-size: 18px; text-align: start;">Who knew? </span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Noteworthy-Light; font-size: 18px; text-align: start;">One student gets a gurgly stomach and before long the other three students are downright starving and the teacher is simply ravenous.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Noteworthy-Light; font-size: 18px; text-align: start;"><br />
</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNueQ21RbUpSdeOxdZbWtI7hDPlamjjQnXi2aXEWF0e5ZVuXqAStoNNt8DMRsXs1nMkDOZqaTGp_hLzRw4WLeWcYPEjq6gOUnsGNUjGFZLUjDeD8S04NdZJUdO7rcYGU2oRAOs5V3-HKw/s1600/IMG_5143.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNueQ21RbUpSdeOxdZbWtI7hDPlamjjQnXi2aXEWF0e5ZVuXqAStoNNt8DMRsXs1nMkDOZqaTGp_hLzRw4WLeWcYPEjq6gOUnsGNUjGFZLUjDeD8S04NdZJUdO7rcYGU2oRAOs5V3-HKw/s320/IMG_5143.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<span style="font-family: Noteworthy-Light; font-size: 18px;">It takes less than five minutes and ... Our hunger is satisfied and we've eaten a bunch of nuts which will sustain us for a surprisingly long time and we've eaten more than our fair share of white chocolate...some more than others, if the teacher has looked away long enough for little fingers to do some quick sorting. </span><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjP1FTKpmCR_siw5T2phj7UtwOGO7KQmLWi5x47BryGaVvOEoIwl4KWhuI27DA5Sqoe_pNV-AE_KFX1RI7AyYAjt8h4Mo2ZrFohZ_9xDww2xmGjEbYUWM7oMQJbvDVVr_3norWJShQ7TFg/s1600/image.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjP1FTKpmCR_siw5T2phj7UtwOGO7KQmLWi5x47BryGaVvOEoIwl4KWhuI27DA5Sqoe_pNV-AE_KFX1RI7AyYAjt8h4Mo2ZrFohZ_9xDww2xmGjEbYUWM7oMQJbvDVVr_3norWJShQ7TFg/s640/image.jpeg" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Noteworthy-Light; font-size: 18px; text-align: start;">There you have it, my make-it-on-your-own, get-you-through-geometry-and-grammar, grab-it-on-our-way-to-co-op, no-fuss-big-fill school time snack. If, like me, you are always on the look out for healthy, satisfying snacks for your gang, check out</span><span style="font-family: Noteworthy-Light; font-size: 18px;"> the great ideas that the folks at <a href="https://nuts.com/healthy-snacks">nuts.com</a> are featuring </span><a href="https://nuts.com/healthy-snacks">here</a><span style="font-family: Noteworthy-Light; font-size: 18px;">." </span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixF9YJo0d7w8g6xzDYUmyNhTbBsDOhA2OrKo2G8ETkZyJcN3m-kOunILI08s8TN0L9ZJwTfJF_Go-DbMJp05aMtHGtMsmgJVxkwjs2tUYF1dN0dzSBml4yI1XUkRWXG0c6-IkwxHOuQVo/s1600/IMG_1884.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixF9YJo0d7w8g6xzDYUmyNhTbBsDOhA2OrKo2G8ETkZyJcN3m-kOunILI08s8TN0L9ZJwTfJF_Go-DbMJp05aMtHGtMsmgJVxkwjs2tUYF1dN0dzSBml4yI1XUkRWXG0c6-IkwxHOuQVo/s400/IMG_1884.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<br style="font-family: Noteworthy-Light; font-size: 18px;" />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Noteworthy-Light; font-size: 18px;">Happy beginning of school from The Wright Academy snackers!</span></div>
<a href="http://www.pinterest.com/pin/create/extension/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.blogger.com%2Fblogger.g%3FblogID%3D7944348223421619571%23editor%2Ftarget%3Dpost%3BpostID%3D2766777719135408245&media=https%3A%2F%2F2.bp.blogspot.com%2F-W7u2ZN5PuqE%2FVdx7ANE2XrI%2FAAAAAAAALSM%2FAvsQ_4zMCoY%2Fs640%2Fimage.jpeg&xm=h&xv=sa1.37.01&xuid=1X2cN3uLvtzq&description=" style="background-color: transparent; background-image: url(data:image/png; border: none; cursor: pointer; display: none; height: 20px; left: 42px; opacity: 0.85; position: absolute; top: 2678px; width: 40px; z-index: 8675309;"></a><a href="http://www.pinterest.com/pin/create/extension/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.blogger.com%2Fblogger.g%3FblogID%3D7944348223421619571%23editor%2Ftarget%3Dpost%3BpostID%3D2766777719135408245&media=https%3A%2F%2F2.bp.blogspot.com%2F-W7u2ZN5PuqE%2FVdx7ANE2XrI%2FAAAAAAAALSM%2FAvsQ_4zMCoY%2Fs640%2Fimage.jpeg&xm=h&xv=sa1.37.01&xuid=1X2cN3uLvtzq&description=" style="background-color: transparent; background-image: url(data:image/png; border: none; cursor: pointer; display: none; height: 20px; left: 42px; opacity: 0.85; position: absolute; top: 2678px; width: 40px; z-index: 8675309;"></a>Gretchenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00466944413387670548noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7944348223421619571.post-39797703468846787702015-08-19T12:14:00.003-04:002015-08-19T12:14:40.211-04:00We're Back with A Birthday<div style="text-align: center;">
Today is a much anticipated day on our family calendar. </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Today we celebrate a big wild personality here in our home.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpdaaNIvSN5tRclyApe2QyDbvIa5Zjv3bMxWQD_mrSjGsvZ8dh-X1UIsFmyPiMBpLD9TRgh7TdapXzmFIFwO5Ih4irrqTFGFJC8ew4QDXCFupePp2APhDuQVbNdelb5sqWHuHv_5q9wiw/s1600/image1.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpdaaNIvSN5tRclyApe2QyDbvIa5Zjv3bMxWQD_mrSjGsvZ8dh-X1UIsFmyPiMBpLD9TRgh7TdapXzmFIFwO5Ih4irrqTFGFJC8ew4QDXCFupePp2APhDuQVbNdelb5sqWHuHv_5q9wiw/s640/image1.jpeg" width="640" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
This morning Kate woke Molly up and asked her, "What's for breakfast this morning?"</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Molly answered, "ICE CREAM CAKE!!"</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
But... </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
...when it was time to celebrate it was only my Man and I who had assembled around the cake.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
"Well," said I, "I'm the only one who showed up for your party."</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjog3HrKv7m1z_4WGTm0Vw9iEexhJDLGo8HuKDJM26PnA6cacGz3Vp9KYK43pPBp8x3YyAZgAErfwi5XTRPx82Og7oi0cEtoF0JedvAJfjb4-4o9N49cR2SuPa062WjGQdBw4bTGFUu3oU/s1600/IMG_3014.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjog3HrKv7m1z_4WGTm0Vw9iEexhJDLGo8HuKDJM26PnA6cacGz3Vp9KYK43pPBp8x3YyAZgAErfwi5XTRPx82Og7oi0cEtoF0JedvAJfjb4-4o9N49cR2SuPa062WjGQdBw4bTGFUu3oU/s400/IMG_3014.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
"I knew some day it would eventually come to that." <strike>Eeyore</strike> my Man answered.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCYIU_qSj1D2rVplegIDIxp4q8L1ESMj8UCcfSeq6blOCvDy5nKjLcl6nd_oAVCNV1oWtwc71S1Kurf2LsxdsClQS5QVuLBgnb3N5xZGFBbM017VvJfVzkPzcis5SSpdOdaDbrIl0jpn8/s1600/IMG_5121.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCYIU_qSj1D2rVplegIDIxp4q8L1ESMj8UCcfSeq6blOCvDy5nKjLcl6nd_oAVCNV1oWtwc71S1Kurf2LsxdsClQS5QVuLBgnb3N5xZGFBbM017VvJfVzkPzcis5SSpdOdaDbrIl0jpn8/s640/IMG_5121.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Eventually, everyone gathered and we sang and we ate and we, with tears in our eyes (not really), and adoration in our hearts (absolutely), celebrated our fearless leader as he embarks on another year of life.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Molly squeezed his neck and wished him the most loving of Happy Birthday wishes saying, </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMnyUj345owK8vjrruSlgHoEg-RN6GyZUpOMjgDQOFh0Xar8GHJZ0-wcd2A2NhrnXnsQhLdUkMv44z8V-Mr9IwzpfHoQF5UhONO6OtpFKCj2Q9FJkHOCeYYHv1qiH5_9fMlRVO5rVWj8U/s1600/IMG_5122.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMnyUj345owK8vjrruSlgHoEg-RN6GyZUpOMjgDQOFh0Xar8GHJZ0-wcd2A2NhrnXnsQhLdUkMv44z8V-Mr9IwzpfHoQF5UhONO6OtpFKCj2Q9FJkHOCeYYHv1qiH5_9fMlRVO5rVWj8U/s640/IMG_5122.jpg" width="480" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
"NOW it's only 9 more days…"</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
(till her birthday…oh yes, really).</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
Happy Birthday</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
to our oft unsung Hero.</div>
Gretchenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00466944413387670548noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7944348223421619571.post-40272000424301547262015-08-05T00:46:00.000-04:002015-08-05T07:59:24.660-04:00The Rope GiversI've been pondering a picture which, as I jot these words, hasn't actually been captured with a camera yet, but I pray that it will EVER remain in my heart.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://thewrightstuffforus.blogspot.com/2015/07/seriously-stressing-stressed-and.html">Last week</a> I wrote about my Man and I feeling at the end of our rope with <a href="http://thewrightstuffforus.blogspot.com/2015/07/seriously-stressing-stressed-and.html">house bother and stuff</a>…I was wrong though, we were not <i>quite</i> at rope's end…later that <i>same night</i> we noticed that our air conditioner was not keeping up with the heat and humidity. The little kids slept on the couch that night because their room was too hot to handle and we, my Man and I, laid awake all night wondering what in the world we were gonna do as we listened to the AC unit outside our window churn and churn with no apparent result.<br />
<br />
When morning dawned we were no cooler and no calmer but we decided to call on our church family's resident "conditioned air" expert who arrived at our home in short order, diagnosed the problem and just as he was telling us how to fix it, another "I'll-be-right-there-to-help-you-out" member of our church family appeared and soon provided the necessary equipment to fix us all up.<br />
<br />
The next morning, I woke up to the coolest, crispest, conditioned air ever AND a raging case of all-over-poison-ivy which I'd picked up on Monday while digging in the yard…<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHneTBQWY6pB38Z800gb4chq7KK5I4RxQG5k7qvQAyeeTs34fn-XujkwvUQZ7T3SJevWx7MtUzWxtHyzg4Ee9xjrqnPmJdxpHiAVhLIFqJ1c2LLpdBrHekK-NcFiRix4vU3YmMmFP0fiU/s1600/IMG_4904.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHneTBQWY6pB38Z800gb4chq7KK5I4RxQG5k7qvQAyeeTs34fn-XujkwvUQZ7T3SJevWx7MtUzWxtHyzg4Ee9xjrqnPmJdxpHiAVhLIFqJ1c2LLpdBrHekK-NcFiRix4vU3YmMmFP0fiU/s1600/IMG_4904.JPG" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
…cue "end-of-rope music."</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
But when you, because of your precarious position at the end of the rope, are in danger of just letting go of that rope… </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
God sends The Rope Givers.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
People who offer to deliver emergency ice cream to your door. </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzVIzcOfsKSFxmftdqabKwYMTvqvgmTl5gtQyZsC-7ysJ0VQKP4J86KIUfldRdeXsCTSexzpowxSAqN36bA0-7GGlwacCx6rLqn275d65vaOXO9i5pADypUTK98Ld_aL9PUUtSYuYoF0Q/s1600/IMG_4950.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="568" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzVIzcOfsKSFxmftdqabKwYMTvqvgmTl5gtQyZsC-7ysJ0VQKP4J86KIUfldRdeXsCTSexzpowxSAqN36bA0-7GGlwacCx6rLqn275d65vaOXO9i5pADypUTK98Ld_aL9PUUtSYuYoF0Q/s640/IMG_4950.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
Others who invite you to come away for a while and open their pool to you.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinaCEGpTUBD3-RMfnIcY-4fJLKJTnSLXJmVcnj8Z2MRii9HI-isIDx1ZCKH8lPoyBbhtFtx7lOFpNaxip6ZwxwO5lH7k2V5zkjY2EL0x2vPUAuI1N05JMx7HTT23GsXSbcqagLhf7Aso4/s1600/image1_2.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinaCEGpTUBD3-RMfnIcY-4fJLKJTnSLXJmVcnj8Z2MRii9HI-isIDx1ZCKH8lPoyBbhtFtx7lOFpNaxip6ZwxwO5lH7k2V5zkjY2EL0x2vPUAuI1N05JMx7HTT23GsXSbcqagLhf7Aso4/s640/image1_2.jpeg" width="480" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
Some who take time out from <i>their own much bigger struggle</i> and hand you help to make things easier.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjezuHFViHhiV4fx_DC-WaFB-Ti35kBV6WiAK14YAx-s_vnHz-16lcjBDygrbl81lzj15k9nHdlM6Sz-X6ZF3LOXBGvWhGTEUHISH_e33M2PFIvrG_QDlptkVoDqX0DaXHv2F_Ef3U3mjg/s1600/image4.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjezuHFViHhiV4fx_DC-WaFB-Ti35kBV6WiAK14YAx-s_vnHz-16lcjBDygrbl81lzj15k9nHdlM6Sz-X6ZF3LOXBGvWhGTEUHISH_e33M2PFIvrG_QDlptkVoDqX0DaXHv2F_Ef3U3mjg/s640/image4.jpeg" width="480" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
Another who lets you shed a tear or two into their otherwise calm and happy existence and shows you sweet compassion.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPvjLZR9NJUubRI8bjQTfBH5HI40FrVpnjnlDpO6ds6-PDrCzFKoMfNYRNj0PeDSvfYzrcxnpcR3XuUIuC_2IpNkHvTQTGBsrALwshZToSkKIGW82-HKzmgSnd-_AW6biZxqDBdIGdH5o/s1600/image3.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="406" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPvjLZR9NJUubRI8bjQTfBH5HI40FrVpnjnlDpO6ds6-PDrCzFKoMfNYRNj0PeDSvfYzrcxnpcR3XuUIuC_2IpNkHvTQTGBsrALwshZToSkKIGW82-HKzmgSnd-_AW6biZxqDBdIGdH5o/s640/image3.jpeg" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
People who text you with the perfect words at the perfect time to make you grin or to laugh aloud or to simply tell you that they are praying for you.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
Friends who ask you how it's going even when they know your answer isn't going to be fun to endure.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHJTlESHGelRoGiYmRktJEYQXfFsqWgMPMl7nT9Ty4SD7JNsMv5LL8ougp-VvNLeZVvENQrHmuqaEU_v0-A1G2zIQU0spn-mC02PpAXrFwSDK6hknX43i7vUmQ8IwQStqm2_NEKlgnOlc/s1600/image4_2.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHJTlESHGelRoGiYmRktJEYQXfFsqWgMPMl7nT9Ty4SD7JNsMv5LL8ougp-VvNLeZVvENQrHmuqaEU_v0-A1G2zIQU0spn-mC02PpAXrFwSDK6hknX43i7vUmQ8IwQStqm2_NEKlgnOlc/s640/image4_2.jpeg" width="480" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
Someone who brings a great big truck to haul away your mess and others who show up to help you fill it up.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
There are those who bring pie...</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhW0uSwZNfSm-8aaTvx2PDBz0nJP0BQOE4D0YI5_bH9_GQZBYvcIh8AvuUt9GvrcrXTctszT4E3nwqDpG7HbxNnY1RtSV2xfPQ3BPq2u3MaCUE6GX1EmrslByLB6IoDL6anfj5sf1tsC90/s1600/image6.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhW0uSwZNfSm-8aaTvx2PDBz0nJP0BQOE4D0YI5_bH9_GQZBYvcIh8AvuUt9GvrcrXTctszT4E3nwqDpG7HbxNnY1RtSV2xfPQ3BPq2u3MaCUE6GX1EmrslByLB6IoDL6anfj5sf1tsC90/s640/image6.jpeg" width="480" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
…and some who take your kids.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcJncMNK06XdVRlqnkBIDJUp11TWN50lO1L7RQs-QPHpPFKJw5k4p74uKwfdAX66kuchCWV3Iy8oqnk1ZiK1c5oJ0OvwbFMZ_SzdcyAr76yRRskKWct11tRI1nnKD6yzlf8Yh5LrsifTY/s1600/image3_2.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcJncMNK06XdVRlqnkBIDJUp11TWN50lO1L7RQs-QPHpPFKJw5k4p74uKwfdAX66kuchCWV3Iy8oqnk1ZiK1c5oJ0OvwbFMZ_SzdcyAr76yRRskKWct11tRI1nnKD6yzlf8Yh5LrsifTY/s640/image3_2.jpeg" width="480" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
{Award for Best Shirt for the Occasion}</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
Friends who bring dessert and stay to help with dinner.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdr1qx_FMeP_QwbkB3NsAWK_Sl0WeYVpZkCUeUcHx8b6kem-7rvkTwg9omKqEez57DXxbOtIWJgURmNyEQ9lGjrTTmpAb3favmmFPDcoKD9VZqwyMlPDLlYh2SbLPKDZPyLX-5qQ5ms8w/s1600/IMG_5034.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdr1qx_FMeP_QwbkB3NsAWK_Sl0WeYVpZkCUeUcHx8b6kem-7rvkTwg9omKqEez57DXxbOtIWJgURmNyEQ9lGjrTTmpAb3favmmFPDcoKD9VZqwyMlPDLlYh2SbLPKDZPyLX-5qQ5ms8w/s640/IMG_5034.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
Those who will answer their phone even when they know it's <i>you</i> calling and they show up with buckets full of tools and time and talents and a pressure washer.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
Dear ones who can make poison ivy disappear and take its itch away…</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
…and there are those who show up</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
… with shovels</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
…and wheelbarrows</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
…and smiles?!</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHec-7_IAKRrF7I3UDCxeVvncKZfWbND2HG9axZ7EI6gADilz72tngjw99WjFEeLC90z2u3-MxL9k66fAy1sVdJHSMWBQzHE5q2hlwJNpan838Th9ZXYGVXtZWTb_Z3onhUJQWG6AKGb0/s1600/image12.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHec-7_IAKRrF7I3UDCxeVvncKZfWbND2HG9axZ7EI6gADilz72tngjw99WjFEeLC90z2u3-MxL9k66fAy1sVdJHSMWBQzHE5q2hlwJNpan838Th9ZXYGVXtZWTb_Z3onhUJQWG6AKGb0/s640/image12.jpeg" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
These are <i>all</i> The Rope Givers.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
I've taken my picture, the one I'd only, till now had in my head…</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvY3XxNUls1hyqSIg-y3ZjIsprms5Se7JFBxP1RYrwxeIrWoBoChVTa3Ah8LFfFmnvOxDMwH7L34U1xP3HemkHPzm0rduG_I3CvOfJ0se-NrR5-wN9ugLKdMzN5TZtAcxRHuLJDGHX8fU/s1600/image1.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="394" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvY3XxNUls1hyqSIg-y3ZjIsprms5Se7JFBxP1RYrwxeIrWoBoChVTa3Ah8LFfFmnvOxDMwH7L34U1xP3HemkHPzm0rduG_I3CvOfJ0se-NrR5-wN9ugLKdMzN5TZtAcxRHuLJDGHX8fU/s640/image1.jpeg" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
It's more than just a picture of shovels and pickaxes…</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
…it's work done and more promised tomorrow.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
…it's encouragers checking in…again.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
…it's folks with better things to do, putting my short rope on their radar and showing up again and again and again with cookies and shovels and trucks and time and energy and effort and…</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<i>rope</i></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
...enough to hang on to for a long time to come.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4VJTdZnM4VYv2B37yJ-0V7zuC6AVZNs6-bvOOTOFn9ch5lLG7O-j8MkIr6d2Qe4S6ljinG3eK9yDTRuVV1nDL-0AlcMfzIUmI937ZUjhMPNLliqXs5WvxUjzAlzHxqamqSwUBgygnQGc/s1600/image2.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4VJTdZnM4VYv2B37yJ-0V7zuC6AVZNs6-bvOOTOFn9ch5lLG7O-j8MkIr6d2Qe4S6ljinG3eK9yDTRuVV1nDL-0AlcMfzIUmI937ZUjhMPNLliqXs5WvxUjzAlzHxqamqSwUBgygnQGc/s640/image2.jpeg" width="480" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
#sothankful</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><i>Let us think of ways to motivate one another to acts of love and good works. </i></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><i>Hebrews 10:24</i></span></div>
Gretchenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00466944413387670548noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7944348223421619571.post-77132369172065646682015-07-29T10:36:00.003-04:002015-07-29T18:48:36.999-04:00Seriously Stressing, Stressed, and StressfulHere's the deal…we have some more home repairs facing us and it is rocking our little world just a bit. The truth is that it feels whiny and shallow to be so affected by all that faces us in the next month or so because goodness knows we are healthy, happy, and on most days we like each other around here very much.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhg6zh-E3hsQMgOvo30V8VOfkBDYBm0-O40yqFSSMbK_hQm1vJvf_TsDozzw5d2336nMEzjud155YUD7YONcmffUglRKFT3PU8s-FABJBDRz4fIxtHM6J_jC3fU704cUF1lvhGI-HosGko/s1600/IMG_4883.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhg6zh-E3hsQMgOvo30V8VOfkBDYBm0-O40yqFSSMbK_hQm1vJvf_TsDozzw5d2336nMEzjud155YUD7YONcmffUglRKFT3PU8s-FABJBDRz4fIxtHM6J_jC3fU704cUF1lvhGI-HosGko/s400/IMG_4883.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
This house, though, has just about defeated us.<br />
<br />
In the next month we'll likely have two projects facing us both of a costly nature and we haven't quite recovered from the kitchen costly just yet. Frankly, we are looking for the biggest, fluffiest towels we own and are searching for wherever that place is where we are supposed to "throw them in."<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0ZRMtmPJa-aukHWgGsInJt7OIPmFuegf0dJTjPhqjP8_aYcS2djmvwwmDcDFGz6qHMlCYeC7tVX6CdUW6vNg8fZF0r5u6mtr2HG_r4cLrqGn7r5R0UowHNEUWEGRS-yP9sFcLpCnM1Dk/s1600/image3.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0ZRMtmPJa-aukHWgGsInJt7OIPmFuegf0dJTjPhqjP8_aYcS2djmvwwmDcDFGz6qHMlCYeC7tVX6CdUW6vNg8fZF0r5u6mtr2HG_r4cLrqGn7r5R0UowHNEUWEGRS-yP9sFcLpCnM1Dk/s400/image3.jpeg" width="300" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
(Sadly, I photo-edited this as much as possible!)</div>
<br />
I keep reminding myself that we are indeed blessed to have a home with a roof (fairly new), a beautiful kitchen (sparkling new), nicely functioning bathrooms (also very new), a fresh uncracked driveway and patio (a year old), food in the fridge, families who love us, teeth in our heads…<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLWkKy2J-RhASA3CLsTWn0I5lfGkb9w7O76kuMeKpZdLZrfQuD5d6HmnCyJn0zOFsYfJrGU5ZjcppX1JgmE6ger5EPcCycWBSo_6zqtRe8L1lUgcw5dL11ZW9-Zb5L_kDbDyZ0hp1KkKY/s1600/IMG_4705.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLWkKy2J-RhASA3CLsTWn0I5lfGkb9w7O76kuMeKpZdLZrfQuD5d6HmnCyJn0zOFsYfJrGU5ZjcppX1JgmE6ger5EPcCycWBSo_6zqtRe8L1lUgcw5dL11ZW9-Zb5L_kDbDyZ0hp1KkKY/s640/IMG_4705.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
….well, most of us… but our nerves are shot and we are both teetering on the edge of a despair-themed pity party, which is not our bent. Oh, often one or the other of us finds ourselves headed down an alley of despair but most of the time the other of us is walking on sunshine and is able to pull the dreary partner in a more uplifting direction. Not so these days. These days you might find us grabbing the other's hand and saying, "Come on let's jump in to all of this yuck and wallow in it together for a bit, I'll keep saying how awful everything is and you keep agreeing with me."<br />
<br />
The tough part about it all is that this house stuff seems to be taking up all of our rope, even the extra rope which we would normally rely on to deal with the normal everyday situations in life: bickering kids, huge piles of laundry, dinner that needs cooking, too many dates on the calendar, conversations with people who don't see things the way we do, an unexpected expense, a busted iPhone, someone needing time and energy, and a front door with a badly chosen paint color.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRZMx8OUtaRlnV4g5lzumyjB9bDgN-IZP5F6lJx_fIdqT-gjf8yEdBTV9ZKP2FVQCnvXL_LAFIljzofMutG4TG79w0blUjm_vJdVCI2rl9knM2be6qI7clmc0xw62cmTYMzKR-w8YNa7s/s1600/IMG_4889.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRZMx8OUtaRlnV4g5lzumyjB9bDgN-IZP5F6lJx_fIdqT-gjf8yEdBTV9ZKP2FVQCnvXL_LAFIljzofMutG4TG79w0blUjm_vJdVCI2rl9knM2be6qI7clmc0xw62cmTYMzKR-w8YNa7s/s400/IMG_4889.JPG" width="350" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
When we are at the end of that rope to begin with, extra things must be dealt with from a deficit.<br />
<br />
This is never a good situation.<br />
<br />
So, these days around The Wright Place, my Man and I are attempting to conserve as much rope as we can while still living life. Listening to my feelings seems to be a terrible practice because I find that letting feelings rule just takes me to drab and dreary and makes me look around for company.<br />
<br />
I am learning that it just might be the little <a href="http://thewrightstuffforus.blogspot.com/2015/07/various-and-sundry.html">ordinary</a>, everyday tasks that add length to my rope. Last week I walked around this place in a stupor. Not willing to deal with it all, assigning the most immediate tasks to the kids and hoping that they'd forget that dinner was a real thing. Last week all I felt like doing was sitting in the corner and sucking my thumb. Best not to go with feelings.<br />
<br />
This week, we took some action and began the process of fixing some of the problems and it felt better.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKH9kVwYuLA-NAfDILddLy6LmbO5CC6HRN_Htskj9HhrY_VE1xcKaimbiOrxsBY9zx3XRVw5y8VV7WhxIh8H1OHNMJXGJPuyRtvII-c9oBFWPsVF7EUyu1kaembctdKRhbke4cYcEp7ag/s1600/IMG_4904.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKH9kVwYuLA-NAfDILddLy6LmbO5CC6HRN_Htskj9HhrY_VE1xcKaimbiOrxsBY9zx3XRVw5y8VV7WhxIh8H1OHNMJXGJPuyRtvII-c9oBFWPsVF7EUyu1kaembctdKRhbke4cYcEp7ag/s640/IMG_4904.JPG" width="480" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiy8PNfnq1HZwiuapKZVUPYDaQwoFRF0uaDjcSZshrfHxuDKto2YSUfQnnrTsuMlqcmLwchs2AQBuVKG79MkFGEHN0iEi6YM9Cn0sh3NzOIT132VwMCWWZrX2AH44XowP50Qp2nz6M5lfQ/s1600/image5.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiy8PNfnq1HZwiuapKZVUPYDaQwoFRF0uaDjcSZshrfHxuDKto2YSUfQnnrTsuMlqcmLwchs2AQBuVKG79MkFGEHN0iEi6YM9Cn0sh3NzOIT132VwMCWWZrX2AH44XowP50Qp2nz6M5lfQ/s640/image5.jpeg" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBZxx53rCi4Rx_mVFlOgh7CNfT_f8Hp04sB_9xx0JbrDZVChp5UYH_4hw4p_ZKRIOjT5rLUydrtG8rS7g6jAnyuILic-Ct6eAs8ueLyDC0YbrEPO5MnqOuOTWRQP6F0srR4a7ZC0_CGz8/s1600/IMG_4905.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBZxx53rCi4Rx_mVFlOgh7CNfT_f8Hp04sB_9xx0JbrDZVChp5UYH_4hw4p_ZKRIOjT5rLUydrtG8rS7g6jAnyuILic-Ct6eAs8ueLyDC0YbrEPO5MnqOuOTWRQP6F0srR4a7ZC0_CGz8/s640/IMG_4905.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<br />
This week, stirring the oatmeal, reading in my little gold Bible, cutting the lettuce, eating sweet corn on the cob, ironing work clothes, joking with the kids, texting with friends, reading a <a href="http://amzn.to/1OBPgPP">funny and thoughtful book</a>…my rope has gained an inch or two and I am thankful, even as we are overwhelmed and still facing decisions and difficulty.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgH90gbsrapMGhxig3LWx7LNbiiKzNRx4lgLbG4Z5HJLmtVBhNu3FQ-Z9kJWG-YYEcSCzioIPnLsfXOGnDlbQvZEDPOC8gfl6eP5rdWvhRSfZG99jeKUoBVXagrIgiqYmsy0ORcw3qKT8I/s1600/image4.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgH90gbsrapMGhxig3LWx7LNbiiKzNRx4lgLbG4Z5HJLmtVBhNu3FQ-Z9kJWG-YYEcSCzioIPnLsfXOGnDlbQvZEDPOC8gfl6eP5rdWvhRSfZG99jeKUoBVXagrIgiqYmsy0ORcw3qKT8I/s640/image4.jpeg" width="480" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
My Man and I have both been reading a book called <a href="http://amzn.to/1gmf1sQ">Keeping the Heart</a> by John Flavel, a Puritan pastor born in 1628. While reading this I'd often say aloud, "Oh, this is so good." I commented about it so much and in such a way that soon, I saw another copy of the same book appear in my Man's stack and now it's often open in front of him and now<i> he</i> says from time to time…"Wow, this is good." I finished this book before our house issues began and now I'm going back to it for a second time. Flavel addresses many situations in which one is wise to pay attention to the matters of one's heart. Writing about "great trials," he counsels me:</div>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<i>In such cases [great trials] the heart is apt to be suddenly transported with pride, impatience, or other sinful passions. Many good people are guilty of hasty and very sinful conduct in such instances; and all have need to use diligently the following means to keep their hearts submissive and patient under great trials:</i></blockquote>
<br />
One of the means Flavel recommends is this:<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<i>Cultivate a habit of communion with God. This will prepare you for whatever may take place. This will so sweeten your temper and calm your mind as to secure you against suprisals. This will produce that inward peace which will make you superior to your trials. Habitual communion with God will afford you enjoyment, which you can never be willing to interrupt by sinful feeling. WHEN A CHRISTIAN IS CALM AND SUBMISSIVE UNDER HIS AFFLICTIONS, PROBABLY HE DERIVES SUPPORT AND COMFORT IN THIS WAY; BUT HE WHO IS DISCOMPOSED, IMPATIENT, OR FRETFUL, SHOWS THAT ALL IS NOT RIGHT WITHIN...</i></blockquote>
So, here we go into the future with sage words from the past working in our hearts, "suprisals" and trials and comforts and all.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRE9xvsP5CGsj61f4KIC23hQX1GvqywAwmoEr1tEWg1ijWNTbe5N3pqBOWqyDI-VYKhaPfJJo7TdxIgmePVaSz7TYzGiJSat8yFSaFWVBiz4uJVExOzkN1SUOgfctl5rM3BNxNC3tfnWk/s1600/IMG_4891.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRE9xvsP5CGsj61f4KIC23hQX1GvqywAwmoEr1tEWg1ijWNTbe5N3pqBOWqyDI-VYKhaPfJJo7TdxIgmePVaSz7TYzGiJSat8yFSaFWVBiz4uJVExOzkN1SUOgfctl5rM3BNxNC3tfnWk/s640/IMG_4891.JPG" width="480" /></a></div>
<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<i><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"> "Consider how the wild flowers grow. They do not labor or spin. Yet I tell you, not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these. If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today, and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, how much more will he clothe you—you of little faith!" </span></i></blockquote>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">~Luke 12:27-28</span></i> </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
*affiliate links<br />
<br />Gretchenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00466944413387670548noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7944348223421619571.post-344630894881807502015-07-15T12:11:00.001-04:002015-07-15T12:12:06.749-04:00Various and Sundry<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Hi there! </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Happy middle of summer!</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZWmcqEEkJZ9B1ouEs1SsvVsPhc6tEraxzEztPJZGewGwG7_rxfHzWsr4zpOdV6Dl0LwgpxLfxPDAIc54BYSapgKuESKTYRrNoGwX6JG2qwv65ObY3CbN0RJ3zcASfQSNSGjdsPhMhT6Y/s1600/IMG_4847.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZWmcqEEkJZ9B1ouEs1SsvVsPhc6tEraxzEztPJZGewGwG7_rxfHzWsr4zpOdV6Dl0LwgpxLfxPDAIc54BYSapgKuESKTYRrNoGwX6JG2qwv65ObY3CbN0RJ3zcASfQSNSGjdsPhMhT6Y/s640/IMG_4847.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
I'm checking in quickly from my favorite place {the porch}. It so happens that I'm without children for a few days and the quiet is both soothing and disorienting. I find that sitting for long stretches of silence is nearly impossible without the rambunctious sounds of the kids forcing me to deeper concentration. Not to fear, though, the problem will fix itself very soon.<br />
<br />
I had grand plans of all of the house freshening I'd do while no one was around to undo my efforts, but halfway through this empty week I'm accepting the reality that I'll be doing good to get fresh sheets on everyone's beds and cook a meal or two ahead for next week when it will again be necessary, even vital to have lots of food at the ready.<br />
<br />
My Man and I have been only too happy to make meals of any leftovers we've carried into this week from last and have even feasted on cold cereal a time or two. I hardly remember what it was like before the children came along and grew to the point of requiring all recipes to be doubled and tripled.<br />
<br />
As I sit here on the porch my plans for the day involve a second day of planning for the school year ahead. I've nearly gotten my list of core subjects determined and what remains is to fill in around the edges for the younger girls and to begin making the actual orders so that our books and materials are ready for us when we are ready for them. I'm keeping <a href="http://ebay.com/">eBay</a> and <a href="http://amazon.com/">Amazon</a> busy as well as <a href="https://www.sonlight.com/">Sonlight</a>, <a href="http://www.timberdoodle.com/">Timberdoodle</a>, <a href="http://www.rainbowresource.com/">Rainbow Resources</a>, and <a href="http://iew.com/shop/products/windows-world-introduction-literary-analysis-teacherstudent-combo">Institute for Excellence in Writing</a> (for any of you who might be doing this job too!). While on the subject of homeschool…my <a href="http://neveradullmomentcall.blogspot.com/">sister in the south</a> has highly recommended <a href="http://amzn.to/1J0m8Cd">Mindset: The New Psychology of Success</a> saying that it was a game changer for her upcoming school year and that it was "amazing info and practical help." I don't know about you but the words "game changer" and "amazing" and "practical" usually perk my attention.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0345472322/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=0345472322&linkCode=as2&tag=thewripla053-20&linkId=OEDGVT5LV6GL4OUB" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://ws-na.amazon-adsystem.com/widgets/q?_encoding=UTF8&ASIN=0345472322&Format=_SL250_&ID=AsinImage&MarketPlace=US&ServiceVersion=20070822&WS=1&tag=thewripla053-20" height="400" width="259" /></a></div>
<img alt="" border="0" src="http://ir-na.amazon-adsystem.com/e/ir?t=thewripla053-20&l=as2&o=1&a=0345472322" height="2" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important;" width="2" /><br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
When I finish with the school stuff for today I'll likely move on to some MASSIVE READING! In my stack are:<br />
<div>
<ul>
<li><a href="http://amzn.to/1I2DkYG">The Pastor's Wife: Strengthened by Grace for a Life of Love</a> by Gloria Furman</li>
<li><a href="http://amzn.to/1Mar7lA">Ordinary: Sustainable Faith in a Radical, Restless World</a> by Michael Horton</li>
<li><a href="http://amzn.to/1K7xvH7">It's Simply Tuesday: Small-Moment Living in a Fast-Moving World</a> by Emily Freeman (coming out in late August)</li>
<li><a href="http://amzn.to/1JhSSCt">The Gift of an Ordinary Day: A Mother's Memoir</a> by Katrina Kenison</li>
</ul>
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0446409499/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=0446409499&linkCode=as2&tag=thewripla053-20&linkId=4XQDFGZMW732TK6R" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://ws-na.amazon-adsystem.com/widgets/q?_encoding=UTF8&ASIN=0446409499&Format=_SL250_&ID=AsinImage&MarketPlace=US&ServiceVersion=20070822&WS=1&tag=thewripla053-20" height="400" width="258" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Can you spot the theme? I'm loving the simple just now…the plain… the quiet. Even my fiction book, which I have vowed to finish this week, is a simple quiet work. It's a huge book at 800 plus pages but I am all the better for the reading of it. {<a href="http://amzn.to/1K7xSBk">The Soldier of the Great War</a> by Mark Helprin} I've 300 pages left and I'm committed! I'll probably have more to say on this one later. </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Providing the background music to my porch retreat is <a href="http://www.mariaschneider.com/">Maria Schneider</a> whose music is live streaming from her <a href="http://www.mariaschneider.com/">website</a>.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
When I put my books away I'll continue through the series I'm addicted to on Masterpiece, <a href="http://amzn.to/1MasO2j">Inspector Lewis</a>. It's all British and Oxford and accents and mystery and murder and I'm in deep!</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
I hope your week has been full of peace and I'm wishing you tons of ordinary contentment as we meander into the last half of summer!</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNa2UHFsE2nrRPUsj0YFdzi8dVlccXne84nrcbnsO_EPUVNlDBXpeY0LQyyGZOvFbQ9WkfJZSZ7sdkjZQMDa2xgEn_vF7USqTX6pxiJ2_EftbC1hEeOjw63p5mao1uHSsFYuazkIrJgk0/s1600/IMG_4849.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNa2UHFsE2nrRPUsj0YFdzi8dVlccXne84nrcbnsO_EPUVNlDBXpeY0LQyyGZOvFbQ9WkfJZSZ7sdkjZQMDa2xgEn_vF7USqTX6pxiJ2_EftbC1hEeOjw63p5mao1uHSsFYuazkIrJgk0/s640/IMG_4849.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<i><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">"…happiness hasn't much to do with perfect surrounding, with having a lot or doing a lot. It comes with living simply, taking care of one another, allowing time in the day for ease and pleasure and play."</span></i></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<i><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">~Katrina Kenison</span></i></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<i><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">"The Gift of an Ordinary Day"</span></i></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<i><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></i></div>
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">{This post contains affiliate links.}</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<img alt="" border="0" src="http://ir-na.amazon-adsystem.com/e/ir?t=thewripla053-20&l=as2&o=1&a=0446409499" height="2" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important;" width="2" />Gretchenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00466944413387670548noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7944348223421619571.post-40499928582756163462015-07-08T08:28:00.000-04:002015-07-08T08:28:19.233-04:00Great Mystery of Life...OK...Really Good Mysteries of My BookshelfIt all began with <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Secret-Clock-Nancy-Drew-Book/dp/0448095017/ref=sr_1_3?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1432127321&sr=1-3&keywords=nancy+drew">Nancy Drew</a>. I remember a friend reading and loving the Nancy Drew mysteries and feeling that I wanted to read them too but I was sure that they'd be too scary for me. Before long, Nancy and I were best friends, going to the pool together in the summers and taking trips together year round.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7HZ-Cr5adTe8fXkYjKJ_SAhcFstMer75jMu2uzPtUOtilj9IcrrQYImvFocXoG5mLBsW1ajrfJB6RXGjDfTvNrGPYDWNYfqX-1u9uzOZ6fAKc-ne-hNPZ25aIpE_EDWtNH3wEISW42ok/s1600/51PU5U0ZzGL._SX325_BO1%252C204%252C203%252C200_.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7HZ-Cr5adTe8fXkYjKJ_SAhcFstMer75jMu2uzPtUOtilj9IcrrQYImvFocXoG5mLBsW1ajrfJB6RXGjDfTvNrGPYDWNYfqX-1u9uzOZ6fAKc-ne-hNPZ25aIpE_EDWtNH3wEISW42ok/s320/51PU5U0ZzGL._SX325_BO1%252C204%252C203%252C200_.jpg" width="209" /></a></div>
<br />
Soon, <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Secret-Mansion-Trixie-Belden/dp/037582412X/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1432127370&sr=1-1&keywords=trixie+belden+series">Trixie Belden</a> joined our gang and the three of us were solving mysteries with fervor.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsHxeAOF1eDsLAROybbeXU3CKjesKRM3pkCp1pxZf8bsm7HMU5a7XM-BJ37iYBJpxjG6DktH81lBcCIy4hEoXtcBhvmF7van-kPSoLF5-CK12y3eqGA58JZ5FQOYD840NkdoZHbXEg7FU/s1600/Unknown.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsHxeAOF1eDsLAROybbeXU3CKjesKRM3pkCp1pxZf8bsm7HMU5a7XM-BJ37iYBJpxjG6DktH81lBcCIy4hEoXtcBhvmF7van-kPSoLF5-CK12y3eqGA58JZ5FQOYD840NkdoZHbXEg7FU/s320/Unknown.jpeg" width="204" /></a></div>
<br />
Then there was Agatha Christie with her <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Then-There-Were-None/dp/0062073486/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1432127406&sr=1-1&keywords=and+then+there+were+none+by+agatha+christie">And Then There Were None</a> which scared me so badly as a junior high student that I had to have my mom sleep with me for a night or two.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiaHUcMzHOUtqW3MBx9K6jOu8-h785pbunVgMMcvMecQyXrtEghjzPeO-13rW91QSc9302wyUfDkrg3cXK9tDqFxp8W2449A5thYwBn-3hZYs08IpoA6oGxVDJFRmfAPIR3C80F4kMKw8/s1600/51o0UB-9YwL._SX308_BO1%252C204%252C203%252C200_.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiaHUcMzHOUtqW3MBx9K6jOu8-h785pbunVgMMcvMecQyXrtEghjzPeO-13rW91QSc9302wyUfDkrg3cXK9tDqFxp8W2449A5thYwBn-3hZYs08IpoA6oGxVDJFRmfAPIR3C80F4kMKw8/s400/51o0UB-9YwL._SX308_BO1%252C204%252C203%252C200_.jpg" width="247" /></a></div>
<br />
I should have started with <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Murder-Vicarage-Miss-Marple-Mysteries/dp/0062073605/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1436186603&sr=1-1&keywords=murder+at+the+vicarage">Murder at the Vicarage</a> which would at least have begun to prepare me for my future (grin).<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDEhBHKsKXqQnFVCTSVZobmUZkBpxmaIEItRSu90lLLzVHYT0Zlbqau-GfmG15CxcaLHlYycnpXHTVBGSsxR4uitSPD_zx1t7Jyg8A6-wQkDvMFsT4tDFY56bIQ5q8Lc6ImjTTpuyn4As/s1600/51Z-attASTL-1._SX329_BO1%252C204%252C203%252C200_.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDEhBHKsKXqQnFVCTSVZobmUZkBpxmaIEItRSu90lLLzVHYT0Zlbqau-GfmG15CxcaLHlYycnpXHTVBGSsxR4uitSPD_zx1t7Jyg8A6-wQkDvMFsT4tDFY56bIQ5q8Lc6ImjTTpuyn4As/s400/51Z-attASTL-1._SX329_BO1%252C204%252C203%252C200_.jpg" width="265" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
After growing up a little with Ms. Christie, I made the acquaintance of <a href="http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=a9_sc_1?rh=i%3Astripbooks%2Ck%3Amrs.+pollifax+series&keywords=mrs.+pollifax+series&ie=UTF8&qid=1436190979">Mrs. Emily Pollifax</a>, a senior adult widow who spent what would have been her retirement years in the employment of the CIA as a spy. I still get a warm feeling in my heart as I remember all of the adventures Mrs. Pollifax and I took together around the world solving international mysteries. I listened to many of these stories as books on ....TAPE (they are on <a href="http://www.amazon.com/The-Amazing-Mrs-Pollifax/dp/B00514VJ64/ref=sr_1_9?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1432123788&sr=1-9&keywords=mrs.+pollifax+audiobooks">CD now or you can get them through Audible</a>) narrated by the excellent Barbara Rosenblat.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOlKc_zrkF8zR4KpnSqVPFqADe-5tspGowPzd9TYei5rzpoBnelXxXgwqehyphenhyphen5kRrhTNP1hYPq0TROppBiU19d8LCUhl59J8fEFWFopyutJIU1yvrA543MRLZndBL1DZldBTOjSMdeHPag/s1600/51V6gPKQE9L._SX302_BO1%252C204%252C203%252C200_.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOlKc_zrkF8zR4KpnSqVPFqADe-5tspGowPzd9TYei5rzpoBnelXxXgwqehyphenhyphen5kRrhTNP1hYPq0TROppBiU19d8LCUhl59J8fEFWFopyutJIU1yvrA543MRLZndBL1DZldBTOjSMdeHPag/s400/51V6gPKQE9L._SX302_BO1%252C204%252C203%252C200_.jpg" width="242" /></a></div>
<br />
Even in college I fed my appetite for mysteries and was introduced to the likes of <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Moonstone-Penguin-Classics-Collins-Wilkie/dp/B00DS91X4W/ref=sr_1_4?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1432127770&sr=1-4&keywords=wilkie+collins+the+moonstone">Wilkie Collins</a>, <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Hound-Baskervilles-Arthur-Conan-Doyle/dp/1508613567/ref=sr_1_5?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1432127834&sr=1-5&keywords=the+hound+of+the+baskervilles+by+sir+arthur+conan+doyle">Arthur Conan Doyle</a>, <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Taste-Death-Adam-Dalgliesh-Mysteries/dp/1400096472/ref=sr_1_6?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1432127871&sr=1-6&keywords=pd+james">P. D. James</a>, and <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Thief-Time-Tony-Hillerman/dp/0061808407/ref=la_B000APAL3Q_1_7?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1432128370&sr=1-7">Tony Hillerman</a> in a class called Detective Fiction. What a treat! I convinced my Man to pick up a <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Death-Holy-Orders-Dalgliesh-Mystery/dp/0812977238/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1432128421&sr=1-1&keywords=pd+dalgliesh+in+order">P.D. James mystery</a> at the bookstore recently and am eager to see if he enjoys it.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1400096472/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=1400096472&linkCode=as2&tag=thewripla053-20&linkId=7MOEE3UKI2GA7AIY"><img border="0" src="http://ws-na.amazon-adsystem.com/widgets/q?_encoding=UTF8&ASIN=1400096472&Format=_SL250_&ID=AsinImage&MarketPlace=US&ServiceVersion=20070822&WS=1&tag=thewripla053-20" height="400" width="249" /></a><img alt="" border="0" src="http://ir-na.amazon-adsystem.com/e/ir?t=thewripla053-20&l=as2&o=1&a=1400096472" height="1" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important;" width="1" /></div>
<br />
<br />
<br />
My early married life was chock full of audio mysteries as I drove 40 minutes to work and then 40 minutes back home at the end of each day. I listened to just about anything narrated by Barbara Rosenblat which included a <a href="http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_ss_i_2_16?url=search-alias%3Dstripbooks&field-keywords=elizabeth+peters+amelia+peabody+in+order&sprefix=elizabeth+peters%2Cstripbooks%2C148">fun series of mysteries</a> by <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Elizabeth-Peters/e/B000APJBUK/ref=sr_tc_2_0?qid=1436191207&sr=1-2-ent">Elizabeth Peters</a> about a Victorian era English family of archaeologists who honed their craft digging in Egypt (The first book in the series is <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Crocodile-Sandbank-Amelia-Peabody-Book/dp/1455572357/ref=sr_1_2?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1432124891&sr=1-2">Crocodile on the Sandbank</a> but I think the best of the series lies in the middle books beginning with <a href="http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0446605573/${0}">Seeing A Large Cat</a>)<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEix0X9bny76bUYQlAmkhNrqcrXEzug5fn42v4ToeCe4dwShnplgYv3KJ_0EzkG0DuAEp1hHA5QjkY0IM7VFD2fxhUXmfJYgBumbxry0YitUq4YcTPLAL9i6FYB7zu7vG9mCdEYPKeDZC-M/s1600/61JvC0Q22OL._SX328_BO1%252C204%252C203%252C200_.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFX1nck97a7VkQHYh304nBPYsjhvfOIVVd8t5uooSi481BblZkN4lmwAXB-xRcY7vNarnQ87-mga5XZjpfRpI2JXkHY3QTHJd9wEl7bw58l-9SCkJhx_Trdbop0BVLjBYiJR3LmcovMWQ/s1600/51BQxzjCceL._SX312_BO1%252C204%252C203%252C200_.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFX1nck97a7VkQHYh304nBPYsjhvfOIVVd8t5uooSi481BblZkN4lmwAXB-xRcY7vNarnQ87-mga5XZjpfRpI2JXkHY3QTHJd9wEl7bw58l-9SCkJhx_Trdbop0BVLjBYiJR3LmcovMWQ/s320/51BQxzjCceL._SX312_BO1%252C204%252C203%252C200_.jpg" width="201" /></a><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEix0X9bny76bUYQlAmkhNrqcrXEzug5fn42v4ToeCe4dwShnplgYv3KJ_0EzkG0DuAEp1hHA5QjkY0IM7VFD2fxhUXmfJYgBumbxry0YitUq4YcTPLAL9i6FYB7zu7vG9mCdEYPKeDZC-M/s320/61JvC0Q22OL._SX328_BO1%252C204%252C203%252C200_.jpg" width="211" /> </div>
<br />
Also narrated by Rosenblat is a fun series about caterer Goldie Shultz by <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Diane-Mott-Davidson/e/B000AP8PXY/ref=sr_tc_2_0?qid=1436187842&sr=1-2-ent">Diane Mott Davidson</a>. (The <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Killer-Pancake/dp/B001J6XEY8/ref=pd_sim_129_3?ie=UTF8&refRID=0KYTJKDKBR853XSS4PXQ">earlier books</a> in the series are the very best.)<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiW-41hZMVV_wrgKr3X2uMhFieZlth5b5R5c4DV_vL_a_IbINKiyrVaJR0AsXLSdcx9oQyUCpzJjUmnnb89i6dw1019qPQ4rw_BDMGgICgkxRy5CpcN9L22DWPvbMEOYsUh-zUY4wMjrog/s1600/51XUuyljasL._SX301_BO1%252C204%252C203%252C200_.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiW-41hZMVV_wrgKr3X2uMhFieZlth5b5R5c4DV_vL_a_IbINKiyrVaJR0AsXLSdcx9oQyUCpzJjUmnnb89i6dw1019qPQ4rw_BDMGgICgkxRy5CpcN9L22DWPvbMEOYsUh-zUY4wMjrog/s400/51XUuyljasL._SX301_BO1%252C204%252C203%252C200_.jpg" width="242" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<br />
<a href="http://www.amazon.com/Carolyn-Hart/e/B000AP8NH2/ref=sr_tc_2_0?qid=1432128514&sr=1-2-ent">Carolyn Hart</a> has also been a favorite of mine with her series of Henry O mysteries which specialize in taking the reader deep into the setting. I can still remember the feeling of being on a <a href="http://amzn.to/1LQ8UbW">remote island as a huge storm rolls</a> in and also, in a different book, feeling like I'd actually experienced the <a href="http://amzn.to/1LQ8Rgc">River Walk in San Antonio, Texas.</a><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000PDZG24/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=B000PDZG24&linkCode=as2&tag=thewripla053-20&linkId=ZRDAL4252DKFMNC3"><img border="0" src="http://ws-na.amazon-adsystem.com/widgets/q?_encoding=UTF8&ASIN=B000PDZG24&Format=_SL250_&ID=AsinImage&MarketPlace=US&ServiceVersion=20070822&WS=1&tag=thewripla053-20" height="400" width="240" /></a><img alt="" border="0" src="http://ir-na.amazon-adsystem.com/e/ir?t=thewripla053-20&l=as2&o=1&a=B000PDZG24" height="1" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important;" width="1" /></div>
<br />
<a href="http://www.amazon.com/Katherine-Hall-Page/e/B000AQ8T98/ref=dp_byline_cont_book_1">Katherine Hall Page</a> has written a series of book just for me. OK, more folks than me enjoy these books but I'm sure Ms. Page has me in mind as she puts pen to page. Her titles begin with "Body in the…" (my fav title is <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Body-Belfry-Faith-Fairchild-Mystery/dp/0380713284/ref=asap_bc?ie=UTF8">Body in the Belfry</a>) and are about pastor's wife, Faith Fairchild who runs a catering company and solves a mystery or two between serving the entree and dessert. Yessir buddy, a pastor's wife who loves food and feeding folks…sign me up please. There's a new one out this summer that I hope to get my hands on called <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Body-Birches-Fairchild-Mystery-Mysteries/dp/0062310828/ref=sr_1_2?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1436190648&sr=1-2">Body in the Birches</a>. Somewhere between cozy mysteries and serious character studies, these books are always good to draw me in and keep me entertained.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0062310828/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=0062310828&linkCode=as2&tag=thewripla053-20&linkId=ESCEHZBETTP2U3L4"><img border="0" src="http://ws-na.amazon-adsystem.com/widgets/q?_encoding=UTF8&ASIN=0062310828&Format=_SL250_&ID=AsinImage&MarketPlace=US&ServiceVersion=20070822&WS=1&tag=thewripla053-20" height="400" width="265" /></a><img alt="" border="0" src="http://ir-na.amazon-adsystem.com/e/ir?t=thewripla053-20&l=as2&o=1&a=0062310828" height="1" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important;" width="1" /></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0380713284/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=0380713284&linkCode=as2&tag=thewripla053-20&linkId=PPNYRT5JPCNEQ5GW" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://ws-na.amazon-adsystem.com/widgets/q?_encoding=UTF8&ASIN=0380713284&Format=_SL250_&ID=AsinImage&MarketPlace=US&ServiceVersion=20070822&WS=1&tag=thewripla053-20" height="400" width="248" /></a></div>
<img alt="" border="0" src="http://ir-na.amazon-adsystem.com/e/ir?t=thewripla053-20&l=as2&o=1&a=0380713284" height="1" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important;" width="1" /><br />
<br />
<br />
These days I've got a new set of authors on my shelves and in my ears.<br />
<br />
I just finished a lovely mystery by <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Donna-Leon/e/B000APJKYC/ref=sr_tc_2_0?qid=1436187905&sr=1-2-ent">Donna Leon</a> called <a href="http://amzn.to/1HdgYAb">Falling in Love</a> which centers around the stalking of an opera prima donna.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0802123538/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=0802123538&linkCode=as2&tag=thewripla053-20&linkId=CGD53WGRRKH273QV" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://ws-na.amazon-adsystem.com/widgets/q?_encoding=UTF8&ASIN=0802123538&Format=_SL250_&ID=AsinImage&MarketPlace=US&ServiceVersion=20070822&WS=1&tag=thewripla053-20" height="400" width="265" /></a></div>
<img alt="" border="0" src="http://ir-na.amazon-adsystem.com/e/ir?t=thewripla053-20&l=as2&o=1&a=0802123538" height="1" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important;" width="1" /><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<a href="http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=sr_kk_1?rh=i%3Astripbooks%2Ck%3Abrunetti+mysteries+in+order&keywords=brunetti+mysteries+in+order&ie=UTF8&qid=1436192118">Gudio Brunetti</a> is the detective and the setting is modern day Venice, Italy. This is the 7th or 8th Donna Leon mystery I've read or listened to and each one is a treat. I always feel like I've been in Italy drinking coffee in the shops and riding in boats with the Venetian police force as they investigate crime. Each mystery I read <a href="http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=sr_kk_1?rh=i%3Astripbooks%2Ck%3Abrunetti+mysteries+in+order&keywords=brunetti+mysteries+in+order&ie=UTF8&qid=1436192118">in this series</a> leaves me caring more about the characters than the eventual solution to the crime. Rich reading here.<br />
<br />
Another recent favorite of the last few years are the mysteries of <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Louise-Penny/e/B001ILHIVY/ref=sr_tc_2_0?qid=1436186109&sr=1-2-ent">Louise Penny</a> who writes about a small village in Canada much like Donna Leon handles Venice. In fact as I was opening a fresh <a href="https://www.blogger.com/%3Ciframe%20style=%22width:120px;height:240px;%22%20marginwidth=%220%22%20marginheight=%220%22%20scrolling=%22no%22%20frameborder=%220%22%20src=%22//ws-na.amazon-adsystem.com/widgets/q?ServiceVersion=20070822&OneJS=1&Operation=GetAdHtml&MarketPlace=US&source=ss&ref=ss_til&ad_type=product_link&tracking_id=thewripla053-20&marketplace=amazon&region=US&placement=0312614160&asins=0312614160&linkId=LFYVEUOA4K4PZS73&show_border=true&link_opens_in_new_window=true%22%3E">Chief Inspector Gamache </a>(Penny's detective) adventure, I read this review in the front copy of the cover:<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
Penny has been compared to Agatha Christie, and while there is a surface resemblance there, it sells her short. Her characters are too rich, her grasp of nuance and human psychology too firm for the formula-bound Christie. No, Penny belongs in the hands of those who read not only P. D. James but also Donna Leon, who, like Penny, Mixes her hero's family and professional lives fluidly and with a subtle grasp of telling detail." </blockquote>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
~ Booklist (starred review)</blockquote>
This series is also excellent on audio and the covers are simply beautiful.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0312661681/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=0312661681&linkCode=as2&tag=thewripla053-20&linkId=YDVJ5KYOQAJ33QB4" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://ws-na.amazon-adsystem.com/widgets/q?_encoding=UTF8&ASIN=0312661681&Format=_SL250_&ID=AsinImage&MarketPlace=US&ServiceVersion=20070822&WS=1&tag=thewripla053-20" height="400" width="266" /></a></div>
<img alt="" border="0" src="http://ir-na.amazon-adsystem.com/e/ir?t=thewripla053-20&l=as2&o=1&a=0312661681" height="1" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important;" width="1" /><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0312614160/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=0312614160&linkCode=as2&tag=thewripla053-20&linkId=ZP56P5NTH74DCOXE" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://ws-na.amazon-adsystem.com/widgets/q?_encoding=UTF8&ASIN=0312614160&Format=_SL250_&ID=AsinImage&MarketPlace=US&ServiceVersion=20070822&WS=1&tag=thewripla053-20" height="400" width="267" /></a></div>
<img alt="" border="0" src="http://ir-na.amazon-adsystem.com/e/ir?t=thewripla053-20&l=as2&o=1&a=0312614160" height="1" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important;" width="1" /><br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Charge into the middle month of summer with a great mystery but BEWARE you might find yourself buried deep in a wonderful series and discover that you've lost a day or two to stories that just won't let you go!</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 18px; text-align: left;"><i>“My name is Sherlock Holmes. It is my business to know what other people do not know.” </i></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px; text-align: left;">― </span><a href="http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/2448.Arthur_Conan_Doyle" style="color: #666600; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px; text-align: left; text-decoration: none;">Arthur Conan Doyle</a><span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px; text-align: left;">, </span><i style="color: #181818; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px; text-align: left;"><a href="http://www.goodreads.com/work/quotes/2402774" style="color: #666600; text-decoration: none;">The Adventure of the Blue Carbuncle</a></i><br />
<br />
{NOTE: This post has affiliate links which means that if you click on a book title, and purchase the book, I get a penny or two to spend on a book or two…}</div>
<a href="https://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=7944348223421619571" style="background-color: transparent; background-image: url(data:image/png; border: none; cursor: pointer; display: none; height: 20px; opacity: 0.85; position: absolute; width: 40px; z-index: 8675309;"></a><a href="https://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=7944348223421619571" style="background-color: transparent; background-image: url(data:image/png; border: none; cursor: pointer; display: none; height: 20px; opacity: 0.85; position: absolute; width: 40px; z-index: 8675309;"></a><br />
<a href="http://www.pinterest.com/pin/create/extension/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.blogger.com%2Fblogger.g%3FblogID%3D7944348223421619571%23editor%2Ftarget%3Dpost%3BpostID%3D4049992858275616346%3BonPublishedMenu%3Dallposts%3BonClosedMenu%3Dallposts%3BpostNum%3D7%3Bsrc%3Dpostname&media=https%3A%2F%2F1.bp.blogspot.com%2F-j4AZK6zBzIQ%2FVZqIjtI4p2I%2FAAAAAAAALGw%2FK-hnmXk7BLw%2Fs320%2F51PU5U0ZzGL._SX325_BO1%25252C204%25252C203%25252C200_.jpg&xm=h&xv=sa1.37.01&xuid=1X2cN3uLvtzq&description=" style="background-color: transparent; background-image: url(data:image/png; border: none; cursor: pointer; display: none; height: 20px; left: 248px; opacity: 0.85; position: absolute; top: 90px; width: 40px; z-index: 8675309;"></a><a href="http://www.pinterest.com/pin/create/extension/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.blogger.com%2Fblogger.g%3FblogID%3D7944348223421619571%23editor%2Ftarget%3Dpost%3BpostID%3D4049992858275616346%3BonPublishedMenu%3Dallposts%3BonClosedMenu%3Dallposts%3BpostNum%3D7%3Bsrc%3Dpostname&media=https%3A%2F%2F1.bp.blogspot.com%2F-j4AZK6zBzIQ%2FVZqIjtI4p2I%2FAAAAAAAALGw%2FK-hnmXk7BLw%2Fs320%2F51PU5U0ZzGL._SX325_BO1%25252C204%25252C203%25252C200_.jpg&xm=h&xv=sa1.37.01&xuid=1X2cN3uLvtzq&description=" style="background-color: transparent; background-image: url(data:image/png; border: none; cursor: pointer; display: none; height: 20px; left: 248px; opacity: 0.85; position: absolute; top: 90px; width: 40px; z-index: 8675309;"></a>Gretchenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00466944413387670548noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7944348223421619571.post-1477652131683371002015-07-01T06:53:00.001-04:002015-07-01T06:55:31.198-04:00The Ripple MakerI recently spent some time in the same room as a person who has, by his actions and lifestyle, sent ripples of pain and waves of defeat into the lives of those closest to him. Those ripples didn't stop with the close folks though, they travel on affecting those pretty far off from the situation. This person would be shocked, I think, if he ever realized how potent his life has become.<br />
<br />
I only stared at him from across a room. His reputation had proceeded him and I was shocked that he didn't look at all like the monster I'd imagined him to be and yet the damage he'd caused by a lifetime of struggling with self control was as real a presence in the room as was this man's.<br />
<br />
I stayed away from him because of my own shortcomings, my own struggle with self control. I wanted to treat this individual with the same venom he'd used on others, I wanted him to look closely at the lives he's ruined, I wanted to … so I stayed away.<br />
<br />
I've spent a great deal of time pondering this man's sin--its ripples in the lives of those around him-- and suddenly it became uncomfortably clear to me that<i> not one of us </i>lives a ripple-less existence. His ripples may be more recognizable than my own, more public perhaps, but they are not one bit uglier to the One who created both of us, the One who loves us most, the One who, if we'll only let Him will deal with the ripples caused by my very own lack of self control and my very own selfishness and my very own judging nature, my very own high regard of me.<br />
<br />
<i>I</i> am an accomplished ripple maker and <i>I</i>, every bit as much as the man I seek to shame, need the presence of the One who calmed the waters and made smooth the ripples and continues to pour living water for those who would realize their thirst.<br />
<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; line-height: 19.5px;">Then Jesus got into the boat and started across the lake with his disciples. Suddenly, a fierce storm struck the lake, with waves breaking into the boat. But Jesus was sleeping. The disciples went and woke him up, shouting, "Lord, save us! We're going to drown!" Jesus responded, "Why are you afraid? You have so little faith!" Then he got up and rebuked the wind and the waves, and suddenly there was a great calm. ~Matthew 8:23-26</span></span> </blockquote>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixeaY3EaF3qwEfrxb11V10YxD0OIie-u_YJUVN8M1XZVRtZRSCKW9I4n_fTxcJy-IgOMnsoA-aesaT4lr1pbK8XHtSBOG7Voa4HAs-PFKdVmBD2ZMbfrMx7Xv6HaRnwzqJqr6veDndhOM/s1600/IMG_2159.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixeaY3EaF3qwEfrxb11V10YxD0OIie-u_YJUVN8M1XZVRtZRSCKW9I4n_fTxcJy-IgOMnsoA-aesaT4lr1pbK8XHtSBOG7Voa4HAs-PFKdVmBD2ZMbfrMx7Xv6HaRnwzqJqr6veDndhOM/s640/IMG_2159.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />Gretchenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00466944413387670548noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7944348223421619571.post-64482754217121761992015-06-25T07:45:00.000-04:002015-06-25T07:45:07.115-04:00Close to You<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<i>It's Sonic season for the Wright's and we are participating as best we can. Molly's softball season wrapped up Tuesday evening with a big win and Kate's began last night with a victory. There's lots on the calendar this week, but not nearly as much as last week and for that we are thankful. The post below is from the archives (2011), but celebrates summer and our current softball player…Enjoy.</i></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFbOnrjWYfKRvYQswhHOYmBrfXY-H5ud7ILBznKdFVedZM3r9_oVDvFv6QcsEylkgnp6JE5ex2Y00ndX7eYflwyYBOF7qr5WFn59VcHrLKbdBS7HNFidf6Fcn26EEkmDyK1YtS39r4BZY/s1600/DSCN5123.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFbOnrjWYfKRvYQswhHOYmBrfXY-H5ud7ILBznKdFVedZM3r9_oVDvFv6QcsEylkgnp6JE5ex2Y00ndX7eYflwyYBOF7qr5WFn59VcHrLKbdBS7HNFidf6Fcn26EEkmDyK1YtS39r4BZY/s640/DSCN5123.JPG" width="480" /></a></div>
<br />
We were closing down a full day of vacation fun with a snack at one of our favorite hang-outs. Some of us were sagging, some of us were sunburnt, and some of us were just plain starving. Plopping down on picnic-table-style benches, the six of us were comfortably arranged...or so I thought.<br />
<br />
"Doesn't <i><b>anyone</b></i> want to sit by <i><b>me</b></i>?" a weary voice queried.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvNroI5ZQN4iFWK60rmGAZXBpIBeHI7Xs0Kw4hGcG5MsFP7J-xet0Y9Chac1NlYre8XaoVHvNJ3eWQABh-wALW3dH08rZc8skoedOiyHV5HG8HH7wehwr0mKS9PPQxZXVHYgb1PFdXL4I/s1600/DSCN5126.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvNroI5ZQN4iFWK60rmGAZXBpIBeHI7Xs0Kw4hGcG5MsFP7J-xet0Y9Chac1NlYre8XaoVHvNJ3eWQABh-wALW3dH08rZc8skoedOiyHV5HG8HH7wehwr0mKS9PPQxZXVHYgb1PFdXL4I/s640/DSCN5126.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
"Hey, look you and Cole got seats by yourselves, you two are big time," I said...too <strike>tired</strike> lazy to engineer a seating change and hoping to make her less lonely with mere words.<br />
<br />
Then a much deeper voice said, "Of course I want to sit by you!"<br />
<br />
And with one little scoot…<br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNqxocGxy2Sd4ErSOe0wS2QutLSjMqRPs3SaE6-O_stytzaiMJow53VlrGoE4VapSdLMGsXzKq1ytTWbBiuwFFGN87e42ygE39p-Wj7FWQ_pBT1Nf1zKop76WrccQLi04wnUCquCV4Ags/s1600/DSCN5133.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNqxocGxy2Sd4ErSOe0wS2QutLSjMqRPs3SaE6-O_stytzaiMJow53VlrGoE4VapSdLMGsXzKq1ytTWbBiuwFFGN87e42ygE39p-Wj7FWQ_pBT1Nf1zKop76WrccQLi04wnUCquCV4Ags/s640/DSCN5133.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaTJ8yGYQ6lbFbBlS7LLtECg-PdqVkgErMqOxwKkqpPc_uhC2LUL9wdpcKoZIogu-r_Zo3gnBHS2tyTZCY_2Z4b9NxGk1uh-fBheJCRZRCvHshihPaYyt9ZJteFHIc99hPIL_rN_F62zg/s1600/DSCN5134.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="504" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaTJ8yGYQ6lbFbBlS7LLtECg-PdqVkgErMqOxwKkqpPc_uhC2LUL9wdpcKoZIogu-r_Zo3gnBHS2tyTZCY_2Z4b9NxGk1uh-fBheJCRZRCvHshihPaYyt9ZJteFHIc99hPIL_rN_F62zg/s640/DSCN5134.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_wTcAD6eSn5KdR9fqDPg_HARTCM6wRdlKyzATnU6dzPvKUYMUIy06jEf9PVkWv8ps6doCGkDUH3PAsROLGExBZhF8XBgmOX_kILowlM4rqdb8Phv525ieIrROh4hS750vaEzfJyVm8jc/s1600/DSCN5132.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="537" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_wTcAD6eSn5KdR9fqDPg_HARTCM6wRdlKyzATnU6dzPvKUYMUIy06jEf9PVkWv8ps6doCGkDUH3PAsROLGExBZhF8XBgmOX_kILowlM4rqdb8Phv525ieIrROh4hS750vaEzfJyVm8jc/s640/DSCN5132.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7gDzB-79_Zv3Z1WF_-I5XQ5W8UKMQFpgLs0YqiemrBy4tTyKyF8v3z_XlszfkbSMTbKaoR3FyqF31U8clFlSdan8JRmvMMzfTtwes0QVKrAwE41-JI5sA_GL4q8nsJdxTapQAVQTsj_c/s1600/DSCN5136.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7gDzB-79_Zv3Z1WF_-I5XQ5W8UKMQFpgLs0YqiemrBy4tTyKyF8v3z_XlszfkbSMTbKaoR3FyqF31U8clFlSdan8JRmvMMzfTtwes0QVKrAwE41-JI5sA_GL4q8nsJdxTapQAVQTsj_c/s640/DSCN5136.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVItHrSbaVMLwStSS-99oSvcTpT_k7KS3bvY4pOiwh7VRdQXIdyuRIh8-pTtazfiSeMqrSEMDBYoJ5YjYi5bZMv2z7DVvmwqt2nzXbB0rxDFQWNxWC_7XGhZ3IjfqajK27v1MNjAMSyIk/s1600/DSCN5135.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVItHrSbaVMLwStSS-99oSvcTpT_k7KS3bvY4pOiwh7VRdQXIdyuRIh8-pTtazfiSeMqrSEMDBYoJ5YjYi5bZMv2z7DVvmwqt2nzXbB0rxDFQWNxWC_7XGhZ3IjfqajK27v1MNjAMSyIk/s640/DSCN5135.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkVJe2AkTSWBmJzod5gji6YmY78xrwgKI28JlmAzMYbkRoPSLlWFMoOxbooXyhv_sC3fK1QwIXdDbNdjszBKesPSmq423kHiCVr60jfrXV_qFDfXR7Z9vrVx7O2Pa-s6UC9uwskxyGLkU/s1600/DSCN5137.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="488" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkVJe2AkTSWBmJzod5gji6YmY78xrwgKI28JlmAzMYbkRoPSLlWFMoOxbooXyhv_sC3fK1QwIXdDbNdjszBKesPSmq423kHiCVr60jfrXV_qFDfXR7Z9vrVx7O2Pa-s6UC9uwskxyGLkU/s640/DSCN5137.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
...all was right in her world.</div>
Gretchenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00466944413387670548noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7944348223421619571.post-76569124303965259362015-06-19T11:28:00.001-04:002015-07-01T14:48:55.301-04:00Slow Cooking for Fast-Paced CrazyWe are nearing the end of "<a href="http://thewrightstuffforus.blogspot.com/2015/06/when-calendars-attack.html">Crazy Week</a>" and are now headed, full-tilt, into "Crazier Weekend." The VBS goers finished their activities last night to great relief and accomplishment of the workers. Today the theater campers wrap up final rehearsals and Molly's softball team continues onward in the quest for the trophy or a trophy or the end of the season in some form or fashion. Tomorrow Molly and her team play at least two games and Meg and Kate and their theater company perform two shows. As you would guess, most of these things happen nearly at the same times. Happily, they happen in the same general area which is less happily not close to home because where would be the challenge then?<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiq_YlZl_OLsvXOk_IUkD6q65mCgL9AhwOEj-PQHv_5S3EseWaoLOgkvKgclEmVoWDvvvNGMFUA_DFJRzrIlEfr_2CFD8uSXwuwJFIeceSSgRdzGTWr1nvd6bYQgBWVcXFz9GzdBbvRVs/s1600/image6.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="368" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiq_YlZl_OLsvXOk_IUkD6q65mCgL9AhwOEj-PQHv_5S3EseWaoLOgkvKgclEmVoWDvvvNGMFUA_DFJRzrIlEfr_2CFD8uSXwuwJFIeceSSgRdzGTWr1nvd6bYQgBWVcXFz9GzdBbvRVs/s640/image6.jpeg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
The slow cooker has been the MVP of the week and one of our very favorite meals was it's opening act:<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
Slow Cooker Korean Beef</div>
<br />
My first introduction to this meal was by smell when I dropped something off at a friend's home and upon opening the door the scent of warm and yummy hit my nose. I asked fourteen questions in rapid fire fashion and came to discover a meal that quickly rose to favored status at The Wright Table. It's beyond simple to prepare, it's versatile, it's different from the usual fare…perfect for Crazy Week.<br />
<br />
Here's what you need:<br />
<br />
{Click <a href="https://sites.google.com/site/cookingthewrightplace/slow-cooker-korean-beef?tmpl=%2Fsystem%2Fapp%2Ftemplates%2Fprint%2F&showPrintDialog=1">HERE</a> for <a href="https://sites.google.com/site/cookingthewrightplace/slow-cooker-korean-beef?tmpl=%2Fsystem%2Fapp%2Ftemplates%2Fprint%2F&showPrintDialog=1">printable recipe</a>}<br />
<br />
3 pound chuck roast<br />
1/2 cup brown sugar<br />
1/3 cup soy sauce (in the Asian foods aisle)<br />
1/2 sliced onion<br />
10 cloves garlic<br />
2 Tablespoons minced ginger<br />
2 Tablespoons rice wine vinegar (in the Asian foods aisle)<br />
1 Tablespoon sesame oil (in the Asian foods aisle)<br />
1 teaspoon red pepper flakes (more, less, or none…depending on your heat tolerance)<br />
<br />
Now, grab that slow cooker and fill it up…<br />
<br />
I have doubled the recipe because every time I make this we are all elbowing each other away from the slow cooker trying to fill our plates. Not a sweet family scene! The quantities pictured are for my double recipe. The ingredients as listed above are for a single recipe.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxBB1WwiLIilR1zeLCz_nEHz7kph5DgCyZkIQopAIIk8I_hwPwiqcTE9AFnah7tpiqaJQjNiMnwcxFeSnEnCqeF32F3sSpzE5vao6CMoTk4wvImtTYDAve2pVZ_JY-3Zc8hTrWNJi1nco/s1600/image1.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxBB1WwiLIilR1zeLCz_nEHz7kph5DgCyZkIQopAIIk8I_hwPwiqcTE9AFnah7tpiqaJQjNiMnwcxFeSnEnCqeF32F3sSpzE5vao6CMoTk4wvImtTYDAve2pVZ_JY-3Zc8hTrWNJi1nco/s640/image1.jpeg" width="480" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Chuck roast…</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqkwhEzD4JN9r7siCAQoobey74lcYtHSLFzeM9zNc42mzFCAxYDWD2Dm5f6SK_oQCvEvBhaHvZEgSyRroKUvZABIZZ3unAe_11KIkw-E3WAhI_eTckalEh0y2zjwEfXrxv_sjmeELlpco/s1600/image2.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqkwhEzD4JN9r7siCAQoobey74lcYtHSLFzeM9zNc42mzFCAxYDWD2Dm5f6SK_oQCvEvBhaHvZEgSyRroKUvZABIZZ3unAe_11KIkw-E3WAhI_eTckalEh0y2zjwEfXrxv_sjmeELlpco/s640/image2.jpeg" width="640" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
supporting cast…</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhr4a8o0pm_64ugdGorbyALlITPVJaEFMhksWM5nuZgYid1__iRkI9_g0W3ahyErtueUI9pbsGDAJrcnUY_0JDPA4EP7WURt83aP7Qf27Pfe7a8jd47tKaTvDASqZm1wW7yKj508egpEHc/s1600/image3.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhr4a8o0pm_64ugdGorbyALlITPVJaEFMhksWM5nuZgYid1__iRkI9_g0W3ahyErtueUI9pbsGDAJrcnUY_0JDPA4EP7WURt83aP7Qf27Pfe7a8jd47tKaTvDASqZm1wW7yKj508egpEHc/s640/image3.jpeg" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
…and a crazy amount of garlic but trust me here, it's the perfect amount, not too strong at all.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
All you do is place beef in slow cooker and slice the onion, crush but don't chop the garlic, chop up the ginger (fresh ginger is the only way to go here, find it in the produce section of grocery store, peel off thin brown skin with the edge of a spoon, and cut it into coins like you would a carrot then chop the coins into tiny little pieces. I keep the rest of the "root" in my freezer where it lasts forever!)</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIHS6z9sswwsgEgPlrt6xOlwXJLgrWt20Bay_ZrR3ws5pXgiyE1ilozWZq7eVNN5XNQgubhlcDe7HkHTBCXmBhZwdIhtirZ6ateq7xtJu_PpCdsISiSgTbYwOexRhVRXEAi61IfCpB0ws/s1600/image2.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="302" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIHS6z9sswwsgEgPlrt6xOlwXJLgrWt20Bay_ZrR3ws5pXgiyE1ilozWZq7eVNN5XNQgubhlcDe7HkHTBCXmBhZwdIhtirZ6ateq7xtJu_PpCdsISiSgTbYwOexRhVRXEAi61IfCpB0ws/s400/image2.jpeg" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
…and add everything else to the cooker. </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAaQbXHhwuYscW2dVnPRqplua1yiis2kApnl7gJCTJHCAv7tPbeYABuMJB1au-eC8FHZAIeuQbYpYcTaPrUpaNVT54kjE5cMr2rGDg0a41RcQvC4OLn6H1lIkbCwIwwztSzwxHdB1hA70/s1600/image5.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAaQbXHhwuYscW2dVnPRqplua1yiis2kApnl7gJCTJHCAv7tPbeYABuMJB1au-eC8FHZAIeuQbYpYcTaPrUpaNVT54kjE5cMr2rGDg0a41RcQvC4OLn6H1lIkbCwIwwztSzwxHdB1hA70/s640/image5.jpeg" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
Put the lid on and set it to low for 8 hours. </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
(If pressed for time you can set it on high for 5 hours and be fine, but if you have time…go slow and low.)</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
The beef will be fork tender, the onions like candy and all of the other ingredients will have simply melted into a lovely broth which will taste heavenly over rice or noodles or mashed potatoes, believe me, we've tried it each way. Perhaps our favorite way to eat Korean Beef is in a soft taco shell with sour cream and a squirt of lime and maybe some shredded lettuce or cabbage and a drop or two of Siracha. </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
Don't ya love options? Korean Beef is ready to provide! </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
Happy Weekend!</div>
<a href="http://www.pinterest.com/pin/create/extension/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.blogger.com%2Fblogger.g%3FblogID%3D7944348223421619571%23editor%2Ftarget%3Dpost%3BpostID%3D7656912430396525936&media=https%3A%2F%2F3.bp.blogspot.com%2F-5iVqFeloeKc%2FVYQqp8sqU_I%2FAAAAAAAALEw%2Fk_67wJ-uruI%2Fs640%2Fimage6.jpeg&xm=h&xv=sa1.35&description=" style="background-color: transparent; background-image: url(data:image/png; border: none; cursor: pointer; display: none; height: 20px; left: 42px; opacity: 0.85; position: absolute; top: 180px; width: 40px; z-index: 8675309;"></a><a href="http://www.pinterest.com/pin/create/extension/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.blogger.com%2Fblogger.g%3FblogID%3D7944348223421619571%23editor%2Ftarget%3Dpost%3BpostID%3D7656912430396525936&media=https%3A%2F%2F3.bp.blogspot.com%2F-5iVqFeloeKc%2FVYQqp8sqU_I%2FAAAAAAAALEw%2Fk_67wJ-uruI%2Fs640%2Fimage6.jpeg&xm=h&xv=sa1.35&description=" style="background-color: transparent; background-image: url(data:image/png; border: none; cursor: pointer; display: none; height: 20px; left: 42px; opacity: 0.85; position: absolute; top: 180px; width: 40px; z-index: 8675309;"></a>Gretchenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00466944413387670548noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7944348223421619571.post-25855485977927465542015-06-16T09:41:00.003-04:002015-06-16T09:48:58.249-04:00When Calendars Attack...<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Today begins what we've been referring to as "crazy week" around here. We've known that this week was coming, we've watcher it grow closer and closer consuming larger and larger portions of our horizon. It is now upon us.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I've bemoaned our plight to all who would listen (after all, I need something to yap about now that the <a href="http://thewrightstuffforus.blogspot.com/2015_03_01_archive.html">kitchen</a> is complete). Earlier in my parenting career (but not very much earlier), I would have taken great pride in all of this activity thinking that ...</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">busy = important</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">These days I consider busy a sign of poor planning at worst, or an unfortunate ordering of events at best. This nutso week is mostly a result of the latter with a hint of the former. The lineup for the week includes: </span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<ul>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.mctinc.org/index.aspx">Theater camp</a> for Meg and Kate (30 min away, daily)*</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The last week of regular season softball for Kate and Molly</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Softball tournament for Molly</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><a href="http://fbcwheeling.org/">VBS</a> for the entire family </span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Possible jury duty for Yours Truly </span></li>
</ul>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I chose the week for jury duty my very own self way back in the winter when summer seemed like a dream. Oops! Otherwise, these events lined themselves up and squished themselves together in the week. The rest of our summer looks pretty vacant in comparison, happily!</span><br />
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Since we've known what's been awaiting us this week, we've done our best to be as prepared as possible. One of Kate's favorite parts of theater camp is one of the things that required the most preparation: the packing of the lunch. Kate's favorite part of life in general is packing and daily packing of lunch is simply walking on sunshine for her. Just in time for this week, we discovered a fun, healthy lunch option for our young actresses…</span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKBJ1tnQ8IJ7-1UGTS1AHpUCkk6usp9IXWX-2ed4PNH4fnBoRLTKKfR-mq43i1CIr1jy5KJwB2zez4bIddYeWVgUDo6C4y8UCQM19m_u7j_7-9DmURi_qu-LuokW4_wHXJoT5b-STzMtc/s1600/image3.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKBJ1tnQ8IJ7-1UGTS1AHpUCkk6usp9IXWX-2ed4PNH4fnBoRLTKKfR-mq43i1CIr1jy5KJwB2zez4bIddYeWVgUDo6C4y8UCQM19m_u7j_7-9DmURi_qu-LuokW4_wHXJoT5b-STzMtc/s640/image3.jpeg" width="480" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">{From Better Homes and Gardens Special Make & Take issue, </span></div>
<div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">purchased recently at SAMs Club.}</span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsFUnzJ5y9qvlQV9TwgCK-wJfb8Xw6P3GAraw9aS5MiQazicCZWbNij-CyPRu0JsCWs3hJapJqR_nWgw8fRaVmXSvvKB3NFCEgPOhj6e_iB6MCypoegpMOivwAhPGpceErnGCwgeVkxvs/s1600/IMG_4588.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsFUnzJ5y9qvlQV9TwgCK-wJfb8Xw6P3GAraw9aS5MiQazicCZWbNij-CyPRu0JsCWs3hJapJqR_nWgw8fRaVmXSvvKB3NFCEgPOhj6e_iB6MCypoegpMOivwAhPGpceErnGCwgeVkxvs/s400/IMG_4588.JPG" width="300" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Here's our take…</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPdvwLnUjflW8Wz9toUwVkXqkXpIOeQx60VC9i14fQqHOrBIm9emls_qRWCX5nLeCT4cIaRDiVudO8x036oQwpX3GQbnxG22JnRu2oPBOE6rsrlMvxU0Y3RTG02CWnucA4hgOvvy8KJ08/s1600/image2.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPdvwLnUjflW8Wz9toUwVkXqkXpIOeQx60VC9i14fQqHOrBIm9emls_qRWCX5nLeCT4cIaRDiVudO8x036oQwpX3GQbnxG22JnRu2oPBOE6rsrlMvxU0Y3RTG02CWnucA4hgOvvy8KJ08/s640/image2.jpeg" width="480" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Ingredients from bottom to top: honey mustard dressing (use plenty), bow tie pasta, grape tomatoes, dried cranberries, feta cheese, pecans, strawberries, spinach, green leaf lettuce.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Also, we subbed out the jar for a ziplock container because jars are made of glass…enough said.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The theater gals loved their lunches reporting that the salads were good but next time…more dressing. Easy fix and how many different options can you imagine for this? Add chicken, ham, olives, croutons, sunflower seeds…endless combinations, happy eaters. It's all good. We fixed them the night before and Kate packed everything the next morning and we were set. </span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Bring on Monday!</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">UPDATE:</span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Day 1 of crazy week is in the books. </span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<ul>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Salad in a jar was a success.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Meg and Kate landed fun roles in the camp production of Cinderella to be presented two times this Saturday (likely while Molly is playing softball!)</span></li>
</ul>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-x3v9HQFK7wjXq7NsNfadUIGTKIkF7GnJnWsafXw0GjhxZpOOzEmfcY0gMdYdFUQLQ4meDv6oOe1uXVvHFe9QqlGu3eh48sMPE1Zo6KxB98D54OaGGPaUx2WMiMeePTjNZSHUYNDwftw/s1600/IMG_4577.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-x3v9HQFK7wjXq7NsNfadUIGTKIkF7GnJnWsafXw0GjhxZpOOzEmfcY0gMdYdFUQLQ4meDv6oOe1uXVvHFe9QqlGu3eh48sMPE1Zo6KxB98D54OaGGPaUx2WMiMeePTjNZSHUYNDwftw/s640/IMG_4577.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<ul>
<li style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I had time between theater and ball games to toss our favorite (of late) crock pot meal into…well, the crock pot, and there was dinner at the end of the day. </span></li>
</ul>
<br />
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<ul>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Molly's team finished the season undefeated.</span></li>
</ul>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhTw79hmc6RQvsnawEJlqU8aWPMReMX4G30cWw_ldqu1nMvTbqDG3KvjPn6G3DMUggurOWq8gJfUGfmK8M0gYSrK5cWL19IpvIsGehyphenhyphenBsnHRtUTRY79C9tzmyyrTyB6YgvF4hQkVskQBw/s1600/image6.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhTw79hmc6RQvsnawEJlqU8aWPMReMX4G30cWw_ldqu1nMvTbqDG3KvjPn6G3DMUggurOWq8gJfUGfmK8M0gYSrK5cWL19IpvIsGehyphenhyphenBsnHRtUTRY79C9tzmyyrTyB6YgvF4hQkVskQBw/s640/image6.jpeg" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<ul>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Kate's team enjoyed a nice win also…</span></li>
</ul>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTY7Ah5Wj4TWDts5PpqB22Pdi7LzzIoscEyeXbT1-cW-r7yDUllhoaUEER3AT9-T7iOSn6rBzfFONQjwJWEmShk01b_XTmWuIijjE2joir4HI75wBaCvVwPypLjOYTrovgXHXieRY6ccE/s1600/image7.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTY7Ah5Wj4TWDts5PpqB22Pdi7LzzIoscEyeXbT1-cW-r7yDUllhoaUEER3AT9-T7iOSn6rBzfFONQjwJWEmShk01b_XTmWuIijjE2joir4HI75wBaCvVwPypLjOYTrovgXHXieRY6ccE/s640/image7.jpeg" width="606" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglNSK_PcOTTdqC__V7xM0rmTidl0G_rwdizlS7wz6JJguksE-S3i0yc7A8YSMAoNPsYz2U-z1pnyudCXAQkvpvZ8bB2KlcSYssVzqHDz-Edy519szTBoysErxrzA57RRxK2BxsirP1uYI/s1600/image8.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="616" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglNSK_PcOTTdqC__V7xM0rmTidl0G_rwdizlS7wz6JJguksE-S3i0yc7A8YSMAoNPsYz2U-z1pnyudCXAQkvpvZ8bB2KlcSYssVzqHDz-Edy519szTBoysErxrzA57RRxK2BxsirP1uYI/s640/image8.jpeg" width="640" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<ul>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The VBS crowd enjoyed frozen yogurt bananas on a stick and weathered the heat with class and also with excessive perspiration. (No picture available…I was covering the softball beat, you are welcome =-)</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Finally, NO JURY DUTY for me! Whew! Yippee! Kazaam! </span></li>
</ul>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Day 2 lies ahead…I'm off to load the crock pot (again) and wash some uniforms (again) and make sure lines for the play are being learned. </span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Wishing you lovely days with full hearts and less full calendars!</span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>Gretchenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00466944413387670548noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7944348223421619571.post-5772867188749498332015-06-10T07:56:00.000-04:002015-06-10T07:56:58.604-04:00The Magic PillMy family used to make fun of runners as we went about our days. I didn't grow up amongst fitness folks and have had, until recent years, no understanding of the benefits of regular exercise in my life. Neither did the rest of my family, so we made fun of what we did not know…runners. We made fun of them from our car, of course. As we sat strapped into seat belts, we'd say, "That lady is hardly moving! What's the point?" or we'd comment, "Did you see the look on that guy's face? He looks to be in pain! Why would you put yourself through that?"<br />
<br />
These days, I am that woman running so slowly it might seem pointless to those in cars passing by and I'm sure the look on my face is not one of happiness and joy but one of determination. I don't necessarily love to get out there and go, but I do love having run. When I can check that box off first thing on a cool morning, my day is automatically going to be 50% better than it otherwise would have.<br />
<br />
Nikki Knepper a mental health professional said the following in an interview recently:<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
"As a mental health professional, I know from what I do, I am a licensed clinical professional counselor, I always tell people your first line of defense against anything that you are struggling with is going to be taking care of your physicality, your body. You need to be on a regular sleep/wake schedule, you need to eat healthy, you need to eat regularly, you need to exercise. It's [exercise] the answer to everything, it's the medicine for everything. Now, not everyone can do the same exercise, but everyone should move, period. It is unquestionable. Even people who have severe arthritis are still told, "<i>move</i>". </blockquote>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgngrqancWPFHkshQoj1jBDtGdHf0082W5N_2InUSAIkWLoT2kuWisuySOe-w65lFWsQTFjZygfTWgUBb1Wi0RmW0iMySuA_Bim0L6Th4Lal7U2ucnd-X5Y31ERr63_XUWulPczgh4Zaxw/s1600/photo+5.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgngrqancWPFHkshQoj1jBDtGdHf0082W5N_2InUSAIkWLoT2kuWisuySOe-w65lFWsQTFjZygfTWgUBb1Wi0RmW0iMySuA_Bim0L6Th4Lal7U2ucnd-X5Y31ERr63_XUWulPczgh4Zaxw/s640/photo+5.JPG" width="616" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
I'm a believer.<br />
<br />
I was running the other morning and I saw another woman walking in the distance. She was taller than I and nearly as round. She was struggling in the heat just like me. I wanted to say something to her to encourage her, to cheer her on for being out there and putting in the steps but I didn't want to sound condescending. I didn't want her to think I thought I was all that.<br />
<br />
There's no way she could know that I struggled all winter to get moving once every week or TWO. She couldn't know that on the run just before this one I'd called my Man to meet me at the bottom of the last hill in his TRUCK and take me home. I wanted her to know that a few short years ago I would have struggled to be out there walking any distance at all and that she should count it a win in her day to be out and to be moving. But there was no time and no extra breath in my lungs as our paths crossed to tell her any of it. I smiled and raised my hand in greeting and continued my slow shuffle toward home and when I arrived, I checked the box and counted it a win and reaped the happy benefits for the rest of the day…I hope she did too.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQPTVGXJU9cx3evCMPrYS2MAy4ckCUuuDUyI2mxBwTf9lL51-YeVigpETT_PlRKHZszpZspFKjSst164ppwz6RiDFhxS73Cow8JtDseVdGYL7J04rkwR5g0oi16nueHWS8ofZITmL5jh0/s1600/image5.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQPTVGXJU9cx3evCMPrYS2MAy4ckCUuuDUyI2mxBwTf9lL51-YeVigpETT_PlRKHZszpZspFKjSst164ppwz6RiDFhxS73Cow8JtDseVdGYL7J04rkwR5g0oi16nueHWS8ofZITmL5jh0/s640/image5.jpeg" width="480" /></a></div>
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
"If exercise could be packed in a pill, </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
it would be the single most widely prescribed and </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
beneficial medicine in the nation." </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
~ Dr. Robert Butler, specialist in geriatric medicine</div>
<br />Gretchenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00466944413387670548noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7944348223421619571.post-90965615733597559742015-06-02T09:26:00.003-04:002015-06-02T12:31:12.712-04:00Dear Neighbors…Welcome to the House Next Door!Dear Neighbors,<br />
<br />
Welcome to the house next door. We are glad to have you in the neighborhood. I am what in days gone by would have been called "the lady of the house," in today's language I am frequently referred to as "the mother of all those kids." I do my best to keep the chaos to a low roar around here but, fair warning, your idea of an acceptable level of chaos may be much different than mine. With that in mind I thought it fair to give you a heads up about the going's on here at the Wright Place…<br />
<br />
<ul>
<li>Four kids live here but you will rarely see all four at the same time. When you keep seeing different kids hanging around the place just assume they belong here. Most often they are Wrights.</li>
<li>You will often see young girls pushing a stroller up and down the street. The logical assumption is that we have added a baby to our family. This is not the case. Fear not, the baby in the stroller, though real in appearance is a doll. In addition to the four kids who live here, we are also home to 4 or 5 <i>hundred</i> well-loved baby dolls. These dolls get better care than most infants and enjoy frequent stroller rides around the neighborhood. </li>
<li>Often, if not daily, you will hear the bouncing of a ball either inside the house or outside. One of the kids here is a teenaged boy and it seems that bouncing things is more important to his survival than breathing is. </li>
<li>There will be, on occasion, and more frequently as summer is beginning, the sound of a ukulele being played. We are not having a luau. Our teenaged daughter loves making music and we are thrilled that the ukulele and the piano are her instruments of choice. Just consider some of the alternatives!</li>
<li>Be particularly cautious when venturing into your backyard. Without warning any number of flying objects could drop into your vicinity. Softballs, tennis balls, baseballs, frisbees, and baby dolls (the ones receiving substandard care obviously) are regular intruders in your yard followed by which ever child has drawn the short straw and has been sent to retrieve the flying object. The rule is to knock on your front door and ask for permission to enter your yard. You might just want to offer blanket permission and save yourself some door answering. Every now and then I'll bake you some cookies or muffins to help make up for the hassle of living beside of us. This issue is usually not as much of a problem in the winter. </li>
<li>Please do not be unnerved when you see a beautiful pair of blue eyes staring at you from out of the windows of our home. We have a child who feels called to the neighborhood watch. No, there is not an organization to join on our street.. Our girl is a team of one with the occasional help of one of the little girls who lives on the other side of you. It might be better said that she feels called to watch the neighborhood. We are trying to break her of this calling but honestly? Her information is quite useful to us and so, we are not trying very hard. Shortly she will know what time of day you go to work, what sort of clothes you wear to work, what time you come home from work, what your favorite way to wear your hair is, and who your friends and family are. I'm very sorry for this invasion of your privacy but take comfort in this, you are not alone. She has a scary knowledge of everyone who lives within a four block radius.</li>
<li>I should also just apologize ahead of time for what you are likely to see on our porch. We love our porch and treat it very much as another room in our home. Early in the mornings, probably as you are leaving your home for work (we won't know this until our daughter has a few days to collect the information though) it it very possible that you will see people in pajamas. They will be eating breakfast, reading books, watering flowers, or having class (more about this in a minute). We do our best to remember that we are outside and that we have neighbors but golly we like to start the day slowly out there dressed as if we were still inside. The Man of the House is always very presentable while on the porch but the rest of us…. I'm sorry if we leave a bad impression or especially a lasting one! This is only a problem when the weather is warm or almost warm. If the weather is cool, we are usually well covered with blankets.</li>
<li>OK, you might want to sit down. The reason we have class on our porch is because we are <span style="font-size: x-small;">homeschoolers</span><span style="font-size: xx-small;">. </span>We hope that eventually you will say to us like some people have, "but you seem so…<i>normal</i>." We realize, however, that you may never find us normal and that there could be many additional reasons for that other than our homeschooling! Because you find yourself living beside a bunch of homeschoolers, you will see our kids here <i>all of the time. Constantly! Every. Single. Day.</i> </li>
<li>Because of that <i>Every. Single. Day.</i> reality, I often send the little girls outside to burn off some energy. One of their favorite outside activities is singing songs from movies especially musicals of the Disney variety though lately they are really into Annie. Therefore, when you hear the girls singing "It's a Hard Knock Life for Us," you can assume that it is just an Annie phase and not a commentary on the state of their existence in our home…I think. </li>
<li>Finally, you find yourself moving in to your home during a season in our home where we have not one, but two teenagers who are learning how to drive. Beware as you drive by.</li>
</ul>
<div>
Well, I think that covers nearly everything. We remain thrilled that you are living next door and now that you are armed with the above information we hope that you will be thrilled to live next door as well. It may be a good idea for you to check with some of the other neighbors who will probably be happy to share some of their "coping with the Wrights" skills with you. There may even be a support group that meets regularly.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Welcome to the neighborhood! </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiATktBsrCIdG1-pwC1hrkODxnx1lNdUHjncyrc1SQTCx9W4ocJT8SyXxrV18B1Ohg20n_7htZ5vDlLn3Dz9jjhCQGZxmeVt3u2T1unZ9sXqc75-ozilPTLM202nF2bwI7fiwfbGIrnXQ8/s1600/IMG_4513.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiATktBsrCIdG1-pwC1hrkODxnx1lNdUHjncyrc1SQTCx9W4ocJT8SyXxrV18B1Ohg20n_7htZ5vDlLn3Dz9jjhCQGZxmeVt3u2T1unZ9sXqc75-ozilPTLM202nF2bwI7fiwfbGIrnXQ8/s640/IMG_4513.JPG" width="480" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 20px; font-style: italic; line-height: 24px; text-align: left;">We make our friends; we make our enemies; </span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 20px; font-style: italic; line-height: 24px; text-align: left;">but God makes our next door neighbor.</span></div>
<span style="background-color: #e2e8eb; font-family: Arial, Helevtica, sans-serif; line-height: 16px; text-align: left;"></span><span class="block grey data dataColumn" style="border: 0px; color: #636363; display: block; font-family: Arial, Helevtica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 2px; padding: 0px; text-align: center; vertical-align: baseline;">G. K. Chesterton</span><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
Gretchenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00466944413387670548noreply@blogger.com0