Laura Ingalls Wild Girl

When Ian and Anna started reading the Little House series last year sometime, Lewis thought the title of this post was the name of the author. Now he knows better, but we all still like using the new nickname he gave Laura

We took our show on the road to Kansas City last weekend for Uncle Curry and Aunt Dot's fiftieth wedding anniversary, and en route we stopped for a tour of the Wilder home in Mansfield, Missouri. We also took the oppoortunity to pick up a new set of Little House books to replace the set from my childhood which could not survive another reading.

It was a weekend full of history in one form or another, and we enjoyed celebrating it all, though we were disappointed to have to leave the anniversary party before the honorees started showing their stuff on the dance floor. Guess we'll have to teach our children about the jitterbug some other time.

A Good Hair Day

We had an appointment for three with our friend Jan today. Anna got ten inches removed and plans to send that piece of her history to Locks of Love. Her new 'do looks even cuter dry.

Jocelyn had her very first official haircut and took it like an old pro. We forgot to get an "after" shot for her, but it wasn't nearly as dramatic as Anna's. Just a trim and shape--which is what Mommy got too.

Sweet Six

Blowing out six candles on a purple butterfly cake: birthday fun, Anna-style. The usual family crew helped us celebrate, and Anna came away from the event with lots of books, clothes, hugs, and smiles.

If Only I Believed This All the Time

For the LORD God is a sun and shield: the LORD will give grace and glory: no good thing will he withhold from them that walk uprightly. O LORD of hosts, blessed is the man that trusteth in thee.

--Psalm 84:11-12

Mrs. Arthur, meet Mr. Spurgeon

"When he falls upon his text, he interprets it, not at all desiring to know what the men of God who lived before him have said upon it, for they were of a darker age, and he lives in the nineteenth century, that world of wonders, that region of wisdom, that flower and glory of all time."

--Charles Spurgeon, An All-Round Ministry, p. 206
(borrowed from Mr. Wilson's blog)

Listen to This One

Titus recently revisited a household for which he has done work in the past--back before the blog. Upon returning home after this most recent work-related visit, my husband informed me, "Abraham still has his radio." This comment might not seem noteworthy except for the fact that Abraham is, in Titus's words, "a BIG chocolate lab with a baritone bark."

Abraham listens to the classic rock station 24/7. Sometime during his last stint at this household, Titus requested that the music be turned down just a hair. According to eye-witness report, Abraham growled at his owner as she reached for the volume control in his pen.

Ready, SET, Go!

At Sunday's birthday bash we pulled out a game that Nana and Aunt Brittany introduced our family to many years ago--even B.C. (Before Children), I think. I've always enjoyed the Set card game, but Titus does not share my interest and currently refuses to play it with me. However, I now know that I have someone living with me who has a proper appreciation for good fun: Anna! Here's a link to an online daily set puzzle. Playing with people is more fun, of course, but this would be a great way to learn the game and/or hone skills in preparation for the next Set Tournament.

http://www.setgame.com/set/puzzle_frame.htm

Siamese Twin for Galatians 6:9

Be strong therefore, and let not your hands be weak: for your work shall be rewarded.

2 Chronicles 15:7

Story Time: Ian the Tarantula

Running a little low on original blogpost material and not wanting to give this space completely over to good quotes, numerous as they are, I thought I'd tell a little story from Ian's "critter adventures" last summer:

A friend whose residence is set in a significantly less urban environment than ours had kindly brought one of her big, hairy arachnid neighbors for Ian to study. Ian, pressed by bothersome adults to name his newfound companion and suffering from the same dearth of originality currently plaguing his mother, named the spider after himself.

Ian enjoyed Ian for a day or so and then was asked by yours truly to let his furry friend go in preparation for a time when we would be away from the house and unable to tend the eight-legged boarder. As we were preparing to leave, I casually asked my eldest if he had released the tarantula. He casually answered in the affirmative and just as casually mentioned that the last time he saw the big guy, it was in the garden shack.

Of course, that was the end of our casual conversation. "Why did you let him go in the garden shack?!" I intensely queried. Ian the Boy protested that he had not done so but that his newly freed captive had wandered in there on his own. Being the considerate host that he is, my firstborn allowed the trespass because he reasoned that the traveler would enjoy himself immensely with all the crickets we already provide room and board for in there.

I proceeded to declare that this tarantula would NOT be making his home in our garden shack, and that the two-legged Ian must march down there immediately for the sole purpose of extracting the would-be diner and removing him to the bushes. Thankfully, this command was dutifully and successfully obeyed.

I remained slightly nervous that our guest would remember the feast that had awaited him in that spot and find his way back there before long. That fear was put to rest when about a week later our neighbor behind us casually queried, "Do ya'll see many tarantulas around here?" He went on to explain that one of those very creatures had been on the brick near the back door when his wife went outside to smoke. He said it nearly sent the lady of the house into convulsions, and she unloaded an entire can of bug spray on poor little Ian. I truly was sad.

Philosophy--The Love of Wisdom

The Count of Monte Cristo is my book of choice these days. I've calculated that I must read about fify pages each day to have it finished by the next Book Club meeting. We'll see how close I get.

Learning does not make one learned: there are those who have knowledge and those who have understanding. The first requires momory, the second philosophy. . . . Philosophy cannot be taught. Philosophy is the union of all acquired knowledge and the genius that applies it: philosophy is the shining cloud upon which Christ set His foot to go up into heaven.

--Alexandre Dumas

More "Don't Go Faster Than Grace" Wisdom

In this life, perfectionism is paralyzing. Strive for excellence while taking it easy.

--Douglas Wilson

Summer Reading

Until yesterday, Jocelyn's favorite book was called "Hap in Hap." Now she's big, and the cute baby pronunciation is a thing of the past.

Lewis's current favorite library selection is The Boy on the Bus by Penny Dale. It's a variation (and improvement, in my opinion) on the old "Wheels on the Bus" song, with a boy for the driver and animals for passengers. It makes a fun beginning reader, and the watercolor illustrations add a pleasant aesthetic element.

One of My Favorites

Every wise woman buildeth her house: but the foolish plucketh it down with her hands.

Proverbs 14:1

Doors of Daring

The mountains that inclose the vale
With walls of granite, steep and high,
Invite the fearless foot to scale
Their stairway toward the sky.

The restless, deep, dividing sea
That flows and foams from shore to shore,
Calls to its sunburned chivalry,
"Push out, set sail, explore!"

The bars of life at which we fret,
That seem to prison and control,
Are but the doors of daring, set
Ajar before the soul.

Say not, "Too poor," but freely give;
Sigh not, "Too weak," but boldly try;
You never can begin to live
Until you dare to die.

--Henry van Dyke
from the Book of Virtues' chapter on courage

Mr. Van Dyke was the 19th century American Presbyterian clergyman who wrote the lyrics for "Joyful, Joyful We Adore Thee".

Homestead Traditional Crafts Village

These guys had a booth that caught my eye at the homeschool convention. The brochure they handed me for their spot in Texas was equally impressive. I may use some of their crafting kits or their music for the kids sometime, and I'd love to stop in there if we're ever in the area.

www.cfeeschool.com

My Portrait

I'm sure there is great depth to many of the details of this portrayal, but I'm somewhat afraid to ask. I'll just be glad my four-year-old thinks I'm worth becoming a subject of his art.

Permanently Imbedded in my Memory

Spotted over ten years ago on the sign of a church in the northern part of our state that happened to be across the road from a purveyor of frozen dairy goods:

"Like Dairy Queen's Sundaes? Try ours!"