Current Favorite Picture

Today

We hiked to the Commanche Lookout Tower. It was a long hike. I took the wagon so I wouldn't have to carry or push Josie. She still wanted me to carry her. I said no. We found out that although she likes bugs, she does
NOT like them to crawl on her. At least not large black beetles. On the way to the tower, Joel had the grand idea to pretend to be Commanches attacking the tower. It was intended to be a nature walk, but it was more nature by osmosis than observation today. I'm ok with that.

Because I Actually Have Checked My Blog To See When The Kids Got Their Teeth So I Could Write It In Their Baby Books

See the missing teeth? Er, see where the teeth are missing? They were missing on top, too. They're not missing anymore.

The Scoop

I was sick this week for the second time in less than a month. Sick as in sick-in-bed. So that's why I haven't posted anything about how our school term is going or anything like that. Amazingly, it's still going.

We are also attending our second funeral in less than a week tomorrow. The first was for a little 8 year old boy from the church we attend in Austin, the one tomorrow is for a middle aged man from the church we attend in San Antonio. If you think about it, pray for their families.

A photo seems appropriate tonight.

How It Is

Well I am still up, breaking one of my main commitments for the fall: getting enough sleep. I have two consolations, or, justifications. One, we are spending the morning at the park tomorrow. Two, this was really unavoidable and It Just Happens when preparing for birthday parties.

Here's a little preview....

A Poem for Fall

When the frost is on the punkin and the fodder's in the shock,
And you hear the kyouck and gobble of the struttin' turkey-cock,
And the clackin' of the guineys, and the cluckin' of the hens,
And the rooster's hallylooyer as he tiptoes on the fence;
O, it's then's the times a feller is a-feelin' at his best,
With the risin' sun to greet him from a night of peaceful rest,
As he leaves the house, bareheaded, and goes to feed the stock,
When the frost is on the punkin and the fodder's in the shock.

They's something kindo' harty-like about the atmusfere
When the heat of summer's over and the coolin' fall is here --
Of course we miss the flowers, and the blossums on the trees,
And the mumble of the hummin'-birds and buzzin' of the bees;
But the air's so appetizin'; and the landscape through the haze
Of a crisp and sunny morning of the airly autumn days
Is a pictur' that no painter has the colorin' to mock --
When the frost is on the punkin and the fodder's in the shock.

The husky, rusty russel of the tossels of the corn,
And the raspin' of the tangled leaves, as golden as the morn;
The stubble in the furries -- kindo' lonesome-like, but still
A-preachin' sermons to us of the barns they growed to fill;
The strawsack in the medder, and the reaper in the shed;
The hosses in theyr stalls below -- the clover overhead! --
O, it sets my hart a-clickin' like the tickin' of a clock,
When the frost is on the punkin, and the fodder's in the shock!

Then your apples all is gethered, and the ones a feller keeps
Is poured around the celler-floor in red and yeller heaps;
And your cider-makin's over, and your wimmern-folks is through
With their mince and apple-butter, and theyr souse and saussage, too!
I don't know how to tell it -- but ef sich a thing could be
As the Angles wantin' boardin', and they'd call around on me --
I'd want to 'commodate 'em -- all the whole-indurin' flock --
When the frost is on the punkin and the fodder's in the shock!

- James Whitcomb Riley

My Motto

Having a personal motto is something I adopted during times when I've struggled to just make it through today. After a certain amount of "just make it through today", all the while knowing that you'll just be saying the same thing again to yourself tomorrow just doesn't cut it. HOW? HOW can I make it through today? HOW can I make it through the next day? I know I am going to survive having four children, but HOW am I going to survive?

I knew I needed a new motto for this fall. My old motto wasn't bad, I just needed something different. Something Cindy at Ordo Amoris posted about earlier in the year was how she was going to introduce "Beauty, Truth, and Goodness" as its own "subject", shall we say, during Morning Time. I say this to credit her with giving me the idea of the importance of seeing truth and beauty and goodness. Surrounding yourself with it. Telling yourself the Truth. My motto needed to be Truth. Not some plasticized, "because you're worth it" line to boost my self worth. I needed something deep. Very deep. Something that would go with me all the way down into days when all I have left is dregs.

Last week I decided to open the wrapper to an LP I bought over 10 years ago. It was outdated then, just as it is now. But I didn't notice until I started reading the cover art and the LP began turning circles, that Lynn Pyles was one of the singers. And Rachel Beauchamp. I nearly started crying. Two of my favorite people - real life mentors - singing in my home, singing Truths. The second hymn that came on is one I've heard many times. Not enough.

Children of the Heavenly King
AKA King of Peace, from Southern Harmony, 1835
Words: J. Cennick
Music: Pleyel

Children of the heavenly King,
As ye journey, sweetly sing;
Sing your Savior’s worthy praise,
Glorious in His works and ways

We are traveling home to God,
In the way the fathers trod;
They are happy now, and we
Soon their happiness shall see.

O, ye banished seed, be glad!
Christ our advocate is made;
Us to save, our flesh assumes—
Brother to our souls becomes.

Shout, ye little flock, and blest,
You on Jesus’ throne shall rest:
There your seat is now prepared—
There your kingdom and reward.

Lift your eyes, ye sons of light,
Zion’s city is in sight:
There our endless home shall be,
There our Lord we soon shall see.

Fear not, brethren; joyful stand
On the borders of your land;
Jesus Christ, your Father’s Son,
Bids you undismayed go on.

Lord, obedient we would go,
Gladly leaving all below;
Only Thou our leader be;
And we will still follow Thee.

And there it was. My motto.

"Jesus Christ, your Father’s Son,
Bids you undismayed go on."