Sweet Sunday

In today's world, this is especially poignant: "I need you, Jesus, to come to my rescue...where else can I go? There's no other name by which I am saved. Capture me with grace...I will follow you." 

 Hope you enjoyed a very sweet Sunday!

 

Saturday Sweethearts

I'm so thankful for how much my children love each other. Don't get me wrong, they have their moments of wanting to strangle each other, too. (Sometimes more often than we parents would like.) But it isn't unusual for them to find something fun to do together.

Here are my boys this morning, reading together from a pile of books I discovered on a shelf under our coffee table. They spent another half-hour reading more of them together.

Relaxing mornings. Amusing books. Brotherly love. Three perfect ingredients for a Saturday Sweethearts post.

Friday Funnies

I found a free app for my iPad -- called "Toontastic" -- that I thought might prove handy for school. It allows kids to create a cartoon -- using the different parts of a story. We've had such fun creating our own cartoons with it.

Here's the latest funny attempt that I created for the kids (don't laugh too hard at its dumbness):

Hellish Kitchens Returns

I am a huge fan of banana bread. I have always loved the taste and texture of it. I especially enjoy the Starbucks version which has chocolate chips in it.

So I was especially excited when I found this yummy (and tres facile) recipe on allrecipes.com. Not only is is super easy and tasty (pair it with your favorite afternoon tea)...but it's also dairy-free, which isn't necessarily a problem in our house but comes in handy when we have over-ripe bananas and no eggs.

Hope you enjoy it, too!!

Banana Bread

Rated: Submitted By: Irene Evans Prep Time: 15 Minutes Cook Time: 40 Minutes Ready In: 55 Minutes Servings: 16

"This recipe's special because it uses no eggs or milk. I know that there are many people who are on milk-free diets, so this bread is perfect for them."

INGREDIENTS:

2/3 cup sugar 1/3 cup shortening 2 cups all-purpose flour 2 teaspoons baking powder

1/4 teaspoon baking soda 1/4 teaspoon salt 1 cup mashed ripe bananas

DIRECTIONS:

1.

Note: This recipe does NOT contain eggs or milk. In a large bowl, cream sugar and shortening for about 5 minutes (mixture does not get smooth). Combine flour, baking powder, baking soda and salt; add to creamed mixture alternately with bananas, beating after each addition (the batter will be thick). Spoon into a greased 9-in. x 5-in. x 3-in. loaf pan. Bake at 350 degrees F for 40-45 minutes or until bread tests done with a toothpick. Cool in pan for 10 minutes before removing to a wire rack.

ALL RIGHTS RESERVED © 2012 Allrecipes.com

Printed from Allrecipes.com 8/25/2012

Worded Wednesday

As I usually do a wordless Wednesday post, I decided to do a worded one today to go with the adorable picture our 3-year-old drew last week.

He asked how to spell the word "tortoise" because apparently that's what the little guy is...not a "turtle" like I originally thought. *wink-grin*

My favorite part -- after the yellow smile -- is the feet. He could almost be on wheels or wearing sneakers.

I love the imaginations of children. Always thinking; always creating; always, well, imagining.

Having a Ball

Mondays and Musings and Musings and Mondays

Our 11.5-year-old

Happy Monday! It's the second to last Monday in August. Nearly the end of another month.

You can tell the summer is waning. We've had a few evenings that were decidedly cooler than usual. And this morning the air felt even a little crisp.

Amazing.

It feels like Summer just started...though with the new school year looming, we know that's not true.

So our middle child had his "half-birthday" last Tuesday. 11.5 It seems so strange to think of him being only a half-a-year away from 12. Wow! One year later, and we'll have two teenagers.

Okay. Mentally filing that in the "Do Not Disturb" folder of my brain.

Edward had a quiet half-birthday. We did summery things, which means that we hung out, got bored, did some playing, ate some donuts. We gave him an inexpensive digital watch and a remote-controlled car, both of which have been enjoyed immensely already. Love when that happens!

Speaking of time, Edward started soccer practice tonight. They had to move his team up to the U13 since they didn't have enough players in the league. It should be an interesting -- and challenging -- season for them.  Ethan starts his U6 practices sometime in September. He's really really excited.

Speaking of soccer, we finally got a call for the ball bags we bought the boys. I special-ordered one in July for Edward because it was supposed to go with his uniform, which is navy-blue and white. We picked it up today. It was black. Hmm... When I went back into the store to inquire about it, they told me that was the only ones they had left in stock. When I pointed out that I "special-ordered" it in JULY, they shrugged and said that they don't even carry it in navy blue...just royal blue, red, or black. Sigh.  Both boys liked them better in black, so we kept what we "special-ordered."

Speaking of ball bags, we got Ethan an early 4th-birthday present: a Size 3 "football." He was so excited with it that he hugged it all around the store. We even got a chance to play with it last night. Emily took a bunch of photos as we played. I'll post some of those tomorrow.

Stuart took last Thursday and Friday off from work. He needed to have his computer serviced before he heads out on any other trips. It was taking about a eternity decade month hour to start up. Okay, so maybe not quite that long, but it was definitely longer than normal. (It brought back to mind the days when we had Commodore 64/Vic 20s...and you could start a program loading, go to the bathroom, get a snack, and return to the computer before it even finished loading. It always made me think of mice running on a wheel inside the computer's 5 1/4-inch diskette drive.) He called me from work this morning and said it was definitely running better...and even started up in about a minute or two.

So my Monday "chores" are calling. Hope you have a GREAT start to your week.

Sweet Sunday

We've been singing this in recent weeks, learning it since it's new to our worship group. I especially love the words in the chorus. Hope you enjoy it, too, and have a sweet Sunday.

"All I know is I'm not home yet.
This is not where I belong.
Take this world and give me Jesus.
This is not where I belong."

Saturday Sweetheart

A year ago, Emily -- newly a freshman -- joined Voices as a newspaper writer. She's done so well with it! And look how much she's grown since then.

Friday Funnies

Another of the wonderful "Simon's Cat" to enjoy. Hope you had a super fun Friday!

A Wandering Wonder

You know when you're feeling restless and wanting to do something different in life and then an opportunity comes up and makes you stop dead in your tracks -- in both excitement and fear -- because on one hand it's awesome, the "opportunity of a lifetime," and on the other it's just plain crazy, seemingly stupid, and/or completely nerve-wracking?

No?

Me neither.

Sigh...

Wordless Wednesday

A Tuesday Tidbit

We here at "Writer's Block" strive not only to entertain (hopefully...maybe? occasionally?...sigh) and opine about various subjects but to instruct, as well.  Learning at home gives us lots of credibility and "authority" to do so (hopefully...maybe? occasionally?...sigh), right?

So today we bring you an educational nugget of truth, sponsored by alert reader and friend Pete Fessler on Facebook:

Now you can say you've learned something new. *wink-grin*

Monday Musings and More

Happy Monday! Happy new week! Happy nearly-the-middle-of-August!

I've erased and rewritten my weekly calendar as we begin a new week. I always like the "clean slate" effect that has.

Tomorrow is Edward's "half-birthday." I'm not sure he's even thinking about it yet...or if he is, he's being very quiet about it. It's always a fun way to break up the year, while waiting for the next celebration.

We're edging ever-closer to school. I think the kids are beginning to feel ready for it. Everything -- and I mean everything -- around us is focused on it. I think they started bringing out "back-to-school" signs and supplies at the beginning of July. It's kind of a shame because it ruins the fun of summer break by reminding us that it will soon be over...or should be over...and it had only just started a few weeks before that. (Yet another example of the media breaking up families. Get the kids back to school so that Mom and Dad can have their space/lives back. Sigh. Okay. Okay. Getting off my soapbox... I think I need to move us to a farm way out in the country with no television and limited news. I'm reaching a point of saturation....

Ahem.

Getting back on track....

Stuart got back from Kansas, a day late due to some heavy thunderstorms the night he was due to leave. Because of that, though, he didn't have to go in to work when he got home, and we got to enjoy him for an extra half-day. Win-win, right?

Speaking of half-birthdays reminds me of whole-birthdays. Less than a month until Stuart's birthday...and a month from tomorrow will be Ethan's birthday. Wow!! While another year isn't (too) big (a) deal for us "old folks," it doesn't even seem remotely possible that our "baby" is going to be 4! Where did the time go? No. Really?!? Can it stop for a teensy bit of time? Just so I can enjoy some of the everyday moments a bit more instead of feeling rushed through them?  I'm amazed at how time speeds up as we all get older. It seemed so slow when the kids were smaller, like life would never really get going. There were still so many milestones to look forward to and reach....then suddenly those are reached and passed and everything begins to flash by.

Sigh. I sound like a broken record.

We introduced the kids to "Mystery Science Theater 3000" last week and watched another one on Friday night. What a hoot! It was a spy "thriller," filled with cliches and bad acting...perfect for the commentary of three stars of MST3000. We showed them a part of "Plan 9 from Outer Space" on Saturday night and all of us agreed that it was ripe for a MST3000 show. Apparently, according to IMdB, they did try to make it a show, but it was too long. "Plan 9" has some classic lines, though. One of my favorites is: "future events such as these will affect you in the future."

I'll end with a funny anecdote from Grammarly.com:

I love the power of the written word.

Sweet Sunday

"Jerusalem" is one of the most haunting hymns I've ever heard. Based on a poem by William Blake (one of my favorite poets), this song was also featured in the movie "Chariots of Fire." I was thrilled to hear it again as a part of a medley in the Opening Ceremonies for the London Summer Olympic Games.

I hope you enjoy it as much as I did.

 

Jerusalem


And did those feet in ancient time
Walk upon England's mountains green:
And was the holy Lamb of God,
On Englands pleasant pastures seen!

And did the Countenance Divine,
Shine forth upon our clouded hills?
And was Jerusalem builded here,
Among these dark Satanic Mills?

Bring me my Bow of burning gold;
Bring me my Arrows of desire:
Bring me my Spear: O clouds unfold!
Bring me my Chariot of fire!

I will not cease from Mental Fight,
Nor shall my Sword sleep in my hand:
Till we have built Jerusalem,
In England's green & pleasant land.

~William Blake

Saturday Sweethearts

My daughter put this photo together on her iPod. Isn't it the cutest? 

Who are your Saturday Sweethearts?

10 on 10

I saw this done years ago...and forgot all about it.

On the 10th of the month, you take a theme and post 10 photos related to it. I've done others here and here.

See if you can figure out my theme today.

Why not do one yourself? Leave the link in the comments so we can check it out. (Someday I'll figure out the "linky" thing.)

And a bonus photo:

Friend or Foe...or Somewhere in Between - Part 3

"Make new friends, but keep the old. One is silver and the other gold."

We used to sing that when I was a little girl in the Brownies. We would sit in a circle and cross our arms to hold hands with the girls next to us. My mom was one of the leaders, volunteering in the hopes that I would make friends and enjoy Girl Scouts as much as my sisters did. I didn't. And I didn't.

Not because I didn't try. I think it just wasn't meant to be. We moved soon afterwards.

The problem with the above song is that not all "old friends" want to remain friends. People today are temporal. We want to be friends with those who are tangible...right there in our sight.

We've moved from two different churches over the past few decades. We spent 18 years at the one and 12 at the next...and in both cases the people we thought were our close friends dropped us, forgetting us like we never existed.

It's not that they were trying to be mean. We just weren't there anymore. So, out of sight, out of mind...and heart.

It makes a person a little heartsick to think that we meant that much to them.

And it's interesting, given the amount of free social media options out there, that our friendships couldn't keep going. We have email, Facebook, Twitter, Skype, Yahoo! Instant Messenger...etc.

But it takes work to stay in touch. Not everyone has that strength or the stamina. And sometimes we're so busy with our own lives that we forget. (I'm just as guilty as the next person for that.)

Where's that leave me and my little Brownie song?

Pretty much singing alone with my arms crossed and no one's hands to hold.

Maybe it's time to get off the social apps and start again...in person? Find new friends, who like me, need a little silver.

Maybe it will be a silver lining in the clouds.

But how does one go about finding new friends as an adult?  Any ideas or suggestions?

To be continued...

Wordless Wednesday

Of Time and Books and Love

I love books. I've always loved books. I think that's what drew me into writing at a very young age.

Growing up, we always had a ton of books in our house, and my mom was a great believer in going to the library for more. One year when I was a kid, we even spent a rainy day on our beach vacation at the local library.

I love the way books smell and feel and, well, everything about them.

I'm especially fond of children's books. I started collecting them when I was a kid myself. So it was a huge thrill, years ago, to work for Boyd's Mills Press, the book publishing arm of Highlights for Children. I got to see the process of publishing children's books up close and personal.

As time moved on, however, and babies appeared on the scene, my patience level waned for reading anything longer than a board book. I had a stack of books that I wanted to read...but never seemed to have the stamina to do it.

Once the older two kids became more self-sufficient, though, I began to read again...a bit. Then another little one arrived and my reading level dropped to the point of merely reading the front and back covers of books I hoped to one day have the energy to read.

And so the stack grew taller, until I finally decided that I'm a "collector" of books. As a collector, I have the option of reading or not reading the books I have on my shelves, right?

Somehow that relieves some of the guilt I've been feeling in having all these fun books and not reading them -- yet.

Works for me, especially since I still love books -- to collect and (hopefully) read. *wink-grin*

Fleeting Summer Monday Musings

Emily and Stuart on a facetime chat

Happy Monday!

I cannot believe that a little less than a month from now we'll be starting school. Yikes!

Our daughter starts 10th grade, our older son starts 6th (with 7th-grade math and language arts), and the "baby" starts kindergarten. How did all this come up so fast?

Didn't the summer drag a bit longer when we were young?  I remember having times when I felt extremely bored...almost (though I'm not sure I would have readily admitted to it) eager for school to start again. That said, I did like school, so maybe?  Still, I remember summer feeling like one long relaxing hot day.....

Now?  I feel like it's pretty much the same scramble as the school year. 

Ah, well. The play is over and now we can settle down for a few weeks and get some of the necessary tidying done in the house. I'd been hoping to get the dining room and kitchen sorted out before the new school year. I'd love to have more space (and less stuff!) for our lessons...especially with another student joining us.

Speaking of Ethan...  He's loving his Summer Bridge book and keeping right up with it. He's even trying to spell words for himself. It's amazing to watch him go. He was drawing a get-well card today and spelled "ritiin" on it for "written." Not bad for a nearly-4-year-old.

Speaking of Emily... (Okay. So no one actually mentioned her, but...) She's glad the play is over (practice-wise), but I think she's missing the acting part.  We had a great idea of starting our own little skit group to take some fun entertainment to elderly-care homes in the area.  Watch this space. 

My real dream would be to do a Christmas pantomime, complete with a humorous "baddie" and audience participation. Such fun!  Oh, that and open a tea shop. But time will tell.

No one mentioned Edward... But we finally sorted out last year's curriculum to send back and opened up this year's stuff...and he's well-chuffed by all the fun stuff he has this year. So well-chuffed that he was ready to start school today. Hmm... Hang on to that feeling, Budboy. Only a few weeks to go.

Stuart's off in Kansas for the week. We "facetimed" him after he left. I love so much that we have this technology now. It's such fun to be able to keep in touch face-to-face.

How's your week starting? Hope your Monday is a great one!

Sweet Sunday

This is what's been on my dishwasher lately. Ethan put it there, spelling each word all by himself.

Awesome, huh?

Moreover, God is awesome for creating this sweet little boy.

Saturday Sweetheart

It's always so amazing how quickly our children grow. 

This is Edward, our 11-year-old sweetheart. His is one of the most imaginative, funny, quick-learning boys I've ever known. He has a heart as big as a canyon, and he desires to be a missionary pilot when he grows up. I don't know if God will call him to do that, but it warms my heart to hear him talk about it.

I know he feels a bit slighted at times by his big sister and little brother seeming to get all the attention, so I wanted to honor him with this post today because sometimes -- more often than I like -- I forget the treasures I have right in my own house. 

We get so busy looking around on other people's blogs or on Facebook...and the best-est stuff ever is sitting right next to us.

Love you, Budboy!

Friday First and Funnies

Tonight, we had the honor of watching our awesomely gifted daughter and the rest of the talented cast perform "Twelfth Night" for the first-ever "Shakespeare in the Park" offered by the Berks County Parks and Recreation Board.

As it's a comedy and the first time ever done in a park in our county, today's post counts as a Friday First and a Friday Funny.

We are so proud of Emily and all the hard work she and the others put into this production.

And fun was had by all!

Some photos:

In the Middle of the Street

"Our house...in the middle of the street... Our house..."

Remember that song?

We've been doing a lot with houses at the moment.

A few days ago, I braved the heat of our attic and dug out the "Happy Street" sets we began buying when Emily was a baby/toddler.

It was a joyous reunion of all the various sets and people. Ethan was amazed -- and delighted -- by it all.  His siblings were wistful and a bit regretful that they didn't spend more time playing with it.

We put together a few sets and dusted off a few more and set up the people and cars, and Ethan began to play with his newly established English village, Happy Street.

He played and played. He loved it!

After a day of playing with it, I asked if I could join in.

I had some of the little children and older people figures set up at one end of the "village" we'd created. He had the emergency center with the firemen and police constable.

Suddenly, the constable drove madly down the street and knocked down all of the people I set up.

Ethan laughed wickedly.

I laughed, too, and asked him what he was doing.

"Now it's 'Sad Street,'" he told me with a giggle as he helped me reset the people..

Hmm...methinks somebody is watching too many of his brother's iPod games? *wink-grin*

Wordless Wednesday