Saturday, November 29, 2008
A Great Thanksgiving
We had a great Thanksgiving week. Tuesday we got to meet my brother- and sister-in-law for lunch. They are from Florida so we don't have to see them that often. Wednesday my daughter got to go with my husband to work for the day. She had a great time being Daddy's helper. My son and I had a great time just hanging out and relaxing. Thursday we slept in and then opened presents. The kids presents were numbered. I was so glad that I did that. That saved the best for last and I didn't have to remember what was in what box. We had lunch of turkey, corn on the cob, broccoli with cheese sauce, and chocolate chip cookies. All of these are super easy and made for a relaxing day for me. Friday we cleaned up a little the next day to get ready for company on Saturday. I also spent some hours playing around with my art supplies. Today my husband's other brother from Florida came by for the day. It was pleasant to see them. For lunch, we had Creamy Corn and Turkey Soup which is a great way to use left over turkey. I also tried a brand new recipe: Walnut-Cranberry Tart. Everyone gave it 5 stars. They came bearing gifts. One of mine was a very cool kind of silly putty called Crazy Aaron's Thinking Putty. I got Twilight which changes from purple (room temperature) to bright blue (warm hands). We will have to use it to try out some experiments on its non-Newtonian properties. Throughout the weekend we have been lighting scented candles and saying the things that we are thankful for. It has been really pleasant.
Wednesday, November 26, 2008
An Odd Tradition
In our nuclear family, we have an odd tradition. We wanted to move away from secular Christmas and focus more on Jesus so we started giving gifts at Thanksgiving. So tomorrow we are opening presents, eating a nice (but not huge) meal, and discussing things we are thankful for.
I am super excited about my present. It is from my mom, my husband's mom, and my husband. It's (insert drum roll here) a box full of art supplies. (I know because I ordered them all myself.) I am warning you in advance that I might feel compelled to post some of my attempts at art.
Anyway, have a great Thanksgiving tomorrow. Remember to thank the Lord for all he has done.
I am super excited about my present. It is from my mom, my husband's mom, and my husband. It's (insert drum roll here) a box full of art supplies. (I know because I ordered them all myself.) I am warning you in advance that I might feel compelled to post some of my attempts at art.
Anyway, have a great Thanksgiving tomorrow. Remember to thank the Lord for all he has done.
Tuesday, November 25, 2008
The Moon Shines Down
I have received my second book from Thomas Nelson for review. It is The Moon Shines Down by Margaret Wise Brown.
I have read Good Night Moon once a long time ago. I have a vague recollection of a mother and baby rabbit. So if you are looking for a review comparing the two, this is not the one for you.
I started this book with a slightly tainted mindset; I had read a negative review several weeks before. I was pleasantly surprised that it wasn't horrid, but I can't say that it was great. Let me start with the negatives and get them out of the way. The wording was very choppy. The rhythm didn't seem consistent throughout the book. Some of the rhymes seemed forced. I thought the story would have flowed better if it followed some recognizable path around the world instead of jumping from one continent to another. I also found it annoying that at the very end it suddenly tries to become a Christmas story. This just did not flow for me.
On the positive side, my mission minded heart like the idea of visiting children from different countries around the world and asking God to bless them. I also found the illustrations pleasant. The are colorful and fun. The koala as a main character adds an international flair.
Overall I give this book three stars. It was OK, but certainly not great.
I have read Good Night Moon once a long time ago. I have a vague recollection of a mother and baby rabbit. So if you are looking for a review comparing the two, this is not the one for you.
I started this book with a slightly tainted mindset; I had read a negative review several weeks before. I was pleasantly surprised that it wasn't horrid, but I can't say that it was great. Let me start with the negatives and get them out of the way. The wording was very choppy. The rhythm didn't seem consistent throughout the book. Some of the rhymes seemed forced. I thought the story would have flowed better if it followed some recognizable path around the world instead of jumping from one continent to another. I also found it annoying that at the very end it suddenly tries to become a Christmas story. This just did not flow for me.
On the positive side, my mission minded heart like the idea of visiting children from different countries around the world and asking God to bless them. I also found the illustrations pleasant. The are colorful and fun. The koala as a main character adds an international flair.
Overall I give this book three stars. It was OK, but certainly not great.
Monday, November 24, 2008
George Washington and Thanksgiving
Did you know that the first presidential proclamation was about giving thanks to God? Here it is in its entirety. I did change the f's into s's where appropriate.
WHEREAS it is the duty of all nations to acknowledge the providence of Almighty God, to obey His will, to be grateful for His benefits, and humbly to implore His protection and favour; and Whereas both Houses of Congress have, by their joint committee, requested me "to recommend to the people of the United States a DAY OF PUBLICK THANSGIVING and PRAYER, to be observed by acknowledging with grateful hearts the many and signal favors of Almighty God, especially by affording them an opportunity peaceably to establish a form of government for their safety and happiness:"
NOW THEREFORE, I do recommend and assign THURSDAY, the TWENTY-SIXTH DAY of NOVEMBER next, to be devoted by the people of these States to the service of that great and glorious Being who is the beneficent author of all the good that was, that is, or that will be; that we may then all unite in rendering unto Him our sincere and humble thanks for His kind care and protection of the people of this country previous to their becoming a nation; for the signal and manifold mercies and the favorable interpositions of His providence in the course and conclusion of the late war; for the great degree of tranquility, union, and plenty which we have since enjoyed;-- for the peaceable and rational manner in which we have been enable to establish Constitutions of government for our safety and happiness, and particularly the national one now lately instituted;-- for the civil and religious liberty with which we are blessed, and the means we have of acquiring and diffusing useful knowledge;-- and, in general, for all the great and various favours which He has been pleased to confer upon us.
And also, that we may then unite in most humbly offering our prayers and supplications to the great Lord and Ruler of Nations and beseech Him to pardon our national and other transgressions;-- to enable us all, whether in publick or private stations, to perform our several and relative duties properly and punctually; to render our National Government a bleffing to all the people by constantly being a Government of wife, just, and constitutional laws, discreetly and faithfully executed and obeyed; to protect and guide all sovereigns and nations (especially such as have shewn kindness unto us); and to bless them with good governments, peace, and concord; to promote the knowledge and practice of true religion and virtue, and the increase of science among them and us; and, generally to grant unto all mankind such a degree of temporal prosperity as he alone knows to be best.
GIVEN under my hand, at the city of New-York, the third day of October, in the year of our Lord, one thousand seven hundred and eighty-nine.
(signed) G. Washington
WHEREAS it is the duty of all nations to acknowledge the providence of Almighty God, to obey His will, to be grateful for His benefits, and humbly to implore His protection and favour; and Whereas both Houses of Congress have, by their joint committee, requested me "to recommend to the people of the United States a DAY OF PUBLICK THANSGIVING and PRAYER, to be observed by acknowledging with grateful hearts the many and signal favors of Almighty God, especially by affording them an opportunity peaceably to establish a form of government for their safety and happiness:"
NOW THEREFORE, I do recommend and assign THURSDAY, the TWENTY-SIXTH DAY of NOVEMBER next, to be devoted by the people of these States to the service of that great and glorious Being who is the beneficent author of all the good that was, that is, or that will be; that we may then all unite in rendering unto Him our sincere and humble thanks for His kind care and protection of the people of this country previous to their becoming a nation; for the signal and manifold mercies and the favorable interpositions of His providence in the course and conclusion of the late war; for the great degree of tranquility, union, and plenty which we have since enjoyed;-- for the peaceable and rational manner in which we have been enable to establish Constitutions of government for our safety and happiness, and particularly the national one now lately instituted;-- for the civil and religious liberty with which we are blessed, and the means we have of acquiring and diffusing useful knowledge;-- and, in general, for all the great and various favours which He has been pleased to confer upon us.
And also, that we may then unite in most humbly offering our prayers and supplications to the great Lord and Ruler of Nations and beseech Him to pardon our national and other transgressions;-- to enable us all, whether in publick or private stations, to perform our several and relative duties properly and punctually; to render our National Government a bleffing to all the people by constantly being a Government of wife, just, and constitutional laws, discreetly and faithfully executed and obeyed; to protect and guide all sovereigns and nations (especially such as have shewn kindness unto us); and to bless them with good governments, peace, and concord; to promote the knowledge and practice of true religion and virtue, and the increase of science among them and us; and, generally to grant unto all mankind such a degree of temporal prosperity as he alone knows to be best.
GIVEN under my hand, at the city of New-York, the third day of October, in the year of our Lord, one thousand seven hundred and eighty-nine.
(signed) G. Washington
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