Death Comes for the Archbishop

Back to the Classics 2018 Challenge
category 10: A classic by an author that is new to you
Death Comes for the Archbishop by Willa Cather (1927)

Willa Cather is an author whose writing I have wanted to read for a while; though I knew very little about her. Specifically, I have wanted to read My Antonia for no reason other than that the title intrigued me. My local library did not have that book on the shelf. They did have Death Comes for the Archbishop, which I had not heard of before.

Cather took up the past, but rather than a personal past she evokes a shared historical past in Death Comes for the Archibishop, the story of two French missionaries who brought the southwest into the United States after the Mexican War, one of whom built the cathedral at Santa Fe. . . Cather was elected to the National Institute of Arts and Letters and later the American Academy of Arts and Letters. The latter awarded her its Howells Medal for Fiction for Death Comes for the Archbishop in 1930, (source)

I loved everything about this book!
The story was wonderful, and Cather's descriptions of people and places were flawless. I identified quite a lot with Jean Marie Latour, the titular character, so I found it effortless to see and think and feel as he did throughout the book. As a matter of fact, the long-lived friendship between Father Latour and Father Vaillant struck me as rather similar to that of myself and my husband; they complemented each other very well. Willa Cather's writing is beautiful and graceful, her treatment gentle and thoughtful. I did not want to put this book down, and when the Bishop departed this life and I closed the book on his world, we both did so with a deep sense of contentment.

Of Mice and Men

I chose Of Mice and Men by John Steinbeck (1937) for my first read in the Back to the Classics Challenge 2018.

Of Mice and Men is Steinbeck’s first play-novelette, an experimental form he developed. . . The story is about a pair of migrant workers in California, George Milton and Lennie Small. The two friends depend on one another in a world where most working men are lonely, moving from job to job. Steinbeck called his book a little study in humility—it went on to become one of his most beloved books. (source)

 It is my category 11 ~A classic that scares you~ book.

This book was actually a re-read for me; my first time was nearly 40 years ago when I was a teen. Nobody forewarned me then that it was a tragedy, and I was utterly shocked and horrified as the final chapters unfolded. I remember hurling the book across my bedroom, proclaiming John Steinbeck to be the most! depressing! writer! EVER!

Since that time, I would not even entertain the notion of reading anything authored by Mr. Steinbeck . . . until now. My fifteen-year-old daughter lobbied to include Of Mice and Men as part of our literature studies this year, and I consented, informing her and her friend that it did not have a happy ending.

As for myself, I decided that I would give the book another chance. I already knew the story, so perhaps it would not be such a wrenching experience this time. I am, after all, older and more worldly-wise now.

Steinbeck referred to Of Mice and Men as, "such a simple little thing." It is little, and it is a story simply told; but, oh, there is so much packed into this simple little thing: friendship and loneliness, hope and desperation, innocence and cruelty. Yes, it is sad, hear-rendingly so, but, yes, John Steinbeck is a remarkable writer. He drew me into this story. He made me think; he made me care. And that, makes me me want to read more of his writing.

2018 Reading Challenge

January~ category 11. A classic that scares you
Of Mice and Men by John Steinbeck

February~ category 10. A classic by an author that is new to you
Death Comes for the Archbishop by Willa Cather 

Hat Tip to Queen of Carrots 

We give you thanks, most gracious God, for the beauty of
earth and sky and sea; for the richness of mountains, plains,
and rivers; for the songs of birds and the loveliness of flowers.
We praise you for these good gifts, and pray that we may
safeguard them for our posterity. Grant that we may continue
to grow in our grateful enjoyment of your abundant creation,
to the honor and glory of your Name, now and for ever. Amen.

~ from The Book of Common Prayer

Today i am thankful for...

some impromptu one-on-one time with each of my two youngest

a special day together for my youngest daughter and her daddy

the friendship between my two sons; they have been best buds since my second was born

rain-cooled air, and the opportunity to open the front door and breathe it in

Today i am thankful for...

autumn

cooler temperatures

healthier habits

miles walked

prayers offered

friends made

You are my God, 

and I will give thanks to You; 

You are my God, 

I will extol You.

O give thanks to the Lord, 

for He is good, 

for His steadfast love endures forever. 

~Psalm 118:28&29

Thank You for the rain!

Psalm 65

Praise is due to you, O God, in Zion; 
and to you shall vows be performed,
O you who answer prayer! 
To you all flesh shall come.
When deeds of iniquity overwhelm us, 
you forgive our transgressions.
Happy are those whom you choose and bring near 
to live in your courts. 
We shall be satisfied with the goodness of your house, 
your holy temple.
By awesome deeds you answer us with deliverance, 
O God of our salvation; 
you are the hope of all the ends of the earth 
and of the farthest seas.
By your strength you established the mountains; 
you are girded with might.
You silence the roaring of the seas, 
the roaring of their waves, 
the tumult of the peoples.
Those who live at earth’s farthest bounds are awed by your signs; 
you make the gateways of the morning and the evening 
shout for joy.
You visit the earth and water it, you greatly enrich it; 
the river of God is full of water; 
you provide the people with grain, for so you have prepared it.
You water its furrows abundantly, settling its ridges, 
softening it with showers, and blessing its growth.
You crown the year with your bounty; 
your wagon tracks overflow with richness.
The pastures of the wilderness overflow, 
the hills gird themselves with joy,
the meadows clothe themselves with flocks, 
the valleys deck themselves with grain, 
they shout and sing together for joy.

LORD, You always know just what we need and just when we need it! Why does it take me by surprise? And why, oh why, do i still let worry and fear creep in instead of just trusting?

I was going to write today about being thankful for Your provision through 15 weeks of unemployment, for allowing us to keep up with all of the bills, and keep food on the table, and gas in our cars, and even go to Luke's football games. And i am so so very grateful for that, because i know it was You looking out for us.

But it seems that You wanted me to have even more to be thankful for today. So, thank You, LORD, for the new job my husband got today. Thank You that it pays more than his last job. Thank You that it is an easy commute for him. Thank You that he likes the people he met from the team he will be working with. Thank You that this offer came just at the point that our reserves were exhausted and the next unemployment check was going to be smaller than the total of the bills due next month. Thank You for seeing our needs and knowing our situation and caring about us and providing for us, always!

Now to Him who is able to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think, according to the power at work within us, to Him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, forever and ever. Amen.

~Ephesians 3:20&21

Oh give thanks to the LORD; 

call upon his name; 

make known his deeds 

among the peoples!

~1 Chronicles 16:8

My Heart This Advent

(a close-up of my son's girlfriend's stocking decoration 

~ she is so talented!)

It happens every year.
Advent begins;
I am already behind, but still excited.
Advent is my favourite season;
I am always so full of expectations and hopes and dreams!
The first couple of weeks pass.
A melancholy mood creeps in.
I am not living up to my own expectations;
My hopes of actually getting things accomplished are dwindling;
No one around me seems to share in my dreams.

"Is there room for Me?"

My expectations and hopes and dreams can become idols.
I have to be reminded every. single. year.

Hope~Peace~Joy~Love

are gifts that come only in His presence.

As Advent ushers in Christmas later this week
may I prepare my heart to
Come, and adore Him, 
Christ the Lord!

linking up with:

Advent in Our Home ~ week 3

in the evening

 morning prayer

love this boy!

Advent in Our Home ~ week 2

My daughter and grandson decorating his stocking:

  Waiting for the glitter glue to dry:

Yesterday, my daughter and her friend made snowflake wreaths:

The rest of this week I intend to declutter and clean.  In particular, I will be clearing out a spot for our tree.

A Simple Advent Plan

...because, really, that is all that I can handle.

I am at the stage of my life where I no longer have young children at home.  I have five adult children ~ four of whom no longer live in our home ~ and two teens.  They are busy with their own lives.  They work, attend classes, have husbands/boyfriends/girlfriends, as well as homes, friends, dogs ~ and in one case, a child ~ of their own.  I never wanted to be that mama (or mother-in-law) who insisted that they must spend every holiday with us and carry on every tradition.  Some of my children love all of the traditions, some can take them or leave them, and some would probably rather leave them (sniff).  But that is alright.  They are building lives, homes, families, and traditions of their own.  Of course, they are always welcome here; they know that, and I try plan so that those who wish to participate are able to.

This year the best plan seems to be to focus on one or two special activities each Sunday during Advent, and invite all who are interested to join us.

• First Sunday, 29 November ~ we didn't do anything.  Everyone had been here on Thanksgiving and had drawn names for Christmas gift-giving.  We celebrated our older son's 18th birthday on Monday. I did finally get the Advent candle set up on Thursday.

• Second Sunday, 6 December ~ Saint Nicholas Day!  The three children still living at home will awaken to orange rolls for breakfast.  They will find chocolate coins, a mandarin orange, and new pjs in their stockings.  After church I will provide a light lunch, some treats, and hot cocoa, and we will decorate our stockings (while watching the Seahawks game;).  

• Third Sunday, 13 December ~  put up the tree and lights; maybe a trip to Main Street Bethlehem in the evening.

• Fourth Sunday, 20 December ~ Christmas baking.  That night there is a free Christmas concert featuring choirs from 10 different local churches; this is one of the very few must-dos on my personal Advent list.

Advent in Our Home ~ week 1

The season of Advent began on Sunday; 

I did not begin until Thursday.

I put the Advent candles (last year's somewhat faded and tilted candles, minus any wreath) in the center of our table.

 I put the Advent spiral on the paint-splattered dresser in our entry way and started Joseph and Mary on their journey.

 I went to Dollar Tree and purchased supplies for door swags.

My youngest daughter and I will assemble six of these tomorrow,

one for us, one for each of my four grown daughters, and one for her best friend.

Sunday is Saint Nicholas Day, so we will be decorating and hanging our stockings.


linking up for {pretty, happy, funny, real}
at Like Mother, Like Daughter

For Your Advent Listening Pleasure

I have quite a large Advent playlist on Spotify, but I would like to share a much smaller one that I put together on YouTube.

It begins with O Come, O Come, Emmanuel, followed be songs for Hope, Peace, Joy, and Love, and ends with one of my Christmas Eve favourites, Still, Still, Still.

I hope you enjoy it:



Linking up with:

30 Days of Thanksgiving ~ 2015 ~ day 30

I have been so abundantly blessed this year!

• My adorable grandson was born in January.
• In February I began a new job, caring for sweet baby K, which I am able to do in my home.
• My sister-in-law and her kids came for a visit in March.
• I enjoyed Shakespeare in the Park with two of my daughters and my grandson in April.
• In May, we spent Mother's Day Weekend at a lovely retreat, and we paid off our first credit card.
• June brought my 52nd birthday.
• In July, my youngest son and daughter were each able to go to camp, and we attended the wedding of a friend.
• August brought a rare girls night out, a 25th birthday dinner with our eldest daughter, and my youngest daughter's friend's quinceanera.
• My older son bought his first car and got his driver's license in September.
• In October I took a 10 day vacation to Boston with two of my daughters and my grandson, came home for three days, then left with my husband for a 4 day visit to Seattle. I also saw Jackson Browne in concert with my husband.
• In this month of November we have already gathered as a family for our day of Thanksgiving, and there are still  leftovers to enjoy; the season of Advent has begun; we have paid off another credit card; and today we celebrate the 18th birthday of our older son.
• And, the good Lord willing, in 23 days my wonderful husband and I will celebrate 27 years of marriage!

30 Days of Thanksgiving ~ 2015 ~ day 29

Thank You, Lord, for Your grace.

⁹ And He said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore most gladly I will rather boast in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me. ¹⁰ Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in needs, in persecutions, in distresses, for Christ’s sake. For when I am weak, then I am strong.

2 Corinthians 12:9-10

And thank You for my weakness; 

help me to be content and trust in Your strength.

30 Days of Thanksgiving ~ 2015 ~ day 28

I am thankful for a quiet day spent relaxing and a fun evening spent with three of our kids + one boyfriend and one friend, playing games and laughing . . . a lot of laughing!

30 Days of Thanksgiving ~ 2015 ~ day 27

My amazing husband spent a good chunk of his day off doing this:

for me!