I am so excited! The Cloistered Heart arrived today!
I discovered The Cloistered Heart Blog when the author, Nancy Shuman, left a very kind comment on my blog last summer, and her writing there has truly been a blessing to me. Almost immediately, I placed her book on my wishlist and was finally able to order it this week, just in time for Lent.
Is anybody else reading anything special during Lent?
08 February 2013
07 January 2013
Thirteen
There is just something about the beginning of a new calendar year; isn't there? It seems natural to take a fresh look at things; rework schedules and routines; make changes. I don't want to look all the way to the end of this year, but I have come up with a list of 13 things that I would like to accomplish during the first 13 weeks of 2013 (ending the day before Easter, so I am already 1 week in.):
- pray through the Psalms
- memorize Psalm 119:1-48 ~ I have been wanting to memorize Psalm 119 for several years; this year I am committing to it ~ 4 verses a week!
- lose 20 pounds
- choose, begin, and complete 1 sewing project ~ I was given a sewing machine for Christmas!
- finish the cross stitch that my daughter gave me for Christmas
- get rid of 13 boxes/bags of clutter
- have 6 dates with my husband
- have 1 day of solitude
- write 13 notes/letters
- read 3 books
- do 3 craft projects with my 10yo daughter
- put 5% of each paycheck into savings
- learn about the Daily Examen and begin to practice it
04 January 2013
New
The words are not new, but
in this new year may i
be guided by them each day.
in this new year may i
be guided by them each day.
faith, hope, love abide, these three;
~ the greatest of these is love.
linking up with Adrienne for:
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28 December 2012
Rest
We both took the week off.
Some down time with each other;
Some down time with the kids.
We're celebrating 24 years of marriage;
Celebrating the birth of our Saviour.
Dicecapades, holiday movies, reading Dickens aloud;
Staying up late, sleeping in, napping.
Rest for our bodies and rest
for our spirits and rest from
the stress of a working-week life.
"Come to Me, all who labour...and I will give you rest."
This is my first time linking up with Adrienne for:
Please click on the button to read more.
18 December 2012
Keeping Advent: All Is Well
So many thoughts are in my head. I am not nearly so eloquent as many others, but I want to try to get some of those thoughts out, so here goes.
I was raised by parents who had experienced the sudden, tragic loss of two of their children. Two years before I was born, my mother and sisters were in a terrible car accident. My sisters, 3 and 4 years old, were killed, and my mother almost died herself. In fact, the doctors said that her survival was a miracle ~ words not used lightly by emergency room physicians. Both of my parents often told me that God sustained them through their grief. Their faith gave them hope to go on, peace that was beyond human comprehension, and brought joy into their lives again.
On Friday, the day we all were reminded of the evil that exists in this world, I got a phone call from a friend. She called to ask if I would like to sing in the choir with Michael W. Smith at his concert on Saturday. Of course I would! One of the songs we sang was "All Is Well."
All is well ~ in this broken, fallen, violent world, because of His love for us. This world was broken, fallen, and violent 2000ish years ago on that night in Bethlehem when not one selfish person would give up their room to a young girl in labour, and within 2 years of the Messiah's birth, a cruel, power-hungry man would order the slaughter of who-knows-how-many innocent children. Yet the angels still said:
I am linking up with these lovely ladies throughout Advent:
I was raised by parents who had experienced the sudden, tragic loss of two of their children. Two years before I was born, my mother and sisters were in a terrible car accident. My sisters, 3 and 4 years old, were killed, and my mother almost died herself. In fact, the doctors said that her survival was a miracle ~ words not used lightly by emergency room physicians. Both of my parents often told me that God sustained them through their grief. Their faith gave them hope to go on, peace that was beyond human comprehension, and brought joy into their lives again.
On Friday, the day we all were reminded of the evil that exists in this world, I got a phone call from a friend. She called to ask if I would like to sing in the choir with Michael W. Smith at his concert on Saturday. Of course I would! One of the songs we sang was "All Is Well."
All is well ~ in this broken, fallen, violent world, because of His love for us. This world was broken, fallen, and violent 2000ish years ago on that night in Bethlehem when not one selfish person would give up their room to a young girl in labour, and within 2 years of the Messiah's birth, a cruel, power-hungry man would order the slaughter of who-knows-how-many innocent children. Yet the angels still said:
“Glory to God in the highest,All is well ~ because He came to that world, He comes into our hearts and lives, and He will come to take His bride home. I had forgotten all about this song until I sang it on Saturday. I have been singing it frequently since; It has been a source of comfort to me. Perhaps it will be to someone else as well.
And on earth peace, goodwill toward men!”
I am linking up with these lovely ladies throughout Advent:
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