I love this Improv Everywhere group, and have seen several of their videos before… I about died laughing at the flabby swimmers, the music, and the fountain — it’s pretty lame entertainment, but it’s what cuts it as entertainment for me right now.
Coram Deo!
*Warning* This is a conscious complaint.
Why, on the one day in the week that I actually attempt sleeping in late(r) do I wake up the earliest? All other days in this week I’ve been able to stay soundly asleep, my brain idling until it was a reasonable time to wake. But why, on the one day that I consciously make an effort to stay asleep until the unreasonable hour of 8am, does my brain rebel and start operating by thinking about the environment around me? The annoying scratching noises right under my floor (rats fighting to the death?), the motion sensor light on the deck (that turns on when a cat walks by), thoughts from yesterday that flash across my mind’s eye like grainy clips from an old film reel — They’re all tap-tapping on the door of my brain, waking me, telling me that it’s time to get up and deal with life; –heck no!– part of me says, as I try to silence them by pulling the covers over my head. But… their work is done; my brain is awake and I can’t lull it back to sleep. Ah me, oh well…
I need coffee.
Coram Deo~
In the summertime, as a little girl, I remember playing wildly and hard in the relentless sun with my older brothers and sisters. Donning our ragged camouflage, we would paint our faces black and green before plunging into the jungle surrounding our property, engaged in vicious guerrilla warfare with one another. I would scramble down slopes and throw myself into the bushes, hiding as the other kids passed by, then reappearing, zoom! I was on the run again. There weren’t too many casualties, as a rule, because it was hard to get a clear line of sight on the enemy, especially when it was sneaky brothers. It was easier, however, with whimpering little sisters. 
Those days, long ago and far away, are now gone. I am more snake-wise, or wise to snakes, these days and tick-wise as well. Moreover, I learned to identify leaves of three, and left them be, but, for the most part, they seemed to be harrassing me! Heaven knows I tried my best to stay many feet away from them.
The redness and puffiness was the worst part; I would steel my mind not to scratch my poor legs, or arms. The awfulness was heightened, though, when it was my face, and I would make sure a couple of hours before church to hold an ice-soaked washcloth to my “battlescars” in a vague hope that it would make them disappear, and then maybe people wouldn’t ask so many questions. They did anyway.
Why am I telling you all this? To lessen the irritation my leg is suffering right now. The itchiness of several insect bites brought to remembrance those similar “agonies”. Again, I plug my ears against those tiny, pleading voices that are crying out from my leg, and resolutley apply more washclothes.
I know for a fact that it isn’t poison oak, for, unless I have been sleepwalking, my feet have not trod the ground where it is to be found. Besides which, these are definitely bites adorning my fair skin. Wracking my brain, I am trying determine where these came from. Brown recluse? Nah. Black widow? Eh. Ant bites? Hmmm. I do recall walking in close proximity to a few ant hills. Nonetheless, today all my sheets are in the laundry, and I am intent on vacuuming every square inch of my room. No chances taken. No harm done.
Oh, and while this spider is scary looking, he really is a friendly fellow, and I know that it was not he who bit me, because he had made his abode on the outside of our window.
Anna, formerly Gracie
Ruby Red. Ruby Ring… oops. Cleansing rain. Softened air. Gloria. Thrumming hearts. Crucial decisions on carpet. Black and white tile. Breaking waves. Beached wales. Shared emotions. Throbbing heads. Voices raised in unison. Wave upon wave of grace; an all encompassing sea. Shame. Hidden smiles. Pitiful strawberries; at least they grew.
This past week has been a whirlwind of adventure. Not a very original statement, I know, but it is the truth. One day spent apart from the close-knit bonds of my family. Welcoming them the next day with big hugs . A day spent at the beach laughing at the people and sneaky waves. A loud dinner at Bubba Gump’s; would the children have been less overwhelmed at a burger joint? Probably, but we got to eat shrimp! One day spent at a friend’s church, singing to burst our hearts, and listening with joy to a much needed sermon on wisdom and unity.
We’re an unusual crowd. Rest assured that you probably won’t fit in with us and we with you, unless you are as opinionated as us. Don’t worry, we might like you a lot, but the truth is, we love each other to death. We don’t like to show it, but we really do, some of us just won’t admit it without a few pricks of a pin. 
This love was especially evident by an amplification of homesickness in all my younger siblings after a few hours away from home. Are we weird or what? 
Just a bunch of misfits…
Even at the beach we like to remain a crowd. *Sheesh*
Gracie
Sometimes, life just makes a big, old gift basket of a culmination of mishaps and havocs in one day.
Oh, and by the way, dogs DO NOT have better lives than humans. Especially, when they go off to get sprayed by monstrous skunks at 9 p.m. Just laugh.
So, here are some things to remember as you wake up in the morning and are groaning about facing the next day, because, after all, it could have more mishaps than the last!
Siblings watch you closely as you grind your teeth and pull your hair. Be careful what you do in front of them and treat them as you would want to be treated.
Graciebird
I can feel fatigue and sickness creeping through the muscles in my arms and shoulders. It is hateful (though, providential, nonetheless) to be thrown down by the throes of sickness once again, even if it isn’t the “bad” kind. It is still bad enough. Coughing voices are haunting my days and nights, even invading my dreams!
Stepping out into the sunshine and lifting our faces to the sky yesterday was a pleasure. A sigh escaped from all our lips as we left the confines of the house and the pressure that surrounded us from sickness. Food eaten in the open air, sweet water drunk in the shade, footsteps trod on the downy grass of spring and piquant scents inhaled by our welcoming noses did our spirits much good.
Today is just another day of Spring. Warmth is enveloping the house and drawing out every shade of green from the woods engulfing us.
In the past 24 hours I have baked 3 different bread recipes, resulting in a total of 5 loaves. Unfortunately, the lovely sounding Easter bread that I was baking for a friend turned out to be a complete brick. Complete with 2 cups milk, 1/2 cup butter, 12 eggs, 1 cup sultanas and 1 1/4 cups sugar. Oh well, we must all suffer our failures to win our victories.
The victory after this particular dud were perfect baguettes. Well, perfect according to me, with a crisp, crackly crust that I’m sure will break into shards when cut. Large, irregular air holes, a creamy color, and a slightly sourdough taste.
The only reason they turned out so well was because I used the baguette recipe in Artisan Baking Across America, borrowed from a friend. After making the fermented thing called a poolish and spending all morning crafting and baking this bread, all I can say is, “wow”. But I don’t even get to eat it, because, tomorrow, it is going to take a little trip to the lady who ordered it. I will make more, though.
If this little girl stays up much longer she is going to turn into a monster, and today was already whacky enough. I can safely say that today was the clumsiest day of my existence. No matter though, it will likely be counter-balanced by tomorrow being really great.
Grace
What possessed me last night?
For those of you who do not know me, I am a blonde girl (duh) with very straight hair. The following story is an insurrection against my head.
Well, it started this way: I was sitting watching The Taming Of The Shrew starring Elizabeth Taylor and Richard Burton, when, as the movie was drawing to its painful end, I was struck by the awful temptation at 10:45 p.m. to put my hair up in curlers.
“Hmmm,” I thought, “that came out of the blue.” I thought about it some more, and shared my ponderings with my middle sister Jo.
“Oh don’t do that!” She said. “It takes forever to put your hair up in curlers.”
“So,” I bethought myself, “mayhap it will not work out anyway. My hair needeth be almost dry and I have not yet taken a shower and it would take a while to dry it.” Also, if I did get it just wet enough under the faucet to enable me to put it in curlers, I would not be able to take a shower tomorrow morning, and I dearly love my showers!” A pox upon it, it could not be done.
Yet, as I headed my sleepy way towards bed, a nagging demon still tormented my spirit to put my hair up in curlers. Decision clasped me about and I took the bag of soft foam curlers into the bathroom to do away with all uncurled hair.
Yes, my friends, what possessed me? Usually, I am content to style the hair God gave me, but what little knob was twisted inside of me last night? I attribute it to the fact that this normal, early-to-rise-early-to-bed girl stayed up way past her bedtime.
Now you know what happens to blondes late at night.
I have yet to take my hair out of curlers for church.
Grace
I ventured into the wide, crazy world today with Mommy by my side. It’s always fun, but I know that sometimes I embarrass Mom with my loud comments on people and and events taking place around me and she is constantly having to shush me. Not that I particularly care, I’m in contact with most people in public for a short time only, I’m not going to make a lasting impression on them. If one really wants to be embarrassed one need only take a couple of little boys out and let them talk their heads off.
Mom and I have discussions that range from philosophical to mundane. A lot of the time we go over the same old subjects, but I always enjoy it.
We went into Ross to shop for a couple of presents and some unmentionables. I never really like buying clothes off the rack, though, and after I do go into clothing stores like Target, or Ross, I always come back out remarking how well I like thrift stores. I know many people who don’t take pleasure in sorting through clothes at thrift stores to find what they want and would much rather just find what they need without all the hassle, but I try to make them understand that I still find the thrift stores preferable. I guess I just enjoy being distinctive both in dress and thought, (ha!) and it is nice to find good quality, classic looking clothing at the thrift store. I do admit, though, that I sometimes buy an item or two at a clothing store, but it adds up mighty fast!
*Random Facts from this point on, proceed with caution.*
It’s going to rain for a week, starting tomorrow.
We caught a small skunk which has a mighty big stink. We should write an ebook on how to exterminate a skunk, though we haven’t actually done it yet.
I have a bad cold and have sneezed throughout the course of the day numerous times.
The Discarded Image is probably the hardest book I have read yet. Quite good and thought provoking. I can feel my intellect stretching as I read it.
Funny things make me happy. I can’t tell you what.
Life oftentimes gets me depressed. I am learning to rememdy that by always going to God’s word.
I love yoghurt, and I am addicted to peanut butter now, thank you Pieter. I have it most mornings for breakfast. *End of random facts.*
This year is bringing some big things for me to face: a graduation, learning to drive, growing spiritually, growing in maturity, and yes I admit, growing is painful and sometimes I hate it, but I know that it is only the testing of my work in God’s refining fire. It is a childish person who thinks that their life should never be untouched by trials, or hardships. If we follow Christ we should expect them. Oh Lord, let me never say to the potter, “what are you making?”
In Christ,
Gracie
I am not a nibbler by nature. Are you? The answer is either yes or no.
Nibblers. They nibble at cookies. They nibble at books. They nibble at different beliefs, professions, styles, friendships, places. It’s enough to drive any sane man crazy!
For heaven’s sake don’t be a nibbler!
Graciebird
My bible reading for today:
1Paul called to be an apostle of Jesus Christ through the will of God, and Sosthenes our brother,
2Unto the church of God which is at Corinth, to them that are sanctified in Christ Jesus, called to be saints, with all that in every place call upon the name of Jesus Christ our Lord, both their’s and our’s:
3Grace be unto you, and peace, from God our Father, and from the Lord Jesus Christ.
4I thank my God always on your behalf, for the grace of God which is given you by Jesus Christ;
5That in every thing ye are enriched by him, in all utterance, and in all knowledge;
6Even as the testimony of Christ was confirmed in you:
7So that ye come behind in no gift; waiting for the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ:
8Who shall also confirm you unto the end, that ye may be blameless in the day of our Lord Jesus Christ.
9God is faithful, by whom ye were called unto the fellowship of his Son Jesus Christ our Lord.
10Now I beseech you, brethren, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that ye all speak the same thing, and that there be no divisions among you; but that ye be perfectly joined together in the same mind and in the same judgment.
11For it hath been declared unto me of you, my brethren, by them which are of the house of Chloe, that there are contentions among you.
12Now this I say, that every one of you saith, I am of Paul; and I of Apollos; and I of Cephas; and I of Christ.
13Is Christ divided? was Paul crucified for you? or were ye baptized in the name of Paul?
14I thank God that I baptized none of you, but Crispus and Gaius;
15Lest any should say that I had baptized in mine own name.
16And I baptized also the household of Stephanas: besides, I know not whether I baptized any other.
17For Christ sent me not to baptize, but to preach the gospel: not with wisdom of words, lest the cross of Christ should be made of none effect.
18For the preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness; but unto us which are saved it is the power of God.
19For it is written, I will destroy the wisdom of the wise, and will bring to nothing the understanding of the prudent.
20Where is the wise? where is the scribe? where is the disputer of this world? hath not God made foolish the wisdom of this world?
21For after that in the wisdom of God the world by wisdom knew not God, it pleased God by the foolishness of preaching to save them that believe.
22For the Jews require a sign, and the Greeks seek after wisdom:
23But we preach Christ crucified, unto the Jews a stumblingblock, and unto the Greeks foolishness;
24But unto them which are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God, and the wisdom of God.
25Because the foolishness of God is wiser than men; and the weakness of God is stronger than men.
26For ye see your calling, brethren, how that not many wise men after the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble, are called:
27But God hath chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the wise; and God hath chosen the weak things of the world to confound the things which are mighty;
28And base things of the world, and things which are despised, hath God chosen, yea, and things which are not, to bring to nought things that are:
29That no flesh should glory in his presence.
30But of him are ye in Christ Jesus, who of God is made unto us wisdom, and righteousness, and sanctification, and redemption:
31That, according as it is written, He that glorieth, let him glory in the Lord.
I have also appreciated being able to read Charles Spurgeon’s devotional book Morning and Evening. Though I cannot say that I have read it faithfully every day, when I have picked it up it has been a blessing to read.
You can read the morning devotional for today here.
Dreams are such entirely weird things. Mine last night involved people and places I haven’t seen or been to in a long time. However, while Joseph was able to interpret his dreams, I think that I had better not try with mine, it just wouldn’t make sense.
Coram Deo! Grace