Irish Hills

Beowulf is one of the most amazing and fantastic stories that I have read. A story of human suffering and great courage. A tale of faith and hope and of dark despair piped with cowardice. A very Christian story in fact. The Scandinavian ballad or poem, discovered long ago and almost lost in a fire, that has captured the hearts and imagination of the youngest to the oldest with its vivid imagery and detailing. It has been torn to pieces and reconstucted by countless English scholars, among them the famed J.R.R. Tolkien, who was enthralled by the story of heroes and goblins, of firedrakes and ring-givers.

I was able to start and finish Beowulf in two sittings. It really blew me away. One thing that astounded me so much was the wonderful amount of Christianity and strong faith in the story. Nothing was done without giving credit to God for battles won and new strengths aquired. Beowulf while a strong, heroic and stout character was also a gentle and considerate man, as the book describes him. He made wise and commendable desicions that gained the help of the son of Healf Dene, King Hrothgar. He was, in a word, the perfect hero, and the best example that a man could want.

I highly recommend this book, though I cannot say that there is one version that I prefer above another. For children the Rosemary Sutcliff book is good version. I read the version that was translated by Seamus Heaney, which is a bi-lingual translation of the Old Anglo-Saxon.

~Coram Deo~ Gracey

On June 16, 2005 Chris S. (a.k.a. the Hooch Daddy) will be leaving with his Marine reserve unit for Iraq.

God will be constantly watching after him, and his providence is amazing, but it still is hard to realize that he is going to be leaving… and going into the very heart of danger. God’s grace has already been shown to us, in the changing of dates and the training camp that he has to go to. Previously he would have been leaving for South Carolina and he would have been leaving tomorrow, June 1st. Now he will be heading for Camp Pendleton in San Diego.

Today we will be attending a going away party for Chris with our entire family. Please just take a minute today to stop and reflect on our men and women who have been and are in the military and all the hardships and the sufferings, all the memories and the pains of the years gone by that they have gone through. And please pray, as we will be doing, for Chris and his family, as he prepares to leave.

Coram Deo! Grace Kelly

Isn’t it beautiful? This is my future house, that I will build up with my two hands from the fertile soil of Virginia. It will last for generation after generation and will suit my future big family perfectly. I already have the house designed and layed out. It will probably be something like 12,000 sq. ft (I’m using a scale of 1/2 in. to a foot) and will have 9 bedrooms and 8 bathr0oms. It will be four stories high, and will cost me approximately 1.5 million to build. I’ve already started saving for it too!

Coram Deo! Gracey The Planner

Well I said that I wouldn’t write unless I had something amazing and fantastic to write about. Well I do. Something dark and sinister happened to me, something that will mar me physically and emotionally for the rest of my life. Something that will take a long time to heal. I broke my little toe.

Yep. I was out on the deck and I stumbled, landed hard on my left foot and broke my toe. I finished my workout, and then came in and iced it good. It swelled up to twice its size, turned red and started bleeding!

I suppose that I shouldn’t complain. Of course if I were a Recon Marine, out in the jungle with my M-16 (“…I then prepare the tool that I live by….”) I would probably consider it just about as bad as breaking a fingernail or something. Oh well, I’ll just have to limp around the house, my two toes taped together, and just hobble a little faster when chasing that little guy.

Coram Deo~ Gracey

Until after Sunday I’m going to take a short break from blogging. We just have too much going on at the moment with activities and visitors. So, unless I can think of something really fantastic to write, I’ll be lurking in the shadows till Monday!

Coram Deo! See ya’ll later! Blessings, Gracey

Well, the summer days have really gotten going. All is lazy and peaceful. The drapes stay shut in the morning, and then are thrown back to reveal a sunny and brilliant afternoon. The sun shines over everything, the color is that of a pure yellow.

This afternoon, I decided to go outside for a while with my little brothers. So I threw on some camouflage pants (I do have a pair, not to play soldier or anything, but to use for going on adventures with my siblings outside.) and stole a hat from Ben and headed out. The sun was hot and it beat down with a welcome warmth on my arms. I climbed trees, I ran, I tripped through jungles of weeds. I rode my bike.

Yes Summer days are finally here. The long month of May, with it’s eternal rain is over and I can almost smell the barbeque picnic and see the shining waters of Stumpy Meadows…

Coram Deo! Grace

Why is it that some people just can’t seem to get away from arguing all day long? They constantly have to be right about everything, have to always have to last word, and aren’t happy if the sun sets and they haven’t had a word fight with someone that day. Not that they are wrong, in fact many Christians that I know, who have a tendency to pick fights, are in fact, hitting the nail squarely on the head. But contending with other people over these various subjects, isn’t changing anyones veiwpoint. Not that having a discussion or arguement with someone, or defending the faith and God’s truth is wrong! What I’m talking about is the day in day out, non ceasing argueing, with non-Christians and Christians alike, over everything.

I think that R.C. Sproul Jr. aptly names these people, “thunderpuppies”. Some of them aren’t “puppies” but I think that he was talking more about the breed of young men (and women too!) who do the above mentioned. They are stuck in a circle of blogging, argueing, and contending with everyone else. It’s their life.

Perhaps I am mistaken, but from some of the examples I’ve seen, I have a hard time doubting that. These people get dragged into discussions with fools, idiots and rioters. The bible says “The way of a fool is right in his own eyes, But he who heeds counsel is wise…” Proverbs 12:15”

Coram Deo! Gracey M.

Eventful days. Full to the brim. Stay up late, get up early. Very wearying, but also very satisfactory.

In the past few weeks we’ve had quite a few visitors. Yesterday we were blessed to have a family come and stay with us, who we are aquianted with via Mommy’s website. Through some weird and unseen providence of God, they were able to stay over with us and we were able to talk far into the night.

They had many questions for us, and some of it opened my eyes to what a wonderful family and place I really do have. Though the stardusst in the eyes of many enamored readers of my wise Mother’s weblog, their wondering thoughts, and quizzical questions, showed many insights into our family life.

I do believe that in the very near future, we in the Friedrich family, will start to have many, many more visitors, eager for advice from my parents, and watchful of our family life. Are we really who we say we are? Do we measure up to the “high” standards set up for us, and expected by many? Are we the bona-fide thing?

Actually we are very, very blessed to have this opportunity to minister to these people. To show them that our life, through our good times and our bad times, through our momentary troubles and our afflictions, through the births and the years; that all of it has been only through the infinite grace and mercy of God, have we been able to survive. And still He is faithful to us, though we are faithless. Sometimes it is hard for people to realize that we are struggling Christians, in a craven world, “trying our best” to survive life, and have extra. The only special thing is, God has allowed outlets for the wisdom of my parents to be heard by others. In reality, the wisdom that has long been taught and shown to us by others, and that we have copied.

Yesterday in the late afternoon, we attended a long anticipated piano recital, put on by our beloved piano teacher, a young lady who we know well. Though not as refined or cultured as a Bach symphony, or a movement by Beethoven, it was interesting to hear the other piano and violin pieces played by students from the age of 6 to 16. I had the opportunity to play a hymn for the families to sing to and am looking forward to sometime (in the far off future ) will be playing for our church. My sisters did expectionally good jobs (I’m biased) and I am very proud of them. Our guests were eager to attend, and even took the chance to ride in our monster the Moby Pickle (Our BMW) and we picked up pizza for dinner.

Today they left after worshipping with us at our little church just around the corner, and shared a Fellowship meal with us afterwards. Now they are safely on their way home after a wild and scary ride through the Friedrich household and family life. After they left we found that we have new found friends in Christ. Friends who are still green and young yet. Who have growing years and suffering years ahead of them. Who will have amazing providences in their life. I hope and pray that we will be able to keep in touch with them for a long time, and offer advice and help to them and their children.

Coram Deo! Gracey

Yes, two of my many, many downfalls, are my harsh temper and high standards of others.

Why is it so hard to control that scathing tongue? On a ratio of thoughtfulness to thoughtlessness when I use my tongue it would probably be 2 to 5. I can’t guess just why the bible talks so much about bridling the tongue.

And of course when it comes to me, I’m far superior to anything that my siblings could do…wrong, wrong, wrong. Where has my servant’s attitude gotten to? Am I really being humble, or am I just talking about it?

God, why is it so hard? Hmmm? You in your infinite wisdom created me this way for a purpose. A purpose that I sometimes find hard to see in my life.

Coram Deo! Gracey