Every Now and Then

More "Ready!" Photos

Finally Ready!

Almost There

One hour until picture time. Will they make it?

Getting Ready for Homecoming

It can only get better, right?

Cowabunga!

Quinn's new exclamation is, "Kumbaya!!"

Pretty close.

It's Time

"If ever time should come, when vain and aspiring men shall possess the highest seats in government, our country will stand in need of its experienced patriots to prevent its ruin." Samuel Adams --

In our town, we call ourselves the TEA Party Patriots. We have a lot of parties, actually. And we send a lot of emails and make a lot of phone calls. Please get to know the candidates up for election in your local races. And don't forget to VOTE!

Just Thinking

“I think we have more machinery of government than is necessary, too many parasites living on the labor of the industrious.”

— Thomas Jefferson

Are we becoming a country that is divided between the "HAVES" and the "HAVE-NOTS?" How do we encourage industriousness? How should we reward success?

Dear Well-Meaning Father,

I know you were sincerely concerned about your daughter's health and safety. I know that you were just trying to start up a nice conversation. But in the future, please don't greet her with, "What's that on your head - a bruise?!"

Because it's probably not. And teenage girls don't need any reminders about their teenage complexions - not even a tiny imperfection that may resemble a bruise.

That Powerful Friend

"And have we now forgotten that powerful Friend? or do we imagine
we no longer need its assistance? I have lived, Sir, a long time; and
the longer I live, the more convincing proofs I see of this Truth, that
God governs in the Affairs of Men. And if a Sparrow cannot fall to the
Ground without his Notice, is it probable that an Empire can rise
without his Aid?

Benjamin Franklin, Motion for Prayers in the Constitutional Convention, 1787

Beautiful!

Oh, that's why it took her so long to get ready this morning!

Crunchy Communion

I was trying to pray during communion this Sunday, but was completely distracted by what I thought was the sound of my children loudly munching their communion wafers. And how many communion wafers did they take, I wondered. They just kept chewing. And they must be have been chewing with their mouths wide open because I'd never heard a noisier communion time. Disgusted with them, I opened my eyes and shot a wicked glance their way.

Oops. My kids were both praying. It was the cute toddler behind us crunching her Golden Grahams who making all the noise.

Enough!

"Enough! I'm tired of you exploding me for that blog!"

(But how can I just let these opportunities go by - especially when he meant to say, exploiting?)

Well Said

“And can the liberties of a nation be thought secure when we have removed their only firm basis, a conviction in the minds of the people that these liberties are the gift of God? That they are not to be violated but with his wrath? Indeed I tremble for my country when I reflect that God is just: that his justice cannot sleep for ever. ”

—Thomas Jefferson, Notes on the State of Virginia, Query 18, 1781

Anatomy

"Everybody just stay away from me! There is something wrong with my fart muscle!"

(Don't know what he meant exactly, but I decided to heed his advice.)

Chimney Sweep

We haven't had our chimney inspected since our house fire (chimney & electically related) about 12 years ago. So I call this guy with a great yellow pages ad. He sounded professional over the phone. He was on schedule. AND he showed up in a black top hat with soot all over himself. The best part of his gig was the slogan on the side of his van, "A Sweep at the Wheel."

Much cash later, our fireplace has been inspected & cleaned, the bird nests removed from the top and a new chimney cap put in place. I asked the sweep what we should do if we think birds are nesting in the chimney again. He answered, "That would mean the end is near because the birds will have learned how to use tools to remove the new chimney cap I just installed."

"Ok," I said, "so just do nothing then."
He nodded with a smile.

Stop Molestering Me!

Pretty sure he meant to use the word "bothering." Or "pestering."

Just Overheard

Mr. Rellim shouting from the garage, "OK, guys - if you hear a loud buzzing noise, that's me getting shocked by the electric weed wacker!!! I'm going to try out my re-wiring job . . . NOW!!!"

I haven't heard anything yet. Should I go check it out?

Who Was This Man, Really?

I'm reading his Perelandra where a man travels naked in a coffin to another planet. I wonder how he comes up with such funny ideas. Then I came across this beauty of a thought from him:
“Of all tyrannies, a tyranny exercised for the good of its victims may be the most oppressive. It may be better to live under robber barons than under omnipotent moral busybodies. The robber baron's cruelty may sometimes sleep, his cupidity may at some point be satiated; but those who torment us for our own good will torment us without end for they do so with the approval of their own conscience. ”

—C.S. Lewis

Unintentional Perversion of the Word of God

Someone in the Middle School Sunday morning class was reading aloud from the book of Matthew about how Jesus told Simon Peter to cast his nets yet again into the Sea of Galilee. This time when the nets were pulled up, they were full of fish. So full that the disciples signaled to men in other boats nearby so they could assist with the haul.

The young man in class, using his best reading strategies, said, "Then the disciples strangled men in other boats nearby . . . "

I laughed and made sure the class understood the real story. Unfortunately, I imagine that may be the only thing they remember from the lesson.