Longfellow and a Lesson

I love to read. I love classic literature the most, I suppose. I enjoy reading books by authors like Twain, Bronte, Montgomery, and Dickens. I also enjoy classic poetry. My daughter is memorizing the following poem by Longfellow. I get misty eyed almost every time we recite it. I know it's silly. I cry pretty easily. I don't mind though. My tears show my sincerity, my tender heart, and my love to my children. I wanted to share this most touching poem with you. I hope you love it as much as I do!

The Children's Hour

By Henry Wadsworth Longfellow

Between the dark and the daylight,

When the night is beginning to lower,

Comes a pause in the day's occupations,

That is known as the children's hour.

I hear in the chamber above me

The patter of little feet,

The sound of a door that is opened,

And voices soft and sweet.

From my study I see in the lamplight,

Descending the broad hall stair,

Grave Alice, and laughing Allegra,

And Edith with golden hair.

A whisper, and then a silence,

Yet I know by their merry eyes

They are plotting and planning together

To take me by surprise,

A sudden rush from the stairway

A sudden raid from the hall!

By three doors left unguarded

They enter my castle wall!

They climb up into my turret,

O'er the arms and back of my chair;

If I try to escape, they surround me;

They seem to be everywhere.

They almost devour me with kisses,

Their arms about me entwine,

Till I think of the Bishop of Bingen

In his Mouse-tower on the Rhine!

Do you think, O blue-eyed banditti,

Because you have scaled the wall,

Such an old mustache as I am

Is not a match for you all?

I have you fast in my fortress,

And will not let you depart,

But put you down into the dungeon

In the round-tower of my heart.

And there will I keep you forever,

Yes, forever and a day,

Till the walls shall crumble to ruin,

And moulder in dust away.

Longfellow captures the fleeting moments of childhood so appropriately. I am reminded how precious each and every day is with my children.
I am thoroughly enjoying the years that my children are small. I know something that my dear wee ones do not yet understand. I know that these years pass all too swiftly. This poem illustrates the biblical principle found in James 4:14: Whereas ye know not what shall be on the morrow. For what is your life? It is even a vapour, that appeareth for a little time, and then vanisheth away.

I want to laugh with children more. I want to listen to them more and tickle them more! I want to read to them under a blanket more; I want to praise them more.

It seems like only yesterday I was "pouncing" on my own Dad after he arrived home from work. It was only yesterday that we had another of our many "wrestling (tickling) matches". Wasn't it just yesterday that he repaired my bike for me; and he read to me from the Big Book of Presidents? (Yes, we both loved history!) Wasn't it yesterday that he told me he loved me, before he left for work? No? It sure seems like yesterday. But now he is in Heaven, waiting for me. Those memories are just that, memories. Never to be lived again. Let's not waste our time! It's our most precious commodity.

My goals today:
Read to Leslie and Laci.
Rock Laci and sing to her.
Talk to Lauren about things that might be bothering her. Pray with her about her friends.
Not get frustrated with my poor, sweet ADD son during school! :0)

Close the Door and Lock It

In my husband's Wednesday evening sermon, he made a statement in passing that I needed. It wasn't the actual topic of his message, but it really hit home with me.
The statement he made was "We need to forget the past. We need to close the door to the past and lock it, and never open it again." That is so true! Many of our problems could be resolved if we could close the door of the past and lock it!
My husband and I had some very bumpy first years of marriage. We were both young and dumb(we'd never been married before! :0) Thankfully, I've forgotten most of the details. They weren't big issues, but I remember making them big issues! I could keep re-living it, but what good would that do? People have offended me over the years. If I don't close the door to those memories and lock it, I will never be able to completely forgive and move forward. I have been hurt -stabbed in the back- by some people, but it's time to forget it! Our family suffered a terrible wound two years ago. It has been the most painful thing that has happened to me. I need to forgive and even be thankful for it.
I realize that I cannot forgive someone who doesn't ask for it, but I can have the forgiveness in my heart, ready to go, should they come to receive it. If they never come, well, the forgiveness will still be there.
I am doing my best to work through the past hurts. As Satan brings them to mind, I am placing them in the "room" and I'm closing the door and locking it. If I don't, then bitterness will take a firm hold in the soil of my heart. If that happens, I will be in terrible trouble spiritually.
I am the kind of person who DOES NOT need to be reminded that my children are growing up quickly. I DO NOT need to be told that I will miss these days. I am thoroughly enjoying my small children. Every time I have a fleeting thought that "I wish they would grow up!" The Lord reminds me that they are and fast! I have to stop myself from grieving over the fact that I have one child raised halfway to adulthood! I cried on my sweet Lauren's ninth birthday! The realization that she was halfway to eighteen hit me hard. I sometimes browse through old photos and weep over the fact that my older children's baby days are past. Yet, I did my best as a mother then, and I'm trying to continue doing my best today. I am a stay at home Mom. I was there for their first step, their first words, their smiles, their fevers, and yes, their first tantrums! I've been there for it all. Why do I look back and grieve? I think I know why. I believe it is because if I'm trapped in the past, I am helpless for the present. I can't enjoy today if I am re-living 2001! I must place those happy memories in the "room" and close the door. I don't need to lock this door, but I need to keep it shut. (I'm speaking for my own personality here. I'm the kind of person that can't reminisce too long or I get very sad!)
On my eleventh anniversary a few weeks ago, my husband and I had the privilege of having some friends from Illinois over to our home. The man is my husband's best friend from childhood. He was a groomsman in our wedding. We watched the wedding video and I spent the evening on the brink of tears! It had been eleven years, but it felt like eleven lifetimes! My Dad was in the video, looking a little downhearted to see his youngest leave the nest, but still cutting up and laughing! He is Heaven now. Terry's Grandfather and one Grandmother were decked out in their finest clothing for our wedding, and they, too, are in Heaven. His cousin was walking in the video, but he is now in a wheelchair. My photographer was walking and working in the video, but four years after that, he committed suicide! So many things have changed! Oh yes, it was a wonderful day in my life, but you see, I get sad thinking about how things have changed. I must be careful. I must look forward to what the Lord has in store for me today, for He has only the best planned for me.
I feel that I'm in a spiritual construction zone right now! He's got out His equipment and He's working to improve my infrastructure! I am looking forward to seeing the progress. Thank you for letting me journal my thoughts here. I believe it helps me to see His work more clearly if I write it down. I apologize for boring you with it all! But, you know I try to keep it real here.
How about you? Is the Lord wanting to do some renovating or remodeling on you this year? As long as we're breathing, there are improvements that can be made in all of us.

Job 23:10 But he knoweth the way that I take: when he hath tried me, I shall come forth as gold.

Simple Pleasures: The Christmas Edition

I apologize for waiting until the eleventh hour, or actually the 23rd hour, to post today. I promised you four faithful readers that I would post today, and I MUST keep my word. I have been busy Christmas shopping all day, and believe me, it has absolutely finished me. What little energy and strength I have left, I am expending upon this little blog 'o mine.

I wanted to share this post sooner, but well, you know why I haven't.

My family and I have very few Christmas traditions. A few of our traditions include, but are not limited to: eating turkey and the trimmings for Christmas dinner, watching as many classic Christmas shows on TV or DVD that we can, and making my favorite Christmas "Poke" cake. I wanted to share with you this simple pleasure. You all know my culinary abilities are lacking, to say the least, but even I can make this cake!

First, whip up a white cake mix, any brand will do. I personally endorse Duncan Hines. Not that Duncan Hines pays me or anything, I simply endorse them out of the goodness of my heart.

Pour the batter into two 8 or 9 inch round cake pans and bake according to the package directions. (I just love package directions. That means that there is a package, which means that I don't have to do very much.)

Let the cakes cool for 15 minutes, then remove them from the pan. Then put them back again. Hey! That sounds like a nursery rhyme! Remove 'em and put 'em back again! Uh-hem. Sorry. Anyway, after you place them back into their cozy little pans, let them cool completely.

Now here comes the fun part! Take a fork and poke the cakes all over while it's in the pan. Go ahead and go crazy, it's okay!

See? Doesn't this look like fun?

Next, boil some water. Yes, Virginia, I can boil water, despite those vicious rumors you've heard. In fact, I can do gourmet boiled water! Betcha hadn't heard that, huh?

Pour in a packet of red Jell-O. And stir, like so, for two minutes.

Because I'm a little OCD, I set the timer on my microwave for TWO MINUTES. Got that? TWO.

Oh my! Only 12 seconds to go!

After the TWO MINUTES have expired, you can then pour your red JELL-O onto your cake. Make sure you pour it right over all those little holes you've made!

Pour in all the JELL-O. Your cake should look like this. Actually, yours will probably look better.
Next, mix up some green JELL-O the same way you did the red. See the steam coming off of this one? Steam is an indication of good boiled water. But it takes an expert, so be careful.

OH! Be sure you set the timer! It would be terrible to only stir this mixture for 1 minute and 47 seconds!!

What?

You're not worried about timing it?

oh.

Well, hey! Whether you time yourself or not, be sure the JELL-O is dissolved in the boiling water that you whipped up like a pro. Then, pour the green JELL-O over the top of the other cake.

After your JELL-O is neatly and sweetly poured over your two cakes, pop them into the fridge for three hours.

After the cakes have relaxed for about three hours, remove them from their polar spa and smother them with Cool-Whip. It's good for their pores. I wished I had used more for this cake, but hindsight is 20/20. Learn from my mistakes, PLEASE!

TADA! It's done!

When your all done slathering on the Cool Whip, go ahead and cut a sliver, or twelve. You won't be sorry!

Oh, and for you real chefs out there, you could decorate this with little red and green gumdrops made in the shapes of holly leaves and berries. You could also write "Happy Birthday, Jesus!" on the top with butter cream or store bought frosting. The possibilities are endless!

My daughter and I were able to begin a new tradition this year. We got to go out with one of the ladies in our church to deliver goody baskets to some shut-ins and widows. It was a joy to visit these dear folks in our church and show some kindness. I was honored to get to take my nine year old Lauren with me.

My husband snapped this photo of us before we left. I'm sorry I didn't get one of the goody baskets that our church ladies made! They were so cute!

I love serving the Lord! I love serving Him more, however, with my wonderful family! I love making Christ-centered memories with my kids, all year long.

I wish you a Merry Christmas this week, and happy memories that will last a lifetime!

Matthew 1:21 And she shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call his name JESUS: for he shall save his people from their sins.

I Miss You, Dad

Four years ago today, my Dad and "partner", Ron Courtney, went home to be with the Lord. I remember thinking after his death that the purpose for which he had lived his life was now a reality. It was no longer something he lived for, but something he had lived for. I remember seeing his Bible and glasses just where he left them. He would no longer need those items, for now he was with the Author and his vision is perfect. His walking shoes were in their place beside my Mom's. He was now walking with the Savior, he would no longer need to walk for exercise. His health is now perfect. His workbench - complete with hammer, screwdrivers, sundry items and, I kid you not, a gillion nails and screws was silent.
I sat down and cried at his workbench that first day home. I cried because of all the time he'd spent there making (or repairing) things for me, such as my bike. I cried because I missed seeing him there, glasses sliding down his sweaty face, and an expression of one who was deep in thought as he fiddled with something that needed fixing. He was such a hard worker.
My Dad was so tender hearted, so kind and generous. He hated being alone. And at his workbench that day, I hated being alone. While sitting there, I wished I could thank him once more for fixing "Lightning", my bike. I wished I could thank him for his love and most of all, the example of what I should look for in a husband. Terry is so much like him. I often think of Dad when I see him fathering our girls. I have had, and still have, some great men in my life.
But Dad came first. And I will always miss him, but, praise the Lord, because of Calvary, we can be together again someday.

Thank you Dad. A million times over, thank you. I wish I had been a better daughter to you and Mom, but as long as I'm living I will do my best to rise to your level of Christianity. I will try to make up for all the wrong I did as a youngster. I will strive to serve instead of be served, to give instead of take, to love whether I'm loved in return or not. I know that if I can be like you, I'll be like Jesus. I saw His reflection in your lives every day I awoke in the Courtney home.
I miss you, and I love you.
Oh, and thank you so much for loving me, just the way I was.