Monthly Archive for October, 2007
Page 4 of 5
Ta da! Here I am . . . the last to show up at the party! Heather and Liz have already started posting, whilst (England is rubbing off on me already) I’ve been conspicuous by my absence. In fact, the only reason that you’re getting this little missive from me at all is because I happily remembered to grab my laptop before we ran out on some errands, and I’m typing in the car. (I’m not the one driving by the way. You can feel safe in the knowledge that I would never attempt to type and drive on the left at the same time. On the right however . . . . well that’s another story. ) If I can manage to snaffle a passing wireless network as we cruise along then this might actually get posted.
We’ve just moved into our house, and I’ve been unpacking for the last few days. I should add that “unpacking†here is being used in a very loose sense . . . . we arrived at an unfurnished house with only what we could carry with us on the airplane. Of course, with seven people’s maxed-out limit of luggage, that actually amounted to a mountain of stuff which, when piled up together in the airport, was so enormous that you half expected to see King Kong standing at the top, swatting at bi-planes. But divide that pile by seven people, and then spread that through an entire house, and it turns out to be not quite as massive as it seemed at first. What I’m trying to say is that when I speak of unpacking my kitchen, that basically amounts to one Continue reading ‘OK in the UK’
“Craftsmen have filled out museums with magnificent and beautiful objects of art. But marble, canvas, pottery, wood, and metal were never more cunningly contrived into subtle loveliness than my wife can slap together in a pie plate. When the top cover is pressed down, and she picks up the pie in one hand and a knife in the other, Poetry, Music, and Art might just as well pack up and go home.”
John Gould, Farmer Takes A Wife
I think I need to just come straight out and say that the last post I wrote was really just a way of easing into a discussion of the merits of random things I love. Well, I love fiber drums.
If you have never heard of a fiber drum before, you are not alone. I really “saw” my first fiber drum in the attic of our shop, left there by a long-ago jewelry store. I mean first saw it in the same way that you think you have never heard a word before, and then you see it everywhere, and hear it in the casual conversations of kindergarteners.
Basically, a fiber drum is an overgrown toilet paper tube (mine are 50 Continue reading ‘A Little Confession’
“You think it much if you have a friend who always makes bad interpretations of your ways towards him; you would take that badly. If you should converse with people with whom you cannot speak a word, but they are ready to make a bad interpretation of it, and to take it in an ill sense, you would think their company very tedious to you.”
The Rare Jewel of Christian Contentment, Jeremiah Burroughs
Or, A Few Common Stumbling Blocks of the Mother-in-Law
Here are a few thoughts for the mother-in-laws among us.
Don’t make an idol out of your family get-togethers. Laying a big load of expectations on the kids will kill the fun of being together, whether it is a summer vacation on the beach or your Christmas celebrations. If you let it be known that “We’ve always done Christmas THIS way, and we will do it again this year OR ELSE” you are making sure they will hate every minute of it, or they will totally bow out to make a statement that you cannot be tyrannical. By insisting on time in this way, you may as well chase them away with a stick. They will run away as fast as they can.
Remember that they are trying to establish a new household. Give way to their decisions and honor them for it. At the same time, make it clear that you would love to have them for Christmas, and that you will accommodate their schedule and other commitments to keep it easy for them.
Set them free to establish their own traditions and to make their own decisions about vacations and celebrations. Ask them what will work for them. Don’t set things up and announce to them where and when they will be for what. Don’t be a fusser by complaining that they never stay long Continue reading ‘Don’t Chase Your Kids Away With a Stick’
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