I have a real soft spot for Christmas china, though I don’t personally own a set. But I look at it with a fond eye when I spy it in the stores. From what I hear, you Southern ladies pick out a set when you get engaged (or is it when you are born?) and you have a Thanksgiving set as well. Is this true?
When I look at the beautiful Spode Christmas china, my practical side says, “Well, even if it is on sale, is it really worth it if I will only be using it about two months out of the year? And then, only once a week during those two months?” And my practical side says, “Move away from this aisle at once.” But my other side (is it my mother’s Southern side?) says, Continue reading ‘Christmas China’
OK – prepare yourselves for a shock. I myself am still reeling from it . . . looking around in a sort of bewildered way, wondering how it all happened.
Here’s the big news: I have a goose in my (very miniature) fridge . . . which I am apparently going to try and cook on Christmas Day in my (very miniature) oven. Yes. I told you it would be a surprise. And not only that – my sober judgment has collapsed so completely that I not only have a goose in my (very miniature) fridge, but I also am the proud possessor of 2 cans (cans!) of goose grease with which I am going to prepare the roast potatoes!
I’m quite stunned about it actually. One moment of wondering if perhaps I ought to try and do the traditional English thing since it’s perhaps our last year in England and look where it’s gotten me! I’ll be pouring boiling water all over a goose and poking it full of holes with a darning needle and hanging it by open windows to dry and wondering if this is how goose is actually supposed to look when it’s done and dealing will all the emotional scarring that will result from the whole experience. And having succumbed so far (don’t you always have a horrible urge to say “succame” instead of “succumbed”? Or is that only me?) into the Traditional English Christmas Dinner Menu . . . I have gone the last and unalterable step and thrown in the towel completely. I actually have a Christmas pudding in all its raisiny, suetty, blackness sitting in my kitchen, waiting to be steamed for 2 hours in the oven and lit on fire for dessert. (Or is that the Christmas cake you’re Continue reading ‘Unexpected News’
According to Proverbs, mothers are to lay down the law, particularly to their sons. “My son, hear the instruction of thy father, and forsake not the law of thy mother: For they shall be an ornament of grace unto thy head, and chains about thy neck” (Prov. 1:8-9).
Mothers sometimes think that Dad is the one with all the authority around the house, particularly when it comes to dealing with the boys. But this is just false. God has established the authority of both parents in the home. Sons are to be well acquainted with the law of their mothers, and this is a good thing. In fact, God tells the sons that this instruction and law are like a crown and a necklace.
Mothers need to establish their authority over their children when they are little Continue reading ‘Mothers in Proverbs’
(And if you flip it over, this is what you would see on the back . . . )
So, this is the Merkle gang on Dragon Hill . . . one of our very favorite spots in England. It’s in the Vale of the White Horse – and in the picture you can see part of the White Horse itself carved into the top of the large hill behind us. (Chesterton’s Ballad of the White Horse was written about this place.) We’re standing on the bare patch which, according to legend, is the very spot upon which St. George slew the dragon. The dragon blood poisoned the ground, and grass has never grown on this spot since. More verifiably, this was the site of the battle of Ashdown . . . where King Alfred defeated the Vikings in the ninth century.
In other news, everyone’s well, we’re still driving on the left, and everyone is as homesick as you would expect us to be during our third year abroad. (OK, that sounds dismal – we’re actually having a grand old time but are still very anxious to be home this summer!)
Hope you all are doing well – and let us know if you’re swinging through the UK!
Lots of love,
Ben, Bekah, Knox, Jemima, Belphoebe, Hero, and Judah
Last night we went to the Logos School Christmas program where the children assemble on the stage and sing Christmas carols. We have probably attended this event over twenty times. The preschoolers are always up first and are by far the funniest and cutest because of their antics. With two darling granddaughters in the group this year, we were of course duly impressed, as we were with the combined kindergarten and first-grade class performance. Our handsome grandson and his little sister were in that group.
But each year when we watch the preschoolers I can’t help remembering my daughter Rachel’s preschool performance in 1984. (You know what it’s like: little four-year olds who are easily distracted on the stage and blissfully unaware of themselves all the while.) After her class’s song she came back and sat down next to me for the rest of the program. I leaned over and told her that she had done a very nice job. And she said to me very matter of factly, with all preschool modesty, “I know. I can’t help it.” And with a shrug, “I just sing pretty.”
Here is a little reminder for those of us in the midst of a good snowfall just what it looks like to enjoy God! I love this dog, and I’m not even a big one for animal videos!
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