Friday's Pupils

This morning our preschooler noticed that her vest lacked the handy hidden pockets
that Ana's jacket has, and, unprompted, made herself a pair with paper and tape.

discussing Viotti's Concerto No. 23

 

reading Pathway

 finding a more comfortable position

What are you looking at?

Future Glory

     "What is patience?" asks Papa as we sit in the living room, gathered for prayers. A moment of stillness. A hand goes up, then another. "Yes, Daniel?"
     "Being content with, uh...wherever you are." He delineates a vague portrait of the word.

     "Hmmm. Content is a good word. Content with what, exactly?"

     Rebecca takes a shot, coloring the concept with her own experience. "It's [not] like when Mom's on the phone and I say, 'Hurry up, Mom!'"

     Smiles fill the room. "You're right," says Papa. "What else?"

     Jessie, just home from ballet class and lounging on the leather couch next to Ana, develops a deeper definition. Mom adds a thought.

     D.P. tries again. "Patience is conforming to God's clock."

     But apparently Papa is looking for a specific word.

     "Waiting," I venture. "Patience is being content to wait."

     He grins. I think I even see his teeth. "Good. Give an example."

     And so I do, and so do the others.

     We are selfish people here at the Hall house. We want things to be the way we like them to be. Now. None of us are omnipotent, and though we do influence the situations we find ourselves in, we cannot ultimately make the relentless brother or whining sister change. And so we wait. We wait for change. And as we wait we worry, because it doesn't make any sense to wait patiently, right?

     Hmmm. While waiting for a rock to sprout wings and fly away, a man worries, because he has never seen a wing-sprouting rock. (In fact, he knows that anyone off the street would assure him his wait is in vain.) But while waiting for change in the lives of Christ-followers, we don't worry, because we have reason to expect change.

     Future glory? Yep, that's what we're waiting for. That's what we expect. God will glorify, will purify His people. Our reason for patience is the promise of God.
     So be patient, fellow Christian. Laugh in the face of "Small Annoyance," and when "Great Suffering" comes to town, look him in the eyes and quietly declare that "all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose." (Romans 8:28)

Musings on the First Day of School (on the Second Day of School)

     Following is Daniel's journal entry written on the first day of school last year. I remember us all laughing at his creative imagery (he was 12 when he wrote it), and this afternoon, after he again read it to me, I thought it would make a near-perfect post for today -- the second day of school here at Heritage Halls Academy. Yes, the kids launched themselves into their respective grades yesterday, and our grueling autumn schedule was calmly and unquestionably revived. I must say we have been surprisingly consistent in our 7:00 rise time. (I am taking this opportunity to praise our assiduousness, before I no longer have justification for such homage.)

First Day of School

Wednesday, September 9th, 2009

     Greetings!!! A new school year has been approaching all summer, but now, suddenly, I find myself plunging into the icy water of curriculum. It jerks me to a rude awakening as the cold shock forces me to accept the monotonous, hard, dull moments and to appreciate the carefree, laid-back attitude of the summer and long for Christmas break. Already I find myself hoping to burst the surface and take a breath of weekends. Although, as I exert my energy to swim the Olympic-size swimming pool of grade six, I find myself enjoying the exertion (a little bit) and thanking Mom for pushing me off the diving board. Alas! I must admit that there have been and will be fabulous droplets of time in the endless pool of learning (although they will be chiefly comprised of weekends). Indeed, I am filled with vigor to hold my pencil steady and suppress sloppiness.

Daniel

Addendum to Lily Bay - Round Two

Isn't she just the cutest?

Lily Bay - Round Two

The whole family got to enjoy Lily Bay this past weekend! Here are some shots...

Nikkia practiced the chords to "The Nazarene" by Michael Card on the drive up.

Blueberry Meadows

This time the whole family met "Grandma Blueberry",
and Papa says we'll make picking there a tradition!

We came upon the nostalgia-inducing remains...

... of a once-glorious fort.

 

'Twas a wonderful weekend.

Four Sisters Venture North

For those of you who keep checking this blog and see nothing new except the page design, my apologies, and may this post be worthy of your wait. =)

Nikkia, me, Jessie and Amanda visited PapaDama and Dama up at our beloved Lily Bay last weekend (July 29th - August 1st). We got there on Thursday night and stayed until early Sunday afternoon. We figured the time spent there to be around 2.58 days. Yeah, we like figuring stuff like that.

The drive up was very significant. Jessie has recently gotten her permit, and she eagerly availed herself of the four hours of driving opportunity.

On our way up, we spotted a sign for "Blueberry Meadows". Nikkia (the eldest and therefore naturally the decider of any suggestion that arises) was feeling adventurous, so we turned off the main road and continued several miles before arriving at the sought-after location. We pulled into the dirt drive and up to a tent where an old lady stood waiting for us. We decided to give "pick-your-own blueberries" a try, so we met the old lady, who kindly led us in the art of blueberry picking. The berries were huge. Their color was a chalky slate blue. She instructed us to err toward picking the bigger ones because they are sweeter, but "when in doubt," she said with a grin, "just taste one".

Up at our grandparents' cabin that evening, PapaDama and Dama lost no time in beginning the Lily Bay experience for us. We went for a pontoon joy-ride on the lake! The temperature was cool; we talked, sighted loons, and I even jumped in for a quick swim! (I had put my suit on under my clothes just in case an opportunity arose...I hadn't been swimming all summer and was so excited for the chance.)

That night, Nikkia noticed this wall-calender welcome from Dama as we settled into the lovely guest room that was to be ours for the weekend:

We each have nick-names...for various and sundry reasons that are not to be disclosed this day. Nikkia is "Otter Eyes", I am "Beaver Angel", Jessie is "Princess", and Amanda is "Curly Locks".

The following days were simply delightful. Friday was rainy, but we didn't mind. We played Mexican Train...

 (it's even more fun than Chicken-Foot, Mr. K)

...and fiddled around...

(Amanda gets a casual lesson)

...and PapaDama relaxed and read the paper.

(that is, until I interrupted him for a picture)

And then, to our glee, the rained stopped! Bring on the swimming!

 

Time to go back to the cabin! Jessie and I sat on the front edge
of the pontoon to dangle our feet in the water (a tradition).

On Friday night, PapaDama took us all out for a fish dinner at the Timberwolf, a family-run restaurant in Grand Rapids. Their multi-grain bread and herb whipped butter is unprecedented. Mmmmmm!

Saturday dawned sunny!

bathing robin

 

Amanda and I played the bean bag game in the morning

(while Nikkia and Jessie were out fishing with PapaDama).

We left the game out, and when we returned only a few hours

later, we saw this busy spider's considerable achievement.

That evening: crappie fishing!

 Amanda didn't want to touch her fish, so she asked me to hold it for her.

Then, she apparently ditched her qualms, because she soon kissed the thing.

(Okay, so she didn't really touch it.)

Finally, I caught a keeper! It is so cool to watch these lures travel under water.

We mentally divided ourselves into two groups

(based on our early-morning activities):

"The Fishers"

 "The Sleepers" =)

Thanks PapaDama and Dama! It was a fabulous weekend!

On our way home we stopped for Dairy Queen (courtesy of PapaDama)!