Good Morning!
Since it’s the last day of the year, we’ll start with the QoD.
Do you have a favorite memory from this past year?
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On this day in 1775 the British repulsed an attack by Continental Army generals Richard Montgomery and Benedict Arnold at Quebec. Montgomery was killed in the battle.
In 1841 the State of Alabama enacted the first dental legislation in the U.S.
In 1857 Britain’s Queen Victoria decided to make Ottawa the capital of Canada.
In 1862 President Lincoln signed an act admitting West Virginia to the Union.
In 1879 Thomas Edison gave his first public demonstration of incandescent lighting to an audience in Menlo Park, NJ.
In 1891 New York’s new Immigration Depot was opened at Ellis Island, to provide improved facilities for the massive numbers of arrivals.
In 1929 Guy Lombardo and his Royal Canadians played “Auld Lang Syne” as a New Year’s Eve song for the first time.
And in 1946 President Truman officially proclaimed the end of hostilities in World War II.
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Quote of the Day
“I was very careful to send Mr. Roosevelt every few days a statement of our casualties. I tried to keep before him all the time the casualty results because you get hardened to these things and you have to be very careful to keep them always in the forefront of your mind.”
George C. Marshall
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These two were married today in 1947.
I have to play this one. I think it’s required. 🙂
It’s this fella’s birthday.
And it’s also Tyler Burkum’s, of Audio Adrenaline. From EMI Music
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Wandering Views 
Good morning. After 4 1/2 to 5 hours of sleep last night, I think I will have to take a nap sometime today if I’m going to stay up until midnight. 🙂
I’ll have to think about the QoD some. Be back later.
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QoD. I don’t rightly know. I’ll have to think if I have any favorite memories.
Sad isn’t it? I mean really? Nothing good stands out.
If Mary doesn’t hurry, little Graham will be born next year.
I KNOW!
Caden Muller trusted the LORD and was baptised!! I remembered that when I thought about Graham and that Mary was married last year. So. 2013 was eventful after all.
Maybe something else will come to me.
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This coming year?
Graham Harris will be born.
Brian (Becky’s husband) will finally get his doctorate. He’s been working on that for years now, it seems.
Maybe the two of us will be as healthy next December 31 as we are now.
As for the world situation, I am not at all hopeful. There is a darkness creeping across the world, and this time, we are not exempted.
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And if you made a resolution to do something in 2013, and haven’t done it, you need to get with it. NOW!
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I plan to finish the Beethoven Sonatas today, but I probably shouldn’t go to the piano just yet, as everyone else is still asleep. 😉
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Nothing really big happened this year. Just a lot of little, ordinary moments, so it’s hard to think of a favorite moment out of those.
Seeing the wonder in 6th Arrow’s eyes (as much as I could, standing outside on a moonlit night) as a bat flew over our heads on an unusually warm November evening, just enjoying a quiet time in nature with her, was pretty special.
Driving to a neighboring state in which some of our kids had never been was fun, too. Sixth Arrow loved that. Next, she wants to visit the Eiffel Tower. It might be a while before we get there. 😉
Hearing 5th Arrow sing with all his heart in church really warmed my heart.
I’m sure there were a lot more things in the running for favorite memory, if I could only think of them. I’ll claim sleep deprivation as my excuse. 😉
I do think I’ll have to be more intentional about making memories this year. I’m thinking of starting a journal, too. If I follow through on that and stay consistent with it, I might not have so much trouble next year recalling the memories of 2014.
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Only one memory?
Sitting with my African namesake in the mango grove as we listened to a Bible lesson, and watching the egrets fish in the nearby swamp, while cows, goats and donkeys grazed on the fallen mangos around us.
The sound of our voices and my violin rising above the din of the rain on the corrugate metal roof during one rainy Sunday morning.
Seeing a patient who had suffered third degree burns to the bottom of her feet walk into the clinic without a even a limp.
A prayer meeting in a tiny house church, where they all prayed out loud at the same time.
Standing in the salty surf of the Atlantic and letting the waves crash over me.
The sound of the sabar and tama in the evening.
The bells on the horse carts as they passed by on the road, going to market on Saturday morning.
One very late ferry crossing downriver, standing on the boat between the dark water and the brilliant stars with a great feeling of thankfulness that we had finally got across that day.
The first cry from the babies I helped to deliver – the sound of life.
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My experience is that “making memories” don’t turn out as well as the serendipity that occour when friends show up, or kids do something. It just happens.
Trips to the theme park or the beach are nice but when it’s over it wassn’t as good as expected.
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Well, I don’t think any of us can top Roscuro’s memories. Thank you for sharing. It brought a smile to my face. Especially hearing a first cry from a baby. Aside from my own child I have heard that once more when a dear friend allowed me in the delivery room with her. It was a completely different feeling being on the observing end of things. To give birth is one thing, but to witness it is spectacular. Perhaps God rigs it that way so that fathers can also get caught up in the moment.
No particular moment stands out ahead of the rest for the past year. I would have to say that in February I was quite relieved to have the surgeon call me in the waiting room to tell me my husband was doing fine and in recovery. They would have him in a room soon and would have him up walking by 4pm.
When I look back on the year, my week at The Nest with Mumsee, IdahoMike, and all the Chickens stands out as one of the best. My own Little Chick was a world class brat that week, but the others were well behaved and quite nice to her.
The situation that took me there wasn’t good, but my week stands out as one of the most peaceful and enjoyable I had had in a long time. I was a long way away from any of my own personal problems (remember I had just been let go and accused of dishonesty). My cell phone didn’t work and I was four hours away from a major airport. My outside world really couldn’t intrude. My only responsibilities were planning meals and getting them on the table. The children did everything else.
Perhaps Mumsee and IdahoMike aren’t packaging a stay at the Nest properly. They should market it as a “spa” to get away from the pressures of your “real” life, unplug, and just BE. Enjoy the natural rythm and flow of the day.
I met some of the most wonderful people in Idaho and especially enjoyed escorting a certain WWII Veteran back to his home.
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Irony: In 1879 Thomas Edison gave his first public demonstration of incandescent lighting to an audience in Menlo Park, NJ. And this is the last day that incandescent lights can be made in or imported into the US. Sad that someone thought it would be a good idea to outlaw those incandescent bulbs, and switch to CFLs because they use less energy. Yet those same CFLs have mercury in them, so disposing of them is not as simple as tossing them in the trash. Sad that the LED lighting– which uses even less energy, is brighter and doesn’t contain toxic chemicals– is not promoted by the government. Yes, an LED costs ten times more than CFLs, but they last more than ten times as long. And you don’t need a HazMat suit to clean up the pieces if one breaks. [/soapbox]
QoD: Standing and looking in awe at Niagara Falls for the first time. Mrs L and I wanted to go there for our honeymoon but didn’t have the money. So we waited 32 years and took our youngest daughter along. She only went on the trip because we were heading to Connecticut to visit a friend of hers, as well as stopping at Gettysburg on the return trip. But she enjoyed Niagara almost as much as we did.
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Christas stuff coing down.
Can you tell what letter is issing on y keyborad? I need another keyboard. eantie w e have to iagine the “” . 😦
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I’m on my laptop now. The “m” on my old keyboard doesn’t work anymore. So I need a new keyboard.
‘I thought I had one somewhere, but evidently I don’t. Off to Radio shack or Staples.
Maybe later today.
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Chas, 🙂 on your 9:12.
According to some book of mine, one author wrote a series of books leaving out a different letter of the alphabet in each one . . . even the “e” got its turn! (No “the,” among other things!)
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Chas has been dipping into the special eggnog. I thought he was a Baptist.
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Good last morning of 2013!
Best memory of 2013…would have to be having all of my children and grandchildren gathered together at our home for the first time in 12 years…it was chaotic, crazy, messy and altogether wonderful!
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Cheryl, that book is called “Ella Minnow Pea.” It’s sort of fun but it got old quick and I couldn’t finish it.
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A short film about, I suppose, about the free market http://ipencilmovie.org/
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yhowIissy
Nowthespacebardoesn’twork.I’outtahereforawhile.
😦
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Chas, Chas.
I’m off to work — I’m working tomorrow, too, but only planning to put in about 4 hours from home, unless some big crime occurs. 😦 😦 And the dogs will get dropped off at Petco for a long-overdue grooming session tomorrow, too. Nothing like starting the new year with fresh-smelling dogs.
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Best memory is the same as Nancyjill’s–when all the children and grandchildren were here this month.
I agree with Chas, that we are often disappointed when we try to make those special memories. That does not mean we should not do so. I still do this for my grandchildren. There is something about shared experiences that bind. However, what THEY find the best memory can be quite surprising to us. WHAT they remember is also sometimes surprising.
My daughter was surprised her three year old son remembered they got stuck in the snow last April when they were up here. It was probably quite an unusual event for him, although not for her. It is the same with all of us.
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Chas and Kathaleena, I agree with both of you on much of what you said about “making memories”. I didn’t articulate very well what I meant by that, but I don’t have time to go far into what was behind my making that comment, as I’m just about to take one of the children to a dentist appointment. I’ll be back later to clarify.
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😀 Chas’ absent space bar reminds me of one of the pieces I had to study for my 20th century music history exam. It was called notjustmoreidlechatter by Paul Lansky and was an electronic compilation of fragments of the human voice. Part of the exam was essay questions, where we had to write a short biography of a composer or describe a piece of music. I’m sure glad that particular piece wasn’t one of the questions!
Chas’ theme music today
http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_detailpage&v=Fh1rIBOGSPA
(don’t bother to listen the whole 8 min) 😆
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Favorite memories from 2013 include getting to visit where son was accepted into grad/PhD program and feeling it was additional verification that all the years and difficulties of homeschooling were worth it; getting to do the quarterly book review column for the CLI newsletter and realizing I am doing a small part in advancing that worthy ministry; helping children grow closer to the Lord through planning creative activities for the Sunday school hour; attending Author 101 University and meeting some like-minded people who know how to make things happen in a positive manner; joining Word Weavers and going to my first critique session.; and, getting to bond with and enjoy the antics of an unexpected Christmas gift kitten, Miss Bosley. Lots happened this pas5 year and most of it was good. Also, two good reports on my A1C level which was an unexpected and not quite deserved gift.
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My volume control disappeared this morning from the corner of my screen. I don’t know where it went so now I cannot listen to John Denver or Chas’s theme song.
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Too many to count, but perhaps it’s the one that happened over and over again: my adorable 18 month old granddaughter dropping everything to run to me with her arms outstretched. I didn’t deserve it, most of the time, but it has been a very sweet Christmas to sit with her, “nose?” and rock her. Even when her curls and face are a messy disaster! 🙂
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Or the miraculous day at Wheaton College’s special collections library:
Reading through Oswald Chambers’ bible:
I still don’t know what I think/feel about this one, holding the letter I wrote Madeleine L’Engle 36 years before:
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Roscuro,
That’s freaky. But if you listen closely you can distinguish some of the individual “melodies.”
But it’s still freaky. 🙂
I fixed your link to include the video.
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I don’t know? Sometimes you can make a few memories. One of my highlights of the year was the look on the Kid’s face at some of the rides at Disney World. 🙂 I always loved amusement parks when I was a kid and got to relive that a little. Vacations can be a lot more fun if you go into them prepared to be flexible and knowing everything won’t be perfect, but Hubby, being an Engineer, is trained to look for what is wrong and fix it. My years as a TV promo producer taught me to put the best face on what you have to work with. Sometimes there is conflict when those two views collide. :-).
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After 12 solid hours of sleep, the cold is mostly gone, back to the land of the living.
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A good list to ponder.
http://www.christianpost.com/buzzvine/5-things-christians-should-say-more-in-2014-111791/cpt
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Looking back, I would have to say that joining this blog is my favorite memory. I, and friends of mine had been praying for friends for me. I found them here. You all welcomed me so warmly. Living so far away, those personal comments mean everything to me. Thanks for being in my life each day.
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Kathaleena and Chas,
So…maybe the word “making” in “making memories” wasn’t a good choice. It’s not things like making specific plans, like a trip to the beach or an amusement park, as you mentioned, Chas, that I’m talking about. We do very little of those kinds of things. We’re more homebodies.
I was referring more to the simple kinds of things like Kathaleena and Roscuro mentioned, being attentive in the moment to those naturally-arising, spontaneous moments that are often the real memory makers for the kids.
If we’re not careful and intentional to attend to and savor those moments, life just passes us by. This is what happened to me (ok, what I allowed to happen) this year, and I don’t want to come to the end of another year and have regrets about not living intentionally with my family, about not being present in the moment as the real memories are being made, like I have this year.
Sorry to sound so negative. 😦
I have more to say, to make a public record of my intentions to remedy that situation (to help keep me accountable), but I’ll put that in a separate comment, as it’s not directed at any particular person here. It’s more for me than anyone, and you can feel free to scroll right past it, of course. Sometimes I just need to talk to myself to firm my resolve, and this time I believe I will talk to myself in print.
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Roscuro’s video reminded me of the 70’s hit by Marvin Gaye, “Got to give it up.” I could not stand that song when it was popular, but it has sort of grown on me over the years, such that I can stand to listen to a little bit of it now. 😉
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I am about to sit down at the piano and play the last movement of Beethoven’s last piano sonata now. For anyone interested in how it sounds played by a professional (which I decidedly am not!), this is the piece that will wrap up my trek through the sonatas, which I’ve been mentioning lately.
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I don’t think I can narrow it down to just one favorite memory. Here are several:
-being told my six-year-old grandniece had just been asking when Aunt Cheryl is coming through town again
-having my sister tell me that I’m her kids’ “favorite aunt or uncle” (I have a brother who is quite a favorite of children everywhere)
-having my husband fall asleep in my arms
-having one daughter initiate “I love you” a couple of times
-many moments that just felt comfortable and family-like
-looking at a photo I’d taken of a butterfly and seeing that it was a better picture than the photo in the magazine I’d used to identify the species
-finishing my 11th project in a row and knowing I’d earned a break and could enjoy some time away with my husband
-exploring a new-to-us state park with my husband (Turkey Run) in the peak of fall color for our anniversary
-watching a bald eagle fly past within a few yards of us
-having my husband hold me tightly and tell me he married a good wife
-hearing my husband pray for the family
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DONE with the Beethoven Sonatas! I’m speechless! The deeper I delve into his music, the more amazing it all becomes. He was 51 (same age I am) when he wrote that last sonata. The depths of his musical genius astound me, and make me so glad my grandparents next door bought a piano and started taking me to lessons. I don’t know that I would have ever otherwise grown to love classical music as I do, since my parents did not play any instruments or listen to that type of music, and neither does my husband.
I feel really thankful right now for God’s gift of uplifting music to us mortals.
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Great job, 6 Arrows!!
I finished last night with only Revelation left to read through the Bible this year. A few minutes ago I read the first half (11 chapters), so I only need to take time to read the second half and I’m finished.
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Thanks, Cheryl! 🙂
I read Revelation in two parts also, chapters 1-11 on Sunday and 12-22 yesterday. I had songs from Handel’s Messiah running through my head when I’d come to various passages, like “Hallelujah Chorus”, which is based on Revelation 19:6, 11:15, and 19:16, and “Worthy Is The Lamb That Was Slain”, from chapter 5, verses 12 and 13.
Another magnificent piece of music!
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Wise words, 6arrows. We do too often allow ourselves to be distracted with bobbles while missing the real jewels.
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So here’s the post where I talk to myself. However, if you do read it, you’ll see me using the word “you” here. 😉
My resolve for next year is to not let life pass me by. I have a lot of blessings in my life, and I have failed to nurture to the best of my ability the most important people in my life: my husband and children.
There were two very pivotal events that took place last week on consecutive days that the Lord used to really open my eyes. One I did not share with any of you here, and the next day, one that I did (the death of my daughter’s cat), which included some related issues that reinforced what the Lord had taught me the day before.
I told you yesterday that I finished reading a book entitled The Unwired Mom: Choosing to Live Free in an Internet Addicted World. At the end of that book is a 14-day challenge to get one thinking about one’s relationships, goals for life with the people in close physical proximity, especially family, and thinking about the balance between online connections and those in one’s immediate world.
On Day 10, readers were challenged to interview their kids, asking them things not only about themselves, but also about the parent asking the questions, what they perceive are the most important things in Mom’s life, and other similar questions.
I asked my four non-adult children, separately, all the questions, and their answers were very eye-opening, to say the least. They were all quite open and honest, and 3rd Arrow (16 years old) had some especially insightful observations.
Without sharing all their comments, I will say that I know I need to make some very definite changes while I still have their good will and fellowship. I have been taking that for granted, and I cannot continue to do that.
Long story short, relationships in my physical world versus those in the online world are going to do a flip-flop. Much less time online, much more time connecting with my family.
Things got very out of balance because my husband and I were not understanding each other, as I have shared here when we were struggling in our marriage recently. My emotional needs were not being met, so I was looking elsewhere for that, and this place and one other blog where I’m a “regular” got a lot of my time and emotional energy.
In the meanwhile, the children were getting shortchanged.
That has all changed. My husband and I are getting along VERY well, now that we understand each other’s needs better. Those of you who have been praying for us, your prayers are being heard. God is working a miracle, and I am feeling very fulfilled emotionally, and fully loved by my husband.
It is now time to give to my children what my hubby has been giving to me, and I have the emotional energy to do it, and do it well.
You all are still important to me, but my investment in you will not overshadow the love and presence I give to my family. I’ll still be on here, maybe as more of a “semi-regular” than a “regular”, but my family, who I’ve always considered to be first, will now, by the grace of God, have a wife/mother who shows, and not just says, that her family is indeed first.
The death of my daughter’s cat reminded me again of the shortness of life. The time is coming where it won’t be an animal, but a person. None of us know when that could be, but I don’t want to have regrets when someone I love passes that I didn’t give them my God-given best.
Thank you to anyone who read this long ramble. We’re off to church now for our New Year’s Eve worship service.
Have a most blessed 2014!
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There were many, many good things that happened this year, but I can’t think of one that really stands out.
I did not do very well with my Bible reading this past year, so I will try to make it more doable for my by ‘just’ reading through the New Testament this year. Here’s hoping and praying I will finish what I start.
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Happy New Year! (Well, for those east of the Atlantic, that is.)
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Happy New Year to all those here.
And yes Sasha seems to have recovered nicely.
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I still don’t have a keyboard. I saw some at Staples but they all have cordless attachments to the computer, and I don’t have a port for that on my computer. I have a cordless mouse for this one, and maybe a keyboard.
So, I bought a $10.00 Keyboard at Walmart. But it has a USB cord and I don’t have a USB port for it.
I need to go to my computer guru for either an attachment or another keyboard.
Problem is, tomorrow in Jan. 1 and they are surely closed.
Re: that test about where you’re from. TSWITW and I stopped by O’Charley’s for dinner. In the booth in front of us, I there was a nicely dressed uptown sort of lady. I overheard her talking on her cell phone, “Are you ‘bout finished up?”
This is the south, you know.
I listened to a full minute of “my theme song”. That was about 50 seconds too long.
😉
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All this hype about “Johnny Football” makes me kinda hope Duke wins. But it won’t happen.
I will likely go to bed in 2013 and wake up on 2014.
Lou Holtz says, “You put an ACC team against a SEC team, you know who’s going to win.
So far, it’s worked for the SEC this post season.
In case I don’t see you again, Happy New Year!
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I often go to bed in one year and wake up in a new one. It is going to happen whether I stay awake for it or not.
Comfort food tonight.
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I can’t think of one particular memory, but there have been lots of little joyful moments with my grandson, & with all of us as a family.
Right now, I guess Christmas morning sticks out in my mind. It was the first Christmas where Forrest knew what was going on, & his excitement & delight in his presents was delightful.
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Duke has it 35/17 over A&M and just recovered an onside kick. A&M is being outplayed & outcoached by the Devils.
It’s 38-17 at halftime. I kinda hope Duke wins.
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6 arrows, good posts. You are so right about living intentionally — about “seeing” what God is doing and how He’s molding us, unfolding events (good and bad) and bringing people (nice and difficult) into our lives for a purpose.
I also did not do well with the Bible reading in ’13. Will try again in ’14.
Chas, how old is your computer? Maybe time to replace it? They’re cheaper now, of course. But the technology changes on us so quickly.
So I’m working tomorrow but I get to do it from home — cop calls, maybe a round-up story about the good, bad and the ugly from New Year’s Eve in our cities, and then an afternoon tide pool walk for a story I won’t have to write until Thursday.
Honestly, the world appeared to virtually shut down today, I couldn’t reach hardly anyone by phone or get any responses to emails seeking information for a story. It was dead, dead, dead, out there, I suspect we were the only people working!
I’m sure we’ll get the usual spate of fireworks mixed with gunfire tonight at midnight. 😦
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Hmmm. “I couldn’t reach hardly anyone . . . ” Isn’t there an editor around here somewhere?
Well, I’m working today, but considering I’m in my bathrobe (don’t tell my client!), I suppose I could be considered to have a cushy job.
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Bathrobe? Well, tomorrow I get to work (mostly) from home so I’ll probably stay in my sweats. 🙂
The tide pool walk will be fun (and I will have to get dressed for that, I suppose) — we have one of the lowest tides of 2014 tomorrow, so lots more critters exposed. Remains to be seen if our photographer makes it, though, they have him racing all over the place with assignments. “You have your iPhone, right?” he says to me. 🙂 But I think he’ll make it — and if not, he can shoot it the next day, the tide will still be very low.
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I love exploring tidal pools at low tide (when else would you explore them?). Interesting critters hiding there. I don’t get to do that very often where I live 🙂
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Yeah, I’m looking forward to it. One of those “work” assignments that doesn’t really feel like work at all.
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We used to take lots of “field trips” when we were homeschooling in Okinawa. Lots of interesting things to see at the beach.
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