Refreshing Post

Check out this wonderful post!

http://www.abowlofmossandpebbles.com/?p=1013

Eighteenth

Remember when you were eighteen? Was there a feeling of exhilaration in stepping into an adult life or was the responsibility a constant fear? Could you care less about passing that milestone or was it a trial all the way? Some thoughts to think about. Time changes our perceptions. Even a day can change your whole world.

Ecological Impact

Now, I am no raging environmentalist fanatic. I don't want to be. All I want is for us to be more aware of the land around us, its creatures and plants. Every habitat and animal is different, as are their needs. Thoughtlessly, we deprive them of their homes and food sources by destroying groves of trees, killing small mammals in the process. Why do we do this? All for the sake of industry and development. We worship the idol of the future, of progress. What happened to the Lord? Apparently, He doesn't rate high on the scales of many people anymore. Shouldn't He be our first priority? We should care for this earth like the stewards that we are. That's what God gave to us. Since He did, we need to repay Him; cultivating His land and maintaining the ecological atmosphere can be accomplished if we try. Though it may seem impossible, we can...we can spin straw into gold.

Cleaning Blues

Spring is in the air and with it the dreaded task of "spring cleaning". How we would like to shrug it off but know (by now), that it will do more harm than good. Trapped. Trapped like someone under oath. Sighs and protest pass our lips and it is with some reluctance that we begin the odious chore.

How am I to start? How are any of us to raise that perfidious task? Here is a tip or two to help you on your way.

• Start small. Begin with one area and don't leave off until is spotless. Concentrating on one place can greatly lessen the feeling of immensity.
• Discard unwanted items. Things that we rarely use or don't need should be discarded. Sometimes it's difficult to part with or old "artifacts" (as I fondly term useless household junk) but it's high time we made a difference in our belongings.
• Keep going. If you work from one end to the other, you'll soon be finished and the room will be sparkling. It helps to go at it doggedly and with determination, success in mind. If you think you can do it, you will.

I hope these little tips did you some good. Please feel free to post your comments!

Smile Through the Tears

It was with much chagrin that the young woman beheld her aged grandmother grieving for a lost sibling. She wrapped her arms around the old woman's neck, whispering in her ear, "I'm so sorry. I know she was your dearest sibling." Sorrowfully, and with much distress, she felt that no words would be of comfort. Ceasing to speak, she once more embraced the grieving lady, and retreated.

Such sadness seems to spill from events like this. At times, it is hard to be cheerful and put on a brave face. But we must if we are to comfort those whom we love. The only solace we can give them is to keep an upbeat attitude. We may fight to keep back our own sadness and this makes us all the more conquerors. At this point, we have mastered our emotions and will for a time, to console another. Hard as it may be, we must learn to smile through the tears.

Conservative Georgia Teen Speaks at CPAC

Please read this inspiring article! Master Krohn is an amazing young man and truly a blessing in these times.

Conservative Georgia Teen Speaks at CPAC

Go Jonathan!

A Week of Rhymes

I've always liked this rhyme.

Monday's child is fair of face,
Tuesday's child is full of grace,
Wednesday's child is full of woe,
Thursday's child has far to go,
Friday's child is loving and giving,
Saturday's child works hard for a living,
But the child that's born on the Sabbath Day
Is bonny and blithe and good and gay.

Watching Over the Babe

I know it's past Christmas but I think this photo is sweet. In my opinion, she looks like she's watching over the Christ-child.

Up and Down

I used to think I was thin. No extra weight and no sweat. Not anymore. I now realize I was a soft, little couch potato. rarely did I get more than a couple minutes' exercise...and that was mainly playing tennis or catching the breeze on my bike.

With my current exercise program of half an hour rebounding work, I find that my waist has shrunk by an inch and a half. I weigh five pounds less than I did last year, partly due to exercise but probably also due to my recent bout with illness. Five days of lounging in bed and eating only small helpings can strip the pounds quicker than you can blink. It's not a very healthy way to lose weight, let me tell you.

Truly am I blessed to discover for myself that exercise works wonders. Now, I feel lean and more agile (and maybe only half as clumsy). My balance is improving and I definitely feel more energetic. I praise the Lord for giving me this new perspective. May God bless all who choose to partake of healthy exercise, be it a walk in the park or a strenuous morning workout.

Sleep, My Child, And Peace Attend Thee

Sleep comes o'er us
Drawing us in tight
Nestled in her bosom
Bosom of the night.

Castaways of dream land
Floating 'neath the moon
Fading memories gone away
Return again at noon.

Not sure if this has a point but it came to me on the spur of the moment. The title is obviously a song and not my own. It doesn't belong to the poem.

Words Matter

This week, the National Association of Independent Writers and Editors (NAIWE) is sponsoring Words Matter Week. In honor of this, they have proposed a blog challenge. Please click here to participate.

Words...the building blocks of language, the first step in communication. Without them, where would we be? Remember the Tower of Babel? Not one of them could understand another's words. How about the curse of Babel in That Hideous Strength, by C.S. Lewis. They were all talking and writing nonsense, frustrated by their own inability to say anything understandable or coherent.

We need words. With them, we can reach out to the world. Many writers and authors have changed the viewpoints of others through a single article or story. To touch the hearts of others is a gift, and one that can be accomplished through words. I hope to someday make someone's spirits soar with a written work of my own.

The Rosetta Stone was a puzzle that intrigued many. It was solved through diligence and, because of it, words were unlocked. Words are a blessing not limited to a single language.

The sound of a kind word or a compliment becomes joyful. Some words thrill us while others leave us terrified. Something fills us with laughter; another word causes us to reflect. Words are even able to make us breathless, or passionate, or even angry. It appears that emotions are tied to them. They can comfort and console, leave us on the edge of our seat, sadden us, or gladden us. Cheer and celebration can be expressed in words. All this is due to the simple fact that words exist. They matter.

In the Near Future...

Soon I will be writing a review of "The Golden Dream of Carlo Chuchio", by Lloyd Alexander. I just finished reading it; now to construct a suitable tribute to it. It, in fact, was the last novel published by the author before his death. The Prydain Chronicles are a series of his not to miss, as well as the Westmark Trilogy. Anyway, stay tuned! I hope to have the review done in a timely manner. Knowing me, that could be next month...

Day into Night

Well, the light has faded and darkness has come. Somewhere, a new day awakens, bringing with it the promise of a new season. Night is silent, with few rustlings and noises to spoil its peacefulness. Even the city is quiet sometimes. It sleeps, along with the multitude of others gathered within itself. The glow of streetlamps may drown the brilliance of the night sky but it never can erase the solitude of a winter evening, after day has turned into night.

Rebound for Health

My favorite type of exercise is rebounding. What is rebounding, you may ask? It is essentially bouncing on a mini trampoline. That is not quite the picture I want to paint for you.

A rebounder is a special trampoline designed for adults, teens, and even children who wish to improve their health by vigorous exercise. It is easy on the legs and is much better than jogging or walking on pavement or even grass. Those same activities can be done on the rebounder and more. There are no cars to worry about and weather doesn't affect your ability to exercise. You can quickly cool off on the rebounder and don't have to worry about a long walk back if you become fatigued.

When I began rebounding, it was due to the fact that physical education was needed for high school. I was pushed and prodded into it and grudgingly kept up my small sessions on it. But no more. I hated the fact that I was supposed to use it. Sure, it was fun to bounce...when I felt like it.

Now, I've come to learn that it is a healthy form of exercise, working wonders. I can become fit by bouncing even ten minutes a day. It will take longer than if I bounced, say, half and hour or forty-five minutes but, in time, I will become strong and work my muscles. I hope these words encourage you to do further research on rebounding! Please don't hesitate to comment if you have any questions.

A Place to Stay

When I reflect on how many people struggle to keep a roof over their heads (or have no roof at all), I realize how thankful I should be. There are so many little things I possess that are frivolous. Why should I not be thankful for each and every blessing and all else besides? It truly is humbling to know that I would have none of these things if God did not allow it. He has given me something worth more than all the riches of the world: faith in Him and a family that loves me.

(These posts always seem to turn into something that I didn't expect. I guess that shows that my true feelings are revealed rather than a plotted entry.)