The Road

HPIM0787, originally uploaded by carolfoasia.

I found this picture from 2005 when I was deleting old photos to make room on our hard drive. I think George took it at the place in Newberg, and I just love it. The light shining on the path out of darkness into the light beyond.

This is so analogous of how life is these days. There is a shining path in front of us, and we are reaching forward to a bright future ahead of us.

We were in the dark, dense wilderness for so long. Maybe not 40 years like the Israelites, but it was 28 years for me and 22 for George. I always knew that we were heading out of the wilderness though, and I think we were headed in the right direction. For the most part, we were on the path, and there were (and still are) wonderful people whom we partnered with along the way while we were there, but it is still nice to be seeing the light out there to a wide open brightness at the meadow on the top of the hill. "I can almost see the top of the hill, and I believe it's worth it all." (Amy Grant song from the 80's)

I just KNOW that we have chosen the right place for this new stage of our journey. I have continued to marvel at God's goodness to bring us to where we are today.

I like today. I really like today.

Summer Progress for Reading and Cleaning

Here is my original reading list with updates:

READING:

FROM ORIGINAL LIST

The books that I have finished:

1776 by McCullough (I like to read a patriotic book around the 4th of July!)
Crunchy Cons by Ron Dreher (Lamp-post discussion end of June)
Passage to India by Forster (Book Dames discussion July 14 and Lamp-post July 27)
Hinds Feet on High Places by Hannah Hurnards (Just because I love this!)
Snow Flower and the Secret Fan by Lisa See (Book Babes for July)(LOVED)

The book I decided to send back:

How to Read Slowly: A Christian Guide to Reading with the Mind by James W. Sire (boring)

Still to readfrom list:

The Cloister Walk by Norris (Prep for possible workshop at Jubilee on Private Retreat)IN PROCESS
Hound of the Baskervilles by Doyle (Book Dames for September)
Escape from Slavery by Francis Bok (Book Babes that I didn't read in April)


Books not on list that I read this summer from other people's recommendations:

Big Box Swindle - Excellent expose of the Big Box retailers in America. Valuable
The Paradox of Choice - Don't see what some of my Lamp-post friends found so profound about it. Just common sense IMHO
The Secret - Another one where I don't see why this is so popular and has landed the author into the riches celebrities list. It will help me in dialogue with others about it and its popularity.
Eat this Book: A Conversation in the Art of Spiritual Reading - This is delicious!

Books Ginny and Lorraine gave me that I am not sure I will read:

Mozart's Sister by Nancy Moser
The Fisherman's Lady by George MacDonald (Ron R. tried to get me to read this about twenty years ago. Should I try again?)

CLEANING UPDATE

I got through all my closets. I had forgotten about the Linen closet, and I finished it. I have done all the bathroom cupboards and drawers.

Basically, I only have one drawer in my office: The Memory Drawer!

Next week, I will start all the kitchen drawers, cupboards and pantry. :)

Happy 89th Birthday Dad

Mom and Dad 1956, originally uploaded by carolfoasia.

Today was my dad's birthday. He would have been 89 today. Amazing. Here he is with my mom on their honeymoon. He is 38 years old.

They are such a dashing couple.

It is another sunny day!

DSC_0038, originally uploaded by carolfoasia.

It is going to be 100 degrees today.

Freewrite

I am reading Peter Elbow's book, Writing without Teachers. So, I will write until 12:10 and punch the button because this is a freewrite.

I have been lazy this morning. We were going to go up to Iron Mountain and Cone Peak early this morning, but we have been very socially engaged for the last few days and needed a down morning. George has from Wednesday to Monday off of work because HP wanted them to take time off to save money.

We will go to Cone Peak/Iron Mountain later on today so we can get the flowers in the low light of late afternoon/early evening.

Since we didn't get up, I slept in until 7 a.m. and finished my book Big Box Swindle while George got out of the house and shopping this morning by 8 a.m. YIPPEE! No shopping for me this week is a very good thing. :)

I really enjoyed Big Box Swindle, and the way I am going to apply it is try to shop at the First Alternative Food Coop here in town and Richey's Market which is locally owned. I will also try to buy more fresh produce at the Wednesday and Saturday Farmer's Markets. I am really convinced that buying locally and supporting local businesses is the way to support our community in a much more fruitful way.

George is inviting the W's out for lunch, but it sounds like they are on their way out of town. Hmmm.... who can go with us out to lunch? I feel like just having a totally goofing off sort of day.

Actually, I didn't TOTALLY goof off in that I gave Michael a Personality Style Inventory test, and he is an INFP. He is almost identical to George, but he is an introvert. It was very helpful to him and us. We are trying to encourage him to be more outgoing in new social situations, but it is hard sometimes with the social groups that tend to form and close out others at our old church. The adults do it, and I have heard the kids in the youth group also do it and have done it for years. Sad but true. So, my dear oldest son is a matter of much prayer for us these days. He is such a nice and great boys, but he doesn't have a "jock" image to project him into society. I keep encouraging him to maybe do something in the acting realm, but his introversion really plays into that. I keep telling him that many introverts do act, but I will just keep praying and hoping he will step out of his comfort zone in more areas. :)

Well, the W's can't go. So, I will pray someone calls us today! LOL! Maybe I will go and do that right now.

It is now 12:10. Punching the button with no proofreading.

Finished 1776 and Sobbed Like a Baby

What a price these dear people paid for our freedom. I am so inspired by George Washington's life and my next 4th of July book will be a biography of George Washington!

I love this quotation from John Adams that he includes on p. 180:

"We have no government armed with the power capable of contending with human passions unbridled by morality and religion. Avarice, ambition, revenge or gallantry would break the strongest cords of our Constitution as a whale goes through a net. Our Constitution was made only for a moral and religious people. It is wholly inadequate to the government of any other."

AMEN!