Church Stuff part 1

I was brought up in the Lutheran Church Missouri Synod from birth on. Church has always been a huge part of my life. In my day, kids went to Sunday School and then went to the regular service along with the grown-ups. We were expected to behave ourselves, too. If we got bored, too bad. I usually was allowed to draw on a piece of paper.

Singing was a big part of the service, and not just hymns. There was liturgy as well. I came to memorize all the liturgy and loved it. I loved the hymns. I loved the incidental music that was played on the organ.

I don’t recall when I started hearing hymns not in the Lutheran hymnal, but I enjoyed them as well. Somewhere along the line I started collecting hymnals from Salvation Army. I have quite a few now, and I have many, many favorites. Most of the classics like Old Rugged Cross, Rock of Ages, etc. are lodged firmly in my heart.

Right now there is a hymn called He Died For Me that is just so dear to me. I have not been able to find it on youtube, or I would include a link. I’ve found a hymn called The Look, which has the same words, but is a much, much different tune. And it’s the tune as well as the words that I love. The words were by John Newton, tune by Edwin O. Excell. It’s in a Baptist hymnal, “Favorite Hymns of Praise” so I have the music that I can play on the piano at least.

The church I grew up in was very formal, and that suited me just fine back then. It’s different now. When we moved to Oroville we transferred to the only Lutheran church in town, which was technically Missouri Synod. But because it WAS the only Lutheran church, the congregation was made up of some of the other synods as well, and the service reflected that with the order of service as well as the music. I loved it even more! That’s where I got my love of Are You Washed in the Blood of the Lamb, and Leaning on the Everlasting Arms. And we’ve changed hymnals a couple of times now too. Sadly, we don’t sing much liturgy, which I miss, but I realize the need to change with the times. We do sing a lot, though. I’ve always regretted that I don’t have a better singing voice. But after all, SOMEONE has to be the audience…

Derrrrr……

Unfortunately, that little doggie at the left is the embodiment of what is going through my mind at any given moment. What am I DOING????  What do I THINK I’m doing????  What is going ON?????

I have so many interests going on ALL. THE. TIME. Paper crafts. Reading. Crochet. Facebook.

Then there are the “not-so-interesting” things. Housework. Laundry. Shopping. Bills.

I have 2 or 3 books started right now. I’m in the middle of a knitted blankie for Emma. I have a continual pile of paper craft stuff spread out on the table. Trolling the Internet and Facebook is always a huge lure.

I usually get to the end of the day and am dismayed at all I did NOT accomplish.

I have finally decided to quit beating myself up about it. Since I hate all the household stuff, I will give myself a huge amount of slack on it. I will tidy the kitchen and then spend an hour or so on the computer. Then I’ll clean a bathroom and spend another hour on the computer. Then I’ll get a load of laundry started and spend an hour or more with a book. I still end the day with too much that still needs to be done, but at least SOME of it has been done, and I’m OK with that. Crochet can be done in front of the TV, and that’s how I got Emma’s afghan done. Knitting requires a bit more attention from me, since I suck at it, but I can still get a few rows done in an evening.

So what did I get done today? It took me all day in and around my interests, but:

I got the bookcase in the guest room in order. I’ve been going through a bunch of kids books for Lia and Emma, and trying to get rid of some of my old books that I know I’m not going to read again.

I got one of the bathrooms clean.

I made an awesome spaghetti dinner.

I’m happy with that.

A Darn Good Day

Tuesday was a day that could’ve started out not so great, but instead was one of the best. There was nothing that anyone would really care about except me, but since this is MY blog, that’s what I’m gonna write about.

One of the cats that has been having stomach “issues” is apparently still having them, but instead of waking up to those “issues” all over the floor OUTSIDE of the litter box (as on Sunday) it was all INSIDE the box and easier to take care of.

I had forgotten to close the windows on the car Monday night, and when I went out on Tuesday I was NOT greeted with the smell of neighborhood cats, as is usually the case. Instead, just leaves. No problem.

First stop was Salvation Army, where my mission was to get a couple of fancy cups and saucers for Lia and I to play REAL “tea” with next time she’s up here. Didn’t find them, but did find some awesome Asian design glasses and cups. Really pretty, and go well with some of my other stuff in the china cabinet. Also got a Boggle game to take to Fresno and leave there. Only thing missing was the timer, but that’s easily dealt with. And SA gives a senior discount!

Then it was the dollar store right next to SA. I love just going up and down every aisle to see what’s new. NO TIARAS. A bit disappointed about that one, but maybe some will show up. I mainly wanted to get things for Lia’s Easter basket other than sugar. She’s going to get enough of that at the egg hunt at church. I scored a carrot jump rope, some bath bubbles in little chicks, a puzzle book and a pack of punch balloons. At the last minute, I got a very cute pair of reading glasses and will have Marv pop the lenses out. Lia is just ADORABLE when she wears these and looks like a cute librarian. She had a pink pair of specs that she wore all the time and they eventually bit the dust. I also have a rabbit figurine candle holder that belonged to Marv’s mom. I always intended for Lia to have that some day and Easter is the perfect time. I think all that in her basket will make her happy. I also got a couple of vinyl bath books for Emma and 4 board books. It’s nice to be shopping for a little one again. For a future project, I got a ceramic bowl and some black sand. I’d seen a really cute table-top cactus “garden” on Facebook that I’d like to try and make with Lia. You paint stones to look like cacti and set them in the sand. I’ve wanted to do that project for a long time.

After dinner, I finished the crochet afghan I’ve been working on for Emma. I’m very pleased with the color choices I’ve made. After I wash and block it, I’ll take a pic and post it on FB.

As I said at the beginning, nothing really of interest to anyone except me. I thoroughly enjoyed the entire day. God is good.

March 2015 Book Report

Adventures of the Artificial Woman (2004) by Thomas Berger

Very interesting read. Ellery is an electronics wizard who decides to build himself the perfect woman. He makes Phyllis. She is perfect. Then she develops a mind of her own. The ending caught me by surprise, which does not happen very often.

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I’ll Trade You an Elk (1967) by Charles A. Goodrum

Autobiography of life as the son of a zookeeper in 1930s Wichita, Kansas. I really learned a lot about animals with this book. Well written. Goodrum later worked for the Library of Congress and wrote some mysteries dealing with libraries. I will have to look those up.

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Beggar’s Daughter (1963) by Mabel Leigh Hunt

In 17^th century England, Quakers were persecuted by the Anglican Church. A servant girl from a rich house runs away with her baby daughter and sells her to a Quaker girl. The girl shows the baby to her parents, who try to find the servant girl with no success. They name her Innocent Mary and raise her to be a Quaker, even though Quakers are imprisoned, stolen from and beaten. When she is grown, Mary has to choose whether she wants to remain a Quaker or become part of “the world”. She chooses to be true to the faith she was raised in.

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Song of the Waterfall (1970) by Elisabeth Kyle

Wonderful biography of the Norwegian composer Edvard Grieg. Look for his stuff on youtube and you will recognize it.

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Tarnished Angel (1980) by Phyllis Leonard

Another book full of the history of Gold Rush San Francisco. Penniless, but with a golden voice, Lily sings and captures the hearts of the men. Especially the heart of ship’s captain Wild Jake Thorpe.

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A View From the Zoo (1987) by Gary Richmond

Another book about zoo life. I borrowed this one from the church library. Biography of Pastor Richmond’s years as a zoo keeper. Wonderful pictures and includes Bible passages relevant to the message of the story.