Which Jane Austen?

I've been on a Jane Austen kick lately. It all started when I saw the new version of Emma. Absolutely fantastic! We all loved it!

I wanted to watch Sense & Sensibility again, so I decided to read it first. Then I read Pride & Prejudice again before watching the A&E version. Now, I'm halfway through Persuasion, which I had never read before. When I'm finished, I'll watch the A&E version of Persuasion. Then I'll read Mansfield Park again-- my favorite.

What's your favorite Jane Austen book? What's your favorite Jane Austen movie?

And if you love Northanger Abbey, I'd love to know why. It's the only JA novel I don't like.

I Was Wrong About Modesty

I have seen this book/CD several times, but figured I didn't need it. I already know that as a Christian, I should seek to be modest.

women should adorn themselves in respectable apparel, with modesty and self-control. . .

1 Timothy 2:9

I was talking to a friend about a problem we are having with our children. They know all about modesty and they are quick to point out when they see someone dressed immodestly. While we definitely want them to dress modestly themselves and protect their eyes, we also don't want them to ruin their witness by being judgmental.

My friend loaned me this CD and I was blown away. The main point is: modesty is not an issue of behavior, but it is an issue of the heart. We can dress modestly and still have the wrong heart, just as we can claim "Christian liberty" while wearing form-fitting shirts and skin-tight jeans. It's not about what we wear. It's about our heart. Is our heart's desire to draw attention to our bodies or to draw attention to the glory of God?

What I found very interesting is: the book was written for pastors and fathers. I'm sure you can guess that it is largely women who read it. But can you also guess whose attitude really needs to change in order for ladies to understand the importance of modesty? Their pastors and their fathers.

Think about it.

Blasphemy

What do you think?

What Our Days Look Like

This post is mostly for me, so I can remember how sweet these baby days were when they are past. Julia is growing so fast, it hurts. Me, that is. I've not allowed myself to dwell on it, but there's a sadness in my heart that her newborn days are over. I recently had my sister's kids over for the day and as her 6 year old daughter, Ainsley, was playing with Julia, she said: It's so fun when they start eating and crawling and walking.

Oh yea! I had forgotten about all that! I have so much to look forward to!

Julia's has a very consistent schedule. Here's what life has looked like the past couple of months:

7ish: Julia wakes up, so I wake up and nurse her. We go downstairs together and have an hour to ourselves before the other kids awake.

8:30am: I wake up the kids who aren't awake yet (Maya & Lydia, that is). We have breakfast, read Psalms & Proverbs, do our memory verse for the week and clean up.

9am: Julia goes down for her morning nap. School begins: the big kids do seatwork (math, writing, phonics) & the littles color and practice writing. I workout if they don't need supervision. If they do, I workout later or don't.

10am: Rug time: I read our history or science book or we do Latin, depending on the day.

10:30am: Chore time. I throw dinner and possibly lunch in the crock-pots and then check everyone's chores. "Kids do what you inspect, not what you expect"-- that wisdom has changed my life.

11ish: Julia wakes up & I nurse her. Some kids are still working on chores. Others are reading. Then we all play with Julia for a good long while.

Noon: Lunch time. No school during this time. This is the social hour.

1pm : Julia goes down for her afternoon nap. Kids play together while I have some blog, read, or scrapbook.

2pm I read to the kids while they fold laundry or put clean sheets on their beds.

3ish Julia wakes up and I nurse her. Daniel & Lydia take a nap. I take a nap. Maya babysits Julia.

5pm Julia goes down for her evening nap. I wake up. We all tidy the house for Daddy and set the table for dinner.

5:30 Kyle's home. He hugs all the kids then has time alone with me before dinner.

7pm Clean up from dinner. Julia wakes up & I nurse her before giving her time with Daddy.

8:30ish Julia goes to bed. The kids are all getting ready for bed.

9pm The kids got to bed. It's Mommy & Daddy time. :)

Life is good.

Book Review: Beyond Opinion

The book is a compilation of essays regarding Christian apologetics, topics ranging from atheism to science to Islam, Hinduism and other cultural challenges. It was written by well known apologist Ravi Zacharias and other members of the Ravi Zacharias International Ministries team.

Beyond Opinion will equip the reader to “give a make a defense to everyone who asks you to give an account for the hope that is in you” (1 Peter 3:15), spiritually and relationally. This book masterfully creates the Christian argument with gentle loving logic. The length of the book and small font intimated me, I won’t lie, but it is not intended to be read in its entirety at one time. That said, I found it delightfully engaging; a great go-to book for apologetics and evangelism.

I received this book free from Thomas Nelson Publishers to review. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own.

Yarrow

Yarrow has been valued for centuries for it's ability to stop bleeding. It's also unsurpassed for flu and fever. Taken abundantly at the beginning of a cold, it will typically break it up within 24 hours. For fever, it can be taken in capsules or as a tea. Yarrow is a bitter herb so it's best to add Peppermint and Echinacea to the tea.

I'm a Hypocrite

I tell my children to quickly forgive when their sibling sins against them, but I am slow to forgive when they sin against me. I have a high standard of cleanliness for their bedrooms, but I joke and make excuses why my room is seldom tidy.

I'm a hypocrite.

I took Chloe shopping with me yesterday and while I was checking out, she spotted a bag of shells that she was interested in. Shells and rocks are all the rage in the Clark house. She asked the clerk if she could look at them. Then she told the clerk how beautiful they were and handed them back. I surprised Chloe and bought them for her. Chloe gushed thankfulness. It doesn't take much to impress my kids.

As we were walking out of the store, she asked me to hold her shells for a minute. When I took them from her, they fell to the concrete, breaking several. I was crushed and Chloe was clearly deflated. I said: "Oh Chloe, I am so sorry!"

Chloe quickly said: Oh it's ok, Mom, it's just a few shells.

I looked at her in awe. How quick she was to forgive me. I was humbled.