On Books and Rice

While this is the kind of reading Mike really loves to do: he does a lot of the more academic reading these days as he is finishing his Ph.D. Our family loves books.  We love to read at the dinner table and, of course, before bedtime.   And we have a LOT of books. And Mike reads a LOT of books in all his studies.  So it is no surprise that our dining room table looks like this right now: It doesn't always look quite so heavy-laden.   But the books do go back and forth between home and office depending on where he is studying.  And these books came home so he could prepare for a trip to Princeton to work on his dissertation there.   He was going in order to use the seminary library, to check out some books that he will need, do some research, you know, the kinds of things you do when you are trying to finish a dissertation.   Here is the point of this story...just before he left on this trip he found out that every five years or so the library shuts down its entire computer system in order to upgrade it.  The upgrade was scheduled for two days after he arrived in Princeton, of course.   This left him with one day to do all he needed to do using the library's system.   He handled the news much better than I would have if it had been happening to me.  This is one of the major differences between the two of us.  I get all in a huff about circumstances that I can't control while at the same time I do not do things that are within my control to improve my circumstances.  He does not let circumstances dictate his attitude and tries to do things in a way that will make the best of his time and circumstance.  I could learn some things from him, you know. Fortunately, everything worked out fine and he was able to get done the things he needed to get done there. Nothing like a little pressure to motivate you!  It's like a rice cooker.   Um, does that even make sense?

Airing My Clean Laundry

I have a laundry problem.  I should make that a more accurate statement...I have a putting-laundry-away problem.  I can get it clean, even folded.  But it sits around forever after that, because I "don't have time" to do the next step.  Then it gets to the point that I have to put it away because my stacks are going to fall over onto the floor or onto Eliana, or Christian runs out of socks in his drawer, or I can't find any pants for myself because they're buried three loads deep in a pile on our bed. Well, today I stood up to my problem and tackled it head on.  I put away all the clean clothes I could find (and they were scattered all over, from school room to living room to our room).  I was determined especially to put away the clothes that were in our bedroom; they were taking over the bed and the dresser-the top of the dresser, not the inside where they are supposed to go.  It took a while, and I felt really motivated and even swept under the dresser, bed, and other furniture in the room.  The whole experience was quite satisfactory.  Michaela was sweet and kept Eliana entertained while I did this (does this count as home ec?).  And when I was done you will not believe what I found in my room! I had forgotten that was there!

It's Just Gas

Michaela is having a great time this school year studying science.  We are learning about chemistry in a very basic and fun way with a book of experiments written for kids (it is part of a series called Adventures With Atoms and Molecules).  The experiments are all very simple (good for me) and require things that you have in your kitchen or can pick up at the grocery store.  Today we did an experiment which asked the question,"Are gas molecules farther apart than liquid molecules?"  We opened a small bottle of Coke and quickly covered the top of it with a balloon, shook the bottle (I was a little nervous about this!), and waited to see what would happen.  It turned out to be quite fun, and I don't know why, but a little funny too.  The gas molecules bubbled (whooshed?  foamed?) right up into the balloon and filled it up.  Here are some pictures of the result. This has been the most fun of the sciences for me personally, and I'm looking forward to learning with her this year.  Like I said, it's basic stuff, but I've forgotten so much!  And it's just cool to see her so excited about what she's learning. Oh, this one's for my brother: What did one molecule say to the other molecule first thing in the morning? Up and atom!

Washable

Eliana discovered markers today.  Well, she discovered that they mark.  Before today she did not know that there was such a thing as a cap and that the cap came off in order to allow ink to flow.  And I tried taking the marker away once I realized that she realized that this was a new writing tool, and for better or worse I decided it was going to be a more pleasant day if I just allowed her to use the marker with some boundaries.  So, I set her up in her high chair with a piece of paper and she let her creative juices run wild.

Washable markers + washable babies=fun pictures - worries.

Oh, I Get It...

I have been trying to do a Bible study each night using a study guide, trying to get in the routine of reading and meditating on Scripture each day (something I've struggled to do consistently for the last fourteen years).  I came to a question that I thought was a little silly, and I asked Mike his opinion about it, and we started talking a little about Bible studies in general.   I told him I don't really know how to do a Bible study, and I clarified by saying,"I mean, I know how to do a Bible study, like answer the questions and stuff, but I don't know how to..." and I can't remember exactly what I said after that but it had to do with making what you learn when you study God's word real in your everyday living/thinking/feeling/ doing.  That is the part I always feel like I'm not accomplishing.  I know lots of stuff in my head (toot, toot) but the translation from head to heart is a little slow.  Well, back to the conversation with Mike.  I really like what he said.   He's smart and wise and has an amazing perspective (and has plenty of his own issues, no fooling anybody, but I do respect what the man has to say) so I was listening carefully.  He said it has to do with your affections and your orientation.  That was the gist of it.  We don't study the Bible just so we'll know all the answers and do well in Sunday School, or look like a smart theologian or scholarly academic.  But if I'm aimed in the right direction, because I've been focusing on and absorbing who God is, what He has said and done, and allowing it to penetrate my heart, then maybe I'll keep getting closer to the target.  And with the reading and meditating will come a slow change in my affections.  It makes me think of the verse in Colossians 3, that we are to set our hearts and minds on things above rather than on earthly things.  It's about a change in everything, rather than looking up the right answers to all the questions, just knowing the facts.  I've been thinking a lot about this the last few days, and I'm sorry I keep getting off track a little, but back to that conversation with Mike, he pointed out something that I know I've heard before but really needed to hear again, and I really appreciate the reminder.   I'm going to spend quite a bit of time this week reading and taking in, and hopefully memorizing Colossians 3 (it's a really good one).  So, hold me accountable! Since, then, you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above, where Christ is seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things. For you died, and your life is now hidden with Christ in God. When Christ, who is your life, appears, then you also will appear with him in glory.  Colossians 3:1-4 Therefore, as God's chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. Bear with each other and forgive whatever grievances you may have against one another. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity.  Colossians 3:12-14