It rained all day on Saturday and after my DAR meeting in the morning I hunkered down at home. I watched Rio Bravo (1959) which was on TCM in the afternoon and then watched The Italian Job (2003) in the evening. Both good choices.
On Sunday I got up and went to church and enjoyed a 40-minute sermon on Hebrews 6:4-12, a difficult passage to be sure. Our new pastor does not mess around and I am continually impressed with this 30-year old who does not shy away from hard ideas. We also welcomed new members and had an adult (!) baptism.
In Sunday School our lesson was Acts 10 wherein Peter learns that the Good News about Jesus is for all people, Jews and Gentiles alike. But as I listened to the woman who leads the big group, I was reminded of my own Sunday School days back in my old Episcopal church and how really awful my friends and I were. I recall that we made one teacher cry and that during her melt-down she harangued the class, especially the girls who went to a certain private school (mine), for our beastly behavior. We were too cool for Sunday School and laughed and giggled at everything. I am horrified now to contemplate it and am very thankful that my current charges would never act that way. They take it all (i.e. their salvation) pretty seriously, as well they should.
Well, I guess there is hope for all of us miserable offenders, even us very slow maturing types.
I went over to daughter #1’s house on Sunday afternoon and Mr. Smith went full terrier on one of her slippers…
(Yes, those are slipper parts all over the carpet.)
We enjoyed a beautiful fall weekend–how about you? I was confused on Friday because it seemed like Saturday, because of Halloween, but what ho. It is the bell and it tolleth for me.
On Friday the OM and I got new phones and switched carriers. Earlier in the week we also switched from U-verse to something else. Although this was all very stressful–and it took months to figure it all out–we were proud of ourselves for doing it. Another box checked off. ✅ I celebrated with daughter #1 at our favorite local hangout.
Wine and French Fries–we know what we like, okay? After that, I watched She Wore a Yellow Ribbon (1949) in memory of my father and my great old friend Dick (WWII Guy) who both died on October 31. I loved it as always, especially after just being there in Monument Valley last month.
Sunday morning I enjoyed that extra hour although I still woke up at my usual time–so make that 5:00 am. We sang good hymns in church and the twins controlled their depravity like good Calvinists. We read about Saul’s conversion on the road to Damascus in Sunday School and learned a few new words: persecution and conversion. Everyone enjoyed the wallking-to-Damascus-wearing-a-blindfold exercise. The bud called out–“It’s a conga line!”
Also, the little boy who always ushers with his dad and hands out the bulletins, said, “You look beautiful this morning!” I mean, I know his dad tells him to say that to all the old ladies, but it makes me smile nevertheless. Sometimes that’s all it takes to make your day.
‘Til He returns or calls me home Here, in the power of Christ, I’ll stand
How was your weekend? Mine was rather quiet as daughter #1 was visiting daughter #2 et famille in Illinois. I went to our church’s women’s retreat on Saturday which included fellowship and lunch and a lot of crafts. I made bath bombs and sugar scrub, cards, and painted a mug.
My bath bombs turned out pretty well, but the rest of my crafts left a lot to be desired. Otherwise though, it was fun and I had a good time hanging out with a wide array of ladies–young and old.
I went home and watched the Mizzou-Alabama game but that was a bust. And by that I mean, super-bust.
On Sunday I once again helped with the Sunday School after the early church service. The twins were with me this time so that was interesting. After our together time with all the grades learning about Philip and the Ethiopian eunuch, the leader, Mrs. Haynes, told everyone where to go–first and second graders with Mrs. Compton–and I saw the bud take her aside and say, “You can call her Mamu–that’s her real name.” I felt like the Velveteen Rabbit.
We had prayer requests and talked more about the Ethiopian eunuch and evangelism and we made bookmarks. This was mine:
The bud’s bookmark had a depiction of the Titanic sinking and an F5 tornado–Jesus is always with us. (I don’t mean to leave Lottie out, but her behavior is just so much more prosaic.) In church the twins continue to keep their natural depravity in check and I am very proud of them.
Meanwhile the prairie girls entertained their aunt and Mr. Smith, who was a good boy.
Daughter #1 made it home with Mr. Smith and I went over to their house and had dinner with them. Later at home I watched The Sixth Sense (1999) as part of my October movie viewing. I really like that movie. I remember the first time I saw it 25 years ago in a hotel in Worcester, MA with my sister. It was pretty scary.
Bruce Willis was never better. The world is more than we know.
Well, I have been sick in bed for the last four days, binge-watching NYPD Blue and sleeping. I did get up on Sunday to go to church and assist at Sunday School out of my sense of duty–yes, I volunteered to help with the 1-2 graders–but my co-teacher emailed me Sunday morning that she had a migraine and wasn’t going, but not to worry she had lined up a substitute. Zut alors! Life is complicated.
It all worked out, as the Sunday School is a well-oiled machine with many moving parts and I was able to drift along in a DayQuill haze. The woman who does the main lesson for the entire Sunday School, after which we break up into our smaller groups, is amazing. She was telling the story of Stephen, the first Christian martyr–not an easy one. By the end of the lesson the kids were all singing “Yet Not I But Through Christ In Me” with gusto–all verses–boys unabashedly included. Now I understand why everyone sings in church–they learn early!
When we broke into groups we had prayer requests and then we talked briefly about the lesson and then we made little megaphones that said “I will tell about Jesus” (like Stephen). My grandchildren did not make it to church so they missed out on this, but I was happy to have this glimpse of what they are experiencing when they do go. I will be glimpsing it for the next four weeks.
This weekend I also watched two of my favorite “spooky” movies–M. Night Shyamalan’s Signs (2002) and The Ghost and Mrs. Muir (1947) which I thoroughly enjoyed. I highly recommend them both.
Mr. Smith watched Signs at his house and he concurs.
Meanwhile, if you are looking for something intelligent to read, here’s another good one from Carl Trueman.
This is a great article. I hear this woman loud and clear. “What is the chief end of woman? To glorify God and enjoy Him forever. If social media is succeeding in convincing us that our purpose here is less than this, then we are being deceived. God didn’t place us here to chase every pleasure that seems like it will make us momentarily happy. He didn’t create us to constantly examine our happiness on a scale of 1 to 100. He created us to bring Him glory and to find satisfaction in Him alone, in whichever arena that He has mapped out for us.”
Have a good week! Refuse to play by the rules of the postmodern game! Choose God’s glory over self! Pray hard.
Well, things are getting back to normal after our exciting travels/recovery. We even had a DAR meeting on Saturday. Madame Regent (daughter #1) asked me to step in and be the Chaplain for the meeting, which I enjoyed. I was praised for my extemporaneous grace before our meal, but as a former Episcopalian, it was hardly off-the-cuff.
Give us grateful hearts, O Father,
For all thy mercies
And make us mindful of the needs of others;
Through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen
We had a guest speaker from the Gateway Arch Park Foundation, who was very interesting. We were reminded, of course, by a former regent that it was our Cornelia Greene Chapter who gave the original beacon which tops the Arch and that two dauntless ladies from the chapter made a presentation up there back in 1974. Indeed, the ladies stood on a 5-foot flat section and were warned to stay in the middle as there was no railing! Everything went fine, except a helicopter from a local news station spotted Mrs. Schoetker’s orange pantsuit and reported all afternoon that there was a jumper on the Arch! (We have a photo to prove this.)
You gotta love it.
It is time to sponsor Wreaths Across America–a donation ensures the placement of a veteran’s Christmas wreath for one or more veterans laid to rest at participating national cemeteries. I sponsor wreaths for my father and for my father-in-law. Lest we forget. If you would like to sponsor a wreath(s) go here.
Our Sunday church service was outside on the lawn and it was a beautiful sunny morning. Just perfect. The boy and the twins joined me and helped me with my folding chairs. I noticed that there was a Tesla Cybertruck in the parking lot and when I pointed it out to the bud, he could hardly contain his excitement. At the end of the service all the little boys in the congregation swarmed the area where it was parked. I should have taken a picture! It was pretty funny. I never did find out to whom the truck belongs.
One little boy asked me if it was my truck and I said, No. He said, My grandpa has a Cybertruck Beast which is five times faster than the Cybertruck. “As fast as a cheetah!” Boys do not change. Thank God.
Meanwhile daughter #2, DN and the prairie girls went to a fall festival and went on a hayride!
Team Pink Shoes
And I am very proud of Mr. Smith who can now ride in the front seat like a big boy. (He prefers to sit in the driver’s lap and look out the window, but…the front seat is a big step up from the crate in the back.)
This article about how one Florida zoo got creative to keep its animals safe during both hurricanes was very interesting.
This article expresses what I have been thinking about lately: No little people, no little places. “Jesus commands Christians to seek consciously the lowest room. All of us—pastors, teachers, professional religious workers and nonprofessional included—are tempted to say, ‘I will take the larger place because it will give me more influence for Jesus Christ.’ … But according to the Scripture this is backwards: We should consciously take the lowest place unless the Lord himself extrudes us into a greater one.” (Remember Luke 14:10.)
Have a good week. Fight the good fight.
Be Thou my battle shield, Sword for the fight; Be Thou my Dignity, Thou my Delight; Thou my soul’s Shelter, Thou my high Tow’r: Raise Thou me heav’nward, O Pow’r of my pow’r.
–Ancient Irish poem, translated by Mary E. Byrne, 1905, versified by Eleanor H. Hull, 1912
I did the flowers for church on Sunday–sunflowers make such a statement, don’t you think? I have a soft spot in my heart for them because years ago at my highfalutin’ Episcopal Church, the wife of the new rector put sunflowers on the altar and the frozen chosen ladies of the church were outraged. So when they are in season and available at Trader Joe’s, I always use them.
The OM and I went to the early service (and stayed for Sunday School) so we could finish early and get packed before going to the bud’s soccer game later in the afternoon.
This was accomplished and we brought daughter #1 home with us so that we could all get up at 3:00 am to Uber to the airport. Yikes.
While we are gone on our western adventure, daughter #2 will be filling in with literary thoughts and tales of the prairie girls…
…and updates of our travels. So be sure to stop by the blog this week.
And please don’t forget to keep us in your prayers.
And here’s a reminder from Tim Challies (and Hank Williams) not to let the dust gather on your Bible.
How was your weekend? Mine was pretty quiet compared to recent ones. No visitors, no parties. Just the usual.
It was so hot at the bud’s soccer game that Pappy left his fleece in the car! It was even hotter for the players and coaches.
Before the game daughter #1 and I went to an estate sale and we got a few odds and ends, such as this classic book from 1922…
Donald Ogden Stewart, you will recall, was an American humorist, actor, playwright, and screenwriter, who won a 1940 Oscar for his screenplay adaption of The Philadelphia Story.
I also worked on a new puzzle…It was a fun one!
Life in the fast lane.
We went to church with the twins and they once again checked their depravity at the door. I am very proud of them. I had to sign them into Sunday School using the new system which you do on an iPad which then prints out a name tag and a receipt which you use when you pick them up. It was pretty complicated for this old lady, but I managed somehow. Quite a reflection on our modern world, but okay, I get it. The subject of our adult Sunday School was church discipline, which in light of this was especially interesting. Anne had this to say about that.
The trouble is—well, there are so many troubles, but one of them is—that the only way for Christians to live peaceably together in the Kingdom of God is if they really understand down in the depths of their hearts that they are really so bad, that their inclinations are so ugly that unless God does something, they have no hope. And this is a hard saying, for none of us really believe that we are that bad. Our sins are “struggles.” They are just us being “broken.” They are the result of our childhoods. They are because other people are selfish and didn’t consider us more highly than themselves. They are because we didn’t have the same opportunities as other people. There are a thousand reasons why those stray vile thoughts about other people are not my fault. But the seedbed of peace is, as James says, humility, and humility is the result of looking into your own soul and seeing that you have thoughts and desires in there that would destroy the whole world.
Read the whole thing.
Here’s another good article from Carl Trueman: “Ours is a childish age…That is not to say that the matters at stake in both church and world are not deeply serious. But the idioms for addressing them have become infantile, and the church must resist the temptation to follow the world in this. To seek relevance therefore requires not capitulation to, or emulation of, the infantile, but rather a recapturing of what it means to be an adult.”
We had absolutely perfect weather this weekend–cool, sunny, breezy, no humidity. We did all the things. DN went to his wedding and we had serious Compton Lady time…
We went to the Missouri Botanical Garden where I had not been for literally years. The Koi are almost gone! The geese have taken over! Otherwise, it looked great.
We watched the bud play soccer…
I made it to church and to a great Sunday School class on Being Presbyterian.
Doubtless, were we to regard things as they appear, the kingdom of Christ would seem often to be on the verge of ruin. But the promise, that Christ shall never be thrust from his seat, takes away from us every fear.
How was your weekend? Friday I went to lunch with some old friends at my former flyover university faculty club. Then we went back to their house where I boxed up some books to take home. They are getting ready to downsize and that means getting rid of a ton of books. But God only knows where I am going to put more books! Daughter #1 came over to their house and filled a box for herself. I would have taken more, but as I told my friends, I already have a lot of their books.
The rest of the weekend I spent looking at/reading my new-old books. What a pleasure! I also took some old computer monitors over to a nearby recycling event and enjoyed a great sense of accomplishment which I relished all weekend. And daughter #1 and I continued our scientific study of the correct wine-bread ratio…
On Sunday the OM and I picked up the twins to take them to church with us since their parents are very busy getting ready to move. It had been awhile since the twins had been to church so they needed to re-learn some church behavior basics. They did pretty well. The bud drew some interesting pictures…note the devil prominently portrayed in hell…
After church we went home with the twins and the OM picked up lunch at McDonald’s. Then we took a little walk where the bud was able to pet a nice black Lab named Titan, who sniffed his face. Then we played more or less quietly at home while the OM took a nap. Lottie beat me repeatedly at Chutes and Ladders, but the bud told me that winners are losers and losers are winners, so there. And the first shall be last, right?
The boy picked them up mid-afternoon and stayed to chat for awhile, always a treat for me.
I changed my clothes for a third time and we headed back to church at 4:30 for the ordination service of our youth minister. Once again I was overcome with thankfulness that I am a member of this church.
Meanwhile daughter #2 and her family drove up to Lake Huron to spend the week, leaving at five in the morning for the long drive.
I remember those days–leaving before dawn to get a jump on the driving while the kids sleep! (Note both babes are wide awake.)
How was your weekend? It was warm and humid here in flyover country, but basically very nice considering it is August. No complaints from the peanut gallery. Saturday morning I got up early and went to Trader Joe’s to buy flowers and then buzzed over to church where I arranged them for Sunday morning.
As with all things, I like to keep it simple.
After that, daughter #1 and I drove out to the western suburbs to pick up a chandelier which daughter #2 had purchased on Facebook Marketplace.
We also went to an estate sale–a good one–in a house people had lived in a long time. I even figured out whose house it was! Daughter #1 found a nice little shelf and some other odds and ends and I got an old book.
The illustrations reminded me of our own wee bud (see below). We went to lunch afterwards. A productive morning, indeed, and the rest of the day I was free to putter around.
On Sunday we headed to church and Sunday School. You could tell that everyone was back from vacation and we had a full house–our singing raised the roof! Delightful! Our young seminarian preached on Psalm 11 (In the Lord I take refuge) and he did a fine job. He will be ordained next Sunday and I am looking forward to attending that special service.
Afterwards we went to daughter #1’s house where we had bagels and fruit salad and sat outside on the deck while Mr. Smith frolicked with the twins. Then we walked up to Jackson Park for some playground time.
Everyone was worn out by the time we went home…
School starts today–the twins are now big second graders!
dual personalities 