the Sandpiper, an adaptation

Across the narrow, sandy beach the Sandpiper wanders. I sit there by the rocks in the morning mist, watching her gather sticks so white and dry they looked like bones. Driven by strong winds, the water laps on the beach shore. The clouds grow blacker and scud dark and thick across the sky, slowly spreading from the horizon, infecting the whole sky, it’s silent ghosts and misty shrouds engulfing us. Sweet and mournful is her cry. She does not start as the wind grabs hold of my coat and shirttails and whips them about. She has a steady eye and does not loose sight of her goal—a nest to build before it is too late. The storm draws closer and still she works away. I stoke my driftwood fire. There is no shelter and if she does not move soon she will be swept away. The wind rages and the storm rushes towards the beach. We are here together, her and I.

This was another rhetoric assignment, actually a declamation--but I didn't end up presenting it (i wrote another one to fit better in the guidelines given).

How did it get so late so soon?
It's night before it's afternoon.
December is here before it's June.
My goodness how the time has flewn.
How did it get so late so soon?
~Dr. Seuss

commended by a "picker of nits"

Here is my most recent of commonplaces (oh, and my indomitable teacher gave it a "really good." hopefully you can see my smug smile):

Two and a half feet above the pool there is no motion, no sound. Multicolored flags flutter on the horizon. In the still water countless plastic wheels separate the competitors and frame the black line that leads straight ahead.

Crouching down, body bent in half, deliberately forcing the back leg to support thousands of twitching nerve fibers. Waiting. Balancing. One toe off the edge of the rough, cold block, both hands curl around the front grasping for stability. Both legs strain with the anticipation of sudden release. Ears tucked between powerful shoulders, eyes tightly shut, head filled with the refrain of Dynamite steadily pulsing. Chlorine, dry and acrid, burns in the mouth as it fills the lungs with sweltering air. Heart pounding. Muscles tense, almost to the verge of uncontrollable shaking. The pressure of every moment weights heavily and the thoughts, instructions, mental pictures--the training of years--flash by in an instant.

In a moment the buzzer will sound, a light will flash, and a timer will start. In a moment all the restrained energy will explode in a splash of speed. In a moment the race could be won and dreams realized...or, all could be lost.

quick update/link

Classes are going well--picked up all at once (I've already read 250 pages, talked sentences in latin, and sung/sight read new songs in choir). If i had more time I'd dump what I've read, it's all so exciting and needs words to flesh it out....hopefully soon.

I thought this was great y'all would appreciate what Pastor Leithart has to say about eating, theology, and the covenantal perspective

marginalia

turpitude- depravity; wickedness

teleology- the explanation of phenomena by the purpose they serve rather than by postulated causes; the doctrine of design and purpose in the material world

catachresis- the use of a word in a way that is not correct

metalepsis- a figure of speech used sole as a transition into something else by referring to a remotely associated chain of thought (used mostly in comedy)

periphrasis- a circuitous way of speaking

hyperbole- an appropriate exaggeration of the truth

ReALly?!! It's already over?

Last night I was playing games with my brother and a couple friends; I was packing; I couldn't wait for tomorrow. This morning I was watching a movie with Mel to try and stay awake; I was sitting in the Spokane airport with my alarm set so I wouldn't miss my flight; I was a few hours from home. At least it feels like it. Actually it has been 3 weeks since I finished my 2nd term at NSA. And my days here in NM have been chalk full since I have been home. It really is so nice to have 6 dear, loving people--family--to welcome me and Curtis home and make my time off school so wonderful. "The happiest moments of my life have been the few which I have passed at home in the bosom of my family." (Thomas Jefferson) Long talks with Mama, cousins, dear friends, and Risse have probably been the highlight so far...if only they could last longer...My only consolation is that I am going to take Marissa back up to Moscow with me for several weeks. =)

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Well, here's what I've done over break:

I'm sure none of you are surprised, but a lot of what I have done has to do with food. Imagine that. I have thoroughly enjoy every moment of it =)

chocolate ganache truffles

Fancy Mac and Cheese

Coconut Pecan Banana Bread, hot and buttered, of course!

spinach salad with mandarin oranges, swiss cheese, pomegranate seeds, and pecans

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The three of us olders and Daddy drove down to Ruidoso to see my Grandma Jayne and Cousins and Aunt from Oklahoma. We just went down for the day, but we had a lovely time...and I came home with a new-to-me car =)

Me and Taylor:

the cousins

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Marissa and I also took a trip up to Aztec to visit our dear Skeens. We did much--mostly talking and working in the kitchen--but we went ice skating and did a photo shoot, so that's what we have pictures of:

if only the photographer were a little more stable on her skates ;)

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just some pictures

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My favorite games of this Christmas/New Year's break:

Imaginiff

Settlers of Catan

Catch Phrase

Pictograph

the notebook paper-storywriting-one minute-game challenge

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And here are some of my recent drawing and doodles. Really, I don't have enough time to accomplish all that I want to. No, not even a month with nothing else to do.

this hat was super fun to work on

this girl is my favorite!

and just the beginnings of one that I hope to finish soon (many of you have asked as I work "who is that?" so I have included the picture I'm drawing from, however most of what I draw is just from my imagination):

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Tomorrow I plan to make a french meal for my family. Yes, real french cuisine! I was blessed this last term to be able to sit under the instruction of a master french Chef Francis Foucachon and learned how to cook a couple recipes. Hopefully the foods will turn out well enough for pictures and I can post about that later.

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I only have two days left--let's savor them together.

"now this is special stuff"

This is a coffee drink that Mama had found online on The Pioneer Woman as she was searching through all the yummy recipes. SO, I made the drinks and Russell and I headed to the game table for a date. We had a delicious time talking and sharing about what we love and want to do in life. =) Here's the scoop:

4 cups of hot coffee (strong!)

6oz of Dulce de Leche (but if you're like me and forget to put that on the grocery list, carmel syrup works like a charm too)

a couple Tbls of Kaluha Liquor

1 cup of heavy cream

2 Tbls white sugar

chocolate sprinkles, shaved chocolate, or other garnish

Stir the Dulce de Leche into the hot coffee until dissolved. Whip the cream and sugar until medium peaks form (you could probably use whipped cream from a can and it would be almost as yummy). Pour the coffee into cups (makes 4) and add the Kaluha and stir. Of course, this drink is definitely yummy with out the liquor, if you so desire. Garnish with chocolate, turn the lights down low, sit back, relax, and enjoy talking with a friend. =)

The Discipline of Time

My break has been full of family, friends, games, movies, sleeping, cooking, talking, and a little bit of study. I am now reading through a book that a dear friend gave me for my birthday this past summer. Discipline; The Glad Surrender by Elisabeth Elliot, has really been a fantastic read. The first half is good and pretty much what I have learned from Mama and other mentors over the years--great review! The second half of the book is divided into seven chapters discussing aspects of practical discipline. Today's chapter was dealing with time and how to use it well. One of my favorite quotes from the chapter is actually a poem by Amy Carmichael:

Lover of All, I hold me fast by Thee,

Ruler of time, King of Eternity

There is no great with Thee, there is no small,

For Thou art all, and fillest all in all.

The newborn world swings forth at Thy command,

The falling dewdrop falls into They hand.

God of the firmament's mysterious powers

I see Thee thread the minutes of my hours.

There's a time for everything. Usually when I "don't have time" it is more an attitude of not making time or simply not wanting to do it. Everyone has 24 hours in day. It's not so much what you schedule out to do, but what you get done all depends on how you choose to spend it. Take some time and sit in the stillness and quiet around you. Pay attention to the things around you and delight in the silence. It's not all about moving, changing, noise, color, new and different. Just be. Appreciate the moments as the tick by and think of the difference each minute can make and all that can be accomplish by stack them up together.

"Sunrise, noon, sunset, midnight. Sunday, Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday. January, May, September. Winter, spring, summer, autumn. Easter, Thanksgiving, Christmas. These are the punctuation marks of time, and what a marvelous mercy that God divided light from darkness."

There is always time enough to do the will of God. Honestly, in all the hectic-ness of life, all the activities and plans on my plate, in the seemingly crazy-busy schedule of the days God grants me the grace to get done all that He has for me to do that day.

Often God's timing isn't mine. And more often than not, it is hard for me to accept that and see how all the little inconveniences that annoy me so, are being woven into the mysterious tapestry of life. Several times in the Bible there are examples of people trusting on God's timing and being blessed for their patience. Even when everything seems to be going wrong and nothing is working out, it is so reassuring to know that God is still in control and it isn't going wrong in His book, rather following the plans He has already laid out for us--we just can't see it and sometimes feel like the blindness is acutely oppressive. As Jesus has said, when we follow Him, He will make our paths easy and our burdens light. It is for us to lay all our cares and sorrows, joys and afflictions, on Him and willing submit ourselves unto Him. What an awesome and amazing God I serve.

I've alway heard that it's best to make time for a quiet time early in the morning. In my persistent stubbornness I have resisted that idea and wanted/tried to read my Bible and pray at night, in the afternoon--basically any time but right after I wake up. Well, I've been thinking about that this break and really wondering if there is something to the idea of giving the first minutes (hour) to the Lord, just being in His presence. So, at the end of this book Eliot talked a bit about just making yourself spend some quiet time before you greet the world. Whether that be before you get out of bed or not until after you have gotten a cup of coffee and a cozy blanket, that there really is no better way to start your day. It really is the most important part of your day--learn to love it and find the joy in rising *early* to spend time alone with the Lord.