Bees in My Bonnet

I don’t want to be one of those people who looks back on the earlier days of mommy-hood and wistfully says, ‘I thought what I had to do with my days, my time, my energies were so important that I shoved my kids aside in favour of the things I wanted to accomplish…’ I’d like to realize that now, and willinginly give my time and attentions to the brood of kids that gather around me throughout my days. I was just raking leaves outside with Timo while waiting for his bus. I realized that every day I will have to take a few minutes of my day – my time – and do nothing but wait for his bus. I could ignore Timo while doing this and read a book instead. I could talk on the phone and try to keep him occupied while we wait. Or I can take up the rake, the crayon, or the little hand that still willingly holds mine and give him my full attention and time, and I can choose to reject all the other things calling for my attention. I just hope I do this more each day, and that slowly I won’t eve...

This is probably familiar to most of you, but in case it isn't I want to share it here - one of my favourite hymns. Make me a captive, Lord, and then I shall be free. Force me to render up my sword, and I shall conqueror be. I sink in life’s alarms when by myself I stand; Imprison me within Thine arms, and strong shall be my hand. My heart is weak and poor until it master find; It has no spring of action sure, it varies with the wind . It cannot freely move till Thou has wrought its chain; Enslave it with Thy matchless love, and deathless it shall reign. My power is faint and low till I have learned to serve; It lacks the needed fire to glow, it lacks the breeze to nerve. It cannot drive the world until itself be driven; Its flag can only be unfurled when Thou shalt breathe from heaven. My will is not my own till Thou hast made it Thine; If it would reach a monarch’s throne, it must its crown resign. It only stands unbent amid the clashing strife, When...

Our Father God and Shepherd, Who guides us in Your ways, Who tenderly directs us in paths of truth and grace - Though often times we suffer, beset with many fears, With patient hope and firm faith, help us to persevere. In mercy love and patience, You hem our lives with peace! Your rod and staff bring comfort though disconcerted we Forget Your Father's heart is set on our holiness - You draw us back to Your fold - to pastures of Your rest.

I was just trying to sing Hannah to sleep.  (Yes, I've taken a hiatus from blogging - we added Hannah to our brood two months ago!) Regarding my absenteeism from this blog - I just thought I'd mention that I don't make it a goal to just fill space on here. If I have something significant enough to say, I will - believe me, I will! Often I have lots to say but would get in trouble if I said it all. So perhaps an anonymous blog will be started soon. I can't say. It seems Hannah has a bit of colic, so I don't anticipate any regularity with blogging though I intend to at least get back to it and finish the saga of meeting Sam. I intend also to do a hymn of the day/week/whatever blog regularly, since there are so many gems fallen by the wayside that I'd like to highlight. I regularly make comments about how I feel about hymns, music, and worship in general. I'll just throw this out quickly because it has irritated me and I finally figured out why. It ...

The Fish Egg Tree: Vietnam’s Great Wall, Harold Camping, The Muong Nhe Massacre & Me: Life of a Guidebook Writer, Journalist and Photographer in Mui Ne Beach, Vietnam and Southeast Asia