After 7 days in sunny Florida it takes a little adjusting to get used to the cold again. Just a week ago we were walking the shore of beautiful Ft. Myers Beach. This was the 20th consecutive year that son Carlton and I have made our pilgrimage to the Gulf Coast near Sanibel Island. For granddaughter Kayla, it was the 11th year, and the 3rd year for John. (He married into a family of sun lovers.) We spent a wonderful day in the Everglades and took our usual hikes through the "Ding" Darling preserve and various mangrove swamps. I took my laptop along did some writing; if I don't it's always hard to get back into things when I get home.
Thursday, January 31, 2008
BACK HOME TO COLD MICHIGAN
After 7 days in sunny Florida it takes a little adjusting to get used to the cold again. Just a week ago we were walking the shore of beautiful Ft. Myers Beach. This was the 20th consecutive year that son Carlton and I have made our pilgrimage to the Gulf Coast near Sanibel Island. For granddaughter Kayla, it was the 11th year, and the 3rd year for John. (He married into a family of sun lovers.) We spent a wonderful day in the Everglades and took our usual hikes through the "Ding" Darling preserve and various mangrove swamps. I took my laptop along did some writing; if I don't it's always hard to get back into things when I get home.
After 7 days in sunny Florida it takes a little adjusting to get used to the cold again. Just a week ago we were walking the shore of beautiful Ft. Myers Beach. This was the 20th consecutive year that son Carlton and I have made our pilgrimage to the Gulf Coast near Sanibel Island. For granddaughter Kayla, it was the 11th year, and the 3rd year for John. (He married into a family of sun lovers.) We spent a wonderful day in the Everglades and took our usual hikes through the "Ding" Darling preserve and various mangrove swamps. I took my laptop along did some writing; if I don't it's always hard to get back into things when I get home.
Sunday, January 20, 2008
MESMERIZED BY THE RIVER
The mighty Grand is mesmerizing every season of the year but perhaps most so in the bitter winter. About 20% of the water surface is covered with large sheets of ice (probably averaging 10-20 feet in diameter) moving like an armada right past our house. Some have wonderful ice formations reaching upward and some crash against the shore, but most just keep going. What a sight!
When I'm not watching the water I'm reading and writing about Tertullian (3rd-century Church Father) who is remembered by many of us ladies for calling us the "devil's gateway"--the tempters, the daughters of Eve. But he had wonderful things to say about husband AND wife in marriage, a wonderful quote for Christian marriage.
The mighty Grand is mesmerizing every season of the year but perhaps most so in the bitter winter. About 20% of the water surface is covered with large sheets of ice (probably averaging 10-20 feet in diameter) moving like an armada right past our house. Some have wonderful ice formations reaching upward and some crash against the shore, but most just keep going. What a sight!
When I'm not watching the water I'm reading and writing about Tertullian (3rd-century Church Father) who is remembered by many of us ladies for calling us the "devil's gateway"--the tempters, the daughters of Eve. But he had wonderful things to say about husband AND wife in marriage, a wonderful quote for Christian marriage.
Thursday, January 17, 2008
January Kayaking
The weather has not offered good skiing in the past couple of weeks so we went kayaking on the cold almost-flood-stage river. The current was very strong but we paddled against it up stream past dozens of houses and then swiftly floated back.
It was great to turn my manuscript in to Baker. The title is now: "Leadership Reconsidered: Becoming a Person of Influence." It was not my first choice, but fortunately I got them to back down on their first choice which implied the opposite of what the book is about. Now I'm ploughing ahead on my church history text for Zondervan, averaging close to 2000 words a day this week. I already had a good start on it, but this will be 3-4 times as long as the leadership book. I'm hoping to finish up by early fall. I spend my days at the shop (Carlton Gardens), and with few customers this time a year manage accomplish a lot while having a good time.
Today I was working on early monasticism, specifically Anthony of Egypt and Benedict. Did you know that St. Anthony is the patron saint of infectious diseases--specifically herpes zoster, known commonly as shingles. I should have known that a year ago when I was suffering from that miserable malady! Here he is-----The SAINT OF SHINGLES!
The weather has not offered good skiing in the past couple of weeks so we went kayaking on the cold almost-flood-stage river. The current was very strong but we paddled against it up stream past dozens of houses and then swiftly floated back.
It was great to turn my manuscript in to Baker. The title is now: "Leadership Reconsidered: Becoming a Person of Influence." It was not my first choice, but fortunately I got them to back down on their first choice which implied the opposite of what the book is about. Now I'm ploughing ahead on my church history text for Zondervan, averaging close to 2000 words a day this week. I already had a good start on it, but this will be 3-4 times as long as the leadership book. I'm hoping to finish up by early fall. I spend my days at the shop (Carlton Gardens), and with few customers this time a year manage accomplish a lot while having a good time.
Today I was working on early monasticism, specifically Anthony of Egypt and Benedict. Did you know that St. Anthony is the patron saint of infectious diseases--specifically herpes zoster, known commonly as shingles. I should have known that a year ago when I was suffering from that miserable malady! Here he is-----The SAINT OF SHINGLES!
Monday, January 07, 2008
A COMPLIMENTARIAN HORNETS' NEST
A few days ago I stirred up a hornets' nest by posting my Top 10 Reasons Why I'm a Feminist. I was trying to have fun and be a bit provocative at the same time, never realizing the "complimentarian" dudes would be so bent out of shape. Among other things, one guy wrote: "For 'equal rights' feminists, the question must be sadly asked: Do you wish to worship the true God of the Bible or do you wish to worship a God of your own making and of your own desires?"
A few days ago I stirred up a hornets' nest by posting my Top 10 Reasons Why I'm a Feminist. I was trying to have fun and be a bit provocative at the same time, never realizing the "complimentarian" dudes would be so bent out of shape. Among other things, one guy wrote: "For 'equal rights' feminists, the question must be sadly asked: Do you wish to worship the true God of the Bible or do you wish to worship a God of your own making and of your own desires?"
Saturday, January 05, 2008
A Phone Call for Money
My last post, folks, was tongue-in-cheek. I got a call today from a woman who plans to start a ministy to help the poor. She wondered if my money was still available. She didn't seem pleased when I told her it was a joke. I did take the time to caution her, however, about sending her checking and credit account numbers to strangers.
My last post, folks, was tongue-in-cheek. I got a call today from a woman who plans to start a ministy to help the poor. She wondered if my money was still available. She didn't seem pleased when I told her it was a joke. I did take the time to caution her, however, about sending her checking and credit account numbers to strangers.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)