There is joy in Heaven and on Earth tonight! My Munchkin told God that she knew she sinned, that she believed that Jesus died to take the punishment for her sin, and asked Him to forgive her for all of the bad stuff that she’s done.

Her faith is more a journey than just a one-time prayer, but tonight was definitely a major milestone on that journey! We’ve talked about these things often, especially since Mom died. Tonight she was asking her Auntie a lot of question, so walked back here and we talked a while, and then my little girl talked to God. There is such joy and hope in my heart tonight! I pray that my daughter holds fast to her faith as her own journey continues. The faith of a child is truly wondrous to behold! No wonder Jesus wanted the children to come to him!

Mom would have been so excited! There’s a part of me that thinks maybe some of the joy in Heaven is hers. Maybe she’s rejoicing with the angels over her granddaughter’s repentance.

Regardless, I rejoice tonight. I stand amazed anew by the faithfulness and love of my LORD. Amazing grace, how sweet the sound…

I have a very good excuse though. I spent half of the night awake, and VERY sick. I feel OK this morning, just a bit tired. (My sons don’t understand the concept of, “Mommy was sick last night and needs some more sleep this morning.”) So if this post is even remotely readable, thank the spelling and grammar checker!

It’s been sort of nice to have a week’s vacation from the blog. I’ll be back tomorrow with a daybook entry, and I subscribed to a new blog that I want to share with you later in the week. I’ve also got a few story-a-week ideas floating around that might even materialize into an actual story soon! Not to mention my latest writing project that I’ll have to talk about sometime. WHEW! There is a lot in the queue coming up!

I hope that you all enjoyed your weekend. Aaron spent part of it up in Presque Isle taking photos of the Hot Air Balloon Festival, so keep an eye on his blog for what I’m sure will be some really spectacular photos!

My brilliant IT staff had to commandeer my monitor for a few days and blogging from the iPod is rather impractical. So, I’ll catch up with all of you later!

Jason Tardin is. He finds himself in a world called VRIN, in possession of mysterious powers. He is revered as a god by some, yet feared and hated by others. Where is he? Who is he? His search for answers uncovers even more puzzling questions, and embroils him in a battle where the stakes are the very existence of VRIN. But finding a way out of VRIN may be only the beginning of the adventure…

VRIN: ten mortal gods by John Michael Hileman is an example of the Christian Fantasy novel at its best! John sacrifices neither spiritual themes nor good storytelling, but finds a way to blend them both into an entertaining read that will leave you with something to ponder. The story’s plot is rich and complex, keeping the reader engaged to the very last page. His characters are varied and well-developed. Transitions between settings are smooth, allowing the book to flow. This is not the typical formula fantasy novel where you’ve figured out how it ends by the time you finish the first chapter!

I’ve commented many times on the lack of really good Christian Fantasy and Science Fiction novels. VRIN is a must-read for anyone else who loves great Fantasy/SciFi stories with an equally great message. VRIN is targeted towards the teen and adult audiences. While parents need not worry about objectionable content, the multi-layered plot and deep spiritual themes make it a book more likely to be enjoyed by teenagers than younger children. Be warned though; make sure you finish reading it before your teens get their hands on it. You might not get it back! (Better yet, just buy two copies.)

VRIN is available in both print and electronic formats. It can be downloaded from Smashwords or the Kindle Store on Amazon. It can also be purchased in print from Amazon.

Outside my window… a couple of blackbirds… NEVERMORE!

I am thinking… that I might be on hold with the dentist’s office for the rest of the day.

I am thankful for… the wooden box with the lovely telescope, and the parents who gave it to me.

From the learning rooms… got my first copy of “Home Educating Family” in the mail this weekend. I really like this magazine!

From the kitchen… baked potatoes.

I am wearing… frumpy clothes.

I am creating… a knitted blanket and silk/bamboo scarf.

I am going… to have Munchkin in to see the dentist this week.

I am reading… I am FINISHED reading VRIN! Keep watching for the book review that will be posted later this week!

I am hoping… to feel awake at some point today.

I am hearing… kiddos chattering over cereal.

Pondering these words… “Health and long life to you. Land without rent to you. A child every year to you. And if you can’t go to heaven, may you at least die in Ireland.” – Old Irish Blessing

Around the house… let’s not go there…

One of my favorite things… mocha milkshakes!

A few plans for the rest of the week: Taming the avalanche of laundry that must be washed is on the agenda!

For more daybooks, please visit The Simple Woman’s Daybook.

I also took the opportunity to pull out my telescope and take a peek at Jupiter. When I set up, Jupiter was still below the horizon, so I decided to try and find Andromeda. Andromeda is the closest galaxy to the Milky Way. I knew where in the sky I needed to be looking, but I didn’t have much luck. Deep sky objects are not my strong suit! There was also a fair bit of light pollution to deal with because of passing cars and lights from houses and such. Fortunately, that settled down later. After Jupiter rose, I abandoned my search for Andromeda and turned my scope to a giant planet that I have a particular soft spot for. Jupiter was the first planet I ever saw through my telescope, on my 18^th birthday ironically! I took a peek last night and saw three of the larger moons and was able to pick out some of the more obvious dark banding on the planet. It still amazes me that I can actually see another planet from here!

I have a Lafayette 76 mm Telescope. It’s older than I am! It was a Christmas gift a number of years ago from my parents. I had wanted a telescope for so long, and I can’t tell you how absolutely thrilled I was to open up that wooden box and find a telescope inside! I watched Hale-Bopp through that scope. I’ve seen the moon and some of the planets through it. I know that there are much newer and more advanced telescopes out there, but I wouldn’t trade mine for any of them! (OK, Hubble is pretty darn cool, but the maintenance costs would be astronomical.)

Eventually, we settled down on the air mattress to watch the meteor shower. The boys were in bed, but our daughter was out with us counting meteors and wondering if the blinking lights in the sky might be a UFO! The clockwork of the cosmos amazes me. Looking up at the stars is always comforting to me. They’re always there, right where they are supposed to be. It’s a reminder to me that the God who created them is still sovereign.

Outside my window… it’s dark and the stars are out.

I am thinking… “How could I forget that it’s MONDAY!?”

I am thankful for… a Friday night date with my handsome IT guy and the chance to catch up with some friends.

From the kitchen… devoured the last of the maple walnut cake from Sunday’s Family BBQ.

I am wearing… PJ’s at this late hour.

I am creating… the most adorable little knit blanket!

I am going… to catch some shut-eye soon!

I am reading… still working on VRIN, with a few Charlotte Mason pages here and there.

I am hoping… to figure out what day it really is tomorrow.

I am hearing… the (relative) silence of the house at night.

Pondering these words… “I am not what I ought to be. I am not what I want to be. I am not what I hope to be. But still, I am not what I used to be. And by the grace of God, I am what I am.” – John Newton

Around the house… a box of yarn came in the mail today!

One of my favorite things… asking my boys if they want a snack after their naps, and watching them race down the stairs.

A few plans for the rest of the week: Setting up dental appointments for Munchkin, and trying to get something on the to-do list crossed off!

For more daybooks, please visit The Simple Woman’s Daybook.

“Reflections”

Eileen Donovan watched the rocky coastline slowly recede from view. She knew that she would never look upon it again. In a way, it was a relief. The home that had once held such joy had become a stark reminder of all that they had lost. All that everyone had lost. So many hard years… So much death… She had stood at the graveside of each member of her family, save one. It had taken everything that they had left, just to secure passage on the ship. They were lucky, most couldn’t even afford that.

Even so, there was a small part of her that felt sad to leave the only home that she’d known for the past 17 years. Eileen’s fiery hair, emerald eyes and porcelain complexion made her the image of her late mother. She wondered briefly if anyone would put flowers on her mother’s grave now. Truthfully, it was not so much Ireland that she would miss, but her family. At least she would carry their memory with her to America.

Pulling her shawl close against her to fight the damp sea air, she turned from the last glimpses of her past to face the open sea. It was a great unknown, this future that they sailed towards. It wasn’t a guarantee, but at least it was a chance. A chance to make a new life. A chance to build something of their own in this young country so full of promise. She thought about the Israelites, journeying to the Promised Land. Were they as scared as she was right now? Nevertheless, God had provided for them, as he would for Eileen and her brother. It was for her to trust Him.

Connor approached his sister and put his arm around her shoulders. He was a year younger, but topped her height by a good eight inches already.

“Missing home?” he asked quietly.

“Missing those we left behind,” she answered honestly, “But I keep reminding myself that the memories are going with us.”

“Aye,” he nodded seriously, “Are you worried about the journey?”

“No,” she shook her head firmly, “God goes with us Connor. I need not worry.”

He hugged her petite frame closer for a moment. From that point on, neither sibling looked back again, only forwards. Their future waited. One filled with struggles and hardships to be sure, but also one that held great joy, and many blessings. Through it all, God would be with them.

We had a weird problem with our water this evening. No water came out of the tap upstairs. No water came out of the hot tap in the kitchen, but hot water came out of the cold tap. The downstairs bathroom had cold water coming out of the cold tap. After consulting on the phone with my technical staff, I turned off the water heater and pump breakers. (We did briefly toss about the idea of the unusual problem being caused by some strange voodoo.)

I called up my sister to borrow a couple of bottles of water for the night, and found that Dad was home and standing next to her. He’d spent the larger part of the day fighting a fire, and must have been tired! Still, he came down and within an hour I had running water!!! Turns out it was a faulty pressure tank that we’ll be replacing tomorrow. I’m really thankful that I have a Dad next door who can fix pretty much anything.

Every time something happens with the plumbing, I sort of freak out a bit. I usually have horrible visions of carrying water from the pond every day. I may be a country mom, but the thought of toting the laundry down to the river to beat against the rocks is not an attractive one! (I have three little ones. That’s a LOT of laundry!) My hat’s off to my great-grandmother who raised five children in this house without the convenience of my modern plumbing.

Now, if you excuse me, I’m going to go turn on my faucet and say a prayer of thanksgiving for my running water!

Outside my window… another sunny, warm day, and a yard full of bees!

I am thinking… about paper… cotton or classic?

I am thankful for… a good evening with friends on my 30^th birthday.

From the learning rooms… still gearing up for the fall! We made a color wheel this week when Munchkin asked me what colors combine to make red.

From the kitchen… nothing yet, still trying to figure out what sounds good for my breakfast. At this rate, it’ll be lunch before I decide!

I am wearing… knit pants and a t-shirt. I’m going for comfortable today.

I am creating… things from my basket full of cotton yarn, but eyeing the yarn my mother-in-law gave me for my birthday. It’s calling my name!

I am going… to take a nap today; I’m pretty sure of that.

I am reading… jumping between VRIN and Charlotte Mason when I have a moment to read.

I am hoping… that my been-potty-trained-for-months little boy will quit this new habit of wetting the bed every morning for the past six days…

I am hearing… relative quiet since the boys are busy eating their strawberry bagels!

Pondering these words… “O God, let me make a difference for You that is utterly disproportionate to who I am.” — David Brainerd

Around the house… a place is made for our piano! Now we just have to move it.

One of my favorite things… boxes in the mail!

A few plans for the rest of the week: More of the same! Maybe I’ll get some lesson plans done. I’d love to get some non-homeschooling reading in too!

For more daybooks, please visit The Simple Woman’s Daybook.