annus mors, or, year of death [2008]
I suppose that I mangled the Latin; I don't imagine any one who reads this will correct that, though you are welcome to. We started a list somewhat casually of everyone we could think of who we knew or knew of who had passed away during 2008. The list grew as one or the other of us remembered someone else. The following list cannot possibly be comprehensive, that is, we probably forgot someone. But this is meant to memorialize those we could think of.
Sheila W's husband Bill
Elisabeth H's mom
Mary B's brother
Sue R's husband Jim
Candy R's mom
Leona O's husband Bob
Mike I's wife Diane
Rob I's mom
Jennifer M's mom
Maurine K
Bill C's wife Jeanne
Ruth H's husband Gordon
Joanna T's sister
Joanna T's son
Lois E's dad
B.J.'s husband James
Woo's son
Arlee Stroman
Jack A's mom
Steve Mitchell
Graham M's mom
Peggy B's husband
Vangie S's husband Oscar
Holly M's husband Bill

2009 if it comes

2009 plans DV
Weekly:
walk, laundry, reading
walk, iron, read, post TSB
women's ministry, read, visit
volunteer, read, laundry
walk, clean, read
Saturday
Sunday

Reading list:
Every Woman's Grace:
Ezra
Nehemiah

Bible study:
Wayne Mack

Christian Women Writers [review]:
Anne Bradsteet
Mary Rowlandson
Christina Rossetti
Harriet Beecher Stowe
Elizabeth Prentiss
Grace Livingston Hill
Dorothy Sayers

English Literature survey:
Jonathan Swift
Charlotte Bronte
Mary Shelley
Charles Dickens
Jane Austen
Robert Louis Stevenson
Dorothy L. Sayers
C. S. Lewis

Bible study twice/month

Every Woman's Grace:
Jan. 14-Feb. 25 study of Ezra
Mar. 11-May 20 study of Nehemiah

Memory of Christmases Past, Very
So we were talking about Christmases of our youth and gifts we recall. One gift stands out in my memory though not the year--likely some time between this year and that. If you were there, you'll know when.
I got a watch, not just any watch, but with Cinderella on the face and with a "glass" slipper holding it. I treasured both the watch and the slipper in came in.
Do you have any special memories?

Old Testament passages which comfort me

Psalm 138:8
The LORD will accomplish what concerns me; Thy lovingkindness, O LORD, is everlasting; Do not forsake the works of Thy hands.

The LORD will--what a sweet assurance.

Psalm 4:8
In peace I will both lie down and sleep, for Thou alone, O LORD, dost make me to dwell in safety.

Thou alone--what better guarantees peace for the night?

An Impulsive Journey

An Impulsive Journey
An impulsive journey we sometimes take,
Engaging dangers so bold, ignoring meekness,
Rampaging, rather, too often alone,
Making our way to dangers zone
We rollick and frolic and chatter,
Thinking our words and actions won't matter,
While enemies dressed as friends woo
In thoughtlessness we agree to do
Whatever, and by our own pride are caught
Because prayer did not encompass thought.
Ahead we go as if none can bring us harm
And in this thinking ignore any alarm
Boldly, impulsive, we play
Whiling away night and day,
Impulsive and thoughtless we fall
Into best set trap of all.
Suddenly--or so we think it--
We are caught, helpless, can't wink it
Away, regret all that play,
Come at last to judgment's day.
Regret? Yes, in plural that we have
And yet could we find a way to lave
Our foolish acts
Again we'd make unwise compacts.
It's just as well we end our traveling
Before our life's unraveling,
Take rather the humble path as directed
By the will of the One Good God.

[10 June 2008; on reading certain Anglo-Saxon and Middle Age authors]

valuing

Too many treasures to sort and to store;
Can I give away some more?
Too many treasures from this source and the other;
Was this from mother in law or mother?
Too many treasures to deal with today;
I think instead I'll write--that's play.

Against the Grain, and. Lord, all I can say

We had attended a conference at our church with the focus, "Against the Grain"; I came away changed (I thought) and determined; then came a challenge.

Against the Grain

It's hard to cut against the grain because
It brings a lot of pain,
Because the cost is so high,
Because the flesh is unwilling to die.

It's hard to cut against the grain and lay the pieces another way,
It's hard to take a different direction, re-lay each piece
With patience then skill when it goes against the "old man's" will.

It's hard to cut against the grain; mere inertia calls so siren-like.
But one must so go for the Cross is there;
God's Only Son He did not spare.

Subsequent to the conference, Garry and I found ourselves involved in a situation which eventually ended humanly unresolved in December when the other person involved died suddenly.

Lord, all I can say

Lord,
All I can say is,
Thy will be done,
And say this in the confidence that
Thy will will be done,
In this as in all else,
Thy will be done.
I can say it not only in the confidence of Your omnipotence,
I can say it also in the confidence of all other characteristics
You have, You are,
Eternally
Unchanging
Sovereign,
Ruling all from Your throne,
Thy will be done, Thine alone.