For my daughters of destiny

"What do we live for, if it is not to make life less difficult for each other."
George Eliot

We are reading through Daughters of Destiny, compiled and edited by Noelle Wheeler Goforth,

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and are truly enjoying it. Sometimes it is a lovely thing to be reminded of the beauty of womanhood. Here are some beautiful gems:

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"Women's entire existence, in order to be a source of happiness to others as well as to herself, must be one of self-sacrifice. The first step in this royal pathway to all goodness and greatness, is to forget self. Self, with its miserable little cares and affections, is the root of all the wretchedness we cause to others, and all the misery we endure ourselves. Every effort we make to forget self, to leave self behind us, and to devote ourselves to the labor of making every person with whom we live with, happy, is rewarded by inner satisfaction and joy. The first step to becoming unselfish is to forget one's own comfort in order to seek that of others; the next, is to forget one's own pains and suffering, in order to alleviate those of others."

(Page 14)

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May it be this year that I am selfLESS and not selFISH to the glory of my Lord and the blessing of my family.

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Warmly wishing you and yours a blessed new year,

Student of History

Hana An Ping Journey

I have been following a sweet friend's journey (as explained below) to China to meet their new daughter, Hana An Ping, and am continually amazed by their travels and eagerly await their meeting. They have yet to meet her and I look forward to the beautiful event. If you are even remotely interested in this beautiful journey, click here: China Journeys - Journey To Hana!

It must be hard to describe what they are experiencing in a few words - it is a monumental event for them. First to be in China and then to have the honor and priviledge of taking home a daughter. What an event!! My heart is full for them.

Warmly,

SofH

How to express it?

I am overwhelmed with the scope of grief and suffering as a result of the earthquake and tsunamis. How can we cope with such pain? The stories that are coming out of there are tragic and terrible. I am most affected by the pain of the parents who have lost their children - some even watched them get swallowed up by the water. It is utterly horrifying and I hope I never have to experience the aching sadness these parents will feel lifelong. My prayers are for their comfort – that the God of all comfort will truly make himself known to them. That they will know and understand that even in this terrible tragedy, He is there and can be their all in all. It seems trite in some ways to say these things, and I might feel that way were I in the place of the grieving parent, but perhaps not. Perhaps I would cling to the knowledge that,

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“…though the earth should change and though the mountains slip into the heart of the sea; though its waters roar and foam, though the mountains quake at its swelling pride, the Lord is with us the God of Jacob is our stronghold.”

(Part of Psalm 46)

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I hope I would cling to that. May His tender care be their comfort.

In His grip,
SofH

To find a daughter

A sweet family we know are in China right this very minute travelling to meet and bring home their new daughter, Hana An Ping. Here are some of her pictures as we await her arrival: Journey to Hana.

To our dear friends we pray safe travel, beautiful meeting, and uneventful adoption! We love you and admire you so much.

Warmly,
SofH

What Child is This?

What child is this,who, laid to rest,
On Mary's lap is sleeping?
Whom angels greet with anthems sweet
While shepherds watch are keeping.

This, this is Christ the King,
Whom shepherds guard and angels sing:
Haste, haste, to bring him laud
The Babe, the Son of Mary.

Why lies He in such mean estate,
Where ox and ass are feeding?
Good Christian, fear; for sinners here
The silent Word is pleading.

So bring Him incense, gold and myrrh
Come, peasant, King to own Him;
The King of Kings salvation brings
Let loving hearts enthrone him.

This, this is Christ the King! Let us be thankful - for unto us is born this day a Savior - which is Christ the Lord! May His face shine upon you and be gracious to you this day and all days. May you know His peace, His love, and His forgiveness.

Warmly,
Student of History

A poem to my dearest friends...

There are many ways to say them,
But we seldom take the time.
We sometimes choose to share our thoughts,
And occasionally make it rhyme.

Many friendships come our way in all peculiar forms,
Some may stay and some may go and some we truly mourn.
But those who make your soul alive and give it life and force;
Those are the ones that mean the most and help you stay the course.

Friends like these I have in measure more than most I think.
They walk with me through dark days when I feel I’m going to sink.
Their friendship means more than I will ever say;
Because words do not suffice for what the heart displays.

You are the kind of person that might not truly know;
You brighten up my life by the indwelling Savior’s glow.
For in your earthly shell, you are His loving emissary;
And you will never know how much it means to me and how very necessary.

With love,
SofH

I would just like to say...

~* Happy 19th Anniversary!! *~

To two people who have run the race thus far with an intensity, devotion, understanding, humility, humor, forgiveness, and zeal for what is good unlike any I have ever seen.

It is a blessing and an honor to be called your friend. May the Lord bless your future years with His grace, love, mercy, and tenderness, and lots of laughter for the rest of your days together.

Warmly,
SofH

Three rings for the elven kings under the sky...

Seven for the dwarf lords in their halls of stone;
Nine for mortal men doomed to die.
In the land of Mordor where shadows lie.
One ring to rule them all! One ring to find them;
One ring to bring them all, and in the darkness BIND them!
In the land of Mordor, where shadows lie.

I have been waiting to post my thoughts for days unnumbered! Fearing to reveal my thoughts to those who have not shared at the sweet meats of the extended version I have waited with doubtful patience. Grin.

I truly enjoyed the extended ROTK - much more than the theater version. Of course there was room for more - I mean who wouldn't want to see more of the Houses of Healing and the growing love between Faramir and Eowyn?! However, be that as it may - it was certainly better than nothing. I think it is safe to say that Peter Jackson did a bang-up job, but that he emphasized the muck and gore of LOTR more than the heart and soul. That said, there is not an equal to it!

The scene of Eomer when he discovers his beloved sister on the field of Pelennor was as heart wrenching as the written words of Tolkien; I think he would have been proud! It was a scene I have waited to see since last December. Thank you, PJ, for putting it back in; all brothers should feel this way for their sisters.

To have Faramir redeemed in such a lovely way - he certainly was not the enemy of Frodo in the book - did justice to the character he truly was. Ohh, it was lovely to be transported back to Middle Earth - if only for the night.

Some day we will all take the trip across the sea, let our hearts truly be ready to see the One and True King!

Warmly,

SofH

Today is the day!!

For all of your ROTK fans - today is the day! The extended version has come forth for all the world to see. Hurrah for you! Hurrah for me! Hurrah! Hurrah! For Gondor will be freed! (Think Pooh Bear.) :+)

We are looking forward to a long evening!

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Yesterday started the week in a lovely way. I am so thankful for prayers from dear friends (you know who you are) and that I can rest in the knowledge that God is all and is sufficient to help me see clearly what is good and right. Even in my tired morning state after a night of little sleep I can see clearly that anger does not achieve the righteousness of God - and that it is a choice. With my Savior's help I will not give way. Praise Him!

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Mind Mints for the week...

While staring at the ceiling last night in a futile attempt to sleep - go figure for I was tired - I opened up a new book entitled Lysbeth: A Tale of the Dutch by H. Rider Haggard (author of King Solomon's Mines).

It is an historical fiction book based in the Netherlands during the Spanish Occupation and the Inquisition of the 16th century. It is not for the faint of heart with regards to strong reformation thinking; for in this book the Spanish are the enemy! While it is fiction, it is historical fiction and is frankly difficult to read at times knowing the intense and often very cruel persecution the early reformers faced. In today's world of "tolerance" - at least the face of it anyway - it is truly hard to imagine such difficulties that faced these brave people.

I also finished reading a book I was not sure would be alright for my daughter (hence the necessity of reading it!) It is entitled Blue Willow and is written by Doris Gates. I found myself really pulling for the ten year old girl and her family forced into a life of cotton picking in the Central Valley of California after a failed farm in the Dust Bowl. You can feel the deep poverty and longing of this united family and the fierce battle within her to be courageous and brave in the face of a mean landlord; but there are also some very good adult role models. She struggles with her understanding and there are big concepts in this book. A good read aloud so mom or dad can explain.

That is all for now - I need a mocha! Have a lovely day and as Mrs. Booshay says,

Encourage One Another!
SofH

These are the days that try men's souls...

Or mine, anyway! I have had one of the most difficult weeks and my reaction was not what it ought to have been. My heart is grieved at my inability to be who I ought to be before God. I know it is He Who will work His will in me, but I have to be willing not only to be a hearer, but a doer as well. May you, my God, work your sovereign will and power in my life that I may be who You call me to be - even in the midst of my harried life.

You are my all in all!

SofH

December 7, 1941

To all the men who gave their lives, who served faithfully in our armed forced at Pearl Harbor, who gave the ultimate sacrifice, thank you. There were many who suffered such severe deaths that it is hard to write about them; trapped in their metal tombs for weeks under the water before death took them. These men are honored men - all of them - and I thank them. I know you will not know my thanks, I know you cannot read what I write, for you are gone; but you are not forgotten.

SofH

Sir Orfeo - a portion for the mind

We often read and written find,
as learned men do us remind,
that lays that now the harpers sing
are wrought of many a marvelous thing.
Some are of weal, and some of woe,
and some do joy and gladness know;
in some are guile and treachery told,
in some the deeds that chanced of old;
some are of jests and ribaldry,
and some are tales of Faerie.
Of all the things that men may heed
'tis most of love they sing indeed.

In Britain all these lays are writ,
there issued first in rhyming fit,
concerning adventures in those days
whereof the Britons made their lays;
for when they heard men anywhere
tell of adventures that there were,
they took their harps in their delight
and made a lay and named it right.

Of adventures that did once befall
some can I tell you, but not all.
Listen now, lordings good and true,
and 'Orfeo' I will sing to you.

Sir Orfeo was a king of old,
in England lordship high did hold;
valour he had and hardihood,
a courteous king whose gifts were good.
His father from King Pluto came,
his mother from Juno, king of fame,
who once of old as gods were named
for mighty deeds they did and claimed.
Sir Orfeo, too, all things beyond
of harping's sweet delight was fond,
and sure were all good harpers there
of him to earn them honour fair;
himself he loved to touch the harp
and pluck the strings with fingers sharp...

There dwelt his queen in fairest bliss,
whom men called Lady Heurodis,
of ladies then the one most fair
who ever flesh and blood did wear;
in her did grace and goodness dwell,
but none her loveliness can tell.

It so did chance in early May,
when glad and warm doth shine the day,
and gone are bitter winter showers,
and every field is filled with flowers,
on every branch the blossom blows,
in glory and in gladness grows,
the lady Heurodis, the queen,
two maidens fair to garden green
with her she took at drowsy tide
of noon to stroll by orchard-side,
to see the flowers there spread and spring
and hear the birds on branches sing.

... isn't it lovely? That is just the beginning!

Ahhh, lovely literature to fill the mind - I have my mint for the day.

Warmly,

SofH

(From this version.)

New Version of Pride and Prejudice - ACK!

I viewed pictures from the set:

http://www.thezreview.co.uk/news3/prideandprejudicenew2.htm

http://www.thezreview.co.uk/news3/prideandprejudice.htm

What happened to their lovely hair and clothes? Oh my – this version looks so plain to me, and I understand it is only 2 hours long. How can it be? I know I can retreat to the lovely Firth/Ehle version, but I have such an issue with Miss. Knightly playing Miss. Bennet. It is so distasteful to me and she does not look the part at all. Sigh.

Dame Judi Dench is in it and Rosamund Pike (from Wives and Daughters), and I imagine they will do justice to their parts as they truly are great actresses, but I doubt the capabilities of Miss. Knightly. We shall see! The movie version comes out in 2005.

Distressed but persevering,
SofH
:+)

Christmas Factoids

A History of the Celebration of Christmas

will answer any questions about the origin of Christmas you may have. We really enjoy Christmas, but know that some folks have real questions about it. I sincerely love a good history lesson, and this is a good one.

Warmly,

SofH

A poem for the heart of a mother...

Memory

By: Edgar A. Guest

I stood and watched him playing,
A little lad of three,
And back to me came straying
The years that used to be;
In him the boy was Maying
Who once belonged to me.

The selfsame brown his eyes were
As those that once I knew;
As glad and gay his cries were,
He owned his laughter, too.
His features, form and size were
My baby's, through and through.

His ears were those I'd sung to;
His chubby little hands
Were those that I had clung to;
His hair in golden strands
It seemed my heart was strung to
By love's unbroken bands.

With him I lived the old days
That seem so far away;
The beautiful and bold days
When he was here to play;
The sunny and the gold days
Of that remembered May.

I know not who he may be
Nor where his home may be,
But I shall every day be
In hope again to see
The image of the baby
Who once belonged to me.

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Lovely Christmas Book!

Annika's Secret Wish
(Book and CD)



This is one of the sweetest Christmas books to come along in a long time that you can buy here:
Annika's Secret Wish--Book and CD
I highly recommend that you do the one with the CD - it is beautifully put together! It is a story of sibling love and affection that is not often seen in today's books. If you are a person who enjoys gorgeous pictures and a good story with a realistic ending surrounding Christmas - you will love it.

Warmly,
SofH