Thanksgiving through the Lens

Pies, glorious pies. Far to many pies, actually, but it's only once a year, right?

A whirl of kitchen help. To her credit, Grammy did not throw us all out :-)

After dinner...

...much after dinner...

What was that about turkey making you sleepy, Aunt Lisa?

"Every body smile. C'mon, act like you love each other!"See, Grammy? We're cooperating.

Come back and see us real soon!

posted by Lydia

A Thanksgiving Day Hymn

For the beauty of the earth,
For the beauty of the skies,
For the love which from our birth
Over and around us lies,
Lord of all, to thee we raise
This our grateful hymn of praise.

For the beauty of each hour
Of the day and of the night,
Hill and vale, and tree and flower,
Sun and moon and stars of light,
Lord of all, to thee we raise
This our grateful hymn of praise.

For the joy of human love,
Brother, sister, parent, child,
Friends on earth, and friends above,
Pleasures pure and undefiled,
Lord of all, to thee we raise
This our grateful hymn of praise.

For each perfect gift of thine,
To our race so freely given,
Graces human and divine,
Flowers of earth and buds of heaven,
Lord of all, to thee we raise
This our grateful hymn of praise.

For thy Church which evermore
Lifteth holy hands above,
Offering up on every shore
Her pure sacrifice of love,
Lord of all, to thee we raise
This our grateful hymn of praise.
~Folliott S. Pierpoint

Happy Thanksgiving to everyone!!! I hope you all had a lovely, peaceful day. Pictures of our family get together (aka: snooze fest) coming soon.

posted by Lydia

I Love NY :-D

Jeff Foxworthy on Upstate New York .

If you consider it a sport to gather your food by drilling through 36 inches of ice and sitting there all day hoping that the food will swim by, you might live in Upstate New York.

If you're proud that your region makes the national news 96 nights a year because Saranac Lake is the coldest spot in the nation, and Syracuse gets more snow than any other major city in the US , you might live in Upstate NY.

If your local Dairy Queen is closed from October through May, you might live in Upstate New York .

If you get 131 inches of snow in a week and you comment that 'winter's finally here,' you might live near Oswego in Upstate New York.

If you instinctively walk like a penguin for six months out of the year, you might live, bundled up, in Upstate New York.

If someone in a Home Depot store offers you assistance, and they don't work there, you might live in Upstate NY.


If your dad's suntan stops at a line curving around the middle of his forehead, you might live in Upstate New York.

If you have worn shorts and a parka on the same day, you might live in Upstate New York.

If you have had a lengthy phone conversation with someone who dialed a wrong number, you might live in Upstate New York.

YOU KNOW YOU ARE A TRUE UPSTATE NEW YORKER WHEN:

'Vacation' means going south past Syracuse for the weekend.

You measure distance in hours.

You know several people who have hit a deer - more than once.

You often switch from 'heat' to 'A/C' in the same day and back again.

You can drive 65 mph through 2 feet of snow during a raging blizzard without flinching.

You install security lights on your house and garage and leave both unlocked.

You carry jumper cables in your car and your girlfriend/wife knows how to use them.

You design your kid's Halloween costume to fit over a snowsuit.

Driving is better in the winter because the potholes are filled with snow.

You know all 4 seasons: almost winter, winter, still winter, and road construction.

You can identify a southern or eastern accent.

Down South to you means Corning .

Your neighbor throws a party to celebrate his new shed.

You go out for a fish fry every Friday.

Your 4th of July picnic was moved indoors due to frost.

You have more miles on your snow blower than your car.

You find 10 degrees 'a little chilly.' And 55 is shorts weather.

You actually understand these jokes, and you forward them to all your Upstate New York friends and to those who used to live here and left(chickens).

posted by: Caroline

A Little Loveliness...

...in my currently black and white world.If this looks familiar to anyone out there, just grab a piece of cheese and join my pity party ;-). Here's what we do....

Even if your Algebra isn't as perty as you would like, your school work binders sure can be! Here's how my sisters and I do it:

Step #1- Go to your favorite craft store (might I suggest Michael's?), and make a beeline for the paper aisle.

Step #2- Once there, spend a ridiculous amount of time agonizing over what sheet of paper to get.

Step #3- Repeat step #2

Step #4- Narrow it down to two or three sheets and find your sisters to ask for advice.

Step #5- Go with the one your sisters said NOT to get. (It just works that way. I don't know how.)

Get a sheet of paper that is fun and exciting, 'cause you're going to be looking at it all year long!

Or do paisley. Love that paisley.
Enjoy your new and improved binders. It makes you feel happy every time you pull them out...until you fill them up with- biology (shudder).
posted by Lydia

Reputation vs. Character

The circumstances amid which you live determine your reputation;
The truth you believe determines your character.

Reputation comes over one from without;
Character grows from within.

Reputation is what you have when you come into a new community;
Character is what you have when you go away.

Your reputation is learned in an hour;
Your character does not come to light for a year.

Reputation is made in a moment;
Character is built in a lifetime.

Reputation grows like a mushroom;
Character grows like an oak.

A single newspaper report gives you your reputation;
A life of toil gives you your character.

Reputation makes you rich or makes you poor;
Character makes you happy or makes you miserable.

Reputation is what men say about you on your tombstone;
Character is what angels say about you before the throne of God.
~Author unknown


I found this quote while reading through a book on Esther by Elizabeth George. The book is called 'Becoming a Woman of Beauty and Strength'. Now, Esther probably had a good reputation during her day. After all, she was the queen of a powerful empire, and jaw-drop'n gorgeous to boot. Yet it is not these qualities that we, several thousand years later, remember her by. When you think of Esther, what things immediately pop into your mind? Obedience? Courage? Strength? Do these virtues arise from reputation or from true, godly character?

Elbert Hubbard once wisely stated, "Many a man's reputation would not know his character if they met in the street."
Do you think that this is a true statement? Leave us a comment and let me know!

posted by Lydia

"Go Down Death"

I found this video of my favorite poem today, and I hope that it blesses you too! The poem is called "Go Down Death" by James Weldon Johnson. What a talented writer. You feel as if you were really there. (Wintley Phipps is the man reciting the poem)


Amen. Thank you Lord, for this brief glimpse into eternity.
Have a blessed Tuesday!

posted by Lydia

Come Ye Sinners

Come, ye sinners, poor and wretched,weak and wounded, sick and poor;

Jesus ready stands to save you, full of pity joined with power:

He is able, He is able, He is able,

He is willing doubt no more.

Come, ye needy, come and welcome, God's free bounty glorify,

True belief and true repentance, every grace that brings you nigh,

Without money, without money, without money,

Come to Jesus Christ and buy.

Come, ye weary, heavy laden, bruised and broken by the fall;

If you tarry till you're better, you will never come at all:

Not the righteous, not the righteous, not the righteous-

Sinners Jesus came to call.

Let not conscience make you linger, nor of fitness fondly dream;

All the fitness He requireth is to feel your need of Him;

This He gives you, this He gives you, this He gives you;

'Tis the Spirit's rising beam.

Lo! The incarnate God ascended, pleads the merit of His blood;

Venture on Him, venture wholly, let no other trust intrude:

None but Jesus, none but Jesus, none but Jesus

Can do helpless sinners good.

~Joseph Hart

posted by Lydia

posted by: Caroline

Happy Thought of the Day

"So when the devil throws your sins in your face and declares that you deserve death and hell, tell him this, 'I admit I deserve death and hell, what of it? For I know One who suffered and made satifaction on my behalf. His name is Jesus Christ, Son of God, and where He is, there I will be also!' "

~Martin Luther

posted by Lydia

Wandering Sheep and a Gracious God

For the past two weeks, our church has been studying the work of the prophet Elijah. Today's sermon impressed two main facts on me: firstly, even the best of us have our, umm, moments; and secondly, God is not always a God of wrath, but is a kind and tender Father even when we are having our, umm, moments.:-)

Obviously we have all heard the story of when alters were built for both Baal and the living Jehovah, and the fire came down from heaven and consumed Jehovah's alter. Then we know that Baal's priests were executed and Elijah prayed for rain, which came, and everyone lived happily ever after.

I truly wish that this true story could end here, but alas, in the words of Lemony Snicket, "My task is not to weave happy endings, but to tell you what honestly happened." (Sorry to all of you who don't read Lemony Snicket. It was a wild stab at humor.)

What happens to turn these circumstances sour? In a word, Jezebel. One of King Ahab's greatest mistakes was marrying a women who was not only wicked herself, but openly encouraged and even pressured her husband into committing great sin. What a somber warning for all of us, and a reminder that the worth of a virtuous woman is definitely above and beyond rubies.

So Elijah, who just hours before had fearlessly confronted King Ahab along with 450 of Baal's prophets, shook with fear with the threat of a woman. True, when Jezebel said that she was going to cut a man's head off, she usually wasn't joking, but doesn't God have the power to protect His own? You and I both know that He does, but I am sorry to say that Elijah lost his head (not literally, of course. I just mean to say that he was extremely distracted).

The Bible tells us that he ran for his life, which he didn't need to do, and eventually stopped under a broom tree to rest. What did he do next? He begged God to take his life.

This great man of faith, this beloved servant of God, gave in to despair like any of us would have. He felt like he was the last Jehovah follower in the world, and he wanted desperately to leave this lonely, wicked earth behind. Now, how did God handle his untrusting, distracted, wayward servant? He took pity on him. We are told that Elijah fell into a deep sleep, and was awakened twice by an angel to eat.

What can we learn from this incident? We can learn that while God is at times a God of wrath and judgement, He is also the God with the "still, small voice".

For as the heavens are high above the earth, so great is His mercy toward those who fear Him; as far as the east is from the west, so far has He removed our transgressions from us. As a father pities his children, so the Lord pities those who fear Him. For He knows our frame; He remembers that we are dust.

~Psalm 103:11-14

Posted by Lydia

Generations

Let children hear the mighty deeds which God performed of old,
Which in our younger years we saw and which our father's told.

He bids us make his glories known, His works and power and grace,
And we'll convey His wonders down through every rising race.

Our lips shall tell them to our sons, and they again to theirs,
That generations yet unborn may teach them to their heirs.

Thus shall they learn in God alone their hope securely stands,
That they may never forget his works, but practise his commands.

~Isaac Watts

If you are like most people, you have shook your head more than once when coming in contact with a particularly rude child or teenager.
"What is this generation coming to?" you probably thought. I've done that too, and I even belong to this generation! When I sang this hymn this week, however, I was reminded of God's promise that He will build His church. Well, how's He going to do that if their is no hope for this computer-savy, cellphone-gabbing, ipod-hugg'n, talk-to-the-hand generation? Don't despair.

And I say to you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build My church, and the gates of Hades shall not prevail against it. ~Matthew 16:18

posted by Lydia

Happy Election Day

The king's heart is in the hand of the Lord, like rivers of water; He turns it wherever He wishes.
Proverbs 21:1

This post was very encouraging to me this afternoon. It reminded me that whatever the poll results, God is still on His throne.

On a lighter note, I ran across this video recently. And yes, it is the Muppets. :-)
Don't you wish your dinner prep could be this much fun?


So don't forget: " 'T make ze fishy chooder, zu need zee fishy fish."
And it might be better if that fish is no longer breathing!
posted by Lydia

When This Passing World Is Done

When this passing world is done,

When has sunk yon glaring sun,

When we stand with Christ in glory,

Looking o’er life’s finished story,

Then, Lord, shall I fully know—

Not till then—how much I owe.

When I hear the wicked call,

On the rocks and hills to fall,

When I see them start and shrink

On the fiery deluge brink,

Then, Lord, shall I fully know—

Not till then—how much I owe.

When I stand before the throne,

Dressed in beauty not my own,

When I see Thee as Thou art,

Love Thee with unsinning heart,

Then Lord, shall I fully know—

Not till then—how much I owe.

When the praise of Heav’n I hear,

Loud as thunders to the ear,

Loud as many waters’ noise,

Sweet as harp’s melodious voice,

Then, Lord, shall I fully know—

Not till then—how much I owe.

Chosen not for good in me,

Wakened up from wrath to flee,

Hidden in the Savior’s side,

By the Spirit sanctified,

Teach me, Lord, on earth to show,

By my love, how much I owe.

We sang this hymn in church today. It never fails to move me and make me long for Heaven all the more. It will be wonderful to look with Christ "over life's finished story" and see more clearly what a glorious Saviour we have.

Posted by Carissa

A Walk to the Cemetery

Caroline, Lydia and I went for a walk this afternoon after church.



This is one of my favorite spots to walk in our town. It is a cemetery from the early eighteen hundreds.






From our house, this is about as close to the country as we can walk. To me it is a very peaceful place to come.

The sun was setting very fast so we had to hurry back home. I do not like the days growing so short, but home always seems cozier this time of year.

Have a peaceful Sabbath evening.

Posted by Carissa