Re-

While there’s nothing wrong with enjoying something just once, it seems to me that the best things in life are usually worth repeating. Some of my favorites to. . .

Re-read, finding different words to enjoy each time:

• the Bible, especially Psalms and Isaiah
• Winnie-the-Pooh by A. A. Milne
• Little Women  by Louisa May Alcott
• Betsy-Tacy series by Maud Hart Lovelace

Re-sing until I know the words by heart, and then keep on singing:

• We Praise You and Acknowledge You (LSB 941)
• Jerusalem the Golden (TLH 613)
• All Depends on Our Possessing (TLH 425)

Re-watch until I can quote (and sing) along:

• 1776
• The Great Race
• Fiddler on the Roof
• The Sound of Music

Re-runs worth watching and laughing again:

• As Time Goes By
• M*A*S*H
• Home Improvement

What are some of your favorite things to enjoy over and over (and over) again?

Made my day

When I went downstairs to tuck the little boys in last night, they asked if I would sing since they were (for once) in bed and waiting for me. I hated to say no but I still have a cough from last month’s game of pass-the-germs and I just couldn’t sing at that moment. So Bouncy Boy asked if they could sing for me–well, yes, I would like that! As I sat on their bed in the dark, Bouncy Boy and Silly Boy sang me a sweet duet of the common doxology. They weren’t on key (they didn’t even get all the words in the same order), but my little boys who so often disagree with each other were doing something together, something that made my day.

Baby talk #2

The other night I was singing for Baby Boy at bedtime as I always do, first I am Jesus’ little lamb and then the Doxology. He was singing along, half a line behind as he always does, but after I sang the second line, Praise Him all creatures here below, he replied in a perfect deadpan:

That’s a lot of creatures.

I ask you, how am I supposed to keep singing with a straight face?

Mash hit

I was starting a beet collection in my veggie bin and I needed something for tonight’s potluck dinner before Advent Vespers. So I decided to try the Mashed Potatoes and Beets recipe included in a recent newsletter from our C.S.A.–hooray, it turned out well in spite of the shocking color! I received a handful of compliments from others who ate it, although as far as I know only the two youngest of my own children actually tried it (Silly Boy wanted more, Baby Boy spit his out but he doesn’t like mashed potatoes anyhow).

Mashed Potatoes and Beets

2 cloves garlic, or to taste

3-4 tablespoons butter, softened

1/4 cup sour cream

Salt & pepper to taste

3-4 small or medium beets

4 medium potatoes

Preheat oven to 375F. Cut & peel beets into 1/2″ cubes. Bundle in aluminum foil and place on cookie sheet; roast until tender, 35-40 minutes. (either I cut mine too big or that’s not enough time–I roasted them about an hour and they still weren’t quite tender, but I was out of time) Meanwhile peel and cube potatoes and boil until tender, about 15-20 minutes. Mash or whip beets and potatoes in bowl or food processor along with remaining ingredients.

I love Advent Vespers, but I do not love rushing kids home at bedtime and hurrying them into bed when I’m tired too. Still, Baby Boy had just gotten a fat lip–he slipped on the ice at our back door, so I did not feel I could skip his bedtime hymn. Normally he wants I am Jesus’ little lamb, followed by the Doxology (which he calls Praise God), and he sings along to both of them if he’s not too tired.  But I asked if I could sing a hymn from church tonight and he agreed, so I sang O come, o come, Emmanuel. I hope I can long remember his thoughtful little face as I sang to him, and he occasionally tried to join in a bit on the refrain. And while I may have jumbled a couple lines, I am proud to say that all seven stanzas are mostly committed to my memory. That is one thing I want to pass on to my children, the gift of having both Scripture and hymns committed to memory. Especially when I am worried or upset or otherwise stressed, it is a comfort to be able to pray words that are already in my head.

Blessed Reformation Day

By grace I’m saved, grace free and boundless; my soul, believe and doubt it not.
Why stagger at this word of promise? Has Scripture ever falsehood taught?
No! Then this word must true remain: by grace you too will life obtain.

By grace! None dare lay claim to merit; our works and conduct have no worth.
God in His love sent our Redeemer, Christ Jesus, to this sinful earth;
His death did for our sins atone, and we are saved by grace alone.

By grace God’s Son, our only Savior, came down to earth to bear our sin.
Was it because of your own merit that Jesus died your soul to win?
No, it was grace, and grace alone, that brought Him from His heavenly throne.

By grace! This ground of faith is certain; as long as God is true, it stands.
What saints have penned by inspiration, what in His Word our God commands,
Our faith in what our God has done depends on grace–grace through His Son.

By grace to timid hearts that tremble, in tribulation’s furnace tried,
By grace, in spite of fear and trouble, the Father’s heart is open wide.
Where could I help and strength secure if grace were not my anchor sure?

By grace! On this I’ll rest when dying; in Jesus’ promise I rejoice;
For though I know my heart’s condition, I also know my Savior’s voice.
My heart is glad, all grief has flown since I am saved by grace alone.

–LSB #566

For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast. For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them. –Ephesians 2:8-10

(And. . .happy 16th confirmation anniversary to Gina; we share our day now with Drama Boy who celebrates the first anniversary of his confirmation! )

Blubbering fool

To anyone who saw me wiping my eyes in church yesterday morning. . .

I don’t know why, but Transfiguration Sunday is one that always gets me emotionally. Especially the traditional closing hymn:

Alleluia, song of gladness, voice of joy that cannot die;
Alleluia is the anthem ever raised by choirs on high;
In the house of God abiding thus they sing eternally.

Alleluia, thou resoundest, true Jerusalem and free;
Alleluia, joyful mother, all thy children sing with thee,
But by Babylon’s sad waters mourning exiles now are we.

Alleluia cannot always be our song while here below;
Alleluia, our transgressions make us for a while forgo;
For the solemn time is coming when our tears for sin must flow.

Therefore in our hymns we pray Thee, grant us, blessed Trinity,
At the last to keep Thine Easter with Thy faithful saints on high;
There to Thee forever singing Alleluia joyfully.

–LSB #417

Even so, it is well with my soul

When peace, like a river, attendeth my way; when sorrows, like sea billows, roll;
Whatever my lot, Thou hast taught me to say, It is well, it is well with my soul.
It is well with my soul, it is well, it is well with my soul.

Though Satan should buffet, though trials should come, let this blest assurance control,
That Christ hath regarded my helpless estate and hath shed His own blood for my soul.
It is well with my soul, it is well, it is well with my soul.

He lives–oh, the bliss of this glorious thought; my sin, not in part, but the whole,
Is nailed to His cross, and I bear it no more. Praise the Lord, praise the Lord, O my soul!
It is well with my soul, it is well, it is well with my soul.

And, Lord, haste the day when our faith shall be sight, the clouds be rolled back as a scroll,
The trumpet shall sound and the Lord shall descend; even so it is well with my soul.
It is well with my soul, it is well, it is well with my soul.

-Lutheran Service Book #763

If you are not familiar with the story of the writing of this hymn, please read it here.

O Lord, open my lips. . .

. . .and my mouth will declare Your praise.

You may notice that frequently, when blogging on matters of faith, I often rely on words from Scripture or from hymns rather than my own words. Like Moses, I find myself to be slow of speech. I surely used to be able to express myself with clarity; I have a piece of paper that bestows upon me a B.A. in English cum laude. At this stage in life, however, I find myself incapable of writing anything more complicated than a weekly menu and grocery list. There are thoughts in my head deeper than my stockpot, yes; but getting them out is another matter. I am thankful that there are those who, free from mommy brain, have already written (and written well) what is on my mind.

This is a blessing to me not just in blogging, but in all of life. I might forget which Looper husband is unemployed, but when we pray as a family “Give us this day our daily bread,” God remembers their needs. So too I may become distracted by the things that go wrong every day, but when I sing with my children at bedtime ”I am Jesus’ little lamb, ever glad at heart I am; for my Shepherd gently guides me, knows my need and well provides me; loves me every day the same, even calls me by my name,” I am reminded that we have a heavenly Father whose love for each of us is even greater and stronger than the love of our earthly fathers.

Thanks be to God that His gift of faith is not dependent on my being able to express it in my own words!

Change and decay

On Wednesday a member of our church family had cancer-related surgery. Yesterday a fellow Looper gave birth to a healthy baby girl. Today I learned that one of my childhood heroes, my piano teacher, is now on hospice care. Tomorrow we celebrate Baby Boy’s first year of life. The ebb and flow of life this side of heaven will alway includes sorrow and joy, tears and laughter. Thanks be to God that through His Son, death has been conquered and in heaven there is no weeping or mourning.

Swift to its close ebbs out life’s little day; earth’s joys grown dim, its glories pass away;
Change and decay in all around I see; O Thou who changest not, abide with me.

I fear no foe with Thee at hand to bless; ills have no weight and tears no bitterness.
Where is death’s sting? Where, grave, thy victory? I triumph still if Thou abide with me!

Hold Thou Thy cross before my closing eyes; shine through the gloom, and point me to the skies.
Heav’n's morning breaks, and earth’s vain shadows flee; in life, in death, O Lord, abide with me.

Abide with Me, LSB 878 st. 4-6

Mouths of babes

We’ve been trying to revive our old habit of singing after bedtime prayers. The von Trapps we are not, but it’s a wonderfully simple way to teach hymns to the wee ones without them realizing they are being taught.

The other night Larry asked lost boy #4 (age 3) what hymn he wanted to sing, and was baffled when he replied “Dogs-la-la-lee!” Now, as any hymn-loving mother can plainly see, the little lad wanted to sing the common Doxology. And so we did.

Praise God from Whom all blessings flow;
Praise Him, all creatures here below;
Praise Him above, ye heavenly host!
Praise Father, Son, and Holy Ghost!