Wednesday, July 15, 2009
WELCOME TO YOUR LOCAL EXHIBIT OF THE FALL
Went to the zoo yesterday. Kathryn and Alex darted from cage to cage, peering in at strange creatures snoozing, picking fleas, swimming, slithering. We passed through the social animals exhibit, where primates of all types climbed and swung from vine to rope to tree. Then there it was, the glass-enclosed display of skulls, from the tiniest what-ever-it-was up through the chimp, gorilla, and finally us, the HOMO-SAPIENS. Kathryn asked what it was, and I said, "just some old bones" and kept walking. In many of the exhibits, the animals were fighting. Struggling for the highest position on the rock, the best feeding spot, pulling ears, biting, yanking tails. Now THAT looked a bit human, I have to say. The only true commonalities between the two sides of the glass were a common creator and a common fall. In fact, the very fact that there are cages and trenches and walls signifies the fallen nature of creation. Can you imagine a zoo on the new earth? Where all things live harmoniously? Don´t worry, all you moms out there... I didn´t moan and groan through the zoo sharing the theology of the fall with everyone within 500 feet, ruining the day for everyone. I oohed and aahed over how beautiful and unique God had made these animals, and my kids enjoyed it thoroughly. But what I have to say to you adults out there is ´go to the zoo.´ We believe in the imminent return of Christ, don´t we? This may be your last chance to see the fall in the animal kingdom, you never know. Of course, you could just wait for the ´social animals´in the backseat to fight over the fries. As for me, I´m looking forward to the New Jerusalem Zoo.
Saturday, July 11, 2009
When You Marry Him...
(an anonymous poem from WAY BACK WHEN that I found framed in the Bed & Breakfast) It was sampler style and too memorable to pass up...
When you marry him, love him.
After you marry him, study him.
If he is secretive, trust him.
If he is sad, cheer him.
When he is talkative, listen to him.
When he is quarrelsome, ignore him.
If he is jealous, cure him.
If he cares naught for pleasure, coax him.
If he favors society, accompany him.
When he deserves it, kiss him.
Let him think how well you understand him,
But never let him know that you manage him.
I found the complement online after returning home:
When you marry her, love her.
After you marry her, study her.
When she is blue, cheer her.
When she is talkative, by all means listen to her.
If she dresses well, compliment her.
When she is cross, humor her.
When she does you a favor, kiss her.
If she is jealous, cure her.
If she is lonely, comfort her.
When she looks pretty, tell her so.
Let her feel how well you understand her,
But never let her know she isn´t boss.
(an anonymous poem from WAY BACK WHEN that I found framed in the Bed & Breakfast) It was sampler style and too memorable to pass up...
When you marry him, love him.
After you marry him, study him.
If he is secretive, trust him.
If he is sad, cheer him.
When he is talkative, listen to him.
When he is quarrelsome, ignore him.
If he is jealous, cure him.
If he cares naught for pleasure, coax him.
If he favors society, accompany him.
When he deserves it, kiss him.
Let him think how well you understand him,
But never let him know that you manage him.
I found the complement online after returning home:
When you marry her, love her.
After you marry her, study her.
When she is blue, cheer her.
When she is talkative, by all means listen to her.
If she dresses well, compliment her.
When she is cross, humor her.
When she does you a favor, kiss her.
If she is jealous, cure her.
If she is lonely, comfort her.
When she looks pretty, tell her so.
Let her feel how well you understand her,
But never let her know she isn´t boss.
Friday, July 10, 2009
Just us!
Nathan and I went away for a mini-vacation at the beginning of this week. It was fabulous! We found a Bed and Breakfast in Columbus, MS. We´ve been to one before down at the Gulf, so we were prepared for the whole gourmet breakfast with strangers thingie. The first morning, however, we were the only guests. We had Monte Cristo sandwiches (Texas toast piled high with salami and cheeses, dipped in egg, grilled, and then dusted with powdered sugar) and fruit parfaits. The next morning was Bananas Foster over French toast (sliced bananas served with a brown sugar and butter sauce). Ooohhh... now I´m getting hungry just thinking about it. While I´m on a roll, let me describe the meal I got at Harvey´s Monday night: a fabulously loaded potato soup followed by a Tuscan Chicken Sandwich (ciabatta bread topped with basil pesto mayonnaise, mixed greens, sun-dried tomatoes, seasoned grilled chicken, marinated artichoke hearts, and melted provolone). Heaven! And then we snuck out for Wendy´s Frosties. OK, so I´ve been eating salads since I got back ;o)
Since I wandered from my original thought and fell into a soup bowl, let me back up... Shadowlawn Bed and Breakfast, owned by antique connoisseurs and fabulous Christian hosts, Nono and Burnette Avakian, was a beautiful, refreshing place to spend a few days. Our only disappointment was that we didn´t get to stay longer and that we couldn´t bring home their cocker spaniel, Caesar. Their house was filled with scriptures posted on the walls, and breakfast was accompanied by quiet hymns playing in the background. The home itself was a beautiful Antebellum mansion used as a Civil War hospital during the war. (It was explained to us that since Columbus, MS was used as a hospital town for both sides, it escaped the ransacking and burning).
We also visited the Waverly Mansion and the Tennessee Williams birthplace (it was the welcoming center).
All in all, we had an uber-fabulous time!!!! Can´t wait for our next get-away!
Nathan and I went away for a mini-vacation at the beginning of this week. It was fabulous! We found a Bed and Breakfast in Columbus, MS. We´ve been to one before down at the Gulf, so we were prepared for the whole gourmet breakfast with strangers thingie. The first morning, however, we were the only guests. We had Monte Cristo sandwiches (Texas toast piled high with salami and cheeses, dipped in egg, grilled, and then dusted with powdered sugar) and fruit parfaits. The next morning was Bananas Foster over French toast (sliced bananas served with a brown sugar and butter sauce). Ooohhh... now I´m getting hungry just thinking about it. While I´m on a roll, let me describe the meal I got at Harvey´s Monday night: a fabulously loaded potato soup followed by a Tuscan Chicken Sandwich (ciabatta bread topped with basil pesto mayonnaise, mixed greens, sun-dried tomatoes, seasoned grilled chicken, marinated artichoke hearts, and melted provolone). Heaven! And then we snuck out for Wendy´s Frosties. OK, so I´ve been eating salads since I got back ;o)
Since I wandered from my original thought and fell into a soup bowl, let me back up... Shadowlawn Bed and Breakfast, owned by antique connoisseurs and fabulous Christian hosts, Nono and Burnette Avakian, was a beautiful, refreshing place to spend a few days. Our only disappointment was that we didn´t get to stay longer and that we couldn´t bring home their cocker spaniel, Caesar. Their house was filled with scriptures posted on the walls, and breakfast was accompanied by quiet hymns playing in the background. The home itself was a beautiful Antebellum mansion used as a Civil War hospital during the war. (It was explained to us that since Columbus, MS was used as a hospital town for both sides, it escaped the ransacking and burning).
We also visited the Waverly Mansion and the Tennessee Williams birthplace (it was the welcoming center).
All in all, we had an uber-fabulous time!!!! Can´t wait for our next get-away!
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