Cutest Kid Contest

Well, I've done it.  I've entered Evelyn into a Cutest Kid contest on facebook.  If her photo gets the most 'likes' we win a free photo session and free prints.  And of course bragging rights that your kid won a cutest kid contest.  Now to get all of my facebook friends to vote for Evelyn.  The contest goes for 10 days, so we'll see what happens in that time.

This is the photo I entered:

44 Books

Just a couple months ago, my cousin and his wife were at our house, and as we were showing them what we've done in the basement, our attention was turned to our bookshelf.  He asked me about some of the books on the shelf and whether or not I've read them.  I had to say no.  There are in fact 44 books on our bookshelf that I have never read.

So, I got to wondering, "What if there are some books of those 44 that aren't worth the read?"  How will I know if we should keep the book unless I've read it?  So, here embarks a bold endeavor.  My goal (however long it may take) is to read all 44 of those books and decide if they earn a spot on our shelf.  The ones that do will be put back in their spot.  The ones that don't will be given away.

The rules:
*Before reading one of the 44 books, I must: spend time in God's Word, spend at least a half hour playing with Evelyn and Elsie, and wash the dishes.

I don't want my reading to take priority over the things that are truly more important.

Book #1 is "Be Your Own 'Doctor'" by Rachel Weaver.  After I've finished it, I'll let you know what I think and whether it stays or goes. (Although I'm guaranteeing that this one will stay).

John Ploughman

Every year for Christmas, our pastor gives every family in the church a book.  Two years ago he gave us "The Complete John Ploughman".  It took me two years to finally pick it up and read it, and I actually just finished it this morning.  

In case you don't know anything about it, it's a book by C. H. Spurgeon written from the perspective of a simple farmer giving practical advice for every day things. I found so many things he said helpful, and many gave me a new perspective on the particular subject.  I have copied down some of my favorite quotes from the book, and hopefully it gives you the itch to read the book and find the context for what he says.  You can even borrow my copy if you like!

It is never worthwhile to do unnecessary things.

All women are good - either for something or for nothing, and their dress will generally tell you which. 

God sends every bird its food, but He does not throw it into the nest; He gives us our daily bread, but it is through our own labor.

If after all our being sober and thrifty, we cannot get along without pinching, let us still be patient and contented. 

A man never listens to reason when he has made up his mind to act unreasonably. 

Begin early to teach, for children begin early to sin.  Children are what they are made: the pity is that so many are spoiled in the bringing up. 

Men are neither suddenly rich nor suddenly good. 

A good husband will generally have a good wife, or make a bad wife better. 

Be not concerned with that which concerns not thee. 

Many are sorry they spoke, but few ever mourn that they held their tongue. 

To work hard for success makes us fit to bear it: we enjoy the bacon all the more because we have got an appetite by earning it. 

If you cannot get along honestly, be satisfied not to get on. 

When a man thinks that he is to make himself good before he comes to Jesus to be saved, he is planting the fruit instead of the root, and putting the chimney pots where the foundation should be.  We do not save ourselves and then trust the Saviour; but when the Saviour has worked salvation in us, then we work it out with fear and trembling.  Be sure, good reader, that you put faith first, and works afterwards; for, if not, you will put the cart before the horse.

Hanging Out to Dry

When we first moved into our house, there was a clothes line across the better part of the backyard.  It was right in the way of the main open area, and it was ugly.  We took it down, and the first summer we lived here I kept trying to figure out a place to hang up a line.  I never could figure out something that Kevin would agree to.

The second summer, I got enough guts to ask our elderly next door neighbor lady if I could use her clothes line that ends right by our garage.  I had observed that she never used it the summer before, and she's a nice lady (the kind that randomly brings over some cookies or brownies just because), so I thought my odds of her saying yes were pretty good.  Sure enough she said to go ahead because she never uses it.  Well, that was great, but I didn't have any clothes pins.  So, I only hung Evelyn's cloth diapers out there because I could fasten the snaps around the line so they wouldn't fall off.

This third summer I found some clothes pins at a thrift sale for fifty cents.  I guess it's just quicker and easier to throw the clothes into the dryer, because last week, I hung a load of clothes out on the line to dry for the first time.  It was so FUN!  It was extra fun because it was the girls' clothes and seeing all of their cute pink clothes waving in the breeze just made me grin.