Outside My window there is sand and salt everywhere! We had a lot of snow and then things warmed up. This led to a cycle of thaw and freeze. As if that was not bad enough, when it turned cold it rained and left more ice. So, everything outdoors is fully encrusted with sand and ice melt. It makes what is left of the snow dirty, mucks up the cars, tracks into the house on shoes and is generally not a postcard perfect picture to look at. Its probably the one thing I dislike about winter.
I am thinking about the application of a bible study lesson on the Nazarite vow. This is an area that I question frequently. How am I different, how is my life different from that of someone who does not know Christ. In the culture of Corinth Paul felt that he had to take the Nazarene vow. When he left Corinth, the bible tells us he got a haircut.
I am thankful for extra weight! I recently read a book called the Fattening of America. In this book, the author listed all the various reasons that are given for the fattening of the industrial world but he says, it all boils down to economics. We are wealthy. With wealth has come cheap food readily available. Would we really want it any other way? The opposite is occurring in the country of Mauritanian Africa. In a country that revers fat as a sign of wealth and power they getting thinner. Why? Because their countries economy has taken a down turn.
From the kitchen this week you will find simple light meals. We are still full from the holidays! I also made a Sam's Club run this week and loaded up on naval oranges, green and red grapes, Fuji apples, carrots for juicing, pineapples, banana's and pomegranates. My trip to Sam's was not the result of a New Years resolution. My juicer had broken some months ago and my husband recently replaced it for me. We were so busy with the holidays that I did not have time to make the special trip to Sam's in order to get the carrots. Fresh Carrot juice tasted so amazing after months of absence!
I am wearing a grey skirt, black turtleneck sweater, and will add a black shawl and black flats when I leave the house.
I am creating a lesson for one of the coop classes on Israel's modern history. We started off looking at why God chose to scatter the Israelites, the actual references to the scattering and then all the verses concerning the regathering. We mapped out all the important sites in Israel and then filled in a map on the middle east. The last part of today's lesson was gathering a fact file on the state. Next time we meet we will be looking at the modern history and current events of Israel. Very interesting stuff for me and I hope the students.
I am reading an eclectic selection. I actually had some time last week to explore the library shelves! This is one of my favorite activities! I start at the first row and start reading down the shelf titles. When a title jumps out at me I grab it. If it looks like something I would like to read I drop it in my rolling cart. Its amazing what you can pick up doing this. My selection included The World Is Curved hidden dangers to the Global economy, The fattening of America, Suburban Safari, Word Smart, 100 Ways To Motivate others, Eats Shoots, and Leaves.
I am hearing my canaries singing loudly! I really do enjoy these messy birds! I purchased a new cage with some of my Christmas money. Its an antique cage that my husband painted black. The feeders are glass. It is so cool. I will try to post a picture this week.
I am praying for friends who just found out this morning that they have a new daughter waiting for them in China. They have a picture and have 24 hours to decide. They have waited so long.
A few plans for the rest of the week: Back to the normal routine. All those activities are geared back up for this week. Coop today, piano and gym class tomorrow, church Wed. night. Our oldest daughter made a trip back to her school for meetings today but will return tonight and be home for another two weeks before having to return for her last semester of school to student teach. She is graduating in MAY!
