Mountain Musings

Walton's Mountain Country Store

I'll pass by this delightful country store this afternoon when I go pick up the girls. Unfortunately, I won't have time to stop and browse--and spend money--maybe a good thing!

As close as we are, we've never been to the museum located in Schuyler right down the road from the country store. It's on my list of neat excursions to take one day.

Sometimes I think I would love to live back in those old-timey days when the pace was slower and close families were the norm instead of the exception. But...there are too many conveniences I wouldn't want to give up!

How about you? City slicker or country to the core? We're basically city slickers loving the country life...the best of both worlds.

~Deb

Guys & Girls

Yes, there's a difference!

I have been in the minority this week without the girls around. I need their help in more ways than just keeping house!

I'm constantly asking them, "Girls, give me your opinion; what should I do?" "Girls, what do you think about...(fill in the blank)...?" "Okay, girls, what do I fix for supper tonight?" "Hey, let's go ask Hannah." "Hey, let's go ask Sarah." Etc. etc. etc....This week I'm having to figure everything out myself!

We talked to them both on the phone last night, and they are having a good time helping Granny do tons of stuff...like digging up a hydrangea bush to bring home, helping with spring cleaning, going shopping, and eating out.

Tomorrow I drive half-way to meet my mom to pick them up. But tonight...tonight the guys suggested we eat out. They may be worth keeping after all. :)

~Deb

Too many rules?

Many times we hear the horror stories of "teenage rebellion." Unfortunately, some well-meaning people attribute this rebellion to "too many rules."  Those oppressive parents are the ones to blame for the child's loose spirit, right?  They shouldn't force their children to follow--gasp!--rules; teenagers should be allowed to make their own decisions about what is right for them, correct?

WRONG!

This is clearly not the Biblical pattern of child rearing. Again and again, we see the need for young men and women to listen to the counsel of their parents. In Proverbs especially, we read this:

1:8 "Hear, my son, your father's instruction, and do not forsake your mother's teaching."

2:1&5 "My son, if you will receive my sayings, and treasure my commandments within you...then you will discern the fear of the Lord."

3:1 "My son, do not forget my teaching, but let your heart keep my commandments."

4:1 "Hear, O sons, the instruction of a father, and give attention that you may gain understanding."

4:10-11 "Hear, my son, and accept my sayings, and the years of your life will be many. I have directed you in the way of wisdom; I have led you in the upright paths."

And so on and so forth. Clearly, the Bible tells parents not to be laissez-faire with their children, i.e. let them do what they wish, but rather guide, admonish, and protect them with Scriptural rules.

If you want to read more about this subject, here is an excellent article over at Thought of the Day.

~Jonathan

Caution: Work Week Ahead

Well, Jonathan and I are holding down the fort this week while both girls are at my mom's. And when Jonathan goes out to his community college classes this morning, it's just me and the pooch. This is sounding lonelier and lonelier.

I have tons of work to keep me busy, however. Tom's sister Sue will be arriving Saturday evening from Connecticut for a few days; and Elizabeth, Micah's fiancee, will fly into Dulles from Georgia next Sunday afternoon for Micah's spring break and stay until the next Sunday. 

We've basically finished all the spring cleaning except washing the windows and planting some new pansies. But meals still need to be planned, so if anyone has any great new company recipes to share, I'd be more than thankful!

Families always make lighter work loads by splitting the chores, and we sure do around here. But there are new chores this week I'm not used to--dishes, folding laundry, and doggie responsibilities aren't part of my normal routine. Jonathan and I will pitch in for the girls; we miss them already!

Here's a poem we heard recited at a Speech Meet in our homeschool group a few years ago. It seems appropriate for the start of a new work week.

Work!

Thank God for the might of it, The ardor, the urge, the delight of it.      

Work that springs from the heart's desire, Setting the brain and the soul on fire.    

Oh, what is so good as the heat of it, And what is so glad as the beat of it,   

And what is so kind as the stern command, Challenging brain and heart and hand?

Work!

Thank God for the pride of it, For the beautiful, conquering tide of it,

Sweeping the life in its furious flood, Thrilling the arteries, cleansing the blood,

Mastering stupor and dull despair, Moving the dreamer to do and dare.

Oh, what is so good as the urge of it, And what is so glad as the surge of it,

And what is so strong as the summons deep, Rousing the torpid soul from sleep?

Work!

Thank God for the pace of it, For the terrible, keen, swift race of it;

Fiery steeds in full control, Nostrils a-quiver to greet the goal.

Speeding the energies faster, faster. Work, the Power that drives behind,

Guiding the purposes, taming the mind, Holding the runaway wishes back,

Reining the will to one steady track, Triumphing over disaster.

Oh, what is so good as the pain of it, And what is so great as the gain of it?

And what is so kind as the cruel goad, Forcing us on through the rugged road?

Work!

Thank God for the swing of it, For the clamoring, hammering ring of it.

Passion of labor daily hurled On the mighty anvils of the world.

Oh, what is so fierce as the flame of it? And what is so huge as the aim of it?

Thundering on through dearth and doubt, Calling the plan of the Maker out.

Work, the Titan; Work, the friend, Shaping the earth to a glorious end,

Draining the swamps and blasting the hills, Doing whatever the Spirit wills-

Rending a continent apart, To answer the dream of the Master heart.

Thank God for a world where none may shirk. Thank God for the splendor of work!

~ Angela Morgan

~Deb

The Miracle of Life II

Recently Mom wrote a post about "The Miracle of Life." I want to expand on her thoughts with a deeper theme.

This past Wednesday was my "spiritual birthday"--a special day celebrating when I trusted Jesus as my Savior. It was the beginning of new life, a spiritual new life.

Spiritual life is a miracle, one that only God can perform. Have you ever thought how amazing it is that a mere human being can be lifted up, washed and cleansed, and radically changed into a new person?  It is mind-boggling. Even Nicodemus, a highly-educated man, could not fully grasp the concept in his late-night conversation with Jesus.

Yet God can do that--give us a rebirth into everlasting life. A  newborn baby is a wonderful thing; a human who is regenerated through Christ is even more wonderful. Thank you, Lord for saving me and changing me! Thanks for giving me new life, eternal life.

~Jonathan

Birthday Surprises Are Fun!

Oooo, this is fun! My (younger, and she won't let me forget it) sister Bet is headed home to VA tonight from SC to visit our mom and also because it's her (Bet's) birthday. It wouldn't be nice to really give away her age, so I'll just say it's not the big one with the zero at the end; but it's so close it ain't funny!

The fun part is...we're headed there tomorrow morning as a surprise! So far, so good that Bet hasn't figured it out. She's on the road and won't be near a computer for the weekend, so I think I'm safe blogging this. Notice to any of her friends who also read this blog: Please Do Not Call And Tell Her! :)

Tom is taking his tools to help my mom around the house; he and Jonathan have already gotten "the list." So while the guys are hard at work, the womenfolk will go shopping for a new bedroom outfit for my mom's newly added-on room to her home. 

Is this spur-of-the-moment fun or what? We're going and coming in one day, so we'll be back home for Easter services; we "think" Micah may come over and join us.

Hope everyone has a very Happy Resurrection Day on Sunday!

~Deb

Good Friday

Today Tom is off work...that would make any day good in my book. I would never be one of those wives who complains once their husband retires saying they're underfoot all day long. I'm looking forward to when that day comes.

How are we spending our free day? Tom has follow-up blood work at 9 a.m. sharp at the hospital from last Saturday's episode, and I see the orthopedic guy about my knee an hour later. Sounds like a real senior activities morning, doesn't it?  I think we deserve a good lunch out!

UPDATE: We're back from our medical excursions.

Him:  Tom won't find out about his blood work until next week; he's scheduled for stress tests on Thursday. He'll have a complete physical sometime later in April. For now, unless he has more symptoms or these tests show something unusual, the doctor thinks he's okay.

Her: The orthopedic doctor twisted my knee/leg in every direction imaginable. His final recommendation: no surgery! However, four other courses of action:

1) cortizone shot (ouch but not too bad); 2) naprosyn for inflammation; 3) exercises to strengthen my knee along with riding a stationary bike (guess we'll be getting it out of the shed and dusting it off!); 4) also, a few less brownies might help doc said :)

Lunch: "250 Central" named for its central location on Route 250; cute and good.

~Deb

To Dust You Shall Return

Been reading and thinking a lot lately about dust. Not just any old dust, but wood dust. You might have picked up that I am a hobbyist woodworker. After experiencing sneezing and coughing fits after times in the shop (garage), I just assumed that, once the fits were over, the problem was over. Not so, according to many folks who seem to know what they are talking about. Apparently, those tiniest wood dust particles (a few microns in size) float around in the air for quite a while after cutting wood. And the cilia and mucus that the Lord designed into my airways do not usually catch these particles when I inhale. So, they zoom right into my lungs and accumulate there. With prolonged exposure to this kind of dust, it is not uncommon for woodworkers to develop serious lung problems, sometimes cancerous, sometimes deadly. Gag.

So, much research has been done out here at Mountain Musings about controlling dust in a wood shop. Of course, there are those who recommend getting the very best state of the art cyclone collectors, like those used in professional industrial production shops. Kind of overkill for a half-garage hobbyist, and especially in the el walleto. Finally settled upon a decent unit, made by Delta, that reliably captures particles down to 1 micron and dumps the bigger visible stuff into a bag which I can periodically empty into the woods in the back yard. Here's a picture...

Now the next step is figuring out low-resistance ducts, hoses, and nozzles to connect each main shop tool to the DC unit. I think I've got that mostly scoped out but still cogitating on some specific parts.

I know, this is pretty arcane. But, hey, I'm a guy.

~ Tom

Celebrate!

Celebrate: verb, to observe with the proper ceremonies or festivities; to make known publicly; proclaim; to praise; honor.

"Let's celebrate!" is often heard around our house. It applies to little things as well as the normal birthdays, anniversaries, holidays, etc.

Yesterday was another of our many anniversaries: "first met anniversary" which we also fondly call our "first-laid-eyes-on-you" anniversary. The story goes like this...

Back in 1979 Tom first came down to Virginia from Connecticut for an engineering job interview in his senior year of college. I was the secretary who made all his flight and motel arrangements and made sure he arrived in style (ask him sometime about the bright yellow Camaro).

Our meeting was brief, but I did walk him down the hall and see him on his way after all his interviews and tour of the company. My supervisor offered him an engineering position; but after Tom realized the distance between cities and how far away he would be from Langley Air Force Base (4 hours) and his ministry commitment there, he turned down the job in favor of being where the Lord had called him for a time.

Tom wrote a letter back to my boss telling him this; my boss in turn routed the letter to me. Hmmm, this is interesting, I thought. Of all the engineering student recruits shuffled through the office, this guy seemed to stand out...turning down a first job offer out of college for the prospect of more job hunting and assisting in a military bible study ministry? Hmmm.

The Lord prompted me to write him a short note telling him I admired his decision and that I would be praying for him. (For me this was a safe thing to do; after all, he was all the way back in Connecticut, and I would never see him again.)

The Lord prompted Tom to write back thanking me and telling me something about himself and what he would be doing. Well, as you can guess, we became pen pals over the months to follow, and he wrote my dad asking for permission to come visit our family. We actually couldn't even remember what the other looked like!

And as they say, the rest is history. We are very thankful the Lord orchestrated this meeting of a Yankee and a "southern belle." :)  Let's celebrate!

~Deb

Review of Family Fiddlers

You would think after a Saturday that was crammed packed we would settle down and rest a bit. Well, yesterday afternoon we attended a free concert at Eastern Mennonite High School in Harrisonburg performed by the Hunt Family Fiddlers, a Christian homeschooling family consisting of the mom, dad, and seven children from Chesapeake, VA. They've performed not only locally around Virginia but in Scotland, Ireland, you name it.

They fiddled (fast), Irish step-danced (very fast), sang, and put on quite a show during the hour they were on stage. Those of you who know us well, know that we're very conservative in our musical choices. We weren't sure what to expect at this concert (we don't mind getting up and leaving if we need to).

We enjoyed all the Sound of Music selections very much. And several other numbers were excellent. The children are super talented! (Disclaimer: For anyone going to hear them if they're performing near you, note that they do play some rowdier music in their repertoire.)

~Deb