Poetry, by Henry Wordsworth Longfellow

A Psalm of Life

By Henry Wordsworth Longfellow

Tell me not, in mournful numbers,

Life is but an empty dream!-

For the soul is dead that slumbers,

And things are not what they seem.

Life is real! Life is earnest!

And the grave is not its goal;

Dust thou art, to dust returnest,

Was not spoken of the soul.

Not enjoyment, and not sorrows,
Is our destined end or way;
But to act, that each to-morrow

Find us farther than to-day.

Art is long, and Time is fleeting,

And our hearts, tough stout and brave,

Still, life muffled drums, are beating

Funeral marches to the grave.

In the world's broad field of battle,

In the bivouac of Life,

Be not dumb, driven cattle!

Be a hero in the strife!

Trust no future, howe'er pleasant!

Let the dead Past bury its dead!

Act,-act in the living Present!

Heart within, and God o'erhead!

Lives of great men all remind us

We can make our lives sublime,

And, departing, leave behind us

Footprints on he sands of time;

Footprints, that perhaps another,

Sailing o'er life's solemn main,

A forlorn and shipwrecked brother,

Seeing, shall take heart again.

Let us, then, be up and doing,

With a heart for any fate;

Still achieving, still pursuing,

Learn to labor and to wait.

Think Goose!

Yesterday afternoon and evening our family had a "Family Meeting," as our family gatherings is called when there is a more formal purpose to the event.

The discussion that followed our "Family Meeting" announcement, was somewhat, okay totally unconventional.

Questions such as "what do you see lacking in your life? What would you like to be doing that you are not doing now? Are you able to fulfill all that the Lord has placed on your heart, what/how? What do you feel you need to be doing that you aren't able to do because of the circumstances and resources (or lack there of) in our life right now? If there were one place in America that you would like to live, where would it be? If there were one place in the world that you would like to live, where would it be?"

Personal questions, such as these, were then written down on a white-board, thanks to my wonderful mother (who's long-hand is actually legible, unlike most of the rest of us), and then dictated into one of my note books, thanks to myself (whose hand writing can either be legible or mistaken for a code, depending on the speed and mood at the moment :).

As mom wrote onto the white board, and I moved all that was white-board-writting onto hard-cover (using the method of note-taking, of course), I began to notice some startling similarities.

For starters, where we would like to live:

Miester man stated that he would like to continue living out on "the acreage," and he "really hadn't thought about living any where else." (We moved there when he was three, and my baby sister was an infant).

My youngest sister responded with "I would like to live in Ohio, and if there was any where in the world that I would like to be, it would be Florida... It's so warm there, and it is beautiful! So many trees and plants! And palm trees are beautiful" (she has never been to FL before ;) We thought that was so cute!)

Theoderek's answer was simple, "Either Texas or Alaska" (way to give us an example of "juxtaposition," bro!) "and either Mongolia or Africa, are the places I would like to live, if I could, any where in the world."

Me, myself and I, answered with absolute clarity of mind. "I want to live in the South West(Oklahoma, Texas, New Mexico area), or, definitely Israel." I can say the latter with complete confidence in myself. Israel is a place I have wanted to live, at least for a short time, since I could comprehend that the world is a humongous globe that has hundreds of places to be discovered (by quizzical little girls, that is :)

Mom responded, surprisingly, nearly exactly the same way I did. "Southwest area/ Northern New Mexico, Northern California, or Israel..."

Gosh! Do Great Minds Think Alike, or what?

Dad, after truly thinking about it, confessed that there was actually no particular place that he would like to live more than any other place, but that he would like to like in Israel for a short time, because of political unrest, violence, war, etc. It being a war-torn, conflicting, highly political country and all, making it rather unsafe for Americans (but I still want to live there some day...)

We then discussed what each of us "thought this family was about." What is it that we each feel is an important part that makes up our family.

Again, the similarities were most surprising.
More than once the phrase "we're about education" was mentioned, at least by the older people in the home. The two Little's (Miester and Banana) really didn't understand what was being discussed, and decided that blowing up Polly-town with Bionicles was a lot more fun than listening to "what our family is about." (of course Banana objects, stating that Bionicles are "stupid" and "don't do that to my set up!" Which ended in a bickering match. But hey, it's family bonding, right? I'm just kidding... sort 'a...)

Dad is also fascinated with the Hebraic culture/ church, and has a heart for supporting this. The Hebraic culture is very much family based, and so we as individuals (and therefore, as a family) agreed that this, also, was highly important to our family as a whole.

All this similar thinking takes me back to recall 'The Aristocats,' when the geese, Amelia and Abigail Gabble are telling the rich family of cats how they are to behave, when Amelia and Abigail give them direction...
"Think goose....." "Yes, my dear, think goose!"

The mother cat replies along the lines of, "Think goose?"

The "Think Goose," concept entails waddling (like a goose) and following in line, behind none other than the Gabble Gals. In perfect sync the group of two geese, two cats and three kittens follows to the music, in perfect sync, waddling their way into town. How charming!

As a family, we, in a sense, are called to, "think goose."

Think as one. Through thinking as one, we will, eventually, act as one. One family. One body. One movement. One earth-rumbler... Well, okay, maybe it doesn't have to be quite that dramatic, but it certainly wouldn't hurt... :)

What better way to begin this process than with sharing our dreams: dream for ourselves, dreams for the familyl What resources we are lacking which is keeping us incapable of completing those dreams. And then, of course, acting on these dreams. Acting on the next step to completing our family dreams, and individual dreams....

And what better time, than now. A time where we, as a family, are in the midst of a serious life-shift.

What better time to hear, listen to, look and consider who is feeling and what it is that causes unhappiness in our family... No better time "Than the now..." (Edna Mode, 'The Incredible's)

And you, my friend, what better time to grow as an individual, grow as a family, and share your dreams, than "The Now?!" So your family, too, may "Think Goose!"

God richly bless and keep you safe, bless and protect your family, and lead you into His Divine wisdom, in all that you do!

Miss. Elisabeth

Crowned!

By Julie Linker. (Actually there is no exclamation point in the title of the book, I just added it to look more impressive)

I absolutely adore Julie Linker's writing style in this witty, yet down-to-earth, and a bit too organic, fictional novel. The "journal style" writing that Linker exudes in this books is a lot of fun, creating a real-life world for the audience to jump into, both feet!

Basically, the book is about a 16 year old young woman, Presley Ashbury, a Pageant Queen, defining herself as a young woman over the course of a two week period, proceeding her big "Pageant Day."
Of course, there is a terrible and vicious villain, Megan Leighton, a tall, long-legged, dark haired, "freaky green eyed" task-oriented sixteen year old, who is absolutely determined to win the crown and defeat Presley.
And, to add to the "duh," affect (which is rather witty), there are two gorgeous young men involved (you've gotta love a book with handsome, masculine, buff, and "brotherly" young lads!! - lol). As every (smart, involved with teenagers, especially girls) knows, when two girls are involved, and two "hot" young men are involved (young men who the girls like) there is usually trouble brewing.
And, of course, the trouble brewing definitely gets mixed in with the whole Pageant affair.

Stunning insight into the minds, and world of our young ladies, in today's culture. It's right up there in my list with "The Body Project," as far as research in the realm of the adolescent female is concerned. It also has some, quite surprising, yet at the same time 'duh,' information regarding the whole pageant system.

**Spoiler??? Alert (as in, it spoils the innocence of the book)**
- The b-word is used to describe young woman, on more than one occasion. If b---- isn't used, then "slut," is. Name calling is, apparently, a national sport amongst our teenagers.
(And today, we'll be scoring on
a) creativity,
b) profanity
c) harshness
d) personalization... no offense... wait... if your offended, maybe you too should reconsider your use of your Mother Tongue.)
- Sexuality and intimacy with the boys/ young men is discussed.
- At the pageant the girls share a hotel room with one other girl. Think dorm rooms. It's pretty realistic (in Presley's case, who shares a room with Megan, rather traumatic, and graphic)
- I would basically rate the book a PG-13 for Language, sexual scenes, and some violence (fantasizing slapping someone/ killing someone, being slapped, etc.)
- Would be a sleazy book if it wasn't a) so darn funny, b) quite true to the dog-eats-dog life young woman grow up in, today.

I highly recommend this book to those who are interested in learning more about the adolescent female-teen, pageants or just need a good, light hearted, sappy, "brain candy," laugh :)

"By 1995 American women and girls were spending more than $100 million on "cellulite busters," at $60 a tube."

"Liposuction has become the most popular kind of cosmetic surgery in the United States."

"I really had little to teach them (adolescent girl students) about what it means to live in a culture of unrelenting objectification where women's bodies are used to sell everything..."

"One million teenage girls get pregnant in America every year... only 45% of the pregnancies come to term and are cared for by the biological family."

"In America, girls under fifteen are at least five times more likely to give birth than girls of the same age in other industrialized countries."

I can go on and on with the stunning statistic given in this incredible book, about the evolution of the American girl: From corset laced to promiscuity. Joan Jacobs Brumberg uses the diaries of girls from the late 1800's to the mid-1990's as the back-bone of her incredible essay on what has happened to American teenage girls, and how

there really is a need to educate them as females.

How our culture has really "dropped the ball," figuratively speaking, in regards to training up this young women in how to be wise in their decisions as young women, how to act responsibly, think maturely, and realize that when their sexuality, being powerful, ought to be protected, and then how to protect it.

Starting with Menarche, Brumberg goes through the (rather short) list of ways young women are expected to make themselves presentable to the public (which should, more appropriately, be stated as "perfecting themselves for the ever-watching media.")

From the first signs of puberty (or menstruation) to the flaw-less skin-look; from svelte, dieting and image identity to the birth of shapeliness; from the cultural obsession with showing the pelvic bone in "trendy" jeans and swim-suits to head to near-toe piercings...

Brumberg covers all those bases which define the modern-female adolescents sexuality, how it has evolved, what America's concerns SHOULD be, and what we, as individuals can do to help the younger generation be more knowledgeable in who they are as young-feminine human beings.

(p.s. the only reason I finished this book in two days was I was, quite literally, obsessed with Brumberg's ideas, and simply captivated by the statistics and history this book is saturated in)

Knitting!

Well I would rewrite the last post from my other blog (http://www.theartoffemininity.blogspot.com/) onto this blog. But for now a link will have to suffice, as I am running out of time, and spending extended amounts of time on the computer is rather boring...
To view my other blog, click on the title of this post


Many rich blessings!!

Miss Elisabeth

EVERYONE'S (getting) SICK!

AAAAAAAAH!!!!

In response to both mom, Hannah and Ethan getting sick (with the flu, no less), I have done something terribly drastic, and utterly disgusting!

Now....

"I'm feeling... happy..."

I got myself to this point of happiness, by following basic principles of health, nutrition, and antique medical skills... (yes, they do [sometimes] work)

Okay, c'mon, this isn't too drastic! Everyone should have some form of vitamin C supplement in their home. If you aren't, and have money to afford it, you should go out and get some. Vitamin C is the "wonder" vitamin in our home... at least for my sister, mom and I. If we have a cold "take vitamin C." Flu, vitamin C. In the morning, along with your Complete Multi, "don't forget your vitamin C." It's a wonderful little mineral that is quite essential for the well-being of humanity...
Okay... so I downed a few of these...


Next on the list, Vitamin D.... and... apparently you can get this in a "non-dry" form... at least, that's what's implied on the label, aye?! Weird!
Mom bought this Vitamin D after talking with a health-nut friend of ours (one of the many who have made their ways, comfortably, in our lives). Our... mom's?... friend buys this in the fall and "feeds it to all her children every day... they are rarely sick..." !? And why doesn't it work as an "Anti-illness-miracle-pre-cure-vitamin" for our family, well I don't have a clue!
But I took one of these... rather in terrifying fear of getting sick with *coughs* the flu, as apposed to a "Pro-active, Healthy Life Style" initiative.
:) Just one to satisfy me, thanks!

"Spirulina!" "Barley Grass..."
Sounds so Scientific, or idyllic (as if from some farm, far, far away).
Don't get your hopes up! This drink is fondly known of as
"Pond Scum,"
in our home...
"And I mean that in a very caring way!"

Basically one chokes down the watered-down, sea-cow-grass, while anxiously looking forward to the, literal, scum, sitting gleefully at the bottom of your unfortunate cup.
(And they make it look SO good on "Iron Man.")
One, tall, glass of this will set any human being up forever.
Actually, honestly, I can tell a physical difference when I drink a cup-a-day, and when I don't. It's not too bad (it might taste good with lemon juice in it), when watered down and well mixed, and after you get used to it... God definitely intended it for the Sea-Cows, to stay IN the Sea, and for SEA CREATURE CONSUMPTION ONLY!!
But... it's mineral-rich...

Last, but certainly not least, our vintage-miracle-remedies-antique-all-cure....

*drum roll please*


GARLIC!
This is, truly, the love of my culinary-kitchen life. Garlic makes the world go round. Garlic is an incredible flower-garden-decor. Garlic should be our National Plant. Garlic heals the sick. Garlic smells intoxicating. Garlic creates amazing kitchen-aroma. Garlic is a healing herb... *sigh*... What else needs to be said?

Garlic is amazing!

When we were on the acreage, I cooked everything (almost) with our fresh, home-grown garlic... (would cake taste good with garlic?)

If someone was coming down with some ailment, mom would promptly cut a clove of garlic of a fresh garlic-head, peel the skin off, and "offer" it to the ailing relation. It actually nearly always worked!!

And now....

I'M FLOATING IN HEALTH.... AND VITALITY.....

God richly bless you and keep you, and your entire family.

And may God heal you from the sickness' of the winter ;-)

Miss Elisabeth