The weather could have gone either way - much like what happened a few weeks ago. A few weeks ago, the land was filled with snow and everyone was out there in it, frolicking and so forth. Today, not so much. It just didn't go our way.
The temperature got warm enough, and the rain came late enough, and the end result was a cold and miserable sort of rain. It's the kind of rain that mopes about wishing it was snow, getting so close to that magical point where dreams come true and smiles, joy and elation fill the landscape. Only, the temperature fell short, and we all were cold and wet instead.
Which is somewhat like our hopes in this state of ever winning a national title of some sort. Those crashed yet again tonight, although it was pretty obvious in this instance that the referees were also against us. That's the weird consolation for this state: that the missed calls were so obvious, and surely you'd have to be insane not to see them, or at least paid off. Which is not what I'm suggesting, of course. The referees weren't corrupt. They just made a few very timely critical mistakes in a row that gave a national championship game away to another team. Perhaps they weren't familiar with the rule about grabbing someone by the face mask, holding on to that face mask for an extended time, and yanking someone downward by said face mask.
Nevertheless, we remain losers once again, a land of hopelessness continued. I love the name Cleveland, Ohio has for their sports region: The Factory of Sadness. Only, Cleveland can claim a recent national championship less than two years ago. We the people of Georgia have one championship, twenty-three years ago in baseball. And the other was thirty-eight years ago in college football.
Of course, it could be worse. We could be Buffalo.
The consolation prize to the bad calls with the weather was this: an early call against going to school. Last night, the powers that be determined that school would not take place, and that was a nice thing to do last night. We all went to bed with full knowledge that none of us would be getting up early this morning.
Madison had what is called an online class day. Or something like that. Basically, she stayed home and did her classwork on this laptop here. It was actually a good bit of research and writing she was doing about historical figures from the 1920's. We know of Charles Lindbergh, and there were a few others too. Oddly enough, we'll be seeing something soon - at least we plan to. The Northeast Georgia History Center has an event this weekend, and those very same dancers we saw at the Wren's Nest will be there, dressed as flappers, and I'm assuming they're dancing like them too. This is a much more energetic sort of dance than the Victorian dances we saw them perform shortly before Christmas. That said, it should be interesting!
Today while Madison was working, Daddy was working at the office, usually a day off. But today we were getting ready the stage for our new series, and doing other related things too, such as proofing our booklets, doing Parenting Matters, and anything that could be done to help prepare for this weekend's new series launch. Even in the office, Daddy had to dress up in layers. It was cold today, even inside our office. Our location at KidPak is perilously close to the air conditioning system for the whole building, and from what we understand, air distributes from there, and apparently visits our area with greater intensity. Translation: you can hang meat in there.
It was Ba-ba's birthday today, so Mommy and Madison made that call to Florida to wish him well. Things are cold, even down there. We're in an unusual winter here, with these temperatures below freezing for longer times. Fountains are frozen, as are the artificial waterfalls in front of local neighborhoods. The fountain in front of Brenau looks like some sort of ice explosion sculpture. The fountains beside the church are similar, these large blocks of ice blooming in all kinds of weird directions. A time lapse of that would be cool, showing the fountains freezing.
It's also Elvis' birthday today, so tonight Mommy and Daddy watched an Elvis movie that Daddy got for Christmas. It was called "King Creole," and it was a little more on the dramatic side than we were expecting. Not that it was awful, although the ending seemed somewhat abrupt. The appearance of the general from "White Christmas" was fun, as was seeing Walter Matthau as a villain. Moo-ah-ah-ah!
Tonight before bed, we read from John 8, and then from "The Westing Game," which might be over by the beginning of next week. Madison knows the story and her lips are sealed as to what will happen next. She's been very good not to tell us any spoilers, although she was probing us a bit tonight to see if we had any ideas about whodunnit. In short, we have no idea. Madison didn't have any idea either when she first read it, so we're all waiting for that surprise ending.
And of course, tonight we said our prayers for our leaders, in church, school, and government. The fast continues, and so far it's been not so bad. Mommy's cooking always helps us ease into things: today we had her butternut squash soup, which is legendary.
Speaking of the fast, here's the second entry in the fasting journal:
The temperature got warm enough, and the rain came late enough, and the end result was a cold and miserable sort of rain. It's the kind of rain that mopes about wishing it was snow, getting so close to that magical point where dreams come true and smiles, joy and elation fill the landscape. Only, the temperature fell short, and we all were cold and wet instead.
Which is somewhat like our hopes in this state of ever winning a national title of some sort. Those crashed yet again tonight, although it was pretty obvious in this instance that the referees were also against us. That's the weird consolation for this state: that the missed calls were so obvious, and surely you'd have to be insane not to see them, or at least paid off. Which is not what I'm suggesting, of course. The referees weren't corrupt. They just made a few very timely critical mistakes in a row that gave a national championship game away to another team. Perhaps they weren't familiar with the rule about grabbing someone by the face mask, holding on to that face mask for an extended time, and yanking someone downward by said face mask.
Nevertheless, we remain losers once again, a land of hopelessness continued. I love the name Cleveland, Ohio has for their sports region: The Factory of Sadness. Only, Cleveland can claim a recent national championship less than two years ago. We the people of Georgia have one championship, twenty-three years ago in baseball. And the other was thirty-eight years ago in college football.
Of course, it could be worse. We could be Buffalo.
The consolation prize to the bad calls with the weather was this: an early call against going to school. Last night, the powers that be determined that school would not take place, and that was a nice thing to do last night. We all went to bed with full knowledge that none of us would be getting up early this morning.
Madison had what is called an online class day. Or something like that. Basically, she stayed home and did her classwork on this laptop here. It was actually a good bit of research and writing she was doing about historical figures from the 1920's. We know of Charles Lindbergh, and there were a few others too. Oddly enough, we'll be seeing something soon - at least we plan to. The Northeast Georgia History Center has an event this weekend, and those very same dancers we saw at the Wren's Nest will be there, dressed as flappers, and I'm assuming they're dancing like them too. This is a much more energetic sort of dance than the Victorian dances we saw them perform shortly before Christmas. That said, it should be interesting!
Today while Madison was working, Daddy was working at the office, usually a day off. But today we were getting ready the stage for our new series, and doing other related things too, such as proofing our booklets, doing Parenting Matters, and anything that could be done to help prepare for this weekend's new series launch. Even in the office, Daddy had to dress up in layers. It was cold today, even inside our office. Our location at KidPak is perilously close to the air conditioning system for the whole building, and from what we understand, air distributes from there, and apparently visits our area with greater intensity. Translation: you can hang meat in there.
It was Ba-ba's birthday today, so Mommy and Madison made that call to Florida to wish him well. Things are cold, even down there. We're in an unusual winter here, with these temperatures below freezing for longer times. Fountains are frozen, as are the artificial waterfalls in front of local neighborhoods. The fountain in front of Brenau looks like some sort of ice explosion sculpture. The fountains beside the church are similar, these large blocks of ice blooming in all kinds of weird directions. A time lapse of that would be cool, showing the fountains freezing.
It's also Elvis' birthday today, so tonight Mommy and Daddy watched an Elvis movie that Daddy got for Christmas. It was called "King Creole," and it was a little more on the dramatic side than we were expecting. Not that it was awful, although the ending seemed somewhat abrupt. The appearance of the general from "White Christmas" was fun, as was seeing Walter Matthau as a villain. Moo-ah-ah-ah!
Tonight before bed, we read from John 8, and then from "The Westing Game," which might be over by the beginning of next week. Madison knows the story and her lips are sealed as to what will happen next. She's been very good not to tell us any spoilers, although she was probing us a bit tonight to see if we had any ideas about whodunnit. In short, we have no idea. Madison didn't have any idea either when she first read it, so we're all waiting for that surprise ending.
And of course, tonight we said our prayers for our leaders, in church, school, and government. The fast continues, and so far it's been not so bad. Mommy's cooking always helps us ease into things: today we had her butternut squash soup, which is legendary.
Speaking of the fast, here's the second entry in the fasting journal:
“When you go without eating, do not look gloomy like those who only pretend to be
holy. They make their faces look very sad. They want to show people they are fasting.
What I’m about to tell you is true. They have received their complete reward.”
Matthew 6:16 NIRV
During the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus told us how to fast. Here, he didn’t go into the details of what you don’t eat or what you do eat. The important thing to Jesus was this: your motivation. What is your reason for fasting?
Is it to get the attention of others? One translation of this scripture tells us that some people make a big production of it. They put on sad faces, and make a big deal out of it, all so that they can get attention. Imagine how they pretend to be holy: “Oh, look at poor us, and how much suffering we’re doing!”
In this passage, Jesus explained that if your attitude is like that, that’s all the reward you’ll ever get. Because if you are climbing this mountain because you want to be seen by everyone, you’re climbing the wrong mountain. Although everyone will see you up there, you won’t find God up there.
With the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus was talking about fasting in secret. But regardless of whether you fast in secret or as a part of a church fast, the goal is simple: a closer relationship with Him, and not to let everyone know you’re fasting.
Before you start, as with everything, be careful of your motivation. Be sure you’re fasting for the right reason. The ultimate goal of fasting is a closer relationship with our Heavenly Father. When you seek Him with all your heart, you’ll reach the highest heights, where He’ll be waiting for you with open arms.
During the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus told us how to fast. Here, he didn’t go into the details of what you don’t eat or what you do eat. The important thing to Jesus was this: your motivation. What is your reason for fasting?
Is it to get the attention of others? One translation of this scripture tells us that some people make a big production of it. They put on sad faces, and make a big deal out of it, all so that they can get attention. Imagine how they pretend to be holy: “Oh, look at poor us, and how much suffering we’re doing!”
In this passage, Jesus explained that if your attitude is like that, that’s all the reward you’ll ever get. Because if you are climbing this mountain because you want to be seen by everyone, you’re climbing the wrong mountain. Although everyone will see you up there, you won’t find God up there.
With the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus was talking about fasting in secret. But regardless of whether you fast in secret or as a part of a church fast, the goal is simple: a closer relationship with Him, and not to let everyone know you’re fasting.
Before you start, as with everything, be careful of your motivation. Be sure you’re fasting for the right reason. The ultimate goal of fasting is a closer relationship with our Heavenly Father. When you seek Him with all your heart, you’ll reach the highest heights, where He’ll be waiting for you with open arms.
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