COOKING!

I have this favourite recipe binder I am putting together.  I have have done this before and in some nefarious way it got over run with extraneous and not so favourite recipes.  Now I have started anew... title of the recipe book is "Dad's Recipe Book 2010 - No additions or deletions allowed".  Of course on a whim I can do what I want with it...I am the Dad.  It is good to have limited choice and this little book helps me make decisions.  I am thinking of Grant Schott's chicken cacciatore, likely my all time favourite recipe for a main course and Mom's pumpkin pie!

Marriage

As we start to show love in little things we feel more kindly towards each other.  Apologizing is a sign of strength and forgiveness isn't feeling and toilets are not self cleaning!  Two people do not become strangers overnight.  Choose wisely each day, turn towards her.

Ogden Nash's Secret of Marriage

To keep your marriage brimming,
With love in the wedding cup,
Whenever you're wrong, admit it;
Whenever you're right, shut up. 

Ogden Nash [1902-1971]

Christmas Morning 2010

It is better to give than receive.  Why is that?  Is it because we are selfish and would rather choose our "gifts" by ourselves so they meet our standards, so getting gifts is somehow a let down?  Or is it because we are selfish and think we can choose good gifts and of course the recipient would like something I choose for them, right?  Or is it because we perceive some benefit flowing back to us by being the magnanimous giver, a sort of socio-biological success?  Or is it that some altruistic bent has been formed in us from the beginning, some vestigial mentality left over from creation.  Evolution would seem to say that altruism doesn't exist in a biological being.  I mean giving up some advantage, truly giving it up can only really harm you right?  The resources won't be there for a down turn of the economy.  Enjoy your day of giving and receiving.  Make sure you let someone else have the joy of giving you a gift.     

Merry Christmas.

Anna's Shoes

Parenting

It is with joy we celebrate Fraser's graduation from Sir Wilfrid Laurier.  The Bangkok Spoon Deluxe...such a great place to hang out for a celebration and meal.  What a privilege it is to be able to take 4 years of your life and study anything you want to. For those of us who have had this amazing input from scholars and passionate teachers (Stephen F. H. Threlkeld and Alan Redpath and many more) what is the result?  Joy for sure.  What obligation does it put us under?

The First Blog Post

Seriously, I have so many areas of life that are random.  Family, personal, work, church, volunteering, parenting, teaching, reading, theology, hunting, exercise, friendship, cars, life group, skiing, promiseland, computers.  Can I link these together in some sort of meaningful way?  Can I project myself to the world in a humble yet informative way that gives room for expressing my thoughts and struggles in life.  

Is it safe?  Is it secret?  What was it like with no sin?  Why are we left here?  Why am I left here?  

Tom Bombadil:  Eldest, that's what I am... Tom remembers the first raindrop and the first acorn... he knew the dark under the stars when it was fearless – before the Dark Lord came from Outside."