HEM·ology: noun: somewhere between zoology and theology.
We went back to Texas for a week after Christmas. It was a wonderful time to catch up with family and friends. One thing I didn't expect was the humility that comes with seeing firsthand that "life goes on"—seeing a friend's pregnant belly for the first time, kids who grew a foot taller, close friends who moved to a new home. . . I'm grateful the Lord allowed us a glimpse into their lives without the use of technology; however, the emotions from it are still reeling.
*And I promise I will continue writing about non-Texas/Indiana things in the future—but apparently that is not today. HA!
I love notebooks, and it has become a problem. For real! I have so many going that I lose track of where they are and lag behind keeping them updated. Then I came across this idea of The Everything Notebook.
The idea is keeping your entire life written in one place: to do lists, reading lists, names of people you meet, things your kids say, quotes, narrations on your reading, goals for the year, progress on those goals. . . My only deviation is my prayer journal; so, I guess it's a Everything-ish for me.
This notebook is like none other. It lays flat when opened. It comes with stickers to label the outside. The pages are numbered. There is a place to index your work. There is a pocket in the back. And it comes with two bookmarks.
Their phrase is "Denken mit der Hand"—"Think with your hand."
Anna Newton at The Wardrobe Edit has a very classic style about her life. She's British (hence the spelling of the title) and ultra modern and chic—something *so* funny about that being my description of her whilst I live in the suburbs of Indiana. . .
This is a long post with pictures of how she has started out her year with organizing every area of her life. I found it really practical and inspiring, despite the fact that she does not yet have children to contend with. HA! Isn't that the majority of my tidying complexities?!
And of course something about reading lists for the new year. This one is different in that Jared Henderson of Commonplace Philosophy gives great, no-nonsense counsel about what to choose for your reading habits this year.
My favorite idea of his is to join a book club. I have one that I am interested in—stay tuned on that.
I opened my Google Drive this week to realize I started this book I want to write nearly 4 years ago. That's disheartening. But what would be more disheartening is to realize this 5 or 10 or 25 years from now. I dug out the outline I like best for it, and I am pressing on.
"When I am in the cellar of affliction, I look for the Lord's choicest wine."
—Samuel Rutherford
*Clint has been reading sections of his writing to me lately—these are amongst my favorite moments.
Prayer the church's banquet, angel's age,
God's breath in man returning to his birth,
The soul in paraphrase, heart in pilgrimage,
The Christian plummet sounding heav'n and earth
Engine against th' Almighty, sinner's tow'r,
Reversed thunder, Christ-side-piercing spear,
The six-days world transposing in an hour,
A kind of tune, which all things hear and fear;
Softness, and peace, and joy, and love, and bliss,
Exalted manna, gladness of the best,
Heaven in ordinary, man well drest,
The milky way, the bird of Paradise,
Church-bells beyond the stars heard, the soul's blood,
The land of spices; something understood.
—George Herbert
What are your great things from the week?
Worshiper, wife, mom—with the help of the Lord, this is my hierarchy of work. Beyond this I homeschool the girls and hold down a staff position at Zionsville Fellowship in Zionsville, Indiana. I read, write, do yoga, cook, and practice thinking pure and lovely things.
Somewhere between zoology and theology.
