Joy in the Journey

Article: A Summary of Hugh Latimer's Life

Amanda Evans — Mon, 25 Jul 2011 17:53:58 GMT

In preparation for writing the letter to our son, Stephen Latimer Lionheart, we read an old biography of the English reformer, Hugh Latimer. Here are our notes from the book. We hope to polish this up into an informative aritcle summarizing this venerable man's life.

Hugh Latimer was born at the end of the 15th century as the War of the Roses was ending. He grew up in the home of a sturdy yeoman farmer near a small country village. As a young lad he would have helped around the farm, attended fairs and festivals, and learned how to shoot the English longbow. Intelligent even as a child and too delicate of health to follow in his father’s footsteps, his parents sought a good education for him. Zealous for religion, he went to Cambridge and entered the church. He was ordained in 1514.

Latimer spent 18 years in a quiet, academic career as his character and intellect developed.

Meanwhile Henry VIII ascended to the throne. England loved this handsome, wealthy, intelligent, well-educated, shrewd, jovial monarch. Though he was a staunch Catholic, God used him and the politics surrounding his reign to nurture the budding reformation.

Much like the famous Martin Luther, Latimer sought peace for his soul in ardent devotion to the church and her traditions and customs. Instead of studying the Bible, as many were beginning to do, he preferred to learn from the old scholars. He was 40 years old by now and no one expected him to change. Then a man named Thomas Bilney, “the first English Reformer”, shared with Latimer his own story of finding peace in the Word of God. When faced with this man’s simple faith, Latimer’s objections to the reformation began to crumble and he began to seek such solace for himself in the actual words of God. At last he found the peace he was looking for—not in appeasing an austere deity with penance and ceremonial devotion, but in free forgiveness by the blood of Christ. Instead of sighing after a life of sanctity and solitude in a monastery, he felt called to a nobler life of energy and action in the world. read more

Article: Letter to Stephen

Amanda Evans — Sun, 24 Jul 2011 17:16:06 GMT

To our cherished son,

You are our fourth child, but the blessing of new life remains a glorious miracle. God has already given us three children to care for and to teach and it has been a joy to watch their personalities unfold. We are so excited to behold another life—to be there at the very first breath and to watch as that blue little squirming body becomes the form of a new person: you. We are privileged to watch as your life unfolds before our eyes, as you grow from babyhood to boyhood and eventually to manhood. It is our prayer that God will use us to set your feet on the road that leads to Him. We will be with you at the beginning of your journey, but we pray that you will continue on much farther than we will be able to go.

We are naming you Stephen Latimer Lionheart, but first and foremost remember that God calls you Christian. We hope that you are proud to carry the names of two such courageous martyrs, but the name we most want you to live up to is the one God places upon you at your baptism.

Your first name is Stephen, after the first martyr, a man who is repeatedly described as being full of faith and the Holy Spirit. He was one of the first “deacons” chosen to minister to the needs of the new Church while the apostles prayed and studied and wrote what would eventually become the New Testament. Adversaries of the fledgling Church, envious of his wisdom and power, resorted to deception and slander, bringing forth false witnesses to accuse him. Standing on trial surrounded by those hostile to Christ, Stephen’s face was like that of an angel as he gave his great defense. Starting at the time when God chose Abraham and continuing through to the construction of the Temple, he related the acts of God. He especially emphasized God’s steadfast faithfulness to His people even though Israel turned away time and time again. When Stephen concluded his sermon by rebuking his accusers of the same unbelief, they stopped their ears and gnashed their teeth. As the stones began to fly, Stephen gazed into heaven and said, “Look! I see the heavens opened and the Son of Man standing at the right hand of God!” Just as Jesus did, Stephen died with forgiveness on his lips. This was the beginning of the Great Dispersion, the first persecution of the Church. As Christians were scattered everywhere, the word of God went with them and the Gospel was spread to the four corners of the world. read more

Article: Baby Shower Devotional for Johanna and Katelyn

Amanda Evans — Sun, 02 Jan 2011 06:26:14 GMT

Two very dear friends asked me to give the devotional for their joint baby shower. It was an honor to read this on that occasion:

Life is a Story

Once upon a time there was a beautiful princess. Her father loved her. Her mother loved her. Eventually a handsome prince loved her and married her. They had four beautiful children who were always very good. Each one grew up and ruled over one of the four corners of the kingdom. And the princess lived happily ever after. The end.

Not every interesting, huh? Maybe we should add a dragon, the kind that eats a virgin every week. Or maybe her father is old and feeble and her evil uncle is trying to usurp the kingdom. Perhaps the handsome prince should be under an enchantment, one that involves a dangerous quest to break. None of this would make life easy for the beautiful princess, but it sure would make her story more exciting to read. And by the end of the tale she would be a better person than she was at the beginning.

Your lives are the same way. Would you really want it to go this way: Once upon a time there were two lovely young ladies named Johanna and Katelyn. Their weddings were beautiful, their husbands were handsome. They each had eight children who never made messes and who always carried in the groceries. When they died at the age of ninety it was after a life of peace and neither had any wrinkles.

Think of your favorite stories. Darcy and Elizabeth don’t just get married after their first dance. But after everything that Jane Austen puts them through, they are both more mature and more wise and their marriage is based on a deep respect and love that will last long past the last page of the book. You may not like that Percy mistrusts Marguerite and the risks they both take keep you on the edge of your seat, but the end of the story is sweet in a way it wouldn’t have been without the tension and the peril. read more

Book List: Eli's Book List 2011

Eli Evans — Thu, 30 Dec 2010 11:54:01 GMT

To Kill a Mockingbird - Harper Lee
Wind in the Willows - Kenneth Grahame
David Copperfield - Charles Dickens
Kite Runner
Anne of Green Gables - L. M. Montgomery
Sense and Sensibility - Jane Austen
Lolita - Nabakov
Moby Dick - Herman Melville
Adventures of Sherlock Holmes - Sir Arthur Conan Doyle
Charlie and the Chocolate Factory - Roald Dahl
Heart of Darkness - Joseph Conrad
Oliver Twist - Charles Dickens
Ten Ways to Destroy the Imagination of Your Child - Anthony Esolen

Photo Album: Lucy's Third Birthday

Amanda Evans — Sat, 06 Nov 2010 18:14:13 GMT

Journey Chronicle: New Blog

Amanda Evans — Sat, 30 Oct 2010 19:52:41 GMT

I am working on a new look and site overhaul for our family website. In the mean time please feel encouraged to come visit me over here.

Journey Chronicle: Mist, Vapor, Vanity

Amanda Evans — Fri, 29 Oct 2010 17:38:03 GMT

It's fall. I still haven't worn a coat anywhere and I haven't gotten out any sweaters, but there's no use denying it. Fall is here.

Right now the ground is cold and wet but the sun is shining warmly, brightly. This means that little wisps of mist are floating off the street, the porch stairs, and the roof of the backyard shed that I can see from my window. I remember how weird and eery that looked to me as I child, like everything was smoldering. If I had a camera I would take a picture of it and make this post more visually interesting. But, vanity of vanities, vapor of vapors, I bought a camera and then I lost it.

Speaking of vanities, I deactivated my Facebook account. Goodbye world, it was fun while it lasted. But the world that I have right here within these four walls is growing and changing and learning faster than I can keep up and I don't want to miss out.

Journey Chronicle: "Mommy, I'm thirsty."

Amanda Evans — Wed, 27 Oct 2010 18:48:10 GMT

Blankets tucked up to chins, breaths minty fresh, bladders emptied, lights off... The peace of bedtime settles over the house and Eli and I settle down to enjoy what's left of the evening. But then, "Mommy, I'm thirsty! I need a drink!" And if you bring in a drink for one child, the other one will want one too so I grab both sippy cups. Joshua and Lucy each take a tiny sip and then pronounce themselves done. "No messing around," I command as I leave and impishly they reply, "Yes, Mom!"

When the Son of Man comes in His glory, sitting on His glorious throne with all the angels around Him, He will separate the nations to His right and to His left. And He will say to the righteous, "Come, you who are blessed by my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world. For I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me, I was naked and you clothed me, I was sick and you visited me, I was in prison and you came to me." The the righteous will answer Him saying, "Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you drink? And when did we see you a stranger and welcome you, or naked and clothe you? And when did we see you sick or in prison and visit you?" And the King will answer them, "Truly I say to you, as you did it to one of the least of these my brothers, you did it to Me."

I don't usually see Jesus in those mischievous little people who really just want to prolong bedtime, but when I serve them it's as if I were serving the King. read more

Journey Chronicle: My Camera

Amanda Evans — Wed, 27 Oct 2010 05:53:12 GMT

I love my camera. When I click the button it takes the picture. With a fast shutter speed I can capture those fleeting first smiles. My 50mm lens lets every bit of light in the room flood into the camera so I can actually get pictures of those sweet before bed cuddles. I was just beginning to experiment with the full on manual setting to get the pictures I wanted. My camera and I had many years of happy memory making in front of us.

Had many years ahead of us.

The day after we got back from a trip to Texas I went to grab my camera and couldn't find it. My heart began to sink as I suddenly remembered putting it under a seat on the last flight home but then couldn't remember taking it with us when we left. Where's life's rewind button???

Sigh. Sniff.

I called the airline's lost and found number. I called the airport's lost and found number. A few days later I sent an email to the airline's central lost and found location. It's been more than a week now and I haven't heard anything. I'm going to try the airport one more time, but I must confess I don't have much hope.

The question will soon become, "What to do now?" I don't really relish the idea of spending $1000+ again on a similar model, but I just can't picture myself using a point and shoot camera for the next several years. There are just too many features I would miss.

Journey Chronicle: Dandelion Wine

Amanda Evans — Mon, 25 Oct 2010 05:36:09 GMT

It is the summer of 1928 in a small midwest town and 12-year-old Douglas Spaulding knows he’s alive. From the first cutting of the lawn to the new pair of sneakers, he is going to live this season. But Dandelion Wine isn’t just about the antics of a pack of boys enjoying sunny weather and no school. There is sickness, death, aging, loss of friends. There is ice cream too, and Grandma’s cooking. And there are dandelions to be made into warm yellow wine which brings you a taste of summer when you drink it on cold winter nights.

This is my new favorite book. It took me months to read but that’s because I didn’t want it to end. Every chapter spoke to me and I was afraid to read the next because I didn’t want it to be less impacting. I don’t think I was disappointed once. Reading it made my heart swell to bursting with both the joy of living and the sadness of growing old. And yet it showed me that living is not always joyful and dying is not always sad. The tears I cried were both happy and sorrowful. Just as summer turns into fall, the turning of the pages brought me to the end at last. But that’s okay because I will probably be reading it again next year.

Journey Chronicle: Logan Michael Evans

Amanda Evans — Fri, 22 Oct 2010 19:34:41 GMT

My nephew only got to be 9 ounces big after his short 19 weeks in the womb and we never got to meet him. But now he will have all eternity to be with Jesus. I don't know why God does that. I don't know why He takes some to be with Him before they have a chance to live a life. I don't know why he leaves others of us on this spinning rock careening through space to muddle through our lives as best we can year after year. Maybe little Logan now knows. And maybe someday when I stand next to him seeing our King face to face I will understand too. In the meantime, I know that that King has been here--He lived a life and died a death. He descended into Hell for me, for Logan, for Logan's parents. He knows what we're going through and He knows why.

Journey Chronicle: ERGObaby Carrier

Amanda Evans — Thu, 07 Oct 2010 20:51:22 GMT

I love my Moby Wrap, but I've been wanting to experience the ease of use of the ERGObaby Carrier for a while now. Here's my chance to win one! You can enter too, but that lessens my chance of winning it! :-P

Journey Chronicle: More Wisdom from the Wilsons

Amanda Evans — Wed, 29 Sep 2010 22:27:34 GMT

People used to always tell me of helpful articles they'd read on the Wilson ladies' blog, Femina. Well, I recently signed up to their RSS feed and at least half of what I've read since then has been just golden. This article is another nugget.

Among the Wilson grandchildren there are ten girls under the age of ten so Rebekah and her sister spend lots of time talking about how to raise them. Gossip, manipulation, and backstabbing start early. Little girls must learn not do do those things with their young friends. And they must learn how to deal with friends who do. These sins won't be loud and rambunctious like a playground brawl so if you aren't paying attention you are likely to miss them, leaving your little princess to grow up into a fine "Dame Folly." Rebekah's advice: ask questions. Ask lots of questions. And wrestle your way through the answers.

Though Rebekah is talking here about little girls, I think we need to have these conversations with all of our children. Not all boys wear their feelings on their cuffs (and yes, boys have feelings too) and they don't all fight with their fists. Even if they do, they still need to be taught when to stand up and when to turn the other cheek. As parents we are in the soul-shaping business. May God grant us the patience to ask lots of questions of our children and the wisdom to give answers that will shape them into sharp arrows that will engage the enemy in the gate. read more

Photo Album: Japanese Gardens

Amanda Evans — Tue, 28 Sep 2010 05:08:20 GMT

Photo Album: Summer 2010

Amanda Evans — Thu, 23 Sep 2010 23:12:00 GMT

Journey Chronicle: Emotions at Bedtime

Amanda Evans — Thu, 23 Sep 2010 03:55:41 GMT

Oh my goodness. I think I have a little Anne Shirley on my hands.

Lucy has been very happy to skip naps lately. Esther goes down and Lucy continues to play cheerfully (for the most part) with the boys. Today we colored, played with pattern blocks, and read Pippi Longstocking together. But tonight I think she was too tired to know that sleep would solve all her problems. Instead she lay in bed thinking of reasons to cry.

First she was scared. So she trotted into my room, we prayed, and she trotted back. But soon the emotions escalated.

"I don't like this house! I want to be at our old house! I want to be close to Spicer Brothers!"

"I'm really hungry! I want waffles for breakfast!"

"I don't want a baby sister!"

And when I'd try to talk to her and calm her down she would pull the covers over her head.

Finally she was out of control and I had to use the business end of a wooden spoon to get a little sense into her. Then we sat and rocked while she sniffed and hiccuped. When I asked her if she was ready to get back in bed, she whimpered, "Not at all. read more

Photo Album: Fall Beach Trip

Amanda Evans — Sat, 18 Sep 2010 19:50:12 GMT

Journey Chronicle: Dandelions and Devil Grass

Amanda Evans — Thu, 09 Sep 2010 00:06:00 GMT

Dandelion Wine, by Ray Bradbury...it speaks to my soul. It’s about summer and childhood and living like a child and really living. I love it.

The smell of candles being blown out always makes me think of birthday parties, of days when endings merge seamlessly with beginnings. It’s an exciting smell, a joyful smell, even when it’s late and the smell is coming from ordinary decorative candles being blown out for the night. There are no guests, no presents, no cake, but I still think of birthday parties.

Another smell I love is fresh mown grass in the spring. It's the first sunny weekend of the season and when you take your kids out for a walk to the park you will find every other neighbor pulling out their old lawn mowers, neglected all winter. They pace back and forth over their lawns, bringing the order of uniform length to the unruly grass that has been reaching out toward a nearly forgotten sun. In our area spring is so warm that lawns often need to be mown as early as March or April. Even though we know that there are many, many days of clouds and drizzle ahead, that smell of cut grass speaks promisingly of new life, growth, sunshine and summer.

A quote from Dandelion Wine:

"Who was the fool who made January first New Year's Day? No, instead of rachets and horns and yelling, there should be a great swelling symphony of lawn mowers reaping fresh grass. Instead of confetti and serpentine, people should throw grass spray at each other on the one day each year that really represents the Beginning!" read more

Photo Album: Tour our Home

Amanda Evans — Fri, 03 Sep 2010 20:04:25 GMT

Journey Chronicle: Eww!

Amanda Evans — Thu, 02 Sep 2010 22:43:14 GMT

Everybody give me a collective shudder, please!

One night I was picking up toys by the bunk beds. Esther was already asleep and Lucy was sitting on the edge of her bed, her feet dangling over the edge. As I pulled Duplos out from under the bed, I saw this fine specimen out of the corner of my eye. At first I thought it was one of those toy plastic spiders, you know, the ones you place in the bathroom to get a scream out of your mother or sister or any other gullible females in your life. It was that big. As my heart started pounding and the adrenaline started rushing, I reminded myself that we don't have any of those. If we did, I would know about it.

I believe I said something like, "Oh my goodness, Lucy, stay up on your bed. There's a yucky spider under there!" I grabbed a cup from the counter and posed, ready to capture.

There's an instant before you make your move when you pause. You doubt yourself. Can you move faster than the object of your attack? You know that once you start it is going to bolt.

Then the moment was over. I made my move and I measured up. I was faster than the spider. There he was, trapped, wriggling with his long, hairy legs against the all too clear glass. Next I slid something firm underneath and he was soon in the bottom of the above pictured mason jar. Even though the lid was screwed on tight, I still shivered every time I walked past.
read more

Journey Chronicle: Wild Horses

Amanda Evans — Thu, 19 Aug 2010 23:41:38 GMT

"A well controlled passionate personality is a powerful thing. That is what dangerous women are made of. But a passionate personality that is unbridled can cause a world of damage...."

This quote is from a post by one of Nancy Wilson's daughters (Rachel) on the blog, Femina. It got me thinking.

It's too easy as a parent to play defense when it comes to training our children. In the battle for their souls we too often wait to let their sin natures make the first move. We feel like we're playing whack-a-mole: "There's a sin!" *whack!* *whack!* But the sins keep popping up. And both we and our children only end up frustrated and confused.

While Rachel's little boy is pretty straightforward, her four little girls have abounding emotions. Often when they disobey or sin it is because of an emotion that has gone unchecked. Addressing their behavioral sin without addressing the emotions that led to it leaves the girls with emotions they don't know how to handle. Rachel and her husband are playing offensive, though, and have come up with an analogy to help their daughters control their emotions before their emotions control them.

"We tell our girls that their feelings are like horses—beautiful, spirited horses. But they are the riders. We tell them that God gave them this horse when they were born, and they will ride it their whole life....When our emotions act up, it is like the horse trying to jump the fence and run down into a yucky place full of spiders to get lost in the dark. A good rider knows what to do when the horse tries to bolt—you pull on the reins! Turn the horse’s head! Get back on the path!" read more

Photo Album: Spring

Amanda Evans — Wed, 11 Aug 2010 21:58:51 GMT

Journey Chronicle: Velcro

Amanda Evans — Tue, 10 Aug 2010 15:29:19 GMT

This is the dress I put on Esther the other day. Simple, cotton knit, a play dress. Now that she's walking all the dresses I have for her are so cute since they don't hinder her efforts to get around.

It was a hot day so the dress was all she was wearing over her diaper. This cotton diaper was held on by a cute diaper cover with velcro closures. I left her by the toys to play, but soon she walked off to find something else to do. This is what she left behind:

Journey Chronicle: My Watch

Amanda Evans — Thu, 05 Aug 2010 18:51:40 GMT

Every morning I try to remember to put on my watch. This is not because I run a tight schedule and am afraid of being late. Our days are pretty flexible and a half an hour early or late doesn't really matter much. I don't wear it because I need to know what time it is. Our house is small so I can usually see a clock no matter where I'm sitting. In fact, if you ask me what time it is I will probably forget that I'm wearing one on my wrist and I'll look around for one on the wall. If I can't find one, I'll most likely say that I don't know. Then you'll point to my wrist and I'll blush and feel silly.

No, I put on my watch every morning to symbolize my efforts to work diligently and use my time wisely. It's a reminder at the start of my day that life ticks by one second at a time and I want to make each one count.

Plus I think it's pretty.

Journey Chronicle: Good Morning, Joshua

Amanda Evans — Mon, 02 Aug 2010 14:47:26 GMT

Good morning, Joshua! Seeing you sound asleep with your feet hanging over the edge of your bed was the perfect start to my day. Hearing you roll around as you began waking up but wanted to stay asleep was good too. And I loved hearing you quietly sing, "Sunrise, sunset. Sunrise, sunset..." as you woke up.

Journey Chronicle: Artisan Bread in 5 Minutes a Day

Amanda Evans — Sun, 01 Aug 2010 04:13:50 GMT

My friend is starting a blog about children and chocolate. Can't get much better than that!

To start things off she's doing a give-away of this book: Artisan Bread in Five Minutes a Day. I've been wanting to bake bread more regularly and this book might be a good way to get into a routine. Several friends are using the method with success and I've been eager to try it for a while, so I hope I win!

Photo Album: 4th of July in Garfield

Amanda Evans — Sat, 31 Jul 2010 16:46:26 GMT

Book List: Joshua's Read Aloud List

Amanda Evans — Wed, 28 Jul 2010 21:17:46 GMT

Five Children and It - E. Nesbit
Charlie and the Chocolate Factory - Roald Dahl
Little House in the Big Woods - Laura Ingalls Wilder
Little House on the Prairie - Laura Ingalls Wilder
Fantastic Mr. Fox - Roald Dahl
Farmer Boy - Laura Ingalls Wilder
On the Banks of Plum Creek - Laura Ingalls Wilder
Charlotte's Web - E. B. White
Pippi Longstocking - Astrid Lindgren
Riding the Pony Express - Clyde Robert Bulla
Old Mother West Wind - Thornton W. Burgess
Mr. Popper's Penguins - Richard and Florence Atwater
Just So Stories - Rudyard Kipling
Trumpet of the Swan - E. B. White
Matchlock Gun - Walter Edmonds
Riding the Pony Express - Clyde Robert Bulla
Viking Adventure - Clyde Robert Bulla
On the Shores of Silver Lake - Laura Ingalls Wilder
Peter Pan - J. M. Barrie
Jungle Book - Rudyard Kipling
Chronicles of Narnia (all 7 books) - C. S. Lewis
Hobbit - JRR Tolkien
Beowulf (Retold) - Morpugo
Sir Gawain & the Green Knight (Retold) - Morpugo
Castle Diary of Tobias Burgess
Carnival in Paris
Voyages of Dr. Doolittle - Hugh Lofting
Heidi - Spyri
Secret Garden - Burnett
Mouse and the Motorcycle - Beverly Cleary
Moffats
Littles (& 2-3 others in series) - Peterson
All-of-a-Kind Family - Sydney Taylor
Snow Treasure - Marie McSwigan
Lion in the Box - Marguerite de Angeli
Call it Courage - Sperry
Thimble Summer

Book List: Amanda's Book List

Amanda Evans — Wed, 28 Jul 2010 13:28:43 GMT

To Kill a Mocking Bird - Harper Lee
The Great Divorce - C. S. Lewis
Dandelion Wine - Ray Bradbury
Economics in One Lesson - Henry Hazlitt
Writing Motherhood - Lisa Garrigues
Last-Minute Knitted Gifts - Joelle Hoverson
A Million Miles in a Thousand Years - Donald Miller
At the Back of the North Wind - George MacDonald
I Capture the Castle - Dodie Smith

Photo Album: Esther's First Birthday

Amanda Evans — Mon, 26 Jul 2010 02:40:17 GMT