the sounds of laughter

I have missed you.

i can only imagine

The fruit of the Spirit.

Pause there a moment. Fruit. Singular. One fruit. One fruit that has different characteristics of love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. A beaker pours out the blessing of the Spirit which works that fruit in us, which, in turn, manifests itself in different ways.

We try to mimic these characteristics of perfection, but how deep does the desire run? Is it heartfelt or done out of selfish ambition or a desire to make those attributes our first nature?

flowers were harmed in the making of this bed

[No, really, they were.]

Here are some helpful hints and tips for those who have started their four month summer career and feel the cooler weather in their very core.

[also entitled: 5(0) ways to leave the chill behind]

1. Dress warmly. - Always a bonus; layers are key: hat, mittens, jacket, several sweaters, t-shirt, long sleeved shirt, tank-top ... you can always take them off later and empty half of your wardrobe into the vehicle which you are using. Trust me. We have several closets in there.

2. Work hard. - This one should be self-explanatory and a "duh" [think Moose from the Archie comics]. It promises to warm every last ligament you have.

3. Drink lots of tea/coffee. - If you have the luxury of several returns to the shop where hot beverages are easily accessible ... that is the opportune moment.

4. Manure can be a wonderful thing. Including the added benefit of getting warm while shoveling it, it and its steamy scent envelop you, cascading over your feet like a warm blanket. Hey, desperate times call for desperate measures.

5. Way no. 5. introduces the classic bouncing when cold. - Works almost every time. Just not when you get strange looks and decide to stop in order to protect any last shards of dignity you can scrounge together ... that is when you get cold again.

If all else fails, well, there's always a hot shower and more sweaters waiting at home.

a little light summer reading

In no specific order of importance, I introduce the following:

That stack, along with the list of things I would like to do this summer, is now approximately the same height as I am. On a side note: adventuring to a used bookstore is always a dangerous thing -- especially when they have a whole section on literary theory.

I have also gained a greater respect for those who can successfully make a pie. Apparently, it's not as easy as it looks, but it tastes just as good.