Morning and Evening

 C. H. Spurgeon - September 5

"Hast thou entered into the springs of the sea?" 

Job 38:16

Some things in nature must remain a mystery to the most intelligent and enterprising investigators. Human knowledge has bounds beyond which it cannot pass. Universal knowledge is for God alone. If this be so in the things which are seen and temporal, I may rest assured that it is even more so in matters spiritual and eternal. Why, then, have I been torturing my brain with speculations as to destiny and will, fixed fate, and human responsibility? These deep and dark truths I am no more able to comprehend than to find out the depth which coucheth beneath, from which old ocean draws her watery stores. Why am I so curious to know the reason of my Lord's providences, the motive of his actions, the design of his visitations? Shall I ever be able to clasp the sun in my fist, and hold the universe in my palm? yet these are as a drop of a bucket compared with the Lord my God. Let me not strive to understand the infinite, but spend my strength in love. What I cannot gain by intellect I can possess by affection, and let that suffice me. I cannot penetrate the heart of the sea, but I can enjoy the healthful breezes which sweep over its bosom, and I can sail over its blue waves with propitious winds. If I could enter the springs of the sea, the feat would serve no useful purpose either to myself or to others, it would not save the sinking bark, or give back the drowned mariner to his weeping wife and children; neither would my solving deep mysteries avail me a single whit, for the least love to God, and the simplest act of obedience to him, are better than the profoundest knowledge. My Lord, I leave the infinite to thee, and pray thee to put far from me such a love for the tree of knowledge as might keep me from the tree of life.

Freeze-Frame: My Feathered Boy

Tadhg was standing up in his seat while I washed him up after breakfast. He looked up at the vaulted ceiling quizzically, then burst out, "I'm goin' to jump up to the 'ky!"

"Do you think you can fly like a bird?"

"Yes, I can." 

"But you don't have feathers. Can you fly without feathers?"

"I DO have feathers!"

"Where are they?"

Soberly, "On my bott'm." 

Boys are so strange.

Freeze-Frame: What She's Up To

On our way home from church just now, Tadhg jabbered a mile a minute about whatever crossed his mind. I've been feeling Baby Sister move a lot today, and as Tadhg paused for a breath I commented to Rundy that she's been flip-flopping like a little fish. Tadhg, understandably, needed to be assured that his new baby will not, in truth, be an actual fish. 

"She's not flip-floppin'," he argued.

"Then what is she doing?" I countered.

"She's workin' on computers."

In case any of you wondered what happens in the womb--now you know.

Another Father's Day

A day to remember my father, always. Missed. Loved. I wish the boys could've known you, Dad.

And a day to remember their father. The best Rundy that ever was, and one of the sweetest, silliest, loving-est fathers I've ever known. I could say a whole lot, but simple is sometimes best. We are rich.

(Newest Purdy due December 18th. Thought I'd sneak that in there.)

Freeze-Frame: The Aliens Below

Rundy just got home from work, an event that never ceases to bring Tadhg delight. Pip is sleeping, so the three of us sat down on the couch to enjoy each other for a bit.

After some snuggles and affectionate conversation sprinkled with "Daddy-o's" (Tadhg's new way of addressing Rundy and I involves adding "o" to the end of our names), he picked up Rundy's hand to hold.

Suddenly, he exclaimed, "Worm in there! Need get it out."

And then he proceeded to pinch one of the hard-working veins on the back of Rundy's hand.

He didn't really understand why we started laughing.

How Many Bottles of Soda Do You Need for a One-Year Old's Birthday Party?

Seven. The answer is seven.

(Plus a random bottle of lemon juice.)

Is There Any Month Like May?