TulipGirl

This evening I sat outside on the lanai, drank iced coffee and read a new theology book (thanks, Tim).

The boys were playing with a neighbor(!) in the pool. Five splashing boys.

It was peaceful.

**warning, very sensitive**

This link goes to a page with c-section birth art.

Very moving.

One week ago, my 18 year old brother-in-law kissed his mom and girlfriend goodbye, gave us all hugs, and went off to Paris Island for boot camp with the Marines.

He’s just one of many young men and women through this country’s history who have gone, given their youth, and sometimes their lives for this country and its ideals.

In Memory.

Lynn Harris, writing for Salon.com, seeks to understand and explain the parenting teachings and allure of Michael and Debi Pearl.

One of the things that has been interesting to me with the rising concern about the Pearls from the “mainstream” is to see how an “outsider” perceives the teachings that are quite standard within a specific Christian subculture. In referring to this subculture, I’m not speaking of the more broad conservative, evangelical subculture–but that which tends towards a more separatist, independent, “home” oriented.

While I’ve not fully identified with this specific subculture, I’ve been close enough to it to understand and see the motivations of those within it. Likely, many of you who visit me here at TulipGirl have been a part of that subculture or are close enough to those within it to understand it, as well. And while they have done admirable background work, it’s apparent that Lynn Harris and Mandy Locke don’t seem to quite understand many of the factors involved with accepting the sort of teachings the Pearls promote.

Intentions within this subculture are good, but what I’ve seen is replacing what is truly Biblical with ideals that build a particular subculture and set of values. Values which, in themselves, are not necessarily bad. But taken as a whole are elevated to a place of prominence within this subculture, at the expense of what is truly Biblical. At the expense of the Gospel.

(Related to this, read Christian Families on the Edge from CRI.)

Bob Dylan is 65.

I remember the first Bob Dylan song I ever heard was when I was in 4th grade. My teacher, Mr. Earley, brought in his vinyl and played it for the class.

Well, the whole thing started at 3 o’clock fast,
It was all over by quarter past.
I was down in the sewer with some little lover
When I peeked out from a manhole cover
Wondering who turned the lights on.

Well, I got up and walked around
And up and down the lonesome town.
I stood a-wondering which way to go,
I lit a cigarette on a parking meter
And walked on down the road.
It was a normal day.

. . .

Down at the corner by a hot-dog stand
I seen a man, I said, “Howdy friend,
I guess there’s just us two.”
He screamed a bit and away he flew.
Thought I was a Communist.

Well, I spied a girl and before she could leave,
“Let’s go and play Adam and Eve.”
I took her by the hand and my heart it was thumpin’
When she said, “Hey man, you crazy or sumpin’,
You see what happened last time they started.”

This was during the early 80s. Height of the Cold War. We lived in Arizona, near the Mexico border. I don’t remember anyone ever telling me about a Red Dawn scenario, but I did figure that if Commies ever did invade the US, they’d come up from Mexico.

Mr. Earley used to play guitar with Bob Dylan in California.

Q. 6. How many persons are there in the Godhead?

A. There are three persons in the Godhead; the Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost; and these three are one God, the same in substance, equal in power and glory.

the Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost
Matthew 3:16-17, Matthew 28:19, 2 Corinthians 13:14, 1 Peter 1:2

equal in power and glory
Psalm 45:6, John 1:1, John 17:5, Acts 5:3-4, Romans 9:5, Colossians 2:9, Jude 1:24-25

(via OPC/CRTA)

Monergism continues to expand its offerings. Just today I discovered it has expanded its links to audio files / mp3s to include several biography series.

Included are a series by John Piper including lectures on David Brainerd, John G. Paton, William Wilberforce, J. Gresham Machen (C5 was almost named Machen), Martin Luther and John Calvin, of course, and many more. Also available are historical biographies by Michael Haykin including Athanasius and Basil, Leo and Patrick, Charles Finney & Revivalism, Horatius Bonar, and many others.

I started with Piper on Jonathan Edwards, especially since I’ve recently been reading on Edwards’ theology of children.

It’s amazing how fast the kitchen gets clean when I’m listening to lectures like these.

Feeling yuckier today than yesterday. I overdid it yesterday, but I wouldn’t have missed Andrew’s graduation for anything. (Pics later, I hope.) But now it’s time for me to crawl in bed with a book. I have a new theological text to read, thanks to Tim Challies.

I’m feeling too nauseated to drink coffee. Bummer. But at least I have a good book.

Update: The book is good. But my concentration is shot. Ugh. Sipping Good Earth tea that Kristen sent me, and I’ve been saving for the right time.

All the boys are coughing. T8 slept away most of yesterday. I’ve been vomiting. Oh, joy.

Anyway, there are some business-y things I still have to attend to. Phone calls to make. People to contact. Plus, it’s the boys’ last day of school.

Blah.

Driving home tonight after dark, all the boys except T8 were asleep. We were listening to the radio, windows down, holding hands, singing together. . .

“Bye bye Miss American Pie,
Drove my Chevy to the levee but the levee was dry
Them good ol’ boys were drinkin whiskey and rye
Singing “This’ll be the day that I die,
This’ll be the day that I die.”

Just a few days ago I posted about alligator attacks. And now. . .

A woman shot an alligator that she found on her lanai, attacking her dog. From the details in the story, if this wasn’t in our neighborhood, it wasn’t too far away.

With the goodies from our organic co-op last week, I made Cilantro-Lime Salsa. Four small jars are gifts for the boys’ school teachers. I haven’t done any canning since returning from Ukraine, so I did note for the teachers to store it in the fridge rather than on the shelf.

This is my standard recipe for Salsa for canning. There is a temptation to use more peppers/onions, but to keep it safe the ratio acidic:non-acidic ingredients needs to stay consistent with this recipe. The batch I did this week was much smaller than the recipe, but maintained the proportions.

Salsa for Canning

5 lb tomatoes
1 lb green peppers
1/3 lb jalapenos
1 lb onions
1 cup vinegar, 5% acidity
3 tsp salt
1/2 tsp freshly-ground black pepper

If you want chunky salsa, take the time to cut the ingredients into uniform sizes. This can be time consuming, but rewarding. After I discovered the ease of using the blender, I’ve opted for less-chunky salsa.

Whir tomatoes and other ingredients in a blender. Tomatoes can simply be halved. Onions and bell peppers quartersed. Clean all seeds from peppers (you may want to use gloves.) Keep the vinegar aside and add to blender as necessary to help as it chops the veggies.

Roma or paste tomatoes work better than large, wet-juicy sandwich tomatoes. Vine or hothouse ripened have a better flavor than gas ripened. Go for the freshest, bestest ingredients when canning!

Combine ingredients in a large saucepan and bring to boil. Reduce heat and simmer for at least 10 minutes. Personally, I like how salsa tastes after it’s simmered for at least and hour. But if you like the “fresher” taste, 10 minutes is sufficient.

Follow standard canning instructions for sterilizing jars. Fill jars–pints are good for gift giving. Larger bottles are better when you live in Ukraine and are stocking up on salsa for the year. Leave a 1/2-inch headspace. Adjust lids and process for 20 minutes in a waterbath canner.

When canning salsa, be sure to keep the vinegar/tomato/other veggie proportions accurate, for safety.

Today’s variation included:
Organic fresh cilantro, one bunch
Organic jalepeno peppers, only 3
Organic limes, 2 peeled and blended
Vine-ripe, local-grown roma tomatoes
Garlic

Update: I’m a tad disappointed in this batch. I think I should have added just a squeeze of lime juice near the end of cooking, and maybe used less cilantro. . .

This morning the radio mentioned that Buddha’s birthday is coming up and then played Gandalf Murphy and The Slambovian Circus of Dreams. The song? I Made Buddha Cry.

Just a snapshot of my life.

(Via Paris Daily Photo, via Tim and Jo)

I’ve said it before. . . So, why rehash it? Just that the same ol’ same ol’ peeves have been bugging me again. . .