Do Not Grow Weary

Posted By Rebekah on March 8, 2010

From Rebekah’s quill …

When I was a very little girl, I started writing music. I wanted to be able to remember and replay my songs on the piano, so I wrote them out on sheets of paper, using the letter that represented each key, to notate them. For example, one of my songs might have looked something like:

C F E C G (I generally used my right hand only, sometimes adding a C, F or G chord with my left – the only ones I knew!)

Now, I write more complicated then that and my old system doesn’t work. I’m trying to figure out how to hand write my music. As you can see by my picture, I’m not doing so well… Do you all ever wonder how the classical composers did it? Bach, Handel, Beethoven, Liszt? In their time, there were no computer programs or keyboard recording devices – they had to write it down by hand or memorize it – or possibly both! How did they do it? They composed intricate, advanced pieces and somehow managed to have copies to leave to future generations…I wish I knew how they did it…

Side note: I do have a computer software to record my songs – but I haven’t been able to make it work yet. So, until then (and probably afterwards too, since the computer won’t always be available when the piano is!) I shall continue to attempt my handwritten music notes… Oh! and no, none of those notes in the picture are set to go with a time signature – and they aren’t all whole notes – I only know how to play them because I know what the song should sound like!

To the KING be all the glory!

Category: Music Room | No Comments »
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Posted By Rebekah on March 7, 2010

From Rebekah’s quill …

These are my sermon notes for last Sunday – not today…

The temple was a beauty
With precious stones and gold,
But God’s glory was not present,
Since Ezekiel of old.

Four hundred years of emptiness -
Did not the people know?
The motions only they went through,
As God, His glory, did not bestow.

The Messiah suffering,
The disciples did not see.
They should have reflected back
To Isaiah fifty three.

“Things get worse before the end”,
How do you define the end?
As we sort it out, we’ll humble ourselves
And ask God, His grace to send.

To the KING be all the glory!

Category: Sanctuary | No Comments »
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Posted By Rachelle on March 4, 2010

Category: Tea Room | 4 Comments »
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Posted By Rebekah on March 1, 2010

From Rebekah’s quill …

Sniff, sneeze, moan, cough!
Of tissue boxes, they’re just aren’t enough!
Cough, moan, sneeze, sniff!
You’d smell many cough-drops if you’d take a whiff!
Moan, cough, sniff, sneeze!
Could everyone just get better please?
Sneeze, sniff, cough, moan!
From now on I ask, “Colds, please leave us alone!”

As a side note: this was our life last week. We are better now, praise the LORD!

To the KING be all the glory!

Category: Tea Room | 2 Comments »
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Posted By Rebekah on February 18, 2010

From Rebekah’s quill …

We are still continuing our study of the history and literature of the United States of America… It seems to be an ongoing, never ending subject. Actually – I have really enjoyed the history (once I got myself into it!) and found the history of our country to be just as intriguing (perhaps more so) than that of the European countries – with the exception of Scotland… I love Scotland! :) Nearly a year ago a friend of mine suggested I read the book “See Here, Private Hargrove” by Marion Hargrove. (it was the same person who suggested I read “Private Yankee Doodle”) His description made me interested – and skeptical – but when his sister offered to lend me the book, I accepted and began reading it shortly after. I liked the book so much that I flipped through it a second time and am now reading it to Bethany. As per request, here is my review…

Edward Thomas Marion Lawton Hargrove, Jr. was born on October 13 1919 in North Carolina, USA and dies from complications of pneumonia on August 23, 2003 at the age of 84. He was the father of six children. He was the author of a couple of books and several screenplays in his lifetime including the ever popular “The Music Man” with Robert Preston and episodes of the old western TV show favorite “Maverick”.

“See Here, Private Hargrove” was first published in 1942 by Henry Holt and Company. The copy I read was published the following year (1943) by The Sun Dial Press. It is divided into 71 sections, each containing a story or “vignette” that stand alone, yet with the others. This book is 211 pages long.

In “See Here, Private Hargrove” Marion Hargrove, writer for the “Charlotte News” is drafted into the army around the time of World War II. In this book he journals his supposed experiences at Fort Bragg. From KP to rifle cleaning, trash can painting to fertilizing plants, Private Hargrove always seemed to make a tale out of everything! His perpetual forgetfulness and his aptitude to not follow orders, gets him into trouble – all woven into a comedic tale filled with sarcasm and half hearted complaints.

I enjoyed this book a lot and found it very entertaining. On a cautionary note: this book does contain some vulgar language, otherwise it is an excellent book to read!

To the KING be all the glory!

Category: Library | 1 Comment »
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Posted By Rebekah on February 17, 2010

From Rebekah’s quill …

Thank you all for your comments!! I really appreciate them! Per your requests, I plan to be writing book reviews for both “John Adams” and “See Here, Private Hargrove”… For now, however, I wrote this essay on Astragalus from my studies lately. Astragalus is an amazing herb! I couldn’t believe how many things it was good for! Our Creator is amazing!!

“And the earth brought forth grass, and herb yielding seed after his kind, and the tree yielding fruit, whose seed was in itself, after his kind: and God saw that it was good.” Genesis 1:12

Astragalus is a bushy perennial plant with hairy stems that can grow to a height of sixteen inches. They have roots that should be long, thick and firm, with a sweet flavor. Their leaves are made up of twelve to fourteen pairs of leaflets, six inches long. The flowers are yellow and the one inch pods resemble miniature soybeans. The entire plant grows to about two feet.

Astragalus Membranceus comes from the family Fabacea or Leguminosae. Though commonly called “Astragalus”, this herb is also known as “Locoweed” and “Milk Vetch Root”. The ancient Chinese called it “Huang Qu” meaning “yellow energy”.

Growing wild, this plant is native to China. Most Astragalus available to us is either harvested in its native land or from cultivated plants growing in the United States, though it also grows wild in Mongolia, Taiwan, Japan and Korea.

The root stock is the only part of the Astragalus plant currently in use. First it is thinly sliced and then dried. However, in Ancient China, the seeds of this herb were used to treat infertility in men.

This herb is primarily used for immune system protection; fighting colds, flu, chronic respiratory problems and bladder infections and for faster recovering after illness.

Though not as widely known or as often proven, Astragalus has been known to aid in the treatment of: Angina; Atherosclerosis; Congestive Heart Failure; Heart Attacks; Burns; Cancer; Diabetes; HIV; AIDS; Lupus; Rheumatoid Arthritis; Myasthenia Gravis; Digestive Ailments and General Weakness and Fatigue.

Astragalus is an immune enhancer, a stimulant and restorative, antiviral, adaptogen, a tonic and a diuretic. It also enhances the function of the lungs, spleen and digestion.

Astragalus is active against: Staphylococcus aureus, Salmonella spp. and Proteus mirabilis.

The primary constituents of Astragalus are Polysaccharides (astragalan I, II and III), Saponins (astramembrannin I and II) and Betain.

Astragalus can be taken in capsulated form, as a tincture, drank as a tea or taken in the form of broth.

There are no known side effects from taking this herb, though some studies indicate that Astragalus should not be taken while experiencing a fever and/or unusual thirst.

Possible alternatives for this herb include, Ashwanda, Siberian Ginseng or Shitake Mushroom.

To the KING be all the glory!

Category: Herbal Medicine Cabinet | 1 Comment »
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Posted By Rebekah on February 15, 2010

From Rebekah’s quill …

It’s been so long since I posted one… I simply haven’t been in the mood for writing them lately and now I’m so far behind – that it’s a daunting task to even think about trying to catch up!! I thought I would post a list of the books that I have read since my last review with no particular intentions of reviewing them but if there is one that you would like me to review, just let me know and I’ll do my best to comply as soon as possible. I may still review some of them on my own too – we’ll see… So the list of what I have read in the last four/five/maybe six months:

John Adams (A splendid book!! I loved it!)
See Here, Private Hargrove (Another good book!)
The first seven books of the Love Comes Softly series (Pretty good.)
Mr. Revere and I (A children’s book that I was not overly fond of.)
For the Temple (A really good Henty Book)
A Christmas Carol (To my siblings – Already reviewed it!)
Ishmael (To my siblings – Another good book!)
Calico Bush (Another children’s book – It was alright)
Nourishing Traditions (For my herb/nutrition studies. Highly recommended!)

So… I guess part of my problem is that there are a few books on this list that I just – don’t want to review. The children’s books I read (they weren’t worth a review!) and the “Love Comes Softly” series, which though I liked, I don’t really want to review… Hmm… I might review a few of these… Are there any you all want to hear about?

To the KING be all the glory!

Category: Library, Writer's Chair | 8 Comments »
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Posted By Rebekah on February 11, 2010

From Rebekah’s quill …

For those of you wondering what happened to the pictures of my new 50’s skirt – they will hopefully be coming soon!

To the KING be all the glory!

Category: Sewing Room | 3 Comments »
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Posted By Rebekah on February 10, 2010

From Rebekah’s quill …

I’m going to preface this poem by saying that, the little girl in this rhyme, is completely a figment of my imagination. I have never met her in reality. She wasn’t part of a dream either – unless you consider it an day dream. I have imagined her several times (though with differing colors of hair and eyes and differing ages) for various things. Much of the point of this poem was to ward off boredom and too try my hand at a poetic description… What do you all think? Did I do well or ill? Is it overdone or underdone? The meter is a bit off a few times but I couldn’t seem to fix it… I await the opinion of my readers…

One day upon a little street,
I passed a little girl,
Stumbling every few steps she took,
Giving bounce to every curl.
She clung closely to a young man’s hand
Whose hold kept her on her feet -
For surely without his timely aid,
She would have landed on her seat!

Her eyes were like the bluest sea,
Their match I’ve never seen!
They flickered with the sun above
And sparkled in it’s sheen.
They raised up high, towards the man,
Love giving them a glow,
That this was a dear one by her side,
Any stranger could easily know.

Her lashes brushed against her cheeks,
Like feathers in a breeze.
On the same had blossomed roses,
Attended by dimples, instead of bees.
Her nose was small and round,
And slightly pointed to the sky,
Though not in an uncomely fashion -
Nothing to say against it, have I.

Her darling little mouth
With her round, red, puckered lips,
Opened slowly as I passed
And the word “Daddy” gently slips.
The slightest lisp she had
And a sweet and silver tone -
A more lovely voice of two summers
I have scarcely ever known!

She must have looked much like her mother,
For though some resemblance I could trace,
Her father looked quite different -
Especially in the face.
Though I can quite well remember,
She had his same golden brown hair
And when I glanced at his eyes,
I found the same sea blue reposing there.

‘Twas such a dream, this little girl -
A beauty – ah! so rare!
The smile upon her dimpled face,
Seemed not to own a care!
I often remember this dear child
And dwell upon her charms.
I’d love to meet her one nice day
And get to hold her in my arms.

For now, however, I suppose,
Just a dream she must be
Until the day – if indeed it happens -
This little girl, I get to see.
But if that never happens,
And she never comes before my sight,
I’ll consider myself fortunate,
To have passed her on that day so bright.

To the KING be all the glory!

Category: Writer's Chair | 4 Comments »
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Posted By Rachelle on February 9, 2010

Category: Garden | 5 Comments »
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