Friday Wonder

Friday April 19, 2013


Nature speaks the language of wonder.

Get me out in it, and cares melt away;
everything looks different.

I need more of the carefree wonder that accompanies childhood…and my #5 favorite today, a quote, reminds me of that.

I’m linking up today with Susanne at Living to Tell the Story for Friday’s Fave Five, where we recount our blessings of the week.

Here are my favorites:

1. A simple dinner out. Nothing fancy, just time with my husband. Love it. Looking forward to movie night tonight, too.

2. Books—here’s to having plenty and watching others enjoy them, too. There’s a pile by my bed and even more stockpiled on my Kindle Fire. It’s nice to have a backlog of books. And watching others? I love teaching a book that kids really like. I had a blissful week where my Honors kids were laughing their way through Cyrano de Bergerac and my regular kids were glued to Lord of the Flies. Love it when THEY love the book!

3. Old photos. While my son was here a week ago, we spent lots of time looking through old pictures for some they plan to use on tables at the wedding reception this summer. It was great fun. We had an organized list, but we kept getting sidetracked! My son said looked at the piles and boxes of pictures and said, “I wonder if we’ll ever have this. We don’t seem to print anything; they just sit inside the camera.” There’s something about holding a photo in your hand…

4. Support and encouragement. My son and daughter-in-law are watching their adoption fund grow ever so slowly, and some days, it’s easy to get discouraged. Notes of encouragement, prayer, and surprise donations continue to make us all thankful. We know this is in the Lord’s hands and in His time, He’ll make everything come together. “His mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning; great is Your faithfulness.”  (Lamentations 3:22-23) My sweet daughter-in-law posted these great words of encouragement by John Piper.

*A little bonus encouragement came from my speaking engagement with a great group of moms last Friday. Thanks for your thoughts and prayers. It was great fun. I’d love to do it again!

5. A quote:

"When I became a man I put away childish things, including the fear of childishness and the desire to be very grown up.” (C.S. Lewis)

What things to put away—the fear of childishness and the desire to be very grown up!

Some days I am far too grown up…and I long for the wonder of childhood. My sustenance then? Little moments of wonder.

Wishing you wonder this week,

12 comments:

Amy @ Hope Is the Word said...

What blessings! :)

I used to teach high school English, and then, when my older two children were small, I taught freshman composition part time at a local community college. I know what you men about the pleasure of teaching students who are engaged with their reading!

I wonder the same thing about photographs myself. There is something wonderful about looking through a steak of them or through an album.

Have a blessed Friday!

Amy @ Hope Is the Word said...

*mean, not men

Barbara H. said...

It's so neat when we see others loving books, especially books that we love, too.

I love looking through old photos, too. It's a neat family experience, as well, and one that doesn't translate as well with digital photos. Though we'll occasionally show each other a photo on our iPhones, it's not the same as sitting around a photo album or rummaging through a box of photos.

Neat quote from Piper. So glad God's mercies are new every morning.

Beth said...

I hope you and your hubby have a great time together at the movies, Laura Lee. My hubby and I are opting to stay at home and rent a DVD tonight. But I do love my Friday's with my man!

I agree with many of your favorites. I'm nodding my head on all of them! Thanks for sharing and for coming by my place to encourage me, friend!

Jerralea said...

I adore seeing the wonders of God's creation in nature. Just spending time in the great outdoors calms me and de-stresses me.

It's so fun to go back home and go through Mom's old photos! Something every family should do - and that way you can ask someone who knows who all the people in the photos are!

Willow said...

When I teach a section on writing a book report, I choose the book and at first the kids are not thrilled. But when it's one of Steven Kellogg's incredible picture books (of all things!) they quickly change their minds and LOVE it. No one is too old for a fun and silly picture book.

Hurray for the adoption fund--and looking forward to the 'forever family'.

Faith said...

Ah....books and nature...2 of MY very faves as you know :)

both of my girls were in Honors English for 8th grade (actually, the oldest was in Honors all the way til graduation and it looks like Claire wll be too since she said NO to AP English next year). Anyways..they read Lord of the Flies in 8th grade and I will never forget the discussions around the dinner table! :) I was happy they've had excellent English teachers :) I hope you have a marvelous weekend and a fun movie night tonite with your hubby :)

Jean Wise said...

/Good list and quote, as usual, Laura. Your first sentence says it all

Gattina said...

Put all your pictures on one USB stick in a nice little box and even your great grandchildren can see them !

BTW I wonder WHEN a man becomes a man ????

Unknown said...

i always love your friday list. i love it when students are hooked on story, as well. ENJOY!

Susanne said...

I'm a hard copy kind of gal with both books and pictures. I do like looking through albums.

I had to smile at your students loving Lord of the Flies because that is not the reaction my kids had to the story. Our family must be on the outside of that bubble because none of us liked that one.

Nature definitely is something that draws me close to God and just lets me drop the cares of the world. Loved the quote!

nikkipolani said...

Wonderful fives, Laura. You are so right about the long exhale when we relax in God's creation. I like the way Lewis thinks -- he knows what we are prone to do!

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