My Guest Blogger

Finally, the return of Gertrude Millicent Wigglesworth with her conclusion of her book review of The Silver Chair (begun here):

After reaching the ruined city, Eustace, Jill, and Puddleglum end up making their way underground. They are eventually discovered by the Earthmen, who have been ordered to take the trio to their Queen. Upon reaching the queen's castle they discover that the queen has gone out. However the Black Knight is there and invites the three to dine with him. While they are eating he tells them about the enchantment he is under. For one hour every night, the Knight grows violently furious and will kill anyone he sees. Afterwards he transforms into a great serpent. This is why his most gracious Queen has ordered him to be bound to a silver chair every night until he is himself again. The Knight then told them that the Queen had found the only way to break the spell: he must become King of Overland. Her plan was to invade Overland using tunnels. After the meal the Knight is bound to the silver chair, and instructs them not to untie them no matter what he says. Sure enough the hour comes and the Knight does indeed plead with them to untie him, saying, “this is the only hour I am not enchanted, the rest of the time I am under the witch's spell. And in the name of Aslan let me go!” That was the fourth sign! Eustace and Puddleglum cut off the Knight's bonds. The Knight then reintroduces himself as Prince Rilian and hacks the silver chair to bits! He said could not remember who he was whilst under the enchantment. The celebration does not last long though for quite soon after the Queen walks in. Or should I say witch? She sees the Prince unbound with a sword in hand and the silver chair now in many pieces. She walks over to the hearth and throws in a handful of green powder. This causes the room to fill up with a sweet and drowsy aroma, making it very hard to think. The Witch puts them all under a spell making them think there is no Narnia, there never was any world but hers. Brave Puddleglum, in a desperate attempt to stop the spell, takes his foot and stomps on the fire, stopping the spell. After realizing they are no longer under her control, the witch transforms into a huge green serpent and attacks our four heroes. The Prince, Puddleglum, and Eustace manage to dispatch the Witch in the end. After dressing Puddleglum's burnt foot, they set out to find Overworld. With the help of the Earthmen, who were also under the Queen's spell, they find their way to the surface, where Prince Rilian says goodbye to his dying father Caspian X. With their mission complete, Aslan takes them back to their own world.

This book is an interesting book. It has enchantments, giants and a quest to find a lost prince. It appeals to everyone's sense of fun and is a good read for anyone of any age.

From the Kids

At work...

Me: Do you know what a summary is?
6 year old: Yes. That's what you can go in and it goes underwater.
Me: Um...no, that's a submarine.


Student one (out of the blue): I loooooooove Sylvan!
Student two: Sylvan is so much fun!
Student three: I'm so bored.

At home...

Child one: Let's do a brain transplant this time!
Child two: Yeah! Wait, where's the brain?

In Sunday School...

Me: And what would happen if a slave refused to do what the master said?
Entire class in unison: They would be whipped!

Then I talked about them as my slaves. They realized that there are more of them, so they started planning a slave uprising. I told them that it never works because other people would come and deal with them. They insisted that there are more of them.
Me: Hey, there are more adults than children in this church and they would come and kill you.

Right Now

Right now there is a flock of small nuisances in my living room. They range from 6-10 years old and there are 5 of them.

So far they have made 2 bracelets, one bead person, and a mess of beads and bead accouterments.

They found the small doctor kit, and then I found them the real stethoscope. We listened to everyone's hearts, heads, and lungs. Then we all took turns being the dead person and getting heart and kidney transplants. There was a lot of drama and Skittle pills.

Eventually we ordered pizza and pop and now they're eating and watching a movie and playing and talking.

They're so much fun.

Stories

On Saturday I ended up teaching grade 9 Science, which is not my favourite thing to do (my regular tutor called in sick). On of the questions was "How are stars created?" I tried to answer twice:
1. God created them.
2. "When a mommy star and a daddy star love each other very much..."
She didn't think her teacher would like either answer, so I finally had to resort to Google.

Sunday morning I was talking with one of the small sweethearts at church. She's three and thinks it's so funny and great that I call her "Sweetheart." She told me that she used to be a baby and when she was a baby she had to live in a box. Her dad later clarified that she was premature and very tiny and was in an incubator.

One of our least favourite books at work is Fifi Ferret's Flute. We've all read it (and heard it read) dozens of times. It's so bad that once I changed the ending and killed off Fifi and everyone on the room cheered (except the rather perplexed 5-year old sitting across from me). Today one of my teachers asked her student how the problem in Fifi was fixed, but what I heard was "How was Fifi fixed?" Just for a minute the story was interesting.

Remembering

This morning I was looking through my inbox for an email. I couldn't find it, so I started looking through different folders. A lot of them have old stuff from years ago when I saved and organized almost every email. I don't do that quite as much now.

In one folder, I found a couple emails from someone I couldn't remember. I had to read one almost through before I could place her. That was a bit strange. Most people, though, I could remember, even if I hadn't heard from them or even thought about them for years. I wonder what they're doing now.

I found several from one particular friend. We've always kept in touch to some extent, and now we're on Facebook so it's a lot easier. Many years ago we spent a couple summers with Child Evangelism Fellowship, leading Bible clubs through southern Ontario. We were partners for part of one summer; the other summer (I think she only did 2 summers, but maybe she did all three with me) we only saw each other for the 2 weeks of training. Then we lived together for a year when I was at Brock. We have only seen each other one other time, I think in 2001. It's a good friendship, though: the type that could pick up where it left off.

These emails come from the couple years after we lived together. Some of them are silly and some are sad and some are sweet. Most are a mix of whatever came to mind; that's the way we wrote to each other. Somewhere I also have some letters that she wrote. We both communicate so much easier with written rather than spoken words.

As I read the emails I remembered and I laughed and I cried a bit and I missed my friend terribly. I missed the "us" that we were back then, when life was simpler (or at least differently complicated). We've both grown and changed so much, and that's good. That's the way it should be, and it hasn't harmed our friendship, but it had to change as well. And right now I miss that year and that friend and that person who I was and that life.

And I wouldn't change who I am and where I am now. I don't want to live back then again, but I would like to visit.

The Third Option

Valentine's Day has come and gone again. As a single woman, the only thing about it that made me sad is that I couldn't find discounted chocolate or cinnamon hearts today (although I only looked in one place; I'll try other places tomorrow). Beyond that, it wasn't a big deal this year.

It did get me thinking, though. There are enough people who think that as a single person, I'm just waiting for the right guy to come along. I'm not. I'm also not out looking for a guy (the other perceived response to singleness). Either one makes it sound like my life is on hold in some way until I meet someone and get married. It's not.

I'm going with the third option: live life now. My life is already full and I am already contented and I already know joy. God has given me a wonderful life full of family and friends and work and studies and service. There's nothing to wait for.

I'm not decrying marriage. Marriage is a wonderful thing. If you're single and seeking marriage, that's great! Find someone, get married, raise a family, life life together. But don't wait until you're married to start living.

Life is too short and too wonderful to waste time on waiting. Live!

Hospitality

I'm having people over for supper today. I should probably tidy up a bit; at the very least, I should pile up the books somewhere. I have room for all my books, but school and church and Bible study stuff tends to be spread out everywhere so I can see what I need to be doing. Piling them up will make the place look a bit better and will clear the second table so we can use it to eat.

Yes, that's right: second table. I have a dining room table, but I only have 3 chairs. The second table is usually in the living room (okay, truth: it's all one big room, dining room, living room, kitchen (which is at least marked off by the counter), and office (that place between the couch and the dining room table where my desk and printer table are)). It's used for doing school work, and usually has piles of stuff on it. It can be put in front of the couch and used for eating off of as well.

I have chicken in the slow cooker, veggies in the fridge, a large supply of potatoes, and a cake baking. So far as food goes, I'm good. I also have lego for the kids (and maybe their dad).

I used to stress about practicing hospitality. I thought everything had to be perfect and I was hesitant to invite people over, especially if the number of people out-weighed the number of dining room chairs. I also thought the food had to be spectacular and fancy.

I was wrong. People don't care about all that stuff (and if they do, invite someone else over. Maybe a family: the moms will just be happy that someone else is cooking). I keep the food simple so I don't have to wonder if it will turn out. Most people (even children) like chicken so it's a pretty safe choice. I serve potatoes and usually a variety of raw veggies and some buns. Add cake or ice cream for dessert, and everyone is happy. We can sit around the living room to eat and no one cares. A couple weeks ago I had 2 children at the dining room table, 1 child sitting on the floor in the booster seat (it has a tray), the parents on the couch at the second table, and 1 child and I at the coffee table. It worked.

The point is: the Bible tells us to practice hospitality. It doesn't tell us to wait until we can do everything perfectly because that day will never come. We're just supposed to love one another. If you can do everything fancy, then good for you. Otherwise, serve them whatever looks good and have fun together.