To Probity and Beyond!

WWoW...2/8/12
Probity-/ˈprōbitē/-('pro bi tee)- noun Adherence to the highest principles and ideals. 
The quality of having strong moral principles. Honesty and decency. 
Complete and confirmed integrity. From the Latin, probitas (honesty, uprightness),
root word for probe and prove. Abe Lincoln was a model of probity when he walked miles 
to return a women her correct change. Or to paraphrase Paul,
“Do not be deceived: bad company corrupts good probity."(1 Corinthians 15:33) 
I'm sure Paul would have said it that way if he spoke English.=) So basically, you could replace the words honesty or morals with probity. But it is like, the best of the best of honesty and morality.

Often in politics and journalism,
honesty and probity are the first things to go.

How will you show probity today?

Black Silk

I've taken a page out of my husband's book, and am reading several books simultaneously. I almost never read more than one book at a time. I start it. I finish it. I read another. I am still reading Team of Rivals. Lincoln just got nominated. That is how the book started, and it only took the authoress 260 pages to get back to that point. I am 1/3 of the way through now. That's progress. I also read a Clive Cussler book this past week. Much shorter. It was The Race, his newest Isaac Bell mystery. It is quite the sense of accomplishment to actually finish a book again. I usually read a lot, but my iPod has been distracting me. It is handier than a big book. And an infinite amount of time can be wasted on absolutely nothing profitable. Last night I conscientiously docked it, and read. My book club just started Boundaries. We are reading two chapters a week. I have already found it convicting. There are things I need to change for myself boundary-wise, but there are also changes to be made in how I relate to my kids. I think this might end up on the life-changing list. For fun, I am going to be reading a kids version of the Iliad, and The Odyssey. I have tried, several times, to read the real deal. But I have quite the hard time digesting poetry. I think I will make more progress on these. So, that is my current stack. What's in yours?
Everyone knows the jingle, "the best part of waking up, is Folgers in your cup." I must admit, I'm a Folgers woman. Maxwell House's, "good to the last drop," just isn't. Or how about, "wake up, its 8'o-clock." Not impressed.=) If I am drinking pre-ground coffee, I prefer Folgers. I just do. I've drunk the proverbial kool aid. Grinding our own beans is another matter. We have found that both us Hippies like blends of coffee as opposed to flavors. Columbian, french, breakfast...verses french vanilla, hazelnut, or whatever. My favorite coffee roaster is Herman's Boy, up in Rockford. They roast all their own beans, and have many signature blends. Many of their blends are named after well known places in the GR area. It is very cool. They also have different varieties of beans-Costa Rican, Honduran, Kenyan etc.. It is a great place to visit, if you are ever in the area. I'm thinking I've got to make a trip there now that I've talked about it. They also have great bagels. Just sayin'.=)
But I have totally digressed off the topic of Folgers. Their mega container of classic roast is fairly cheap at Sam's, and that is what we normally drink. But last week I splurged on my absolute favorite blend of their coffee, the Black Silk. Doesn't that even sound amazing? It just rolls off the tongue. Black Silk. It brews an amazingly smooth but bold cup of coffee. It is one of Folgers darker blends. I love it. There is no bitterness. Just a flow of rich goodness. I stumble downstairs to my rocking chair, on my non swimming days, and there waiting for me, is my cup of Black Silk. And it is worth crawling out of my warm bed. Truly "the best part of waking up..."
Or maybe, its waking up to my husband, who almost every day for 10 years, has fixed me my first cup of joe for the day.

Why wouldn't I want to wake up to this hunk?

Starbucks date. Not the best coffee, btw.

coffee on the porch in TN

What are you waking up for?

My Man Friday

Its Friday, and its a balmy 50 degrees here in Michigan. Does the term "January thaw" fit, when it hasn't really gotten that cold yet? Or when our snowfall has been much less than 10"? Ironies...you got to love them. My kids will go outside during the winter, then come in and ask for hot cocoa to warm up. I make it for them, and they ask for ice cubes to cool it down.
Its Friday, the last day of Christmas break, and my floors have not been washed in two weeks. At least. But we don't stick to them while walking over them. And I really don't like cleaning on Fridays. So, should I whoop it up, and do what I want to do-bake cookies and read all afternoon? Or should I do what I should do? Though, maybe what I should do is relax, because we don't have another school break scheduled until May. What would you do?
I wrote a letter today. And I played a game with the boys-Liar. They aren't very good at it, for which I am very thankful. It makes me hopeful that if they are ever not really telling the truth, the same body language will appear. And I tried a new recipe this week.  Everyone seemed to like the Chicken Provencal, but the potatoes needed more cooking time. I followed the directions, even cooking the dish an extra half hour, but they were still a bit hard. When a new recipe doesn't turn out really well, I am not inspired to make it again. If something turns out good, I may tweak it a bit, and and make it again. We'll, see if this one makes that cut. And I've run three times this week already. Nothing spectacular. But, a run is a run, at this time of year. And I had family over last night, and friends are coming tomorrow. I think I've got a good start on my resolutions. The thing is, you have to do them now. Not put it off until tomorrow or next week.
I am elbow deep into A Team of Rivals, a book about Lincoln and his cabinet. It is well written and interesting. I am enjoying it-when I get around to it.
What are your favorite books? I have favorites, and I have "life-changers". The favorites I return to over and over again. Whenever I have nothing to read, I will pull out one of these. They are old friends, and they are wonderful. This is my Top 10 list of each.
Favorites:
1. Pride and Prejudice-love the irony
2. The Complete Adventures of Sherlock Holmes
3. The Lord of the Rings
4. The Scarlet Pimpernel
5. Boleyn novels by Philipa Gregory
6. Oregon Files and Dirk Pitt novels by Clive Cussler
7. Harry Potter-okay, I said it. I love them.
8. The Hobbit
9. Cleopatra by Margaret George
10. Jason Bourne Novels
 As you can see, my taste runs to adventure and spy novels, some mysteries, and historical fiction. I am not really into Christian fiction.

Life-Changers
1. Hudson Taylor, the double volume set-taught me the importance of living by faith
2. George Muller of Bristol-faith and giving
3. Passion and Purity, Elizabeth Elliot-it helped me learn contentment as a single, and encouraged me in a yearly read through the Bible
4. Prayer, Dr. Rice-practical, believing prayer
5. My Utmost for His Highest-devotional, with such high thoughts you can get lost. But wonderful!
6. Borden of Yale-I read this before I was a teen. It really challenged me to live for God now, because I might die young, and what would I have done for Him?
7. How to Win Friends and Influence People-just a good book about relationships.
8. John Adams by David McCoullough-a great book about one of our Founding Fathers, and his wife.
9. Schindler's List-horrible, but inspiring
10. The Bible-it changes my life, day by day, year by year

When I had my milk and cookies, and when Ethan said he
hoped I was making chocolate chip cookies, as opposed to
Christmas cookies, I knew I had made the right choice.

Definitely worth picking up a book, not a bucket.

Part of today's labor too! Deliciousness!

Rub-a-dub-dub, It's Sugar Scrub

Well, today GR is covered in its first sticking snow of the season. It is beautiful, especially with the sunshine making everything glisten. I didn't go swimming. I put Meredith back in bed about 3:30 this morning and saw the snow. I decided I was NOT brushing off the van. Just not going to happen. But I did wake up Brian at 3:30 so he could see the snow too. I'm sure he appreciated that.=) The kids are thrilled. I will send them out as soon as we finish science and piano.
Today we did an overview of the Civil War, reading from Ethan's battle book. We are doing a timeline of the presidents and have been on Abraham Lincoln for a few weeks. I decided we would do a quick look at the Civil War today. Our timeline is pretty cool. We have the president "vitals" and then what I guess you could call "fun facts". It is not exactly what I envisioned when we started, but when you ask my kids what they know about the presidents, you get stuff like, "oh, he was the first president with a beard." Or, "he had a zoo at the White House." All the stuff the presidents hoped their presidency would NOT be remembered for.=) Each president also has a hand drawn portrait. They each look rather similar-like they were all related or something. Its the hair. Btw, Elsie's favorite presidents are the ones with braids. Go figure.
On the stove, I have 12 cups of water boiling...we are making ginger ale for science. Don't ask me what making ginger ale has to do with science, but its in the science book. I guess its the yeast/sugar/carbonation thing. It will be ready Sunday night if anyone wants to try some.
I got my sugar scrub and oatmeal facial made. But recipes were super easy to mix up. The time accumulated in the packaging. But I think they turned out rather nice. I'm glad. I hate when I have an idea, and then it doesn't quite turn out the way I envisioned.
I am getting into the Christmas spirit. Maybe because there is snow on the ground. Maybe because of all the projecting that is happening, or should be happening. Maybe its because of the Christmas parties and carol sings. Anyway, with only 16 days until Christmas, I guess now is the time.=) I decided on my run the other day that I was going to wish everyone I see a "Merry Christmas". If people can say "Happy Holidays," I am going to boldly proclaim, "Merry Christmas! Christ's birth is the reason we are celebrating. I think Christmas presents a unique opportunity to share the gospel. Yes, we are celebrating Christ's BIRTH. But, if Jesus wasn't born as a baby, as a human, He could not have died on the cross to pay the price for our sins. We just have to continue the message...birth...life...death...resurrection. Supported by good holiday attitude, and actions. Let others be first in line at the grocery store. Don't be impatient. Don't be rude. Give to the bell ringers. You know what I mean.
My kids are learning poems for our Christmas Program taken from the King's College of Cambridge's Christmas Eve Service. This is Ethan's...

This 

is the truth sent from above,

The truth of God, the God of love; 

Therefore don’t turn me from your door,

But hearken all both rich and poor.

The first thing which I do relate

Is that God did man create; 
The next thing which to you I’ll tell:

Woman was made with man to dwell.

Then after this ’twas God’s own choice 

To place them both in Paradise,
There to remain from evil free,
Except they ate of such a tree.

And they did eat, which was a sin, 

And thus their ruin did begin; 

Ruined themselves, both you and me, 

And all of their posterity.

Thus we were heirs to endless woes, 

Till God the Lord did interpose, 

And so a promise soon did run
That he would redeem us by his Son.

God cannot lie, He keeps His Promises. Christmas was the first step in the fulfillment of the promise of redemption.

sugar scrub!!!

stirring

all lined up in a row-16 jars total

labelling

fruits of a day's labor

the things we do in the name of beauty...
Like Esther-1 year of beauty treatments.=)

If you are on my list, don't look too close at the labels.=)
Just sayin'!=)

Merry Christmas, Everyone!!!