The Battle of Gettysburg

The Battle of Gettysburg was a huge blow to the Confederates but a victory to the Federals. It was Genaral Lee's idea to attack. So he found about 150 guns in the camp, gave them to his men, but in the end he lost.



The Battle




The Results

RACHAEL STEELE

A God of Order

Numbers....who would have thought that this book would teach me about who God is and what He likes?  I like order...it helps me stay sane...and God likes order also.   The first 3 chapters ...so far...are about order..a census is taken..the Israelites are told how to arrange themselves in the camp and in what order to leave and exit camp.  There are specific people to do specific jobs....this tells me that not all are called to do the same thing.   Thank goodness... you would not like my color choices and lay out of rooms if I were asked to decorate.  But give me some books and a shelf...boy howdy,  I could make you (and me) very happy and orderly. 

Which brings me to the book sale.   We had the first of the three for the year at the main library this past Fri.  It goes through Sun.  but I try to only go one day..I spend less that way.  Yes,    I spend 4-5 hrs in a basement looking at books..and I am NOT ashamed or give ANY excuses.  It is pure fun. 

I have an ORDER to my search.  This time I took all my children because I couldn't be at all the places at once.  What I mean by this is....there are different sections of the sale, and I look for specific books from each section,  history,  children's,  religious,  the old books..so this time I needed more than one person so we could run walk calmly over to the sections at one time and look before anyone else got there.  Oh,  I didn't just say that did I?  Forget that.  I really was not as jittery as I am normally am.  Sometimes I don't sleep very well the night before I am so nervous and excited.  Terrible,  I know.  REALLY..I took the kids because they each had books they wanted me to look for and I knew I wouldn't be able to look like they could..so they went to find their books..and a couple of mine on my list.   I didn't find them, but I did find some for others...that's just as much fun to me.  Here is a pic of some of our finds. 

Also,  this time,  I took only cash,  had a limit,  and MET IT.    You can't possibly know how revolutionary this was for me, unless you compare it to shopping.  THEN you understand.  Or dieting.  Let's not go there in this post.    I usually SAY a  limit of 3 boxes and come out with 5,  wheezing at how much I just spent and wondering how to tell my husband and where we will find room on the shelf.  I actually only had about 15-20 (books)  of my own personal (not going on the kids shelf) books.  I did accidentally leave behind about 8 books on the floor.  But I look at it as God's protections against greed.  

And what do books have to do with the book of Numbers...besides that they are books...?   Well,  I ordered my spending,  and preordered my shelves to accommodate new books, and have all my new books on my shelves,  and nothing lying around.  My books are in order.    I see the connection.  And I feel very sane...at the moment. 

Here is a random picture of lentils in a pot.  Very ordered, and pretty. 

thanks for reading,

Reb

Vows, Allergies, School, and HGTV

No excuses.   Just ....well, no excuses. 

So what AM I doing right now?

This......

This has been the WORST season for me.  I guess it's that over 40 thing.  But I am not even going to church today because my whole face is swollen and my eyes are so itchy I just "gently" rub all day. 


What ELSE is going on? 


This....

I am using this web site and LOVE it.  It is the same one I used last year to read the Bible through,  but just chronologically.   Just finished Leviticus and learned SOOO much.  Here are just a few thoughts.

1. Reading through the old testament has opened my eyes to the teachings of the new testament.  They ae not different,  only explained.  Here are a few instances.

   In Leviticus we see where God desires His people to look, act, worship and be different from those around them.  In the new testament, here is what  God says.

Phil 2:15  that you may be blameless and innocent, children of God without blemish in the midst of a crooked and twisted generation, among whom you shine as lights in the world,

Col 2:8  See to it that no one takes you captive by philosophy and empty deceit, according to human tradition, according to the elemental spirits of the world, and not according to Christ.

Rom 12:2  Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.

1 John 2:15   Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him.

There are others that as you read the new testament will jump out at you.    I am so thankful I have stuck with the day to day reading.  Sounds crazy but this is only the second year EVER that I have stuck with it.  I think the habit forming of getting up and reading first thing (well,  after getting coffee and cleaning up while the pot is heating up) has made an impression on my mind and now I feel things are not right if I haven't read God's word and listened for instruction. 

And then I am doing this....

http://www.hgtv.com/

We have found a web site that lets us watch HGTV free!!!  And since we have NOTHING on our tv right now,  this is nice.  We are in the process of transforming our living room.  I will get pics up soon.  They are NOT pretty.  I am praying the end result will be.  NO...I am confidant, because I have a great DESIGNER...a friend who really IS a designer...along with my sister...who really IS a desinger.

The last thing going on here...well, not the last but the last for this post.. is homeschooling.  Going great,  loving the books and results,  and planning our LAST 12 WEEKS!  Can you believe it?  In 12 weeks we will be finished with this years books.   I will post some books we have been reading,  some new writing material we are using, and ..oh yes...we just went to a book sale.  I will post about that. 

thanks for reading,  (if you are still around!!)

Reb