Tea Quotes

The tag on my Good Earth tea bag today was from Harriet Beecher Stowe – “The kindest thing we can give folks in the end is the truth.”

Funny coming from a woman who wrote propaganda.

All my life I’ve been in school. There was a period of looking at the bookshelf as a toddler in Jordan and wishing I could read, and pretty soon I’d read them all. There was Little Stars in Amman, and the peaceful cliff-side kindergarten, and first grade in Arabic…and all the while homeschooling each evening (which consisted of falling asleep while coloring for my tow-headed little sister).
And now, in four weeks I’ll be a homeschool graduate, going into something I’ve never been in before. Not in school. How strange! What makes it surreal is that I’ve never woken up and not been doing school at home unless it was summer, and then autumn is always fast approaching.

This time, I will be done. One Thursday I’ll close my book and not need to open it again. And I’m excited! Who wouldn’t be? But by no means is this the end of education. The end of schooling is not the end of education (and often schooling doesn’t mean education…which thankfully is not the case in the Fox Family Academy). Rather, in my case it will be the beginning of a more specified education, facilitated by my mother in budgeting, meal planning, and homeschooling on the other end. There is wisdom to glean from older women, and little children to help with and love and learn to enjoy. My siblings to spend time with. An autistic boy down the road to take for walks. Skills to be a steward of, an art business to get off the ground.

So no, I’m not going back to America for university. This time will be used as preparation for what I want my life to be about – being a helpmeet and raising children of multi-generational vision for God’s glory in my own beautiful home someday! That’s why I’m not studying for a career, as I want even my in-between years to work to that end, and to serve and learn from others. So it’s really just a new chapter in preparation, as well as the beginning of a different aspect of being a young woman in my father’s house.

Next year will bring many stories to tell you – but believe me, it will be very busy!

What He Must Be

Jasmine Baucham, author of one of my favourite blogs, Joyfully Home, is giving away a copy of her father’s book, What He Must Be…if He Wants to Marry My Daughter. (see sidebar for details on her blog!)
Our family truly appreciates Dr. Baucham’s faithful teaching of the Word, especially emphasizing the family in faith.

We finally got to see Fireproof tonight. It is a wonderful movie proclaiming grace and the importance of covenantal marriage – and is just really well made!

Life has been a whirlwind of studying and guests of late! Very good though.

much love,
Cait

Never Fully Dressed Without a Smile

See post at In Company With Sparkles =)

love,
Cait

Burn Us Up

song by Shane&Shane.

There were three

Before the king

There were three who wouldn’t bow to him

For when you heard

The music play

And you were standing you would burn.

They looked at him and said…

Burn us up! Burn us up! Burn us up!

Oh king won’t you burn us in the furnace of

Your desire

We give up! We give up! We give up!

Oh king won’t you burn us in the furnace of

Your desire -

Won’t you throw us in the fire!

The king enraged

At what they said

Sent the three away to find their death

The palace stopped in unbelief

When the guilty raised their hands to sing

They looked at him and said…

You are able to deliver from the fire of affliction

It’s the declaration of my Lord

You’re not an image of gold

You’re the God of old

You have made us

Come and save us

We are Yours

But even if You don’t,

We will burn.

Oman – sunset, stars, home

Down the alleyway, you look to the left and see light. Light through clouds, behind clouds. Mountains loom large, unmenacing. They are majestic. Stone cut, jagged and broken, geometric shapes forming rippling beauty. Explainable only by catastrophism. You may insist ‘over time’ but these aged mountains would defy you. A halo of sunshine is blinding, edging the clouds as with lace. Glowing rays stream down and particles of dust swirl in the sea air, blue sky behind and palm trees swaying below, newly lightened of their load of dates. Goats, frolicking; kittens, jump out of the cardboard box lying in the middle of the road. Greetings, as people hurry past and you look toward the sky. Light, missing in a village that sees it every day. A peaceful sun overlooking fear. White wisps trail above and hesitant wind sings. Real Light is never a contradiction.

- – - – -

I am home in Dubai, and was very excited to return – though I already miss baby Leif and look forward to going back in January. Exhausted but satisfied; it was wonderful to watch the girls give their parents a little presentation of what they’d learned throughout the week. My own cultural experiences along with that of being with another family and caring for and teaching their children, gave me much to think about as well. Such an opportunity! Not to say that it was in the least bit easy, and in the longer weeks it will get harder, but God really did bless this first short period. It is a different world in Khasab; mountains, burkas, tiny village – not even Arabic speakers.
The preceding and following pieces are short reflections written while there. Everything inspires in place that quiet.

- – - – -

Power out, on the rooftop looking at the stars. Incense wafting through from neighboring roofs, a rich, pungent addition to the sea mountain air. The stars flicker and shine with incomparable brightness. One shoots across the sky, and surely the rest are winking at us. My hand on Nisse’s shoulder, I can feel her little heart beating warm. We look up at Cassiopeia and her friends, the Pleiades sisters seven. A shade of fog settles on the mountains and a steady glow emanates from the cliffs. Laughter of village girls on the next roof floats by and the glare of their flashlight is startling. The stars still glimmer and sparkle overhead. We climb down uneven steps and fill the house with candles. As I write the sound of bedtime stories is soft in the background.

the latter glory of this house

It is a transitive place, and a transitive time in life. People go. Everyone is preparing, studying, being equipped for their life work. The desire of my heart is increasingly crying out to God to…mold me, pour me out. Allow me to begin what You are calling me to. Yet if my greatest joy would one day be to be a wife and mother, what then can I do Lord, but be shaped by you into who you would have me be?

I am overwhelmed by how far I fall short; how unready I am for anything he would ask me to do. Then I am overwhelmed again by his grace, and how he is working in me, transforming, refining.
All plans and purposes are his – all seasons under the sun, ordered and perfected in ways unimaginable to my mind that is only able to grasp what I hope for. Timing is his, as Donny encouraged me. “He knows the desire of your heart to serve him, even to marry young. He has his own plans – but he also fashioned and formed your heart.” Even a matter such as that.
I am forever encouraged by the times when God has used my disappointed hopes in any issue, be it broken friendships, ambitions, or my heart, to reveal himself to me in incredible ways and to increase my joy. I am challenged by those times when later I face other struggles and am tempted to despair or distrust his purpose, and his timing. The mistakes I would have made if he wasn’t in control! It is hideous to think about – I am thankful for a God who says no to some of our most cherished dreams, using them for his glory. I am thankful for a God who brings us joy in giving him the deepest, most painful and precious things that we hold on to.

Who also fulfills his promises and knows our hearts.

According to your pleasure and your glory. Use me.

more pictures than words

I have been far too lazy on here. Here is finally a little account of our fall trip, in no particular order.

our family at the capitol, and me with one of my heroes, General Robert E. Lee.  we were privileged to get to go on the floor of the house, and overall the tour was very interesting.

Disneyworld! The highlight of the trip for me.

(sign at epcot)

(expedition everest at the animal kingdom…nate and i are in the back; our third time on it)

Finding Nemo, The Musical. Definitely one of our favourite parts! It was spectacular, of broadway caliber, with beautiful singing and costume/set design.

Colonial Williamsburg

since then, I have had my first art bazaar (did quite well there!) and been busy with school and music. I’m singing tomorrow at a little Christmas concert, which is scary but exciting!

I do hope you all are doing well.

love,

Cait

A Thousand Questions

I went to church with my cousin Zack today and this video was shown. I found it very powerful and wanted to share it.

Burke

        We’re now in Burke, Virginia, with cousins. The weather and fall colours are glorious. My cousin and I have vastly different opinions and even worldviews, which can be difficult. (we had a great time today though) A few years ago was the first time the two of us could even get along, so now that we’re older and have such opposing views it can be quite interesting. I love her dearly, but still! For other reasons it’s been an emotionally up and down few days. I wasn’t as prepared this time to be back in the U.S. either.

       

        Last night some old friends came over for dinner, here at our uncle’s. The moms all were asking what I would like to do after graduating, as that seems to be the natural first question to ask upon finding out I’m a senior. A little later, one of them said “Well, I liked your answer about what you want to do after highschool. I hope my girls say the same thing.”

         That was such an encouragement to me! It seems like lately I’ve been having to fight it and explain it so much, that to be blessed by her saying that was doubly unexpected.

        It’s so important to remember that though it’s not always easy, we’re not alone.

hope you are all doing well.

love, cait