Summer Time!

It's summer time! It's already July! Wow!

So, what has our family been doing this summer? What are we going to be doing later on? Well, let me tell you...

From June 21-25, my mom, brother and I helped at our church's Vacation Bible School.  It was different this year because it was in the evenings instead of mornings.
From June 28 through July 2 we hosted a 5-day club in our backyard. Some youth came to our house and put it on. They told Bible stories, missionary stories, and taught the children games, songs and a Bible verse each day. We would also have a snack, too! There were a few children who wanted reassurance of their salvation, and at least one child prayed to receive Christ.  Praise the Lord!

We have been re-doing our bathroom downstairs, so we have had some people working on that this week. Also, on Tuesday, we painted D.J.'s (my brother) and my rooms. Three of D.J.'s walls are brown and the other is green, and mine are all green. D.J. plans to put a green stripe on at least one of his brown walls. They look nice! :)

So, that's a lot of what we have been doing this summer so far, but what's next?

Well, near the end of this month, we are having two sets of company come. My aunt and uncle are coming from Oregon, and another aunt and uncle from Washington with my grandpa from Montana are coming.

In August, my family and I are taking a trip to Oregon to go camping with a few families. We are driving this time (we always fly), so it will be a little different. On our way to Oregon, we will be stopping Idaho for two nights and seeing some old friends. It will be great to see many friends and some family in August! :)

I hope you are having an awesome summer! Thanks for reading!

Music

“Music expresses that which cannot be put into words and cannot remain silent”  - Victor Hugo.*

Music is a wonderful thing, and can express much without saying a single word.  When words and music are put together, it becomes more than words.  Often they are pieces of poetry put to a melody.

Of course words are needed for many things, but think what can happen with just music.  Think of a ballet for example.  A whole show can be performed with out a single word being heard by the audience, and the audience still knows what's going on.  They can still follow the story.

Many go to concerts where only music is played.  They listen for over an hour.  The music tells a story itself with out a single word being spoken.

Music is used in movies, and audio dramas.  Many radio stations play mostly music. Music is used in all kinds of dancing, and at special events.  Without music things sound "empty".

There are many different kinds of music.  Many countries have their own type of music, and within the countries, people enjoy different styles.  We have many different kinds of music in America.  We enjoy music such as Jazz, Country, Classical, and even Rap.  

Not only are there different styles of music, but there are so many different instruments.  Consider the piano, cello, violin, flute, trumpet, accordion, guitar, and the bagpipes.  All these instruments are different and have a different sound, yet they all have something in common... they all make music.  Each instrument could be playing the same note, yet they all have their own voice.

How about music with words?  Deep feeling is displayed with these songs.  These songs can be spoken from the heart, bring tears to one's eyes, or bring laughter.  They could be songs of praise to God, or possibly a cry from the heart.

Music can be used to memorize a variety of things.  It can be used to memorize a Bible verse by putting the words to music.  It can also be used to memorize the alphabet, or capital cities.  On their commercials, businesses use jingles to make us remember their slogan or company name.  It is interesting how we remember things better when they are put to music, rather than just the words themselves. 


The whole book of Psalms is full of songs to God.  There are many songs in the Bible.    Psalms 33:2-3 says, "Praise the LORD with the harp; make music to him on the ten-stringed lyre.  Sing to him a new song; play skillfully, and shout for joy." NIV  God gave us music so we could praise Him.



*http://thinkexist.com/quotations/music/

How Great Thou Art

I just got a new CD called "Passion: Hymns Ancient & Modern" by the Passion Worship Band.  One of the songs on the CD is "How Great Thou Art". The original music was a Swedish Folk Melody, O Store Gud, which was arranged by Stuart K. Hine in 1953.  In the insert, they have this story:

"In 1886, Swedish pastor, Carl Boberg, then 26, composed the nine original stanzas [of 'How Great Thou Art'] as a poem, O Store Gud, or 'O Mighty God.'

"In time, the poem was translated into German and Russian and was notice by a British missionary who was serving in Ukraine.  That missionary, Reverend Stuart K. Hine, was visiting a home in the Carpathian Mountains near the Polish border when he found a Christian by the name of Dimitri and his wife.  Almost by chance, a Bible had fallen into their hands, but no one in the village, save Dimitri's wife, had learned to read, and she only with the greatest effort.  As she slowly spelled out the wonderful words of John 3:16 to the wondering villagers, tears began to flow, and one by one they dropped to their knees, crying aloud to God.  Twelve of these villagers had been truly converted, and it was these believing disciples that Mr. Hine met when he called at the cottage n the mountains that day.  He arrived just in time to hear than crying out in amazement again at the revelation of God's love at Calvary.

"Under the inspiration of the blessed scene, he wrote, 'And when I think that God, His Son not sparing, sent Him to die, I scarce can take it in; that on the Cross my burden gladly bearing, He bled and died to take away my sin... then sings my soul, my Savior God to Thee, how great Thou art!  How great Thou art!'

"Later, Hine expanded and translated three stanzas from Russian into English and added a fourth."

________________________________________________________

Just think... One Bible was placed in the hands of the only person who could read in the village...  Many heard that they could have Salvation...  Twelve believed...  This inspired Reverend Stuart K. Hine to translate three of the original stanzas into English and write the stanza, "And when I think that God, His Son not sparing..."  Now this hymn, originally a poem written in 1886, is probably one of the most popular hymns of all time.

Wow!  What a series of amazing events!  God can do amazing things!

Click on the web address to hear the song: http://listen.grooveshark.com/#/s/How+Great+Thou+Art/2IeHY7

"Will" by Charlie Hendren

Where the coast of ancient Ireland meets the ocean's roar

A band of frozen villagers stood hard upon the shore

'Twas a black and frigid evening; icy mistlets spun the air

As they watched a ship out on the brine and offered silent prayer.

The Pride of Cork was going down she had driven hard on the rocks

And was torn by jagged boulders where the sea would claim her loss.

Her ribs had shattered in the bout and the crew of ten and three

'Twas sure to drowned amidst the foam of a cold and deadly sea.

'Twas sure that nothing could be done. 'Twas sure the crew would die.

Till a gallant soul upon the sands yelled, "Lads we've got to try

To get the long boat to the crew for we're their only prayer

I know the odds are slim but they're a drownin' right out there!"

And so it was that eight brave men laid hands to slippery oars

And so cast off to reach the Cork some eighty rods from shore.

They quickly vanished midst the moil of a savage booming sea

Where they would make their humble try to save the ten and three.

***************

Forty minutes slowly past and then near twenty more

When a hollow haunting cry was heard, "Hallo-o-o! Hallo-o-o! the shore!"

'Twas the eight lads in the long boat appearing in the swells

And with them in the boat a huddled group of twelve.

As the long boat touched the shore and the rescued helped to land

A small boy amongst the watchers asked, "But where's the other man?"

His answer came from frozen lips, "Lad there wasn't room.

The Lord knows we tried but 'tis sure he's gone to meet his doom."

The boy turned to his mother in a voice both soft and high

"Mother, let me take my boat and give it one more try!"

His mother drew him to her held him tightly as she said,

"No, my son you cannot go for I will not see you dead.

The ocean claimed your father nearly six years past today

And Will your older brother is now two years gone away.

Not a word we've gotten since he ran off to the sea;

You're all I've got in all the world and your stayin' here with me.

When brother Will left his note and ran off to the sea

I felt it in my very heart that never more I'd see

His handsome face not touch his brow: The ocean's claimed his soul

He's far and gone these two long years

And I will not let you go!"

"But mother dear, the men can't go they're frozen to the bone

I'm all that's left to save the one that's perishing alone.

I'll take my dingy small and light she'd breast the meanest wave

And you'd not have me standing here when there's one more life to save."

With those few but urgent words her son now broke away

And rant to cast his tiny boat into the foaming waves.

Boat and boy soon disappeared within the darkening storm

While a grieving mother stood alone and wept and silent mourned.

***************

An hour past. An hour ten and some now turned to leave

When came the hopeful ringing cry, "There, there's something in the sea!"

All eyes swept the angry foam that crashed upon the sand

Searching for a boat and lad and perhaps a thirteenth man.

Yes! There it was appearing from the gloom;

But was there no one in the boat?

Or was there one? Or two?

The boat took shape against the black of raging storming din

The watchers ran to grab her prow and dragged the dingy in.

A mother's lone figure now stood fearful on the shore

Afraid to ask or chance a look at what the dingy bore.

But then the mother heard a joyous chorus split the night

Could her lone remaining son have made it back all right?

She drew a breath then turned to the boat upon the shore

Where now she heard the warming cry

"It's them! Oh, praise the Lord!"

Then came her young son's voice breaking through the chill

"Mother, I've brought the thirteenth man, and Mother, it is Will!"

We are home!

We are home from D.C.!

Let me tell you what we did this past weekend.

We arrived at my aunt and uncle's house Friday night. We had dinner, and we watched a movie on their new 3D TV.

Saturday was not too busy. We drove through downtown Frederick, MD with my aunt and uncle, and also stopped at two Cival War Battlefields. That night, after dinner, we went to Rita's - a place that sells frozen custard. The custard was tasty!

Sunday was busier. We went to the International Spy Museum, and the Museum of Natural History. My favorite thing at the Museum of Natural History was the butterfly pavilion. That was fun!

On Monday, we left my aunt and uncle's house, and drove to Baltimore. We saw the harbor there. We flew home from Baltimore that night.

We had a good trip! Thanks for visiting my blog during our trip! If you would like to continue reading my blog, I will be posting some this summer!

By the way, for those of you who do not have a Google account and "continued as a guest", your invitation will expire a month after you received the invitation. If you would like to continue to have access to my blog, please e-mail me and let me know so I can invite you again when the invitation is about to expire.

Thanks,

Bethany

More on Washington D.C.

We are in Maryland! We are visiting my aunt and uncle.

Yesterday we visited the Library of Congress, and the Air and Space Museum. At the Library of Congress, we saw the Gutenberg Bible. We also saw Thomas Jefferson's book collection.
At the Air and Space Museum, there are two sections of the building. One section is about Airplanes, the other is about Space. We mainly visited the Space section.

Since I haven't posted much about this past week, let me tell you a little more.

On Tuesday, we visited the White House and the Museum of American History. We stood in line to get into the White House for more than an hour, and we were only in the house for about 20-25 minutes. Although we were in the house for a short time, it is still a privilege to be able to go. My favorite room was the East Room. This room is sometimes used as a ball room, is a golden color, and has fancy chandeliers.
At the Museum of American History, we saw cool items such as President Lincoln's top hat and pocket watch, and the actual flag that inspired "The Star-Spangled Banner" during the war of 1812.

On Wednesday, we met our Senators, and took a tour of the Capitol Building. Our tour guide was an intern for one of our Senators. This tour was nearly a private tour as it was our family and one other lady and our tour guide. A cool thing we learned on our tour of the Capitol had to do with a statue of President Ronald Regan. This is a life-size metal statue of Ronald Regan, with a base that he is standing on. In the base, there is a layer of rock. This rock is pieces of the Berlin Wall.

It seems like we got the most accomplished on Thursday. That morning, we visited and took a tour of the Pentagon Building.  After that, we took a bus tour. One of the bus stops is at the Lincoln Monument, so we stopped there. We could see the Washington Monument from many places including the Lincoln Monument, and we also saw the Jefferson Memorial from the bus. Another stop on the bus route is near the WWII Memorial, so we also stopped there. We then stopped at the Museum of National Archives. There we saw the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution.

Washington D.C.

We were in Washington D.C. last week!  Our first day was Tuesday, and we left for Frederick, Maryland yesterday evening.  We will probably visit D.C. once more before we leave for home.  When we were in D.C., we visited the White House, the Capitol Building, the Museum of American History, the Pentagon, the Museum of National Archives, the Library of Congress, and one of the Air and Space Museums. We have either seen or actually visited: the Lincoln Memorial, the WWII Memorial, the Washington Monument, and the and Jefferson Memorial.

Here are some pictures that were taken on Wednesday and Thursday: