The Solstice

MMMmmm summer!

I have discovered that I need about 8 hours of sleep at night to feel rested and ready to go the next morning. I tried to get by with seven but it just wasn't enough. If I set my alarm for 8 hrs & 15 mins from the time I climb into bed at night, then I usually wake up a few minutes before the alarm sounds in the morning-- I like that. It is a better way to start the day.

The tricky part is going to bed 8 hrs and 15 mins before the time I absolutely have to get up in order to get to work on time.

Did you know so-called Beauty Sleep is the sleep you get before midnight? I haven't been getting much of that! And Summer - glorious summer - the sun doesn't set until 9:05. The evenings are so cool and pleasant for walks or chatting on the deck with Mr. Bee or letting the kids play Ghost-in-the-Graveyard well past bedtime.

I'll catch up on my beauty sleep this fall. ;-)

Survey Says...

What type of life do you think is best for women in general?

Homemaking & Family Raising
Boys 63% -- Girls 46%

Career
Boys 3% -- Girls 7%

Combination of Homemaking & Career
Boys 20% -- Girls 36%

Undecided
Boys 14% -- Girls 11%

This is from The Purdue Opinion Poll for Young People, 1948. The results are published in the Personal Adjustment Marriage and Family Living textbook I discussed briefly yesterday. From what I read in the text, the young people surveyed were high school age.

I wonder what the results would be today?

Sixty Years Back In Time

I have a small collection of old books. Mostly children's books and a few women's books too. Recently I bought 2 high school text books from the 1950s at a garage sale. They are Your Marriage and Family Living (1954) and Personal Adjustment Marriage and Family Living (1950). They are more "Sociology" than "Home Economics." The photographs and illustrations are a delight! The content is sometimes surprisingly liberal and not as old fashioned as I expected.

From page 218 Your Marriage and Family Living:

In our great grandparents' time the husband was a patriarch who ruled his family and provided for it. The wife was an obedient helpmate who confined her interests to home and children. Marriage today is approaching the ideal of equality between husband and wife. By discussing problems together, sharing views, sacrificing self-interest, they try to help each other realize the goals for which each strives.

Song in My Heart This Pentecost

Holy Spirit, light divine,
Dawn upon this soul of mine;
Let your word dispel the night,
Wake my spirit, clear my sight.

Holy Spirit, grace divine,
Cleanse this sinful heart of mine;
In your mercy look on me,
From sin’s bondage set me free.

Holy Spirit, truth divine,
Shine upon these eyes of mine;
Send your radiance from above,
Let me know my Savior’s love.

Holy Spirit, power divine,
Fortify this will of mine;
Bend it to your own pure will,
All my life with graces fill.

Holy Spirit, peace divine,
Still this restless heart of mine;
Speak to calm the tossing sea,
Stayed in your tranquility.

Holy Spirit, all divine,
Dwell within this self of mine;
I your temple pure would be
Now and for eternity.

Andrew Reed, 1817

Tales From the Back of the Fridge

Buttons Part 2

My first Buttons post was about the sins of vanity and pride and how what we say and do on Blogger can negatively impact our readers, intentionally or unintentionally.

In the first post I focused on the pride we take in our possessions, achievements etc. But upon further review, I realize people often take pride in the lack of possessions and/or lack of income. Taking pride in NOT having buttons.

Living in poverty as a sign of piousness. Vows of poverty because any effort to make money is greedy, but then announcing to the world how non-greedy, non-materialistic one is, is somehow acceptable.

Buttons. Can't live with them, can't live without them.

Life and Death Lessons

My mom passed away last week. Though I saw the end coming as her health rapidly deteriorated these last couple of months, I really wasn't ready to lose her yet.

At her funeral something about her dawned on me as the pastor spoke about Mom's life: My mom was not very religious, but my mom was very faithful.

And I realized that the way Mom lived her life personified faith, not religion. I think for the first time I understood, really understood, the difference, and I was so comforted.

My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me. I give them eternal life, and they will never perish, and no one will snatch them out of my hand.

- John 10:27-28