A Challenge from an Atheist.

"If I firmly believed,

                     as millions say they do, 
         
            that the knowledge and practice of religion in this life influences destiny in another,
                         then religion would mean to me everything.

          I would cast away earthly enjoyments as dross, earthly cares as follies,
                 and earthly thoughts and feelings as vanity.
         
  Religion would be my first waking thought and my last image before sleep sank me into unconsciousness.
                         
       I should labor in its cause alone.
       I would take thought for the matter of eternity alone.
       I would esteem one soul gained for heaven worth a life of suffering.
 
       Earthly consequences would never stay my hand, or seal my lips.
       Earth, its joys and its griefs, would occupy no moment of my thoughts.
        I would strive to look upon eternity alone, and on the immortal souls around me,
          soon to be everlastingly happy or everlastingly miserable.
     
     I would go forth to the world and preach to it in season and out of season, 
              and my text would be:
 "WHAT SHALL IT PROFIT A MAN IF HE GAIN THE                
           WHOLE WORLD AND LOSE HIS SOUL?""
                    - An Atheist.




Makes you think, doesn't it?
About your commitments, your resolutions, your life.
It does for me, anyway.
And  I know that it would be impossible to do all those things without God's help, but, how would this world be,
If just 1 in 500,000,000 Christians would TRY to live their lives like this?

I want to try.
I want to be this kind of a Christian.
Pray for me?







 - Me.

.PostAQuote.

For all of you who know me well,
You've been sitting at home, cringing every time you clicked on a link to my blog,
Hoping against hope that this will not be a Post On Quotes.
Because, since you know me so well,
You know that that is inevitable.
And so far, luck has held.

Until Now.
*cue the triumphant giggle*
I.Love.Quotes.
And so,
I think it only right, and fair, and all that,
that I devote an ENTIRE blog post to them.
You may now give a terrified look to your computer screen,
and end the torture by,
closing this window,
And my 'inspiring quotes',
shall remain unread.
But, at least I can have the joy in pretending
that you read them. ;)

So, I shall now continue in ignorant bliss,
while you all go and have a coffee to erase this memory.
(that's your cue.)
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
"Never let an angry sister comb your hair."
-Patricia Mccann (A wise woman, I've always said.)

             "If you can't be a good example, then you'll just have to be a horrible warning."
                           - Catherine Aird

"I wish wearing flatirons on our heads would keep us from growing up. but, buds will be roses, and kittens, cats - more's the pity!" - Josephine March

                "There is nothing worth living for, unless it is worth dying for."
                          - Elisabeth Elliot


      "I thank God for my handicaps, for through them, I have found myself, my work, and my God."                                    - Hellen Keller

CHERIE: Chlo, what if you get married and I never found out about it?
CHLOE: don't worry, it'll probably be on TV.

"Why, sometimes I've believed as much as six impossible things before breakfast!"
 - Lewis Carroll, Alice in Wonderland.

"Out of 100 men, only 1 will read the Bible,                                                                                                                                         the other 99 will read the Christian." - D.L. Moody

                                "Next to the wonder of seeing my Saviour, will be, I think, 
                                     the wonder I made so little use of the power of prayer."
                                                     - D.L. Moody

"Throughout all our personality we are God's, 
and since God has made our whole selves, 
there is great joy in realizing who is our Creator. 
This realization is to permeate every area and level of life. 
In appreciation of 
beauty, mountains, music, poetry, knowledge, people, science, 
 - even in the tang of an apple - 
God is there, 
to reflect the joy of His presence in the believer who will realize 
God's purposes in  all things."
- Pete Fleming

Got a new quote?
Let me know! :)

What Ho!

This shall be another random post,
about random things.
Specifically,
about fall.
'Cause I love fall.


 "Oh how we love pumpkin season.  
 You did know this gourd-ish squash has its own season,
 right?  Winter, Spring, Summer, Pumpkin.... 
  We anxiously anticipate it every year."  ~Trader Joe's




I love the scenery.
How you feel like you could just walk on and on and on for ever and ever.



Yes, I must admit, one of the best things about Autumn,
Is the Food.
Particularly, the pie.
More Specifically, The Pumpkin Pie.



Autumn = beautiful leaves.
That's all one can say about them.
Other that this:


October gave a party;
The leaves by hundreds came -
The Chestnuts, Oaks, and Maples,
And leaves of every name.
The Sunshine spread a carpet,
And everything was grand,
Miss Weather led the dancing,
Professor Wind the band.
~George Cooper, "October's Party"




Or bike for ever and ever and ever.



And the wonderful dreariness of Autumn.
When all you should do for a day is sit down,
curl up in a warm fluffy blanket with a cup 'o jo, (or tea. or whatever hot drink you have on hand)
and a good book.




Ohio State Buckeye Football.
I won't say anything about that right now.
Let's just say I'm sort of happy that I wasn't home the last game . . .




I can finally wear scarves.
I ♥ scarves.



And Jackets.
I love Autumn weather so much.



"A few days ago I walked along the edge of the lake and was treated to the crunch and rustle of leaves with each step I made. 
 The acoustics of this season are different and all sounds, no matter how hushed, are as crisp as autumn air."
-  Eric Sloane




I shall now post pictures of the FAB-U-lous week we had in North Carolina with my Aunts, Grandmother, Sisters, Mother, and Some Girl Cousins.
So she did.

Meet CHLOE BARKMAN  :(in red)

She's my little sister.

Her favorite singer is Chris Tomlin, 

We have interesting conversations with the Chlo,

Her favorite movies are of the Bonnet Variety,

Her favorite things to do are:

READ

PLAY WITH THE TINY LITTLE ANIMALS SHE GOT IN N.C.

PLAY WITH HER DOLLS

WREAK HAVOC WITH HER BROTHER MICHAEL

PLAY WITH COUSINS

and she's as sweet (if not sweeter) as chocolate.

MEET CLAUDIA YODER: (in the back)

Claudia is a very active little girl,

She loves to play in dirt and ashes and water,

She loves giving hugs, 

She is the first one in EVERYTHING and EVERYWHERE,

When you play Follow-The-Leader with Claudia 

Prepare to be exhausted.

And we wouldn't want her any other way.

She's as sweet (if not sweeter) than sugar.

MEET CHLOE YODER: (in hat)

Chloe loves her mommy, 

She likes to wear hats, 

She talks in British Accents, 

Her eyes sparkle with simple JOY,

She likes brushing hair and jumping off the diving board,

She is sweeter than honey.

Can you imagine now how our week went? :)

We went to a gorgeous park with lots of gorgeous trees and a gorgeous fountain and gorgeous paths through the gorgeous trees.

*happy sigh*

Please click this picture for better quality.

We definitely did NOT listen to Christmas music.

And we would NEVER think of having a Christmas Gift Exchange in September.

(well, we DID think about it...)

We went to the Marble Slab.

Where chocolate ice cream doesn't taste like chocolate.

Where you can order Butterfingers in your coffee ice cream.

Where they have HUGE JARS OF CANDY on the ceiling.

Where everyone is happy.

We . each . had . our . own . large . french . fries.

It was awesome.

It was a good week.

Okay, thank you for bearing this strangely boring post, 

I thought it was high time to post,

so she did.

If you comment on this post for some reason,

Answer this question:

What is your favorite thing about any season other than fall?

-Me

                                             

Tea With The Queen. (And Other Matters)

Characters: Christy and Chloe Barkman. (sisters)
Set: Living Room. Mancala Game. Book (which Christy looks at to pretend she's not as interested in the conversation as she really is). Couch. Calico Cat Which Looks Like She Is Wearing Too Much Mascara.
Saturday morning. 10:50 a.m.
Scene 1:
Christy sits down on couch and looks at book.
Chloe is playing Mancala.
By herself.
Cat is in its own virtual world, where everything is Big, Scary, and Evil, and she tries desperately to remain alive while tumbling and crouching and pouncing and . . . playing with marbles.
CHRISTY: (nonchalantly; remember, the book is supposed to be more important than the conversation.)
Hon, if you would invite the Queen to tea, what day would it be on?
CHLOE: I don't know. . .
CHRISTY: Like, Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday, or Sunday . .
CHLOE: Wednesday.
CHRISTY: Wednesday? Okay . . .
What would your decorations be?
CHLOE: Pretty.
(That's always a good choice...)
CHRISTY: Like, pretty pink, or pretty . . .  horse? (I'm not sure where that came from)
CHLOE: Pretty pink.
CHRISTY: And would you make sure that she remembered to stick her little pinkie out when she drank tea?
CHLOE: Yes.
CHRISTY: What would you say if she didn't remember?
CHLOE: I would say, "You forgot to stick your little pinkie out."
CHRISTY: What would you say when The Queen walked in the door?
CHLOE: I would say hello.
CHRISTY: Polite. Very polite.
And what would she say to you?
CHLOE: hello back to me.
CHRISTY: Okay, let's say, 2 minutes after she's been in the house, what would you be talking about?
CHLOE: Um, How's your life. Like, how's your life, like, what she's doing.
CHRISTY: What would she say?
CHLOE: Good. Her life would be good.
CHRISTY: And would you play before lunch?
CHLOE: No. No, because big girls don't play, Right?
CHRISTY: How come they don't?
CHLOE: 'Cause they're big. Well, mom doesn't. Well, sometimes they play bollyball.
CHRISTY: Would you play bollyball?
CHLOE: Um, yeah. Whenever she would do it.
And we would sometimes watch movies.
Why are you doing this anyway?
CHRISTY: Remember when Cherie talked to you about movies?
CHLOE: Yeah.
CHRISTY: Do you think it would be wise to watch movies with The Queen?
CHLOE: Yeah.
(CHLOE zones out while CHRISTY frantically scribbles what they've been saying. 
CHLOE realizes that, while playing herself in Mancala, she has miraculously won!)
CHLOE: "I WON!"
CHRISTY: Okay, at what time would you sit down and eat?
CHLOE: Um, ten o'clock.
CHRISTY: And what would you have to eat?
CHLOE: Would it be supper, or breakfast, or lunch?
CHRISTY: Well, since you are eating at ten o'clock, probably breakfast.
CHLOE: Kay, we would have eggs . . . and sausage.
No, not that.
You can erase that if you want.
We would have cornmush, and . . .  potatoes with tomato juice (tomato gravy, I believe.) and eggs.
That's all.
CHRISTY: What would you have to drink?
CHLOE: Lemonade.
CHRISTY: In the morning?
CHLOE: Yeah. Wait.
No, no, no, no, no, orange juice.
CHRISTY: What would you talk about while you drank tea?
CHLOE: Tea?
We would talk about going to their house.
CHRISTY: You mean, you going to her house?
CHLOE: Yeah. (CHLOE commences in singing 'Queen's House', tune unknown.)
CHRISTY: What would you say if she invited you to her house? (castle, Christy, Castle.)
CHLOE: I would say, "Sure".
CHRISTY: After tea, what would you do?
CHLOE: We would, since she invited me to her house that day, we would get our coats, and shoes, and all the things on, and go to the Queen's house.
And the King.
(CHLOE begins to go on Rabbit Trail #1, about Homeschool Co-op.
CHRISTY answers questions.)
CHRISTY: Okay, let's focus. What would you do at the Queen's house?
CHLOE: We would talk.
CHRISTY: About what?
CHLOE: Um, meeting each other at a meeting, Like, when we're gonna be there. (Christy is clueless.)
CHRISTY: And when would you come back?
CHLOE: Um, 9:30.
CHRISTY: Would you come back unchaperoned?
CHLOE: Um, hmm?
CHRISTY: Like, without anybody coming with you.
CHLOE: Oh Yeah!
CHRISTY: How would you come home?
CHLOE: Um, my husband would drive me.
CHRISTY: (weakly) Where has your husband been?
CHLOE: He's been with me.
CHRISTY: Hm, I haven't heard much about him.
CHLOE: Hm, maybe you should talk about him.
CHRISTY: Okay, let's talk about him now.
CHLOE: Kay. Oh, and my kitten.
CHRISTY: Okay, how long have you been married?
CHLOE: Um, not long.
CHRISTY: What are your favorite things about your husband?
CHLOE: *giggling* This is a hard question. (oh, dear.) Handsome, Strong, I think that's pretty much all.
CHRISTY: What are his favorite things about you?
CHLOE: Um, That I'm with him, and that I have brown hair and brown eyes. (CHLOE must think this is an awkward conversation)
Okay, could you talk about my cat now.
No, you don't have to.
(CHRISTY and CHLOE talk about Cat.)
CHLOE: I want to talk about my husband.
CHRISTY: What do you want to say about your husband?
CHLOE: I don't know . . . Um, he's nice.
CHRISTY: What else, honey?
CHLOE: I don't know, it's just like all.
Now couldn't we talk about my family.
(CHRISTY senses that she is no longer in control here.)
CHRISTY: Okay, say one thing about your family.
CHLOE: Um, they're nice.
CHRISTY: Okay, I  feel like we've kind of gotten of the talk about the Queen.
CHLOE: oh YEAH.
CHRISTY: But that's okay. . .
What you say when you say goodbye to the Queen?
CHLOE: Goodbye, I would say goodbye, and I'll see you at the meeting.
  (She must know what she's talking about, but I don't.)
CHRISTY: And closing remarks?
CHLOE: No.
CHRISTY: None?
CHLOE: None.

END SCENE.

Later, I told Chloe that we didn't really know what the Queen was Queen OF.
She decided that it is Jessica, Queen of Hearts.
(no idea where she heard that.)

In other news, THE Ohio State University is playing today.
We're all pretty excited, to say the leastest.
Have a great Week.
:)
- Us.

Left and Right.

The one in the middle is the inspiration.

;)

"A Last Will"

Okay.
I am here to tell you that this "Last Will" is not MY last will.
I really had you there, didn't I?

It's something that I stumbled upon some weeks ago.
It's really wonderful.
This man, no matter HOW rich and successful he was,
truly knew what the important things in life are.
He didn't let his wealth take over his life; he knew what to value, and what was, eventually, worth nothing.
I'm not sure exactly what the back-story is, but the will basically makes up for that.

When you read it, you have to close your eyes and imagine it.
I realize that it may be hard for you to read and close your eyes at the same time.
Maybe switch off, no matter how silly you'll look to the people around you.
Here goes.
____________________________________________________________________________

Williston Fish. "A Last Will." Harper's Weekly, New York, September 3, 1898.

"He was stronger and cleverer, no doubt, than other men, and in many broad lines of business he had grown rich, until his wealth exceeded exaggeration. One morning, in his office, he directed a request to his confidential lawyer to come to him in the afternoon. 
He intended to have his will drawn.
A will is a solemn matter, even with men whose life is given up to business, and who are by habit mindful of the future.
After giving this direction, he took up no other matter, but sat at his desk alone and in silence.
It was a day when summer was first new.
The pale leaves upon the trees were starting forth upon the still unbending branches.
The grass in the parks had a freshness in its green like the freshness of the blue in the sky and of the yellow of the sun -  
a freshness to make one wish that life might renew its youth.
The clear breezes from the south wantoned about, and then were still, as if loath to finally go away.
Half idly, half thoughtfully the rich man wrote upon the white paper before him, beginning what he wrote in capital letters, such as he had not made since, as a boy in school, he had taken pride in his skill with the pen.


"I, CHARLES LOUNSBURY, being of a sound and disposing mind and memory, do now make and publish this, my last will and testament in order, as justly as may be, to distribute my interests in the world among succeeding men.
And first, that part of my interest, which is known in law and recognized in the sheep-bound volumes of the law as my property, being inconsiderable and none account, I make no disposition in this, my will.
My right to live, being but a life estate, is not at my disposal, but these things excepted,
 all else in the world I now proceed to devise and bequeath.

ITEM: I give to fathers and mothers, but in trust to their children, nevertheless, all good little words of praise and all quaint pet names, and I charge said parents to use them justly, 
but generously, as the deeds of their children shall require.


ITEM: I leave to children exclusively, but only for the life of their childhood, all and every dandelions of the fields and the daisies thereof, with the right to play among them freely, according to the custom of children, warning them at the same time against the thistles.
And I devise to children the yellow shores of creeks and the golden sands beneath the water thereof, with the dragon flies that skim the surface of said waters, and the odors of the willows that dip into said waters, and the white clouds that float on high above the above the giant trees.
And I leaves to children the long, long days to be merry in a thousand ways, and the Night, and the trail of the Milky Way to wonder at; but subject, nevertheless, to the rights given to lovers; and I give to each child the right to choose a start to be his, and I direct the father shall tell him the name of it, in order that the child shall remember the name of that star after he has learned and forgotten astronomy.


ITEM: I devise to boys jointly all the idle fields and commons where ball may be played, all snow-clad hills where one may coast, and all streams and ponds where one may skate, to have and to hold the same for the period of their boyhood.
And all meadows, with the clover-blooms and butterflies thereof; and all woods, with their appurtenances of squirrels and whirring birds and echoes and strange noises, and all distant places, which may be visited, together with the adventures there to be found.
And I give to said boys, each his own place at the fireside at night, with all pictures that may be seen in the burning wood or coal, to enjoy without hindrance and without any incumbrance of cares.


ITEM: To lovers, I devise their imaginary world, with whatever they may need, as the stars of the sky, the red, red roses by the wall, the snow of the hawthorn, the sweet strains of music, and aught else they may desire to figure to each other the lastingness and beauty of their love.


ITEM: To young men jointly, being joined in a brave, mad crowd, I devise and bequeath all boisterous inspiring sports of rivalry, and I give to them the disdain of weakness and undaunted confidence in their own strength . . . 
I leave them alone the power to make lasting friendships and of possessing companions, and to them exclusively I give them all merry songs and brave choruses to sing, with smooth voices to troll them forth.


ITEM: And to those who are no longer children, or youths, or lovers, I leave Memory, and I leave to them the volumes of the poems of Burns and Shakespeare, and of other poets, if there are others, to the end that they may live the old days over again, freely and fully without the tithe or diminution;
and to those who are no longer children, or youths, or lovers, I leave, too, the knowledge of 
what a rare, rare world it is."


-Me.