Puddledum with Roman

Update: this is a little something I wrote back when Roman and Caitlin were courting. I don't know why I never published it.

It was a lovely Saturday evening. Roman to dinner, sunny weather, a nice day...a walk was in order. So we all headed down to Swan River Nature Trail to work off our dinner of barbecued chicken, corn on the cob, stuffed mushrooms, and sourdough bread.
It was beautiful. Roman picked flowers for Caitlin, and we went down to the river, which is going fast right now:


We found a big rock in the sunlight. Happiness.

And then the pranks started.

The first one was pretty. Mother picked some little white flowers and told me to put them over Caitlin and Roman. I sprinkled them over. They looked lovely in her hair...not so much in his. So he picked them out and set them gently on Caitlin (don't worry, he did not touch her), and gave her a Romeo (I did not a misspell that!) look. All happy and tingly. I think everything else fell away.




With all the rain lately, there's been a lot of puddles. Roman started walking real close to Caitlin as we passed a puddle, forcing her towards it. She avoided it, but his evil grin said that there was more mischief in store.

Big puddle and courting couples spell danger. Roman jumped full in like a little boy, intending to splash Caitlin....and got me soaked. Oh, Caitlin got a little wet, but that's it. Caitlin jumped in a later puddle to get back at Roman, and got me wet again.

Once more, as the walk was almost over, the last puddle in sight, of course I jumped full in...and got my self soaked once more.

Moral: Stay a good 10-20 feet away from courting couples taking a walk. You never know what could happen.

In Christ,

Jillian

Modest Swimwear

The challenge of being modest and still enjoy swimming and other outdoor sports has bothered many young ladies for a long time. Click to find out more about HydroChic's solution, an go to AmandaBeth to learn about a giveaway.

Every Christian young woman needs to give serious and sober consideration to the testimony she makes at the pool or beach. Consider how you can best represent the Lord by being modest, tidy, and considerate of others. Actions do speak louder than words, and in our culture clothing makes and even bigger statement.

Some Pleasant Thoughts

In Summer

by Paul Laurence Dunbar

Oh, summer has clothed the earth 

In a cloak from the loom of the sun! 

And a mantle, too, of the skies' soft blue, 

And a belt where the rivers run.  

And now for the kiss of the wind, 

And the touch of the air's soft hands, 

With the rest from strife and the heat of life, 

With the freedom of lakes and lands.  

I envy the farmer's boy 

Who sings as he follows the plow; 

While the shining green of the young blades lean 

To the breezes that cool his brow.  

He sings to the dewy morn, 

No thought of another's ear; 

But the song he sings is a chant for kings 

And the whole wide world to hear.  

He sings of the joys of life, 

Of the pleasures of work and rest, 

From an o'erfull heart, without aim or art; 

'T is a song of the merriest.  

O ye who toil in the town, 

And ye who moil in the mart, 

Hear the artless song, and your faith made strong 

Shall renew your joy of heart.  

Oh, poor were the worth of the world 

If never a song were heard,— 

If the sting of grief had no relief, 

And never a heart were stirred.

So, long as the streams run down, 
And as long as the robins trill, 
Let us taunt old Care with a merry air, 
And sing in the face of ill.

I am enjoying the gardening season and simply wish for more time out in the sun. Work never ends, beginning at sunrise, ending at sunset. Yet Creation is vast, and to be enjoyed vastly. May you all enjoy the season upon us.

Bed in Summer
by Robert Louis Stevenson
In winter I get up at night And dress by yellow candle-light. In summer, quite the other way, I have to go to bed by day. I have to go to bed and see The birds still hopping on the tree, Or hear the grown-up people’s feet Still going past me in the street. And does it not seem hard to you, When all the sky is clear and blue, And I should like so much to play, To have to go to bed by day?