30 Day Book Challenge! Day 7: The Past Year ~ The Ugly

You know that saying, "Duty first and pleasure afterward"? We're going to reword that to be "boring first and beautiful afterward." Ok? Right. First on the docket, then, is our book "challenge" question:

Day 7: What is the worst book you've read in the last year?

Dumb question. You've heard of this book before now. Answer: An Unlikely Friendship, by Ann Rinaldi.

Moving on to more exciting things, today we drove through Arches National Park. It was amazing. Beautiful. Breath-taking. I decided immediately that I am planning a road/camping trip there next summer to try out all the amazing hikes! Here are just a few photos of the fab rock formations...

Amazing, right? Have you been to Arches National Park?

{Psalm}

My "proper" post will be on Wednesday this week. In the meantime: a meager collection of words seeking to describe something for which the words have not been formed...

With awe, I feel this quiet

Creep over my soul again,

Transcending all angst and chaos

And settling deep within.

One moment - 

One moment is all I feel,

Though many are floating by.

The wind blust'ring 'round

And the sun-kisses, warm,

Have buried me deep in the sky.

And there, in the still, is my quiet,

Looking down at the spark'ling blue.

For the heavens declare such a glory:

All creation's in awe of You.

There's nothing -

There's nothing my pen can write

(For never will words be found),

Explaining the thrill

And the deafening joy

Of a praise that by silence, sounds.

Watch-It Wednesday: How Majestic is Your Name

Back in May, all of us girls were spoiled with a chance to get away to the beach for a weekend. We spent several relaxing days eating snacks, walking the beach, reading books, and watching chick flicks (ok...and the last 20 minutes of a Star Wars. Ya know the one where Yoda fights...one of the bad guys? Yeah, the twins got a kick out of the flying little green guy). I barely posted about it, but Emmy put up a few pix here. ANYway, the last weekend in July, the guys took off for their weekend away. Destination? Yellowstone Park. They drove 12 hours to get there on Friday, spent Saturday and Sunday marvelling at what the Lord has made, and booked it back in another 12 hours on Monday. They were all simply amazed at all they saw in those two days alone, and excitedly showed us a slide show of some of the pictures/videos they took while there. All they could say the whole 13 minutes was "And it's so much more amazing in person! These pictures do not do it credit!"

As I was reading one of my favorite Psalms today (Psalm 8), I was reminded of Keith Green's wonderful musical rendition of the psalm, and was about to share it with you when I remembered Benj used it as one of the songs for the slide show - and I thought it very fitting to show ya'll. It is amazing to me, this world our King has created! Included in the pix are Old Faithful, the The Grand Canyon of Yellowstone, and much, much more! Enjoy!

~~~~~~~~~

"Oh LORD, our Lord, how majestic is Your name in all the earth."

~~~~~~~~~

 

Psalm 24

 The earth is the LORD's,

   and all its fullness,

      The world

        and those who dwell therein.

For He has founded it upon the seas,

And established it upon the waters.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Who may ascend into the hill of the LORD?

Or who may stand in His holy place?

He who has clean hands and a pure heart,

                                                   Who has not lifted up his soul to an idol,

                                                                                                                 Nor sworn deceitfully.  

He shall receive blessings from the LORD,

     And righteousness from the God of his salvation.

          This is Jacob, the generation of those who seek Him,

               Who seek Your face.  

Selah

Lift up your heads, O you gates! 

And be lifted up, you everlasting doors!

And the King of glory shall come in.

 Who is the King of glory?

The LORD strong and mighty,

The LORD mighty in battle.

Lift up your heads, O you gates!

Lift up, you everlasting doors!

And the King of glory shall come in.

Who is the King of glory?

The LORD of hosts,

He is the King of glory.

 Selah

The Music of the Spheres



Photo Credit

 When I went to Sound Foundations a few years ago, my mind was set spinning the very first evening by a speech given to us by the head of the music department. "God spoke the world in to being," he told us, "and what I find very interesting is that the smallest building block of the universe discovered by man is, simply, vibrations. Waves. Sound."

Mind-bogglingly amazing.

The King's voice brought us into existence, and we are made - at the very smallest level - of sound. Isn't that cool? Ben and I have often wondered what melodies we would hear, if we had ears made for the music of the universe. Now, we get a taste. In this fascinating article, you can read about how a group of scientists, working together with musicians, have converted the waves of radioactivity emitted from decaying objects into waves of sound. Yet another signature of our Creator and Designer. The simple notes are pleasant to the ear, and even melodic at times. Put together the sounds of multiple isotopes at once, and you find yourself listening to a charming little motif. Yes, we serve a musical God.

This is my Father's world,
And to my listening ears,
All nature sings and 'round me rings
The music of the spheres.

Really. It does.