The Country Mouse & The City Mouse

Benjamin has a First Little Golden Book titled "The Country Mouse & The City Mouse." For some reason he has adopted this as his book to be read multiple times each day for the last couple of weeks. While the book is interesting I struggle at times with how to read it to him and still find news ways to present it each time. When we first began to read it all we did was discuss the pictures. Then we would read portions of the actual story and talk about the main characters. Lately I've been reading the full story and discussing all the small details in the pictures. He still seems to find it enjoyable but after about the 10th time in a 15 minute setting I began to wain a little. Some parts I speed up through one time and then drag out the next time. I've watched Benjamin seem to be learning something new each time. Sometimes I switch the names of the characters to people he actually knows who have similiar personalities to the main characters. This afternoon I came to an interesting - most likely obvious - realization. The way that Benjamin gains new insights to the stories we read over and over and over . is similiar to the way that the Lord reveals the meaning of scripture in my Life. I can't imagine the Patience He has and the ways He must smile when I gain new insight in something that has been in front of me the whole time.

Simple Pleasures

One of my goals for this year is to read several works by C.S.Lewis. The one I've recently started is The Pilgrim's Regress. I'd forgotten how I found it both enjoyable and challenging it is to read works by Lewis. There are times when I'll read one section and then sit for a few minutes just trying to process what I just read.

We also found out that some friends of ours from college who have been serving in Nepal basically since they graduated will be in the US for a couple of months this summer. Hopefully we can work out a visit. It'd be great to see them in person. If you have time check out their recent post about their family time at a National Park in Nepal... http://www.xanga.com/home.aspx?user=silasinkathmandu

We also recently made major progress in preparing to remodel one of the bedrooms in our house. We'd naturally let it become the undeclared Junk room aka... the Catch-all room. Now most of the superfluous stuff is out and we are almost ready to paint.

I finally decided to keep self-rising flour on stock...up until this point I'd buy it occasionally or I'd get by with all-purpose. My sister-in-law recommend Hudson Cream self-rising. So I finally found a few more pennies and purchased a name brand rather than the store generic. I've been pleased and would recommend trying it if you haven't already.

Christmas, New Years & Other Delights

My apologies for not posting sooner. There's been plenty to write about but I haven't had the muse. This afternoon is a good time. We've some remodeling at our house - you know the rip the border and wallpaper down and start thinking about what colors you want to paint. I've also decided to add a little extra insulation to our attic. Seems out upstairs stays 3-4 degrees cooler than downstairs - much to my surprise. So hopefully the insulation will help a little. I think a painter must have invented wallpaper and border so they would have job security during the rainer and colder months. It gives them lots of hours to work on a project inside... both putting it up and then removing it. Then patching all the challenging spots... and then they get to paint. A friend here in Berea recommended using liquid Downy Fabric softener and a warm water mix half & half to remove the wallpaper. It's worked well, leaves the house smelling nice and doesn't seem as abrasive to the skin like some of the other mixes available.

We spent most of Christmas week in Mississippi visiting with my family. We saw just about everyone in the family. Grandma Little took us and Benjamin to the Mississippi Museum of Natural Science. He had an absolute great time - especially at the aquarium section. I've posted a few pictures under the "Skip's Photo" link. We then spent most of New Years weekend in Bowling Green, KY visiting with Sarah's family.

By the way ... if you haven't heard ... we're expecting another Boy!

More later...