StoneRose Valley My Thoughts, Expressions, and Passions

“Today a new sun rises for me; everything lives,
everything is animated, everything seems to speak to me
of my passion, everything invites me to cherish it.”
Anne De Lenclos

I don’t know what it is about Autumn, October especially, that inspires me so. To me, this season is what the first of January is to many–a time to start over again, a time of refreshment and hope for the future. I’m inspired–nay, I am filled with an eager need–to write on my blog…to clean and cook….Autumn inspires me mentally, physically, spiritually, and creatively…it inspires me to improve my life in the ways that I am able. If only this season could last all the year long that I might be so inspired for it’s entirety!

Alas, it is not to be so. I must make the best of the time I have been given.

I was reading late last night, just trying to get sleepy enough to dive into bed, from Captivating. This particular section stood out to me like a cannon-ball.

“‘Above all else, guard your heart, for it is the wellspring of life’ (Proverbs 4:23). Above all else. Why? Because God knows that our hear is core to who we are. It is the source of all our creativity, our courage, and our convictions. It is the fountainhead of our faith, our hope, and of course, our love. This ‘wellspring of life’ within us is the very essence of our existence, the center of our being. Your heart as a woman is the most important thing about you…God created you as a woman…You are a woman to your soul, to the very core of your being.”
Stasi Eldredge

I want to rejoice in being a woman. All this trash about ‘a woman can do anything a man can do’ and ‘there’s no real difference between a man and a woman’ is ridiculous!  I’m so tired of it; there is a difference, a big one! The heart of a woman is something special, I would even go so far as to say something sacred, because it was created by God for a special purpose. As a woman, I see things differently than men; my capabilities, in my own areas, are much vaster than any that men possess. That is why I am a woman. A man can do a million things that a woman cannot, and better than she could ever hope; in his individual way. Because he is a man; created to be so. We each have individual purposes and capabilities based on our gender; we were created so.
But lest I confuse you by too many differences, I will say that there are ways that we are similar.  Going back to hearts, I was reminded of the following,

“The fullness of our heart is expressed in our eyes,
in our touch, in what we write, in what we say,
in the way we walk, the way we receive,
the way we need.”
Mother Teresa

In this we, both man and woman, are similar. We express our hearts, who we are, through these different ways. And so, also, for men and women,

“Love makes burdens lighter,
because you divide them.
It makes joys more intense,
because you share them.
It makes you stronger,
so that you can reach out
and become involved with life
in ways you dared not risk alone.

‘Oh, no!’ you may be thinking, ‘Another one of those ’single-girl’ rampages’….not so.  At least, I hope not. Our culture confuses us so much with all the back and forth about the places of men and women….the similarities…the way in which we are not alike in any way… What are we supposed to really think and believe?! I just want to be a woman…to be happy as such…and to ignore all the nonsense everyone has to say about it.
Love doesn’t always have to be of the romantic nature…take the love between two sisters, or best friends, for instance. I think this is the type of love referenced in the above quote.  Someone close, who cares for you unconditionally, spurring you on to do–to be, more. Because you no longer have that fear of ‘being alone’ to stand in your way. My sisters do this for me; my friends as well. Christ does this for me. And I can say that I am happily, as a woman, moving through life as one lived through love. At the end of all things, that is one of the things that I want to be able to say. That I lived my life with love. Love for my family, for friends, for strangers I meet casually on the street…love for my Lord and Savior directing my actions.

“And hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has
been poured out within our hearts through the Holy Spirit who was given to us.”
Romans 5:5

“May the Lord direct your hearts into the love of God and into the steadfastness of Christ”.
II Thessalonians 3:5

Posted under Life Thoughts, Quotes, Sisters, Verses

I’ve been staring at this screen for an indefinite amount of time, thinking that if I stare long and hard enough, whatever I want on here will write itself. Hasn’t happened so far; maybe it’s time I took some action.

You know that thing about simplicity? Nah, I don’t need it. I love having my life swirl around as if in a hurricane! And remember that other thing about only 9 hours of school? Who wants 9 when you can have 12?! I’m insane.

I feel the need for a little Jane Austen, just to keep things in perspective.

“As I do not choose to have generosity dictated to me, I shall not resolve on giving my cabinet to Anna till the first thought of it has been my own.” Jane Austen, in a letter to her sister, Cassandra.

Posted under Jane Austen, Quotes, Sarcasm, School, Simplicity, Sisters

“You deserve a longer letter than this; but it is my unhappy fate seldom to treat people so well as they deserve.” Jane Austen, in a letter to her sister, Cassandra.

Well, I thought about updating Handmaidens tonight…but….I don’t really feel like I have anything to share along those lines at this time…so I didn’t.

I’m so happy to have a kitchen sink finally!!! The only problem is…I’m not home. Not using my own computer. Not using my own internet provider. I’m using a totally different computer and internet connection. So that means the faulty(disappearing) kitchen sink is a by-product of my filter. I won’t call it any names tonight. But I dislike it immensely. I hope we get another server soon.

So, I thought I should update my blog while I had the chance. But the only things that come to my mind are so mundane, it would bore you to sleep if I went into detail. Instead, I decided to spare you. You can thank me later.

I missed Cranford tonight…but my brother was going to tape it for me, so maybe I’ll watch it tomorrow evening. A friend called, ecstatic about it; but I made her tell me nothing-actually, I practically threatened her-as I am one of those annoying people who like to actually see the movie without knowing the whole story line, who dies, or what happens at the end. A shocker, I know-I mean, who in their right mind is like that now? Fifteen years ago, perhaps; but now?! Crazy!
Realizing this post is just full of sarcasm…a deadly, and highly contagious disease…I believe that it may be owing to sleep deprivation…another highly contagious, and rapidly spreading in the United States, disease. You see, when in the midst of stage two of SDD (Sleep Deprivation Disease), your mind overcompensates for the lack of rationality by replacing it with ridiculousness…sometimes coupled with sarcasm, for those of us who are already prone to SD (just plain ole’ Sarcasm Disease). This can be an awful thing for others to witness; as you are probably thinking at this very moment.

So, I’ll spare you further rantings, and sign off now. Thanks for listening!

Posted under Jane Austen, Life Thoughts, Quotes, Sarcasm, Sisters

I had the opportunity to hear an incredible string quartet this week; Turtle Island. I even got their CD slip autographed!
My sisters’ guitar teacher on campus was taking a group of students to meet the quartet a few hours before the performance; he invited my two sisters and I to go along. They shared some about themselves, played a few songs, and opened the floor to questions. We were rather a small group, so instead of sitting in the auditorium, the guys invited us up on-stage with them to ‘look over their shoulders and read the music with them’. Most of the students there were guitarists, but we had three violinists; and joy! I was the only ‘cellist! That meant that I got some extra attention…which flustered me so that any questions I might have had fled my mind immediately. These guys were amazing; so much talent. Turtle Island was pretty busy, as they were giving a concert that evening, so they were only able to give us an hour or so. I left knowing I’d be back for the concert, while my sisters went to a basketball game. After calling up everyone I could think of to go with me, my mother offered so I wouldn’t have to go by myself. I was smiling practically the whole evening; my mother was very kind to go with me, as the quartet plays classical/jazz, and jazz is not a genre my mother enjoys. Afterwards, I took her on a tour of the new union on campus; she was properly impressed.
I was also greatly inspired by the ‘cellist in Turtle Island; I have been practicing mine more the last two days than I usually do in two weeks!

Hearing the Turtle Island String Quartet came as a very welcome break in my week; which has been a very stressful one. My horse foundered again; and one of my calves has been sick, with what, I don’t know. Between those two creatures I have been pretty stressed and worn out. I’ve barely had time to be online this week, which in itself is difficult for me, as the majority of my relationships are continued/exist online. I have a friend who is going through a difficult time this week, and my heart aches for her, and I wish so much to be there with her to share in her pain. So, all said, I feel like I’ve been pressed from all sides; and barely holding up.

On the bright side; the men in our church had a campout out in our back woods….they all seemed to have a wonderful time; and today all the women and girls came out for a church service and picnic lunch. We all enjoyed sharing just a bit of the camping experience with our men. Very glad they had the opportunity to draw closer together through a “guys” trip.
Now I’m fixing to start off on another crazy week…..ahhhh…at least summer is almost here.

Posted under Entertainment, Links, Sisters

“I will not say that your mulberry trees are dead, but I am afraid they are not alive.” Jane Austen, in a letter to her sister, Cassandra

I love reading the, albeit meager, correspondence between Jane and Cassandra. It reminds me of the relationship between my own sisters and me. This is exactly one of the many sarcastic, dry attempts at humour that come out of one of the four of us!

What a great blessing it is to have sisters! And twice the blessing to be best friends! I have met many girls who cannot stand their sisters; and it always makes me sad. What wonderful happiness they are missing out on! They do not enjoy the companionship of sisters trekking through pastures and woods, streams and meadows. Of shopping together, being as goofy as possible, trying on a million different outfits (or in some cases, forcing a sister to try them on with you!). Of lying awake into the early hours of the morning, either laughing, or expounding on beliefs and theories; ‘philosophying’ as sis’ Christi and I like to call it.
I have been separated from my own sisters for more than a week now; and I miss them terribly. I cannot wait to get back to them; share all our ups and downs of the past week; our joys and sorrows; our successes, and our laughable failures!

My sisters, my best friends; I love and miss you. I look forward to the time we can once more do all these things together!

Posted under Jane Austen, Life Thoughts, Quotes, Sisters