Two Kinds of Men

My children listened attentively while we read this passage from today's reading in "Little Britches":

"Son," he said, "I had hoped you wouldn't run into anything like this till you were older, but maybe it's just as well. There are only two kinds of men in this world: Honest men and dishonest men. There are black men and white men and yellow men and red men, but nothing counts except whether they're honest men or dishonest men.
"Some men work almost entirely with their brains; some almost entirely with their hands; though most of us have to use both. But we all fall into one of the two classes-honest and dishonest.
"Any man who says the world owes him a living is dishonest. The same God that made you and me made this earth. And He planned it so that it would yield every single thing that the people on it need. But He was careful to plan it so that it would only yield up its wealth in exchange for the labor of man. Any man who tries to share in that wealth without contributing the work of his brain or his hands is dishonest.
"Son, this is a long sermon for a boy of your age, but I want so much for you to be an honest man that I had to explain it to you."

Book Found: A Year of Mornings

Last evening, while waiting for Hosanna and Caleb to finish their "Bible-In-Me" class, I stumbled across some good friends at Panera. Over a hot coffee and shortbread cookie (the latter of which I shared with Drew), Candace and I discussed some Favorite Things. She told me about this book, and of course I had to look it up as soon as I got home. And since I'm such a sucker for books, I'm ordering a copy today from Amazon. The authors have a new website now- A Year of Evenings. Two friends, living on opposite coasts, share one photo each day- the first year being mornings, which developed into the book, and now evenings-without consulting the other. The results are remarkable-and beautiful. I'll be following their new blog while I look forward to the book's arrival!

Pooh & Company

I can't believe I missed out on this gem of a book until recently, when Mara gave the children "The World of Pooh" for Christmas. We're about halfway through and enjoying every chapter. Hosanna and Caleb listen attentively as I read, but I think I'm picking up on the humor more. The style of writing is very endearing; definitely a book for all ages!
I've decided that Hosanna reminds me of Tigger, and Caleb is Owl.

Here's an excerpt from the chapter entitled, Tigger Has Breakfast:

(Pooh is composing a poem about Tigger)

" 'But whatever his weight in pounds, shillings, and ounces,
He always seems bigger because of his bounces.'

"And that's the whole poem," he said. "Do you like it, Piglet?"

"All except the shillings," said Piglet. "I don't think they ought to be there."

"They wanted to come in after the pounds," exxplained Pooh, "so I let them. It is the best way to write poetry, letting things come."

"Oh, I didn't know," said Piglet.