Sauvie Island Holiday with Willamette Addendum

It was a clear, clear Thanksgiving, and we could see four mountains from Aunt Julie's back porch.  Zoomed the lens just a bit...

Rainier and St. Helens

Adams

Hood

Zoom back to the porch

Hand-me-down dress, hand-me-down doll

Cute!

Peek-a-boo!

Sunset reflecting on St. Helens

Sisters.

Back "home"...

Aunt Julie loaned Anne an old dress of hers

Wearing (Great-) Aunt Julie's dress, sitting in Great-Grandma Cole's baby chair

A Short Story about Thanksgiving

This is for my Afghan friend who was asking me about American holidays....

A famous painting by Normal Rockwell of Thanksgiving dinner

The year 1863: During the American Civil War...
President Lincoln declared in the middle of terrible war battles with men dying, that the country should begin celebrating a national day of Thanksgiving on the last Thursday in November.

The year 1941: During World War II...
President Roosevelt moved it to the fourth Thursday of November, because sometimes there are five Thursdays in that month.

Before the year 1863:
There were various days of Thanksgiving celebrated in different parts of America.  Native Americans and Europeans were used to having harvest celebrations.

Sometime after the year 1900:
Americans began to think of an old, old story and talk about that Thanksgiving as the First Thanksgiving....

Back in the year 1621:
That story is about some Wampanoag people from Massachusetts and some Puritan Christian refugees from England who had a special Thanksgiving meal together after a very difficult year.

Today:
Americans of all religions visit with friends and family and eat a big meal, usually in the early or mid-afternoon.  After that, some people like to watch football.  Other people like to take a walk or play games.  Many people like to think about things they are thankful for, and many of those families who believe in God say a special prayer of thanks before the big meal.

Here are some of the main foods that people prepare:

Roast turkey

Stuffing or dressing

Gravy

Mashed potatoes

Boiled onions

Stuffed sqush

Green bean casserole

Sweet potato casserole

Dinner rolls

Relish tray

Cranberry sauce

Apple pie

Pumpkin pie

Throne

For my ballet nerd friends, here is the waltz which opens Act II of Prokofiev's last ballet, The Stone Flower.  It is set in the underground, in a palace made of gemstones and it is very mysterious and magical.

I thought of it several times last week as I was reading and studying some Bible passages about God's throne.  Those passages describe the throne scenes using the glow and beauty of gemstones and contain lots of mystery.

...Not long after God gave Moses the first set of the tablets of the law on Sinai, near the beginning of what turned out to be forty years in the wilderness, waiting for a whole unfaithful generation to die off, Moses and many other men had the incredible chance to actually see God sitting on his throne:

Exodus 24: 9-11 "Then Moses, Aaron, Nadab, Abihu, and the seventy elders of Israel climbed up the mountain again.  There they saw the God of Israel.  Under his feet there seemed to be a surface of brilliant blue lapis lazuli, as clear as the sky itself.  And though these nobles of Israel gazed upon God, he did not destroy them.  In fact, they ate a covenant meal, eating and drinking in his presence!"

...Many, many years later, after the next generation of the people of Israel made it to the Promised Land, and many years after that when they'd asked for kings to rule them like other nations, and many years after than when their kingdom was split by civil war, and near the end of the kingdom's waning, the prophet Isaiah saw this vision:

Isaiah 6: 1-8  "It was in the year King Uzziah died [740 BCE] that I saw the Lord.  He was siting on a lofty throne, and the train of his robe filled the Temple.  Attending him were mighty seraphim, each having six wings.  With two wings they covered their faces, with two they covered their feet, and with two they flew.  They were calling out to each other,

'Holy, holy, holy is the LORD of Heaven's Armies!
The whole earth is filled with his glory!'

"Their voices shook the Temple to its foundations, and the entire building was filled with smoke.

"Then I said, 'It's all over!  I am doomed, for I am a sinful man.  I have filthy lips, and I live among a people with filthy lips.  Yet I have seen the King, the LORD of Heaven's Armies.'

"Then one of the seraphim flew to me with a burning coal he had taken from the altar with a pair of tongs.  He touched my lips with it and said, 'See, this coal has touched your lips.  Now your guilt is removed, and your sins are forgiven.'

"Then I heard the Lord asking, "Whom should I send as a messenger to this people?  Who will go for us?'

"I said, 'Here I am.  Send me.'"

One hundred and twenty-three years past after that vision, and God called Ezekiel to be a prophet among the Israelites, who were now in captivity in Babylon, their nation and homeland destroyed:

Ezekiel 1:1-28: "On the fifth day of the fourth month of my thirtieth year [July 31, 593 BCE], while I was with the Judean exiles beside the Kebar River in Babylon, the heavens were opened and I saw visions of God.  This happened during the fifth year of King Jehoiachin's captivity.  (The LORD gave this message to Ezekiel son of Buzi, a priest, beside the Kebar River in the land of the Babylonians, and he felt the hand of the LORD take hold of him.)

"As I looked, I saw a great storm coming from the north, driving before it a huge cloud that flashed with lightning and shone with brilliant light.  There was fire inside the cloud, and in the middle of the fire glowed something like gleaming amber.  From the center of the cloud came four living beings that looked human, except that each had four faces and four wings.  Their legs were straight, and their feet had hooves like those of a calf and shone like burnished bronze.  Under each of their four wings I could see human hands.  So each of the four beings had four faces and four wings.  The wings of each living being touched the wings of the beings beside it.  Each one moved straight forward in any direction without turning around.

"Each had a human face in the front, the face of a lion on the right side, the face of an ox on the left side, and the face of an eagle at the back.  Each had two pairs of outstretched wings - one pair stretched out to touch the wings of the living beings on either side of it, and the other pair covered its body.  They went in whatever direction the spirit chose, and they moved straight forward in any direction without turning around.

"The living beings look like bright coals of fire or brilliant torches, and lightning seemed to flash back and forth among them.  And the living beings darted to and fro like flashes of lightning.

"As I looked at these beings, I saw four wheels touching the ground beside them, one wheel belonging to each.  The wheels sparkled as if made of beryl.  All four wheels looked alike and were the same; each wheel had a second wheel turning crosswise within it.  The beings could move in any of the four directions they faced, without turning as they moved.  The rims of the four wheels were tall and frightening, and they were covered with eyes all around.

"When the living beings moved, the wheels moved with them.  When the flew upward, the wheels went up, too.  The spirit of the living beings was in the wheels.  So wherever the spirit went, the wheels and the living beings also went.  When the beings moved, the wheels moved.  When the beings stopped, the wheels stopped.  When the beings flew upward, the wheels rose up, for the spirit of the living beings was in the wheels.

"Spread out above them was a surface like the sky, glittering like crystal.  Beneath this surface the wings of each living being stretched out to touch the other's wings, and each had two wings covering its body.  As they flew, their wings sounded to me like waves crashing against the shore or like the voice of the Almighty or like the shouting of a mighty army.  When they stopped, they let down their wings.  As they stood with wings lowered, a voice spoke from beyond the crystal surface above them.

"Above this surface was something that looked like a throne made of blue lapis lazuli.  And on this throne high above was a figure whose appearance resembled a man.  From what appeared to be his waist up, he looked like gleaming amber, flickering like a fire.  And from his waist down, he looked like a burning flame, shining with splendor.  All around him was a glowing halo, like a rainbow shining in the clouds on a rainy day.  This is what the glory of the LORD looked like to me.  When I saw it, I fell face down on the ground, and I heard someone's voice speaking to me."

I remember the first summer that I read that chapter and was blown away by its dramatic imagery.  Do you ever wish you could relive an incredible experience?  My awe at reading that chapter is one I wish I could recapture.

...In the same century as Ezekiel, Daniel, who was brought as a teenage captive to Babylon and ended up working in the king's court, had this vision of God's throne, accompanied by beasts which thoroughly terrified him:

(Daniel 7: 1-14) "Earlier, during the first year of King Belshazzar's reign in Babylon [between 556 and 553 BCE], Daniel had a dream and saw visions as he lay in his bed.  He wrote down the dream, and this is what he saw.

"In my vision that night, I, Daniel, saw a great storm churning the surface of a great sea, with strong winds blowing from every direction.  Then four huge beasts came up out of the water, each different from the others.

"The first beast was like a lion with eagle's wings.  As I watched, its wings were pulled off, and it was left standing with its two hind feet on the ground, like a human being.  And it was given a human mind.

"Then I saw a second beast, and it looked like a bear.  It was rearing up on one side, and it had three ribs in its mouth between its teeth.  And I heard a voice saying to it, 'Get up!  Devour the flesh of many people!'

"Then the third of these strange beasts appeared, and it looked like a leopard.  It had four bird's wings on its back, and it had four heads.  Great authority was given to this beast.

"Then in my vision that night, I saw a fourth beast - terrifying, dreadful, and very strong.  It devoured and crushed its victims with huge iron teeth and trampled their remains beneath its feet.  It was different from any of the other beasts, and it had ten horns.

"As I was looking at the horns, suddenly another small horn appeared among them.  Three of the first horns were torn out by the roots to make room for it.  This little horn had eyes like human eyes and a mouth that was boasting arrogantly.

"I watched as thrones were put in place
and and Ancient of Days sat down to judge.
His clothing was as white as snow,
his hair like purest wool.
He sat on a fiery throne
with wheels of blazing fire,
and a river of fire was pouring out,
flowing from his presence.
Millions of angels ministered to him;
many millions stood to attend him.
Then the court began its session,
and the books were opened.

"I continued to watch because I could hear the little horn's boastful speech.  I kept watching until the fourth beast was killed and its body was destroyed by fire.  The other three beasts had their authority taken from them, but they were allowed to live for a season and a time.  

"As my vision continued that night, I saw someone like a Son of Man coming with the clouds of heaven.  He approached the Ancient of Days and was led into his presence.  He was given authority, honor, and sovereignty over all the nations of the world, so that people of every race and nation and language would obey him.  His rule is eternal - it will never end.  His kingdom will never be destroyed."

...Much later, in the first century CE, John, one of Jesus' closest confidant's on earth, wrote the magnificent, wild, symbol-filled, and dramatic final book of the Bible, which was revealed to him by Jesus through an angel, while John was exiled on a volcanic island.  Here's what he saw when he was invited to have a look at heaven:

(Revelation 4:1-11) "Then as I looked, I saw a door standing open in heaven, and the same voice I had heard before spoke to me like a trumpet blast.  The voice said, 'Come up here, and I will show you what must happen after this.'  And instantly I was in the Spirit, and I saw a throne in heaven and someone sitting on it.  The one sitting on the throne was as brilliant as gemstones - like jasper and carnelian.  And the glow of an emerald circled his throne like a rainbow.  Twenty-four thrones surrounded him, and twenty-four elders sat on them.  They were all clothed in white and had gold crowns on their heads.  From the throne came flashes of lightning and the rumble of thunder.  And in front of the throne were seven torches with burning flames.  This is the sevenfold Spirit of God.  In front of the throne was a shiny sea of glass, sparkling like crystal.

"In the center and around the throne were four living beings, each covered with eyes, front and back.  The first of these living beings was like a lion; the second was like an ox; the third had a human face; and the fourth was like an eagle in flight.  Each of these living beings had six wings, and their wings were covered all over with eyes, inside and out.  Day after day and night after night they keep on saying,

"'Holy, holy, holy is the Lord God, the Almighty-
the one was always was, who is, and who is still to come.'

"Whenever the living beings give glory and honor and thanks to the one sitting on the throne (the one who lives forever and ever), the twenty-four elders fall down and worship the one sitting on the throne (the one who lives forever and ever).  And they lay their crowns before the throne and say,

"'You are worthy, O Lord our God,
to receive glory and honor and power.
For you created all things,
and they exist because you created what you pleased.'"

...Which brings me to the amazing Sanctus from John Rutter's Requiem.  We listened to it again during dinner on Friday.  If you don't speak Latin (and I'm in that camp despite two years of Latin in school), here's some Sanctus for you:

Sanctus, Sanctus, Sanctus,
Dominus Deus Sabaoth.
Pleni sunt caeli et terra gloria tua.
Hosanna in excelsis.
Benedictus qui venit in nomine Domini.
Hosanna in excelsis.

Translation:
Holy, holy, holy,
Lord God of hosts,
heaven and earth are full of thy glory:
hosanna in the highest.
Blessed is he who cometh in the name of the Lord.
Hosanna in the highest.

You can watch this video:

This is glorious music and beautifully performed, and I wonder what the four living creature's praise of God sounded like to John.  In the next chapter, thousands and millions of angels, and all the creatures on earth, under the earth, and in the heavens joined in singing praise to God, and I can't really imagine what that might have sounded like.  It's the sort of thing you can probably only imagine in a dream, because my waking mind is way too rational.

Fall Teaching Schedule

I'm storing this away for future reference.  I think I have just enough hours of teaching to keep me well-occupied.  Not bored, but not quite panicked.  This fall I tried to schedule most of my students back-to-back when I have some help with Anne.  I think it's working well for us.  However, I'll definitely reconsider when it's time for next fall's scheduling.

I have to remember that it's not just the paid teaching hours which are part of my job.  It's also rescheduled lessons (often due to my absence), phone calls and emails about recitals, talks with parents who are having issues, payment reminders, cleaning house before students arrive, prepping Anne for lessons, practicing accompaniment parts, practicing in general, emailing recordings to students, copying practice charts, planning pre-Twinkle lessons in advance, arranging music for group classes, showing up at my off-site locations with all the proper supplies (e.g. foam and scissors, marbles, toilet paper tubes, teaching notebook, piano parts, fingerboard tape, metronome, pens and pencils, deck of cards, 3x5 cards and markers, Anne's potty and box violin, food and water, my instrument...)

Monday
3:30-4:00 Book 1, girl age 12
4:00-4:30 Book 1, girl age 6
4:30-5:30 Book 7, boy age 15 alternates with Book 5, girl age 13 sibling

6:15-7:00 Book 3, boy age 15

7:45-8:30 Book 2, girl age 16
8:30-9:00 Mark O'Connor Book 1, adult male

Tuesday
9:10-9:25 Commute to Bible study

9:30-11:20 Bible study

11:15-11:30 Leave early and commute home

11:45-12:45 Commute to Fox Island
12:45-1:05 Pre-Twinkle, girl age 5
1:05-1:30 Pre-Twinkle, girl age 6
1:30-2:30 Book 6, boy age 12

2:50-3:20 Pre-Twinkle, boy age 6
3:20-3:50 Book 1, boy age 5
3:50-4:20 Book 1, boy age 9
4:20-5:20 Book 5, boy age 13

5:30-6:20 Group Class
(5:30-6:00 Books 1-8, 6:00-6:20 Pre-Twinkle/Twinkle)

6:30-7:15 Book 4, boy age 13
7:15-8:00 Book 3, boy age 10
8:00-9:00 Commute home

Wednesday
3:30-4:15 ABRSM Level 3, Female college student
4:15-4:45 Book 1 of various series, Adult male (departed for 2 months to harvest and plant rice in the Philippines, but he'll be back in January)
7:00-7:45 Book 2, Adult female (but often comes on other days and times, a Floater...)

Thursday
4:00-4:30 Book 1, boy age 8
4:40-5:00 Book 2, Adult female
5:00-5:15 Twinkler, Adult male

5:30-5:50 Commute to the Knight's house

6:00-7:00 Group class
(6:00-6:20 Pre-Twinkle/Twinkle, 6:20-6:40 Books 2-8, 6:40-7:00 Books 1-8)

7:00-7:30 Pre-Twinkle, girl age 9
7:30-8:00 Pre-Twinkle, girl age 10

Friday
10:30-11:00 Book 1, girl age 10
11:00-12:00 Advanced college student, female

1:30-2:00 Book 1, girl age 13
2:00-2:45 Book 3, girl age 17
2:45-3:15 Book 1, adult female

4:00-4:45 ABRSM Level 5, male college student (but often comes on other random days and times, a Floater for sure...)

Tree House

Big evergreen at Lake Clarke Park makes a nice place to play!