5 things . . .

5 movies that cause my nostalgic glands aflowing:

1. How the Grinch Stole Christimas
2. It's a Wonderful Life
3. The Little Princess (with Shirley Temple)
4. The Princess Bride
5. The Goonies

Woolly caterpillars and an omnious winter

The last couple days have been gorgeous. I could stand a couple more weeks of sunny days.

Since I was just a wee lass (my terrible Scottish brogue rears its ugly head) I have heard the the tale about Pyrrhaclia isabella. Don't ask me how to say that -- I was barely able to spell it.

Normal people call it the woolly caterpillar. Eventually the woolly caterpillar becomes the Isabella Tiger Moth. But as a woolly little caterpillar, it is a barometer of the winter weather to come. Or so the stories go . . .

Supposedly, the wider the black bands on the woolly caterpillar (or the narrower the brown band) the harsher the winter. Which means more snow, colder temperatures, and possibly a longer winter.

Apparently, this tale has been around for ages. In fact, in 1948, the curator of insects from the Museum of Natural History in New York started an eight-year study -- during his vacations, no less -- to prove or disprove the folktale. He basically picked up every woolly caterpillar he could find and did some scientific tests -- measuring and recording. He concluded that the caterpillars wintery predictions were 70% accurate. Not bad for an insect. Better than most meteorologists, in fact.

All this to say that the caterpillars here seem to be less tan and more black this fall. And you know what that could mean -- more snow, colder temperatures, and possibly a longer winter. Hmmm . . . hopefully this winter the caterpillars will be 30% inaccurate.

Maybe?

Starry, starry night

David Trapani

I was walking home tonight and couldn't help but enjoy the beautiful starry sky. Granted it was slightly obscured by the street lights but it sure was pretty.

The above photo is NOT from tonight (cause, really, my camera could never take a photo like this and even if it could I could never take a photo like this). This photo of the star cluster Pleiades. I was reading about Pleiades in Wikipedia:

The cluster is dominated by hot blue stars, which have formed within the last 100 million years. Dust that forms faint reflection nebulosity around the brightest stars was thought at first to be left over from the formation of the cluster but is now known to be an unrelated dust cloud that the stars are currently passing through. Astronomers estimate that the cluster will survive for about another 250 million years, when it will have dispersed due to gravitational interactions with the spiral arms of the galaxy and giant molecular clouds.

I was thinking about this:

The heavens are telling of the glory of God; and their expanse is declaring the work of His hands. Day to day pours forth speech, and night to night reveals knowledge. There is no speech, nor are there words; their voice is not heard. -- Psalm 19:1-3

Moms

I jumped on the internet tonight and this was one of the featured videos. I can't relate to this as a mom. But my mom has said most of this to me at sometime or other in my life. Although she hasn't sang it to the tune of the "William Tell Overture."

Hmm . . . I wonder if I would have listened better if she had?

Light bulb moments

Often, in my life, there are light bulb moments. A moment in time where many little tidbits of knowledge meld into a revelation. Usually, this revelation precipitates a change: spiritually, emotionally, etc.

Yesterday we had a guest preacher for the morning service as our pastor was visiting family. He said something that struck me,

"It is easy to say that we [as Christians] love everybody, but do we love the people that are around us?"

By around us, he was referring to our neighbors, acquaintances, people we come into contact everyday -- on the street, at work, at play.

He was teaching from Philemon -- a letter from Paul to the owner of the slave Onesimus. Onesimus had left his master and met up with Paul, where he became a believer. Paul told Onesimus he needed to return to his master and make amends but he sent Philemon a letter saying,

"For perhaps he was for this reason separated from you for a while, that you would have him back forever, no longer as a slave, but more than a slave, a beloved brother, especially to me, but how much more to you, both in the flesh and in the Lord." (Philemon 15-16)

Basically, Onesimus is coming back to you -- you are getting more than you had. Now you are getting a brother in Christ -- a beloved brother in Christ.

Other passages on love:

You shall not take vengeance, nor bear any grudge against the sons of your people, but you shall love your neighbor as yourself; I am the LORD. (Levitcus 19:18)

A friend loves at all times, and a brother is born for adversity. (Proverbs 17:17)

But I say to you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, so that you may be sons of your Father who is in heaven; for He causes His sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous. (Matthew 5:44-45)

A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another, even as I have loved you, that you also love one another.(John 13:34)