Daniel Bought a Bible from 1881

For Last Friday, Daniel bought an 1881 Bible from The Book Market with the help of the store credit that Ed Calkins, Steward of Tara, provided every guest during the Calkins Day celebration.

Daniel took the Bible out of its package last night after physical therapy, and he, Rebekah, and I marveled at its weight, thoroughness of helpful information (more complete than any modern Bible study), detailed artwork (including some plates in color), section that once held family portraits (a shame they were removed), string binding.

Of course, 1881 puts us right into many of the scenes in the BryonySeries novel "Before The Blood," so we have that connection, too.

Here are some photos from you to enjoy!

 

A New Favorite Bible Verse

I've previously written about the chaotic few years my family and I have experienced, and we've had more of the same in 2025 - with more challenges on the horizon.

Last October, as Rebekah and I began recreating our BryonySeries financial year, the amount of paperwork documenting projects kept coming.

Ironically, both of us were ill that day, but the work needed to be done.

At one point, we stopped and looked at each other asking, "How? How did we get this all done?"

So many times, we've been so far behind on "stuff," that when we start to tackle getting caught up, we got knocked even farther behind.

These past three days have been very productive, so much so that we've been lulled into thinking "catching up" is possible.

But is it? Or are our cynical minds fearing that's an illusion?

We might get caught up this time - or we might start over and "catching up" will be delayed.

However, I also believe the time of constant turmoil is also a season, one that reminds us that progress and accomplishment is possible in the midst of storms and that mild weather and circumstances will return - and that life is both and not always linearly.

So here is my new favorite Bible verse and my personal mantra for this year. I clung it these past months of WriteOn Joliet's 2025 radio play season, when I had three emergency room visits, one hospital stay, and two new and separate diagnoses, and one scheduled (and then rescheduled) surgery - and I didn't know if participation in the play was possible and if I should quit or keep rehearsing (I kept rehearsing).

"If you wait for perfect weather, you will never plant your seeds. 

"If you are afraid that every cloud will bring rain, you will never harvest your crops. 

"You do not know which way the wind will blow." Ecclesiastes 11:4-5.

Happy Monday!

A Smile for You on Monday Morning

Came across this yesterday, one of those chuckles passed around online.

I found it on several sources, including this link, but you have to scroll way down to find it.  For your convenience, the text is pasted after it.

https://forums.catholic.com/t/cats-are-in-the-bible/217950/7

And Adam said, "Lord, when I was in the garden, you walked with me everyday. Now I do not see you anymore. I am lonesome here and it is difficult for me to remember how much you love me." 

And God said, "No problem! I will create a companion for you that will be with you forever and who will be a reflection of my love for you, so that you will know I love you, even when you cannot see me. Regardless of how selfish and childish and unlovable you may be, this new companion will accept you as you are and will love you as I do, in spite of yourself."

And God created a new animal to be a companion for Adam. And it was a good animal. And God was pleased.

And the new animal was pleased to be with Adam and he wagged his tail. 

And Adam said, "But Lord, I have already named all the animals in the Kingdom and all the good names are taken and I cannot think of a name for this new animal." 

And God said, "No problem! Because I have created this new animal to be a reflection of my love for you, his name will be a reflection of my own name, and you will call him DOG."

And Dog lived with Adam and was a companion to him and loved him. And Adam was comforted. 

And God was pleased. And Dog was content and wagged his tail.

After a while, it came to pass that Adam's guardian angel came to the Lord and said, "Lord, Adam has become filled with pride. He struts and preens like a peacock and he believes he is worthy of adoration. Dog has indeed taught him that he is loved, but no one has taught him humility."

And the Lord said, "No problem! I will create for him a companion who will be with him forever and who will see him as he is. The companion will remind him of his limitations, so he will know that he is not worthy of adoration."

And God created CAT.

And Cat would not obey Adam.

And when Adam gazed into Cat's eyes, he was reminded that he was not the supreme being. And Adam learned humility.

And God was pleased. And Adam was greatly improved. And Dog wagged his tail.

And Cat did not care one way or the other.