Wednesdays with Words (The Virgin in the Ice)

My quote comes from The Virgin in the Ice by Ellis Peters, the sixth book in the Brother Cadfael Series. I found this quote to be a beautiful reminder of the ebb and flow of life that continues on no matter how good or bad our world/life seems to be--just as God intended until His return.

England was already frozen into a winter years long, and he knew it. King Stephen was crowned, and held, however slackly, most of England. The Empress Maud, his rival for the throne, held the west, and came with a claim the equal of Stephen's. Cousin, most uncousinly, they tore each other and tore England between them, and yet life must go on, faith must go on, the stubborn defiance of fortune must go on in the husbandry of the year, season after season, plough and harrow and seed, tillage and harvest. And here in the cloister and the church, the sowing and tillage and harvest of souls. Brother Cadfael had no fear for mankind, whatever became of mere men. Hugh's* child would be a new generation, a new beginning, a new affirmation, spring in midwinter. p.10

(*Hugh is the deputy sheriff and a personal friend. A key character in many of the Brother Cadfael books.)

See more at ladydusk. 

What's On Your Nightstand - April

 

I have survived April (well, most of it) and my kids have completed their competition and now life goes back to normal. Even in all the busyness I was able through 6 books, thanks to one book having three combined in it. It still may take me a week or two to get my act together when it comes to reading since the house must be put back in order and school work becomes a top priority!

For May:

 

 

From March's Nightstand I read:

• What He Must Be:...If He Wants to Marry my Daughter by Voddie Bauchman - A great read on preparing young men (and young women) for marriage with a lot of focus on character and their spiritual lives.
• Just Enough Jeeves by P.G. Wodehouse - This book included Right Ho, Jeeves, Joy in the Morning, and Very Good, Jeeves. I got this book from the library so I could read "Joy in the Morning" but I ended up reading the other two also. Of course, you can never go wrong with Wodehouse.
• The Virgin in the Ice by Ellis Peters - Another Bro. Cadfael book. I am really enjoying this series.

I listened to:

• All Creatures Great and Small by James Herriot - In the midst of getting my kids prepared for competition I decided I needed an escape so I checked what I had in my Audible list and picked this one. I read this years ago, but it was just as good the second time around and was just what I needed.

And if your interested in seeing what my kids did you can head on over to my Facebook page and I have their performances and some of their entries posted.

See what others have read over at 5 Minutes for Books.