"And when you hear the sound of marching in the tops of the balsam trees, then rouse yourself, for then the LORD has gone out before you to strike down the army of the Philistines.”
-2 Samuel 5:24

I swear I heard the sound of marching above my head at least three times throughout the night last night. The first time it was slow, like an army advancing measure by measure with their shields linked. But the very last time, it was like a mighty army was running forward in perfect sync. I even felt the weight of their steps shaking my house and though it terrified me, it also made me smile in my sleep. But each time I woke up and listened, sure I would hear it this time... I couldn't hear it anymore.

I've thought about it and I live in a house on the top of one of the tallest hills in Waterbury. Praise God. I think they were headed past my house on their way into the valley.

It's also about time that I start posting pictures of my kids again. I took this one this morning. Love you, Dad.

I've only read the first chapter and I can already tell this is going to be a great book. Heyerdahl has a great sense of humor. I might have liked to be friends with he and his wife. They seem like the kind of people you wouldn't mind being stuck on a raft in the middle of the ocean with. To catch up on my Bible reading, I not only stopped blogging, but I also stopped reading any other books. So, I'll start reading a book a month again and this will be my book for the month of June, officially.

I found another rabbit trail to follow on my visit to the Timexpo. They have an exhibit about Thor Heyerdahl and his theories on the origins of the people on the Polynesian islands. He thinks people came across the ocean on the currents from the west, rather than from the east.

The exhibit mentioned an Oscar winning documentary which I found and watched online here. The documentary shows how Hyerdahl and a group of other men sailed from South America to the Polynesian islands on a simple, ancient-style raft. My friend also suggested I read the book Kon Tiki. I found it at the library and plan to go get it tomorrow.

According to the internet, most scientists totally dismiss his claims and have even gone on to prove him wrong, but that doesn't matter to me. His story is pretty interesting. I like the way he expresses himself. I think the book is going to be great fun.

I took my niece Sarah to the Mattatuck Museum and the Timexpo today. The state of Connecticut happened to be having their "Open House" event, so we were thrilled that we got in for free to Mattatuck and for a discount at Timexpo.

There was an interesting Civil War exhibit at Mattatuck. Below you see a copy of the Waterbury Republican after the war began. I thought it was interesting how small the type was compared to today's newspaper headlines and how many more words were on each page (and there were no pictures or drawings or prints anywhere.) People, quite literally, read more back then.

Coming to Connecticut after a youth spent in South Carolina where I visited the city of Charleston on a regular basis, where the Confederate rebellion is still celebrated, I was very surprised, even shocked, that quotes like this one were on prominent display here:

"You people of the South don’t know what you are doing. This country will be drenched in blood, and God only knows how it will end. It is all folly, madness, a crime against civilization! You people speak so lightly of war; you don’t know what you’re talking about. War is a terrible thing! You mistake, too, the people of the North. They are a peaceable people but an earnest people, and they will fight, too. They are not going to let this country be destroyed without a mighty effort to save it …Besides, where are your men and appliances of war to contend against them? The North can make a steam engine, locomotive, or railway car; hardly a yard of cloth or pair of shoes can you make. You are rushing into war with one of the most powerful, ingeniously mechanical, and determined people on Earth—right at your doors.You are bound to fail. Only in your spirit and determination are you prepared for war. In all else you are totally unprepared, with a bad cause to start with. At first you will make headway, but as your limited resources begin to fail, shut out from the markets of Europe as you will be, your cause will begin to wane. If your people will but stop and think, they must see in the end that you will surely fail." -Sherman

So, the exhibit had a decidedly Northern slant on the events of the Civil War and I suppose this is only appropriate since it reflects the history of the men and women who lived here at the time. But, as I compared this to my experiences in Charleston, I found this difference humorous since I think it shows how common it is for people to interpret the facts of history through their own experiences and sympathies.

This record of a town meeting in April 1861 mentions a Commander Chatfield. I wondered if he is a distant relative of the current Mayor Bob Chatfield, Prospect, CT. I used to write the Chat with Chatfield column in the Prospect Pages. I may be so bold as to call him to ask about this connection.

Notice where the globe is worn; further proof, I think, that we people are often self-centered in our perspective.

There is much more that I saw and more that peeked my interest at both museums today. But, I will have to share those things in another entry.

Today I took Sarah, Norah and Avril to the Wadsworth Atheneum, the oldest public art museum in America. We saw paintings by Monet, Degas, Renoir, Picasso...


There's always one or two works that I, personally, really connect with on each visit to an art gallery. This time I liked The Lesson by Thomas Armstrong. The painting looks very severe from here, but it provokes a totally different feeling in real life. I actually laughed out loud. I wonder if you can guess why I liked it so much.


The other painting that really inspired me was Hercules Wrestling with Death for the Body of Alcestis by Frederick Lord Leighton. This is only a small portion of the entire painting, but it's the part that really struck me.


It made me think of a friend I am praying for. I do not understand what actually happens in the supernatural realm when we pray, but I know that prayer can sometimes feel as if something like this is really happening in the spiritual realm.

I have a "friend" who believes that I'm foolish for trusting my husband to provide for me. She also thinks I can't be a blessing to him because I'm just a dependent. And, in her mind, my kids just add to that burden...

Minutes after reading something she wrote about women like me, I read this Scripture. It was actually part of my Scripture reading for today:

Blessed are all who fear the LORD,
who walk in obedience to him.

You will eat the fruit of your labor;
blessings and prosperity will be yours.

Your wife will be like a fruitful vine
within your house;

your children will be like olive shoots
around your table.

Yes, this will be the blessing
for the man who fears the LORD.

I believe the Lord had me read this verse (right after I read what she wrote) to remind me of His truth, so that the lies this woman believes wouldn't set a trap and put their hooks into my mind and heart. Our world says a man is blessed one way and that a woman is only truly secure in another way... but God designs blessings for those who fear him. And for those with wisdom enough to see them, the blessings look something like this:



Yes, this will be the blessing
for the man who fears the LORD.