Want to write me directly? Send an email to partofthemain@gmail.com.
My name is Betsy. I am a child of God, a professor's wife, and a mother of four. We live on the island of Java.
The Lord is my chosen portion and my cup;
you hold my lot.
The lines have fallen for me in pleasant places;
indeed, I have a beautiful inheritance.
--Psalm 16:5-6
BANANA MEMORIES
Mommy: “What else do we need?
”Harriet: “Bananas!”
Mommy: “I thought we just got some?!”
Harriet: “No, we don’t even have one little shred of a memory of a banana left!”
HONESTY
Mommy: “What are you building, Wally?”
(long pause)
Mommy: “Are you going to tell me? Or is it a mystery to me?”
Wally: “No, it’s a mystery to ME!”
O MY CHILD, I CANNOT
“Why do I always do the WRONG THINGS? I don’t want to, I know it’s wrong, I think I shouldn’t do it, and then I DO! Can you help me, Mommy?”
–Harriet
CORROBORATIVE DETAIL
Looking at some prints of Rembrandt paintings hung on the playroom walls–
Daddy: Let’s look at these paintings, Wally.
Wally: Mommy and I painted those.
Daddy, laughing: Are you sure about that?
Wally: Be careful, Daddy. They’re still wet!
SCIENCE LESSON
Mommy, at the dinner table: “Harriet, you’re eating that like a lion. Could you eat it more like a little girl?”
Wally, suddenly: “Lions eat with their hands. Lions eat with their claws!”
Mommy: “What do they eat, Wally?”
Wally: “They eat meat. They eat Africa meat! And they like chicken bones.”
HE MEANT RUDOLPH
“Hey, can we watch Nosey the Reindeer?”
–Hugh
THE RELUCTANT SOLDIER
“This guy doesn’t fight. He just picks blueberries.”
–Walter, playing plastic armymen with his daddy
DELAYED INEVITABLE
Mommy: “Could you please get down from there, Wally?”
Wally: “I’m not Wally, I’m Batman.”
Mommy: “Okay, could you get down from there, Batman?”
Wally: “No, I’m Robin, I’m Robin.”
Mommy: “Could you please get down from there, Robin?”
Wally: “No!”
Three pottery bowls that now live in a box in America. I miss you, pottery bowls.
part of the main
Hey Betsy!
I asked Pam for your blog address and have been enjoying reading it for the past few days now.
James is applying to study at Oxford for Fall 2012 so I got curious as to what life was like there.
if he does get accepted, Lord willing, it will be great to be able to connect with you guys again.
We have been in Colorado for 2 years now since leaving MA and are currently looking after 3 foster children. Life has been a little crazy in the last few months having 5 children under 5 in the home 🙂
Gillian
Hi Betsy!
So James just got accepted into the PhD program for Physics at Oxford, so I’m looking forward to seeing you guys again and hopefully exploring some of those lovely sights with you when we get there! We’ll be coming in the Fall.
Gill
Hi Betsy. I have been enjoying your blog posts. My best friend is Jenna and she graciously shared your site with me. I am looking forward to beginning the Abcs of God with my kiddos, ages 5,3,1. Love this blog because it seems authentic and real. Thank you for sharing your wisdom in a way that seems achievable for normal moms. Loved the birthday party. So wonderful and sweet and simple. Thank you.
I love “Lately said!”.
🙂
Hi Betsy, I found your blog when I was looking for good advent materials for our church family. Thank you so much for posting your thoughtful, Biblical advent readings. I hope that you don’t mind that I am having the translated into Czech and we plan to use them though the Advent season. What a wonderful blessing, not only to me, but to all of our small church family here.
Annette
Hello!
I found your blog while looking for a children’s Advent program for our three little ones. My wife and I were drawn further in as we discovered 2 more similarities (three children being the 1st). You are homeschooling, we are homeschooling. Currently we are wrapping up (not an intentional pun) a furlough in Kansas City MO and heading back to Asia in January. We would love to hear more about what Father is doing in and through you all.
Derek
Betsy Lady!
Loved the post about Joy’s book Woman to Woman. Just wanted to write and let you know her blog is encouraging, insightful and provoking. Excellent place to learn more from an amazing storyteller and worker!
Charity
Hi Charity!! How are you?? Thanks for the tip on her blog–I may transfer this comment to the post so others can see it. Thank you!
Just found this by accident I have a sister who was named for you we grew up partially in Danville on I’ll lane your father was our dr
Here I am again Betsy…suggesting to our graduate student wives your advent writings. Thank you for generously sharing your work. Scott and I treasure your sweet family…and send our love.
Hi, sorry to bother you with this mundane matter but I am translating and cannot for the life of me find what the phrase “part of the main” means… Could you help me out?
Thank you!
Hello. I happened upon your advent readings for the very young. The adults in our church will all be reading from an Advent reader from Christianity Today. We have a number of small children in our congregation. You gave permission to print your planned readings. Is there a limit on the number that can be printed? I am thinking perhaps a dozen. 20 at the most??
Thank you.
Hi! This is an amazing advent resource. It is appropriate for young children and challenges the adults to go a little deeper with the bible readings at the end of the readings. I love your reflections. Best advent resource I have found for young children and families.
Hello! I found your blog through searching for Advent for little kids. My children are 3 and 1.5, so this is PERFECT! Most are not as short and simple like this, and every day they run to our nativity set and grab the item of the day. 9 years later and your work is still being used! Thank you so very much for making this ❤