On Wednesday, my aunt took Breezy *you can see her basket here*, Emily Rose, and I to our second basket class to finish up our previously started baskets for our 4-H projects. Perhaps a few dedicated readers can remember the basket I made last year? Well, I like this one much more.

Williamsburg Basket

It took me maybe 6 or 7 hours to make in two days. It is simple and is finished in a walnut stain. I simply adore its shape and I can’t stop looking at it and feeling its elegant weave. I must say that basket weaving is probably one of my favourite past times…I suppose I should do it more than once a year.

I am a worrier. I confess it now. I have the extreme fault of worrying about things that I can’t control. It seems worse with that category. My excessive worry is mostly with things that I am required to do or if I believe a secret standard exists that I may not fulfill.

I think my mind is hypocritical. I can’t seem to stop worrying yet when I think that God has everything in control I am immediately at peace. God never makes mistakes for it is not in His nature. His plan for us is greater than anything we could imagine, and that gives me peace.

If we never move to a farm, God is in control. (This one is kind of hard to say, but nevertheless I am at peace with it if I never move to a farm)

If I never marry, God is in control.

If I become cancerous and die before I am 20, God is in control.

If I am in a home with unbelieving parents, God is in control.

If I live in the year 2009 instead of 1809, God is in control.

Knowing that God has our best interest at heart is comforting (Romans 8:28). Knowing that He only allows us to handle what we can bear is comforting (1 Corinthians 10:13). Knowing that we are mortal and He is unending is comforting. He is so great that we can’t even comprehend it is comforting.

Who are we, sinful men long suffering from the curse, to question what the omnipotent, omniscient, omnipresent God does? He has held the entire universe in His hands from the beginning and He is the one that keeps it going. He knows what’s best for His children, even when they don’t see it at the time, or if they will ever see the benefit this side of heaven.

Romans 8: 18-39

This little paraphrase will sum up how I felt with the plot line and the book in general… “I finished a 501 page book in less than a week“. I was captivated by the intense story line from the very beginning. My family can tell when I am in a good book for you can only see my fingers gripping the binding instead of my face. While my fa-mi-ly had noodle making lessons I confess that I buried my intellectual mentality into ciphering the words of Hugo instead of paying close attention. That seems to happen a lot to me. For instance in algebra, when Mom and I were trying to figure a problem and she said that I could I relax for a few minutes…those minutes were spent gripping “Quasimodo” as we called it.

I will not burden you with reading the story line, for it is indeed intense and time consuming, however I will leave you with my overall review of the book.

In a moral sense, The Hunchback of Notre Dame has some unconventional views upon salvation, the use of God’s holy name, and sensuality. When referencing to salvation, the book gives the tone that Christians are weak mice like creatures who are so focused on God that fun is absolutely out of the question or they are truly deep dark creatures with insanity running in their veins. That does not bother me as much as the other two notes, for I know the truth. Upon God’s holy name, blasphemy is used in almost every chapter although it is not too excessive, yet once is more than necessary. And as to sensuality, there are 2 or 3 instances where characters give into their lust for one another, but Hugo deals with these moments with poise. His writing is not too descriptive but he does inform the reader what is happening. I was disappointed however in the frequent musings of lust in a certain character.

However, in a literature sense, I thoroughly enjoyed the speed and drama of The Hunchback of Notre Dame. Almost every page held yet another formula that deepened the reader’s view to every character. The story features upon some well rounded characters whose mental and verbal dialogue give insight into their descriptions. Quasimodo, the  “main character in the background” is beautiful in his thoughtfulness and even though Hugo gives endless descriptions of his hideousness, the reader does grow to love Quasimodo’s compassionate and thoughtful nature.

I must also say that the last paragraph of the book is beautiful in its mortal description.