Tuesday, July 22, 2008
Thursday, June 5, 2008
Strawberries
I planted a big shallow pot with strawberries. I ate the first one this morning. Just glad that I got to it before the birds. Yum.
Thursday, May 29, 2008
Saturday, May 24, 2008
The Sweetness of Heaven
This last weekend I went to my dear friend Nicole's wedding. She was beautiful. And I thought about her wait, the wait she had to find Phil. And I thought about my wait for the Bridegroom and how beautiful that day will be, how we will all be so much more beautiful than even my friend on her wedding day. A dazzling promise that I hope will continue to carry me through many mundane days on this earth.
And Philly and Brandon's baby Alyas is getting so cute. Today Philly and I tried to figure out the percentage of weight that he has gained in his two short months of life would be. (I am no good at math.) It made me think about how exhausting it is to grow because all he does is sleep. But I am like that too. It is exhausting to grow and I think God is trying to make wide open places in me. It makes me tired. But it is good.
I planted a little salad garden in a pot over the weekend. I took it out to the front steps and was reluctant to leave it in the yard. Sometimes unattended belongings find new possessors in our neighborhood but hopefully salad is not too hot of a commodity.
Monday night we all sat out on the front porch and watched the storm come in. After the rain I kept thinking how much more really the trees were. I don't know why. It was magical. The sky had a depth of color that made me almost hurt with joy.
I just finished reading a book called "Jayber Crow" by Wendell Berry. I think I am changed. It is a book about heaven. If you read it and it means nothing or not much to you don't tell me. At least until I am done basking in its goodness.
Philly and I were talking about life and such the other day on our car ride from Des Moinse. We decided it is a habit of mine to be disappointed when people don't love the things I love. It steals some of my joy. But if you do love it please share b/c that increases my joy! Quirks - gotta love them. Or change them too.
There are going to be 9 of us. The house is going through changes. First a baby, then losing Jesse, then gaining Cole last night, and now another one coming! My head is spinning. Hopefully we can keep a good blend. The big wrap around porch out front is turning into a good spot to be in the Spring and a Good thing our house is giant-normous!
And Philly and Brandon's baby Alyas is getting so cute. Today Philly and I tried to figure out the percentage of weight that he has gained in his two short months of life would be. (I am no good at math.) It made me think about how exhausting it is to grow because all he does is sleep. But I am like that too. It is exhausting to grow and I think God is trying to make wide open places in me. It makes me tired. But it is good.
I planted a little salad garden in a pot over the weekend. I took it out to the front steps and was reluctant to leave it in the yard. Sometimes unattended belongings find new possessors in our neighborhood but hopefully salad is not too hot of a commodity.
Monday night we all sat out on the front porch and watched the storm come in. After the rain I kept thinking how much more really the trees were. I don't know why. It was magical. The sky had a depth of color that made me almost hurt with joy.
I just finished reading a book called "Jayber Crow" by Wendell Berry. I think I am changed. It is a book about heaven. If you read it and it means nothing or not much to you don't tell me. At least until I am done basking in its goodness.
Philly and I were talking about life and such the other day on our car ride from Des Moinse. We decided it is a habit of mine to be disappointed when people don't love the things I love. It steals some of my joy. But if you do love it please share b/c that increases my joy! Quirks - gotta love them. Or change them too.
There are going to be 9 of us. The house is going through changes. First a baby, then losing Jesse, then gaining Cole last night, and now another one coming! My head is spinning. Hopefully we can keep a good blend. The big wrap around porch out front is turning into a good spot to be in the Spring and a Good thing our house is giant-normous!
Tuesday, May 20, 2008
Since then ...
The best intentions of keeping up with my blog post Romania has obviously not gone so well. Today I was inspired to keep it up and going.
My life in the last few months summed up:
December-Catching up with friends, Christmas celebrations, living with sister Katie, her husband Andres, Andres brother Diego, and two kitties Jonah and Alice, looking for a job.
January-all of the above, watched all three seasons of LOST, did one and 1/2 puzzles (got bored), and started reading Moby Dick (I now no more about the inside of whale than anyone should).
February-procurred a job, job said nevermind, moved into the Park Avenue Community House with 6.5 other people, started working at Behaven for kids with behavior problems (clever name huh?), decided this was not the job for me, Servant Team friends from Romania came to visit.
March-visited super cool, sweet, little brother in San Jose CA, procurred job #3 since returning to States at Salvation Army, bought cute little red car, realized job was not so great for me, two new little cousins were born in Indiana!
April-new baby boy at the Park Avenue Community! working at SA, welcomed friend John and his parents for his commissioning at Word Made Flesh before his return to Galati, Romania, started planting garden at my parents with Katie (super fun), was able to speak at Beggar's Society on my experiences in Galati.
May-visited friend in Minneapolis, realized kids at SA don't really like me (sniff sniff), reading books on economics and the loss of simplicity and farm land (slightly depressed me), looking forward to June.
Phew, all caught up.
Feel like I am learning a better appreciation for the Earth and Creation this spring. I think the Lord is communicating more to me through these things than ever before. I read this poem today.
For, like a grain of fire
smoldering in the heart
of every living essence
God plants His undivided power-
Buries His thought too vast
for worlds
In seeds and roots and blade
and flower. ~Thomas Merton
My life in the last few months summed up:
December-Catching up with friends, Christmas celebrations, living with sister Katie, her husband Andres, Andres brother Diego, and two kitties Jonah and Alice, looking for a job.
January-all of the above, watched all three seasons of LOST, did one and 1/2 puzzles (got bored), and started reading Moby Dick (I now no more about the inside of whale than anyone should).
February-procurred a job, job said nevermind, moved into the Park Avenue Community House with 6.5 other people, started working at Behaven for kids with behavior problems (clever name huh?), decided this was not the job for me, Servant Team friends from Romania came to visit.
March-visited super cool, sweet, little brother in San Jose CA, procurred job #3 since returning to States at Salvation Army, bought cute little red car, realized job was not so great for me, two new little cousins were born in Indiana!
April-new baby boy at the Park Avenue Community! working at SA, welcomed friend John and his parents for his commissioning at Word Made Flesh before his return to Galati, Romania, started planting garden at my parents with Katie (super fun), was able to speak at Beggar's Society on my experiences in Galati.
May-visited friend in Minneapolis, realized kids at SA don't really like me (sniff sniff), reading books on economics and the loss of simplicity and farm land (slightly depressed me), looking forward to June.
Phew, all caught up.
Feel like I am learning a better appreciation for the Earth and Creation this spring. I think the Lord is communicating more to me through these things than ever before. I read this poem today.
For, like a grain of fire
smoldering in the heart
of every living essence
God plants His undivided power-
Buries His thought too vast
for worlds
In seeds and roots and blade
and flower. ~Thomas Merton
Tuesday, December 11, 2007
Coming Home
I am on my way back home. Tomorrow morning we leave for a short visit to Brasov (home of Dracula of Transylvania of the mountains). And then all the long flights begin.The goodbyes are painful. Such beautiful people and children. I can't help but hate leaving in so many ways. This morning, as they were praying for our departure in chapel, I was thinking about how our hearts hate saying goodbye and that it is unnatural. We are made for eternity and this is not how it is supposed to be. But for now we leave one another and go to other places. Transitions...again.
Thank you for being part of my adventures here. I have been blessed by all of you.
Originally, I started this blog for Romania but I will probably keep it going in the states so stay tuned.
Saturday, December 1, 2007
Christmas is coming!
Everything is hurry up and experience it for the last time. I am exhausted by the prospect of goodbyes I have no desire to make. Why can't I have here and home all together? Someone has tried to console me with thoughts of heaven and no more parting.Last night we played volleyball with some youth group kids from Magda's church (many of whom we had met before). It was so much fun and it seemed to lighten everyone's mood in the face of preparing to leave. Volleyball made me think about how often we amuse ourselves here with free entertainment. Ping-pong, volleyball, card games, boardgames, any kind of game, walking and walking and walking. I haven't really missed all that expensive high technology in the states. Well, maybe once or twice. Makes me think twice before I spend some money, or rather I hope it will.
The other day one of the kids, Lavina, came up to me in the hall, just threw her arms around my neck and asked, "Ce face fata?" (How are you girl?) and then told me she loved me and chased some other kid down the hall. I am going to miss that. So many relationships feel like they have just begun and now are about to end.
Christmas is very different here. I have not been bombarded with it the way I usually am at home. In some ways it has left me feeling like the season isn't here and in others that it is just a quieter version. One thing that happens around here is a long fast through the Orthodox Church. Some who practice Orthodoxy don't eat meat or dairy products for several weeks before Christmas. Joel tells me it helps to demonstrate and mirror to your soul the truth and contrast of light and darkness in the coming of Jesus as a little child. There was darkness and then the earth saw a great Light! I think it is beautiful - a tradition I want to investigate more fully. Besides, he tells me that Christmas dinner is going to taste oh, so much better this way.
The Christmas lights are up and we took this picture with a timer one night after playing ping-pong. This place is a few minutes walk from the apartment where I live.
See you all soon.
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