Tribute to mom

August was my mom's birthday month. It reminds me of popsicles on the porch and banana splits, ringing phones and our late night "Streets of San Franscisco" TV shows. She was such a joyous dear. A stabilizing glue for us all.

All 4 of her granddaughters carry on her name. My sister's newest, born just a month ago, bears the middle name of Alice. My oldest does also. My sister's big girl's middle name is Elizabeth, my mom's middle name. And our youngest girl, has a middle name of Rose, from a little verse of Amy Carmichael's writing, "From thy briar shall blow a rose for others." From my mom's "thorns," her debilitating physical illness, she was a sweet rose to others. May these girls, the next generation, have the compassion and mercy that my mom had because of her simple faith in the Lord Jesus.

My oldest wrote this about her grandma a few years back--

"My Grandma was a servant of a lady. She would always make banana bread and take it to people who were feeling down. Before my mom was born she taught 4th grade. She was born in Cleveland Ohio. Her grandparents immigrated from Germany.

She always wanted to drive down a road with a canopy of trees. So she got some trees and asked neighbors to buy trees. But the trees were slow growing, so they never really made a canopy.

Grandma liked to stay up late and work. She also liked owls, Dopey and wearing powder that smelled nice. One time she was teaching Sunday School and hit her chest with her hand and a big cloud of smoke went POOF!

She loved to laugh and to play with me. She got some kind of disease and had to go in a wheelchair. She died when I was around 7. I wish I could remember her when she could walk. It was very sad when she died, though joyful at the same time since now she is in heaven and is perfect."

Old things made new

Our 1986 Nissan Patrol, "Big Red," fits all of us plus some. Patrick's a truck guy and this is a great vehicle to have because people in our country can take old things and make them new.

Yesterday on our return from a beautiful beach about 40 minutes from us, the car overheated. Patrick pulled to the side of the autoroute and within 2 minutes a road assistance car pulled behind us. (Before yesterday, I had never known that yellow road assistance cars existed here!) Patrick and the road man looked under the hood and discovered that the radiator hose broke. So Patrick ripped off the tape that had been holding it together for the past few months (See? If they can't find a part here, they turn old into new! And it had held up through many kilometers!) The car was returned to the correct temperature and the road man had the number for the tow truck.

Within 40 minutes a tow truck pulled up in front and after looking at us all (whole family plus one extra kid) told Patrick that we would need to get a taxi because he didn't have insurance. He changed his mind after Patrick talked his winsome ways with him and we began our ascent up the back of the tow truck. The top of the hook contraption that was pulling us looked like it was re-hammered on the front part of the truck (See? Old things into new!) Patrick's flipant comment, "If that snaps it will come right through the windshield, so duck," didn't quite quiet my fluttering heart! But there were no problems, we were all hooked in, and took off slowly down the highway, perched in Big Red. Two men on donkeys looked and pointed as I'm sure 6 kids, a mom, and no driver (Patrick was in the driver's cab) high in a big red car looked a little quirky. My favorite look was from our 1 1/2 year old neighbor when we drove up our street. He peered out their white curtained windows, looked at us, smiled and waved. He was so enthralled, I laughed out loud and waved back. Quite a day!

So today, Patrick was very cultural and made a new radiator hose out of two old ones. He travelled to a city about an hour away and looked through a junk yard, asked around, and managed to find three hoses that could possibly work. They didn't. He improvised. Hopefully it will work until he can travel to another big city about three hours away. I'm so proud of him always working so hard. And thanks be to God for always providing us manna when we need it and promising that one day He will make all things new.

14 is a lovely age

"14" now belongs to our lovely daughter! I am so thankful for this girl and that God has placed her in our family. May the Lord continue to grow her and show His love to her. We love you big sis!

We have an 8 year old!

Hooray! June 7th marked JP's 8th year of life. What a privilege it is to be his parents. We did a 8 day countdown beforehand in which he could pick out a different type of ice cream treat, and we marked it on this cake. (My personal favorite was day 3--look at the size of it! I couldn't accurately draw the creaminess either...)
How appropriate to get spider man jammies. On the night before JP was born, Patrick and I had gone to see the 9pm showing of Spider Man in the movie theatres. Then the castor oil kicked in and JP was born at 2AM. Oh my word! Fast and furious is an understatement. Praise God that I didn't chow on the movie popcorn that night! Ugh!
We took a special day trip down to the zoo. I love JP's expressions--he is a lover of life and his face always shows all of his emotions.
A new zoo friend/employee invited us back to see the animals up close...very close...probably TOO close. This lovely, dangerous hippo, a crocodile, and an elephant (that we petted). At the end of the "tour" I realized that he probably wasn't supposed to do this (especially jump into the crocodile display and try to get him to bite a stick! My boys were ready to jump in too when I reminded them that usually a gate in front means, "Don't go in!") but it was quite an adventure for our big boy! May the Lord give our little buddy much growth in wisdom and love for the Lord this year.

A thankful 40th birthday

We went to lunch at my favorite park and restaurant, about a 30 minute drive from our home. A lovely day, lush green grass, a precious family, and fresh air...perfect!

I love their salads--even the kids dig in!

A beef and prune tagine--finger-licking good!

Then we returned, had a worship service in our home with our English-speaking international friends, ate dinner, and then had a little party (pictured above). One gift was a beautiful green kaftan dress.
I'm so thankful for my dear husband who has been a rock for me. I'm also grateful to many of you who wrote kind birthday greetings that I read throughout the day (and cried! I miss you guys!). The Lord reminded me of his faithfulness since my childhood and because He doesn't change, it gives me great hope for the future.

Mice? Nice. Lice? Not nice.

The itching started Wednesday night and then we saw a bug on her forehead at breakfast on Thursday. Poor dear. So, she got a lice treatment and a combing to remove a lot of the critters and eggs that were accumulating. Hopefully the rest of us are clear (though we have been adding tea tree oil to our shampoo as a preventative) and our house will be rid of them in a few days. I don't think her golden locks have ever been so snarl-free!

Now...while lice are yucky..."I think mice are rather nice"

Thoughts from the roof

"It is good to give thanks to the LORD,

to sing praises to your name, O Most High;

to declare your steadfast love in the morning,

and your faithfulness by night."

Psalm 92:1-2

I love our roof. The breezes, the view, the freedom--prayers just flow from that high perch. Maybe it's being closer to the heavens or the small, insignificant-looking humans below but my breath is often taken away after I climb there (it could be the stairs too, I guess!). Lately my prayers, as I'm putting clothes on the line, are deep felt sighs trusting the Spirit to intercede for me in my weakness. Feeling dependent on Him, I glance around. Will we be here tomorrow? Next week? In the fall? I don't know. I sigh again.

Then I remember that James tells us that we are but a mist, here for a short while and then gone. My tomorrows are in His hands even if we lived in a land with more freedom.

I took this picture from the roof when the day was done. I love Psalm 92 which says to declare His faithfulness at night. One way God has been faithful to me during this time is reminding me of His consistency to bring the sun the next day. Elementary, I know. The daily rhythm of the sun reminds me of His love and His faithfulness. When the sun makes it's morning appearance, we remember His steadfast love and that His mercies are new even that day. At it's setting, we remember His faithfulness, both in today and throughout history. What a faithful, sovereign, and loving God we know. Join with me in declaring His faithfulness tonight.