Shared Stories

I feel connected to many people. Of course I've lived a long time and in many places, and have had intense experiences with a wide variety of people through the years. Sometimes I just pause and ponder the wonder of that for awhile. For instance, the college buddy that recently got in touch with me––if we saw each other in person, we would pick up where we left off––no doubt about it. The things that connect us--primarily shared experiences--are forever branded into our hearts and memories. I saw cousins at our family reunion that I hadn't seen in decades. But because we shared something together, we instantly felt connected and had memories to talk about. There are a couple of families in this fair city––our paths rarely cross––but we're connected. We have shared experiences from growing up, and an intertwining of old friends we keep up on. When we run into each other at the dentist's office or Walmart, we chat at a level deeper than newer friendships.

I think it's partly about the intensity of what we experienced together––all these people in Spouse's and my past––high school youth group (we were tight!), college life, camps, nurses' training, seminary, house church, sponsoring refugee families together, missionary life in Africa, having babies and raising kids, mission trips––I guess these are all what you could call "bonding" experiences. And probably the strongest bonds come from hard times we went through together. That's a big "weave together," as well as our lives together in Christ.

I love the stories I share with others. For me its like a special collection I own ... my own personal heirlooms. I must be feeling sentimental tonight. Anything to avoid studying!

Photos: Spouse and I in skits while we were summer day camp counselors at our college. You can probably guess who is who!

Eating Elephants

 This is going to be a tough week.  Already I feel overwhelmed.  A lot going on, extra stuff, ending with a recertification test at work on Friday (I would be happy to never take a test again ... I get very stressed over any little or big test). My other work feels like a blank page, though it really isn't ... it just seems that way. And no "home time" visible on the immediate horizon, which I need so badly to keep me sane! 

So I need to remember how to eat an elephant. One bite at a time. And that's how I'll face this week. One step at a time, first things first.  God in charge of course, and providing the strength and grace to get through. Here I go!

small moments in ordinary days

I'm giving an early second read to our Christmas cards this year. Sometimes I wait months. Maybe I'm just ready to get on with January. It's always a joy to read and absorb all the news a second time. ...One of my best friends in college and nursing school found my email address, wrote me the other day, and we reconnected after 18 years. So much to catch up on and what a great photo of her family! Our long emails back and forth have taken me back to another time. ... I fell the other day, face-down on the cement while rushing into a store. I'm still finding body parts hurting that I wasn't aware existed. Eldest son lectured me on my age, how I needed to think "old" a bit more, since I still act like I am young (proof: the neighborhood kids begged me to ride bikes with them). I smiled at his wisdom, but even more, his concern. ...The next day at work, God was gracious in giving me a manageable assignment, as my body was aching ... and for my messed up face, some explaining had to be done to my babies' parents. ... Since it's been raining and the sun is in full swing today, I hope to see Jack out across the street so we can look at our teeth collections (he has only one in his so far.) By the way, he told me that he and his sister were considering waiting until all their baby teeth were out, and putting them in a massive pile under their pillows, hoping for something like a million dollars from the tooth fairy. 

... Stopped by a friend's house yesterday on the way home from work after stopping at my mom's (she's the kind of friend you can drop in on unannounced.)  She had been out of town for weeks, and it was great to see her. Walking into her home was like entering a haven of rest. Calm, peaceful, a hot cup of tea already in the kettle ... good rest for a weary soul. ...My husband's basketball coach (now age 81 he tells us) loves to forward us emails. Usually they are funny and they always are just a reminder he is thinking of us and is alive and well. Today he sent us a picture of this ... wow did it fly me right back to my childhood! ...

...But most exciting, and not a small moment at all, was the phone call yesterday telling us that our grandbaby- in-the-womb is doing very, very well, and is a "she!" Now that is a change for this family of boys! We are excited and most of all, thankful to God!

a good rain check

We attempted to do some business at the motor vehicle place last week, but after the line had not moved once in  20 minutes, we decided to take a rain check. This morning we went early and once inside the door it did not take too long. There were two women "manning" the desks.  The younger one spent most of her time frustrated while studying overly large manuals, trying to help a man with an estate problem. We got the older, calmer, very together woman who obviously knew what she was doing. She was cheerful too (such demeanor is not always found at the DMV). We walked out smiling. Spouse said, "Can you imagine if we had gotten the other woman?" We thanked God that we got her!

We have a car belonging to the dean of our college overnighting in our garage (no place for it where they are visiting). We have not seen this gentleman since graduation day many, many years ago. He also taught us psych very well.  He happens to be a friend with friends of ours here in town. I could not get over the fact that we were visiting with Dr. B. in the front of our house last night. He didn't look any older, but he must have been in his 30s back then (though I probably thought he was at least 50.) How surreal.

One further note on today. Driving into our cul de sac from the grocery store, little Jack across the street motioned for me to stop as he had some news to share. He had lost his first tooth. Helped it out with his wash cloth. When I came back from another errand, he called me over, asking if I wouldn't like a closer look at the gaping hole. He just made my day! I told him tomorrow I would bring over my collection of my two boys' baby teeth. I am wondering why I still have them, and now what I should do with them. 

Hope Springs

Spouse got a little hope ornament from a friend when he was going through a hard time of illness. Since I love the word hope, and think of it especially when entering a new year, I decided to move "hope" from his office to my kitchen window. And, I decided to do some research on the word. The usual definitions appeared: "a feeling of expectation or desire for a certain thing to happen" or, "grounds for believing that something good may happen." But imagine my surprise at finding that this dictionary termed archaic the definition "a feeling of trust." To me, that's what it's all about. Trust, or faith––in Someone, of course.

Somewhere else I read, "Hope is often the result of faith, in that while hope is an emotion, faith carries a divinely inspired and informed form of positive belief. Hope is typically contrasted with despair [see photo of hope visiting despair], but despair may also refer to a crisis of faith. Hence, when used in a religious context, hope carries a connotation of being aware of spiritual truth."

Personally I can't imagine life without hope. In my mind, all hope is really spiritual,  for God is the one who controls the results of hope.  And God puts hope into our hearts by faith. I have known times of despair, and I know it doesn't honor God, for it shows a lack of trust in what God's plan is for my every moment. But "hope springs eternal" and I cannot despair for long when I am thinking clearly. When I bring hope back into the picture, sun seems to arrive too, just as it will shine through the hope hanging at my window! From Psalm 39:  For now Lord, what do I wait for? My hope is in You!

 

Hope that is seen is no hope at all. Who hopes for what he already has? But if we hope for what we do not yet have, we wait for it patiently. Romans 8:24-25

Decisively Cold

It's nice to have really cold weather stay here for a time. In the teens this morning. I call it a "decisive cold" -- when it is cold in earnest. Reminds me of my childhood up north when our mom made us wear "leggings" under our skirts to school. How we hated them! 

But right now I'm thinking of nephew farmer who probably stayed up all night watching out for  his tender young blueberry plants. And will again tonight undoubtedly.

This photo, the banner, and little blondie photo are all credited to my sister who has a way with her camera!

stewed tomatoes on a second date

Last night we had supper with friends and then went bowling. At their house. Really. They had gotten a new Nintendo  game for Christmas called Wii ... or something like that. All kinds of sports games to be played on the TV. You actually physically play the game.  We did a whole game of bowling. It was so real (sounds of the bowling alley, etc.) that one could easily think they were bowling. What amused us was how much we bowled like we used to.  Spouse took that long sweep of his arm and the curve always came down towards the end of the long lane. I messed up a lot, dropping the ball behind me (and saw bystanders jumping out of the way), and almost falling into the lane as I would drop the ball for the trip down the lane. How did these characteristics come through with just a virtual electronic game? 

The echo of the bowling alley remained with us as we drove home and we felt like we had really bowled--we were actually a little tired! It all reminded us of our second date so many years ago. Yep, we went bowling with another couple. I wore a red shirt dress, quite commonly worn in those days, striped with small flowers.  It was affectionately known by many on our small campus as my "stewed tomatoes dress." And yes, I probably fell into the bowling alley a few times too! Never mind, if it makes people laugh, it's okay!

Look from the Top

This is a spendid word for a busy day
with its crush of work of all sorts. If we get
caught in the crush and pushed down, so to
speak, the next thing we know is that we are grovelling in the dust.

Things are on top of us, we are not on top of anything.
SO the words come "Look from the top"
Come with Me from all that, come up the mountain with Me,
look from everything UP to the Lord Jesus, Who is our Peace,
our Victory and our JOY, for we are where we look ...

from Amy Carmichael in Edges of His Ways re. Song of Songs 4:8

End of Year Review

It's a clean up day ... getting decorations put away (still keeping the tree up a bit longer for Spouse) ... washing linens after the house guests have left, organizing some stuff for Good Will, getting started on writing the thank you notes (called by an article in the London Times, the "last bastion in an epidemic of discourtesy"--see women.timesonline.co.uk/tol/life_and_style/women/

the_way_we_live/article3097017.ece), and generally drying out after a wonderful three days of much needed rain. 

As I putter about, it's time to muse on that End of Year Review, or better yet, "how I'd like to do things better in the new year." No resolutions, mind you, just seeking God and His leading ... wanting to become more like Him.

Rondo Rendezvous

We celebrated Christmas on the 26th when family members arrived in town. In the midst of setting the table for our special dinner, I collected the mail and out fell a small packet from a dear friend in England. Inside? "Mini coasters," which Janette knows I love. The package called them "mini rondos." So I guess that's their real name. Amazing ... arriving just in time to add to the table decor! They looked so lovely! And the packaging told me Janette had purchased them on High St. in Arundal ... a place I have been to with her! Thank you, Janette! We loved using them, and none spoiled so they can be used again next Christmas!

It's All About the Manger

jesus & mary in the manger
Originally uploaded by podso

From my sister's Christmas letter: "Each Christmas as we struggle to preserve a sense of worship and gratitude amidst all the busyness which accompany this time of year, it seems as though there is some point [when] God breaks through and moves me with a song or verse, or maybe a word from a friend, and I am blessed. This year it was the last line of one of the songs in our choir cantata, sung as a solo by a sweet and clear soprano voice: 'The manger held it all.' So simple and so profound.

"Everything we need in this life and the next was held in that Bethlehem manger 2000 years ago. Our hopes, desires, dreams, and above all our need for forgiveness and fellowship with God, are all gathered up and met in Christ Jesus. One of [our] father's favorite Christmas carols, 'O Little Town of Bethlehem' says, 'The hopes and fears of all the years are met in Thee tonight.'"

messy deeds

good deeds
Originally uploaded by podso

The other day I lingered in bed after the phone call came telling me I could stay home from work. The luxury of sleeping in tempted me briefly, but is easier said than done when my mind begins to work. I wiggled my toes and stretched as I thought of the luxury of unplanned free time. The gift of a day. Maybe I would just spend the whole day reading. Or making a few Christmas cookies. Definitely time for myself.

Then I remembered an elderly friend who had been rushed to the hospital the night before. I should check on her and maybe I should take my mom along with me to visit her. There was someone else I needed to visit in another hospital too. And find a plant to take to her. And then there was someone else who I needed to help with a change to a new drug plan. Suddenly my day seemed planned as I hopped out of bed to start it. I decided, okay, this would be a day of giving to others. I pictured myself serenely gliding through the day, bestowing acts of kindness on others like the sprinkling of fairy dust.

Well it certainly did not turn out that way. I did do what I needed and wanted to do, but it was a big case of one thing can lead to another. Throw in the mix holiday traffic, not the right plant where I thought it would be, and some extremely inept insurance people on the phone with me for an hour reducing me to tears. The day deteriorated rapidly.

I came home with a splitting headache many hours later (long after I would have arrived home from work). I had a talk with myself on the way. What led me to believe that acts of kindness come wrapped in ease? Did I think I was owed a "walk in the park" just because I was helping others? Nowhere does Christ say our doing good for others will be pain free. If anyone knows about that, He does.

One of my prized possessions is a little soup bucket I have in my kitchen. The story, as I understand it, is that my great grandmother used it to take soup to sick people. I have a mental picture of a tiny Dutch woman in her heavy brown cape, walking down a city street carrying a little pot of soup and probably a basket of bread too. My soup bucket reminds me to think of others. My guess is that she didn't have an easy time with her good deeds either. 

Out of Africa

We have two new ornaments on our tree this year--a gift from some women in Nigeria who live with great challenges. They receive help from our mission and wanted to thank us all so made ornaments and sent them to our headquarters. I love the color and the tie-dyed fabric––in the shape of the continent we love so much! Another reminder at Christmas of our beloved Africa!

Very Cool French Bread

I am making my good friend Susanna's French bread today. I love using recipes that remind me of friends or family members! The nifty thing about this is there is no kneading and you can make it ahead and refrigerate up to 24 hours before baking. So you can get the mess cleaned up, yet have very freshly baked bread when it's time to eat. There's nothing like the scent of bread baking to warm the heart (and start the stomach growling!)

Cool Rise French Bread

2 C flour
2 pkg. active dry yeast (or 2 1/2 Tb. loose)
1 Tb. Sugar
1 Tb. Salt
2 Tb. softened butter or margarine
2 1/4 Hot tap water

Combine dry ingredients to blend and add the hot water and butter. Mix with electric beater on medium for two minutes. Add one cup flour and beat on high for one minute or thick and elastic. Scrape sides of bowl and gradually mix in enough flour (about 2 more cups) to form a soft dough that leaves the sides of the bowl. Turn out onto floured board, round to a ball, cover with plastic wrap and a towel on top. Let rest for 20 minutes.

Punch down and divide into two equal portions. Roll into approx. 8 x 15 in. rectangle. Roll up tightly like a jelly roll, beginning with the long side. Seal edge and tuck in and seal ends. Place on greased baking sheet, seam side down. Brush with oil and cover loosely with plastic wrap.

Refrigerate from two to 24 hours. Remove, uncover and let stand 10 minutes while preheating oven to 400. Brush gently with cold water and slash tops of loaves at two inch intervals. Bake for 30-40 minutes.

ready for soup

Angel Watching At Our Door

Marshmallows, Not

Our little friends from across the street came for African stew last night––oh, yes, with their parents of course. First Kayla presented me with the frilly blue girl. "Oh!" I exclaimed, "Made from a marshmallow."

"No, not a marshmallow," came her soft, endearing reply. Then Jack presented his some kind of protector guy. "Well this must be made of marshmallows," I stupidly insisted, not being up on the very latest in art supplies. "Nope!" came a more determined answer.

We had a good time, and I love my new Christmas decorations!

Angel Exchange

It's been more than ten years ago that I belonged to a small group that did an ornament exchange at its Christmas party. We were a feisty bunch so it was a lot of fun as we bantered about, grabbing up each other's adored ornament in exchange for one we didn't like as much. One particular year, two of us were going after the same angel ornament. I won, but felt bad later. So, I dropped the angel off at this friend's house, with a note that simply said, "to an angel."

I liked this idea, so the next year I dropped another small gift outside her door labeled "to an angel." This went on a couple of years (I always had to stalk her house and find a time to drop it by when she wasn't home.) One year she "caught me." I quickly waved and scooted on out of the driveway.

That's when the angel exchange began. She soon dropped a litte gift at my door. And so we have continued to drop small angel or angel-related presents off at each other's house every Christmas, never with any hint of the gift giver. We don't comment on it when we see each other either. But we know what's going on.

This year I really thought we were done. For we go to different churches and our paths no longer cross except for the occasional wedding or other special event. The pizza delivery guy rang our doorbell the other night. He handed my son the pizza and ... the angel gift sitting by my door in the dark.

What to my wondrous eye did I unwrap but a beautiful spode Christmas plate ... and a glass angel on the side. How fun! Now the ball is in my court. I found a sweet pewter angel ornament marked down at the hospital gift shop Christmas sale. I hope she'll be at work today when I try to drop it at her door. And so the tradition continues.

Not a White Christmas

Even though it was years ago, I remember the time as clearly as if it were taking place today. We were a young family, just settled down to life in West Africa, when our world came crashing down around us. Spouse got very, very sick and turned yellow.

Due to a recent coup, borders were closed and grocery store shelves were empty. Spouse couldn’t even get a blood test to tell for sure what was wrong. We lived near the university and knew the dean of the medical school, so he made house calls to check on Spouse though there was nothing he could do.

Those were dark days for us as Christmas approached. We tried to make the best of it with our two small boys, while we watched their Papa get thinner and thinner. The bile under his skin caused severe itching and relief only came with a scalding bath followed by a cold shower and then a sit under the ceiling fan––a routine not always possible with frequent power outages and lack of water. We were about out of food.

Often sitting with only the light of an oil lamp, I’d hear God speak words of comfort and peace. He reminded me of Isaiah 40 again and again. "He gives strength to the weary and increases the power of the weak…They will soar on wings like eagles…"

God’s grace amazed us. A knock sounded at the door one evening just before Christmas. Linda, a Peace Corps friend, greeted us with a special piece of meat wrapped in shiny tinfoil and a festive bow. Mmm, it was delicious. An adventuresome friend showed up with a cooler full of meat and sack of potatoes bought in a neighboring country (he’d gotten across the border in a desolate area). What a treat!

Not long after that, a friend traveling through our city walked into our house with a gunnysack over his shoulder. He dumped the contents out on our kitchen counter. My eyes opened wide when I realized Henry and Jane had shared from their “special times” stockpile. What stood out the most was a can of powdered lime drink. Now Spouse could have at least a sort of fruit juice. The tiny ants marching around the glass at his bedside didn’t irritate me as they usually did––I was so thrilled to offer him such a treat.

When a truck pulled up to our door I was certain it was a mistake, especially since there were two small barrels for us on it. It didn’t make sense until we learned they had been flown in from London from friends who used to live near us. Having heard of our situation, knowing what the closed borders would mean for our food supply, they knew exactly what to send us. Imbedded in my memory is the thrill of unwrapping foods fresh off English grocery shelves––beautiful, clean packages of flour, sugar, and powdered milk with special holiday treats tucked in. We were overwhelmed at God’s tender care for us.

Before long our doctor friend told us we needed to go home to get better care. It was unsettling to abruptly leave a home and work we loved. But we had learned the valuable principle that God does not make mistakes and knew that He cares deeply for us; and so we trusted Him. We didn’t leave before celebrating Christmas the best we could. We made clothespin ornaments representing each family member to put on our little tree. They are falling apart now, but we still hang them on our tree every year. And when we do, we remember all that God taught us the year our Christmas was yellow.