Wednesday, July 30, 2008
Still on vacation...
Hey, if you're wondering where I am. I am still on vacation with my kids this time. They start back on Monday and we are at home, but still together. Monday we were school shopping. Tuesday I was at school teaching. Today is Friendship Day something like Valentine's Day in the States. We went into Adonai at 5.45am for an early morning breakfast and gift exchange. We were also closet cleaning here at home. Tomorrow Tia Estela (Oscar's sister) is coming and Friday is another cleaning day! I will get back to writing...but maybe Friday or Monday.
Tuesday, July 22, 2008
This weekend...
Travelling home from Virginia was hot and long. The beautiful scenery and playful moments with nephews made the trip fun and enjoyable.
We got to Columbus to find our relatives recovering from some ailments. Since they weren't feeling good enough to travel, I stayed an extra day to visit and play with the nieces. I made baked chicken empanadas. (I don't even make them homemade at home, but...this is special...for my brother-in-law.) Some were eaten but the rest were frozen for him to enjoy in future.
Today was a fun day. Fun with the AUNTS. Catch-up time with life, family, thoughts, beliefs...and diet coke!
The funniest thing is...their favorite place to eat out was an old trucker's stop on 585 called The Post House. We laughed at that little country restaurant our whole childhood. It was on a road where we turned to go to Orville, or Rittman or go straight to Mansfield. We passed by the Post House maybe 3-4 times a week, but never stopped there! It was a trucker's place.
Several years ago the aunts and grandma took me there and I came home surprised and telling mom where we ate and how GOOD it was. We didn't know that it just happened to be their favorite spot! Since then, we found out that even the waiter is an old family friend.
Today we ate with no hurry talking about family, life's battles with it's ups and downs, raising kids, etc. I am uplifted by their strengths and encouragement. I am thankful for them!
Good times!
My suitcases are packed. I have no more room for STUFF...just love, encouragement, and memories.
We got to Columbus to find our relatives recovering from some ailments. Since they weren't feeling good enough to travel, I stayed an extra day to visit and play with the nieces. I made baked chicken empanadas. (I don't even make them homemade at home, but...this is special...for my brother-in-law.) Some were eaten but the rest were frozen for him to enjoy in future.
Today was a fun day. Fun with the AUNTS. Catch-up time with life, family, thoughts, beliefs...and diet coke!
The funniest thing is...their favorite place to eat out was an old trucker's stop on 585 called The Post House. We laughed at that little country restaurant our whole childhood. It was on a road where we turned to go to Orville, or Rittman or go straight to Mansfield. We passed by the Post House maybe 3-4 times a week, but never stopped there! It was a trucker's place.
Several years ago the aunts and grandma took me there and I came home surprised and telling mom where we ate and how GOOD it was. We didn't know that it just happened to be their favorite spot! Since then, we found out that even the waiter is an old family friend.
Today we ate with no hurry talking about family, life's battles with it's ups and downs, raising kids, etc. I am uplifted by their strengths and encouragement. I am thankful for them!
Good times!
My suitcases are packed. I have no more room for STUFF...just love, encouragement, and memories.
Thursday, July 17, 2008
Living Worship
I work with our Praise and Worship group at home and the title of this book caught my eye the other day as I was browsing in the bookstore at Eastern Camp. Living Worship by John Randall Dennis, so I bought it. I have been reading it every chance I get. It is such a fun book.
The Hebrew word for Worship is shachah (pronounced shaw-kwah) and means...to prostrate in honor to God - to bow down, fall down flat, to do reverence, to stoop, to worship. (page 20)
The author gives "portraits of worship" through some of the well-known bible characters. After Job heard that all his animals, household, family and everything were all destroyed, his shachah was...The Lord gave and the Lord has taken away. Blessed be the name of the Lord. Isaiah was in the temple preparing the table when he saw the Lord and fell down before him in shachah, recognizing and admitting his humanness and sin.
Some truths that the author points out:
*Worship doesn't have anything to do with our circumstances.
*Real worship proclaims real truths
*Worship isn't about us or for us. It is about God.
*Worshipers recognize and admit their sin.
"That we have not been justified on our religious performance, that we have peace with God through Christ, that we have access into a standing of grace that we did not conceive, initiate, accomplish, or sustain - these facts should be sufficient cause to make us a comunity of celebrating worhipers whose fellowship can go on forever!" (page 46)
I'm only at the beginning, but I can see that this is an excellent book. I wish I would have found it a long time ago.
The Hebrew word for Worship is shachah (pronounced shaw-kwah) and means...to prostrate in honor to God - to bow down, fall down flat, to do reverence, to stoop, to worship. (page 20)
The author gives "portraits of worship" through some of the well-known bible characters. After Job heard that all his animals, household, family and everything were all destroyed, his shachah was...The Lord gave and the Lord has taken away. Blessed be the name of the Lord. Isaiah was in the temple preparing the table when he saw the Lord and fell down before him in shachah, recognizing and admitting his humanness and sin.
Some truths that the author points out:
*Worship doesn't have anything to do with our circumstances.
*Real worship proclaims real truths
*Worship isn't about us or for us. It is about God.
*Worshipers recognize and admit their sin.
"That we have not been justified on our religious performance, that we have peace with God through Christ, that we have access into a standing of grace that we did not conceive, initiate, accomplish, or sustain - these facts should be sufficient cause to make us a comunity of celebrating worhipers whose fellowship can go on forever!" (page 46)
I'm only at the beginning, but I can see that this is an excellent book. I wish I would have found it a long time ago.
Tuesday, July 15, 2008
Vending Machines
I just realized that I never see vending machines in Paraguay. I was happy with looking at the eight different choices of cool drinks, but it wasn't hard to decide which one I wanted. I put in my coins, yesterday, pressed the buttons and waited as my mouth watered at the cold diet coke that fell to the bottom. It was a hot afternoon and the coke was just as cold as I wanted it, plus it was in a can.
You probably wonder why this was so exciting? Well, in paraguay I see "vendedores ambulantes"...People selling "cold" pop. They are saying that it is cold pop and when you buy it is is lukewarm, in a plastic bottle and maybe even not too fizzy. These people get on buses, stand on sidewalks or stand at traffic lights with a small styrofoam container trying to convince you that the pop they are selling is cold pop. Others sell dry chipas or little cakes that make you even thirstier for just about anything. Others even sell peeled oranges with the tops cut off so you can suck out (warm) fresh orange juice with seeds and all, without getting the oily orange essence all over your hands.
Well, If I can find some more coins, I'll go down for another one.
You probably wonder why this was so exciting? Well, in paraguay I see "vendedores ambulantes"...People selling "cold" pop. They are saying that it is cold pop and when you buy it is is lukewarm, in a plastic bottle and maybe even not too fizzy. These people get on buses, stand on sidewalks or stand at traffic lights with a small styrofoam container trying to convince you that the pop they are selling is cold pop. Others sell dry chipas or little cakes that make you even thirstier for just about anything. Others even sell peeled oranges with the tops cut off so you can suck out (warm) fresh orange juice with seeds and all, without getting the oily orange essence all over your hands.
Well, If I can find some more coins, I'll go down for another one.
Monday, July 14, 2008
All alone!
I am at a camp in Virginia..."all alone". There are over 700 people here, but it seems as if I was all alone. The strange thing is...I KNOW probably 1/2 of them; we were friends growing up, we're cousins, we met in Paraguay, we were from the same youth group, etc. Usually at camps I have important people with me...my husband and my kids! It's so exciting to be with them, eat with them, wave at them from far away, walk down the paths with them, sit by them at evening services, introduce them to your friends...but, what happens when they are not with you? Who do you lean on? Who do you go to? Who do you hug? Who do you eat with?
Some people say, "it'll be fun. It's a vacation."...but, it's not. How can we have a vacation from our best friends, our family?
My nephews are fun. We play all day. We laugh together and run around in circles. We put pretzles up to our eyes to make it look like we have glasses on. We have FUN...but, it's not Edson! I wonder what HE'S doing? Is HE having fun? I talk to some teens. My sons met them last year. They're fun and polite. They are good looking or pretty...they are my friends' kids...but they aren't my Brandon and Gabriel. I wonder what THEY'RE doing? Are THEY having fun? I see husbands saving seats for their wives or wives waiting for their husbands...but, no Oscar!
This time "all alone" makes me appreciate even more my best friends, my family! Family is a special gift from above. Family makes life complete. We aren't "all alone" when we can depend on FAMILY.
Some people say, "it'll be fun. It's a vacation."...but, it's not. How can we have a vacation from our best friends, our family?
My nephews are fun. We play all day. We laugh together and run around in circles. We put pretzles up to our eyes to make it look like we have glasses on. We have FUN...but, it's not Edson! I wonder what HE'S doing? Is HE having fun? I talk to some teens. My sons met them last year. They're fun and polite. They are good looking or pretty...they are my friends' kids...but they aren't my Brandon and Gabriel. I wonder what THEY'RE doing? Are THEY having fun? I see husbands saving seats for their wives or wives waiting for their husbands...but, no Oscar!
This time "all alone" makes me appreciate even more my best friends, my family! Family is a special gift from above. Family makes life complete. We aren't "all alone" when we can depend on FAMILY.
Saturday, July 12, 2008
In USA!
My aunts told me today that I wasn't blogging!
I haven't been around a computer for a couple of days...well, I've been around the computer, but we have been visiting...creating and absorbing QUALITY TIME with family and friends. It has been wonderful!...all the while I am missing out on my wonderful Paraguayan family even though THEY are enjoying time with Ohioans in Paraguay. Here's whats been going on for a week.
My trip started out flying into Seattle...rainy, and pouring Seattle. While waiting for Ellen the sun came out and we went downtown to Pike's Place Market. The next day we went to Warm Beach Camp and started the Mission Conference. Every three years we have a mission conference for the missionaries of our denomination.
On Monday we went Whale watching. The cruise was a 5 hour long ride through pueget sound. We saw many many orka. It was so beautiful, but soo cold. We got back to Warm Beach in time to see the campers arrive. I had a presentation for the little kids.
Tuesday was my FULL day at camp.
Wednesday morning I flew back to Ohio and spent the night with mom and dad.
Thursday was a girl's day (Mom, Martha, Liz, and I) at Liz's...we did nothing but talk, laugh, cry and...eat! It was great!
Friday was my shopping day. It was one of the first days I got out to see what you all have at those large super markets! I bored Laurel at the local WalMart for THREE hours and I still forgot about that flat-ball that I wanted to get Edson. I almost NEVER go shopping in Paraguay, this was a treat for me! We also never see such an amazing variety of STUFF!
Today we had an impromtu-schley thing at mom's yard sale. The sale was finished early because of a huge thunderstorm. We packed up for Paraguay and Camp and we finished the evening at Doylestown's small Pizzazio's Pizza.
Tomorrow I am off to another camp in Virginia.
So, sorry this is so blunt and short. These days were full of many, many details, and many, many memories...beautiful stories, beautiful family, beautiful moments.
I haven't been around a computer for a couple of days...well, I've been around the computer, but we have been visiting...creating and absorbing QUALITY TIME with family and friends. It has been wonderful!...all the while I am missing out on my wonderful Paraguayan family even though THEY are enjoying time with Ohioans in Paraguay. Here's whats been going on for a week.
My trip started out flying into Seattle...rainy, and pouring Seattle. While waiting for Ellen the sun came out and we went downtown to Pike's Place Market. The next day we went to Warm Beach Camp and started the Mission Conference. Every three years we have a mission conference for the missionaries of our denomination.
On Monday we went Whale watching. The cruise was a 5 hour long ride through pueget sound. We saw many many orka. It was so beautiful, but soo cold. We got back to Warm Beach in time to see the campers arrive. I had a presentation for the little kids.
Tuesday was my FULL day at camp.
Wednesday morning I flew back to Ohio and spent the night with mom and dad.
Thursday was a girl's day (Mom, Martha, Liz, and I) at Liz's...we did nothing but talk, laugh, cry and...eat! It was great!
Friday was my shopping day. It was one of the first days I got out to see what you all have at those large super markets! I bored Laurel at the local WalMart for THREE hours and I still forgot about that flat-ball that I wanted to get Edson. I almost NEVER go shopping in Paraguay, this was a treat for me! We also never see such an amazing variety of STUFF!
Today we had an impromtu-schley thing at mom's yard sale. The sale was finished early because of a huge thunderstorm. We packed up for Paraguay and Camp and we finished the evening at Doylestown's small Pizzazio's Pizza.
Tomorrow I am off to another camp in Virginia.
So, sorry this is so blunt and short. These days were full of many, many details, and many, many memories...beautiful stories, beautiful family, beautiful moments.
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