So, how’s it going?

So, how’s it going? You haven’t heard from me in a while, right? Well, that’s what happens when you don’t pay the telephone bill. You get your line cut off. We are still on dial-up here in San Antonio, Paraguay. Things are still done the - s l o w - way. We thought we were fine! We thought we paid the last one, but in our rush to get back into routine after our trip to the states and then visitors…we forgot last month’s bill. It’s still on top of the refrigerator along with the new expired one. As soon as I get the line back, I’ll post this so that you’ll know where we’ve been.

Lessons for (or from) Edson

We have been fighting over the steps for more than a week now. Edson loves steps! He does especially good going up, but coming down is a scary scene. We don’t have the wooden rails to block the steps. I guess I could have one made, but “why?” We have been putting bin or bags in front of the steps so that he sees mountains instead. Well, that also means that WE have to climb over the mountains, and it looks bad! It looks messy! It’s also dangerous for us big people!
Today I spent about an hour going up and down steps and trying to teach Edson to come down. He thoroughly enjoyed the quality time I was giving him and the exciting adventure of going up the stairs. Some times he would fall, but I was close enough to grab him and set him back up to go up or down. This went on for a while. We have tile floors so his legs and knees were taking quite a beating, but none the less he would not stop. A friend’s timely visit allowed us to rest for a while.
While I was wishing I was doing something else, other than crawl up and down the steps, the Lord turned my thoughts to myself. How many times do I try to get up “those steps”, and then fall or don’t know how to come down? Thankfully, he is beside me and I don’t fall too hard. Then I thought of a new Christian. When someone receives Christ, are WE there to help them crawl? Are we teaching them how far to go, when to stop, HOW to stop, and how to get back up after a fall? Are we encouraging them and leading them or putting up a blockade and saying “NO”, you can’t go there. No, you can’t do this!” If we put up that barricade, they won’t know how to go about the Christian life on their own and they could fall BIG TIME when that barrier is finally gone. But, if we walk the Christian life with them, taking time with them, helping them, guiding them, and teaching them; then they will be ready to take those big steps on their own.
I was so thankful for that lesson today. I am so amazed at how much like babies we really are. I am thankful that God is such a patient father! It helps me be more patient, with Edson and with my newborn Christian friends at church.

Edson STOP!

Last night I stayed home from Wednesday night church to help Gaby on a Geography test and other reports that were due today. We have had visitors for weeks and I wasn’t spending as much time with him as I had planned.
Everyone came home from school…drained! Brandon and Gaby begged me to take a nap before doing homework and the idea was appealing to all of us. So, late in the afternoon we all took a “siesta”. Amazingly the phone didn't even ring. Waking up was the hard part. No one, but Edson, woke up with energy and alertness. Oscar and Dan left for church and I had plans to work with Gaby on some study techniques. So we sat down to check math…well, Edson needed a snack. We started reviewing Geography…Edson wanted to go up the stairs. We got some information of the internet for a paper due…while Edson wanted to crawl down the steps. We went back to Geography…Edson messed his pants. Dinner time…Edson couldn’t wait and his howls let us all know that. We were going over the vocabulary when Edson started to grab the book and even eat it. Finally, Gaby screamed…Edson STOP! Poor Edson didn’t realize he was totally messing up our study night. I explained to Gaby that maybe tomorrow we shouldn’t sleep siesta, but work while Edson is sleeping. We would be able to get a lot more done and concentrate better.
Oscar got home…finally…and I mentioned that these were the hardest two and a half hours of my whole day! I kind of think that it would have been much more relaxing just going to church to “rest in the Lord” and not be frustrated and distracted every ten minutes.
To end the story well, I should say that we ALL got a great night’s rest and even Edson cooperated this time waking up at 6am. Gaby felt good about his test. Brandon got all of his stuff done. Dan “slept like a rock”, and Oscar felt so refreshed that he had to drag ME out of bed.
Well, now that I’m up and Edson is down for another short nap, the kids are off to school, Oscar and Dan went to the prison…I think I’ll get my work done, especially the work that needs the most concentration and detail…Then, I can just PLAY all day with Edson!

Happy Birthday, Brandon.

Brandon’s big day!
August 22, 1992, Brandon was born at 7:10 pm. He came as an early surprise since we were told his arrival would be September 7th. (Now, after the third I figured out that all of my kids come two weeks early!) Brandon was a very colicky, a difficult baby…my firstborn, of course! But, after reaching that 6 month milestone, the colicky, crying slowed down and his laughing personality came through. He was such a cutie! He could make anyone laugh. He was funny, silly, and his facial expressions were delightful. He loved life and everything to him was an adventure. He was happy, exciting, giving, loving, and always had a mysterious sparkle in his eye. His spontaneous laughter warmed our whole day!
The years went by…his adventurous spirit got him many unwanted bruises and even a broken ankle for the first day of school of 1st grade. Many times he won awards for being the most talkative in class. Remembering the early years and the attention he received for his cleverness he became an expert at telling stories…some true...most not true. We still laugh at the story when he insisted to some friends that he had a blue dog! He loved/loves to exaggerate!
The teen years came by. I didn’t know that even teens could be so colicky. We definitely had our power struggles. Doors were slammed, walls were kicked, and my heart was crushed. Where was that happy, funny, adventurous boy? Who was this “man” bigger than me?
One day the Lord put on my heart to share this with him. I told him how cute he was as a toddler. I mentioned his gift of giving, telling stories, his love for life. He was funny. He was loving. Jesus taught us to become as little children. Jesus wants him to be the person He created in him. The stories of his childhood made us all laugh and I encouraged him bring back that happiness that he once showed in early life, to become a child again. He should leave his bitterness and anger behind.
As we struggle to raise teens, I know our battles are not over, but I see the work of the Holy Spirit in Brandon. We have come a long way, through pain and victory, but we’re thankful we have a special guide.
Today he is 15. Pray that he will always hold the door opened to the Spirit’s leading. Pray that he will be moulded and shaped into that beautiful son God wants him to be. Pray for his happy, forgiving personality and that he could always use those gifts for God’s glory. Pray for his health, his studies, his decisions, and his future.
Happy Birthday, Brandon. WE LOVE YOU!

P.S. ...written by permission of the birthday boy!

All I NEED is just time!

I couldn’t sleep last night. You see…I just downloaded a program on my computer, it worked two days and the third day wasn’t reacting like the first day. I felt crushed! There was a popular song on Wow 2004 with a catchy tune of “I love you, but I hate you!” I really DON’T like that song, but it seemed to be exactly what I was feeling about this technical world.
The problem is…I NEED “Skype” to communicate with my brother…which means that I NEED a microphone or telephone connected to the computer. I NEED “Norton Antivirus” for email and internet...if I am making those kinds of calls, I NEED protection. I NEED a cell phone to communicate with Oscar where ever and when ever and do text messaging on the side. I NEED a regular phone to make and receive regular calls. I NEED an answering machine because we are gone so much. I NEED, I NEED, I NEED…
I am SO thankful that communicating with our Father isn’t as complicated. All I NEED is just time! Quiet time…away from this and that in our technical world. Time for a hot coffee on a cold morning like this morning. Time to meditate, thank and praise. Time to watch the sunrise. Time to feast on His Word.

Back Home

Back home means jumping into our hectic schedules not necessarily back to the computer like I wrote last time. Back home means having visitors, cooking extra, tutoring the kids or just making sure they ARE doing their homework even with the house full of exciting distractions, doing laundry, running to school, visiting the prison, teaching bible study, picking up the kids, prayer meeting, devotions, buying diapers, cleaning, taking out the garbage, getting to the meeting at school on time, taking Edson to a babysitters, going to the grocery store, counselling an extra hour with a friend…sorry to say, back home doesn’t mean back to the computer as I had hoped.
It’s good to wake up on your own bed. It’s good to open up your own refrigerator and know you can have anything in it. It’s good to look at your house, your back yard, your own family in your own little space and say…Lord, you have really blessed me! The birds sing praises in my own back yard! The orchids full in bloom show off their awesome beauty. I am happy here…this must be my “home”. Once I excitedly shared my home and my thoughts about Paraguay with my brother and (mistakenly) asked, don’t you LOVE it here? He answered, Not really, but I don’t have to LOVE it. I wasn’t called to live here…you were. I felt crushed, but realized that it was so true. I have to love it here, not him. (Now, he has to LOVE it in Indonesia!)
Back home…it’s our secure place. It’s a place to love and be loved. It’s a place to rest. Home is a place where we can cuddle up with God.
This is…"back home".

Back home, back to the computer!

Well, we are back home to COLD Paraguay! We left a beautiful summer climate to come home to blankets, heaters and hot chocolate. Cold, drizzly days mean hanging the clothes out to dry on the kitchen table under the fan all night.
I see how much my house “missed” us as we walk around fixing things; light bulbs, burned out shower heads, defrosting the freezer, cleaning the oven, etc. My computer even became dusty! Now we’re back into to the routine of things…school, quizzes, bible studies, visits and visitors. The first day we told Jason and JC of our 5 am schedule. They seemed shocked, but with slowed-down energy, crawl out of bed like the rest of us and are off to school.
I didn’t write much while we were in the states. I didn’t have time to just write or learn the tricks of someone else’s computer. I wanted to talk and share. Time with family and friends was precious. I needed those talks. I couldn’t waste a minute! We saw soooo many friends, cousins, aunts and uncles, etc. I was amazed at Grandpa’s cleverness even at 94 years old. His dog made him seem young again. Mom and dad were always ready to serve. I was encouraged through Tammy…she has a full house a thankful spirit. Aunt Kath taught me to praise God even through difficult circumstances. Laurel impressed me with her school project for helping Adonai. The women at Western Camp showed us so much love as we dealt with Chicken pox. Someone was always knocking at the door ready to take care of Edson. Sandy and Joyce worked with our “sick” family day and night…thanks! Annette handed us her beautiful work of art. Jim and Eleanor gave us a ride back to Portland. Larry and Marilyn gave up their time and home while Edson got better. Vida took time out to pick us up at the airport. Martha had our room ready at Eastern Camp and shared her family with us. Rod and Evelyn helped by taking us back to the airport. Dianne and Gabe worked with us even through their busy schedule. Liz patiently took the responsibility of my teens…many times. Joe was our personal, family doctor (and computer doctor). Lois promoted Colegio Privado Adonai without tiring selling Miracool bandanas (at Western and Midwest camps). So many more people gave us hugs and said prayers for us. Some gave us some spending money, some bought us a Caffe latte, cappuccino, frappuchino or what ever you call it. Some spent time with Edson in the nursery. Some made friends with Oscar. My older boys have lists of emails…friends they’ll remember for life!
I might not have mentioned your name, but I DO thank everyone who made our trip so special.
Our trip was wonderful!
On the way home (to Paraguay) our THEME SONG was "My God, he can move the mountains, My God is mighty to save, He is mighty to save"…as we thought about luggage, flights, immigrations, etc. We knew that ONLY GOD, could move those huge mountains during travel…and he did! We all got home safe and sound and our luggage with us. THANK YOU, LORD!
So, here we are, back home…back to a routine…back to the computer!