January - where did you go?

It's been a month without blogging. That hasn't been deliberate - but it's the longest break ever. I was as tired and busy as you! The house was quiet after the Christmas decor came down - many a silent night, which I love and find renewing.

After the Christmas season ended, our daughter Kirsten arrived. She's a restful guest. It felt like I sat around for a few weeks, but when I look back, W and I were speaking each week, I read about 30 books to unwind 2019 and open 2020, wrote and sent off a chapter for an academic book, and did a few other "this and that"s. Yikes.

Here are a few pictures from January: the first Sunday, I made a floral centerpiece from our yard while the church florist was on vacation (4' tall).

All I have to do is take a scissor outside and clip away - there's so much color in the yard. I made another 3' tall bouquet for the house one weekend when a friend loaned her glorious Chinese New Years bouquet to the Gathering. (Yes, those are little oranges.)

The most stunning flowers have appeared. Here's a 2' bromeliad that rests in a crook of the guava tree. Its center fills with little periwinkle blossoms on red stalks.

Rainy season unleashes a splurge of colors on Indonesia. You should see this red hedge of flowers!

On a morning walk, I paused for a showstopper: all of these blooms and buds - yellow, pink, and reds - were on the same shrub.

Our dog Gypsy gave us a good scare by staying out overnight. Apparently he ran off when someone opened the gate; he hid from the thunder and we didn't notice until morning that he was gone, rather than hiking around the yard.

In the morning, I whistled and called for him on my way to work. I asked a few people if they'd seen him. He showed up at our gate not long after. W and I were very relieved. He's our security warning and protector - plus a good buddy.

We celebrated two Chinese New Years and one Korean New Year events - what delicious homemade food, eaten with dear friends!

Before that weekend was over, we had tea with new German friends at the Padma Hotel up the street, too.

We celebrated the baptism of Halu, a young believer in Jesus. She's returning to her homeland Japan soon.

We set up a prayer room at the international church. I've enjoyed spending time there with others each week.

Movie night was fun as always - though I didn't watch the actual movie A Quiet Place. K and W told me about it.  I cooked, served food, and avoided cluttering my brain with awful possibilities.

"It was great," everyone said. But I heard them squeal when monsters jumped out. That's not for my active imagination. Just tell me the story line.

The kitchen filled up for dinner and for dessert later on.

 And the next morning, we took down the projector and put the house back together.

Seems like we celebrated this first month of 2020 with a lot of people. Family Sunday was full of kids listening to the KidTalk by Nicole - always a treat.

CDB (Community Dinners Bandung) moved to a new place: the Central Station cafe. What such a noisy, interactive, and people-filled evening. It was a full house.

There were conversations, idea exchanges, games, and puzzles galore. Plus good coffee, according to W.

W and I ate gourmet one day, made by a friend at #Roadrunner. Alan is full of passion and experience regarding good food. He cooked what may have been one of the best burgers we've ever had. It looked just like the picture - fluffy bun, thick juicy meat, homemade sauce, and fresh veggies. Thanks, Alan.

W and I happened on a fully set up paludarium that I'd noticed in an aquarium shop last August. It was just too expensive then. This week, it was half off and prettier than ever, planted and equipped with everything you could imagine.

"How about an early birthday present?" I asked my husband, who happily takes gift suggestions.

A paudarium is a land and water tank - ours is home to a little school of neon tetras, a beta, and a few cory catfish. The waterfalls provide a soothing backdrop in the office, plus I like to watch the fogger roll little clouds over the front lip.

We met friends old and new at tables around the neighborhood. We're doing a 7 Systems diet together, but it's hard to stay on track with such good friends and food! I've shed 5 unwanted pounds in 2 weeks. Not bad.

It's wonderful to hear about good will and hard work done by the many volunteer in community care around Bandung.

Sadly, our family lost a dear cousin. I grew up with Elaine in Winnipeg - she was closest to me in age of all the cousins. She passed away from early onset Alzheimers. Elaine began to exhibit symptoms around the time I started my PhD. That's unfair, to say the least. What a terrible illness. We pray God's comfort for Garry and his family.

Now it's February. The "Happy New Year" is in full swing with its highs and lows. We kicked off the first Sunday of February (today) with a team BBQ, anchored by grillmaster Josh and assistant Dave.

Everyone pitched in for the rest of the food. The kids ran around the house and the yard. We love to celebrate together. Shared wins today included a new home and school, a pre-teen/teen startup, and other milestones. God is good.

Read more:

*The Lord God helps me; therefore I have not been disgraced. Isaiah 50:7

*If only you had paid attention to my commands, your peace would have been like a river, your well-being like the waves of the sea. Isaiah 48:18 

*To this day I have had help from God, and so I stand here, testifying. Acts 26:22

*For the message about the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God. 1 Corinthians 1:18

*Christ Jesus became for us wisdom from God, and righteousness and sanctification and redemption. 1 Corinthians 1:30

Moravian Prayers: Dear God, let us walk beside you. May we listen for your voice and allow it to guide us to do your will. Although we may stumble and fall, we know you will be there to pick us up and brush us off. Thank you, Lord, our guide and comforter. 

God, we turn to you to lighten our way; to help us see that you are there, not only to guide, but to bring us peace. May we always turn to your wisdom when we struggle, knowing that you will not steer us wrong. In Christ Jesus, we pray. Amen.