- News
- Fake news
- online connection
- missing people ...
- celebrating. Cheering on my brother and his daughter, who had their birthdays yesterday and today.
I'll sure miss it when this box is empty. The new tea tastes weak and less flavorful and the leaf quality is different, To let you know how much I value my husband, I offered him a fresh cuppa made with one of those teabags this morning - and though he was grumbly about accepting, he took it.
He's gone off into the hills with our driver: they're testing an Innova minivan that came from a repatriated family and another island. If it works - that is if it can climb the hills of Lembang while the air-con is on - we'll return our 10-yr-old Innova loaner and get the newer one instead. We qualify for a new vehicle from our non-profit but prefer to reuse what's here when possible.
Tuesday and beyond
Our team meets online. I have a few other meetings as well. Being in the office by myself is a treat. I stay late a few days this week, walking home and back for lunch. To the office, it is literally uphill all the way. There may be 50 meters (added up) that are flat. So going home is easy. At the end of the day, the hill pulls me home as the sun starts to slant through the office window. It's dark before 6pm.
People are starting to venture out. I have in-person meetings in the office a few days this week. We sit across from each other and leave on our masks until we start to drink tea.
Friday
The morning mastermind meeting is life-giving. Five out of a group of six discuss life, work, theology, and family - they are my lifeline to clear thinking and setting my priorities. We only meet once a month, led by Kim in Seattle. But we're spread across the world and across timezones. It's Thursday night for some of them. We don't miss unless we absolutely have to.
It's great to call my brother and his daughter in the evening. Their birthdays are a day and a few years apart. Adelina plays her own Beethoven-style version of Happy Birthday. Good styling!
I remember being her age when improvised music effortlessly and thoughtlessly poured out of my body. Any emotion or event could be expressed by sitting at the keyboard for processing. I finished a piano performance degree when I was 23 (and pregnant with our first child). And then played piano and keyboards for another 30 years.
I hardly play any more. Painting and drawing is more satisfying. Mostly, I find a keyboard isn't very responsive; it doesn't pull the music out of me like a piano does. (We do have a good keyboard here. It's just not a piano.)
8 Random Observations:
1. Every day, the streets and courtyards are littered with falling sticks, moss, and leaves. Someone has to sweep them up or the wind blows them into piles. Here's what the court looks like below the office walkway, just a few hours after the security guy swept it. He'll sweep the lawn and pavement 2-3X every day.
It's a pretty view across to the hills, isn't it? There's a deep valley gouged between us and the Dago hill. W and I traversed down and up often the first two years we lived here.
2. We keep few flower arrangements scattered around the house. The yardman has clear-cut the emerging flowers so we're back to artificial color, not arrangements from bursting flowerbeds.
I do chop a 4' tall flower from the garden hedge and wind a purple vine around its stem. Which reminds me, W needs to put the heavy chair back in place. Did he move it when we recorded a video earlier in the week? Too heavy for me ... but facing sideways from that comfy reading spot would be awkward.
3. I'm out of quilting thread! Ugh, I'll have to wait to work on the quilt. We order some from USA Amazon and a gracious friend says she's willing to tuck two spools into her suitcase when she comes.
4. The little motorcycle pickup is parked beside the neighborhood government office. Wonder what they delivered. Gas? Drinking water?
Every month, supplies are delivered for families who bring their preschoolers for checkups and free snacks. One of our helpers volunteers at such a neighborhood post once a month.
On the rooftop, a few men are sweeping leaves into the yard and surveying the scene below them.
5. Some of the neighborhood restaurants are now open. The Miss Bee (#missbeeprovidore) servers are behind face shields and wear gloves. The guy behind the bar is bare-handed as he's making our drinks though.
6. Everywhere we walk, there's a feast for the eyes. These golden seeds remind me of maple "propeller" seeds that land on our Seattle rooftop and driveway. These are bigger and heavier, almost 3" long.
7. So much beauty, even in the ground. The potatoes we planted look great - and we'll probably cut up a few pots to make it easier to harvest them on the next round. (The pic is a Pinterest repost)
8. We're in the middle of many decisions, torn between wanting to let people gather and protecting their health. Covid is just taking off, with over 1000 new reported cases daily in Indonesia. It's a big country but that's a lot of people confirmed to be infected in a place where hardly anyone gets tested.
Read more:
*The Lord said, “I will instruct you and teach you the way you should go.” Psalm 32:8
*Are not two sparrows sold for a penny? Yet not one of them will fall to the ground outside your Father’s care. And even the very hairs of your head are all numbered. So don’t be afraid; you are worth more than many sparrows. Matthew 10:29-31 NIV
*Understand what the will of the Lord is. Ephesians 5:17
Moravian Prayer: God of wisdom and power, our prayers are lifted this day for your divine guidance to help those who make decisions concerning the welfare of our country. Magnify your divine light in our homes, and help us to love one another as you have loved us. Thy will be done. In Jesus’ name, we pray. Amen.
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