It's fun to see a Christmas selfie station at Pino Teras in Nara Park. No we don't take pics of ourselves. There's no actual snow in sight where we live but this is cute!
We have dear friends over for pizza on the porch. Their son asks if the stems on a garden plant are real: they're so gorgeous and bright. Yes, and these grow like wildfire. They're sometimes used as hedging.
The perfect gift to self after that is a cup of tea and a mini-Magnum bar. Cold and hot. Sweet ice cream, chocolate and almonds, plus a drink I love. As a bonus, Claudia brings Magnums to pizza night. It's the perfect ending to a hard week.
Along the fence between the neighbor's house and ours, there is a whole new parade of color. I pluck 3 fuzzy red blooms and pop them into a vase.
The palm tree outside the gate is flowering again, too.
The colors match a rayon sarong I purchased last month, roaming Bali during non-conference hours.
At night, all is calm. The reading light in the living room provides the glow for curling up with a book and the laser-cut metal panel feels like a snowy wall.
On the porch, the orchid we've watered all year has burst into black and green blossoms.
The tropical rain is a boost to the plants - everything's growing like crazy. But our Gypsy yard dog hates the downpours. He lays down almost inside and when the wind pulls the sheers outside, he's happy to see us. He looks away when I point the camera in his direction.
Ok, he's compliant but close by; the dogs are not allowed inside the house. When I walk onto the porch, there are 2 sets of muddy footprints from their romps in the garden. Cocoa (barely visible, lying down nearby) is a water dog: she doesn't mind the rain at all.
On one of our walks, we pass a lineup of classic Land Rovers, ready to take a conference of bankers into the hills. Part of the reason the trails are so torn up is the 4-wheel-drives that plunge through jungle trails during wet season. Their wheels cut two parallel trenches into the villagers' mountain trails.
Monday
You can see the tenor of online meetings from my paint scribbles in an art journal. This morning's is lively and colorful.
There are times when I feel seen and understood, and luckily I had reading glasses nearby for reference.
I'm also looking forward to the holidays. I need a white pen in my palette, to add reflections.
And just like that, here comes the end of the year. We're in the second week of Advent, a time of anticipation for Christians around the world.
Most followers of Jesus enjoy this time of year, regardless of their faith heritage - whether part of the main branches of Orthodox, Catholic, and Protestant Christians. It's the time of year when we thank God for sending Jesus into the world to exchange our brokenness for his goodness and perfect righteousness.
So, as the weeks fly toward the holiday season, we celebrate in many ways. The weekly themes of Advent are Hope, Faith (week 2), Joy, and Peace that are gifts from God through Jesus. We will MISS the big annual dinner and gift exchange at our house. Covid makes that impossible, so we look ahead - not only to this season of blessing but to meeting next year. At BICOnline, we post a weekly talk about Advent, too. Care to check it out?
Our helpers baked almost 1000 cookies, which were distributed in Advent packages to 70 families. This what is left from the baking spree.
Some young professionals and families packed up sembako, food given to the poor. The driver keeps running errands and updates us on the virus' impact in neighborhood. It's not good news as illness spreads. Formerly, most COVID-19 cases were restricted to wealthier people with access to travelers. Now, it's in the kampungs. Hospitals are full.
It's been a rough week. It started to get better around Thursday, when I happened upon an Advent reading, which pointed out that light and darkness cannot coexist. You can be thin in relationship to one person and fat compared to another. You can feel cold (70o here? brrr) or warm (70o in Winnipeg). You can be tall for your age but short compared to a basketball player. Many opposites are possible.
But light and darkness do not coexist. Light drives back the darkness wherever it comes. So I'm asking for God's light to bring light and life to each of you and to me, pressing the darkness away.
Happy Second week of Advent, everyone. The theme is FAITH - we believe God is with us and loves us, even when times are complicated.
Read more:
He will feed his flock like a shepherd; he will gather the lambs in his arms, and carry them in his bosom. Isaiah 40:11
It is my pleasure to tell you about the miraculous signs and wonders that the most high God has performed for me. Daniel 4:2 NIV
This life was revealed, and we have seen it and testify to it, and declare to you the eternal life that was with the Father and was revealed to us. 1 John 1:2
Moravian Prayer: Gracious loving God, on this Lord’s day we give you thanks for revealing yourself to us through the abundance of divine love and generous grace. Give us the courage to reveal your love and grace to others. Amen.
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