Happy birthday, Mom, and more

 Monday, August 1, 2022

August.

I know. Yikes. August was always a 3-birthday month in the family for my mom, my dad (deceased), and my older brother.

It was Mom and Dad's anniversary month, too. This year would mark 69 years since they married. They got married the week Mom turned 18 "so that she could make an independent decision and not need her dad's signature," my dad explained to me.

Days are getting shorter up north and "back to school" ads are everywhere. Here the kids are heading back to class in staggered times, depending on their school. It's an overcast day without rain. Maybe dry season (usually here about May) has come?

Calls. Writing. Revising. Newsletters. An online workshop. A full day.

I'm doing a 30-day challenge to write 500 words a day. I think I write more than that on a normal day - maybe I should add 500 to my usual output?

Tuesday

It's my mom's birthday. Woohoo! Happy birthday mom! Her special day starts 14 hrs early on this side of the planet.

There's no one like my mom. Born a peacemaker, she nurtured her marriage and our family, plus numerous friends and relations. She sees the best in others. How I've wished I had her capacity for kindness and loving others. She's friends with everyone.

I'm taking on another challenge - 20 days of making a botanical journal with sketches and paintings. I dislike the rumpled look of my handmade journal. Our first job is to steam it to dye the pages with flowers. 

Oh well. I persist - there are things I want to learn from these instructors. I snag flowers from the garden as assigned, and sketch them with a fine-tipped marker. It's ok but rumpled.

W and I start the day by recording for Sunday. We eat our weekly date breakfast down the hill. On the lawn, workers do their first sweep of leaves into a dustpan and garbage bag. They'll do that a few more times before the day is done.

On the other side of life, our friend Josh's dad passes away. Josh is far from his hometown. We send flowers and condolences; W, already in town, gets a ride to the next city where Josh lives. They pray together while many friends around the world pray God's comfort over him and his extended family.

It's a pleasure to plop down in the chair to read and write later in the day.

Then W and I curl up in front of the TV for a couple of hours to unwind. It's tranquil and mostly quiet around us. We start getting sleepy but I check my phone before turning out the lights. There's a lot going on, in many directions. 

There's a notice and link from my spiritual director: we meet tonight. Eek! I'm late. How could I forget! This is a special event every month. I love the prayer she closes with: an affirmation of God with us.

Wednesday

I've been craving nasi goreng. If Indonesia has a national dish, it's probably fried rice - and I like the way IbuS makes it.

PakAD has cut down a few trees and trimmed others: the yard is still full of trees. We planted a lemon tree that has continually born lemons since before the pandemic. There are a dozen or so on its branches now. Rather than cutting off the taller branches, PakAD has wrapped two of them with cloth.

"I'm rooting them," he explains. I've done that in the past but never in Indonesia.

And as evening comes, it's pleasant to find a relaxing chair. The big work of this week and next is writing. I have 2 studies in the works, one about the life of David (8 weeks) and one for Advent (30 Days of Belief).

Thursday

We walk a new 8 or 9 km trail with its ups and downs. We start with a moss tunnel.

Since COVID 2 years ago, my heart rate stays about 150-170 on the uphills. I feel out of breath. But putting one foot ahead of the other, we top the longest hills and then, lucky us, we get to walk back downward.

Friday

Kristi and MJ are back from their scuba trip a day early. We go to Baby Dutch for supper and cross the street to Vilo for gelato. They're headed back to the States Sunday. I can hardly believe how quickly Kristi's 5 months have flown by. She's been involved in many groups and encouraged many people during her stay. We hope she comes back!

Saturday

Danny's sends over 5 kg of veggies from Tanikota Farm. Alice distributes them to neighbors, schools, and dorm students.

First thing to do for Sunday's floral arrangement is to cover the much-used oasis with leaves from the garden. The vase is about 12" (25 cm) tall.

With the base filled in, I pluck two big leaves from beside the house and add those. A bouquet may have an overall structure, but it evolves plant by plant.

The leaves are beautiful in their own right. Into the back, I poke in some bamboo, stripped from along our fence.

I could have/should leave it at this. But there are more flowers soaking in the sink, so I keep going.

And it's ready. With abundant natural material, it takes less time to arrange than to walk around the yard to gather the colors and greens. I remove the big leaves, letting them shine in separate vases elsewhere.

The groomers come by to cut knots out of Gypsy's pelt. Gypsy growls and fidgets. They stop partway since he's so mad about being touched.

But they turn Bailey into a princeling. He loves showing off his fluffy white cut as he chills out at my feet.

Sunday

The Gathering at BIC is always the week's highlight. It's Kristi's final Sunday with the kids. 4 boys "graduate" from Sunday School to the youth group as well.

This picture pretty much describes the difference between American and Indonesian parents. See the 5-yr-old hanging from the swings after church (above his 2-yr-old sister's head)? Ben and Yara are adorable. And agile from having fewer restrictions.

Today W is speaking. I sit back and enjoy his gift of teaching. We have a porch full of young people waiting when we get home.

A first-time Hangout participant brings cheese buns. "It is our custom to gift something for the house the first time we visit," she explains.

The visitors laugh, eat, talk, play games, and hang around until evening. What a privilege to have a porch to share with them.

The flowers start to wilt. I didn't soak them long enough yesterday. I love the drooping petals: they don't fall off, they just look tired.

Monday

It feels like autumn on our walk. The leaves are falling off the trees. Branches are bare overhead while the streets are brown with composting leaves.

We have meetings, lunch with the team at the house, and I start to write the two studies. Someone drops by the porch for a chat from 4:00-6:00. She leaves as the mosquitoes get fiercer. Slap. Slap.

Tuesday

W and I record Sunday's online talk in the office. Then we're off to a date breakfast at #NaraPark. Look at all the bowls of sambal (chili sauces) that come with our dishes!

It surprises me that no one gets stuck in these narrow lanes. It's one-way traffic, so if you turn in when someone else is coming, you'd better know how to back up in a tight space.

I decide to rehome the palaudarium in the office. We're not in often enough to keep it in tip-top shape. It's a great learning tool for a school or a beautiful addition to a home. I especially love when the fogger coats the surface of the water.

I stretch my legs between writing chapters. These are blooming in one side of the yard. There's so much going on that I don't even both to go to the other side.

I know. (I'm astonished every time I go outside.)

The lemon tree has bloomed and borne lemons for 3 years without a break. It emits a lovely fragrance.

Isn't it wonderful? It's like this all year long.

Read more:

*He is named wonderful Counselor, mighty God, everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. Isaiah 9:6

*O greatly beloved, fear not! Peace be to you; be strong, yes, be strong! Daniel 10:19 NKJV

 *Jesus said, “Do not be afraid, little flock, for it is your Father’s good pleasure to give you the kingdom.” Luke 12:32

*Your pain will turn into joy. John 16:20

*So we have known and believe the love that God has for us. God is love, and those who abide in love abide in God, and God abides in them. 1 John 4:16

Moravian Prayer: Dear Heavenly Father, we are faithful, but in times of great need, we turn to you for your peace. We ask that you remove what troubles us and teach us to fear not. You have the ability to turn pain into joy, and we ask that you do that now. Lord, remove the suffering we are experiencing and remind us of all you have done and will continue to do for us, for you are a loving and caring God. 

Prince of Peace, in gratitude that you keep our hearts and minds as we abide in you, show us how to share that peace today, so that others may know the peace which surpasses understanding. We pray all this in Jesus’ name. Amen.