A happy life is about PEOPLE

Friday, November 10, 2023

W and I walk to Nara Park for breakfast, our first time in 6 weeks. The owls scowl at us but we're undeterred from ordering our favorite spicy noodles.

Oh nice! There are new Nara trays under the teacups. The server remembers to bring a large teacup instead of the usual little Chinese one.

They've redone the walkway, too. I like the dry stream bed.

It's a calm stroll up to the hall, where W is checking on tech.

A few months ago, some visitors to IESB mentioned that this towering Norfolk Island pine was their live Christmas tree about 30 years ago. Whew! (That's a 3-storey building in the background.)

No harnesses or ropes for these roof workers - they are replacing someone's rafters and walk along the wooden planks as they go.

Every week this truck comes around the neighborhood and guys load the trash by hand.

A neighbor has left their garbage in a heap beside ours. That's extra work for the pickup crew. Since Jez and Nao moved away, there's drama of one sort or another next door.

I work my way into a decorating mood with Pinterest suggestions. This craft looks simple enough. PakG suggests using bamboo, of which we also have a ton. He cuts 5 sections for me to try.

There are many scrap twigs from trees cut next door.

Do you think we'll find enough?

The house transitions from the disarray of after-movie-night-chaos into a new season. The living area and entry go from this 

to this. It's missing artwork but that will be done soon.

The view from the dining room goes from this

to this. We know we're on our way when the Christmas tree is lowered from second floor storage to the ground floor. 

About 1/3 of the decorations fall off the tree into the cover. We wrapped it and hauled it upstairs intact last year. More stuff falls off when we send it back downstairs.

"That's it!" W and I agree. "Next time around, we take it apart and store it in boxes." The new-to-us brass candleholders are from our USA trip.

A tall (2'/2.7 meter-tall) arrangement is rearranged for the entry table.

It's time to think about decorating the hall for Advent. This year will be simple and natural. I quickly sketch what I'm thinking for the stage. Daniel agrees to decorate the rest of the hall.

And there's one less meal to cook: the leftovers from movie night are delicious.

Nara's great for families, too. Our friends from Jogja let their kids run around the courtyard and enjoy the "little zoo" of hedgehogs, owls, tortoises, and rabbits.

Saturday

Outside my office, the orchid is blooming again. What a country! We love Indonesia's natural beauty. Some places it's more subtle, like in this tone on tone stem.

I work on the house most of the day. The tree is finished by nightfall.

Sunday

The worship team practices before the Gathering. We love being part of this international community of faith.

I didn't get into the garden to make an arrangement this weekend. Instead, I add another clump of silk ivies to the vines already on our front table. We take that to the hall.

Aren't these flowers pretty? Twin gals who attend the Hangout bring them for us. The Porch is full of laughter and games until mid-afternoon.

Sunday's chores include emptying a big handbag's contents into the shoulder bag I travel with. It's a tiny, efficient holder.

Everything fits: snacks, money, makeup, phone, notebook, raincoat, visa, and more! It zips shut without a problem.

The afternoon settles into a quiet overcast day. What a blessing is the beginning of the new week!

Monday - HAPPY BIRTHDAY, DEAR REBEKAH!!

We call our beloved daughter in love for her birthday - she's treasure we don't take for granted. After a day of meetings and grocery shopping. I'm reminded how dear old and new relationships are to us and how much we learn from the people around us.

Read more:

*All the ends of the earth shall turn to the Lord. Psalm 22:27

*Jesus told them another parable, “The kingdom of heaven is like yeast that a woman took and mixed in with three measures of flour until all of it was leavened.” Matthew 13:33

Moravian Prayer: Good Shepherd, we are people from diverse backgrounds, with varied interests and innumerable ideas. Transform our thinking and lead us away from self-minded activity. Move us, in accordance with the Holy Spirit, to serve you and bolster your community of faith. Amen.