Wonderful weekend

Friday, August 22, 2025

After our walk, we have a date breakfast at #NaraPark. I order my usual oolong tea, chatting online with Mom while waiting for W to drop the dogs at home. He and I reconcile our weekend calendars  as we eat, then head home to work.

My first appointment is canceled: her child is ill. After the fading flowers are pulled from last week's arrangement, the feathery dill still looks green. I clean the sprigs and put them in fresh water. Let's see if they root. The bamboo stems left by Clau 2 months ago are finally putting out shoots.

I pull up the book manuscript. With so much data, finding patterns is a priority. Specifics will come later. As people share personal stories and their advice, I plug them into the outline.

Sigh. The outline felt so orderly before stories start to overlap from one section into the next. The rough draft is usually an initial blurt that needs to be organized. Then comes cleaning up information and writing for clarity.

The book club celebrates Anu's 50th with lunch at #CafeBrunswick. The company is wonderful, including Anu's daughter who is an Oxford undergrad majoring in Fine Arts. What fun to see the hopeful future ahead of her.

The book selections are always interesting and often international. This is the next one.

Birthday blessings come with cookies, of course.

It's back to books at home, too.

W is the king of online orders. Today four glass light shades arrive to replace the missing ones from an inherited ceiling fan. My job is specifying "get something like this" and texting him a link. He does the rest.

Saturday

It feels good to walk first thing. Dogs want to go inside the gate with us? they have to sit first. All four plunk their hind ends on the street.

IbuSiti is back for a bi-weekly unknotting of my muscles. We're updating websites, reading and writing, and making calls. Afterward, A and E arrive for their initial marriage counseling session. It's a joy to be part of new things.

W brings back a burrito (a good one!) from the student food court down the hill. Dr Tom arrives mid-afternoon to stay with us overnight. He's at dinner with a friend. We're happy to stay home with a supper of leftovers.

Sunday

W leaves at the usual time but Tom and I walk to the hall before the Gathering, where he gives a touching account of his journey of faith.

Today seems to be blue day. We line up for a photo.

Lunch at Maxi's is time for conversation and updates.

Monday

Another week rolls out with a walk and meetings. Tom joins us for breakfast at #NaraPark and after he leaves there are more meetings. A friend takes home some banana bread after we have tea together. 

Other friends send over a bed frame they purchased in an antique shop over 25 years ago. Since they're repatriating in 2 weeks, they are shedding life here.

Some days are full of tech. Others are full of people, food, and tech. That's today, a connected Monday indeed.

The tablecloths from the potluck last week are ironed and ready for the next event. They'll go back to the hall tomorrow.

Titik combined colors and textures beautifully in the Sunday floral arrangement. 

I take a closer look at here bouquet.

Look at the twisted end of a vine.

Together, it's an amazing combination. What a specialty florist - though Titik insists flowers are her hobby. We missed her while she did a 4-month trip across Asia and Europe and are happy she's back, creating beauty.

W and I relax after an early afternoon of work. I start to cull bathroom and kitchen items. We check progress on the project and then watch My Fat Big Greek Wedding 2. It's a warm-hearted spoof on family ties and traditions.

Read more:

*The Lord said, “I do forgive, just as you have asked.” Numbers 14:20

*[Jesus told his disciples,] This, then, is how you should pray:

"Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name, your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us today our daily bread. And forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one."

For if you forgive other people when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you do not forgive others their sins, your Father will not forgive your sins. Matthew 6:9-15

*[Jesus said,] Whenever you stand praying, forgive, if you have anything against anyone, so that your Father in heaven may also forgive you your trespasses. Mark 11:25

*On the last and greatest day of the festival, Jesus stood and said in a loud voice, “Let 

anyone who is thirsty come to me and drink. Whoever believes in me, as Scripture has said, rivers of living water will flow from within them.” John 7:37-38

*Do you not know that your bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own; you were bought at a price. Therefore honor God with your bodies. 1 Corinthians 6:19-20

Moravian Prayer: Heavenly Father, shower us with your boundless grace and forgiveness. May we humbly accept your mercy, letting it cleanse and renew our souls. May the act of your forgiveness remind us to forgive others, too. Amen.

Back to teaching

Monday, August 4, 2025

My friend Gail Johnsen and I teach a Singapore class online this week. We've co-taught this doctorate-level course before.

After a short neighborhood walk with the dogs, W accompanies me to the office to check that the Zoom call is ready to go. Nope! It's a good thing he is there; the internet needs rebooting. He tries everything and then connects me to a different router. Whew. In-house tech support. He heads home while I teach 4 hours. These students are attentive, experienced, and interactive.

We eat a quick lunch at Maxis. Our helper volunteers at a preschool this morning and isn't around to cook for the household. We meet PakG backing the car out of the gate to get his lunch, which feels a bit strange. (His son has his motorcycle?) He drops off a banana bread at a friend's and brings more bananas from her.

It pours rain in the afternoon. No working on the Porch for me. Besides pacing out the class hours for tomorrow, I draw up a final lighting plan for the project. W prints an oversized copy for the aging eyes of the electrician and me. 

In my mind's eye, people are already sitting around tables, enjoying each other's company. While parts of the renovation are exciting, much of it only "shows potential" at this stage. Most of the damp and falling-down ceilings have been removed. Some will be replaced with drywall. In other rooms, like this one, the concrete ceiling will be painted and left exposed for additional height.

Tuesday

I'm in the classroom before 7 AM. The Singapore host lets me in and off we go! We have so much to cover that I'm resigned to not finishing 10 days of material in 2 days - but we actually wrap up the last slides with minutes to spare.

Doctoral cohorts may be small but they are interesting. This cohort makes class presentations and handles their Q&As professionally. When we're done, the comments are enthusiastic and the takeaways are on point for the first two days. I send them my PowerPoint and ask them to review it before tomorrow. Dr Gail takes the next two days. Friday is a review day.

During one break, I lean over the third floor balcony to see what's going on next door to the office. The roofs get in the way of the stunning landscaped park on a half-acre. It's complete with a security house and toilet. We've only seen it from the street, through the gate in the 10-12' front wall.

 

During another break, I look on the other side of the office to another neighbor's yard. They were starting to garden during the pandemic when I used the balcony. Now the gardens are lush, with a greenhouse, vegetables, French lavender, and other European herbs. Ah, I was wondering where I'd find lavender for the next garden. Maybe there?

My computer/thermos/books/binder/art supply-bag is heavy. W carried it to the office for me but he's in Jakarta by noon, picking up our passports from the USA embassy. I tote it home myself, bag on one shoulder, purse on the other, and my tall tea mug firmly in hand.

When everything's put away, it's time to eat the delicious nasa goring sapi (fried rice with beef) that IbuA has prepared. While I'm in class, she and IbuS baked 6 banana breads. The whole house smells sweet. I set one aside for them to take home.

After lunch, I smash together walnuts, pumpkin and sunflower seeds, and black currents for IbuS's home-baked loaf. SO good. I'm ready for a nap, having had a short and restless night with too much to think about (= including wondering how class would get through all the material. Yay, we did it.)

All but one of the team have inescapable obligations during our weekly meeting time. Since this week's reflection is a good one that we'll want to do together,  the meeting is postponed to next week. I set aside one banana bread for the person who showed up = attendee bonus.

The sky clouds over into a soothing backdrop for rest. By the time it rains, I'm inside and working in warm comfort.

Wednesday

I'm up early so call Mom to find out how her 90th birthday party went. She's full of life and memories. "It was a foretaste of heaven. Everyone was in unity and it made me think of how wonderful heaven will be." She talks about her peacemaking calling, "Since I was a child, I didn't want stress between people. I just wanted everyone to get along." She has fostered that, accepting those she meets without judgement. I end the call, happy to have time with her.

 

We drop by the project. We take a few measurements to see if the wooden desk being taken out of one room can be repurposed to fix a cupboard. (Shelves were stolen long ago.)

A chameleon is sunning itself on the ledge.

Thieves have broken in overnight to steal the crew's welder, pump, and cables. That's a financial loss to local workers who will have to replace them. But then, criminals rarely consider those they hurt. Until God changes a heart, no amount of rituals can transform a person.

Two young neighbors hailed W outside the locked gate as we walked by. They asked W if they can be our night guards ... even before we discovered the theft. Obviously, someone saw the thief who broke in last night and has told others.

We have our date breakfast at Nara Park. Cats walk in and out of restaurants here.

We watch the servers set up a picnic theme for a birthday party later today. Hmmm, it's definitely for kids. Partygoers our age might easily get down but not everyone could get up again. hehehe

I have the usual - noodles, "popcorn" dumplings, and 3 kinds of hot sauce.

Back home, the yardman starts digging up shrubs. What?! 

We hadn't planned to transfer the garden until late this month or October when the rains come. I quickly draw a yard map and show the yardman where to plant larger plants that provide the structure. There's a separate planting page for each area. He says he understands the plan. (Now to see where the plants end up!)

I've forgotten to spray myself with DEET and the mosquitoes start to eat me alive. Oh yeah! run inside to slather my skin.

Read more:

*Is it not you, O Lord our God? We set our hope on you. Jeremiah 14:22

*Do not devise evil in your hearts against one another. Zechariah 7:10

*God gave us eternal life, and this life is in his son. 1 John 5:11

*Finally, all of you, have unity of spirit, sympathy, love for one another, a tender heart, and a humble mind. 1 Peter 3:8

Moravian Prayer: Dear divine Creator, grant us the strength to endure life’s trials, the wisdom to navigate challenges, and the courage to face uncertainty. May hope be our guiding light, illuminating our path with resilience and optimism. 

Gracious God, inspire us to embody the profound command of Christ: to love one another selflessly. May our hearts overflow with compassion, kindness, and understanding, fostering a world united in the bond of love. Amen.

Happy 90th birthday, Mom!

Thursday, July 31, 2025

It's a productive working day since there's no hike. We go for a walk before making a long list of to-dos. We're involved in various things and every once in a while, I capture and organize what's floating around on every side = unfinished but underway.

There are open spaces tucked around the project. Could this one be a private workspace with the addition of a chair and table?

Doesn't this look like a fun spot for kids to do activities and learn English? The sculptures are crumbling off the walls but we'll keep what we can.

After an early grocery run, I pull out the class PPT and notes for next week's course. I like teaching online. Between screen sharing and recording, an absent student get extended access to class material. The breakdown in online learning is that the class misses an absent student's participation.

The plan is to wrap up all pre-session work today. I pause for lunch and knuckle down to work. The mosquitoes show up about 4PM. DEET repellent usually wards them off. 

I'm 80% done when someone breaks my focus with a question. I'm tired; another half hour and the work would have been finished. It takes 15-30 minutes to get into a flow state and I don't have the energy. I close the documents. I'll guess I'll resume tomorrow. Grrr.

PakG gets news that his mother has passed away. What heartache each time we pray for families who lose loved ones. He will be gone until next week. Muslims bury their dead within 24 hours so the family must hurry home to honor those who are lost.

We send condolences, knowing that she will be missed. No one loves a child like their mother does, no matter what the stage of life.

Friday

We stop by the project, where tiles have been installed in the wrong direction (lines front to back rather than side to side). Oh oh. We don't have extra tiles and will leave it as is since it's not a permanent place ... but I ask W to caution the contractor. If it were a high end remodel, he would have to rip it out and redo it at his expense. What a good color for the space, though.

I take pictures of the laundry corner in the back. Planning a layout is best done before shifting items, especially for appliances that need water or electricity. The dirty floor brings up a memory of Mom's efforts when I was a teen. We were moving into an old Victorian house in Chilliwack. I remember her shoveling piles of houseflies into the garbage from behind the washer and dryer, tears dripping down her cheeks as she cleaned up the mess. (She kept it spotless while we lived there.)

Ibu Ade comes to relieve my tired back with a massage. "Sakit, Bu," she says. ("It's ill, Ma'am.") My muscles stiffen due to hours of sitting during the past weeks. They're less tight by the time she leaves. Thank you, Ibu!

My class prep wraps up after lunch. I happily indulge in a reward: a coffee-chocolate cookie from Keelee's @QuietWatersBakery.

I've started to sort household items for our move next year when our lease expires. Unused stuff can be passed on to others. One of our "finds" (someone else's giveaway) is a green, beige, and rust-colored rug. It was dumped in my office when the guys couldn't get it up the narrow stairs to storage. Today I've had enough of stepping on and around it, smack-dab in the path to my file cabinet.

We roll up a smaller rug and cart it upstairs. Then we unroll and vacuum the ugly freebee. After changing the cushion covers, the dark rug settles in, even on this overcast day.

Here's the "before."

Between everything going on last month, (teaching in Bhutan, conferences, passport renewals, houseguests, and more), I forgot to write the monthly update to friends. I spend an hour on that before bedtime.

Saturday: Mom turns 90

Two of my brothers, family members, and many friends celebrate Mom's 90th - a milestone birthday. Sandy has planned a wonderful celebration for her.

One of the hardest things about living far from family is missing such legacy moments. You aren't part of the memory or a historic photo of the event. I obtained a 2-week leave in February to visit Mom. With our annual month of itineration in autumn, we can't go back to Canada now.

We're 14 hours ahead of her time zone, so we're a day early in wishing her "Happy Birthday." I say it anyway when I call on our Saturday morning (August 2) and her Friday night (August 1). Can't hurt to celebrate her longer than 24 hours.

2 guys arrive via motorcycle to groom all the dogs. It takes 3 hours and $30 (including buying them lunch.) We're satisfied and the dogs know when they look good.

By noon, the class notes are in a binder. We walk up the hill to a late lunch at Nara Park. Anton wants to come so he jumps up, sticks his nose through the gate, and watches us leave.

I'm in the mood for creamy pasta.

Waldemar orders a spicy smoked beef - so good. We practically inhale our food since it's 2 PM. We had breakfast before 7 AM so we're hungry. No supper for us though. Maybe a snack before bed?

The dining room is elegant. The dinner party with reservations won't come until later so we have it to ourselves. Windows are swung open, allowing a breeze through from one side to another.

It's fun to watch kids playing at a birthday party. They're blowing bubbles, flying toy planes, and running around the big yard.

This juxtaposition of flower and structure catches my eye as we walk home. Flowers will grow as they please, even across barbed wire.

It takes an hour to create an inventory for our next home. The yard and interior start to take shape in my mind. I write down a list of garden plants, just in case there are not enough to take along. (There are enough. No need to buy anything.)

We walk over to talk to the contractor. The process is going smoothly so far. The dogs love to romp through the mess and dirt. Juno rolls in the loose mud before snuggling up to be petted. Fortunately dirt sheds off her pelt within a few minutes.

We cherish a quiet evening before a busy Sunday. What to do for flowers for the hall tomorrow? W goes into the yard and grabs two palms. I wrap the plastic pots in Bali sarongs and that's that.

Sunday

We call Mom early in the morning as she's wrapping up her birthday celebrations. They had a wonderful time and she feels honored, especially because she got to pray for all her guests. Cousins and friends I haven't seen in years say hi, passing around Mom's phone.

The Gathering is always a pleasure. We worship God together, discuss life with each other, and consider how we can express God's lovingkindness in the world.

IES Bandung is an international community, rich in cultures, friendships, and faith. After the Gathering, we hang around to talk, eat, and pray for each other.

This week, friends have completed a 4-month land-journey from Indonesia to Hamburg, Germany. Their truck is being shipped back to Indonesia from the German harbor. We eat lunch together at #WaroengEthnic and get a taste of what they're experienced. We schedule a community potluck at our place in a few weeks, where they can share details with more people.

The dogs get their Frontline tick application when we get home, and we get a rest. God is good.

Read more:

*Our transgressions indeed are with us, and we know our iniquities: transgressing and denying the Lord. Isaiah 59:12-13

*For Christ’s love compels us, because we are convinced that one died for all, and therefore all died. And he died for all, that those who live should no longer live for themselves but for him who died for them and was raised again. So from now on we regard no one from a worldly point of view. Though we once regarded Christ in this way, we do so no longer. 

Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here! All this is from God, who reconciled us to himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation: that God was reconciling the world to himself in Christ, not counting people’s sins against them. 

And he has committed to us the message of reconciliation. We are therefore Christ’s ambassadors, as though God were making his appeal through us. We implore you on Christ’s behalf: Be reconciled to God. God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God. 2 Corinthians 5:14-21

*If anyone does sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous. 1 John 2:1

Moravian Prayer: God, your love for us burns so strong that you sent your son, Jesus, to heal and forgive. Help us to express radical love for one another as Jesus surrounds us with his love and grace. Amen.

Catching up on history as we chart the future

Saturday, July 12, 2025

So good to be home! The creatures are happy to see us, though Lyong has done a marvelous job taking care of them.

When we arrived home, there was a new-to-us sofa in the entry. W helps me position it across from our existing one. Two faded black pillowcases, casualties of windows that admit tropical sunshine for the past 10 years, match the dark grey upholstery. Perfect size and color. We pop them on the couch for a more finished look.

We walk out to breakfast, admiring the fruiting shrubs that line the lanes.

At our favorite breakfast courtyard, orchids are tied to branches.

We love to sit in the open air to eat.

The server brings a pot of tea while we decide on breakfast noodles.

DrG sends over a delicious cheesecake. The delivery motorcycle, complete with little fridge, meets us at the entry to the neighborhood and hands off the treat.

It's catch-up time, but what better place to sit and work than overlooking the garden? The green is restful for screen-weary eyes.

After a day of preparation and settling back in, we walk up to Homeground Szechwan for a spicy supper.

As usual, groups are lining up for selfies.

Sunday

The Gathering is such a blessing. We rehang artwork by David, who lives in Japan with his wife Georgina and their two kids. In the short time they were with us, David produced some lasting beauty in the hall, including the mural.

IES supports Indonesian families in Berlin and Taiwan, too. The latter family joins us and Ps Kornel speaks. We host them and our team for lunch at Nara. The kids love all the animals: owls, hedgehogs, tortoises ...

They walk to the project with us to pray a blessing over those working there, as well as the renovations. A group is picnicking under the trees. What a great space.

Monday

We walk a short few blocks, taking Anton out for the first time since his tick infection. He's pulling like an alligator again. We return 20 minutes before our meetings start. That's enough time to cook a plate of crepes. W and I enjoy them at the table on the Porch.

It's our last lunchl with Vieiras, good friends and coworkers with Alice and us. They move to Panama later this week. We've watched their teens grow from little kids. Josh gives us a copy of his method book, a labor of love.

Clau passed her dissertation defense Saturday - so is now a Doctor of Architecture. Hurrah! They understand hospitality and the kindness of strangers as we do. We drop past the project with them to pray a blessing on the spaces and people who will come and go.

A door has been knocked through a wall to provide access to a room. We are amazed at how easily and quickly spaces can be amended here.

Tuesday

Our morning walk is beautiful and uneventful - the best kind.

There's a great variety of blooms today.

This two-toned plant opens little mouth-shaped pods with white "teeth" inside.

Renovations of the #PadmaHotelBandung are going full steam ahead. Construction crews are erecting temporary housing and offices in their parking lot.

It's a people day. Dyna and her two boys come in early morning to hang out on the Porch.

We need new passport pictures so over the noon hour, we head for #JonasPhoto downtown.

School pictures are not taken at the school but at a photo studio. 

Some high-schoolers pose on the staircases for selfies. Giggling and pushing, they examine the knicknacks in the shop before their teacher walks them back to school.

The team shows up in early afternoon for conversation, tea, and baked goodies. As they're leaving, a good friend from Jakarta arrives. Tirza tells us funny stories of college days with our son.

Alice joins us for a spicy Szechwan dinner at #HomeGround just up the hill. Darknss falls while we eat; the cafe windows glow as we walk back to our house.

Tirza and I discuss the utter joys of leadership as women. There can be challenges in male-dominated settings, too.

"People automatically turn to my husband with leadership questions," I tell her. "It doesn't matter that I'm actually leading the team." I've become used to it. Typically, a man - including W - doesn't even notice when it happens.

I think about the common obstacles women face as leaders. Most are called "bossy" or "demanding" when they participate equally, so they must gauge when it's safe to show up as fully present. It's distracting if we're ignored when we are responsible for charting the future and making decisions for a company or team. Sometimes it gets downright weird.

Women around the world (and across cultures) have observed to me that guys rarely notice when women are sidelined. Typically, when a man is addressed when his female team leader is also present, he jumps in with a response rather than referring the question to her. It can also be frustrating to be excluded when the boys' club heads out together, assuming a female leader won't want to join. Sigh. Human interactions are complex.

Wednesday

W and I take Anton on his first full loop with the other dogs. He's bouncy and eager but sits immediately when we stop. "Good boy."

The dogs are happy to come home and sleep off the walk.

W and I make some big decisions (plans for next summer, cabin repairs, and renovation updates) before he heads to a meeting. In the backyard, I spot massive plants against the back wall. The leaves are 3-4' (+1 meter) and the blooms are 6-8" (+15cm) long.

Tirza and I enjoy breakfast on the Porch. I make scrambled eggs, toast, and sausage. Later, we walk down the hill for lunch, passing more beauty. This strange little plant catches my eye along the curb.

These contrasting colors and shapes can't be missed.

Ethnic serves a good tenderloin for $8. No rice for me today!

When they came to NU, Tirza and Kristi were the first Indonesians we'd met. We thought if every Indonesian was as nice as they were, it must be an amazing country. (It is.) Tirza shares a photo of their first autumn in Seattle, when we took them to Snoqualmie Falls.

She catches the high-speed train back to Jakarta and home in the afternoon.

There's one final meeting at 8 PM and then it's time for sleep. It's been an active and busy week and I think I need the hike tomorrow more than ever!

Read more:

* Make me to know your ways, O Lord; teach me your paths. Psalm 25:4

* Lord my soul yearns for you in the night; in the morning my spirit longs for you. Isaiah 26:9 NIV

* But where are your gods that you made for yourself? Let them come, if they can save you, in your time of trouble. Jeremiah 2:28

* In the morning, while it was still very dark, Jesus got up and went out to a deserted place, and there he prayed. Mark 1:35

* My beloved, flee from the worship of idols. 1 Corinthians 10:14

Moravian Prayer: Compassionate God, we often find ourselves slaves to our possessions, our money, our jobs, or our own wants, forgetting that these things are temporary. You are permanent, everlasting, and eternal. May we always remember this. 

O God, thank you for sending your son, Jesus, to save us and to show us how to love and offer grace to others. In the morning, in the evening, and all day long, we are reminded of your steadfast love for us. With gratitude, we pray. Amen.