Happy birthday, Kirsten!

Tuesday, August 19, 2025

Today we're celebrating our daughter's birthday. She has been God's gift to us. She's a lovely woman and that makes it hard to live so far away. At the beginning of COVID, we happily spent 11 months together in Bandung since she was unable to fly out to her next destination. Those months were a divine gift and left happy memories.

Happy Birthday, dear Kirsten!

"Money comes and goes. We are the richest people on earth because our children love God," my dad often said. I agree.

The rain begins as we head out with the dogs but we finish our loops. W takes down a bright LED strip from the Porch. We're considering where things will go.

Undeterred by the rain, Anton fetches until I make him take a break. He's soaked but happy. The Porch is a mess from his wet and muddy dog prints. In contrast, the older dogs are glad to take a break.

Anton's breeder lets us know that 7 new Standard Poodle puppies have been born from the exact same stock. If you live in Indonesia and want an Anton lookalike, PM me and I'll pass your info to Elizabeth for consideration. Here they are, strong and healthy pups a few hours old.

By the time calls and writing are done, it's almost noon. As we schedule our annual fundraising trip, many details await confirmation. I'm working on a book about global workers and their relationships to parents. It requires so much focus that I can only stop and start in bursts rather than doing protracted work.

If you're working abroad and have some advice about how you deal with parental expectations and stay in touch, please message me! I'd love to include your observations.

Supper is leftovers made into a salad: chicken, mac and cheese, acar (cucumber salad), and more. So yummy.

Wednesday: Kirsten's birthday again!

It's a pleasure to have a daughter. We think ours is extra-special. It's wonderful to talk to her after she has a birthday day supper far away. We're a half-day ahead which makes calls to family tricky, time wise. It means that we get to celebrate those we love for a day-and-a-half, though 😊.

After our walk, the dogs greet the yardman with loud barking as he starts to cut the grass. The usual process is squatting on heels to cut with a machete. W bought a mower years ago to make the chore easier for the last yardman but the guy quickly broke the mower. This yardman works at a nursery and is more skilled. He buzzes the lawn with the new weed-wacker. W replaced the last one that burned out.

It's too loud to work outside so I cloister in an office piled high with things to be moved in a few months.

We try out lampshades, deciding what comes with us and what stays behind. After W removes the snowflake chandelier above the nook table, he puts back the back-to-basics socket. I assemble a new lampshade ($3.50 at IKEA As-Is), which is bright and cheery. Ok, we're take that along, too.

W is a willing tester. He holds up the basket-shades IKEA was clearing out. While these seem exotic for us, a local friend asks, "So it will be a rustic holiday theme?" Maybe.

As Kirsten notes, "Mom, by the time you're done, the place will have a unique foreigner's decor." If only she were here to lend her creativity!

It's a day of good memories! I call Mom (now 90 years old) after finding old photos of her playing peek-a-boo with the great grand-kids a few years ago. She and I talk about God's faithfulness, his lovingkindness, and his generosity.

The project is coming along, but what a mess in process. Brick is smashed away to make room for pipes and conduits.

Across the street is a pasta shop. W orders a lasagna swimming in cream sauce.

My linguine is coated in pesto.

It's dark and starting to rain when we head home.

Thursday

I dream that my mom comes to visit, knowing she's bedridden. Then Grandma D shows up - and I know she's dead. We have a lovely visit, looking forward to a reunion in heaven. I wake up feeling so happy and peaceful - what a blessed Hope for the life and death of the follower of Jesus.

After some morning calls, we pick up Veronica on the way up to a hike in the Lembang mountains.

The grasses sport multi-colored blooms.

Flowers peek out on every side.

Some plants have finished blooming and are fruiting. These 7" (15cm) "beans" emerge from a frilly-leafed shrub.

We duck under trees or climb over the ones have fallen across the trail.

Mushrooms in various colors grow on the felled trunks.

The rain brings fresh greens on each side of the trail. W stands under the lower leaves of a towering fern.

All manner of ferns, lichens, and moss grow on the damp tree bark.

Sap collection is forbidden in the pine forest but happens anyway. After the bark is dug away many times, the 25 meter (75') tree will collapse. In one area, new saplings have been planted to replace the thinning canopy.

Some grasses are very tall. It's a mostly overcast day, perfect weather for hiking, whether we're in the trees or not.

We leash the dogs before a collection pond in a valley. They have their own dogs and we don't want ours running off. As soon as we're past, the dogs are off-leash again.

Of course when the trail goes down down, you have to come up up. My watch counts a total ascension of 21 flights of  stairs, not counting valleys between. Someone has kindly built a cement staircase in the middle of nowhere. Up we go. Then it's back to leaf-covered mud.

It's not raining but dew collects on the tips of the moss. The droplets glow like pearls.

The trail wanders through grasslands and forests. In some places, the path is wide and flat. In others, it's narrow, cut into by motorcycles, or slick from wet clay. Multi-colored leaves make it prettier.

Near the end we spot a two-eyed monster (a cutout tree trunk).

This thick moss-covered trunk resembles a giant snake.

Lunch on the way home is at Sidang Reret, a resort where multiple groups are feasting on custom buffets. W orders oncom (fermented tempe), rice, and meat.

The traditionally roasted sweet-salty peanuts are good, too.

The dogs have a great run of 3.5 hours. They rest while we eat and are happy to head home where they eat and then fall asleep on the Porch.

W's off to a men's meeting. I'm glad to stay home this afternoon.

Read more:

* His eyes are on the ways of mortals; he sees their every step. There is no deep shadow, no utter darkness, where evildoers can hide. God has no need to examine people further, that they should come before him for judgment. Without inquiry he shatters the mighty and sets up others in their place. Because he takes note of their deeds, he overthrows them in the night and they are crushed. 

He punishes them for their wickedness where everyone can see them, because they turned from following him and had no regard for any of his ways. They caused the cry of the poor to come before him, so that he heard the cry of the needy. 

But if he remains silent, who can condemn him? If he hides his face, who can see him? Yet he is over individual and nation alike, to keep the godless from ruling, from laying snares for the people. Job 34:21-30

* Make known his deeds among the nations; proclaim that his name is exalted. Isaiah 12:4

* [Jesus told his disciples,] Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit and teaching them to obey everything that I have commanded you. Matthew 28:19-20

Moravian Prayer: Lord, make us bold witnesses in the world. Guide our words and deeds to reflect your love and truth. May our lives draw others to you and glorify your name. Amen.

Preparing transplants, tramping the forest, and touching base

 Wednesday, August 6, 2025

The yardman continues to dig up bushes in the yard. He wraps their root balls and puts them back into the ground. "They must stay put for a month or so, or they will die when transplanted." I guess a move hurts as we pare back before we can thrive in our new place, whether it's a person or plant.

When we moved in, our first yardman cut flowerbeds into the boring lawn and planted the +50 plastic pots cluttering the Porch. The ailing avocado-pit plant in its little pot that went into the ground has soared into a big tree, obscuring our view of the neighbor's house. Other trees include papaya, mango, melinjo, cloves, lemons, and mangosteen.

The previous owner took with her everything she wanted to keep when she moved out. There wasn't much left in the garden beyond amaryllis bulbs. After 11 years, we've put many trees and flowers into the new flower beds. Much of what we put in will come with us. The rest will stay for the next person to enjoy. Two flowerbeds along the driveway will be filled with what isn't placed elsewhere.

I write Sunday's talk, toss a ball for Anton to fetch, and eat a TJ Toffee Bar (cookie) with my cup of tea. It's calm in early afternoon beyond birds chirping and the chop-chop of the machete. Then the wind picks up and the chimes begin to ring. Must be more rain coming.

W takes Anton to the vet for a blood test. If he's back to health, he can come on our hike tomorrow! He's so restless and full of energy that we hope for the best.

Thursday

Hiking day. We start at Lorong Lumut, a tunnel of rock with a bamboo base. The dogs prance through it, making sure not to catch their feet between the stalks.

We have all 4 dogs along. Little poodle Bailey stays close to my heels. Anton the Standard poodle is in fine fettle, bouncing along the trail, exploring the smells, and bonding with labradoodle Juno. Gypsy the beloved mutt is getting old; he'll be 12 in October. He tires after a few miles and stays close to us while the younger 2 run ahead. We pull the dogs off the path to let grass-cutters by. Today they've chopped ferns to feed cattle.

The hike takes longer than usual, though it's only 4.5 miles/6.8 km. The paths are sandy, rocky, or mud-slicked. Most of the time, we're in the forest, cool breezes keeping us comfortable with the tree canopy between us and the blue sky.

We lose the track a few times with a plethora of trail options but W's mapping skills keep us going in the correct general direction. The banana bread baked by helpers on Tuesday is an energy booster. We stop twice to enjoy slices.

There's a suspension bridge between us and the pickup point, with the warning: "Only 5 people at a time." Well, there's me and 3 dogs, rocking the bridge with our differing treads. The bridge is covered with rusting metal sheets, so who knows what's underneath. Juno gets spooked and freezes halfway across as the bridge starts to sway. The others bring him along when they cross.

We come out of the forest by the old climbing walls and pause while W takes a photo.

Lunch is at Sindang Reret, a Sundanese boat-themed restaurant. The server takes a liking to us and gives us great service and a discount. As usual, W leaves the amount as a tip for him.

I think the server is taken aback because we speak (limited) Indonesian and are polite. Not all foreigners understand how rude they can seem when demanding changes from the menu or expecting quick responses from the servers. Here, even when food takes time to reach the table, you must wait patiently until the meal comes.

The food is very tasty. The restaurant is surprisingly full for a Thursday afternoon. 

We drop Veronica at home before heading to our place. After a shower, it's time to check student papers. I'm hoping to wrap up the Bhutan class this week. One student still has to send in a reading list. I prefer to grade all submissions of an assignment at the same time. That way class marks are similar and not as dependent on my energy level while grading.

W misses the men's afternoon meeting since we get back later than usual. We have just enough time to thank the helpers before they go home. They've been cleaning outdoor furniture today. Everything is dusty with the insects, rodents, and pollution, not to mention dirty from lots of use!

Friday

How can the weekend be around the corner? Today would have been my parents' 72nd anniversary. They had 67 years together and this was taken on their last anniversary. Dad died that December.

I've never met a couple more in love than my folks. They put each other first, before kids, before work, before their own interests. What role models!

We walk past a frog that is usually camouflaged in lichens and leaves. On the road, he's more visible.

They've hired a security guard and taken other precautions at the project site. Area by area, the decaying walls, stolen plumbing, and sagging ceilings are being replaced.

A rectangle of wallpaper is missing where there used to be a box on a ceiling. I'll use markers and paint to filll it in later.

I take a few calls between grading and working on my book. We're wrapping up class and making decisions on papers; the students confirm their topics.

We have lunch at RoadRunner's kitchen with Alan and Jani before returning to work at home.

Their food is excellent.

When we pick up some books, we learn that the proprietor used to be the driver of expats now living in Paris. We show Pak Pamin a recent video from our Paris friends and send them a video of him saying hi. He's delighted to see their faces and hear their voices.

I miss the monthly book group, working away at home when gusts of rain blow in. No wonder everything is verdant in the tropics. We get frequent afternoon or night rain while most mornings are warm and sunny. We love the weather in northern Bandung: 68 (20C) nights and 80 (27C) days with mountain breezes (or wind!) cooling the skin.

Sadly, southern Bandung lies is in a basin that gets the runoff from multiple mountains in addition to its own downpour. Houses and streets often flood. Besides water, garbage - plastic cups, bags, and other refuse that is tossed everywhere - washes down the streets and gutters to plug drains and fill the creeks. Before we moved to the city, friends to warned us against living in that sector.

Saturday 

The dogs are happy to dig into their breakfast before our walk.

a garden at the project is waiting for flowers.

Makeshift scaffolding above the stairs doesn't look sturdy. Luckily the painters are light and light-footed.

The trees on the loop are bright in the sunshine.

When one of us walks behind the other, the dogs want to know where we are. They're pack animals, for sure.

There's a sign of someone's wedding hanging over the entry to Maxi's Resto, someone's handwork.

The details are beautiful.

If I were a screamer, I'd probably be shouting "Owie!" and "Ease up!" this morning. IbuSiti is my wellness secret, a skilled and safe masseuse who comes to the house. When travelers stay with us, they often hire her to unknot their travel aches after long plane or train journeys.

Instead of splurging on vitamins or meds, I happily give her $20 twice a month. While she works, I get 2 hours to listen to textbooks or non-fiction that I can't otherwise focus on. The focus takes my mind off the pain, too. Today I'm listening to Brene Brown's Atlas of the Heart (a scientific look at emotions). I've just finished a pre-publication book on female ADHD in Nowhere Girl by Carla Ciccone. Both are exceptional.

We go to IKEA for baskets and light sockets. We eat there - the same familiar food served around the world - and are home by late afternoon. Not hungry, the evening meal is snacks: pineapple, watermelon, and a TJ peanut butter chocolate. We make sure we're ready for tomorrow.

Read more:

*You will keep in perfect peace those whose minds are steadfast, because they trust in you. Trust in the Lord forever, for the Lord, the Lord himself, is the Rock eternal. Isaiah 26:3-4

*You have looked for much, but it came to little, and when you brought it home, I blew it away. Why? Says the Lord of hosts. Because my house lies in ruins, while all of you hurry off to your own houses. Haggai 1:9

Jesus said, “But woe to you Pharisees! For you tithe mint and rue and herbs of all kinds and neglect justice and the love of God; it is these you ought to have practiced, without neglecting the others.” Luke 11:42

Moravian Prayer: Forgiving Lord, as we repent of our sins, grant us the strength to amend our ways. Help us turn back to you with sincere hearts, seeking your mercy and guidance. Amen.