Cool, in more ways than weather

Wednesday, February 5, 2025

It's windy and cold but I refresh with a good walk along the Hope Slough. I cook and tidy up, but Mom and I get to spend most of the day together when she's awake. I stay awake until my last call at 11:00 PM for Mom's meds and seeing her to the bathroom. I'm asleep before midnight.

Thursday

We say goodbye to Mom when her caregiver arrives mid-morning. We are headed for Seattle. The mountains are capped with snow.

We make a brief stop for tea and coffee with dear friends LeRoy and Lynette. Lynette sends along a package of Spekulaas cookies. Yum - it's the Dutch version of German Pfeffernuss baking.

Lunch is Tex Mex in Burlington.

The restaurant is decorated with bright colors and sombreros (traditional Mexican hats).

We spend a few hours unpacking, doing laundry, and repacking at our flat. In the evening, we toss the suitcases into the rental car and head to the airport hotel: we don't want to miss our morning flight with a lousy commute from the other end of the city. W has researched the weather. It looks like ice and snow are coming overnight.

Saturday

Sure enough, the freeways are slippery with multiple vehicle accidents. Instead of fretting about getting to the airport on time, I catch the hotel shuttle in while W parks the car in an airport lot. We find each other at the check-in counter for the 4.5-hr. flight.

Kirsten picks us up from the Austin airport in the early afternoon. We watch her church service together, a practical and uplifting message on living with intention.

Her friend Chantelle comes for supper: Texas barbecue ribs with all the fixings. So yummy!

W sits with us but is busy, working on his manuscript.

Sunday

I sleep almost 10 1/2 hours. When Kirsten walks the dog, I trail along for some fresh air. A house is being constructed on the last empty lot on her street.

It's cool outside (60oF/17oC) so we layer up, coming in afterward to warm up with tea. K lays out a general shape for a new picture gallery for her hall.

As part of his dad-chores, W pounds no-dig metal spikes into the ground along a shared fence. K hopes to deter the neighbor's 3 dogs from burrowing into her backyard. They've trespassed and bitten her little dog.) We do some shopping and have a hearty supper.

Monday

K makes yogurt and granola for her dad and herself. I cook a Western-style breakfast, making an extra tortilla and bacon for W who reflexively says "no" but will want it after seeing my plate.

W checks the smoke detector batteries and shakes out the house's air filters, while K and I unwrap picture frames. We wash the glass or peel protective plastic sheets off the plexiglass in the frames. We trim the artwork, frame it, and make sure all is ready to hang.

W measures the wall, levels the angles, and installs the pictures ... before K takes him to the airport. He's off to work in Missouri. I have a few more days here.

We bake a pan of brownies in the evening, and enjoy the rich chocolate with a cup of tea.

A few evenings, we relax with a home improvement series. Both of us enjoy the imaginative designs as a couple works with a construction crew. 

In the episodes of Fixer to Fabulous, I'm struck by the husband response: "Yes." Whatever she (the designer) thinks up, the first thing out of his mouth is "Yes, we can do that," and then he figures out how. Pretty cool - and how uplifting to start with "yes!" ...

Tuesday

K and I do some shopping, eat good food, and rest together. The prayer times are precious. We contact my mom each day, too. We tweak the gallery wall put up yesterday and put up the last items.

I cut K's hair on the back porch. The rain and wind gusts make it hard to get an even grip on her locks.

For lunch, we try a Chinese noodle place - outstanding tastes, especially with their homemade pickles and chili crisp oil.

It's been a wet and gusty week. Multicolored leaves blow across the sidewalks.

This is the color I associate with Austin foliage. Grey-green suits the dry wilderness climate of summers and the tan-colored soil.

Wednesday

K and I walk the neighborhood in the late morning, redo the bedding and toss in some laundry, before having lunch and praying together.

In mid-afternoon, K drops me at the airport. I am refreshed and encouraged by the visit with our daughter. She's a mature and thoughtful person with strong opinions and a soft presentation.

The lounge has healthy options, including a delicious salad-in-a-jar. The woman next to me strikes up a conversation about what it means to live and serve abroad. She's on her way to becoming a global citizen.

The flight is uneventful from Texas to Seattle. W flies from Missouri to Seattle, arriving an hour after I land. We are grateful for heated metal benches in the shuttle waiting area. The shuttle picks us up to drop us off at the parking lot. We retrieve the car and drive to our flat. It's -1oF ... BRRRRR so cold. At least it's been dry so the freeway isn't slippery.

I toss my pajamas and the blankets into the dryer to heat up and soon we're fast asleep.

Read more:

*[Jeremiah prayed,] “Ah, Sovereign Lord, you have made the heavens and the earth by your great power and outstretched arm. Nothing is too hard for you."

Then the word of the Lord came to Jeremiah: “I am the Lord, the God of all mankind. Is anything too hard for me? Jeremiah 32:17, 26-27

*O Lord, open my lips, and my mouth will declare your praise. Psalm 51:15

*Peter and John said, “We cannot keep from speaking about what we have seen and heard.” Acts 4:20

Moravian Prayer: Jesus, may we continually praise you in all we do: from our lips, in our hearts, and in our actions. May we declare your goodness to all whom we encounter. Let us live in such a way that every person we meet will feel your presence through us. In your name, we pray. Amen.

Family photos and snow days

 Saturday, February 1, 2025

I sleep in, from 1 AM to 7:20. Wow - that's a late lie-in.

After a chat with Mom's primary caregiver and friend, I head outside for a walk. It's snowing! The ground turns white. Growing up in Winnipeg, we got our fill of snow every year. Now I don't care if I never see another snowflake. Chilliwack often gets snow in late January or early February, so this is normal.

It's also cold. I layer up with an undershirt, long sleeved T-shirt, a fleece jacket, socks, and trousers - and a hat. A long waterproof windbreaker and gloves from the entry closet get pulled over everything.

I carefully place my feet on the track to avoid sliding on the fresh layer. Very few people are out. Coming back, our tracks are already covered by the wet white stuff.

As I happily head back indoors, I shake the water off the coat and hat and pat dry my shoes. I have only one pair along. No flip flops for us here!

Norm and I head to Walmart for groceries after Mom has lunch. He buys burgers for an early supper. After that, Mom sips coffee and eats a cookie before we chat for a few hours. We pray together, then I make tea for myself and fill a few empty Sprite bottles with hot water to warm the bed. 

W is speaking at the IES Bandung Gathering. It's 6 PM here (and 9 AM Indonesia) when I join online. 

After, I relax with a few chapters of a book before falling asleep. Before long, the alarm rings for Mom's 11 PM meds.

Sunday

I get back to sleep at 4 AM but I don't have to be up until 10:30. I take a hot bath and lounge around until I'm needed. It snows off and on all day. Pretty but not my style. I don't have boots so I'm locked inside.

I wake Mom and the day is in full swing. Between chores, I make lunch: French toast with cottage cheese and pear slices for lunch; for supper, there's chicken schnitzel, baked potatoes, and cheesy broccoli.

It's a long day of conversations and memories until Mom goes to sleep at 6 PM. I clean up and read a bit before turning out the lights. The alarm rings and by the time we finish the 11 PM appointment, I'm wide awake--(the 11:00 alarm rings at 2 PM Indonesian time, in the middle of my usual afternoon. My body has not yet adjusted.) ...

Monday

Ridiculous jet lag. I lie still for an hour after Mom gets up and takes her meds. I give up and turn on a nightlight to read a book. After the last page, I lie there for another hour. Nope, I'm still not sleepy so my YouVersion reader goes through the last half of Ezekiel (rather depressing, much of it). And I lie in the dark for two more hours. Finally, Kindle reads a whole historical novel. Then I just lie there - the last time I check my watch, it's 9:20 AM. I haven't slept a wink.

Happily, I still get a good hour and a half of sleep before the alarm goes off at 11:00 AM. I help Mom get ready and make lunch (sausage, eggs, and fried potatoes). She has a good appetite, which is a welcome improvement in her health.

We dive into bed for a short snooze after her bath. I take pictures of old photos - and post them on the Frameo device Sandy got her. She reminisces as pictures scroll of her family through the years. (She's the little girl on the left, below.)

Jeremy and Rebekah (our kids) show up midafternoon with A&W Teenburgers and warm conversation. It's lovely to see them - both for Mom and me. They live on the other side of the USA border and the state so it's quite the trip in this winter weather. We pray together and take photos before they head home on the snowy roads.

By 7 PM, Mom and I are ready for sleep. Thank God for rest! We pray for protection over J and R and find out later that the wind pushed them into a snowdrift. They and the car were protected from harm. And a kind passerby helped Jeremy push the car back onto the road.

Tuesday

Sandy does the night shift so I can sleep through. I'm awake for a few hours but not fully alert. In mid-morning, before waking Mom, I go for a 3 km walk in the snow and sunshine. 

When the winter sun comes out in Chilliwack, you have to get outside.

A family of ducks paddles by the opposite bank of the Hope Slough.

Homeschoolers are sledding on the river slope. The dad pushes the kids at the top, while the mom catches them on the riverbank before they hit the freezing water.

The weeping willows keep their beautiful gold colored branches.

The grasses have turned grey and tan along the trail, too.

I spend an hour browsing old photo albums. Mom enjoys those new photos on her Frameo. She says, "It helps me to remember the past when I see all these pictures." She hasn't seen some of these pictures in years.

The photos show the startling differences between the body proportions of today's young adults and the youths of the 1950s. My parents' generation ate healthy portions of home cooked food, didn't have access to modern junk foods, and consumed few snacks.

It's fun to see the courting couple: Dad is 20 and Mom is 17 (below).

They were so in love. They stayed that way their whole life. When Dad died at 88 years of age, they'd been married over 67 years.

Mom is at her bridal shower in 1953 with Aunt Thelma, Dad's only sister.

Mom has kept a sweet smile on her face from childhood until now. On Grandma's deathbed, she told Mom: "You were always my sunshine." And she's still the warm heart of our family.

My parents married in August 1953. Their parents who were in their early and mid 40s. No wonder people say 60 is new 40.

There's a pic of our wedding, posing with my grandmas. It's hard to imagine that they were barely 60 years old at the time. Both grandmas lived into their late 80s.

We get great news. One of our sons has been offered work in Germany, an answer to prayer. We talk to my younger brother and his daughter in Germany about that. Mom chats with another brother. We call Kirsten (my daughter) to see how she's doing. It's a total family day.

We send pictures of Mom's meals to the head caregiver. Today, Mom eats crepes and a hearty serving of fried potatoes, eggs, and sausage. It's amazing how she has rallied. What a gift to the family.

The wonderful thing is that each family conversation ends with prayer: we worship and give thanks to God, along with any petitions that have been mentioned. Prayer is not merely our tradition. It's a life-giving and personal blessing we offer each other before God.

W lands in Seattle, rides the light rail into the city, and gets a ride to our house from Jeremy and Rebekah. In a few days, he'll visit his mom and join me here.

Read more:

*[Before his death, Moses said to the people of Israel:] This day I call the heavens and the earth as witnesses against you that I have set before you life and death, blessings and curses.

Now choose life, so that you and your children may live and that you may love the Lord your God, listen to his voice, and hold fast to him. For the Lord is your life, and he will give you many years in the land he swore to give to your fathers, Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. Deuteronomy 30:19-20

*Can you fathom the mysteries of God? Can you probe the limits of the Almighty? They are higher than the heavens above—what can you do? They are deeper than the depths below—what can you know? Their measure is longer than the earth and wider than the sea. Job 11:7-9

*Is not my word like fire, says the Lord, and like a hammer that breaks a rock in pieces? Jeremiah 23:29

*Indeed, the word of God is living and active and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing until it divides soul from spirit, joints from marrow; it is able to judge the thoughts and intentions of the heart. Hebrews 4:12

Moravian Prayer: God of all, we are grateful for your promise made flesh in Christ our Savior. May we hold Jesus’ lessons in our hearts and reflect them to others this and every day. Amen.

What to do when you're not your mother (or your father)

I like pretty things. There. I admit it. That's no surprise to those who know me. I get that from my mom.

Growing up, I tried to be like my mom and like the things my mother liked in clothes, decor, and social interactions. Yet I consistently fought off things that were feminine and frilly. I was impatient with her attention to detail. It's still not my style to dress up and put on makeup, though it's become my habit (after a lecture from women I trust: "Your makeup isn't for you. It's for those of us who have to look at you all day long." Ha ha. I got the point.)

I eventually gave up and realized I'm not my mom. I've learned a lot from her but I'm more like Dad. That's not a bad thing, eh, Dad? But once in a while - even today - I wish I were more like my mother.

Classic 1960s French roll

My mom kept her house in perfect order. She still works like a slave to dust and cook and clean. She actually likes doing laundry and finds ironing soothing. She's kept Dad's clothes spotless and pressed so he looks sharp. (Sure, once in a while he escapes in his flannel plaid shirts to his workshop.)

Mom dressed up. Always. Her hair was twisted in a French bun, immaculately held in place by a few bobby pins and hairspray. We all wore our "Sunday best" to go to the doctor's or dentist. Mom attired my brothers in little suits for church. She sewed amazing dresses for me, many of which I disliked because the colors and patterns didn't feel good to me. Even then, I knew what I liked, right, Mom?

I look at those photos of us as a family, beautifully decked out in the current fashions - and admire my mom. She has classic taste with her own chic twist. She was always in style, trendy and fashionable in minis in her 30s and early 40s. (Those were the 1970s, after all.) And she has classic beauty today, in her 70s.

I'm as happy in jeans and ugly sweatshirts as I am dressed to the nines. (Maybe happier.) I don't care much if my hair is cooperating or not. I cut it myself in the shower, where I can feel the wet shape I'm sculpting. I look in the mirror in the morning and hope for the best thereafter, ignoring the huge mirrors throughout my home and office that reflect light and space.

I've wished I were more like my mother when I've given in to my natural inclination and find myself ignored by customer service: "She's plain." To me, "What do you want?" Yup, it makes a difference to show up fully armed for retail with makeup and decent clothes.

My mom's special on the inside, too. She loves God and seeks to follow him closely. She's friendly, kind, and a caring servant. SHE has the gift of mercy and not an enemy in the world, the peacemaker in her family and among her confidants.

Me? Not so much. I often ask myself, "What would Mom do?" when I feel like rushing into war with a battle cry, as is my inclination. Ok, I admit I'm not always good at asking that ... and find myself and others bloodied around me. Lord have mercy!

How can we benefit from knowing others with admirable traits that we don't have ... without becoming envious or feeling belittled?

1. Keep admiring. You become what you behold. (Or you get closer, anyway.)
2. Thank God for that person and pray for them. That way you add to their strength rather than comparing yourself unfavorably.
3. Learn every lesson you can. Imitate the good in others to grow stronger yourself.
4. Believe and rejoice in a God who loves variety. He made me different than Mom "because you have a different job to do," as she's told me more than once.
5. Live as yourself. God lavished his loving creativity on us; we have unique abilities, experiences, and momentum to live large and beautifully in our own life and space.
6. Look around to see who you can boost, people like you and not like you.

 Who's your hero? Whom do you admire?

Mom, you're definitely high on my list. Love you! and I still want to be like you, even in my 50s.

Read more:
*When you enter the land the Lord your God is giving you, do not learn to imitate the detestable ways of the nations there. Let no one be found among you who sacrifices their son or daughter in the fire, who practices divination or sorcery, interprets omens, engages in witchcraft, or casts spells, or who is a medium or spiritist or who consults the dead. Anyone who does these things is detestable to the Lord; because of these same detestable practices the Lord your God will drive out those nations before you. You must be blameless before the Lord your God. Deuteronomy 18:9-13

*Even if you had ten thousand guardians in Christ, you do not have many fathers, for in Christ Jesus I became your father through the gospel. Therefore I urge you to imitate me. For this reason I have sent to you Timothy, my son whom I love, who is faithful in the Lord. He will remind you of my way of life in Christ Jesus, which agrees with what I teach everywhere in every church. 1 Corinthians 4:15-17

*... our gospel came to you not simply with words but also with power, with the Holy Spirit and deep conviction. You know how we lived among you for your sake. You became imitators of us and of the Lord, for you welcomed the message in the midst of severe suffering with the joy given by the Holy Spirit. And so you became a model to all the believers in Macedonia and Achaia. 1 Thessalonians 1:5-7

Lent 4: God of our parents

Every generation wants to reinvent life and meaning. As an adult, it’s been fun to look for generational patterns in the families of my husband and myself. Worthwhile things don’t necessarily need reinvention; they need contextualization in current life.

My husband's family can trace preachers back to the Renaissance (1400-1500s) on his dad’s side, while his mom’s father was a church leader in Poland. His great-uncles planted many immigrant churches in Canada after WWII, and his parents pastored several churches before retirement. My mother-in-law is a source of Christian friendship and inspiration for many.

My maternal grandmother came to faith in Christ when she was 43. Her father was a “religious” Christian who taught her hymns and prayers as a child. Grandma sought out a personal relationship with God throughout life, and in middle age made a choice to commit her life to God through Jesus. Her life changed dramatically. Her conversion shaped every interaction thereafter. My mom decided to follow Christ as a young teen, about the same time Grandma did. In my teens, my mom would occasionally say, “I don’t want to be like my mother.” Yet, in her 70s, she admits being like her mom in many ways. For one thing, she prays a lot, like my grandmother did.

My dad’s father became a Christian as a young adult. His mom's family included itinerant German preachers in Russia. My dad served on various boards and volunteer posts over the years. Both our families were active on committees, in music, and as Sunday School teachers. We kids naturally began volunteering at church from a young age.

We’re watching our children, young adults with a history of Christian devotion, prayer, and service on ancestral tongue. Hoping they and their families follow the example of those who loved God. We’re praying they understand fully how their heritage centers on giving back the life that God has given us… and that they continue to live the story.

If you're the first believer in your generation, you can change the course of your family's His-story, too.

--
God's peace to you today!
*[Solomon] prayed, “O LORD, God of Israel, there is no God like you in all of heaven and earth. You keep your covenant and show unfailing love to all who walk before you in wholehearted devotion. You have kept your promise to your servant David, my father. You made that promise with your own mouth, and with your own hands you have fulfilled it today.

And now, O LORD, God of Israel, carry out the additional promise you made to your servant David, my father. For you said to him, "If your descendants guard their behavior and faithfully follow my Law as you have done, one of them will always sit on the throne of Israel." Now, O LORD, God of Israel, fulfill this promise to your servant David. … May you hear the humble and earnest requests from me and your people Israel when we pray toward this place. Yes, hear us from heaven where you live, and when you hear, forgive." 2 Chronicles 6:14–17, 21 NLT

*The LORD was with Jehoshaphat because he followed the example of his father's early years and did not worship the images of Baal. He sought his father's God and obeyed his commands instead of following the evil practices of the kingdom of Israel. So the LORD established Jehoshaphat's control over the kingdom of Judah. All the people of Judah brought gifts to Jehoshaphat, so he became very wealthy and highly esteemed. He was deeply committed to the ways of the LORD. He removed the pagan shrines and Asherah poles from Judah.

In the third year of his reign Jehoshaphat sent his officials to teach in all the towns of Judah. … They took copies of the Book of the Law of the LORD and traveled around through all the towns of Judah, teaching the people.

Then the fear of the LORD fell over all the surrounding kingdoms so that none of them wanted to declare war on Jehoshaphat. …So Jehoshaphat became more and more powerful and built fortresses and storage cities throughout Judah. 2 Chronicles 17:3–7a, 9–10, 12

*Do not labor for the food that perishes, but for the food that endures to eternal life, which the Son of Man will give to you. For on him God the Father has set his seal, John 6:27 NIV