Connections make the heart sing

Monday, January 25, 2021

Oh grandkids are FUN. We spend time at the park, where a few run and play.

WONDER

One examines the park with my phone camera. I am delighted with his pictures.

A little hobbit cave at the bottom of a tall maple tree.

The entire landscape of the mountains, in miniature at the base of another tree.

There are feathers and moss.

Even a few wild animals found under the playground slide.

The alligator chomps down a mossy feast. It truly is fun to see what captures the eye of a child.

FAMILY

We have sleepovers and share feasts (cooked by Melissa).

We have family visits and go to the Sunday service online together. The old Coach display table is the perfect stage for recitations of scripture, modeling clothing, playing games, and watching the monitor.

I talk to Mom nearly every day as she adjusts to her new reality. She is indescribably dear.

We call our other kids around the States, but it's not the same as being together in person, in this strange C-19 era. 

We'll miss our grandkids so much when we go home. They model their Indonesian hats for us and give us lots of hugs.

BEAUTY

On my walks around the neighborhood, I am constantly surprised by beauty. The stems of this bush vary from brown to gold to tips of red. There are tiny little white florets here and there. No pic does it justice but it reminds me of the startling diversity at the side of the street.

The streets are empty of people. Most days, I see 4 or 5 people and perhaps as many cars on a one-hour, 3-4 mile walk.

One average-looking house boasts a flag, a big boat parked in the front yard, and another boat parked on the street. 

Occasionally the sun comes out - and I can see the empty streets around me. It's so QUIET compared to our city in Indonesia!

At night we light the candles and relax. I've written about 120 thank you notes this week. Turning off the lights and putting away paper and pen, is a pleasure.

I need nature around me. My walks provide an endless source of fresh mosses, which I keep heaping on the center tray.

The bouquet at the kitchen door is easily refreshed with 3 stems of hydrangeas, midweek.  This is such a short visit that I don't buy any pots of greens, but I do enjoy the flowers.

WORSHIP

We drive a few hours to attend our first in-person church service since March. Most people stay home and participate online.

The trees, devoid of leaves, are grey sculptures against the sky.

One of the loveliest treats is stopping by the house of friends in Puyallup on the way home. Harry and TJ keep the garage door open for our visit. It's a compromise: no hugs allowed this close to our travel time. But there's great warmth and joy at seeing each others' faces again and praying for each other.

Read more:

*I love you, Lord, my strength. The Lord is my rock, my fortress and my deliverer; my God is my rock, in whom I take refuge, my shield and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold. I called to the Lord, who is worthy of praise, and I have been saved from my enemies. Psalm 18:1-3   NIV

*Thus says the Lord, “I will rejoice in doing good to them.” Jeremiah 32:41

*The Son of Man came to seek out and to save the lost. Luke 19:10

Moravian Prayer: What a wonder that you, Oh God, should so love and care for the world that a Son is sent down among us, flesh and blood, to guide and save us. Jesus, we are amazed by you. Thank you for being our shepherd. Amen.

(Better late than never) Happy New Year 2021 - lovely memories in the making

Tuesday, January 19, 2021

The calendar page has flipped and we're still here. How did you start your New Year?

Not much seems to have changed from 2020. We're all still in "careful due to C-19" mode. The past month, Americans have been eyeing their presidential inauguration on Jan 20 with mixed emotions. Some are happy. Others consider it apocalyptic. (Reminds us of fears during the potential digital crash of 2000. That never happened; do you remember the food hoarding and conspiracy theories back then?)

We spend the first week of the year in Canada with my mom. We commemorated Dad's passing with services in person and online just before Christmas. W visits his mom nearby almost daily once he's out of quarantine. We have a delicious meal courtesy of his sister and get to see their cute grandkids.

*****During three weeks together, Mom and I find treasures and make discoveries around the house. A hand-colored wedding photo of Mom and Dad turns up under a stack of 1980s women's magazines. 

Isn't this cool? Mom and Dad were married for 67 years! Their love has been the bedrock of our family.

Fun memories are attached to kitchen and household items, too. I remember this salt and pepper set from when I was young. Mom always made nutritious meals from scratch. Family dinner was the anchor point where our parents transferred stories and spiritual values.

In one book Dad had earmarked, we find his own grandpa and uncles listed among ministers in Russia and Poland.

******On a lunch visit with W's auntie, we eat a yummy meal together. It's great to see his cousins there, too. Then AuntieM brings out her most-requested dessert, a home-baked Black Forest cake. It's so good that I have to ask for the recipe.

She smiles, "It's easy!" Auntie M tells us to stir together a cake mix, 4 eggs, and a can of cherry pie filling - and then bake it. (I'm going to try baking @375o for 45 min. We'll experiment from there.)

Oh my,  it tastes better than any expensive bakery treat.

*****Most days Mom and I enjoy a few long walks along the slough, A letter of permission is tucked into my pocket, allowing me to join her outside during the initial 14-Day Canadian quarantine.

She lives in a beautiful area.

I snap pictures on our walks.

This is the view I enjoyed every day as I walked down our street toward the high school. Mount Cheam is the same after all these years.

Her friends and neighbors meet for their daily walk along the river. It's fun to see the ladies again, even when accompanied by the misery of a cold rain.

*****One afternoon, Mom and I drive up Little Mountain to visit Dad's grave. Brrrr, it's cold up there, but beautiful. At least there's no snow, like on the day of the funeral.

We also find the tombstones of my grandparents and other elderly acquaintances. My dad's mom has the first plot by the upper entry. Oooh, she would not like that: she was quite shy and retiring, never wanting to be up front. Makes me chuckle.

*****During our three weeks in Canada, we keep working remotely. But I love the mealtime hangouts with Mom, and frequent calls with my brothers and our kids. That's where we exchange great memories and old photos. Here, Dad was playing violin with one of our sons. He sure loved music and encouraged each of us to play an instrument or two.

January 8

We say goodbye to Mom and Norm's family to fly out of Vancouver. The trip to the airport is courtesy of Norm's driving. It's been wonderful to spend time with family. Mom's getting tinier by the year. She's doing pretty well for 85 though!

When we get to Seattle, the kids greet us. Waaaaa, how GOOOOOD to see them!

*****This week, Makenna has her 3rd birthday. The kids have decorated the room in pink for her Pink Birthday them. She's wearing a pink crown. YAY, it's the first time we get to celebrate with her in person. (Among the unearthed mementos at Mom's house, my own 3rd bday card. below.)

******On Saturday evenings, (= Sundays Indonesian time), we watch the BICOnline gathering together. It's really fun to have the kids with us.

We join their own service on Sunday. The grandkids set up a mike and their instruments. They worship, read the scriptures, and allow time for discussion. Kinsey's in charge, including the setup and teardown.

When they come downstairs, the children know where their toys are. They play hide and seek in our flat. They are creative in where to hide. It's fun to watch them.

When they leave, Oma and Opa clean up, with big smiles on our faces. Each kiddo can be described as,

Oh how peaceful it is when they go back upstairs. Haha (Every grandparent knows this feeling, right?)

*****I'm ready to quilt a top and backing cotton brought along to give a friend. I take out a piece of batting that Mom sent along, found in Dad's workshop. 

What is that? Right in the middle is a hole. Well, it's true that Dad passed along his love of a quick fix to me. This must have been one of his practical solutions for working in his cold basement: the batting has a jagged neckline cut into the center, making each side 4" too short for me to use it for quilting. 

It's perfect for working in my own chilly office. Thanks, Pop! I order the quilt batting from a shop instead.

*****Sidewalks around our Seattle neighborhood are scattered with storm-blown leaves, mosses, and little pine branches. The streets are so empty! We may see 4 or 5 people outside and the same number of cars on our 3-mile trek up one street of house and down the next.

One day, I pick up a cotoneaster branch for my desk. The pop of color energizes me.

Another day, I pick up odds and ends and put them on a 24" tray. The aluminum tray was made by a company with my family name of Daher. Every time I pull it out, I remember the Ebay purchase while we lived in the UK (for W's doctorate).

*****Most mornings, I make a traditional breakfast. We add a scoop of Hungarian paprika to jazz up the taste one day. The oranges disappear one by one. Yum.

*****One day, the kids come down for tea. From my teapot, I fill their animal "teapots" with tea. (Each chooses an animal creamer - doggie, cat, cow, or chicken - and yes, the grands have distinct preferences.) They like to pour tea into their miniature teacups.

The little china cups were given over the years by my mom and my Winnipeg uncle. Everything I touch brings up old memories and creates new ones. Also, I believe china and other "good things" are meant to be used and enjoyed. So we love this traditional teatime, every time Oma is back.

The days are full and the nights short. God is good.

Read more:

*Turn my eyes away from worthless things. Psalm 119:37 NIV

*The Lord has sent me to comfort all who mourn. Isaiah 61:1,2

*Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted. Matthew 5:4

*As you therefore have received Christ Jesus the Lord, continue to live your lives in him, rooted and built up in him and established in the faith. Colossians 2:6-7

Moravian Prayer: Comforter, be with those who are grieving. Guide them under the fold of your wings and keep them safe from the world’s questions and judgments. Their lives and concerns matter, so we lift them up to you.

Christ Jesus, we pray that our faith stands firm like a mighty oak! May we be rooted in you. Even as the storms of life attempt to toss and shift us from our place, let us not be moved. We remain yours, Jesus. Amen.

Hopeful celebrations, cherished memories

In the 2 weeks between last post and this, we have buried my dad and celebrated Christmas. The combination of his hope - that he is seeing what he believed, in the presence of Jesus - and the joy of Christmas has made this a wonderful season of prayer and thanksgiving. It's a strange thing, this craving to go Home to be with God.

It was a snowy day when we celebrated Dad's life. The sun shone, the mountains were a stunning backdrop as he was laid to rest. 

The family gathered at the graveside to hug Mom and offer our love and support.

Then we met in a gathering restricted to 10 people but filmed and shared online. We "Zoom"-ed the traditional family viewing of the body, the burial, and had a virtual reception on Zoom after. It was a treasured time when family and friends offered their condolences to Mom and spoke of my father's integrity as well as his encouragement, good counsel, and generosity.

The  flowers in the memorial spray were beautiful - orchids, pines, lupines, hydrangeas, pinecones, thistles, and more. As they began to fade, we recombined them into four bouquets.

Best of all, it's lovely to be with my mother. W and I had to apply for special permission from the Canadian government to be allowed to stay with her and to attend the funeral and graveside. Because of her age, I am permitted to accompany her on her outdoor walks. (For that, I needed a letter from her doctor.)

We celebrated a quiet Christmas and lit the central Advent candle together. The four "hope, joy, peace, and faith" red candles were lit earlier. We had only the Christ-candle in the center to finish. We've had them lit most days - and they are almost burned to the green base.

After a few days of snow, it was possible to go out to walk along the river.

Mom received many cards, calls, and flowers of condolence and tributes to Dad. She cherished each one.

Two of my three brothers are in lockdown in Europe and could not return to Canada. The other brother is taking care of the end-of-life paperwork and Mom's affairs. So I am just visiting and helping her sort through the house. It's an adventure through good memories.

W remains indoors on quarantine for the rest of this week. After the weekend, he'll be able to see his mom in the next city. Strange times. We had already purchased tickets to come see her. Before our arrival, my father died. God worked out the details for us to be here now.

Walking in 2oC calm weather is fine - but 5oC with a wind is too cold. We pull on sweaters, scarves, gloves, heavy socks, and coats.

Someone hung ornaments on one of the little trees in the riverside park.

I've been wearing the hats my father left behind to keep my head warm. I will take my favorite with me.

We talk to the grandkids who are nearby but unable to visit. We'll see them soon.

Dad became a luthier (string and violin craftsman) after retirement. This year, he began clearing out his workshop, donating and selling tools, supplies, and instruments. There is almost nothing left. It's like he was saying goodbye to things here and transitioning to heaven.

Quite amazing. I want to be as ready as he when my time comes.

Read more: 

*For you who revere my name the sun of righteousness shall rise, with healing in its wings. Malachi 4:2

*He came to what was his own, and his own people did not accept him. But to all who received him, who believed in his name, he gave power to become children of God. John 1:11-12

*[Jesus said,} “Do not let your hearts be troubled. You believe in God; believe also in me. My Father’s house has many rooms; if that were not so, would I have told you that I am going there to prepare a place for you? And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am. John 14:1-3 NIV

*In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us through wordless groans. And he who searches our hearts knows the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for God’s people in accordance with the will of God.

And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose. Romans 8:26-28 NIV

Moravian Prayer: Christ divine, how blessed we are that, through you, we are adopted into God’s family and are called “Beloved.” Of this we are certain: God loves us today and always, thanks to you, O Savior. Amen.