Spun sugar and balloons

Thursday, April 11, 2024

Brunch with Laurel includes toasted egg sandwiches, fruit, cherry yogurt, and tomato salad. I'm brushing ants off the dishes even before they have food on them: it's definitely bug season in the kitchen and outside. I cook so rarely that it's a treat to pull together a meal after a morning walk.

I tour the yard, spot the turtles, feed the fish and birds, and am exhausted. Cmon! What's going on? I lay down and crash into a 2-hour-nap. Meanwhile W and Herbert work together on the Porch.

For lunch, Korean ramen hits the spot, even though it's from a package. There's work to do and it's nice to finish before nightfall.

Friday

The trees are showing off in the increasing sunshine, between night showers. Over our heads, an 8-meter (25') palm is dripping with red berries as we walk.

We read the talk for Sunday with this view from the Porch.

I package cookies for Dyna's baby shower. Wina picks up a few guests and me around 10:00. With drivers on vacation, owners are driving themselves or catching a ride with friends like I do.

It's wonderful to celebrate new life coming into the world. We bring our baby pictures and do a guessing game of "who's who?" The furthest back I can find is a picture of my Uncle Albert's and Aunt Edith's wedding. I was a flower girl with my cousin Elaine. My cousin, much more of a lady even at age 8, was pristine at the end of the wedding. In contrast, my socks were wrinkled, my white shoes scuffed, and my bouquet wilted. I remember it being a fun time with people trying to restrain me all day - oh well. The hand on my shoulder is probably so I'll stand still at the photographer's.

Each person brings snacks to share at the baby shower.

We confirm that another guest is also expecting a baby in the next months. Woohoo! The two little boys enjoy their time together, checking out the presents.

Dyna and Daniel are expecting another son within a few weeks. What joy!

Every child is wanted by God and sent into the world to be a blessing - in his or her unique way. (Imagine if God had made us all alike! What a boring planet we'd live on.)

Saturday

My goal is to thin the garden into submission before the yardman returns on Tuesday. We need a fresh start on the flowerbeds. They're an unruly jungle where roses and other plants are shaded by more vigorous growers. One of those "can't-stop-growing" plants is coleus. It's found a perfect spot and takes over. I snap off stems until the pond, lavender blooms, and a rose bush emerge.

Half of it gets chucked; the rest soaks in the kitchen sink while I'm watering plants outside.

There are enough stems for 2 bouquets: one in a heritage vase for the living room, and another for the Porch table. Mom bought the colored vase in Italy decades ago. The thought crosses my mind: "What will archaeologists learn about our global culture when they find Italian vases in Indonesia; Indian fabrics in Europe, Brazilian carvings in China, and Navajo pottery in Alaska?"

W and I stroll to #NaraParkBandung for brunch. Several restaurants are open around the courtyard. I order pesto linguini, which comes with sausages cut into florets. W eats the meat because I'm not a big sausage fan. The pasta is perfectly flavored.

Beside our table, this young princess spins cotton candy. At 65c, the childhood memory of days at the fair is irresistible. W and I share one on our walk home.

I can't get over how beautiful the world is, working on the Porch with the cicadas chirping in the tall trees at the back of the yard.

Last year we bought a clutch of bird toys at the bird market. Today a new one goes in each birdcage. The birds stay on the other side of the cage most of the day until they figure out a beaded swing and the dangling wood blocks are safe. They will eventually chew them to bits as they've done with the old ones.

I download another dozen books for review. I'm hunting for classroom texts and recommendations for our university students and my husband, who's a professor of IT and theology. The business and art titles are passed along to faculty colleagues and artsy friends.

So many good books are close to being published, alongside the self-published volumes that spring up like weeds. (Good weeds, many of them.) If you're a self-published author, give me access for a review.

Read more:

*Have I any pleasure in the death of the wicked, says the Lord God, and not rather that they should turn from their ways and live? Ezekiel 18:23

*Then from the cloud came a voice that said, “This is my Son, my Chosen; listen to him!” When the voice had spoken, Jesus was found alone. Luke 9:34-35

*The wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord. Romans 6:23

*Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus, because through Christ Jesus the law of the Spirit who gives life has set you free from the law of sin and death.

For what the law was powerless to do because it was weakened by the flesh, God did by sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh to be a sin offering. And so he condemned sin in the flesh, in order that the righteous requirement of the law might be fully met in us, who do not live according to the flesh but according to the Spirit. Romans 8:1-4

Moravian Prayer: O God of reconciliation and peace, please help us to learn to love and forgive our enemies, just as you continue to love us when we fail to follow you. Help us to understand that we are all sinners who have been set free by your gift of grace. We should delight with all who turn to you. 

Lord, you are our true king and the son of God. We know we are to follow your words of love with actions of love. Please help us to listen to your words of wisdom so that we can fulfill the loving purpose you have for our lives on this earthly world. Amen.

A blend of books and a blur of chores

Monday, April 8, 2024

A room with full bookshelves makes me happy. My eyes are tired from reading yesterday evening. The Kindle "dyslexic" font makes reading easier and faster for me.

I'm plunging through two fiction series by Karen Kingsbury. She writes about common challenges in a family (marriage, friendship, rebellious children, substance abuse, unwed pregnancy, cancer, etc.) and the responses of Christian adults to those.

[For those unfamiliar with a conservative American-Christian worldview, her writing offers a peek behind the scenes into Christian families. I recommend any of Kingsbury's books for neighbors of Christians, politicians, and those who are curious about American Christians. Plus they're good stories.]

I meet online with a friend and partner before a walk around the neighborhood with W. We pray God's favor and blessings on our neighbors going in the last week of Ramadan. 

I've only seen one of the turtles we picked up on fish street last week. But this morning, two little splashes show that they've stayed in the bathtub pond and seem to be thriving.

We head out the door before lunch, buying some mums to replace expired flowers and an orange tree where the dead-and-gone papaya tree used to grow.

Ocha (rice tea) and lunch at Sushi Teh is fresh and delicious. Despite the Muslim fast, the place is full.

We make two more stops: a department store and a grocer. No matter where you live in the world, chores don't do themselves. We're home by mid-afternoon. We set the plants aside for the yardman tomorrow and put the groceries away. I set up future meetings, discuss the direction of next week's talk with W (he's writing it), and confirm our travel arrangements for the next months. What a relief that W takes care of the details.

There's enough time for another blurt of book review before I call it a day. I like one book in particular and may use it in the classroom. It's a self-coaching manual called The Clarity Advantage by Tobin and Peterson. The premise is if people are yawning with boredom, turned off, or falling asleep when you talk, you need help with your communication style and presentation. (Click the link for this and other reviews.)

Best coffee table book? Book Nooks by Dina and Gilhuly. 

It takes longer to read stories than to skim potential textbooks. I feel privileged to pick up a diversity of books from publishers. Saves us thousands of dollars each year at the bookstore, too! A few are already available; many are getting ready for publication. 

Tuesday

Typically, in tropical houses there are gaps around doors and windows like this one. Bugs, lizards, and other creatures take full advantage of the spaces to come and go, night and day. You can hear the lizards chirping when it gets dark. An empty yogurt container with its lid on in the sink swarms with hundred of ants by morning.

The house is cleaned thoroughly before helpers take a Ramadan break.

After a few final errands, W and I have lunch at #2HandsFull. There's nothing I'm really hungry for there, but the tortilla is pretty good.

In the afternoon, I go to an exercise class down the hill with some of the walking group. Fitness trainer Angie keeps us engaged. I may be sore tomorrow though it was a well-paced session.

Wednesday

It's quiet and relaxing around the place after a noisy night of chanting and fireworks. The standard greeting is Maaf, lahir batin or "Forgive me, body and soul." 

The neighbors and helpers are preparing food and travel for Eid-al-Fitr, closing out the month of Ramadan. We pray for God's lovingkindness over each one who will seek him in this season. And we are utterly grateful to know our sins have been forgiven by God, whose justice was satisfied by the sacrifice of Jesus the Son.

The Indonesian constitution guarantees rights to practice 6 religions: 1. Islam, 2. Christianity (Protestant), 3. Catholicism, 4. Buddhism, 5. Hinduism, and most recently 6. animism. Religions are not equal in access or acceptance but these are permitted, which is unique among world governments. Muslims get many days off. Around Eid-al-Fitr, they have a week plus travel days. The helpers take Buddhist and Hindu holidays off, too. Interestingly, Christians get two days off for Christmas, one for Good Friday  and two days for Ascension Day (Jesus' return to the Father in heaven.) 

Easter is not a public holiday since the resurrection of Jesus is considered suspect by Muslims. The Roman soldiers at the empty tomb of Jesus did as they were told, bribed by religious leaders 2 millennia ago. Here's what Jesus' disciple Matthew records:

[In the morning after Jesus' resurrection,] some of the guards went into the city. They reported to the chief priests all that had happened. When the chief priests met with the elders, they came up with a plan. They gave the soldier a large amount of money. 

They told the soldiers, "We want you to say, 'His disciples came during the night. They stole his body while we were sleeping.' [Such negligence would have earned the soldiers death!] And if the governor hears this report, we will pay him off. That will keep you out of trouble." So the soldiers took the money and did as they were told. This story has spread all around among the Jews to this day. (Matthew 28:11-15)  Read the eyewitness account for yourself here.

It takes a lot of people to maintain a home and yard in the tropics. Think about this: ants, termites, roaches, mice, civits, sloths, monkeys, etc. are competing for indoor and outdoor spaces. (The weight of insects on the planet is about 70X that of humans. Wow!) This week, the robot vacuum runs around the rooms and sucks up ants that make it though the porous walls. I swipe with a rag at surfaces which get dusty every day and lay low for the most part.

Each day we circle the yard to feed the fish in the ponds and the birds in the cages. The solar fountains bubble in the morning sunshine. It's cicada time at the beginning and end of every rainy season and they're noisy today. The new little orange tree is in the ground, thanks to PakAD's good work yesterday. How many oranges do you see?

 A cup of tea on the porch hits the spot. I have some academic documents to read, W's Sunday talk to revise, and more. We write until a lunch appointment at #MissBeeProvidore. Thony makes our time together fun and interesting - he's a traveler and an international Indonesian.

We walk home as the thunder begins to rumble. We get a warm welcome from Juno as we come in the gate. The other dogs are more interested in finding a quiet dark space - they dislike the storms. All of them are on "guard alert" with a steady parade of guests arriving at our neighbors' homes. The dogs are not letting anyone into the yard without our permission.

Read more:

*The Israelites said to the Lord, “We have sinned; do to us whatever seems good to you, but deliver us this day!” Judges 10:15

*But the tax collector, standing far off, would not even lift up his eyes to heaven but was beating his breast and saying, ‘God, be merciful to me, a sinner!’ Luke 18:13

*If we walk in the light as God is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus his Son cleanses us from all sin. 1 John 1:7

O loving God, we thank you for your mercy. Although we are all sinners, we are the benefactors of your tenderhearted care, grace, and forgiveness. Because of the offering of your beloved son, we are blessed to have been pardoned and to have received eternal salvation. Thanks be to God! Amen.

Hazy mornings and swinging afternoons

Friday, April 5, 2024

Our kids have been married 16 years today. Congratulations, T and M! We're cheering you on. W and I had been married 30 when they got started. I'm in a meeting for an hour before sunrise at 6:00. It's a hazy morning in the mountains. 

W and I walk around the block and spot this critter on the street. Its buggy eyes wave around watching as our camera comes closer.

This beetle is impressive whether buzzing around in flight (taking off above) or googling its big eyes at us (below - 1.5" - 3+cm lines). I am curious: what are the brown sacks under their wings? I look it up. Oh, those are the "real" soft wings for flight, protected by hard-shelled wings above them. How cool is God's engineering ... even for bugs.

We have breakfast at #WaorungEthnic, running into friends who are eating together. It's a favorite place for good rice and beef rendang (spicy stew.) The beef is cooked repeatedly in coconut milk and spices until it is almost dry but flavorful. It's one of my favorite Indonesian feast dishes. 

A few strands shaved off the beef can flavor a heaping spoonful of rice. Rendang is not eaten by the chunk but by the sliver. It looked like stew so I took an American-sized cube in my mouth the first time - and I had to chew it a long long time before it was  malleable enough to swallow. How embarrassing: later I realized that my forkful was an entire person's portion

Saturday

It's another hazy morning. The streets are empty though the playground rings with laughter and shouts. The preteen and teen boys kick a soccer ball in an oddly-shaped triangle between streets. The kids are wearing flip-flops on the uneven pavers. 

Someone sends the ball out of bounds and another boy races toward the 4' wall and the drop-off to the street. The ground under the tree where the ball catches is topped with slippery leaves, and he's going at full speed. He skids toward the ball, hooks it with his toes, kicks it back into the center, and the game continues as he runs back toward his fiends. All in flip-flops. We watch in wonder.

Many houses have a garbage bin that open in the yard for disposal with another opening on the others side for pickup.

This house is being built around the former house's walls. So interesting to watch how people think about building here. I'm wondering when they'll redo the roof. For now, the workers sleep inside.

At home, I make the Sunday flower arrangement, grazing in the garden for berries, ferns, and flowers. There are a few still-green leaves and the lilies from Easter have just begun to open.

On the Porch, I watch a new-to-us betta (65c on fish street) cruise around. This fish becomes aggressive when swordtails or platys come near. Settle down: you're the new guy in town. (Maybe he's had his fins nipped before?)

I fill a 5-gallon cylinder and set it on my desk, adding a betta with 4 swordtail fry and plants from the garden ponds. As I work, they swim circles and pick at the greens.

W and I restructure the IES Bandung talk because it's Family Sunday with kids in the hall. How does the story relate to them?

I download and review 10 books that are coming to publication in the next months. What a mix: business, art, leadership, and fiction. I only thoroughly read those with content that teaches me something. On the side, I'm enjoying some "clean" family fiction by Karen Kingsbury.

Sauerkraut for lunch? Why not. The jar sitting on the counter is ready to expire. I rinse the cabbage, chop an apple and a sausage, season it with black pepper, and add cloves from our garden. It goes into the oven for a few hours with small whole potatoes on top. We eat it with radish sprouts and ricotta cheese because we don't have sour cream on hand. 

The dogs get groomed - old Mr Bailey looks pretty smart for his age! Good boy. The dogs love to be at their "spa" - the groomers come to the house to take care of nails, ears, and hair (everywhere on a poodle.)

Sunday

One of the wonderful parts of leading is the privilege of adding to the DNA. One of our core values is inclusion, and this works itself out in many ways. A diversity of ages, heritages, and gifting ... everyone belongs and can contribute. Today we have a young reader for one of the scripture passages. He dances with excitement when he's done.

After, we have lunch at #Narapark. The table settings are simple and elegant.

We order a Ramadan special: rendang lasagne. Very spicy!

W and I spend an hour on the swinging chairs in the backyard, watching the turtle climb up to sun itself and slide back into the water when we move. The dog sprawl nearby. The solar fountains bubble up to aerate the bathtub ponds.

Oh oh. A strip of wood paneling has fallen from the Porch ceiling. The weight of the bird cages is not the best thing for the paneling but that's not the only factor - age, termites, and 40 years of animals in the ceiling are hard on the house. W rehangs the cage into a rafter, a handy man to have around.

Read more:

*I am the Lord, and there is no other. I form light and create darkness, I make well-being and create woe; I the Lord do all these things. Isaiah 45:6-7

*But now apart from the law the righteousness of God has been made known, to which the Law and the Prophets testify. This righteousness is given through faith in Jesus Christ to all who believe. There is no difference between Jew and Gentile, for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and all are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus. 

God presented Christ as a sacrifice of atonement, through the shedding of his blood—to be received by faith. He did this to demonstrate his righteousness, because in his forbearance he had left the sins committed beforehand unpunished— he did it to demonstrate his righteousness at the present time, so as to be just and the one who justifies those who have faith in Jesus. Romans 3:21-26

*[Jesus declares,] I was dead, and see, I am alive forever and ever, and I have the keys of Death and of Hades. Revelation 1:18

Moravian Prayer: Creator of all things, we see you in everything. Your presence is felt in times of joy and sorrow. We praise you for breaking the bonds of death and for raising us to new life in you. In Jesus’ name, we pray. Amen.

"My kingdom for a sandwich?"

Monday, April 1, 2024

The seamstress comes by with a few blouses. I reluctantly shelled out Rp.40.000/meter for cotton fabric while at a conference in Bali. (Then I remember, cmon! that's under $3/meter.) The new blouses aren't exactly like the original. The little tweaks of the cutters mean a garment mostly fits, just not as well as the one you sent over. I already returned the blouses once to have the hems re-cut but I'll wash and wear them into a true fit.

I choose 2 linens (Rp100.000/$6.50 for the fabric) from the seamstress's stash and pull out a tablecloth I hemmed last week. It's not quite big enough for the table but the perfect size for a blouse. We forget to choose the buttons from my Mom's collection, so she returns and we quickly pick out some to match.

In mid-afternoon Angela serves tea and cookies at her place. Oh my, her house has a wonderful overlook from the other side of our mountain. It's been ages since a visit and I've missed her. I snap the wrapper of the cheesy cookies we both enjoy. But I forget to take a pic of us.

Supper is homemade lentil stew and baked potatoes. IbuS volunteers at a neighborhood clinic until noon. She works 5 hours and tidies the house. She's washed the tablecloths from the Easter Potluck; the dishes are done; and the cutlery, trays, and cups have been put away. She's a gift from God for us.

Tuesday

On our walk, a healthy rusty-brown bush catches our eyes, a contrast to the green all around it.

 I sit in the sunshine on the Porch, watching three frogs climb the tall stems of the plants to sun themselves. One frog is yellow; the other two are brown. Can you spot them?

W and I meet at 9:00 with Nancy, who gives us good counsel.

Today's a big day for Muslim Indonesians. Their THR or "religious money" is due. It's an extra month's salary required by the government for every Indonesian employee. THR is a hardship for many employers unless they've set aside the amount over the year's time. A few months before, I start collecting food and small items for a bag of goodies in addition to the 13th month of pay.

Christians get their THR before Christmas; I'm not sure when Buddhists and Hindus get theirs. Muslims are given the mandatory bonus 1-2 weeks before the end of Ramadan so they can buy food and presents for their family. We bought IbuA an almost-new washing machine in January as her THR so she got a few months of early benefit.

I sew a cover for this lounger. One side panel around the armrest is the only complicated measurement. The rest is just straight seams to form a top-bottom loop with a zipper in one end. The Bali tie-die fabric is the only 5-meter piece I have. So ugly on its own, it was intended for the back of a blue quilt. At least it covers the original cover's holes, torn by sharp objects in someone's back pocket.

I like mixing textures and patterns, so I sling Kim's quilt over the back of the sofa. I grab the throw when I sit on the porch on cold mornings (70-75oF/21-23oC).

The mass of yellow flowers are torn out - their 8' (2.7+m) stems have been shading the roses and other sun-loving plants. The garden feels red today.

This 4' (1.3 m) shrub offers its own spectacle with variations of browns, reds, greens, and yellows.

Wednesday

I watch a few BBC videos on pruning a lemon tree. Over the past 4 years, our tree has become a total mess of criss-crossing branches, filled with worms, ants, and scale. The yardman has lopped off outside branches when they get too long. There are a lot of water sprouts and tiny offshoots inside the canopy. I show him a how-to video and tie off the branches we want to keep (20%?) He prunes it and carries away the excess.

W's in the mood to treat me to something. I'd be happy to stay home but decide to accompany him - he has to run an errand anyway. It turns into some of my favorite things. We start with "fish street" where saltwater fish and exotic corals hang at a few sellers.

I love this bustling market along a 6-lane divided street. Well, it's marked for 3 lanes on each side but in reality, 4-5 lanes of cars, trucks, and people compete in each direction.

I'd be surprised if there are 30 traffic lights in this city of 5 million people. Traffic edges through the changing lights until they are solidly red and other vehicles are near. The motorcycles line up in front (cars stay back 1-2 car-lengths to let it happen) and soon there are scores or hundreds of cycles and cars at the stoplight. 

Freshwater fish fill bags and tanks between huge ponds of koi and goldfish, and small aquariums filled with gerbils and turtles. There are bags of bloodworms and plants and more ... 

The current fad in freshwater fish is glow fish in neon colors. This is a patented process, but they're in every shop @15-25c (instead of $6.50 and up per fish in the USA.) They live as long as their plainer types but I skip them for now. I choose 5 betas (for different ponds @65c each). They're good for eating algae and bugs.

I grab 2 bags of red barbs (10 fish@14c each, replacing the fish killed by organic fertilizer swished into their pond by rain. We finish with basic fish food and 2 turtles @$1.75 each for the back ponds to keep the tadpoles in check. We'll see if the turtles head off or stick around. W says it's less than $20 altogether for a lot of "fishing."

My choice for a late birthday meal is a sandwich from Mom's Bakery. 

We step out of the car beside this beautiful hedge.

I'm in the mood a plain Western-style sandwich. Actually, I'd eat anything that isn't slathered in oil/butter or deep-fried (the norm here). I choose teriyaki chicken on whole-grain sourdough, crammed with vegetables and very hot chilis. It's satisfying and just what I want. My Grandpa Schmidt used to say, "Kinder, esst was euch gut schmeckt (kids, eat what tastes good to you)." He believed that our bodies would crave the nutrients and tastes it needed.

I like a little sweetness after savory, like this black chocolate cake. I hand W the icing and mousse layers since I also dislike those pure-sugar-n-fat layers. We can't finish our shared piece. Unfortunately, the takeaway box is left on the counter overnight instead of in the fridge. By morning when I get to the kitchen, it's swarming with ants. Toss!

In late afternoon, this "catwalk" is my path to our beloved dentist, Dr Gati. She lives on a hillside, so the entry, parallel to the street, is a flight higher than the ground floor. Her view over the green valley and hillsides is soothing - and the story I'm listening to on headphones distracts me from the whir of drills and brushes.

Gati trained in Colorado and has the gentlest touch I've ever experienced in a dental chair. It's been 5 months since my last cleaning, better than the 4-year gap last time.

Thursday

They're reconstructing three houses in our neighborhood. Today, two men offload a pickup truck of bricks for the new walls of a remodel.

I'm finally well enough to make a hospital visit. Keep praying for Ofly, whose heart is going wild (slow!) so that docs can find out the root cause.

Read more:

*Who will rise up for me against the wicked? Who will take a stand for me against evildoers? Unless the Lord had given me help, I would soon have dwelt in the silence of death. When I said, “My foot is slipping,” your unfailing love, Lord, supported me. When anxiety was great within me, your consolation brought me joy. (Psalm 94: 16-19)

*They shall know that I am the Lord when I break the bars of their yoke and save them. Ezekiel 34:27

*God will wipe every tear from their eyes. Death will be no more; mourning and crying and pain will be no more, for the first things have passed away. Revelation 21:4

Moravian Prayer: God of salvation, thank you for seeing the tears in our eyes, and for bearing our burdens. As we wait for the day when your peace will reign, give us patience and strength to endure. In Jesus’ name, we pray. Amen.