Sitting in the sunshine, pondering the choices we make ...

Sunday, November 1, 2026
When we were kids, November rolled around as though it was normal. Now it seems like the months are rushing past. Advent starts on the last Sunday of November? That gives me pause. Perhaps having every month's weather like Seattle's July, August, and September (warm, summery) messes with my internal calendar. I wouldn't trade Indonesia's eternal summer for even one cold and blustery day in Canada or Australia.

Titik has woken her creativity on another arrangement. There is a lovely mix of textures and colors in every quarter. So beautiful, isn't it? The upper white flowers are "Queen of the Night," releasing strong perfume as night falls. MMMMMMmmmm. I love floral fragrances.

We take guests from Denmark and Uzbekistan to lunch after the Gathering. They like the food at #AyamBalarasa as much as we do. We send cookies home for their little girls, two darlings who are dressed alike.

No sooner are we safely at home than the sky opens up and the rain pours down. The house is dark and cozy - perfect for bathing. It takes a half-hour to heat bath water but it's worth the wait. Within an hour, the sun is back and the dogs - who love racing around in the rain - start to dry out.

Did you know that we rarely have houseplants in the tropics? The same plants we carefully babied through the winter in Seattle grow abundantly outside. We don't dare bring in potted plants because ants and other bugs nest in them. Outside my window, I see spiky snake plants, feathery dill, reblooming orchids, Cardinals guard shrubs, coleus, dracaena, peace lilies, and more. It fills me with wonder.

Monday

W and I spot a little bird on our walk. It is likely a cat casualty. Did you know that the most lethal killers of wildlife are domestic cats? It's as true in the USA as here. A few of our dogs happily catch what they can, too.

We walk past groups of ladies getting their morning exercise.

Selfies are a big thing. These walkers spot a concave mirror and post for their pictures with it.

Daylight saving time throws me off for the first meeting. I'll remember next week! Why even mess with the clocks? Check out the origin of daylight saving time. There is no shift of the clock in most of Asia. In Bandung, sunrise and sunset vary only by 15-30 minutes year-round.

We pick up a used rebounder. My dad used one daily for years and said it was helpful. The seller mentions that he owns R.O.T.I. Bakery, which bakes Western-style sourdough. We have to try it! (It's delicious.) The staff is friendly and helpful.

Many of the new cars in Indonesia are electric, like this teeny wonder of a 2-seater Chinese Wuling. The government subsidizes sales of electric vehicles. The base price is $8500 US!

We stop by IKEA and spot big Christmas ornaments in the As-Is section @30%. There are enough balls for the side porch. Two young influencer-wannabes take photos in the dining area. They adjust their headwear, purse their lips, fix their mascara, and tilt their heads from side to side for the best shot. 

A few tables away, an elementary school classroom is having lunch. We drop by to let them practise their English, which brings on fits of giggles and blushes. They're very good; kudos to their teachers.

Tuesday
PakG moves boxes of Christmas cookies from our freezer to the GG fridge. The helpers bake more each week. We use 3-5000 cookies during the festive season, depending on the year and number of events. The smell is heavenly. My counselor and I struggle with bad wi-fi on both ends, but she gives great advice every month. She invites me to reflect on 2026 with 5 "C"s: conflicts, crises, criticisms, changes, and concerns, evaluating adjustments and what we've left behind. I suspect it will be a long list.

W climbs the ladder to hang the new IKEA decor. First, we need to space the balls. I want them to look even-ish as you walk down the driveway. 

W measures the total length at 300". The ceiling has 4 sections of unequal mouldings so we ignore them. We hang 2 balls in each section with 7 equidistant measurements. The easiest estimate in dividing 300 by 7? Subtract 10" from each side for 280". Space each hook 40" apart. Done and it looks good. W is amazing - and careful on ladders.

We send our insignificant ballots to vote online as the USA holds midterm elections. We ask our kids to advise our choices. Timo asks, "Do you want to increase your property taxes 6% per year for the next 5 years? That would almost double the rate." (No, thank you.) 

One year, I talked the property assessor out of a big tax increase. A tree had fallen on the back porch "so it's not worth as much as you think."

"What do you expect? You live in the forest!" he responded. "Of course trees are going to fall." But he was nice and we had a pleasant conversation. He reduced his recommendation to the county by $1,000/year.

One of Martin's irises is in bloom now that the dogs aren't trampling the leaves. The flowers have begun to thrive without the constant traffic flattening them.

I make soup for lunch, along with the exceptional sourdough bread from the R.O.T.I. bakery. "Try toasting day-old bread with butter or olive oil," they suggest.

I ask the yardman to finish the flowerbed fence. He's not happy to get directions from a woman but it's easier for W to leave the conversation to me. Within a few minutes, I hear sawing as the remaining long bamboo pieces are cut into posts. They affix the uprights in cement along the edges of the gardens.

Wednesday

The flowers are thriving. The guys continue working on the fence. They hope to finish assembly today. Then someone has to stain it. I ask W why they don't dip-stain the pieces when they cut them, before they assemble the fence portions. The slats could dry overnight. He shrugs. 🎶They did it their way🎶, = a few extra days of work. 

PakG takes a dead lovebird from the bottom of its cage. "It was already old," he says. We got it almost a decade ago. RIP birdie.

I send PakG and cash to the bird store in an alley up the hill. He and his friend bargain for 2 new birds. Apparently the chicks come from a champion singer. They're loud, anyway. PakG builds a third bamboo tunnel and fastens it inside the cage so each bird has its own refuge. I toss mango skins with fruit on them into each cage. We try to add veggies and fruit and set the cages into sunshine a few times a week to keep the fliers healthy.

Lovebirds and budgies dislike being alone. They naturally live in flocks. Still, the old bird isn't excited to have two newbies invade his cage. It's big enough at 32" x 32 " x 12" (90 cm x 90 cm x 30 cm). When we decided to have birds on the Porch at the old house, we got big enough cages for them to fly from perch to perch. After many years of being put up and taken down weekly for cleaning, some of the wires are bent. Others are failing. But they still keep our birds in and wild birds out.

Over the years, we acquired a canary, 2 (now 3) lovebirds, and 4 budgies. The cheery singers attract other birds to the yard, scattering seeds outside the cages. The wild things also like the variety of shrubs planted in the yard.

I bake a focaccia bread for lunch while W repairs the floors. A tile on the side porch broke off when the whiteboard used for Saturday lessons was left outside. The wind tipped the big "sail" over and smashed the edge of the porch.

During renovations, we changed what couldn't be left "as is" or repaired. We kept the floor tiles inside and outside, except where they had been broken into many pieces. The contractors hammered out shattered fragments and replaced them with a cement skim. They patched places where the tile was mostly intact. It looks terrible and works great.

Over 118 earthquakes were recorded in our region this year. Most are mild, but the frequent shaking under the heavy (remodeled) clay tile roof is shifting the foundation bit by bit. A long crack is opening along the length of the floor in my office. Pieces of tiles lift out when we clean. W plasters the fissure shut. We sprinkle on bits of darker powder from the porch repairs to make the indoor repairs less obvious. If they keep the Project house, they can redo the floors at that point.

The Project in one sentence? It's an old place that requires regular upkeep and is perfectly suited for consistent hospitality. We appreciate being allowed to share the spaces as a blessing for others. It helps that W is a handyman. Otherwise, we might regularly be without water or lights or ... ? Whew.

Read (a lot) more:
* Be still before the Lord and wait patiently for him; do not fret when people succeed in their ways, when they carry out their wicked schemes. Refrain from anger and turn from wrath; do not fret—it leads only to evil. For those who are evil will be destroyed, but those who hope in the Lord will inherit the land. Psalm 37:7-9

* O send out your light and your truth; let them lead me. Psalm 43:3

* Sing to God, you kingdoms of the earth, sing praise to the Lord, to him who rides across the highest heavens, the ancient heavens, who thunders with mighty voice. Proclaim the power of God, whose majesty is over Israel, whose power is in the heavens. You, God, are awesome in your sanctuary; the God of Israel gives power and strength to his people. Praise be to God! Psalm 69:32-35

* Rise up, O God, judge the earth, for all the nations belong to you! Psalm 82:8

* For now he shall be great to the ends of the earth. Micah 5:4

* You will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth. Acts 1:8

* Then Peter began to speak to them: “I truly understand that God shows no partiality, but in every people anyone who fears him and practices righteousness is acceptable to him.” Acts 10:34-35

* Salvation belongs to our God who is seated on the throne, and to the Lamb! Revelation 7:10

Moravian Prayer: Great and gracious One, help us live lives that honor the deeds, sacrifices, and love for you as your witnesses in the world. Let us follow your example to show no partiality. Keep us bound together with cords that cannot be broken. Bind us together with all our brothers and sisters in Christ in the great fellowship of your love. In your name, we pray. Amen.

Breaking ground and catching a lizard

Thursday, October 29, 2026
Rudi and Paulina hike along the river with us. The gradual downhill is moderately longer than 2 loops around our neighborhood. We are enveloped by the jungle as we pass trees growing up the bank along the water. Many creatures live alongside people here.

W snaps the capture of a large lizard as we walk by.

W, an explorer, knows all the paths through the neighborhoods. That lets him choose the difficulty level for walking companions.

Indonesians make many things of natural materials. The intersections of bamboo are knotted together with synthetic cloth or ropes.

We pose across the river from the "color village," an impoverished neighborhood that is being boosted by tourism and selfie-seekers.

Our final stop is a brunch buffet at Dalaraos at the end of the trail.

We give Paulina and Rudi a quick tour through the Project. The dogs are happy; they know P&R from the hikes.

W and I finish setting the house in order. The helpers know where everything goes, vacuum and wash floors, and bake banana bread and Christmas cookies. Yes - it's that time of year when we start end-of-year baking. The freezers are almost full. Every event eases capacity as guests enjoy cookies and banana bread. IbuA's recipes hit local and foreign palates perfectly.

Friday
We do one loop with the dogs and leave them behind for the second round. Anton is dragging at the leash. We don't know if he's under the weather or stiff from sleeping wrong. The dogs are not amused when we go, watching at the gate until we return.

We liked the focaccia bread so much on Tuesday that I bake another batch. That's lunch, along with rujak (Indonesian pickled fruits), a gift from friends at Games Night. W's family pickled and ate all kinds of fruit and vegetables so he enjoys it. Our family? Not so much. Dad tolerated Mom's pickled cucumbers. I have her recipe somewhere but have never tried making it. Neither my dad nor I gravitated toward sour tastes.

After lunch, we set out to buy a few more loaf pans for baking regular and banana breads. Traffic is slow. It's graduation day at one of the best Indonesian universities. Each student can take only one or two people into the hall. Most family members sit along the sidewalks and parking lots, waiting for their graduates to finish and come outside.

We hop out of the car to walk the last blocks to the shop, passing a typical Dutch-style house. It is being converted into a shop.

Another bamboo creation is an elephant sculpture in front of the campus gates.

The flower sellers do a lot of business.

Sadly, the kitchen store is closed for 2 days to take inventory. We ride back up to the house empty-handed. The evening bonus is an impromptu call with Keelee, a dear friend and mentor. She inspires me. The late start on sleep is worth it!

Saturday
The creatures are more than ready to get up and go at 5:30AM. zzz W and I slip on shoes, head out the door, and walk the loop twice. Have a dog? You have to walk it unless you're willing to have behavior problems. Doesn't seem to matter if they're big or small; the adjustment (depending on the dog's size) isn't, "Do we walk or not walk?" but "how far?" The exercise is good for us, too.

Before 8AM, we head for the groundbreaking ceremony hosted by Jorge and Caron M. Their dream is to erect a sports court that provides jobs, serves the community, and gives neighborhood kids something to do. In a few years, most people will forget that there was ever an empty field under the high-speed train.

It's fun to watch the Marquez kids play with the shovels and move the dirt around, alongside distinguished board members and fundraisers.

We head up the hill to #HomeGround, where we haven't eaten in a while. A neighbor has planted a crown of thorns hedge, lethal if you run into the spikes. It keeps people from parking in front of his house.

The food is uniformly excellent and the service is good. We enjoy chatting with the crew. "The chicken you ordered has bones," reports the server after he checks with the kitchen.

I'm not a fan of bones in chopped chicken so he recommends a replacement. It's good with chili oil on the side. I peel off the skin as a treat for our dogs. (They love it.) The bill for our main dishes plus a plate of our favorite Szechuan green beans is about $10.

Back home, I take the bread dough from the fridge and divide it into a cupcake tin. It rises nicely, the oven is preheated, and we're ready to bake the buns. Except the pan is too wide for the oven. I scoop the dough onto a flat sheet and bake it. Still tasty. Every time I make bread dough, I experiment. Haven't done the same thing twice, but we've had at least six or seven yummy variations.

Sayaka and Martin come by for W's speech therapy. She notes that he's much improved this week.

The noise level goes up in the yard as 70-ish kids arrive for some English fun. A new volunteer shows up with a dinosaur costume. She understands kids!

I look up "how to play mahjong" since the Games Night table tried to persuade me to join them. I get the shivers and my palms start to sweat as I read the AI description. The goal is getting 4 sets and a pair? You're confined to a table with sides called East, West, South, and North for an hour or more? Lost me already, even if you start with an extra tile on the East side.

After sitting in one spot and focusing on a game, what does one have (besides a headache or an adrenaline letdown)? I don't do puzzles, either.  I'd rather read or create.

As I read, I wonder, what is all that screaming? I leave my office chair and go to find out.

With my stern teacher voice, I quell a riot of grade 1-3 boys. They are playing football in a corner of the conference room, hollering with each "goal" as the flip-flop they're kicking strikes the wall. The rest of the kids are trying to pay attention. 

"What do you come here for?" I ask them. "We love having you come, but this is for learning English. If you want to play football, stay home." They look at me with big eyes and settle down. Most of the kids love coming over. It's playtime and learning tied into friendships, plus adults who enjoy being with them.

The dinosaur is a hit with the kids as they line up for post-lesson snacks.

She hands out candy from a little orange pail. A little girl gets overexcited and throws up. The technique is perfect: she misses her dress, her face stays clean, and the mess lands right beside the drainage ditch. W sent PakG early so he cleans it up himself with a pail of water and a broom.

Della wipes the marks off the boards, which is fantastic prep for next week's sessions. The whiteboards are often left grey, dingy, and half-wiped, a pain the next time they're used.

A few volunteers stay behind for another hour to play with the dogs. Thank God, it didn't rain this afternoon, an answer to prayer for sure. It's the first day this week that hasn't been wet.

Read more:
* Samuel said to Saul, “Stop here yourself for a while, that I may make known to you the word of God.” 1 Samuel 9:27

* For the eyes of the Lord range throughout the earth to strengthen those whose hearts are fully committed to him. 2 Chronicles 16:9

* Bless the LORD, who redeems your life from the Pit, who crowns you with steadfast love and mercy. Psalm 103:2,4

* And Jesus said to Simon and Andrew, “Follow me, and I will make you fishers of people.” Mark 1:17

* When Jesus saw her, he called her over and said, “Woman, you are set free from your ailment.” When he laid his hands on her, immediately she stood up straight and began praising God. Luke 13:12-13

Moravian Prayer: Lord Jesus, you call us just as you called Simon and Andrew to follow you. Fill us with the courage that they showed and allow us to leave behind everything that is holding us back from following you. 

Living Savior, you are with us today, and you can set us free from our ailments. Place your hands of mercy upon us and heal us so that we may stand up straight and praise you. This world is full of people who need to know you. Help us to find them and bring them to you. Amen.

Two months to Christmas?

Sunday, October 25, 2026
The date reminds me we're 2 months from Christmas. How did that happen? The Gathering is wonderful with a good worship team, service host, and speaker Hanny. She reminds us to be childlike, trustworthy beyond being respected, and welcoming to others the way God welcomes them and us.

We enjoy lunch across the street with three friends. We purchased fragrant roses on the last grocery run. They're set on the driveway terrace, a perfect place to smell them as we come to the house.

I have 2 quotes to think about from this weekend's talks. First, from Don Ross: "Everything God starts, starts with tension and confusion." (Examples: creation, Joseph's sojourn in Egypt, the calling of Moses, etc.) Certainly that's true of everything that starts here. It takes a while to sort things out. And second, from Hanny: "Aim not just to be respected but also to be trusted." I mull over the two ideas through the beginning of the week.

I'm in the mood for something dry and crunchy. I bake seed crackers with pumpkin, chia, flax, sesame, and sunflower seeds. 

How? Soak 5 c. assorted seeds for 15 min in 1 c. water. Add 2T sweetener, a pinch of salt and pepper, and pat the mixture in a thin layer on a baking pan lined with parchment paper. Then bake for 15 minutes at 350F/180C. Let cool completely before storing in an airtight container. Ours last for weeks on the counter.

Monday
Before 10, there are 3 online meetings. Two are life-giving, so that's a plus. Then it's off to Ciwalk, an indoor-outdoor mall down the mountain. There's a 70% off sale at Batik Keris, a clothing store. W goes clothes shopping every year or so. 

By the time he makes it into a shop, he's due for an update. He finds 4 batik (formal) shirts. This dazzler retails for $80; some of the others are less.

There's a Western shop, in the mall complete with full-costumed American Indian.

The seasonal decor at the mall hotel is typical: orchids plus pumpkins.

W sends out the Games Night invitation as we eat lunch at a new-to-me pizzaria down the street from the mall. It's not bad. And the list of guests starts to fill up quickly. By evening, 85 names are on the list.

It's a chore-filled afternoon at home. I soak W's shirts separately in vinegar and salt water to set the dyes, then wash and hang them up. IbuS irons them so they're ready to wear. (Everything gets ironed here.) The bread rising in a bowl needs punching down a few times. The week's calendar gets updated and reviewed. Then there's time to read messages and respond.

The sky darkens, thunder rumbles, and rain trickles in midafternoon. The seasons are definitely shifting from dry to wet. Do we want to walk once more? (I missed my morning walk since I was on calls.) W thinks it might rain but I remember the proverb about the lion in the street (something bad may happen, so why try?) We head off anyway and all is well. No rain while we're out.

Tuesday
It's dark out all day; no sunshine today. I write, research, call, and have a first go at focaccia bread. It's delicious. The plain dough gets doused with olive oil and sprinkled with Trader Joe "Everything But the Bagel" topping.

PakG picks up ripe bananas from Kiki, who lives down the hill. The helpers start baking banana bread. The whole house is fragrant with smells of warm baking. They send 2 loaves back down to Kiki.

Fred and Dolly drop by in the morning. She's a wonderful watercolorist who painted the right portrait of an island lady. We enjoy tea, baked goods, and hot focaccia bread on the Porch, along with sweet conversation. Dr Fred was one of the first geologists in Indonesia. He shares memories of Indonesia's political transitions, including the Japanese invasion and the end of Dutch colonialism, and has fascinating stories about his education and work. We want to hear more - maybe next visit.

For lunch, W and I fill leftover focaccia with homemade cheese, sliced tomato, and a dash of olive oil. We have 2 sweet figs - one for each of us - from the fig trees gifted to us by Angie and her Turkish-German husband when they repatriated.

Our afternoon guest cancels; he is ill. I bring down the games from the library. The staff sets up the tables and chairs. Looks like we're almost ready to go.

Wednesday
There's a fresh crop of mushrooms on the stump near the Porch.

We have breakfast after talking to our daughter before the walk. The orchids are off the tables and into the garden so every surface can be used so spread out games tonight.

The dogs are learning to sit and walk, getting better with each consistent practice session.

This bicolored rose has me puzzled. I think all the flowers start out pink and fade to creamy white.

5 meters (15') overhead, a tree is loaded with purple petals.

The 3 dozen eggs purchased earlier this week have been used up in baking. I head to the grocer for 3 dozen more, along with the seeds and nuts we are consuming at a prodigious rate. We fine-tune the setting for tonight with serving pieces and plates, print the portion control signs and stick them to the buffet tablecloths, and plug in the warming trays.

Della arrives with food. Then the guests start coming in. It's rained off and on all afternoon, which is a deterrent if the streets downhill flood. We still have a full house.

We sit on the Porch, around the house - talking, laughing, discussing life.

The hope is that each person goes home with new friends.

Play can open the heart to experience new things.

W has a Zoom meeting near the end, which lasts into the night. Meanwhile, the young adults pack up and have a noisy and happy farewell.

Read more:
* Be strong and courageous, because you will lead these people to inherit the land I swore to their ancestors to give them. Be strong and very courageous. Be careful to obey all the law my servant Moses gave you; do not turn from it to the right or to the left, that you may be successful wherever you go. Keep this Book of the Law always on your lips; meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do everything written in it. Then you will be prosperous and successful.

Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go.” Joshua 1:6-9

The days are surely coming, says the LORD, when I will raise up for David a righteous Branch, and he shall reign as king and deal wisely and shall execute justice and righteousness in the land. Jeremiah 23:5

* Simon Peter answered, “You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God.” Matthew 16:16

* Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have gained access by faith into this grace in which we now stand. And we boast in the hope of the glory of God. 

Not only so, but we also glory in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; ;perseverance, character; and character, hope. And hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured out into our hearts through the Holy Spirit, who has been given to us.

You see, at just the right time, when we were still powerless, Christ died for the ungodly. Very rarely will anyone die for a righteous person, though for a good person someone might possibly dare to die. But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us. Since we have now been justified by his blood, how much more shall we be saved from God’s wrath through him! Romans 5:1-9

Moravian Prayer: Morning Star of our faith and life, you came and fulfilled the words of the prophets. As you now reign in highest heaven, continue to deal with us wisely and execute justice and righteousness in our land. In Jesus’ name, we pray. Amen.