Floral walks

Thursday, May 28, 2026 Timothy's birthday
We call to say hello and happy birthday. Brussels sprouts, eggs, and salsa? A good breakfast.

New wildflowers have taken the place of last week's blooms.

The cactus continues to amaze.

The wild roses are almost done.

There's a variety of beauties around the neighborhood.

All shapes.

The passion vine is putting on a show.

Pollon has popped up on the sunflowers.

W has put a panel on the door that our dog Gypsy is scratching during thunderstorms. G has a fierce fear of thunder and lightning.

Friday

I'm surprised when K reminds me that tomorrow is Saturday. The week has flown by. We agree that mother-daughter time is a special blessing. We laugh when the same phrases or words leave our mouths in unison. We send a video "hello" to my mom.

We've got Mika trained to the crate overnight. He joins K and me on a nice neighborhood walk. Good boy. We're waiting for someone to rehome him since K cannot walk him very far. He's gained energy and strength with my more vigorous walks.

Wildflowers along the path have begun to go to seed. I fill my pockets. Will they grow in Seattle? Our granddaughter loves gardening, like her great-grandma did (my mom).

We relax with good food, conversation, and watching Eureka episodes. It's new to me and amusing.

Saturday - Isaac's birthday
We call meet some of K's friends at a Mexican restaurant. The food is cheap for the USA ($10/dish) and the menu is authentic. The dessert cabinet is full.

Our night walk is uneventful, with neighbors parked across the sidewalks as usual.

Yesterday I counted 17 cars with dents or crashes. Today, with other cars parked and others missing along the streets, there are 17 again. That's a lot of car accidents, in a neighborhood of about 100? cars.

There's a new crop of wildflowers blooming. Some have silvery leaves.

Lots of purples are out.

A guy parks a truck labeled "Dog Poop Pick Up Service" and walk into a yard holding a shovel and dustpan. 

He goes into the backyard where a big pickup truck is parked. 5 minutes later, the worker comes out of the yard and hops into his truck and drives away. (What, the resident can't pick up his/her dog's own poop?) There are many specialty jobs here, some of them surprising.

Sunday
We walk in the morning, enjoying breezy overcast weather. I can't decide if this house is blue or green (looks greener to me and bluer to K.)

It heats up as soon as the sun comes out. The last week of showers and sunshine has boosted vines and plants. K notes that a tree in her yard has grown 2' (70cm) since last autumn.

The afternoon services at K's church have moved from Saturday to Sunday. She's on the prayer team so we get to pray for people after the service.

On the early evening walk, it's HOT out. Perspiring, I pause near an American pickup truck. (The line shows the height of the front. of the truck!) It may offer a great view for the driver, but as K remarks, "If you're driving behind one of these, you have no idea what's going on up ahead." That may be the reason for so many car crashes.

We chat over a TJ Pizza and enjoy a relaxing evening. A chocolate peanut butter cup and some yogurt finish off a sweet day.

Read more:
* I know that my redeemer lives. Job 19:25 NIV

* The righteous cry out, and the Lord hears them; he delivers them from all their troubles. The Lord is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit. The righteous person may have many troubles, but the Lord delivers him from them all; he protects all his bones, not one of them will be broken.

Evil will slay the wicked; the foes of the righteous will be condemned. The Lord will rescue his servants; no one who takes refuge in him will be condemned. Psalm 34:17-22

* But in fact Christ has been raised from the dead, the first fruits of those who have died. 1 Corinthians 15:20

Moravian Prayers: Living God, you are our redeemer, and in you, we find hope. Just as Christ was raised, we trust in your promise of new life. Strengthen our faith, that we may live with joy, knowing death is not the end. Amen.

Two parades and some natural beauties

Saturday, May 23, 2026
It's a sunny morning, though there are clouds over Austin proper. Here on the hills, the breezes cool the air and walking is pleasant. This plant grows wild in Indonesia, usually blooming in yellow or orange. It's an Aussie import, I'm told. Here, someone has planted a hot pink version in the easement.

The cactus has dropped flowers, leaving two-toned knobs in their place.

By mid-morning, it's blustery and overcast. We attend K's church online, loving the encouragement of the pastors to be healthy and holy. 

In Bandung, a big thunderstorm hits. "Flash/BOOM," is how W describes the hit at the Project. Lightning strikes the pool pump and shatters the recirculation pipe. 

Tiles near the pump have broken, too. A few security lights and a washing machine have blown out. (The electrician shows up to repair things on Monday.)

Mid-day, Bandung crowds downtown are celebrating the championship of their Persib soccer team.

In London, worshippers are marching to celebrate Jesus, although most Brits are also soccer fans.

Sunday: Pentecost Sunday
What a beautiful celebration of Jesus returning to his heavenly Father. Neither K nor I gets up early. The weather is good and we get our walks in.

K combines international foods for a delicious lunch. Tteobokki, collard greens, and breaded shrimp fill the plate. Yum yum. Both of us love having people over and making them feel at home. That gift was passed down on both sides of my family by grandmas, aunties, and Mom. For the women in our family, setting the table is a joy, not a burden. We reflect on hospitality, celebrating what God allows us to do.

We watch some episodes of a home renovation show set in Seattle. We cheer on the restyling of old houses in neighborhoods we used to drive through. Having just completed the Project, we're happy to watch others transform houses. 

We call our Seattle family, enjoying talking to the young kids who are riding home in the car with their parents.

I walk the dog in 90o weather, which seems rather pleasant. A slight breeze ruffles the wide brim of my hat. Mika is panting by the end of the first loop so we cut it short and get him inside for a drink of water.

K picks up "end of the day" baking at a sharp discount from a nearby bakery while I am online for meetings. Then we sit on the porch sofa with fresh bagels - until the mosquitoes attack K. I have deet repellent on, the only thing that keeps bugs from devouring me. As the sun sets, the sky is painted in brilliant colors.

Monday
The morning is cool when Mika and I do two loops around the neighborhood. He chugs along at full speed, gaining muscle as we've been doing our quick walks. 

For breakfast, K doesn't mind a second helping of the flat pancakes made yesterday. I'm not impressed, so opt for the usual: bacon and eggs. This time I whip in cottage cheese. It turns out moist and creamy, though it's not the most interesting thing I've eaten.

In an online meeting, a friend asks whether this might be a good season for a sabbatical, with only essential work. She and I map what can be left behind for the next couple of months. We have some speaking engagements and I teach a doctoral class in late July. Those remain.

W and I feel ready for a rest after the last year. We ended a season as church leaders, oversaw a home renovation, moved to another house, and customized the Project to host individuals and crowds. We've had lots of company all the while. I'm just starting to realize how much energy that required. A bit of slack in the schedule sounds good.

K's friend Kari arrives with lunch in hand. She's cooked homemade pasta with turkey meatballs, baked home-baked focaccia, whipped up a salad, and layaered a chocolate dessert. We chat and get to pray together. She can't stay because she's taking care of her grandkids. K and I enjoy her wonderful meal.

K's knee is healing and her bruises are fading. She's getting more mobile all the time.

It's fun to be in a time zone similar to friends'. KL and I visit online in the late afternoon. She calls from a beautiful river campsite, while I'm sitting on a comfy porch sofa as thunder rolls in.

Being across the planet (12 hours "before" Indonesian time) means Tuesday morning there is Monday night here. Our organization has planned the annual business meeting, with updates and ballots for serving on committees. W calls afterward to catch up.

Another tree has fallen on our street, breaking a fence a block away from the Project. Cleanup is underway.

Tuesday
Little Mika and I do two long loops around the neighborhood. It's 7AM. Dogs of all sizes are walking their owners. When we approach each other, one of us crosses the street to avoid confrontation between dogs.

After I sit on the porch sofa, catching up on emails, Kirsten's up for a long walk. The sun comes and goes. On the windowsill, a flowering vine from Kari catches the light.

At our afternoon walk past the storm catchment meadow, wild sunflowers are bursting with color. We bring 2 stems inside, along with two other "weeds" and some grass seedheads. K's tortoiseshell vase is perfect for them.

Read more:
* Lift up your heads, O gates! And be lifted up, O ancient doors, that the King of glory may come in! Psalm 24:7

* For the Father himself loves you. John 16:27

* And suddenly from heaven there came a sound like the rush of a violent wind, and it filled the entire house where they were sitting. All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit. Acts 2:2,4

* Now there are varieties of gifts, but the same Spirit; and there are varieties of services, but the same Lord. 1 Corinthians 12:4,5

Moravian Prayer: Loving Creator, you alone are worthy of our praise. You are our strength, our hope, and our joy. Thank you for loving us so deeply. May our lives reflect your love as we worship you with grateful hearts.

Holy Spirit, fling wide the doors of our hearts, that your spirit may rush in like a mighty wind. Fill us with your power, renew us with your presence, and send us out to share your love. May we welcome your glory and live by your spirit. Amen.

A busy family week

Tuesday - Happy Birthday, Jeremy
Our eldest has a birthday. He was born the day after Mt St Helens blew. Perhaps that shook him loose: he arrived 15 days after his due date. It was a relief to meet him!

K and I call and check in on how he's doing. What a treat for us!

It's time for K's post-surgery consultation at the surgeon's office. The medical staff is pleased with her progress. She is cleared to drive and do whatever she feels she could do. It's a relaxing day otherwise, with good food and company.

The passion vine is an eyecatcher as I stroll by. Each flower is a masterpiece.

The interior bouquet has evolved from grocery store leftovers with wildflowers and grasses. Amazingly, the neighborhood sidewalks offer a lot of variety.

Wednesday
It's a cool morning, perfect for a walk.

Sunflowers overlook the water catchment fields. 17 storm gutters along the streets channel stormwater into two huge empty lots.

More subtle wildflowers grow alongside.

Overhead, a tree is erupting in clusters of magenta.

We heat up a TJ pizza, adding favorite toppings. In the evening, the Mastermind meets online to discuss life and leadership. I play with the shadows on the cover while we talk.

Thursday

As usual, my eyes are drawn to wildflowers along the path. It's cloudy all day, after a night of storms and rain. Two defining mediums lie between the sidewalks and streets: spikey black gravel in one side of the subdivision, with grass in the Habitat For Humanity neighborhood.

Other fuzzy little pinks have popped up in the grasses. Few neighbors cut their own lawns. Instead, they hire a lawn service to come every two weeks.

After a few loops around the block, it's time for breakfast. I combine Brussels sprouts from yesterday's supper with eggs and bacon. We phone Leslie (a cousin) and send a "hello" video to Mom ("Grandma"), who is not able to take our call.

Kirsten drives for the first time since her surgery. No problem! She's able to negotiate the highways and streets easily. We find some trousers and a blouse at Marshall's before heading home to leftover pizza and salsa. It's chopped salad for supper, along with leftover crepes. 

Mika trots through his little loop walk before the thunderstorm blows in. Sheets of rain blow sideways and lightning flashes. We're happy to be inside.

Friday

Mika and I walk around the neighborhood early in the morning. He was restless and whining during the night. None of us slept well. He doesn't mind going into the crate but thinks he's done at 4AM. zzzz K makes avocado toast - oh yum!

She drives us to the grocer and walks confidently across the huge parking lot to a discount shop. We find a full-length mirror for the guest room. Plants that grow wild and huge on our tropical trees? Those little bird nest ferns and staghorn ferns are expensive here (Rp190.000).

K puts together a charcuterie lunch. Yum.

Back in Bandung, the dark corner of the kitchen needs help. Originally, I told the contractor not to bother with a corner downlight because we had 2 shop lights over the island. That was a mistake.

On an overcast day, the corner is too dark for washing dishes or baking. The electrician charges $18 for the installation, including parts and labor.

K and I hem and haw about fixing her firm sofa. With a thick mattress topper, it becomes comfy. She has good ideas on how to manage the slipcover and padding. 

We call Adelina in Germany (another cousin), who has just hosted a group at her house. It's a family tradition to welcome others into our homes, so we cheer her on. She's so much fun.

K and I love being together. We call W to find out how he's doing. He's walking the dogs in the early morning and talks to us from under the tree canopy over the streets. Bandung is so green!

Everything is quiet at the Project today. Persib, the Bandung football (soccer) team, is playing a championship game this weekend. The Saturday English group cancels classes. The volunteers can't come through the 2-day traffic gridlock in town. Zealous fans can get overexcited and even violent so locals avoid the downtown and cancel any non-essential trips.

Read more:

* What do workers gain from their toil? I have seen the burden God has laid on the human race. He has made everything beautiful in its time. He has also set eternity in the human heart; yet no one can fathom what God has done from beginning to end. 

I know that there is nothing better for people than to be happy and to do good while they live. That each of them may eat and drink, and find satisfaction in all their toil—this is the gift of God. I know that everything God does will endure forever; nothing can be added to it and nothing taken from it. God does it so that people will fear him. Ecclesiastes 3:9-14

* I will save you, and you shall be a blessing. Zechariah 8:13

* When Jesus spoke again to the people, he said, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.” John 8:12

* God, who consoles us in all our affliction, so that we may be able to console those who are in any affliction with the consolation with which we ourselves are consoled by God. 2 Corinthians 1:4

Moravian Prayer: God of comfort, you surround us with love in every trial. As you console us, help us share that same kindness with others. May we be a blessing, bringing hope and peace to those in need. Amen.