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.

Walking again

Thursday, May 14, 2026
How strange to be near the time zones of friends and partners. And how odd to calculate W's time. He is X (directly opposite am and pm on the clock, so it's not hard.) When I'm ready for a call, W is fast asleep and vice versa.

I'm gradually meeting K's neighbors on the walks. Last night, her dog Mika came back after being dog-sat at two friends' homes. What a relief not to have a little cling-on underfoot during her first week of recovery. Thanks to Terry, Karen, and Crystal for taking care of the fluffy tripping hazard.

This morning, Mika trots around the neighborhood with me. I do a long loop, drop him back on the porch, and do the second loop myself. The big cacti have started blooming.

Wildflowers grow where things are not mowed.

K bought magnums and that's luxury after the last meal.

The whole distance is 3000 steps - not far - but he's little and I need a brisk walk to start the day. In the evening, we do another lap. He's not that happy with me.

The grasses pulled from roadside fill in for the dying flowers in last week's bouquet.

The roses, fresia, and lilies are first to go.

As the week evolves, so do the wildflowers. Within a few days, we have nothing left except two green stems.

The sunset across the neighborhood is brilliant.

Mika stirs and whines most of the night. I'm up and down so K doesn't need to get up after her early shift to quiet him. He's happy when morning comes. (It takes him 5 nights to adjust.)

Friday
After Mika's loop, K walks around her cul-de-sac.

I do one more round on my own, and we're ready for breakfast.

We mix potatoes with sides for a delicious lunch.

W is finishing off beds in the guest rooms of Bandung.

Those repairs are almost done. He'll be redoing the drawers for this pullout double bed next.

The bath floor is looking cleaner, even after one coat of paint.

We're cruising through design shows, enjoying the creative work of others. Mika and I do another round before an evening meeting online.

Saturday
K's not using her robot vacuum so we take out the dead battery and pack it to take it back to Indonesia. It is low and can clean under beds and sofas, which is helpful when we have a full house.

The cacti are blooming.

Many colors line the sidewalk where the grass is unmowed.

On the other side of the world, W is making progress against the frog spawn that shows up each morning despite the clarity of the pool and the chemical balance.

The bunk is ready to be dressed on the other side of the world. It has a desk and lamp below. The pictures that were hung above a twin bed will have to be moved.

The kids come for English lessons with the international volunteers.

They line up for snacks before heading home.

There are big smiles all around.

Sunday

Breakfast is usually eggs and salsa.

Red Rock Church offers an encouraging message, with a heads up on managing the stress that is part of everyday American life. "Instead of the Shepherd's Psalm, we often put it in our own language of managing of lives." 

The speaker encourages attendees to recite Psalm 23 together.

In Jakarta, W attends the funeral of Deasy, a friend.

Monday

We head to Trader Joes for vegetables and mains. Kirsten cruises the aisles without trouble. We are so grateful to God for her recovery progress. On the way home, we stop by the grocery pickup section of HEB. Today we watch Noona, a wonderful story of getting Italian grandmas to cook for a restaurant.

The sidewalk cactus is erupting in more flowers each day.

There's a perfect set of blooms on the Pride of Bermuda.

It's a beautiful day in the neighborhood. Thanks to everyone who is praying for Kirsten.

Read more:

* I will extol the Lord at all times; his praise will always be on my lips.
I will glory in the Lord; let the afflicted hear and rejoice.
Glorify the Lord with me; let us exalt his name together.
I sought the Lord, and he answered me; he delivered me from all my fears.
Those who look to him are radiant; their faces are never covered with shame.
This poor man called, and the Lord heard him; he saved him out of all his troubles.
The angel of the Lord encamps around those who fear him, and he delivers them.
Taste and see that the Lord is good; blessed is the one who takes refuge in him.
Fear the Lord, you his holy people, for those who fear him lack nothing. Psalm 34:1-9

* Make a joyful noise to God, all the earth; sing the glory of his name; give to him glorious praise. Psalm 66:1,2

* The proverbs of Solomon:
A wise son brings joy to his father, but a foolish son brings grief to his mother.
Ill-gotten treasures have no lasting value, but righteousness delivers from death.
The Lord does not let the righteous go hungry, but he thwarts the craving of the wicked.
Lazy hands make for poverty, but diligent hands bring wealth.
He who gathers crops in summer is a prudent son, but he who sleeps during harvest is a disgraceful son.
Blessings crown the head of the righteous, but violence overwhelms the mouth of the wicked.
The name of the righteous is used in blessings, but the name of the wicked will rot.
The wise in heart accept commands, but a chattering fool comes to ruin.
Whoever walks in integrity walks securely, but whoever takes crooked paths will be found out. Proverbs 10:1-9

* If our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the furnace of blazing fire and out of your hand, O king, let him deliver us. But if not, be it known to you, O king, that we will not serve your gods and we will not worship the golden statue that you have set up. Daniel 3:17-18

These are the words of the Holy One, the True One, “I know your works. Look, I have set before you an open door that no one is able to shut. I know that you have but little power, yet you have kept my word and have not denied my name.” Revelation 3:7,8

Moravian Prayer: Mighty God, you are our refuge in trials and our strength in uncertainty. Even when the way is hard, we trust in your power to save. Open the doors you have set before us, and help us walk forward in faith and courage. Amen.