"TIMBER!"

Tuesday, August 4, 2026
For the first time in weeks, it rains. People twirl, hands out, celebrating. We send the yard man home so he doesn't get sick. Most illnesses here are attributed to masuk angin (lit. entry of wind). When there's strong wind and rain, you know the flu is about to strike. Jakartan government is planning to seed the clouds since rain is needed.

Sadly, it's just a quick shower. Our garden is as dry as ever. We do our evening walk after supper and turn in early. W, the techie, got Ember mugs years ago on Kickstarter. They keep tea warm while we read and relax.

Wednesday
We are up and around the neighborhood before 7:30, in time for W's speech therapy. Agnes is excellent at what she does. I walk by a few times as they're hard at work. W's determined to recover his speaking skills. We know from our own kids that most babies don't speak until they've done a year or more of vocalizing. There's no rush.

While he's hard at work, I make myself the breakfast that W is supposed to avoid. The dogs are happy with the scrambled egg scraps. The Porch is chilly. It's always colder with a cloudless night. (Clouds keep the warmth in.) Lucky Waldemar gets porridge for breakfast again.

A tree removal expert drops in. He'll trim up the huge palm next to the house and remove the durian tree that's been dropping the small unripe fruits on the roof. They make a big bang already, night and day.

"This kind of Durian gets huge," the man tells us. One hit would smash the roof tiles; there are dozens and dozens of durians up there. The fruit falls when it's ripe and is picked off the ground. (For export, it's picked off the tree.) Can you spot the spiky balls on the ground?

Dozens have fallen. What a shame!!! If we could have kept the tree - any way! - we would have. This feels like such a waste of fruit. On the other hand, dozens of 5-8 kg (10-20 lb) "bombs" falling from 7 m (+20') above the tile roof wouldn't have done it any good.

Alice comes by to get the meat fat I'm rehoming. Stored in the fridge, it lasts indefinitely. Usually, I fry a whole Costco package of strips at one time, collecting the fat in a jar. The crispy slices can be taken one at a time from the freezer. No more of that for a while for W ...

When a friend leaves you rooting hormone and the internet talks you into the "easy rooting system," what could go wrong? The baggies hold rose and orchid cuttings. The tip of a paper towel touches the water. They may or may not be filled with roots in a month or two. Let's give it a try.

Lew takes Alice and us for supper at Nara Park.

Thursday

The dogs wait at the back door for their walk and come back for treats. They're still spiffy from grooming yesterday. I guess it's too dry for Juno to roll in the mud the way she usually does after she's been clipped and cleaned.

The new-to-us mattress is finally aired out in the guest room, so the bedding goes on. These wonderful helpers ready the Project for guests, whether someone drops in or stays for a day or longer.

Once the tools and leftover projects are removed from the room, it will host guests who cannot manage the stairs to the guest wing. The quilt I dragged from its start in England, to a-work-in-progress in Seattle and Montana, to completion in Bandung? It finally finds a landing spot.

I bought a floral sheet and curtain set off Craigslist when W was finishing his doctorate at Tyndale Library in Cambridge UK. The flat sheet became the quilt backing. The fitted sheet and curtains are still at the cabin in Montana.

A few trees have "widow-makers" (as we called the dead limbs in Seattle) and need trimming. The one leaning dangerously over the Project roof needs attention. Four 30' (10m) branches have grown toward the sun and can't be removed in one pass. The spikey pine marks a few feet from the roofline on the other side of the roof. The rest of the leaves are overhanging.

The trimmer climbs up and cuts long pieces back to the trunk. He explains that if he takes off an entire branch at once, it will swing down and smash the roof. This job is not for the faint of heart or someone afraid of heights!

While the tree crew is here, a 25' (8m) branch falls on the other side of the yard (below). A similar branch broke off last week, ripping a shade cloth.

Luckily, no one was underneath either time to be speared by the 1 m (3') sharp breaks. 

The branches have green leaves but the tree is infested with carpenter ants as well as galls rust fungus. We ask the property owner what he would like to do. We're trying to save as many trees as we can. The tree man says this one is old hardwood and will keep shedding branches. It needs to be removed as well. (Not today, since we don't hear back from the owner.)

Scott and Ruth arrive from Jakarta to visit W and pray together. They're caring regional directors for the company. We have some Indonesian food and pray together before they go back to the big city.

W inspects the process of removal, marveling at the skills needed. The guys cut long trunk sections for benches and lay them across smaller logs to dry off the ground. I'll spray against termites and ants as well - or they'll be consumed within a few months.

The crew also trims long stems from the palm tree. It's a towering mature addition in the garden. It's tricky to communicate instructions to Indonesian workers. Some months ago, I asked the yardman to remove the spiky stems of already-dead fronds. He cut 5 healthy fronds off the trunk instead. Noooooo, not that! The long branches catch rain and invite rot.

These guys work a long day before heading home with a cash payment. 

Friday
It's quieter than usual since the staff person is at a family funeral. Muslims must be buried within 24 hours, which makes sense in a hot country. And today feels hot! The sun's out all morning, with high humidity. The dogs are happy to get out in the morning and again for the later walks with PakG.

Old Gypsy may be on a separate leash, but he's determined to be part of his pack on the walk. He gets away with a lot and no longer has to sit when we stop: his hindquarters are pretty stiff in the morning.

Lew and I sit down to review the week's research and writing before he heads to the train station. W's Saturday study guys drop by with greetings, laughter, prayer, and a fruit basket.

Lunch (when I make it) is colorful. Indonesian-made meals lean toward tan, brown, orange-red, or beige.

W has another speech therapy session in midafternoon. It's felt like a short and a long week for all of us so far.

Read more:
* Look down from heaven and see, from your holy and glorious habitation. Where are your zeal and your might? Isaiah 63:15

* Jesus said, “I will not leave you orphaned; I am coming to you.” John 14:18

* But now that you have been set free from sin and have become slaves of God, the benefit you reap leads to holiness, and the result is eternal life. For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord. Romans 6:22-23

Moravian Prayer: Wonderful Savior, you have promised to never leave nor forsake us. Your love for us has caused you to humble yourself from your heavenly throne to the dust of the earth. You also promise to raise us from the dust of the earth to the foot of your heavenly throne. May we remain ready for this miraculous transformation. In your holy name, we pray. Amen.

Life-giving friendships and prayers

Sunday, August 2, 2026 Happy 91st Birthday, Mom!
Mom is in frail health in a care home. Every day, we mention her in prayer along with the rest of the family. For all our lives, our mom has prayed for us daily so now it's our turn to carry her before God.

Robin arrives mid-morning for a chat, cookies, and tea. We haven't seen him in ages - so good to reconnect.

Martin and Sayaka come by after the Gathering. Sayaka is an experienced dental hygienist who's worked with stroke victims and children with disabilities. She trained and worked in Japan for years, helping restore function to tongue and facial muscles. She's a blessing: W learns a lot.

David and Georgina come by to show off their beautiful kids, Noa and Neri. They lived with us for 5 months at the old place before they moved to Japan. They're visiting his family and old ffriends, then will be on their way to see her family in Mexico. We forget to take a photo.

While Sayaka and Waldemar work together, I prepare lunch. Our friends are willing to stay for lunch, so we share a pasta salad and some cookies.

Pak Chandra drops by with this weekend's stunning bouquet, made by Ibu Titik.

Wow, this one takes my breath clean away. We share hugs before they're off to lunch with their family.

Danny drops in for a visit. He's been traveling, as have we. It's been months since we've seen each other. He brings a huge meal plus some meat-and-cheese rolls. We sit on the Porch with treats and honey-turmeric tea, talking and enjoying the company. I walk him to the gate as W rests.

Monday
It's still Mom's birthday on the other side of the world. I talk to her for the first time in ages. Sandi made her a birthday party, brought a cake, and invited family and caregivers over to the care home. Norm sends the family photos of the event, making our hearts happy for her. She tells me who was there and how things went, a big improvement over the last few days of being almost unresponsive.

A lone iris is blooming as W and I walk the dogs by. 

Here's my view of the 3 "big dogs": Gypsy the old dog is stiff but insists on trotting along. Anton (alias Monster) does very well, even passing cats. May help that I've begun to tap the side of his head when he turns to look and considers lunging. He, as well as we, miss our mountain hikes.

The speech therapist works with W while I am on a call with a friend. My brother Norm and I chat to catch up as well. I prepare a mid-morning snack for W and start making lunch before catching up on emails.

We remove the plastic wrap from a new-to-us bedspring and move it into the sunshine to air out. It was in storage for a while but never used. It came our way a few weeks ago. After being propped in the entry where visitors come and go, we move it into the guest room.

I'm ready to tackle the room's windows with a second floral layer = vintage 1980s king-sized sheets. Our stepladder is too short and the tall ladder has rungs so far apart that I hate using it. I'm doubly cautious: my step-grandpa died after a fall off the ladder while cleaning the eaves of his house.

I compromise. How about a sturdy stepstool on a sturdy table? It's the right height, has wide step-surfaces, and feels non-wobbly. Up I go.

The former white sheet already has well-spaced clips so the new topper is an easy addition. Open the clip, pull the second sheet up and in, and fold the layers into pleats from top to bottom. The doubled fabric gives heft to the curtain; it's also no longer opaque when the light's on. What a good thing that British florals are in style! That trend came in the 90s, and went in the 2000s, and is back again.

We do another walk around the neighborhood - that's 3 miles at what seems just the right temperature. When I check, it's 85oF/30C. Hmmm. Guess we're acclimated.

Orange seems to be the color of most blooms in our yard and around the walk. A flaming hedge is covered in clumps of 2"/5cm petals.

In late evening for our time zone, the August mastermind is small but helpful. We consider ways to lead and live well.

Tuesday

I thow open the curtains to my office and his shrub is blooming outside the window with 5-7"/12-15cm spires of color. So cheerful! After a walk and breakfast, the long calls with Martha and Mario are filled with friendship and hope. Together we wonder at the goodness of the God we serve, marveling at the good news He offers the world through Jesus.

The Project staff is here in full force, washing bedding, cooking, and cleaning up after a busy weekend. More guests are expected. The women cook for the others while W and I eat what I prepare.

I hear from a book agent who offers to take my books to a publisher.  I don't delete it immediately since I know the press and have reviewed books for them. I have to check if it's legitimate since we receive various such emails. Who knows. Life happens step by step when you're working in multiple directions.

How about a bonus for myself and W, who is on a low-sugar regimen? I melt some squares of dark chocolate, smash an equal amount of seeds and nuts into tiny pieces, and combine them. The mixture goes into a tray for tiny ice cubes, cooling in the fridge for a few hours. 

It's not pretty. The half-full squares easily pop out of the tray - for an almost-healthy portion of crunchy goodness. The tastes of little cheats make a big difference when you're changing your lifestyle and diet, don't they? 

"You don't need a whole chocolate bar, Hon, really." W smiles as he pops one into his mouth. Proof positive right there. Thank you, everyone who prays for us and sends notes of encouragement. We are pleased with his care and his progress, 2 weeks after the stroke that limited his speech.

Read more:
* The LORD is good to all, and his compassion is over all that he has made. Psalm 145:9

* Although these nations that you are about to dispossess do give heed to soothsayers and diviners, as for you, the LORD your God does not permit you to do so. Deuteronomy 18:14

* Now, however, that you have come to know God, or rather to be known by God, how can you turn back again to the weak and beggarly elemental principles? How can you want to be enslaved to them again? Galatians 4:9

Moravian Prayer: Lord, as foreigners in a strange land, remind us to be mindful of the familiar temptations to serve the gods of false strength, security, and familiarity. Instead, help us follow your generous and compassionate leading. Amen.

A good report, thank God!

Thursday, July 30, 2026
Another month has flown by. This one brought unexpected pleasures like speaking/teaching in MT with Waldemar and teaching a wonderful doctoral cohort class. 

It also offered unexpected challenges from W's midbrain stroke last week. After 5 days in the hospital, he came home with limited speech but no other physical symptoms. Today we leave home at 8AM to check in with the cardiologist and neurologist. There's a coffee shop with W's name on it inside the main entrance. He poses with PakG at "his" place.

The restless one walks around the waiting area a few times. He sure doesn't like to sit still.

Intake is a long process. We couldn't figure it out without PakG's help and translation skills. We get a number first, are assigned to the correct clinic at a desk, and wait over an hour and a half for the docs to complete their rounds. To be fair, the doctors willingly answered our questions while we were in ICU and on the ward, so we don't begrudge the same good care for other patients. While we wait, I grade pre-session assignments from the class I taught earlier this week. It's done and recorded before the docs appear.

It takes all morning to shuttle around on the second floor. W gets good reports from the doctors. We queue for payments, and queue again for Farmasi (you can guess that one). For our final stop, we find Homecare on the main floor to make appointments with the speech therapist.

Oops, nope. I get a text saying that we have overpaid and are due for a refund. We need to go to administration. Somehow that refund disappears, with the reason lost in translation. Round and round the admin, PakG, and I go, trying to understand but I soon give up. We're not keeping W here a minute longer than we have to, especially not for a missing $30.

W's hungry for the vegan buffet downtown at Kehidupan. The food tastes ok but is served at room temperature (typically Indonesian). Hot food that comes out of the kitchen sits in unheated trays until it is served.

Our choices look semi-healthy under all the salt and oil. Pretty colors, too.

By the time we stock up on groceries and make it home, it's almost 2:30PM. We're all tired.

Friday
We have no appointments scheduled for the first time in almost 2 weeks. A lot is going on online, which is quickly dealt with.

After a double-loop walk, I sit down with Lew to check the progress he's made this week on his dissertation. He heads back to Jakarta to work this weekend but will be back for more next week. It's crunch time to get something ready for his committee. 

Liana also heads home after a week of quiet retreat at the Project. IbuS the masseuse unlocks my back while W rocks on the side porch swing and catches up on emails and well-wishes. It's payday for the staff, which W manages just fine. His mind is still sharp, thank God.

Titik's bouquet has been beautiful all week.

Supper is homemade borscht: Eastern European-style beet-and-vegetable soup. We splurge with a bit of ricotta cheese to make it creamier. There's enough for 2 more servings so I pop them in the freezer. Cooking big portions means I don't have to spend an hour or two in the kitchen before each meal.

It's overcast all day so it's not hot. On a final loop walk, we climb the streets to the local fruit market for papayas. The first seller says, "Habis (no more)" but the second shop, 2 blocks away, has nice yellow ones. At about 60c/lb, they're a good value.

We figure out what's been crashing onto the tile roof. This looks like durian or jackfruit but is small and hard. They're all over the front forest. "It's a small unripe durian," our resident expert (Alice) tells us. Hopefully some stay on the tree to ripen for our durian-loving friends. Apparently, sudden wet or dry spells cause the drop. We're fully in dry season now. It hasn't rained for a week.

Saturday

Let's be honest, oatmeal is not the most exciting breakfast, day after day. We jazz it up with a few dried blueberries before taking the dogs on 2 rounds of the neighborhood. We send a video to W's family so they can see his progress. My calls with friends are life-giving.

W and I eat on the Porch overlooking the garden: artisan bread from Mom's Bakery, with hummus and vegetables. W loves pickled food, whether cabbage, cucumbers, or mushrooms. The red cabbage is sour sour sour, not my favorite.

The speech therapist arrives mid-afternoon for another grueling session. While they work, I make supper, a pasta salad packed with vegetables and good nutrition. Our meals have changed! for the better.

I send a monthly update to friends in the evening, thanking God for their many prayers on our behalf the past week.

Read more:
* My tears have been my food day and night, while people say to me continually, “Where is your God?” Psalm 42:3

* Shout for joy to the Lord, all the earth. Worship the Lord with gladness; come before him with joyful songs. Know that the Lord is God. It is he who made us, and we are his; we are his people, the sheep of his pasture.

Enter his gates with thanksgiving and his courts with praise; give thanks to him and praise his name. For the Lord is good and his love endures forever; his faithfulness continues through all generations. Psalm 100

* Paul wrote: It has become known throughout the whole imperial guard and to everyone else that my imprisonment is for Christ, and most of the brothers and sisters, having been made confident in the Lord by my imprisonment, dare to speak the word with greater boldness and without fear. Philippians 1:13-14

Moravian Prayer: O God, many times in life our tears of sorrow become so familiar to us that they feel like an old friend. In those darkest moments, we ask you to enter our hearts with your love and comfort. May we be open to your movement within us. Amen.

A week of new things

Sunday, July 26, 2026
W walks the whole neighborhood loop today. The sun's out but it's breezy. The dogs are happy to go the distance, too. Our daughter calls and cheers us up. 

Chandra brings Titik's floral creation over - it lights up the whole space.

The enormous bouquet is "just right" for the serving kitchen, sitting on the 3m/9 1/2 foot table.

Her mix of colors and textures is an inspiration.

When IESBandung dismisses, almost 30 people walk the 2 blocks to the Project to sit on the Porch with W. I make tea and set out cookies.

They pray for God's healing on W and favor in recovery. They mention me regarding the duties of caregiver and my next week of teaching. We cherish this community and have missed them since resigning as their pastor in March! We take a picture before most leave for lunch.

I make lunch for W and me on the Porch while the young adults hang out on the upper balcony for a few hours. The dogs bark their greeting as pizza and other treats come to the gate for them. Delivery is cheap and quick in town.

By the time I clean up, plan supper, and everyone's gone, it's 2:30PM and the house is quiet. It's time to review information for tomorrow's online class, which starts at 7AM.

Monday
The first day of class starts at 7AM. I'm awake in time to cook and eat breakfast, set up Zoom and class notes, and send a video to Mom who is in care in Canada. W walks the 1-mile (1.6 km) loop with me, anxious lest I am late for my class. I tell him to stop stressing on my behalf: I've got it worked out. Class starts on time.

W has a speech therapy session at the house. Agnes is persistent and competent; she tires him out but he makes progress.

Online, the class gets through 3 or 9 student presentations. The material they have researched is stuff I would have to cover - and already have class notes for. They do a good enough job - @2 students per topic - that I'll hand over my PPT at the end for anything they've missed. 

Meanwhile we're smoking through material. I used a full week to teach this course material the first two rounds. With half the week now shared with another fantastic lecturer, I skim and encourage deeper study on points that interest students.

After lunch, W heads for a sunny balcony while I review, revise, and print out the class notes for the next 2 days. Two houseguests arrive and choose their rooms. One is studying; the other is escaping a noisy kos (guesthouse) for the week. Both say they're on call if we need help. That's greatly appreciated.

We take another loop walk around the neighborhood in late afternoon, this time with the 3 big dogs. Anton lunges at a cat and almost knocks W over. Sometimes Anton just can't help himself; he's a powerful and athletic canine.

Tuesday
After a good night's sleep, we walk a loop. There's no water in part of the house. W figures out what's wrong (a stuck valve, and later, overflowing torens - water storage tanks.) Then it's back to work. I make lunch: a lentil stew. We have oatmeal for breakfast. W's not a fan of the pecans I add. Generally, he's been good about the new diet. Right now, it's a guessing game. "Wanna eat? This is what we have."

Factoring his tastes into healthy meals is harder than when I cooked vegan for myself, 20 years ago. I cooked and ate, whether it tasted great or not. Being vegan for 7 years became a spiritual discipline; I simply couldn't function with animal ingredients in my food. 

The 7AM class stays engaged and active for 4 1/2 hours. Good thing I'm a morning person. We don't have time for many of the class interactions used when I have a full week to present the material. We pray for each other, discuss their presentations, and end class on time.

When our neighbor Christine repatriated years ago, we got her Champion juicer. Today we use it for the first time. She said she made peanut butter with it, so we try it out. Perfect = natural PB without sugar or salt added (well, except for the cheat of some roasted peanuts from Bali.)

I revise my notes, catch up online, and rest before another bout of work and food prep.

Wednesday
I get up 1 1/2 hours before class starts at 7AM. By the time I make breakfast, there's not time to wait for W to finish his meal. I do a quick 1km/ 3/4 mile and head up to click into the classroom via Zoom. Meanwhile, W has a session with the speech therapist.

Today, I complete my part of class, other than grading. What a great group - they're engaged, motivated, and interactive. Students who share their experiences with each other learn the most, so my lectures are sprinkled with class exercises. 

Before we end, participants offer in-depth takeaways that let me know they've captured both the information and the spirit of the class. I send them links for further study and the class PPT, and make sure all assignments have been submitted.

Lunch takes an hour: to prepare the kinda Mexican main course by the time the black beans cook. We add in corn, sprouts, onions, garlic and spices. It's served with red rice and salad. I make a new grocery list, 

W and I walk a neighborhood loop before I check in with insurance for W's healthcare reimbursement. Then we confirm appointments for tomorrow's hospital visits.

Hopefully things settle down after tomorrow's doc visists. Should be easier without 4 hours of teaching n the morning, though I've thoroughly enjoyed the students! Thanks everyone who is praying for us, especially for restored health for W. We appreciate each encouragement and petition.

Read more:
* Thus says the Lord, the King of Israel, and his Redeemer, the LORD of hosts: I am the first and I am the last; besides me there is no god. Isaiah 44:6

* O LORD, do not rebuke me in your anger or discipline me in your wrath. Psalm 6:1

* For our sake God made the one who knew no sin [Jesus] to be sin, so that in him we would become the righteousness of God. 2 Corinthians 5:21

Moravian Prayer: Great Potter, you find us as broken vessels in need of repair. Though we are broken, you still see in us the perfection of your craftsmanship. Because of you, we are made whole again! May our gratitude be evident for all to see. In Jesus' name, we pray. AMEN

In which we are sprung

Thursday, July 23, 2026
W is making steady improvement. He begins to form vowels and consonants with the speech therapist. He's expected to go home Friday or Saturday and continue working from there. Lots of friends contact us online with messages and prayers.

Our lovely friends drop by with flowers, food, comforting words and prayers.

Luccy sends a whole meal over via motorcycle delivery.

It's hard work, this relearning speech.

Keelee's Quiet Waters bakery verse of the day is encouraging. So is the chocolate cookie! I snag from the freezer at home. I usually head back for an hour or two to get clean laundry, pick up items W needs, and take a shower.

W has messages coming and going, so sometimes I confiscate his phone so he rests.

He's not inspired by the meals: low salt, low fat (and he thinks, low taste.)

I take a stroll around the neighborhood, admiring the flowering shrubs.

Sundanese are animistic. Trees are permitted to grow into streets and sidewalks so nature's spirits are not disturbed. We walk around whatever is growing in our path.

It's a long day with no surprises. Progress is incremental and steady.

Friday
It's a restless night, anticipating the discharge from the hospital today. The doctor gives us the go-ahead to "get out of jail" at about 10AM. A morning snack arrives. He takes a shower and a walk around the ward, heading back to his room when the speech therapist comes by.

What a difference between yesterday and today. Vowels are getting easier, while n's and m's are possible. Blowing up the cheeks for b, p, t, or extending the lips for s, ee, k is the next challenge.  Lunch is served. I go to the ward desk to ask when W will be released. He is ready to go home. We pack up everything in the room, including my bedding and his tech gear. 

The pharmacist shows me the bag of drugs we'll take home. I write her instructions in English on the packages. She kindly sends me a one-page daily schedule. I don't have the energy to look up what they're giving him. Doc friends (thanks, Paul, etc) offer counsel on what they've seen working and what to avoid.

At 2PM, I'm told, "We're waiting for one document from our local insurance partner." It's my third trip to the nurses' station. The afternoon snack comes but there's no document or communication by 4:30. PakG has taken everything to the car. We're just waiting.

We pass the time by watching HGTV with Indonesian subtitles. Having rebuilt the Project from floor to ceiling last year and put in landscaping, we're sympathetic to the hassles of people renovating houses and yards.

The water dispenser outside our door is perfect for refilling the teapot and the water cups. Such dispensers--high or low end--are standard in homes. You buy (or filter your own) drinking water. City water is contaminated and polluted. I go to and from the dispenser all day.

I keep W's Duolingo streak going, along with mine. His streak is over 1500 days, which would be a shame to lose.

By 4:45, I'm worried about offices closing at 5. I park myself at the nurses' desk and request that someone come downstairs to administration with me to get this figured out. PakG is a lifesaver, translating for cashiers and staff who don't speak any English. I can get by in Indonesian but don't always grasp the jargon for financial transactions. 

Administrators already agreed yesterday that I'd pay and get reimbursed by our global insurance company. Today, after going back and forth about local partnerships, I wave my VISA card at the cashier and tell him I'm ready to pay now. Then we get some traction. I won't have the receipt until Monday "because we have to wait until it is recorded by the bank."

I don't care. I've photographed every document I've signed or seen, upstairs and downstairs, since W was admitted on Monday morning. I'll send the batch of photos to our insurers for reimbursement.

There's no way we're paying for an extra night because of local delays.

By 5:40, we're in the car and on our way home  getting in the door just after 6PM. W washes up and gets ready to rest while I cook supper. Afterward, I unpack, do dishes, and shower. We fall into bed and sleep well. Thank you God for getting us home. 

"The fun is just starting, if you're the caregiver," our Indonesian and American friends tell us. Here it's usual to hire a full-time assistant at home for patient recovery. That sounds even more exhausting to me.

Saturday
W spends an hour in the sunshine this morning, the local cure-all for what ails you. He can read (and reply somewhat) online. Poor guy when he tries to act out his communication. I give him tips once I figure out his motions.

"If you want something auditory, point to your ear as well as making a ringing motion."(I.e., when he wanted me to find the bell that he'll ring until he can call me.) It's amusing to us both: we've been married so long but never used hand motions to communicate. We're apparently the worst couple at Charades.

I have to figure out his meals: low-salt, low/no-sugar, low-fat, low/no dairy, no red meat or pork. Breakfast is oatmeal, with dried cherries as an occasional pop of taste. Essentially I'm returning to the McDougall Diet that kept me sane in my 40s. The hospital nutritionist gave me old guidelines which the American Medical system has since updated.

I spend a few minutes online on reputable hospital sites (USA) to confirm the parameters. We head to the grocer to stock up on vegetables, fruit, potatoes, and plant milk. W walks around the store with no problem. He limps a bit as he didn't drink enough the first few days in hospital so his toe is swollen with gout.

If I didn't have to use up food in the freezer, I'd cook completely vegan for 8 weeks to see how W's system responds. Lucky for him, there's chicken waiting to be eaten. After air-frying baby potatoes and chicken, I shred the chicken with a gadget our daughter showed me: a Mexican meat/cheese shredder. Ohhhh, food magic. It works great. 

A mixed green salad. Shredded chicken. Potatoes. Steamed spinach. It's not the most exciting meal I've ever made. We eat on the Porch. Then I clean up and put stuff away while W rests. At least he'd better be resting. I feel like I need a nap, but first must send our hospital documents to the insurers. 

I make a fresh cup of tea and pop a few homemade chocolate squares in my mouth as a reward. Ohhh, and I have to get the laundry out of the machine, which I ran first thing this morning ... another load to go. Oh well. Maybe a nap is a bit ambitious.

Read more:
* [God] said, “All the people among whom you live shall see the work of the LORD.” Exodus 34:10

* Surely the righteous will never be shaken; they will be remembered forever. They will have no fear of bad news; their hearts are steadfast, trusting in the Lord. Their hearts are secure, they will have no fear; in the end they will look in triumph on their foes. They have freely scattered their gifts to the poor, their righteousness endures forever; their horn will be lifted high in honor.

The wicked will see and be vexed, they will gnash their teeth and waste away; the longings of the wicked will come to nothing. Psalm 112:6-10

* The crowd was amazed when they saw the mute speaking, the maimed whole, the lame walking, and the blind seeing. And they praised the God of Israel. Matthew 15:31

Moravian Prayer: Great Physician, from the earliest of times, you have knelt by us, healed us, and given us hope for better days ahead. Now in humble adoration, we kneel before you, as the healing balm of salvation flows through our hearts. May we always come before you for our healing. Amen.