Saturday, January 3, 2026
Kids ask, "Are we there yet?" when the trip feels long. I'm ready to ask that about this move. After a walk, I reorganize the food kitchen before 8AM - all 16 drawers get emptied so " like goes with like," close to where items are used.
I check through old photos - wow this wreck has come a long way! I snap updates from the same angle as the originals to confirm there really have been enormous changes. Yup.
Henry, Lili, and Danny drop by to see if the Project is suitable for seniors activities. They check back in a while: it's too small for their games.
We have lunch with Ari and Brigitte at #NaraPark, a treat all around.
The groomers come for a few hours and make the dogs look good again.
I take a photo of the neighbour's hedge.
A stunner, even before I ask W to stand next to it for scale.
Sunday
I get locked in instead of out of the yard. I'm on a call when W leaves; when I get to the gate, it's been locked from the outside by the satpam. W returns from the hall to open it and let me out.
What a beautiful flower arrangement this morning! Where does #TitikBadudu even get these ideas week after week?
We take a young couple and their little daughter to lunch. Their situation feels familiar: they're suffering "Young Parent Exhaustion," the adjustment of the first year with a wonderful child who has consideration for nothing but her own needs. (All parents have been there! so we sympathize.)
I walk home to get a few steps in. (W went to feed the dogs so has his quota.) He brings the flowers home. The fragrance of lilies and "queen of the night" is delicious and gets stronger as the afternoon goes by.
I recombine the remaining flowers from last week's arrangement into 2 smaller bouquets before taking a break. A bath? The first water I run is brown. Drain and start again. Better.
W puts the bird cages in partial sunshine. It's nice to hear the birds chirping as they did on the old Porch. The yard is growing vigorously with the combination of rain and sun.
What's that on the ground? Starfruit? We have a starfruit tree? (Takes a while to get to know an established garden, right?) There are dozens of yellow fruits on the soil.
It's a gloomy sort of afternoon. The main spaces at the Project face mostly away from the sun so there's daylight but not direct brightness. I keep the curtains open and sit near the windows.
Late in the day, we grab a dog to guard the Project at night. The others get treats - leftovers from an earlier meal. Anton plays fetch, we pick up a few things we need, and then it's evening. Looking ahead at the week, I'm getting excited to take down the Christmas decor and find out what the new normal looks like.
Monday
We attend some meetings first thing in the morning. Walking the dogs stretches our legs and we bring home a few things from the old attic. Mom's still not answering but the caregivers are working with her. She is surrounded by love.
Then it's off to the neighbouring suburb for used bedroom furniture. We're "almost there" in our acquisitions. Very little of what's here is new. Most was new to us 10-11 years ago. We don't get home until mid-afternoon.
Somehow this place is beginning to fit together. "Oh my, you don't have a traditional house," said a recent guest. "It doesn't look at all like we would decorate." Not sure what that means - she likes it, doesn't like it? Looks weird? "Works but feels strange to us?" I think it was the latter.
My design philosophy is simple: persistently gathering what you like defines your style and creates harmony in your home. It doesn't have to cost a lot. (It can't all be junk though!) = Gather useful and beautiful items.
Having neighbours who love flowers helps! Ratna sends over three stunning orchids that she's found in a nursery up north.
They find their way into partly shaded spots.
They're visible from our windows.
I finally put the working tasks for the Project into a staff list. The only way to maintain a space this diverse is to establish a rhythm of upkeep.
Happy Epiphany! Tuesday, January 6
We sometimes order custom sandwiches at the restaurant section of #MomsArtisanBakery, the best in town.
For the past 23 years, Anna has been creating wonderful food. I had no idea this was available in Bandung! when she sends over an Epiphany surprise. I open the box ... to find this treat. A crown? around a flaky pastry-cake.
I crave beauty in its many forms. When creatives put this much thought into their food and surroundings, my heart starts to sing. Anna's items not only look good. They taste as though they come from the finest European bakery.
After a walk and a 6AM meeting, the sun's come up and the birds are singing. We're grateful for the wise men and women in our lives. Their counsel and mentorship continue as they invest in us and our spiritual health. We want to do the same for them and others in this new year.
Remember, every precious day ahead is already known to God, and every day offers new possibilities for you and me, right? We pray that your 2026 is off to a good start.
Read more:
* The Lord grants peace within your borders. Psalm 147:14
* O LORD, do your eyes not look for truth? Jeremiah 5:3
* Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God. Matthew 5:9
* Beloved, you do faithfully whatever you do for the brothers and sisters, even though they are strangers to you. 3 John 5
Moravian Prayer: Prince of peace, call us to be your peacemakers. May the peace we share with this world reflect the peace you give to us each day.
Holy One, help us be faithful brothers and sisters to the stranger in our midst. Where there is a need, may we feed the hungry, quench their thirst, and show them your love, peace, and comfort. Amen.
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