Saturday, June 19, 2004

Homemade pizza

I've been feeling kind of down today. I really don't know why and I don't think I have any good reason to be down. I'm annoyed with my computer at the moment, but I'm going to try to talk D. into reinstalling the OS on Monday after Doro leaves. It seems to be full of junk. Another thing that made me sad was R. and I decided to have some reading time together--that part made me happy. But when she tried reading a CS Lewis book, The Problem of Pain, she had to give up because she couldn't understand the big words. She has never been a good reader, and I do admire that in recent years she is trying harder to read more, but it isn't easy for her. That makes me sad. Sometimes life seems unfair.

She's so good with Chimbai, however. He comes by often, as do Michael and Ebenezeer. Late this afternoon R. decided that she and Chimbai would make homemade pizza. I gave some help, but really the two of them did most of the work. She is so patient with him, and he responds well to her. She is generous with her time and her love and the pizza too! She's giving him a bunch of it to take home.

Lord, bless her for the good she does. Help her to trust you, to love you, to want to know you more.

Friday, June 18, 2004

End of the week

R. sort of got started at a job this week. I say sort of because the person who is paying hasn't gotten back to us with any more details than, "Sure, go for it." So we got her started, and just hope we are going the right direction. The job is scanning language materials to be added to the Rosetta Project, a somewhat eccentric project to preserve language data for the long haul.

A.'s 13 boxes arrived today, so there is absolutely no space left in my formerly empty nest. Doro returns tomorrow night, then A. returns on Sunday night. But Doro leaves on Monday to return to Germany, so then A. will have a room.

D. says his two classes are too easy. This week he dissected a cat and made banana oil ester. He's picked out 6 med schools to apply to, but is only choosing ones that have Ph.D/M.D. combined programs. We'll see if he gets in to any of them.

Our plans for hosting a college-age Bible study this summer are coming along. We've decided to make a rather open invitation, so it will be interesting to see how many kids come. Lord, bring just the right people who can benefit from this time of study and fellowship.

I got one RSVP to come to our Bible study (it starts next Friday) from a boy who is interning in the SIL software development department. (Our family has an interesting history with the gentlemen who have interned in that dept.) The parents of this young man we have known for more than 15 years.

Monday, June 14, 2004

Commencement week at Harvard


Monday--We're home, always good to come home. Tonight I sleep in my own bed :-) R and D did not kill each other off, nor did they starve to death--though I am worried about scurvy since all the vegetables I left for them were still here when I got back.

So my summer break is over. Now back to work and trying to get into a comfortable routine with a nest full of chickadees and all their stuff.

Lord, thank you for your gracious care for all of us. Take care of the needs in our hearts and help us to love you more.

Sunday, June 13, 2004

Commencement week at Harvard


Sunday--We got up fairly early to attend services at Park Street Church. The young couple who were the greeters were Taylor grads. The church isn't that big, but it was cool. The choir was well above average, good pipe organ too. Outside the door was the cemetery where Paul Revere, Mother Goose, and victims of the Boston Massacre are buried.

After church we walked some of the Freedom Trail, toured Old Ironsides, and ate lunch at a little place nearby. Then got a different train back to Harvard, arriving just before 3pm.

I don't know if A. is generous or just lazy--he basically decided to give away his stuff instead of trying to sell it. While G. And A. moved stuff, I scrubbed the disgustingly dirty bathroom, swept his room, and washed a few walls. Somehow they have managed to live here without basic cleaning supplies for two years :-(

We declined a dinner invitation because we're too pooped. Besides, the conversation will all be in Spanish.