Further Proof of Global Warming

It is October, and there is both papaya and a mango seedling growing in my compost pile.

The mango actually got fried a few weeks ago with the scorching sun and the top leaves fell off.

Simple--In Four Parts

Some of my readers (that's a euphemism for all two of you) might be interested in a series of articles I have written entitled Simple Living in the 21st Century. These weekly installments have been posted on the Zeal For Truth blog. Here's the link to part 4--Appropriate Technology. You can see a photo of a computer box turned into a stove!

If you're interested in the earlier parts, just look around on the site and you'll find them.

Feel free to jump in and comment on my articles or any one else's--no need to register. Many of the articles are geared to politics, some to church life, and a mixture of a few other things.

My Visit to an Emerging Church

Last Sunday we were in Houston visiting my son and his fiancée. When we were making our plans the night before the word was, "We'll have to get there early or there won't be a place to sit."

So we hurried ourselves up, took the dog for a walk, got overdressed, and headed for ecclesia. No, I'm not trying to show off my Greek skills; that's the church's name.

When we arrived we got in the coffee line. Not just for the standard Mr. Coffee brew, but rather for a muko-choco-latto, or something like that. So while most sanctuaries have a sign outside saying: "No food or drink in Sanctuary," this one was just the opposite. Proceeds go to support the place.

What the church's name lacks in originality, the venue makes up for. The meeting was held in an art gallery with a name that seemed quite fitting for some of the artwork on display.
Two walls were a permanent display of interesting religious art; the other two were dedicated to moving exhibits.
The congregational singing was a combination of contemporary music and hymns, led by an average guitar player. The congregation was of many colors, mostly on the young side, and more comfortably dressed than I was. When the pastor got up to lead the opening prayer he was interrupted by a cute two year old asking, "Do you know where my mommy is?" The pastor smiled, held the child up so we could all see her and her mom could find her. That taken care of, back to his prayer. Not long after, the children were dismissed to their own service.

By this point I was beginning to suspect that this was an emergent church, but when I heard Brian McLaren's name invoked, then I knew for sure.

Next was the scripture reading, and I'm afraid to say this is the one part of the service that I had a little objection to. The reading was from Luke, but instead of actually reading from Luke, the pastor read from The Voice of Luke, Not Even Sandals, a retelling of Luke and Acts written by Brian McLaren. Don't get me wrong--I'm not opposed, in general, to paraphrases and even oral storying of scripture. But what bothered me, is it didn't seem like the pastor actually mentioned that's what he was doing. Here’s a link with info about McLaren’s book, if that interests you.

The service ended with communion, done by intinction, with both grape juice and wine offered. Having both options available was a new one for me.

I enjoyed my visit to ecclesia, and found it a pleasant and welcoming atmosphere. Since the place was busting out the seams, it must be doing something right. I'm aware of the criticisms of the emergent church movement and feel that some of those criticisms are valid. But, I also know they are not all cut from the same cookie cutter and I'd be willing to learn more.

Proud Mama

Pardon the link to my family blog, but I do say it was nice to get this article in the mail today in a publication from Best Semester.com.

Caleb and Laura's Wedding

Our best wishes to Caleb and Laura for a very happy life together. It was a beautiful wedding, with the coolest groom's cake ever!

Cleaning

You know you're really cleaning when you vacuum out the silverware drawer.

White Kitty and Black Mouse

I'm thinking I should call this photo "Cat and Mouse."

This cat has been driving us crazy of late. Last night, or should I say at 2:30am, we were jarred awake with a great crash. The cat had gotten on a metal gadget that I store colored papers in and flipped it over onto the floor. Then two hours later it woke me up again. We can't put it outside at night for fear of the coyotes, and even so, it has figured out how to jump up into the high bathroom window and scratch on the window until we let it in anyway. The other problem is it has figured out how to turn the bathroom faucet on--but not how to turn it off, of course. It prefers running water to a water that's been sitting around in a bowl all day!

We keep wondering when this cat is going to die, but it seems to still be going strong. It showed up as a stray the night of Andrew's graduation from HS--over ten years ago now.

Missionaray Snake Stories

Even in Dallas we have missionary snake stories. Today a woman got bitten by a copperhead (this one is pretty well hidden, huh?) while she was pulling weeds around her home here on campus. She was rushed to the ER and was treated but is still in a lot of pain. The snake was also taken to the ER, but it isn't in pain because it is dead. They took it just to make sure the doctors got the right kind of antivenin.

Want to know more about Texas's venomous snakes? Here's a link.

Maybe Wedding Doves Migrate

A year ago I wrote this post about a white dove that lives in a tree that I pass each day as I walk home from work. It was gone for many months, and I just assumed it died. But today, it was there again, and I had a nice chat with it, welcoming it back.

And speaking of animals, this is what greeted us in the hallway yesterday morning. I guess I really should be more careful about leaving the back door open. (Gary caught it and put it outside.) We've noticed a marked increase in the number of toads this season--must be due to the very rainy weather we've had this year.

Photos from Honduras, Hurricane Felix Relief

These are photos Andrew sent from his recent work.

I'm also trying a new thing with embedding a slide show. (You might be asked to download a flashplayer.)

(I'd appreciate comments to tell me if the slide show thing works, if it takes too long to download, etc.)

A Nice Thing to Hear

It was a joy to have someone write these words to me this week:

I am so grateful for your son in my daughter's life. As I told him, I am so blessed to meet the man for whom I have been praying since she was a baby...

I look forward to the day when I can say these words, too.

p.s. The wedding date is June 21 in Seattle.

Closet Cleaning

A year ago I helped my daughter go through her closet to sort out her clothes so she could buy some new ones "for work." Well, now we're doing it again for ostensibly the same reason, although I suspect it is just to make up a reason to go shopping. (Did I ever mention how I hate shopping??)

In any case, she has lost several pounds since a year ago, so she does need some new clothes because some of the old ones don't fit. But I still hate shopping.

Another Empty Nest Post

Apparently my last Empty Nest Post hit a chord with a few other folks, because I ended up with an unusual number of comments. (BTW, thank you all for reading and responding.) Today I'm thinking some related thoughts.

Earlier this afternoon we attended the wedding of the son of coworkers we've known for many years. It was a simple wedding, and the bride was beautiful. The self-written wedding vows included a promise to care for the bride's six year old son. None of that sounds very unusual, but most people in the room never expected that Daniel would ever marry. Most of us are still surprised he is alive. Over 17 years ago, at the age of 17, Daniel contracted viral encephalitis which started out with a 108 fever causing brain damage. He nearly died then, and has been recovering for 17 years. We saw the slow steps of progress until now he can hold a job and drive a car. And more to the point, he can marry a woman whom he loves and who loves him.



So why is this an Empty Nest Post? Well, Daniel's parents decided some months ago to leave the comforts of Dallas and move to *#@&% (see, if I tell you the real country, I'd have to kill you, and then who would comment on my blog??) What to "do" with Daniel was an issue for his parents. For although Daniel has made unbelievable strides, he still requires someone to take care of him in certain ways. So, besides bringing happiness to the couple themselves, this marriage is a provision for the parents who now have an Empty Nest so they can move overseas for further ministry without worrying about Daniel's well being.

Those of us who have witnessed God's grace throughout these 17 years are so happy to see God bring Daniel to this point of living a productive and bringing him someone to love. It is a blessing to view this marriage as the way God is providing for Daniel, Vicki and six-year-old Steven to take care of each other.

More Symphonettes

A couple more of the the girls from our group have join Facebook and our now our Symphonettes Reunited has gotten a little bigger.

One of the girls pointed out the fact that three of our songs are on the school website, so I downloaded it here. I've never put an mp3 on my website, so I don't know if this will work. But if it does, you can hear a song that was recored about 35 years ago, and you'll never guess who played flute in it!

Baby Spit-up

I just figured out what that sour smell is I keep noticing. Maybe it is time to go change out of my church clothes. I now remember being baptized with regurgitated cottage cheese while in the nursery--which tends to ferment within minutes.

And what nasty looking baby food they sell these days. One parent packed a container of banana-plum-grape stuff--do you know what color those three ingredients make??

I was happy that the wailing chorus had turned into a babbling brook by the time each set of parents arrived.

35 Years Ago

Thanks to the wonderful internet, a friend of mine from college days found me and we've gotten reacquainted. We were in a girls' singing group together and we decided to try to find some other members of the group. We've started a Facebook group called Symphonettes Reunited.

Can you figure out which one is me?

An Empty Nest Post

This is an Empty Nest post. That's because it is the musings of a mother whose children are getting married.

Apologies in advance if this post annoys anyone.

My last couple blogs here (and in my other blog) have been about the neighbor boy getting married. He and his siblings are close and long-time friends of my kids, and so it does almost feel like one of my own got married. He and his new wife flew off to the east coast early this morning to start their own nest, unpacking wedding gifts and turning a single's home into a couple's home.

What do these actions bring to the mom? (Well, to me at least, the surrogate mom, and likely to the real mom as well?) It brings relief. It also brings happiness, but somehow I'd describe it more as relief.

That may sound silly, but somehow there is this feeling inside of me that

1. our kids are not really grown up until they are married
   
2. our kids now have someone besides me to care for them, to make sure they are ok
3. now I'm no longer responsible for that child's well-being, someone else is.

I know, there are plenty of mature, self-sufficient, single, happy 20-somethings out there who probably think I'm really stupid for feeling this way. Sorry. I don't mean to dis you in any way. Nevertheless, that's how I feel.

Wedding Reception

I mentioned a couple weeks ago that I was missing the wedding of my best friend's son. Tonight they had a reception for the new couple in Dallas that I was able to attend. Since I've known the groom since he was less than 5 years old, it was almost like having one of my sons get married.

It was a fun time for Rachel also since she got to see a lot of the friends she grew up with (she and Michael were in the same class at school).

Rain Delay

It only rained for about 5 minutes, but it took 20 minutes to get the tarp out and the get it put away again.

We left when the game was tied, and by the time we got home, they were well behind and went on to lose it. But it was fun to go and see a friend there.

Not Much

Is a bobble head anything like a bottle neck?

In other news, I'm having another "bake the perfect cheesecake" marathon. I told my good friend that I would prepare a couple cheesecakes for a reception she is hosting this Saturday for her son and his new bride. The trick I added to my repertoire this round was to buy a drywall knife to cut them with!
This evening I tried my hand at touch-up painting some rust spots on Rachel's car created from the BB-gun attack. Since the front of it looks so good now, we're trying to patch up the rust spots on the back. Speaking of Rachel, she had yet another interview today which she felt good about. Now a couple more days of waiting to find out if it amounts to anything.

Sunburn

Even the plants get sunburned if you leave them outside too long in the Texas heat.

Tree at Crater Lake

I don't have anything very profound to say about this photo from our recent trip, I just thought it was cool and I wanted to show it off.

Home Group

a.k.a. Bible study, small group, cell group, etc.

Sometimes the time together gets tedious, or frivolous, or too long, or too silly, etc. On the other hand, when there, I know I am cared for.

Insult to Injury

I was already feeling down today when I got a phone call from Planned Parenthood asking me if I wanted to keep abortion legal.

We live in such a messed up world.

Bloom Where You're Planted

I guess God must have some kind of sense of humor to plant these daisies here. Or, maybe he put them here as an object lesson for people like me who sometimes need a reminder of who's in charge of the universe.
They don't seem to even notice that it is nearly 300 feet down a perpendicular cliff to put one's roots (or feet) on solid ground.


Taken at Salt Creek Falls in Central Oregon, from the top of the falls.

I Wish I Were There

I have no idea who these children are, I just couldn't resist taking this photo as we strolled through the redwoods one day on our recent trip.

But the photo reminds me that the sons of two of my good friends are being married today, and I can't be there. One wedding is in Pennsylvania and the other is in North Carolina. I pray God will bless those marriages, protect them from divorce, and let them live happily ever after. (Do you know how seldom that happens these days?)

I should also add that there was plenty of squabbling going on between these two children, but in the end, they decided to go it together.

Light at the End of the Tunnel

I'm starting to feel somewhat caught up with all the details that were left unattended while we were traveling. I've managed to do such exciting things as empty the cat box, clean the bathroom, get all the wrinkles out of the clothes that were stuffed in the suitcase, replace the door knob on the front door, pay a couple bills, go to work, and buy groceries. I still have a pile of stuff on my desk to deal with that needs some serious attention. I've also uploaded about half of my photos to my online photo album .

While in California, I visited an internet friend named Lisa. Turns out she and her family know a bunch of people that I know. The Christian world isn't all that big. Photos of my visit to her bamboo farm are on in my photo album too.

Oregon Wildflowers

Columbine
Yarrow
?? at Odell Lake
aster sp.
petite bluebonnet
white bluebonnet
paintbrush

Trip Summary

We glad to be home safely. Here's the statistics for our 15-day trip:

• 1 - night at a resort with the bathroom down the hall
  
• 2 - miles walking in an underground cave
• 2 - rental cars
• 4 - meals at gas stations
• 4 - times the laptop was on the internet
• 5 - waterfalls
• 5 - times Gary preached his sermon
• 7 - sets of relatives we visited
• 8 - beds slept in
• 13 - homes we ate in
• too many to count - times we made wrong turns
• too many to count - times we yelled at each other for making wrong turns
• too many to count - photos taken of cool places
  
• too many to count - good conversations with friends and supporters
  

Pie for Breakfast

It is OK to have pie for breakfast when you're on vacation. If it had been Labor Day weekend, I could have had huckleberry pie.

Redwood

There's nothing like a redwood forest to put life into perspective.
(Click the photo to get a better idea of what I mean.)

Driving

I hate driving. I hate getting lost. I hate not knowing where I am. I hate not knowing how to get from A to B in the most direct and efficient way. I guess that makes me a control freak.

In spite of that, we did enjoy a few cool sights yesterday.

If you are interested in more photos and details, check my other blog.

I'm Off

I am about to go to bed because I have to get up very early tomorrow to fly to San Francisco. I'll be joining my husband who has already been there for a week. We'll get a rental car and attempt to make our way around to visit friends, family, and supporters. Gary will preach at church next Sunday.

Then we get on the plane, fly to Oregon, and do the same thing over again for the following week.

I hope to be able to read email and do some blogging, but it is hard to tell how much that will be.

If anyone thinks of us, pray we will be safe and not yell at each other too much while getting lost during all the driving we have to do. :-(

Gary has gotten an invitation to come have lunch at the Google headquarters on Tuesday, but he'll take the BART in, and I'll sit around at Aunt Helen's house.

Intricate

I really don't like spiders, and I for sure don't like them in my house, but I have to admit to a begrudging admiration for them and their web craft. How can such a tiny and insignificant thing as a spider build something so clever, intricate, strong, and flexible, to say nothing of beautiful? And if I tear this one down (because it is blocking my back door), he just gets right back up and builds another one.

Proverbs 6:6 says to go to the ant and observe her ways to become wise. We could probably learn something from the spider too.

Here is a link to a site that shows step by step how a spider builds a web. (Of course, they don't admit to a Creator giving spiders such ability, but the illustrations are informative.)

A Stack of Bibles

My "paralyzed" friend, Melchizedek, made a post recently about his inventory of Bibles. That got me to thinking about my life a long time ago. I think it was the spring of 1972. I was in Bible college, on tour with a womens' singing group, visiting a church in Minnesota. Or was it Wisconsin? This poster was on the wall of their church. I was so moved by this poster, which went on to have a profound effect on my life, that I asked someone at the church if I could have it and they obliged.

I know you can't read it (this is a scan of a photo taken in 1974 of the poster as it was a couple years later on my bulletin board). On one side is a stack of Bibles in English. On the other side is a blank sheet of paper. One one side it says, "Dozens of translations of the Bible in English." On the other side it says, "Hundreds of languages without one single verse of the Bible." If I remember correctly, the poster was actually advertising for New Tribes Mission, which I didn't join.

I stayed in that womens' singing group for the three years I was at that college, and each spring we toured. Year three we returned to the same church where I had found this poster two years prior. This time, there was a poster advertising Wycliffe Bible Translators.

And the rest, as they say, is history.

Our Integrated Lives

The conversations this morning went something like this:


He: Can you print off a couple things for me? Here are 7 urls, 1 pdf and 1 word file. And then I need 50 more color copies of the flyer--duplex, please. No don't bother folding them, I'll do that later.
Me: Grrr.
He: You know, if you had a real job, you couldn't complain like that.

Me: Your lack of planning does not constitute my crisis.
He: What lack of planning? I've been planning this for weeks. And what do you mean, "last minute"?? The plane doesn't take off for another four hours.

He: Did you pick up my business cards from the printshop?
He: Yep, and you're not going to like the mistake they made on them.

He: Where's my favorite shirt?
Me: I just finished your laundry.

He: Where's my new pants?
Me: I just finished hemming them.

He: You know, I don't think I have room in my suitcase for my tennis shoes, jeans, dress shoes or dress pants. Could you put them in your suitcase when you come?
Me: Sure. When I join you next week all I'm bringing is my toothbrush and a change of underwear.

He: Photos. Don't you think I should take some photos of the family with me?
Me: Have you ever heard of the internet? Let me write down the URL.

He: Could you make a back up copy of my Powerpoints on a CD? The one for the keynote lecture at Stanford and the one for the sermon I'll be giving 5 times. Don't mix them up.
Me: Mix them up? Hmm, that could be instructive--in both cases.

Me: Would you like some salad? It might be your last chance for vegetables.
He: I know California is full of fruits and nuts, but do you think there are no vegetables?

Yum

Looks like I'm not the only one who likes these roses.

Pizza

Grilled burgers is the typical food for July 4th, but with all the rain, it seemed more like a time to make homemade pizza. With Rachel's help it went pretty fast.


When I used to make pizza there were hardly any leftovers. But now, we'll be eating this the rest of the week.

Lurkers

I don't get very many comments on this blog, but I have a counter, so I know some people must be stopping by. I've thought a little bit about lurking, and wrote about it here. We'd be happy for you to join the conversation there, or just leave an anonymous comment, or, just lurk!

Happy Birthday to Me

I think I want one of these for my birthday!

Life Goes On

I take lots of photos, but I don't get in the photos too often. Yesterday we were happy to celebrate 60 years of marriage with friends from our old church. I want to be like Laurel when I grow up--always kind and cheerful!


Gary's day brightened up when he discovered marshmallows could be dipped in melted chocolate!

Lunch with Ardith

I got to meet another internet friend today. I had met her large family two years ago, and today I got to meet the eldest child, Ardith. She got here around 11am and I took her on a tour of my workplace and then we got together with a small group to go out for lunch. It was lots of fun! She is a sweet and smart young lady, and she's welcome to come back and visit again anytime she's in Texas.

lunch with Ardith

We Understand the Universe

• By science we understand the universe.
• By deduction we understand the universe was created.
• By faith we understand the universe was created by the word of God.

Hebrews 11:3

Titanic

Last evening we attended the Family Music Theater's presentation of the musical "Titanic". AS always, they did a great job, and as always, it was a lot of fun to watch.


The captain was one of our colleagues, and we knew several other cast members as well.


Large scale photos from the real Titanic were projected on the screen behind many scenes, making this a history lesson as well as an evening of entertainment.

Who Let the Dogs Out?

You remember a few weeks ago I told you about Sooner and Boomer, don't you? Tonight during dinner I saw them running around, unattended, in our back yard. "Who let the dogs out??" I demanded, and somehow Rachel and I broke into song:


Of course, we only knew six words of the song, and now that I've looked up the lyrics, it is probably best to leave it that way. Enjoy the dog bloopers video--it made me laugh.