La Vie Quotidienne

Today I taught a yoga class, a Zumba class, and a Pilates class.

I drove three carpools.

I did three loads of laundry.

I drove a kid to cello lessons, picked one up from a Young Life gathering, and said hello to my husband for approximately three minutes.

I tried healthier pea crisps and organic gummies for snack. I realized I have developed a bad habit of snacking in the car as I drive around all day. I thought about keeping bags of carrots or apples in the car instead.

I drug three plants out from under the house to see if they would spring back to life in spring. I bought some new ones from the garden center. I scolded Della for eating my plants.

I tried three allergy remedies.

I ordered beard oil, a magnet that says clean/dirty for the dishwasher, and some breath-freshening mint crunchies for our dog.

Nothing notable to speak of, but each moment lived in gratitude in light of eternity. Sometimes I am bored. Sometimes I am stressed and over-scheduled. I cut coupons and collect words, and sort photos while I wait for kids to finish up rehearsals or practices. I clean out closets in a rhythm not unlike going to the gym....maintenance, maintenance, maintenance. But, in my forties, I am enjoying these little things like walking the dog on a springy day, or watching my daughter's theatrics. May I live even the ordinary, mundane ones well.

Giving the Easy Bake oven one last hurrah before sending it to the thrift store.

Natalia celebrating a friend's birthday tea

Keeping the home fires burning with messages spelled out in Cheezits and talking an evening stroll instead of a cardio walk. Happy to be married to a man that the lady across the street can call to help her jump her car in a bind.

 

 

So, so, proud of my baby, learning to act, sing, and dance so that others can consider Jesus

Will earned a patch for perseverance, running hard

Gratitude for being able to work shoulder to shoulder with others in our church to help our community.

"There may be no trumpet sound or loud applause when we make a right decision, just a calm sense of resolution and peace." - Gloria Gaither

 

La Vie Quotidienne

In between perusing vegan cookbooks and consulting with nutrition chefs, we interrupt this healthy living pursuit for a weekend of Mimi's southern fried goodness.

 

Long hours of after school rehearsals paid off in a wonderful district orchestra concert

Happy to have grandparents in attendance as I watched my friend hold a phone up during the concert so that her mother could hear the grandkids perform.

Saturday was spent with our church family collecting and sorting 123,000 pounds of food donations for our local food bank.

Mary Jayne's chorus had their spring production and field day

Three of our kids went on field trips- art museum, college tours, and environmental camp

We cooked breakfast for and feasted upon God's word in our Sunday school community

We celebrated one of our friend's birthdays with couples night, and celebrated being in the life stage of not having to pay for baby-sitters and not yet having to pay for new drivers insurance.

We saw Peter and the Starcatcher at a local theatre and had a girls-night-in watching Brooklyn.

 

In between football games, work, teaching, carpool, and music lessons, we had a very full week. I was tired all week after our trip, but thankful for each any every life experience a day can bring.

 

 

 

Guatemala Images

Pimp my bus, Guatemala edition

Growing some scruff... In seventeen years, this is the first time I've seen my man keep some facial hair.

Beards are back.

Some kid always feels the need to do this

Photo-journalism moment

We hope to still be trekking mountains when we are seventy-three

Negotiating the return trip price

My saddle came with a macheté

Balance

Festivity

Faith

Flora

Laurel took this one of a fellow hiker. It is my favorite.

 

 

He is Risen!

 

He is risen! He is risen indeed!

We began celebrating Easter on Saturday night this year. Our church's tech team created beautiful "stained glass windows" for Easter week. I love all things about modern worship, but I was especially moved by beauty that hearkened back to simpler times. I could imagine myself sitting in a European cathedral even while fog swirled and blue lighting glowed, and the band belted out amped songs of praise.

 

Our youngest has taken up the tradition of writing riddles for a treasure hunt to find the baskets on Sunday morning. Her poems at age 10 are much better than mine now. I am proud of these young minds and the things that they are learning to do.

#2/6 I am locked for the night. Bars surround me. Only a human can set me free. Where your BFF lies.

 

 

This year's baskets included less candy and useful things like hammers, work gloves, and measuring tapes. We leave for Guatemala at 3 am Monday morning. What better way to celebrate Jesus than by helping to tell his story?

At Sunday School we delighted in meeting again with chaplain friends who had moved on to other assignments across the nation, but who were in town to celebrate with us. Such reunions make me think of how sweet it will be to one day be reunited with those we love who have gone on before.

Della claims the mulch pile as her new resting spot. We will miss her as she heads off to the trainer for a week of obedience school. She still thinks she's top dog.

Della uses our hammer as chew toys. Maybe she wants to go too?

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Spring break mission trip to Guatemala 2016

"It is God to whom and with whom we travel, and while He is the End of our journey, He is also at every stopping place." - Elizabeth Elliott

This Spring break, we took our family to San Raymundo, Guatemala to build a house for a family in the name of Christ. We joined up with a friend's church in Chapin and Casas por Cristo and had a great, though dirty and tiring, experience.

We were glad for our children to have another lens through which to see the world. To know that they are truly priveleged to have running water, electricity, and toilets that you can flush. To wake up to the sounds of a customized alarm clock instead of crowing roosters, and to smell the scent of detergent instead of burning trash. For the most part, their first delve into life in developing nations was a positive one, if not somewhat shocking to their American world-views and senses.

We were especially impressed with the spiritual depth and working know-how of our Casa leaders, Tyler and Justin, who modeled what it means to live beyond yourself and your comfort zone. The ages of our team members ranged from 10 (MJ and Will) to 73, and we were thankful to not only partner with churches across town and across the world, but also to span generations in ministering shoulder to shoulder. In our large church, mission activities are often organized according to life stage. College students serve here. Adults serve there or there. We loved having the opportunity to have "forced family spiritual bonding" in a missions setting all together. Our kids may not all be on board now, but we believe that exposure to God's heart for the world at an early age will leave an indelible mark for tomorrow.

 

 

 

The house amazingly came up in three days. One day for leveling the ground and laying the cement foundation. Another day for putting up walls, roof, and siding. A third to finish, shop for necessities such as dishes and mattresses, and have a dedication service with the pastor and family.

"The power of finding beauty in the humblest things makes home happy and life lovely." - Louisa May Alcott

 

 

 

 

The afternoons were spent with neighborhood children in Vacation Bible School. Seventy niños soon grew to a chaotic one hundred fifty, but the lovely Guatemalan Ashley translated beautifully. She was definitely God-sent! The children were also patient with our broken attempts at communicating in Spanish and followed us in herds despite the lack of Western-style glitz and glamor. Soccer balls, t-shirts, and candy go a long way here.

 

 

We gathered in the evenings after two sweet mujeres made Western-style dinners for us, and circled up to reflect on the day. I enjoyed leading a devotion on having a servant heart one night, and appreciated the genuine affirmation. It's been a while since I've had the opportunity to teach, and I realized again how much I enjoy it.

"God made you as you are in order to use you as He planned." - J.C. Macaulay

 

I also appreciated various adults pouring into our kids, patiently teaching (us all) how to mix and pour concrete, hammer nails into siding, and help with VBS. I was proud to observe each find a spot somewhere on the team, praying, playing with kids, hauling materials, cleaning up, or staying up late to print pictures of all the kids who attended.

 

 

The last day in San Raymundo we were blessed to travel to the base of the Pacava Volcano and hire horses to ride to the top. We explored the lava fields and a unique shop or artisan jewelry at the top that benefitted those who had lost their homes in a not-too-distant eruption. We even roasted marshmallows over the heat vents. Our kids may not have been able to lounge around and have their wi-if fixes that they are accustomed to, but they were given an incredible opportunity to catch a glimpse of the world and have some fun too. I pray that God will use this week in amazing ways, not only in the life of the precious family that received a home, but in the minds and hearts of our own family too.

 

"No journey carries one far unless, as it extends into the world around us, it goes an equal distance into the world within." - Lillian Smith

 

A time to work and a time to play