tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3472289364229708372024-03-06T12:20:56.131+10:00A PEAS of My LifeStories and reflections from the lives of some very ordinary PEAS seeking to serve an amazingly extraordinary God.Peas on Earthhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15734154988745705474noreply@blogger.comBlogger172125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-347228936422970837.post-91933240853584313562015-02-16T09:19:00.002+10:002015-02-16T09:24:04.512+10:00Designer Winds and Name-brand Storms<!--[if !mso]>
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<span lang="en-US" style="font-family: Garamond; font-size: large; line-height: 110%;">EARLY in the year, the winds usually pick up around here, and by “pick up” I mean loosely pinned laundry items, patio furniture, small dogs …</span></div>
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<span lang="en-US" style="font-family: Garamond; font-size: large; line-height: 110%;">Especially at the “top of the hill” where we live, the gale knows no buffer. It can be somewhat disconcerting to hear the relentless howling, to see the trees bent nearly horizontal in a heroic attempt to remain anchored to the ground. </span></div>
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<span lang="en-US" style="font-family: Garamond; font-size: large; line-height: 110%;">A few weeks ago, I was wrestling with God over a significant work situation. Something reminded me of the winds that had so recently beaten against my house, and a visual story began to take shape in my mind. Many of you know the one. Jesus had just thanked God for a few trout and some dinner rolls and put on a feast that satisfied thousands. Everywhere he went, people were clawing for a piece of him. He was tired, spent. He sent his best friends out in a boat to cross the sea, which, I guess, must take a while in a dinghy, as Jesus had more than enough time to hike a mountain and chat with his Father.</span></div>
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<span lang="en-US" style="font-family: Garamond; font-size: large; line-height: 110%;">Sometime while he was gone, a storm blew in, sending the disciples, as usual, cowering in the bottom of the boat and assuming distant apparitions to be ghosts. </span></div>
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<span lang="en-US" style="font-family: Garamond; font-size: large; line-height: 110%;">We tend to focus on the last part of the story where Peter recognizes his friend and calls out, “Hey, if it’s really you, tell me to come to you on the water!” Jesus tells him to go for it, and Peter jumps out of the boat. A few steps into his watery trek, he takes his eyes off the Lord, focuses on the winds, and gets that “sinking” feeling in the pit of his stomach.</span></div>
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<span lang="en-US" style="font-family: Garamond; font-size: large; line-height: 110%;">Of course, Jesus pulls him from the churning waves and sets his sorry self back in the dinghy. Then, when they’re all safe and sound inside the rocking boat, Jesus calms the storm and they have a heart-to-heart chat.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgewyxH45i5RYDiR5L3QOSn0dXFduTxuMNUtn0FRYcUszxV2HPYJTH-GQQU7gT5a6tXPbjSsD9pPMbTgy5QYY1z5uGBn0ceZNojBVX9_hfbAqebMYMMcuf4SplfCvmqfP8o4iE0ACf_Ho5z/s1600/faint.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgewyxH45i5RYDiR5L3QOSn0dXFduTxuMNUtn0FRYcUszxV2HPYJTH-GQQU7gT5a6tXPbjSsD9pPMbTgy5QYY1z5uGBn0ceZNojBVX9_hfbAqebMYMMcuf4SplfCvmqfP8o4iE0ACf_Ho5z/s1600/faint.jpg" height="160" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span lang="en-US" style="font-family: Garamond; font-size: large; line-height: 110%;">Yeah, we usually focus on that part, but </span><span lang="en-US" style="font-family: Garamond; font-size: large; font-style: italic; line-height: 110%;">my</span><span lang="en-US" style="font-family: Garamond; font-size: large; line-height: 110%;"> brain had stalled back at the notion that Jesus “made” them get in the boat and set out. My mind locked in on the ramifications of that fact:</span></div>
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<span lang="en-US" style="font-family: Garamond; font-size: large; font-style: italic; line-height: 110%;">He </span><span lang="en-US" style="font-family: Garamond; font-size: large; line-height: 110%;">sent </span><span lang="en-US" style="font-family: Garamond; font-size: large; font-style: italic; line-height: 110%;">them.</span></div>
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<span lang="en-US" style="font-family: Garamond; font-size: large; font-style: italic; line-height: 110%;">He </span><span lang="en-US" style="font-family: Garamond; font-size: large; line-height: 110%;">sent </span><span lang="en-US" style="font-family: Garamond; font-size: large; font-style: italic; line-height: 110%;">them into a </span><span lang="en-US" style="font-family: Garamond; font-size: large; line-height: 110%;">storm</span><span lang="en-US" style="font-family: Garamond; font-size: large; font-style: italic; line-height: 110%;">.</span></div>
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<span lang="en-US" style="font-family: Garamond; font-size: large; font-style: italic; line-height: 110%;">He </span><span lang="en-US" style="font-family: Garamond; font-size: large; line-height: 110%;">sent </span><span lang="en-US" style="font-family: Garamond; font-size: large; font-style: italic; line-height: 110%;">them into a storm he </span><span lang="en-US" style="font-family: Garamond; font-size: large; line-height: 110%;">had to know </span><span lang="en-US" style="font-family: Garamond; font-size: large; font-style: italic; line-height: 110%;">was coming!</span></div>
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<span lang="en-US" style="font-family: Garamond; font-size: large; line-height: 110%;">A friend pointed out that perhaps at least the sailor-disciples knew it was coming, too. Maybe—I’m sure they were trained to read the weather. But I figure it’s just as likely that the skies were clear when they departed, that Jesus got to the top of the hill and said, “Hey Dad, how ’bout we stir things up a bit and see what they do?”</span></div>
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<span lang="en-US" style="font-family: Garamond; font-size: large; font-style: italic; line-height: 110%;">Alrighty then, </span><span lang="en-US" style="font-family: Garamond; font-size: large; line-height: 110%;">I thought. </span><span lang="en-US" style="font-family: Garamond; font-size: large; font-style: italic; line-height: 110%;">So what about </span><span lang="en-US" style="font-family: Garamond; font-size: large; line-height: 110%;">this </span><span lang="en-US" style="font-family: Garamond; font-size: large; font-style: italic; line-height: 110%;">storm?</span><span lang="en-US" style="font-family: Garamond; font-size: large; line-height: 110%;"> </span><span lang="en-US" style="font-family: Garamond; font-size: large; font-style: italic; line-height: 110%;"> Am I to accept that you sent us across this proverbial sea knowing full well what we were headed into?</span></div>
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<span lang="en-US" style="font-family: Garamond; font-size: large; font-style: italic; line-height: 110%;">Or that you may have stirred it up … on purpose?!</span></div>
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<span lang="en-US" style="font-family: Garamond; font-size: large; font-style: italic; line-height: 110%;">Oh, me of little faith.</span></div>
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<span lang="en-US" style="font-family: Garamond; font-size: large; line-height: 110%;">I have no doubt God knew what was coming. I am certain that He was aware well in advance of the crisis that took us by surprise. I am confident he knew of all the angst, the struggle, the decisions that would have to be made, and all the fallout that would come afterward.</span></div>
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<span lang="en-US" style="font-family: Garamond; font-size: large; line-height: 110%;">And still, he sent us into the squall. </span></div>
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<span lang="en-US" style="font-family: Garamond; font-size: large; line-height: 110%;">So, what then? I have a choice.</span></div>
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<span lang="en-US" style="font-family: Garamond; font-size: large; line-height: 110%;">I can cower in the bottom of the boat, or I can let the experience build my faith. </span></div>
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<span lang="en-US" style="font-family: Garamond; font-size: large; line-height: 110%;">I can freeze in terror, or I can step out across the waters even while the storm yet threatens and watch God do his thing.</span></div>
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<span lang="en-US" style="language: en-US;"><i> (This post originally published in our February 2015 newsletter.)</i></span></div>
Peas on Earthhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15734154988745705474noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-347228936422970837.post-50169999815207959922014-01-25T04:09:00.000+10:002014-01-25T04:09:11.963+10:00Five Minute Friday: Visit<strong>"It doesn’t matter where we go in the world, we will always be missing someone somewhere."</strong> ~ mendibpng @ <a href="http://livingletters.wordpress.com/2014/01/21/furlough-fever-decisions-transition-adjustment/" target="_blank">Living Letters</a><br />
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They came last Friday, with Wii in tow, much to my son's delight. Dear friends from PNG who are home on furlough made an effort to drive some 500 miles to Alabama on their way from Indiana to Colorado and call it "kinda on the way."<br />
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Bless 'em. I know better.<br />
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But what a treat it was to see them! To laugh and talk and "just dance." To share meals and memories. To introduce them to my hometown and its unique culture, and to give them a glimpse of "another side of me."<br />
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But then Monday came and they were gone.<br />
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The very next day, my parents' doorbell rang again and in stepped another friend who had driven several hours to visit me from out of state. The next few days were filled with conversations, meals, chocolate ... and a bit of "Thelma and Louise takes Nashville." <br />
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And laughter. Ohhhhhhh, the laughter! She would say she got a glimpse of "another side of me," too. But don't let her fool you ... it was mutual.<br />
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We decided we liked each other more by the time I had to send her on her way this morning.<br />
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One of the biggest blessings of the lifestyle we are living is the fact that we have friends all over the world; we have standing invitations to visit people in multiple countries. We are enriched by their cultures, their personalities, their hospitality. The opportunities for visits abound.<br />
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Yet, inherent in the concept of "visiting" is the idea that eventually the visit must come to an end.<br />
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But give me a few hours ... we'll get the sheets changed, the washroom will be cleaned, and I'll decompress a bit.<br />
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And then, if you're ever in the neighborhood ....<br />
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<a href="http://lisajobaker.com/five-minute-friday/" title="Five Minute Friday"><img alt="Five Minute Friday" src="http://lisajobaker.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/5minutefriday.jpg" style="border: currentColor;" title="Five Minute Friday" /></a><br />
<em><span style="font-size: x-small;">Linking up with Lisa Jo Baker and her Five Minute Friday crowd who gather virtually to write on a specific prompt at the end of each week. Click on the button above to read more entries or to join in the fun.</span></em><br />
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Peas on Earthhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15734154988745705474noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-347228936422970837.post-33174045046411416912013-12-10T11:41:00.001+10:002014-01-29T06:06:54.243+10:00Five Minute Friday: Reflect<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">“Reflect upon your
present blessings of which every man has many – not on your past misfortunes,
of which all men have some.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>~Charles
Dickens</b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Three weeks ago, Lisa Jo’s FMF prompt was “Fly.” <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You will note that I did not post a blog, did
not write a thing, and yet I very much participated.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
You see, my Friday lasted 40 hours and I spent nearly half
of that time … well, <i>flying</i>.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Things don’t always go as we plan (I know, understatement of
the year) and with that in mind I hereby <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">officially
</i>participate in this week’s prompt as I reflect on the goodness of God demonstrated within the last month.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
If you know the story, you know why I cannot be more specific in
this venue, so please forgive my vagueness.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>However, I invite you to celebrate with me as I journey down this path
of remembering, reflecting on God’s faithfulness.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
In late October we realized that it was a distinct
possibility that some part of the family would need to leave Papua New Guinea
for a period of time and to seek specific assistance.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>As time progressed, this seemed more and more
likely, until the week of November 10 when we realized it was a certainty.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">All that while, we had
prayed that God would make it clear if we should go.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He made it very, very clear that we should
go.</i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
We talked over the decision of <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">where</i> we should go – either to Brisbane or all the way to the
US.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We talked of the pros and cons of
that (cheaper to get to Brisbane, cheaper to live in the US, availability of family
support, distance from PNG, etc.). <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We
got stateside family involved in helping us plan and find people to provide the
assistance we needed.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>From the “immediate
and strong” recommendation of person #1 to the free room and board (and car!),
we knew it was the right thing to do.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">God united us in that
we should go all the way back to the US.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Then he repeatedly reinforced to us that this was the right decision.</i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
We also debated as to which members of the family should go
and who should stay.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">When it mattered, God
made it very clear who was to go and, again, we felt unified in the decision.</i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I was teaching the high school choir and it pained me
greatly to walk away from them before their Christmas concert. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>(I never cry – especially in public - but I
was a blubbering idiot when I had to tell them I would be leaving.)<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>However, it occurred to me that, just a few weeks
before, God had set someone in place to help out.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This person was now already familiar with the
music and knew the students, and agreed to carry on in my absence.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Without my even
asking, God provided someone to carry my choir through the end of the term and
their Christmas concert.</i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Because I was the one who was leaving, we would have to
displace the sweet girl who lived with us.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Alas, where was she to go?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I
asked a few people to consider housing and caring for her, but God’s provision
ended up coming in the form of people who <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">volunteered</i>.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>One family volunteered to take her for the
last three weeks of the term.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Another
family opened up their home for the entirety of next semester, if needed.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">God provided people to
extend their hospitality to our Stacey with grace and joyful hearts.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He answered the desperate prayer of where she
could go this term, and opened up arrangements for next term before I ever even
asked for it.</i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
We looked into and made reservations for mission flights,
overnight lodging, and Port Moresby shuttle service.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We started on commercial flights, only to
find the fares changing almost with each tick of the minute hand.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>True, we were booking a week out, and flying shortly
before the Thanksgiving holidays, but still … <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I searched for not only our destination city,
but also for three airports within a four hour drive of our destination.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I
cried, I fretted.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Couldn’t God do better
than this?</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Of course he could.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>God provided reasonable tickets for just the
right timing and all the way to our ultimate destination.</i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
As evidenced by my stress and tears, we knew this whole
thing was going to cost us quite a bit of money.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">The mission flight, one-way
commercial tickets, and two overnight accommodations came to within a few
dollars of the tax refund we had received in August. (And this was a good reminder that he will surely provide for the rest of our expenses, too, including all of these appointments and travel back to PNG!)</i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Though travel was long and tiring (and expensive), it was uneventful
and smooth.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">All who traveled coped
wonderfully.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We could feel the prayers
of God’s people over us.</i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
We hoped to see those we needed assistance from as soon as
possible after our arrival.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">We had an appointment
with the first individual a mere three days after our arrival in the US.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And it went even better than I had hoped.</i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
We needed to see a second individual and when family began
started calling on our behalf, the first available appointment was mid-January.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>By the time we arrived in the US, the
appointment had been moved forward to December 19.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Still we asked people to pray for an even
earlier appointment.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Also, since we happen to be in the US for the holiday
season, we were trying to figure out a way to travel over the Christmas break
without having to conflict with necessary appointments.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">On December 3, God
opened up an appointment on December 4, less than two weeks after we arrived in
the US.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The appointment went as
seamlessly as it could have and we had immediate help.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And this cleared on the calendar definitive
dates available for travel.</i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Oh … how I could go on and on.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Just
because I am reflecting on the “biggest” things does not lessen the reality and
impact of the many little miracles along the way.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">“I will remember the
deeds of the Lord; … I will consider all your works and meditate on all your
mighty deeds.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Your ways, God, are
holy.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>What god is as great as our God?”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Psalm 77:11-13</b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><i><a href="http://lisajobaker.com/five-minute-friday/" title="Five Minute Friday"><img alt="Five Minute Friday" src="http://lisajobaker.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/5minutefriday.jpg" style="border: currentColor;" title="Five Minute Friday" /></a></i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><i>This post written in
conjunction with Lisa Jo Baker’s Five Minute Friday. Click on the button to read more entries or
to join in the fun.</i></span></div>
Peas on Earthhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15734154988745705474noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-347228936422970837.post-15528780829421820792013-10-27T00:27:00.001+10:002013-10-27T01:01:05.443+10:00Five Minute Friday: TogetherToday was birthday party day at our house. We're not used to celebrating birthdays in the fall, but it's just as well because on this side of the equator, October lands us square in the middle of spring.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIYAqTzI1dDxYewTovdgVWs2JnYnAj8KGvChIpb8clEyKxGabzfm0WqG_uUnqMTs6tvigTFn_XMW7QDpyXYn1zvRljrG4sV44_ckq_sYZ-IM_v1Xe6GuNYPiS7KkktyAMMqT8GxuqYY1Fc/s1600/Publication1b.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIYAqTzI1dDxYewTovdgVWs2JnYnAj8KGvChIpb8clEyKxGabzfm0WqG_uUnqMTs6tvigTFn_XMW7QDpyXYn1zvRljrG4sV44_ckq_sYZ-IM_v1Xe6GuNYPiS7KkktyAMMqT8GxuqYY1Fc/s640/Publication1b.jpg" width="163" /></a></div>
Stacey turned fifteen yesterday and today fourteen of her classmates joined her to celebrate. The party started off kind of slow; Stacey had requested a scavenger hunt, and we didn't want everyone to leave the house before the last few had arrived. So, the kids sat around, talked, and took turns playing Wii. Virtual balls were bowled and hit, virtual cars were raced around virtual tracks, and real food was consumed.<br />
<br />
Lots of it.<br />
<br />
The schedule was changed (because so-and-so was late, and then because these four had to leave early for a band practice), and we ended up lighting the candles on the cake before the hunt instead of after. These kids, several of whom are in my high school choir, sang what amounted to an impromptu dirge followed by a rather pathetic set of "hip-hip-hoorays," and then sugar was consumed.<br />
<br />
Lots of it.<br />
<br />
Finally, after ingesting the required energy, I sent them off on their merry way to gather random items, take random photos, and record random videos.<br />
<br />
One hour and fifteen minutes later they returned, laughing and smiling, soaking wet from running around in the rain, with grass and mud covering their bare feet, and with items, pictures, and videos.<br />
<br />
Lots of them.<br />
<br />
While I downloaded them to the computer for playback, the kids gathered around the kitchen table to watch the birthday girl open her gifts.<br />
<br />
"I love it that the bar is set so low," commented my husband with a smile.<br />
<br />
He meant it, too. I kid you not ...<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzj04_-O4k94vCDeUvycHOwnbaJx7KGod0qfqgoYxkcvIqKSXf7uUoZjhA9dt1iRZQKU9GRNaFzwk8shyphenhyphenzMI6F0oXHWDL10t0zgs0tu_XZ3LjFSw5C2dfZ61W0xwt3Fium2wB7ndVN3EQs/s1600/Publication1a.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzj04_-O4k94vCDeUvycHOwnbaJx7KGod0qfqgoYxkcvIqKSXf7uUoZjhA9dt1iRZQKU9GRNaFzwk8shyphenhyphenzMI6F0oXHWDL10t0zgs0tu_XZ3LjFSw5C2dfZ61W0xwt3Fium2wB7ndVN3EQs/s640/Publication1a.jpg" width="289" /></a></div>
<br />
A notepad and a set of rub-on tattoos.<br />
<br />
A package of candy.<br />
<br />
Fifteen kina (approximately $6.43).<br />
<br />
A Smiggle eraser and another notepad.<br />
<br />
<br />
A K10 (approx $4.28) pre-paid cell phone card.<br />
<br />
A can of cherry coke.<br />
<br />
And handmade cards.<br />
<br />
Lots of them.<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
It wouldn't be out of the question for more than one of these gifts to have been re-gifted from a previous birthday party, either.<br />
<br />
Awesome.<br />
<br />
<br />
But, these kids don't care, which only makes it that much more awesome. <br />
<br />
<br />
So, what <i>do</i> these kids care about?<br />
<br />
They spent the day<i> together</i>.<br />
<br />
<br />
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<span style="font-size: small;"><i>Written in conjunction with a community of writers who meet together weekly to write for five minutes on a prompt provided by Lisa Jo Baker. Click the button above to learn more, read more entries, or join in the fun. </i></span> <br />
<br />Peas on Earthhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15734154988745705474noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-347228936422970837.post-73920718458404243602013-09-30T23:04:00.002+10:002014-01-29T06:06:18.875+10:00Happy Independence Day<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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<![endif]--><b>"When you look at our country's flag, it may seem like no big deal. But, if you ever leave this country for any period of time, and then you have the opportunity to see that bird of paradise again, you will cry." </b> ~guest speaker (translated), PNG Independence Day celebration, 16 September 2013<br />
<br />
<br />
The tropical sun is still rising in the clear Eastern sky, warming
the earth from its overnight slumber.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>As
I approach the gate, I hear cadence being called.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><br />
<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Left, right, left …</i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">whoops</i> of the
crowd are evidence of the joy and celebration of the day.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>A marching sea of red, yellow, and black ends
its parade near a small raised platform.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The
crowd rises for the singing of the national anthem.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRX-Jqi9HzauZCJCyolQfcJrdhxAkIPxhSaHeEUgY52ZFEMFyoflyt-v6IY4aNHbNfLpJAMBQhOKkaqOKV6aq2BKmO04-3Kn0IcFIXa47sA7yDMTtaVxPKh4W8QvkD-Hr22hT9hFv5ityG/s1600/DSC_0624.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRX-Jqi9HzauZCJCyolQfcJrdhxAkIPxhSaHeEUgY52ZFEMFyoflyt-v6IY4aNHbNfLpJAMBQhOKkaqOKV6aq2BKmO04-3Kn0IcFIXa47sA7yDMTtaVxPKh4W8QvkD-Hr22hT9hFv5ityG/s400/DSC_0624.JPG" height="233" width="400" /></a></div>
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</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">O, arise all ye sons
of this land. Let us sing of our joy to be free, …</i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
A sea of faces, young and old, black sprinkled with white.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Hundreds of eyes lifted toward the rising
flag.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4PCRFiCyik4T6eo-NmbB1OXwrNYQrSK46g-GvU5TKAnYjWmXaUkwzTC-fjoJ0DyKP8RQE4V5t5mtohX47V0282YlK0txVJGIe-g3HcmhCxP8aqjHeeFU_oxcB3msUi1WxVn8Ze3DRtbN_/s1600/DSC_0670.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4PCRFiCyik4T6eo-NmbB1OXwrNYQrSK46g-GvU5TKAnYjWmXaUkwzTC-fjoJ0DyKP8RQE4V5t5mtohX47V0282YlK0txVJGIe-g3HcmhCxP8aqjHeeFU_oxcB3msUi1WxVn8Ze3DRtbN_/s400/DSC_0670.JPG" height="215" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"> </i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">… praising God and
rejoicing to be Papua New Guinea!</i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
One by one, individuals stand to read verses of scripture in
their <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">tok ples</i>, or mother tongue.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Though I do not understand the words, the
sound is beautiful ...</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
... for it is the voice of God speaking to his people in their own languages.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6a5Vc6TdvNidtMsQ6ezohQBCDPbTa9chv2IoXBfpuf6aTzCqphwmsHRknwvQ07_uE42yX5Q1kSXB7VyPOxBzs2G37dnPem2vKwQtAlJX3uIseWcQOSDtyITWsFK19ymtv7JEJIYH3_DZV/s1600/kids.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6a5Vc6TdvNidtMsQ6ezohQBCDPbTa9chv2IoXBfpuf6aTzCqphwmsHRknwvQ07_uE42yX5Q1kSXB7VyPOxBzs2G37dnPem2vKwQtAlJX3uIseWcQOSDtyITWsFK19ymtv7JEJIYH3_DZV/s400/kids.jpg" height="143" width="400" /></a>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The laughter of children rings out behind me, and a rusty
trio of handmade swings screech back and forth while a visiting pastor steps
behind the flag-draped music-stand-podium.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Usually political
freedom comes at a cost, requires bloodshed,</i> he says in Tok Pisin<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But, 38 years ago PNG was
offered freedom as a gift.</i><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Then he
suggests that God’s continued blessing on PNG depends not on its natural
resources, not on its buildings or development, not on any riches it may
claim.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhDTJnlXF5fAeSL-sbWKsLJLo8SJorwTLLbZeD-s74gxEHirgzMblmpjm0ThNMs-srZLLEUdmX1ujPjTKKv7LgAsQaxjTlmEO7MYD83nfae9YKJqvBOTE3xt5wzCHTFPluahgAIydL3oxu/s1600/a+preacher-Optimized.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhDTJnlXF5fAeSL-sbWKsLJLo8SJorwTLLbZeD-s74gxEHirgzMblmpjm0ThNMs-srZLLEUdmX1ujPjTKKv7LgAsQaxjTlmEO7MYD83nfae9YKJqvBOTE3xt5wzCHTFPluahgAIydL3oxu/s400/a+preacher-Optimized.jpg" height="130" width="400" /></a></div>
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<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Just like God chose David, out of all the sons of Jesse, for kingship based on the condition of his heart, </i><span style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">he says, </span><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">God’s continued blessing on PNG</i><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"> depends
on the hearts of its people</i>.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The child next to me crunches on a cracker as crumbs fall on
the woven mat on which he sits. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The
breeze picks up, and the leaves overhead rustle with its breath.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> A smattering of umbrellas shield people from the increasing heat of the sun.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJyhIXf-RkzEdkKigplHpS_r9omz1p4ZGwKYs581wkzE1uKTEmwXp9D9878Jxn5NOsJ-LP03Gjy_Ft4BLpVgahM0YjFnJ4N8w-ngWaidITFqpejX0-HeWaZ9Q60V2DgW8v0K7Zy7sT9WT2/s1600/DSC_0665.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJyhIXf-RkzEdkKigplHpS_r9omz1p4ZGwKYs581wkzE1uKTEmwXp9D9878Jxn5NOsJ-LP03Gjy_Ft4BLpVgahM0YjFnJ4N8w-ngWaidITFqpejX0-HeWaZ9Q60V2DgW8v0K7Zy7sT9WT2/s400/DSC_0665.JPG" height="255" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"></span><br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Traditionally-clad dancers (some clad more than others) take
their places.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Several hands alternately
tap and pound lizard-skin-covered kundu drums.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5oUWC8Hd-ULJQat0_GqyxEz0DLWCbj2jyFxDvzONGGdPB8tcBaZhnPmB7pKtV3WafLLhapGLzxb3OHPxKvEc2D0iXkFpK3jC1g3hZygZIYF4StUl_mdG6lzFiX-4W7K0TKAXcTlpYxb6e/s1600/drum-Optimized.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5oUWC8Hd-ULJQat0_GqyxEz0DLWCbj2jyFxDvzONGGdPB8tcBaZhnPmB7pKtV3WafLLhapGLzxb3OHPxKvEc2D0iXkFpK3jC1g3hZygZIYF4StUl_mdG6lzFiX-4W7K0TKAXcTlpYxb6e/s400/drum-Optimized.jpg" height="132" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiO954pheOlfonsWrGh-w6wwjDvxoAPOHHxO3xRYkL5mpADT_Oqtpsn4cSZntCB6vR8Lk3xiuUlMVOPJ6Gcvbs-1t8XtfIpQpIIeik5Zc9agoRR3lU12onaJF4yF_zDu3SWpR2BYnqYZ-jq/s1600/DSC_0840B.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Shell necklaces and anklets rattle with every thumping step.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Traditional grass skirts (and some made of yarn) sway clockwise, then counterclockwise in time with the music.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span> </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfjgV2o4orGGZBrFe8dLQwLyPWxzTW1LEquEbK1z09fk9ZCDFpF5VcnRrYYse9UHhPgrM9C5_X2iY_fcZhBrcQYtSZAoBtd01iEqr4dtQFtM6yPjTtxeWGZI1NnwCjcLUajliTzXr03M5w/s1600/DSC_0835B.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfjgV2o4orGGZBrFe8dLQwLyPWxzTW1LEquEbK1z09fk9ZCDFpF5VcnRrYYse9UHhPgrM9C5_X2iY_fcZhBrcQYtSZAoBtd01iEqr4dtQFtM6yPjTtxeWGZI1NnwCjcLUajliTzXr03M5w/s400/DSC_0835B.jpg" height="257" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Feathered headdresses bob up and down as singers
chant in haunting, traditional melodies.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Wena, wena moyo …<br />
Ay oh wye-ee ayah …</i></div>
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<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
Peas on Earthhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15734154988745705474noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-347228936422970837.post-19289054612149781972013-09-26T19:05:00.004+10:002013-09-26T19:11:18.614+10:00The Drought Continues; Pray for Rain<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgL_CW5kCiSY7RJ7KzychWg-EY1KceW6wzq_FlVLZavSbuaOke0_GYepUpAJi58edNY8Gx2q1TIo6Q97qMfiApiDsbib-r_j92OLcM8O3DCugO-xGP-sUfuMQSnOMKeuqenMmGQE7t1OR3S/s1600/fissure+3-Optimized.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgL_CW5kCiSY7RJ7KzychWg-EY1KceW6wzq_FlVLZavSbuaOke0_GYepUpAJi58edNY8Gx2q1TIo6Q97qMfiApiDsbib-r_j92OLcM8O3DCugO-xGP-sUfuMQSnOMKeuqenMmGQE7t1OR3S/s640/fissure+3-Optimized.JPG" width="281" /></a><b>"I never drink water; that's the stuff that rusts pipes." </b> ~W.C. Fields <br />
<br />
A couple weeks ago I posted about how <a href="http://apeasofmylife.blogspot.com/2013/09/parched.html" target="_blank">unseasonably dry</a> our dry season has been, about how hungry for precipitation the floor of our tropical island has become. How desperate the local gardens are for water to sustain their fruits and vegetables, how empty and close-to-empty the water tanks around us are.<br />
<br />
Well, it has gotten worse.<br />
<br />
<br />
Just tonight we heard the rain coming across the valley. We got excited, but our daughter said, "It won't last." (I have no idea where she got her pessimism ... er, realism.) That "rain shower" and the one that followed a few minutes later, together, probably lasted short of a minute.<br />
<br />
It was barely enough to leave a few water spots on the dirty car parked next to our house. Certainly not enough to clean the nasty, dusty windows.<br />
<br />
Like today, the tiny bits of rain that we've received over the past few weeks have done little to relieve the ground or the gardens, to replenish the tanks.<br />
<br />
And now, even the river is getting low.<br />
<br />
<br />
We actually have another source of water besides collecting the rain. We call it RAM water (though I'm not sure why or what that stands for), and it comes from a nearby creek. It is pumped up to raised holding tanks at the top of the hill and flows down to homes all over centre. Almost everyone uses it to flush toilets. Many people use it for showers, or to do laundry or wash dishes.<br />
<br />
No one drinks it if they have a choice.<br />
<br />
But, now even <i>that</i> water source is drying up. Quickly. We had a couple of days when we didn't have any RAM water. Paul checked our tank today and it has dropped to about 1/3 of its capacity. If we have to go too many days on tank only, that won't last very long.<br />
<br />
Will you pray with us for rain?<br />
<br />
<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<i>"Are there any among the false gods of the nations that can bring rain? Or can the heavens give showers? Are you not he, O <span class="sc">Lord</span> our God? We set our hope on you, for you do all these things." Jeremiah 14:22</i></blockquote>
Peas on Earthhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15734154988745705474noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-347228936422970837.post-16784521318100137302013-09-20T23:12:00.002+10:002013-09-20T23:37:26.982+10:00Five Minute Friday: She<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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<br />
She is a faithful friend, a curious student, an ambitious high-achiever, a skilled musician, a comfortable introvert, a deep thinker.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She is a
loving sister, even though he gets on her nerves. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She has embraced the unpleasantness of
adolescence and its joys with equal grace.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>She leans on the arms of Jesus, and her thoughtfulness and insight
blesses me.</div>
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</div>
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<br /></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGtQ0ry9gzdhszbbXnCN5dn4wqL3XKqkvYHBHiyVFUcawtrbzMrpkHE9C7URbi1F2ONkyEA_AYcdgYrTo96rde-D5YGsxSfhfFMGAKuHnqld37bOh1OH7KkBGQLjm5MuQ17lRD3c0zMJ-a/s1600/Family+Pictures+068c.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"></a>At times, though the laundry piles up and the requests for
assistance are frequent, though I must give one more reminder to complete the
chores and am asked to answer strings of deep questions when she really
should be going to sleep, I must remind myself to embrace the unique blessings
of today.</div>
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In His strength she has the capacity to dream, to discover,
to pursue, to achieve. As she walks in
faith, she daily has the choice to believe, to bring joy, to bless. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><br />
<br />
And I watch in a near-holy anticipation as she continues to venture down the path of becoming.<br />
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<a href="http://lisajobaker.com/five-minute-friday/" title="Five
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<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Linking up with Lisa
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Peas on Earthhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15734154988745705474noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-347228936422970837.post-61457330654480029892013-09-13T15:15:00.000+10:002013-09-13T15:21:58.928+10:00Five Minute Friday: Mercy<br />
<br />
"Have mercy!" <br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikt9JkXRn8MVvU0Ni5ghGDjZjSWX8EGxCDgvqGdgCP0F3Rn2LkReiuYZWDX86FJIIeXqcozPzj3b3jX5m-5_vVQUuwv4Ysd7kFpooLHDpiwxkfvcE-8AHvLsu9NUfy9UESqN7M0GkA2DLv/s1600/have+mercy+magnet.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikt9JkXRn8MVvU0Ni5ghGDjZjSWX8EGxCDgvqGdgCP0F3Rn2LkReiuYZWDX86FJIIeXqcozPzj3b3jX5m-5_vVQUuwv4Ysd7kFpooLHDpiwxkfvcE-8AHvLsu9NUfy9UESqN7M0GkA2DLv/s1600/have+mercy+magnet.jpg" /></a>My kids have been watching episodes of "Full House" lately. To say that Uncle Jesse has a thing for women would be a understatement. In the first couple of seasons he goes from woman to woman ... to woman to woman to woman (ad nauseum) and with each innuendo, each suggestive flutter of eyelids or swing of the hips, and in response to every pouty pair of lips that moves to proposition him, he declares with a groan and a lolling of the eyes, "Have mercy."<br />
<br />
Just who is he talking to, anyway?<br />
<br />
I don't remember any episodes where he reflects back on his string of shallow, meaningless relationships. But, having survived more than a few myself, I can imagine what he might think if he did.<br />
<br />
In Season 4, John Stamos's character marries and though he initially speaks his catchphrase in relation to Becky quite a few times, my kids tell me that by the last couple of seasons his exclamations of "Have mercy" have all but ceased. Maybe that indicates he's maturing. Maybe it diminishes as the tedium of marriage and parenthood sets in.<br />
<br />
Maybe the producers got sick of hearing it, too.<br />
<br />
The show began when I was in college, and I remember finding Mr. Stamos quite attractive, though his flighty dating habits left a bit to be desired. It would still be a few years down the road, though, before I recognized my own propensity to do the same thing (without the groaning catchphrase, of course). I had a few long-term relationships, but otherwise I tended to flit from guy to guy, seeking validation, every successful chase reinforcing my sense of self-value.<br />
<br />
Years later, I would apologise to more than one of them on Facebook.<br />
<br />
I finally gave up. I realised that what I was doing was self-destructive, not to mention hurtful to others, and I gave up. I begged God to strip me of my restlessness, to make me satisfied with Him alone. With a groan of regret, I cried, "Lord, have mercy!"<br />
<br />
Eventually, I met my husband, who I have already said <a href="http://apeasofmylife.blogspot.com.au/2013/07/why-i-chose-your-father-over-orlando.html" target="_blank">I chose over Orlando Bloom</a>. I suppose I could also say I chose him over the Jesse Katsopolises of the world.<br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_thN-wqQc82-YZkWWxti98ApJiLFwPRNBRW5Ck3LQpmGDECiIRyXsx8RFZ7xbqlIVykhQo89Nq_M7rQM6l5fDZTfdmDh77fJjf78Zo25g9to5xya8KRQxb16MYQxHp2pDLgRpBToUkdXh/s1600/wedding.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_thN-wqQc82-YZkWWxti98ApJiLFwPRNBRW5Ck3LQpmGDECiIRyXsx8RFZ7xbqlIVykhQo89Nq_M7rQM6l5fDZTfdmDh77fJjf78Zo25g9to5xya8KRQxb16MYQxHp2pDLgRpBToUkdXh/s200/wedding.jpg" width="160" /></a>As it turns out, I would need more mercy along the way and God knew just the man to give it to me.<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<b>"Where is the god who can compare with you— wiping the slate clean of
guilt, Turning a blind eye, a deaf ear, to the past sins of your purged
and precious people? You don’t nurse your anger and don’t stay angry
long, for <i>mercy is your specialty</i>."</b> Micah 7:18 (The Message)<br />
<br />
<br />
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<br />Peas on Earthhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15734154988745705474noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-347228936422970837.post-75627892604276578492013-09-11T22:09:00.003+10:002013-09-11T22:09:55.196+10:00Parched<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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<span style="mso-bookmark: _GoBack;"><span class="bqquotelink"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span lang="EN-AU"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"></span>“</span></b></span></span><a href="http://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/quotes/t/tombarrett132815.html" title="view quote"><span style="mso-bookmark: _GoBack;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span lang="EN-AU" style="color: windowtext; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">If the rain spoils our picnic, but saves a farmer's crop,
who are we to say it shouldn't rain?</span></b></span><span style="mso-bookmark: _GoBack;"></span></a><span style="mso-bookmark: _GoBack;"><span class="bqquotelink"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span lang="EN-AU">”</span></b><span lang="EN-AU"> ~</span></span></span><a href="http://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/authors/t/tom_barrett.html" title="view author"><span style="mso-bookmark: _GoBack;"><span lang="EN-AU" style="color: windowtext; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">Tom Barrett</span></span></a><span style="mso-bookmark: _GoBack;"><span class="bodybold"><span lang="EN-AU"></span></span></span></div>
<span style="mso-bookmark: _GoBack;"><span class="bqquotelink"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span lang="EN-AU"> </span></b></span></span><br />
<span style="mso-bookmark: _GoBack;"><span class="bqquotelink"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span lang="EN-AU">“</span></b></span></span><a href="http://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/quotes/j/johnupdike139330.html" title="view quote"><span style="mso-bookmark: _GoBack;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span lang="EN-AU" style="color: windowtext; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">Rain is grace; rain is the sky descending to the earth;
without rain, there would be no life.</span></b></span><span style="mso-bookmark: _GoBack;"></span></a><span style="mso-bookmark: _GoBack;"><span class="bqquotelink"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span lang="EN-AU">”</span></b><span lang="EN-AU"> ~</span></span></span><a href="http://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/authors/j/john_updike.html" title="view author"><span style="mso-bookmark: _GoBack;"><span lang="EN-AU" style="color: windowtext; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">John Updike</span></span></a><span style="mso-bookmark: _GoBack;"><span class="bodybold"><span lang="EN-AU"></span></span></span>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bookmark: _GoBack;"><span lang="EN-AU">I helped
my daughter study for a science test Tuesday morning.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>As we discussed the differences between
rills, gullies, and rivers, alluvial plains and deltas, erosion and deposition,
I could hear the steady patter of rain on our tin roof.</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bookmark: _GoBack;"><span lang="EN-AU">It’s a
beautiful sound – a sound that I missed when we were stateside last year, where
houses are more sound proof.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And a sound
that we often take for granted here because, as we explained time and again to
friends at home, our seasons generally include “rainy” and “less-rainy.”</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bookmark: _GoBack;"><span lang="EN-AU">Though
this is the “less-rainy” season, it has been exceptionally, unusually dry.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Typically “dry” season isn’t so much, but
this past few months has been refreshingly cool and dry.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Many times I have walked outside, bundled in
a sweater, and relished the crisp “autumnal” air.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Occasionally I could even hear the sound of
our marching band practicing down at the high school, and it would take me back
to the homecoming game, crunchy leaf, pumpkin-and-hayride days of yesteryear.</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bookmark: _GoBack;"><span lang="EN-AU">But,
despite the personal thrill I found in these deja vous moments, reports of
water tanks (which collect rain water for drinking) running dry have become
more frequent.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We have never run out, or
been in danger of it, because we use (the rather dirty) river water for many
things, including showers and laundry.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>But some families (understandably) prefer to use the cleaner “tank water”
for these purposes, especially during the rainy season when the supply is readily
replenished.</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bookmark: _GoBack;"><span lang="EN-AU">Unfortunately,
it’s hard to predict when the regular, heavy rains will come to an end, and
occasionally people neglect or forget to switch their plumbing valves before it’s
too late.</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bookmark: _GoBack;"><span lang="EN-AU">An
equally important complication of the drought, most PNGns rely almost
completely on home-grown produce for their sustenance, and the gardens are
suffering, too.</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiz-fVzwEKkiC_vapht6b9g60ScFJFQIISoWStkdGsP-i1iqba52vyRGnUi_OEd_ipCtBtkDw7wKNNc1F7WN_UALefV1ERZ1ffAA-qdcFfRBq9KiucnOGf8Uvzu2xklkzqRlJrHMKdaWrG3/s1600/fissure+2-Optimized.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiz-fVzwEKkiC_vapht6b9g60ScFJFQIISoWStkdGsP-i1iqba52vyRGnUi_OEd_ipCtBtkDw7wKNNc1F7WN_UALefV1ERZ1ffAA-qdcFfRBq9KiucnOGf8Uvzu2xklkzqRlJrHMKdaWrG3/s320/fissure+2-Optimized.JPG" width="73" /></a><span style="mso-bookmark: _GoBack;"><span lang="EN-AU">But it
was as I was mowing our lawn last Saturday (I should specify that I was mowing
our <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">scattered weeds</i>, as the grass had
only almost imperceptibly lengthened since the last time I had mowed two weeks
prior) that I noticed the fissures.</span></span> </div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjryFMRY4drnKwEGA0U2e1vZ_Y9pDKf-6dYpyMpaWphv3eLQRxsxPPFxMA4BtxuUTWRaWrhs1JCvz0jY-roeF03u2b8_wwbA_v7ygWoZXZk87D7h8cbCPL7LrQdi9yrtU8xgVxhJ18GjNVm/s1600/fissure+3-Optimized.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjryFMRY4drnKwEGA0U2e1vZ_Y9pDKf-6dYpyMpaWphv3eLQRxsxPPFxMA4BtxuUTWRaWrhs1JCvz0jY-roeF03u2b8_wwbA_v7ygWoZXZk87D7h8cbCPL7LrQdi9yrtU8xgVxhJ18GjNVm/s320/fissure+3-Optimized.JPG" width="141" /></a><span style="mso-bookmark: _GoBack;"><span lang="EN-AU">The
light sprinkles (locally referred to as “giaman” rain, or false rain) received sporadically
over the past few weeks had done nothing to satisfy the thirsty ground.</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bookmark: _GoBack;"><span lang="EN-AU">And now,
even over the roar of the little Honda engine, I could hear the parched earth
crying out, the craters begging for relief.</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bookmark: _GoBack;"><span lang="EN-AU">Great
canyons of desiccation, desperate for refreshment.</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinMYrnv8l9obQg-39mnAKrIkr5NoZxe8iQ9Ud_WN6RwoUH2IROO33163gZ5MTLI40pf6f_vGiLryoRosINIFsuHqZ05dmfF8n9c9k3GKXaJ4LFUdkrPGyf-RlxHPehiv7pFaspURgqGpEh/s1600/fissure+1-Optimized.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="140" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinMYrnv8l9obQg-39mnAKrIkr5NoZxe8iQ9Ud_WN6RwoUH2IROO33163gZ5MTLI40pf6f_vGiLryoRosINIFsuHqZ05dmfF8n9c9k3GKXaJ4LFUdkrPGyf-RlxHPehiv7pFaspURgqGpEh/s200/fissure+1-Optimized.JPG" width="200" /></a><span style="mso-bookmark: _GoBack;"><span lang="EN-AU"> </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bookmark: _GoBack;"><span lang="EN-AU">And I
realised I could relate.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Can you?</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bookmark: _GoBack;"><span lang="EN-AU">I could
see myself in those great, dehydrated cracks.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>The past few months have been difficult, and I have tried to make it in
my own strength.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>My soul has cried out,
desperate for spiritual and emotional refreshment.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And though I know the path of true relief
must include God and His Word, I have neglected far too often to water my
thirsty soul.</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bookmark: _GoBack;"><span lang="EN-AU">Neglected
the very Word we are here to see produced in more than 300 languages where
people are even more parched and desperate.</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bookmark: _GoBack;"><span lang="EN-AU">What’s
wrong with me?</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj31gPhp_abjEVSjzjm1TwEZeB8fgtowveTWre1Oy5HiB2xaMrlBizuIN3poLCtPrgVAANykEpEcSEv4_OpQYw1hz8agKiStgKXQYCNWID-HECwULpW4CymM95Vyv_2CnfIFM0MMUr21CKP/s1600/graded+road.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj31gPhp_abjEVSjzjm1TwEZeB8fgtowveTWre1Oy5HiB2xaMrlBizuIN3poLCtPrgVAANykEpEcSEv4_OpQYw1hz8agKiStgKXQYCNWID-HECwULpW4CymM95Vyv_2CnfIFM0MMUr21CKP/s320/graded+road.jpg" width="240" /></a><span style="mso-bookmark: _GoBack;"><span lang="EN-AU">Yesterday,
our maintenance department began grading the road I normally take between home
and school. I thought this was a good idea since it is rather steep and I
regularly try to skate downhill on the piles of loose gravel.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bookmark: _GoBack;"><span lang="EN-AU">It’s a medivac
waiting to happen.</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bookmark: _GoBack;"><span lang="EN-AU">But last
night it rained.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I mean, really rained.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Like a good, steady downpour.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The rain I could still hear tickling our roof
during the morning hydrogeology cram session.</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bookmark: _GoBack;"><span lang="EN-AU">After
walking down the freshly graded, but unpacked, road, my sandals were caked with
a good inch and a half of mud (which, to be honest, is quite a common occurrence).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I kicked
them off, washed them, and went barefoot for the first couple hours of
school.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>(Don’t tell the kids.)</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bookmark: _GoBack;"><span lang="EN-AU">But I
was not complaining. Relief is in sight.</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bookmark: _GoBack;"><span lang="EN-AU">Yes,
Lord, send the rain!</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiX0P0dH_oulPoLp3nGk1LjmHbWJOmXOrmzJPYuympKPd0isHGcxPPe5IQkJjDD-yY-rKmtdSg7V0p3sYb-nKCi7lEfqLqMc86LWxasY35H0RcuGkfLHlKJcK0_Mt-h4gbtlDm_vVCbCmUm/s1600/puddle-Optimized.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="206" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiX0P0dH_oulPoLp3nGk1LjmHbWJOmXOrmzJPYuympKPd0isHGcxPPe5IQkJjDD-yY-rKmtdSg7V0p3sYb-nKCi7lEfqLqMc86LWxasY35H0RcuGkfLHlKJcK0_Mt-h4gbtlDm_vVCbCmUm/s320/puddle-Optimized.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<span style="mso-bookmark: _GoBack;"></span>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span class="bqquotelink"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span lang="EN-AU">“</span></b></span><span lang="EN-AU"><a href="http://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/quotes/s/saintbasil108469.html" title="view quote"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: windowtext; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">Many a man
curses the rain that falls upon his head, and knows not that it brings
abundance to drive away the hunger.</span></b></a><span class="bqquotelink"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">”</b> ~</span><a href="http://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/authors/s/saint_basil.html" title="view author"><span style="color: windowtext; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">Saint Basil</span></a><span class="bodybold"></span></span></div>
Peas on Earthhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15734154988745705474noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-347228936422970837.post-65771372355776551332013-09-07T21:22:00.002+10:002013-09-08T13:43:32.303+10:00Five Minute Friday: Red<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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I don’t get a great deal of alone time at home.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Usually when the kids are at school, I am at
school, so last week when I found myself working at home for a couple hours in
the afternoon, it seemed strange.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>After
mixing and kneading and shaping my hamburger buns, I stood at the kitchen sink
washing dishes.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The largish plate glass
window above the sink overlooks the backyard garden, and even though winter
will soon be winding up here, the flowers are in full bloom.<br />
<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzSyFE9FHyWLjqIE8Qhri3Wk_tWqr1mpKQE2H0pBnVPhwIHY2cW_Vp-b4R8nH380ufEf_TNtEZHpXLe7OdEVv_ZCrRDy3BZLs1XdYqQe1Sfu07zm0QNUUYzCR0kTEOHq-FflNlW1-lgS4R/s1600/DSC_0565-Optimized.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzSyFE9FHyWLjqIE8Qhri3Wk_tWqr1mpKQE2H0pBnVPhwIHY2cW_Vp-b4R8nH380ufEf_TNtEZHpXLe7OdEVv_ZCrRDy3BZLs1XdYqQe1Sfu07zm0QNUUYzCR0kTEOHq-FflNlW1-lgS4R/s400/DSC_0565-Optimized.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I moved to grab a dish towel and when I glanced back up, I
saw a flash of red – my daughter was coming up the hill toward the back door.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I smiled and my insides got all happy.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
My sweet oldest has a bright, solid red hoodie, purchased in
California when we were on furlough last year.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Somehow it was colder than we’d expected when we arrived in LA in
March.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She chose red, and as she wears
it nearly every day, I usually have little trouble spotting her in a crowd.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKQwbBzULvlVlo7R6nuIjGw6neQzw4L_Fh6zo_wUJM83-5JAP4Lo_O0tazwqY_7ft8eAEOVKhRQloCGdQE65zBlFCvns-Owi_bSYNSnfRuD07DdY24aJ8ft0c5wpHxItfdBr8W78qYXfwK/s1600/girls.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKQwbBzULvlVlo7R6nuIjGw6neQzw4L_Fh6zo_wUJM83-5JAP4Lo_O0tazwqY_7ft8eAEOVKhRQloCGdQE65zBlFCvns-Owi_bSYNSnfRuD07DdY24aJ8ft0c5wpHxItfdBr8W78qYXfwK/s400/girls.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
She has endured numerous references to a certain basket-wielding,
grandmother-seeking fairy tale character, generally either sporting a snarky adolescent
grin or staring blankly, lips pursed in a straight line in a look that says, “Seriously?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Can’t you do better than that?”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I had relished the time alone, but somehow knowing she was
coming made my heart leap.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It would be
just me and her here … a phenomenon perhaps more rare than my being here alone.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I continued to wipe and put away the dishes, expecting the
back door to open at any moment.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJ8ft9OdiZbmS6BXWVrTFDeU3CFB82R5xKZ1zPXByGuJWoN8UvQOml90i8Fst7YzahX5lFm0MYnwbBbSNaaUVtO4GmQcgVlBl3iHo7LIAVyOpCEyWAgOSbo_HJcH-u2p_LrKFf5A0yNFoi/s1600/DSC_0566-Optimized.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJ8ft9OdiZbmS6BXWVrTFDeU3CFB82R5xKZ1zPXByGuJWoN8UvQOml90i8Fst7YzahX5lFm0MYnwbBbSNaaUVtO4GmQcgVlBl3iHo7LIAVyOpCEyWAgOSbo_HJcH-u2p_LrKFf5A0yNFoi/s320/DSC_0566-Optimized.JPG" width="213" /></a></div>
But, the moment never came.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I leaned slightly over the sink again and saw the flash of
colour again – in the same spot - this time recognizing its shape as that of
this bunch of amaryllis.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The corners of my mouth, and my heart, fell.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Maybe next time.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<a href="http://lisajobaker.com/five-minute-friday/" title="Five
Minute Friday"><img alt="Five Minute Friday" src="http://lisajobaker.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/5minutefriday.jpg" style="border: none;" title="Five Minute Friday" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Written in conjunction
with a community of bloggers who meet virtually over Lisa Jo Baker’s weekly
Five Minute Friday prompt.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Click the
button above to find out more or join in.</i></div>
Peas on Earthhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15734154988745705474noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-347228936422970837.post-60194995835023233452013-09-02T23:44:00.000+10:002013-09-07T21:25:44.857+10:00Five Minute Friday: Worship<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
A few weeks ago, during the Tok Pisin Sunday School retreat
weekend, I was charged with conducting a short course on drama with a group of
local children.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I did not know how many
kids would choose the class and was a bit concerned about what particular drama
I was even going to teach them.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
They would be performing it in the Tok Pisin worship service
the next morning.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But no pressure.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
During the week prior, God began to formulate an idea in my
mind.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It seemed like a good idea, but as
it was just bare bones, it was still kind of hard to tell.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>All I could do was pray and wait for the idea
to flesh out.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
And try not to panic.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Finally, the night before, the idea felt complete. I found a
song that worked with the mime God had given, and – ever the planner – I timed each
action out down to the second.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The next afternoon, I walked down the hill to see what
awaited me.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I had four boys, all under the age of 12.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I took a deep breath and launched into “what is drama” and “why
drama” and “how drama,” stumbling over the language barrier many times in the
process.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They looked at me as if I
actually knew what in the world I was doing, and I plowed on.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiO_7apf2CMwORv7kT_e24T_Fd_UZG0SdGtScJQsUlM6f9K_MrUO-XVWFsUQ_PSnTJyvNhCVHfxD4cIilRGVGesSKZMD0C_29jX_uiR9D78gMT4alUwUWeob9_IfrvJq8fgqEh5nvgeBaN8/s1600/DSC_0519-Optimized.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiO_7apf2CMwORv7kT_e24T_Fd_UZG0SdGtScJQsUlM6f9K_MrUO-XVWFsUQ_PSnTJyvNhCVHfxD4cIilRGVGesSKZMD0C_29jX_uiR9D78gMT4alUwUWeob9_IfrvJq8fgqEh5nvgeBaN8/s320/DSC_0519-Optimized.JPG" width="320" /></a>Eventually we blocked the skit, discussing the meanings of
the various ideas represented.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I still
wasn’t sure if it was all computing.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
When it came time to do a first run-through, my mind
remained fixed on technicalities such as “be sure your body is angled toward
the audience,” “exaggerate your movements a bit more,” “make sure you pick up
all the broken pieces of the paper heart,” and “slow down that scene right
there so we stay with the music.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
But by the second or third run-through, though their backs were still often to the audience and they did not always finish with the song, I began to see with
different eyes.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
These kids brought me to tears, and, as they told a story, I found myself worshipping.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I was amazed.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Not only amazed at the skill wrapped up in these four small
individuals, but at the hearts within that I could see beating with innocence, fresh
perspective, and a desire to honour the Lord.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Amazed at their ability to take something God had completed just hours
before in the recesses of my mind and make it come to fullness of moving,
convicting life.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I worshipped during the fourth run-through, and the fifth,
and the sixth …</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The next morning, I felt (personally) totally discombobulated.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Running up behind stage as the service
started to make sure all the needed props were in place.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Emerging, walking through the now-playing
worship band, and sitting down again.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Remembering
during the third song that I had forgotten to give the flash drive with the mp3
to the sound guys, and then realising that said flash drive was now back stage.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Making a scene, again, as I did what I had to
do to get the song from behind the curtain to the sound crew stationed at the rear of the room.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Making my way backstage for the actual event
(we were now third in line behind tambourines and dance), only to realise that
the two red paper hearts that I had cut just that morning, and that “Jisas” needed
to have in his pockets, had been left at home.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Emerging from backstage again, slinking my way through the tambourine
players and back to my seat to get my keys, running across the street to get
some red paper, quickly cutting two red hearts, and rushing back to the meeting
house as the tambourine players were finishing.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Disappearing behind the curtain and praying desperately the only scenes
that anyone would pay attention to would be the ones at centre stage instead of
those involving me and my forgetfulness.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Mortified and fearful that I had totally distracted a meeting
house full of church-goers beyond the ability to truly experience any of this, I drew open the curtain.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
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As my boys shared their drama with the crowd, I was again mesmerised.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Later in the service, I found out that others had been brought
face-to-face with God as well.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
“I’m so glad I got to see the children’s drama,” one
national woman expressed during the sharing time at the end of the service, the
end of the weekend retreat. “It was very challenging for me.”</div>
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<br /></div>
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Another national gentleman elaborated even further.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
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“The boys in this drama really blessed me,” he said, his thoughtful
eyes sweeping the crowd.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“It made me
cry.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And it reminded me that God must
have his rightful place in my heart.”</div>
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<br /></div>
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I claim no right to or genius behind this drama, and
certainly not behind the children who shared it. But I am grateful that God used me and four small boys to
deliver its message.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
That once again, God chose to use weak and broken vessels to draw people to worship.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_df0YvFnIof_IBqtpfTcMlpJdq8jTpRnaA7luGnbPpQ1DMyYa3zTKcrm1MbGxx3Ts2OrJTvJYVYmYZicbIwlIYwJCEFf33_TzjLaPj8BcgFlCd3YSgRk3NRu-JssOIMzAUouNDyJVXEwc/s1600/DSC_0518-Optimized.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_df0YvFnIof_IBqtpfTcMlpJdq8jTpRnaA7luGnbPpQ1DMyYa3zTKcrm1MbGxx3Ts2OrJTvJYVYmYZicbIwlIYwJCEFf33_TzjLaPj8BcgFlCd3YSgRk3NRu-JssOIMzAUouNDyJVXEwc/s320/DSC_0518-Optimized.JPG" width="320" /></a><b>"<span class="text John-4-23-John-4-24" id="en-MSG-11233">Your worship
must engage your spirit in the pursuit of truth. That’s the kind of
people the Father is out looking for: those who are simply and honestly <i>themselves</i>
before him in their worship. God is sheer being itself—Spirit. Those
who worship him must do it out of their very being, their spirits, their
true selves ...." John 4:23b-24, The Message</span></b> </div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<a href="http://lisajobaker.com/five-minute-friday/" title="Five
Minute Friday"><img alt="Five Minute Friday" src="http://lisajobaker.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/5minutefriday.jpg" style="border: none;" title="Five Minute Friday" /></a></div>
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<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Written on Monday in
conjunction with a group of bloggers who meet virtually to respond to a given
prompt each Friday … or thereabouts.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>To learn
more or join in, click the button above. </i></div>
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<![endif]--><br />Peas on Earthhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15734154988745705474noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-347228936422970837.post-88601961982824055322013-08-25T13:28:00.000+10:002013-09-07T21:23:57.365+10:00Five Minute Friday: Last<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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<br />
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On Friday we hosted the annual Primary Campus Sports Day.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>As the race starter for the longer sprints
and distance runs on the soccer oval, I was part of the team that coordinated
the several heats for each age group and gender.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We would pull the fastest runners aside to
run the ribbon race – the race that counted for all the beans - after all the
heats were finished. </div>
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<br /></div>
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I was impressed time and again.</div>
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<br /></div>
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We have a lot of fast children in our school - that is for
sure.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I am convinced there is some sort
of genetic relationship between melanin and swiftness of foot that transcends cultures
and continents.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And as always it was
fascinating to watch the children fly.</div>
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<br /></div>
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But it was the ones who soared who impressed me the most.</div>
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<br /></div>
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The ones who watched the backs of their friends getting
smaller in the distance.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The ones who
persevered despite the fact that short of a drastic injury 100 metres ahead of
them, they would most certainly be crossing the finish line well after all the
others. The ones who would never even get to participate in the ribbon races.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
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The ones in the place called “last.”</div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUHd_4UXdGvHw-YlpxTR7r3gWnpsphhnCIlVL4SHbTwsp6EGBjtDC2or8aC28Swx6X8bQtJfdEoVFzw0jWE_3iyzbfZrKJM2aTpsCMNelb79yViNJwQsIHzm9krdU_exGekwY7sf93VZyy/s1600/IMG_5067-Optimized.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUHd_4UXdGvHw-YlpxTR7r3gWnpsphhnCIlVL4SHbTwsp6EGBjtDC2or8aC28Swx6X8bQtJfdEoVFzw0jWE_3iyzbfZrKJM2aTpsCMNelb79yViNJwQsIHzm9krdU_exGekwY7sf93VZyy/s400/IMG_5067-Optimized.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
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A couple weeks ago my son was dissing the “team” events,
saying, “If you don’t win, you get a second place ribbon, but it’s not <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">really</i> second place.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It’s last.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Your team <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">lost</i> the event.”</div>
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<br /></div>
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We had a heart-to-heart about sportsmanship, participating
for the fun of it, and for the love of competition, and phrases ending in “it’s
how you play the game that counts.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
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He got it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In his age
group of boys, the teams split the events evenly … two blue ribbons to the red
team, two blue ribbons to the yellow team.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>That meant two red ribbons to each team as well.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But, you know what?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I truly believe that my son was not irritated
about the red ribbons.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He did not come
in “last” in his mind.</div>
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<br /></div>
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He had fun.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He played
hard, he played for the fun of it and for the love of competition.</div>
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<br /></div>
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He got it, and I was impressed and grateful.</div>
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<br /></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkmUca_fZ1VgCPRCNvev0g8sp8-p3SpLkiMekVDwu81K6_j-ltY2DvbaNKoffOKOpCu6-gsNnfMh-_SGbKpJkjFacupbTMNlycRioEfng8a2Qa29SWrSEXzK-RHagdAliz-tIgixcRE-hD/s1600/IMG_5088-Optimized.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkmUca_fZ1VgCPRCNvev0g8sp8-p3SpLkiMekVDwu81K6_j-ltY2DvbaNKoffOKOpCu6-gsNnfMh-_SGbKpJkjFacupbTMNlycRioEfng8a2Qa29SWrSEXzK-RHagdAliz-tIgixcRE-hD/s320/IMG_5088-Optimized.JPG" width="240" /></a> </div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
And those kids who came across the finish line “last?”</div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
It was obvious that they got it too.</div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
They persevered.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
They ran it out.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
They ran it hard.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
They ran the last 50, 80, 120 metres as the only participants
still on the track, and yet they finished with smiles on their faces.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
They got it.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
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And so should we.</div>
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<br /></div>
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<br />Peas on Earthhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15734154988745705474noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-347228936422970837.post-84099902742573825022013-07-15T21:28:00.000+10:002013-07-15T21:28:24.723+10:00SOS! A BLT needed in the EHP of PNG ASAP<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b>“Life expectancy would grow by leaps and bounds if green
vegetables smelled as good as bacon.”</b> ~<i>Doug Larson</i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b>“I think we love bacon because it has all the qualities of
an amazing sensory experience. When we cook it, the sizzling sound is so
appetizing, the aroma is maddening, the crunch of the texture is so gratifying
and the taste delivers every time.”</b> ~<i>Alexandra Guarnaschelli</i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I fell in love at the bowling alley.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I was attracted immediately to the scent.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The object of my affections was firm, toned,
yet soft.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Perfectly tanned on the
outside, and oh so hot … sizzling even.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
It was the best BLT of my life.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
My friend Lynette and I went back to the bowling alley in
Friedberg, Germany numerous times over the next year or so, normally before
heading to the racquetball court, and always ordering bacon, lettuce, and
tomato sandwiches.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She remembers,
too.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I asked her a few months ago when
we were home on furlough and bacon had come back into my life.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In the last four months of 2012, around the
same time I was brainwashing … I mean, <i>sharing</i> the joy of BLTs with my son, I
posted three different pictures of bacon, lettuce, and tomato sandwiches on
Facebook.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEEZ3Rx8Kfj0KOKf9QqlgYrXeDU2ZYIKAMGbIbpi1e1Tn1tTHhTDKqTOoqJZiQ4-lYCjcg7Vp9HS_57ih9jhRsWTcpuhlsKpR8CD_39HtxE1WoapHhkxA7PQGi2PizcPH-ADXwmMe4FhIz/s1600/blt+furlough.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="171" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEEZ3Rx8Kfj0KOKf9QqlgYrXeDU2ZYIKAMGbIbpi1e1Tn1tTHhTDKqTOoqJZiQ4-lYCjcg7Vp9HS_57ih9jhRsWTcpuhlsKpR8CD_39HtxE1WoapHhkxA7PQGi2PizcPH-ADXwmMe4FhIz/s400/blt+furlough.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHZp4ZrDjmMRXQKJF_B9rR-JSLPAqo5NfithRfu7hjiu_EQLra5kGgVnW-v47rojBWz288qOcwJUuJ9HJXKdrxHCQRkxKqujhZ_eXf0SrQyDoZxVwMwKWUyqwTb4w0HRbDm8pLafxKWzlx/s1600/Jetsons+food+machine.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="145" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHZp4ZrDjmMRXQKJF_B9rR-JSLPAqo5NfithRfu7hjiu_EQLra5kGgVnW-v47rojBWz288qOcwJUuJ9HJXKdrxHCQRkxKqujhZ_eXf0SrQyDoZxVwMwKWUyqwTb4w0HRbDm8pLafxKWzlx/s200/Jetsons+food+machine.jpg" width="200" /></a>My family thought I was crazy.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But I’m pretty sure BLTs are going to be on
the heavenly buffet menu.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Or maybe we’ll
have a Jetsons-esque celestial Food-a-Rac-a-Cycle.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Or maybe I’ll actually enjoy cooking.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span> </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Any of those would be fine with me. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_GzlsRZy2bfPebM5Vqnt8T2OLOq2FD9zpPwP6QWnH5aosWzEA3Ql3evYbCSCfg7U8fNJSTVTVUNBQzBRBJ-7xGaM7l3mOYzfILnWF395mjX6JY_o2rHFS-BjbTD-yfkacI62jHKQxOzqy/s1600/bacon+sundae.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_GzlsRZy2bfPebM5Vqnt8T2OLOq2FD9zpPwP6QWnH5aosWzEA3Ql3evYbCSCfg7U8fNJSTVTVUNBQzBRBJ-7xGaM7l3mOYzfILnWF395mjX6JY_o2rHFS-BjbTD-yfkacI62jHKQxOzqy/s200/bacon+sundae.jpg" width="150" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Disturbing.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I know there are people out there who have proudly put
themselves out there in the world of social media as a “Fan of Bacon” (you know who you are),
and last year when we were in the US, we saw that bacon seemed to be taking
over the world in some rather disturbing ways.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I’ve always considered sausage the
quintessential breakfast meat (e<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"></span>xcuse me
while I duck projectiles from the bacon-lovers), but I have come to realise that bacon has its place.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Unfortunately that place is not here in PNG.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
To be honest, we can’t get “ground breakfast sausage” here
either (think chub packs of Jimmy Dean) but it is easier to make than bacon. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Add an egg and a few spices to ground beef
(here called “mince”) or ground pork (harder but not impossible to come by) and
voila!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
But, bacon?</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
No.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There is just no
way that I have found to make homemade bacon.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Maybe if I could start with a pig and a lot of salt …</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I tried a few different things during our first term to
simulate the cured pork product, but nothing thrilled us.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>When we returned from furlough we found that
the mission store was now carrying imitation bacon bits. They are not expensive,
surprisingly, and decent for the occasional salad or baked potato, but made
with textured vegetable protein (i.e., soy), there are definite drawbacks.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span> </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Pretty soon, however, a friend introduced us
to “Tasty Pork,” (a product of Denmark, and even has its own <a href="https://www.facebook.com/pages/Tulip-Tasty-Pork/235965456436636">facebook page</a>!)<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Now, having given this spamish product a fair chance, I have to agree with our friend that Tasty Pork is a
pretty good substitution! And thus the idea was born that while we couldn’t
have a true BLT here (I <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">did </i>manage to
find one <a href="http://apeasofmylife.blogspot.com.au/2013/06/week-in-review-3-9-june.html">in Australia</a> last month - don't tell my son) we could try a TPLT instead.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvbtkeDdWpS5gy1V8UMhip6pFRJ1pWvgs1iWled6tNEJCkpHkSpo-s57KbiBcqokM9yIEyOtvW9Hx-_BLBsbTDLQsA1cbAliiC4CnMZtviLtFgOTJrPetqfAj5jXnLCU9GSGNpryNj5wei/s1600/DSC_0136-Optimized.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvbtkeDdWpS5gy1V8UMhip6pFRJ1pWvgs1iWled6tNEJCkpHkSpo-s57KbiBcqokM9yIEyOtvW9Hx-_BLBsbTDLQsA1cbAliiC4CnMZtviLtFgOTJrPetqfAj5jXnLCU9GSGNpryNj5wei/s320/DSC_0136-Optimized.JPG" width="276" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">No keyless entry for this bad boy.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbA3Ujqdepr2d3eMbejU9Fzbt9xLVXRjYcAkeYzzOvQAp3pSTf9Fx9Zluz3erS5AnIiDwFwVdmxVGqiEPaNKEs8mj8aSbX0i1_uIsQoP6w4MiZV1f-l0q1y29wSEcCTsu-Fzzx2ZLinw37/s1600/DSC_0131-Optimized.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="173" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbA3Ujqdepr2d3eMbejU9Fzbt9xLVXRjYcAkeYzzOvQAp3pSTf9Fx9Zluz3erS5AnIiDwFwVdmxVGqiEPaNKEs8mj8aSbX0i1_uIsQoP6w4MiZV1f-l0q1y29wSEcCTsu-Fzzx2ZLinw37/s320/DSC_0131-Optimized.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Remember Spam? Yeah.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjt_gMuHeqUW8F2WQc-okRt4dTYY5Hf5w1C8PALAFVq1xunlvpMcyA8k8Ukp6ODXvqTGrTEq7KhAxUnVKcJLy7KhAm1mk3fdrqzI8uSBMK-95NhV4VkPLgc0j_bfCTyIKLgn3hhX1-46eDe/s1600/DSC_0133-Optimized.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="156" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjt_gMuHeqUW8F2WQc-okRt4dTYY5Hf5w1C8PALAFVq1xunlvpMcyA8k8Ukp6ODXvqTGrTEq7KhAxUnVKcJLy7KhAm1mk3fdrqzI8uSBMK-95NhV4VkPLgc0j_bfCTyIKLgn3hhX1-46eDe/s320/DSC_0133-Optimized.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The thinner the slices, the crispier it fries up.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
</div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-SWRmrMwHHNYod7MrXJGu0NgrPn0mfZMtsuErStwlXum2PkmTSl0E6cLr6zQJpoV4-afAE6hDL6Dc-K4-EbFPvWCP0_Okj5ZfUP17VHSdaVFRGLg4I-rlhXYF-S-zpkaLnzqh3nZEFGvs/s1600/DSC_0134-Optimized.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="147" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-SWRmrMwHHNYod7MrXJGu0NgrPn0mfZMtsuErStwlXum2PkmTSl0E6cLr6zQJpoV4-afAE6hDL6Dc-K4-EbFPvWCP0_Okj5ZfUP17VHSdaVFRGLg4I-rlhXYF-S-zpkaLnzqh3nZEFGvs/s320/DSC_0134-Optimized.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">It even sizzles and pops, just like bacon!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFDygmd3W09EMDevP7ilKs97y1XYIvcjr8e4sC-e7lrj_jvYX1ssWUO4f10cO4rGMPsmCGTbhhxgkDor1kCnxS_6BMs26YeRljqJ3V3dsRwm_Tg4BBPrimDMUx2sWnWxEMy4Ep2gcC_lZC/s1600/DSC_0138-Optimized.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="205" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFDygmd3W09EMDevP7ilKs97y1XYIvcjr8e4sC-e7lrj_jvYX1ssWUO4f10cO4rGMPsmCGTbhhxgkDor1kCnxS_6BMs26YeRljqJ3V3dsRwm_Tg4BBPrimDMUx2sWnWxEMy4Ep2gcC_lZC/s320/DSC_0138-Optimized.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The finished product.</td></tr>
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<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirKb0qkPgLosppUzy26jLh0OfBmBwUM-_usnJ7FWGmtAlSvxEVsC44CdgF693XW4dgsnMtLltuM2O0R3k3MGK4_dkMHNluVXeaaI1q9Weaj7L5UsN1btNjhAtTaQ_-fwHMT-jT22e_eB6T/s1600/DSC_0139-Optimized.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirKb0qkPgLosppUzy26jLh0OfBmBwUM-_usnJ7FWGmtAlSvxEVsC44CdgF693XW4dgsnMtLltuM2O0R3k3MGK4_dkMHNluVXeaaI1q9Weaj7L5UsN1btNjhAtTaQ_-fwHMT-jT22e_eB6T/s320/DSC_0139-Optimized.JPG" width="215" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Evan gives it a thumbs-up!</td></tr>
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<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
So, there you have it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If you're one of the two people who felt sorry for me when I whined about not having bacon, your days of obligatory compassion are over!</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
We Americans can make a satisfying BLT using Danish Spam in the
highlands of New Guinea.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
At least until the store runs out of Tasty Pork.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>:)</div>
Peas on Earthhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15734154988745705474noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-347228936422970837.post-42458673013788217322013-07-12T23:21:00.001+10:002013-07-12T23:28:22.380+10:00Five Minute Friday: Present (i.e. “gift”)<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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<br />
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A few minutes ago I returned from a birthday party where the birthday
girl, who turned fifty this week, received a few presents.</div>
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<br /></div>
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But it was the present I noticed as I walked to, and then
again from, her party that caught my attention.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Curiously, the gift was marked by the sounds of intense crying coming from a
modest little house on the north side of the road.</div>
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<br /></div>
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You see, the mother of one of my Papua New Guinean
co-workers died yesterday morning and, true to cultural form, once the body was brought to her son’s house this evening the mourners also arrived. And so began the <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">haus krai </i>(crying house).</div>
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<br /></div>
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Walking home after the party, the haunting groans and
wailing still emanating from the house, as they likely will throughout the
night and into tomorrow, my husband and I discussed the merits of such a tradition.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“I couldn’t make myself cry like that,” he
said.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
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<br /></div>
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I agreed.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“It just
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not saying it’s wrong, or that it’s not healthy, but ...”</div>
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<br /></div>
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“Well, sure.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In our
culture we stifle our emotion.” He paused to consider.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“But really, I guess the <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">haus krai</i> is not for the attending mourners.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It’s for the bereaved.”</div>
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<br /></div>
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I had a sudden realisation.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>“<i>It’s a gift to them</i>,” I said.</div>
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<br /></div>
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As westerners, I don’t think we typically mourn very
well.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Why is it that we prefer to suppress
our feelings than wear them for all to see?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Why is it we’d rather hide our tears than share them?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Why is it so difficult for us to accept the
gifts of genuine empathy and compassion?</div>
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<br /></div>
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Just as I discovered a few years ago at <a href="http://apeasofmylife.blogspot.com.au/2011/01/like-peering-through-mist.html">another </a><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><a href="http://apeasofmylife.blogspot.com.au/2011/01/like-peering-through-mist.html">haus krai</a></i>
I attended, though for me it is still somewhat awkward, in some ways this practice goes a long way toward fulfilling the Biblical mandate to <span class="text">“rejoice with those who rejoice [and] mourn with those who mourn.</span>”
(Romans 12:15)</div>
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<br /></div>
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<span class="text">Indeed.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span><br />
<br />
<span class="text"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">Tears can be a beautiful, and healing, gift. </span></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<b>
</b><br />
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<span class="text"><b>“[The
God of all healing counsel] comes alongside us when we go through hard times,
and before you know it, he brings us alongside someone else who is going
through hard times so that we can be there for that person just as God was
there for us.”</b> ~2 Corinthians 1:3-4, The Message</span></div>
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<a href="http://lisajobaker.com/five-minute-friday/" title="Five
Minute Friday"><img alt="Five Minute Friday" src="http://lisajobaker.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/5minutefriday.jpg" style="border: medium none;" title="Five Minute Friday" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><i>This post written as part of Lisa-Jo Baker's <a href="http://lisajobaker.com/five-minute-friday/">Five Minute Friday challenge</a>.</i></span><br />
<span class="text"></span><br />Peas on Earthhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15734154988745705474noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-347228936422970837.post-84474064806495248792013-07-10T11:30:00.000+10:002013-07-10T11:40:47.737+10:00Courage to Change the Things She Can<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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<br />
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">“God grant me the serenity to accept
the things I cannot change, courage to change the things I can, and wisdom to
know the difference. Living one day at a time, enjoying one moment at a time,
accepting hardships as the pathway to peace; taking, as He did, this sinful
world as it is, not as I would have it; trusting that He will make all things
right if I surrender to His Will; that I may be reasonably happy in this life
and supremely happy with Him forever in the next.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Amen.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span></b>~<i>commonly called “The Serenity Prayer”</i> <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">by Reinhold Niebuhr</i><br />
<br />
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">“</i>There
are so many people, deaf or otherwise abled, who are so talented but overlooked
or not given a chance to even get their foot in the door.”</b> ~Marlee Matlin<br />
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For me, it was the wallpaper.</div>
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<br /></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh77YR2wNgzXqCU6bB3Yw2ul2glKnSQ3T1kpzKCOS0mAy0RSr3_WtTFb5a-37wDwH0EnRO2g9m75IVY8VBwBhNgF8heSyYH8DvZDKW-hswTWEMKJkjsy1yKbLHlAKtgv244rNyGV3Rax8e7/s1600/wallpaper.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh77YR2wNgzXqCU6bB3Yw2ul2glKnSQ3T1kpzKCOS0mAy0RSr3_WtTFb5a-37wDwH0EnRO2g9m75IVY8VBwBhNgF8heSyYH8DvZDKW-hswTWEMKJkjsy1yKbLHlAKtgv244rNyGV3Rax8e7/s320/wallpaper.jpg" width="163" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Not our wallpaper,<br />
but you get the point.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal">
When I was growing up, my mother had a framed cross-stitch
of the first sentence of the “Serenity Prayer” hanging in our foyer
bathroom.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>As the family story goes, I
emerged from the loo one morning and made a joke that the yellow wallpaper in that
room was so hideous, it must be the reason that she put the saying there.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
It was the “thing we could not change.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
(Though, I must admit, a few years later they found the
courage to change it after all.)</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I was reminded of this story on a recent Sunday morning when we said
the Serenity Prayer in church.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I was
sitting across from a charming blonde named Nathalie, trying to remember
whether there was an ASL sign for “serenity.” It was one of those panic moments
I have experienced several times since I agreed to use my <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">very</i> rusty sign language skills to interpret for her.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Serenity … serenity …
what does that even MEAN?!</i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I quickly decided to sign “peace.” </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
(I looked it up later and turns out, it was the right
choice.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Whew!)</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
After the service was over, and I had apologized (again) for
my many errors, and she had said thank you (again) for trying, and I realized
that whatever I had done or not done had not scarred her for life, another
woman approached Nathalie from the side and got her attention.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
“I saw you on TV,” she said, her eyes wide and her mouth
practicing greatly exaggerated enunciation. Nathalie smiled and nodded her head.
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
“Why was she on TV?” asked another.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I didn’t know, so I signed the question to
Nathalie.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
“Because of a book,” she replied modestly.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoQfhn2pKZPAvA6PF9PkgfETPCwd36tw99QeS718gGRYB2i9McuKM38yuZUwWs3NmZUyCtis9tJuQKr-Ot5LcTWg1U5utkZ-gS-x3PbkPptD7eYcojkz66GeDCZyS4-0Ir9h2QvVZ4AZhu/s1600/DSC_0152-Optimized.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoQfhn2pKZPAvA6PF9PkgfETPCwd36tw99QeS718gGRYB2i9McuKM38yuZUwWs3NmZUyCtis9tJuQKr-Ot5LcTWg1U5utkZ-gS-x3PbkPptD7eYcojkz66GeDCZyS4-0Ir9h2QvVZ4AZhu/s320/DSC_0152-Optimized.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Nathalie's greenhouse close to where we live - full of Hoyas!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Born deaf in Sweden, Nathalie first visited PNG in 2005 as
part of an around-the-world trip.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>As a
botanist fascinated by the genus <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Hoya</i>,
she was delighted to discover that the tropical PNG forests hold at least 70
species of the wax plant, some 90% of which have not been recorded outside the
island.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>As she traveled and met people,
she quickly also became passionate about the needs of the deaf community in
Papua New Guinea and began to involve them in her research whenever possible.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She returned in 2010 to begin a <a href="http://www.paradiseforest.net/index-e.htm">five-year dual research project</a>.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
While much of the modern world has come to understand the realities of deafness, it is still not uncommon in more remote areas
for people to assume that deaf individuals are mentally disabled or even cursed
with spirits.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The reality is, if a child grows up not being exposed to
language, he will not acquire language.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>And many parents of deaf children in third world or developing countries
cannot figure out how to communicate with their children.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Therefore, though deafness does not affect
intelligence, people who don’t know any differently often assume the child must
be incapable of learning, functioning, or relating normally.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The child, therefore, grows up in a silent world and may not
even know his own name; the deaf are often marginalised through no fault of
their own.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
That much I knew.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Then she said something that rocked my sense of stability.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Sometimes they even </i>kill<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"> deaf children.</i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Somewhere in the back of my mind, I knew that must happen,
but I didn’t think that it would be true <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">here</i>,
or that it happened <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">still</i>. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
But it does make sense.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Papua New Guineans are deeply spiritual.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>The lines between the natural and the supernatural are much more blurred
than they are for many westerners.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Everything affects everything else on a spiritual level.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Spirits are mystical entities that often must
be appeased or pacified, sometimes by ritual.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span> </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
And sometimes that ritual is violent.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Sorcery is also prominent.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Deafness, mental illness, or disability can be viewed as the result of a
curse.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
And sometimes, perhaps, they just don't know what else to do with them. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0aIHRBDll8t4hKPXK8vMb8cgb4CkxmzQNkY4CbkH9VDv8C8kdpliB97tl1GjibB2-ZkKQ4Lo3rENf1M8o5vPCQSd_YhKilNXSIrqNKVXWj9dFTk7owSe-YMV9xY4As48sbOBNfKuZl67x/s1600/IMG_0455-Optimized.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0aIHRBDll8t4hKPXK8vMb8cgb4CkxmzQNkY4CbkH9VDv8C8kdpliB97tl1GjibB2-ZkKQ4Lo3rENf1M8o5vPCQSd_YhKilNXSIrqNKVXWj9dFTk7owSe-YMV9xY4As48sbOBNfKuZl67x/s200/IMG_0455-Optimized.JPG" width="200" /></a>Nathalie speaks thirteen (<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">thirteen!) </i>different languages.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>The list includes six written languages and seven different sign languages
including Swedish, German, Latvian (<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Latvian?!</i>),
Papua New Guinean, Japanese, UK, Australian, and American Sign Language (ASL,
which is where she and I can connect.)<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>And yes, you read that right … though the US, UK, and Australia all
speak the same <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">verbal</i> language (ok,
mostly), their sign languages are all strikingly different. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Though many people are surprised to hear it, <i>there is no
universal sign language</i>.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Just like
spoken languages, sign languages have developed independently around the world,
over centuries of time.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
In her work with the PNG deaf population, Nathalie and her
husband, Foreting, have joined on as consultants and translators with a team of deaf Papua
New Guineans who are working on a book that will teach PNG Sign Language to
parents of deaf children.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The book will
help them understand what deafness is, what it isn’t, and how they can help
their children communicate and thrive while helping the surrounding community
accept them as significant members of society.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Her work with this book is what landed her on that
television spot.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
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<span style="mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">In one village Nathalie and Foreting visited on their travels, some mothers said to them,<i> "Thank you for coming and showing us
that we don't need to kill our children again!"</i></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">The women's reaction gave them goosebumps, she admitted to me. "We are so thankful God has used us and our deafness."</span></div>
<br />
<br />
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But her research and work has also taken on additional
significance since she came to know Christ here in Papua New Guinea.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This quote comes from a <a href="http://www.postcourier.com.pg/20121206/news21.htm">newspaper article she co-wrote with Tim Scott</a>:</div>
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“Nathalie and her deaf Papua New Guinean husband, Foreting,
also want to help meet the deaf community’s spiritual needs.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>People who are deaf often come to church with
their families but don’t understand what is being spoken.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>One of the most frequent questions asked of
Nathalie is, ‘Please, ‘you who can sign our language,’ can you tell us who is
God and why people are going to his house every week?’”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
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What could be a better lead-in than that?</div>
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<br /></div>
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<br /></div>
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God has given Nathalie both serenity and courage.</div>
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<br /></div>
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Serenity to accept her deafness with grace and surrender,
but without any hint of martyrdom.</div>
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<br /></div>
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Courage to do what she can to better the lives of deaf
people across Papua New Guinea.</div>
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<br /></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
And that, without a doubt, is far more important than any
wallpaper ... no matter how hideous it may be.</div>
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<![endif]--><br />Peas on Earthhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15734154988745705474noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-347228936422970837.post-39359063864173609672013-07-05T21:16:00.000+10:002013-07-05T21:36:49.960+10:00Five Minute Friday: Beautiful<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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<br />
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Her skin is tough from excessive exposure to the tropical
sun.</div>
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<br /></div>
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Endless cycles of planting and harvesting yams have
permanently hunched her back.</div>
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<br /></div>
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Her sagging breasts have nourished eight children, five of
which survived past the age of three.</div>
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<br /></div>
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The teeth she still has are permanently stained from chewing
betelnut.</div>
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<br /></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcxBvQA5Bu5bbjDHJJFP8QpBaxBw5oOG8YTQ_yXEqZOtuP96cicr9oxo7gxEar2JSenGVfBBk2gRY3H73sTFAeASAfpFWTX-RtfXuoKsFY4xPLcJOYRsqVJyEqiW9P75wUEyAvSY_uuVrz/s975/png+woman.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="285" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcxBvQA5Bu5bbjDHJJFP8QpBaxBw5oOG8YTQ_yXEqZOtuP96cicr9oxo7gxEar2JSenGVfBBk2gRY3H73sTFAeASAfpFWTX-RtfXuoKsFY4xPLcJOYRsqVJyEqiW9P75wUEyAvSY_uuVrz/s320/png+woman.jpg" width="320" /></a>Her second-hand clothes are faded and worn.</div>
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Her feet are wide and flat from decades of walking barefoot through
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Her eyes sparkle with life, humour, and joy despite a
lifetime of physical labour and heart-wrenching loss.</div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
She is Papua New Guinean.</div>
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<br /></div>
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And she is beautiful.</div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i>Inspired by Lisa Jo Baker's Five Minute Friday prompt, "Beautiful."</i> </div>
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<br /></div>
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<a href="http://lisajobaker.com/five-minute-friday/" title="Five Minute Friday"><img alt="Five Minute Friday" src="http://lisajobaker.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/5minutefriday.jpg" style="border: none;" title="Five Minute Friday" /></a></div>
Peas on Earthhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15734154988745705474noreply@blogger.com11tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-347228936422970837.post-49220227624245297752013-07-01T13:06:00.001+10:002013-07-02T09:50:33.133+10:00Why I Chose Your Father over Orlando Bloom: An open letter to my children<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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<br />
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">“[Viggo Mortensen, the
actor who played Aragorn] used to call me 'elf boy,' and I'd call him 'filthy
human.' As an elf, I never got a scratch on me, never got dirty. And Vig would
come out with blood and sweat all over him. And he'd say to me, 'Oh, go
manicure your nails.'”</b> ~<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Orlando Bloom</i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">"Legolas doesn't
speak a lot - he prefers to let his actions speak for him. Legolas's moves are
smooth and elegant, like a cat. You know how cats can jump and land steadily on
their paws? That's what I'm trying to do. There's a strength in that, but it's
very balletic. It's also [really] hard to do without falling over!" </b>~<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Orlando Bloom</i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjugxIL8Ja0t72JipF-SiGCDYLiy2hzAn5XBecnyzuTWddti0zD-zR-UL9JEIh24gqOb2b_JqVOmYfeIJPFZSf86TBQuabd4StHkmJZK49b4-GIV8GzXsYG8F21wJV9OlwFJSnWShsIVIAN/s1211/Legolas.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="282" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjugxIL8Ja0t72JipF-SiGCDYLiy2hzAn5XBecnyzuTWddti0zD-zR-UL9JEIh24gqOb2b_JqVOmYfeIJPFZSf86TBQuabd4StHkmJZK49b4-GIV8GzXsYG8F21wJV9OlwFJSnWShsIVIAN/s400/Legolas.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Dear Ones,</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I’m sorry.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I let
myself get carried away.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I don’t even remember how it started exactly.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>One thing just led to another.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In a brief moment of weakness I thought, <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">It’s harmless … no one will get hurt. </i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
And then, for better or for worse, I just said it.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
“I thought Legolas was pretty hot.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The looks on your faces were priceless.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Evan, trying to determine how serious I was
and simultaneously rethinking his obsession with “Lord of the Rings.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Andie trying to stifle an embarrassed grin
and at the same time downright horrified that her mother would have, or at
least would admit, such thoughts or feelings.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Even Daddy widened his eyes.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>“Wow.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I don’t think you’ve ever
said anything like that about <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">anyone</i>
before.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Because your reactions were so perfect, I couldn’t let it
die.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Over the next few days I seized
several additional opportunities to speak swooningly of Legolas ... to make your collective eyes bug out, to cause
your faces to contort into those coincidentally wonderous and disturbed looks,
to make Andie shrink back, aghast and suspicious, willing me to take it back
for the love of all things right and noble.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Your father just rolled his eyes.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You see, he wasn’t worried.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Let me explain.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I admit, there was something about the character, Legolas,
that was appealing to me.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He was the
strong, silent type.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Tender, kind,
brave, thoughtful.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> Rescuer, hero, kick-some-Ork-butt, save-the-world. </span>He had a strong jaw and
perfect hair, and was pretty good with a bow and arrow.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And don’t get me started on the pointy ears.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
But, that’s all he is to me, really … a fantastical
character.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
He’s not real.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
And I already explained to you that I really don’t have any
feelings for Orlando Bloom himself.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I
mean, I am sure he is a fine young man (I can say "young" because when I got
married at 26, he was still in high school, or would have been if he had not
dropped out), but I don’t know him at all – at least not as well as you might
feel like you know a graceful, blonde elf after nine hours on the big screen.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
You father, however, is very real. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I know we’ve had our issues – all marriages have conflict.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But, we would both tell you that those
issues, and the way that God had brought us through them, only made us stronger
in the end, made us love each other more.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Your father has always been there for me, even when I was at
my most unlovable.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Thanks to untreated
clinical depression that, fortunately, you don’t really remember, I was frequently
quite nasty, angry, hateful … for years. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">I</i> almost
certainly would have walked out on me, but Daddy never did.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I don’t hold out much hope that Orlando would
have done the same.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It’s not really
Hollywood’s way.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I’m sure our culture tried to sell Dad the idea that he
deserved better.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I would guess that he
had plenty of opportunities to buy the lie that if he left me and found someone
else everything would be good again, easier, more fulfilling … that the pain of
divorce and a broken family, and even the conflicts we had, would not follow
him into another relationship (they always do no matter how good or bad the relationships are).</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
But your father chose the difficult path – he chose to honour
me, his commitment, and his God.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He
demonstrated faithfulness to me, just as he had pledged at the altar in 1995,
but, as it turned out, far <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">far</i> beyond
what I actually deserved.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He did not
always like me, that he will admit, but he chose to continue loving me, for
better or for worse, in sickness and in health.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I didn’t make it easy, and sometimes I still don’t.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I spent far more time suffocating in the
Darkness than I have as a medicated, counseled, reasonably healthy adult, and
there are still bad habits that need to be expelled from our relationship.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And despite all my flattering talk, Daddy’s
not perfect either.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We’d both
acknowledge that.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But we’ve come a long
way thanks to Mercy.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Thanks to Grace.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Besides, he’s a pretty good cook.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I love your Daddy very much, and I would still choose him
over Legolas.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I just wanted you to know.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
With love,</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><i>Mom</i></span></span></div>
Peas on Earthhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15734154988745705474noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-347228936422970837.post-33006777688781609692013-06-29T11:20:00.002+10:002013-07-05T21:37:45.582+10:00Five-minute Friday: In Between<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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<b>“Don't be dismayed by good-byes. A farewell is necessary
before you can meet again. And meeting again, after moments or lifetimes, is
certain for those who are friends.”</b> ~Richard Bach</div>
<br />
<br />
<br />
So, I just found <a href="http://lisajobaker.com/five-minute-friday/">this blog challenge</a> to write for five minutes, unedited, on a specific prompt each Friday. Not sure if I will continue, but today's (well, yesterday's for me) prompt seems appropriate. So, here goes ...<br />
<br />
<br />
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Today begins the in-between. </div>
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She didn’t see me waving from my yard, by the way.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I asked later in an email.</div>
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It’s a time of celebration.</div>
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It’s a time of breathing deeply once again.</div>
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<br /></div>
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<a href="http://lisajobaker.com/five-minute-friday/" title="Five Minute Friday"><img alt="Five Minute Friday" src="http://lisajobaker.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/5minutefriday.jpg" style="border: none;" title="Five Minute Friday" /></a> </div>
Peas on Earthhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15734154988745705474noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-347228936422970837.post-90467460221508399672013-06-26T21:48:00.000+10:002013-07-01T18:10:24.589+10:00Happy Half-Christmas<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">“Christmas, children,
is not a date.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It is a state of mind.”</b>
~Mary Ellen Chase</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">“Christmas makes me
happy no matter what time of year it comes around.”</b><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>~Bryan White</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Half-Christmas has arrived.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Two days ago, the kids and I finished the puzzle below,
complete with eighteen hidden wolves.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>As
we did so we talked about how my parents had sent the puzzle to us for
Christmas of 2011 (doing a puzzle over the Christmas break is a tradition we
have started, and that year they were kind enough to support the habit).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Because the package
actually arrived after Christmas, and we were already trying to pack up and get ready
for furlough, we never even opened the puzzle.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Until now.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHKlyWdGB49OA1xOF8c9pkklrlKvAmK69DwyjNTCnlv4mKr7q-PIVp8DA2_XVChptYfCdjijxZNIcOXUdpolrQMpyOuha6mFNJpdlwBV_kRAOkl9pt-KABl7bVxNnD7QoUyC4GwENa7ZRa/s1600/DSC_0126.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="229" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHKlyWdGB49OA1xOF8c9pkklrlKvAmK69DwyjNTCnlv4mKr7q-PIVp8DA2_XVChptYfCdjijxZNIcOXUdpolrQMpyOuha6mFNJpdlwBV_kRAOkl9pt-KABl7bVxNnD7QoUyC4GwENa7ZRa/s320/DSC_0126.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Maybe it was the snow depicted on the puzzle, or the talk of
the holidays, but the kids wanted to know how much longer until Christmas.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Andie pulled out the calendar and tried to
figure out how many days had transpired since the last one.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
“What’s 31 plus 28 plus 31?”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Seriously?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You just finished Algebra, right?</i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
“And then add 30 …”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Don’t forget the, uh,
26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31 … six days after Christmas in December.</i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Short story, she figured out that the very next day,
Tuesday, was exactly half a year out from Christmas Eve, which means today, Wednesday, is half a year out from
Christmas. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Happy Half-Christmas!</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
We joked for a few minutes about how a half-Christmas
celebration should look and sound.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">… On the fourth day of
half-Christmas my true love gave to me, two calling birds, one-and-a-half French
hens, one turtle dove, and a partridge--.</i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
At that point the kids had been out of school for a full six
days, which apparently is long enough for full boredom to set in.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
“We should decorate!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Mom, can we decorate?”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">What?</i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
“We should put up half a Christmas tree … and bake Christmas
cookies …”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Then they asked if we could invite our close family friends –
who happened to be leaving for a year furlough the very next day, today - <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">on</i> half-Christmas, thank you very much - to come over and
celebrate with us … since we were unable to spend last Christmas with them
because of <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">our</i> furlough, and we
wouldn’t get to spend this next Christmas with them because of <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">their</i> furlough.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Plus we needed their signatures on our holiday table cloth.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
And thus the planning began.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Tuesday we spent the better part of the day decorating (lights around
half of the front door, half a wreath, half a tree with half a paper star on
top, half-boxes (open on one side) wrapped in holiday paper, half a nativity
scene.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Then we baked cut-out sugar
cookies … stars, trees, angels, gingerbread men, stockings … all cut in half prior to baking,
of course.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7jKK-dyVWGVMMRxA9YEvRd_UjKG-pbmh1FHFjPnuVS5kznv9wjasLNwWAEJYvEBrHfWfDNyAPihGuKqilXWxCijPua99-fJGFAFzCItd9AcKQk1riyyay3e6WQSIPOq07cEAxjVQ1g0TH/s1600/DSC_0131.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7jKK-dyVWGVMMRxA9YEvRd_UjKG-pbmh1FHFjPnuVS5kznv9wjasLNwWAEJYvEBrHfWfDNyAPihGuKqilXWxCijPua99-fJGFAFzCItd9AcKQk1riyyay3e6WQSIPOq07cEAxjVQ1g0TH/s320/DSC_0131.JPG" width="208" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVPO1ZUT_-8jFxLs6Y8Vij-lV8w3f-xnWmRwg94Ara1mhNiC_s1_vGfJCIlv9Bx9CHN5SXzLAPfi65lDbO1gTz3lLaaNS3oGkM4pfbPfDRultavHAOR1wv6JFvxGJ-FpLOPh5ml6jq_xhq/s1600/DSC_0129.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVPO1ZUT_-8jFxLs6Y8Vij-lV8w3f-xnWmRwg94Ara1mhNiC_s1_vGfJCIlv9Bx9CHN5SXzLAPfi65lDbO1gTz3lLaaNS3oGkM4pfbPfDRultavHAOR1wv6JFvxGJ-FpLOPh5ml6jq_xhq/s320/DSC_0129.JPG" width="165" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjep-LhGt2UKEgITpnMj6OtGRRQgpqaNxqYno_IWBpdJVLXNWdVcpzjABENYwhRLgLFlG1C2g3ZynQnr_nJy_ob0Ny-ZaZ9B-xqY9nXKD_jsYNXNKvHZzUUf0YallkvBzTZj7HZ4seoTplQ/s1600/DSC06162-Optimized.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjep-LhGt2UKEgITpnMj6OtGRRQgpqaNxqYno_IWBpdJVLXNWdVcpzjABENYwhRLgLFlG1C2g3ZynQnr_nJy_ob0Ny-ZaZ9B-xqY9nXKD_jsYNXNKvHZzUUf0YallkvBzTZj7HZ4seoTplQ/s320/DSC06162-Optimized.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
We even made faux snow in a bowl. Decorations courtesy of Andie. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
"So no one thinks it's coconut." :)</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3HR1NrNI0vZAEjmQKz5P49FKjJaBtAhGIJ4NWAd71SBfCm5F8j7wknYZoEie8z6ibzSRmAx9Fs-3ioNt7ln0SAsU9GTmLazR5no98470pbWZ7vI9pOlF4iQ53ogPm_b2Gr1rYDd1aznzr/s1600/DSC_0132.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3HR1NrNI0vZAEjmQKz5P49FKjJaBtAhGIJ4NWAd71SBfCm5F8j7wknYZoEie8z6ibzSRmAx9Fs-3ioNt7ln0SAsU9GTmLazR5no98470pbWZ7vI9pOlF4iQ53ogPm_b2Gr1rYDd1aznzr/s320/DSC_0132.JPG" width="301" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEif4-W7Wu-2gBuimfbEu5vcsqIavE0PgBvTCaNnWx71jLZfu7Z5SeZIPmJz1DK5tSSnWqqF22BsHcru-v-EYWaBzzl6HTVXHNBlOW6VtofVabMoRmvtNv20CnxN75x8iyIpo92ylI7fJAMU/s1600/DSC_0134.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEif4-W7Wu-2gBuimfbEu5vcsqIavE0PgBvTCaNnWx71jLZfu7Z5SeZIPmJz1DK5tSSnWqqF22BsHcru-v-EYWaBzzl6HTVXHNBlOW6VtofVabMoRmvtNv20CnxN75x8iyIpo92ylI7fJAMU/s320/DSC_0134.JPG" width="236" /></a>Our friends came over after dinner and we served homemade
eggnog – half a glass per person.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>As the
Christmas music played in the background, we signed the tablecloth, frosted and sprinkled half-sugar-cookies and chatted, trying to ignore the fact that we wouldn’t see each other
again for nearly 400 days.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
These are the
same friends who have become “aunt” and “uncle” to our kids, and to whose kids we have become the same.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They cared for Evan when Paul and
I were in Thailand in 2011.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And as if
that wasn’t enough to prove their loyalty and friendship, they looked after our
goofball dog for much longer than they bargained for while we were on furlough.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
And they didn’t even remind us of our extreme indebtedness … at
least not very often.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
After an hour or so of cookies and ‘nog, their
just-graduated 18-year-old son who affectionately treats my children like a younger brother
and sister and even cuddles on the dog (when he’s not painting her, that is)
stood to leave.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>His mother had been told
to expect that each evening during Cry Week the graduates would have a party of
some kind or other, “with whoever is left,” hence the 8pm departure from our
chronologically displaced holiday festivities.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
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<br /></div>
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I don’t blame him. I've been to more exciting parties, and I'm old.</div>
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<br /></div>
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But as I watched him walk out the door, knowing that it
would likely be much longer than 400 days before we would see him again, I felt a wave of sadness.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcsbxoWFHpQ_Q-mhbTWDE1eSev4L11-z__-kv0DytLUi2x905oooC3wiamZJKnTBhkZ1SduY51Zo5JahCPEHInYZ5-dQ3t0yC-l4MNnvmgTycz3m1OIEtUJslv2G_y481BwNbf_-9J0Ubg/s1600/DSC06164-Optimized.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcsbxoWFHpQ_Q-mhbTWDE1eSev4L11-z__-kv0DytLUi2x905oooC3wiamZJKnTBhkZ1SduY51Zo5JahCPEHInYZ5-dQ3t0yC-l4MNnvmgTycz3m1OIEtUJslv2G_y481BwNbf_-9J0Ubg/s320/DSC06164-Optimized.JPG" width="240" /></a>Seeing as I don’t do goodbyes well, I sent him off with a “take
care” and “keep us posted on how you’re doing - Facebook, Facebook, Facebook.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He smiled at the reference to one of his
recent status updates.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
This may have been our last “holiday” with him, but I’d sure
be appreciative if he would, someday, plan his wedding around our furlough
schedule.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
And if you do, ‘Siah, I’ll promise to make you a batch of homemade
eggnog, and to let it chill longer than seven hours. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
And you can even have a full glass. :)</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
Peas on Earthhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15734154988745705474noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-347228936422970837.post-46127448349674491092013-06-20T16:59:00.003+10:002013-07-01T18:10:43.892+10:00Week in Review: 3-9 June <!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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</xml><![endif]--><b>"Australia is so cool that it's hard to even know where to start
describing it. The beaches are beautiful; so is the weather. Not too
crowded. Great food, great music, really nice people. It must be a lot like Los Angeles was many years ago." </b>~Mary-Kate Olson<br />
<br />
<b>"I love Australia. My dream would be to have a place to live there and be able to commute back and forth." </b>~Sarah Michelle Gellar<br />
<br />
<br />
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So, I am a couple weeks behind on my "Week in Review" posts. I knew as soon as I published in our newsletter that I was updating more regularly that it would slip.<br />
<br />
I have also been trying to figure out what to say about the week of June 3.</div>
<br />
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You could say that several weeks ago my friend, sort-of-jokingly,
asked me to consider going to Cairns, Queensland (Australia) with her the week of June 3.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You could say that the reason she was going
was to meet up with her mother and niece and to fly back with them, at her
mother’s request, into this third-world country.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You could say if she was going to go
that far, that my friend was smart to not just go for one or two nights, but
that since she was involved in <a href="http://apeasofmylife.blogspot.com.au/2013/06/week-in-review-may-27-june-2-banquet.html">Banquet</a>
the weekend before, her options were limited.</div>
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<br /></div>
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You could say Paul and I are both too practical and
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me.</div>
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<br /></div>
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You could say that I was torn, knowing it would mean spending
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would also mean the world to my friend because of all she’s gone through in the
last nine months.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You could also say
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<br /></div>
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You could say Paul eventually, but graciously, gave his full blessing. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
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And, you could say that in the end I bought the ticket.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
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You could also say that the day in the Port Moresby airport
was, indeed, very long, but that we made it to Cairns on schedule.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
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Now, as for why I went, you could say I went because I just
wanted a vacation.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Of course, you could
also say that to “take a vacation <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">in</i> <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">PNG</i>” is a bit of a misnomer, so anything out of the country naturally has the potential to be counted as a real "vacation."</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Or maybe you could say that I went because I had recently been
involved in multiple situations at work where people weren’t happy with other
people and I just really needed to get out of here for a while.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
In fact, you could say that I went because on several fronts
I had been under ongoing stress and I just needed a change of pace.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You could also say that I tried to ban those
particular topics from the conversation for the week.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Then you could say that other than one or two
brief instances, I met with success.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Alternately, you could say that I went simply because my friend needed a
friend.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You could say that she thought
she would feel much more comfortable navigating the Cairns bus system for the
first time if she wasn’t alone, or that she would have less free time to think
about all she had been through if someone else was there, or that maybe that if
she needed someone to talk to, she would be very grateful for my presence.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
You could even say that I went because it was a good opportunity
to have a routine - but important - medical test done.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You could actually say that the test (and
therefore the trip) <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">was</i> in fact necessary
because I have family history.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And you
could say that this test involved some awkward tissue squishing, but you
certainly wouldn’t have to if doing so made you blush.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
You could say that I also made an appointment for my
friend and that we both independently discovered that the Australians don’t
utilise changing rooms and robes like we do in America.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But, having said that, you could also say we
found the whole process to be much more efficient, if slightly more awkward for
the uninitiated.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Fortunately, you could
say that in the end the radiologist had nothing to say and that that was a good
thing.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
You could say that once we got there we were happy to be able to eat at
actual, real live restaurants.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You could
say that even though the steak special on Tuesday night was an attractive
price, it wasn’t actually anything “special.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>But you could also say that the fact that we were able to walk to the
restaurant, at night, by ourselves, and not feel afraid or be particularly vulnerable
was special enough for us.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
You could say that we even had ice cream.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Twice.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
You could say we each took along a pretty decent shopping
list.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You could say mine included things
like “basketball” for the boy, “swimsuit” for the girl, “240V ceiling fan” for
the house, and “dual-control queen-sized electric mattress cover” for the
people who graciously took in Stacey while I was gone.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If you were daring you could even say I
managed to fit all those items in my return luggage.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
You could say that my friend and I had a wonderful time
together.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You could say that she loved
it when I taught her to play Cribbage. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You
could say we had good, meaningful conversations and got along famously.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You could say we each bought a bottle of (temporary)
hair colour and that I applied hers and she applied mine.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You could also say that while her colour
change is more striking than mine, it suits her. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
You could say that on the day we were to pick up her
relatives, we rented a car and successfully navigated the roads - paved, smooth,
high-speed, and
driving-on-the-left-side-of-the-road-through-all-manners-of-roundabouts though they
were.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You could say that we successfully
fetched the fam from the airport, went to lunch, and enjoyed the botanical
gardens.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You could say the gardens had
free entrance.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidENOAS-mSolbUzn-3oJKYue84RiTo6sJ_IR6o9GeUqTF2clfG2bINJgLpByZYsbtxWxCrTr0AVnUaO2mNsCDq2HTHYyoR0SMXVL-cDK35XXKoNHHrG63Fahiey0SCeVa8VPOAm-BHfpUZ/s1600/DSC06069-Optimized.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidENOAS-mSolbUzn-3oJKYue84RiTo6sJ_IR6o9GeUqTF2clfG2bINJgLpByZYsbtxWxCrTr0AVnUaO2mNsCDq2HTHYyoR0SMXVL-cDK35XXKoNHHrG63Fahiey0SCeVa8VPOAm-BHfpUZ/s320/DSC06069-Optimized.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
You could also say we went downtown and wandered along the “Esplanade,”
and that the 11 year old niece and I waded around in the “Esplanade Lagoon,” a
swimming facility that overlooks the Pacific.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>You could say that even though it is winter, since Cairns sits on the
coast and so close to the equator, the weather stays pretty nice this time of
year.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You could say that the Lagoon also
has free entrance, and that, of course, free is good - especially twice in one day.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQ45mJUo4jrbx-EWKyIC1oWyEXoL7jNjgMvLJo2gJvfWInqKJU_m7wvDo4GeaxMwAdhHiLpCuwJnSaebdpbMkblF36f493FR8IBkNldf_f-wlNLTdNfdHyK_mx4BYo2EbTVngaHc0x77Uh/s1600/DSC06087-Optimized.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQ45mJUo4jrbx-EWKyIC1oWyEXoL7jNjgMvLJo2gJvfWInqKJU_m7wvDo4GeaxMwAdhHiLpCuwJnSaebdpbMkblF36f493FR8IBkNldf_f-wlNLTdNfdHyK_mx4BYo2EbTVngaHc0x77Uh/s320/DSC06087-Optimized.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXq0z7xgHx10SFe8kBMCNipIZ26HWrPT9aYegY8cHa7mYhrxfln_UhrKlRPADqA5M0HXylBu6hq5qPsHozprYtrnPPTdNgeYGviDC8ezeiTJn8XVWj6tz_3giuAQleQcD1xLb9gSMiqxFF/s1600/DSC06085-Optimized.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXq0z7xgHx10SFe8kBMCNipIZ26HWrPT9aYegY8cHa7mYhrxfln_UhrKlRPADqA5M0HXylBu6hq5qPsHozprYtrnPPTdNgeYGviDC8ezeiTJn8XVWj6tz_3giuAQleQcD1xLb9gSMiqxFF/s320/DSC06085-Optimized.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"></span>You could say that as we got to the Night Market, the 11 year old niece told her grandmother that she would eat a tiny
little octopus-on-a-skewer if <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">she</i>
would.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You could also say, pretty
confidently, that the grandmother refused.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyiy48hIsrtMBm8KS4uRXdwbV0hbi_eaQZWGxSgH30s4TZyvyf1D6cbwcc7wolect-Dgm1DAG0EwxhSqdWhgbM_Cj8wXtRazR0NscTEbAdiTVx5hh92pqG_9pjrHK2RLy99FWRYVj9_lGU/s1600/DSC06092-Optimized.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyiy48hIsrtMBm8KS4uRXdwbV0hbi_eaQZWGxSgH30s4TZyvyf1D6cbwcc7wolect-Dgm1DAG0EwxhSqdWhgbM_Cj8wXtRazR0NscTEbAdiTVx5hh92pqG_9pjrHK2RLy99FWRYVj9_lGU/s320/DSC06092-Optimized.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
You could say that we went in looking for good Asian-style foot and lower-leg rubs for
four.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTrDnFqn-xkeypTOHT_CHOm8xgNb8JXTkSt2DPkuuHuOP9yVweLEydODxiiGQDiUtkhPgY6agJk4DMfwbi7Y_Te0MRsYUUVlMsGMAieOp0QVpl0r8euVCanw6MBHnM2E67upI-Df2qr-Bv/s1600/DSC06095-Optimized.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTrDnFqn-xkeypTOHT_CHOm8xgNb8JXTkSt2DPkuuHuOP9yVweLEydODxiiGQDiUtkhPgY6agJk4DMfwbi7Y_Te0MRsYUUVlMsGMAieOp0QVpl0r8euVCanw6MBHnM2E67upI-Df2qr-Bv/s320/DSC06095-Optimized.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
You could say we turned in early that night because the taxi
would come at 5:15am the next morning to pick us up for our flight back to
PNG.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<br />
If you want, you could say that the
flight to PNG was eventless, but that the single-engine number from Port
Moresby into the Highlands was the roughest air travel I have ever experienced.
<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You could say that was because it was
afternoon in PNG and the weather had moved in, and you could even say that the
pilot tried to warn us. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You could also say
that every time we went through a rain cloud, I got wet, but that I tried not to
think about it because when I started to investigate the source of the
flying droplets, I realised that the exterior door I was sitting by opened outward, as
did the cargo hatch on <a href="http://libraryonline.erau.edu/online-full-text/ntsb/aircraft-accident-reports/AAR73-02.pdf">American Airlines Flight 96</a>
that resulted in the Windsor Incident about which we had just seen a
documentary while we were in Australia where they actually have television which we watched just because it was a novelty and not because it's a smart thing to watch plane "incident" documentaries right before you get on a plane.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
You could say I tightened my shoulder straps.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
And you could say we were all relieved to land safely at Aiyura.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhD4H2DcBNKtsI-bDBOkqWDlsoWhfl7oXesMQf9QRciBT912D6R_5VzP3aZDfEb4yAwRYT2n7YrZb77KbChW7UfNuziqeZ521ruvjAEOuQOgDIFccPUa-dbyogGITtBc33Lzqcl1jc4kYjw/s1600/DSC06153-Optimized.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhD4H2DcBNKtsI-bDBOkqWDlsoWhfl7oXesMQf9QRciBT912D6R_5VzP3aZDfEb4yAwRYT2n7YrZb77KbChW7UfNuziqeZ521ruvjAEOuQOgDIFccPUa-dbyogGITtBc33Lzqcl1jc4kYjw/s320/DSC06153-Optimized.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
You could say all of these things and only one of them would
be false.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Maybe it was the hair dye, but Cribbage apparently makes my
friend’s head hurt.</div>
Peas on Earthhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15734154988745705474noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-347228936422970837.post-59075267134012170532013-06-19T00:30:00.001+10:002013-07-12T07:35:28.130+10:00School's Out<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">“The things that have
been most valuable to me I did not learn in school.”</b><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>~Will Smith</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">“It’s time to say
goodbye but I think goodbyes are sad and I’d much rather say hello.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Hello to a new adventure.”</b><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>~Ernie Harwell</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
And just like that, I have a high schooler – my firstborn,
my daughter, and mercy me, how did that happen? – and a sixth grader – a 5’4” son,
with feet larger than mine, who is beginning his last year of Primary School
and looking forward to graduation festivities of his own a year from now.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
As the release bell rung at the Primary Campus today, I
captured several photos like these: </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdMAq6ZreOcHwYpzY6B47cRYVH1O3O4lmACToBZ55cWSWu0MJqGJFxARO6OnqcDSTpT37sWSZW1tOH-SWqtk8lTJ9_1i-W-_2po1hs9Ovt5E8U_QrmWOzfrQ1yOhLcX9TIPm2_gnq1sUWL/s1600/school+composite-Optimized.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="167" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdMAq6ZreOcHwYpzY6B47cRYVH1O3O4lmACToBZ55cWSWu0MJqGJFxARO6OnqcDSTpT37sWSZW1tOH-SWqtk8lTJ9_1i-W-_2po1hs9Ovt5E8U_QrmWOzfrQ1yOhLcX9TIPm2_gnq1sUWL/s400/school+composite-Optimized.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I asked my son last night if he preferred homeschooling (which we
did on furlough) or going to school here.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>“Going to school, Mom,” was his response.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“Definitely going to school.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
(But of course he was glad to be done, too.)</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
To flesh out the conversation, he and I talked about how the
dynamics are different in more ways than one.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>In Washington he really didn’t have any friends; in contrast, even if he
was homeschooled here, he would have plenty of friends to play with in the
afternoons.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
This is one of the best parts of this community: the availability
– and proximity - of friends for our children.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Two of my son’s best mates (I can say that because one of them is
Aussie) live within five houses of us.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>My daughter’s friends are a bit more scattered, but it’s still only a
six to eight minute walk to one house or another.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Not to mention the classmate who lives under
our roof.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
But these friendships – and the eventual but inevitable
partings - are ironically also one of the things that can make the life of an MK (and often of their
parents, too) difficult and even painful. My daughter’s first best friend “went
finish” (a local colloquialism for leaving and planning to not return to PNG)
back to Germany in 2010.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Her subsequent
best friend “went finish” back to Finland (yes, there were the associated “going
Finnish” jokes) in 2011.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The next dearest
friend she latched onto “went finish” to Australia in 2012.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
All in June.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Personally I’ve never felt compelled to participate in “Cry
Week,” but it’s probably only a matter of time before my kids will want to do
so.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Just tonight my might-as-well-be-adopted
teenage daughter said that she was going to be picked up at 6am tomorrow “to go
out to Aviation” to say goodbye to a friend.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Here’s the scenario …
as soon as high school graduation (which was tonight) is over, our aviation department is overrun for the next
week or two with families flying out, going on furlough or finish. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Now, for the seniors whose families are simply going on
furlough, they still have to face the fact that they themselves may as well be
going finish.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>While some alumni do
eventually find their way back here to visit, or even as appointed missionaries themselves, there are no guarantees they will ever be back.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
My mother tells me that I was fairly horrid to live with as
my own high school graduation approached and then the summer dragged on.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I think she was pretty much ready to throw me
out of the house by August, because <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">I</i>
was ready to go, and I was acting like it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
While they definitely do experience a fair amount of “senioritis,”
I think these kids here tend to struggle with the milestone, too - experiencing
a personal tug-of-war within their spirits, conflicted by a sense of personal
adventure that clashes brazenly with an expected, but still very raw, grief.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>The class (this year consisting of 24 graduates) has bonded over years
of living together in a unique environment, far away from their passport
countries and cultures, in this place that truly has a culture all its
own.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They have shared everything
together.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And now as they walk across
the stage to receive their hard-earned and long-awaited tickets to freedom,
they also stand on the cusp of having to say <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">real</i> goodbyes to so many people who have loved and nurtured them,
who <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">understand</i> them because they have
lived this life too, and who are now departing for destinations, literally, all
around the world.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Of my own graduating class of 600 students, about 250 went
to one state college and more than 200 others to the rival school, leaving fewer
than 25% of us to go elsewhere.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Of
those, most of us stayed within about four southern states.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
These kids are flying off to four different <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">continents</i>.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
As per tradition, the last day of school at the Secondary Campus includes what is affectionately
known as “the Wailing Wall.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I have not
experienced it personally, but I am told that all the people who are leaving (graduates
and others leaving for furlough or finish) line up and everyone else (in the
whole school!) walks by and says goodbye to each of them.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Tears, sniffles, sobs, hugs, piles of tissue.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Call me callous, but that just sounds like torture to me.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Like someone somewhere is surely scoring a
sadistic satisfaction from such a sad scene.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
To prove I wasn’t totally unfeeling, I asked the girls this
evening how it went.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> They had little to say.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
“It was sad,” one of them said.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Uh huh …
I would think so.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>By its very nature … yeah.</i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
And with that cry week has begun, jumpstarted by this little
quirk of Ukarumpa culture.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
So over the next couple of weeks, these same kids will be “going
out to Aviation” to see their friends off.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>To give and receive last hugs and promises of permanent connectivity via
email and Facebook.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>To pray
together.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>To wave frantically and bury their faces in each others' shoulders, and then watch
through tear-blurred eyes as our single-engine planes rumble down the dirt
runway and soar into the next set of life experiences.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
No, I suppose I don’t tend to do goodbyes well.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’d rather do “see ya laters.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Technically, it would be okay because in
Christ we most definitely will see each other again. But I wonder if these
teenagers might have it right.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It still
doesn’t make me want to “do Cry Week," but perhaps this is a healthier path on
which to travel through grief.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
These kids are some of the most resilient and amazing people
I know.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">“<span class="text">There’s more to come: We continue to shout our praise
even when we’re hemmed in with troubles, because we know how troubles can develop
passionate patience in us, and how that patience in turn forges the tempered
steel of virtue, keeping us alert for whatever God will do next. In alert
expectancy such as this, we’re never left feeling shortchanged.<br />Quite the
contrary—we can’t round up enough containers to hold everything God generously
pours into our lives through the Holy Spirit!</span>”</b><span class="text"> <br />
~Romans 5:3-5, The Message</span><br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span class="text"><i>Update, 12 July 2013: This blog has been republished in two parts at <a href="http://www.teachers-in-service.org/blog/mks_cry_week_part_one">Teachers in Service, Inc</a>, an organization dedicated to recruiting teachers for Missionary schools around the world. Their vision? "The perpetual surplus of teachers for Children of Missionaries."</i></span></div>
</div>
Peas on Earthhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15734154988745705474noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-347228936422970837.post-72971204378724243282013-06-18T09:58:00.002+10:002013-07-01T18:11:44.929+10:00Baby, it's Cold Outside<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">“What, I sometimes
wonder, would it be like if I lived in a country where winter is a matter of a
few chilly days and a few weeks' rain; where the sun is never far away, and the
flowers bloom all year long?” </b>~Anna Neagle</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">“How can you expect a
man who’s warm to understand one who’s cold?”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span></b>~Aleksandr Solzhenitzyn</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I’m finding it’s hard to type when you’re shivering.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Even if what you want to write about is the
shivering itself.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Yep … winter has arrived.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Bear in mind that I am writing from a tropical destination in
the South Pacific - not exactly your standard Gilligan’s Island scenario, what
with people wearing knit caps and jackets, and saying clever and innovative things
like, “Brr! It’s really <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">cold</i>!”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I certainly never expected to say that when we first
purchased our tickets four years ago.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I can probably count on my fingers (wouldn’t even need my
toes, which is probably good because I can’t feel them) how many times I have
worn a sweater here in PNG, (my daughter and husband each wear one almost every
day, but we won’t mention how that probably has to do more with a relative lack
of personal insulation than weather patterns) so these cold days are always a
shock to my system.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Shortly before we came to PNG, we had a garage sale.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>One of the things that did not sell, but that
I knew we would not need, was a set of flannel sheets.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>A few days later, a couple who had lived here
for several years came to visit. How surprised I was when they mentioned that
they were glad they had brought their flannel sheets.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
To PNG?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Really?</i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I shipped the flannel sheets, grateful to the Lord that he
had kept anyone from snatching up such a bargain.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I thought of that again last night when I had to get out of
bed to get an extra blanket and realised the flannel sheets are still folded up
in the closet, quite content to keep themselves warm.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And then sometime during the night I dreamed
that it snowed here … I exaggerate not.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
So, what’s the temperature?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>I didn’t look when I got up, but at 8am, it was 17 degrees outside and
19 degrees inside the house.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Okay, I
admit it … that is Celsius, and equivalent to 63 Fahrenheit outside and 67
inside.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Now, you scoff … you laugh … you roll your eyes, but I
suppose we’ve acclimated because to us this <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">is</i>
cold.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>While you are enjoying your
suntans on your north-of-the-equator beaches, we, here in the Southern
hemisphere, are enduring the thick of winter, such as it is.</div>
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<br />
And since the houses here have little (if any) insulation
and windows that are always vented, winter or summer it is pretty much always
only a few degrees different between the outside and inside.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
67 degrees.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Inside.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Baby, it’s cold!</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Though normally characterised by lack of rain, this “winter”
has been particularly dry.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Gardens,
which the people of PNG so heavily rely upon for their personal food supplies
as well as some level of livelihood, are drying up.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Rain water tanks, our only source of
drinkable water, are also running low, and I have heard of many friends whose
tanks have run completely dry.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I noticed
several people posting on Facebook a few weeks back asking people to pray for
rain, and God has answered with some limited rainfall which has replenished the
tanks.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It doesn’t take much – a good
rain landing on 1200 square metres of corrugated roofing can nearly fill a 2000
gallon tank.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Another thing that characterises “winter” in the highlands
is cloudy mornings.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In fact, many days
we have pretty good cloud cover until around noon.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Of course, the solar panels which heat our
water are on the Eastern side of the house, so you can draw your own
conclusion.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Let me just say that stepping into a shower that’s about
room temperature was nice when we were down on the coast and sweating
24/7.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But in the highlands, it is
usually not very fun, especially when you’re already cold.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
This morning, my husband emerged from the bathroom and described
the water as <a href="http://apeasofmylife.blogspot.com.au/2011/09/adventures-in-bathing.html">“about two degrees above ‘Hallalujah.’</a>”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
But it’s all good.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>While
her comment about the rain isn’t accurate for our context, Anna Neagle is right
about the flowers.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Though winter, our tropical
banana trees and passion fruit vines are still producing fruit.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Numerous varieties of flowering plants are
still going about their business of blooming and expressing themselves through
vivid displays of colour.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Everything is
green and lush.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_iu4k5uY5T6dcIn9zGMAGWwTYDHS58hw_Y8A7sSYD1JbkKGmCM9Cs5F_eva1OcNOaCu5EAXyyNriqqTzCuQcysbIhvnxKzL8e0R0b-poLfmdWY_crxWdkSFwbVIV2ehP638ug6QpjPy2T/s1600/Ukarumpa+Flowers+collage-Optimized.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="242" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_iu4k5uY5T6dcIn9zGMAGWwTYDHS58hw_Y8A7sSYD1JbkKGmCM9Cs5F_eva1OcNOaCu5EAXyyNriqqTzCuQcysbIhvnxKzL8e0R0b-poLfmdWY_crxWdkSFwbVIV2ehP638ug6QpjPy2T/s400/Ukarumpa+Flowers+collage-Optimized.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Though occasionally I think about how much fun a good snow
would be, if I had to choose, I think I prefer it this way. </div>
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<![endif]--><br />Peas on Earthhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15734154988745705474noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-347228936422970837.post-41652732328104317272013-06-05T15:30:00.002+10:002013-07-01T18:12:16.356+10:00Week in Review: May 27 – June 2 (“Banquet 2013: Christmas in Winter Wonderland”)<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">“Adolescence isn't
just about prom or wearing sparkly dresses.”</b> ~Jena Malone</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">“Every cliché about
kids is true; they grow up so quickly, you blink and they're gone, and you have
to spend the time with them now. But that's a joy.”</b> ~Liam Neeson</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">“<span class="text">If
you then, for all your evil, quite naturally give good things to your children,
how much more likely is it that your Heavenly Father will give good things to
those who ask him?”</span></b><span class="text"> ~Matthew 7:11 (Phillips)</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
A few weeks ago, when the girls were all “made up” and
donning formal gowns for the grade 8 play, I casually mentioned to a friend that
I was looking them over (especially my own progeny) and thinking about what they
were going to look like in ten or so years.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
“Ten years!?” she replied with great exaggeration?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“Try <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">three</i>
years when they’re going to Banquet!”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlzOVvOUMyVaxZkzu5VAGNUdmXCvtAtFUSD0eofwu78F7ZjXvUkk0Xhppg0YcuYlR4wdaMn5DkaG-CZnUOMLRWXQsA7K8Zjl_APjnJe3TOHwVyWLZckjRF91BcuYJLwfh5yVWXkjHd47NA/s1600/DSC_0484-Optimized.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlzOVvOUMyVaxZkzu5VAGNUdmXCvtAtFUSD0eofwu78F7ZjXvUkk0Xhppg0YcuYlR4wdaMn5DkaG-CZnUOMLRWXQsA7K8Zjl_APjnJe3TOHwVyWLZckjRF91BcuYJLwfh5yVWXkjHd47NA/s320/DSC_0484-Optimized.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The crowd gathers to watch Banquet arrivals.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Oh yeah …</i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I have blogged about Banquet before.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Actually, <a href="http://apeasofmylife.blogspot.com.au/2011/06/step-aside-prom-weve-got-banquet.html">what I wrote then</a> still describes the event pretty well, so I won’t repeat it all here.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But, I do need to say again how amazing it is
that (after months of planning) dozens of adults can take a week, rolls and rolls of butcher paper, paint,
and (this year) Christmas trees and transform the Teen Centre from drab warehouse
into a Winter Wonderland.<br />
<br />
Especially in this climate where the concept of "winter wonderland" is just that ... conceptual.<br />
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Banquet is our school’s substitute for Prom, and, in so many
ways, a love letter from parents to their Junior and Senior children.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I was asked several weeks ago if I would be a part of the
photography team for this year’s Banquet.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>I recently got an SLR camera, and I guess that must be what makes me
qualified … but of course I said yes.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>:)<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It secured for me an inside pass to
experience what sits in my not-too-distant future.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Less than two weeks ago, the Teen Centre looked like this
(picture from Evan’s birthday party): </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgH9n9rv9IArSRB9piGRMMt3CqD-yqt1CMF-S8pYBQrXa32G9smJ0KYTRpjUm2JaMLStjYBpe2BqKITeuGuKU8SN6B7e0AKSK9MhjPJx_OvrDWKDaCYVMKGwSmjOtga8B0zqyP8S0uy07Kw/s1600/DSC_0003-Optimized.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOz3t3huTsApoyFA_YveRWcFnTmmFhZuU4uBqzOhc5LjDvcto3mRuV6iMjgzhiksh5fz__vloZuWIWR08oG9D-IgrXQ4sgM6G25tp3bUoL6owckVkKDilWwtEDVeXt66v8AHzfeDsr-Pq4/s1600/DSC_0034-Optimized.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_pnT-VdsaNlvSL3OYNqdJfyS4CBWHonsEQYaF9h1Zs4_NQ1TM00eLykImYhZmQpzdZEEPasFUm_0EeqxGLGQ-Bf2XaBacAnYn-io5CsuxYFIi6ZFXMm_NfHJMxVcQznrH3crPwaaaBWWW/s1600/DSC_0983-Optimized.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_pnT-VdsaNlvSL3OYNqdJfyS4CBWHonsEQYaF9h1Zs4_NQ1TM00eLykImYhZmQpzdZEEPasFUm_0EeqxGLGQ-Bf2XaBacAnYn-io5CsuxYFIi6ZFXMm_NfHJMxVcQznrH3crPwaaaBWWW/s400/DSC_0983-Optimized.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
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</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
During the week, it was being transformed like this:</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOz3t3huTsApoyFA_YveRWcFnTmmFhZuU4uBqzOhc5LjDvcto3mRuV6iMjgzhiksh5fz__vloZuWIWR08oG9D-IgrXQ4sgM6G25tp3bUoL6owckVkKDilWwtEDVeXt66v8AHzfeDsr-Pq4/s1600/DSC_0034-Optimized.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOz3t3huTsApoyFA_YveRWcFnTmmFhZuU4uBqzOhc5LjDvcto3mRuV6iMjgzhiksh5fz__vloZuWIWR08oG9D-IgrXQ4sgM6G25tp3bUoL6owckVkKDilWwtEDVeXt66v8AHzfeDsr-Pq4/s400/DSC_0034-Optimized.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzT8YVp-POxdx4bpR93Bzsh4MINYlsawV_0q_hkTwcLBaJwM6qrphKbwGzIq51A8EZQTvy5hevP6KFB12wX_aPw8CjrsNPZkLIDzy56Eeb-m47jN9EnnQTf4vtlG4Kz10FOzhn4qYLmBdj/s1600/DSC_0009-Optimized.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzT8YVp-POxdx4bpR93Bzsh4MINYlsawV_0q_hkTwcLBaJwM6qrphKbwGzIq51A8EZQTvy5hevP6KFB12wX_aPw8CjrsNPZkLIDzy56Eeb-m47jN9EnnQTf4vtlG4Kz10FOzhn4qYLmBdj/s400/DSC_0009-Optimized.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
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By Friday night, it was a beautiful feast of white and blue
lights, endless metres of tulle netting, and Christmas trees, lovingly knit
together with creativity and sheer elegance.</div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigSvuxKV-6qTv2_RNTRemIFTrJbu6dHZASXGz6Kl0h9_xabUdzU0sUvRafOGFy70vgdobqOyLpyppI6pIczUnIv9X3SXOhKjXXEqhGg08siYgajoMbr7GAWdjnAiOyCgwbAatZFZiFEvIV/s1600/faces.jpg" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigSvuxKV-6qTv2_RNTRemIFTrJbu6dHZASXGz6Kl0h9_xabUdzU0sUvRafOGFy70vgdobqOyLpyppI6pIczUnIv9X3SXOhKjXXEqhGg08siYgajoMbr7GAWdjnAiOyCgwbAatZFZiFEvIV/s640/faces.jpg" width="388" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Some of the banquet attendees as they arrived with great anticipation for their special evening.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXP7IUIYVBNTcBhEM34kbuhhIn0urKEHSXNoTrqYCUPokFnmjGr5mY2_yi9RQybLnsM23qZgHabgPgmWK5LpFhEUgQW6-g4r-EEPnSwlJPhyphenhyphenDjVX24LmNa6Wwe6NnTm0YefYRxyJTpVUYC/s1600/DSC_0003-Optimized.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXP7IUIYVBNTcBhEM34kbuhhIn0urKEHSXNoTrqYCUPokFnmjGr5mY2_yi9RQybLnsM23qZgHabgPgmWK5LpFhEUgQW6-g4r-EEPnSwlJPhyphenhyphenDjVX24LmNa6Wwe6NnTm0YefYRxyJTpVUYC/s400/DSC_0003-Optimized.JPG" width="266" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Even the bathrooms were decorated. This Yeti stood in the corner of the boys' bathroom just daring the boys to throw styrofoam snowballs into his mouth. (They then came out of the hole in his belly!)</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuomW2KpNGOJ59tsOsjwTct-x_25PCFZj8mt0BhudJFHKAuabDUpUcH688CRoera0iCUWcGvqkhQhHYMUrRhNCJLWifujf19H0ihmlfSZ3ekCmka8CtFYq5wrR2HMNncgKmfqHGDatF_A0/s1600/DSC_0149-Optimized.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuomW2KpNGOJ59tsOsjwTct-x_25PCFZj8mt0BhudJFHKAuabDUpUcH688CRoera0iCUWcGvqkhQhHYMUrRhNCJLWifujf19H0ihmlfSZ3ekCmka8CtFYq5wrR2HMNncgKmfqHGDatF_A0/s400/DSC_0149-Optimized.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">One of the activity booths was a recording studio where the teens could select a song, sing it, and it would be recorded, mixed, and returned to them on CD.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRHM06XrSWlRqtBgcA7bxyN1wxXKkRakV6tR-vuZvmYf1ECSS-Mob1kh-4FT1-GHZDkKMCNbctSPfZSUU9psRR1aqH5j6bPO3ihQzvLx1l9ORL6LFGRhzGikhakY19uwMp3HwWhTMNq0O2/s1600/DSC_0152-Optimized.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRHM06XrSWlRqtBgcA7bxyN1wxXKkRakV6tR-vuZvmYf1ECSS-Mob1kh-4FT1-GHZDkKMCNbctSPfZSUU9psRR1aqH5j6bPO3ihQzvLx1l9ORL6LFGRhzGikhakY19uwMp3HwWhTMNq0O2/s400/DSC_0152-Optimized.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Another booth allowed the kids to make keepsake Christmas tree ornaments with photos of their class and other assorted items.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvQOfbmlVAHAHrdAAaS-fxB1JoLnDRGf1Qv76gHPnC3J2g5X_P2zeq82MztnZ0C5aFOD_tEYJhjpvw8zB-WITpMBTUoy2M4SCS5z5V5LXjJhkC0Irj1EvG2JiCmrJ2ytW8ktH1pzoG7YLG/s1600/DSC_0183-Optimized.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvQOfbmlVAHAHrdAAaS-fxB1JoLnDRGf1Qv76gHPnC3J2g5X_P2zeq82MztnZ0C5aFOD_tEYJhjpvw8zB-WITpMBTUoy2M4SCS5z5V5LXjJhkC0Irj1EvG2JiCmrJ2ytW8ktH1pzoG7YLG/s400/DSC_0183-Optimized.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">At the request of the teens, there was time for dancing, including this sash dance and various line dances.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMwfmvV6sKQ-OYvkoinT0hwCX5tR4ss4YkLj1tp9abi2ggLbZUA4u06014mKh3eFd6cvbtFsFdOWWEWmQ5fzhJxbT6WnYCGIXzqc-yXJ45VKaCOmP_CxRNUvWIEFlEJSLgcmplAzFFe61s/s1600/DSC_0249-Optimized.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMwfmvV6sKQ-OYvkoinT0hwCX5tR4ss4YkLj1tp9abi2ggLbZUA4u06014mKh3eFd6cvbtFsFdOWWEWmQ5fzhJxbT6WnYCGIXzqc-yXJ45VKaCOmP_CxRNUvWIEFlEJSLgcmplAzFFe61s/s400/DSC_0249-Optimized.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Each set of parents left a gift for their child under a large Christmas tree.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbkjWnc_7F8tTYRpobuOKixqnHTMSm6otRmAgs1PGYvIWjKYzSH9NC2owUQ14yl6vosMaPd_ffadI9FyrwwIKxNW0mOHJFlauqz0xnPqkJLW-U2A2jkXwqBZMSaf_xoTalY3yN3E3yZajv/s1600/DSC_0319-Optimized.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="265" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbkjWnc_7F8tTYRpobuOKixqnHTMSm6otRmAgs1PGYvIWjKYzSH9NC2owUQ14yl6vosMaPd_ffadI9FyrwwIKxNW0mOHJFlauqz0xnPqkJLW-U2A2jkXwqBZMSaf_xoTalY3yN3E3yZajv/s400/DSC_0319-Optimized.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The students enjoyed an elegant dinner prepared by parents and professionally served by dads.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0PM-WFXcZuhPxYlLjbzTAckbM3eLRsbsfcBppHsrUqqLpqaATv5ZPSGadI4OtHcnK0tCX96d5bh1ivIdNzbizwDXM-htQLlSwHlNk-lmtbb6dE-gFt7WeBGpRPVW08LVplIL6OyFHL1zb/s1600/DSC_0228-Optimized.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0PM-WFXcZuhPxYlLjbzTAckbM3eLRsbsfcBppHsrUqqLpqaATv5ZPSGadI4OtHcnK0tCX96d5bh1ivIdNzbizwDXM-htQLlSwHlNk-lmtbb6dE-gFt7WeBGpRPVW08LVplIL6OyFHL1zb/s400/DSC_0228-Optimized.JPG" width="266" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The parents and some teachers put on a play to entertain the kids. Of course, any similarity to any real people or events was purely coincidental. In this scene, the "Ghost of Christmas That Came in March Because Your Cards and Packages Were Held up in Port Moresby for Three Months" came to visit Mrs. Gingergoose.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimvSzOHN_bXiBHEpB_VFNCwF60iUDhbWvtcBnrbYC5H9TWtPHluuylzkPU_7iSLuYVamkiAEyQ0nr30t59tEZvN2xLGkvmZy21DGUd5gDLAcyWd2wywVkbGnTCxzvPsZ9Hzi8V9OeizjAV/s1600/DSC_0258-Optimized.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimvSzOHN_bXiBHEpB_VFNCwF60iUDhbWvtcBnrbYC5H9TWtPHluuylzkPU_7iSLuYVamkiAEyQ0nr30t59tEZvN2xLGkvmZy21DGUd5gDLAcyWd2wywVkbGnTCxzvPsZ9Hzi8V9OeizjAV/s400/DSC_0258-Optimized.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">She was also visited by the "Twinkly Twinkie Winkie Stars of Christmas ... symbols of peace, harmony, and general niceness between everyone everywhere" ... unless they happen to be fighting, of course.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIvIA7bnAPdeYugtMUvVW0kPaBk97bMvZe6g6OeZE8WezGCFrIuxAH3P-K3urX-1QUxLo_iiZMTFMqSuQwOcxMiqv74rQXARR4FjekCXRcIT0kZoyj8hVY2yQGKhS4420GyKt1FM4QT37f/s1600/DSC_0552-Optimized.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIvIA7bnAPdeYugtMUvVW0kPaBk97bMvZe6g6OeZE8WezGCFrIuxAH3P-K3urX-1QUxLo_iiZMTFMqSuQwOcxMiqv74rQXARR4FjekCXRcIT0kZoyj8hVY2yQGKhS4420GyKt1FM4QT37f/s400/DSC_0552-Optimized.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The kids laughed hilariously at their parents' antics, and at the allusions to themselves and their friends.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiNEuW3iW9tQggbAPjgC7-hZerRYPYUloy8UYfmPkxXCXWGJh2IXwJX3E4S2RDJlUtpm_t6ShgWV6ahM6oK_fnbr_A_5df9pRqJAzCgelV-rxkl7M6cpkNvak2tkg1CcKCinfbEtIPMABT/s1600/play.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiNEuW3iW9tQggbAPjgC7-hZerRYPYUloy8UYfmPkxXCXWGJh2IXwJX3E4S2RDJlUtpm_t6ShgWV6ahM6oK_fnbr_A_5df9pRqJAzCgelV-rxkl7M6cpkNvak2tkg1CcKCinfbEtIPMABT/s640/play.jpg" width="450" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Some additional scenes from the play.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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I am grateful for the opportunity to experience this Banquet from the inside, and even though none of the kids were my own (at least biologically), the closing sentiments (including a closing song lovingly sung to the tune of "The Christmas Song" by the choir of all adult participants) brought me to tears.</div>
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Surely, this is a good gift from parents to children.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span> </div>
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<br /></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
I am so grateful that our Heavenly Father
gives his own gifts to us even more graciously, freely, and abundantly.</div>
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What an amazing banquet we have to look forward to! </div>
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I hope to see you there.</div>
Peas on Earthhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15734154988745705474noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-347228936422970837.post-28545459353319790882013-05-27T20:44:00.002+10:002013-07-01T18:12:43.207+10:00Barefoot and Beautiful<b>"I was a barefoot earth child for a couple of years."</b> ~Isabel Lucas<br />
<br />
<b>"</b><b>When I had no shoes I was comfortable - I used to run barefoot. When I wore shoes it was difficult."</b> ~Haile Gebrselassie<b> </b><br />
<br />
<b>"I found them uncomfortable and after that I decided to continue running
barefoot because I found it more comfortable. I felt more in touch with
what was happening - I could actually feel the track." </b> ~Zola Budd<br />
<br />
<br />
My feet are always nasty. Seriously ... crusty, cracked heels, calloused toes. Permanently ingrained dirt. I know you were dying to know that.<br />
<br />
Be glad I'm not posting pictures.<br />
<br />
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When we went back to the States on furlough, it took less than a month of
walking on plush carpets before my feet felt "normal" again. It,
along with the actual walking on plush carpets, was nice while it lasted.<br />
<br />
The problem here is I wear sandals (Teva or other outdoor-type) almost
exclusively.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I can probably count on two
hands the number of days I have worn sneakers since arriving in the Highlands
in 2009.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I would think, with the high
humidity levels here, that feet wouldn’t crack like mine do, so maybe there is
something else at play here that I haven’t recognised, but s<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"></span>omehow, wearing sandals like this
continually and detrimentally exposes my feet to the elements.<br />
<br />
That said, many around me prefer to go without shoes at all.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Not many of the expatriate adults, mind you,
with our woosy-where-is-my-plush-carpet feet.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>But many of the PNGns and kids from all passport countries go barefoot
whenever possible.<br />
<br />
The rule at school is that kids have to have shoes, and must wear them as
they travel around the campus. They can take them off on the soccer and
baseball fields during recess, but they must wear them to get there and leave
them at the edge of the field.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Because of
the intense rainy (read: “muddy”) seasons here, students are allowed to take off and leave
their shoes outside of the classrooms, and many of them do … every class, every
day, rainy or no.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibdAUotTwvGdNNVRIcA7qSQt51pvMJzK3igxNyVk3xDVY_-9P-OshTnGbpQjtJyRHN4ZFDr2FulSAGqkvQKJTov_4FmjX3YkmgLsHxOXDKjeElSRteu4malDGD80c1pTYpBRrtM0TmGwAB/s1600/shoes.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibdAUotTwvGdNNVRIcA7qSQt51pvMJzK3igxNyVk3xDVY_-9P-OshTnGbpQjtJyRHN4ZFDr2FulSAGqkvQKJTov_4FmjX3YkmgLsHxOXDKjeElSRteu4malDGD80c1pTYpBRrtM0TmGwAB/s400/shoes.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
I am always struck, though, by the things people will do in bare feet.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>My own children, determined to not have
woosy-where-is-my-plush-carpet feet, regularly walk around our centre barefoot …
even to church if they can get away with it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Of course, if possible they
would prefer to walk in grass rather than on the rocky dirt roads, but they tough
it out even there if necessary.<br />
<br />
<br />
They're determined to have "PNG feet."<br />
<br style="mso-special-character: line-break;" />
<br style="mso-special-character: line-break;" />
<br />
At sports day this weekend, I was amused to see so many bare feet on the
field.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You may not have noticed it in
the <a href="http://apeasofmylife.blogspot.com.au/2013/05/week-in-review-20-25-may-sports-day.html">pictures I previously posted</a>, so I will give you a sampling here for your
own amusement.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The pictures below were
taken of every set of feet running the senior girls’ and senior guys’ 1500m
races.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Yes, granted they are running on
grass rather than asphalt, but check out the percentage for yourself:<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8hcg5uaBYQ01ddyKCXhcCqxARW4YdZxsM6Y20oaEbCj93s4A8z_f2Z_WEAmtTWyYPitk2UW5uFAf3qZB8x6fehBVWanHRBfHjDGzGZuIELEoIAa4_Tu67hANXnLSnthX4hmCMeIjBk9xL/s1600/Feet+composite-Optimized.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="282" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8hcg5uaBYQ01ddyKCXhcCqxARW4YdZxsM6Y20oaEbCj93s4A8z_f2Z_WEAmtTWyYPitk2UW5uFAf3qZB8x6fehBVWanHRBfHjDGzGZuIELEoIAa4_Tu67hANXnLSnthX4hmCMeIjBk9xL/s400/Feet+composite-Optimized.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
That's 4 out of 17 runners wearing shoes, for a grand average of 76.5% going
barefoot.
<br />
About right.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>:)<br />
<br />
<br />
In some ways, I think this culture is much more similar to the culture of
Bible times than is the first world from which I hail, and the topic of
shoes is one place I see that similarity.<br />
<br />
Interestingly, when I look up instances of “sandals” in the NIV using <a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/">my go-to online concordance</a>, I get 28 results,
compared with 247 hits for the word “feet.” <br />
<br />
There are no results for hiking boots, flip flops, sneakers, or stilettos. In fact, there are no results for "shoes" at all.<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
This makes me look differently at the feet around me.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Especially the Melanesian feet attached to
those who this Wednesday will be finishing up their <a href="http://kateedenking.wordpress.com/2013/04/24/training-translators/">translator training course</a> here in the highlands
and preparing to return to their villages, their extended families, their
gardens … and their work of bringing the Scriptures to their own people in
their heart languages.<br />
<div align="center" style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
Truly,<br />
<div align="center" style="text-align: center;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">“How
beautiful on the mountains<br />
are the <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">feet</i> of those who bring <span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">good</span> <span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">news</span>,<br />
who proclaim peace, who bring <span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">good</span>
tidings,<br />
who proclaim salvation, who say to Zion,<br />
‘Your God reigns!’”</b><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Isaiah 52:7</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_MQ1RabmG_n9S_hK4THnVqK4ebuYKsAmddLL0pkWa-a5LHI_gEPf_YRhbU6-z2-0NHiOBy6pO2jmHTABAOPcbefUByyqgr3WIGhJxrUG5e6lxBPX7qnR71adc90RTR7B3WAX5C9ZM0eVd/s1600/feet.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="210" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_MQ1RabmG_n9S_hK4THnVqK4ebuYKsAmddLL0pkWa-a5LHI_gEPf_YRhbU6-z2-0NHiOBy6pO2jmHTABAOPcbefUByyqgr3WIGhJxrUG5e6lxBPX7qnR71adc90RTR7B3WAX5C9ZM0eVd/s400/feet.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<![endif]--><br />Peas on Earthhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15734154988745705474noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-347228936422970837.post-68231797365129326872013-05-26T16:29:00.001+10:002013-07-01T18:13:00.433+10:00Week in Review Supplement: 26 May ("Evan's Birthday")<b>"You know you're getting old when you get that one candle on the cake. It's like, 'See if you can blow this out.'"</b> ~ Jerry Seinfeld<br />
<br />
<b>"Let them eat cake."</b> ~Marie Antoinette<br />
<br />
<br />
Because I didn't want Evan's birthday to get lost in the normal week in review, I chose to keep today separate. Though he had a party a few weeks ago, on Friday evening, Evan had three of his friends over to celebrate his actual birthday weekend. They ate hamburgers together and watched "The Hobbit."<br />
<br />
An hour into the nearly-three hour movie, they took a break for cake.<br />
<br />
Such as it was.<br />
<br />
<br />
After using one for his skating birthday party, I am now down to three candles. As there's no Wal-Mart on the corner, he got one again. It had nothing to do with him getting old.<br />
<br />
Of course, he'd like it to mean that he's gonna get nine more chocolate celebrations.<br />
<br />
<br />
This is the same cake recipe that I had used for <a href="http://apeasofmylife.blogspot.com.au/2013/04/week-in-review-april-7-13.html">Andie's birthday</a>, and while the difficulties I had were different this time (I attended to the oven with much more religiosity, and so managed to maintain within it a relatively consistent temperature), other troubles ensued. <br />
<br />
Here is the final product, as I pulled it from the refrigerator:<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<br />
Oh, alas. Now, this cake recipe is absolutely delicious, and though, at least
under my chefery, it has been fraught with complications, it'll still
eat.<br />
<br />
And eat it they did.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAdAJ-iNxfPai0RsBpXEPTy8CCfgj3EJWj_ZR9jbydcyOCcJRqzuX_Pmsc_wJdZOhkzPZquJAJC1n7phvwnEqKnT7jIetrLgLygQnS86H5I3eJXWaTfYPye69uIjFW6viFmL00m6wuf9iG/s1600/DSC_1162+cropped-Optimized.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="310" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAdAJ-iNxfPai0RsBpXEPTy8CCfgj3EJWj_ZR9jbydcyOCcJRqzuX_Pmsc_wJdZOhkzPZquJAJC1n7phvwnEqKnT7jIetrLgLygQnS86H5I3eJXWaTfYPye69uIjFW6viFmL00m6wuf9iG/s400/DSC_1162+cropped-Optimized.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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Happy eleventh birthday to my baby! (and to my brother, too, who shares the day!)<br />
<br />Peas on Earthhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15734154988745705474noreply@blogger.com0