We headed back into the city this afteroon (for some internet time before church). As we walked the dirt road to the bus stop, we saw that some of the other YWAM students had missed the bus an hour earlier, and were waiting on the corner for the next bus. Suddenly, while we were still a couple of “blocks” away, they started waving frantically … the bus was coming.
Carissa and I started running. Her legs are about 5” longer than mine, and she’s in a little better shape, so she quickly made it to the corner just as the students were boarding. However … while I was running as quickly as possible (with my heavy computer briefcase on my shoulder), I was still a ways behind. The students were all waving for me to hurry. The bus started to drive away (with Carissa on it), when all of a sudden one of the young YWAM men jumped in front of the bus, put up his hands and pointed my direction. The bus driver didn’t seem at all inclined to wait for me, but this young man stood in front of the bus until I was safely on board. Then, he jumped on behind me. Wow! What a guy!
Welcome to Our Journey of Faith. My blog is a place where I share the joys and trials of living a faith-filled life as the mother of an extra large (12 children) homeschooling family, and my prayer is that it brings encouragement to others to live their lives as an adventure of faith, as well.
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Tuesday, September 9, 2008
A Life of Simplicity
Today in my ponderings, I am thinking about the meanings of simplicity … simplify … simply.
What does it mean to live a life of simplicity?
What areas of our family life do we need to simplify?
Maybe my job loss will cause us to learn to live simply.
No … don’t worry … I am not wanting to throw away all comforts and live as a pioneering Amish woman. (While I do believe there are benefits to such a lifestyle.)
I am laying on a blanket in the middle of an open field. The blanket is not comfortable … it is the simple little complimentary blanket from American Airlines. The grass is not comfortable .. it is nearly dead, and crunches underfoot. The ground is not comfortable … it is still nearly frozen from the cold winter. Yet … I am comfortable. I am happy. I am content. I am at peace. I am in a good place (physically, spiritually, emotionally). The only thing missing is … my family. Oh how I wish that Jim and the children could be here with me … experiencing this new culture together. (Then, of course, with 6 young children here my life would not be quite as relaxed and simple.)
Seriously … life here is simple. And, in that simplicity the students are not distracted from all of the “comforts of home”.
Today, we have no water. Not to worry … we can wash the dishes and clothes tomorrow.
One evening we had no electricity. Not to worry … we had the warmth of the campfire and the light of the moon.
Today, Carissa overslept and didn’t get us signed up to eat lunch. Not to worry … we could eat yesterday’s leftovers. (Several of the young men offered their lunches to us, but were happy with the leftovers.)
The buildings here do not have heat. Not to worry … my 6 blankets kept me warm last night.
With our late nights, I have not made it to breakfast yet. Not to worry … the tea and crackers offered by my cabin-mates warms my heart and fills my tummy.
Last night, when it took us 2 ½ hours to get home after dinner (due to the lack of change for the bus), I could have easily paid for 2 taxis. However, I felt the Lord wanted me to walk the walk of these missionary students. While I was excited to treat them to pizza for dinner, I also wanted them to know that I was quite content (even comfortable) walking the streets of the city and waiting at a bus stop for an hour at midnight. I am NOT an American woman that needs to be pampered and catered to (which is an easy stereotype for people here to assume).
I am not at all rejecting or condemning the life I live at home. I enjoy my central heating and comfortable new bed. I like knowing that I can shower whenever I want to. I really like my super-size Whirlpool Duet washer and dryer. I love my big van that holds all 15 family members. And, I like my little Ford Focus station wagon for running errands.
The question, however, is … Could I live without these things? Absolutely!
In many ways, my recent job loss has called us to re-examine our priorities … knowing that we are probably entering a season of “Living on Less”. I am, however, actually excited for the challenge. I’m excited to have more time for meal planning, shopping for sales, and cooking “the old fashioned way”. I’m excited to bring out the wheat grinder to bake fresh bread again (something I’ve hardly done for 4 years).
In many ways, “Living on Less” as a family, is training our children for the mission field. I remember when Cassie did her YWAM DTS, she told us that in many ways the other students were struggling more than she was. They were used to having their own bedrooms … they struggled with dormitory living. Whereas, Cassie had always shared a bedroom. They were used to an “open kitchen” where they could eat whatever and whenever they wanted … they struggled with the “closed kitchen”, scheduled meals, and limited portions. Whereas, Cassie had grown up with all of these in place. They were used to parents that took care of the house and the yard … they struggled with all of the required chores. Whereas, Cassie was excited at the opportunity to drive the tractor and mow 7 acres each week.
As we move into this new season of “Living on Less”, I look forward to making changes with the view of “Training Missionaries” rather than the view of “I wish I could provide more for our family”. I must keep my focus on God’s perspective … not the world’s perspective of “everyone else has ______”.
What does this mean, in practical terms? (Obviously, these are things that need to be discussed and confirmed with my dear husband.”
#1 Maybe we should/could turn the thermostat down a notch or two. Maybe we need to wear sweatshirts and socks in the house when it’s cold.
#2 Maybe we need to try new meal options. (I already have some ideas from my time here.) Do we NEED to serve dessert every time we have company?
#3 Maybe we need to sell a car or two. (We do have 7 on our insurance right now.)
#4 Maybe I need to ride the bus sometimes when I go into the city to shop. (Obviously, this depends on how many things I’ll be bringing home. It won’t work for grocery shopping.) Our kids have been riding the city busses for years, unlike the majority of their peers who get cars when they turn 16.
#5 Maybe we need to set a weekly/monthly limit on coffee shop visits. (Oh dear!) We have an espresso machine at home … we just need to make time to use it. Yes, the drive-thru a block from our house is yummy and convenient. But . is it God’s BEST for us (financially speaking)???
While it is the job loss that has instigated this type of ponderings … I believe they are healthy things for all of us to think about. Even if we can afford all of the comforts of this world … are they God’s BEST for our families? The students here are all “on the same page” so to speak. Whether they come from plenty or from want … they have all chosen to live simply, in order to draw closer to the Lord and to learn to serve Him with all of their hearts.
I am excited! Excited … to learn what God has for us in this new season. Excited … to have more TIME (for God, for Papa, for my children). Excited … to homeschool my children without the constraints and schedules of the Enrichment School. Excited … to seek the Lord, as a family, for clear direction in this time. Excited … to see each of my children as “His Missionaries”. And, excited … to see what HE has planned for each of their lives.
What does it mean to live a life of simplicity?
What areas of our family life do we need to simplify?
Maybe my job loss will cause us to learn to live simply.
No … don’t worry … I am not wanting to throw away all comforts and live as a pioneering Amish woman. (While I do believe there are benefits to such a lifestyle.)
I am laying on a blanket in the middle of an open field. The blanket is not comfortable … it is the simple little complimentary blanket from American Airlines. The grass is not comfortable .. it is nearly dead, and crunches underfoot. The ground is not comfortable … it is still nearly frozen from the cold winter. Yet … I am comfortable. I am happy. I am content. I am at peace. I am in a good place (physically, spiritually, emotionally). The only thing missing is … my family. Oh how I wish that Jim and the children could be here with me … experiencing this new culture together. (Then, of course, with 6 young children here my life would not be quite as relaxed and simple.)
Seriously … life here is simple. And, in that simplicity the students are not distracted from all of the “comforts of home”.
Today, we have no water. Not to worry … we can wash the dishes and clothes tomorrow.
One evening we had no electricity. Not to worry … we had the warmth of the campfire and the light of the moon.
Today, Carissa overslept and didn’t get us signed up to eat lunch. Not to worry … we could eat yesterday’s leftovers. (Several of the young men offered their lunches to us, but were happy with the leftovers.)
The buildings here do not have heat. Not to worry … my 6 blankets kept me warm last night.
With our late nights, I have not made it to breakfast yet. Not to worry … the tea and crackers offered by my cabin-mates warms my heart and fills my tummy.
Last night, when it took us 2 ½ hours to get home after dinner (due to the lack of change for the bus), I could have easily paid for 2 taxis. However, I felt the Lord wanted me to walk the walk of these missionary students. While I was excited to treat them to pizza for dinner, I also wanted them to know that I was quite content (even comfortable) walking the streets of the city and waiting at a bus stop for an hour at midnight. I am NOT an American woman that needs to be pampered and catered to (which is an easy stereotype for people here to assume).
I am not at all rejecting or condemning the life I live at home. I enjoy my central heating and comfortable new bed. I like knowing that I can shower whenever I want to. I really like my super-size Whirlpool Duet washer and dryer. I love my big van that holds all 15 family members. And, I like my little Ford Focus station wagon for running errands.
The question, however, is … Could I live without these things? Absolutely!
In many ways, my recent job loss has called us to re-examine our priorities … knowing that we are probably entering a season of “Living on Less”. I am, however, actually excited for the challenge. I’m excited to have more time for meal planning, shopping for sales, and cooking “the old fashioned way”. I’m excited to bring out the wheat grinder to bake fresh bread again (something I’ve hardly done for 4 years).
In many ways, “Living on Less” as a family, is training our children for the mission field. I remember when Cassie did her YWAM DTS, she told us that in many ways the other students were struggling more than she was. They were used to having their own bedrooms … they struggled with dormitory living. Whereas, Cassie had always shared a bedroom. They were used to an “open kitchen” where they could eat whatever and whenever they wanted … they struggled with the “closed kitchen”, scheduled meals, and limited portions. Whereas, Cassie had grown up with all of these in place. They were used to parents that took care of the house and the yard … they struggled with all of the required chores. Whereas, Cassie was excited at the opportunity to drive the tractor and mow 7 acres each week.
As we move into this new season of “Living on Less”, I look forward to making changes with the view of “Training Missionaries” rather than the view of “I wish I could provide more for our family”. I must keep my focus on God’s perspective … not the world’s perspective of “everyone else has ______”.
What does this mean, in practical terms? (Obviously, these are things that need to be discussed and confirmed with my dear husband.”
#1 Maybe we should/could turn the thermostat down a notch or two. Maybe we need to wear sweatshirts and socks in the house when it’s cold.
#2 Maybe we need to try new meal options. (I already have some ideas from my time here.) Do we NEED to serve dessert every time we have company?
#3 Maybe we need to sell a car or two. (We do have 7 on our insurance right now.)
#4 Maybe I need to ride the bus sometimes when I go into the city to shop. (Obviously, this depends on how many things I’ll be bringing home. It won’t work for grocery shopping.) Our kids have been riding the city busses for years, unlike the majority of their peers who get cars when they turn 16.
#5 Maybe we need to set a weekly/monthly limit on coffee shop visits. (Oh dear!) We have an espresso machine at home … we just need to make time to use it. Yes, the drive-thru a block from our house is yummy and convenient. But . is it God’s BEST for us (financially speaking)???
While it is the job loss that has instigated this type of ponderings … I believe they are healthy things for all of us to think about. Even if we can afford all of the comforts of this world … are they God’s BEST for our families? The students here are all “on the same page” so to speak. Whether they come from plenty or from want … they have all chosen to live simply, in order to draw closer to the Lord and to learn to serve Him with all of their hearts.
I am excited! Excited … to learn what God has for us in this new season. Excited … to have more TIME (for God, for Papa, for my children). Excited … to homeschool my children without the constraints and schedules of the Enrichment School. Excited … to seek the Lord, as a family, for clear direction in this time. Excited … to see each of my children as “His Missionaries”. And, excited … to see what HE has planned for each of their lives.
Sunday, September 7, 2008
A Trip to the Big City
Did I mention that it is cold here? I lay awake for over an hour in the middle of the night, shivering. Brrr …
My alarm went off at 6:40 and I couldn’t believe I was actually getting up while it was still dark. Today was “Shopping Day” in the city. However, the students needed to be back at the base by 1:00 pm, which meant that they (we) needed to catch the early bus into town. I don’t believe I have EVER gotten up before dark to go shopping … not even on the day after Thanksgiving.
I got to walk through the dark woods all by myself at 7:15, to meet up with Carissa and friends. It was good, though; I missed the mud puddles and jumped over the water hole without falling in. (I wonder if anyone uses flashlights around here?)
We had to walk a ways down a dirt road in order to get to the bus stop. Then, we had a 45 minute ride into downtown. I was glad that we were one of the first on the bus, as it filled up quickly and many people had to stand for the long ride.
We arrived downtown about 8:45 … made a potty stop at McDonalds … got my $$$ exchanged at a bank … and then went shopping. Carissa wanted to get a new shirt for graduation tonight.
Looking around the city was quite fun. It was, actually, a lot like Seattle … very modern. We found the perfect shirt to go with the dress pants that I brought for Carissa. Then, off to the coffee shop we headed. While sitting in the coffee shop, I totally felt like we could have been in Seattle or Vancouver, BC (except for the fact that no one was speaking English). The Havanna Coffee Shop not only had good coffee and pastries, but they also had free wi-fi. Yea! I had time to not only send off a quick email to my honey … but also got to post a couple of blog posts.
Back on the bus at 11:45, so that we could make it back to the base before 1:00 lunch.
This afternoon, I took a nap and then had a very nice visit with some of the young staff ladies. We are actually doing quite well with understanding each other. After our visit, I got my long-awaited hot water shower, just in time to get ready for graduation.
Now … the sun came out this afternoon and actually fooled some of us into thinking that it might stay warm. Therefore, several of us dressed in our warm weather clothes for the graduation ceremony. I wore my denim skirt, a long-sleep shirt, denim vest, and flip-flops. And, I left my hoodies in the cabin, at the other end of the base.
The ceremony began at 7:30. By 8:00 the sun had gone down and the weather quickly changed. (Oh no!) By the time the ceremony was over at 11:00, I felt like an icicle. I was disappointed that I wasn’t invited “in to town” to party with the graduates, but took comfort in the fact that I could crawl into bed and warm up. However, when I got to my cabin the door was locked and no one was in sight. So, I got to stand outside (realizing that Carissa and friends were probably in a warm restaurant). At 11:45, someone happened along that had a key, so I finally got into the house.
By now, I was not only freezing cold, but I was starving. Somehow, the base decided not to serve dinner tonight. The graduates went out to eat at midnight, but how about everyone else? I’m so glad that I brought along some granola bars. And, my cabin has a microwave, so I was able to make some hot tea.
I’m a bit confused about the weather reports. I really hope that the 75 degree weather is on its way. But, will it still be 25 degrees at night?
My alarm went off at 6:40 and I couldn’t believe I was actually getting up while it was still dark. Today was “Shopping Day” in the city. However, the students needed to be back at the base by 1:00 pm, which meant that they (we) needed to catch the early bus into town. I don’t believe I have EVER gotten up before dark to go shopping … not even on the day after Thanksgiving.
I got to walk through the dark woods all by myself at 7:15, to meet up with Carissa and friends. It was good, though; I missed the mud puddles and jumped over the water hole without falling in. (I wonder if anyone uses flashlights around here?)
We had to walk a ways down a dirt road in order to get to the bus stop. Then, we had a 45 minute ride into downtown. I was glad that we were one of the first on the bus, as it filled up quickly and many people had to stand for the long ride.
We arrived downtown about 8:45 … made a potty stop at McDonalds … got my $$$ exchanged at a bank … and then went shopping. Carissa wanted to get a new shirt for graduation tonight.
Looking around the city was quite fun. It was, actually, a lot like Seattle … very modern. We found the perfect shirt to go with the dress pants that I brought for Carissa. Then, off to the coffee shop we headed. While sitting in the coffee shop, I totally felt like we could have been in Seattle or Vancouver, BC (except for the fact that no one was speaking English). The Havanna Coffee Shop not only had good coffee and pastries, but they also had free wi-fi. Yea! I had time to not only send off a quick email to my honey … but also got to post a couple of blog posts.
Back on the bus at 11:45, so that we could make it back to the base before 1:00 lunch.
This afternoon, I took a nap and then had a very nice visit with some of the young staff ladies. We are actually doing quite well with understanding each other. After our visit, I got my long-awaited hot water shower, just in time to get ready for graduation.
Now … the sun came out this afternoon and actually fooled some of us into thinking that it might stay warm. Therefore, several of us dressed in our warm weather clothes for the graduation ceremony. I wore my denim skirt, a long-sleep shirt, denim vest, and flip-flops. And, I left my hoodies in the cabin, at the other end of the base.
The ceremony began at 7:30. By 8:00 the sun had gone down and the weather quickly changed. (Oh no!) By the time the ceremony was over at 11:00, I felt like an icicle. I was disappointed that I wasn’t invited “in to town” to party with the graduates, but took comfort in the fact that I could crawl into bed and warm up. However, when I got to my cabin the door was locked and no one was in sight. So, I got to stand outside (realizing that Carissa and friends were probably in a warm restaurant). At 11:45, someone happened along that had a key, so I finally got into the house.
By now, I was not only freezing cold, but I was starving. Somehow, the base decided not to serve dinner tonight. The graduates went out to eat at midnight, but how about everyone else? I’m so glad that I brought along some granola bars. And, my cabin has a microwave, so I was able to make some hot tea.
I’m a bit confused about the weather reports. I really hope that the 75 degree weather is on its way. But, will it still be 25 degrees at night?
Graduation Celebration
What a celebration was had tonight! Three and a half hours of worship, a message, and praise and thankfulness to God for each of the graduates. (I’m glad this was a small class, of only 14 … how many hours would a graduation take for a DTS class of 75 students?)
The worship was awesome. While I didn’t understand hardly a word that was said, the Holy Spirit was fully present and my heart was worshipping right alongside all of the Spanish speakers.
Aside from the worship, the base did provide a translator for the rest of the ceremony. So, I was able to understand the message and the words of praise for each of the graduates.
A powerful message was given by a young man that graduated from his DTS a year ago. It was awesome to see and hear what the Lord is doing in his life, and the passion he has to encourage others.
Much praise was given when Pablo received his certificate of graduation. Just a year ago, Pablo had not only walked away from the Lord, but he had divorced his wife and 2 daughters. A year ago, Pablo’s ex-wife and daughters attended a DTS here. And they prayed for Pablo. The Lord worked in Pablo’s life, restored his relationship with his wife and daughters, and brought Pablo here to do his DTS, with his wife and children living and working here alongside him. Praise God! (They actually got re-married here at the base, at the beginning of this DTS school.)
When it was Carissa’s turn to receive her graduation certificate, we were both surprised when her mentor/friend called me up and asked me to present it to Carissa. What a treat!
Along with Carissa, another young lady from our church attended her DTS here. I couldn’t be more proud of Miss Emi. For years, Emi said that she was not made for missions; she was just supposed to be sending others out and praying for them while they ministered across the world. But, the Lord had other plans. The DTS was especially difficult for Emi, since she came with very little knowledge of the Spanish language. She persevered, though, and is doing well with her Spanish and growing deeper with the Lord. So, it was very special to be here with Emi, and to be able to bring her a graduation card from her Mama at home.
While listening to the message, I glanced across the room and noticed a couple that looked like they might be from the U.S. However, as I said earlier, there are a lot of Argentenians who look like Caucasian Americans. After the service, though, the woman came right over and introduced herself. She and her husband are from the Chicago area, but have been missionaries here in Mendoza for 14 years. She asked how it was for me to send Carissa this far from home, since her 18 year old daughter has just started looking for colleges in the U.S.
I also was able to meet a very sweet couple who’s daughter attended the DTS. They actually hosted Carissa and Emi when they first arrived. And, they have invited them back for visits the past 5 months. So, when I met this dear woman, she introduced herself as “Carissa’s South American Mama”. Too precious!
Overall … tonight just showed me more and more how special and amazing this whole YWAM base is. I am sooo…. impressed with all of the young people that are on staff. Carissa’s mentor/leader is only 22, but very mature in the Lord. She has taken on a lot of responsibility and done well with it. The staff has truly shown a spirit of discipleship and accountability, two things that are top on my list when training up young people to go out and serve the Lord.
Thank you Lord for leading Carissa to such a special place with such an amazing group of young people serving you with all of their hearts, souls, minds, and strength.
The worship was awesome. While I didn’t understand hardly a word that was said, the Holy Spirit was fully present and my heart was worshipping right alongside all of the Spanish speakers.
Aside from the worship, the base did provide a translator for the rest of the ceremony. So, I was able to understand the message and the words of praise for each of the graduates.
A powerful message was given by a young man that graduated from his DTS a year ago. It was awesome to see and hear what the Lord is doing in his life, and the passion he has to encourage others.
Much praise was given when Pablo received his certificate of graduation. Just a year ago, Pablo had not only walked away from the Lord, but he had divorced his wife and 2 daughters. A year ago, Pablo’s ex-wife and daughters attended a DTS here. And they prayed for Pablo. The Lord worked in Pablo’s life, restored his relationship with his wife and daughters, and brought Pablo here to do his DTS, with his wife and children living and working here alongside him. Praise God! (They actually got re-married here at the base, at the beginning of this DTS school.)
When it was Carissa’s turn to receive her graduation certificate, we were both surprised when her mentor/friend called me up and asked me to present it to Carissa. What a treat!
Along with Carissa, another young lady from our church attended her DTS here. I couldn’t be more proud of Miss Emi. For years, Emi said that she was not made for missions; she was just supposed to be sending others out and praying for them while they ministered across the world. But, the Lord had other plans. The DTS was especially difficult for Emi, since she came with very little knowledge of the Spanish language. She persevered, though, and is doing well with her Spanish and growing deeper with the Lord. So, it was very special to be here with Emi, and to be able to bring her a graduation card from her Mama at home.
While listening to the message, I glanced across the room and noticed a couple that looked like they might be from the U.S. However, as I said earlier, there are a lot of Argentenians who look like Caucasian Americans. After the service, though, the woman came right over and introduced herself. She and her husband are from the Chicago area, but have been missionaries here in Mendoza for 14 years. She asked how it was for me to send Carissa this far from home, since her 18 year old daughter has just started looking for colleges in the U.S.
I also was able to meet a very sweet couple who’s daughter attended the DTS. They actually hosted Carissa and Emi when they first arrived. And, they have invited them back for visits the past 5 months. So, when I met this dear woman, she introduced herself as “Carissa’s South American Mama”. Too precious!
Overall … tonight just showed me more and more how special and amazing this whole YWAM base is. I am sooo…. impressed with all of the young people that are on staff. Carissa’s mentor/leader is only 22, but very mature in the Lord. She has taken on a lot of responsibility and done well with it. The staff has truly shown a spirit of discipleship and accountability, two things that are top on my list when training up young people to go out and serve the Lord.
Thank you Lord for leading Carissa to such a special place with such an amazing group of young people serving you with all of their hearts, souls, minds, and strength.
I'm Allergic to My Bed
I was freezing cold by the time I crawled into bed last night. While we had been standing by the fire outside, my traveling clothes of capris, tank top, zip-up hoodie, and Crocs (wth no socks) weren’t quite the best outfit for the winter weather here in Argentina. So, I put on my winter pajamas and piled high every blanket I could find. (The little “log” cabins are quite cute; however, they are not heated.)
I awoke about 1:30 with a sore throat, and was a bit concerned but was really too tired to even think about it. However, I awoke at 3:00 with a golf-ball-size lump in my throat. Oh no! I have had these symptoms 4 other times in my life. The first time, I ended up in the hospital with a very serious infection. The other 3 times, we determined were caused by allergies. It wasn’t until the 3rd time, however, that we determined what the allergies were to … animals.
So, I was laying in bed at 3:00 a.m., having a hard time swallowing. I knew that if the golf ball got too big that I could then have a hard time breathing. It never crossed my mind to bring allergy medicine, because this only happens every year or two. I have 3 cabin-mates, none of whom speak English. Carissa’s room is across the base, through the dark woods and mud puddles. I finally decided to sit tight, pray, and hope that Carissa did not find me dead in the morning (suffocated by the golf ball lump).
When I awoke at 9:00, the lump was still there, but hadn’t gotten any bigger. Whew! I’m assuming that this bedroom has had pets in it. I was told that I will have a new room on Saturday. So, I am praying that I can survive one more night in the bedroom that I am allergic to.
I missed breakfast this morning. (I wasn’t told when to be there, and Carissa decided to let me sleep.) But, my housemates offered me tea and crackers. That was probably about all I could have eaten with the golf ball lodged in my throat anyways.
Carissa and I had a good morning of visiting. Lunch was served at 1:00 and the lasagna was delicious. I have no idea what types of vegetables were in it, but they tasted great. (I love to make lasagna, but never put veggies in it.)
After lunch, Carissa got out her computer and showed me the 2500+ pictures and videos that she has taken the past 5 months. Wow! It was really good that I had gotten to meet all of her friends prior to picture time, because it put everyone into context.
I had a relaxing afternoon and evening, while Carissa was in classes. We had a nice dinner, and then more chat time around the campfire. Then, right before bed, Carissa realized that we should ask one of the staff (who happens to be a nurse) if she had any allergy medicine. Not only did she have allergy medicine, but the whole package was in Eng lish. So I knew what I was taking. Whew! I’m looking forward to a good night’s sleep, without my golf ball.
I awoke about 1:30 with a sore throat, and was a bit concerned but was really too tired to even think about it. However, I awoke at 3:00 with a golf-ball-size lump in my throat. Oh no! I have had these symptoms 4 other times in my life. The first time, I ended up in the hospital with a very serious infection. The other 3 times, we determined were caused by allergies. It wasn’t until the 3rd time, however, that we determined what the allergies were to … animals.
So, I was laying in bed at 3:00 a.m., having a hard time swallowing. I knew that if the golf ball got too big that I could then have a hard time breathing. It never crossed my mind to bring allergy medicine, because this only happens every year or two. I have 3 cabin-mates, none of whom speak English. Carissa’s room is across the base, through the dark woods and mud puddles. I finally decided to sit tight, pray, and hope that Carissa did not find me dead in the morning (suffocated by the golf ball lump).
When I awoke at 9:00, the lump was still there, but hadn’t gotten any bigger. Whew! I’m assuming that this bedroom has had pets in it. I was told that I will have a new room on Saturday. So, I am praying that I can survive one more night in the bedroom that I am allergic to.
I missed breakfast this morning. (I wasn’t told when to be there, and Carissa decided to let me sleep.) But, my housemates offered me tea and crackers. That was probably about all I could have eaten with the golf ball lodged in my throat anyways.
Carissa and I had a good morning of visiting. Lunch was served at 1:00 and the lasagna was delicious. I have no idea what types of vegetables were in it, but they tasted great. (I love to make lasagna, but never put veggies in it.)
After lunch, Carissa got out her computer and showed me the 2500+ pictures and videos that she has taken the past 5 months. Wow! It was really good that I had gotten to meet all of her friends prior to picture time, because it put everyone into context.
I had a relaxing afternoon and evening, while Carissa was in classes. We had a nice dinner, and then more chat time around the campfire. Then, right before bed, Carissa realized that we should ask one of the staff (who happens to be a nurse) if she had any allergy medicine. Not only did she have allergy medicine, but the whole package was in Eng lish. So I knew what I was taking. Whew! I’m looking forward to a good night’s sleep, without my golf ball.
Saturday, September 6, 2008
Random Observations
Food:
Argentineans eat what we Americans would consider Italian food (pasta, pizza, lasagna, etc…). Whereas, I would have guessed that it would be more Mexican fare (rice, beans, tortillas).
Carissa tells me they don’t have marshmallows in Argentina.
That’s too bad. Since they stand around the campfires every night … they might like s’mores.
Weather:
We who live in the Pacific NW have about 4 months of shorts-wearing weather.
This part of Argentina has about 4 months of non-shorts-wearing weather.
I traveled to Ghana in their hottest part of the year, and now to Argentina in their coldest part of the year. (I wish my kids could plan their lives around warm weather for mama.)
I have always thought of Central and South America as hot-weather continents.
Carissa tells me, however, that the Southern tip of Argentina is the closest country to Antarctica. And … they have penguins there. Sounds cold to me.
It is COLD here … COLD to the bone. Before packing my suitcase, I checked the weather reports for the next 10 days. It said that yesterday and today would be 50F – 60F, and that next week would be mid 70’s F. It also mentioned that the nights would be cold (28 F). However, I expected that we would be inside when it was cold outside. Wrong! Even though they have very cold winters here, the buildings are not heated. Oh dear! I did not pack a coat, a hat, or gloves. And, my 2 layered zip-up hoodies aren’t doing very well at keeping me warm. I hope the weather forecast for next week was correct.
I spent 4 hours standing by the outside fire this evening, listening to all kinds of interesting Spanish conversations. Now, I am in bed with my winter pajamas layered over my clothes. I have 1 blanket under me, and a comforter plus 3 blankets on top. And … it’s still COLD. I can barely keep my fingers warm enough to type.
People:
I assumed that, in general, the people of South America look like Mexicans.
(I guess this assumption comes because they speak the same language.)
However, Carissa looks much more “Argentinean” than many of the native Argentineans.
(Her Greek complexion and dark hair fit right in.) Seriously, it can be hard for me to discern who might be native Spanish speakers and who might know English.
Facilities:
There is electricity here, but it went out last night for about 45 minutes.
There might be hot water in my cabin sometime … but I have not had any yet to take a shower. Now, cold showers were fine in the heat of Africa, but if I took one here I’m afraid I would turn into an icicle. Up at the front end of the base, there are showers, but I would need to go stoke the fire for quite some time to heat up the water. And, all of the young adults wait their turns so patiently, that I think I’ll just wait for hot water in my cabin.
There is no internet on the base. However, I told Carissa that I believed this to be very good for all of the young people here. It can bring such a distraction into their lives, that it is good to be able to focus more on what the Lord is trying to teach.
There is cell phone reception, so the Argentinean young adults are almost as attached to their phones as the American young adults that I know. This does, however, make it difficult for the non-native students, as their connection to home (the internet) is not available, while the students from South America have lots of communication access to friends and family.
Now, I am not at all complaining about the facilities … just explaining. Again, I believe that lacking some of the amenities that our young people get used to, can be part of their maturing process. They can better understand how much of the world lives.
The City:
I am sitting in a very modern coffee shop in Mendoza. Free wi-fi ... delicious food ...
The downtown area of Mendoza seems just like Seattle ... very modern ... very diverse people walking the streets. I don't feel out of place at all.
We're having fun!
Argentineans eat what we Americans would consider Italian food (pasta, pizza, lasagna, etc…). Whereas, I would have guessed that it would be more Mexican fare (rice, beans, tortillas).
Carissa tells me they don’t have marshmallows in Argentina.
That’s too bad. Since they stand around the campfires every night … they might like s’mores.
Weather:
We who live in the Pacific NW have about 4 months of shorts-wearing weather.
This part of Argentina has about 4 months of non-shorts-wearing weather.
I traveled to Ghana in their hottest part of the year, and now to Argentina in their coldest part of the year. (I wish my kids could plan their lives around warm weather for mama.)
I have always thought of Central and South America as hot-weather continents.
Carissa tells me, however, that the Southern tip of Argentina is the closest country to Antarctica. And … they have penguins there. Sounds cold to me.
It is COLD here … COLD to the bone. Before packing my suitcase, I checked the weather reports for the next 10 days. It said that yesterday and today would be 50F – 60F, and that next week would be mid 70’s F. It also mentioned that the nights would be cold (28 F). However, I expected that we would be inside when it was cold outside. Wrong! Even though they have very cold winters here, the buildings are not heated. Oh dear! I did not pack a coat, a hat, or gloves. And, my 2 layered zip-up hoodies aren’t doing very well at keeping me warm. I hope the weather forecast for next week was correct.
I spent 4 hours standing by the outside fire this evening, listening to all kinds of interesting Spanish conversations. Now, I am in bed with my winter pajamas layered over my clothes. I have 1 blanket under me, and a comforter plus 3 blankets on top. And … it’s still COLD. I can barely keep my fingers warm enough to type.
People:
I assumed that, in general, the people of South America look like Mexicans.
(I guess this assumption comes because they speak the same language.)
However, Carissa looks much more “Argentinean” than many of the native Argentineans.
(Her Greek complexion and dark hair fit right in.) Seriously, it can be hard for me to discern who might be native Spanish speakers and who might know English.
Facilities:
There is electricity here, but it went out last night for about 45 minutes.
There might be hot water in my cabin sometime … but I have not had any yet to take a shower. Now, cold showers were fine in the heat of Africa, but if I took one here I’m afraid I would turn into an icicle. Up at the front end of the base, there are showers, but I would need to go stoke the fire for quite some time to heat up the water. And, all of the young adults wait their turns so patiently, that I think I’ll just wait for hot water in my cabin.
There is no internet on the base. However, I told Carissa that I believed this to be very good for all of the young people here. It can bring such a distraction into their lives, that it is good to be able to focus more on what the Lord is trying to teach.
There is cell phone reception, so the Argentinean young adults are almost as attached to their phones as the American young adults that I know. This does, however, make it difficult for the non-native students, as their connection to home (the internet) is not available, while the students from South America have lots of communication access to friends and family.
Now, I am not at all complaining about the facilities … just explaining. Again, I believe that lacking some of the amenities that our young people get used to, can be part of their maturing process. They can better understand how much of the world lives.
The City:
I am sitting in a very modern coffee shop in Mendoza. Free wi-fi ... delicious food ...
The downtown area of Mendoza seems just like Seattle ... very modern ... very diverse people walking the streets. I don't feel out of place at all.
We're having fun!
Day #1 * Mendoza YWAM
After a quick flight from Chile to Mendoza, I arrived at 6:30 p.m. After picking up my luggage and going through customs, I walked out the front door and thought, “I sure hope Carissa remembers to pick me up.” There I stood, the only white woman around, the only non-Spanish speaker, with absolutely no idea who to contact if Carissa didn’t show up. I wasn’t worried; I just realized I would be in quite a predicament if no one came to get me. Do they have phone books in Mendoza? Could I find Youth With a Mission listed? What’s it called in Spanish?
A taxi soon arrived and out stepped my beautiful daughter. We were both so excited to see each other. After a short 10 minute taxi ride, we arrived at the YWAM Mendoza base.
The greeting I received from everyone was so warm and welcoming. I got more kisses in one evening than I get at home in a month. And, our family is a very huggy and kissy family. Seriously, everyone (young men and women) that greeted me gave me a kiss on each cheek. So sweet!
While I understood very little that they said, each one of them clearly loves Carissa as a sister. (She was a bit embarrassed to translate all of the sweet things they said about her.)
One of the things I did understand was how many of them asked Carissa how old I was. I guess I didn’t look like what they expected a “mother of 13” to look like.
After meeting everyone, it was time for dinner at 8:30. We had a delicious meal of rice and veggies. After our dishes were cleared, we stood outside around a fire, visiting until about 10:30. I was amazed at how welcome and at-home I felt, despite the language differences.
Even with the several naps I had gotten while traveling, I was ready to head to bed early. With quick good-byes to her friends, Carissa and I headed into the woods as she walked me home. It was quite dark, with only a few distant lights to be seen. I followed Carissa carefully down the path, as we navigated large mud puddles, etc… However, at one point Carissa didn’t see a mud slick, and I was just a bit to the right of her. In a split second, my slippery Crocs went right out from under me as I fell to my bum and slid right down the path, covered in mud. Only my ego was bruised a bit. But, I was certainly glad that we were out in the woods by ourselves. When we got back to my cabin, I stood by the door and chatted with my housemates for just a few minutes, gave Carissa and hug, and smoothly walked backwards into my bedroom so that no one would see my backside.
A taxi soon arrived and out stepped my beautiful daughter. We were both so excited to see each other. After a short 10 minute taxi ride, we arrived at the YWAM Mendoza base.
The greeting I received from everyone was so warm and welcoming. I got more kisses in one evening than I get at home in a month. And, our family is a very huggy and kissy family. Seriously, everyone (young men and women) that greeted me gave me a kiss on each cheek. So sweet!
While I understood very little that they said, each one of them clearly loves Carissa as a sister. (She was a bit embarrassed to translate all of the sweet things they said about her.)
One of the things I did understand was how many of them asked Carissa how old I was. I guess I didn’t look like what they expected a “mother of 13” to look like.
After meeting everyone, it was time for dinner at 8:30. We had a delicious meal of rice and veggies. After our dishes were cleared, we stood outside around a fire, visiting until about 10:30. I was amazed at how welcome and at-home I felt, despite the language differences.
Even with the several naps I had gotten while traveling, I was ready to head to bed early. With quick good-byes to her friends, Carissa and I headed into the woods as she walked me home. It was quite dark, with only a few distant lights to be seen. I followed Carissa carefully down the path, as we navigated large mud puddles, etc… However, at one point Carissa didn’t see a mud slick, and I was just a bit to the right of her. In a split second, my slippery Crocs went right out from under me as I fell to my bum and slid right down the path, covered in mud. Only my ego was bruised a bit. But, I was certainly glad that we were out in the woods by ourselves. When we got back to my cabin, I stood by the door and chatted with my housemates for just a few minutes, gave Carissa and hug, and smoothly walked backwards into my bedroom so that no one would see my backside.
Starbucks
As my friends and family know, I am not a Starbucks fan. We have an amazing independent coffee shop at home, so we have no need for Starbucks. However, when traveling out-of-town, or around the world … Starbucks looks a bit better.
So, I walk confidently up to the counter and gaze over the menu (all in Spanish). After 30 years, some of the words actually look familiar. I am very proud that I can confidently place my order in Spanish. After telling the cashier which drink I would like, she confidently asks me (in English), “What size?” Okay … I guess it’s obvious that Spanish is not my first language. The young lady’s co-worker is even surprised that she speaks English so well. (He speaks enough that we could communicate. He understood when I told him I lived by “Seattle, the home of Starbucks”.)
I told him that I hoped the drink would be as good as the ones in Seattle (not saying that they’re not my favorite anyway). He responded that, “Ours are even better.” And, when I got the drink, I had to agree. My White Chocolate Mocha Frappuccino was fantastic!
A very funny thing about this … on the morning I left home (I guess that was yesterday … it seems so long ago ….) I stopped at my favorite coffee shop on my way out-of-town. The barista asked what I was up to, and when I told her where I was headed, she said that she had flown to Chile a few months ago. So, she was able to tell me that this actual airport was very nice and that they had a Starbucks here. However, she told me their coffee wasn’t very good.
I am just about to board my plane. All of the announcements are in Spanish. I have absolutely no idea what they are saying, except for “Mendoza”. Hope I don’t miss anything important. Can’t wait to see my interpreter, Carissa.
So, I walk confidently up to the counter and gaze over the menu (all in Spanish). After 30 years, some of the words actually look familiar. I am very proud that I can confidently place my order in Spanish. After telling the cashier which drink I would like, she confidently asks me (in English), “What size?” Okay … I guess it’s obvious that Spanish is not my first language. The young lady’s co-worker is even surprised that she speaks English so well. (He speaks enough that we could communicate. He understood when I told him I lived by “Seattle, the home of Starbucks”.)
I told him that I hoped the drink would be as good as the ones in Seattle (not saying that they’re not my favorite anyway). He responded that, “Ours are even better.” And, when I got the drink, I had to agree. My White Chocolate Mocha Frappuccino was fantastic!
A very funny thing about this … on the morning I left home (I guess that was yesterday … it seems so long ago ….) I stopped at my favorite coffee shop on my way out-of-town. The barista asked what I was up to, and when I told her where I was headed, she said that she had flown to Chile a few months ago. So, she was able to tell me that this actual airport was very nice and that they had a Starbucks here. However, she told me their coffee wasn’t very good.
I am just about to board my plane. All of the announcements are in Spanish. I have absolutely no idea what they are saying, except for “Mendoza”. Hope I don’t miss anything important. Can’t wait to see my interpreter, Carissa.
Thursday, September 4, 2008
Chile ...
No, I'm not eating Chili ... and, I'm not Chilly (cold) ... I am in the country of Chile, South America, awaiting my departure for Argentina. Carissa ... I'm just across the mountains from you.
I arrived at 7:30 a.m. (which is 4:30 a.m. home-time). As the plane prepared for arrival, a video came on the screen telling all of the First Class and Business Class passengers about the wonderful lounge/club available to them. Oh ... how nice that sounded. Comfortable couches ... free wi-fi ... food and drinks ... what a life! No ... I was NOT traveling First Class or Business Class. I guessed I'd be stuck in the uncomfortable seats of the passenger area for my 9 hour layover.
After departing the plane, a young man approached and I asked where I needed to go for another international flight. He asked where I was going, looked at his list, and asked if I was Laurel. Wow! They know passengers by name? He informed me that while my booked flight was for 4:45 this afternoon, there was, actually, another flight to Mendoza in just 1 hour. He told me that if there were seats on the flight, they could get my luggage onto the flight, too. You've got to be kidding?
I hustled upstairs to the customer counter (as directed), and tried to explain what the man downstairs had told me. But ... no one spoke English. And, it's been 30 years since I took Spanish in High School. Finally, they determined that I could take the flight, but that they could not get my luggage onto that flight.
Meanwhile, the whole time I had been wondering what exactly I would do if I arrived in Argentina 8 hours early. I have no contact information for Carissa (yes ... I traveled across the world and am TRUSTING that someone will show up at the airport to pick me up.) This airport in Chile seemed pretty nice. (I had already seen the Starbucks and Dunkin' Donuts.) What if the airport in Mendoza didn't have much to offer? I would still have an 8 hour wait. So, I wasn't too discouraged when it was determined that I should stay in Chile for the day.
Now, the young man downstairs who first told me about the flight in just one hour ... as I was walking away he handed me a brochure for the "VIP Club" and told me that if I didn't get on the flight, I could spend the day in the Club for only $30. Woohoo! First Class here I come.
A comfy day I have had. I enjoyed a complimentary breakfast ("free" is not a First Class word) of fresh fruit (oranges and kiwis), yogurt, and juice. I took a 3 hour nap on a full-length couch (using my complimentary blanket). I am enjoying my complimentary wi-fi connection, with my computer plugged into an electrical outlet installed just for me (maybe not ... but it is for all of us U.S. guests who don't travel with their electrical adapters). Lunch was more fresh fruit, turkey & veggie sandwiches, a variety of sliced meats, and a variety of cookies. I could also have chosen to partake in the wide variety of complimentary alcoholic beverages, but I stuck with Sprite and Juice.
Oh yes ... there is the fancy side of life at the Club, also. The bathroom walls and floors are marble, and the stall doors are a tinted glass. Have you ever seen glass doors on public bathroom stalls? And, I could have taken a shower if I wanted to. Was the $30 worth it? You bet ... I probably would have spent $15-20 on breakfast and lunch, and I wouldn't have gotten a nice nap.
It is now 2:00, and I only have about 2 hours until I board my plane to go see Carissa. It will be a 1 hour flight, over the beautiful snow capped Andes mountains. Yes, they are beautiful. (The airport sits right next to them.) And, yes, they are snow-capped. Chile and Argentina are just finishing up winter and heading into spring. When I checked the weather a couple of days ago, for Mendoza, the temps. this week were in the 50's - 60's (Fairenheit). But, next week it is supposed to be in the mid 70's. So, while the snow if beautiful, I am looking forward to warmer "spring" weather.
Well ... off to check my emails. I think I'll make a stop at Starbucks for a Frappuccino before finding my boarding gate.
I arrived at 7:30 a.m. (which is 4:30 a.m. home-time). As the plane prepared for arrival, a video came on the screen telling all of the First Class and Business Class passengers about the wonderful lounge/club available to them. Oh ... how nice that sounded. Comfortable couches ... free wi-fi ... food and drinks ... what a life! No ... I was NOT traveling First Class or Business Class. I guessed I'd be stuck in the uncomfortable seats of the passenger area for my 9 hour layover.
After departing the plane, a young man approached and I asked where I needed to go for another international flight. He asked where I was going, looked at his list, and asked if I was Laurel. Wow! They know passengers by name? He informed me that while my booked flight was for 4:45 this afternoon, there was, actually, another flight to Mendoza in just 1 hour. He told me that if there were seats on the flight, they could get my luggage onto the flight, too. You've got to be kidding?
I hustled upstairs to the customer counter (as directed), and tried to explain what the man downstairs had told me. But ... no one spoke English. And, it's been 30 years since I took Spanish in High School. Finally, they determined that I could take the flight, but that they could not get my luggage onto that flight.
Meanwhile, the whole time I had been wondering what exactly I would do if I arrived in Argentina 8 hours early. I have no contact information for Carissa (yes ... I traveled across the world and am TRUSTING that someone will show up at the airport to pick me up.) This airport in Chile seemed pretty nice. (I had already seen the Starbucks and Dunkin' Donuts.) What if the airport in Mendoza didn't have much to offer? I would still have an 8 hour wait. So, I wasn't too discouraged when it was determined that I should stay in Chile for the day.
Now, the young man downstairs who first told me about the flight in just one hour ... as I was walking away he handed me a brochure for the "VIP Club" and told me that if I didn't get on the flight, I could spend the day in the Club for only $30. Woohoo! First Class here I come.
A comfy day I have had. I enjoyed a complimentary breakfast ("free" is not a First Class word) of fresh fruit (oranges and kiwis), yogurt, and juice. I took a 3 hour nap on a full-length couch (using my complimentary blanket). I am enjoying my complimentary wi-fi connection, with my computer plugged into an electrical outlet installed just for me (maybe not ... but it is for all of us U.S. guests who don't travel with their electrical adapters). Lunch was more fresh fruit, turkey & veggie sandwiches, a variety of sliced meats, and a variety of cookies. I could also have chosen to partake in the wide variety of complimentary alcoholic beverages, but I stuck with Sprite and Juice.
Oh yes ... there is the fancy side of life at the Club, also. The bathroom walls and floors are marble, and the stall doors are a tinted glass. Have you ever seen glass doors on public bathroom stalls? And, I could have taken a shower if I wanted to. Was the $30 worth it? You bet ... I probably would have spent $15-20 on breakfast and lunch, and I wouldn't have gotten a nice nap.
It is now 2:00, and I only have about 2 hours until I board my plane to go see Carissa. It will be a 1 hour flight, over the beautiful snow capped Andes mountains. Yes, they are beautiful. (The airport sits right next to them.) And, yes, they are snow-capped. Chile and Argentina are just finishing up winter and heading into spring. When I checked the weather a couple of days ago, for Mendoza, the temps. this week were in the 50's - 60's (Fairenheit). But, next week it is supposed to be in the mid 70's. So, while the snow if beautiful, I am looking forward to warmer "spring" weather.
Well ... off to check my emails. I think I'll make a stop at Starbucks for a Frappuccino before finding my boarding gate.
PRAISING GOD ...
“Shout with JOY to God, all the earth! Sing the GLORY of His name; make His PRAISE GLORIOUS! Say to God, how AWESOME are your deeds! … Come and see what God has done, how AWESOME His works on man’s behalf! … PRAISE our God, O peoples, let the sound of His PRAISE be heard, He has preserved our lives and kept our feet from slipping. For you, O God, tested us, you refined us like silver. You … laid burdens on our backs. You let men ride over our heads; we went through fire and water, but you brought us to a place of ABUNDANCE. … Come and listen, all you who fear God; let me tell you what He has done for me. I cried out to Him with my mouth; His PRAISE was on my tongue. If I had cherished sin in my heart, the Lord would not have listened; but God has surely listened and heard my voice in PRAYER. PRAISE be to God who has not rejected my PRAYER or withheld His LOVE from me.” Psalm 66: 1-20
As you may have noticed … I am PRAISING the Lord today. He has carried me through a very difficult time the past couple of weeks. But, I have not only survived … I have come out on the other side having grown closer to my Lord, my husband, my children, and my friends. I am not just “doing okay” … I truly want to SHOUT for JOY over all that the Lord has done.
The following 3 posts will tell more about all of the specific things I am PRAISING GOD for today.
As you may have noticed … I am PRAISING the Lord today. He has carried me through a very difficult time the past couple of weeks. But, I have not only survived … I have come out on the other side having grown closer to my Lord, my husband, my children, and my friends. I am not just “doing okay” … I truly want to SHOUT for JOY over all that the Lord has done.
The following 3 posts will tell more about all of the specific things I am PRAISING GOD for today.
PRAISING GOD ... for His provision ...
Rewind a few weeks … I lost my job. I didn’t know how the Lord was going to replace my income (and I still don’t know all that His plans are). I cleaned out and threw away 5 years of work and ministry … my vision and heart’s passion. I went through a very deep grieving process.
When my dear daughter asked if I would please pray about going to visit her in Argentina, I almost laughed. How could I possibly buy a plane ticket when I had just lost my job? I hesitantly mentioned it to the Lord and to my dear husband (and checked for airfares, just in case the answer was “yes”). Papa immediately said I should go. (“Are you sure”) I was amazed by the good airfares I found, considering the skyrocketing rates with the price of fuel. (I actually found a ticket less expensive than the ticket Carissa purchased in March.)
I prayed … and I came across an old Discipleship Journal magazine with the theme of ADVENTURES WITH GOD. One of the articles talked about TRUST. What does it mean to really trust God? Since we do have a savings account that will cover my salary for several months, do I need to worry and fret about putting food on the table next January? Obviously, I am not going to go and spend money foolishly. Obviously, if the plane ticket would empty out our savings acct, I should stay at home. However, since I truly believe that the Lord is calling me back into my speaking and writing ministry, shouldn’t I trust Him to provide through that calling?
So, I stepped out in FAITH and bought the plane ticket, for about $1,400.
Then, I realized that if I am going to move forward with my ministry, I really needed to replace my 5 year old laptop. And, if I’m going to replace it, now is the time to do it. I expect to have a bit of time in Argentina for my writing (while Carissa works at the YWAM base). More prayer … more discussions with Papa. There went another $1,500.
So, what did I get in the mail on the same day that I received my laptop? A completely unexpected $1,500. Yes … that’s right. The Lord either decided to pay for the plane ticket, or the computer. Either way … I am PRAISING Him.
Not only did I get a new MacBook. But, the week that I needed to buy it, there was a special going: “Buy a computer this week, and get a free iPod.” When 4 members of our family purchased iPods last January, I declined. I didn’t “need” one. Now … I not only got a free iPod … I got a $300 iPod Touch. How cool! Did I need one? No. But … God went over and above on His gift giving, so that I would have a fun new techie toy for my trip.
In addition to the unexpected money that I received, in the past few weeks the Lord has also provided a couple of painting jobs for Jim. This was the slowest summer for the painting business in 25 years. However, the Lord knew that our family needed lots of playtime, in order to solidify the growing relationships between the 2 sibling groups that we are blending. Jim and I both had 7 weeks to play with the kids this summer. What a treat! Then, almost at the end of summer, along came a couple of painting jobs. Thanks Lord! More provision, because we trusted God for it.
When my dear daughter asked if I would please pray about going to visit her in Argentina, I almost laughed. How could I possibly buy a plane ticket when I had just lost my job? I hesitantly mentioned it to the Lord and to my dear husband (and checked for airfares, just in case the answer was “yes”). Papa immediately said I should go. (“Are you sure”) I was amazed by the good airfares I found, considering the skyrocketing rates with the price of fuel. (I actually found a ticket less expensive than the ticket Carissa purchased in March.)
I prayed … and I came across an old Discipleship Journal magazine with the theme of ADVENTURES WITH GOD. One of the articles talked about TRUST. What does it mean to really trust God? Since we do have a savings account that will cover my salary for several months, do I need to worry and fret about putting food on the table next January? Obviously, I am not going to go and spend money foolishly. Obviously, if the plane ticket would empty out our savings acct, I should stay at home. However, since I truly believe that the Lord is calling me back into my speaking and writing ministry, shouldn’t I trust Him to provide through that calling?
So, I stepped out in FAITH and bought the plane ticket, for about $1,400.
Then, I realized that if I am going to move forward with my ministry, I really needed to replace my 5 year old laptop. And, if I’m going to replace it, now is the time to do it. I expect to have a bit of time in Argentina for my writing (while Carissa works at the YWAM base). More prayer … more discussions with Papa. There went another $1,500.
So, what did I get in the mail on the same day that I received my laptop? A completely unexpected $1,500. Yes … that’s right. The Lord either decided to pay for the plane ticket, or the computer. Either way … I am PRAISING Him.
Not only did I get a new MacBook. But, the week that I needed to buy it, there was a special going: “Buy a computer this week, and get a free iPod.” When 4 members of our family purchased iPods last January, I declined. I didn’t “need” one. Now … I not only got a free iPod … I got a $300 iPod Touch. How cool! Did I need one? No. But … God went over and above on His gift giving, so that I would have a fun new techie toy for my trip.
In addition to the unexpected money that I received, in the past few weeks the Lord has also provided a couple of painting jobs for Jim. This was the slowest summer for the painting business in 25 years. However, the Lord knew that our family needed lots of playtime, in order to solidify the growing relationships between the 2 sibling groups that we are blending. Jim and I both had 7 weeks to play with the kids this summer. What a treat! Then, almost at the end of summer, along came a couple of painting jobs. Thanks Lord! More provision, because we trusted God for it.
PRAISING GOD ... for bringing closure with the school I created ...
After weeks of praying about whether or not to keep the children at the school (and be involved as a parent), I decided that I just needed to take a break from it. I homeschooled independently for 13 years; and I can do it again. While it was a very hard decision, I felt complete peace after it had been made.
Then, yesterday, I received a phone call that the new principal wanted to meet with me. I had purposely stayed away from the office these past 3 weeks. Was I ready to meet my replacement? Yes … I knew that it would be good to meet him before leaving town for 2 weeks, so that he was not left to wonder why we had decided this week to withdraw our children from the school. So, we set a coffee date. You can imagine our surprise when he walked through the door of the coffee shop, we took one look at each other, and we both said, “I know you!” It only took a couple of minutes to realize that we had worked together at a restaurant … 150 miles away … 20 years ago. Wow! Small world.
I won’t pretend that it was an easy meeting. It was definitely awkward on both sides. But, after 2 hours, we were able to give each other a hug and say that we hope our families can get to know each other when his family moves to town.
Hard … but good … closure.
Then, yesterday, I received a phone call that the new principal wanted to meet with me. I had purposely stayed away from the office these past 3 weeks. Was I ready to meet my replacement? Yes … I knew that it would be good to meet him before leaving town for 2 weeks, so that he was not left to wonder why we had decided this week to withdraw our children from the school. So, we set a coffee date. You can imagine our surprise when he walked through the door of the coffee shop, we took one look at each other, and we both said, “I know you!” It only took a couple of minutes to realize that we had worked together at a restaurant … 150 miles away … 20 years ago. Wow! Small world.
I won’t pretend that it was an easy meeting. It was definitely awkward on both sides. But, after 2 hours, we were able to give each other a hug and say that we hope our families can get to know each other when his family moves to town.
Hard … but good … closure.
PRAISING GOD ... for the "little things" ...
Today has been the most amazingly smooth day of travel imaginable. (Who knows what tomorrow will bring; but today has been GREAT!)
I left home right on time, even giving one of the boys a much needed haircut 30 minutes before departure. (Not an easy task after 5 hours of sleep and kids’ needs pulling in every direction.)
I didn’t have any traffic problems, and arrived at the airport as scheduled. (Hard to plan when you are driving 100 miles, and traveling through Everett and Seattle.)
Check-in and security went quickly and smoothly.
I got an exit row seat on my flight from Seattle to Dallas (which means a lot of extra leg room). And, I only shared the row with 1 other person (we got an empty seat between us). And, the other person was a fellow Believer, from a church in the area we used to live.
All flights were not only on-time … but early. (Which is good when you only have an hour between flights.)
Now, I am on a 9 hour flight from Dallas to Santiago, Chile. Not only did I get another exit row, but I have both seats to myself. So, I am kicked back … just finished dinner … listening to my iTunes … and journaling about ALL that the LORD has done!
Oh yes … I also played a game of Tetris on my iPod before dinner. This is quite significant, because I am NOT a video game advocate, nor for that matter, an iPod advocate. I believe both video games and iPods can be time-wasters and communication busters. But … with 24 hours to travel, all by myself … I guess I can waste a little time. And, I have no one to communicate with since I have the row of seats to myself. So, kids, this does not mean that mom has changed her opinion of either of the above time wasters or communication busters. Everything in moderation.
Well, I have about 7 hours of flight time left and should probably try to get some sleep. Tomorrow, I have a 9 hour layover in Chile, prior to my 1 hour flight to Argentina. I’ll have lots of time for journaling, article writing, reading, and Tetris games.
I left home right on time, even giving one of the boys a much needed haircut 30 minutes before departure. (Not an easy task after 5 hours of sleep and kids’ needs pulling in every direction.)
I didn’t have any traffic problems, and arrived at the airport as scheduled. (Hard to plan when you are driving 100 miles, and traveling through Everett and Seattle.)
Check-in and security went quickly and smoothly.
I got an exit row seat on my flight from Seattle to Dallas (which means a lot of extra leg room). And, I only shared the row with 1 other person (we got an empty seat between us). And, the other person was a fellow Believer, from a church in the area we used to live.
All flights were not only on-time … but early. (Which is good when you only have an hour between flights.)
Now, I am on a 9 hour flight from Dallas to Santiago, Chile. Not only did I get another exit row, but I have both seats to myself. So, I am kicked back … just finished dinner … listening to my iTunes … and journaling about ALL that the LORD has done!
Oh yes … I also played a game of Tetris on my iPod before dinner. This is quite significant, because I am NOT a video game advocate, nor for that matter, an iPod advocate. I believe both video games and iPods can be time-wasters and communication busters. But … with 24 hours to travel, all by myself … I guess I can waste a little time. And, I have no one to communicate with since I have the row of seats to myself. So, kids, this does not mean that mom has changed her opinion of either of the above time wasters or communication busters. Everything in moderation.
Well, I have about 7 hours of flight time left and should probably try to get some sleep. Tomorrow, I have a 9 hour layover in Chile, prior to my 1 hour flight to Argentina. I’ll have lots of time for journaling, article writing, reading, and Tetris games.
Wednesday, September 3, 2008
I'm Leavin' ... On a Jet Plane
Yes ... as the title implies ... I am headed out on another adventure. Boy has the Lord had a LOT of adventures for us this year. Wow!
First of all, we have had an amazingly fun summer with lots of trips and lots of "firsts" for the kids. Between June 29 - August 19, we were off on adventures 29 of the 52 days (which only left us at home for 23 days). And, on those "home" days, we took many day trips to the beach, the lake, the zoo, etc ... So, I think we were actually home about 15 out of 52 days. Crazy ... but fun!
We have been home now for the past 2 weeks. It's been a time of adjusting to my job loss, cleaning out my office, rearranging my home office (which has been Jeremiah's bedroom for the past year), and getting ready for the new school year. I am, actually, very excited to be NOT working. I've been looking through lots of old curriculum and books, and am looking forward to some GREAT independent homeschooling with the kids. They will miss the school we had last year ... but this year's school won't be the same anyways. We have friends that have also decided not to return to the old school, so we are looking forward to field trips and project days.
But ... I am not quite ready to start school. I have one more "summer adventure" to take. Since I don't have a job to return to this September (as I have had the past 4 years), it is working out perfectly for me to go play with my dear daughter Carissa for 2 weeks. She has been in Argentina for the past 5 months, attending a YWAM Discipleship Training School. She was scheduled to come home at the end of this month, but the Lord has called her to stay, indefinitely, in Argentina. She will be working as a translator/interpreter for the YWAM base in Mendoza, Argentina. Since she is missing her mama (and the rest of the family) she asked if I might possibly be able to go to Mendoza to attend her DTS graduation. So ... I'm going.
I will be with her for 2 weeks. We will spend some of that time in Mendoza, at the base. But, we hope to also be able to take some time to travel and explore (good thing I'll have my interpreter with me). Carissa has been doing ministry in many parts of the country the past 2 months, so she is excited to take me back to some of the places she's been, and to introduce me to the people she has ministered with.
Prior to February of this year, I had never flown internationally. The only international travel I had done was on road trips to Canada and Mexico. Then ... February found us headed to Ghana ... July found us in the Bahamas ... and now I find myself headed to South America. I stand in awe of the places that the Lord has taken me, and the things he has called me to do. Just a year or two ago, I wrote a magazine article about how the Lord had given us a vision for missions, but that I had realized that the vision was to send my children out "into the world". At that time, I really did not see any international travel on the horizon for me. Wow God!
Our church is sending a mission team to Jordan in January, and I'd love to go visit Jeremiah ... but Jim can't get away in January, and I think I'd feel really guilty if I keep traveling while he stays home to work. Hmmm ... I'll have to pray about that one.
My posts for the next 2 weeks will be sporadic, as there is not internet access at the YWAM base. But, I have a new laptop computer, and will be uploading pics and writing posts while at the base. Then, whenever we get into a town with an internet cafe, I'll send you all an update or two.
Sure hope the new Yarn Braids last at least 3 weeks. Papa wouldn't know how to fix them.
First of all, we have had an amazingly fun summer with lots of trips and lots of "firsts" for the kids. Between June 29 - August 19, we were off on adventures 29 of the 52 days (which only left us at home for 23 days). And, on those "home" days, we took many day trips to the beach, the lake, the zoo, etc ... So, I think we were actually home about 15 out of 52 days. Crazy ... but fun!
We have been home now for the past 2 weeks. It's been a time of adjusting to my job loss, cleaning out my office, rearranging my home office (which has been Jeremiah's bedroom for the past year), and getting ready for the new school year. I am, actually, very excited to be NOT working. I've been looking through lots of old curriculum and books, and am looking forward to some GREAT independent homeschooling with the kids. They will miss the school we had last year ... but this year's school won't be the same anyways. We have friends that have also decided not to return to the old school, so we are looking forward to field trips and project days.
But ... I am not quite ready to start school. I have one more "summer adventure" to take. Since I don't have a job to return to this September (as I have had the past 4 years), it is working out perfectly for me to go play with my dear daughter Carissa for 2 weeks. She has been in Argentina for the past 5 months, attending a YWAM Discipleship Training School. She was scheduled to come home at the end of this month, but the Lord has called her to stay, indefinitely, in Argentina. She will be working as a translator/interpreter for the YWAM base in Mendoza, Argentina. Since she is missing her mama (and the rest of the family) she asked if I might possibly be able to go to Mendoza to attend her DTS graduation. So ... I'm going.
I will be with her for 2 weeks. We will spend some of that time in Mendoza, at the base. But, we hope to also be able to take some time to travel and explore (good thing I'll have my interpreter with me). Carissa has been doing ministry in many parts of the country the past 2 months, so she is excited to take me back to some of the places she's been, and to introduce me to the people she has ministered with.
Prior to February of this year, I had never flown internationally. The only international travel I had done was on road trips to Canada and Mexico. Then ... February found us headed to Ghana ... July found us in the Bahamas ... and now I find myself headed to South America. I stand in awe of the places that the Lord has taken me, and the things he has called me to do. Just a year or two ago, I wrote a magazine article about how the Lord had given us a vision for missions, but that I had realized that the vision was to send my children out "into the world". At that time, I really did not see any international travel on the horizon for me. Wow God!
Our church is sending a mission team to Jordan in January, and I'd love to go visit Jeremiah ... but Jim can't get away in January, and I think I'd feel really guilty if I keep traveling while he stays home to work. Hmmm ... I'll have to pray about that one.
My posts for the next 2 weeks will be sporadic, as there is not internet access at the YWAM base. But, I have a new laptop computer, and will be uploading pics and writing posts while at the base. Then, whenever we get into a town with an internet cafe, I'll send you all an update or two.
Sure hope the new Yarn Braids last at least 3 weeks. Papa wouldn't know how to fix them.
Deep Sea Fishing
I've been so busy blogging about Yarn Braids ... that I haven't had time to tell you about Papa's latest adventure. Sorry, Papa!
A week and a half ago, Papa went on his first Deep Sea Fishing Trip. Some Canadian friends of his had invited him several months ago, so it was with GREAT anticipation that he headed up to Canada (just getting the 10 miles to meet his friends took 3 hours one day and 3 hours the next day ... but that's another story ...).
Here's Papa ...
And the fish ...
The Boat Owner / Fishing Guide did all the cleaning and filleting.
Papa came home with some awesome fish fillets (Salmon and Halibut), all vacuum packed and ready for the freezer.
The Awesome Pacific Ocean ... on the East side of Vancouver Island, British Columbia, Canada ...
A week and a half ago, Papa went on his first Deep Sea Fishing Trip. Some Canadian friends of his had invited him several months ago, so it was with GREAT anticipation that he headed up to Canada (just getting the 10 miles to meet his friends took 3 hours one day and 3 hours the next day ... but that's another story ...).
Here's Papa ...
And the fish ...
The Boat Owner / Fishing Guide did all the cleaning and filleting.
Papa came home with some awesome fish fillets (Salmon and Halibut), all vacuum packed and ready for the freezer.
The Awesome Pacific Ocean ... on the East side of Vancouver Island, British Columbia, Canada ...
Sunday, August 31, 2008
Braids: Tips, Tricks, and Techniques
Did you notice any difference in the girls' braids? (If you haven't already read the 2 posts about braiding this week, you'll want to go there first.)
Do they look different? Did you notice the different look of the hair product, prior to my cutting the ends off? Not only did I make my first attempt at putting extension braids in the girls hair, but I used a completely different product than they had used before. During an evening of blog hopping and the subsequent internet research of braiding techniques, tips, and tricks, I discovered a very inexpensive (and quite unique) alternative to the typical synthetic hair that is used for extensions.
Here is the traditional product used for extension braids:
Here are the two products that I used:
Rachel's "hair" is ...
Sarah's "hair" is ...
Yes ... seriously ... I used inexpensive yarn, purchased at Wal-Mart (as recommended on several instruction videos that I watched). The crazy thing is, the yarn is actually much more similar to the girls' natural hair than the "fake hair" that is typically used. Not only are the texture and color incredibly natural looking, but the yarn is much easier to work with, and the braids turn out much more uniform in size. With the synthetic hair, you have to guesstimate how many little strands to use in each braid. (Especially when you are tired after braiding for many hours, the braids can turn out thicker, in an effort to "just be done".) Whereas, with yarn braids, you always have the same amount of strands in each braid.
While one YouTube video I watched said that the young lady had used 3 skeins of yarn, she must have ended up with very long braids. I used less than 1 skein for each girl. So, the total cost of doing each girls hair ... less than $4 including the yarn and rubber bands.
Here is a link to the blog where I initially discovered Yarn Braids. Woohoo! Thanks Pam!
http://pramom26.blogspot.com/2008/08/hairku-friday-6-yarn-braids.html
(sorry ... my link button isn't working ... you'll have to cut and paste the above web address into your address bar)
Pam includes lots of links ...
... for other posts with great pics of the finished braids.
... for a great video on "How to do Yarn Braid Extensions".
... for a yahoo group all about black hair care.
(I would have included the links, if my link button would work. Sorry.)
After watching the training video, I Googled "Yarn Braids" and began exploring a variety of YouTube videos. After 6 months of learning about how to care for ethnic hair, and with my recent information about Yarn Braids, I found that I was now confident enough to step out and "do their hair". Yea!
So, here are some of the things that I have learned, and why we do things the way we do.
Why have we chosen extension braids for our girls?
#1 We think they are adorable. I've always loved lots of braids. The girls LOVE them!
#2 A Ghanaian woman told us that because our girls have "hard hair" they will always need to keep their hair in braids ... either natural braids or extensions.
#3 Natural braid hairstyles take several hours to do (for EACH girl), and last about a week. Whereas, extension braids can take 8-10 hours per girl, but can last 6-8 weeks.
#4 With 9 children still living at home, I am unable to set aside 5-6 hours (for both girls) every weekend to do hair. For our family, the longer lasting extensions work much better.
#5 Living in a predominately white community (filled with little girls with long blonde hair), we felt that the "long hair" extensions would help our girls to feel that they fit in better. We had extensions put into their hair while still in Ghana, so everyone at home only knows them with braids. (Upon arriving home, they met a young girl that lives nearby. Kiana was adopted from Haiti, and she regularly wears long extensions. So, our girls immediately saw that this was a common hairstyle for the black children in town.)
We are surprised how many people comment on their beautiful braids, and how many of those people have no idea that the braids are not their natural hair. While our children are very aware that their skin color is not the same as the majority of our community, I believe it has been a true blessing to have a physical trait that gets such positive reinforcement. Our girls ARE beautiful. And, if extension braids help them to feel that way ... all the better.
Why do I use Yarn Braids rather than synthetic hair.
#1 Much less expensive.
#2 Easier to braid.
#3 More uniform braids.
#4 More natural looking and feeling than synthetic.
#5 Less pull on the natural hair. Synthetic hair (if not high quality) can actually cut the natural hair where it is wrapped tightly at the scalp.
#6 (added to original post) Pam made some good comments on this post. One of them led me to realize that the Yarn Braids let the hair "breathe" better than synthetic hair; and, therefore, the natural hair stays healthier, grows better, and has less breakage when the braids are removed. Thanks Pam!
How do I "start" the yarn braids? How do I attach the yarn to the natural hair?
Please see the above link, and follow the link to the training video.
What other hair care tips have I learned?
#1 While some sites I visited recommended a wide variety of hair gels and sprays, to be used on each section of hair before braiding, I was excited to see several sites recommend a very natural and inexpensive product (which we already had in our bathroom cupboards). Before adding the Yarn Braids, I coated each section of hair with "100% Aloe". Yes, this is the same stuff you may have in your cupboards for the healing of sunburns. Just make sure you are using the 100% Aloe, not the products with added ingredients.
#2 Another very important tip we learned from the woman in Ghana was to NOT get the girls' hair wet while it is in braids (either natural braids or extensions). She explained that when their braids get wet, the natural hair is unable to dry properly. Then, when the braids are removed later (1 week for natural hair or 6 weeks for extensions) the natural hair tends to be unhealthy and prone to damage and breakage. We use swim caps (purchased at Big 5 Sporting Goods) for showers, swimming, and backyard sprinkler fun. We were very excited that when we removed the last set of braids, the girls hair had grown significantly, was very healthy, and had no breakage issues.
#3 Always wanting to learn more about African hair care, I wasn't afraid to ask an African American woman on our Bahamas cruise what she felt were her very best tips for hair care. She was glad I asked, and encourage me to use oil on their hair DAILY, even when they have their extensions in. This woman shared that she and her friends refer to their hair oil as their "fertilizer", because it makes their hair grow better. I had already purchased a spray bottle of Tea Tree Oil for their hair, and she said that was a great choice. I have also read that you can fill a spray bottle with a mixture of light olive oil (from the grocery store) and water ... and spritz that on daily. Or, you can use a hair "grease" and run that on the scalp daily. Since I don't know how the yarn will do with a daily oil spray, I think I will try the scalp grease this time around. (One tip I just learned today was to use a small toothbrush to apply the grease (or cream) to the scalp and then use it to smooth any frizzies back up onto the braids.) another additional thought ... Pam says that the olive oil spray made her daughters yarn braids stink ... so I will definitely stick with the scalp cream.
#4 The African culture takes great pride in keeping their hair done up right. So, it is very important for us Obrunis (white people ... in Ghana) to learn how to take care of our African children's hair. I have read in multiple places that it is very upsetting to American black women to see unkempt black children in the care of white mothers. They feel that we are letting down our children, in a very important cultural matter. I, for one, have always felt it was important to keep my girls hair looking good ... so I understand the concerns. (My boys, however, may get a bit scraggly sometimes as they are awaiting their turn for a haircut. With 7 boys at home right now, it takes a while to make their appointments with mom.)
Well ... I hope this has been helpful. In addition to all of the comments I got on my hair posts from other adoptive moms, I also received several personal emails saying, "Tell us how ..."
Let me know if you give the Yarn Braids a try. I'd love to see your pics.
Do they look different? Did you notice the different look of the hair product, prior to my cutting the ends off? Not only did I make my first attempt at putting extension braids in the girls hair, but I used a completely different product than they had used before. During an evening of blog hopping and the subsequent internet research of braiding techniques, tips, and tricks, I discovered a very inexpensive (and quite unique) alternative to the typical synthetic hair that is used for extensions.
Here is the traditional product used for extension braids:
Here are the two products that I used:
Rachel's "hair" is ...
Sarah's "hair" is ...
Yes ... seriously ... I used inexpensive yarn, purchased at Wal-Mart (as recommended on several instruction videos that I watched). The crazy thing is, the yarn is actually much more similar to the girls' natural hair than the "fake hair" that is typically used. Not only are the texture and color incredibly natural looking, but the yarn is much easier to work with, and the braids turn out much more uniform in size. With the synthetic hair, you have to guesstimate how many little strands to use in each braid. (Especially when you are tired after braiding for many hours, the braids can turn out thicker, in an effort to "just be done".) Whereas, with yarn braids, you always have the same amount of strands in each braid.
While one YouTube video I watched said that the young lady had used 3 skeins of yarn, she must have ended up with very long braids. I used less than 1 skein for each girl. So, the total cost of doing each girls hair ... less than $4 including the yarn and rubber bands.
Here is a link to the blog where I initially discovered Yarn Braids. Woohoo! Thanks Pam!
http://pramom26.blogspot.com/2008/08/hairku-friday-6-yarn-braids.html
(sorry ... my link button isn't working ... you'll have to cut and paste the above web address into your address bar)
Pam includes lots of links ...
... for other posts with great pics of the finished braids.
... for a great video on "How to do Yarn Braid Extensions".
... for a yahoo group all about black hair care.
(I would have included the links, if my link button would work. Sorry.)
After watching the training video, I Googled "Yarn Braids" and began exploring a variety of YouTube videos. After 6 months of learning about how to care for ethnic hair, and with my recent information about Yarn Braids, I found that I was now confident enough to step out and "do their hair". Yea!
So, here are some of the things that I have learned, and why we do things the way we do.
Why have we chosen extension braids for our girls?
#1 We think they are adorable. I've always loved lots of braids. The girls LOVE them!
#2 A Ghanaian woman told us that because our girls have "hard hair" they will always need to keep their hair in braids ... either natural braids or extensions.
#3 Natural braid hairstyles take several hours to do (for EACH girl), and last about a week. Whereas, extension braids can take 8-10 hours per girl, but can last 6-8 weeks.
#4 With 9 children still living at home, I am unable to set aside 5-6 hours (for both girls) every weekend to do hair. For our family, the longer lasting extensions work much better.
#5 Living in a predominately white community (filled with little girls with long blonde hair), we felt that the "long hair" extensions would help our girls to feel that they fit in better. We had extensions put into their hair while still in Ghana, so everyone at home only knows them with braids. (Upon arriving home, they met a young girl that lives nearby. Kiana was adopted from Haiti, and she regularly wears long extensions. So, our girls immediately saw that this was a common hairstyle for the black children in town.)
We are surprised how many people comment on their beautiful braids, and how many of those people have no idea that the braids are not their natural hair. While our children are very aware that their skin color is not the same as the majority of our community, I believe it has been a true blessing to have a physical trait that gets such positive reinforcement. Our girls ARE beautiful. And, if extension braids help them to feel that way ... all the better.
Why do I use Yarn Braids rather than synthetic hair.
#1 Much less expensive.
#2 Easier to braid.
#3 More uniform braids.
#4 More natural looking and feeling than synthetic.
#5 Less pull on the natural hair. Synthetic hair (if not high quality) can actually cut the natural hair where it is wrapped tightly at the scalp.
#6 (added to original post) Pam made some good comments on this post. One of them led me to realize that the Yarn Braids let the hair "breathe" better than synthetic hair; and, therefore, the natural hair stays healthier, grows better, and has less breakage when the braids are removed. Thanks Pam!
How do I "start" the yarn braids? How do I attach the yarn to the natural hair?
Please see the above link, and follow the link to the training video.
What other hair care tips have I learned?
#1 While some sites I visited recommended a wide variety of hair gels and sprays, to be used on each section of hair before braiding, I was excited to see several sites recommend a very natural and inexpensive product (which we already had in our bathroom cupboards). Before adding the Yarn Braids, I coated each section of hair with "100% Aloe". Yes, this is the same stuff you may have in your cupboards for the healing of sunburns. Just make sure you are using the 100% Aloe, not the products with added ingredients.
#2 Another very important tip we learned from the woman in Ghana was to NOT get the girls' hair wet while it is in braids (either natural braids or extensions). She explained that when their braids get wet, the natural hair is unable to dry properly. Then, when the braids are removed later (1 week for natural hair or 6 weeks for extensions) the natural hair tends to be unhealthy and prone to damage and breakage. We use swim caps (purchased at Big 5 Sporting Goods) for showers, swimming, and backyard sprinkler fun. We were very excited that when we removed the last set of braids, the girls hair had grown significantly, was very healthy, and had no breakage issues.
#3 Always wanting to learn more about African hair care, I wasn't afraid to ask an African American woman on our Bahamas cruise what she felt were her very best tips for hair care. She was glad I asked, and encourage me to use oil on their hair DAILY, even when they have their extensions in. This woman shared that she and her friends refer to their hair oil as their "fertilizer", because it makes their hair grow better. I had already purchased a spray bottle of Tea Tree Oil for their hair, and she said that was a great choice. I have also read that you can fill a spray bottle with a mixture of light olive oil (from the grocery store) and water ... and spritz that on daily. Or, you can use a hair "grease" and run that on the scalp daily. Since I don't know how the yarn will do with a daily oil spray, I think I will try the scalp grease this time around. (One tip I just learned today was to use a small toothbrush to apply the grease (or cream) to the scalp and then use it to smooth any frizzies back up onto the braids.) another additional thought ... Pam says that the olive oil spray made her daughters yarn braids stink ... so I will definitely stick with the scalp cream.
#4 The African culture takes great pride in keeping their hair done up right. So, it is very important for us Obrunis (white people ... in Ghana) to learn how to take care of our African children's hair. I have read in multiple places that it is very upsetting to American black women to see unkempt black children in the care of white mothers. They feel that we are letting down our children, in a very important cultural matter. I, for one, have always felt it was important to keep my girls hair looking good ... so I understand the concerns. (My boys, however, may get a bit scraggly sometimes as they are awaiting their turn for a haircut. With 7 boys at home right now, it takes a while to make their appointments with mom.)
Well ... I hope this has been helpful. In addition to all of the comments I got on my hair posts from other adoptive moms, I also received several personal emails saying, "Tell us how ..."
Let me know if you give the Yarn Braids a try. I'd love to see your pics.
Friday, August 29, 2008
Sarah's Hair
Yesterday was another long day of doing hair ... but we are now done with braids for 6-8 weeks. So, it's very worth it.
At first, Sarah wanted to go with longer braids. But, when she saw how cute Rachel's short braids turned out, she changed her mind. She said, "I want them short ... but a little longer than Rachel's." The other thing that I did differently is that I made Sarah's braids thinner, for a little different look.
One very fun thing about extension braids is that you get to completely change your hairstyle every couple of months. The last set of braids were longer, so the girls liked to pull all of the braids up into ponytails. I am wondering if they will miss that with the shorter braids. But, if they do, next time we'll just go longer again.
Here are a few pics of Sarah's 110 braids ...
It took me 8-10 hours to do each of the girls hair. However, they should last for about 8 weeks. So, in actuality, 1 hour per week for hair care is very little time.
Oh yes ... another thing to add to my list of benefits of losing my job: more time to do my girl's hair.
At first, Sarah wanted to go with longer braids. But, when she saw how cute Rachel's short braids turned out, she changed her mind. She said, "I want them short ... but a little longer than Rachel's." The other thing that I did differently is that I made Sarah's braids thinner, for a little different look.
One very fun thing about extension braids is that you get to completely change your hairstyle every couple of months. The last set of braids were longer, so the girls liked to pull all of the braids up into ponytails. I am wondering if they will miss that with the shorter braids. But, if they do, next time we'll just go longer again.
Here are a few pics of Sarah's 110 braids ...
It took me 8-10 hours to do each of the girls hair. However, they should last for about 8 weeks. So, in actuality, 1 hour per week for hair care is very little time.
Oh yes ... another thing to add to my list of benefits of losing my job: more time to do my girl's hair.
Wednesday, August 27, 2008
Dreams of Being a Hair Stylist
Once upon a time (about 35 years ago) there was a little girl that dreamed of being a Hair Stylist when she grew up. However ... her mother did not agree with her aspirations. This little girl did very well in school, and her mother felt that a college degree was very important in order to fulfill all of the goals that this mother had for her little girl. The girl was very sad ...
One day, when she was in 9th grade, her little brother came to her and asked if she would cut his hair. The mother told him that he had to go to the Barber Shop; but boys had just started going to the Beauty Shops instead. So, the young girl got out a pair of scissors and gave her first haircut. It turned out so well that it wasn't long before her brother's friends were asking for haircuts too.
The young girl finished high school, and headed off to college (just like her mother told her to). But ... she kept cutting hair. Soon, she was giving haircuts to many of the college boys (since they did not want to spend money at a Beauty Salon). She had no idea how much money this experience would save her over the years.
Despite the mother's goal for the little girl to finish college and have a good career, the little girl left college to pursue her own goals ... to be a wife and mommy. Her haircutting skills came in handy, as she not only gave her husband haircuts, but she gave all of the haircuts to all of her kids, as her family grew.
For many years, the mommy gave haircuts ... always learning from her own Hair Stylist how to give the most up-to-date cuts to her kids.
Then ... the mommy brought home some children from Africa. Even the mommy's Hair Stylist didn't know how to do their hair. So, the mommy had to do some studying. She searched the internet for tips, tricks, and information. There is a LOT to learn about African hair.
Today ... the mommy decided that she had studied enough and that it was time to become an African Hair Stylist. It was a very loooooong Hair Day, but Little Rachel was a trooper to sit still for many hours.
Tomorrow ... the mommy will get some more practice, as Sarah is waiting patiently for her turn.
Mommy and Rachel, settling in for a long afternoon and evening.
(We watched 1 movie and listened to the Squanto Story on Radio Theatre and all of Anne of Green Gables on Radio Theatre.)
First task ... sectioning the hair.
We're getting closer to being done. Don't fall asleep Rachel.
The big brothers liked the Mohawk look.
Mommy is finishing the last of 100+ braids.
A special treat ... at 11:15 p.m. ... great job Rachel.
Special Note: Mommy even accomplished this task with her long acrylic finger nails. Mommy was hoping that she wouldn't have to give up her pretty fingernails in order to be an African Hair Stylist.
One day, when she was in 9th grade, her little brother came to her and asked if she would cut his hair. The mother told him that he had to go to the Barber Shop; but boys had just started going to the Beauty Shops instead. So, the young girl got out a pair of scissors and gave her first haircut. It turned out so well that it wasn't long before her brother's friends were asking for haircuts too.
The young girl finished high school, and headed off to college (just like her mother told her to). But ... she kept cutting hair. Soon, she was giving haircuts to many of the college boys (since they did not want to spend money at a Beauty Salon). She had no idea how much money this experience would save her over the years.
Despite the mother's goal for the little girl to finish college and have a good career, the little girl left college to pursue her own goals ... to be a wife and mommy. Her haircutting skills came in handy, as she not only gave her husband haircuts, but she gave all of the haircuts to all of her kids, as her family grew.
For many years, the mommy gave haircuts ... always learning from her own Hair Stylist how to give the most up-to-date cuts to her kids.
Then ... the mommy brought home some children from Africa. Even the mommy's Hair Stylist didn't know how to do their hair. So, the mommy had to do some studying. She searched the internet for tips, tricks, and information. There is a LOT to learn about African hair.
Today ... the mommy decided that she had studied enough and that it was time to become an African Hair Stylist. It was a very loooooong Hair Day, but Little Rachel was a trooper to sit still for many hours.
Tomorrow ... the mommy will get some more practice, as Sarah is waiting patiently for her turn.
Mommy and Rachel, settling in for a long afternoon and evening.
(We watched 1 movie and listened to the Squanto Story on Radio Theatre and all of Anne of Green Gables on Radio Theatre.)
First task ... sectioning the hair.
We're getting closer to being done. Don't fall asleep Rachel.
The big brothers liked the Mohawk look.
Mommy is finishing the last of 100+ braids.
A special treat ... at 11:15 p.m. ... great job Rachel.
Special Note: Mommy even accomplished this task with her long acrylic finger nails. Mommy was hoping that she wouldn't have to give up her pretty fingernails in order to be an African Hair Stylist.
Tuesday, August 26, 2008
Celebrating Elijah
Today we are celebrating ... Elijah.
Last night was our last summer track meet, and Elijah ROCKED!
He placed 2nd in the 800m (twice around the track), 3rd in the 200m, and he ran a smokin' 8 min. 20 sec. MILE. Yes ... those little legs took him around the track 4 times (after he had already run the other races). Wow!
Here, Elijah is soo... excited to run the 800m.
He finishes the 800m, with Josh running alongside for the last 100m.
Elijah ... ready to run the 200m.
And, the large group of runners, ready for the "Joggers Mile".
Brandon (a friend of Josh') ran the entire mile with Elijah, while Josh ran the mile with Josiah and Rachel (finishing at just over 9 minutes). Brandon and Josh were doing their "warm-up" run, before running the 5K. It was great motivation, for the little ones, though, to have the big guys running along beside. Thanks Josh and Brandon!
Yes, the other kids ran tonight, also.
Rachel ... just finishing her 800m run. (Looks to me like she is bouncing rather than running.)
Rachel ... starting the 200m.
Josiah ... at the start of the 200m.
Last night was our last summer track meet, and Elijah ROCKED!
He placed 2nd in the 800m (twice around the track), 3rd in the 200m, and he ran a smokin' 8 min. 20 sec. MILE. Yes ... those little legs took him around the track 4 times (after he had already run the other races). Wow!
Here, Elijah is soo... excited to run the 800m.
He finishes the 800m, with Josh running alongside for the last 100m.
Elijah ... ready to run the 200m.
And, the large group of runners, ready for the "Joggers Mile".
Brandon (a friend of Josh') ran the entire mile with Elijah, while Josh ran the mile with Josiah and Rachel (finishing at just over 9 minutes). Brandon and Josh were doing their "warm-up" run, before running the 5K. It was great motivation, for the little ones, though, to have the big guys running along beside. Thanks Josh and Brandon!
Yes, the other kids ran tonight, also.
Rachel ... just finishing her 800m run. (Looks to me like she is bouncing rather than running.)
Rachel ... starting the 200m.
Josiah ... at the start of the 200m.
Peace ...
it does not mean to be in a place where there is no noise, trouble or hard work. it means to be in the midst of those things and still be calm in your heart.
Monday, August 25, 2008
A Letter from the Lord
Two years ago, a friend of ours walked in to work one day, and was informed that he must immediately clean out his desk. His job had been terminated. He, however, did not have 4 years' worth of files and piles ... he had 26 years' worth. Yes, after 26 years at his job, Mr. A was given no notice of an impending termination. (The new management wanted to make some changes.)
For 4 months, he looked for work. For 4 months, he and his wife cried out to the Lord. The following is a letter that Mrs. A. wrote ... guided by the Holy Spirit. When she heard about our situation, she decided to share how the Lord had ministered to them.
I have pondered for a time, whether or not to share this. It's such a personal note from the Lord. However, just as it meant the world to me, when Mrs. A. shared it, I believe that it may also help others that are going through similar situations. May you be blessed, by the words that the Holy Spirit spoke to Mrs. A. two years ago ...
This "corner" in your life's path was not a mistake.
I am purposely redirecting you so I can grow you and bless you.
You have been faithful and diligent with all that I have given you.
I just want to take you a step further in your relationship with Me.
Please let Me have My way in your heart and life,
so that I can use you to further My kingdom.
Let Me be your Mirror, let Me tell you what you are worth ...
... not your job or salary.
... not your position in the community.
... not what you can afford to buy or to give materially.
Let Me be your Provider ...
... not a company that has no scruples and doesn't care about people that I love.
Let Me show you how to manage My money wisely ...
... watch Me multiply your loaves and fishes.
Let Me show you how to give and share.
... out of your want instead of your plenty.
and bless you by My measure.
Let Me have full use of the gifts and abilities I have given you ...
... to bless others.
... to glorify My name, not your previous place of employment.
Let Me refine your character even further ...
... give you more humility, more patience, more purpose, more joy.
... keep seeking Me and searching your heart for the sin that separates us.
Give Me your everything ...
... put your full trust in Me.
... and I will give you hope and a future.
Let Me illuminate the sin in your heart ...
... and I will teach you how to humbly walk in righteousness.
Let Me teach you how to really worship ...
... how to empty yourself.
... how to surrender all.
... to see Me as I am.
... and to love Me more than life.
Let Me help you adjust your priorities ...
... to center your days around time with Me, in the Word and prayer.
... to put learning from My Word before all, other learning.
... to make ministry your daily purpose.
... to make Me the center of family life.
Let Me help you teach your children ...
... to walk through adversity and disappointment in integrity and righteousness
... to wisely manage the resources I have given them.
... to trust Me with everything and for everything.
... to pray.
... to love their spouses with abandon.
... to put others before themselves.
... to put Me first in their lives.
... to love My Word and learn from it daily
Let Me show you how to lead your family in ministry ...
... to show My love everywhere you go.
... to see this community with My eyes.
... because it is your mission field.
With more love than you can begin to grasp,
Jesus
Thanks Mrs. A. I need to read this daily. I need to continually hear God's heart for me, His child, and not listen to the lies of the enemy that tell me I am worthless.
For 4 months, he looked for work. For 4 months, he and his wife cried out to the Lord. The following is a letter that Mrs. A. wrote ... guided by the Holy Spirit. When she heard about our situation, she decided to share how the Lord had ministered to them.
I have pondered for a time, whether or not to share this. It's such a personal note from the Lord. However, just as it meant the world to me, when Mrs. A. shared it, I believe that it may also help others that are going through similar situations. May you be blessed, by the words that the Holy Spirit spoke to Mrs. A. two years ago ...
This "corner" in your life's path was not a mistake.
I am purposely redirecting you so I can grow you and bless you.
You have been faithful and diligent with all that I have given you.
I just want to take you a step further in your relationship with Me.
Please let Me have My way in your heart and life,
so that I can use you to further My kingdom.
Let Me be your Mirror, let Me tell you what you are worth ...
... not your job or salary.
... not your position in the community.
... not what you can afford to buy or to give materially.
Let Me be your Provider ...
... not a company that has no scruples and doesn't care about people that I love.
Let Me show you how to manage My money wisely ...
... watch Me multiply your loaves and fishes.
Let Me show you how to give and share.
... out of your want instead of your plenty.
and bless you by My measure.
Let Me have full use of the gifts and abilities I have given you ...
... to bless others.
... to glorify My name, not your previous place of employment.
Let Me refine your character even further ...
... give you more humility, more patience, more purpose, more joy.
... keep seeking Me and searching your heart for the sin that separates us.
Give Me your everything ...
... put your full trust in Me.
... and I will give you hope and a future.
Let Me illuminate the sin in your heart ...
... and I will teach you how to humbly walk in righteousness.
Let Me teach you how to really worship ...
... how to empty yourself.
... how to surrender all.
... to see Me as I am.
... and to love Me more than life.
Let Me help you adjust your priorities ...
... to center your days around time with Me, in the Word and prayer.
... to put learning from My Word before all, other learning.
... to make ministry your daily purpose.
... to make Me the center of family life.
Let Me help you teach your children ...
... to walk through adversity and disappointment in integrity and righteousness
... to wisely manage the resources I have given them.
... to trust Me with everything and for everything.
... to pray.
... to love their spouses with abandon.
... to put others before themselves.
... to put Me first in their lives.
... to love My Word and learn from it daily
Let Me show you how to lead your family in ministry ...
... to show My love everywhere you go.
... to see this community with My eyes.
... because it is your mission field.
With more love than you can begin to grasp,
Jesus
Thanks Mrs. A. I need to read this daily. I need to continually hear God's heart for me, His child, and not listen to the lies of the enemy that tell me I am worthless.
A Tough Week
This past week was a very difficult week for me. I had to clean out my office at work. Four years worth of piles, files, and computer documents ... thrown in the trash. It felt like I was throwing away 4 years of my life.
(If you aren't up on our latest family challenge, you can read my post from August 12th, which tells about the termination of my job.)
Daily, I must remind myself that there are positives, along with the negatives, of this new season of my life. (Not in any particular order of importance.)
The hard parts:
#1 Loss of Finanaces
#2 Loss of Status (It HURTS to get fired!)
#3 Loss of Friends (I really LIKED working with the administrative assistants I had recruited and hired 3 years ago.)
#4 Loss of Friends for my Kids (They all attended the school that I directed.)
#5 Loss of Great Teachers and Classes for my Kids.
The blessings:
#1 More time with my kids.
#2 More time for homeschooling.
#3 Less Stress (Except that Jim will still be teaching at the school, bringing home the school drama.)
#4 More time to pursue my speaking and writing ministry. (Which I am VERY excited about!)
#5 More time to blog. (smile!)
Last week was a tough one. But ... I so want this week to be the beginning of the rest of my life. However ... my emotions are still on a rollercoaster. One of the things that makes this even more difficult is that "my" office was right across the street from our house. It was great, while it lasted. Now, however, I see my administrative assistant's cars whenever I just glance out the window. I haven't met my replacement yet, but I'm sure it won't be long before I see him walking into the office. Not fun!
So, prayers would be appreciated, as we continue to navigate the tough stuff, and look for the blessings in the midst of the trials.
(If you aren't up on our latest family challenge, you can read my post from August 12th, which tells about the termination of my job.)
Daily, I must remind myself that there are positives, along with the negatives, of this new season of my life. (Not in any particular order of importance.)
The hard parts:
#1 Loss of Finanaces
#2 Loss of Status (It HURTS to get fired!)
#3 Loss of Friends (I really LIKED working with the administrative assistants I had recruited and hired 3 years ago.)
#4 Loss of Friends for my Kids (They all attended the school that I directed.)
#5 Loss of Great Teachers and Classes for my Kids.
The blessings:
#1 More time with my kids.
#2 More time for homeschooling.
#3 Less Stress (Except that Jim will still be teaching at the school, bringing home the school drama.)
#4 More time to pursue my speaking and writing ministry. (Which I am VERY excited about!)
#5 More time to blog. (smile!)
Last week was a tough one. But ... I so want this week to be the beginning of the rest of my life. However ... my emotions are still on a rollercoaster. One of the things that makes this even more difficult is that "my" office was right across the street from our house. It was great, while it lasted. Now, however, I see my administrative assistant's cars whenever I just glance out the window. I haven't met my replacement yet, but I'm sure it won't be long before I see him walking into the office. Not fun!
So, prayers would be appreciated, as we continue to navigate the tough stuff, and look for the blessings in the midst of the trials.
Equal Attention
As the mother of 13 children, I fully understand that it is absolutely impossible to give each child equal attention. For that matter, what is equal attention ... the same amount of time for each child? ... the same amount of focused eye contact? ... the same amount of hugs? ... Maybe it isn't "the same amount" of anything. Is it giving each child the amount of attention that they each need at that moment, on that day? Sometimes, even that is impossible.
Today, however, I don't want to talk about the amount of attention that I, as the mother, can or cannot give to each child. I want to address a concern that I have about the people outside of our family, and the attention that they do or do not give to each of my children.
If my 3 African children were ignored by the people of our church, while my white children were welcomed ... I would be angry ... I would call it racism ... I would stand up for my African children ... and, I would find a new church.
However ... that is not the case. My 3 African children have been warmly welcomed at our church. Not only have our friends embraced them fully, but others in the church have embraced them as well. I am glad that they have been welcomed. We live in a town dominated by a strong Dutch community. Many people were afraid of the racism that our children might encounter.
(They haven't yet ... but they may encounter it in the future. We are well aware that racism is alive and well in our corner of the country.)
The problem is that my African children have been warmly embraced by strangers, who haven't even noticed that their white brothers or sisters are standing at their side. People that we have attended church with for 7 years without ever needing to know the name of one of our children, have now learned the names of our 3 new children, and enthusiastically greet them each and every week. These same people have still not learned the name of even one of our other children. Every week, I walk into church surrounded by 5 little children (3 black and 2 white). The black children are given hugs and high-fives, while the white children are generally ignored.
Last month, a new couple started attending our church. The wife immediately introduced herself to my 3 African children, and approached me after the service to tell me that she had "met (my) children". Yet, she did not introduce herself to me, or care to meet the other children that were standing right by my side. I smiled politely, not knowing how to respond. The next week, she just greeted her new "African friends".
A staff person, who has been an acquaintance for about 4 years, has become "best buddies" with Jacob. This staff person rarely even says "hello" to me or Jim (which is fine, as we don't need to be greeted by every staff member every week), but Jacob gets a very loud and direct greeting every week, while his brothers and sisters sit right next to him, unnoticed.
As soon as our children arrived from Ghana, a middle age couple started talking to me after church every week. (I had never seen them before.) The first week, the wife offered horseback riding lessons to Rachel and Sarah (but not to Hosanna or my boys?). A few weeks later, they arrived at church carrying a big basket, full of presents for Jacob, Sarah, and Rachel: beautiful porcelain dolls for Rachel and Sarah and professional quality art supplies for Jacob. Yes, many of our friends bought shower gifts for the children, before they came home. And, one or two friends gave them small gifts after their arrival. But, these people are not friends. I don't even know their names. Yet, they bought extravagant gifts for our African children, but have never even introduced themselves to our other children. I just don't understand.
Yes, I am glad that our African children have been welcomed. But, I am very concerned about the impact this type of reverse-racism is having/will have on our other children. With 2 sets of Virtual Twins, it is impossible for the 2 little white boys to not notice the unequal amounts of attention that are given to their new black sisters.
What should I do? How should I respond? I just want to shout ...
"People ... keep loving our kids, but PLEASE acknowledge both the African children and the white ones, too."
"I know the little girls are "sooo.... cute", but Elijah's little toothless grin is quite charming too, if you'll only take a moment to notice."
I understand that, because of the color of their skin, the African children are noticed in our town. However, after 6 months, I would think that we could walk into church without becoming the center of attention. Again, we appreciate the hugs and the high-fives; I just don't understand how/why they are only given to a select few of my children.
Note: ALL of our friends have FULLY embraced each and every one of our children. We have not seen ANY unequal attention given to either the bio. children or the new children. THANK YOU friends! You do not need to read this and worry whether or not I am talking about you.
Today, however, I don't want to talk about the amount of attention that I, as the mother, can or cannot give to each child. I want to address a concern that I have about the people outside of our family, and the attention that they do or do not give to each of my children.
If my 3 African children were ignored by the people of our church, while my white children were welcomed ... I would be angry ... I would call it racism ... I would stand up for my African children ... and, I would find a new church.
However ... that is not the case. My 3 African children have been warmly welcomed at our church. Not only have our friends embraced them fully, but others in the church have embraced them as well. I am glad that they have been welcomed. We live in a town dominated by a strong Dutch community. Many people were afraid of the racism that our children might encounter.
(They haven't yet ... but they may encounter it in the future. We are well aware that racism is alive and well in our corner of the country.)
The problem is that my African children have been warmly embraced by strangers, who haven't even noticed that their white brothers or sisters are standing at their side. People that we have attended church with for 7 years without ever needing to know the name of one of our children, have now learned the names of our 3 new children, and enthusiastically greet them each and every week. These same people have still not learned the name of even one of our other children. Every week, I walk into church surrounded by 5 little children (3 black and 2 white). The black children are given hugs and high-fives, while the white children are generally ignored.
Last month, a new couple started attending our church. The wife immediately introduced herself to my 3 African children, and approached me after the service to tell me that she had "met (my) children". Yet, she did not introduce herself to me, or care to meet the other children that were standing right by my side. I smiled politely, not knowing how to respond. The next week, she just greeted her new "African friends".
A staff person, who has been an acquaintance for about 4 years, has become "best buddies" with Jacob. This staff person rarely even says "hello" to me or Jim (which is fine, as we don't need to be greeted by every staff member every week), but Jacob gets a very loud and direct greeting every week, while his brothers and sisters sit right next to him, unnoticed.
As soon as our children arrived from Ghana, a middle age couple started talking to me after church every week. (I had never seen them before.) The first week, the wife offered horseback riding lessons to Rachel and Sarah (but not to Hosanna or my boys?). A few weeks later, they arrived at church carrying a big basket, full of presents for Jacob, Sarah, and Rachel: beautiful porcelain dolls for Rachel and Sarah and professional quality art supplies for Jacob. Yes, many of our friends bought shower gifts for the children, before they came home. And, one or two friends gave them small gifts after their arrival. But, these people are not friends. I don't even know their names. Yet, they bought extravagant gifts for our African children, but have never even introduced themselves to our other children. I just don't understand.
Yes, I am glad that our African children have been welcomed. But, I am very concerned about the impact this type of reverse-racism is having/will have on our other children. With 2 sets of Virtual Twins, it is impossible for the 2 little white boys to not notice the unequal amounts of attention that are given to their new black sisters.
What should I do? How should I respond? I just want to shout ...
"People ... keep loving our kids, but PLEASE acknowledge both the African children and the white ones, too."
"I know the little girls are "sooo.... cute", but Elijah's little toothless grin is quite charming too, if you'll only take a moment to notice."
I understand that, because of the color of their skin, the African children are noticed in our town. However, after 6 months, I would think that we could walk into church without becoming the center of attention. Again, we appreciate the hugs and the high-fives; I just don't understand how/why they are only given to a select few of my children.
Note: ALL of our friends have FULLY embraced each and every one of our children. We have not seen ANY unequal attention given to either the bio. children or the new children. THANK YOU friends! You do not need to read this and worry whether or not I am talking about you.
Saturday, August 23, 2008
Coeur d'Alene Lake in Idaho
Twenty-seven years ago, I went to the C's cabin for the very first time. I was looking forward to a fun day at the lake with friends ... but had no idea that it would be a day that would change my life forever.
4th of July ... 1981 ... on my 3rd date with Jim ... 19 years old, and hardly a care in the world ...
The Lord spoke to both of us that night, as we were sitting by the campfire, watching fireworks across the bay. We knew that we would be spending the rest of our lives together. What we didn't yet know, was the impact that Mr. & Mrs. C would have on our life together.
Jim moved in with Mr. & Mrs. C that summer, and they gave him a Godly example of what a whole and healthy marriage could be. (Jim's parents had divorced when he was 2.) Jim also started working for Mr. C, at his neighborhood grocery store. Jim was the grocery delivery boy.
A year later, after we married, I began work with Mrs. C. ... Mr. & Mrs. C spent the next two years as our daily mentors ... leading us by example, guiding us in God's Word, and praying with us and for us.
When we moved 300 miles away, they invited us to spend a week with them at their cabin, in the summer. Every year, we would hold our breath in anticipation, waiting for the invitation. As our family grew, we didn't know if the invites would continue. But, in the past 27 years, I think we have only missed 4 summers at the lake. Wow!
Thanks Mr. & Mrs. C ... for loving us, and for loving all of our children. We thank the Lord for your blessed friendship!
Mr. & Mrs. C are the ones that we drove 850 miles in one day, in June, to attend their 80-60-80 party, celebrating their 60th anniversary and both of their 80th birthdays.
Here is our week in review ... in pics ...
(I always feel a bit bad putting so many pics on the blog. But, even when I try to find just one of each person ... they add up. I hope you enjoy them.)
Papa still likes to ski.
Gregg tried out the wake board that Cassie borrowed from a friend.
Cassie learned to wake board this summer.
Josh loves just about anything that can be pulled behind a boat.
One year, the kids rode behind the boat on an old laminated kitchen counter top.
Jacob learned to dive.
Sarah and Hosanna enjoyed tubing.
Josiah ... the boat driver.
Rachel ... looking cute in her new monkey pajamas.
Elijah likes the old surf board.
Elijah got to try skiing for the first time. Woohoo!
(Sarah tried, with Papa, too.)
All of the kids love to play on the old windsurfer board.
Rachel and Elijah are working on their balancing skills.
Hosanna enjoys the sun, while Jacob practices paddling.
Tubing was definitely the activity of choice this year.
Cassie was only holding on with one hand at one point.
Sarah and Jacob were laughing hysterically.
Josh got the most time on the water, as he was always the first to offer to ride with the younger kids. What a nice big brother!
Way to hold on, Josh and Jacob. Papa loves to drive the boat for these types of rides.
We always like to help with a few projects while we are at the lake.
This year, Jim painted the front of the cabin, and the kids helped roll this log up onto the beach.
Sorry ... not many pics of Mama and Ben this year, as we were always behind our cameras. Just this summer, Ben bought his own Nikon D80. So, some of the above pics were taken by Mama, and some by Ben. We have a little friendly competition now, with big sister Cassie, as to who can get the best shots. Cassie and I both have the Nikon D70 ... so Ben's new camera is the newer (and, in his opinion, better, of course) version. Ben's lenses are better for the boat movement, but Mama's camera has a better telephoto, getting the closer shots for facial expression.
4th of July ... 1981 ... on my 3rd date with Jim ... 19 years old, and hardly a care in the world ...
The Lord spoke to both of us that night, as we were sitting by the campfire, watching fireworks across the bay. We knew that we would be spending the rest of our lives together. What we didn't yet know, was the impact that Mr. & Mrs. C would have on our life together.
Jim moved in with Mr. & Mrs. C that summer, and they gave him a Godly example of what a whole and healthy marriage could be. (Jim's parents had divorced when he was 2.) Jim also started working for Mr. C, at his neighborhood grocery store. Jim was the grocery delivery boy.
A year later, after we married, I began work with Mrs. C. ... Mr. & Mrs. C spent the next two years as our daily mentors ... leading us by example, guiding us in God's Word, and praying with us and for us.
When we moved 300 miles away, they invited us to spend a week with them at their cabin, in the summer. Every year, we would hold our breath in anticipation, waiting for the invitation. As our family grew, we didn't know if the invites would continue. But, in the past 27 years, I think we have only missed 4 summers at the lake. Wow!
Thanks Mr. & Mrs. C ... for loving us, and for loving all of our children. We thank the Lord for your blessed friendship!
Mr. & Mrs. C are the ones that we drove 850 miles in one day, in June, to attend their 80-60-80 party, celebrating their 60th anniversary and both of their 80th birthdays.
Here is our week in review ... in pics ...
(I always feel a bit bad putting so many pics on the blog. But, even when I try to find just one of each person ... they add up. I hope you enjoy them.)
Papa still likes to ski.
Gregg tried out the wake board that Cassie borrowed from a friend.
Cassie learned to wake board this summer.
Josh loves just about anything that can be pulled behind a boat.
One year, the kids rode behind the boat on an old laminated kitchen counter top.
Jacob learned to dive.
Sarah and Hosanna enjoyed tubing.
Josiah ... the boat driver.
Rachel ... looking cute in her new monkey pajamas.
Elijah likes the old surf board.
Elijah got to try skiing for the first time. Woohoo!
(Sarah tried, with Papa, too.)
All of the kids love to play on the old windsurfer board.
Rachel and Elijah are working on their balancing skills.
Hosanna enjoys the sun, while Jacob practices paddling.
Tubing was definitely the activity of choice this year.
Cassie was only holding on with one hand at one point.
Sarah and Jacob were laughing hysterically.
Josh got the most time on the water, as he was always the first to offer to ride with the younger kids. What a nice big brother!
Way to hold on, Josh and Jacob. Papa loves to drive the boat for these types of rides.
We always like to help with a few projects while we are at the lake.
This year, Jim painted the front of the cabin, and the kids helped roll this log up onto the beach.
Sorry ... not many pics of Mama and Ben this year, as we were always behind our cameras. Just this summer, Ben bought his own Nikon D80. So, some of the above pics were taken by Mama, and some by Ben. We have a little friendly competition now, with big sister Cassie, as to who can get the best shots. Cassie and I both have the Nikon D70 ... so Ben's new camera is the newer (and, in his opinion, better, of course) version. Ben's lenses are better for the boat movement, but Mama's camera has a better telephoto, getting the closer shots for facial expression.
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