My Little Reader

This evening we were browsing the local book stall while we waited for the key-maker man to come back to his key-making stall and make us some keys.



My boy is right at home lookin' at books.

I Walk the Line (Guest Post by Pam)

This is my first guest post ever! Pam is a friend who lives in the same city as I. She is also a (published!) writer and is able to put thoughts and experiences into words in way that strike such a chord with me. She often leaves me laughing hysterically thinking "ha!! That is so funny... that [enter any number of awkward cultural observations here] is so true!! Glad I'm not the only one..." or nodding my head and thinking "Yeah... I get it. I'm there. I just didn't know how to express it". I have trouble putting some aspects of this unique lifestyle into words, but Pam does it so well.

This is the case with the following post written in the midst of some political and economic insecurity (which is actually kind of the norm around here).

---

You'll have opportunity to hum the tune at the end of this note, but please give me a few moments to explain how "I Walk the Line" here in this life overseas. I realize that in many ways I have the same responsibilities here in [this country] that I did in the US. Dishes, laundry, groceries, errands are all still a part of my day (which reinforces my very high-brow philosophy of "wherever you go, there you are").

Still as I'm going through my normal day I also have thoughts such as,

"I wonder if I have enough pages in my passport..."
"If they demonstrate today, will that affect school attendance?"
"Will a full tank of fuel be enough to get us to a neighboring border?"
"I wonder why all those policemen are congregating near the airport today."
"Does the banning of imports include Diet Coke and brown sugar?"

Somehow my day still progresses into a form of routine, but it is wearing. I recently asked a couple friends who've lived this life for a while, "So when do I stop feeling so tired all the time?" They smiled and said, "You don't."

At least I know I'm not sporting some odd medical condition, nor do I consider any longer getting brochures for a retirement center in my home town. (Sometimes it's necessary to go to bed at 8:30 pm.) It's just part of living here. Learning the rhythm, pace and even pressurized living conditions are part of walking the line between effectiveness and total implosion.

Granted, I very much hope to lean toward the first rather than the latter, but there are days... Yet in those moments I can honestly say that God has spoken to me in clear, poignant whispers:

"I am with you."
"You can trust me."
"I hear your prayer."
"I am developing your character."
"I love you, daughter."

Yes, I walk the line; a line of utter, boring normalcy and unpredictable, government-shaking anomalies. However, I think Johnny Cash sums it up best so I'll let his lyrics speak for me.


I Walk the Line by Johnny Cash

I keep a close watch on this heart of mine
I keep my eyes wide open all the time.
I keep the ends out for the tie that binds
because you're mine,
I walk the line

I find it very, very easy to be true
I find myself alone when each day is through
Yes, I'll admit I'm a fool for you
Because you're mine,
I walk the line

As sure as night is dark and day is light
I keep you on my mind both day and night
And happiness I've known proves that it's right
Because you're mine,
I walk the line

You've got a way to keep me on your side
You give me cause for love that I can't hide
For you I know I'd even try to turn the tide
Because you're mine,
I walk the line

Love, in Photographs

(for the man I love)



(and the boy I love)



(love breakfast in the big bed)



(juice in a lovely tea cup)



(love the big bed, in general)



(perfectly packaged gifts with love)



(love little directions)



(love her sweet moments of play)



(simple craft love)



(felt kit sent by Grammi, with love)



(cute love monkeys)



(silly love lenses)



(heartfelt love gifts given)



(heart shaped gifts received that are lovely in my tummy.)



(tree o' love)



(handmade ornament o' love number 1)



(handmade ornament o' love number 2)



(handmade ornament o' love number 3)



(strawberry shortcake with my love)



(plant from my love)



(love. love. love)



(lllllllove.)


Can you tell? I love this day!

And I love him and him and her...

And I love making the day special.

And I love you too.

Happy Valentines Day.

Nutella

I saw this ad in a magazine awhile back.



Mmmmm. Nutella.

I remember when I first learned of Nutella's existence here on planet Earth. (I'm naturally assuming here that it's been pantry staple in heaven since the beginning of all time... where all things are delicious and wholesome (?), right?).

Whatever.

It was 1999 and we had just welcomed our dear German exchange student Bini into our home.

And she introduced us to Nutella.

That is one of the reasons why I love her.

And for your information she was much more of an insta-sister than she was an exchange student.

:)

Aaaaaanway... the ad.



There were lots of words on this ad. First of all I think it's funny that they think I'll want to serve Nutella.

They're wrong.

If we happen to have it in our house (which is about 5% of the time), my tendency is to want to hoard it in the back of the fridge and eat it when no one else is looking.

Serving it would mean more for others and less for me. And that would be just plain crazy.

;)

Okay, okay... I could possibly see serving it for a special meal. But serving it daily to my children who wouldn't know how to fully appreciate it?

Pshaw.



And my other favorite part is when they mention 'a hint of cocoa'.

Wait. A HINT?

They're kidding, right?

Baaaahahahahahaha!

Remembering Grandpa Bud

This morning, half-way around the world, a memorial service was held for Grandpa. Our hearts were there with our dear family. My husband wrote this to be read during that service...

Growing up close to Grandpa, I often had the privilege of being his companion and helper. In my elementary years, I'm sure I slowed the work down more than actually being a helper, but he never let on to that fact. By middle school and high school, I may have started to lend something to the partnership, although he would remain the brains behind the operation. Together we managed jobs like hanging awnings, cleaning gutters, running cables and trimming trees. I can't recall him ever becoming frustrated or annoyed through the many years and many jobs. If something didn't work the first time, we would just get back in the little station wagon for another trip to the hardware store until we found something that would work. He always seemed to walk through the pleasures and the challenges of life with a joy and peace that I truly appreciate now.

He was a story-teller. My favorite one was about the time he spent working in a factory making metal coils. He worked at a station and had a quota of how many coils he had to complete each hour. If he made his quota before the hour finished he could sit for a a few minutes to rest. During these breaks he noticed two marks in the wooden floorboards at the station. The man who did this job before him had spent so many years standing in one spot making coils, he had actually worn groves in the floor where he had stood. Grandpa said he decided he didn't want to spend his life making those groves deeper. He began to look for other options which would eventually lead him to Delaware.

You learn a lot about a person and from a person by simply walking through life with them. From Grandpa I learned the importance of sometimes choosing the unknown path over the well-trodden path. But perhaps more importantly, I learned about walking down the path with a grace, peace and joy that is not easily shaken by circumstance.

Farewell, For Now...

Today Mike's dear Grandpa passed from this life to the next.

We'll see him in Glory.

Hallelujah.



(taken in November)

National Bagel Day

Did you know that today is National Bagel Day in the U.S.? It is!!

Do you care?

Me neither!

Except that it's just an excuse to try something new and do something different.

Yesterday I...



formed,



boiled



and baked!

And today it's bagels for breakfast, lunch and dinner.



Breakfast - Bagel with cow cheese



Lunch - Bagel with melted cheddar



Dinner - Bagel pizzas!

It's probably a good thing that National Bagel Day only comes once per year...