Doodles for Peace

Finally, my brothers and sisters,

whatever is true, whatever is right, whatever is noble,

whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable --

whatever is is excellent or worthy of praise,

think on these things.

And the peace of God will be with you.

Philippians 4:8-9

I'd forgotten about the calming power of the pencil crayon doodle combo.  

We are colouring together, the children and I, a little bit after school, after all the homework is done.  Some are on the porch with a puzzle, and others are batting around the Canadian balloons we found in one of the bins.  But several of us have settled into a quiet way of being together, just doodling and colouring.

 

Just on my own, without any indication to the children whatsoever, I experimented with a word doodle connecting the letters with hearts by a series of parallel lines, some straight some wavy, and all for fun.  I'm not even paying that much attention, to be honest, until I glance over at Jua beside me and realize he is using my doodle as a pattern.  Tharit too.

But each with their own flair, their own chosen medium.  Because markers are cool too.

I say nothing, but realize that I am feeling inexplicably amused and pleased about this.  Can't help smiling on their interest and concentration and imitation.  We keep doodling, Jua and Tharit and I.  Across the table Beemai is creating something that will later demonstrate a big step in her own creative expression.  So much colour!

I am aware of the puzzle-makers' voices just outside, as they negotiate who is doing the edge pieces.  And of the dogs barking, and of the sounds of birds I couldn't name.  And the fan, because the room is warm, but not too much so.  All is quiet otherwise.  

I am fully in this moment.

Unexpectedly, I am singing a lullaby I sang over my own children and grandchildren. 

"Today while the blossoms still cling to the vine, 

I'll taste your strawberries and drink your sweet wine.  

A million tomorrows will all pass away, 

'ere I forget all the joy that is mine....

today."

(New Christy Minstrels, 1964)

I actually don't finish the song, because I choke up just a bit with emotion I didn't expect to be quite so close to the surface.  Because...how long has it been since my spirit rested in this much in-the-moment contentment?  And because...how true it is that strawberries and wine are sweet only in passing, and we absolutely must taste the goodness of the right-here-right-now any time it offers itself to us.

There is trouble all around the world today.  I know this because the internet reaches us even here.  But right now, right here, in this moment, all is well.  All is true and right and pure and noble and lovely and admirable, and excellent and praiseworthy.  And I choose to think on these things, and be in these things.

And the God of peace is with us.  I can smell it.

When You've Lost a Tooth and You're Reworking Your Smile

This is Micah.

One of the smiliest boys you'll ever meet.

But right now he's got a little problem.

He's just lost an upper front tooth.

And it feels weird.

He's not sure how to work his smile anymore.

He's trying though,

and that's what counts.

I'm hoping to catch a more candid shot when he's not looking, and not trying so hard.  

Fun fact:  In Thailand when children lose a tooth, they don't put it under their pillow.  Ew.  And who ever heard of a Tooth Fairy anyways?  No, what you do when you lose a tooth is you take it and throw it up on the roof.  For luck.  Sounds ridiculous...until you remember the Tooth Fairy.

These are the delightful, normal, mundane things of life with growing children that are truly splendiferous to report.  These children come to us with anything but 'normal' stories, whatever 'normal' is in our own minds.  That Micah can be here to receive proper dental care, among all the other benefits, is amazing in and of itself. 

And then, personally, that I can be here to congratulate him and ask to take his picture, is just a strong and simple gift to my heart.

And it's not even the highlight of my visit so far.  That happened when I, on purpose, didn't take my camera down to the truck on my first morning here.  I had gotten in very late the night before, long after the children were in bed.  And I had slept through, also on purpose, morning worship to help adjust to the jet lag a little.  So I hadn't seen any of the children yet.

As I came around the corner, it was Jua who saw me first.  He gave a little Jua-like start of surprise (if you know him, it's kind of his signature move) and called out my name.  Then he started running, but not before he alerted the other kids that I was there.  That started one of those wonderful mini stampedes of wide-open-arms running hugs.  The best way to be swarmed.  

I didn't take my phone/camera, which I'm usually prone to have with me everywhere, just to be able to catch the photo so I can send all this goodness back home to all of you.  But there's also something very good just to be present in the moment.  Especially moments that involve enthusiastic greetings from children who know they are loved.

I am grateful, so grateful, for an uneventful trip here.

Jet lag is minimal, and I'm attributing that to being exhausted I before I left.  It seems to have sorted itself out in a lovely way by the required first days of rest and recovery.

Feeling good, with an appetite even, which is unusual for the first few days.

Already feeling productive in what I've been able to do in the quiet of this place once the kids have gone to school.

Weather is splendid.  Not too hot yet.  Great for sleeping with the windows open, which is my favourite way to sleep.

All in all, a fabulous first few days.

Now, if I can just catch Micah in one of his famous, wide mouth smiles.  

 

Preboarding Rambles

 

Happy to report that so far everything here at Pearson is running ticketyboo! Good weather too! This is a relief after all the hooha last week.

Flying Korean Air this time, and did a full online boarding pass this time, my first time. Still required a check in at a self-serve kiosk, but it spits out your baggage tickets, and then you head over to have things weighed.

I was able to reactivate my Morning Calm frequent flyer membership (it's been a while) and got through the short line. And I got a special blue tag on my bags, which means it should all come off first in Chiang Mai. Also, I'll be able to board with all the people traveling first class....not sitting there though, but that's okay.

What a happy frenzy these past several weeks have been, with the big snow storm factoring in to last Sunday's panel about our last trip in November, catching the advance poles to vote (please everyone do!), the Haiti Dinner and Auction on Saturday, preaching on Sunday, and an early morning departure from Kitchener this morning.

Right about now, having to sit for most of the next 14 hours (first flight) doesn't sound too bad at all.

In case you don't know, I'm heading for three weeks on a solo trip to Hot Springs (Thailand) for some visioning, longer range planning, children's room upgrades, and a little side trip up to Chiang Rai to reward our amazing home parents.

Thank you for all the extra love and support, especially from but not restricted to the Sponsors of our children. I'll make sure to send pictures of our end of school party, and any and all of the cuteness and mischief I can capture.

And to my amazing husband. Thanks for the drive to the airport this morning. Hope you don't rattle around too much in all our 625 square feet all by yourself while I'm gone :). Miss you already.

A Friyay for Canada!

 

I'm not a faithful enough hockey fan to climb on this wagon right now. But if there's room for anything these days, it's a little Canadian patriotism. So I'll jump on and ride this for a bit.

Way to go Canadian Team! Feels like we all needed this right about now. Uplifts politic-weary spirits on this wintry Friday morning. And the symbolism in these rhetoric-laden days is not lost on us.

And also.

Sports rivalries being what they are, there is an added layer to this game in this historical moment that bodes us be wary. We caution ourselves not to entrench ourselves in adversarial ways of thinking that begin to manifest in petty behaviours and hardened hearts both.

Can I just say, I am not in favour of anyone's national anthem being booed by anyone for any reason. If I'm not mistaken (open to being corrected here) in this particular series of games, we started it. I feel the temptation myself, if I'm honest. But...my Canadian friends, we can do better than this.

God keep our land gloriously free of hatred, even as we stand steadfast to advocate for what it means to be Canadian. And even as I utter this prayer, I know that He turns it back to me, to us, and gives us the mandate and the tenacity to choose to love instead.

And to my Christian friends on both sides of this magnificent border, can I just say:

We are in this together. We are the Church together. We are in a unique position to hold on to grace, and stay fiercely committed to showing who we are by how we love one another.

At least, that's what Jesus said.
"By this everyone will know that your are My disciples, if you love one another." John 13:35

So let's cheer for our Team, advocate for our political rights, take action where and when we are called to do so. And as we are protecting all that we hold dear, let's include protecting our own hearts from anything that would turn us into who we don't want to be.

I don't know. Maybe you're all good on this.
I just know what can so easily happen inside my own soul.
Especially these days.

Now...I only wish I had a hockey jersey I could wear today! :)

Already Yes

Let's play a game.

It's called "Find the Thai Bible."

I'll give you a hint I wish I had when I started this game myself.

It's on the bookcase pictured.

For context, I'll say two things.

First is about timing.

I've been searching for my Thai Bible since January 8th or so.

That's when Ken and I moved over from staying in our son's home to setting up here, in our brand new little house.  One of my first priorities was to see just how many books I could fit on the shelves that were assigned to the space that constitutes my office.  I was so curious to see how this would work.  So books were the first thing I sorted and put away.  Boxes and boxes of them, most of which were packed up last June.  But also, the books I had with me when I got back from Thailand last November, my Thai Bible among them.  In other words, I knew for sure the Bible was on the premises.  

In the last three weeks, the search has intensified.  That's when I've been working on Thai language prep for teaching Bible stories and preaching sermons while I'm there.  I can get what I need online, true.  But for anyone who knows, you know how it is with a well-used, well-loved Bible; how it feels in your hand, and how it's just easier to find the places you need to get to.  Plus, this Bible has important significance (that I'll hint at later).  I really wanted to find my Thai Bible.

The second thing is about proximity.

The pictured shelf is to my immediate right as I sit at my desk.  There's my light, then the printer, then the books.  Right there.  The whole time.

My Thai Bible was within my visual range the entire time I was looking for it.

See it?

I'll give a better clue.  A closer shot.

Here.

 

Now do you see it?

I'll give another hint.

It has a grey duct tape spine.

Yup.  That thicker one to the right of the candle.

Okay...more context needed here.

This is the Bible I wrote about in a previous post way back in the spring.  You can read about it here.  The Bible is, in a very real way, part of the inspiration that led us to this move in the first place.  The story behind it is that Yupa helped me prolong the life of this particular Bible by providing me with the duct tape needed to keep it together.  

Thing is, I knew that.  While I've been looking for my Thai Bible, I knew it should have a grey duct-taped spine.  It should have been obvious.  Also obvious is the fact that all the other books on the shelf are language books.  Not Thai, but still.  A perfectly logical place for me to put my Thai Bible until I would need it to prepare for the next trip.

In retrospect I should have made a little note for myself on my calendar.  I do that sometimes.  "Thai Bible is on top shelf of unit immediately to right of desk."  It would have helped.  Although it's entirely likely that, when I put it where I put it, I thought to myself, 'It will be right in plain sight if I leave it here.'

So, a really loud yay for finding my Thai Bible!  Made my day, to be honest.

And I can't wait to tell my friends on our Prayer Team at Highview later this morning, because two weeks ago, just as a small personal aside, I asked them to pray that I would find it.  In fact, when they did one friend suggested that we would 'look forward to laughing at the silly place it would be found.'  Ha!

I wonder how many other answers to prayer are like this?  The yes answer has already been given.  It's right there in plain sight.  We're just not tuned in enough to see it.  Or it's arrived all covered in very ordinary looking duct tape and we can't tell it's what we've been waiting for.  And maybe our prayer now should be, "Lord, open my eyes to see Your intimate involvement, Your very real presence here."

I will lay that down lightly now.  Not sure how far I can or should go with this.  Just some fleeting thoughts as I sit here feeling a little foolish and a lot grateful.  

Going into Wednesday with eyes wide open.

Praying the same for you.

Contrasts

Psalm 113:3

From the rising of the sun

to the place where it sets,

the name of the Lord is to be praised.

Quick before it's gone again.

Some sunshine!
Happy welcome to the day.

Don't let it fool you. It's crazy cold out there, and will be for the next run of days.

Can't help but be amused in my morning routines, as I lather on the moisturizer and layer on the sweaters, how differently-temperatured I will be next week at this time. By then it will be more like powder and flip flops. My weather ap for Chiang Mai shows sunshine and highs of 33 with lows of 19. Sounds great for sleeping with the windows open, and a sunrise walk on the property.

Meanwhile, I am in the prioritizing and packing phase of trip preparation. Making sure I have everything I might need downloaded on to my computer and Kindle for work and reading on the plane. Checking off what I can, deferring items to the 'when I get back' list, and making sure I have everything I need for the work waiting for me there. And the beloveds waiting for me there.

Yesterday was surprisingly productive in all of the work categories. I'm glad that a three day snow storm, while disruptive on a few other levels, did not interfere too much with what still needs to be done.

And I'm glad for a glimpse of the sun, and the wonder of winter, and the very lovely human beings I get to do life with.

Tuesday it is!
Let's see what this day brings!

Snow Day on a Sunday

TODAY'S CHANGE IN PLANS

Highview Community Church on line service only.

Starts at 10:30 a.m.

hcckw.ca

Two Minute Tour Open House canceled for today.

Hoping for tomorrow

Monday, February 17 from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Stay tuned for confirmation.

Found the vehicles!!!!....barely!!
And it's still coming down.

We're taking the incremental approach to our snow shoveling around here. If you go out and clear it every couple of hours, it doesn't get unmanageable. At least, that's the theory. Right now, though, it's coming down so fast that by the time you finish one end of the driveway the place where you started needs it again.

We've come inside, shaken ourselves off, and now getting ready for the rest of the morning.

Being out there confirms the wisdom of Highview's decision to move our Sunday morning service on line. While it's disappointing not to be in person to share our stories from last November's trip, which is the theme of the morning, it's definitely a day to stay safe at home.

If you'd like to join, head to hcckw.ca, scroll down just a little on the home page until you see Google Meet in blue. The techno fun begins a 10:30.

And on the theme of staying home and staying safe. We will also NOT be open for our Open House this afternoon as previously planned. We want our friends to hunker down in the blizzard.
There's always tomorrow. We'll see how it goes.