Summer is here and not much is getting done. I have 1 week left before vacation and I am having a tough time getting work done in the office. The office virtually empties out and everyone who is left basically wants to talk and enjoy the slower pace. Ahhhh but I have work to do!
Hopefully I can get most of my concrete work done before we leave and then I can do thinking work whilst traveling. I have ordered a few new books for the trip, lovin my kindle and the fact that I can carry and read multiple books at one time. On my to finish list 1) How The Irish Saved Civilization 2)Memoir of a Reluctant Celibate 3) The Happiness Project 4) Nixonland
If and when that task is accomplished I will move onto Resident Aliens by Stanley Haurwas and Practice Resurrection by Eugene Peterson. Looking forward to quality beach time, Caleb time, God time and of course good food and friends!
Thinking about and thankful for my little man Macon who was freed from the bondage of failing flesh 8 years ago today. No tears just a longing to see his sweet face and hear the sound of his voice again.
Wednesday, June 22, 2011
Thursday, June 16, 2011
Lunar Eclipse and Farewells
Last night I enjoyed a great evening chatting on a friend's roof for a couple of hours watching an amazing lunar eclipse. We let the kids stay up to have a glimpse of a rare event but not sure they really grasped what they were seeing. Made me think about the night back in (circa) 1970 when we had a small gathering over to watch the landing on the moon, still remember laying in front of the tv on plush white carpet watching history being made. This wasn't quite that powerful but cool none the less.
Today was our staff farewell
for Dave and Julie Kuntzman 2 short but powerful years of ministry in our midst, they will be sorely missed.If you want a chuckle here is a link to an out take from a music video I made for our farewell event. You should be able to see the whole video if you live in the US it is listed off to the side. As you watch it just remember its a joke I am not attempting to be serious!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vvDJaQk6Ku4
Thursday, June 9, 2011
Pajama and Crazy Hair Day
Yes today was the start of trying to teach my child to loosen up and laugh at himself. It is crazy hair day/pajama day at school and we have been talking about it all week; how fun it is going to be to wear our pj's to school and do something fun with his very fun head of hair. OK maybe I was more excited about it than he was but he certainly indicated he was up for it. And then the day came! So we got up this morning showered and began the process of TRYING to straighten his hair. Straighten, I have concluded, is not possible but creating a VERY LARGE poof is! And crazy it was, but half way into it he panicked. "Everyone is going to laugh at me!" He cried. To which I said "yes, that's the point. Its fun to be funny and silly sometimes, you guys will all laugh at each other." In the end he had really crazy hair because he wouldn't let me finish the other side, so only half his head was fully fluffed.
I had to go in and read a story to his class so I decided to demonstrate being funny and laughing at oneself. Since I can't do much of anything with my dull head of hair I opted to go full steam with the pj aspect. So I went exactly as I hopped out of bed (well I brushed my teeth and added a bra) put on my slippers and yes, walked out the door and even down the street a bit. He thought this was quite entertaining, and evidently the other moms who also were coming to read didn't get the note and so they were rather plainly dressed One dad came and he was normally dressed I questioned his son and he gladly explained that his dad sleeps naked and hence he couldn't just hop out of bed and came as I did. I appreciated that little piece of information and will eagerly look for an opportunity to use it some time in the near future...sermon illustration maybe.
In the end Caleb tied with another little boy for craziest hair, but the other kid was wearing a wig so I declared that Caleb was the true winner and he was quite pleased with everyone's applause.
I find it so interesting that at such an early age they are already so conditioned to seek approval and acceptance from their peers. It turns out that a number of kids didn't get to crazy for the exact same reason, fortunately the older girl that he has a crush on (yes 9 mo's later and he is still in love) went all out and if it was cool for her to do it then it was cool for him.
They handed out awards last night at their celebration of success and Caleb won for best imagination, which was probably putting a positive spin on his inability to focus on what is in front of him but none the less he was excited to receive the applause and recognition and we will frame his first certificate!
Two more days and then KG will be through and he will start the real march towards the diploma. As always prayer is needed that God will make a way for Caleb. So thankful that MCS is available for him to attend as we would be in a real bind otherwise, but at some point laws here need to change or God needs to work a miracle for him to be able to finish and get a HS diploma. From the day that little boy arrived in my arms God has been making a way so I admit I expect the miracle, I have no doubt that in His perfect time and in His perfect way God will provide all that Caleb needs to succeed and survive in this world! I look forward to the day I blog about the "How He did it."
I had to go in and read a story to his class so I decided to demonstrate being funny and laughing at oneself. Since I can't do much of anything with my dull head of hair I opted to go full steam with the pj aspect. So I went exactly as I hopped out of bed (well I brushed my teeth and added a bra) put on my slippers and yes, walked out the door and even down the street a bit. He thought this was quite entertaining, and evidently the other moms who also were coming to read didn't get the note and so they were rather plainly dressed One dad came and he was normally dressed I questioned his son and he gladly explained that his dad sleeps naked and hence he couldn't just hop out of bed and came as I did. I appreciated that little piece of information and will eagerly look for an opportunity to use it some time in the near future...sermon illustration maybe.
In the end Caleb tied with another little boy for craziest hair, but the other kid was wearing a wig so I declared that Caleb was the true winner and he was quite pleased with everyone's applause.
I find it so interesting that at such an early age they are already so conditioned to seek approval and acceptance from their peers. It turns out that a number of kids didn't get to crazy for the exact same reason, fortunately the older girl that he has a crush on (yes 9 mo's later and he is still in love) went all out and if it was cool for her to do it then it was cool for him.
They handed out awards last night at their celebration of success and Caleb won for best imagination, which was probably putting a positive spin on his inability to focus on what is in front of him but none the less he was excited to receive the applause and recognition and we will frame his first certificate!
Two more days and then KG will be through and he will start the real march towards the diploma. As always prayer is needed that God will make a way for Caleb. So thankful that MCS is available for him to attend as we would be in a real bind otherwise, but at some point laws here need to change or God needs to work a miracle for him to be able to finish and get a HS diploma. From the day that little boy arrived in my arms God has been making a way so I admit I expect the miracle, I have no doubt that in His perfect time and in His perfect way God will provide all that Caleb needs to succeed and survive in this world! I look forward to the day I blog about the "How He did it."
Wednesday, June 8, 2011
Celebrations
Celebration of Success!
A view of Caleb's school from the front. A wonderful community of about 50 students from literally all over the world. A remarkable little school that plows on against all odds.
Caleb and Bradley are Arab Rock Stars.
A view of Caleb's school from the front. A wonderful community of about 50 students from literally all over the world. A remarkable little school that plows on against all odds.
Caleb and Bradley are Arab Rock Stars.
Sunday, June 5, 2011
Congress Claps for Apartheid | Stephen M. Walt
Congress Claps for Apartheid | Stephen M. Walt
A very interesting article and eye opening. Worth a read if you are open to seeing a different perspective on the Israeli/Palestinian issue.
A very interesting article and eye opening. Worth a read if you are open to seeing a different perspective on the Israeli/Palestinian issue.
Thursday, June 2, 2011
One More Biggie and then Finished
I am the Queen of bad planning, or over planning and these last 2 weeks are prime examples. In addition to the regular schedule I added in a sermon, the end of the year youth event, and a big farewell party. ALL this plus tons of "goodbye"coffees and lunches and dinners. I get one event down and then all attention turns to the next. As for this morning sermon down, Bashapalooza finished and now Brenda Petrescue's Farewell Party. I am tired but my brain keeps going which makes ever really feeling good or rested a near impossibility.
Bashapalooza went really well in light of many obstacles. I will try and post some of the video as GJ did a hilarious version of Andre Bottecelli's "Time to Say Good Bye." We had 7 graduating seniors which was a huge jump from last years 1. Graduation is Friday morning, and then a big party in the afternoon, and church that evening. The first big wave of departures happens literally the night of graduation and then others will filter out over the next week. The British Schools are still open for almost 2 more weeks so its not as if the whole town instantly empties out like it used to.
Saturday evening is Brenda's Farewell which is turning into a much larger affair than I had originally thought but that is a great thing! Except from the food organizing standpoint. 20 years living here deserves a fantastic send off. Another long term family, the McGuigans, are also leaving after 18 years. They were my next door neighbors when I first moved in. They taught at CAC and they did a huge slide show celebration of their contribution at the sports award the other night for which I am really glad. This community is tough because there are so many good byes that it is easy to over look or not fully grasp the impact that someone has made because the people have moved on. Life here is very much like foot prints in the sand, there and distinct but for a moment and then smoothed out blended in and forgotten. So trying to say a really good meaningful farewell is important in my opinion.
Off to work!
Bashapalooza went really well in light of many obstacles. I will try and post some of the video as GJ did a hilarious version of Andre Bottecelli's "Time to Say Good Bye." We had 7 graduating seniors which was a huge jump from last years 1. Graduation is Friday morning, and then a big party in the afternoon, and church that evening. The first big wave of departures happens literally the night of graduation and then others will filter out over the next week. The British Schools are still open for almost 2 more weeks so its not as if the whole town instantly empties out like it used to.
Saturday evening is Brenda's Farewell which is turning into a much larger affair than I had originally thought but that is a great thing! Except from the food organizing standpoint. 20 years living here deserves a fantastic send off. Another long term family, the McGuigans, are also leaving after 18 years. They were my next door neighbors when I first moved in. They taught at CAC and they did a huge slide show celebration of their contribution at the sports award the other night for which I am really glad. This community is tough because there are so many good byes that it is easy to over look or not fully grasp the impact that someone has made because the people have moved on. Life here is very much like foot prints in the sand, there and distinct but for a moment and then smoothed out blended in and forgotten. So trying to say a really good meaningful farewell is important in my opinion.
Off to work!
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