to delight in the differences

I like to ask a girl who has been married for a short time, "What is something you've learned about your husband that you didn't know before you got married?" The answers are so often sweet and simple.
I asked Abigail the question, ". . .Nathaniel likes his food hot", she said (unlike the Newtons who like food spicey hot, but like pizza hot out of the oven!)
So, traveling on this road trip with John for 4 1/2 weeks reminds me of the many things I love about this man and also the things about us that are different.
For instance-he relishes a hearty breakfast, but please-just give me toast and jam with coffee.
As for driving- he loves the windy steep roads along the Mendicino Coast-roads like a rollercoaster, but not me; I ask him, "Is this fun for you?". . . he just smiles.
And as we get weary of the road routine, I notice this itch. . .I get itchy to write-searching for pen and notebook, pulling out the lap top. . .and he gets itcy to ride, to get his bicycle off the car and onto the ground.
Ah, it's good; I remind myself to delight in our differences. . .and then there's the opportunity to practice forbearance, right?
Walk in a worthy manner. . .with all humility and gentleness, with patience, showing forbearance to oneanother in love. . . (Eph 4:2)

a sweet girl, a bicycle. . .and more

"Uncle Papi", she said, "My bicycle is in the garage. . .it's a two-wheeler. . ."
So, John pulled out his tools and replaced the tires on Morgan's bicycle-already she's a whiz on the razor scooter. Hmmm. . .I was there when this little one was born-and now she's ready for a two wheeler!

There we were in San Jose with Scott, Mary, and Morgan -in their new home- church- neighborhood. . .the truth is, we've missed them dearly since they moved to California.

So, we worshiped together, shared a meal and fellowship with the church in that place, and recalled the memorial stones of God's faithfulness. . . in Texas and in California.

Mary and I visited a local knit shop; we shared life over coffee-just like old times. It was good to be there.

Press on, dear friend. . . press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.

times of refreshment

The interview question in the local newspaper read, If you could go anywhere on vacation, where would it be? the answers were exotic: the Bahamas. . .New York City. . .some place foreign and exciting. . .any place tropical and warm. . .

And I've been asking myself- What exactly is a vacation anyway? (since I guess I'm on one!)

well, vacation is not a particular place. . .but it is a change in normal routine-I think. . .

So, we were visiting the Turners in Las Vegas, and I asked Gwennan the vacation question-

". . . a time of refreshment!" she said.

hmmm, that's really good. . .and despite the 104 degrees in Las Vegas, time with the Turner family was indeed refreshing.

And it continues to be just that at every stop on this trip.

Let me benefit from you in the Lord; refresh my heart in Christ (Philem 20)

a good book on a road trip

On long road trips John and I enjoy reading aloud together; usually he drives and I read to us. For this summer's trip the car air conditioner is repaired. . .and it's been great reading aloud without the competition of road noise!
Now with 2,500 miles of road behind us, we've almost finished Tortured For Christ by Richard Wurmbrand; the author, a Romanian pastor, was imprisoned for 14 years in a communist jail- he experienced solitary confinement, physical torture, hunger and cold, brainwashing. . .all this because of his fervent belief in Jesus Christ and his public witness to the gospel.
So, I've been thinking alot lately about Christ's body, the church- Pastor Wumbrand's portait of the underground church in restricted countries is compelling; hmmm. . . a church where men and women die today for the truth of the gospel. Wurmbrand writes, "I can never describe the beauty of this church. . .I have found truly joyful Christians only in the Bible, in the underground church, and in prison".

So, we're reading this book-we're agitated, the truth is so raw. . .so, why read it?
John says for him it's a reality check-Christian persecution is real today!
and we're energized to pray, to give sacrificially and to examine our own lives while remembering the noble saints who testify with their lives that Worthy is the Lamb who was slain. . .
remember the persecuted church: www.persecution.com, www.KidsOfCourage.com

a hitch hiker named Trimothy

Since leaving home on July 1, we've driven 2,000 miles-sigh, so many adventures and opportunities to share. Monday we were driving between Four Corners and Page, Arizona when we sailed past a man on the roadside, a hitch hiker.
John asked me,"What do you think? . . .should we pick up that guy?"
"Sure", I said.
"and may it be to God's glory. . ." he said, making the U-turn.
So, we shoved our stuff to one side and the hitch hiker squeezed into the back seat. A friendly fellow, he'd been standing on the road in the blazing mid-day sun; he was grateful for water. He'd been working in Phoenix and was heading home to his family in nearby Keyenta-on the Indian Reservation. Our hitch hiker is a Navajo Indian--and so we talked about his culture, his past. . .
Then John asked, "Have you heard the gospel of Jesus Christ?"
And then he told us his story: He'd been to a tent revival, had heard the gospel and read the Bible; he'd turned from the tribal traditions-although his parents and grandparents still believed that way. "I decided that it's better to be saved than not. . .", he told us.
Amazing, we thought. . .
So about 25 miles down the road in Keyenta we dropped him at home, "What's your name?" asked John
"Trimothy-like Timothy with an R", he said.
God speed, Trimothy. . .and to God be the glory.

good project for a road trip. . .

Knitting socks with self patterning yard is magical. . .you simply knit round and around on tiny double pointed needles, and the yarn itself creates the designs and stripes-it's simple!

So-this little project is a good one for a long road trip. John and I drive off to the west coast this week; we'll be gone from home for more than a month, visiting both familiar and unfamiliar places, many dear friends and family. . . anticipating adventures and opportunites (although it's always hard for me to leave the opportunities right close to home!)
hmmm, I wonder how many different beds we'll sleep in this month?

Perhaps I'll complete this pair of socks (you know, it takes 8 hours to drive out of Texas). . .perhaps a baby sweater too. . .a few good books. . .uninterrupted conversation-all worthy pursuits.
Lord willing, we'll keep in touch. . .