Kaleidoscope. . .

Kaleidoscope: a continually changing pattern of shapes and colors-beautiful!
And so it was-our lovely visit in July with the Goodnoughs in Tacoma, Washington. . . Ronn and Elizabeth, our dear friends for 10 years-
our July Kaleidoscope included food around the little backyard table, breakfasts and lunches- tasty, textured, colorful (agreed, Goodnoughs and Newtons take pictures of food!), a walk to the neighborhood Vietnamese restaurant. . .

refreshing, earnest conversation very late in the night about life-joys and struggles, work, family, children, schooling, the church, the Saviour. . .together we watched the movie Bella and talked about adoption-and the heart of their adoptons.

Play-bicycles, parks-green, tree filled parks-and water everywhere!

Children-perhaps the highlight of our Goodnough visit-the delight of watching our friends shepherd the hearts of their sweet girls, Brielle with fuzzy dark curls and Elaina with yellow springy curls. . . we prayed for them and now we know them-

Sunday on the drive to church I sat beside Brielle, chatting, "Mrs. Newton, what is your birth mother's name?" she asked so sweetly.

And the week after our visit in Tacoma, Ron and Elizabeth flew to Seoul, Korea to bring baby Titus home- Imagine the rejoicing!

the day I took the bus. . .

I've been thinking about Paul's epistle to Philemon-
"I have much joy and comfort in your love, because the hearts of the saints have been refreshed through you."
hmmm. . . I want to be like Philemon, who refreshed the saints -so, how does that look in my life? Am I quick to refresh even when it means a personal inconvenience? Sometimes, Sigh. . .
But last week I had an opportunity--my friend had invited me to join her at a local restaurant to celebrate her birthday- and to celebrate the end of her 2 month house confinement with a broken leg. Indeed, I'll be there!
However, the day arrived and the Jetta's transmission was in pieces on the driveway. . .so, the dilemma (one of countless in our daily lives, right?)
John suggested the bus (the inconvenient bus). . . so the next morning at 8:15, I boldly boarded the bus a block from home along with a crowd of neighborhood highschoolers in purple and khaki uniforms, and with head phones. I put my money in the slot, A transfer, please! and I remembered this humble phrase, I don't often ride the bus, I need help!
I waited with a bus stop crowd downtown and finally boarded bus#2 with more confidence; bus #2 took me north, north, north-with help from the very kind bus driver, I got off at my destination at 10:00! Next I hiked a mile to the restaurant, which was fine (walking shoes would have been better than party shoes!)
And I was there for my friend, just in time; she was delighted-
- me too.
Will I ride the bus again? Sure, and next time perhaps I'll have conversation with the bus crowd, who knows where that may lead?
So, this post is dedicated to my lovely girls in Pamplona and London, Rachel, Naomi, and Abigail, who ride the public bus everyday. . .and refresh the saints.

Give me the ocean. . .

Last month I asked a Texas friend what she likes to do for outdoor fun. . ."I love the ocean, Port Aransas, the Gulf coast", she said.
And I thought, The ocean?. . .the gulf? Couldn't be. . .
So, when John and I arrived in lovely Monterrey, we rode our bicycles along the Pacific coast- I stopped to take pictures, to record the ocean-the expanse, foamy waves, craggy rocks, kelp (I love the kelpy smell!) shelled creatures, to smell the tangy air, hear the ocean fowl. . .the Gulf is God's unique creation, but it's not the Pacific Ocean!

However, the best part of our stay in Monterrey was visiting Carol-a long time friend from our early married days; we were young Christians, just dipping into God's truth- Carol encouraged us then . . .and now. So, we talked of the past 20 years, of God's goodness, of his continual involvement in our lives.

Carol and I opened the Bible- she shared her renewed commitment to memorize God's Word. A highlighted 3 x 5 card read,

"Hence, also, He is able to save to the uttermost those who draw near to God through Him, since He always lives to make intercession for them"(Hebrews 7:25)

Carol said to me, "I love to meditate on that Word uttermost-Jesus is able to save to the uttermost. . ."

Ah, a good friend -a worthy reminder.

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.

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.