Market men-who gives you extra lemons

Wednesday means market day.... Today's market was in the rain and that made the walk seem longer. But the sun broke through in time to make the entire process better. Today the market had my highly sought after avocadoes 2 for 1 euro!! It was a true highlight. And to make the trip just shine was the fact that my little market man gave me 2 lemons in my bag :-}
I know that it is because I speak arabic to him. It teaches me that the small things make people feel better- little things like lemons. God is in the lemons.

Home is where the heart is, so where is mine

Well, I have been in Milan for 8 days and I still have not found my heart. It seems that I left it in Texas with my 2 daughters. I find myself very sad that I can't spend the day with Sarah for her birthday or garden, scrapbook or even clean. Boy, you know that I miss the lake and my girls if I want to clean. Maybe, being a mom is more important than being in a foreign country. People just sigh and say Italy.... I just have a few words for them.... disorder, dirt, strikes and cheaters. The only thing that keeps me smiling here is my friends at church. To think that my shy friend Max, gave me a big kiss means that I am suppose to be here to help those sweet, stiff anglicans become more demonstrative......job ALMOST accomplished.

wireless is detected

Rachel and I have for these last 5 months gone without internet at our temporary apartment. That has been the hardest thing I have done-even after moving overseas to 3 different countries. Finding tomatoes, getting into a church, learning to communicate can't hold a candle to not having the internet. Today in church the pastor ask us if we ate breakfast and then if we took a bath. Both of which Rachel and I did-although not always bathe at the lake :-}
He reminded us that most of the world is hungry and dirty. It made me realize how spoiled I am to the trappings of this world and how I really need to not be. It is hard and yes, I will have my internet for an entire week soon, but maybe God has taught me that not being totally connected is not a bad thing. I might want to be more connected to Him.... to bad we can't get a reading on when we are truly connected with God or maybe he just wants us to be more unconnected with the world......

Peace- of mind and heart

It has been more than 2 weeks since I have been at the lake. I don't think that I had missed anything so much. Now that I am here I find that need to be here because I have such a peace of heart and mind. What a great feeling to be so secure that you have total peace-of mind and heart. God must want us to feel the same way with Him...... what a gift that He always gives us a chance to sense what heaven will be like before we get there. Isn't funny how we run like hamsters on a wheel but it isn't until we stop that we finally know what real peace is like..... peace of mind and heart.

Hiking is hard on old bones

Friday April 20

Well today Larry and I hiked about 8 miles and the first 5 were great. It was amazing to see redwood trees that are thousands of years old. One tree showed that it was around at the time of Christ. AWESOME. The views were great and the trails peaceful. There is nothing better than to spend time in God's world and be in awe of His creative power and beauty. My prayer for all is that you take a few minutes of your day and breathe in what God has spread before our eyes...... and it usually doesn't take a long trip. Just have eyes that are looking for it not minds that are focused on our schedules or worries. :-}

Endings and new beginnings

Wednesday April 18

Today was suppose to be the day that I flew back to Milan but instead I flew to San Jose... This makes me realize that these last few months have been some of the most challenging and most rewarding. While Rachel's future is set for the next few years we wait for the applications to start for the future of Sarah. Time passes on toward Larry's retirement as my children's lives start. I am amazed at how God uses the good, the bad and even my husband's company to get everyone's future in place.

Being a Mom means walking a thin line of trust and fear

Tuesday April 17

Today I must remember that I have raised wonderful daughters who are strong, intelligent and respect themselves and others. I anquish for those females that are used for their bodies and are spoken of with little respect. I pray that we as a society can wake up to the facts that when we use others for our own profits it makes resentment build and creates hate, a hate that comes back to bite us all.
I also realize as I walk out the door tommorrow I hand off my youngest to other family members but no ones loves my girls like I do. I cherish the time I have had with both of them because they are women who God has great plans for. May they never forget that I pray and worry usually in equal amounts as they leave me to go on-even to meetings down the street:)

I also take a sad sigh as I watch the news about Virginia Tech and the murders of 33 people-- people with futures, families, and hopes. I pray that God will strenghten and walk with those who are hurting. How else do you get through something so painful.....even to strangers.
THERE BUT BY THE GRACE OF GOD GO I