One finds oneself with a different mission at various times. Sometimes it's a mission to find marshmallows - which seem to have gone missing from Coop and I must grab some at the candy store in Sihlcity. Or to find the perfect black boots for the season. Oops - took care of that last year. This year it's brown boots as, Yes! M, J and C, I have worn out the ones I bought in Hungary 3 years ago! Has it been 3 years already?
Today I'd like to share someone else's Mission. She is a delightful young lady - Carissa, a graduate of Cal Baptist University in Riverside, CA (my Alum) and has given her time and efforts to Global Xpress - this is her baby. Her mission is to reach children and give them a heart for - Missions. The program uses fun activities and visuals to educate children about different parts of the world: what they eat, landscape, local religion and lifestyle/culture.
One of the things I have most appreciated in living outside of the US - and traveling - is the time taken to learn about other cultures. This encompasses not just what kind of coffee do they drink at what time of day - "coffee culture" exists for a reason! - but what do they believe and how do they view other cultures? To love others, you must learn to walk beside them - have empathy for them. It helps to begin with the smallest understanding of their world.
Most of us will never live in a place of real hardship. But some have. We sponsor children through Compassion that live a life our girls will never experience. But they need to know that it exists. And that people can still be happy and love the Lord even when they don't have 15 stuffed animals at any given time on their bed - in their own rooms.
So Carissa's program helps educate kids in a fun and simple way about children in other countries. It's a great resource - they've already done all the work. Good for home schooling, Sunday School supplements or simply to have at home if you want to add something to your family reading/activities.
Links to Global Xpress: www.globalxpresskc.com and blog is www.dreamin4kids.blogspot.com
From afar - we've enjoyed hearing how this program has been blessed over the past year. And if you check out the vid on the blog you will see one of my awesome Bro-in-Laws!
*Correction - 2 years since I bought the brown boots heading into 3rd winter. But they are worn out - starting to hurt my feet. Sign that it's time to go. Now if we could just get a similar sign re: location - hahahahahaha............
Wednesday, November 10, 2010
Thursday, November 04, 2010
When it's pink.......
When it's pink, one must take pictures:
I was rushing around the house tonight trying to get things done before picking up the girls from cello/swimming and saw 'the pink' out the window:
It really makes you slow down and wonder at the Majesty behind it.
Even when it's orange:
And so early in the morning that you think "What am I doing up already?" BUT - if I wasn't up, I wouldn't be able to experience this:
Or this:
Ooooooohhhhhh - and this!!!!!
It helps keep the day in perspective. 
And the night too:
And mid-day when taking a trip on the car ferry from Horgen to Meilen:
That our God is bigger and more creative and more powerful than we can imagine. And we have been so very, very blessed to live here.
These pictures have all been taken this Fall. We've not had the best of Seasons - since last September - but we have had some beautiful days. They help remind us of what lies behind the fog and rainy clouds that seem to be the norm. Again - for this past year. Other years have been great.
I was rushing around the house tonight trying to get things done before picking up the girls from cello/swimming and saw 'the pink' out the window:
It really makes you slow down and wonder at the Majesty behind it.
Even when it's orange:
And so early in the morning that you think "What am I doing up already?" BUT - if I wasn't up, I wouldn't be able to experience this:
Or this:
Ooooooohhhhhh - and this!!!!!
It helps keep the day in perspective. 
And the night too:
And mid-day when taking a trip on the car ferry from Horgen to Meilen:
That our God is bigger and more creative and more powerful than we can imagine. And we have been so very, very blessed to live here.
These pictures have all been taken this Fall. We've not had the best of Seasons - since last September - but we have had some beautiful days. They help remind us of what lies behind the fog and rainy clouds that seem to be the norm. Again - for this past year. Other years have been great.Rachel is learning about the Famine period in Switzerland (early 1300's) when many people starved for 6 years because of the constant rain. I believe it! I thought to myself this summer when our garden was so pathetic because there wasn't enough sun/dry days "If I really had to garden to provide food for my family, this would be a baaaaadddddd year."
Now, while I don't believe this is the coming of a great Famine, it can become a Famine of the soul. Whether SADD (seasonal affected disorder...blah, blah, blah) or just anticipating change, it's not always easy. I've mentioned in the past that there can be a 'lack of heart' here too. This is not just my imagination or perceived interpretation - unless most of the other people I talk too (international groups, not strictly from the USA) are wrong also: there is a lack of heart and a focus on the material here. It can wear you down.
An acquaintance from the French Indies said the other day "my people may be poor on the Islands but they have heart, and soul, and God and they are happy - people here have money but they are not happy people."
I am being, for some, brutally honest. I am so happy to be here and yet am ready for the return. It won't be perfect - no place is. This world is not my home. I guess I just answered the question that everyone's been asking lately. Because we're in decision mode. Yet, I have more peace this go around than any time before.
God gives me these skies to keep it all in check. I am so thankful and so blessed to be here. With my wonderful family. And we have a LOT OF HEART.
What a wonderfulllllll wooorllllllllddddddd...............
Tuesday, November 02, 2010
There's Football east of the Pond - and we're not talkin' Soccer
I'm posting an experience I did NOT have. But Bart did.
On Sunday, had you been watching the SF 49ers and Denver Broncos play in Wembley Stadium, you could have seen him on TV! He was the one in a 49er baseball hat and black 49er sweatshirt. Well, guess there were a few other guys dressed just like him so maybe not so easy.
Not an easy game to get tickets for. He's entered the lottery (tickets are by lottery only) each year we've lived over here and finally, in our last year, he got the 6 tickets he requested. So it was a guys weekend in London - along with approximately 12 - 13 million other people. He's (we've) been to London a few times and said this particular weekend was very crowded.
They did some site-seeing on Saturday and headed over to the Stadium on Sunday afternoon. He was really impressed with the organization of people (large masses of men out to watch American Football) both before and after the game (especially getting everyone to the Underground afterward).
Approaching Wembley - look at the line of people snaked up the stadium:
On Sunday, had you been watching the SF 49ers and Denver Broncos play in Wembley Stadium, you could have seen him on TV! He was the one in a 49er baseball hat and black 49er sweatshirt. Well, guess there were a few other guys dressed just like him so maybe not so easy.
Not an easy game to get tickets for. He's entered the lottery (tickets are by lottery only) each year we've lived over here and finally, in our last year, he got the 6 tickets he requested. So it was a guys weekend in London - along with approximately 12 - 13 million other people. He's (we've) been to London a few times and said this particular weekend was very crowded.
They did some site-seeing on Saturday and headed over to the Stadium on Sunday afternoon. He was really impressed with the organization of people (large masses of men out to watch American Football) both before and after the game (especially getting everyone to the Underground afterward).
Approaching Wembley - look at the line of people snaked up the stadium:
It was raining a bit but Bart said virtually everyone had jerseys/colors on - though covered up a bit here. But, somehow, I think the kilts add a distinctive flavor to the game that you wouldn't find in the States, don't you?
And the team that I grew up with (I do lean more maroon/gold than the black/silver but I keep it quiet because I have some 'rough' relatives - hahaha - yes, that includes you, Mom!):
Here are all the NFL flags in honor of NFL International Series:
Of course, Bart did get a pic of the Raider flag. He almost wore his silver/black Raider gear. Which is a source of running debate in our house. I kept shaking my head declaring he couldn't wear the Silver and Black if the 49ers were playing. Because anyone knows you can't be a 'Niner and Raider fan at the same time! Am I wrong?
Thing is, he lived in Minnesota as a Viking fan first, then in CO for several years and became a bit of a Bronco fan, then lived in So Cal during the LA Raider years and then moved to the Bay Area where he could go to both '49er and Oakland Raider games (because the Raiders moved back to where they belonged!). He's just confused! Sorry Honey :). He really ended up in the Bay Area "too late" in life to develope a 'strong emotional attachment' to the '49er's like he should have and well, that's OK with me because I only glance at the games nowdays anyway.
And the team that I grew up with (I do lean more maroon/gold than the black/silver but I keep it quiet because I have some 'rough' relatives - hahaha - yes, that includes you, Mom!):
Here are all the NFL flags in honor of NFL International Series:
Of course, Bart did get a pic of the Raider flag. He almost wore his silver/black Raider gear. Which is a source of running debate in our house. I kept shaking my head declaring he couldn't wear the Silver and Black if the 49ers were playing. Because anyone knows you can't be a 'Niner and Raider fan at the same time! Am I wrong?
Thing is, he lived in Minnesota as a Viking fan first, then in CO for several years and became a bit of a Bronco fan, then lived in So Cal during the LA Raider years and then moved to the Bay Area where he could go to both '49er and Oakland Raider games (because the Raiders moved back to where they belonged!). He's just confused! Sorry Honey :). He really ended up in the Bay Area "too late" in life to develope a 'strong emotional attachment' to the '49er's like he should have and well, that's OK with me because I only glance at the games nowdays anyway.Fact is - he's just a big sports fan and loves going to games! I love his enthusiasm and the energy that goes along with it. And was secretly relieved he didn't wear the Silver and Black!
It was a '49er 'home' game:
No pictures of Bart & the guys though? Not a one. Now a girls weekend would have included a memory of who wore what and maybe pictures at dinner but I guess it all comes down to different priorities...........
No pictures of Bart & the guys though? Not a one. Now a girls weekend would have included a memory of who wore what and maybe pictures at dinner but I guess it all comes down to different priorities...........Saturday, October 30, 2010
Exceptional People
It seems my world has been full of exceptional people lately and I feel compelled to throw this down on 'paper' and get it out of my head.
Exceptional people. Maybe not exceptional in the way you're thinking. And I wonder if moving from the environment we're currently in to the States will change anything. I'm thinking not. The grass is not always greener. Watch out, I'm on a rant.
For example, there are many exceptional people at school who feel they can park or drive in any manner they please - even when the school offers free parking in back and asks everyone to please watch out for persons walking in the parking lot. I can't write much more on this topic because Bart has listened to this for 3 years now and refuses to anymore :) (the first year we were here it wasn't too bad). Yes, I've sent emails and suggestions. The school this week installed large, orange poles in the "drive" line to keep exceptional people from creating a 3rd driving lane in a 2 lane parking lot.
Twice in two weeks, exceptional people have nearly hit me head-on because they didn't want to follow the tractor in the road and wait for clear passing. The first was with my dad coming home from Lauterbrunnen - the van literally jumped out at us from behind the tractor. Dad looked at me and said "it's a good thing you saw that in time and swerved - that would have been real bad." I know. We were quiet for a while and tried to figure out why? And both times I was very visible - big car with lights on ??????
Other exceptional people don't feel they have to wait in lines with everyone else. This is an example of what we run into frequently (I think I've mentioned that only the Americans and UK seem to line/queue): Bart and girls are waiting in the crepe shop to order (in Gruyere). They are the only ones at the counter besides the customer already being helped. Another couple walks in. As the current order is finished, Bart is prepared to start ordering but the lady (new couple) interrupts and starts to place her order. He interrupts and says (in Engl. while they're French) that he's next and has been waiting. He said "she huffed at me and they walked out." Bart and the girls got their crepes. He's very tired of this - it happens a lot (although they don't generally walk out; they stand disgusted that they now have to wait).
It's hard in an environment of impatience and exceptions to the rule to teach your kids to be patient and kind and wait their turn. Rachel sometimes says, "well, mom, no one else is paying attention to the rules, why should you?" AAACCKKK! Part of that response is her Middle School brain trying to sort itself out. The other part is simply watching my frustration in trying to play by the rules but getting thwarted in the process ("exceptional" parking causes problems for those trying to get to legitimate spaces).
We live in a frenzied world that wants it all now and to their own personal specifications. Not easy sometimes. So I will continue to tell the girls to be patient and kind and I will do my best to model it. But perhaps keep my mouth shut a bit more in the car when I'm frustrated.
At least the tractors will be off the roads soon - snow's coming..........
"A patient man has great understanding, but a quick-tempered man displays folly." Proverbs 14:29
So I'm working on being the patient man - thank you for your patience in reading. And while we know there exists plenty of impatience everywhere - our future destination should be a place where people know how to wait in line. Right? Please tell me I'm right??????
Exceptional people. Maybe not exceptional in the way you're thinking. And I wonder if moving from the environment we're currently in to the States will change anything. I'm thinking not. The grass is not always greener. Watch out, I'm on a rant.
For example, there are many exceptional people at school who feel they can park or drive in any manner they please - even when the school offers free parking in back and asks everyone to please watch out for persons walking in the parking lot. I can't write much more on this topic because Bart has listened to this for 3 years now and refuses to anymore :) (the first year we were here it wasn't too bad). Yes, I've sent emails and suggestions. The school this week installed large, orange poles in the "drive" line to keep exceptional people from creating a 3rd driving lane in a 2 lane parking lot.
Twice in two weeks, exceptional people have nearly hit me head-on because they didn't want to follow the tractor in the road and wait for clear passing. The first was with my dad coming home from Lauterbrunnen - the van literally jumped out at us from behind the tractor. Dad looked at me and said "it's a good thing you saw that in time and swerved - that would have been real bad." I know. We were quiet for a while and tried to figure out why? And both times I was very visible - big car with lights on ??????
Other exceptional people don't feel they have to wait in lines with everyone else. This is an example of what we run into frequently (I think I've mentioned that only the Americans and UK seem to line/queue): Bart and girls are waiting in the crepe shop to order (in Gruyere). They are the only ones at the counter besides the customer already being helped. Another couple walks in. As the current order is finished, Bart is prepared to start ordering but the lady (new couple) interrupts and starts to place her order. He interrupts and says (in Engl. while they're French) that he's next and has been waiting. He said "she huffed at me and they walked out." Bart and the girls got their crepes. He's very tired of this - it happens a lot (although they don't generally walk out; they stand disgusted that they now have to wait).
It's hard in an environment of impatience and exceptions to the rule to teach your kids to be patient and kind and wait their turn. Rachel sometimes says, "well, mom, no one else is paying attention to the rules, why should you?" AAACCKKK! Part of that response is her Middle School brain trying to sort itself out. The other part is simply watching my frustration in trying to play by the rules but getting thwarted in the process ("exceptional" parking causes problems for those trying to get to legitimate spaces).
We live in a frenzied world that wants it all now and to their own personal specifications. Not easy sometimes. So I will continue to tell the girls to be patient and kind and I will do my best to model it. But perhaps keep my mouth shut a bit more in the car when I'm frustrated.
At least the tractors will be off the roads soon - snow's coming..........
"A patient man has great understanding, but a quick-tempered man displays folly." Proverbs 14:29
So I'm working on being the patient man - thank you for your patience in reading. And while we know there exists plenty of impatience everywhere - our future destination should be a place where people know how to wait in line. Right? Please tell me I'm right??????
Thursday, October 28, 2010
I did it!
I finally had the guts to conduct a whole appointment in German - only a few mishaps/misunderstandings. Oh yeah, I did it, I did it, I did it..... (mild dancing to go along with that - because no, I don't think I can dance. I did think I could dance once long ago but that's best forgotten. And it hurt's my knees.)
Anyway. Went to my annual eye appointment as I was down to my last pair of contacts (two week contacts). Explained how my arms have gotten longer this year in order to read properly. Anyone? Anyone?
Over this past year the contacts have made my eyes more fatigued as well and I wear my glasses more frequently.
Since reading with my glasses is fine, the optician suggested lowering the correction of my contacts to see if that would help the reading vision although potentially giving the distance vision a slight blur. I already have a slight distortion with contacts due to astigmatism - but figured we could try.
Lo and behold, even the distance vision feels better. He suggested the correction may have been too strong. So I dropped my contact correction by .5 in one eye and .25 in the other. ????
First time for everything. I'm still blind as a bat without them but my eyes don't feel they're working nearly so hard as before. Good news!
Did I mention I did it all in GERMAN? Thank You, thank you very much. Don't like to brag and my German grammar STINKS (yes, capitalization is necessary for emphasis here) but it just feels good to feel like it's all been worth it and useful.
A bit of a lame post after the Jungfraujoch, Ja?
Life really has been busy (think I've said that a few times too) and I've tried working on my priorities (there is actually something else I should be doing right now!) which lead me to leaving the Blog on the back burner most often aside from travel posts.
There have been posts I've written and pulled, posts I've written in my head, posts I've started and not finished and posts I want to write but think, well, maybe it's just too personal/don't want to reveal too much of myself. A bit frozen here.
So I'm trying to find a balance. I love writing on the Blog but if it's just travel posts, it gets a little dull. At least for me.
Dad is in the friendly skies now and I have mucho laundry and clean up to do. And kids to pick up and dinner to make. Oh - I made soup 3 times this season. From scratch. Don't laugh!!!!! See what you get when I start to reveal my personal life. As my family was happy with the soups - there will be more.
Is travel more exciting than soup? Hmmm, maybe I should take pictures....
Anyway. Went to my annual eye appointment as I was down to my last pair of contacts (two week contacts). Explained how my arms have gotten longer this year in order to read properly. Anyone? Anyone?
Over this past year the contacts have made my eyes more fatigued as well and I wear my glasses more frequently.
Since reading with my glasses is fine, the optician suggested lowering the correction of my contacts to see if that would help the reading vision although potentially giving the distance vision a slight blur. I already have a slight distortion with contacts due to astigmatism - but figured we could try.
Lo and behold, even the distance vision feels better. He suggested the correction may have been too strong. So I dropped my contact correction by .5 in one eye and .25 in the other. ????
First time for everything. I'm still blind as a bat without them but my eyes don't feel they're working nearly so hard as before. Good news!
Did I mention I did it all in GERMAN? Thank You, thank you very much. Don't like to brag and my German grammar STINKS (yes, capitalization is necessary for emphasis here) but it just feels good to feel like it's all been worth it and useful.
A bit of a lame post after the Jungfraujoch, Ja?
Life really has been busy (think I've said that a few times too) and I've tried working on my priorities (there is actually something else I should be doing right now!) which lead me to leaving the Blog on the back burner most often aside from travel posts.
There have been posts I've written and pulled, posts I've written in my head, posts I've started and not finished and posts I want to write but think, well, maybe it's just too personal/don't want to reveal too much of myself. A bit frozen here.
So I'm trying to find a balance. I love writing on the Blog but if it's just travel posts, it gets a little dull. At least for me.
Dad is in the friendly skies now and I have mucho laundry and clean up to do. And kids to pick up and dinner to make. Oh - I made soup 3 times this season. From scratch. Don't laugh!!!!! See what you get when I start to reveal my personal life. As my family was happy with the soups - there will be more.
Is travel more exciting than soup? Hmmm, maybe I should take pictures....
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