Cactus Flower

This week we got some rain this week!  Don't forget we live in a semi-arid, scrub bush desert.  We have two seasons:  somewhat hot and dry, hotter and maybe a little rain.  Around this time of the year the temperature starts to shoot up, sometimes close to 100 degrees Farenheit.  That's when people start to talk about rain.   We know that rain is necessary, but it sure makes the dirt roads we travel on a mess - a muddy mess.  It rained well on Monday night.  We drove to one of our interior stops on Tuesday in the Pajero since we had some helpers.  It does well in mud and we can sit in air conditioned, closed window comfort (usually anyway).  It does make stops along the side of the road tricky. In the sand rail, we used to just get soaked going through the big puddles that stretch from one side of the road to the other.  Last year, Byron made some mud fenders and flaps.  They are removable.  I was sure glad that Byron...

This morning right after breakfast, I got my hair all fixed up.  I put on some make-up and got ready to make a video.  I haven't hardly used any make-up for the past 22 weeks except for publications for social media! I thought I had my script ready.  It was for the Sombrinhas de Oração (umbrella prayer) page for this Saturday.  Alas nothing seemed to go right.  I decided to try out a microphone to see if the sound would be better than my last video.  The little microphone  bewitched my laptop's camera.  It didn't work and it somehow messed up all audio, even after pulling the plug.  Yes, I asked my husband for help, but I was so frustrated that I just wanted to scream and he wisely left quietly. Yes, I did cry a few tears at one point.  My good light of the morning turned into the shadows of the late afternoon, and my fancy hair went flat.  Then I saw the funny light at the end of the dark tunnel... When nothings seems to go the way...

There we are.  I was so happy.  I had found and bought matching outfits for my three boys just before a furlough.  It would be our youngest first.  I don't remember how, but we went to a professional photographer for some family portraits.  It may have been in an attempt to get that perfect shot for a new prayer card.  Everyone was happy except the little one.  I seem to remember that he was sleepy and just needed a nap. Ah, the days when my hair was still red and Byron's was still dark blond.  We were young and happy.  Our boys were healthy and content.  We had finished things up with the church plant where we had been for a few years the year before.  We had helped out at a great church for a year and we were all set to move to another region after furlough where we would start working with a camp. Oh, what we did not know way back then.  The camp would eventually close.  One of our major missionary team member...

Yesterday was the annual procession of cowboys in our little town of Sobradinho, Bahia.  It's a Catholic tradition.  Our town has three Catholic chapels, one in each of our three neighborhoods.  The parade starts at the far end of our linear town at the first church and heads down the main avenue with all the cowboys on horseback following the statute of the Virgin Mary on donkey drawn cart.  They make their way to the main church in the far neighborhood where all the cowboys participate in a special mass to bless their year. Regardless of the religious connotations, the parade is lovely to see.  All types of horses and all types of "cowboys" big and small.  Some years there is even a man riding on a old Zebu bull.  Sadly this year the bull did not make his appearance. We see real, live cowboys in their full leather outfits at least once a week riding down the avenues of our town, in the fields near our house herding cattle and goats ba...

We needed milk.  At least that's the excuse I stated to my missionary man.  We live in a small interior town.  Our milk comes in boxes like the one of the right with Betania written on it.  It's long life milk.  Fresh milk is not available.  A liter of box of milk here in town is almost BR$5.00, but in the big city!  It's much cheaper, you know! So off we went!  My hubby really knew that I just needed to go.  I needed to walk about the air-conditioned mall and eat at an "American" restaurant!  There are two malls within an hour of us. One with a big grocery store and lots of other neat shops, Burger Kings, McD's and even a Subway.  The other with some interesting stores, a BK and a Subway.   We had our lunch in one at Burger King, cruised the stores and made some purchases at the big grocery store.  Then we stopped downtown to buy a new Bible for me.  Oh, I've been needing one desperately as James and Peter ar...

Easter evening, 2018 Easter, the mission house on Triangle Drive was filled with grandbabies, in-laws, a few out-laws, grandparents, and invited guests.  There may have been 18 or 20.  It was great, but somewhere along the line I realized I had taken no photos and forgotten to give Papa and Greyson their chocolate bunnies early that morning.  So, I felt sort of let down.  And a wave of "missionary grief" began to rise. last week Fast forward to  Monday afternoon:  William, our oldest, who'd been "home" over the holiday weekend rushed to get his things together to go back to college.  He'd decided to ride the newly fixed by Papa motorcyle back to school.  It was so nice to think of him going back to school, just like a normal American family.  We haven't been around to "see" the college thing.  As he rode off into the sunset and waved good-bye, it felt good and sad all at the same time. at our house Move along to Monda...

Lots of Changed Hearts   We've now been in Sobradinho for 12 long years.  It seems we are finally seeing some fruit for our labors.  God is Good and the time is right.  We are thankful for several young men who have made salvation decisions this month.  Some of these are fellows we first met six years ago! A Son with a Heart for Service Greyson starting taking violin lessons while we were in the States in 2014.  Before that he played the keyboard and the recorder.  Over the past two years his talents have blossomed in direct proportion to his servitude in the church teaching recorder classes, practicing with special groups and organizing big events.  We are proud and happy to be a part of his life and work. A Son with a Heart after God's June and July of this year gave us the joy and privilege of seeing our oldest, William, and his sidekick, Kerri, here in Brazil for six weeks.  We traveled, we got lost, we ha...

March was a wild and long month for this little, hard working mother.  It was my second full month of my new job and included numerous trips to town at the crack of dawn to figure out how to get a Brazilian work card.  The school where I am teaching in the big city requires it and getting it turned out to be a not so easy task.  I made a total of five trips into town to take care of the "simple" task. Adding to all my stress was an unforeseen medical procedure at the end of February which wore down my defenses on all levels - setting me up for the long, wild month of March.  Multiply all that about a million times with the upcoming departure of our oldest for the States.  Tired + Stressed + Pre-Grieving = U.M.M.  {Unhappy Missionary Mama}  But somehow with lots of TLC from my family, I made it through the seemingly long month - to be rewarded with a happy pre-departure memory moment with my boy. One of my little joys on this spot of the globe in...

"Wow, is this American?"     "Is this how it comes in the States?"   "I thought it came in a little can you put in the microwave."           "Where did this come from anyway?"   "How much does it cost in America?"   "We could live on this stuff after we go to the States to live!"   "May I have some more, please!" This past week our dear "big city" missionary friend sent us some much needed tea (we were out), 4 boxes of Walmart macaroni and cheese she found at the big city grocery store and a giant bottle of real Hershey's chocolate syrup she found on a recent trip.  Woo hoo!  Hog Heaven! The chocolate syrup deserved some ice cream to go along with it which we enjoyed one evening.  The mac & cheese went with pork chops and green beans for lunch one day.   The boys talked and talked about it.  Had it been that long since they'd had some good mac & cheese.  Apparently ...

Life's been kinda wild these past two weeks.  I got to thinking about the little clues that I begin to pick up on around the house that tell me I better slow down, take inventory and do some reevaluating! There are no ice cubes in the ice bin. No one can find any clean socks or underwear in their drawers or hiding in the clothes basket. There is no butter in the refrigerator. The dogs ran out of dog food two days ago and I've been scrounging up things for them to eat. Weeds are attacking my zinnias. The dogs are looking pretty yucky and in need of a good bath. No body knows where Dalton's Bible has gone. Latin books, what is Latin anyway?  My Bible has dust on it (remember it doesn't that too long for dust to accumulate around here) Help Us!

All the work of Carnaval Retreat is done.  Two days of shopping, one day of packing and prep at home, one day of early arrival to prep on the island and host 30 early arrivers, four days of actual camp, whew!  We hosted around 150 campers and "os demais" - pastors, workers, etc.  In the midst of all the frustrations and plain hard work, I allowed myself the joy of some shadows - Idson, Jadiel and Nataly.  Jadiel is my little bud from past retreats.  His grandfather is the island caretaker and his mother frequently works in the kitchen as she did this past weekend.  Jadiel and I enjoyed plenty of quality time together - sometimes a little too much. He helped me on two afternoons to make cake to sell in the canteen.  Since he was my official partner in business, I took the opportunity to instill lots about work ethics, capitalism, economics and love! Would you pray for all my little shadows, but especially for my litte shadow and culinary student...

Job 28:10 He cuts out channels in the rocks , And his eye sees every precious thing. Psalm 78:35 Then they remembered that God was their rock , And the Most High God their Redeemer. Revelation 2:17 He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To him who overcomes I will give some of the hidden manna to eat. And I will give him a white stone , and on the stone a new name written which no one knows except him who receives it. On our family vacation I walked with three friends up the tallest mountain peak in the Brazilian state of Pernambuco.  It was a rocky path with a one lane road of large cobblestone.  The little road went up and down as it meandered to the top of the peak at 4134 feet.  The hike took us three hours and about ten minutes.  We could not have walked much faster if we had wanted for watching where we had to step with all the cracks and crevices between the large rocks in the road and for the occasional super stee...

We're home after a week of traveling.  Had a great time.  Snapped this colorful line of laundry along a mountain road in Pernambuco.  It's one of my favorite photos from our trip.  Simple, everyday, common! Check out my other blogs for news of our trip @ Up A Mountain Mountain Retreat Take care!

Make know His deeds among the peoples Talk of all His wondrous works Remember His marvelous works which He has done Able to sleep last night after a long, somewhat frustrating day. One of my babes went to sleep after a fitful event. One of my sweets saw my need in a certain hour and met it with creativity. My dogs were home when we arrived. Found a few things on my long list in the big city. Got to see a friend and chat a little. Received some inspiration for a small project at church. This blog works even when nothing else on the net this week has been. God lead me to Psalm 105 this morning when I needed hope and inspiration for my day. The chirping birds and my Girl dog's morning greeting. I love my Creator God.

My how time flies by.  My boys just keep getting bigger and bigger.  My bones seems to just keep getting creakier and creakier!  Today I'm looking back and counting my blessings, but I'm also looking forward to new and greater joys in the days to come! August Blessings: Every Sunday in August we have had 40+ in main Sunday worship service.  Last night we had about 45. Dalton turned 14. Highschool homeschool started and we are doing well. I'm on Week 3 of a healthy living streak - stopped chomping my cuticles when nervous or sad. Several salvation decisions at church just last night. Discovery of an online gradebook for homeschool! Blackie dog who was quite sick in July is doing alright. My dear husband fixed up our porch recently and it's looking great!

Don't you love the smell of clothes dried on the line in the fresh air and sunshine.   Don't you love driving with the window rolled down on a cool, breezy day, just taking in all the scents and sounds. Don't you love the smell of fresh flowers, especially the ones that grow right outside your door! The best things in life are nearest:  Breath in your nostrils, light in your eyes, flowers at your feet, duties at your hand, the path of right just before you.  Then do not grasp at the stars, but do life's plain, common work as it comes, certain that daily duties and daily bread are the sweetest things in life.  Robert Louis Stevenson Breathe.  Let go.  And remind yourself that this very moment is the only one you know you have for sure.  O. Winfrey I took a deep breath and listened to the old bray of my heart:  I am, I am, I am.  Sylvia Plath Tonight I'm thanking God for simple things like fresh, clean air!  Take care...