Last US Treats

I also have to document some of the last bonus treats of our US time.

My dear friend Jamie conveniently waited for our return to Dallas before she delivered her 3rd child, choosing Ellie's favorite dolly's name for her baby's name... Ella Grace! Ellie approved!














More time with another dear friend, April, including a pool date with her kids Emma and Clay, but most especially, a dinner date at Cheesecake Factory for my birthday!















My brother and his family came down to San Antonio the last weekend we were in town, and the girls were especially delighted to see sweetie cousin Aubrey one more time. Check out her blog to the right if you want to see more of this cutie!



















K wants it noted that she is not in this picture, because she took the picture!














As a surprise, my sister's family came down to San Antonio too that weekend. Sorry, Tim, we didn't seem to get you in these pictures, but you are in our hearts!



















Girls with cousins Ethan & Elise



















Another super-big event-- Kathryn got her ears pierced! She approved of this picture, but none of the sad-faced pictures, as it was quite traumatic at points. This is super big-girl stuff!



















There were so many other wonderful times with friends and family that I don't have pics for, as we were so thankful to connect with many. And yet, I am SO grateful to be back in my OWN home, after 3+ months of out-of-suitcase living and 12 different housing arrangements during that time!!

Upon our return, we've made one major big-girl change. We have parted with the toddler beds and graduated to bunk beds. This is a big deal!

Beautiful Words

We arrived in one piece (well, 12 pieces actually...4 people, 8 bags) late on Saturday night, almost a week ago. Our trip was fairly smooth. We discovered that if you sit in row 65, you are so far in the back that there is no business class jealousy since you can't even catch glimpse of anyone up there.

Shortly after the start of our journey I discovered that although I had packed our "activity/goody" bag quite strategically for the girls, I had failed to include a single book for mom. So during our stopover in Detroit, I picked up a copy of the Shack at the airport Barnes & Noble. I know the rest of the world read it 2 years ago, but I'm just getting around to it. It was the perfect on-the-plane book.

Despite the oft-discussed theological quandaries in the novel, I found some deliciously vibrant phrases and word pictures that arrested my imagination...

..."Mack never talks about him much, but when he does his face loses emotion like a tide going out, leaving dark and lifeless eyes."

..."The shack itself looked dead and empty, but as he stared it seemed for a moment to transform into an evil face, twisted in some demonic grimace, looking straight back at him and daring him to approach."

..."Mack could almost feel her words rain down on his head and melt into his spine, sending delicious tingles everywhere."

..."As the word echoed in the chamber, panic rose inside Mack like a swelling tide and slowly he sank into his chair. Instantly he felt guilty as memories spilled through his mind like rats feeling the rising flood."

This has reminded me afresh of the beauty of words... the way you say things does make a difference. Our words can open windows to the imagination, stir a well of deep emotion, or spark inspiring creativity. What a creative God, who has given us language as a tool with endless combinations for communication!

I agree (I imagine some of you are thinking...) sometimes there is just not enough time or energy to attempt to think or write this way. But we can at least occasionally soak ourselves in the writings of others who do it well!

What mind-capturing phrases have you read lately? What authors or books have inspired your creativity or stirred your heart?

Life at 10,000 feet

Though we are now a month post-Colorado and on another continent now, I still have to share what a treat God dropped in our laps through our friends the Semmens who live in Fort Collins. We borrowed their mountain cabin for 6 days. I cried when we left. Don't know what came over me, but I so enjoy the delight of discovering new critters, the grandeur of a breathtaking waterfall, and observing the habits of morning hummingbird visitors! Here are some highlights:


























Though I typically think of the mountains as places of breathtaking majesty, this time I enjoyed observing the small-scale delights of nature just as much...

































Here's the biggest treat we found outside our window... Mr Moose came up CLOSE and let us watch him for 20+ minutes.












I LOVED the way the light reflected on these trees as the sun was setting...













A family picnic by the river...






































A few miles from the cabin was Pingree Park, the forestry extension campus of CSU. Some students actually get to attend college here! (Why didn't I go to school in Colorado, when I had the chance?)



















Another fun treat-- daily campfires with smores!






































We even camped out one night... I guess you couldn't call 50 yards from the cabin really 'roughing' it, but K had her fill. It was the only night it rained, and Jim was even was so cold he had to put on a sweatshirt that night!

Taking Off

I had so many more pictures to post.

See here, our Colorado cabin vacation: (note the moose)...









And here imagine my sweet neice Aubrey who came down to tell us goodbye this past weekend!











And here picture our fun surprise-- in addition to my brother and his wife, my sister's family surprised us and came down too!











OK, that's enough pictures. We take off tom morning for China! I'll be posting more soon from the other side!

Sitting in the Kitchen

There haven't been too many "Bring Me to Jesus" posts this summer. There have been lots of pool scenes, mountain glories, and family reunion pics, but I have struggled this summer to articulate what is going on in my heart. After all, this is not just supposed to be an "activities update" blog. I would desire that it lifts your eyes up to see Jesus more beautifully, as I need that from you as well.

You remember the leaky faucet story? This continues to be the year of the wet socks. I am learning to listen to the leak, rather than using more caulk. It is messy. There is a flood on the floor. And no more dish towels to mop up the mess. But I'm learning to stop the frenzy to do more laundry. (If you're not following me, go back and check out the link!)

So for now, I'm trying to sit in the kitchen. Actually, I don't like the kitchen-- literally. I try to spend as little time there as possible. I'd like to switch metaphors to make it more comfortable, but the fact I don't like it also seems appropriate. This sense of "I'm-undone-but-not-yet-put-back-together" feels to be where I'm supposed to stay for now.

Maybe when our lives re-settle a bit, (i.e., when I'm on the same continent as my home) I'll have more to share about this journey. I'd like to push through the awkwardness, because our lessons along the journey are what we have to share with fellow travelers.

Yet for now, I'm sitting here. And Jesus is in the kitchen with me.

It is His mercy that we notice the leak.

Got Em!

Thanks for your prayers for our visa... We got the 90 days!