clouds, sun and paradoxes

Hello Friends,

Haven't been on in a couple days, was a good but busy weekend. Al posted photos I promised you of our Spring balcony flowers (includes activities of this weekend)on his facebook, as he joked that they wouldn't be on my blog for another 2 years. True, as I don't know how to post them yet!

Feeling a bit strange this morning. Fatigue from some late nights and long days have coupled with a very grey and cool morning to produce a meloncholic, sleepy and introspective morning. Have found out about myself lately that I don't just like having music on, but very often I NEED music on to work, clean, organize, eat. Music for me is like the wind that moves the clouds of life across the sky of my days.

Often I have to choose my music carefully because if I pick an album too close to my mood, esp. one like today, it can drive me even further into myself and my introspection and meloncholicness. Put on Rich Mullins "Songs" CD this morning to help me get going. Meaty lyrics that are introspecive but also so ordinary, like the things of our days, and borderline meloncholic but seasoned deeply with the hope and grace of Christ. Good stuff.

Found myself wanting to know more than the little I did about this modern-day poet and prophet. Checked out a 6 part video clip on "The Homeless Man" on youtubes about Rich Mullins' life, songs and legacy. Friends said he was desperately afraid of being lonely so he surrounded himself with community. He turned his weaknesses into something positive to serve others as well as himself. Something to learn from.

Aside from Fuzz the guinea pig, I am the only one home so far today (8:45am-1:30pm). Al is out at a meeting, the older 2 kids eat lunch at school today, and the youngest one is eating at a friends' home (as I will be busy with kids' extra-curric. activities this evening and tomorrow). I might be getting a lot done this morning, but instead I am experiencing this loneliness (amplified thanks to the above mood mentioned and seeing all before me to do and trying to decide where to start). Relizing both the blessing and irony of being placed in a big city. It is very difficult, maybe even impossible to go out of my door and down the stairs just to the entry of the apt. building without crossing someone who might say hi to me. Isolation is rather a choice here. I need people contact, yet too much wears me out. It can both energize and drain me. A perplexing paradox.

Even the weather this Spring day is a paradox, the sky is very grey and menacing then 15 min. later, the wind moves the clouds out and sun boldly blazes through the windows. Another 15 min. and the same wind blows the clouds back across the sky.

Stood out on our wonderful little "loggia" (mostly enclosed balcony) watching this process, getting some distant people contant from observing and listening to hear if I could make out sounds of our youngest returning to school with our friends.

Noticed the pot with the amarylis bulb bought from kid's school. First it pushed up 2 stocks with cheerful, red flowers then, one at a time the stocks withered and fell off to the side. Emma noted this and said, "Oh, how sad. The flowers are dead now." Seeing some tips of leaves pushing up in the midst of the dying stocks I told her that it was ok because the leaves would now grow up and feed and recharge the bulb so it would be stronger and have energy to bloom next year.

There's an interesting little paradox in that as well. Part of the plant dies, so another part can grow and feed it for another season. Feeling a bit like that bulb today. Waiting for those leaves to grow further, after the withered part of me (of last year and some of this sch. yr.), to take in the sun and feed me both now and for another season.

The stomach part of me is now starting to take over the contemplitive/ introspective part of me and tell me to eat some lunch and quit this blog. Thank goodness there are different parts of us with different needs otherwise, this blog would get really long- much more than the 5 min. destined for you to skim it!

Have a good, partly cloudy, but also partly SUNNY day!

A great party, a wiped-out Wed., & a rainy Thurs.

Hey there Friends,

Tuesday evening Moms' international buffet supper "A Taste de Chez Vous" went WONDERFULLY WELL! We were 10 moms from 6 different countries and many different regions of France represented. The buffet was a bit of a surprise as to who was bringing what, but it all worked out great, and tasty!

We had olives from Portugal, Ranch dip from the states with chips as appetizers. For the main course we feasted on homemade sushi (Japan), blue cheese/spinach quiche (France), fish cresents (Portugal), (not croissants!), my chili, a vegetable salad (Poland), and a simple green salad because we ladies love our salads! The salad also went with bread and 3 different kinds of cheese brought by a Marocan friend! (Can't seem to spell tonight, and can't seem to figure out spellcheck-help!)

Dessert was a fun variety of homemade chocolate cake and orange-zest muffin-type things to store bought Portugese mini flan-type desserts, a variety of mini French dessert pasteries, a Normandy-style rice pudding with cinnamon and a box of vanilla ice cream.

The beverages were just as varied and flowed as easily as conversation does (and did!) between 10 ladies who enjoy a night out with other female friends/ acquintances.

As the title says, we were, nonetheless wiped out Wednesday after saying goodbye to the last guest a midnight then cleaning the rest up and going to bed. We all, but the sea-faring Emma, are fighting some sort of fatigue/cold/virus and layed low (read couch or beds) on Wednesday. Finally at 4pm I was one of the few of us 5 who changed out of pjs and took the well one to dance class.

Most of us are feeling some better today, but Joel's fever is gone and replaced by a very uncomfortable sore throat. Rain, seasoned with dashes of sunshine here and there followed me on 3 of the 4 school runs to Liz's school and a meeting at church. Lovely to see our daffodils and tulips (from a school fundraiser!) coloring our mostly grey day. (will try to post some photos soon)

Noticed a lovely solid wood bed frame, looked antique, at the curb for garbage pick up. Wished I had a place for it and felt it was such a shame that it was thrown away that I actually prayed someone would take it before the trash men did. Then realized that I was spending more time concerned about that bed frame today than I did about issues that really matter, i.e. with eternal value. Stopped praying for the bed frame and chose something different to pray for. :)

Have a great evening and thanks for your 5+ minutes!

Spring is here and so are more parties !

Hello again Friends!

Thanks for according my blog another 5 minutes of your time. I am honored and wowed!

The offical first day of Spring has come and our balcony and window box tulips and daffodils are in full dress. Wonderful to see.

This morning we had 8 kids for an extra long and extra special English Club. We reviewed vocab for colors and forms, expanded some vocab for pets and added some for farm animals. Then we put many of those words to use coloring eggs for Spring and Easter. It went amazingly well, was calm and no one left colored like an egg themselves! As I try to serve some goodies from America as snack for each English Club time, today I served some Lifesaver Jellybeans and Whopper Robin's eggs (that friends Rita and Ranita brought over for us). Both sweets were a great hit!

After lunch, most of my family got a short nap in as we're either recovering from or are fighting some sort of "bug". Today Joel came down with the high fever/ fatigue "bug" that Emma had on Discovery Class. He sat down on the couch to rest and zonked out about 30 minutes ago. Please pray we all get well soon!

I'm taking a quick pause in the picking-up-and-cleaning-up frenzy while my dear Hubby vacuums. We're having a Mom's night tonight in our home with 6-10 neighborhood moms coming for an international buffet. Each is invited to bring a dish and dance/song from their country/region to share. I'm planning on getting past the cleaning/hidding the junk stage to the making it look pretty for women stage soon. Making my mom's homemade chili, ranch dip and chips, icecream and maybe rootbeer if it's still good (pop does store well, doesn't it?). Hoping and praying all will turn out and be a blessing to these moms/ friends, and that as many as possible can come.

Al and the kids will be cloistered in the back, aiming at bedtime while I dust off the mascara tube, fancy myself and welcome the moms, without their kids. Have had the crazy song in my head, "Well it's ladies' night, and the feelings right. Yes it's ladies' night, oh what a night..." in my head lately! Anyway, on with the day.

Well, there it is. The rest of our day's plan. Hope you have a great rest of your day and thanks for reading!

Updates on the Discovery Class by the Sea

Here's a brief update on Emma and her class by the sea. Up until Wednesday evening, things had been going great for our 6yr. old daughter and her class by the sea. They've visited fish markets, built sand castles, collected creatures and other "treasures" from the beach and the sea, and had class time drawing and learning more about all they have seen and discovered !

However, that evening we got a call from her teacher saying that Emma had a rather high fever (103.4 F) and sore throat. The teacher gave her some medicine and said in a later phone call that the fever seemed to be lower than before and would continue checking on her during rounds up until 1am.


Here is the finally report in the saga of "Emma at the sea" ! (pardon for not emailing yesterday, I have got a head cold and couldn't last anymore).

She returned safely back to school yesterday evening around 6:30pm. She and the rest of the 2 classes and teachers, were all tired but unscathed!
We then retrieved her suitcase, plodded home and celebrated her return with homemade pizza and brownies, 2 of her favorite foods.

Thursday afternoon and evening we received word from her teacher that Emma had slept well, woke with a less intense fever, but had a big enough appetite to down
2 pieces of bread and jam as well as 2 glasses of freshly pressed OJ. Not bad at all! She had more medicine to bring down the fever and was checked out by
a doctor also. Apparently she has a viral sore throat with fever. However she seemed to have quickly recovered and was able to participate in the activities of
their last day at the sea! The teacher also texted me at night to say the fever had not returned. Friday evening she said that just her throat was hurting her, but went to sleep easily.

Emma had lots to talk about yesterday evening and today and was also very proud to show the letters and cards she received during her time in Normandy.
Writing her each day was not only for her sake but for mine as well! It seemed to be a sort of therapy and way to stay connected, even if only one-sided, as phone calls to the kids were not allowed.

Today, Saturday, she and I have been refilling our "hug tanks". I have really been enjoying her spontaneous hugs through out the day and have noticed her hugging her brother, dad and sister,(a bit more as she hugs back more than brother!) during the day as well!

What a relief and joy to have her back home...safely! Thanks for thinking of her and praying for her (and me!).

Hope you have a peaceful sleep tonight as I know we will, having our 6 yr. old back safely in her bed again at home.

(This might've been more than 5 minutes tonight!)

safe and sound !

Got news yesterday that our daughter and her class arrived safe and sound at the center by the beach!

Today, the principal finally found a moment to post some photos of the classes on the train, at the beach picking up "treasures" that the sea washed up, eating in the cafeteria, and having a snack of 10 baguette loaves and 2 pots of chocolate Nutella spread while sitting on another beach that is rocky. One of the kids was quoted as saying " Nutella at the sea is better than Nutella at home." Liked that !

Couldn't find our girl in any photo easily but think there was her pink coat in a photo of them walking by the center. Will be looking for more tomorrow.

Feeling relieved. Thankfully haven't felt really worried or have had a cry attack since Sunday night. Feeling peaceful, although finding that writing letters to mail each day are a comfort and sort of therapy for me !

Thanks for your 5 minutes to spare !

Going to bed now, sore, dry tickly throat and cough coming on.

Sleep well, whether by the sea, or in the city or elsewhere !

Emma on the Normandy Coast

Today is a big day for us all as we send one of our kids off for a week away from home! Emma, her 1st grade class and the other class of 1st graders and teachers are leaving this morning on "Discovery Class" to the sea. They will spend 5 days and 4 nights at a camp for school kids in Normandy, right near the coast of the English Channel.

This trip has been planned since the Fall, and now it is finally here. Emma has been awaiting with great excitement and expectation for this trip and packed almost everything for her suitcase herself -and 4 days before the drop-off day!

She and her class took the métro to the train station, then the train to the local train station, then a bus to the center by the beach, arriving finally at 1:30pm France time. There are classrooms, lunchroom and dormitory all on site at this center. Their activities will include visiting fish markets, the ports, the local town, building sand castles on the beach, collecting shells and sea life, and taking notes and drawings of all this as well. To our great joy, part of their assignment each day will be to write a letter home to the parents!

As many of you with children know, over-night trips, camps and school outings are times that test our abilities to stretch the "umbilical cord" between us and them. These are times we let go a little bit more towards their day of eventually complete independence. And at these times, we are also challenged to trust God even more with the safety and well-being of our kids, not to mention wondering if they ate their vegetables and washed well enough in the shower.

Perhaps it is us, as moms that may have a harder time allowing our child to go on such trips or those of us who already knows what it is like to have a child in your arms and have to say goodbye until heaven reunions. Or maybe it's both, like for me. Last night my sweet hubby held me as I cried tears of worry and apprehension about say a short goodbye to Emma for just 5 days (and let's not forget those 4 nights!). Thankfully this morning, the storm had passed and I was calm and excited for her, as I watched other mothers with tears and worry in their eyes.