This Morning

This morning I enjoyed the best cup of coffee. I was sitting outside my house taking in the morning rays and just being. While listening to the birds chirping and watering my lawn, I sat there for about an hour and just listened. It has been a while since I just sat and listened. At first all I could hear were the birds. The birds in my neighborhood are quite intense. We have doves, owls, bluebirds and lil tiny brown birds. All the birds were noisy this morning. Then I started to listen to the water. Then the breeze in the trees.
I was journaling and got to thinking that I remind myself often times of a character in one of my favorite children's books. The book is called Frederick. It's about a field mouse who sits and seemingly is doing nothing while all the other field mice are busy preparing for the winter. The other field mice begin to get irritated with Frederick, like why are you just sitting there doing nothing while we do all the work at which point Frederick defends his actions. He says that he is gathering colors for the cold winter days, and stories for the quiet still of winter, and poems for the lonely nights. I am a Frederick field mouse. I find it quite easy to sit and just be. Although, I am required to do laundry and dishes, and dusting, and taxi cab driving, and all kinds of other stuff I would much rather sit and listen and watch. I love to sit and watch, listen, and hopefully learn. This morning what I learned is that I wish I had more mornings like this one. I am thankful for the mornings that I do get like this. Where the world stops and the coffee taste so, so good!!

Easter morning, and The First Subway Ever made, in the world!!!

We woke up Easter morning in Budapest and the sun was shining the birds were chirping and we were off to Jen's church over there. This particular morning they were meeting at her friends/pastors house Jeff and Anna's. Her whole team was there and had brought lots of yummy food for me to enjoy :) and enjoy did I ever!! On the way to the gathering Jen took us on the first subway ever made in the whole world which just happens to be in Budapest. I did not know this. Sister did know this, and I was like a kid at Disneyland. Truly , I thought how cool and what an insight to the people of Hungary who have proved to be very intelligent people. Hungary is one of the only countries in Europe who somehow managed to survive the World Wars pretty much intact or least better than surrounding neighbors. Many of the buildings there are original buildings and that is something that is rare in Europe because of all the brutal hits of war that had completely demolished many countries. So this lil' subway trip was pretty fun. There was an old man on there that looked so much like my dad's side of the family (who have Hungarian blood lines) it was crazy. He kept staring at me and my sister and finally we asked if he would take a pic of us. That is the one at top of the page. It was awesome to see sister interact with him speaking his language. I was so proud of her. I am so proud of her.

More Budapest, right outside Jen's door!!

"Our deepest fear" and My deepest fears

Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure. It is our light, not our darkness that most frightens us. We ask ourselves, Who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous, talented, fabulous? Actually, who are you not to be? YOU are a child of God. Your playing small does not serve the world. There is nothing enlightened about shrinking so that other people won't feel insecure about you. We are all meant to shine, as children do. We were born to make manifest the glory of God that is within us. It's not just in some of us; it's in every one. And as we let our own light shine, we unconsciously give other people permission to do the same. As we are liberated from our own fear, our prescence automatically liberates others." by Marianne Williamson , from a Return to Love
I could have written this and I could say this in first person. My deepest fear is not that I am inadequate it is that I am powerful beyond measure. Not because of my strength or personal power but because the God of the universe gives me strength to do the unthinkable. I am tired of playing small. I am tired of shrinking back for the sake of false humility, or fear of enemies. I am no longer going to be disobedient when it comes to the things that have been layed up in my heart to do. This heart, this soul God gave me and I feel a busting out coming on. Fellow family , friends, and otherwise be warned. I KNOW WHO I AM, and I will never again forget it.

Thanks Chemane for this was for me.

Arriving at Jen's place in Budapest

When we finally arrived to Jen's beautiful home we were all so tired that we took a nap in the middle of the day. I just have to brag a bit about her place. After seeing a few homes in Germany and just the hostel in Italy I was so happy to see that my sister's home is exactly what I wanted to see. It was white and crisp and clean and spacious for a European home. She has a huge living room that still had projector screen in it when we arrived from a previous girls slumber party that she had a week earlier. Her kitchen has beautiful cupboards that are white of course with glass fronts. Her bed is in a loft like area and her bathroom was pretty large again for a home in Europe. Her neighbors were quiet(at least while we were there) and most mornings I woke to hearing the birds chirping and the sun coming in her living room window. When we woke from our nap Jenny made us a pesto pasta dinner and we just relaxed, did laundry, checked internet, and basically felt like we were home only we weren't.

Thanks again Jen.

Another Intermission

And now a word from SOLOMON- S M I L E - and keep SMILING!!!

Arriving in BUDAPEST

This is inside and outside the train station that brought us from Venice to Budapest. It was an interesting train trip to say the least, and my passport got stamped 4 times as we passed through 4 other countries in route, but we arrived safely and we were very ready for a place to call home. Jen's place was like a retreat from all the busy European travels we had experienced. When I stepped outside the train station, even though it was raining , I was overcome with how beautiful Budapest is. I really didn't think that anything could surpass Venice but somehow I was pleasantly surprised by this city in Hungary.

Intermission

And now for an intermission from my photos and trip stories.

This scripture really spoke to me this morning and I thought I would share it.
"God does not respond to what we do; we respond to what God does. We've finally figured it out. Our lives get in step with God and all others by letting him set the pace, not by proudly or anxiously trying to run the parade."
Romans 3:27-28 MSG
This version is very different than many others but the way it read really made alot of sense to me. Sometimes striving to hard for something in life is not really the way God would have us operate. Sometimes what He intends for us is to come easy because we are not going after it in our strength or with our tiny wisdom. If we pursue life in this way we really do get in step with what God is doing. I needed to hear this. I am thankful that He has set a pace for my life that is exactly what I need when I need it. The boundary lines for me have fallen in very pleasant places and for that I am grateful.

My morning in Italy

We started out our day at the market. The sun was shining and the weather was the warmest we had felt in a long time. It was so great to see all the locals getting thier groceries at the Fish market and outdoor produce section. This was a slice of real life that I had prayed I would get to see. I really didn't want to be in the touristy part of town. We were not at all on the main strip and our hostile was located really in the back of town away from the water somewhat. To hear the people speak Italian and to see thier faces was so part of the experience of Italy for me. I literally secretly stocked some the faces to get them on camera because they looked like some of my relatives. This was too much fun for me. I enjoyed every aspect of Venice. We decided to get lost on purpose while we were there and boy did it ever pay off. I am still so thankful, grateful, and in awe that I got to see these sights with my own eyes.

Arriving in Italy

The night we arrived in Italy there was a beautiful full moon. Can you guess what song we sung alot that night? "When the moon hits your eye like a pizza pie, that's amore" At this point in my life I now need to dream bigger because this was a very big dream come true for me and I feel so blessed to have been given this gift at such a young age. My all time favorite picture is of the sun going down in Italy but I couldn't get it to be placed the right way on here so I will have to have my hubby help me with that later. There are so many pictures forever lodged in my brain as well as in my camera of the day I prayed would be the longest day of my life, in a good way. It was one very long day the next day, and I feel as though I spent a week there even though I was only given 24 hours.

I will be back, Lord willing.

Some more Germany pics

The picture of the tower is one of my favorites from the whole trip because Aris explained the signaficant meaning behind this tower ,that it is one of seven others. If I remember correctly they were built as defense towers or look out towers to keep enemies out of Germany and now they are surrounded by the modern German world but still have purpose in that there is a new vision for these towers now. I would like to hear more about that vision because I think it's really cool. Again, Aris was a wonderful tour guide in more ways than one. We went on from here to try some German snacks and what not, one of which I still can't believe I actually ate. A hot dog with ketchup and curry spice. Me no likey!! But I ate it and have a picture to prove it but I can't make it go straight on this stinking blog, arrghhh!! The German Opera house at the top , in the light of day really is beautiful. Lots of construction going on when we were there probably cause it's the off season? Dunno. Anyway, the clear blue skies and crisp cold air reminded me of home.

Germany in the light of day

Our first morning in Germany Franzi took us to see two of the colleges in Frankfurt and the Museum that had the big scary dinosaurs outside. After her shift was up she passed on the torch of "tour guide" to Dudi and Aris. We were in such good hands. The picture of my friend Andre and I outside the wooden box was an elevator that rotated around like a big clock and you just had to jump in when a box was open and jump out when your floor had arrived. THAT was so much fun!

Germany the First Night

I am so thankful for the family we have in Christ and especially their incredible talents/gifts. One of those wonderful gifts- they were awesome tour guides with the time given. Another one of those gifts they are the "hostesses with the mostest" Aris and Franzi made Germany much more beautiful than it ever would have been if they weren't in it.

No words ...Pictures coming soon

I am still finding it hard to put into words the impact of this trip. So for now I will be sharing some of my favorite photos and then I am sure the words will come, as they always do for me :)

Some Easter quotes, from The Jesus I Never Knew, by Philip Yancey

Here as I mentioned are some quotes toward the end of the book and if you have read through the other ones you might not even need to read the book now ; )



"I have marveled at, and sometimes openly questioned, the self-restraint God has shown throughout history, allowing the Genghis Khans, and the Hitlers and the Stalin's to have their way. But nothing- nothing- compares to the self restraint shown that dark Friday in Jerusalem."



He quotes M. Scott Peck here, " There are dozens of ways to deal with evil and several ways to conquer it. All of them are facets of the truth that the only ultimate way to conquer evil is to let it be smothered within a willing, living human being. When it is absorbed there like blood in a sponge or a spear into one's heart, it loses it's power and goes no further. The healing of evil- scientifically or otherwise- can be accomplished only by the love of individuals. A willing sacrifice is required... I do not know how this occurs. But I know that it does... Whenever this happens there is slight shift in the balance of power in the world."

"One reason I am open to belief, I admit, is that at a very deep level I want the Easter story to be true. Faith grows out of the subsoil of yearning, and something primal in human beings cries out against the reign of death. Whether hope takes the form of Egyptian pharaohs stashing their jewels and chariots in pyramids, or the modern American obsession with keeping bodies alive until the last possible nanosecond and then preserving them fluids in double-sealed caskets, we humans resist the idea of death having the final say. We want to believe otherwise."

Book Review- The Jesus I Never Knew, by Philip Yancey

I just finished this book The Jesus I Never Knew, and I have to say that the time frame of it's contents right before Easter have made me want to stand up and shout. This is a wonderful book that displays a beautiful portrait of Jesus. As I mentioned in a previous blog it hangs out in the Beatitudes for a while and then quickly goes into the Sinless Savior who is a friend to sinners. He talks at length at how Jesus whole time here on earth was a balancing act. He portrayed a teacher who was not doing away with God's laws but at the same time bringing grace into areas that grace was not permitted.
My book is flagged with so many tags where I have highlighted so much, sometimes almost whole pages, and that to me is a sure sign of a winner. I know this book came out a while ago but if anyone is looking for a great book right before Easter to help you remember the Jesus you fell in love with I highly recommend , The Jesus I Never Knew by Philip Yancey. To me it is the Jesus I have known but sometimes I forget and we all need reminders.
Here are some of my favorite quotes-

"Among people who walled off a separate sanctum for God in the temple and shrank from pronouncing or spelling out the name, God made a surprise appearance as a baby in a manger. What can be less scary than a newborn with his limbs wrapped tight against his body? In Jesus , God found a way of relating to human beings that did not involve fear."

"As I look back on the three temptations, I see that Satan proposed an enticing improvement. He tempted Jesus toward the good parts of being human without the bad: to savor the taste of bread without being subject to the fixed rules of hunger and of agriculture, to confront risk with no real danger, to enjoy fame and power without the prospect of painful rejection- in short, to wear a crown but not a cross. (The temptation that Jesus resisted, many of us, his followers, still long for.)

"Now that I am an adult, the crisis of the Sermon on the Mount still has not gone away. Though I have tried at times to dismiss it as rhetorical excess, the more I study Jesus, the more I realize that the statements contained here lie at the heart of his message. If I fail to understand this teaching, I fail to understand him."

"In the Beatitudes, Jesus honored people who may not enjoy many privileges in this life. To the poor, the mourners, the meek, the hungry, the persecuted, the poor in heart, he offered assurance that their service would not go unrecognized."

"Yet, as C.S. Lewis reminds us, we dare not discount the value of future rewards. One need only listen to the songs composed by American slaves to realize this consolation of belief. "Swing low sweet chariot, comin' for to carry me home." "When I get to heaven goin' to put on my robe, goin' to shout all over God's heaven." If the slave masters had written these songs for the slaves to sing, they would be an obscenity; rather, they come from the mouths of the slaves themselves, people who had little hope in this world but abiding hope in a world to come. For them, all hope centered in Jesus."

"Various scenes in the Gospels give a good picture of the kind of people who impressed Jesus. A widow who placed her last two cents in the offering. A dishonest tax collector so riddled with anxiety that he climbed a tree to get a better view of Jesus. A nameless, nondescript child. A woman with a string of five unhappy marriages. A blind beggar. An adulteress. A man with leprosy. Strength, good looks, connections, and the competitive instinct may bring a person success in a society like ours, but those very qualities may block entrance to the kingdom of heaven. Dependence, Sorrow, repentance, a longing to change-these are the gates to God's kingdom."

"Jesus came , he told us, not to destroy life but that we may have it more abundantly, "life....to the full". Paradoxically, we get this abundant life in ways we may not have counted on. We get it by investing in others, by taking courageous stands for justice, by ministering to the weak and needy, by pursuing God and not self."


These like I said are just a few and there are more to come later this week I will post the ones that get into the real meanings we celebrate Easter.
If you stuck this one out you must have some time on your hands :)

1 week

In one week I will be traveling to Europe to see my sister Jenny and some friends in Germany. I am so very excited but could really use some prayers support to get everything in order here on the homefront taken care of before I head out. This week my kiddos are out of school on spring break and so I am really looking forward to having the time with them before I go. That part I couldn't have planned better if I tried. BUT, with them being home it will be hard to get the things done that I need to , phone calls, grocery shopping, lot's o laundry (so the big guy doesn't have to worry bout stinky underwear) etc. so that being said I am wondering how it's all going to work. I know it will, I just don't want to procrastinate and cause more chaos for myself than what is necessary. Also, if everyone could pray that while I am gone Moses would be given Superman strength to do both our jobs. "What a man , what a man, what a MIGHTY GOOD man" (just singing) and also for safe travel for me and my traveling companion Andre. We will be all over the map over there and I really don't want to get lost where I don't know the language.
I am pretty sure that I won't have time to blog but if I do I will leave some updates.

I have a wart or is wort?

I have a wort on the bottom of my foot. My husband tells me that this isn't just any wort it is what's called a planters wort. So instead of being the visible bumpy ugly thing on your skin this is inside my skin and it feels like I am walking on a pebble stone all day. It's very annoying and sometimes down right painful. I heard that these lil boogers are not easily rid of. Apparently, my mom in law had one on her foot and she tried to remove it several times to no avail. I don't really have money for all that nonsense, nor the time to investigate so I was hoping maybe some of you bloggers out there might know of something helpful that I could try. I am going to try using the regular wort stuff with a band-aid over it so it doesn't wipe off. Here's hoping that works cause it's really annoying.

Good enough to pass on

Watch your thoughts; they become words.
Watch your words; they become actions.
Watch your actions; they become habits.
Watch your habits; they become character.
Watch your character; it be comes your destiny.


This was in a recent email I recieved and thought the reminder was a good one. Good enough to pass on.
More personal blog coming soon.

Psalm 130:5-6 One of my all time favorites

"I wait for the Lord , my soul waits, and in his words I put my hope. My soul waits for the Lord more than watchmen wait for the morning, more than watchmen wait for the morning." Psalm 130:5-6

Have you ever tried to stay up all night? Usually we do this sort of thing when we are young ins. Like on Christmas eve how many of us were so determined to stay up all night to sneak a peek of the Jolly ole Elf and never made it past midnight. This scripture reminds me of how hard it can be when you are waiting for something that you want so badly and it seems it will never come. I am sure the watchmen who's job it was to protect the village at night could barely keep their eyes open and then suddenly the world around them would start to get brighter and lighter and they probably felt a surge of energy come over them. The soldiers in boot camp get taught right away how hard it is to stay up all night. I have heard that they give you maybe 2 hours of sleep at first. I wouldn't survive the first night. Sleep deprivation can do wacky things to a person and so can being deprived of nourishment for our souls. My need for the Bread of Life is stronger than ever. When you start to see daybreak after a long, long night it is a beautiful feeling. I am thankful that after the night of my soul there is always a morning if I place my hope in Jesus he never fails me. His grace, mercy, and patience with me astounds me. His love, peace, and joy are what I wait for. His words give me hope like no other.