Last night I went to the back door of our church and walked up the stairs. Our 4 children, ages 10 - 17 were playing wild games and having fun. My friend and her husband were on the couch looking really tired.
Because their son's team had lost his basketball game, they were now in the "losers circle". That means that if they do not win their game toady, they are out and my friends will be packing up and going home. I am hoping they win!
Angie and I were reminiscing about how our families' met in Mexico. I remember when they arrived, I was in the back of the house washing cloth diapers in a bucket, using a plunger to agitate them. Later we got a washer, but for a few weeks I did all of our laundry by hand.
I couldn't remember all the details, so I asked Angie a lot of questions. She had 7 children at that time, 2 were adopted from Liberia. They sang us a song, "Lord I lift your name on high." I still like the Spanish version better, because I learned it first in Spanish!
Their 21 year old son walked in the room at the church, so I had a few questions to ask him. I will call their son "Tim". Here's a story that happened to him at "Campo Cristiano" in Mexico at the time our families both stayed there:
"Tim" and my son, "Bob", ages 9 and 7 were playing outside. They noticed a little dip in the earth and so they investigated. When they walked on it, it moved a little. So, after running on the dip over and over, they started putting big rocks over it. After that, when Tim ran on it the earth shook, and he thought that was really cool.
He jumped on it, then it gave way and he fell in .... a sewer! He pulled himself up on the beam, but fell back down, so Bob pulled him out. He could have drowned, as it was over his head! After that they both needed showers!
I had heard this story before, but not the details. Since Bob is visiting, I'm going to ask him his "take" on the story tonight. I hope our friends stay so Tim and Bob can see each other and reminisce...
Friday, March 05, 2010
Thursday, March 04, 2010
Out of town friends visiting
I only have a minute to write. I just got off work. I cleaned 2 businesses. One is an internet/computer place with 3 rooms. The other is the doctors' offices. My days were cut back from 4 to 1 at the docs'. I wondered how dirty it would be now that I will only be going in once a week. Everything was pretty clean, except the floors. They were not noticeably dirtier, but they took longer to clean and I had to change the mop water half way through.
The internet business is in the same building on the 3rd floor. It took me longer there too, as their nice wooden mats to protect the wooden floors were quite dirty. One of the employees asked if I could get them clean. I told him I would try some special furniture polish. It ended up working well and they look a lot better.
Some very good friends are in town this weekend. Some of their children are in a basketball tournament here. I just talked to Angie, and she said they lost their first game. :( Our girls are staying overnight with their family, who are all staying at the church.
We met this family over 10 years ago on our very first trip to Mexico. We were at a Christian retreat center, helping out, when they showed up. They knew the directors of the camp well and just came to visit for a while. At that time they had several of their own children and had recently adopted children from Liberia. Now they have 10 children, 4 from Liberia.
Well, I'd better go, as I am going to try to see my friend before she goes to bed.
The internet business is in the same building on the 3rd floor. It took me longer there too, as their nice wooden mats to protect the wooden floors were quite dirty. One of the employees asked if I could get them clean. I told him I would try some special furniture polish. It ended up working well and they look a lot better.
Some very good friends are in town this weekend. Some of their children are in a basketball tournament here. I just talked to Angie, and she said they lost their first game. :( Our girls are staying overnight with their family, who are all staying at the church.
We met this family over 10 years ago on our very first trip to Mexico. We were at a Christian retreat center, helping out, when they showed up. They knew the directors of the camp well and just came to visit for a while. At that time they had several of their own children and had recently adopted children from Liberia. Now they have 10 children, 4 from Liberia.
Well, I'd better go, as I am going to try to see my friend before she goes to bed.
Wednesday, March 03, 2010
A country drive and the GPS
The first time I used my new GPS was when I drove to the "Valley" to see my son and daughter-in-law in January. I also would be taking my oldest daughter to the airport. I had no problems with the GPS. It really helped me, as I am quite "directionally challenged." It is possible that it lead me around a different way, sometimes, but I felt secure knowing I wouldn't get lost any more. My daughter, who had had her doubts about my purchase, even commented, "You should have had one of these years ago."
Yesterday I got up after Greg left for work. He left me a note of "things to do". Among them was, "Can you please bring us lunch, I would like re-fried beans and chips or chicken tacos." I did start the beans, but they did not get done in time, so ended up buying him and Levi a subway sandwich.
He called me around 8 to see if I had gotten up yet. I asked him where he was working and how to get there. He said, "You can just put the address in the GPS and find it."
When I was finally able to leave, I drove out of town and followed the instructions that the GPS gave me. I took a left several miles out of town. Then I took another left, just like the GPS said. Then the voice said, "In 200 yards you will reach your destination" ... then "You have reached your destination" The problem was that there was no house there. I drove about 4 miles ahead and finally turned around. Because I couldn't find where they were working I came home.
Gideon knew where they were working, and took me out there. The GPS had tried to take me a long way around on the road and was way off. It actually was only a few miles out of town. Greg and Levi got their lunch at 4 pm. I'm was glad he had taken a lot of snacks with him.
I still plan on using my GPS on out of town trips, but for the country drives , I probably should get directions from someone who has been there.
Question: What is your experience with a GPS? Do you own one or do you trust your sense of direction?
Yesterday I got up after Greg left for work. He left me a note of "things to do". Among them was, "Can you please bring us lunch, I would like re-fried beans and chips or chicken tacos." I did start the beans, but they did not get done in time, so ended up buying him and Levi a subway sandwich.
He called me around 8 to see if I had gotten up yet. I asked him where he was working and how to get there. He said, "You can just put the address in the GPS and find it."
When I was finally able to leave, I drove out of town and followed the instructions that the GPS gave me. I took a left several miles out of town. Then I took another left, just like the GPS said. Then the voice said, "In 200 yards you will reach your destination" ... then "You have reached your destination" The problem was that there was no house there. I drove about 4 miles ahead and finally turned around. Because I couldn't find where they were working I came home.
Gideon knew where they were working, and took me out there. The GPS had tried to take me a long way around on the road and was way off. It actually was only a few miles out of town. Greg and Levi got their lunch at 4 pm. I'm was glad he had taken a lot of snacks with him.
I still plan on using my GPS on out of town trips, but for the country drives , I probably should get directions from someone who has been there.
Question: What is your experience with a GPS? Do you own one or do you trust your sense of direction?
Sunday, February 28, 2010
The sun is shining today!
I'm hoping the day will come soon when I will be able to spend more time writing something that is really worth reading. My weekends are filled up with cleaning. Starting in March (tomorrow) I will not be cleaning offices in the morning, so perhaps it will give me some extra time - if I keep getting up early...
I have been missing Arizona and Mexico a lot lately because the weather here has been gloomy for a long time. But... this morning the sun has come out and it looks like a different place altogether.
In my mind I am already planning a trip to Arizona and Mexico. I think it has to do with the fact that for over 10 years in May or June we would travel to Oregon. So, it seems strange not to travel anymore. Also I miss some of my friends in Arizona. I may or may not go this year. I am leaving it in God's hands and will see how things develop.
I have been missing Arizona and Mexico a lot lately because the weather here has been gloomy for a long time. But... this morning the sun has come out and it looks like a different place altogether.
In my mind I am already planning a trip to Arizona and Mexico. I think it has to do with the fact that for over 10 years in May or June we would travel to Oregon. So, it seems strange not to travel anymore. Also I miss some of my friends in Arizona. I may or may not go this year. I am leaving it in God's hands and will see how things develop.
Wednesday, February 24, 2010
I'm still alive
I don't write much on this blog because my life has been very ordinary for quite sometime. I also haven't had a lot of time to write. I still clean 3 mornings and 2 afternoons by myself at offices. On Friday I clean 2 houses. On Saturday I have a new house I am cleaning. Then Saturday afternoons I help the family clean the bank,insurance office and lawyers office, if they aren't done.
I have been trying to cook better meals, keep our house cleaner and help the kids more with their school work.
The family is doing great. Levi and Gideon are making a super-water-cooled computer system. They also do Algebra together and other school work. They help Greg with different jobs he has: tree trimming, construction, fencing...
Susannah has been taking gymnastics for about a year. She just got promoted to "team" and goes 3 times a week for 3 hours each time. It is a good PE class and she really likes it.
Right now we have a temporary membership at the RAC (athletic club). I competed again for the "Free throw challenge". Last year I won (in my age and gender) with a whopping 5 out of 25! This year I made 8, but don't know if I won yet, as I think there was someone else competing. Last year I was the only one in my age :(
It is raining here and I am missing Arizona and Mexico a lot these days. The winters here are very long. I got used to LONG summers for 10 years and it is still hard to adjust.
I will try to write more often here. So, until next time... adios!
I have been trying to cook better meals, keep our house cleaner and help the kids more with their school work.
The family is doing great. Levi and Gideon are making a super-water-cooled computer system. They also do Algebra together and other school work. They help Greg with different jobs he has: tree trimming, construction, fencing...
Susannah has been taking gymnastics for about a year. She just got promoted to "team" and goes 3 times a week for 3 hours each time. It is a good PE class and she really likes it.
Right now we have a temporary membership at the RAC (athletic club). I competed again for the "Free throw challenge". Last year I won (in my age and gender) with a whopping 5 out of 25! This year I made 8, but don't know if I won yet, as I think there was someone else competing. Last year I was the only one in my age :(
It is raining here and I am missing Arizona and Mexico a lot these days. The winters here are very long. I got used to LONG summers for 10 years and it is still hard to adjust.
I will try to write more often here. So, until next time... adios!
Saturday, February 06, 2010
I caught the cleaning bug...
This morning I went to Hamleys'coffee shop with Greg before my house cleaning job. After that I went to pick Lynn up so, as we were going to drive together to clean her mom's house. Fog made driving a little dangerous, so I went slow. Lynn's mom's house looked much better when we were done. We ended up only working 2 1/2 hours, as her mom needed a nap. It looks like I will be cleaning there again in a couple of weeks. Any work I get right now is a blessing. Hopefully we'll pick up some more janitorial accounts this month also.
I must have caught the cleaning bug, as I cleaned our house for a couple of hours after I got home. Then I took a hot bath to wash all the dust mites off me. Just joking - but maybe not.
Susannah and I played Rummikub for about an hour or so. She said, I thought you were going to do blogit? I said that I wanted to play Rummikub with her more. It was fun and she won! (I came in second) That game makes you think!
My oldest son and daughter-in-law found a used piano in a nearby town. My husband took his pickup and helped them go get it. Now she can fill their home with beautiful music.
Tomorrow while many are watching the Super Bowl, we are taking a drive to the mountains so the kids can play in the snow. We'll have a campfire and roast hot dogs and make smores and just relaxing. I might make "hobo stew", an easy meal that is cooked in the coals.Maybe I'll have time to finish the book I started 3 weeks ago, while sitting around the campfire.
When we get back, Greg does plan to watch part of the Super Bowl with a friend.
I must have caught the cleaning bug, as I cleaned our house for a couple of hours after I got home. Then I took a hot bath to wash all the dust mites off me. Just joking - but maybe not.
Susannah and I played Rummikub for about an hour or so. She said, I thought you were going to do blogit? I said that I wanted to play Rummikub with her more. It was fun and she won! (I came in second) That game makes you think!
My oldest son and daughter-in-law found a used piano in a nearby town. My husband took his pickup and helped them go get it. Now she can fill their home with beautiful music.
Tomorrow while many are watching the Super Bowl, we are taking a drive to the mountains so the kids can play in the snow. We'll have a campfire and roast hot dogs and make smores and just relaxing. I might make "hobo stew", an easy meal that is cooked in the coals.Maybe I'll have time to finish the book I started 3 weeks ago, while sitting around the campfire.
When we get back, Greg does plan to watch part of the Super Bowl with a friend.
Tuesday, December 29, 2009
Never Be The Same - song lyrics
NEVER BE THE SAME
(words and music: Mike Troxel)
Twelve men on a raging sea
Fear gripping in their hearts
Afraid that God He would not hear their prayer
Fearing that they would die
All along laying right beside
Was the answer to their call
They would never be the same again
They would never be the same again
One woman against an angry crowd
Enduring judgment and shame
Afraid that God He would not hear her at all
And she'd be condemned to die
All along standing right beside
Was the answer to her call
She would never be the same again
She would never be the same again
Much of my life I stumbled along
Ensnared by my sin
Afraid that I had gone way too far
Feeling my soul had died
All of a sudden deep within
I heard an answer to my call
I will never be the same again
I will never be the same again
So surrender your heart
To the maker of the stars
And the mover of the great four winds
And the healer of your soul
You will never be the same again
You will never be the same again
(words and music: Mike Troxel)
Twelve men on a raging sea
Fear gripping in their hearts
Afraid that God He would not hear their prayer
Fearing that they would die
All along laying right beside
Was the answer to their call
They would never be the same again
They would never be the same again
One woman against an angry crowd
Enduring judgment and shame
Afraid that God He would not hear her at all
And she'd be condemned to die
All along standing right beside
Was the answer to her call
She would never be the same again
She would never be the same again
Much of my life I stumbled along
Ensnared by my sin
Afraid that I had gone way too far
Feeling my soul had died
All of a sudden deep within
I heard an answer to my call
I will never be the same again
I will never be the same again
So surrender your heart
To the maker of the stars
And the mover of the great four winds
And the healer of your soul
You will never be the same again
You will never be the same again
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