The Longest Night ramblings

Hmm. Tonight is the longest night of the year and I wonder... why don't we celebrate the birth of Christ, the One True Light, on December 22, when the days begin to be longer, and the LIGHT gains control over the darkness? I wonder... does the number of people with depression lessen as the days get longer? I wonder ... are more babies conceived on this night? I wonder... why God made the world with varying amounts of light in each day? I wonder ... why does the longest night come in this cold time of year--why not when it's hot?
It's interesting that our family spent the shortest night --longest day-- in Costa Rica last summer. What a contrast to today --in light, in temperature, in attitude (I'm a nicer person when it's light--and warm)! Though I don't like these long nights, they are good for me... kinda like spinach. The added darkness gives more time for thought, for rest, for peace. If it were light 20 hours a day, as it is in some parts of the world, I'd be doing stuff ... making hay while the sun shines.
Thank-you, God, once again for providing what we need. Bless those people who dread the night, whose fears and sorrows heighten in the darkness. Shine your warming Light into their hearts and may they find rest and peace in You.

O Christmas Tree, O Christmas Tree ...

Why do my family members run and hide when it's time to trim the tree? Could it be that it takes me three hours and that I have to tell the story behind every ornament? With Andre Bocelli or Celine Dion singing carols in the background, I exclaim, "Oh, look--here's Lana's ornament from 1995--a dog. She's always loved dogs." Hey Philip, do you remember Mr. Karkow, your first grade teacher? Here's the ornament he gave you in first grade." "Aww... look at the pretty gold treble clef. A sweet little girl named Olivia gave that to me when I taught preschool Kindermusic."
There was a beautiful tree inside Green Bank today. Only three different items adorned its branches: pine cones, birds' nests, and red berries. Everything was placed just so on the branches, making the tree perfectly coiffed and so ... southern living. I love creativity and symmetry and artistry but, while beauty may be in the eye of the beholder, real joy comes in the sweet memories of living and loving.
Our tree has tons of handmade and storebought "religious" treasures including stars and nativities and angels and crosses--yes, even crosses. The journey to the cross began at Christmas and therefore brings a hint of sadness; yet, that sadness is overshadowed by the unquenchable hope and assurance we have in Christ. Despite life's struggles and day-to-day battles, I know WHO wins in the end and ... I'm with HIM. Happy Advent!

Humbly Proud

Yesterday, my first "baby" turned 31. Brent is a kind, caring, smart, young man. In the areas of husband, father, son, minister, musician, and friend, he is exemplary. If I were a peacock, my tail feathers would be spread and I'd be strutting around. Instead, I thank God and quietly brag about this treasure.

I'd like to indulge some maternal meanderings and memories. Before Brent was born, I prayed for a child. When I did not become pregnant in a few months time, I bargained with God. I promised God that, if He would give us a child, I would give this child back to Him. Like in the Old Testament story of Hannah, I sincerely meant it and planned to name our child Samuel if it were a boy. Today, he IS Samuel Brent.

Like many first-time mothers, I probably hovered over Brent too much but I could not bear the thought of being separated from him when he was little. I was one of the biggest boo-hoo-ers in the Kindergarten "Mom's cry room" on the first day of school.

Imagine the joy I had when he showed an interest in, and a propensity for, music. The first recital, the first solo, the first time to accompany in church, the first time he played in our praise band ...

Brent's adolescent years did not bring the typical angst and trials to our family. Maybe I'm forgetful in my "mature years" but I can truly say that raising Brent was a joy. He has been a good brother to Tess, Philip, and Lana. When he fell in love with Kelly, married her, became a minister, had children of his own, my joy grew exponentially.

When Rob was suddenly sick last year, Brent was a rock. My internal plates made a tectonic shift as the world turned upside down. Brent helped keep me oriented and was a calm, steady presence thoughout the ordeal.

Though I know that God loves the humble and hates the proud, I think that God, as a Parent, gives a nod as I exclaim about a recent event that evoked enormous parental pride. Brent, who serves as Director or Worship Ministries at Hope UMC, recently preached at his church. He has done this several times in the past but we were not able to be present in those worship services. This particular Sunday, we took off from our respective ministry jobs and went to Dallas, GA, to hear Brent. Tears flooded my eyes as Brent eloquently spoke with sincerity and authority, rightly dividing the Word of Truth.

The Hannah in me said, "Here he is, Lord. Thank-you."

We are women ... hear us ROAR!

*We are women... hear us ROAR*! Wow, I just finished my first 5K Race for the Cure (breast cancer) with 20,000+ other beautiful people. My dear friend, Faye, lost her sister to breast cancer last May and I wanted to do something for her. As it turns out, the event did something for me. From the moment I parked my car to join our team for the race, I was teary-eyed. The sight of mass humanity, coming together for one ultimate purpose --- the knowledge that many of these people had lost loved ones to breast cancer --- the realization that two women in our own team of 25 men and women were breast cancer survivors --- the feeling of community and like-mindedness with the goal to defeat this disease ---all these things caused my heart to swell and my eyes to fill.
The old Helen Reddy song ( see* ) ran through my mind, as well as the phrase, "No man (woman) is an island." Do we need each other? You bet we do... even those of us who by nature are independent spirits. Sorrows shared are halved. Encouragement and support are worth their weight in gold. Yeah for the sisterhood--and brotherhood-- of LIFE. God bless, heal, and encourage those who struggle with the disease. Holy Spirit comfort those who mourn. God give wisdom to researchers and medical personnel to BEAT this disease. In Jesus' Name.

On Eagle's Wings

Boy Scouts has been a part of our family for twenty-plus years. It is a great program that instills excellent values in young men, while letting them do "wild-at-heart-guy things" like camping, cooking over a fire, caving, rappelling, archery, and clay -disc shooting (whatever that's called!) Philip is almost at the end of his official time with Scouts. He's worked hard to earn all the required merit badges (21). Last Saturday, he organized and lead a team of 23 volunteers as they renovated and beautified the playground of an urban church that is used by an after-school program every weekday. I am so proud of him, of both the stick-to-it-tiveness he showed and the leadership qualities he exhibited.

Brent, our older son, achieved the high honor of Eagle, also, and it brought him to soaring heights on numerous occasions. When he interviewed for a scholarship at Furman University and also at his first job interview after college, his Scouting experience and, in particular, the rank of Eagle, were pulled out from his resume and discussed more than any other achievements.

Even I was a cub scout den mother one year! Corraling seven eight-year olds into some semblance of order was not my forte but we took some awesome trips and made some great crafts!

Hats off to all boyscouts and leaders!

And He will raise you up on eagle's wings, bear you on the breath of dawn, make you to shine like the sun, and hold you in the palm of His hand.

'Tis a gift to --- do nothing.

Computers, Blackberries, Facebook, Tivo, NetFlix, microwave ovens--I'm not a big fan of technology but have to admit I use--and take advantage of--it. Sometimes I feel like a hamster on a treadmill--or one of those desk gadgets that has the silver balls and once you drop one ball to hit another, the balls will continue to force the other balls to move and they, in turn, will force those same balls to move-----you get the picture.

Slowly, I am warping into a new phase in my life. We won't say it's old age--just a realization that SO many things I do are unnecessary and SO much of life is missed as I hurl myself into the human rat race. Let's call it maturity. The #1 contributing factor to this new recognition is Justice. Mi nieta tienes quince meses. All my grandkids are the BEST but I am especially blessed to live close enough to Justice to spend time with her one or two days a week. When I say time--I mean time. Not the hurried, multi-tasking, hell-bent acitivities that too often fill my day. No, this is time in another dimension--the baby dimension. Time that caters to no technology, no schedule (except her naptime). This together-time is all the sweeter because I have to give her my absolute full attention. She's walking and exploring things that I've long ignored but that bring squeals of delight from her, followed by squeals of delight from me! How can dropping the pool table balls into the pool table pockets be so fun for the 100th time? How many times do you flip on and off the lightswitch before it's no longer considered a learning time? From this grandma's perspective, the answer is, "As many times as she wants." I'd much rather watch every nuance of expression on her face and try to figure out what, "Ba-ba," "cu-cu," and "ta-to" mean than listen to the most fascinating lecturer on earth.

I have a new favorite phrase, "Doce far niente." Translated, this Italian phrase means, "The sweetness of doing nothing." The very idea is so antithetical to my nature--the old nature--I should say. With Justice, I can't really say I'm doing nothing but that I'm doing nothing in my usual way--so, truthfully, there IS a sweetness in doing nothing with her.

Oh well, I'm rambling but just so thankful the Lord is giving these special times to do nothing and the sweetness that that brings.

Survived-- no---Thrived! Thanks, FaceBook

Yesterday came and went but, as birthdays go, it was actually special. I not only survived, but thrived! One of the nicest gifts I received was all the well-wishes from friends on FaceBook. This technological cyber giant (FB)usually frustrates me b/c I do not have time to check it everyday and, therefore, am lost in many general conversations at home and work that begin with, "Did you see on FB where ... ?" But, now, I have a new respect for FB. One of the joys of getting older (and YES, there are joys) is having many friends and the memories that go with them. As people bade, "Happy Birthday," on FB, my mind's eye pulled up their faces and I recalled memorable events and situations where our lives intersected. Tons of fun!
Dear Friends, let us love one another for love comes from God. Everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God. 1 John 4:7

The Power and Gift of Memory

Two weeks ago, we returned home to Brentwood after spending five fabulous weeks in Costa Rica. I kid you not, there are many times each day when I ask myself if that trip really happened. It seems the only way to answer my question is to pull out the photos (still on Rob's computer) and share with Rob what we remember. We may be "back in the swing of things," here-- full force -- but thank God for our memories of CR. Now, if it sounds like escapism, it is. The power of memory and the sights and stories of places and people we came to love give refreshment to these hectic days. As we sit still, smile, and take deep breaths, our blood pressure lowers and heart rate slows down--sort of Yoga for the mind.
The class I teach in Old Testament Worship emphasizes the power of memory, how God commanded (in loving parent-fashion) that His people remember God's mighty acts done in their behalf (thus the Passover and other feasts). God also tells His people to constantly tell these stories to their children so that they, too, will remember and have knowledge of God's loving care. God gave us the power of memory--a gift that increases in value as I get older.
Count Your Blessings, a hymn we don't sing much any more, is a good reminder to remember all the things God has done for me. Just as photos of CR remind me of wonderful times and help set my present world back in order, memories of God's blessings do the same and even more. Beyond the blessings of this life, we have the promise and hope of eternal glory. Remember that!!

Abundant Life!

Dear Lord, forgive me for any time that I may have rolled my eyes or listened half-heartedly to other Grandma's as they showed pictures and waxed on-and-on about the wonders of their grandchildren. I so completely understand them, now. Thank-you for giving these little people gifts at this point in my life: gifts that add purpose and meaning to existence and gifts that fulfill your promise that we will have life, and have it to the FULL (John 10:10)! My cup runneth over with joy. Surely heaven is filled with precious child-like people, innocent, inquisitive, energetic (well--maybe not that energetic!), sensitive, and loving. Help me to be the SuSu that loves, listens, and gently leads. In Jesus' name, AMEN.

Home again, home again, jiggety-jig ...

With mixed emotions, we arrived in Nashville at 2:30 p.m, glad to see family here--sad to leave new friends in Costa Rica.
The last five weeks seem like a dream, full of experiences we will never forget. Rob and I are truly rested, yet overwhelmed right now. I'm sure we'll be able to put everything into perspective as time goes by. A few lessons we've already learned from this once-in-a-lifetime adventure: we have way too much stuff in USA; we are way too stressed and should not sweat the small stuff; time can be our enemy or our friend--we control it, it does not have to control us, and a 3-mile walk on the beach every morning does a body a world of good!
Lead me, Lord. Lead me in your righteousness. Make your way plain before my face.

La Comida es especial y muy delicioso! The food is special and very delicious!

I know I've blogged about the food here but it bears repeating. Besides loving the rice and beans, beans and rice, and rice and beans, Rob and I disagree on who has the best Nachos and we agree on the best pizza. Most of all, though, we have delighted daily in the fresh--just picked off the trees--fruit. Fresh pineapple is our favorite. Can you believe it costs only $1.30 in the market? We have fresh fruit smoothies every afternoon consisting of just fruit, ice, and water (that is, if we make them but there's usually a little added sugar if we buy them). Yummmmm.

Sunday, we had a real treat. Gabriel, the Hacienda Pinilla tennis pro, invited us to attend a church about 20 miles from here. After traveling down several long dirt roads and fording a small stream, we arrived at La Casa de Sion (The House of Zion). It was open-air (wooden posts supporting a tin roof) with a concrete floor and wooden pews. The time of praise and worship (singing) was led by Latino Christian recording artists on the USB inserted into the boombox. The pastor and his wife, very kind and dedicated people, led worship. Their teen-age daughter, Tanya, encouraged all of us to sing along (with the boombox). There were about 25 people there and two-thirds of them were relatives of the pastor's family. Most importantly, the Spirit of God was there. I was struck by the fact that God hears Spanish prayers, and German prayers, and Fijian prayers, and Zulu prayers ... we are all part of the family of God. What a mighty God we serve!

Love in any language, straight from the heart, pulls all together, never apart.

Fiesta Sabonera!

This coming week is the celebration of the Guanacaste region's independence from Nicaraugra. Many fiestas will light up the nights. Today, we attended our first authentic Costa Rican fiesta sabonera and horse show! The costumes for the ladies (dancers and riders) were magnificent--brightly colored flowing skirts, each one made from boo-koos of yards of fabric. Friesian horses pranced and strutted, proudly carrying their riders. In typical CR fashion (tico time), the event that was advertised to begin at 4:30 p.m. did not begin until 5:00. No complaints here, though. It was a lovely evening, soft breeze and NO RAIN, so Rob and I soaked in the sights, sounds, and smells.

The participants seemed so proud of their heritage and their country. It struck me that they are just as proud of their country, if not more proud, than I am of mine. We've come to love this land and the gentle, kind, peace-loving people of Costa Rica.

This is my song, O God of all the nations,

A song of peace for lands afar and mine.

This is my home, the country where my heart is;

Here are my hopes, my dreams, my holy shrine;

But other hearts in other lands are beating

With hopes and dreams as true and high as mine.

My country's skies are bluer than the ocean,

And sunlight beams on clover-leaf and pine.

But other lands have sunlight too and clover,

And skies are everywhere as blue as mine.

Oh, hear my song, O God of all the nations

A song of peace for their land and for mine.

Music: "Finlandia" by Jean Sibelius (1865-1957)

Words by Lloyd Stone (1912).

La Alegria de la Vida-- The Joy of Life

Life is precious. Today, we celebrate Rob's life, exactly one year after his cardiac arrest, and we are thankful for his full recovery.

Yesterday, our big adventure was riding bikes for six miles. That may not sound like much, but I don't think I've been on a bike in--who knows when--so there are certain parts of my anatomy that are screaming today.

This morning, after we walked on the beach with a gorgeous sunrise, we were treated to a full tour of Hacienda Pinilla. Our appreciation and love for this working cattle ranch/5-star resort grew as we learned the history as well as heard the plans for the future. My mother's cousin, HG Pattillo, had the vision 36 years ago when he purchased these 4500 acres and patiently saw his vision begin to be fulfilled in 2002 when the resort portion of Hacienda Pinilla opened. Another very important and endearing quality about Mr. Pattillo is his passion for education and the care of the Costa Rican people in this area. He established a Foundation that has helped 40 schools in this municipality, supported medical clinics, and built eight Habitat for Humanity houses. It is his generosity that allows our family to be here for sabbatical and we are grateful.

Beloved, let us love one another, for love is of God and he that loves is born of God and knows God.

Shell-seekers

Another day, another dollar ... sand dollar, that is. Rob and I spotted five on this morning's sunrise stroll. Just what is it we hope to find hunting for shells on the beach? Color, shape, size. Every year since I was a little girl, I have dragged bags of shells home from the beach. Some shells made it into lamp bases, some were glued onto picture frames, some hung in macrame nets (remember the 70's?). I think that, in a way, we're hoping to capture a precious moment--to memorialize a fabulous time in our lives--to hold onto something that, just maybe, will freeze us in that special event in that special time. Whatever it is, I'm collecting shells again this trip. Don't know what I'll do with them, but will worry about that later.

Yesterday, we did a little beach clean-up. This is an outstanding, beautiful place but we've noticed that, with each high tide, much trash washes up on shore. We took trashbags and picked up junk on a quarter-mile of beach in front of our house. I hate water bottles!

We tried two different restaurants for the first time Monday and Tuesday--local food and very good! Today, we walked about five miles, played in the ocean, and read. Rob is composing a book of our stay in Costa Rica. Can't wait to see the finished product.

Philip and Lana leave in the morning for Brentwood. They will join the church choir on tour to the Gulf. Rob and I stay for one more week. ;-)

I have loved you with an everlasting love. I have called you and you are mine.

Costa Rican Eyes

We learned very early after our arrival in Costa Rica to develop Costa Rican eyes: eyes that soaked in every vista-full of color, shapes, and natural beauty. Along with that, we have developed eyes that look in every corner for bugs, every path for crabs and iguanas, and every road for potholes. Philip has done an incredible job taking pictures of our adventures here but he was almost too engrossed in his photography to see the 8-ft. long BOA constrictor on the dirt road leading to our house! UGH! Again, folks here try to tell us that Boa's aren't that bad-- aren't poisonous, etc., but a snake's a snake a snake to me.

We walked the beach to the lagoon this morning, swam in the pool, boogie-boarded for an hour, then came back and had our own worship service as we overlooked the Pacific ocean. We played a game during our worship--"lightning-round thanksgiving." In five minutes, we took turns naming as many things as we could name that we are thankful for on this trip. The buzzer sounded way too soon-- I think we could have gone on for 30 minutes!

Underneath me, all around me, is the current of God's love...

A visit to the pot farm

Today has been a lazy day, highlighted by a visit to The Pot Farm! This ceramics store is in a barn right outside Hacienda Pinilla. Philip thought the place was hilarious so we stopped to take his picture and to let him buy a T-shirt. :-)

Yesterday, Rob and I rode through the surrounding countryside with Yanith, the head of the Hacienda Pinilla Fundacion. She took us down miles of muddy, bumpy roads to see the renovation projects at two of the forty elementary schools where the Foundation is working. We went so far back in the country that I wasn't sure we would find our way out--back where there were only a few homes and maybe 30 children in the community --but there was a school! Costa Rica is ranked third in the world in literacy. Another treat was seeing the eight Habitat Houses that the Foundation has built. Education, housing, and medical care are the three thrusts of this foundation. Hats off for the marvelous job they are doing in the Santa Cruz area of Costa Rica.

Last night, we ate at a great little pizza place in the nearby town of Tamarindo, called La Baulas. On the way home, we stopped at the supermercado to stock up on local fresh fruit and great Costa Rican coffee.

Shout to the Lord, all the lands. Come before Him with singing. Give thanks and bless His name.

Hey, Hey, we're the Monkeys

Hey, Hey, we're the monkey's. People say we monkey around ... This song kept running through my head as we ziplined through the rainforest canopy, today. I leaned over to Rob at one point, on a platform 80 feet in the air, and whispered, "Makes you think twice about evolution, huh?" After that swinging adventure at Rincon de Vieja, we swooshed down a quarter-mile water slide, rode horses thru the rainforest for 45 minutes on our way to sweat in a natural steamroom (heated by volcanic springs), bathe in volcanic mud, and soak in volcanic hot springs.

What a day! Rob and I are feeling our age but proud as peacocks that we risked it--and survived.

The Lord is my strength-- and my rest!

A church without walls

Beach Community Church in Brasilito, Costa Rica is a church without walls--theologically and literally! We worshiped there yesterday under a thatched roof with vaulted ceilings held up by huge poles, great casablanca fans, and absolutely NO WALLS. The wonderful BCC congregation, about 100 people in size, is comprised mostly of US ex- patriots. A four-member praise band led us in singing many familiar songs but each with a slight Latino flair. A guest speaker who leads a prison ministry in Florida gave a challenging sermon. It always thrills me to visit other churches and to find God's people worshiping passionately and serving whole-heartedly. In Christ there is no east or west, in Him, no north or south!

Sunday afternoon, Lana and Rob went for massages, Philip took more great pics, and Susan graded online course work. We all hiked three miles along the beach to the lagoon, watched another gorgeous sunset, and then went to bed by 9:00.

Today has been fairly routine-- NOT. Nothing about this trip has been boring or ordinary, there is always something new to explore. With only sixteen days left, I just hope we don't miss anything!

From My Front Porch Lookin' ... Out

To paraphrase Richie McDonald's song, the most beautiful view in the world is our front porch lookin' out! Mango and coconut trees, vivid flowers whose names I do not know, critters including monkeys, iguanas, armadillos, geckos and, of course, the spectacular blue and gray of the Pacific ocean--what a master artist God is.

David and Allison Slade spent this week here, supervising Berry College students and helping them wrap up their seven-week internships in CR. It was a joy to meet them and to spend time with them! They left this morning and, now, it is just us Huckaby's down on the farm (Pequena Finca).

We went to Santa Cruz this morning to visit the Sat. a.m. market--another adventure and opp. to use my Spanish! The drive was beautiful with lush, green pastures and mountains flanking us on two sides. The market teemed with locals selling muchos vegetales y frutas y ropas (vegetables, fruits, and clothes). We discovered a TCBY and gobbled up good ol' frozen yogurt--yeah! I really like this town--modern enough, yet has maintained a quaint Costa Rican atmosphere. After Santa Cruz, we drove to Guaitil. This tiny community is best known as the center of handmade Costa Rican pottery, so of course we bought a couple of pieces. Hope to get them back to TN in one piece.

Came home (Hacienda Pinilla), walked three miles on the beach, watched a gorgeous sunset, ate a homecooked meal of CR chicken and rice, platanos, salad, and papayas, then wrapped up this gift-of-a-day playing Skip Bo. Sweet dreams.

It's a Small World After All

The kindergarten class at Villa Real elementary school (Costa Rica) and the kindergarten class at Brentwood UMC's Center for Children and Families became friends on Wed. Thanks to SKYPE, thousands of miles melted away as 30 giggly, wiggly five-year olds introduced themselves, one at a time. Each class sang a favorite song for the other. The BUMC group hopes to continue the relationship and promised that the children would write letters and send personally drawn pictures. What a treat! It IS true ... kids are pretty much the same everywhere. They are precious in His sight, Jesus loves the little children of the world.

Thanks to Rob and Chris Yoakum for setting this up.

Vitamin D- Light

The buzz word in vitamins these days seems to be Vitamin D. Every MD we've seen in the past year has recommended that we take a Vit. D supplement. Certainly, we are getting enough sunlight here in Costa Rica to absorb the necessary daily requirement. But, we are also soaking in Vitamin Delight as everything around us continues to astonish and amaze us. This morning, Rob and I stopped in a local coffee shop, Cafe Cafe. As we sat on the front porch, at least five hummingbirds fed at the feeder right above our heads. Last night, as we sat on the porch of our casa, we saw an armadillo cross the yard!

Tonight, we've been invited to have dinner (la cena) with a Costa Rican family. I look forward to comida tipico (home-cooking, Costa Rican style) and practicing my Spanish.

O taste and see that the Lord is GOOD!

PS--No more scorpions last night.

The Eyes Have It/Paradise Lost

In this tropical paradise, the eyes have it! As do the ears and nose et al. Surrounding us is a feast for the senses and we've gained a heightened awareness of the treasures and terrors around us. Sunsets, flowers, birds, monkeys (outside our bedroom!), chiles, avocados, beans and more beans, volcanoes, crabs, iguanas, and SCORPIONS! Yes, scorpions. We've killed four today, our second day in our second home, which is an older cottage and in the woods --a part of the original ranch. We're told these are not the deadly type--just give a bad sting and some numbness. UGH! The ranch hands sprayed and we sprayed--we'll see.

Anyway, on a positive note, we visited the elementary school in Villa Real and helped with a kindergarten class. I was able to teach them one of my old Kindermusik songs, "Little Mister Robin." Only nine children out of the usual 30 were there and we were told that because of the heavy rain last night some of the children could not/would not walk to school. There is no truancy policy in CR. We will go back tomorrow and work again with Sharon, the student from Berry College.

Bars

Costa Rica is a country full of bars. No, not the wine, whiskey, pour-your-heart-out-to-the-bartender type of bars but the metal-rod, saw-through-only type of bars. Every home, business, church, and school not only has bars on the windows and doors but are also behind high fences with barbed wire across the top. Security guards stand vigilant in front of many of these. We pay someone to watch (guard) our car everywhere we park. And this occurs in the safest, most developed, highest-rate-of-educated-people country in Central America. I recall fences and bars and guards in Mexico when I visited fourteen years ago and Rob says the same is true in South Africa, where he's done mission work twice in three years. It's disconcerting and, no matter how nice the people are, how delicious the food is, and how beautiful the countryside--there is always a slight gnawing tension that says, "You're not safe!"

Will it come to this in America, the home of the FREE and the BRAVE? To some degree, it has. Many homes have security "systems." I hold out, and pray, that we are strong enough, with a firm foundation, to prevent this from happening--at least to the degree I see in CR. Without getting philosophical about freedom, I am reminded that true and lasting freedom only comes in Christ, our Prince of Peace. No gnawing tension, there. Praise the Lord!

Yesterday, Rob and I met with Ray Zirkel, the Methodist missionary. He showed us several projects that are developing and ministries that are on-going. We were blown away by the Children's Home project: the acreage is beautiful countryside with a creek on one end. A mission team from Chattanooga was pouring concrete for the floors of one building. Two

houses for children and house parents are almost completed, There is a wonderful field for soccer and other sports. They hope to have the first children come to live with them in October and eventually they will house 60 children!

After that, we visited the Colegio de Metodista (Methodist school), an outstanding school for pre-K through 11th grade with 1150 students. It is highly respected in CR and all of its graduates go on to college (which is rare in CR-- most children are fortunate to complete high school and many only go through 6th grade).

I need to say something about the food. Yes, there are rice and beans at almost every meal but there is also a wonderful variety of fruit and delicious spices for the meats. Ray took us to a great "fast-food" place for lunch, the Rosti Pollo. La comida es muy delicioso!

Off-beat

After Mr. Toad's wild ride through the mountains of central Costa Rica, we finally arrived at Alajuela, a "suburb" of San Jose. Here, we have joined with the mission team from mid-TN and are staying in the Methodist Seminary here. We are helping renovate a Methodist church and to conduct VBS at an elementary school in a very rough area of town, a.k.a. Little Hell. The children there are beautiful and patient with our lack of command of the Spanish language! It was hard to believe as I looked at them that they live in such a rough barrio, with murders, prostitution, and drugs on every corner.

Last night at the church, we worshiped with the people of the church and community. During the opening praise songs, as the band played enthusiastically, I began to clap my hands to the songs. Now, in the US, we clap on beats 2 and 4. Philip, Lana, and I have a standing joke in the family that Rob will invariably clap off-beat (beats 1 and 3) and someone has to get his attention and set him straight. WELL, guess who was off-beat last night? Rob took full advantage of the situation and told me that all those times that I had demonstratively tried to get him to clap on the "right" beat, he was actually rehearsing for worship in Costa Rica, where they clap on beats 1 and 3! It got me to thinking about differences, or should I say, diversity, in cultures and people and about my own efforts to "colonialize" everyone to my way of thinking, acting, and, yes, even clapping rhythm. The Body of Christ is beautiful, like various threads in a tapestry that make the whole so much greater than the parts. So-- all of us seem a little off-beat to someone else. I'll swallow my pride and keep clapping.

Infinity ... That's what it seemed like until we got to Costa Rica. That's how long we wish this magical dream could continue. Interesting, too, that most of the pools here are infinity pools- giving the illusion that you are somehow participating in a natural phenomenon and an everlasting, monumental event.

Yesterday, we worshiped at Beach Community church, an outdoor church-non-denominational, that meets under a beautifully constructed thatched roof. The time of praise and worship was beautiful--hope to try sing some of the songs we learned there back at home. We then celebrated Father's Day and treated Rob to lunch at the Happy Snapper, a wonderful restaurant--again, outdoors-- in Brasilito. After that, we spent the afternoon at Playa de Flamingo, an amazingly beautiful beach. We returned to Hacienda Pinilla and skyped the kids and grandkids back home.

Today, we traveled four hours to Arenal Volcano. We hope we we see it erupt while we are here but the weather is rainy and the skies are cloudy. We hiked in the rain forest and then rested in the hotel jacuzzi.

Philip bought himself a new camera before we left home and has taken some amazing pictures. Can't wait to share them all.

Thanks be to God whose love is eternal-- to infinity and beyond!

La Pura Vida

We're here! I'm sitting by the infinity pool, looking through the palm trees, at the waves crashing in the Pacific ocean. We just returned from a two-mile hike to Lola's, a cantina on Playa Avellanas, where we sat under the coconut and palm trees and ate the best nachos I've ever had. Played in the ocean a bit, slept in the hammock, and watched the variety of people who trekked their way to this slice of paradise.

Yesterday, one of the hacienda pinilla employees took us to the Auto Mercado for groceries. It was wonderful to have him explain the products, and the cost (!)--saved a lot of time. At the top of our grocery list was CR pineapple--had it for dinner last night and were not disappointed!

We called Ray Zirkel, the CR missionary we will work with and he gave us directions to Alajuela (outside San Jose). We plan to visit the Arenal Volcano on Monday, get up early Tuesday to go to San Jose from there to work with the mission team from mid-TN and Ray.

The fruit of the Spirit for today is peace. Thanks be to God!

When I figure out how to upload pics, will do!

Practice run

We've been told that we will be awakened VERY early in the mornings by the monkeys and birds in Costa Rica. God wanted to give us a practice run this a.m. Daddy Robin, whose nest is built under the eave of the roof of our back porch, decided to do his part to "shout with joy to the Lord all the earth" at 5: 30, right outside our bedroom window.
Less than one day, and counting ... So many details and things-that-can-only-be-done-today to take care of today. Haven't nailed down lawn care but have a strong lead.
What a blessing-- this opportunity, this adventure! Our anticipation is multi-fold: rest (oration), re NEWal, bonding, service, listening to God speak in and through it all, and FUN!
In everything, give thanks.
Hasta Manana!

Costa Rica or Bust

Why is it that when you are waiting for a trip, or any anticipated event, the days drag on till Y-day (Yeah-day)? Then, once the event begins, time exponentially increases speed, barreling through to bring the joyride to an end, much too soon? Right now, I feel like I'm moving in slow motion, wading through a foot of mud, but, HANG-ON, Wednesday's comin'.
For 11 months, we have dreamed and planned our family trip to Costa Rica. Since last July 15, a day that will forever live in infamy, our family has yearned to get-away, re-connect, de-stress, "re-perspectivize," and re-fuel the JOY tank. Despite the looooong winter and spring, we are thankful and, even giddy, that God has provided this opportunity. This Wednesday, we head to Hacienda Pinilla, Costa Rica for R&R, with some M&S (missions and service), and a lot of NS, NS, & NP (no shirt, no shoes, no problems --Rob's favorite daydream)! La Pura Vida--here we come!