Pick-up, Made-up games

I live in a household of competitive boys (now that my only daughter is grown and married). I've posted in the past on our propensity for turning most anything into a competition, fierce at times, but good natured and healthy. We do participate in some organized sports - soccer in the fall and baseball in the spring. But now that soccer season is over, pick-up games are the norm. My guys have been the driving force behind Sunday afternoon sports at the local park. Some weeks they have twenty people show up for a pick up soccer game. Folks - from 10 to 50 years old, from around the corner and around the world, boys and girls - gather in all kinds of weather, divide up teams and go at it, playing hard, helping each other out, competing and encouraging. It is a highlight of the week and is a great way to bring folks together on a Sunday afternoon for refreshment and fun. Often, a group of the players will drift over to our house after the game to snack on whatever's left from Sunday lunch, popcorn, or whatever they can find. Sometimes we hustle up a meal of scrambled eggs and toast, but Sunday is mostly a rest day from cooking for me so we keep it simple. Occasionally, someone will stop and buy ice cream on the way home from the field and add that to the hodge podge of food.

This past week, in the absence of soccer practice, my young men have invented a new game. You will chuckle at the name. It's Chunky Baseball. It even has a theme song. I don't why it got that name or what the rules are. When I've asked for an explanation, they just sort of sigh as if to say, "Well, Mommy, it's really complicated and you just have to go out and play it to understand it." So, I'll be content to remain in the dark about the intricacies of this new game. But what I love is that my boys, together with a neighbor, friends from church, a homeschool buddy, a cousin, and others, have spent every gorgeous fall afternoon this week OUTSIDE!!!! Being creative, exercising, having fun. They come in with bright eyes and rosy faces. We made a trip to the store to buy a bigger, brightly colored ball with which to play the game, since the small red rubber ball they'd been using kept getting lost in the thick stand of monkey grass that covers our neighbor's entire front yard.

I have heard that this generation of kids doesn't know how to play games, doesn't get enough exercise, sits in front of the computer or the TV and lets their brains turn to mush. Maybe if there was a Chunky Baseball game going on down the street, those kids would forget about Halo or whatever else it is they play, say goodbye to their facebook buddies, and head outside. Maybe playing Chunky Baseball would revive their mushy brains and strengthen their atrophying muscles. Maybe they'd find out that being outside, creating a game is way more fun than staying inside playing simulated tennis on a Wii. I don't know. I'm just glad that around here real kids are playing real games in the real outdoors. It seems that there is no end to their creativity when it comes to games. Maybe sometime I'll write about Electrifying - another recently invented sentence structure/grammar game played across the ping-pong table with a football. I don't think Nintendo will ever come up with anything like that!

Fuda Creek flows again!

Fuda Creek, which runs along the back of our property, has been dry most of the summer.



The rain this week filled our creek with roiling, tumbling, gurgling, splashing, caramel water.



I have spent time sitting in the treetop screenhouse, listening to the laughing creek.

A little break

I'm off to the beach this weekend for a little personal retreat with one good friend. We will knit, paint, walk, talk, read, pray, and rest. It is a welcome little break. My guys will hold down the fort. I'll miss 'em, but they're happy I get to go. Joel keeps asking, "Are you excited, Mommy?" Yep, I am.

Rain!!!!

I was in the kitchen just now and suddenly I heard a most wonderful sound - RAIN!!!!!! Falling gently, falling steadily, pattering on the roof, washing down over branches, gathering in the gutter and spilling out. Drink it in, dry ground. Soak it up, thirsty plants. I ran out to the deck and stood in it, barefeet feeling the wet, drops hitting my head. This great old-time hymn popped into my mind:

There shall be showers of blessing:
This is the promise of love;
There shall be seasons refreshing,
Sent from the Savior above.

There shall be showers of blessing,
Precious reviving again;
Over the hills and the valleys,
Sound of abundance of rain.

There shall be showers of blessing;
Send them upon us, O Lord;
Grant to us now a refreshing,
Come, and now honor Thy Word.

There shall be showers of blessing:
Oh, that today they might fall,
Now as to God we’re confessing,
Now as on Jesus we call!

There shall be showers of blessing,
If we but trust and obey;
There shall be seasons refreshing,
If we let God have His way.

Showers of blessing,
Showers of blessing we need:
Mercy drops round us are falling,
But for the showers we plead.

Green Leaf in Drought Time

Well, no rain fell today, but the forecast still says its coming, just a little later. We keep praying.

My thoughts lately about drought and Cameroon reminded me of a book we read the year we were there. Written by Isobel Kuhn, Green Leaf in Drought Time, is the story of the "reluctant exodus" from China by Wilda and Arthur Matthews, the last China Inland Missionaries to remain in the country after it fell to Communism. In the introduction of the book, Kuhn says that "the purpose of this book is not to simply tell another story of the trials that Christians and missionaries faced under communism in China. Its true purpose is to describe God's provision for His children that allows them to 'put forth green leaves when all others around are dried up and dying from the drought.'" (CBD website).

I ask myself, do I wilt in dry seasons or do I put forth green leaves? Do I die back or bear fruit?

The botanist in me thinks about what happens to plants. When there is plenty of water, plants are capable of surviving with less than a full root system. With plenty of surface moisture, the roots don't have to go down so deep. But in the absence of rainfall, these plants that have grown under moist conditions are the first to start failing. They are marginal because they do not have fully developed root systems and, of course, the marginal plants are the first to go. In dry weather, plants without a full, healthy, deep root system, plants that were on the edge of survival under good conditions, do not have the ability to withstand the adverse conditions of drought.

Plants respond to drought in two ways. Short term response includes wilting, scorching, and browning of leaf tips and margins which spreads to the area between the veins. Long term response includes greater susceptibility to diseases and insects, and more cankers and borers. If no significant rain comes in time, plants will die.

I wonder if our easy American Christianity is like living in moist soil. We do not face persecution or death for our faith. We have abundant resources and far more comfort than anyone else in the world. So, our roots do not have to go down deep. We expect quick relief from our trials instead of long, slow, difficult, and at times dry perseverance. We quote James 1 but do we really count it all joy when we face trials? I ponder these things because I weep and complain like the rest. I get scorched and wilt. I fall prey to the disease of self-pity, the cankers of fear and anger, the borer of bitterness. Oh, how I want to have faith like Wilda and Arthur Matthews - deep rooted, vibrant, verdant faith. When the drought of extreme hardship and suffering came, they did not wilt, but shone out for the Chinese church like refreshing green leaves in drought time. That is how I want to be.

Drought relief

This morning we read:

You visit the earth and water it;
you greatly enrich it; the river of God is full of water;
you provide their grain,for so you have prepared it.
You water its furrows abundantly,
settling its ridges,softening it with showers,
and blessing its growth.
Psalm 65:9,10

We are experiencing exceptional drought conditions in my county. So, I was happy to see the National Weather Service forecast for today, telling me that there is an 80% chance of showers on Thursday. Oh, how we need that rain. But even as I welcome the relief of a bit of much needed rain, I think about how little we are actually affected by a drought like this. The worst thing for most people around here is a dry, brown lawn and a less productive vegetable garden. If we pay attention to the Mandatory Water Restrictions, we might take a shorter shower. But, we are mostly insulated from the impact of drought by our wealth. There is still plenty of food in the grocery store and this drought is really, for most of us, a minor inconvenience.

The farmers in our area are suffering more. They face crop losses because it hasn't rained and higher than normal livestock slaughter because pasture grass is dead and ponds are dry. They will face decreased revenues. So may go out of business. But even they are insulated somewhat by the wealth of our country and resources available to struggling farmers.

Drought in Africa is different. When the rain doesn't fall, it is more than an inconvenience. Every drop of water that falls is precious. I remember not drought, but dry season in Cameroon. The ground was powdery, the dust everywhere. It was next to impossible to carry enough water to my little vegetable garden to keep anything growing. In the middle of the dry season that year, we got a few scattered drops of rain. Their planging on the tin roof signaled us to run outside, and we stood in the yard letting them fall on us, laughing. When the rains came, everyone rejoiced as the brown hillsides grew lush and green and the crops flourished.

But there are times when the welcome sound of drops on the roofs is absent. The rains fail. And when that happens, it is more than a mild inconvenience. It can become a tragedy. People die.

In our prayer time this morning, we prayed for rain - for enriching, softening, blessing showers here tomorrow. And we prayed, too, for those in the world who are not insulated, as we are, from the dire consequences of drought. We prayed for God's mercy, and for our hearts to be more aware of the needs of others than our own. Oh God, may we not focus so much on our little problems that we are blind to those who really are hungry and thirsty. Give us hearts of compassion and eagerness to share physical and spiritual food and drink to the hungry and thirsty.

"For I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me drink... Then the righteous will answer him, saying, Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you drink?...And the King will answer them, Truly, I say to you, as you did it to one of the least of these my brothers, you did it to me." Matthew 25:35-39 (portions)

What to do on the last night of Fall Break?

Go to the opera! We had a fun evening at the Carolina Opera student night last night. Today we say a sad good-bye to Thomas. It's sure to get quieter around here again. *sigh*

Fall Saturday afternoon

A haircut for a college boy come home for fall break by a girl happy to see him




Ping pong, always ping pong




Singing German songs




Cleaning, Max, the parrot's, cage




A walk in the dappled sun of late afternoon

One more soccer picture

I couldn't resist adding one more soccer picture. We all laughed at this one...tough little guy Joel looks like he's booting his opponent, but no, he didn't nail the guy's shins. He had actually kicked the ball, which you can't see. We also laughed at big bro Matthew in the background, hands crossed, casually observing the action downfield.

Soccer season...

...is over for Matthew and Joel today. The young, inexperienced team at Covenant this fall was plagued by injuries and finished the season with a 4-12-2 record. Joel, the youngest, smallest player on the team improved immensely over the season. Matthew shifted from being a mid-fielder to being a defender this year. He didn't always like playing back and had lots to learn. Both boys never quit and were a joy to watch, week after week. Though my afternoons will be less busy, I'm going to miss soccer. Thanks for the fun, guys!

Peace

"Peace is that gentle rain that falls when you come to the place where Jesus is enough. Joy is that rapturous whirl that transports you to the place where Jesus is too much."

--read the rest by Ann at Holy Experience

The last of summer's bounty

This is it - the last of summer's bounty from the garden. My Monday gardening jobs included pulling out the last of the sad looking tomato and pepper plants and readying the terrace beds for fall crops of broccoli, collards, chard, lettuce, spinach, and of course, pansies! The brassica and chard seedlings are going in today and lettuce and spinach seeds will be planted, too. I'll finally pull out the last of the basil this weekend and put in pansies. New season, new things growing - in the garden and in my heart.

A 50th Birthday Cairn

On Monday, I celebrated my 50th birthday. Actually, I started celebrating on Saturday (thanks, Amanda), continued on Sunday (thanks Mama and Daddy, Anne and kids), and kept going strong on Monday (thanks, my sweet family who let me celebrate by doing things I love, working in the garden and cooking a meal for friends. I got pampered on Sunday, so I cooked on Monday. Thanks, dear ones, who let me cook for you) The celebration even extended into late Monday night and early Tuesday morning when Jonathan surprised me with a phone call from Seattle, telling me that he had a two hour layover here early Tuesday morning. I got to go to the airport and share a coffee and some birthday cheesecake with him. My in-laws arrive tomorrow for a short visit and Thomas comes home this weekend. So, my birthday stretches on into the weekend. I'm happy to keep on celebrating!

A few nights before my birthday, I couldn’t sleep so I got up and spent some time thinking about the people and events of these past few years. I wanted to reflect on where I’ve been and where I’m going. I turned each thought over in my mind, like turning a stone over in your hand to explore its contours and feel its texture. Then, as I started to write, these thoughts grew into a cairn – a stack of stones pointing to thankfulness for God’s goodness in the past, and a few hopes and dreams for the future. It’s a rough cairn yet, a jumbled pile of thoughts and reflections, randomly ordered, but for what it’s worth, here is my 50th birthday cairn. “Hitherto hath the Lord led,” this pile of Ebenezer stones says, and "'further up and further in' by His grace, shall He lead on."

I am incredibly privileged and grateful beyond words to have reached this age, married to the same man for almost 28 years. I have six healthy, loving children and one precious son-in-law who are all following Christ. These are stunning blessings. I know I still have lots more to learn about being the wife and mother God intends me to be. I want to keep growing.

Most women in ages past didn’t make it to this age. Death in childbirth, poor health, and back-breaking, life shortening hard work sent women in earlier years to their graves much younger. I don’t take my life span or my health for granted. Every day is a precious gift from God.

I want to know Christ and the power of his resurrection more deeply in the next 50. I want His word to dwell in me richly. I want to be a more winsome Christian, to more truly reflect and magnify the beauty of Christ. I want to memorize more scripture than I have so far. I know that will get harder as my brain gets older so I’d better get busy!

I do not want to waste my life on worthless pursuits. In five years, I will finish the marathon task of homeschooling my kids (if I’m able to keep on til Joel finishes high school!). This has been an incredibly worthwhile and joyous pursuit. For whom or what will God have me pour out my life when there are no more scholars at home?

The last five years have been the hardest ones of my life. More pain, more tears, more disappointment – but also more grace. If need be, I am well content to have suffering shape me. I know that compared to the suffering of persecuted believers around the world, my pain is miniscule. Still, God has used it to refine me.

The last five years have also included some of the happiest milestones of my life. Erin and Luke's wedding stands out as one of the most wonderful days ever, in every imaginable way. Thanks, you two, for being the kind of people that made planning and having a wedding both a witness to God's sovereignty and greatness and a whole lot of fun!

I am not afraid to start something new. Sometimes I think that when my kids are all gone from home, I’ll go back to school and study nursing. Then I could be more useful on the mission field, if God sends us there again. Or maybe I’ll study landscape architecture and really figure out how to fix that gaping hole in my backyard. I would also really like to write more. The older I get, the more I realize that I have to focus. I may not do any of these things, except I do really desire to write more, but it is exciting to think about launching out in new directions. I don’t ever want to be afraid to do that and I want to always be a learner, depending on God’s guidance to head me in the right direction.

I am looking forward to being a grandparent (no pressure, Erin honey!) and seeing Coty as a grandfather and my boys as uncles. I think that Erin and Luke are going to be incredible parents and that my boys are going to be wonderful uncles. And Coty will be absolutely out of control when he is a grandfather – he LOVES babies, which is a great thing, since we had six of them! I was always happy to hand them over to him after a long day, but I may have to fight him off when I want to hold our first grandchild.

I haven’t read enough these first 50 years. I’ve got some catching up to do! My booklist is long.

As a 50 year old woman, I am happier with my body, hair, and appearance than at any other time in my life. I am thankful for a husband whose example of self discipline in regular exercise spurs me on and helps me stay in shape. I like my gray hair and wrinkles – no hair color or botox for me! Perhaps that is because, as I age, I am becoming more like a child, comfortable in my skin and more interested in what’s going on around me than in checking myself out in the mirror. Or perhaps it’s because I’m just content at this point and long for ease and simplicity. Or perhaps it’s because I love the words of Proverbs 16:31 which tell me that gray hair is a crown of splendor attained by a righteous life (I hope so!). Or maybe it’s all of the above.

I want to be more cheerful, not because I’m a Pollyanna, but because I have deep joy in Christ. I don’t want to be a grouchy, complaining old lady that talks about her latest ailment. But when I inevitably do have ailments, I want cheerfulness to be my best medicine.

I hope I am like Helen Roseveare when I am 82 and that I will be able to spend the next 32 years in faithful, persevering, quiet service. I hope I always say, as she said, “The Lord took me me there. How could I complain?” Unfortunately, I will not say it with the lovely English accent she does. But hopefully a soft, Southern drawl will tell others, just as convincingly, about a grace filled life. Or maybe I will really learn French!

And speaking of French, I really would like to learn to speak in French. That way when I go to visit Andrew in France (if indeed he goes there in the next few years, which, Lord willing, I think he will), I’ll be able to go to a café, order crepes, and not embarrass him!

I have a precious extended family that I have too often taken for granted. Loving, giving beyond all imagining parents; a sister who is a dear friend; a brother who makes me think hard; generous, supportive, fun in-laws; nieces and nephews who make me aware of what a privilege it is to be an aunt. I want to be a better daughter, sister, daughter-in-law, sister-in-law, aunt.

I have been blessed with incredible friendships with women. Distance and time do not seem to matter for us. Thank you T, G, M, A, and C. You know who you are, but I do not think you fully know how deeply thankful I am for your friendship.

God has given me two “adopted” daughters who entered my life when they were college students. I am thankful we have remained close and want to be more connected to them in the years ahead. Thank you, Jen and Lillian for letting me be a part of your lives.

God has also brought some young men into our lives in the last couple of years who are becoming like sons to me. One sign of that is that they don’t mind rubbing my shoulders! And they talk to me about women and other big things in life. I love being a listening ear for all of my guys. I hope they will always want to talk.

A well designed compost bucket was a good birthday present for me. So were spring bulbs. And I might use a little birthday money for a load of mushroom compost. It didn’t come on my birthday, but I’d love a steady downpour to water my drought stricken garden. I realize how much I think about plants and growing things. I hope gardening will help to keep my body fit and my mind sharp. I enjoy being around elderly gardeners. Maybe one day I'll have a garden like Tasha Tudor...probably not...but I can keep my hands in the dirt and dream!

I would like to go on a long hiking trip sometime. I would like it even better if Coty’s knees got strong and pain-free enough to allow him to hike more.

I would like music to fill my life more in the years ahead. It’s time to get new pads on my flute and start practicing the piano again. Time to play my way through the hymnbook like I did when I was pregnant with Erin.

I hope I will always have people around that I can cook for. I do love it when my family and others compliment my cooking. I love the smells of fresh baked bread, onions sautéing, and curry simmering on the stove.

Sometime in the next 50 years I’d like to live in Africa again. And I want to go to China, too.

There it is…a jumble of stones. Starting to take shape to mark the way ahead….