It doesn't rain, usually, from June-September. As I've posted before we had a couple of exceptions this summer before the arrival of Baba and the furniture.
Now it's raining again. I'm not happy. I still have things on the terrace I don't want getting wet. Such as my boxes of school materials and the seats for the chairs I still need to cover. Since they're ubder cover I'm pretty sure the seats & fabric are safe but my terrace slants in the direction of that corner so I'm not as hopeful about the boxes. Luckily it's a very gentle shower here at taekwondo so maybe it is at home too.
If we don't head to the beach tomorrow I'm covering those seats. And putting those boxes in the attic!
Friday, August 28, 2009
Tuesday, August 25, 2009
Grandma's gone
After the pastor prayed with her and the family and my brother and SIL kissed her good-bye and left the room, she went home. She seemed to know that it was a good time...everything had been taken care of.
Arrangements are being made and people are being contacted. I wish I could be there. But I know she's still praying for me and my family everyday. Nothing could stop her.
25Jesus said unto her, I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live:
26And whosoever liveth and believeth in me shall never die. Believest thou this?
27She saith unto him, Yea, Lord: I believe that thou art the Christ, the Son of God, which should come into the world.
This is the scripture she always wanted read at her funeral. We used to kid her that the more appropriate quote of Jesus speaking to Martha would be,
40But Martha was cumbered about much serving, and came to him, and said, Lord, dost thou not care that my sister hath left me to serve alone? bid her therefore that she help me.
41And Jesus answered and said unto her, Martha, Martha, thou art careful and troubled about many things:
42But one thing is needful: and Mary hath chosen that good part, which shall not be taken away from her.
Good-bye, Grandma. I'm going to miss our lunches together. We used to kid that you got a free sermon with your meal. Those were the best part.
For more about Grandma, scroll to the end of this Alumni Profile.
Arrangements are being made and people are being contacted. I wish I could be there. But I know she's still praying for me and my family everyday. Nothing could stop her.
25Jesus said unto her, I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live:
26And whosoever liveth and believeth in me shall never die. Believest thou this?
27She saith unto him, Yea, Lord: I believe that thou art the Christ, the Son of God, which should come into the world.
This is the scripture she always wanted read at her funeral. We used to kid her that the more appropriate quote of Jesus speaking to Martha would be,
40But Martha was cumbered about much serving, and came to him, and said, Lord, dost thou not care that my sister hath left me to serve alone? bid her therefore that she help me.
41And Jesus answered and said unto her, Martha, Martha, thou art careful and troubled about many things:
42But one thing is needful: and Mary hath chosen that good part, which shall not be taken away from her.
Good-bye, Grandma. I'm going to miss our lunches together. We used to kid that you got a free sermon with your meal. Those were the best part.
For more about Grandma, scroll to the end of this Alumni Profile.
Monday, August 24, 2009
Grandma
Some of you may remember a year ago February when I posted about the 100th birthday of my grandmother, Esther Carlson. This year she celebrated her 101st.
Today I checked my mail and learned that she is in what they call "end of life" stage...things are shutting down. She's in no pain and they're working at keeping her comfortable. Since they all know her wish to go home (she's had this wish for several years) they aren't trying to keep her alive...just comfy and peaceful until time to go.
Please keep her in your prayers.
Today I checked my mail and learned that she is in what they call "end of life" stage...things are shutting down. She's in no pain and they're working at keeping her comfortable. Since they all know her wish to go home (she's had this wish for several years) they aren't trying to keep her alive...just comfy and peaceful until time to go.
Please keep her in your prayers.
Oops!
I learned a very important lesson yesterday at church. It had nothing to do with what was taught in the sermon. It was learned from my younger son, the Little Prince.
I was scheduled to sing at church. The twins had been in the crying/play room in the back. I allowed this because 1) the Boss was at a taekwondo camp for a couple of nights and wasn't there to help watch them; 2) there's a speaker so they can hear everything...even if it is in Arabic.
Well, during the sermon they decided they wanted to come out and join me. Other than the trip to the bathroom (they always have to go during the sermon) I was able to enjoy the preaching, thanks to my friend translating for me. However, during the solo there was a glitch.
First, the Diva decided to come stand next to me. Not a problem..she was quiet. Then the Little Prince came up and started asking me for money. Where did he think we were?! I was already having to stand behind the pianist because the copier wasn't working for her to make a copy of the music to play off of. I was holding the mic in my left hand and gently (more or less) trying to move the Little Prince away from me, alternating with covering his mouth with my hand. Why did he want money while I was singing?!
Finally we finish and when I return to the pew I tell him in no uncertain terms NOT to do that EVER again. "But, Mommy...we needed money for the men!" Did I mention that I was singing the offertory?
Lesson learned...make sure when I'm singing the offertory to give the kids money before standing up.
I was scheduled to sing at church. The twins had been in the crying/play room in the back. I allowed this because 1) the Boss was at a taekwondo camp for a couple of nights and wasn't there to help watch them; 2) there's a speaker so they can hear everything...even if it is in Arabic.
Well, during the sermon they decided they wanted to come out and join me. Other than the trip to the bathroom (they always have to go during the sermon) I was able to enjoy the preaching, thanks to my friend translating for me. However, during the solo there was a glitch.
First, the Diva decided to come stand next to me. Not a problem..she was quiet. Then the Little Prince came up and started asking me for money. Where did he think we were?! I was already having to stand behind the pianist because the copier wasn't working for her to make a copy of the music to play off of. I was holding the mic in my left hand and gently (more or less) trying to move the Little Prince away from me, alternating with covering his mouth with my hand. Why did he want money while I was singing?!
Finally we finish and when I return to the pew I tell him in no uncertain terms NOT to do that EVER again. "But, Mommy...we needed money for the men!" Did I mention that I was singing the offertory?
Lesson learned...make sure when I'm singing the offertory to give the kids money before standing up.
Tuesday, August 18, 2009
Update
I have not forgotten that I have a blog. I just don't have internet yet. Baba arrived almost 4 weeks ago and left this last Saturday. During his stay we did a lot of fun stuff, like going to El Rancho for some, get this, COUNTRY MUSIC!!! The musicians were Lebanese but they sure sounded country. The fiddle player was awesome! We also went to Jbeil (a.k.a. Byblos) the oldest inhabited city in the world for a day at the beach. The kids actually went into the sea for a bit but the Diva got stung by a jellyfish (and, no, nobody peed on it for her). It just looked like a little mosquito bite.
We also did some not so fun stuff...like drive to the border 2 days in a row to get our truck of furniture through. Then the great fun of fixing all the furniture that arrived broken. Baba packs like a pro (former Army, ya know) but the driver apparently wasn't so careful loading or driving with it. {sigh} But it's all in and I'm just finishing find homes for things. The kids' toys are 99.9% in the house now. The air compressor is gone so I can put my dryer back in the corner of the terrace (no place for it inside...I'll get a cover for it). Since I finally have a real table (my IKEA one from Kuwait) we have the plastic table and chairs on the terrace so we can enjoy eating outside if we want to.
Now we just have to have curtains put up around the terrace (like you find on balconies here) to block the afternoon sun. We face west and Baba got the furniture recovered before packing it to ship. It's gorgeous and I want it to stay that way.
The kids are still enjoying summer camp. It's a good thing with all the work Baba and I had to do these last few weeks that the kids had camp to do so we could work and they wouldn't be bored, but I'm thinking next year we rent a chalet at a beach in the Jbeil area so each week we can go for a night or two and spend a couple of days at the beach. Frees us up and keeps us busy and the alarm isn't going off at 7 every morning.
I haven't had luck finding a Lutheran church here, even though there is a Lutheran ministry here. But right now we're attending a Presbyterian church that we're enjoying. I'll keep looking but at least I don't feel a need to hurry, KWIM? Just wish it wasn't such a long drive.
I have many stories to tell you. I need to just type them up as I think of them and save them on my laptop to publish later, but I maybe now that the house is almost finished I can. I need pics too. Yikes!
We also did some not so fun stuff...like drive to the border 2 days in a row to get our truck of furniture through. Then the great fun of fixing all the furniture that arrived broken. Baba packs like a pro (former Army, ya know) but the driver apparently wasn't so careful loading or driving with it. {sigh} But it's all in and I'm just finishing find homes for things. The kids' toys are 99.9% in the house now. The air compressor is gone so I can put my dryer back in the corner of the terrace (no place for it inside...I'll get a cover for it). Since I finally have a real table (my IKEA one from Kuwait) we have the plastic table and chairs on the terrace so we can enjoy eating outside if we want to.
Now we just have to have curtains put up around the terrace (like you find on balconies here) to block the afternoon sun. We face west and Baba got the furniture recovered before packing it to ship. It's gorgeous and I want it to stay that way.
The kids are still enjoying summer camp. It's a good thing with all the work Baba and I had to do these last few weeks that the kids had camp to do so we could work and they wouldn't be bored, but I'm thinking next year we rent a chalet at a beach in the Jbeil area so each week we can go for a night or two and spend a couple of days at the beach. Frees us up and keeps us busy and the alarm isn't going off at 7 every morning.
I haven't had luck finding a Lutheran church here, even though there is a Lutheran ministry here. But right now we're attending a Presbyterian church that we're enjoying. I'll keep looking but at least I don't feel a need to hurry, KWIM? Just wish it wasn't such a long drive.
I have many stories to tell you. I need to just type them up as I think of them and save them on my laptop to publish later, but I maybe now that the house is almost finished I can. I need pics too. Yikes!
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