letters to a sister

Dear Rachel,
Thank you, thank you, thank you for watching our three sweets!
I really do believe that they are sweet, but I know that my sweets also come with the crazies; and I do believe that your agreeing to watch them for six days (six beautiful days!) has got to be one of the greatest expressions of loving sacrifice that I could ever, ever receive from you!
and, here we are in Greece! I can't help wondering how you are doing. We think of you often . . .
"our ten year anniversary" we tell people
"and your children?" they ask
"safe with my sister" I assure them
"ooooooh, you are lucky! very, very lucky" they tell me
"I know, I know!" I repeat
over
and over
and over again

So we stepped into this dingy little jewelry store in Athens ("original Greek art!" the woman at the door assured me) and I spent a pleasant hour sifting through the dusty, tarnished jewelry that the woman's father had spent his lifetime making. Meanwhile Joshua chatted it up with the woman's 85 year old mother . .
"1o years? Bravo! Bravo"
out came the picture of the kids
"three? Bravo! Bravo!"
"and the children? with your sister?"
"ooooooh! Bravo! Bravo! . . . very, very lucky!"
Well, I can't wait to show you the gift I chose for you! it's not enough, of course, but I hope you will be pleased, and mostly, I hope that every time you wear it, you think of us, thinking of you, with our hearts
full
full
full to the brim
thank you sister!
we love you,
N
p.s. thanks for the tights. I've pretty much worn them every. single. day.

Artichokes were everywhere at the local market this week; they are a local grown favorite here in our region of Spain. I bought a dozen - - that's how they come. I don't know much about preparing artichokes. I should . . . from what I hear from Rachel, the first time that Mom's high class family met Papi, he was camping out in an artichoke field.
Romantic, yeah?
and you would think that there would be more artichoke family recipes in the repituar, right?

but I always just steam them.

I steamed the first six on Tuesday.
and arranged the remaining seven (they must have given me a generous dozen) into a lovely local flora bouquet.
and tonight I tore it apart and tried something new - -
I peeled several layers of leaves off, and cut off the tips,
quartered them,
tossed them with olive oil, course salt, and minced garlic,
roasted them at 425 for 20 minutes
or maybe 30
till they were all toasty.
and squeezed a lemon over them.
I think I liked them better roasted than steamed
aha. now I know how to steam and roast artichokes.
building up the repertoire.

we are hobbit-smitten

Josu manages to insert a "golem" into every cough

Malachai tells people that he is just like hobbits - - because he likes to eat several breakfasts a day, and has asked about when he can start smoking a pipe

I find that my ddpw (dragon drawings per week) quota has risen significantly

Joshua has taken to ocasional hobbit-isms, and has already ordered the trilogy for Malachai's birthday (any day now; it should come any day!)

and I think that is is quite possible that Selma's ears are a little more Elvish than they were last month

thinking, thinking, thinking, but not alone

yesterday I went to pick Josu up from school. while there I had some interaction with a student teacher that has been helping out in his class.

what really happened:
the student teacher approached me, holding Josu's hand.
she said "today, during the afternoon session, Josu's class is planning a special goodbye party for me because I am leaving"
I said "oh?"
she said "yes, and I know Josu doesn't normally come back to the afternoon session, but we were wondering if he could come back today because I think it would be fun for him and fun for me"
and I said "well, I think that would be totally fine; I'll check with Joshua and see what he thinks, and if everything works out, we'll bring Josu back for the party"

what I wish had happened:
the student teacher approached me, holding Josu's hand
she said " "today, during the afternoon session, Josu's class is planning a special good bye party for me because I am leaving"
I said "oh really!? I'm sorry, after all this time, I don't even know your name! what's your name?"
she said "Maite"
I said "wow, Maite I really, really appriciate your help with Josu's class; I know it can can be wearing chasing after three year olds all day; I bet they'll miss you"
she said "well, I know Josu doesn't normally come back to the afternoon session, but we were wondering if he could come back today because I think it would be fun for him and fun for me"
and I said "well, I think that would be totally fine; (smiling face, warm eyes) I'll check with Joshua and see what he thinks; Josu is so lovey towards people who spend time with him, and I am certain he would enjoy that time with you; besides, we ALL know how much Josu appreciates a good piece of party cake! (chuckle, chuckel)"

what I feel happened:
the student teacher timidly approached me, clinging to Josu's hand. (she's heard about this mother before - - the American who refuses to ever bring her son to class for the afternoon sessions)
she stumbled over her words and said "today, during the afternoon session, Josu's class is planning a special good bye party for me because, uh, I am leaving"
I snatched Josu's hand out of hers and said "hmph"
she said "uh, mmmmm . . . well, I know Josu doesn't normally come back to the afternoon session, but we were wondering if he could come back today - - just for today, because I think it would be fun for him and fun for me"
and I narrowed my eyes suspicioulsy at her and said "well, maybe; I'll check with his faaaaaaather and see what he thinks, and if every single detail works out, maybe we'll bring Josu back for the party. maybe"

sigh.so I think most of you know that I haven't been feeling so good.
I'm getting some tests done to try and figure out why I have been sleeping so much and why, when I am awake, I feel like I only have energy enough to sit on the couch and read. there are some indications it might be some small thyroid issue. we'll see.
my Spanish friends all ask me "are you depressed? are you depressed?" (depression is, I believe the #1 cause for temporary workplace medical disability here in Spain) and no, I don't feel depressed, but when I am tired I do have a hard time being hopeful, or even just seeing things they way they really are.
I work hard to think about what is good and true
but God didn't ask me to work alone. he put me in community - - he gave me a church family; they help me too. I'm thankful for them.
some of them are here, some of you are there. thank you.