There is little in Josu's four year old life that makes him so happy as wearing his (size 2) football set.
There is little in his life that makes him so sad as having to take it off
p.s. thank you, Nathaniel Jackson, husband of my sister, for gifting this set to Josu, and for the way it is helping him to read - - we caught him outside of a bar, spelling out the word "football" all by himself! - - C-A-R-L-S-B-E-R-G
my heart is happy today: my little girl is doing puzzles, and I'm doing laundry; it's windy and sunny - - just the right sort of day to hang laundry; and laundry time is good because it facilitates thinking time, and I can't stop thinking about the wonderful conversation I had with my sweet friend last night . . . she called me late at night and I took a cab over to her place (taking the bus would have been all wrong last night; we had important things to talk about!); she made me the world's hottest cup of mint tea (it was perfect!) and I gave her my bible. giving away your bible to someone who wants it is one of the nicest feelings ever, I think.
and I'm happy because I have a call date with another friend, Carol, this afternoon. we are going to talk about things like: is it right for a mature, spiritual person to enjoy beautiful things? and what exactly is the gospel? what does it mean to share it? I can't wait to hear what Carol has to say about these things, and I can't wait to hear her interact with my thoughts.
and I'm happy because Joshua comes home from England today, and it's his birthday, and I'm going to make him chicken coconut red curry soup, except I can't find red curry paste here in Pamplona, so it will have to make it with green curry paste, I guess.
I took the kids downtown to buy you a birthday gift this afternoon. I know you said no birthday gifts this year . . .but I think you're really going to like it! please don't check the credit card statement within the next 24 hours, ok? you like surprises, I like you to be surprised. . . so don't look!
also, a nice thing happened as it began to rain and we ran to catch the bus back home - - we bumped into our downstairs neighbor! She asked us to wait just ten minutes for her as she did one last errand, so that we could ride back together . . . and we had the nicest bus ride home with her; we talked a bit about last summer when our church tried to find ways to love the city of Pamplona during the festivals (you remember, of course, that she was the one who actually offered some really good suggestions when we did that, right?) let's invite her for a coffee some time this month; I think I would really enjoy that!
how has England treated you this week? not to much rain, I hope! and not too many stuffy, hot tubes - - because I am remembering that I sent you off with only two dress shirts and a couple of t-shirts (you are a good traveler, my love)
We had a rich few days together as a church this past weekend. We spend some concentrated time reflecting on some of our strengths and weaknesses as individuals and as a church community. on Friday night, after a rousing game of neon bowling, we came back home and spent half of an hour writing out important events in the little history of our church on post-it notes. we then arranged them as a time line on our window wall - - putting the highlights up high, and the struggles down low (perhaps you have done this before? it was very fun and enlightening!) Joshua had to leave for a trip to London before he was able to record this fantastic documentation, so we left up the 107 little yellow squares for him to record it all when he returns later on this week. While Joshua is away, I am trying my best to prepare for our move. My friend Trini (remember Pablo? we love Pablo. Trini is Pablo's mom) came by yesterday to pick up some stuff I had set aside for her.
Trini's husband heads up Pamplona's catholic charity group, which means her house is furnished with bits and pieces of furniture that her good husband has brought home from the donation shop over the course of their marriage.
So when Trini came by yesterday, she took away my tables and chairs (and benches and fans and my lavender plant and my extremely hearty mystery plant). I warned her that my table has wine glass rings and globs of glitter glue in random places, but she insisted a hundred times that she wanted it anyways and that she would actually pay me for it. (yeah! into the camera fund that goes!)
while Trini was here, she asked my stickered window; she said that she had looked up at my apartment from the street level, and could see lots of little black dots and wondered what I had done to my windows. I explained it to her, and she laughed at us . . . . but I think she liked it . . . .
This is Rachel at her post graduation mingle time, texting her friends about where they are going to meet for pinchos . they will stay out late, roaming the streets of Pamplona, eating teeny tiny tasty foods (that's what pinchos are) and hanging out: Rachel has lots to do this week. she has a project to turn in, and lesson plans to write. She doesn't really enjoy staying up late and her shoes are uncomfortable. I suspect that she doesn't want to go out tonight, but she will because she loves people, and she's shaping her life patterns in light of of that. I think she's awesome.
babies everywhere, I think, kiss themselves in mirrors. when Selma kisses herself in the mirror, she kisses herself two times - - one kiss for each cheek. I wonder if this phenomena is common among all Spanish babies? I think I'm going to have to ask around. (are you a Spanish mom? does your baby do this?)
there's nothing quite like hearing your baby girl call out "go-way mama! go-way!" in her sleep at night, to encourage extra snuggling with your baby girl throughout all your waking hours the next day
We had a beautiful, sunny, sunny day today. I abandoned all household chores and headed out to the porch with Selma to sort through my pots and plants; Selma spooned dirt from one pot to another; I swept up the dirt that Selma kept spilling; it kept the nuns across the street amused for a while. I did eventually clean out most of my pots; I left the plants that looked the best - - a couple of geraniums, the lavender, and the olive tree; I'm hoping that I can find a friend or neighbor to take these when we move.
I was cleaning out the planter that was home to the strawberry plants last summer and found this sweet mysterious little plant: it's probably a weed, but I couldn't resist the spring-time urge to plant something so I snagged the spoon from Selma and transferred it to to an old yogurt jar. maybe it will live for a bit. (maybe?) just until mom comes and goes (please!)
There is little in Josu's four year old life that makes him so happy as wearing his (size 2) football set.
my heart is happy today:
(hey look! no chairs!)
dear Joshua,
We had a rich few days together as a church this past weekend. We spend some concentrated time reflecting on some of our strengths and weaknesses as individuals and as a church community. on Friday night, after a rousing game of neon bowling, we came back home and spent half of an hour writing out important events in the little history of our church on post-it notes. we then arranged them as a time line on our window wall - - putting the highlights up high, and the struggles down low (perhaps you have done this before? it was very fun and enlightening!)
While Joshua is away, I am trying my best to prepare for our move.
Rachel has lots to do this week.
babies everywhere, I think, kiss themselves in mirrors.
(Selma and Malachai - - doing bull horns)
I did eventually clean out most of my pots; I left the plants that looked the best - - a couple of geraniums, the lavender, and the olive tree; I'm hoping that I can find a friend or neighbor to take these when we move.
