it's been a week now since we said goodbye to Luke (my brother) and Gabrielle (my sister-in-law - - who is more sister than sister-in-law, but really, it wouldn't do to say that my brother was married to my sister, now would it?). it's been a week now, and we miss them.

The last day that we had together we took a walk beside the river that runs behind our building. There was sun, and there was shade; there were wheat fields to roam through, and cherry trees to climb; and there were flowers. oh yes, there were flowers;
and we picked flowers.
and that evening when we got home, I made dinner and Gabrielle pitted the cherries while Luke arranged the flowers into a vase.
The flowers traveled from the porch table to our coffee table later on that night as we stayed up late drinking coffee, eating Gab's amazing -we-picked-these-cherries-ourselves! cherry crisp, and probing Luke and Gabrielle to give their general impressions of our life and ministry here in Pamplona.

(why did it have to end?)

well, throughout the course of the week the flowers have made their rounds - - onto the dining room table, then on the bookshelf, and then into the kitchen - - ever evolving as the wilting buds were pulled out and the remaining flowers reshuffled.
Today I tossed the last of the bouquet; aaaaahh . . . little bouquet, you've been good to me. thanks for lingering reminder of sweet times with our family.

(why did it have to end?)

six

We packed up Malachai's birthday cake on a bit of a whim this afternoon and took it along with us to the park. we ran into a couple of friends along the way and invited them to join in on the birthday fun (who can say no to chocolate cake?) we found a nice shaded spot and settled down for some cake and football.
good party.
Happy Birthday my sweet Malachai; thank you for telling me that even though you are now six, you can still sit on my lap; I love you!

I mopped my porch today.
I suspect that a good Spanish housewife mops her porch several times a week.
my poor porch doesn't get such tender loving care,
except on special occasions
like when family comes to visit.
yeah . .
today I mopped my porch.

Good boy! (I think? . . . )

I was a little bit appalled
but mostly really proud of Malachai
when he told me that he told his entire Basque class (in Euskera!) the story about how last week,

Selma pooped in the bathtub when they were all having a bath together

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.

out on the streets (together)

Brett is part of our Christian community.
Brett and Francesca study architecture together.
yesterday,Francesca called Brett to see if he wanted to have lunch after the morning conference given by some Portuguese architect.
Brett called us to see if we wanted to join them both for lunch.
Joshua watched the kids so that I could join Rachel
joining Brett
joining Francesca.
So we had lunch together,
and talked about all things relevant to life - - including:

• methods and mechanisms for making the best coffee (of course we talked about that - - Francesca is Italian)

• racism in Spain, and in Italy, and in the US, and in our own lives.

• chandeliers.

• what it means to care for the physical world without having that care overwhelm our care for people.

• the hideous wallpaper in Francesca's apartment and wallpaper's apparent comeback.

(see? important stuff)
and then, after the post lunch coffee, Brett and Francesca showed us the architecture building on campus,
and we ran into Isabel who comes to our place for movie nights . . . and Raul who we met at Brett's raging housewarming party.

it's good to be together.

The thing about Joshua

"the thing about Joshua," I told a friend today,
"is that as he studies modern society, he is overwhelmed with the intellectual complacency that exists; he believes that as a whole we are failing to ask enough questions as well as failing to think critically when questions are asked of us"
"mmmmm . . . " said the friend.
"and Joshua wants to stir up the waters" I told her.
"maybe I'll bring a friend with me" she said.

so he's at it again - - Joshua has been preparing a talk to present this Friday evening at our community's cultural center. This time it's titled:
Catholic without Catholicism?
reflections of a "separated brother"

please pray for Joshua tomorrow! Pray that he will provoke the right questions, that he will be able to share grace and truth as questions are asked of him, and that God will use Joshua in our community to sharpen and woo the minds that God has created to adore Himself.

32 (almost)

Yesterday we threw a birthday party for Joshua, and our house was filled with all sorts of people from all different parts of our lives. Jaime and Miriam were here, and Brett and Rachel - - all from our Christian community. and there were Brett's roommates, and Isabel and Lucas who often come for pizza and movie night, and Juan Carlos who we know from our local coffee shop, and Andrea and Franchesca - - Brett's fine Italian friends who we met for the first time last Thanksgiving. Even Jose the priest accepted a last minute invitation.
it was one of those lovely events that lasts longer than expected - - the four-o-clock coffee and dessert turned to a six-o-clock snack turned into a nine-o-clock dinner. . . and it was about 11pm by the time the door closed behind our last guest.
and this morning at about 11, I felt very, very sleepy so I laid down for a nap. and slept.
I woke up just enough to hear Joshua bringing the boys home from school
and to wonder what they would eat for lunch. I had fed all the food to yesterday's guests.
I didn't wonder too long, though. I fell back asleep
and woke up again to Rachel taking Selma and Josu out to pick up Malachai from his afternoon school hours.
it was 4:30
and then Joshua came home
with groceries.
my family takes good care of me

good day

today I taught Malachai that rule about never, never licking scissors.
I guess I can check that off of the "what responsible mothers teach their tots" checklist.
nice.

and I helped Rachel make a whole lot of deliciousness for lunch .
to get a look at it go here:
http://www.kayotickitchen.com/
and then look for the roti chicken recipe. (do it!)
the roti chicken was pretty good.
the roti pancakes, however, were amazing. I will, from this day forth, incorporate roti pancakes into my weekly menu. I'm serious.

we also ate out on the porch. this blesses my soul. I love porch dining

p.s. I can't sign into my blogger account in Firefox. I can only access it through Explorer. this is bad news for me since the spell check on Blogger in Explorer does not seem to work. I neeeeed spellcheck. Although . . . it is kind of fun that I can write "deliciousness" without the bother of a red underline, don't you think?

out and about

we have been having some interesting dialogue lately with a priest studying at a seminary here in Pamplona. Yesterday he invited our family out on an excursion - - a favorite Spanish activity which usually involves getting into your car and driving for a while, finding a field, or a castle, or an old pueblo (which exist in abundance around these parts), walking around for a few hours, then finding a local family friendly bar in which to drink a cafe con leche or each some pinchos and to talk for a couple more hours before you head back to your car and drive back home.
The way our excursion fate would have it, we ended up at the ancient city of SOS (the birthplace of Spain's famous king Ferdinand) where we were actually delighted to find ourselves in the middle of this pueblo's yearly fiesta (you know the running of the bulls festival that Pamplona is so well known for? well, that is Pamplona's fiesta; pretty much every city or pueblo here in Spain has their own - - not all as ellaborate or as famous as Pamplona's, but crucial to the pueblos' existence nonetheless)and so we were treated to the locals dressed in Renaissance garb, banners hanging from the terraces, a reenactment of the queen giving birth to sweet baby Ferdinand, and, of course - - the pueblo's beloved (and just a little bit creepy) gigantes parading through the narrow, cobblestone streets, stopping in the larger plazas to dance to the music of the musicians playing ancient, typical instruments;and after all the parading we went (along with most of the other paraders, it seemed) in search of an empty table to sit and sip a hot coffee. we did find a table, and had some more good conversation - - when we weren't dragging Selma and Josu away from the glowing lights of the gambling machines.
and then we got in our car and drove home. excursion complete.

I was woken up by Joshua last night as he tucked the blankets around me and dragged me to his side of the bed. "what's the matter?" I asked. I knew he was dreaming.
he often does funny things while he sleeps . . . and I wake him up and tell him it was all just a dream.
"the chandelier is going to crash down on top of you!" he warned me.
I wasn't surprised that he was having nightmares about that chandelier. I've been secretly afraid of that chandelier since the day we moved in.
I thought about waking him, but instead I just thanked him. it was nice to be rescued.

we all gathered into the kitchen to bake some cookies
we washed our hands
we wiped our noses with our hands
we were sent away to wash our hands again (about ten times)
we mixed and rolled
we baked
we decided the cookies were lame
we added more flour and chocolate chips
we were satisfied with the final product
we wrapped up the cookies
we tied them to some of our favorite Spanish tunes
we wrote "thank you for being good neighbors" notes
we made original art on the notes
we attached them to the cookies and tunes
we delivered them to our neighbors
we prayed that they would feel the love
you know, the divine love.
it's so good.

teaching truth

a good sign that Josu has been spending some good quality time with his Papa:
I hear him walking around the house muttering:
is Josu real? yeeeeeeeeeessssss
is Malachai real? yeeeeeeeeessss
is Mikey Mouse real? nooooooooooo
is Jesus real? yeeeeeeesssss

celebrating cultures (and respective mustaches) from around the world

Josu and Malachai (plus classmates, plus teachers, etc . . . ) helped to celebrate cultures around the world in this year's school Carnival festival - - Josu celebrated as a Mexican and Malachai as a China man. In order to get some pictures, I had to push my way through crowds of territorial, excited parents all of whom must have received some sort of recording device from the three kings this holiday season , because they were all taping all the processions - - whether their child was performing or not.
with a few strategically placed warm glances and and gentle requests, however,I was able to situate myself close enough to complete my parental picture taking responsibilities. enjoy:


there he is - - that infamous local legend - - Miel Otxin, in flames. After all the dancing, each class sent its representative to place the totems (the bad things - - attitudes or conduct that the students wrote down on pieces of paper) at his feet, to burn with him.

(yes, that produced some healthy conversation over our lunch table)

and today, the day after the festivities, I am very pleased that both Malachai and Josu have some left-over staches. Josu's is short and sweet and Malachai's is elegantly droopy.
I keep telling Josu to give me some leeto Mexican kisses; and he readily obliges.
Malachai has taken over the guitar. I had to stop a crazy rampage through the house earlier - - in which the sweet Mexican instrument was being swung over Malachai's head as he pretended he was an orc. don't ask me how he knows about orcs; he just does, ok? If you really must know inquire with Joshua.

one of the little ways that we are trying to love to our community is by regularly opening up our home (well, our home is always open, but this is more aggressive inviting) to Ana and Pablo - - the children of one of our neighbors.
When Ana comes over, she loves to feed Selma and decorate sugar cookies
When Pablo (one of Malachai's classmates) comes over, he loves to sing Christmas carols at the top of his lungs and and to incite Malachai to a state of excited frenzy (although, who are we kidding? Malachai doesn't really need anyone to do that for him; he gets there on his own)
Pablo doesn't really like to decorate sugar cookies, but sometimes we make him do it anyways. just a little. and then I let them be crazy.I wonder how some of you are showing love to your communities? please share!

speaking of soup . . .

so my Spanish friends often make what they call pure' - - where they boil up potatoes and carrots, zucchini, leeks and other vegetables of the sort, and then they blend it all together to make a nice smooth, creamy soup. I have made this, and enjoy it, but to tell you the truth, I like my soup to have chunks. every once in a while when I make my chowder I get it just right, so that the potatoes are soft, but not falling apart
the broth is thin, but it also has some sort of substance.
do you know what I'm saying?
but if I get it right, it's really quite by accident.
do any of you have to perfect formula?

an update on my morning

I hear this from the kitchen:
Selma: MA, MA, MA, MA, MA! (her excited, emphatic request for more food)
Rachel: Selma, you can't eat the butter off the bread and then ask for more; it doesn't work like that!
it's good to have a sister around to teach my kids the rules of food; I have a feeling my kids would be seriously messed up without their aunt Rachel around.

and I'm off to the kitchen myself now, to make the largest pot of potato corn chowder known to mankind, so that the next time I take a little nap and end up sleeping through lunch, Joshua doesn't have to feed the family peanut butter and yogurt sandwiches (not that there is anything wrong with pb&y sandwiches, mind you). good man.
and maybe I'll have some buttered bread while I'm at it.
and perhaps I'll put a double batch of butter on my bread now that I know I'm not supposed to eat the butter off and then put more on.