Newton's Law

"I've found a lizzzzzard!" was the cry this afternoon. Peter found this charming fellow mucking about in his excavation pit. While all the children were intrigued, only the fearless Lucette dared the capture. Peter was a good 5 feet away, though watching intently.


Lucette prepared a lovely bucket home for Newton, the Newt, complete with a twigged lookout post so he could continue to watch life pass by. She clearly charmed him and he showed his favor by drowsily climbing about her arm. Jane petted in quick bursts. Peter focused on readying his bottle rocket for tomorrow's launch. Physics are the only form of Newton he's attracted to.

Pulling it all Together

Got 'em! Although only three of us are traveling internationally this summer, we decided to renew and apply for passports all around. Now our whole family of five is primed for all sorts of future adventures!


The list of preparations for our trip is impressive, but we are knockin' them out one by one:
• Passports
• Vaccinations: Tetanus, Hep. A, Hep. B (1st round), Typhoid
• Malaria pills Rx
• Time off of work for Pops
• Care in place for the girls
• Funding for Peter
• Pair of work shoes and sandals for each

Here's what still needs to be accomplished/provided for:
• Travel backpacks (we want to pack light--no suitcases!)
• Hats & work gloves for each
• Document/$ neck carriers
• Completed funding for Pops and myself
• Finalized travel dates and airline tickets purchased (we're staying longer than the rest of the group)
• Finalized plans and accommodations for our extended stay
• Dental supplies/portable dental chair to bring as gifts
• Appropriate gift for host family
• Written testimony
• Pocket sp/eng dictionary or electronic translator(!)

This process of preparation is involved but joyful. We are so excited to go, each little thing we accomplish is a small victory. In addition, we have already seen God's hand over this trip. It is sheer pleasure to see how He oversees all, from the big plans down to the small details.

Preparations Aplenty

What savvy parents they are! Al and Florence (it seemed appropriate to name them after my grandparents) have been more industrious than I first realized. My first observations of them had been over at the bird hotel and was most delighted to find they had committed to a lease and were making the space their own.

But all this while, in the back of my mind, I had also noticed Al and Florence busy in the eaves of the house, right outside the kitchen window. I'm not sure why, but I hadn't paid much attention. After checking the hotel for signs of impending birth (and finding none), I decided to heft the ladder over to the eaves. And here is what I found!


Oh, joy! Five beautifully creamy colored eggs with caramel speckles. And what a fine, fine nursery they have! The architecture and detail is stunning.

The poor, dear, expectant parents were just about beside themselves while I was nosing about. I tried to assure them I meant no harm, but I'm sure their birdie hearts were much relieved once I finally backed away from their treasures. There is just no calming concerned parents. This I understand.

So, back to the bird hotel. While not currently occupied, their efforts there certainly suggest some form of intent. I think it is quite possible they have selected it as their summer home. Or maybe a place of convalescence for Florence? (There is certainly plenty of rooms for her family on the lower levels, while taking the penthouse suite for a little me-time.) I shall keep you informed.

Better Than Television

Our children think the primary purpose of the television is to play documentaries and movies from the library. This is not due to some act of martyrdom on our part, we really are that geeky. When they watched the Super Bowl this year it was an experience akin to seeing an astronaut for the first time: "What are these men we are watching?" "In what capacity do they function?"

All that to say, the tots anticipated great entertainment upon learning our defunct 15 year-old washer and dryer were being pitched to the curb and a swanky new set ushered in.

The installation process was magnificent. Not only was there removal and installation of appliances, but there was: A door removed from hinges, discovery of dangerous plastic venting that required replacement with a rather galactically silvered version, and all manner of tubing and paperwork with the word "DANGER" emblazoned boldly.

With the machine humming, the children sat and contentedly "watched" washing for almost a half an hour. "Look! There's Jane's sock!" "Hey! I see my underpants!"

It was a good show.

Sweet Nest Brownies

This is our favorite go-to recipe for chewy, slightly cakey brownies. So easy to whip up as you only dirty one pot and is done, start to finish, in under an hour! Plus ... it'll make the house smell sooo good.

In large saucepan, melt:
4 oz. unsweetened chocolate
2/3 c. butter

Take off heat and whisk in:
2 c. sugar
4 eggs
1 t. vanilla

Add:
1.25 c. unbleached flour
1 t. baking powder
1 t. salt
.5 bag semi-sweet chocolate chips (optional, but tasty!)

After mixing well with wire whisk, spread in 13 x 9 pan and bake at 350 degrees for 30 minutes. Delicious!

Utterances of the Heart

Dear Lord, thank you for taking Great-Mother gently. We know now she is happy in heaven. She can sing to you. She can worship you. We trust your will. Just when her talking-machine was not working well anymore, you decided to take her home. Amen.

--Lucette's prayer at dinner

I keep asking that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the glorious Father, may give you the Spirit of wisdom and revelation, so that you may know him better. I pray also that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in the saints, and his incomparably great power for us who believe.
(Ephesians 1:17-19)

Buenos Dias, Amigos!

I was most excited to receive news and photos of our Honduran friends. Somehow, pictures give root to the imagination.

Above, you'll find Ambrocio and his wife, Norma. Ambrocio is a national Honduran missions leader and we've been communicating via email since last October. I already sensed, from our letters, a gentle and sweet spirit in both of them. This photo seems to confirm it for me. Aren't they beautiful?

The structure they are leaning against is to be the church (and possible location for some dental vocational training) we are to put a roof on. I think perhaps some of the classes we will be offering to the village children will also be nearby.

This is a photo of Ambrocio and some of the village children in the background. I am told over and over again, what joyful lives the Honduran nationals lead despite the trials they face.

I'm certain they have much to teach our family. I can't wait.

Glory in a Firey Gerbera

Yours, O LORD, is the greatness and the power
and the glory and the majesty and the splendor,

for everything in heaven and earth is yours.

Yours, O LORD, is the kingdom;

you are exalted as head over all.

1 Chronicles 29:11

Poetry Can Be Dangerous

Lucette, you did great at your poetry recitation! Did you have fun?
Uh, not really.
Why not? You did a lovely job!
'Cause my heart was beatin' like a bomb!

--Conversation following performance of "Hey, Diddle, Diddle" at Open-Mic Night

Like a Glove

The suspense continues to mount and I wanted to peek in on my birdies. With the hotel seemingly unoccupied for the moment, I figured I better make haste. No one wants to return home to an unexpected guest nosing about the room. After gathering the unwieldy ladder and smacking my knee on a door frame (golly, that smarts), I thought it best to don some gloves. I recalled some warning of leaving scent, as I believe we don't smell very assuring.


I walked to the closet and pulled out a pair of gloves. Grandma's gloves. Last week, on the day she passed, my dad was rummaging around the garage. Out of all the things to grab, he was drawn to these gloves and handed them to me. "Here," he offered. "These don't need to stay in the garage." I thought it rather odd, to be honest. Why the old gloves? But I took them, packed them home, and didn't think of them again until today.

When I pulled the gloves on, in preparation for my birdie snooping, I lifted them to my nose. Smell. How clever God is. In an instant, I experienced my Grandmother in one of those inexplicable ways. The smell was familiar and comforting. Something like cold cream and hugs.


No eggs yet. But they've been busy. And if they detect some scent, I'm sure they'll understand that it was only Grandma. And Grandma always makes you feel assured.