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Showing posts from 2016

Legos, December and Romania!

I got to help put a Lego toy together today with a six year old boy from Syria living in Romania.   It was awesome…our team from Budapest took the day to see this family who made it to Greece earlier this year and are seeking asylum and were ‘assigned’ to Romania.   They are in a small town, and they have 6 months to find a job and a place to live.   It was pure joy – the little boy called me ‘Madam’…how cute is that?   We didn’t talk much, I don’t know Arabic and he doesn’t know much English but Legos has pictures with instructions – it was quite fun actually.   His Dad speaks English and when I was introduced to him, he said isn’t there a saint Carol?   I said – yes, of course there is!   So I will not let that one go for a while…saint Carol - has a certain ring to it don’t you think? That was a good start to this blustery, cold and beautiful December.   I fly ‘home’ in 12 more days and will see most of my family for Christmas.   We will celebrate together – I expect there

Köszönöm szépen (thank you very much) Hungary!

Hungary is commemorating the 60 th anniversary of their 1956 revolution.   Amazing video footage on this event at ( BBC - 1956 Magyar revolution )…students started the uprising with a demonstration – many joined and moved to the state radio station where some were allowed in but never returned.   The people outside became restless; shots were fired by the secret police and – game on – REVOLUTION.   It was amazing – many joined the freedom fighters.   One of the facts that struck me is that they literally cut out the hammer/sickle (Russian/communist insignia) from their flag and were flying a new flag all over the country.   Russian tanks and troops actually left the country.   10 days later – they came back in force – and took back control of the country…for 33 more years Hungarians lived under communist rule.   That’s history – that is ache, hurt, so much hidden activity, and I have several friends that lived through it – they had and still have hope.   See….life is good but Go

Random - FaceTime, cake, board games, friends and even elections!

FaceTime is a good thing…saw my Dad this morning (my evening).   That is a very good part of my Saturday.   I enjoy my family – yep – we are family and everything that goes with that – but I enjoy them all J .   Know what I mean?!   Enjoy! Picked up Lydia this morning from her friend’s house…was telling her about having dinner and cake at Martin and Cezi’s last night…she said ‘I want cake’!   So we called…can we come over for cake?   And then…and then!   Martin pulled out some board game!   Oh my gosh…10:30 on a Saturday morning and people are asking me to play a board game?   That’s like asking me to go camping for the weekend…ummmm...NO.   But – cake and cappuccino made me crazy so I agreed I guess…there I was…playing this crazy Dominion game.   Let’s just say…I didn’t dominate.   Lydia did…oi vey.   But fun was had, laughs of course were plentiful and all the while we had ‘Peppa Pig’ playing in the background for Reuben.   Nothing better than having English accents in your sub

Blogs vs blocks and walls

Blogs are interesting – in my case it has been a ‘block’ lately.   It’s not that I haven’t been experiencing things or not wanting to share – it just seems I keep hitting this wall made of ‘blocks’ when I try.   Is it physical?   Is it mental?   Is it psychological?   Is it spiritual?   All good things to ponder – heart, mind, soul… So here I am on this lovely Tuesday morning and realizing that so much has happened since June (my last blog)!!!!   July – English Camp at Lake Balaton.   Not only was it just so full of good kids, good English, good singing, good games, good dancing, good swimming, good memories and good people to work with but it was just plain ‘ol GOOD!   I loved every minute. I got to travel home (California, Idaho and Oregon) for a time – that was so amazing to see friends, family and the one word that kept coming back to me over the summer was ‘majesty’.   I was fortunate enough to go on an Alaskan cruise with my precious Aunt Susan (my mom’s twin).   Absolu

Changes, perspective, and learning...

So things are changing…this world is changing.   Is it that I’m getting older and I am more concerned with it all?   I maintain, as people get older they worry more or feel that things are more drastic/dramatic than others that are younger.   Is that what is happening in my heart and mind?   Is it my perspective that is changing?....what is it?!!!   I’m not sure…but as I sit here on a really hot and humid night in Budapest I see, hear and feel change.   The United Kingdom – leaving the EU – that’s a change.   What are the ‘ripples’ that our world will feel from that?   The election in America coming up – that will be a change no doubt.   Again – what ‘ripples’ will be felt?   And another ‘hot’ topic is the refugee situation around the world.   It really is around the world...it is everywhere.    I have been honored to have been in Greece and Croatia listening, observing, serving, teaching, crying, praying, playing, aching….all with these people that are just so real and reach