letusgive!

Life is very good and God is waaaay better! 1.      Ahhh…the sweet smell of rain and the sound of thunder.  That is what I’m smelling and listening to right now.  Budapest is racing right through spring time and full force into summer! Summer in April…what?  My fans are working. 2.      My favorite flower is lilac – all varieties.  This is the season for lilacs here…oh man do I love them!  It reminds me of my Mom – she loved flowers!  I find myself loving flowers too J   I remember when I was a junior in high school and our class was responsible to decorate for graduation.  I had a two-fold reason to make it good; my sister Susan was graduating and I was junior class president so it needed to be done well!  So my Mom and I scoured our little town and the next town over for lilacs. I’m telling you what – that stage was FULL of lilacs! ...

Life is very good and God is waaaay better! 1.      You know what?   I’m encouraged – after spending 10 days in Belgrade and meeting young people (20’s and 30’s) from all around the world – literally – that come there to volunteer, work and whatever else.   They work very hard!   I hear so much about how these ‘millenials’ don’t have a good work ethic or are lazy etc.   Could be true…but once again…that is a generalization.   I’m not a fan of that because there really ARE good ones out there!   I’m encouraged. 2.      Easter week – not exactly my normal Easter week but I am enjoying it.   The trees are not budding, flowers are not blooming, and I don’t have Easter decorations around my house.   And yet – I am enjoying each day and moment.   I have not been at my house in two weeks; instead I’ve been in Belgrade, which I consider a bit more ‘raw’ than Budapest.   I’m quite thankful – I didn’t ...

Life really is very good and God is waaaay better! 1.     We are officially in spring according to the calendar but today I’m in Belgrade, Serbia and we had snow…pretty but I am definitely ready for spring!   The trees are budding with snow on them – confused? (see side picture) 2.     ‘A’ as in the letter in English…we say a long ‘a’….not the ‘ahhhh’ sound.   Most languages over here say ahhhhh…I have found myself applying that to names, words etc.   Crack me up…I guess I’ve been here awhile.   3.     Working with a team of 10 people in Serbia – we are volunteering for the various NGO’s that are working with the refugees.   It is heartbreaking, it is exciting, it is humbling, it is draining, it is refreshing and…it is very good J 4.     People are kind.   People I don’t know well, here in Europe, those coming from the U.S. to serve here…people are kind.   It is encouraging and good ...

Oh how I do love life.   Life is good, God is better! 1.     Budapest home 2 weeks already…and I get back into my apartment today.   A new family arrived while I was away so they have been staying there which worked out great.   2.     I have some great friends here – so willing to take me in, feed, love, and encourage me.   Thank you! 3.     I was going to turn right on a red light yesterday – then I remembered where I was.   You don’t do that here in Hungary. 4.     Today?...today I am taking a quick trip to Vienna, bringing a colleague to pick up his ‘new’ car.   Quick trip to Vienna – WOW.   Amazing.   Sitting in Starbucks right now in Vienna J .   Yes, I do love life. 5.     Valentine’s and Ash Wednesday all on the same day.   Doing the ’40 Acts’ for Lent…https://40acts.org.uk and then Easter is April 1 st – no joke!   Crazy. 6.  ...