letusgive!

7/18/18 - Happy birthday Patti! I’m not sure I can make this one short J   My heart is breaking and full at the same time – is that possible? ·       Life is good, God is waaaay better. ·       My heart breaks – going on the street to offer a smile, kind word, snack, chocolate, tea, or whatever to those ‘working’ on the street.    I am grateful for the chance to do such things but praying it is fruitful somehow or someday it will come to good in just one life. ·       Another rough week in Serbia.    This time not personally, but hearing many languages new to me, some sharing their stories – those are rough. Walking many, many miles and want their paperwork to show the actual city they are from instead of the one the police officer knows – because it makes a difference.    An city/area is a statement – it matters.    ·       To se...

Random thoughts at 2:30 in the morning Budapest time but 1 hour and 15 minutes away from landing at San Francisco Int’l airport.   So begins the process of adjusting my internal clock. ·       Whistling is nice and pleasant…but not advised when you are trying to light a match.   Cracked myself up the other day trying to light a gas burner on the stove and I guess I was in a good mood since I was whistling J ·       Once again it was confirmed in my life; when moving, you are guaranteed to have the hottest day so far in the year.   Moving is not my favorite thing; friends and family helping in many ways definitely are a favorite! ·       People are kind; truly.   In my lifetime there have been many people showing kindness.   I enjoy that and am quite thankful. ·       Life is good, God is way better. Would you like an email each time I post a blog?......

There have a been a few times in my life that my heart was broken… ·       When I first was diagnosed with ankylosing spondylitis (arthritis) and I watched an older lady cross the street very slowly – I could actually ‘see’ and ‘feel’ her pain as I have never seen or felt pain before. ·       My best friend’s daughters running, hugging and telling me that their parents were getting divorced. ·       Sitting in a medical clinic in Ethiopia – dirt floor, meager surroundings and yet it was a place people came and had hope for a cure or better conditions and village leaders verbalized grace and kindness to our team from California. ·       Standing in a hot, humid, mosquito-filled refugee camp in Greece with no showers or ‘real’ bathrooms talking with a Mom and she said she could not move to another camp like this.   If that would happen; she would rather return to Syria to h...

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 ...