Chris Loehmer Kincaid's Blog, page 159
October 10, 2013
Fall Vacation Day 2
Actually this is still Day 1 of our vacation, but since it is Day 2 of posting about it, I thought I would just go with it.
I have known about the city of Waukesha, Wisconsin, for nearly as long as I have known about places like Pewaukee, Mequon and Brookfield. I really haven’t spent that much time in and around Milwaukee, but I still was raised with that German Wanderlust, so if I haven't been someplace, I have still seen it on a map.
I obviously haven’t been to Waukesha, though, because I always pictured it as being an extension of Milwaukee, filled with skyscrapers, hectic traffic and questionable neighborhoods. I am so glad I was able to broaden my horizons and get over that stereotype.
First thing we discovered in Waukesha was this cute little park. Named after the Frame family, the space along the Fox River included a children’s park, formal flower garden, and outdoor amphitheater (which I already blogged about). We ate lunch here and then wondered about the grounds.
The caretaker of the formal garden (which was just barely past its peak) told us he had seen practically a swarm of hummingbird moths in the last few days. And that two were still hovering in that general direction, he told us, pointing. Sure enough, we found the huge moths. The size of a small hummingbird, they suck the nectar from the flowers with their long beaks – ok that’s not the right term – and their wings beat much slower. They are very cool.
Downtown Waukesha, there is a river walk with some interesting features. Can you read the sign about the granma bear? What a great story, huh?
After walking the three blocks down and back to the car, we had some gelato. And called it a day.
Oh, and to get back to the wanderlust thing and my German roots, this is the restaurant across from our hotel. No, we didn’t eat there. The price was way outside our budget.
I have known about the city of Waukesha, Wisconsin, for nearly as long as I have known about places like Pewaukee, Mequon and Brookfield. I really haven’t spent that much time in and around Milwaukee, but I still was raised with that German Wanderlust, so if I haven't been someplace, I have still seen it on a map.
I obviously haven’t been to Waukesha, though, because I always pictured it as being an extension of Milwaukee, filled with skyscrapers, hectic traffic and questionable neighborhoods. I am so glad I was able to broaden my horizons and get over that stereotype.
First thing we discovered in Waukesha was this cute little park. Named after the Frame family, the space along the Fox River included a children’s park, formal flower garden, and outdoor amphitheater (which I already blogged about). We ate lunch here and then wondered about the grounds.
The caretaker of the formal garden (which was just barely past its peak) told us he had seen practically a swarm of hummingbird moths in the last few days. And that two were still hovering in that general direction, he told us, pointing. Sure enough, we found the huge moths. The size of a small hummingbird, they suck the nectar from the flowers with their long beaks – ok that’s not the right term – and their wings beat much slower. They are very cool.
Downtown Waukesha, there is a river walk with some interesting features. Can you read the sign about the granma bear? What a great story, huh?
After walking the three blocks down and back to the car, we had some gelato. And called it a day.
Oh, and to get back to the wanderlust thing and my German roots, this is the restaurant across from our hotel. No, we didn’t eat there. The price was way outside our budget.
October 8, 2013
Fall Vacation Day 1
Hard to believe that two weeks ago I was on vacation with the Hubby. Not so hard to believe how fast that week flew by. No more vacation plans on the horizon; I need to change that quickly!
This year we only traveled for a few days and bummed around the Southeast part of the state, between Milwaukee and Madison. There really is so much to see and do there and I must admit that we missed a huge part of it.
One place that I have wanted to visit is the Mitchell Park Domes. It has been over forty years since either I or the Hubby have been there. (Does that mean we are old?)
The Show Dome had a 1950's theme.
There was a school field trip in the Desert Dome. They were on a scavenger hunt and running all over looking for things like frogs, and snakes, and boots.
The Tropical Dome was closed, so that was rather disappointing.
I’ve also always wanted to visit the Pabst Mansion. It is horrible that so many beautiful homes like this have met the wrecking ball. In fact, this house was slanted for demolition and had been saved within days of meeting its end. It is sad enough that it is surrounded by modern buildings instead of its contemporaries, other stunning old mansion of a gone-by era.
This year we only traveled for a few days and bummed around the Southeast part of the state, between Milwaukee and Madison. There really is so much to see and do there and I must admit that we missed a huge part of it.
One place that I have wanted to visit is the Mitchell Park Domes. It has been over forty years since either I or the Hubby have been there. (Does that mean we are old?)
The Show Dome had a 1950's theme.
There was a school field trip in the Desert Dome. They were on a scavenger hunt and running all over looking for things like frogs, and snakes, and boots.
The Tropical Dome was closed, so that was rather disappointing.I’ve also always wanted to visit the Pabst Mansion. It is horrible that so many beautiful homes like this have met the wrecking ball. In fact, this house was slanted for demolition and had been saved within days of meeting its end. It is sad enough that it is surrounded by modern buildings instead of its contemporaries, other stunning old mansion of a gone-by era.
October 5, 2013
Lord, make me an instrument of Your peace.
I am so sorry that I haven’t blogged in an entire week. No matter how busy I have been in the past, I managed to post something for my faithful few. On Monday, I received the first round of edits on my manuscript, so I spent every moment possible pouring over it, accepting changes or making new changes of my own. This seems to be the most stressful part of publishing for me, getting every word just exactly right. But enough of my excuses, here are new words, some of which need lots of editing.
When I was in my second year of college, my friend and I went to her sister’s house in Rochester, Minnesota, for spring break. I know. Who goes to Minnesota on spring break? Starving college kids on a tight budget.
My friend’s brother drove us. We woke that Saturday morning to snow, of course, because I live in Wisconsin and I was heading to Minnesota. Why would the weather not be horrible. By mid-day, as we were one-third of the way to our destination, the snow had started to cause a whiteout on the highway. We were crawling along, only guessing that we were still on the road, snow blowing everywhere. We decided we needed to stop.
We pulled into the city of Chippewa Falls and the first hotel (perhaps the only hotel) in town was the Indianhead Motel. We got one room. Remember we were all starving college students. I believe my friend’s brother was in veterinary school at the time. Anyway, yes I spent the night in a hotel room with a guy, who was in the other bed, while my friend and I slept in the second bed. Except I didn’t sleep; I was too scared coz there was a man I hardly knew just ten feet away. Even though I was twenty years old at the time, I was nearly as pure as the driven snow outside.
Anyway, why this story now. I was at a meeting on Thursday over past Chippewa Falls. On the way home, when I got to that point in the trip, I thought it was time to stop for something to eat. I’ve been through this town many times. The highway used to go right through town and only what seems a few years ago did they finish the bypass.
I took the exit ramp. The roads had changed, the strip mall just outside of town was nearly deserted. Even Wendy’s was closed up. The Indianhead Motel however was still there and though they didn’t have the “no vacancy” sign out, they had business.
Just then Neil Diamond came on my radio. I know, you are thinking Neil Diamond, seriously? Seriously. The night we had been stranded at the Indianhead, we had watched “The Jazz Singer” with Neil Diamond on TV.
I looked up the hill on the east side of town, to the steeple of the Catholic Church. Really? God, you want me to go up there. Apparently He did.
It was getting late in the day, and was dreary. The rain had stopped, but the clouds still hung heavy. I turned the car to the right and climbed the hill to the church.
My friend’s family was devote Catholics. That night we spent in town, when the snow had abated around supper-time, someone consulted a pamphlet in the hotel room and found that mass would be starting soon. The three of us piled back into the car and headed up the hill.
I never knew until this Thursday what the name of that church was. Notre Dame. I wandered the grounds in the fading light, taking pictures and wondering why I had been sent up here. I sighed and returned to my car. I still had a two-hour drive ahead of me.
Friday morning, October 4, which happens to be our anniversary, I went on-line to find out more about the Notre Dame Church of Chippewa Falls. The first thing that jumped out at me was that it was St. Francis of Assisi day.
You probably have picked up by now that I am not Catholic. I have a lot of friends who are, so I know a little about their faith. I know about, but don’t understand, their allegiance to the saints. A lot of their saints are pretty obscure. (For example, who has been a follower of St. Bruno?)
I think, though, that most of us have heard of Francis of Assisi, patron saint of animals and nature. Also, the guy that our current pope honored by taking his name. And so, it was after sixteen years of marriage, that I discovered that the date we chose is the feast day of this saint.
I think there is more to the story, but I need to wait on God’s time to find out what it is. So please stay tuned.
Lord, make me an instrument of Your peace;Where there is hatred, let me sow love;Where there is injury, pardon;Where there is error, the truth;Where there is doubt, the faith;Where there is despair, hope;Where there is darkness, light;And where there is sadness, joy.O Divine Master, Grant that I may not so much seekTo be consoled, as to console;To be understood, as to understand;To be loved as to love.For it is in giving that we receive;It is in pardoning that we are pardoned;And it is in dying that we are born to eternal life.
(Called the prayer of St. Francis, but history is pretty sure he never wrote it)
When I was in my second year of college, my friend and I went to her sister’s house in Rochester, Minnesota, for spring break. I know. Who goes to Minnesota on spring break? Starving college kids on a tight budget.
My friend’s brother drove us. We woke that Saturday morning to snow, of course, because I live in Wisconsin and I was heading to Minnesota. Why would the weather not be horrible. By mid-day, as we were one-third of the way to our destination, the snow had started to cause a whiteout on the highway. We were crawling along, only guessing that we were still on the road, snow blowing everywhere. We decided we needed to stop.
We pulled into the city of Chippewa Falls and the first hotel (perhaps the only hotel) in town was the Indianhead Motel. We got one room. Remember we were all starving college students. I believe my friend’s brother was in veterinary school at the time. Anyway, yes I spent the night in a hotel room with a guy, who was in the other bed, while my friend and I slept in the second bed. Except I didn’t sleep; I was too scared coz there was a man I hardly knew just ten feet away. Even though I was twenty years old at the time, I was nearly as pure as the driven snow outside.
Anyway, why this story now. I was at a meeting on Thursday over past Chippewa Falls. On the way home, when I got to that point in the trip, I thought it was time to stop for something to eat. I’ve been through this town many times. The highway used to go right through town and only what seems a few years ago did they finish the bypass.
I took the exit ramp. The roads had changed, the strip mall just outside of town was nearly deserted. Even Wendy’s was closed up. The Indianhead Motel however was still there and though they didn’t have the “no vacancy” sign out, they had business.
Just then Neil Diamond came on my radio. I know, you are thinking Neil Diamond, seriously? Seriously. The night we had been stranded at the Indianhead, we had watched “The Jazz Singer” with Neil Diamond on TV.
I looked up the hill on the east side of town, to the steeple of the Catholic Church. Really? God, you want me to go up there. Apparently He did.
It was getting late in the day, and was dreary. The rain had stopped, but the clouds still hung heavy. I turned the car to the right and climbed the hill to the church.
My friend’s family was devote Catholics. That night we spent in town, when the snow had abated around supper-time, someone consulted a pamphlet in the hotel room and found that mass would be starting soon. The three of us piled back into the car and headed up the hill.
I never knew until this Thursday what the name of that church was. Notre Dame. I wandered the grounds in the fading light, taking pictures and wondering why I had been sent up here. I sighed and returned to my car. I still had a two-hour drive ahead of me.
Friday morning, October 4, which happens to be our anniversary, I went on-line to find out more about the Notre Dame Church of Chippewa Falls. The first thing that jumped out at me was that it was St. Francis of Assisi day.
You probably have picked up by now that I am not Catholic. I have a lot of friends who are, so I know a little about their faith. I know about, but don’t understand, their allegiance to the saints. A lot of their saints are pretty obscure. (For example, who has been a follower of St. Bruno?)
I think, though, that most of us have heard of Francis of Assisi, patron saint of animals and nature. Also, the guy that our current pope honored by taking his name. And so, it was after sixteen years of marriage, that I discovered that the date we chose is the feast day of this saint.
I think there is more to the story, but I need to wait on God’s time to find out what it is. So please stay tuned.
Lord, make me an instrument of Your peace;Where there is hatred, let me sow love;Where there is injury, pardon;Where there is error, the truth;Where there is doubt, the faith;Where there is despair, hope;Where there is darkness, light;And where there is sadness, joy.O Divine Master, Grant that I may not so much seekTo be consoled, as to console;To be understood, as to understand;To be loved as to love.For it is in giving that we receive;It is in pardoning that we are pardoned;And it is in dying that we are born to eternal life.(Called the prayer of St. Francis, but history is pretty sure he never wrote it)
September 29, 2013
“The toughest job you’ll ever love.”
That’s what started it all. Started my dream of changing the world. Those Peace Corps commercials from the sixties, when I was just a kid and didn’t have a clue. But I would watch those ads, and see young Americans feeding starving children in Ethiopia or building a bridge in Colombia, and I would think, “That’s what I want to do some day.”
Instead, God sent me a husband (and then a second husband), two children, an eight to five job, a mortgage, a car payment, a dog and too many cats. Ok, maybe God didn’t do all of that. Maybe I made some choices of mine own. Maybe I took the easy path, the road more traveled, the conventional life.
In 2005, when God told me it was time to take that trip to a third world country, to make a difference, to change the world, I wasn’t easily convinced. After all, I had the husband and the kids and two dogs at that time. Plus I was old (hard to believe that I am even older now). I went to Africa, just as God had told me to do, and while I was there, I felt sure that I couldn’t make a difference and I certainly couldn’t change the world.
What changed inside of me? Did I lower my expectations? Did I accept second-best? No, but I figured it out. I can make a difference, you can make a difference. It really isn’t that hard. Just answer when God calls.
"The same Good News that came to you is going out all over the world and changing lives everywhere, just as it changed yours that very first day you heard it and understood about God’s great kindness to sinners." Colossians 1:6 Living Bible
(If you are reading this blog on the day it posted, you still have a chance to get my memoir for free and learn all about that first trip to Africa. Simply click here.)
Instead, God sent me a husband (and then a second husband), two children, an eight to five job, a mortgage, a car payment, a dog and too many cats. Ok, maybe God didn’t do all of that. Maybe I made some choices of mine own. Maybe I took the easy path, the road more traveled, the conventional life.
In 2005, when God told me it was time to take that trip to a third world country, to make a difference, to change the world, I wasn’t easily convinced. After all, I had the husband and the kids and two dogs at that time. Plus I was old (hard to believe that I am even older now). I went to Africa, just as God had told me to do, and while I was there, I felt sure that I couldn’t make a difference and I certainly couldn’t change the world. What changed inside of me? Did I lower my expectations? Did I accept second-best? No, but I figured it out. I can make a difference, you can make a difference. It really isn’t that hard. Just answer when God calls.
"The same Good News that came to you is going out all over the world and changing lives everywhere, just as it changed yours that very first day you heard it and understood about God’s great kindness to sinners." Colossians 1:6 Living Bible
(If you are reading this blog on the day it posted, you still have a chance to get my memoir for free and learn all about that first trip to Africa. Simply click here.)
September 26, 2013
"All the world's a stage"
Today’s assignment: combine two famous quotes into one pithy saying. One example might be “Man cannot live by bread alone so let them eat cake.” You get the idea.
My husband and I are on vacation this week. We spent a few days in the southeastern part of the state, visiting places in Milwaukee and Madison, and several cute little towns in between. In Waukesha, we stumbled upon this beautiful park along the river. When I found the outdoor amphitheater, I couldn’t help myself. Does anybody else have an overwhelming desire to dance when they are presented with an empty stage?
Thus my modified quote, thanks to Mr. Shakespeare and Lee Ann Womack. “All the world’s a stage so I hope you dance.”
When I was in kindergarten, I wanted to be a ballerina. Good thing I let that dream go.
My husband and I are on vacation this week. We spent a few days in the southeastern part of the state, visiting places in Milwaukee and Madison, and several cute little towns in between. In Waukesha, we stumbled upon this beautiful park along the river. When I found the outdoor amphitheater, I couldn’t help myself. Does anybody else have an overwhelming desire to dance when they are presented with an empty stage?
Thus my modified quote, thanks to Mr. Shakespeare and Lee Ann Womack. “All the world’s a stage so I hope you dance.”
When I was in kindergarten, I wanted to be a ballerina. Good thing I let that dream go.
September 24, 2013
Tell this guy's story for me
Since hearing the news Saturday morning about the shootings at Westgate Mall in Nairobi, Kenya, and continuing to follow the ongoing events there, I haven't been wearing my creativity hat. I've mostly been trying to just stay busy, clean house, spend time with the hubby, get caught up on reading. Oh, and I'm on vacation this week. Maybe a good thing. I don't want to have to focus on other people and their problems right now. Patients who haven't got a clue what life is like in a foreign country.
But I am starting to ramble. I will not get on my soap box and vent to you, my faithful blog followers. Instead, I will offer you the opportunity to write my blog for me.
A few weeks ago, as I wrote at the time, I took my kinship kid to our local animal park. This little opossum was so cute. Someone help me out. Tell me what he is thinking or what his story is.
Isn't he adorable?
But I am starting to ramble. I will not get on my soap box and vent to you, my faithful blog followers. Instead, I will offer you the opportunity to write my blog for me.
A few weeks ago, as I wrote at the time, I took my kinship kid to our local animal park. This little opossum was so cute. Someone help me out. Tell me what he is thinking or what his story is.
Isn't he adorable?
September 21, 2013
Never stop looking to Jesus
We must never stop looking to Jesus. Hebrews 12:2a (Easy to Read Version)
One afternoon last week, a young mother brought her baby in to our clinic for her well-child checkup. As I laid the little one on the table to measure her, she kept looking at her mother with bright trusting eyes. I’d call her name to get her attention, and she would turn her head to me for just a second before turning back to Mom. At just two months old, she already knew who she adored, who supplied all of her needs and who would never let her down.
Good thing she didn’t look at me with any devotion. When the doctor was done examining her, I returned with three immunizations.
Most babies don’t like the first shot, but they can’t quite figure out the pain, so it’s not so bad. By the second shot, they have processed the pain and are not happy. At that point they are crying their heart out. The third shot. Well, it doesn’t matter by then. I just get the vaccines in as fast as I can. After I slap on the last Band-Aid, I tell Mom it’s ok to pick the baby up.
The sweet little baby girl last week was no different. She just wanted to get into Mom’s arms. That tiny two-month old brain already knew that Mom would make it all right. Her tears subsided quickly.
It just reminded me of life with our heavenly Parent. We look to God with devotion when things are going well, but as soon as the pain starts or we run into problems, we forget where to turn. It isn’t until He reaches down and takes us into His loving arms, that we feel safe again, that the pain eases. That we can look to Him again with devotion, knowing that He will provide our every need.
I look to you, heaven-dwelling God, look up to you for help.Like servants, alert to their master’s commands, like a maiden attending her lady,We’re watching and waiting, holding our breath, awaiting your word of mercy. Psalm 123:1-2 (The Message)
(The pictures are of my kids, one of Nick and one of Val. I won't tell you which is which. They get mad enough at me when I post pictures of them.)
One afternoon last week, a young mother brought her baby in to our clinic for her well-child checkup. As I laid the little one on the table to measure her, she kept looking at her mother with bright trusting eyes. I’d call her name to get her attention, and she would turn her head to me for just a second before turning back to Mom. At just two months old, she already knew who she adored, who supplied all of her needs and who would never let her down.
Good thing she didn’t look at me with any devotion. When the doctor was done examining her, I returned with three immunizations. Most babies don’t like the first shot, but they can’t quite figure out the pain, so it’s not so bad. By the second shot, they have processed the pain and are not happy. At that point they are crying their heart out. The third shot. Well, it doesn’t matter by then. I just get the vaccines in as fast as I can. After I slap on the last Band-Aid, I tell Mom it’s ok to pick the baby up.
The sweet little baby girl last week was no different. She just wanted to get into Mom’s arms. That tiny two-month old brain already knew that Mom would make it all right. Her tears subsided quickly. It just reminded me of life with our heavenly Parent. We look to God with devotion when things are going well, but as soon as the pain starts or we run into problems, we forget where to turn. It isn’t until He reaches down and takes us into His loving arms, that we feel safe again, that the pain eases. That we can look to Him again with devotion, knowing that He will provide our every need.
I look to you, heaven-dwelling God, look up to you for help.Like servants, alert to their master’s commands, like a maiden attending her lady,We’re watching and waiting, holding our breath, awaiting your word of mercy. Psalm 123:1-2 (The Message)
(The pictures are of my kids, one of Nick and one of Val. I won't tell you which is which. They get mad enough at me when I post pictures of them.)
September 17, 2013
Why the name of this blog?
Of course, you already know that this blog is named after my dog, and you’ve maybe noticed that for some reason we call him the Wonder Dog. Why is that? What has he done to earn that title?
Hmm? He doesn’t do any special tricks, just the standard sit, shake, lay. It’s a struggle to get him to rollover; by that time he is just too excited. Once I give him one treat for being a good boy, I might as well forget it.
He has gotten better about staying in the yard, but still wanders off if given the chance. He doesn’t wander off to relieve himself either. No, the whole backyard, as I believe I mentioned in another blog post, is his toilet.
I really wish I could teach him how to pick up the phone and bring it to me when I need to make a call. Or could he get me a cold beverage from the frig like that one dog on the commercial (not that he would bring me a beer, because there are none in my frig).
He can’t seem to understand what weekends are for. He has it in his head that seven days a week we all need to bound out of bed at five a.m.
But he sure loves his kids, any kids. Any child between the ages of four and forty-four comes in my front door and the dumb dog runs and brings every toy in the house as an offering. No, not really, he will keep bringing things until someone starts playing fetch with him.
He does know the following phrases, “Go get a toy”, “Go to the back door”, “Who’s here?” He does not know “Go find the kitty”. Again, I have blogged about those escapades that my husband and I partake of on winter nights when it is time to eradicate the cats from the house. The dog does not participate in this.
And yet there are times when he shines. When my mom comes over, walking slowly, slightly hunched, needing to hang on to something as she navigates my house. Dino stays at her side, he doesn’t jump, he doesn’t get under her feet like he constantly does to me. When she sits down, he sits next to her. Asking for nothing but a pat on the head. Ok, that’s not true at all. He knows that she will feed him table scraps, and he will take them as gently as if a snowflake were falling from the sky.
And when I am sick, when I am in bed with a migraine like I was earlier this week, he will not leave me. He follows me from bed to bath to couch and back again as I try to find some kind of relief. He lays at my side and his brown eyes intently watch me, raising one brow-less brow and then the other.
Oh, I guess he is ok for being a dumb mutt.
Hmm? He doesn’t do any special tricks, just the standard sit, shake, lay. It’s a struggle to get him to rollover; by that time he is just too excited. Once I give him one treat for being a good boy, I might as well forget it.
He has gotten better about staying in the yard, but still wanders off if given the chance. He doesn’t wander off to relieve himself either. No, the whole backyard, as I believe I mentioned in another blog post, is his toilet.
I really wish I could teach him how to pick up the phone and bring it to me when I need to make a call. Or could he get me a cold beverage from the frig like that one dog on the commercial (not that he would bring me a beer, because there are none in my frig).
He can’t seem to understand what weekends are for. He has it in his head that seven days a week we all need to bound out of bed at five a.m.
But he sure loves his kids, any kids. Any child between the ages of four and forty-four comes in my front door and the dumb dog runs and brings every toy in the house as an offering. No, not really, he will keep bringing things until someone starts playing fetch with him.
He does know the following phrases, “Go get a toy”, “Go to the back door”, “Who’s here?” He does not know “Go find the kitty”. Again, I have blogged about those escapades that my husband and I partake of on winter nights when it is time to eradicate the cats from the house. The dog does not participate in this.
And yet there are times when he shines. When my mom comes over, walking slowly, slightly hunched, needing to hang on to something as she navigates my house. Dino stays at her side, he doesn’t jump, he doesn’t get under her feet like he constantly does to me. When she sits down, he sits next to her. Asking for nothing but a pat on the head. Ok, that’s not true at all. He knows that she will feed him table scraps, and he will take them as gently as if a snowflake were falling from the sky.
And when I am sick, when I am in bed with a migraine like I was earlier this week, he will not leave me. He follows me from bed to bath to couch and back again as I try to find some kind of relief. He lays at my side and his brown eyes intently watch me, raising one brow-less brow and then the other.
Oh, I guess he is ok for being a dumb mutt.
September 15, 2013
From Kenya to Uganda to Wisconsin
All they asked was that we should continue to remember the poor, the very thing I had been eager to do all along. Galatians 2:10 New International Version
Today is the big day. The organizational meeting for Tumaini Volunteers, Inc., the nonprofit that my daughter Val is forming to help the people of Kenya. I pray that it all goes well and we have a good turnout.
And because we serve a God who is bigger than all of our plans, yesterday I met a man who runs an orphanage in Uganda. Joseph is here in America for a month to raise awareness and funds for Bulamu Children’s Village. He is staying with a fellow writer while he is in Wisconsin, so I drove 155 miles one way to attend the Pens of Praise writers group, knowing that he would be there.
He kept saying that he is not a writer, yet he shared a moving devotion which he had written. His words took me right back to Africa and I could picture the children gathering around, begging for their daily ration of biscuits.
The children. “Sigh”. May God be with them, no matter where they live, no matter their circumstances. May God free them from their poverty, whether they are lacking in physical or spiritual things.
Jesus said to them, “Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these. Mark 10:14 New International Version
Can you believe that I didn't take any pictures yesterday? And what a beautiful setting we were in! I pulled these pictures off of Debby Erdmann's Facebook page. Thanks, Debby, for the hospitality and all the work you do for the orphans of Bulamu.
Today is the big day. The organizational meeting for Tumaini Volunteers, Inc., the nonprofit that my daughter Val is forming to help the people of Kenya. I pray that it all goes well and we have a good turnout.
And because we serve a God who is bigger than all of our plans, yesterday I met a man who runs an orphanage in Uganda. Joseph is here in America for a month to raise awareness and funds for Bulamu Children’s Village. He is staying with a fellow writer while he is in Wisconsin, so I drove 155 miles one way to attend the Pens of Praise writers group, knowing that he would be there.
He kept saying that he is not a writer, yet he shared a moving devotion which he had written. His words took me right back to Africa and I could picture the children gathering around, begging for their daily ration of biscuits.
The children. “Sigh”. May God be with them, no matter where they live, no matter their circumstances. May God free them from their poverty, whether they are lacking in physical or spiritual things.
Jesus said to them, “Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these. Mark 10:14 New International Version
Can you believe that I didn't take any pictures yesterday? And what a beautiful setting we were in! I pulled these pictures off of Debby Erdmann's Facebook page. Thanks, Debby, for the hospitality and all the work you do for the orphans of Bulamu.
September 14, 2013
A Challenge of Windows and Doors
A couple months ago, I discovered another blog challenge, A Personal Photo Challenge. I thought it sounded like a great idea as it would be a chance to show off some of my more obscure photos, or to even have an excuse to take obscure photos. If you have been following me at all, though, you know that I have my hands into so many other things, that I don't know what makes me think I can take this on as well. But when the photo challenge for this month posted in August, I though, ah, ha, I got this one.
The theme is "Windows and Doors". I already had some cool pictures which I thought would work, but that day back in August, when I stopped at the Novitiate near Gresham? Would any other place offer more awesome windows and doors?
The theme is "Windows and Doors". I already had some cool pictures which I thought would work, but that day back in August, when I stopped at the Novitiate near Gresham? Would any other place offer more awesome windows and doors?
