Jubilee is sleeping. She had a rough morning which was complicated by packing. We had a good day yesterday, visited a castle being reconstructed. Magnificent building and grounds. Well, not magnificent with grandeur as the Russian trashed most of it during WWII, but magnificent in sheer beauty in the combination of buildings, trees, green grass and cool breeze. They are gearing up for aChristian arts festival. www.slot.com is the web site (I think) It starts the day we leave so that is a bummer, but maybe we will catch it another year. Tents already setting up all over the grounds. Basia worked the festival one year doing make-up and her friend, Gosia, did a fashion show. There was silk painting, pottery, writing, you name it theyhad it, but she said the music was lame. Maybe we need to get together a team (or two or three) and come over in a couple years. Hang out for the festival and see where God leads afterwards, what doors open. Hmmmm. Anybody interested?
So, I lay down with Jubilee for her nap. SHE LOVES TAKING NAPS HERE! SHe wants us face to face so, "We can smile at each other while we sleep." I held Piglet and she held Pink Baby. They had their noses together so they could smile at each other, too. I was enjoying resting and letting my mind wander a bit and talk with God. I love the quiet of nap time and the forced stillness. I love holding Jubi and resting. It is very nice.
Okay, now the reason for writing, I was contemplating why Jubi is so stressed today and I think it has to do with being present. John Smeltzer teaches about being present to the moment. Well, lots of people probably teach about that, but I learned it from John. Jubi is BRILLIANT at being present. She has been from birth. She never was one to complain about who was not there in the room, even when the one not present had the means for feeding her. She just enjoyed and was satisfied with who she was with. She celebrates the moments. I think that last night when David started talking to her about coming home in a few days it sort of pulled the rug out from under her. She is meant to live in the present and now she is ready to go home so her heart is in the future but her body is in the present and she is torn.
You remember what it was like at the end of hte summer. There was a week left but school LOOMED on the horizon and it was difficult (IMPOSSIBLE) to really enjoy the last week of summer because of what lay ahead. Instead of being present and really getting the most of that last week the shadow of school kept things somewhat dark.
It was a bit like that yesterday. Driving, having a great time. Finally meeting someone who could tell us where the castle was we tried to visit in November last year but not having enoughtime to get there. Running out of time. Knowing that this is the last "adventure" for this visit and already starting to miss what has been.
So, today I am packing so that tomorrow, our last day here, I can be PRESENT to the moments. No rushing around packing or getting ready. All that done and finished and just ENJOY POLAND and the DAY!
Oh, some of God's sussies for teh weekend. We went to a GONG concert on Saturday. I'll tell you about it someday. Jubi needed to pottie and it ended with an invitation to a private concert in a 17th century church. Yesterday we made the tour by God's graces. Both days were CLEAR AND WARMish.
Clear and warmish is a breakthrough as the winds have been blowing HARD all week and lots of rain and overcast clouds. When we got to Karpacz we could see the tallest mountain in Poland. Basia said it is very rare that the clouds are not covering it. It was beautiful. It was clear Sunday, too. Now it is Monday again and it cold and raining and overcast.
Last time I was here it was hot. I brought clothes for warm weather. I brought a pair of jeans that I got from Brenda's friend and a pair of my black jeans that are too big, but only one size too big. I also had a new pair of linen pants that I bought for the trip. Everything else was shorts or capris. Well, PRAISE GOD, some of hte baby weight shifted and now the pants from Brenda are way too big. I accidentally got paint on them so they became my "painting pants". The black ones are very stiff so I could still wear them a little bit, but they are now way too big. The linen ones are fine, but thin. All that to say, "IT HAS BEEN COLD HERE!!!" I am wearnign the linen pants and hoping the others dry fast IN THE RAIN so I can finish packing. If htey don't I might just leave them.
I think packing has been good for me to shift into the going home mode. It has been SUCH a blessing being here that I have not been looking forward to returning. Looking forward to seeing Ruth and the boys, but not to returning home. I love being in new places and meeting new people. If I could do this every year for three or four months I would. Hear that God? I think it is a desire of my heart to go and explore your great creation and meet the children of your heart in other parts of the world. I think Hungary might be calling me. Are there still adventures out there for me and the children, God? Pilgrimage? My heart is set on it. Thank you for this adventure with Jubilee. Could the next one please include everybody?
Side tracks. Love em.
Monday, July 9, 2007
The FOUNDATION OF MY MOTIVATION. Hmph, wonder what that is?
I love Marsha Burns. Her ear is WELL TUNED. The foundation of my motivation challenged? Does NOT SOUNDS FUN!!!! Yeeee haw!!!!!!!! All one can do is snuggie up in the arms of El Shaddai and HANG ON !!!!
So, hang on!
Small Straws In A Soft Wind by Marsha Burns - -
You are going to face situations that will challenge the very foundation of your motivation. Even though this will seem very difficult at times, it is necessary for you to allow this time of soul searching to bring you to a new plateau of faith. Your circumstances will provide opportunities to seek Me for wisdom and establish trust, for I am your very present help in times of trouble and I alone will bring you through. This is a time when the refining fires burn hot. Let those things burn that cannot withstand the heat, for certainly that which remains will be cherished for its great and eternal value, says the Lord.
1 Corinthians 3:12-13
Now if anyone builds on this foundation
with gold, silver, precious stones,
wood, hay, straw,
each one's work will become clear;
for the Day will declare it, because
it will be revealed by fire;
and the fire will test each one's work,
of what sort it is.
New Releases!
The "New Releases" is about stuff that the website sells, but I accidentally copied it when copying this prophetic word SOOOOOOO I am taking it as part of the prophetic word. NEW RELEASES!!!! I AM STANDING HERE DECLARING NEW RELEASES INTO MY LIFE and the LIVES OF THOSE I LOVE!!!! NEW RELEASES!!!! MORE MORE MORE!!!! NEW RELEASES.
The paintings that I have done here, about two dozen in six weeks, (would have done more, but it is so complicated getting canvases) were mostly interpretations of previous watercolors. Oh, I am learning oils while I am here. The last two broke away from that AND I LIKE THEM! I feel RELEASED!!!! Released for what? I don' tknow.Today I started packing. Three suitcases so far. One is two ounces short of the 50 pound limit. The other two are about half a pound shy. I have ONE suitcase left. It is small and I bought it here in Poland. It is a glorious PURPLE that sort of color shifts in the light. It is designed adn manufactured here in Poland. The entrepenuer's heart is to produce excellence that will challenge the desing and quality of the beautiful Italian bags. He has made some glorious strides.
We talk all the time about God's glory. I was reading in my amplified (okay, in Basia's amplified) this week and it spoke of MY GLORY!!! That sounds sacriligious doesn't it. MY GLORY! YOUR GLORY! but it is there and we must not settle for doing our best (excellence is not perfection) so that our glory, which originates from God, shines forth.
Okay. Jubi has run out of steam. She is getting nervous about the next thing. She loves it here. She loves Basia and Tomek and Igor, but she loves her family. Yesterday David talked on Skype to her about coming home and she has been off balance ever since. It would have been better to wait until it was time to come home. Time is difficult for a two year old. Now my attention has been pulled away on a day she was already stressed and I need to go take care of my baby.
XOXOXOOX
Saturday, July 7, 2007
07 07 07 A NEW THInG?!?!!!
I can't believe we will be leaving in a few days. This is our LAST WEEKEND!!!!! What to do? SO MUCH TO DO!!!!! but really just want to BE, ya know? So there are some things to do and it is cold and windy and I want to make every second stretch. How could this much time go so quickly. I finished all the canvases last night. Actually, Ania left some here and it is SOOOOO tempting to use hers!!!! But I won't- sigh. I love Marsha Burns. Her heart, it is snuggied right up next to God's heart. Lub dub, lub dub, lub dub. They beat in unison and mine is all warm and fuzzy right now. Ruthie is at The Call. I am praying for her, for us, for ALL of us. Spirit of Prophecy Bulletin | ||||||
| Small Straws In A Soft Wind |
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| July 6, 2007: Be aware that attacks against your emotions will manifest as confusion and chaos as well as feeling condemned. Beloved, this is the work of the devil. Do not cave in under the powers of darkness, and more particularly the spirit of heaviness. Rise up in the assurance that you are Mine and that I am not the author of confusion, nor do I condemn you. Establish yourself in the truth of My love for you and resist the devil in the strength of your trust in Me, says the Lord. 1 Corinthians 14:33 For God is not the author of confusion but of peace, as in all the churches of the saints. Hmmmmm, so if there is not peace in the church....... | ||||||
Thursday, July 5, 2007
NO NEED!!!! No need IN Christ. Now HOW to appropriate it day to day. SIGH
| Small Straws In A Soft Wind |
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| July 5, 2007: Be at peace and refuse to allow petty annoyances to arouse your anger and cause you to sin. Forgive quickly and maintain a calm spirit. You will be tempted to rise up to defend your position or to prove your righteousness, but that would be foolish. There is no need to defend a righteous position; it speaks for itself. Do not allow the enemy to push buttons that trigger unwarranted responses and behavior, says the Lord. cool. SAY NO TO PETTY AnNOYANCES! No, nie, nyet. Say YES to PEACE that passes understanding. YES! TAK! BRING IT on!!!!
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Boobs
I hit enter the other day then thought OH MY GOODNESS !!!! I just wrote a blog about boobs. The next thought was about how manyBOOBS I KNOW!!!! Then I thought I better go pray and do some forgiving and asking for forgiveness.
Isn't it interesting the meanings of the word boobs. We have GOT to stop using words with such negative connotations. I HAVE GOT TO STOP. I was reading before leaving home about how men were considered created from the gods and women were considered as coming from ANIMALS! LESS THAN HUMAN! and that is were we get so many animal names for women (think bitch) It runs deep, yall, the m (ysogeny and we are so familiar with it we don't even see it. (nor can I spell it correctly)
SO, my sister writes these wonderful blogs and I wrote a comment to one of hers and I think I will put it here. She was sharing about the US vs THEM stuff that goes on in life and something God is setting me free from (and soon I HOPE!!!) is seeing ALL of us created in the IMAGE OF GOD!!!! (I can't even read books or scripture any more without translating all the He and Him into God (as God is beyond he or him or she or her) I am starting to see HUMAN BEINGS!!! Human being is not a term I have used often in my life but it is so much more accurate. We often give compliments or complaints based upon gender. Such a nice young man. A sweet old woman when in actuality it is not about gender but about humanness.
Sooooooo, here is what I wrote to my sister and maybe it will ring a bell for ya.
RING MY BELLLLLLLLLL RING MY BELL MY BELL ( an old song flashed through my mind.) DING DING
SO MY SWEET SWEET SIsTER WHO I LOVE AND ADORE AND AM SO PROUD OF!!!!! Toss US vs THEM! Take up CREATED IN THE IMAGE OF GOD- MALE AND FEMALE and SWING FREE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Right now i am seeing you swinging through the jungle like Tarzan!!!!!! Swooping between tree tops with flowers EVERYWHERE and brightly colored birds and "George of the Jungle" music in the background. Wearing your ephod and bright red sports bra!!!!! WHEEEEEEEEEEE!!!!!!!!! I wonder if that was prophetic. Better go out and get you a bright red sport bra JUST IN CASE!!!!
Actually this a.m. I was thinking how much I wish you were here with me. How much FUN we would have exploring the world together. I want you to consider skipping Maine some year and coming with me to Eastern Europe. As the prices keep going up we will have to explore some country NOT in the EU, but we can do it. We are chosen and favored and blessed by God. We love people and you don't need a lot of language for people to know and understand that you love and appreciate them. All you have to do is look them in the eye and smile from your heart.
I LOVE YOU! I AM READY FOR AN ADVENTURE WITH YOU!!!!
co cham cza!!!!
Isn't it interesting the meanings of the word boobs. We have GOT to stop using words with such negative connotations. I HAVE GOT TO STOP. I was reading before leaving home about how men were considered created from the gods and women were considered as coming from ANIMALS! LESS THAN HUMAN! and that is were we get so many animal names for women (think bitch) It runs deep, yall, the m (ysogeny and we are so familiar with it we don't even see it. (nor can I spell it correctly)
SO, my sister writes these wonderful blogs and I wrote a comment to one of hers and I think I will put it here. She was sharing about the US vs THEM stuff that goes on in life and something God is setting me free from (and soon I HOPE!!!) is seeing ALL of us created in the IMAGE OF GOD!!!! (I can't even read books or scripture any more without translating all the He and Him into God (as God is beyond he or him or she or her) I am starting to see HUMAN BEINGS!!! Human being is not a term I have used often in my life but it is so much more accurate. We often give compliments or complaints based upon gender. Such a nice young man. A sweet old woman when in actuality it is not about gender but about humanness.
Sooooooo, here is what I wrote to my sister and maybe it will ring a bell for ya.
RING MY BELLLLLLLLLL RING MY BELL MY BELL ( an old song flashed through my mind.) DING DING
SO MY SWEET SWEET SIsTER WHO I LOVE AND ADORE AND AM SO PROUD OF!!!!! Toss US vs THEM! Take up CREATED IN THE IMAGE OF GOD- MALE AND FEMALE and SWING FREE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Right now i am seeing you swinging through the jungle like Tarzan!!!!!! Swooping between tree tops with flowers EVERYWHERE and brightly colored birds and "George of the Jungle" music in the background. Wearing your ephod and bright red sports bra!!!!! WHEEEEEEEEEEE!!!!!!!!! I wonder if that was prophetic. Better go out and get you a bright red sport bra JUST IN CASE!!!!
Actually this a.m. I was thinking how much I wish you were here with me. How much FUN we would have exploring the world together. I want you to consider skipping Maine some year and coming with me to Eastern Europe. As the prices keep going up we will have to explore some country NOT in the EU, but we can do it. We are chosen and favored and blessed by God. We love people and you don't need a lot of language for people to know and understand that you love and appreciate them. All you have to do is look them in the eye and smile from your heart.
I LOVE YOU! I AM READY FOR AN ADVENTURE WITH YOU!!!!
co cham cza!!!!
Monday, July 2, 2007
I think I met an angel the other day! It was amazing. A very small
crippled woman walking down the street. I greeted her and the smile in
return filled my entire being! It was amazing. I walked a ways and then
decided I wanted a hug. (I do that sometimes, get hugs from strangers,
mostly grandma types). When I turned around the street was completely
empty. NOBODY was there. Unless she climbed a tree, she just
disappeared! GONE! POOF!!! I think she was an angel.
crippled woman walking down the street. I greeted her and the smile in
return filled my entire being! It was amazing. I walked a ways and then
decided I wanted a hug. (I do that sometimes, get hugs from strangers,
mostly grandma types). When I turned around the street was completely
empty. NOBODY was there. Unless she climbed a tree, she just
disappeared! GONE! POOF!!! I think she was an angel.
can't get photos off camera- bummer
it is almost over. I can't believe it. It has flown by and I don't know where the minutes and days and hours have gone. It has been very sweet and gentle. Me and Jubi hanging out, doing what we can do and just BEING! Jubilee is a lovely human being. She has a magnificent strong and powerful will. It will serve her and the Kingdom of God briliantly. She also has a very very very generous and loving way. I am so thankful for this season of getting to know Jubilee. I am wishing I had taken a time like this with each of the children. Well, it was part of Ruth's life, but it would have been nice with alll the boys. But WHO KNEW! It is such a STRANGE thing to do, go off with a single child and leave all the others behind. Who would think of that. I am so thankful to everyone who has made this possible. What a blessing.
Yesterday I worked on five paintings in four hours. Jubi took a HUGE nap! I need to get a massage! I am so sore. I am really enjoying the oils, but it is harder physically than the watercolors. Or maybe I just have not spent four hours non-stop painting in a while and I forgot. OOPS! COULD BE!
The hall ways is FULL of paintings. I have three canvases left. Basia bought me 13 canvases here. large ones in cm measurements so I dn't know how big they really are. Full sheet size, 10 of them and then two significantly larger ones. SO MUCH FUN! I brought a dozen small board canvases with me and they are all used. Now the pressure is on. WHAT TO DO WITH THE THREE LEFT! I don't think I will be able to get any more. Canvas, the good ones, are all shipped to Germany. Interesting isn't it.
I have been using my watercolors as reference for the oils. I am still in learning mode and having something familiar as a subject matter is very helpful. I think the anointing has transferred, or maybe it is a fresh anointing. I hope it is a fresh anointing.
Last night Jubi and I picked up a pizza. WHile we were waiting a little girl with VERY LONG legs was walking around wearing shorts with her hiney cheeks hanging out. I thought, that isn't right. Then her momma came along and they left. Mom had VERY VERY long legs. The exact same legs as the daughter. Or maybe that is vice versa. I have been noticing moms here in Poland. You can't tell them from the women who are NOT moms!!!
What is that about? There is a sexuality there that is not present in my world. Maybe my world is just too sheltered. I remember sitting waiting for the boys at Redeemer Lutheran School thinking, "GOD! !! THESE WOMEN LOOK AWFUL! GOD! I LOOK JUST LIKE THEM!!!! HELP!!!!!"
It is NOT honoring to God to look all wrung out. It is not honoring to God to BE all wrung out. SO, I started an endeavor to look like ME, to have my outside somewhat reflect my life inside. I want people to be attracted to God in me and I don't want to put up a barrier by looking like a hag.
SO, what is this thing in Poland. Jubi is in my lap talking to me so my thoughts are a bit less focused (HA HA HA!) than normal. I see sexuality there that is VERY unhealthy. Women as objects. BUT I am also seeing a sexuality there that IS HEALTHY!!! I am seeing women with children who look sharp. They still look like women instead of like mommies or HEAVEN FORBID! HOME SCHOOL MOMS!
I am CONVINCED deep in my spirit that Mary, the Mother of Jesus, DID NOT DRESS JESUS FUNNY!!!!! Yet, as believers, home schoolers in particular, we sooooo often dress our kids as cultural freaks. AND THEN WE EXPECT THEM TO CHANGE THE WORLD!!!! SIGH.
Okay, that isnot what I wanted to talk about.
I wanted to talk about this thing of so many of hte moms looking like women more than like moms. I am into boobs lately. Mine are mine again. Jubi is weaned. I put in just over 12 years total of nursing. WHOOO HOOOOOOOO!!!! Mine are mighty minghty boobies. (Not as mighty as Brenda, my sister who I think could set world records, but that is a bit personal so I"ll let her tell you about her mighty boob).
I got in "trouble" a while back with "leadership" in our church. I spent six months praying about what paintings to replace the old paintings with. God was downloading all sorts of good stuff, promises and blessings for James Avenue Church. One of them was a HUGE painting I did during a 100 Portraits concert AT James Avneue Church. It spoke of joy and freedom, but it was HUGE so I could not frame it. I did all sorts of studying as to how to seal it so it would not need glass or plexi. (The plexi to frame it would have been $500!!!!!) So I get it sealed and as it is being hung I get this magnificent download about GOD REMOVING BARRIERS! Barriers between worshippers and heaven, barriers between the congregation and the worship team. Barriers between worshippers. When there is plexi or glass tehre is distortion no matter how well it is framed. God showed me that he was removing the INVISIBLE barriers that cause unintended distortion. It was a beautiful word for the church and one very much longed for. AND the painting was large enough for the space. The other was too small, it looked impoverished. This one held the space and fit. This is a church that has struggled with poverty forever and this painting was a symbol of abundance commanding a space where there had been lack.
I received several phone calls from worship team members who loved it. The prophetic types got it, no explanation necessary.
Ten days later Steve, the pastor calls, and he - even though very prophetic- did NOT get it. He said he felt VIOLATED! I had spent six months trying to call Steve, but he was too busy to answer any of myphone calls or emails. I went through the decoration person to change out the paintings. So Steve tells me he feels violated, like I violated his living room. Well, that was NEWS to me. I thought the church building belonged to the CHURCH not Steve. SIgh, will I ever learn! I HOPE NOT! Then he goes on to tell me there had been two complaints.
TWO COMPAINTS! WOW! That sounds like success to me! If only two people complain when a change is made in a church that is reason to celebrate, or so I THOUGHT! THEN he tells me that someone saw TEARS in the painting. TEARS! They were worshippers and it was painted during a celebration of worship. Yeah, the circumstances going on at the moment were worthyof tears but it was not a painting of tears. The other complaint, "SOMEONE saw BREASTS " BREASTS! SIGH.
I told Steve that the tears and breasts were nore about THEIR HEARTS than MY ART. THEN Steve tells me I have DISHONORED the ELDERS!!!! WHAT!!! WHERE? WHEN DID THAT HAPPEN!!!!! Oops, those two complainers were elders. SIGH!!!!! I offered to change the name of the painting to El Shaddai but it did not help things. SIGH SIGH SIIIIIIIIIIIGH!
so, I just painted three paintings while and now I am back to this story about not being able to get photos off my camera?
Okay, so this happened awhile back and very slowly i have been getting revelation about breasts and women in general. God is okay with breasts. El SHaddai often is interpretted to mean The Breasted One. I don't know of any of God's names that translate to specifically MALE body parts. SIGH.
Breasts are not evil or wicked or shameful. Breasts are part of being woman and God is OKAY with all parts of being woman. God chose to reveal self through women AND men. It is time to just get over all the shame and horror and objectification of being woman and ENJOY!
Okay, I can't remember why I started this. I am hungry and my eggs (from Basia's grandma's farm) are getting cold.
LATER! Gwen
Yesterday I worked on five paintings in four hours. Jubi took a HUGE nap! I need to get a massage! I am so sore. I am really enjoying the oils, but it is harder physically than the watercolors. Or maybe I just have not spent four hours non-stop painting in a while and I forgot. OOPS! COULD BE!
The hall ways is FULL of paintings. I have three canvases left. Basia bought me 13 canvases here. large ones in cm measurements so I dn't know how big they really are. Full sheet size, 10 of them and then two significantly larger ones. SO MUCH FUN! I brought a dozen small board canvases with me and they are all used. Now the pressure is on. WHAT TO DO WITH THE THREE LEFT! I don't think I will be able to get any more. Canvas, the good ones, are all shipped to Germany. Interesting isn't it.
I have been using my watercolors as reference for the oils. I am still in learning mode and having something familiar as a subject matter is very helpful. I think the anointing has transferred, or maybe it is a fresh anointing. I hope it is a fresh anointing.
Last night Jubi and I picked up a pizza. WHile we were waiting a little girl with VERY LONG legs was walking around wearing shorts with her hiney cheeks hanging out. I thought, that isn't right. Then her momma came along and they left. Mom had VERY VERY long legs. The exact same legs as the daughter. Or maybe that is vice versa. I have been noticing moms here in Poland. You can't tell them from the women who are NOT moms!!!
What is that about? There is a sexuality there that is not present in my world. Maybe my world is just too sheltered. I remember sitting waiting for the boys at Redeemer Lutheran School thinking, "GOD! !! THESE WOMEN LOOK AWFUL! GOD! I LOOK JUST LIKE THEM!!!! HELP!!!!!"
It is NOT honoring to God to look all wrung out. It is not honoring to God to BE all wrung out. SO, I started an endeavor to look like ME, to have my outside somewhat reflect my life inside. I want people to be attracted to God in me and I don't want to put up a barrier by looking like a hag.
SO, what is this thing in Poland. Jubi is in my lap talking to me so my thoughts are a bit less focused (HA HA HA!) than normal. I see sexuality there that is VERY unhealthy. Women as objects. BUT I am also seeing a sexuality there that IS HEALTHY!!! I am seeing women with children who look sharp. They still look like women instead of like mommies or HEAVEN FORBID! HOME SCHOOL MOMS!
I am CONVINCED deep in my spirit that Mary, the Mother of Jesus, DID NOT DRESS JESUS FUNNY!!!!! Yet, as believers, home schoolers in particular, we sooooo often dress our kids as cultural freaks. AND THEN WE EXPECT THEM TO CHANGE THE WORLD!!!! SIGH.
Okay, that isnot what I wanted to talk about.
I wanted to talk about this thing of so many of hte moms looking like women more than like moms. I am into boobs lately. Mine are mine again. Jubi is weaned. I put in just over 12 years total of nursing. WHOOO HOOOOOOOO!!!! Mine are mighty minghty boobies. (Not as mighty as Brenda, my sister who I think could set world records, but that is a bit personal so I"ll let her tell you about her mighty boob).
I got in "trouble" a while back with "leadership" in our church. I spent six months praying about what paintings to replace the old paintings with. God was downloading all sorts of good stuff, promises and blessings for James Avenue Church. One of them was a HUGE painting I did during a 100 Portraits concert AT James Avneue Church. It spoke of joy and freedom, but it was HUGE so I could not frame it. I did all sorts of studying as to how to seal it so it would not need glass or plexi. (The plexi to frame it would have been $500!!!!!) So I get it sealed and as it is being hung I get this magnificent download about GOD REMOVING BARRIERS! Barriers between worshippers and heaven, barriers between the congregation and the worship team. Barriers between worshippers. When there is plexi or glass tehre is distortion no matter how well it is framed. God showed me that he was removing the INVISIBLE barriers that cause unintended distortion. It was a beautiful word for the church and one very much longed for. AND the painting was large enough for the space. The other was too small, it looked impoverished. This one held the space and fit. This is a church that has struggled with poverty forever and this painting was a symbol of abundance commanding a space where there had been lack.
I received several phone calls from worship team members who loved it. The prophetic types got it, no explanation necessary.
Ten days later Steve, the pastor calls, and he - even though very prophetic- did NOT get it. He said he felt VIOLATED! I had spent six months trying to call Steve, but he was too busy to answer any of myphone calls or emails. I went through the decoration person to change out the paintings. So Steve tells me he feels violated, like I violated his living room. Well, that was NEWS to me. I thought the church building belonged to the CHURCH not Steve. SIgh, will I ever learn! I HOPE NOT! Then he goes on to tell me there had been two complaints.
TWO COMPAINTS! WOW! That sounds like success to me! If only two people complain when a change is made in a church that is reason to celebrate, or so I THOUGHT! THEN he tells me that someone saw TEARS in the painting. TEARS! They were worshippers and it was painted during a celebration of worship. Yeah, the circumstances going on at the moment were worthyof tears but it was not a painting of tears. The other complaint, "SOMEONE saw BREASTS " BREASTS! SIGH.
I told Steve that the tears and breasts were nore about THEIR HEARTS than MY ART. THEN Steve tells me I have DISHONORED the ELDERS!!!! WHAT!!! WHERE? WHEN DID THAT HAPPEN!!!!! Oops, those two complainers were elders. SIGH!!!!! I offered to change the name of the painting to El Shaddai but it did not help things. SIGH SIGH SIIIIIIIIIIIGH!
so, I just painted three paintings while and now I am back to this story about not being able to get photos off my camera?
Okay, so this happened awhile back and very slowly i have been getting revelation about breasts and women in general. God is okay with breasts. El SHaddai often is interpretted to mean The Breasted One. I don't know of any of God's names that translate to specifically MALE body parts. SIGH.
Breasts are not evil or wicked or shameful. Breasts are part of being woman and God is OKAY with all parts of being woman. God chose to reveal self through women AND men. It is time to just get over all the shame and horror and objectification of being woman and ENJOY!
Okay, I can't remember why I started this. I am hungry and my eggs (from Basia's grandma's farm) are getting cold.
LATER! Gwen
Monday, June 25, 2007
Thursday, June 21, 2007
monday or maybe Thursday- I forget
Monday the favor continued as I asked for help to get the photos off my camera and the man I asked in the television repair shop decided to help me. It took three disks to capture the photos and then he erased them off my camera. He charged me nothing. FAVOR!!!! And I had three men greet me with Jene Dobre Pani. Usually nobody says ANYTHING to me. It felt great.
Somewhere this week I painted seven small paintings. That was fun. We have stayed close to the apartment. Jubi has been tired and needed catching up.
We saw the girls at School 5 and Zosia. It was very nice. Basia came and interpreted.
We went out to eat at the Romantic Pizza restaurant and last night we met Basia's cousins at Pinocchio's. Three of her cousins came. Magda who is 18, Gosia who is early 30s and Ania who is about 30. There is another sister and a brother but they were not there. We had a good time and Jubi ate SO MUCH PIZZA! It is her favorite food her and Pinocchio's is her favorite place.
Today is Thursday. It is raining and I am about to go paint. I woke up with allergies but I took something and well, it could be working better. It is raining off and on and perfect napping weather. Jubi is sleeping well.
She has really enjoyed Skype and talking to Daddy and siblings. She got to see Anita yesterday and that was great. I keep missing Teri, but I'll keep trying.
I can't believe it is almost time to go home. It has gone SO FAST! There is just not enough time in the day when your little one sleeps late and takes a nap, but it is part of the cost of staying up too late night after night. It is a cost I can live with.
Part of why we came was so that Jubi and I could get to know each other. It has been very good and it is interesting how often I call her RUTH these days. She is much like Ruth but she is also VERY DIFFERENT than Ruth. She is more stubborn than Ruth, but she is also so very very pleasant. She loves going to sleep with me. We "face out smiles at each other" to fall asleep.
I better go paint or the window of opportunity will be closed to soon.
I still don't have my portfolio back but Jubi and I called it back today. We stuck our heads out the window and said, PORTFOLIO - COME HOME! Jubi said "Folio- COME HOME! Amen" I think she is on to something.
love ya. Gwen
Somewhere this week I painted seven small paintings. That was fun. We have stayed close to the apartment. Jubi has been tired and needed catching up.
We saw the girls at School 5 and Zosia. It was very nice. Basia came and interpreted.
We went out to eat at the Romantic Pizza restaurant and last night we met Basia's cousins at Pinocchio's. Three of her cousins came. Magda who is 18, Gosia who is early 30s and Ania who is about 30. There is another sister and a brother but they were not there. We had a good time and Jubi ate SO MUCH PIZZA! It is her favorite food her and Pinocchio's is her favorite place.
Today is Thursday. It is raining and I am about to go paint. I woke up with allergies but I took something and well, it could be working better. It is raining off and on and perfect napping weather. Jubi is sleeping well.
She has really enjoyed Skype and talking to Daddy and siblings. She got to see Anita yesterday and that was great. I keep missing Teri, but I'll keep trying.
I can't believe it is almost time to go home. It has gone SO FAST! There is just not enough time in the day when your little one sleeps late and takes a nap, but it is part of the cost of staying up too late night after night. It is a cost I can live with.
Part of why we came was so that Jubi and I could get to know each other. It has been very good and it is interesting how often I call her RUTH these days. She is much like Ruth but she is also VERY DIFFERENT than Ruth. She is more stubborn than Ruth, but she is also so very very pleasant. She loves going to sleep with me. We "face out smiles at each other" to fall asleep.
I better go paint or the window of opportunity will be closed to soon.
I still don't have my portfolio back but Jubi and I called it back today. We stuck our heads out the window and said, PORTFOLIO - COME HOME! Jubi said "Folio- COME HOME! Amen" I think she is on to something.
love ya. Gwen
Wroclow
We went to Wroclow on Sunday and it was a good day.
We got there on time and even a bit early. We were not allowed in because they were practicing or something so we waited by the door and this black man who spoke very good Popolsku started talking to Basia, she did not feel like talking but was backed into a corner (literally). He asked if she was new, how she heard about the church, who from, etc. To make a good long story short Basia met some men three years ago who helped her with her business plan. It was because of these men she visited the church. Igor was one and he is from Warsaw. Turns out he was visiting that weekend and the black man speaking Polish went inside and got Igor. It was a nice reunion and then Basia met the other guy, too.
We had been talking about visiting Warsaw and we will go this weekend and stay at Igor's flat! He will stay with his family. Very interesting God.
The sermon was very good, well, he really tried to get five different sermons into one and two or three of the five were good, the others needed more development. The part that is sticking with me is THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THANK YOU AND GRATEFULNESS. Thank you is for a specific moment for a specific event. (There was a translator at this church). Gratitude is remembering the specifics and continuing to remember them and to walk in that remembrance. Thank you gets its feelings hurt when the moment is past. Gratitude allows offenses to slide past remembering the moment of thank you.
STUNNING if you think about it. A grateful heart makes room for forgiveness and the release of offenses. A grateful heart sees a bigger picture. A grateful heart does not have room to hold offenses. It made me think of a friend of mine. Recently she asked me to do a favor for her. In her mind it was not a favor that I could refuse, but I refused and now our friendship is ended. She seems to have forgotten all the years of love and service myself and my family has poured into her and her mom. She is not remembering the sacrifices we made on her behalf or the love we showed her. It is very sad, but it is part of walking in thank you rather than gratitude.
As I contemplate this service, this message from the heart of God, I am becoming aware of the places where I have walked in thank you rather than in gratitude. OUCH! It is worth contemplation and then follow up with prayer.
Okay, so one of the other sermons was about the greatness surrounding us. This one, well, someday it will grow up into a good sermon but not this particular Sunday. But what he was trying to say was that EVERYONE has a touch of greatness in them and it would behoove us to SEE that greatness and appreciate it. That this particular grouping of people, this gathering of the body of Christ is magnificent and God ordained. (See Igor above.) It felt very much like a God moment and I was thankful and I hope, grateful, too.
We went shopping afterwards. We had great ice cream/sorbet. We went to the mall. Basia found a perfect dress and the saleswomen OFFERED to give her thirty percent off. This is the new collection dress and she did not ask for a discount- FAVOR! We stopped by to have Illy coffee and lunch but the food was not child matched and we ended up leaving, BUT the owner came and he and Basia connected.
His heart/dream is a coffee shop/shoe store! Basia has a dream for a coffee shop/makeup store. It was great talking to him and being encouraged. He shared freely and they exchanged numbers.
What else happened? I can't remember now, but every time we turned around there was FAVOR waiting for us. It was a good day.
OH! and there was a nest of storks with a momma and four babies!
It was a long but very good day. THANK YOU JESUS! TEACH ME TO WALK WITH A GRATEFUL HEART>
We got there on time and even a bit early. We were not allowed in because they were practicing or something so we waited by the door and this black man who spoke very good Popolsku started talking to Basia, she did not feel like talking but was backed into a corner (literally). He asked if she was new, how she heard about the church, who from, etc. To make a good long story short Basia met some men three years ago who helped her with her business plan. It was because of these men she visited the church. Igor was one and he is from Warsaw. Turns out he was visiting that weekend and the black man speaking Polish went inside and got Igor. It was a nice reunion and then Basia met the other guy, too.
We had been talking about visiting Warsaw and we will go this weekend and stay at Igor's flat! He will stay with his family. Very interesting God.
The sermon was very good, well, he really tried to get five different sermons into one and two or three of the five were good, the others needed more development. The part that is sticking with me is THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THANK YOU AND GRATEFULNESS. Thank you is for a specific moment for a specific event. (There was a translator at this church). Gratitude is remembering the specifics and continuing to remember them and to walk in that remembrance. Thank you gets its feelings hurt when the moment is past. Gratitude allows offenses to slide past remembering the moment of thank you.
STUNNING if you think about it. A grateful heart makes room for forgiveness and the release of offenses. A grateful heart sees a bigger picture. A grateful heart does not have room to hold offenses. It made me think of a friend of mine. Recently she asked me to do a favor for her. In her mind it was not a favor that I could refuse, but I refused and now our friendship is ended. She seems to have forgotten all the years of love and service myself and my family has poured into her and her mom. She is not remembering the sacrifices we made on her behalf or the love we showed her. It is very sad, but it is part of walking in thank you rather than gratitude.
As I contemplate this service, this message from the heart of God, I am becoming aware of the places where I have walked in thank you rather than in gratitude. OUCH! It is worth contemplation and then follow up with prayer.
Okay, so one of the other sermons was about the greatness surrounding us. This one, well, someday it will grow up into a good sermon but not this particular Sunday. But what he was trying to say was that EVERYONE has a touch of greatness in them and it would behoove us to SEE that greatness and appreciate it. That this particular grouping of people, this gathering of the body of Christ is magnificent and God ordained. (See Igor above.) It felt very much like a God moment and I was thankful and I hope, grateful, too.
We went shopping afterwards. We had great ice cream/sorbet. We went to the mall. Basia found a perfect dress and the saleswomen OFFERED to give her thirty percent off. This is the new collection dress and she did not ask for a discount- FAVOR! We stopped by to have Illy coffee and lunch but the food was not child matched and we ended up leaving, BUT the owner came and he and Basia connected.
His heart/dream is a coffee shop/shoe store! Basia has a dream for a coffee shop/makeup store. It was great talking to him and being encouraged. He shared freely and they exchanged numbers.What else happened? I can't remember now, but every time we turned around there was FAVOR waiting for us. It was a good day.
OH! and there was a nest of storks with a momma and four babies!
It was a long but very good day. THANK YOU JESUS! TEACH ME TO WALK WITH A GRATEFUL HEART>
Wednesday, June 20, 2007
It is all in my head! So I am giong to PRESS THROUGH!
It is all in my head. The allergies, they are all in my head. My nose is running, my eyes are red, I can't sleep and there is snot dripping down the front of my shirt. I am frightening to be around. ALLERGIES! It is all in my head, but I am not one of those who takes medicine for every little thing. I am not judging those that do, but I am not going to do it. I am going to press through. I know that I can't sleep at night. I know that as a result I am not the kind of mom I want to be and could be, but I am pressing through this, pushing to the other side. Lying in bed at night, unable to sleep and praying to God asking for healing. I know SO MANY people with allergies. Everywhere I turn there are people suffering from allergies and most of them take the easy way out and take medication, but that is not for me. After all, it is all in my head.
WHAT!!!!
Give me a break. I am so sick of the stereo types that STILL hang on to depression. Sure, some might abuse the medications, but no matter what the circumstance, there will be abuse. Do we avoid anything that could possibly be abused. NO!!!!
My sister almost died. That makes me angry. When a parent commits suicide it increases the chances of a child committing suicide by 60%. AND YET WE HAVE THIS STIGMA ATTACHED TO DEPRESSION AND ITS TREATMENTS!!!! AAAUUUGGGHHHHH!!!!
It is in my head. It really is, but I am taking my allergy meds and the anti-depressants. With the anti-depressants I sleep at night. Without them, I wake up 10- 20 times a night. Does the depression cause the insomnia? Maybe. Does the insomnia cause the depression? Maybe. Maybe both. All I know is that I don't hate my husband when I take the anti-depressants. I used to wish I was dead. I went to counseling and wished David was dead. With the anti-depressants I can just live my life and be a good mom.
Four days after starting them two of my closest friends, who did not know I had started taking them, commented on how drastically my physical appearance had changed. One thought I lost weight. One thought I had new haircut and make-up. The difference, there was life in my eyes again.
There are so many biases we have that we don't even realize we have. My parents are divorced because they refused to deal with my mom's depression. It really stinks, but it is the truth. If they were not ashamed of depression, if if if..... No one can know for certain, but some good anti-depressants would NOT have hurt. Yeah, counseling is very important, but we don't send someone to counseling for allergies, diabetes, arthritus, etc. It is time to grow up and move past it being "ALL IN HER HEAD!"
Okay, soap box over. OXOXOXo
PS all my ques are in Popolsku tonight. Great. I hope this posts.
WHAT!!!!
Give me a break. I am so sick of the stereo types that STILL hang on to depression. Sure, some might abuse the medications, but no matter what the circumstance, there will be abuse. Do we avoid anything that could possibly be abused. NO!!!!
My sister almost died. That makes me angry. When a parent commits suicide it increases the chances of a child committing suicide by 60%. AND YET WE HAVE THIS STIGMA ATTACHED TO DEPRESSION AND ITS TREATMENTS!!!! AAAUUUGGGHHHHH!!!!
It is in my head. It really is, but I am taking my allergy meds and the anti-depressants. With the anti-depressants I sleep at night. Without them, I wake up 10- 20 times a night. Does the depression cause the insomnia? Maybe. Does the insomnia cause the depression? Maybe. Maybe both. All I know is that I don't hate my husband when I take the anti-depressants. I used to wish I was dead. I went to counseling and wished David was dead. With the anti-depressants I can just live my life and be a good mom.
Four days after starting them two of my closest friends, who did not know I had started taking them, commented on how drastically my physical appearance had changed. One thought I lost weight. One thought I had new haircut and make-up. The difference, there was life in my eyes again.
There are so many biases we have that we don't even realize we have. My parents are divorced because they refused to deal with my mom's depression. It really stinks, but it is the truth. If they were not ashamed of depression, if if if..... No one can know for certain, but some good anti-depressants would NOT have hurt. Yeah, counseling is very important, but we don't send someone to counseling for allergies, diabetes, arthritus, etc. It is time to grow up and move past it being "ALL IN HER HEAD!"
Okay, soap box over. OXOXOXo
PS all my ques are in Popolsku tonight. Great. I hope this posts.
Saturday, June 16, 2007
Wednesday in Prague
We ate breakfast at the seminary. Well, Basia and I did, but Jubi was not really into eating. We eventually headed into town taking first the bus then the subway. Jubi enjoyed the adventure. I am noticing some serious typos happening. I wonder what is wrong with the COMPUTER! HA.
We walked around. Bought some garnets. Garnets are the birthstone for January and Basia and I both have January birthdays. Mine was sixteen years earlier but OH WELL. It is interesting, Basia and I are the same age difference as Jubilee and Ruth.
We went on a horse and buggie ride through the old town. We ate ice cream. We ate Czech food. We looked in many shops. We bought tweezers and loose tea spoons. We looked at pots and looked FOR shoes but did not find them. Mostly we just walked and enjoyed life while taking TONS of photos which I can't seem to get off my camera and I only have 17 left to take then it will be full. Sigh. When Ruth wakes up I am going to ask her to help me.
It was a good day and we ended up in the VIP opening night of an international theater show. it was quite bizzar and wonderful. I can't find words for it so I'll include some photos (eventually). Ruth and I TRIED to get into one of these VIP nights in NYC but there they wanted $1000 a piece! WHEW! We were struggling with $20 a piece and decided to "go for it" . After 2 1/2 hours on the subway and walking we arrived and discovered that the VIP tickets were considerably more. We were a little bummed, mostly because we had walked there in the rain and then didn't have time to do anything else, but mainly we enjoyed each other's company. that was the theme of Praha. Basis has been working long hours and mostly we just enjoyed being together.
traveling with Jubilee has been a delight. Her greatest joy in life is being WITH those she loves. She does not need entertainment. She just needs to be close.
Basia and Jubi have a game they play together.
Actor 1 "Did I tell you I love you?"
Actor 2 "no"
Actor 1 "I love you."
Actor 2 "Really?"
Actor 1 "ALWAYS!"
They play it back and forth taking turns with the parts . VERY SWEET.
While we were at the theater show Jubi pretended to Swim. You will be able to tell when you see the photos.
She is pretending a lot these days. On the way home she talked to "pretend Forrest". She misses her siblings. she says, "Momma, tell me stories. tell me about and then names a family member. She includes Monika and Baby Nicolet and Anita and her girls as family. She talks OFTEN about Baby Avigail and how she came out of Lauren's tummy. She is looking forward to having babies Avigail and Nocolet (Nicolas) in the same room. Her little pink baby from Patty has been her closest companion this trip. Pink Baby got so dirty in Praha we had to wash her today. She is outside drying so Jubi pulled out the elephant Forrest made for her and her fluffy tailed kitties to take her nap today. We read books and she fell asleep.
It is a good trip. I is long. I wish Ruth and the boys were here, but it is good. Jubi's passport has stamps from Poland and Czech Republic on it and we hope to add Germany soon. OH! Her passport. IT IS SO PRETTY! The guard at the Czech check point took it off to the next room. OH NO!!!! he brought it back after a good while and told us it was very beautiful. And it is. I had not even looked at it. The designs on the internal pages are very different from three years ago and it is beautiful. The guard had taken it to show all the other guards. He was very nice and he even unlocked a building so we could use the toilet. It was such a human thing to do. Not humane (which it was) but a HUMAN thing to do.
I have been thinking about HUMAN lately and what it means. It is not a word that I used but lately I am seeing how appropriate it is and how we should be using it much more.
Ex: Ruth is a delightful young woman. T or F
FALSE! She is a DELIGHTFUL HUMAN BEING!!!!!
the delight in my daughter is not tied to her youth or her womanhood. The delight that is Ruth transcends age and gender. She is a DELIGHTFUL HUMAN BEING!
Jubilee might be the most pleasant person I have ever met. T or F
TRUE!!!! She is so pleasant to be around.
Stephanie Canipe asked me what God is teaching me. Sometimes it is REALLY hard to tell whilst in the midst (Can you believe I just used two words with "st" on the end of them!) of teh experience, but now that I am writing I wonder. maybe I am learning about humanity. Maybe this is a season to SEE the IMAGE of GOD in humanity. See beyond the box. We talk about wanting to get outside the box, but we are so trained to SEE the box that we confine others to the very boxes we strive to exit. Maybe this is a season of learning to see human created in the image of God. OH THIS IS EXCITING!!! I hope so.
God, Imma Abba, teach me to SEE YOU in the humans I meat. Teach me to REFLECT you as I encounter them (even the less like able ones). Dave Matyis encouraged me to be JESUS to someone each day. Imma Abba, I desire to be Jesus in my walk and in my sleep and in my heart and mind.
I desire to see what it is you have for me to see in this season. I desire to express through my art what it is that is in your heart for this season.
amen.
xoxoxo Gwen
We walked around. Bought some garnets. Garnets are the birthstone for January and Basia and I both have January birthdays. Mine was sixteen years earlier but OH WELL. It is interesting, Basia and I are the same age difference as Jubilee and Ruth.
We went on a horse and buggie ride through the old town. We ate ice cream. We ate Czech food. We looked in many shops. We bought tweezers and loose tea spoons. We looked at pots and looked FOR shoes but did not find them. Mostly we just walked and enjoyed life while taking TONS of photos which I can't seem to get off my camera and I only have 17 left to take then it will be full. Sigh. When Ruth wakes up I am going to ask her to help me.
It was a good day and we ended up in the VIP opening night of an international theater show. it was quite bizzar and wonderful. I can't find words for it so I'll include some photos (eventually). Ruth and I TRIED to get into one of these VIP nights in NYC but there they wanted $1000 a piece! WHEW! We were struggling with $20 a piece and decided to "go for it" . After 2 1/2 hours on the subway and walking we arrived and discovered that the VIP tickets were considerably more. We were a little bummed, mostly because we had walked there in the rain and then didn't have time to do anything else, but mainly we enjoyed each other's company. that was the theme of Praha. Basis has been working long hours and mostly we just enjoyed being together.
traveling with Jubilee has been a delight. Her greatest joy in life is being WITH those she loves. She does not need entertainment. She just needs to be close.
Basia and Jubi have a game they play together.
Actor 1 "Did I tell you I love you?"
Actor 2 "no"
Actor 1 "I love you."
Actor 2 "Really?"
Actor 1 "ALWAYS!"
They play it back and forth taking turns with the parts . VERY SWEET.
While we were at the theater show Jubi pretended to Swim. You will be able to tell when you see the photos.
She is pretending a lot these days. On the way home she talked to "pretend Forrest". She misses her siblings. she says, "Momma, tell me stories. tell me about and then names a family member. She includes Monika and Baby Nicolet and Anita and her girls as family. She talks OFTEN about Baby Avigail and how she came out of Lauren's tummy. She is looking forward to having babies Avigail and Nocolet (Nicolas) in the same room. Her little pink baby from Patty has been her closest companion this trip. Pink Baby got so dirty in Praha we had to wash her today. She is outside drying so Jubi pulled out the elephant Forrest made for her and her fluffy tailed kitties to take her nap today. We read books and she fell asleep.
It is a good trip. I is long. I wish Ruth and the boys were here, but it is good. Jubi's passport has stamps from Poland and Czech Republic on it and we hope to add Germany soon. OH! Her passport. IT IS SO PRETTY! The guard at the Czech check point took it off to the next room. OH NO!!!! he brought it back after a good while and told us it was very beautiful. And it is. I had not even looked at it. The designs on the internal pages are very different from three years ago and it is beautiful. The guard had taken it to show all the other guards. He was very nice and he even unlocked a building so we could use the toilet. It was such a human thing to do. Not humane (which it was) but a HUMAN thing to do.
I have been thinking about HUMAN lately and what it means. It is not a word that I used but lately I am seeing how appropriate it is and how we should be using it much more.
Ex: Ruth is a delightful young woman. T or F
FALSE! She is a DELIGHTFUL HUMAN BEING!!!!!
the delight in my daughter is not tied to her youth or her womanhood. The delight that is Ruth transcends age and gender. She is a DELIGHTFUL HUMAN BEING!
Jubilee might be the most pleasant person I have ever met. T or F
TRUE!!!! She is so pleasant to be around.
Stephanie Canipe asked me what God is teaching me. Sometimes it is REALLY hard to tell whilst in the midst (Can you believe I just used two words with "st" on the end of them!) of teh experience, but now that I am writing I wonder. maybe I am learning about humanity. Maybe this is a season to SEE the IMAGE of GOD in humanity. See beyond the box. We talk about wanting to get outside the box, but we are so trained to SEE the box that we confine others to the very boxes we strive to exit. Maybe this is a season of learning to see human created in the image of God. OH THIS IS EXCITING!!! I hope so.
God, Imma Abba, teach me to SEE YOU in the humans I meat. Teach me to REFLECT you as I encounter them (even the less like able ones). Dave Matyis encouraged me to be JESUS to someone each day. Imma Abba, I desire to be Jesus in my walk and in my sleep and in my heart and mind.
I desire to see what it is you have for me to see in this season. I desire to express through my art what it is that is in your heart for this season.
amen.
xoxoxo Gwen
Tuesday Night IN Praha.
My camera battery went out shortly after arriving, but I got a few photos.
The night view is amazing along the river. We just enjoyed being there. Jubilee was wrapping her mind around the fact that we were not in Poland any more. She did not care. She had mom and Basia and it was good. Being there made me really miss the family, though. We had such a great time when we were all there three years ago I really mssed them. David had just come to Poland and we were in love. It was a very nice break from the reality of life. Or maybe that was real and "real life" is the illusion. whatever. It was lovely then and just as lovely this time.
we walked around for about four hours and at midnight headed back to hte hotel at the seminary. I so wish David's parents would do some of their volunteer stuff here. Joan got sick form camping (I could have told her that !) but this place. Oh my. It would have suited them so well. Maybe they will try if she gets well.
My hands are going numb. I am going to try the keyboard in a different position. Okay, that is better but it is HOT on my lap. I'll type faster.
The hotel is part of the seminary adn situation WAY UP on a mountain. It is just a five/ten minute drive from tehheartof Praha and about a 20 minute public transport ride. But it is in a different world. The trees and the birds and the QUIET!!!!! a magnificent place to BE. To just BE! We did not do much BEING while we were there this trip adn I miss that. but still, it was good to have the quiet for the evening. It is never quiet in Glogow. Always some noise in tehapartmetn. It was so nice to get away. AND they had hot water. Did I mention there wil be no hot water for ten days? Now, their water is not luke warm like Texas water. IT IS COLD! Refridgerated almost. But there was hot water in Praha and good beds adn we all slept quite soundly. No dreams that I can remember, just sweet QUIET sleep. Yawn. I think I need a nap.
The night view is amazing along the river. We just enjoyed being there. Jubilee was wrapping her mind around the fact that we were not in Poland any more. She did not care. She had mom and Basia and it was good. Being there made me really miss the family, though. We had such a great time when we were all there three years ago I really mssed them. David had just come to Poland and we were in love. It was a very nice break from the reality of life. Or maybe that was real and "real life" is the illusion. whatever. It was lovely then and just as lovely this time.
we walked around for about four hours and at midnight headed back to hte hotel at the seminary. I so wish David's parents would do some of their volunteer stuff here. Joan got sick form camping (I could have told her that !) but this place. Oh my. It would have suited them so well. Maybe they will try if she gets well.
My hands are going numb. I am going to try the keyboard in a different position. Okay, that is better but it is HOT on my lap. I'll type faster.
The hotel is part of the seminary adn situation WAY UP on a mountain. It is just a five/ten minute drive from tehheartof Praha and about a 20 minute public transport ride. But it is in a different world. The trees and the birds and the QUIET!!!!! a magnificent place to BE. To just BE! We did not do much BEING while we were there this trip adn I miss that. but still, it was good to have the quiet for the evening. It is never quiet in Glogow. Always some noise in tehapartmetn. It was so nice to get away. AND they had hot water. Did I mention there wil be no hot water for ten days? Now, their water is not luke warm like Texas water. IT IS COLD! Refridgerated almost. But there was hot water in Praha and good beds adn we all slept quite soundly. No dreams that I can remember, just sweet QUIET sleep. Yawn. I think I need a nap.
PRAGUE, PRAHA, PRAGA!!!! Three in ONE!
WHHOOOO HOOOOO!!! PRAHA!!!! Sigh.
What more can I say. God is SOOOOOO GRACIOUS!!!!
But I think I can say more. We had a nice trip to Praha even with it starting later than we meant to. we planned on going to Berlin and staying at www.My-tropical-island.com but they were booked up. Cheapest room was over 200 Euros which is a LOT! Maybe we will try later. Anyway, we were sitting at teh table and decided to go to Praha (Prague). I love that city. It is magnificent. So much beauty. You think you are looking at the most beautiful thing in eye range and then you shift your gaze and there is something else. It is just incredible and someone is managing the growth nicely. the old. The new. the combination of the two together. It is just stunning. We ate at a "traditoinal" Czech restaurant and that was very good. Jubi only ate corn. Sigh. Well, I did get her to eat some chicken. Basia and I shared goulosh. Yum. We had some of the ice cream we missed so much after leaving last time. Yes, it was as good as I remembered. My regret, I did not eat more of it!
We mostly just walked around and enjoyed the sites. the bridge. The bridge! Oh my. We arrived around 8 Tuesday night and most things were closed but even when most stores are closed the lights and the sights are in full swing. Jubilee delighted in that bridge quite possibly more than any other human being has ever delighted in that bridge. She ran and squealed with delight. I think she was SO HAPPY to be out of the car and then out of the stroller, she reveled in the moment. we had been talking about being present to the moment. Well, Jubilee has being present to the moment down. She she is sad she is SO SAD! She hold nothing back. but she experiences the moment and then moves on to the next moment.
Jubi loved the car ride, the ride in which she did NOT fall asleep. She was sitting in the center in the backseat of Basia's Volkswagon and she could reach BOTH of us with her toes. Her pretty pink painted toes. She poked and giggled all the way from Glogow to Praha. We got there via Basia's navigation system and that was very interesting.
The sites along the way were so beautiful. When we went last time we took the train and it took longer to get to Praha than it did to FLY to Poland. But driving it was MUCH quicker and the mountains, the fields (we saw several fields of WHITE poppies and one a mix of white poppies and little blue flowers which from a distance looked like bluebonnets in color and intensity). We saw hay and horses and one field of cattle. The buildings, WOW! even the small villages held treasures for the eyes. I fear Basia will be disappointed with the scenery when she makes it to the states. All the buildings here are brick and cement blocks and stone. They last so much longer than our wooden buildings. The barns and houses from centuries back. It is just amazing adn of course the red roves (?) make for a stunning compliment to the greens. Flowers like in Maine, every yard has flowers and fruit trees.
FRUIT TREES! The cherries are ripe and we were driving home and passing tree after tree of ripe cherries. Jubi FINALLY fell asleep and we stopped and picked a large zip lock bag full of htem. By the time we got to the Czech border (which took almost two hours longer than we expected thanks to a small glitch with our navigation system whom I named Beatrice, Betty for short) the cherries were all gone.
On the way home we stopped by a restaurant on the TOP of a mountain with a magnificent view and very yummy pancakes. The word Pancake did NOT do them justice. Anyway, we stopped, took photos with a huge turkey, enjoyed the breeze and view and then went upstairs to the art gallery. OH MY OH MYOH MY! One of the most exciting galleries I have seen in a long time. Blew away the contemporary work I saw in NYC. Beats FW. So much excellence on the top of a mountain wiht a huge turkey in the drive. I knew hte view would be marvelous, but I was not expecting the food and gallery "La Femme" to be so wonderful.
Okay, Jubi is sleepign and my time is SHORT. I am getting all confused, but that is how I tell stories anyway so those who know and love me (or tolerate me) will understand.
We got home at 6 and Basia considered going into work, but decided to relax and go in fresh on Saturday. At 7:40 she got a phone call that she was supposed to close! She just had time to change and get there. THANK YOU JESUS for Ania calling. Basia's second did not call and that was disappointing. She made it. While she was gone I called David and kids on Skype but my mic was not working. Bummer. I had htem call me on the house phone. Jubi was pottying and I was in Basia's room having just answered their call when a storm blew through.
When I say blew through I mean it. WHOOSH! Things started blowing off the kitchen table, off the desk and CRASH! Basia's bedroom door which is 2/3 glass slams shut. Now it is 2/3 EMPTY!!!!! Jubi is crying on the pot. She does not know what has happened. I am wondering how I am going to get barefooted from the bedroom over the glass to Jubi. David suggests I hang up. Good suggestion. I try to call Basia but I am out of minutes on my phone. We get teh mess cleaned up. Did I mention we will have no hot water for ten days? Not that it is relevant but we won't. I get the glass cleaned up and pull the broken pieces out of the frame. Basia comes home and is surprised but relieved noone was hurt. Her mome ran through a plate glass window in Greece adn still suffers from teh consequences even after a long hosptial stayand surgeries.
Okay, back to the mess. I had cleaned it up and we carried it downstairs to the trash. At the last step Basia trips and almost falls into the HUGE pot of broken shards. Her ankle twists. we are torn between crying and laughing hysterically. we choose to laugh and then we pray. Her ankle is okay to run so THANK YOU GOD! For SO MANY THINGS! Nobody was cut or hurt. The enemy wanted to mess with us, but we did NOT want to participate.
We get upstairs and start peeling wallpaper off the entryway. Basia goes for a run and we unwind for the night. That is how it ended. Now I want to go back and tell you about Praha. Maybe I'll do that on another blog so you won't get so burned out by these LONG ONES!
BE FREE! Gwen
What more can I say. God is SOOOOOO GRACIOUS!!!!
But I think I can say more. We had a nice trip to Praha even with it starting later than we meant to. we planned on going to Berlin and staying at www.My-tropical-island.com but they were booked up. Cheapest room was over 200 Euros which is a LOT! Maybe we will try later. Anyway, we were sitting at teh table and decided to go to Praha (Prague). I love that city. It is magnificent. So much beauty. You think you are looking at the most beautiful thing in eye range and then you shift your gaze and there is something else. It is just incredible and someone is managing the growth nicely. the old. The new. the combination of the two together. It is just stunning. We ate at a "traditoinal" Czech restaurant and that was very good. Jubi only ate corn. Sigh. Well, I did get her to eat some chicken. Basia and I shared goulosh. Yum. We had some of the ice cream we missed so much after leaving last time. Yes, it was as good as I remembered. My regret, I did not eat more of it!
We mostly just walked around and enjoyed the sites. the bridge. The bridge! Oh my. We arrived around 8 Tuesday night and most things were closed but even when most stores are closed the lights and the sights are in full swing. Jubilee delighted in that bridge quite possibly more than any other human being has ever delighted in that bridge. She ran and squealed with delight. I think she was SO HAPPY to be out of the car and then out of the stroller, she reveled in the moment. we had been talking about being present to the moment. Well, Jubilee has being present to the moment down. She she is sad she is SO SAD! She hold nothing back. but she experiences the moment and then moves on to the next moment.
Jubi loved the car ride, the ride in which she did NOT fall asleep. She was sitting in the center in the backseat of Basia's Volkswagon and she could reach BOTH of us with her toes. Her pretty pink painted toes. She poked and giggled all the way from Glogow to Praha. We got there via Basia's navigation system and that was very interesting.
The sites along the way were so beautiful. When we went last time we took the train and it took longer to get to Praha than it did to FLY to Poland. But driving it was MUCH quicker and the mountains, the fields (we saw several fields of WHITE poppies and one a mix of white poppies and little blue flowers which from a distance looked like bluebonnets in color and intensity). We saw hay and horses and one field of cattle. The buildings, WOW! even the small villages held treasures for the eyes. I fear Basia will be disappointed with the scenery when she makes it to the states. All the buildings here are brick and cement blocks and stone. They last so much longer than our wooden buildings. The barns and houses from centuries back. It is just amazing adn of course the red roves (?) make for a stunning compliment to the greens. Flowers like in Maine, every yard has flowers and fruit trees.
FRUIT TREES! The cherries are ripe and we were driving home and passing tree after tree of ripe cherries. Jubi FINALLY fell asleep and we stopped and picked a large zip lock bag full of htem. By the time we got to the Czech border (which took almost two hours longer than we expected thanks to a small glitch with our navigation system whom I named Beatrice, Betty for short) the cherries were all gone.
On the way home we stopped by a restaurant on the TOP of a mountain with a magnificent view and very yummy pancakes. The word Pancake did NOT do them justice. Anyway, we stopped, took photos with a huge turkey, enjoyed the breeze and view and then went upstairs to the art gallery. OH MY OH MYOH MY! One of the most exciting galleries I have seen in a long time. Blew away the contemporary work I saw in NYC. Beats FW. So much excellence on the top of a mountain wiht a huge turkey in the drive. I knew hte view would be marvelous, but I was not expecting the food and gallery "La Femme" to be so wonderful.
Okay, Jubi is sleepign and my time is SHORT. I am getting all confused, but that is how I tell stories anyway so those who know and love me (or tolerate me) will understand.
We got home at 6 and Basia considered going into work, but decided to relax and go in fresh on Saturday. At 7:40 she got a phone call that she was supposed to close! She just had time to change and get there. THANK YOU JESUS for Ania calling. Basia's second did not call and that was disappointing. She made it. While she was gone I called David and kids on Skype but my mic was not working. Bummer. I had htem call me on the house phone. Jubi was pottying and I was in Basia's room having just answered their call when a storm blew through.
When I say blew through I mean it. WHOOSH! Things started blowing off the kitchen table, off the desk and CRASH! Basia's bedroom door which is 2/3 glass slams shut. Now it is 2/3 EMPTY!!!!! Jubi is crying on the pot. She does not know what has happened. I am wondering how I am going to get barefooted from the bedroom over the glass to Jubi. David suggests I hang up. Good suggestion. I try to call Basia but I am out of minutes on my phone. We get teh mess cleaned up. Did I mention we will have no hot water for ten days? Not that it is relevant but we won't. I get the glass cleaned up and pull the broken pieces out of the frame. Basia comes home and is surprised but relieved noone was hurt. Her mome ran through a plate glass window in Greece adn still suffers from teh consequences even after a long hosptial stayand surgeries.
Okay, back to the mess. I had cleaned it up and we carried it downstairs to the trash. At the last step Basia trips and almost falls into the HUGE pot of broken shards. Her ankle twists. we are torn between crying and laughing hysterically. we choose to laugh and then we pray. Her ankle is okay to run so THANK YOU GOD! For SO MANY THINGS! Nobody was cut or hurt. The enemy wanted to mess with us, but we did NOT want to participate.
We get upstairs and start peeling wallpaper off the entryway. Basia goes for a run and we unwind for the night. That is how it ended. Now I want to go back and tell you about Praha. Maybe I'll do that on another blog so you won't get so burned out by these LONG ONES!
BE FREE! Gwen
Tuesday, June 12, 2007
AAAUUUGGGHHHHH!!!!!!!
(Note from Ruth: I know the picture is sideways, there is a reason. Also, for all of the pictures in the blog, you should be able to see them bigger if you click on them.)
it is late and Basia is not home, but Jubi is asleep. She crawled up into my lap while I was writing Avice and fell asleep. the last several days have been HUGE!!!! Sunday was five hours in the HOT HOT HOT watching mom paint at the Days of Glogow Dni Glogow Festival. It was not well attended and the vendors pretty much stunk. It is such a beautiful place that if someone put some work into getting some interesting vendors it could be magnificent. There was live music all day and half the night that was excellent. Just nothing worth spending one's money on and that is what those things are about. Or so it seems. Lots of good junk food. Jubi did great but was exhausted of course (so was I and I think Basia was pretty beat, too). I worked the entire time on one half sized paper so it is totally overworked. I did most of the time drawing what I saw. I would wait for someone interesting to walk past and then try to sketch them REALLY FAST!
I am too tired to correct this. Maybe Ruth will. Hint hint!then Monday we went ran errands with Basia and then later went to her grandmother's farm. Jubilee chased chickens out of the house and we saw pigs and 12 piglets. SNORT SNORT. Jubi snorts really well. She got into the Polish equivalent of bullnettle but I had some gel benedryl that was amazing so it was clear within a few hours. We ate with Grandma and watched a documentary about holocaust with Polish and Ukrainian victims. One did not need much language skill to understand.
I AM SO TIRED!There is so much I want to share but I AM SO TIRED!
Tomorrow we go to Berlin to stay at a TROPICAL ISLAND! they have built a lake with an island and sand and everything and it is ALL under a dome! It is open 12 months a year and if you are there on the weekend you can sleep "outside" on the sand. we are going during the week so I don't know what we will do or where we will sleep but wherever it sounds great. www.my-tropical-islands.com is the web address.
Okay, it was too hot to eat today. I had an ice cream cone (they are tiny here) and some apricots but that is about all. Maybe that is part of the problem, but I am carrying enough "baby" weight that I can afford to skip a few meals. Jubi, though, she is not eating so well in this heat and she does not have the reserves. Maybe tomorrow while we are in the car I can coax her into eating. At least the a/c is working.
Pray for travel safety and opportunities to be Jesus with skin on to each other and those we meet.Oh, I think I met an angel. Remind me to tell you about it.
Love, Gwen
PS THANK YOU RUTH and DAVID for making all this possible. the blog and the provisions. THANK YOU! xoxoxooxoxoxooxooxo huggies and kissies
snort.
Friday, June 8, 2007
Photos from the visit to the garden
Hi, Ruth put out the photos and I am seeing if I can add words. This is Jubilee and her friend Natalie or Natalia as her family cals her. Jubi wanted to give one of her hats to Natalie. They had met a few days earlier and Natalie's aunt and mom invited Jubi and I to spend the day at their family garden outside of town. It is a very interesting concept. Everyone lives so close together in the city but often have small plots of land for gardens. This one is possible as large as our property in Benbrook, two house lots. They purchased the empty land ten years ago and it is a small paradise. Very beautiful with a tiny little houselet. The "house" has a basement, a SMALL kitchen and a sleeping room. Across the lot is small bathroom and shower. There are two formal garden sections with rows and rows of yummy things. In the middle is green grass and cherry and apple trees and a beautiful pond.
This is Jubilee and Natalie playing in the plastic bathtub. They had SO MUCH FUN!!!! Renate, Natalie's mom, got the water from the shower and it was nice and warm, heated from a tank on the top of the building, solar heat! We might have to come bath out here next week as there will be no hot water in GLogow from teh 12 through the 21st (if all goes well, sooo- who knows how long it will be).
Here are the girls swinging. and part of Big Boy David who is about Josiah's age.
This is Renate teaching Jubi to find STRAWBERRIES in the garden. Jubilee had never picked food before and seh loved it. I don't know why this is underlined. Bummer. She picked strawberries from the bushes adn cherries from the trees. It was a very good day and Jubi got very very dirty.
Natalie and her brother David. He loves Natalie the way my boys love Jubilee. It is a very beautiful thing. See Jubi in the background on the blanket? A great place to rest and take a nap.It was a good day. the next day she fell asleep by 10:45 in the morning. She was so worn out, but it was good and we hope to return. We were invited out the next day b ut Jubi was sleeping. We both get very tired here in Poland. So much new to absorb, but it is good adn we are getting to really know and enjoy each other. Jubi is hungery so I better feed her. Love, Gwen
Thursday, June 7, 2007
Jubiilee's dream- She laughed and laughed
Time is FLYING!!! yesterday something flew in the window and I started sneezing profusely. Took a little Benedryl and was woosey all afternoon, but not sneezing so I took a nap with Jubi. Awhile back I posed the question about what leads to a two year old asking for a nap. Turns out that a three hour walk will do the same as a four hour walk. To walk to the old town, do a little shopping and walk back took three hours. Things move at a slower pace when you are walking. What I have noticed is that teh abundance of cars is exponentially growing and I am also noticing a lot more FAT people this time. Before there were fat old people, but this time there are a LOT of fat young people. There are still an abundance of painfully thin young women, but now there is a good heaping helping of chunky women of ALL ages. Hmmm, it does not take long for things to begin a down hill slide. I saw Ania and Rafel Sunday but we were on our way to eat and were late so I did not stop to talk. Ania at least smiled. Rafel, not so much. it will be interesting. Jubi is in my lap and unhappy so the typing will have good and bad moments and I don't have the energy to make corrections. I am surprised (not really) as to how hard it is to get to the computer. It does not help that the wireless is not working right now so I can only use it in Basia's room. It took a friend's boyfriend about 8 hours to get it up and running sooooo, no messing with it, no experimenting/
Speaking of experimenting, Jubi and I are testing each other. shehas stopped saying Please or Thank You since arriving. We are seeing how far we can push it with each other before it gets a bit ugly. She has passed on candy, ice cream (lody) and several other tasty treats to avoid having to say Please. Such a girler~! And the smile she tries to hide when she is NOT saying thank you or please. She wins some. I win some. Mostly we cuddle.
This morning ( I think it is Thursday) she woke up before basia left for work. We asked her if she had any dreams and she answered no and then proceeded to share her dream. It went something pretty close to this... Daddy was getting me and Peter protected me. I was laughing and laughing. Sounds like a very good dream. Her little kitties from Central Market, marvelous pink kitties with fantastic fuzzy tails, have new names. Before they were Big Kitty and Little Kitty and New Little Kitty. Now Jubilee is calling Big Kitty by Daddy Kitty. I think it is sweet how she works out feelings through her dolls. Her Soft Pink Baby that was given to her by our neighbor Patty when she was born has been a constant companion since leaving the house for the airport. She is very caring and considerate of her baby. Her baby got PAINT on her and had to spend the night on the balcony drying. It was quite traumatic but she was dry for nap time the next day. What a relief. The kitties kept her company that night of the wet doller so it was fine, but it was also a bit stressful. When we go to sleep we have to face each other. She wont' go to sleep unless our noses are almost touching. She is almost always ready for bed, we are staying up too late as Basia gets home so late and there is little time to visit. We snuggle up and usually it is just seconds until Jubi is asleep. the night of no Pink Baby had half an hour of whimpering before we found the Pink Kitties and then she was off to sleep.
Soon we are leaving for a friend's "Garden" to spend the day with Natalie.> Natalie is six months younger than Jubilee and very sweet. We are using her stroller while we are here and it wa sher bike we borrowed at first. I hope it will be a good day. Natialie's aunt is Kasia who is Basia's friend who moved to start a church. I forgot to ask if she speaks english. Love to all. Gwen
Speaking of experimenting, Jubi and I are testing each other. shehas stopped saying Please or Thank You since arriving. We are seeing how far we can push it with each other before it gets a bit ugly. She has passed on candy, ice cream (lody) and several other tasty treats to avoid having to say Please. Such a girler~! And the smile she tries to hide when she is NOT saying thank you or please. She wins some. I win some. Mostly we cuddle.
This morning ( I think it is Thursday) she woke up before basia left for work. We asked her if she had any dreams and she answered no and then proceeded to share her dream. It went something pretty close to this... Daddy was getting me and Peter protected me. I was laughing and laughing. Sounds like a very good dream. Her little kitties from Central Market, marvelous pink kitties with fantastic fuzzy tails, have new names. Before they were Big Kitty and Little Kitty and New Little Kitty. Now Jubilee is calling Big Kitty by Daddy Kitty. I think it is sweet how she works out feelings through her dolls. Her Soft Pink Baby that was given to her by our neighbor Patty when she was born has been a constant companion since leaving the house for the airport. She is very caring and considerate of her baby. Her baby got PAINT on her and had to spend the night on the balcony drying. It was quite traumatic but she was dry for nap time the next day. What a relief. The kitties kept her company that night of the wet doller so it was fine, but it was also a bit stressful. When we go to sleep we have to face each other. She wont' go to sleep unless our noses are almost touching. She is almost always ready for bed, we are staying up too late as Basia gets home so late and there is little time to visit. We snuggle up and usually it is just seconds until Jubi is asleep. the night of no Pink Baby had half an hour of whimpering before we found the Pink Kitties and then she was off to sleep.
Soon we are leaving for a friend's "Garden" to spend the day with Natalie.> Natalie is six months younger than Jubilee and very sweet. We are using her stroller while we are here and it wa sher bike we borrowed at first. I hope it will be a good day. Natialie's aunt is Kasia who is Basia's friend who moved to start a church. I forgot to ask if she speaks english. Love to all. Gwen
Monday, June 4, 2007
How do you get a baby to ASK for a nap? Go for a four hour walk!
Today is Sunday and Jubilee and I went exploring.
I am so far behind and have too much to share, I don’t know where to begin so I will procrastinate beginning for a awhile. Okay, time to start.Jubilee has been amazing. So much fun. So much life. So willing for adventure. Saturday, Sobota, Basia was off work so we headed to Boleslawice (Bole a swav itz) and bought ceramics. The beautiful blue and while pottery that is recognized as a national folk art. Not recognized by the world hitchhiker book. Bummer. Met a woman from Connecticut there. She did not want to be friendly at first. I pressed and it was nice. She ended up needing some translation help and Basia helped.
I bought a tea set. Don’t have a CLUE how I will get it home. Ruthie, if you come join us bring the hard black plastic case filled with bubble wrap. Anita, get ready for tea! I bought a medium large tea pot and several cups and saucers.. One little one for Jubi and some for Anita and Teri and Monika and I to use. I don’t usually use a cup and saucer but THEY WERE SO CUTE! I bought a small set of dishes and a tea set for Jubilee and she already loves it. I put one Jasmine pearl in her teeny tiny tea cup and fill it with teeny tiny hot water. It is so cute. She has four cups and she can hardly wait to have tea with her brothers in the teeny tiny cups.
STORKS!!!! Storks were very important revelation for me when we were here before. The only time I saw LIVING storks was on the way to Boleslawice and this time I saw TWO nest. In the first nest were TWO storks. I got a download about Habakkuk the first time and this time was even better. H talks about being stationed in the watchtower and waiting to SEE what God has to say to him. The first download was of the storks representing the prophetic voice of God’s heart in Poland. How they are revered birds but becoming scarce and often plastic replicas are stations on top of houses because the REAL THING has left. (SIGH! Doesn’t THAT sound familiar). Anyway, Basia pulled over and we jumped out of the car and watched as the two storks SPOKE to each other. IT was an amazing sound, such beautiful voices. There were THREE generations working the yard below the nest. Grandpa, TaTa and a boy about 10 or so. They were cutting grass with a scythe. WOW! It was wonderful. The smell of fresh cut grass was wonderful. The sound of the storks was wonderful. God’s presence was WONDERFUL! I felt giddy. Jubilee saw and heard them. I did not get many photos because in the excitement and because I was holding Jubilee the camera jumped out of my hands and it hit HARD! It stopped working for about five minutes, caught its breath and started again. By then the storks were all snuggied down into the nest so I could not see them. We were sort of “parked” on a blind corner on a very narrow road so we moved on.
Wednesday, May 30, 2007
It is 0415 in Texas and like a good little Texas girl Jubilee is asleep, but here in Poland it is 1115 and she ought to be awake. I don’t have the heart to wake her so I am sitting in a darkish corner typing away. Basia came home and brushed her teeth. The dentist agreed to work her in today. PRAISE GOD! She has had some horrible problems with her teeth and it has even gone into the jaw and cheek bone. God, we want to see some of those creative miracles with Basia.
It is overcast today. Yesterday Jubilee was sick most of the day. It was probably just the adjustment to the new time and place and water and no bubbies or Rutie. The most oft ustilized phrase has been, “Mommie, pick me up/hold me/ I want to go wit you.” Sometimes separated and sometimes all in the same sentence.
After Basia came back from work the second time (she has been working excruciating hours) Jubilee was being very shy, but Basia fixed her some strawberries to take with us to the market. Jubilee would not take any strawberries from Basia but when she thought Basia was not looking she snatched one and popped it into her mouth. FRESH BERRIES! Yum in ever language. The trip to the market was delightful and Jubilee warmed up very quickly with a tummy full of strawberries that she ate in the car on the way there.
On the way back I drove and I learned that the signage in Poland is VERY VERY different than the signage in the States. In the states a blinking yellow light means something COMPLETELY different than here. We blink them yellow and we blink them red. Yellow is caution and red is you stop and let the other guy go. Well, here they all blink yellow and there are signs on the side of the road that tell you who has the right of way. I need to study the signs. It is a good system, but I think some red blinking lights would be good, too.
When I get behind typing everything becomes all jumbled. Last night David and the kids called and it was good to touch base with everyone, but the call also came with news of Joshua’s suicide. While we talked we were standing in the kitchen looking out the window. Jubilee took great delight in describing everything she was seeing to her sister and brothers. Birdies on the roof. Doggies romping (she did not say romping). Children playing. People walking. And then there is New York City. When Ruthie and I went to NYC in February we brought Jubilee home a little pink shirt with some skyline images on it. One of the Empire State Building (I think, the one with the pointy top?) As Jubilee was looking out Basia’s window on the 8^th floor of the apartment building she saw a silhouette of a building with pointy top and said, “Look, there is New York.” It is amazing how these little minds put things together. She is making LOTS of silly sounds, baby talking except she does not baby talk. I wonder if it is her response to hearing all the new languages here.
Jubi is all warm and cuddly in bed. I am going to go lie down for a few minutes, power nap? Yeah right. Xoxoxoo Gwen
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