being present and presents!!!!

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.