Upcoming Women's Conference

This morning I registered for a women's conference and I want to encourage all women to go if you possibly can, especially if you live in/near Orlando. I am SO EXCITED. Check it out here. June 21-24.

Great speakers, varied topics, worship led by Keith & Kristyn Getty... Wow! I love their album "Awaken the Dawn."

(Re)-Learning

I'm learning to walk right. Literally. Starting last month I have been finding myself actually thinking about which side of the hall or stairwell I should be on before I run into people. For a full 8months back in the U.S. I was never conscious of walking on the "wrong" side in tight spaces unless I ran into someone. And it happened all the time! 10 months later, I am making a conscious effort to walk on the right side.
Maybe it will become unconscious at some point but apparently not yet––I bumped into someone again last week. Old habits die hard.

I loved playing with these flowers as a kid during Sunday School in Indonesia. We would make necklaces with them. Lots of thoughts of Indonesia lately, and how much it is a part of me. When I left last year, I knew I would want to come back eventually, and now Charis's engagement is pulling Indonesia quickly back into focus.

Dad's visit

Dad had his bi-annual meetings in the U.S. last week, so he was able to come spend a few days with me. With each family visit, I feel more and more settled. Dad was run-down from jetlag and a returning cold, but he was still able to make some vast, long-awaited improvements on the house. With both of us feeling poorly, that afforded us some nice down-time together.

The living room looks amazing, Dad! THANK YOU for all your hard work. You're wonderful.

Answered Prayer

Have you ever prayed for something for years and then suddenly got what you prayed for and didn't know how to handle it? After decades of praying for a godly man for my sister, God has answered all in a rush. Certainly to Him it is not rushed; He has been preparing things behind the scenes all this time, but we are suddenly getting to see His work for ourselves.

(photo taken December 2011––before ANY of this had begun)

In March, prompted by my dad through a friend, Cah began an email correspondence with Charis. Although they didn’t know each other well, they had known each other for 5 years, 3 of those years in Papua, where Charis taught grade one and Cah facilitated a Bible Translation project.

On April 4, Cah flew to Singapore to spend a week with my family with the express purpose of getting to know Charis better. Three days later they knew they wanted to marry each other. Their communication was open and uncomplicated, and they treasured what they saw in each other.

Wedding plans are in the making, but first on the agenda are the details of closing/redirecting their individual paths. Charis is in the process of resigning from her teaching job in Singapore and will be returning to Papua to join Cah in his ministry once they are married.

Now to Him who is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us . . . (Eph3:20)

Easter morning in Singapore, moments after Cah announced to mom and dad and me (present on skype) that he and Charis had decided to get married!

Frick & Frack

My flatmate saw a post on facebook that someone had found 2 kittens needing a home. I dropped in to see them and couldn't walk away from their sweetness. Frick and Frack are inseparable.

If Frack drinks milk, Frick does, too.

If Frick takes a nap, Frack tops him off.

If Frick goes potty, Frack decides it's time for him, too.

If Frack plays in a box, Frick joins in the fun.

Frick shot 40 feet up a tree and Frack was right behind him. Getting down was not so easy. Ha ha!

We drink water together, too. So what?

Oh yes, we fight, too. But in the end, we're best buds.

Frick and Frack were the first names that came to mind, but I decided to name them Manis (Indonesian, meaning "Sweet) and Zanmi (Creole, meaning "Friend"). Then looked up Frick and Frack and decided to stick with those names.