God Makes Diversity

A couple weeks ago we were talking about diversity.
For years now I have said to my son when he tried to tell me our skin colors were both white, "No, baby, God gave you beautiful brown skin.  God makes us all different.  One is not better than the other.  But your skin and my skin are not the same.  My is sort of pink. Yours is a light brown.  Some people have dark brown.  Some have really, very white, like your sister."
But, as is only natural, he wanted to be like his Mom and Dad.

Till three weeks ago when out of the blue he interjected in our 'adult discussion' on diversity, "I'll be your diversity!"

He's finally got it.  God made him the beautiful brown color that he is.
God's got it under control.
God makes beautiful.

m

Bliss' 19th!!!

Praise God for our wonderful daughter!
It is hard to believe how fast the past years have gone by and that college is just around the corner.
At least I got one more year of making special breakfast, cake and... Pizza Hut, the dinner of choice!
What a blessing God has chosen to give us!

Fear not for I have redeemed you; I have called you by name, you are mine. Isaiah 43:1b

Sabbath Rest

We try to take time each week to rest from the normal activities of life and just rest.  This involves extended time in the word and prayer for Walt and I, sabbath blessings for the kids, and times of rest and quiet activities, as well as tag in the dark (which is not quiet!).
This last week I enjoyed taking a few pics during the day.

This is what my bed looked like not long after it had been neatly made.  Thomas knows that on our Sabbath he gets to read longer before breakfast while the rest of us spend time extended time in the word.  It is such a blessing the way he usually lets us all have a longer quiet time.  Maybe that's because he is looking forward to the local breakfast of halwa and puri.

Lately, I've been enjoying coffee from our friends here out of my special birthday mug.  Our sabbath rest is a great time to sit with the Lord and be refreshed from the past week and get ready for the week to come.  Our hearts desire is to live in the power of God and to remember our own weakness.  Life is hard here and the only way to live and survive here is by his power and acknowledging our need for him in the little things and the big.

Here are my two goofie children giving a South Asian pose (no smiles), not an easy task for either of them.

Hope you are able to take time each week to rest in the Lord and be refreshed by his word and presence.  Hope in your circumstance you are able to withdraw and refuel, that he might effectively move in and through you.

resting in the Lord,
m

No Longer Kittens ... Now Cat

Here's the latest on our kittens...

Rani died. (on left side)
Our neighbors kindly told us that he was run over.
Walt announced it at breakfast.
Only one kiddo cried.

Kousy lives on. I still don't like him.
He is no longer a kitten.
He is a cat.
He loves Bliss.  He loves our home.
He loves my flower pots (or at least the sand in them).

Did I mention I still don't like him.
He's the last pet we'll have.

we don't all agree...

m

My Kiddo's

Praising the Lord, Maker of heaven and earth, all that is seen and unseen, the Sustainer of life, the Giver of all things, the Healer, the Redeemer, the All-Wise One... for my kiddos.

 Isn't he handsome???

Check her out... a local wedding beauty!!!

 o... well... some days they look like this!

 

 

Thank you God for my kids.
You did a good job!  I praise you.

m

Kittens... Please Tell Me Why...

I am not a pet person.
In fact, I prefer most animals well-done along with garlic mashed potatoes.
But for the time being (till they find another home) we have two kittens growing up in our back yard.

They love Bliss.
They love the food I give them.
They aren't really sure of Thomas.

The yellow one (Rani = queen) has this sad, pathetic whimper of a meow.

I feel like her sometimes.
I feel like I look up to God and can hardly get a cry out.
It sounds more like a whimper.
I'm so dependent. So helpless. So pathetic. So weak.

So, as they scamper up on the screen of my kitchen window, crying out for whatever it is I'm cooking I'm reminded:

How long, O Lord? Will you forget me forever? 

How love will you hide your face from me?

... But I have trusted in your steadfast love; 

my heart shall rejoice in your salvation.

I will sing to the Lord, 

because he has dealt bountifully with me.

Psalm 13:1, 5-6

trying to stay worm free!!!

waiting on the Lord

singing for he has dealt bountifully

m

"Typical" Scenes Around the House

Tonight I realized how funny our life must look to the outsider.
When I came out of the kitchen after washing up from dinner this is what I found my children doing.


Exhibit A: 
This is school for Bliss.  Four nights a week she attends live classes at 9am EST.  So this is her evening activity.  To someone on the outside she might look anti-social and withdrawn but this thought is quickly dashed when you hear her laugh aloud, answer questions, ask questions and engage with the other students and teachers, even if she can't see them

Exhibit B: 

The noises escaping this one's mouth is what surprised me.  He had taken my recorder from Sindhi language learning and was multi-tasking, loudly repeating the phrases in a foreign tongue while burning a little extra energy.  I think he was copying his parents, only we do it to burn fat and get more energy!!!

What a blessing it is to have such beautiful, resilient children who go with the flow and adapt to life so well, even if they do appear a little odd!  I guess that's what makes them TCK's (third culture kids).

Thankful for the oddities in my life, 

m

Our talented daughter

Bliss just got back from Strong Rock summer camp and had a great time. I didn't know she was such a gifted dancer. She also has become quite the horse rider.