New Pantry

While our house has a good pantry, it is deep and dark and hard
to reach things that are way in the back.
So Johnny set to work to improve this situation.

                                           Cookie observes and consults.

Now we have nice pull-out shelves in our pantry.

Then Johnny built an area for me to slide our trays and cookie sheets into.

Very neat and easy now.

 

 

And then Johnny installed one more cabinet for extra pantry space in the game room.

                All done! We are well prepared now, to store whatever we need!

Great job, Johnny.





Tai Chi

While living in Asia, I observed many older people (and some young ones, too)

gathering and doing an interesting series of exercises.

At the park near our home in Chaing Mai, Thailand, a group gathered in the late

afternoons. But they all seemed to already know the moves and I felt I couldn't join them until I knew what I was doing.

And then our gym here in Longview began offering Beginner Tai Chi.

Just what I was looking for.

I go once a week. I'm just learning. But already I'm getting the hang of it.

I've learned it is a discipline of control, posture, breathing.

It works in a different way on my body than the Silver Sneakers cardio class

I attend. In fact, my new Tai Chi teacher is in my cardio class.

If you'd like to read up on it, you might be interested in looking at

this website:  http://www.everyday-taichi.com/ 

ESL

Tuesday nights finds us at Primera Iglesia, teaching

ENGLISH AS A SECOND LANGUAGE.

We have 3 active classes on various levels.

I get to teach this class.

While we have ESL classes, there is tutoring for children who have trouble doing all their homework in English, as well as childcare for the little ones.

This is our 3rd and best year so far. 

Reminders

We are pet lovers who love the Lord even more!

So it follows (at least in our minds) that things around us will sometimes remind

 us of scripture or spiritual truths. Often our dog, Cookie, and our cat, Sugar,

 will do something that strikes a familiar chord within us.

For instance:

"So, what'll we do today?"

Seeing Cookie just waiting for Sugar to move reminds us that we are to just

Wait for the Lord; be strong and take heart and wait for the Lord. Ps. 27:14.

BEFORE THE DAY BEGINS, FOCUS

        

 I try to always have my quiet time first thing before my day gets hijacked by the urgent or interuptions or laziness or ......   Sometimes I find myself skidding into the Lord's presence, throwing myself into a chair, and saying, "OK, God, here's the deal". And then running through my list of things to pray about. When I've done that, I hurry out of His presence to get started on other things. Hmmmmmm.  Something is definitely missing. So where's the power I'm supposed to have? the instruction? the comfort? the answers?   And then I realize that I never gave Him a chance to say anything. Nothing. No wonder I was feeling empty. And so, just to help me slow down and refocus, I collected these verses (and a few others) to think about before anything else.   
                             

Be still (cease striving), and know that I am God…  Ps. 46:10

Wait for the Lord; be strong and take heart and wait for the Lord.  

Ps. 27:14

I wait for the Lord, my whole being waits, and in his word I put my hope.    Ps. 130:5

Whoever dwells in the shelter of the Most High will rest in the shadow of the Almighty.   Ps. 91:1

Stand at the crossroads and look; ask for the ancient paths, ask where the good way is, and walk in it, and you will find rest for your souls.  

Jer. 6:16

Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.     

Matt. 11:28-30

STORYING SEMINAR

       North Pointe Baptist Church in Hurst, Texas

hosted a STORYING SEMINAR for their people. They plan to use this method on mission trips to Guatemala

as well as in their "in reach" and "out reach" programs in the church.

Long time friends of ours from our Indonesian days, Carl and Twila Lee,

arranged for this seminar to happen.

 Mom helped teach .... as well as ....

friend, Daniel Bramlett, pastor at

First Baptist Church in

Hughes Springs.

And of course, Dad did his string tricks!

It was a great seminar with a great group of people.