Living in the ordinary

Last weekend, I visited my aunt and uncle, a friend and her family, and went to a family reunion.  It is funny to think that I have seen relatives in Africa more recently than relatives in Virginia.   But along the way, I didn't take many pictures or even have my camera on me. 

A few moments captured of time with my friend and her family

But that is okay.  Even though I didn't capture every moment in picture, memories were created.  The moments were ordinary.  

• Visiting my aunt and uncle and having dinner with them.  
• Spanish class with my aunt.
• Talking to my aunt and uncle about recent trips and upcoming ones.
• Walking with my friend as in bygone years - only now with a 4 year old.
• Craft time with the 4 year old.
• Sitting on a porch and talking about everything and nothing. 
• Traveling with my brother's family and just talking.
• Making funny laughs for my nephew.
• Playing games with my nieces.

None of these moments are spectacular or amazing.  A book or movie would never be created about them. And yet.

Games

And yet, in the ordinary is the extraordinary.  These moments are the fabric of my life.  These people are the people God has given me.  And that is extraordinary. And it is good.

Choosing family

While drinking coffee the other day, as we do many Saturday mornings, Monique commented to another girl that sometimes we can chose our family.  I wholeheartedly agree with this statement.  We can't chose our biological family (thankfully I love mine).  But we can choose the family we love and do life with on a daily basis.

Family

I am fortunate to have a several good friends that I call family.  Monique is one of them.  And what a friend, one who is kind, chill, loving, gets me, and serves the Lord.

Over the past 10 years, our lives have overlapped and intertwined. And, in the past few years, we have been drawn closer and closer together.  My life is filled with Monique; we drink coffee together weekly, sit together at church, study the Bible together at Bible Study, eat dinners together, do Christmas bowling with kids.....  Our lives are wrapped up together.   She is family.

Monique, I chose you as my family!  Happy Birthday! 

ESL training - seeing God at work

Six months ago when it came to planning for ESL training, the hope was for 10 maybe 15 people to come.  This weekend, we had 27 people come.  27!!!  Ages 14 to 84. From 10 churches. 10!!! 5 of which work with our ESL ministry; others came for their ESL certification in order to carry on ESL ministries in their own churches or vocations.  This fills my heart with so much joy.  27 people wanting to help immigrants speak English and share the gospel.  Several churches who have partnered together across denominational barriers.

It was a long 11 hours, but it was educational and also fun. Here are some pictures of our weekend (some of which I stole from others on Facebook.)

27 people!; 10 churches!

Role playing - because Lori is shy.

Flyswatter game.  Eden is lording her victory over Juliet

Fun learning exercises

Lots of food and my scrambled egg salad was a success

Many of those at the training have visions for reaching international college students, ESL Bible studies, relationship building, or seeds of the Gospel being planted.  God is at work.  I don't know what the plans hold - more than I can imagine I am sure.  A year from now I am excited to see where we are.  

Now to Him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or can imagine according to His power that is at work within us. Ephesians 3:20

A sister in law and a friend

Sometimes I hear stories of those who don't like their sister in law or don't have a lot in common or just don't want to spend time with them.  I am so glad that this isn't the case for me.

Throwback to Maggie's baby shower when we were all young.
Also we don't take pictures together apparently.

I love my sister in law, Kristine.  Among many things:

She is easy to spend time with.
She is a gracious host to all.

She is much nicer than me.

She opens her house to me and lets me come over and just hang out with her family. 

We share common interests.
She is creative and crafty.
She is a good mother.

She always encourages. 

On the weekends, she is my go to person to hang out with.  And contrary to what some may think, that it isn't because of my nieces and nephew. I have gone over most weekends since Scott and Kristine have gotten married.  She truly is one of my favorite people!

Happy Birthday, Kristine!

She who does not hug

Mikayla is 11 today.  How? How? I remember when she was a baby flirting with me over her mom's shoulder.

Craft Night Gone Wrong circa 2016

I love this kid. She is funny, sassy, and sweet.

She may hate to hug me- not that that stops me from hugging her.  But she is one of the kids I love to hang out with. Whether it is a craft night, eating sushi(!), or just playing games, I love to have her there.

With Baby Emory- because everyone loves Baby Emory

Happy Birthday, Kayla!

Conversation Hour

This summer, we are trying something new for our ESL ministry.   We have invited all of the students to come and speak English with fluent English speakers for an hour.  The hope is that we can give them the opportunity to just practice speaking English in a low key setting and to build relationships.

It is the same night and time as classes during the school year for a sense of regularity.  The first 2 weeks we didn't have anyone come.  In wondering why, we realized that the church appeared unopened and the cars were out of sight so the church looked deserted.  Live and learn; the third week, we made it obvious we were there and 6 people came!  And this week, 6 people came.  I think both weeks have gone well with lots of good conversation.

This sometimes surprises me.  While I am social with people I know, it is often painfully awkward for me to converse with those I don't know well.  But God is merciful and overcomes that.  I have been able to talk about any number of things and we laugh a lot along the way.

One of the reasons that I love ESL is seeing the joy as people "get it" and speak with more and more confidence. Also I love the people I work with.  Thursday, one of the girls in my group was a young teen.  She came to classes too, and I loved having her in class then too.  She is just fun and full of life.  After class as we were leaving, she proudly announced she can now pray in English and did so.

A month into summer conversation hours, I am so glad we are doing these sessions.  I pray for relationships to grow and English to be improved.  God is good all the time; all the time, God is good. May His goodness flood this ministry.

Graduation, Games, and Gifts

Rachel graduated.  I have lots I could say. I will simply say I love this girl and spending time with her tons and tons.  As a friend said Saturday, sometimes we choose our family, and I chose Rachel and her peeps and they chose me.  And that I'm glad it worked out from me to go to the ceremony against odds.  I may have been THAT person who walked in late, but I made it!

Graduation!

Made it just in time to see her graduate

Rachel' graduation party was fun - good food and great people.   Last week, Rachel, Juliet and I had made lawn Dutch Blitz.  After trying it out Friday night, we got two games in at the party.  It really is lots of fun and amusing to watch the runners try to get the cards into the middle of the lawn.   I hope to get lots more games in this summer at reunions, birthday parties, and other gatherings.

My team made a valiant, albeit unsuccessful, effort

Jessie got in one game- here's too more games with her

Last year, I surprised Evan with an Eagles quilt at his graduation.   For Rachel, she picked out the fabric and pattern.   Somehow, I completely mismeasured the fabric I needed.  I had to improvise.  The backing was going to be all rose fabric and now has a strip of blue and green which I love.  And I had to use my 2 leftover squares as binding.  I love when improvisation turns out better than the initial vision.

I love the colors and the Split Rail Knot pattern

Back

And speaking of quilts, I am working on a Christmas rag quilt.  I had cut the material back and am sewing the squares together now to rag.  More on that later.

Rachel, your graduation day was wonderful.  I pray that as you go to college that you make your faith your own, dig into God's Word and be deeply satisfied, and "that your love will abound more and more in all knowledge and depth of insight so that you may discern what is best and be perfect and complete for the day of Christ being filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ to the glory and praise of God."