Typical Saturday

Weekends have taken the most dramatic change for us since living and working in Miami.  For most of our 35 years together, Saturdays have been sacred, "set apart" for preparation for Sunday.  Sermon preparation was the warmup to the delivery on Sunday.  When the kids were young I would do everything possible to keep the house quiet for Steve.  When living in SoCal, that was usually the day we spent at Disneyland or traveling and getting to know some new part of the city.  In Arizona, the older kids would find activities outside the house and that would be a time that I and usually Christa and Stefani  would visit my parents and brother Gordon, often sitting out in the garden.  While I miss the garden time especially, not to mention my children (!), I am learning to love what most of the U.S. would call normal . . . a quiet weekend!  Today, Steve and I awoke with the dogs, (our four legged alarm clock!) and spent 5 minutes making ourselves presentable so that we could take them down the elevator, through the pool area and out to the beach.  The sun had just peaked up over the  backside of the ocean and another beautiful sunrise greeted us.  We play "fetch" with Barkley while Duchess is usually more interested in getting love and attention.  That usually lasts about 15 minutes and then we head back through the pool area, washing the sand off our feet before going heading upstairs.

Today I immediately turned around and came back to the pool to swim some laps before it became the popular place to hang out for the day . . . Steve bathed the dogs in the bathtub.  We then had breakfast out on the balcony; Me with my organic, non sweet yogurt, granola and fresh blueberries, Acai and pomegranate juice,  and Steve with his rye toast and orange juice. Typical morning fare.  We then exchanged our plates for books and he read while I journaled.

We most likely won't leave the condo until this afternoon when we will walk the dogs down the boardwalk and walking Collins street back, stopping at the Argentine bakery to partake in some empanadas.  Barkley and Duchess can join us there  since they have outside tables.  

This is so wonderful for Steve because the stress of his position at LAM can be shaken off and washed away during these two restful, relaxing days.  Something that we never really experienced in pastoral ministry.  Weekends were busier than week days and even the one day a week he had off was often peppered with phone calls, emails and an occasional hospital visit.

Some changes are easier to take than others, and this is a welcome one! 

Manageable Maintenance

One of the wonderful things about life here in Miami is that life is streamlined, simplified.  I have gone from a 3,000 sq. ft. house with a pool, a large garden, front and back, an apartment down below and 5, count them, 5 bathrooms.  We now have  a one bedroom apartment with a balcony.  That's it. You can not believe the freedom in my mind and in my day with this change.  Having the large home and extra space was great with lots of family around.  But with just us and the puppies, and all the traveling that we will be doing, this is a perfect fit for our life right now.  Before we left Monterey, my friend Nancy came by with a "pre-house warming gift". This was just a pot and a bulb a few months ago.  4 weeks ago, on the day that we move into our apt. I planted this bulb and look at it now!  This is pretty much the extent of my garden . . . with the exception of a couple more plants on the balcony and some indoors.  Manageable maintenance is a good thing!

Kauai

Is there anything better than going to Kauai? Only if it is going to the "Garden Island" for free! My sweet brother Gordon took me along on one of his working trips and although we were only there a total of 36 hours, we had an amazing time. It poured down rain for much of the time but that did not stop us from renting a car and touring the northern part of the island. I am still recovering from my 8 hour plane trip back to Phoenix where I ran to meet Steve to catch  a plane home to Miami . . . another 5 hours.  3 times zones in one day . . . .  But it was well worth it.  Thanks Gordon!

Loving Facebook!

One of my many reasons for having a blog is to involve those that I love with all of our new experiences as we have taken on new responsibilities and living in a new city. Yesterday was one of those new experiences . . . While I have had a Facebook page for several months now, I really have not known or taken advantage of how to use it.  But yesterday I figured out how to have IM conversations with people. For those of you that already know and participate in this activity, this will possibly sound silly. Risking that reaction, I must say that it was amazing to talk with family and friends that I have not spoken with in months or years.  Becca, my cousin in Oregon,  the wife of a couple that were in our small group in Monterey and moved to Okinowa, Japan, and a friend from our church in Mosaic.  For whatever reason we do not keep up with these people on a regular basis.  But in a matter of minutes I had reconnected with them and we began what I hope to be a regular interaction.  Letter writing, phone calls, even emails can take so much time that we don't often stay connected with friends and family from a distance.  But with Facebook, I can have a 5 minute conversation, or just see a "on liner" about what that person is doing or feeling that day, that moment.  Blogs are more my style as they give you the opportunity to share at a deeper level.  But seldom is their interaction.  So, as Steve said to me last night as I related to him who I had talked with that day . . .  ."Welcome to the 21st Century"!  

Beach Buddies

One of our favorite times of the day is sunrise and sunset. Usually together, Steve and I will take the dogs out to the beach  for a run. . . . they do the running!

Often we are joined by Enrique and his two dachshunds. Yesterday we met a new "buddy" Poochie and his master, Hector. Poochie is a scrappy 2 lb. Yorkshire Terrier.   Steve throws a stick and all the dogs run after it until it accidentally goes in the water and play time is over.  Social interaction for dogs and their masters. Enrique is Spanish by birth, raised in England and now living in Miami.  A very good example of the ecclectic people that live here.  You will hear every kind of language spoken as you walk down the street, but obviously most often, spanish. No matter what the language or cultural background of the people,  dogs are a common denominator and have opened the way to many a new conversation and even friendships. 

Separations

Yesterday was a blue day. Not that there is anything so terribly bad or difficult going on in my, or  our lives. There is the inevitable spiritual warfare that accompanies all christians that are moving forward for the King and the Kingdom. Attempts to distract, discourage and divert. I fell prey to one.   I carried around a nagging sad feeling that I could not exactly find reason for.  But after a conversation with a special friend from Monterey, I did some mental and spiritual processing;  It is about separation, about not being available to family and having them easily accessible to us.

We received an adorable home made Valentines Day card from Ada, Nica and Evelyn and a thought of horror came to me. I was so involved in moving that I had forgotten to send a card to our grandbabies!  My thoughts continued to digress. Many birthdays and holidays will be without them . . . they won't come to expect  that this Gran and Gram  should just "be there".  

Our daughters 3 are going through  their own unique challenges and victories . . . all without us.   Our youngest, Stefani, is taking on the challenges of adulthood. Her sister Cara and husband Rob have assumed a very special role in her life as they encourage her through this transition.

All without us.  Christa and her husband Daniel are at school in Nashville, making friends we will never meet, experiencing things we will never share.  Our parents, siblings, nieces and nephews, the same.

In honesty, I don't believe it is a time of self pity as much as it  of acknowledgement that life is different from here on out.  Feelings are God given and He allows us to express and experience them as they come.  My days are filled with beauty and wonder, and I have such a grateful heart that God continues to give us life and breath to serve Him.  He daily satisfies us with good things and all of our needs are supplied.  Steve and I still love to spend time together and exploring this new city with my best friend is something I am so enjoying.  

God's Word daily brings me comfort and today  I am reminded  of a conversation that Peter and Jesus had. " Peter said, 'See, we have left our homes and followed you.' Jesus said in return, "Truly, I say to you, there is no one who has left house or wife or brothers or parents or children, for the sake of the kingdom of God, who will not receive many times more in this time, and in the age to come eternal life."  What an amazing promise!  Every sacrifice that we make and that our family makes for us to be separated, God promises to not just replace, but give MANY TIMES MORE!  I do know that when we moved our family to Argentina 20 some years ago, leaving so much, and so many behind,  God did bless us in ways that can not be completely qualified.  That experience changed us as a family and I know has left an indelible mark on our children. Their bicultural, bilingual abilities have made them better ministers and better mates; and for Sean, a better parent.  

I have always dreamed of being surrounded by ALL my family, living and ministering together.

But it would appear that the Lord is saving that "communal living" for our future and forever home, Heaven. 

Today I have exchanged my "blues" for peace and joy. My mind is wrapping around the  thought of how much God loves and guides and protects my children, their spouses, our grandchildren, parents and my brothers and their families.  I am strengthened and encouraged by my Fathers words of hope and promise that no sacrifice for His work will go unnoticed or unrewarded. God is good!  ALL the time!

Sunday on South Beach

Steve and I have narrowed down our church search to two . . . the last 2 Sundays we have gone to Calvary Chapel of South Beach.  We have attended the early Service at 9:30 am and at 11 we are walking Down Lincoln St. which is a uniquely interesting place.  It is full of people of every culture, usually dressed  casual at best and often in swimwear, speaking any number of languages; there are fun shops, and all kinds of outside cafes. On Sunday, there are quite a few people leashed to their dogs . . . or is it the other way around? 

I thought we had settled on Calvary, but Steve is much more "picky", shall we say?  I am sure he struggles with what many pastors struggle with when looking at churches, and that is an eye for detail, and a mind that perhaps critiques a bit more in depth.  We have both commented that what we really would love to find, is a church just like Mosaic.  But the Mosaic we loved doesn't even exist in Scottsdale any more, let alone in Miami. I believe it is called "Old Town Bible Church" and has a very different vision. Just a reminder to us that everything changes and changes can be embraced.

Lord willing, I will get on a plane tomorrow and head to Phoenix to spend time with family.  Flying standby is always an interesting challenge.  I have learned to put it in the Lord's hands, and if it happens, it was meant to, and if not, well . . . . there is always another time.