This is just one of the reasons I love having Kevan around.
Our house is full today - Kevan is at the kitchen table, playing music on his laptop... Small Hannah is next to him working on her taxes... Tall Hannah is in the dining room, playing music on her laptop and playing games... Aaron is sleeping on the couch... and Hayden is playing music on his phone, while changing the strings on his guitar. The different songs playing and the tuning of the guitar at the same time don't bother me though... they have their own special and unique harmony.
There is a 12-string guitar, a banjo, a whole set of harmonicas, and a washboard in our living room, and later tonight they will all be played, along with other guitars and possibly a ukelele, in an awesome jam session in which we will all sing along.
While I love the quiet corners in my life, I also cherish these times of music and sounds of joy. It reminds me of a song Andrew Peterson wrote, "Let There Be Music." I'm adding a link to the song, for you to enjoy it today too!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xuK-xx-3SmQ
Thursday, February 2, 2012
Tuesday, January 31, 2012
The world is quiet here.
Last week, Pam and I decided to go check out a little tea room we'd heard about in Churubusco, called "The Quiet Corner." It turned out to be a much grander adventure than either of us anticipated!
We found ourselves driving on gravel roads through fields and past farms, til we came to a homestead in the woods, by a frozen lake. The farm house was on a hill, and at the bottom of the hill was a little cottage-like structure, which was the tea room. Things seemed vacant, but we got out of the car to do some exploring. All around the property, there were tables and chairs set in among the trees and around the lake, and there was a gazebo with chairs as well. Posted on many of the trees were teapot-shaped signs like this one:
Even in the barrenness of winter, the scene was beautiful and peaceful. The tea room itself was closed, but there were menus in the door, so we took one to see what sorts of treats they offer. On the back of the menu was the story of how the tea room came to be, and we learned that the owners were an older couple who had been medical missionaries in India for some time, and the wife missed the relationships that they had built over cups of chai in India, and wanted to provide a place for that once more.
Pam and I were so curious and so excited, that we knew we just had to meet these people. So we climbed the hill to the house and rang the doorbell. An older gentleman greeted us at the door, along with a beautiful old dog who bounded out and promptly welcomed us with "puppy kisses" and wagging tail. We explained our hopes of having tea at the Quiet Corner, and the gentleman kindly told us the tea room was closed for the season. Not quite ready to leave this peaceful place, we introduced ourselves and said that the story on the menu interested us very much because we love and serve internationals too. Interested in our connection, the man introduced himself as Mr. Rinker and his dog as Duke, and he sat down on the porch to talk with us.
We felt an instant kindred spirit-ness after a couple minutes of talking about the Lord and the people we love, but it was a cold day, and while we were very "bundledorfed" in hats, scarves, and mittens, Pam and I knew we needed to get inside and warm up. So we said a hesitant farewell.
"Nonsense," said Mr. Rinker. "You ladies came here to have tea. My wife is at Bible study right now, but why don't you come in and have some tea or coffee with me and we can talk more!" Duke led us around to the basement of the house, where chickens strutted around aimlessly, and we entered a cozy little room with a wood-burning stove and a couch, affectionately labeled "The Man Cave."
It was like being at Mr. Tumnus' house - at least, how I imagine it would be. We had tea, and shared stories, and looked at pictures. Mr. Rinker is a poet, a teacher, and a missionary, as well as a carpenter-artist - he was the one who made all those signs on the trees.
When our schedules pressed us to leave, he asked us to return "before the tea room season starts again in April," to meet his wife and bring them some of my stories, and to talk more about our mutual love for international ministry. I assured him we would, quietly planning when to return with more friends. Then Duke escorted us back down the hill to our car, and we said farewell to our new favorite quiet corner.
We found ourselves driving on gravel roads through fields and past farms, til we came to a homestead in the woods, by a frozen lake. The farm house was on a hill, and at the bottom of the hill was a little cottage-like structure, which was the tea room. Things seemed vacant, but we got out of the car to do some exploring. All around the property, there were tables and chairs set in among the trees and around the lake, and there was a gazebo with chairs as well. Posted on many of the trees were teapot-shaped signs like this one:
Even in the barrenness of winter, the scene was beautiful and peaceful. The tea room itself was closed, but there were menus in the door, so we took one to see what sorts of treats they offer. On the back of the menu was the story of how the tea room came to be, and we learned that the owners were an older couple who had been medical missionaries in India for some time, and the wife missed the relationships that they had built over cups of chai in India, and wanted to provide a place for that once more.
Pam and I were so curious and so excited, that we knew we just had to meet these people. So we climbed the hill to the house and rang the doorbell. An older gentleman greeted us at the door, along with a beautiful old dog who bounded out and promptly welcomed us with "puppy kisses" and wagging tail. We explained our hopes of having tea at the Quiet Corner, and the gentleman kindly told us the tea room was closed for the season. Not quite ready to leave this peaceful place, we introduced ourselves and said that the story on the menu interested us very much because we love and serve internationals too. Interested in our connection, the man introduced himself as Mr. Rinker and his dog as Duke, and he sat down on the porch to talk with us.
We felt an instant kindred spirit-ness after a couple minutes of talking about the Lord and the people we love, but it was a cold day, and while we were very "bundledorfed" in hats, scarves, and mittens, Pam and I knew we needed to get inside and warm up. So we said a hesitant farewell.
"Nonsense," said Mr. Rinker. "You ladies came here to have tea. My wife is at Bible study right now, but why don't you come in and have some tea or coffee with me and we can talk more!" Duke led us around to the basement of the house, where chickens strutted around aimlessly, and we entered a cozy little room with a wood-burning stove and a couch, affectionately labeled "The Man Cave."
It was like being at Mr. Tumnus' house - at least, how I imagine it would be. We had tea, and shared stories, and looked at pictures. Mr. Rinker is a poet, a teacher, and a missionary, as well as a carpenter-artist - he was the one who made all those signs on the trees.
When our schedules pressed us to leave, he asked us to return "before the tea room season starts again in April," to meet his wife and bring them some of my stories, and to talk more about our mutual love for international ministry. I assured him we would, quietly planning when to return with more friends. Then Duke escorted us back down the hill to our car, and we said farewell to our new favorite quiet corner.
Wednesday, January 25, 2012
Choose Life
This month, we remember and honor the Sanctity of Human Life in a special way. My mom sent me a writing challenge, to write a poem about choosing life. I thought about writing about babies or moms or terminally ill people, but last night I decided to just write about me, and my daily choice to live. I hope it is an encouragement to you - whether you struggle with the value of your own life, or you wonder if there are other lives that are too small or weak or insignificant to value.
"Here we go again, God,"
I breathe as my alarm starts to ring.
"I don't know if I can do this thing called Life today..."
I lie still,
blinking awake because I can do
nothing else.
I wait in the semi-light of dawn
and wonder what this day will bring.
"You can choose, you know,"
my Father whispers to me.
"I always let you choose to live today or not.
Consider your choices,
and choose what is best."
The sharp pain in my hip
and the tingling in my foot
Forecast a day of stiffness
and swelling.
I take a deep breath
Wheezing and rattling
And know my tasks for the morning will be
Coughing and breathing.
I want to stretch my arms and my back,
But this blanket and gravity
hold me fast.
Glaring across the room,
I weigh whether it would be better to
Lay in this bed or
sit in that wheelchair.
My attendant - my friend -
opens the door and lets herself in
And sits in my chair,
quietly waiting.
She's giving me a choice, I realize.
She loves me and knows me,
And is letting me choose
to start my day.
I think a little more about my aches and pains,
And then I think about my patient friend,
Whose joy and kindness warm my heart.
I think about how beautiful musical poetry
Awaits in my CD player.
I think about Hannah and Kelsey and Pam
And how these friends will make me laugh today.
I think about my international students
Who will come to my home and call me "Tee-cha!"
I think about my African and Burmese teenagers
Who will make me crazy in the best possible ways.
I think about all the mysterious and thrilling adventures
Holding their breath, just waiting for me
to sit up and start the day...
And who cares about pinched nerves when
I have a Burmese baby brother named Sammy
Who gives me sloppy wet kisses?
Life isn't measured in pain, but in joy -
And the joy of the Lord is my strength.
Life isn't dependent on weakness, but on power -
And his power is made perfect in my weakness.
Life isn't defined by problems, but by purpose -
And He works in me day by day to fulfill his good purpose.
It isn't about what I can't do, but about what God can do -
And He can do all things.
It is a choice -
to give up or to have faith,
to despair or to hope.
And today, I choose life.
~C.L.Chandler
"Here we go again, God,"
I breathe as my alarm starts to ring.
"I don't know if I can do this thing called Life today..."
I lie still,
blinking awake because I can do
nothing else.
I wait in the semi-light of dawn
and wonder what this day will bring.
"You can choose, you know,"
my Father whispers to me.
"I always let you choose to live today or not.
Consider your choices,
and choose what is best."
The sharp pain in my hip
and the tingling in my foot
Forecast a day of stiffness
and swelling.
I take a deep breath
Wheezing and rattling
And know my tasks for the morning will be
Coughing and breathing.
I want to stretch my arms and my back,
But this blanket and gravity
hold me fast.
Glaring across the room,
I weigh whether it would be better to
Lay in this bed or
sit in that wheelchair.
My attendant - my friend -
opens the door and lets herself in
And sits in my chair,
quietly waiting.
She's giving me a choice, I realize.
She loves me and knows me,
And is letting me choose
to start my day.
I think a little more about my aches and pains,
And then I think about my patient friend,
Whose joy and kindness warm my heart.
I think about how beautiful musical poetry
Awaits in my CD player.
I think about Hannah and Kelsey and Pam
And how these friends will make me laugh today.
I think about my international students
Who will come to my home and call me "Tee-cha!"
I think about my African and Burmese teenagers
Who will make me crazy in the best possible ways.
I think about all the mysterious and thrilling adventures
Holding their breath, just waiting for me
to sit up and start the day...
And who cares about pinched nerves when
I have a Burmese baby brother named Sammy
Who gives me sloppy wet kisses?
Life isn't measured in pain, but in joy -
And the joy of the Lord is my strength.
Life isn't dependent on weakness, but on power -
And his power is made perfect in my weakness.
Life isn't defined by problems, but by purpose -
And He works in me day by day to fulfill his good purpose.
It isn't about what I can't do, but about what God can do -
And He can do all things.
It is a choice -
to give up or to have faith,
to despair or to hope.
And today, I choose life.
~C.L.Chandler
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