Monday, October 12

Marulaon Woman’s Daybook

Just for today...Monday, October 12

On my bookshelf… Garlic and Sapphires by Ruth Reichl. Just wrapped up this one, it’s a fun read about a New York Times restaurant critic that takes a thoughtful turn toward the end.

Creating in the kitchen...when we were in linguistics school in Dallas, one of the local grocery stores frequently donated its bruised produce. We coined the term “blessing soup” because we never knew what would show up each morning, but we were grateful for whatever God provided for the soup pot that day. Here in Marulaon, we often have soup for lunch, whatever vegetables showed up at market, cooked in coconut milk with curry and salt. It’s on the menu again today, with ears of corn on the side.

On my knees in prayer...for our satellite email system. Still not working. And I’m realizing more and more how easy it is to try and fill up my day and my heart with communication with the outside world. Even though we don’t have internet, so we don’t have access to any social media, I still crave connection and relationships. That’s a healthy desire, but not when it becomes an idol.

A grateful heart…that my girls can safely run and play around our village. I know that our neighbors love Olivia and Katherine and are always looking out for them. One of my friends who has daughters around the same ages as my girls phrased it this way, she keeps her eyes open for the “two legged katalea/crocodiles”!

Pondering these words… “Do you think, perhaps, that God has let you hunger for whatever it is you are so hungry for so that you might become more desperate for him, more convinced that he is the source of what will fill you up? Do you think he might want to retrain your appetites, redirecting them away from this world, this life, even this age, so that your anticipation of the age to come might begin to shape your perspective on whatever it is you lack?” -Nancy Guthrie, Even Better Than Eden

Noticing...that a group of ladies just walked by my house, and several of them grabbed the stamen from the red hibiscus bush. It’s a local “Q-tip”, and as they proceeded down the path, they cleaned out their ears.

A few plans for the rest of the week…Aaron is working with the catechists from several different villages today and tomorrow, he’ll be making a trip over to the eastern part of our language group on Wednesday to make sure everything is in order for the Lavukal Translation Committee meeting on Thursday and Friday in Nono Village.

A peek into my corner of the world…when kids get hungry here, they go looking outside for a snack. This time of year, the two most common snacks are kino/cutnuts and sival/mangoes, so we see a lot of kids climbing trees.

Monday, September 28

Marulaon Woman's Daybook

 On my bookshelf…Life Together in Christ: Experiencing Transformation in Community by Ruth Haley Barton.

A heart of thanksgiving for...the cooler temps.  The tradewinds this time of year keep us a little bit cooler and drier!

Creating in the kitchen...breakfast burritos, bean & veggie salad for lunch, and to finish the day, pizza leftover from our traditional Sunday meal.

On my knees in prayer...for our computers. This feels really selfish to me. The girls’ computer died last year. Having a separate school computer is a privilege and convenience for Aaron and me, but the girls can use our computers to write papers, watch videos for school, and do Rosetta Stone French. Aaron’s computer screen died the same day we got the stomach virus. Thankfully he was able to find an external monitor before we left for the village. But his computer battery died several months ago. Needing to keep both his screen and his computer plugged in is a challenge and a stress, especially with our limited electricity in the village, and also makes traveling for translation workshops quite tricky. Several of my computer keys are dying now.

From the learning rooms...Katherine is studying about longer equations and combining x’s in pre-algebra and she’s having fun in the 1840’s with World History. So we’re listening to “Masters of Classical Music: Wagner” and we’ve pulled out Opal Wheeler’s “Adventures of Richard Wagner” as well as “Gold Fever: Tales from the California Gold Rush” by Rosalyn Schanzer. Olivia is learning about the circulatory system in preparation for dissecting a cow’s heart next week, as well as reading and discussing “Their Eyes Were Watching God”.

Pondering these words: “One of the reasons Christianity has become irrelevant in our culture is our inability to stay together.” -Ruth Haley Barton, Life Together in Christ

Outside my window...a very breezy morning! Margaret and Ribeka came to continue weeding our yard. We paid them to look after our ground while we were gone, but there are some areas that are still rather overgrown. Last night we had a huge thunderstorm, lots of rain and thunder big enough to resonate and rumble through our house. The ground is nice and soft today because of all the rain, perfect for weeding!

A few plans for the rest of the week...Aaron has already walked the two miles to talk to Gesu about any Scripture rough drafts he might have in his computer and walked two miles back home again having just missed Gesu. Tomorrow, Aaron will go to a feast day in another village, and Thursday he hopes to have a meeting on the East/Catholic side of the Russell islands, about a 45 minute motorboat ride away. The girls and I will continue to hold down school at home. Friday is Aaron’s birthday, and we look forward to celebrating this incredible man that God has put in our lives.

Honiara Woman's Daybook

Just for today...Monday, April 20

On my bookshelf..."Making Peace With Change: Navigating Life's Messy Transitions With Honesty and Grace" by Gina Brenna Butz.  Although the book is written specifically to cross cultural workers, I think most people on the planet currently feel like life is in transition.  I highly recommend this book!  I've been slowly chewing my way through for the last couple of months.

Outside my window...this is my view when I mosey home each morning from my "walky talky" with the hubby .  You can't tell that the gray, flat ocean is just behind those trees or that the house where we are currently living is just on the right on top of the ridge.  We truly live in a beautiful place.

Tickling my eardrums..."Vermeer: Art and Music of His Times".  Katherine and I are in the 1600s for school, and I LOVE this series of music!!!  If you have the hard copy of the CD, the liner includes lovely art as well as information about the connections between the art and music.  For anybody who likes to see how the tapestry of history weaves together, you need this in your life.

I am wearing...my new favorite socks!  They are so soft and comfy for exercise (but it's too hot to wear them any other time).

Pondering these words..."It is a gift to be brought to this place, where God knocks down our house of cards, where we are at the end of our resources.  Beyond our resources, really.  God doesn't take us to places of need so we can prove how strong we are; He takes us through them so we can discover greater depths of His strength."  ~Gina Brenna Butz

Monday, March 9

Marulaon Woman’s Daybook

Just for today, Monday, March 9

On my bookshelf…The Gospel Comes With a House Key by Rosaria Butterfield. So, so good.

From the learning rooms…Katherine has launched into the 1500s, so our book basket contains gems like The Discovery of the Americas by Betsy & Giulio Maestro, Columbus by Ingri & Edgar Parin d’Aulaire, Around the World in a Hundred Years by Jean Fritz, What Makes a Bruegel a Bruegel? by the Metropolitan Museum of Art, Pieter Bruegel’s Tower of Babel: The Builder with the Red Hat by Nils Jockel; and The Fantastic Journey of Pieter Bruegel by Anders C. Shafer. She’s also tried a science experiment that was a dismal failure for us – blocking part of a leaf from sunshine for a couple of days, boiling the leaf, then soaking it in hot rubbing alcohol before immersing the leaf in iodine. We didn’t get the desired results, but the process was fun!

Olivia’s 20th Century World History studies are immersing her in the 1980’s (one of my personal favorite decades!), and she’s learning about kinetics in chemistry. We’re wrapping up our school year by Easter this year, and I’m so proud of my diligent students!

Creating in the kitchen…we enjoyed yogurt & granola with a huge papaya this morning for breakfast. Market on Saturday was slim, so I’m hoping for an abundant market on Wednesday. Lunch is a chicken & pasta casserole from More With Less cookbook (yay for white sauce to create instant casseroles!), and supper is leftovers.

Outside my window…girls are washing clothes underneath the house. I’m so thankful for their good attitudes and hard work.

A few plans for the rest of the week…Aaron will be attending a Lavukal Translation Committee Committee meeting in Karumalun Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday this week. He’ll also be preaching early on Wednesday morning. Please pray for the girls and me while we hold down the fort in his absence.

Pondering these words… “The hospitable meet people as strangers and invite them to become neighbors, and by God’s grace, many will go on to become part of the family of God. This transition from stranger to neighbor to family does not happen naturally but only with intent and grit and sacrifice and God’s blessing.” ~Rosaria Butterfield

Marulaon Woman’s Daybook

Just for today...Monday, December 2

On my bookshelf… The Book Thief   I finished it, sobbing, yesterday afternoon. I usually don’t go for historical fiction, but this one is a keeper.

Pondering these words… “Most often, pride grows out of an incomplete focus on the wonder and majesty of God, and from taking for granted his grace and blessings.” ~Nancy Beach

Around the house...we decorated for Christmas this weekend. We only have a few things that have survived our many moves. I’m so grateful for the little Christmas tree we inherited when we moved into the village house.

From the kitchen...today is a day of leftovers. To use our propane gas tanks wisely, we always make sure the oven is full when we use it. Yesterday, I made gingerbread baked oatmeal while the pizza cooked. So today, we have oatmeal for breakfast, true odds and ends of leftovers for lunch, and cold pizza for supper. Our gas tank is extremely low. SITAG colleagues put a refill on a boat Saturday night. The boat hasn’t arrived yet, so I’m extra grateful for a day of not needing to use the stove or the oven except for heating water for coffee.

From the school rooms...after piecing together a few days of school last week (including some school on Saturday to make up for lost time) this week looks blessedly more normal. Olivia is learning about derivatives in pre-calculus, finishing up the 1960s in history, and delighting in acid/base chemistry. Katherine is learning about geometric measurement, discovering Alfred the Great in history, and reviewing the food chain in science.

Outside my window...Aaron learned how to repair our dugout canoe this morning. Using the very non-traditional materials of a mosquito net, pure petrol, and styrofoam, he and Hiva began the process of fixing the four holes in our canoe. Soon, Aaron will be able to paddle over to see Ezekiel again.

Marulaon Woman’s Daybook

Just for today, Monday, November 18

Outside my window...rain. And lots of it. It’s been pouring since 6:00 this morning. In an effort to conserve our solar powered batteries, we told the girls no piano practice today. And we can’t check email in the rain because the BGAN unit needs to be outside with a clear line of sight to the satellite.

On my bookshelf… Blue Shoes and Happiness by Alexander McCall Smith. Sarah gave me this book from the No. 1 Ladies Detective Agency series, and it was the perfect light read to begin our village stay.

Around the house...members of the Sunday School are raising money by doing work for people in the village. We’ve hired them to bring fresh “coral gravel” (broken, bleached out coral that has washed up on the shore) and pour it underneath our house to keep things clean. Even in the pouring rain, people are bringing bag after bag. I left a huge bowl of popcorn down there to refresh them as they work.

From the learning rooms...Katherine is reading about Charlemagne, learning about the parts of plants and how they reproduce, discovering geometry basics in Teaching Textbooks 7, and creating a plot diagram for Black Horses for the King; Olivia is studying the 1960s, reading the classic Cry, the Beloved Country, discovering polyatomic molecules in chemistry, and working on Analytic Geometry in Pre-Calculus.

Delighting my ears… “A Feather on the Breath of God” by Hildegard. The 1000s are just around the corner in history for Katherine, and I love the word picture of my life yielding to the slightest breath of God.

Pondering these words… “Discernment does not change the challenges we face; it changes our ability to face them.” ~Hannah Anderson, All That’s Good

A few plans for the rest of the week...Aaron wants to walk the two miles to the other end of our island to help with the school workday on Wednesday. He also hopes to find Gesu, the typist for the translation team, and talk to him about Baison hosting the team next week for a workshop. Whenever we get sunshine and the ground dries out a little bit, our family will haul some dirt from the soccer field to fill up the busted canoe we just got from friends. It’s a new “raised bed” for the tomato seedlings I started in Honiara.

Honiara Woman's Daybook

For today...Monday, June 10

From the kitchen...Meatless Monday.  Baked oatmeal for breakfast, and my splattered and well loved Laurel's Kitchen for a dilly cheese spread with crackers for lunch as well tamale pie for supper.

On my knees in prayer...for our visas to be stamped inside our passports.  We've been trying for two weeks, and they still aren't ready.  Feels a little bit funny not to have our passports in hand.  Hoping after this long four day weekend (Queens Birthday Observed plus WhitMonday) that we'll be able to pick them up.

My kids prefer homemade cottage cheese to the store bought stuff (which I prefer).

Swissy Spread

(from "The New Laurel's Kitchen")

1/2 cup grated Swiss

1/2 cup low-fat cottage cheese 

1/4 chopped green pepper

1/2 teaspoon dill weed

salt and pepper to taste

In the learning rooms...we're still waiting for Aaron to get out to the village where all of our school books are stored.  We've started listening to The Golden Goblet, and Katherine has begun reading Story of the World, Volume 1, and Mara, Daughter of the Nile as she begins to study World History.

On my bookshelf..."Blackberry Winter" by Margaret Mead.  A fascinating look at her early life through the lens of her adult anthropologist self.

A heart of thankfulness...so grateful for my hubby and his willingness to come along each morning as my "security" as we sweat and  navigate the dogs and the potholes along the road.

Pondering these words..."Telling someone to change makes it less rather than more likely that they will.  This is because people almost never change without first feeling understood."  ~Douglas Stone, Bruce Patton, and Sheila Heen

A few plans for the rest of this week...we're hoping to put Aaron on a boat tomorrow evening.  The Kosco keeps delaying their return to our language group, and the Nakita is having engine trouble.  An always delightful and productive CHED committee meeting on Wednesday afternoon.  A meeting with Woodford International School on Thursday to talk about the possibilities of Olivia taking the PSAT and SAT in Honiara instead of having to fly to Australia.

One of my favorite things...my kids.

Outside my window...the rain has just started falling and the temperature is falling, too.  Makes me so happy.

A peek into my world...last Friday night's SITAG barbecue.  That kingfish was worth the wait!

Honiara Woman's Daybook

 

Just for today...Monday, October 24

 

Pondering these words..."Let petitions and praises shape your worries into prayers...."  Phil. 4:6 MSG

I am hearing...Sarah practicing voice.  I love listening to her voice slowly mature and look forward to her being able to study with a real teacher again when we return to America.

 

On my nightstand..."Made in America" by Bill Bryson.  I bought it in the airport in Brisbane, and it's fascinating!

Crafting in the kitchen...we tried Willow Bird's Pumpkin Cheesecake Bread Pudding this weekend, and it was fabulous.  Certainly hit the "We Miss Autumn" spot!

 

A peek inside my world...our family and a few SITAG friends participated in the G'Day Solomons Fun Run Saturday morning.

 

 

 

We had a beautiful view for the race!

 

From the learning rooms...Katherine is learning about decimals, Olivia is racing through world history in the mid-1800s, Sarah and Benjamin are finishing up government as we come to the end of the semester next week.

 

One of my favorite things...listening to Katherine read out loud to me, especially when we're snuggling.

 

Outside my window...this was the scene over the weekend. 

 

 

SITAG decorated a float for the parade that opened Bible Week here in Honiara.

John 3:16 was printed in every language in the Solomons that has a translation,

and the blank pages represented languages, like Lavukaleve, that don't have scripture yet.

 

We didn't go to the parade and the opening ceremonies, but the SITAG employees won first prize with their float!  Super proud of them and all of their hard work.  We love our employees, they are the ones who really keep things running smoothly around here.

Marulaon Woman's Daybook

 

 

Just for today, Monday, August 29

 

Outside my window...every August and September, these trees erupt with sweetly scented blossoms. Katherine and I think they look like Q-tips just before the flowers open fully. For the last several years, I haven't been in Marulaon to see the blooms, but this year, I'm enjoying them fully! Does anybody know what kind of tree this is?

 

 

 

From the learning rooms...just beginning the 2nd Nine Weeks today in an attempt to finish the school year by April.

 

On my bookshelf...Strong Inside. A biography of Perry Wallace, the first African American to play sports in the SEC. Great book!

  

 

One of my favorite things...my kids playing well together in our new canoe. We didn't know that they were in the canoe backwards until one of friends told us.

 

From the kitchen...cinnamon raisin swirl bread for breakfast this morning with some of the fresh eggs our SITAG colleagues sent. No more floating eggs to make sure that they haven't gone bad.

 

A heart of thankfulness...this sweet bunch of kids who were playing with a “Go Fish” set of alphabet cards that we gave away a few years ago. Beginning literacy in Lavukaleve is so important for this age group because they are the ones who will group with a Bible in their own language.

 

Pondering these words... “When I resolve myself to his will, and the inevitable changes that will come, I open my eyes to the joys and blessings of every day of my life. I can either resolve myself to being faithful and joyful, or I can let that opportunity pass me by. If I resolve to be faithful, I will be able to celebrate all of life as God gives it to me without regret.” ~Sally Clarkson, Seasons of a Mother's Heart

 

 

A peek into my corner of the world...Sarah underneath the house this afternoon. She is making a “grass skirt” for a little SITAG cousin. The skirt really isn't made of grass, it's bark, and Sarah harvested the bark a few weeks ago. Now that the bark has softened in sea water for a couple of weeks, it's ready to be made into a skirt for a cute four-year-old!

Marulaon Woman’s Daybook

Just for today...Monday, May 30

 

Outside my window...Benjamin climbing a kino (cutnut) tree to see if the nuts are ripe yet.

 

 

From the learning rooms...it's week 35! Katherine is discovering Constantine and finishing her math book. Olivia is making revisions to her research paper and reading about Shakespeare in history. Sarah and Benjamin are racing through the 1990's in history (which I'm loving!) .

 

A heart overflowing with thankfulness...for big sisters who make lovely flower crowns for little sisters to wear

 

 

I am hearing...Debussy's string quartet in g minor. Music to feed my soul this afternoon.

 

Pondering these words... “Our perfect helplessness is demonstrated, and then faith lays hold of God's perfect helpfulness....The soul cries out for God, and can rest upon nothing but omnipotence. This is the Christian life - despairing of our own power, confident in God's.” ~E. Hurndall

 

A few plans for the rest of the week...Aaron will be gone most of the day tomorrow to attend a grave “cementing” of a big man and his wife in another village. The grave had fallen into disrepair, and the village was celebrating the renovation. People from all around the Russells will be there, so Aaron will have many opportunities to chat about the current state Bible translation. This week is the “calm before the storm” of packing and preparing to move back to Honiara and some big events coming up next week.

 

A peek into my corner of the world...Olivia came home this afternoon proudly bearing a lobster's head she found in the ocean. That crazy, animal loving girl!

 

Marulaon Woman’s Daybook

Just for today...Monday, May 23

 

 

Outside my window...the wind is blowing and the rain is spitting earlier this morning! We had a huge storm blow through last night, complete with thunder and lightning, which is quite unusual for our area. The heavy rains filled up all three rain tanks on our house. I was thrilled to sit on the porch (in my damp rocking chair) early this morning and actually feel cool while I drank my coffee.

 

I am hearing...coconut being scraped. A familiar and homey sound.

 

 

A heart of thankfulness...for our SITAG family who sent out a new radio and a refilled propane gas cylinder on the Kosco yesterday. The best part was the snail mail that arrived. A HUGE thank you to everybody who mailed us letters and care packages. Those are sweet reminders that we are not forgotten, even though we are living in a remote village on the other side of the world.

 

 

Putting a smile on my face...kids playing together. Regardless of language or nationality.

 

 

From the learning rooms...the kids have worked extra hard to get a day ahead in school so we can take a complete holiday for my birthday this week. We're working on Week 34 of our curriculum, and I'm so proud of my kids for their diligence as we finish up a school year that has been full of transition.

 

 

Pondering these words... “The essence of self-discipline lies in making commitments in times of strength in order to avoid making decisions in times of weakness.” ~Mark Graper

 

A few plans for the rest of the week...Aaron will be going with Leonard tomorrow to travel around the Russell Islands to distribute newsletters and collect contributions from our language group to send two of our translators to a workshop in Honiara this week. Saturday is a big fundraiser for the church, and we look forward to seeing what everybody brings. We're hoping we can buy a paddle or two to replace the ones that have walked off.

Marulaon Woman’s Daybook

Just for today...Monday, May 9

 

 

On my bookshelf...Turn Toward the Wind: Embracing Change in Your Life by Dale Hanson Bourke

 

Outside my window...Sarah's kimita are just about dry. Her friend, Josa, said they can begin to weave the mat soon.

 

 

I am hearing...wailing outside. An elderly woman died this morning. She had ten children and countless grandchildren, so the village will soon be full of mourners.

 

A heart of thankfulness...for the Lavukal translation committee meeting yesterday afternoon. It didn't follow my Western ideas of understanding how things should be done (surprise!), but the program has new momentum and some new leadership. I'm excited that two of the new officers are cousins from Marulaon - Leonard will be the new chairman and Kiko will be the new treasurer.

 

 

Pondering these words..."If you have chosen to live a life of the Spirit, the winds will still blow. You will not be exempt because of status or power. You cannot beg God to spare you because you are not strong enough. The winds will help make you strong. They will blow and you will have to respond. If you choose to turn away, you will miss the chance to grow." ~Dale Hanson Bourke

 

Around the house...Leonard and Aaron are on the porch right now discussing the translation program. Our porch is a great place for a meeting!

 

 

On my knees in prayer...for rain. We are heading into the dry season which usually lasts until September or October. We knew that tanks were getting low around the village, but we didn't realize just how low. The big 2000 gallon tank by the church is empty. The 1000 gallon tank in front of our house is almost empty, and the 600 gallon tank in front of our house still has some water. Those tanks we've been able to donate to Marulaon (because of generous donations) to add to the personal rain tanks scattered throughout the village. Our family's tank in the back is less than half full. Suddenly, we're into the "don't mop and don't wash sheets" mode.