It’s March and Spring is fast approaching, if you’re in the Northern Hemisphere. Before the southeast of Mexico hits 115 degrees, I’ll quickly share my Winter Favorites list. If you missed my Fall Favorites, you can find them here. The Book World: I made an unwritten goal this year to step out of my comfort…
Piece of Poetry
The waiting seemed a small price that dayFor what the King had promised to repayHis faithful servant, his duty doneWhen homeward he his horse had spunWith jewels dancing, a gold crown hungThe great King’s beauties on his tongueFound at the gate he once had leftA little family no more bereft The waiting doneA Glorious welcome…
News Updates are Boring
But people, sometimes they're the only way to just get the info out there. So, the second week of February we were in Oaxaca. I wrote about that here. The week or so after we got back, I began having bimonthly get-togethers with the sisters. We meet and eat cake and exchange burdens and ask…
My Noisy Neighbors
I'm here in my Mayan granny rocking chair, enjoying the eye candy that is a tropical backyard. I'm also staring unashamedly at my very noisy neighbors. They don't seem to mind. There are four of them, sitting in a row on a swaying maculí branch having brazenly decided our trees are a nice place to…
Sorry, I Can’t Sing That One
When you’re missionaries or church planters or whatever you want to call people in that sort of ministry, you sometimes (often….) have some fairly small meetings. It’s your family and a few others and so from a tender age, you instruct your children to make sure they belt out the hymns. Actual singing ability is…
Let’s Have Tea
Maybe you could sit with me here awhile. I'll make you tea in my pretty green pot and set out a tray with chocolates and cookies. There will be a bundle of oleanders and cannas in an old pickle jar, because does anyone actually buy vases any more? I'd like to hold your hand. To…
For the Kids and the Grandpas
There is a gift my children have only half received. I feel in some ways like we've all been gypped, but then, that would be denying God's wisdom. The other half will have to be given them by us, telling the old stories that can't help but embed themselves into their impressionable consciouses. They had…
That Feeling of Smallness
Thursday night I was getting ready for bed when David came in from several visits. “Penelope!!” he whispered lest he rouse little miss G from her light slumber. I heard his excitement but could little guess what the next words would be. “Doña I.... was saved last night during meeting.” “What?!” I replied, incredulous and…
The One Room School House
and a few other points of Interest from the Alves Home Gone are the days of my coveted slow farmhouse breakfast. I distractedly shovel some cheerios and blueberries toward the teething baby who throws most of them to the floor while banging her tray for more. My mind is on Spanish adjectives and math facts…
Sacred Day
We had no desire for a big to-do. No fanfare, party or even a fancy cake. The day was too sacred for all that. Our baby is alive. She’s well. She’s one year old. Solemn joy. We had a family meeting of thanksgiving. It seemed more appropriate than throwing balloons around. Oh, how very, very…
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