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…
Happy 8th Glory Day
Dull sublunary lovers' love (Whose soul is sense) cannot admit Absence, because it doth remove Those things which elemented it. But we by a love so much refined, That our selves know not what it is, Inter-assured of the mind, Care less, eyes, lips, and hands to miss. Our two souls therefore, which are one, …
Hello 2023
Happy New Year, everyone! Hope you had a great time over the holidays and wish you a year ahead filled with blessings and the glory of God in your life. Last year (in March, maybe?) we made a slight change to our family devotion time and I thought you might enjoy skimming the following list.…
Healing.
Yesterday was Winter Solstice. Here, half way between 15 degrees N and the Tropic of Cancer, night began to fall at 5:30. The early darkness is a weighted blanket, enveloping weary souls with comfort and peace. There is no cajoling to play outside until nightfall, few obligations to be out. Like a yearly Sabbath, winter's…
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…
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…
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…
You Asked: Learning to Love What Must be Done
Is it truly possible to love what must be done? We are mere humans, dust with life, filled with failure and sin. Is there anyone we can confidently point to and declare a lover of dutiful tasks? I find it necessary to go beyond people and look to Christ. Did He love what had to…
Rollercoaster
We spent the last several days in Mexico City, seeing a couple specialists who could give us some direction on our baby’s hip dysplasia after being told she’d likely need to be in a cast for three months. I could easily dissect each phrase of that sentence and probably write an entire blog post…
penelope alves 