whispered prayers ~ dance of grace

I love dancing.

I love watching dancing.

I love teaching dancing.

I'm ever amazed by the cultural variety and beauty present in dance.

I love watching others learn to dance.

I love helping the hesitant begin to enjoy dancing.

I love that my children find the same joy in dancing that I do.

I love hearing music while seeing it come to life as it directs movement.

I love the precision and the rhythm.

I love the freedom - the twirling and spinning, flipping and flying.

I love figuring out new steps, hearing new beats, trying new patterns.

I particularly love the uniqueness of each member in a dance troup submitting themselves to the grace of unity.

 

I read this in a book recently: "to observe their family is to witness a dance of grace."

May those who see us also see that dance of grace in our family...

...THAT has become one of my daily prayers.



(All photos taken on Mother's Day, 2012, during a sandstorm here in Niamey.
Some of my gang could not resist dancing and playing in the wind and sand. Nothing like stating the obvious!)



[Manion, Jeff (2010-07-14). The Land Between: Finding God in Difficult Transitions (Kindle Location 776).

Zondervan. Kindle Edition.]

The Real Hidalgo!

SANDSTORMS!!

They ARE impressive.

Remember watching the movie Hidalgo? The scene where the man rides the horse, furiously gallopping to escape a huge sandstorm? Until I moved to Niger, I thought that sort of representation of a sandstorm was hugely exaggerated... except that we've had two sandstorms just this season (so far) that have looked remarkably like that scene from the movie....

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...Ok, we know, this is supposed to be a blog page, not a "blague" (If you don't get it, check out the meaning of "blague" in French), so here are a few pictures we really took, still in their unaltered form, as the sandstorm moved in yesterday. What was super cool was that the storm moved in from the north, so we were able to sit on our terrace where the house sheltered us from the worst of the sand, dust and wind - and experience it as the storm moved right over and around us. What was super incredible is that the men working on cementing the 2nd floor and roof of the house they are building in the concession next to us continued to work right through the storm. The first two pics were taken yesterday morning. The third was taken as a storm rolled in off the desert from the east over one of the Niamey markets. Amazing, aren't they?

(photo by Brian Trutwin)

PS Richelle cannot take much credit for this blog entry - she was only the executor. Tim was the creative inspiration.

(mildly edited post from the archives,

in honor of the fact that it is THAT season of the year

yet once again!)

Bonus Question:

Who's riding the horse in the first picture?

5 Minute Friday ~ Perspective

Once again, joining Lisa-Jo at Gypsy Mama for 5 Minute Friday...

"On Fridays over here a group of people who love to throw caution to the wind and just write gather to share what five minutes buys them. Just five minutes. Unscripted. Unedited. Real.

Your words. This shared feast.

If you have five minutes, we double dog dare you to spend it writing here.

1. Write for 5 minutes flat – no editing, no over thinking, no backtracking.
2. Link back here and invite others to join in.
3. Please visit the person who linked up before you & encourage them in their comments.

OK, are you ready? The Gypsy Mama Facebook late night crew is my new muse come 10pm Thursday night, so please give me your best five minutes on their choice..."

Ready... Go!

Perspective…

"People only see what they are prepared to see." – Ralph Waldo Emerson

"Before criticizing a man, walk a mile in his shoes."
- Old English Proverb

"Beauty is in the eye of the beholder."

"Bad is called good when worse happens."
- Norwegian Proverb

 "When others see a shepherd boy, God may see a king."

- Ray Boltz and Steve Millikan

"Is the glass half empty or half full?" (recently wrote about this myself)

“Being happy doesn't mean that everything is perfect. It means that you've decided to look beyond the imperfections.”

"A flower is a weed seen through joyful eyes."

- Jonathan Lockwood Huie

"When one door closes another opens.

But often we look so long, so regretfully, upon the closed door,

that we fail to see the one that is opened for us."

- Helen Keller

Perspective is one of those things I think about a lot - hence my collection of quotes above. These are my favorites and I could have included more, but recently I read a parable that says more better than I ever could, so let me simply retell, in my own words...

"A hurricane had ravished the island, leaving a monkey stranded watching the waves crash along the shore. While taking count of his situation and waiting for the waters to calm and recede, the monkey notices a fish struggling to swim against the current. Obviously, the fish was in need of help and so the monkey decided to take a risk and help his fellow creature.

One branch from the tree in which he was sitting extended out over the water, right above where the fish was thrashing and struggling to make way in the abusive surf. Even though it entailed danger and risk, the monkey inched far out on that limb and hanging down as far as he could stretch, snatched the fish from the thundering waves. The monkey then scampered back to safety, clutching the fish close to him so he wouldn't drop it. Well back from the raging waters, he delicately laid the fish on the beach. For several minutes, the fish seemed excited and delighted, flipping and flopping around, but soon it settled down and slipped into a restful sleep, probably for the first time since the storm began.

The monkey was pleased with himself, for he had helped another. That poor fish would've died without his intervention."

 Stop! 
(5 and 1/2 minutes... I had to finish the story!)

The monkey parable came from a book I'm currently reading titled Cross-Cultural Servanthood: Serving the World in Christlike Humility, by Duane Elmer

If a quote is not properly attributed, or there is no attribute and you can correct me, please do!

"Nin no ga ti bora din!" or... "You ARE that man!"

We've been talking about sitting in the hot seat...

about having others question the rightness or the wrongness of what we are doing...

of questioning the rightness or wrongness of what others are doing...

of judging...

of being judged...

of our liberty in Christ...

of being our brothers' and sisters' keepers...

And it has been interesting.

After all these years, a Bible study topic where I don't feel like I have to literally drag participation out of these women. I keep praying that  a few more of the women would show up.

About a week and 1/2 ago, we met again, to continue our discussion and I did have my "notes" all written out, but we didn't end up following them.

The Lord had shown us something during our last Saturday afternoon together: He'd shown us our own hypocrisy as we realized, each lady present, that we much prefer to be in the position of the one correcting or confronting rather than sitting in the hot seat as the one being corrected or confronted - about anything. When asked, "Why?" each person agreed that the elevated position of teacher is preferred to the lowly position of learner needing to be corrected.

I did follow my notes long enough to ask the ladies to think about that "revelation," because it was not biblical, especially in the light of the following Scriptures. I'd  been meditating on them for two weeks already...

 

Then, I took the ladies to 2 Samuel 12 ~ the biblical account of Nathan, sent by God, to confront David with the reality of the sin he had committed towards Uriah the Hittite (and others), helping David see just how deeply he had offended God. I told the ladies I wanted them to know this story because it gives us a Biblical picture of confrontation both done and received well.

The rest of our study was spent with me reading the Zarma Biblical account (slowly and surely, one little step after another, my Zarma language abilities make minute advances) and then clarification of the events that took place in those verses.

We finished up Bible study with two questions, the same two questions I'd like to leave with you today:

1. What did Nathan do well as he confronted David with his sin?
2. What did David do well as he found himself sitting in the hot seat?

Wordless Wednesday ~ "Ecka & Anakin"

of yogurt and competitions

Theses photos are about 6 months old... but they still make me smile

...every time I see them.

Our happy-go-lucky-mostly-always-sweet Elsie Mae so intent on her competition.

Most of her "events" that day, she spent more time smiling at her "fans" than watching the race track in front of her.

But not when it came to the hula hoop throwing contest.

It was a good sort of strange to see my girl concentrating and working hard to do her best AND still having lots of fun at the same time.

At the same time, it was hilarious to watch my generally-always-driven one acting super silly and goofy, just hoping to capture either big sis's or mom's attention by dramatically sipping her yogurt-in-a-baggie.

She obviously succeeded - at least with her mom - I snapped the photo, didn't I?

Multitude Monday - 1000 Gifts ~

"For beautiful eyes, look for the good in others;

for beautiful lips, speak only words of kindness;

and for poise, walk with the knowledge that you are never alone."

~ Audrey Hepburn

Sometimes, I think, the written words in and of themselves speak loudly enough...

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this week's gratitude list:

(#'s 2194 - 2222)

zinger quotes where truth pierces... like the one above

rediscovered old photos that I think are just beautiful, even if they aren't technically superb

funny high school dramas

daughter acting the part of principal Medusa Crabneck

drama being finished so we don't have to worry about after school and Saturday morning practices any more

sand storms

rain

God's grace to crazy motorcyclists who ignore the fact that high speed racing down the middle of a two lane bridge (with traffic moving in both lanes) is risky behavior

light and fluffy made from scratch biscuits for the very first time

good discussions

cheesy romantic flicks with super gorgeous music soundtracks

Sunday afternoon frolics at the pool

littlest girl really starting to swim

next to littlest girl turning into a full-fledged fish

shared french fries

power cuts making me thankful for the electricity

being able to turn the A/C's on, if we decide we need to... or want to

thankful when our A/C's cool the room down to 86' (and laughing over the fact that that is plenty hot enough for our Michigan friends to think they need to turn their A/C's on)

only 5 weeks left

enjoying swim classes at the military pool

seeing former students return and then shine in positions of responsibility

taco dinners that I don't have to make

creme on sale... and so another batch of homemade ice cream this week

Joe brought potato chips to share with the family for dinner tonight - I saved mine to eat on my ice cream!

seeing my Gourmantché grandma friend and Salamatou this past month - an answer to prayer since I've often wondered over the past 3 years... (Here's the link to a post where I shared a bit of their story - if you are interested. I'm praying much for safe travel back to their village in Burkina and health. Salamatou has already lost her pinky finger due to lack of medical care and food in their village.)

snuggling with Salamatou during the service this morning - until Rebekah stole her away for Sunday School

looking forward to ladies' Bible study this week

gorgeous gift of a dress - finally planning to head to the tailor this week to get it taken up to actually fit so I can wear it for grad this year

smiles and laughter that abounds

Disney Didactics

I'm thankful my kids still enjoy building sand castles and settlements out in the front yard, dressing up and snuggling on the bed to watch a movie. Even my big kids still seem to enjoy the fact that they are just that... still young people... and act that way instead of "too big for their britches." Well, most of the time... but that is a different story!

One of my high school friends recently posted a fb status about loving the fact that her teen girl and her daughter's friends thought it great fun to get together and watch Disney movies. I agree completely: I love it when that very thing goes on with my girl teens and tweens. It is wonderful that they haven't become too grown up, sophisticated or jaded to dream of princes and princesses, beautiful horses and castles, and fairy tale endings.

That doesn't mean I like everything or accept unequivically all that happens in a Disney movie. We do talk them over and discuss what parts come from worldly thinking and what parts corresponds to Biblical truth; we look at choices and consequences and often these movies become great teaching tools.

It shouldn't surprise me when God uses them to teach me...

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Recently, I was hurt by something someone I know did not do.

That sounds kinda funny, typing it out, doesn't it?

I try not to place a ton of expectations on others, really! God has been working on me with that lesson over the past few years... yet this time, I expected someone to act/respond in a certain way. When the person didn't, I was confused, didn't understand why, wondered if I'd offended in somehow and, as I already said, I was hurt. I spent more than a few hours (more truthfully, more than a couple of days) mulling it over, my feelings ranging from overreacting anger ("Never wanna talk to that one again!") to prayers begging God to help me forgive because I knew my response was unbiblical. Then I grew frustrated with myself, because it had become such a big deal in my heart and I couldn't seem to let it go...

Then Mulan filtered into my picture... you know the story, don't you?

...the young Chinese girl who disguises herself as a young man to take the place of her elderly father who had been conscripted into military service to fight the Huns. Taking the name Ping, she learns to fight, earns the camraderie of her fellow soldiers, even wins the respect and trust of her (very handsome) commanding officer, Shang. After Mulan/Ping daringly saves Shangs life, he says to her:

"Ping, you are the craziest man I've ever met,

and for that I owe you my life.

From now on, you have my trust."

Right after Shang makes this statement, literally, Mulan/Ping collapses due to injuries sustained in battle... and of course the doctor uncovers the truth. Ping isn't such a manly man. What's worse? Her masquerade and deception is shameful, and punishable by death. Her friends, her commander, everyone -they all turn their back on her, some more vehemently than others.

Shang chooses not kill her, but he does abandon her in the snowy mountains to find her own way home, on her own and in disgrace. In the process, she sees the Huns recover from what looked like certain destruction and regroup... then head towards the capital to finish what they'd come to China to do. She makes her own mad dash to the capital, to warn Shang and his men that another battle was imminent... so that they would be prepared.

It was the following conversation, when Mulan finally catches up with Shang, that God used - just like He used Nathan's story to confront David with his sin, thousands of years ago.

Mulan: Shang!
Shang: Mulan?
Mulan: The Huns are alive! They're in the city!
Shang: You don't belong here, Mulan. Go home.
Mulan: Shang, I saw them in the mountains. You have to believe me!
Shang: Why should I?
Mulan: Why else would I come back? You said you'd trust Ping. Why is Mulan any different?

The particular person with whom I was so frustrated had never, to my knowledge, previously done anything intentionally to hurt, harm or discourage me. So why would I assume that about this particular situation? Why wouldn't I trust what I already had experienced as true with this individual, even though I didn't understand? Instead of assuming evil motivations, why not simply assume that the person hadn't done something I normally would have expected him/her to do... nothing more, nothing less... and instead remember all the reasons to trust... the many kind, friendly and generous ways said person had interacted with me and my family in the past?

?????????????

I guess if God chose to speak through a donkey, I shouldn't be surprised that He'd decide to speak a needed message to me and through a Disney movie, eh? 

How about you? How did God last speak to your heart about something in a way that caught you completely by surprise?

5 Minute Friday ~ Identity?

Joining in with Lisa-Jo for another 5 Minute Friday...

"On Fridays, a group of people who love to throw caution to the wind and just write gather to share what five minutes buys them. Just five minutes. Unscripted. Unedited. Real.

Your words. This shared feast.

If you have five minutes, we have a writing challenge.

1. Write for 5 minutes flat – no editing, no over thinking, no backtracking
2. Link back to 5 Minute Friday and invite others to join in.
3. Please visit the person who linked up before you & encourage them in their comments.

OK, are you ready? Facebook chimed in last night and overwhelmingly voted for a prompt either about mothers or Mother’s Day. This was one of the suggestions and I love that it can apply to any and all, mother or not. So please give me your best five minutes on..."

Identity…

This is the creature there has never been.
They never knew it, and yet, none the less,
they loved the way it moved,

its suppleness, its neck, its very gaze,

mild and serene.

Not there, because they loved it,

it behaved as though it were.

They always left some space.
And in that clear unpeopled space they saved
it lightly reared its head,

with scarce a trace of not being there.

They fed it, not with corn,
but only with the possibility of being.

And that was able to confer such strength,

its brow put forth a horn. One horn.
Whitely it stole up to a maid - to be
within the silver mirror and in her.

I first heard this poem, Possibility of Being by Rainer Maria Rilke, over 20  years ago, while I was an undergrad at university, studying to become a teacher in the field of education. It has, in many ways, defined my teaching philosophy ever since.

It also identifies so much of what I believe I need to be as "Mama" to this gift-tribe of 8.

As a kid, I enjoyed kids - but mostly because it was "expected" of me. Growing up, I typically pictured myself as a missionary advernturer with some shadowy progeny running around somewhere, but that was never the focus. So while there was always this vague notion that someday a couple of kids would be a part of the equation, I never dreamed about becoming a mama... until I was one. I certainly never imagined having 8 kids - although that old TV series Eight is Enough was a favorite... 'course that makes me think these days that God was already tendering my heart to become the person He had in mind for today.

But back to that poem...

I love it because it speaks to me the truth that as a mama - I'm to encourage my precious ones to recognize the potentials, prospects and possibilities as well as the occasions and opportunities that God has for them

...not necessarily their own dreams (although often, God, in His grace and mercy, allows them to coincide)

...certainly not the black and white of my visions-sometimes-delusions.

(This photo includes our niece, Leandra, who is living with us this year.)

As their mama, I pray I help point them to the path that their identity must be found in the One Who always has been, Who is and Who always will be; in that occupation-sometimes-preoccupation, I also pray they see me living that my identity is not found in them and who they become, but in the very same One Who always has been, Who is and Who always will be...

Found in God - surrounded by His perfect plans, there is so much space to be and to become all that He hopes and prepares for us.

Is there any better identity?

Just amazing when something like THIS happens ~

...when the very ideas and thoughts I'm mulling over, meditating on  and praying through as I sit reluctantly awake one long night with sick little one...

And the very next day, there they are, just like my thoughts!

More eloquently written, probably longer prayerfully pondered, but...

...my mostly-exactly-the-same-sort-of-soul-searching-ramblings were also thought by someone else, someone else whose love and understanding of Scripture, perspective and point of view I respect enormously and almost always find challenging!

Did the Holy Spirit just whisper soft in my ear: "Yep, You heard Me right... Now that you know, I expect you'll put it into practice."?

I'm not really one of those touchy-feely-all-blown-by-emotional-winds-types (well, at least not on most days - though on some days I wish I was), but truthfully, I got goosebumps this time, because that was what it felt like.

Frankly, my faith is driven by the truth and practicality I find as I study God's Word - I'm a words-sorta-gal, after all. I love that love letter to me from my Heavenly Daddy. I turn to the Scripture first and foremost; it is my primary guide and I believe that is the way God wants it to be. So I'm not so much into mystical faith experiences. Those numinous incidents of which I hear others speak make me nervous, because when it comes to God, I much prefer things I can pin down, at least a little bit (yes, I know, pinning God down is a bit of an oxymoron - but He is unchangeable and He does always keep His promises, so...). I also know the Almighty, All-Powerful Alpha and Omega is not, under any stretch of my imagination, a domesticated deity - and so I refuse to accept the more comfortable-to-me premise that He never works in those more mystical ways.

You know that cliché?

It's the one about the glass being either half empty or half full. If you tend to see it full,  you are the classic optimist. If not, you are, as one of my friends likes to say, an Eeyore.


from everystockphoto.com

I started thinking about it because M&M had asked for some water, so I got her some. She took a few sips and sat it on the floor beside us on the couch. Then I promptly knocked it over... as I was standing to get a towel, seriously wishing I'd only filled the glass halfway...

when the following sequence of thoughts flitted through my mind - and I shared them with little tike as they did:

• "Don't bother - we live in the desert and have a tile floor - the floor will dry...
•  "...and maybe the evaporation will cool things off a tiny bit."

That surprisingly happy sort of thought coming from me caught me off guard ~

• "That was a surprisingly glass half full thought from one who, late at night and in a sleep deprived state, ALWAYS considers the glass half empty." (If you have any doubt about that reality, ask my husband.)
• "I wonder why I tend to see half full glasses in the daylight and kick over my half empty glasses in the dark?"
• "Can a glass really be half empty?"
• "Scientifically? Only in a vacuum because the part that doesn't contain water (or some other liquidish type thing) is full of air."
• "Air is even more urgent for life than water... both are necessary, but the absence of air? That is certain death in a very short time."
• "When God only provides a half glass of water, He's also gifting a glass half full of air."

And that thought, in the wee hours of the morning, was, well, almost revolutionary... if by God's grace I choose to keep seeing that perspective, even when I can't see it...

Reading her blog post today reminded me of all that... I'm glad... and I wanted to share...  

Wordless Wednesday - Another Old Bday Photo Post - Jonathan's #7 - Finally old enough to enjoy reading his cards for himself!

~ Afraid ~

We regularly have visitors in the house at night...

Crickets crawl out of who knows where and run rampant all over the house. Thankfully, their singing doesn't seem to disturb anyone's sleep because they get really loud.

For 9 months now, there always seems to be one living between the pantry closet and the kitchen counter - no way for me to get to him for a catch and release rescue - and he likes to keep me company when I'm cooking or baking early in the morning, before the rest of the house wakes up. Most of the time.... As I busy around in the kitchen he chirps and sings - unless I turn on the KitchenAid. Then he grows silent and resentful and may not chatter anymore until the next day.

At first, I thought they were crawling up from the sink and shower drains - but even when I cover them, they still show up.

Their favorite hang out seems to be the master bathroom, right off our bedroom. It is not unusual to see 10 to 15 of the little and not so little buggers running around if you make a bathroom trip at night and boy do they start chirping if you disturb their antics by flipping on the light.

Our M&M cracks me up, though, when it comes to dealing with these critters.

Someone, somewhere, told her not to mess with those crickets because if you do and they get irritated, they'll bite. Now, I've not done any research to find out who told her that or if it is actually true (I do try to avoid stepping on them, but more because that would just be gross and not because I'm worried about getting bitten), but what cracks me up is her reaction.

If she needs to make a bathroom trip during the night (and she frequently does) she begs me NOT to turn the light on. She doesn't want to know if they are there... she'd rather not see ANYTHING and  assume there's no danger or problem instead of allowing the light show her where potential danger lies so she can avoid, escape or rid her world of it (with a wad of tp and a quick flush).

It is easy to chalk that up to childhood immaturity...

So what, then, do we do with the truth of the following quote?

I'm praying the Lord shows me those areas where I've been choosing to stumble around blindly in the dark because I'm afraid of what I just might see if I flip on the light.