City Pirates

Never thought I'd see the day when pirates wore polos...

Javier, Have A Great Day!

Today is David's 21st birthday, and he's off celebrating in Samoa, where the study-abroad students stay for three weeks in a small village. So, no internet access.

When you finally see this, know that we love you and sang the birthday song across many kilometers to you, David!

p.s. --For some reason, my singing sent Murphy into a barking fit...
p.p.s.--David's also known as Javier, ever since he used that name in his high school Spanish class.

Sea of Love & Goodness

From Henri Nouwen's The Dance of Life:

"Dear Lord, today I thought of the words of Vincent van Gogh: 'It is true there is an ebb and flow, but the sea remains the sea.' You are the sea. Although I experience many ups and downs in my emotions and often feel great shifts and changes in my inner life, you remain the same. Your sameness is not the sameness of a rock, but the sameness of a faithful lover. Out of your love I came to life; by your love I am sustained; and to your love I am always called back. There are days of sadness and days of joy; there are feelings of guilt and feelings of gratitude; there are moments of failure and moments of success; but all of them are embraced by your unwavering love.

My only real temptation is to doubt in your love, to think of myself as beyond the reach of your love, to remove myself from the healing radiance of your love. To do these things is to move into the darkness of despair.

O Lord, sea of love and goodness, let me not fear too much the storms and winds of my daily life, and let me know that there is ebb and flow but that the sea remains the sea. Amen."

--found this on Joan B's blog

THE ORIGINAL Scary 'Mary Poppins' Recut Trailer

Just watched this recut SCARY version of Mary Poppins and couldn't stop cackling. My oldest daughter kept shushing me--but just watch it and see what I mean.

Listen to the Bells

If you want to hear what I wake up to every Sunday morning, go here, scroll to the very bottom, and play this MP3: "The Bells In Taizé." Church bells are one of the sounds I'll miss the most if we ever move from Germany!

The Taizé song clips and prayers are definitely worth listening to as well--click on "Behüte mich, Gott" for a beautiful German hymn, and on "Seigneur, tu gardes mon âme" for another in French.

Photo Shoot

A glass mural at the Saguaro Museum--

Silhouette at Mission San Xavier Del Bac:

Succulent plant at the Desert Museum:


A few shots from Tucson, Arizona--my mother wanted to see more of my photos. Here you are, Mom.

The Other Land Down Under

Our son David is spending his semester (Feb. to May) in New Zealand, studying biology and anthropology. The program staff and students are posting on their blog, the South Pacific Journal, about everything from blue penguins to weekend road trips. It's still summer in the "other land down under," and quite a nice break for David -- in Michigan, snow continues to pile up!

Charlie Bit My Finger

Have a Valentine's Day chuckle! These brothers are so good natured. When my kids were little, there was a lot more screaming if one sibling took a chunk out of the other's arm...

Snippets of Arizona

A few snippets from Arizona, land of spiky plants and desert rock:




Arizona has a whole different type of terrain than either Oregon, Burundi, or Germany--places where I've spent the most time.

Back in Deutschland...

Back to Germany after a wonderful two weeks with my parents. They spoiled me and I loved it!
Now I'm trying to whip the tail end of a cold...so far, I've dosed myself with zinc lozenges, vitamin C tablets, lots of fresh-squeezed orange and tangerine juice (at Mom and Dad's), echinachea, extra sleep, you name it. Any other tried-and-true cold remedies out there? I'm willing to do almost anything but blend garlic cloves and drink the concoction.

Eye of newt, and toe of frog,
Wool of bat, and tongue of dog,
Adder's fork, and blind-worm's sting,
Lizard's leg, and howlet's wing,--
For a charm of powerful trouble,
Like a hell-broth boil and bubble.

--from Macbeth, Act IV, Scene 1