First Impressions

As I write to you this morning, I am in New Mexico, drinking a Banana Nut Cappuccino - Mmmmmm!  So far, America has had quite an impression on Martha and Ian.  It's so much fun to see things through their eyes!
I am grateful for each of you who have been praying for our trip here.  The kids did so great with all the flying, tight connections, and just sitting and waiting in the airports!  Ian got a little upset right before one of our flights.  They had us sit and wait so they could redo our boarding passes (and put us sitting all together instead of all spread out!).  Ian started crying as he watched the other people getting on the plane ahead of us - he was SURE the plane would leave without us!  It didn't and God gave us a special blessing - a man and a lady offered to switch places with Martha, Phebe, and me so we could sit right behind Matt and Ian!  What a hug from Jesus that was!
When we got into the Atlanta airport, the kids saw something they had never seen before.  They tugged on my hand, and started pointing, saying, "Mommy, what is THAT?!"  I looked to see what they were pointing at and began laughing.  It was a drinking fountain.  We don't have drinking fountains in Peru, and if you do find one, you can't drink the water!  I took them over to the "water fall" as Ian calls it, showed them how it worked, and let them try it.  They loved it!!  Now we can't go past any drinking fountain without trying it out!  Fortunately, I remembered to tell them not to put their mouths on the spout!  Unfortunately, I didn't think about telling Ian not to lick the water out of the basin!  Oops!
So we have been here almost a week.  It is amazing to Ian and Martha that Mommy knows how to drive!  They have seen Matt drive - he has his Peruvian driver's license.  They didn't know that Mommy could drive too!  Martha asked me yesterday with a tone of awe in her voice, "Are you going to drive today, Mommy?"
I'm sure we'll have many more stories to add to our storehouse of memories before we head back to Peru!  I think about how delightful it is to watch my children make these discoveries - things that I have known, but to them it is all new and exciting!  It makes the "hum-drum" things exciting to me once more!  Then I think about our Heavenly Father and how delightful it is to Him when He sees His children making spiritual discoveries!  What a joy it is to serve the Lord as a family!

Just a Moment!

Aahh!  Quiet...beautiful silence.....can you hear it?  The only sounds I hear at this moment is the heater - yes, you read it correctly, the HEATER, the noise of the buses going by, and the sound of the tea kettle telling my water is ready for a cup of delicious Monaco coffee in my favorite coffee cup!

And now I know you are wondering a couple of things at least.  First you are still probably hung up on the mention of the heater.  Yes, it is cold outside....well, okay it is all a matter of perspective. I realize  61°F  is really not THAT cold!  But after living in the Philippines for 7 and 1/2 years, 61° might as well be 31°!  When you put it in Celsius - it sounds even worse - 16°C!!

Next you are probably wondering how in the world am I experiencing such blissful quietness and solitude?  Nope, it is NOT 4a.m.!  The kids have gone to bed early (not much nap today, so they - and Mommy - were ready!), and Matt is down playing "futbol" (soccer) with the guys!

Do you ever have days when you wish you had "just a moment"?  I find myself repeating those very words every day.  My response to Martha calling for help from the bathroom?  "Just a Moment" - as I hurriedly dry my hands from washing dishes!  My answer to Ian asking for "a snack, Mommy, a snack"?  "Just a moment" - as I come in from switching laundry loads that I just remembered!  My answer to my Dear Honey needing help with a project?  "Just a moment" - as I am finishing up lunch preparations!  Sometimes I find myself needing my own "Just a Moment"!  Then God sweetly gives me that "moment" - like right now.  God has given me this moment to share my cup of coffee and some of my thoughts with you.  How thankful I am for these moments.....like when the power goes out while I'm catching up on my blog....!

...Power's back on!  When I think about that phrase "Just a Moment" I find myself wondering just how many moments of my day do I actually share with my Saviour?  Yes, I have my quiet time every morning, but do I really let Him share every moment of my day with Him - or do I say, "Just a Moment, Lord...!"  How thankful I am to realize that my Lord never tells me, "Just a Moment, Sarie....I have to finish the dishes first!"  How grateful I am when I think of all the "moments" God has given to me!

Here's a picture of one of my favorite moments!  This was at the "Parque de las Aguas" (Park of the Water Fountains).  Matt and I got to go there for our anniversary! (Power's out again...my clothes in the dryer will NEVER get dry...but that a "Life on the Mission Field Moment"!)

Have a beautiful week thanking our Saviour for all those "Just a Moments" He gives you this week!