laundry – *love* ??

Is it possible that laundry can be interesting?

Yes…

…but ONLY when it is hanging on someone eles’s line!!!!

 

International wash load study:

 

Dubrovnik, Croatia 2012

 

 

Granada, Spain 2008

Dubrovnik, Croatia 2012

Nueva Esperanza, Ecuador 2011

Dubrovnik, Croatia 2012

I plan to frame a couple of these for my laundry room as a reminder that laundry can be interesting!  Although at the moment, I really just need to drag myself in there and do a couple of loads!!

Job 29:14-17

 

you say it’s your birthday…

Today is Our Girl’s birthday.  I was really hoping that we would get news today, on her birthday, that the judge gave his official ruling, but no news…at.  all.  Blick!  Have I mentioned how this waiting thing is torture?  And it’s not just like we are waiting for a day on the calendar to arrive; we don’t even know when that day will be.  We could be able to travel in July, but it may be September until we get to squeeze our girl.  Next year, Baby Girl, we’ll celebrate your birthday together!  Just you wait…  And we wait now for the judge to rule that you are ours, something we already feel in our hearts to be true.  I wish we had a photo of Baby Girl on her 4th birthday, just like we have of her brothers and sis:

Happy birthday Baby Girl! and Happy Mother’s Day to you!

Change Who Waits Rally | Richmond, VA

In Virginia, there are hundreds of children in the foster care system who have been legally freed for adoption.  Some of them have been waiting for years.  Some of them are older kids who have been through a lot, and now they need a safe place to call home.  A place where they can be themselves and know that they are loved.  They need a family.  This Saturday there is a rally in Richmond to Change Who Waits.  The goal is to recruit so many families in Virginia that the waiting lists are not for the children waiting for a family, but for the families who want to open their homes and lives to include a child who needs them.  The rally this Saturday is a time to learn about the need and how you can help.  Speakers will include foster parents, adoptive parents, and kids who have been in the system for years.  Our small group at our church has an orphan care mission.  A couple of weeks ago, we had the pleasure to hear three young adults speak about their experiences in the foster care system here in our area.  I don’t think I can articulate that the inspiration these young people were.  Among the many things that struck me while I listened to them was how much they wanted to reinforce the idea that they were not Foster Kids, they were just kids.  Kids are kids, and they all seek love and acceptance.  A couple of folks from our small group are helping organize this event, and one is even on the list to speak!  We’ll be there, and I can’t wait!  Join us for lunch afterward too if you can!

Friends, these are real kids who are in real need!  Come on Saturday to see how you can help change who waits!

I’ve been looking so long at these pictures of you…

One evening last week I wasn’t even really paying attention to my email.  Neighborhood kiddos were tromping in and out of the house, the ice cream truck was making its agonizingly slow approach to our cul de sac, the grill was heating up, the cat was streaking through the house trying to find a quiet space away from the loud, running littles, Words with Friends was ringing at me to play my word against my nephew, my biggest little was looking for paper on which to print pictures of diamonds for his science project.  I just happened to walk past my laptop and tapped the check mail button.  The happiest BING I had heard in a while: new photos of our girl!  And news that one more step had been made, getting us closer to bringing her home!  The judge has heard our case and should give his official ruling in a couple of weeks.  Here’s a peek for you, little hands I can’t wait to hold.

We were debating whether it was actually easier to get new photos.  It might just make it all the more harder to wait.  She has grown so much since the original photos were taken last November.  Her skirt that was covering her feet is now a couple of inches off the ground.  Her hair has grown and they have put some sort of extensions in.  I imagine they are the clip in kind, but obviously I am not sure.  It’s almost like they dressed her up for her photos.  They were taken three days before we received them.  I wonder if she was told that she is being adopted…  It is pretty surreal knowing that the judge could rule on our case and we may not even hear about it until afterward.  Our Rolling Thunder/Big Red has declared that she does not want to celebrate her birthday until her sister is home.  Hopefully we won’t have to find out if she’s serious.

Do you know the song from which the title of this post comes?  Anyone?  Last summer my dad called and told me that he was flipping through channels.  He has come across a Cure concert.  I turned on the TV.  Ummm…who is that old guy on stage?  That’s not funny.

Happy Wednesday!

Scenic Sunday {Olympia, Greece}

The 2nd installment of our tour of the Mediterranean:D

Our first port:  Katakalon (Ka-TAK-a-lon), Greece.

Katakalon is a true a fishing village about 500 people on the Ionian Sea.  They do roll out the red carpet for tourists though!  Many of the shops on the small main streets are open only when the cruise ships are in port.  This is a fertile area with fairly high rainfall. Olives, oranges, tomatoes, corn and watermelon are grown in large fields and small plots.

About 20 miles from Katakalon are the “ruins” of Olympia.  Beginning shortly after 1,000 BC free male Greeks would gather for a foot race from Kronos Hill to honor Zeus.  These races developed into a 5 day series of games that were held every four years in July.  Some women were allowed to attend the festivities but only on the first and fifth days (the athletes had taken to competing in the buff).

 

The winners were treated like royalty and were often given houses and relieved of paying taxes.  Anyone caught cheating was, among other things, forced to pay for one of the statues of Zeus that lined the terraced entrance to the stadium.  The statues (each with the offense and the offender’s name inscribed) stood as a reminder to the contestants entering the running stadium.

 

The Palaestra:

 

The games were abolished by the Roman Emperor Theodosius in 392 AD due to the pagan roots.  Over time the site was completely buried.  In 1766 the exact location was determined and excavation of ancient Olympia began in 1829.  In 1896 the first modern Olympic Games were held in Athens.

 

The Ionian Philippeion Memorial:

 

Acts 20:1-3

F a c e b o o k