Remember

I came back from a long yet very rewarding trip. Visiting family and seeing old places takes me back in time. On this trip I had the opportunity to see my two grandmas (my grandpas have passed away). Just seeeing them evoques a miryad of memories, how they loved me when I was young, what they cooked, how full of energy they were.
One of my grandmas is very lucid in her mind but her body is very crippled, she refuses medical care as she believes that being old is part of life and with it comes all the aches and pains, which she seems to accept or maybe even embrace it. My other grandma is in better shape physically speaking, but her mind is not as sharp as it was in the past.
Going home brings many emotions, many of them attached to places where important events happened in my life.
During this visit I was able to see many friends, I had gone expecting to see my extended family but God provided differents opportunities in which I was able to see people, friends with whom I had studied, even my highschool friends managed to get together for a small class reunion, after 23 years! this was definetely one of the highlights of my trip.
I was able to be in a bus that twice went close by the kindergarten I attended when I was 5 years old. We drove by the church we attended when I was very young 1-6 years old.
Just seeing places brought back many memories...Will I remember them when I get to be my grandma's age? Is that important? What memories do I care to keep alive? What memories can I "write"on my own kids minds? How have these memories shape who I am?

When I grow as old as my grandmas I want to continue to remember my kindergarden teacher, I want to remember all of my loved ones. It will be fine with my soul if I forget the painful episodes or the wrongs done to me. I want to remember all of the faithful acts of God in my life, I want to remember that Love is what counts and that when one loves and is loved life is a joyful journey.

When your friend is hurting...you hurt too.

Every time I encounter a person in my life who is hurting either because of poor decisions made in the past or because of someone inflicting pain on them or because simply life brings circumstances that are painful, my heart is troubled I think and think of ways I can somehow help alleviate some of that pain
Tonight I discovered that sometimes a friend just needs to get out of her environment, to focus on something else to hear of others needs and problems to know that in this journey called life we can only depend on ONE to never betray our trust, to never leave us nor forsake us, to love us to the end.
Tonight, I also realized that when my friend hurts He hurts too and that He is ever present to offer to her what I can not, His healing presence.

So tonight I bring my friend to the Healer who through his wounds can make my friend whole. Thank you Jesus.

.Friends are coming over...

Yesterday my oldest son announce that his best friends, the Liptaks boys, were coming to visit us in SD. next semmer as soon as school ended!
The excitement of the moment was amazing as we sat down to imagine the things they would do together.
In my heart I started wondering when I would see all my friends again, so many faces come to my mind, each with a story store in my heart each one precious and very special. People have asked me here, do you miss China? and I say yes! I miss the culture, I miss learning a new language, I miss sharing what has been entrusted to me, I miss having my kids benefit from having a longer exposure to another culture, I miss most of all all my girlfriends there. Because this was experience was such a gift from God, we have grown as a family, we have learned that He truly has great things prepared for His children.
So tonight my mind is very especially thinking about our friends in China, so many happy memories...The highlight of our time there was definitely all the wonderful people we met.

You all keep coming over and over in my mind, you will always be welcome in my heart.

Grateful for you,
Maribel

Take the help you can get when it is offered!

Two days ago after leaving my women's Bible Study, I had many things to carry to my vehicle; my purse, my bible, books. notebook, a platter of leftover fruit and a plate of leftover cookies and was watching my daughter walk next to me to make sure no incidents would occur in the parking lot as we walk towards our car. On our way not one but two different people offered to help but I said "oh no, thanks but I am OK" as we kept walking I realize my keys were in my pocket and in attempting to get them the cookies went flying all over the pavement. I was frustrated with myself for not allowing these friends help me!

As I tried to handle my embarrasement in front of my daughter I just said casually, 'I think some of the cookies can be saved" to which she replied "Mommy why did you say yo did not need any help? I was even more embarrased to relize that Andrea at four years old showed me how this behavior did not make sense. I very quickly said "Ireally thought I could handle it, but next time I will accept any help that people offer, to which she very proudly replied with an "that is a good idea mommy "

As we drove away I pondered later why I did not accept the offers for help, is it that I don't want to inconvenience anyone? is it because I am not humble to accept that at times I need help, is it because I want to be self sufficient?... I concluded that if people offer help and I need help I just need to be humble and be grateful for the kidness extended to me, for all good things come from above.

Slowly but Surely

• Hi I am finally here, I have been asked by a few of you if I had a blog or why I had not yet created a blog to keep in touch, to many of you I simply replied I had a FB account and that was how I chose to communicate with people I cared about.
• I have thought of my own blog for a long time, thanks to Susie who has an amazing blog site and then later because of Lynne whose blog entries I love reading. Finally Mark was one who "push"me to begin so please bear with me as I "play"with this new form of keeping in touch with you as I hope to share what is going on in our lives.
• I don't expect for everyone to take time to read every single entry I post but if you do take the time to read it I would love receiving your feedback and learn how you are doing.
• Well this is my first entry and I will end here for now, expect some news from us.

Thinking of you, my family, my friends both old and new,

Maribel