Each day we learn something new...

After almost 5 weeks of being together as a family you tend to notice things. You notice when people are tired. You know when they didn't hear you, and when they are just not listening. But most of all you notice all of the ways you can make someone's day better.

This week the kids have been busy and I have had a little more time to myself. So I figured out how to hang a hammock between two trees and enjoy the 90* with a good book. I have helped to make scrambled eggs, pancakes, sausage, and watermelon for 200 kids. I have applied for a full time job and renewed my CPR class. I also have had the chance to sit down with friends. Some that I have know for almost 20 years, others for a few years less. We have had the chance to catch up outside of facebook and social media. We have had the chance to be honest with one another and ourselves. We ask questions and listen. We had the chance to continue relationships that with the grace of God might just span a lifetime. God has blessed us with relationships and people to be in community with and oh the joys to celebrate together.

Both kids have enjoyed time at Fine Arts Academy in Carmel, IN, I can't say enough good things about the program. They have learned how to use their gifts of art, music, and movement to tell others about Easter. And I am impressed. Not only do they learn about God, but they also become better vocalist, musicians, and have a chance to do many other types of fine art as well. Tomorrow night at 7pm EST they will showcase talents and if you would like to catch it you can at Carmellutheran.org it will be live streamed. You will see choirs, instruments, comics, dance, drama, and the list goes on.

God constantly gives us opportunities to be in relationships with others and to learn new things. This week I learned the art of hanging a hammock, making eggs for 200, and taking note of small things to celebrate in our lives.

More stars..

Jacob could not stop talking about the stars that he saw. For him, it had become a highlight of the trip. The 20 minutes that he was alone with Mom and Dad looking at something, asking questions, and trying to figure out what he knew about the solar system and what he saw in front of him. Thinking back to my first time as an adult, really fascinated with the stars, I was 23. Newly married and just taken to visit Arcadia, MI. My first time there. My first experience with pitch black, no lights, except the ones in the night sky. Marc could not believe I have never seen a shooting star and he wanted to share that experience with me. Well that night in October, there were no shooting stars to be found. But I did see the night sky as never before remembered. I have had a few more opportunities to see the sky so clearly since then. Each time I am able to take in and remember more of the stars. Each time no less spectacular than the time before. 

Monday and Tuesday night we stayed in San Blas, PA. This is a part of the country that is run, and controlled by the Kuna. While living here Marc and I never made it to Kuna Yala, the Kuna homeland, however we met and worked with a lot of Kuna Indianas who always said we should go. So with a safe place to leave our extra bags we packed just enough clothes for 2 days and set off. Here there was no running water, there was no electricity outside of solar power. In many ways, we were going camping. All necessary supplies were carried in and all trash carried out. We brought our own water, snorkeling gear, and adventurous spirit.  The kids did the same.  At 6:45 the sun set and the stars came out again. This time Mikayla saw. She couldn't understand how there were so many stars, and how they were so bright.  There were not this many in Chicago. There were so many they couldn't be counted. The Milky Way reminded us of clouds in the sky. Stars so close together as to not be separated by the naked eye.  There was a quick reflection on what God has created, and how we experience it. Then off to bed. It had been a full day of new adventures and everyone was done. It was 8pm and very dark.

San Blas was an experience I wouldn't trade. It was a spot on the earth that is mostly untouched by the worldly nature of goods. People do things simply with the tools that they have. Boards nailed together are separated by axes. People travel from island to island by canoe that they have made by hand. Paddles are also hand made. Kids are running in and out of the ocean to stay cool. Practicing life skills, spear fishing and crabbing, as they play.  Many of the kids do not know Spanish. They learn it as the enter school. So at age 6-7 the kids know about the same amount of Spanish as our two do. Oh to see the faces. Marc remembered a little Kuna and we could ask what people's names were. The looks. Many people who visit as tourists speak very poor Spanish much less have any Kuna, the conversations started to flow and questions were asked. How do you know this? Who do you know? Why do you know and understand about our culture as you explain to your children? We were not their normal visitor.

The ocean there was full of life. Rainbow fish, puffer fish, jelly fish, pencil fish, Dory, sardines, squid, star fish, sand dollars, and so many more that I can't even begin to name. Kids learning how to stay still and watch the fish come alive under them. There was also sadness for creation. The ocean was full of plastic, bags, bottles, trash. The beauty of the creation around them was not worth cleaning up after. Every day we cleaned the beach of things that had come to shore. We picked up those things that we could reach. We saw and explained what bleached coral was, how healthy coral sounded, and what it did to keep the oceans healthy. We talked about the food chain as we saw sardines get eaten by other fish. We talked about taking care of God's creation.

We were all glad to be back to the city, and the showers. Clothes was washed and our adventure continues. We have learned much about each other on this journey and the abundant blessings that God has in store for all of us. If these are the gifts of today how great are the things to come. 

Stars

Later that night in Coranado we woke up the kids after they had fallen asleep. This would seem to go against my parenting style. But tonight was different. I had just been reminded of what the night sky looks like. The clouds had cleared and the stars, planets and Milky Way could be seen in full glory.  Coronado had lights and many people were still awake, but being on the 14th floor, they were not preventing us from seeing the last gift of the day. And God created the sun to rule the day and the stars to guide at night. The sight was magnificent. Our kids have been begging us to let the stay up late and look at the stars and moon. We have delayed this because of the consequences we all have when they don't get enough sleep. We couldn't help but wake them up to see the glory unfold in front of us.  Both kids woke and after a quick trip to the bathroom headed out to the balcony. Mikayla commented that they stars were so bright then headed back inside. We then realized that she never really woke up.(2 sec later snoring on the bed). Jacob was fascinated. We found Satern, Mars, and Venus. We saw stars that are not seen up North. We compared what was showing up on the phone app with what we saw in the sky. There were way more stars than the ones marked. All I could do was stare and marvel at the picture in front of us.

Fast forward to the morning when all Jacob could talk about was the stars and Mikayla mad because she didn't see them.  We all know she saw them. She was there. She asked questions. How many times do we do the same things? Are we blinded to the things that are right in front of us? The stars that I saw are there every night. I sit here tonight with the lights on, preventing myself and others from seeing the stars.  The comforts that I desire, have prevented me from seeing Gods gifts all around me.