Musings by Melissa

Someone once told me that on every 5th anniversary, we should have a family portrait done.  I thought that was wonderful advice, but too bad it didn’t come along early in our marriage so we could have heeded it.  So, when I see young people get married, I always tell them.

We’ve never had a family portrait done.  It’s something that I’d really like to have done, but where to turn?  Because it’s not an every day occurance, we’d like to go with someone who will do a good job at capturing our family’s “dynamic.”  (Whatever that dynamic might be!)

I’ve spent some time browsing through different websites.  Although that’s difficult because then I’ll find a good Naples photographer who is over a thousand miles away.  Hmmm… that doesn’t help me too much. 

So, that’s one of my goals for this fall.  To have a family portrait taken.  Again, if anyone knows someone in the West Michigan area who does a good job, please let me know!  Thanks!

Ah, usually about this time each year I spend some time trying to figure out what we’re going to do for Christmas gifts for the kids.  That’s not an easy task, since they have everything they want (except for flying lessons and a horse!).  The last couple years we have given each of our children one main gift, with the traditional filler stuff for their stockings.  (We fill those with tic-tacs, raisins, juice boxes, oranges, etc.) 

Typically the main gift is something that either my husband or myself has made.  Gifts in the past have included afghans, quilts, shelves, and a wooden pencil box.

The money we “save” by not buying our kids a million things (that they don’t need) is put toward a family vacation.  That way Wayne and I can enjoy it as well.  It doesn’t break within a hour of opening it.  It fits perfectly.  You get the idea.

Well, I’m stumped for this year.  I really don’t have any ideas for any of our kids.  The typical stuff–  like playstation 3, hip clothes, or Wii– just isn’t stuff that fit with our philosophy of life.

And so, I’m left sitting here.  Wondering what I’ll come up with for this year.  If anyone has any suggestions, I’d love to hear them!

Something I’m really looking forward to this year is our church’s annual “Family Camp.”  I love spending time with my friends and while they play games, I enjoy having more fun with the kids!  (Guess I’m just a big kid at heart!)

The kids and I often go on nature hikes and scavenger hunts, spend time canoeing, hiking, swimming, or water ballooning, or whatever else might come to mind!  We love hiking down to the cold spring and seeing who can keep their feet in the ice-cold water the longest.  I never win, much to their amusement!  Or we’ll find the biggest hill and roll down it.  (However, due to my recent ankle surgery and the height of that hill, I doubt I’ll be participating in that activity this year!)

Believe it or not, camping season starts in February.  That’s when one of my good friends and I meet up at about 5:30 in the cold darkness of a Michigan winter to wait in line to reserve all the sites for our church.  There’s always a line of people who seem to celebrate this rite of passage.  Who look forward to the coming summer’s heat and the promise of all the fun activities that will bring.  Hot drinks, donuts, and tales of camping through power outtages abound.  Who’d have guessed that so many people could have so much fun waiting in line to reserve their summer spots at the county’s rv parks?

So, what do I enjoy most about “Family Camp?”  Well, I enjoy all the parents watching out for each other’s kids.  What a blessing to not have to have “eagle eyes” all weekend, knowing they’re safe at the beach with other friends.  I enjoy sharing meals with friends all weekend… the cooking, the fellowship, and the cleanup.  Much more fun when shared!  I enjoy the Christian fellowship.  The common bond of Jesus Christ is a tremendous blessing!

And so, come the very end of August, you’ll find us loading up our stuff and treking out to one of the local parks for a bit of R&R.  And then in February, you’ll find me donning a closet full of warm clothes to brave the elements so we can do it all over again next year!

I haven’t updated my blog in awhile.  I’ve been too busy getting things ready for my ankle surgery.  I’ve got extra meals in the freezer, cabinets a bit more organized than normal, and that type of thing.  But now that I’m flat on my back fo a few days, we’ll see how long the organized cabinets last!  ~smile~

Well, the podiatrist took one look at my x-rays and knew immediately what my problem was.  When I fell over a year ago, I chipped my ankle bone.

Yesterday morning, he removed the chip, which turned out to be as big as his thumbnail!, and then he reattached the ligaments to the remaining ankle bone.  Surgery itself went well, although yesterday afternoon I was in tremendous pain due to the wrap being too tight to accomodate the swelling.  After removing the wrap, the pain was immediately gone.  Praise the Lord!

So, now I’m laying on the couch until the swelling stops.  ~sigh~  I’m not a good person for being immobile.  It’s a good thing I have some pain because I’m more content to be still when I’m hurting.

I have a follow-up appointment with the podiatrist on Thursday.  Hopefully by then the swelling will be over, as well as most of the pain.

The meds are making me loopy.  I hate that feeling.  I find myself just drifting in and out of sleep.  Zzzzz….

But in the meantime, I can’t do a whole lot.  It’s hard to do anything while laying on my back!  Even reading is difficult.  Surfing the web is relatively easy though, thanks to my laptop!  So, I think I’ll spend part of the next few days researching travel deals.  After six weeks of laying around, I’ll be more than ready for a nice vacation!  Of course, I don’t think I’ll really need to relax on that vacation!  ~smile~

But until then…  Zzzzzzzz…

My dear husband’s birthday is coming up.  It’s a week or so away, and I’m still left wondering what to get him.  Something practical?  Something frivolous?  Something special? 

In years gone by we’ve gotten each other some pretty odd things.  Since our birthdays are only a week apart, we’ll often get something for both of us.  Like the year we got new brakes (or was it a new engine?). 

He likes to golf, so maybe some golf training aids, but I don’t know that he’d use them.  He’s planning a fishing trip to Canada this fall, so maybe money toward his passport.  (Gotta love those new laws!) 

I’ve got a week to come up with something original.  Better put on my thinking cap!

My oldest son has always wanted to learn how to fly.  He’s now twelve, and he’s looking into various flight schools.  However, they are a tad out of our budget.  He’s got quite a bit in savings already.  In fact, he’s got about half of what he’ll need.  But that still leaves him short.

So, he decided to start a newsletter to raise money toward flight school.  He’s put a lot of time and effort into it, and I’m rather proud of him.  He sent out the first edition today.  He’s hoping that since he’s never asked anyone to buy a candy bar, wrapping paper, or submarine sandwich from him, that people will be willing to exchange $12 for a year’s subscription to his newsletter.

He’s learned a lot by putting this first edition together.  He’s learned about page layout, design, color, size and font of typeface, grammar, punctuation, etc.  (Personally, it’s an excellent way for him to do “writing” without even thinking about it.  But that’s just this ol’ homeschooling mom’s 2-cents!)

Anyway, if you’re interested in seeing his first edition, let me know, and I’ll get you a copy.

Tomorrow’s the big day.  The day I go to the podiatrist to see about this bum ankle.  I have severely injured it three times; the last time was over a year ago, but it’s still giving me problems.  I’m anxious to get it healed and resume what once were normal activities.  I miss going for bike rides with my kids and swimming (as opposed to wading). 

So, we’ll see what tomorrow holds.  I honestly have no idea what the doctor is going to tell me.  Perhaps he’ll have me do some physical therapy or exercise it on a treadmill.  However, I much prefer to do my walking outside.  Unless of course, it’s raining or it’s the height of mosquito season!

I recently read “A Cry from the Streets: Rescuing Brazil’s Forgotten Children” by Jeannette Lukasse.  This book follows Jeannette and her husband, Johan, as they meet, marry, and follow God’s plan for their lives.

God’s plan for them involves working with the street children in Belo Horizonte, Brazil.

This book was a tremendous eye-opener to me as to the needs of the children in Brazil.  Many of these children were sent out of their homes at the age of three to start earning money for the family.  They soon learned, even at that age, that they were better off keeping the money, not returning home, and living on the streets.  These kids are often abused by their parents, by the police, and by adults who use them for sex in exchange for a meal.

I was also shocked by how quickly these street children will turn on each other.  Life is cheap for them.  They don’t even have any qualms about torturing infants.

And yet these children need the Lord.

Enter Johan and Jeannette Lukasse, missionaries with YWAM.  They have worked for many years with these kids, and God has lead them to open different houses in Brazil to meet the various needs of the children.  They opened a house for boys and one for girls.  There is a house for kids with AIDS and a house for pregnant mothers.  They also have a house that ministers to kids with disabilities.

The story of how God brought them from the Netherlands to the heart of one of Brazil’s biggest slums is incredible.  God definitely takes care of His own!  When finances were needed to move forward and purchase the next house, He always provided their needs.

Reading the stories of some of the kids they have helped just breaks my heart.  Many of the kids have gone on to do mission work themselves.  PTL!

I enjoyed this book because it really opened my eyes to the plight of street kids, not only in Brazil, but also in India, Africa, and other parts of the world.  These kids definitely need our prayers.

Update:  ~sigh~  Due to circumstances beyond our control, Kristie and I were unable to even attempt finding “The Journal.”  We were so ready for it, that it was quite a bit disappointment not to be able to search for it.  The cache owner emailed me a half hour before we were to leave and told me that due to flooding and the prediction of bad weather, the park where “The Journal” resides is currently closed.  ~sigh~  But, at least we found out before we left. 

We decided that we still wanted to get away.  We had planned on it, and we figured if the weather got really bad, we could always stay in the hotel and read Lipofuze reviews!  ~grin~

So, we changed our direction and headed east.  We ended up in Flint and cached our way through about 17 counties.   We saw some beautiful countryside, read some incredible stories, and enjoyed a few ice cream cones along the way!  It was a great two days away, but now we have to plan another attack on “The Journal!”

There are times when I really wonder if customer service is a lost art.  Take, for example, my experience the other day.  I needed my hair cut.  I’m not fanatical about my hair.  After all, it’s just hair.  It will grow back.  The gal at the salon asked me how I wanted it cut, and I told her, but she didn’t listen.  First she only cut a half inch off, and I had asked her to cut off at least 4-5 inches.  So, I corrected her on that.  Then I asked her to make it bob under a bit.  (I’m not a hair-cutter, but I have had my hair cut that way with a special thing, and it makes it curl naturally.)  But again, she didn’t listen.  She just cut it like Alicia would cut it.  She was too busy trying to sell me stuff… heat protector for when I use a hair dryer (I rarely use one), all sorts of different conditioners, etc.  At least she didn’t try to sell me on hair loss treatment!

So, if you work in customer service, take a minute to listen to what your customers are saying.  Needless to say, I won’t be going back to that gal for my next haircut!