It's beginning to look a lot like my house!

I guess I am using my blog these days to keep folks informed of my "settling in" process. In fact, that is really much of what is happening in my life right now. You would think that after two months everything would be tip-top, but you have to remember that I was starting everything from scratch. Finally at two months I am beginning to feel like I am making some progress beyond the basics. A friend asked me today if I had finally "arrived" in Brazil and I had to say a great big "YES". There are days that I forget I ever left Brazil for five years to live in Canada. I still have dreams about people (and my cat Sadik) in Ottawa, but for the most part I feel very much at home. I feel like I have been running an obstacle course since March, and finally I am at the finish line. It's a good feeling.
Perhaps I am feeling much that way because today our books arrived! What an exciting day. It's like a big piece of who we are came back to live with us. 24 boxes of books and they all arrive intact. Right now they sit just as you see them in the photo. (By the way, the bed is new too - it came today so that our guests have a bed to sleep in). I took out tapes and videos and CD's and some of my books, but have left the rest for João to have his own little reunion. (He is at a meeting tonight - in fact he is at a lot of meetings these days!) Every now and then I pulled out a surprise from the box- like his favourite hat from Ottawa. I hated that hat and he loved it (because it was so warm), so he brought it as his own little warm fuzzy from Canada.
Since you haven't seen my living room after I had a few more pieces added to it, I am including a new photo of this room. I just love my living room. I still want to do a lot with it, but I finally feel like it is much more inviting. I especially love the curtains and the potted palm. João is voting for a new rug first and I want some foot stools. What's your vote? The art work for the walls, will be slower as I look for just the right thing, but don't you just love the tulip painting? A special friend of mine had this on her wall and I fell in love with it. A special friend of hers had painted it. They both agreed it needed to come to my house to live, so I bought it from her. It is just perfect in my room and they are tulips - my Ottawa connection. João wants me to look for a big tulip sculpture. Wonder where I would find one?
As I said, things really are feeling more and more like home here. That's a great feeling. And I am also feeling more and more at home in the church. Since I don't spend 24 hours a day there, it will take a little longer than my house, but it's coming. God has answered so many prayers, that there can be no doubt that this is THE place for us! It may not be a bed of roses, but it is certainly a row of tulips.

Prayer Hammock

Why is it so difficult for me to update my blog these days? I guess I am just lacking discipline. Hard to say. I am having computer problems... it freezes about 20 times a day and I am frustrated by that. I am replacing the power pack and hope to resolve the problem. Yesterday I took it all apart. Then went out and bought a new power pack. I got it all screwed in, when I went to plug it in... discovered it was a 24 pin model and mine is a 20 pin model. Moral of the story... check out all details before buying a part for your computer! So I had to unscrew it all, reinstall the old unit and plug everything back in. Now guess what? I am actually working for one hour without a freeze up. Miracle! Could it be that things just weren't plugged in properly? Wait and see, right?
I am also trying to not spend so much time on the computer. I think it is not a healthy life style to be so sedentary. In addition I noticed since I installed my computer, I am neglecting other aspects of my life (like cleaning the house). Gotta admit, it's more fun reading e-mail than mopping the floor.
One thing I am enjoying is my hammock. It is just off my bedroom. The afternoon sun hits hard, but the mornings are just perfect. I take my Bible and my tea and lose track of time. I jokingly call it my prayer hammock. Sometimes it is my sleep hammock, however! It is a blessing for me to slow down the pace and just read the Bible and pray. I confess I don't make it there every day, but that is my goal. And look at my view! Isn't it an inspiration? Yes the photo is cockeyed. That's because I was swinging in the hammock. I wanted you to get the sensation of movement I feel.
I am still working on getting the apartment to feel more homey. Gradually things are falling into the place. I have hung a few pictures and that really helps. The window treatments arrive this week and that will be another step. I got a few pillows for my couch. It's those little things that make a difference. It actually feels like home right now. I just want it to look that way.
I enjoyed my little visit with you. Hope you also find time for your "prayer hammock" wherever that might be in your little corner of the world.

Red Sails in the Sunset

Yesterday, at least to my way of thinking, it was too hot. I think it was around 88 and it was icky sticky. My head throbbed and I felt like lying on the bed all day. I knew there was a cold front coming in and when that happens the weather gets kind of unbearable - oppressive. But in compensation, look at the glorious sunset. I was waiting for a delivery of my computer desk, and just happened to glance out the window and there it was. I grabbed the camera and clicked away.
A few minutes later the delivery was made and now I have a very nice computer desk. No computer, but a desk. Today, I should receive delivery of my monitor and cabinent and can remount my computer that I brought in pieces in my suitcase. Wish me luck... Actually I may call for help, as there are a lot of pieces and I would hate to blow up my whole building:).
Today the climate made a drastic change and I am a happy camper. It's about 70 today. This morning I was in my "prayer" hammock with my eyes closed when I felt wetness. It was windy and misty and the cloud had moved in around me. I was all bundled up in a blanket and so comfy I hated to move. When I did, what a present God gave to me. I looked up and saw the most fantastic perfect rainbow over the mountains. I really couldn't capture it's shimmery glory, but I gave it a "shot".
Living, as we do, overlooking the mountains I can't help but think of Psalm 121 over and over again: "I lift up my eyes to the hills-- where does my help come from? My help comes from the LORD, the Maker of heaven and earth. He will not let your foot slip-- he who watches over you will not slumber;indeed, he who watches over Israel will neither slumber nor sleep. The LORD watches over you-- the LORD is your shade at your right hand."
In this crazy city we live in, it's easy to become a prisoner of the violence and live in fear. I am so grateful that my well being doesn't depend on where I go and what I do. I am glad to report that I do not live in a climate of fear and anxiety. I continue to live joyfully in the Lord. Even when this person or that person tries to pull me into a well of fear, into a dark place where people speak badly of others, even when some would draw me into conflicts and others would speak from a critical spirit, I refuse to fear evil! I am thankful to my God who watches my every step. And I am grateful for my home that is an oasis and refuge from the tumult.
...And as a footnote, I can't help but remembering two years when my sister was going in for cancer surgery and I was solemnly trying to fulfil a pastoral role by praying and reading a Scripture. As I read this Psalm, I manage to say "I will lift up my eyes to my heels..." Needless to say the entire family exploded in laughter - so much so the nursing staff came to check us out. As good can come out of anything, so it did in that case. Instead of being nervous and anxious, we all had a good laugh and a good time with this needed comic relief.