Can't beat this

I know you all up north are having a warm winter, but I still don't think you can beat this! Isn't it beautiful? And this is the place where João and I dated back in 1991... nice place to go back to as we celebrated our 14th wedding anniversary. Cool, huh?
We enjoyed such a fun day as we went to the Tijuca National Forest - it is the largest urban rain forest in the world. I couldn't get over the beautiful flowers on the banana trees.
We also had the fun of seeing our favourite cutie-pie dip her toes in the ocean for the first time. As it's a long drive over to the beach, she kept saying "Beach, I want the beach", which just cracked us up considering she had never even seen the beach! Aren't you jealous? You are in the cold gray rain, and we are visiting waterfalls and beaches. Everything has it's price, doesn't it? Here she is at the shopping center, still decorated for Christmas. our precious family is leaving us today to be with their family here in Brazil, but we have so enjoyed the time together.
Now it's time to get ready for the end of the year festivities! While you north americans don't much celebrate (at least in churches) the New Year, it's a big deal here. Our worship service will begin at 10PM and end some time after midnight. Then we will have a midnight supper at church. Not too much sleep to be had for us on Sunday. But it should prove to be fun, as I hear the church is full for this service. What a switch! Empty for Christmas and full for New Years. Glad to know everyone is excited to start out the New Year at church. Mom always joked that whatever you are doing as 12:01 on the first day of the new year you will be doing the rest of the year. That's a good sign, as we will all be at church! Hope you will be in communion with God that day too.
(Couldn't resist one last image to show you what you are missing by not being in Brazil to celebrate Christmas and New Years!)

Look who's here!

Today was a red letter day as our friends from Canada arrived at the airport. It made for a very happy day to have this wonderful family here with us in Rio. I am especially happy to have my favourite three year old here! She's grown so much since I saw her in March.
Our building is a great place for kids, as there is a nice playground. I don't know which she liked the most... the playhouse or the swimming pool! She doesn't really know about beaches, so today she preferred to go back down to the playground than go to the beach. What does someone who has grown up in Canada know about Rio beaches, I ask?
I've always complained our pool is too small, but you know, it was just perfect for her! She's a little fish and had a great time in the water. Cooled us all off, as it was quite breezy. The adults were all ready to get out of the water and all shivery, but she wanted to stay. Kids are that way. She fell asleep during supper. I think the pool and fresh air wore her out. Come to think of it, I didn't have much trouble sleeping either.

A Very Merry

I suppose things got really going for me, in terms of the Christmas celebrations, two weeks ago when all the workers from our church came over to our building for a Christmas party. We had a great time. This photo is on our playground, but doesn't include everyone at the party! Things sort of picked up speed from there on out, but it was all fun. I loved having December 24th (the really big day of celebration here in Brazil), except for one thing - so many people opted not to come to church at all since they had to get ready for the Christmas dinner. I guess I wish there was a way for people to figure out how to get around this, but I don't know the answer. Maybe there is no solution. The worship services were so meaningful to me. But then I think I enjoy a good worship service more than a party anyway! That was not always the case, though.
After the Christmas eve service, we went to a friend's house and had a great time celebrating with their large extended family. Lots of fun and food. They ate early (before the traditional midnight supper), so we were able to make it home by midnight.
On Christmas day persay, we had a lot of fun as well, although everyone was tired. Marilene made a bang up punch that was so tasty and refreshing. She shared her left-overs and then I made other food. There were seven of us to eat and talk and then talk and eat! There were lots of left-overs, so didn't have to cook today. Gave me time to do other things - like get ready for Gus and Louise and Christina from Canada. I can hardly wait to see them tomorrow. It will be the first time we see people from our church in Eastview since we left in March. I made a concession and left up the Christmas tree (that I like to take down on the 26th).
Today I took João to the church (I can't remember if I mentioned that he has been in a long process of renewing his driver's license. I, however, opted for a six month temporary license that was based on my Canadian license, so I have been the chauffeur this whole month of December) and we stopped at the license bureau. Miracles of miracles - his license was ready! I am thrilled and he is too. I don't think he enjoyed my driving and I can't say as I blame him, since I hated my driving. If I never had to turn on the ignition again (here in Rio) I would be very content. I can't think of anything more stressful than dodging holes, bicycles, taxis, pedestrians and buses, all while driving 90 to nothing and hoping against hope you won't be robbed, kidnapped or shot at! Well that sounds a little dramatic and I will drive when I have to, but when I can avoid it, I will! I think I will live longer that way and maybe the people in Rio will appreciate it as well.

Sisters, sisters

Do you remember that wonderful "number" in White Christmas when the singers do the song about "sisters"? I always loved that song and would die laughing when Danny Kaye and Bing Crosby did it in drag.

Sisters, sisters
There were never such devoted sisters,
Never had to have a chaperone, no sir,
I’m there to keep my eye on her
Caring, sharing
Every little thing that we are wearing
When a certain gentleman arrived from rome
She wore the dress, and I stayed home
All kinds of weather, we stick together
The same in the rain and sun
Two different faces, but in tight places
We think and we act as one
Those who’ve seen us
Know that not a thing could come between us
Many men have tried to split us up, but no one can
Lord help the mister who comes between me and my sister
And lord help the sister, who comes between me and my man

Well here I am with my real live sisters. We are so much alike in so many ways. This photo was at our "Peggy holiday", that felt like Christmas in November. (When I was home in November). Now that it's really Christmas time and I know they will be together tomorrow I miss them and our funny family traditions. I will miss doing a jigsaw puzzle together. I will miss playing games. I will miss the vast quanities of fun Christmas food (that we actually have all been unable to consume for years with our diabetes). I will miss the heaps of wrapping paper and ribbons on the floor (that are all carefully folded to be saved for reuse) and everyone getting in the way of everyone else's cameras. I'll miss being comatose from overeating (can't do that anymore either). I'll miss the laughter and fun of being with people who have known me since I was born and love me even though they had to change my diapers and hang around with a baby sister when they'd rather be with their friends. There is definitely something to be said for that sister bond.
Our last "real" Christmas altogether was at my house in Canada in 2003. I have so many wonderful memories of that time together. And the baby sister actually got to cook Christmas dinner and no one starved to death or got sick! Time marches on and here I am far away again. And although I will not be spending Christmas with any family, I am so grateful for the memory of so many Christmas' together and happy that I have a family to miss! Most of all I am grateful that my real celebration will be in my heart as I say "Thank you, God for Jesus, who fills up all the holes in my heart".

Why me?

Very often when we face a crisis, we ask, why me? Well I sort of want to turn that around and ask, upon facing very good news, why me?
Some weeks ago I was facing a biopsy for a small lump in my right breast. Although I and my many doctors (referring physician, mastologist, and two radiologists) all believed it to be benign, there is always that tiny doubt that leads you to think, what if??? So as I waited the week for the results, I played out every possibility. I never lost a minute of sleep or really worried... I just tried to figure out what I would do if...
As I prayed, I never asked God for a negative biopsy. Not for lack of faith. I do believe in the sovereignity of God, so I asked that within his will, that all that would happen would be for his glory. I asked for joy and victory, "come what may". God honoured that prayer. When the doctor handed my pathology report that said all was well (negative for cancer), I breathed a sigh of relief, a prayer of thanksgiving and cry of joy!
Yet I had to ask why me? Why did my sister among thousands of other women receive a positive for cancer? I don't know. And in the long run, you know, it doesn't matter, does it? On this side of eternity we will not know the answer to a lot of our whys. What does matter, however, is what we do with the news and how we deal with it. We have to ask the right questions. The why "mes" don't really get us anywhere at all.
I chose not to share with anyone, except João and God, this journey. Basically I am a private person about things that are near and dear. And I would still chose to be silent about this, except that I think it will be more God honouring to publically give thanks and give him the glory for this. If the news had been "bad", I would have shared that, and I believe I would have chosen to do so by giving God the glory for that as well. God is too wise to be mistaken and God is too good to be unkind.
I am so grateful to have gone through this experience to be reminded and relearn total reliance on God in any situation. I am glad to be able to repeat the truth of Paul's words "My God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus." (Philippians 4.19)
I have also learned to stop asking so many questions and begin to submit to God's timing and action in my life. At least about the big things. Now if I can learn to deal with the small things! I do think the smaller things are often harder for me because I turn over the big stuff and kind keep the little things for me to worry about. I don't do nearly as well as God does.
Yesterday I had a very simple procedure, a video endoscope, and yet I am totally traumatized by the whole event. I was calm, cool and unworried about the thing, expecting it to be a piece of cake. I confess I never even talked to God about it. I figured it would be nothing. Maybe my doctor doesn't believe in patient education or information, but I was totally unprepared for what happened - including absolutely excruciating pain as the IV was injected (especially since he didn't even tell me he was going to do that or what he was injecting) and being totally awake and alert throughout the procedure.
You see a procedure that should have been nothing turned out to be a big bugaboo for me. Why me? Don't know and don't care. I am reminded to give over the small AND big stuff. And so I can give thanks for this as well. I learned a lot. Don't care to repeat the dose, but even as I pray for God to help me to forget the trauma, I ask him to help me to remember the lesson. It really is "all good" when we are together with God in all things. Works out nicely, don't you think? And that's the real answer to "why me?"- because it will all work out perfectly in end when we leave it in God's hands.

Top Ten Reasons You Know It is Summer in Rio

You know how David Letterman has his "Top Ten" lists? Well now Peggy has hers. These are the top ten reasons you know summer is arriving in Rio

10. You put ice cream in your coffee (who wants anything hot?).
9. You get up at 3AM to take a shower (just to cool down).
8. You do three loads of laundry a day (because you take 3 showers a day and change your clothes).
7. You stock up on extra strength antipersperant/deoderant (no explanation needed).
6. You take rides in your car because it's the only place you can get really cool (small car, air conditioning full blast!)
5. You can flush the toilets with the buckets of water you collect underneath the window air conditioners (no exageration - it's quite humid).
4. Not just menopausal women carry small hand towels to mop their brows (everyone does)
3. You are constantly hoarse from trying to carry on conversations over the roar of fans.
2. The main topic of conversation of all the cariocas (natives of the city) is: "Gee it's hot, isn't it?"(like that isn't obvious when it is 116 degrees?)
1. Breathing makes you break out in a sweat.

OK, I don't think Dave's writing team is in any danger of losing their jobs to me. But thought you would enjoy my feeble attempt at laughing at the heat here. I do complain about the heat, but usually when everyone else is complaining as well. And sometimes João gets hotter before I do! I am praying about my attitude and working on trying to enjoy the heat. If this is my "Father's World" and he made everything, then who am I to doubt that it is his hand that warms the earth where I live? So pray with me that I won't be transformed into a "heat grump" and will learn to not only "live with" the hot weather, but live in JOY in the hot weather.
HOHOHOHOHO