Alive and Well...

Yes I am here. Alive and semi-well. Of sound mind and semi-sound body. No, really, I did get home to Brazil just fine, with a great trip back home. It was good to have just a few days to catch up. But then we were on a run, as we were involved in a couple's retreat, with several messages to give as soon as we got home. That was just a great experience. It went really well, with lots of couples present.
Then the next two weeks just zoomed by as I had to turn in my Vacation Bible School that I was writing. That was a huge task, although I had been researching and writing at it (no that is not a typo) for a number of years. But the deadline was upon me and so I had to put it all down in good portuguese. I was excited with the result. It's a combination of a children's cantata about "The Fall" and three days activities about the Amazon. Crazy, huh? João had written the cantata long years ago and never had anyone to set it to music. It's all in rhymes. Anyway we are excited about hearing the final production of the music. My part of games, crafts, stories, bible times, verses, opening exercises, etc. is turned in now. Finally.
In the midst of this, my bestest friend ever was moving away from Rio to the state of São Paulo. I tried to ignore it and deny it, but it wouldn't go away. So finally reality hit and I was able to help some in the last few days with packing and details. It was hard to deal with. I think our picture shows, as she was leaving, that it was not exactly a happy time for either of us! As I told several people, I am used to doing the leaving, not being left. I struggled immensely with her departure and cried off and on for days after she left. I would do something and think, now I need to run that past Marilene. But I couldn't. I mean, well I can still talk on the phone (not marathon 2 hours like we used to), but I can't just run over to her house, since we only lived a few blocks away. Special friends are rare, perhaps even an endangered species. I am grateful we had this year together after I got back from Canada. I have had enough good-byes for anyone's lifetime, I'll tell you. I don't make friends easily and this was a huge loss for me. But since I was the one who really encouraged them to make this move, I am happy for them. Especially for Bia who will have a safer and happier place to live away from all this violence in Rio.
Fortunately I had so much to do, that I hardly had time to really pause. And that is good.
I was able to finish a translation for the World Day of Prayer (English-Portuguese) that is my annual task and for some reason always a heavy burden. I feel excited when it is done.
Then, came the Baptist state convention. That was all last week. Everyone seemed to be sick with some kind of respiratory virus and sure enough, by the last day João, who NEVER gets sick had something. He spent a weekend feeling absolutely lousy. I was fine. Who would ever believe I would be well and he would be sick? He managed to get through a special worship service Saturday night and the two services on Sunday, preaching, but I led the worship. That is hard work, leading worship. Frankly, I'd rather preach. Since I plan the services, though, it isn't as hard for me. I was totally exhausted by Sunday night and fell sound asleep watching the news that evening. I woke up on Monday feeling sort, kinda crummy. But pushed on taking care of business and cleaning out cabinets and closets. Marilene's move reminded me that I can't let things accumulate or build up. So I cleaned out the closets in all the rooms and organized and cleaned out the junk rooms. I was so relieved to have things looking actually pretty good around the house. The manual labour was cathartic, but by evening I was struck with João's cold. UGH.
I went on the counter attack drinking juice and eating fruit and vegetables and using my neti pot. If you don't know what that is, I won't go into too many gross details, except to mention it's a nasal irrigation system that really works. I sound awfully stopped up, but I can breath freely, so for the first time in my life I can sleep with a cold.
And whish! That has been the month since I returned from vacation. I need another one! No not really. I have learned to pace myself and take it slowly. I don't go and run and do like I used to. Today, as I looked out my bedroom window, this is the view I saw before me. Isn't it spectacular? I will confess I have been down since I have been back. Too much to do, too many good-byes and too much disappointment with the denomination. But in the last few days I have been reminded that our God reigns. And I have claimed the words of Song of Solomon 2:11-12 - " For lo, the winter is past, the rain is over; arise my beautiful one and come away". It may be raining on the outside (for after all we are in our winter rainy season in Brazil), but it's not raining on the inside.