No April’s Fool

The repercussions from last year were not positive, so this year there will be no April Fool’s joke. I am just finally getting around to adding something to my blog. I have been busy and tired, plus my tendonitis kicked in on my right hand, so I just haven’t felt like writing. I broke down and bought a keyboard and mouse for my laptop and within days I can report that my pain in my hand is gone. I am impressed. I am still not back to drawing, however, but today may be the day, if I can find a couple of hours. I haven’t even gone to class lately, so that lets you know a generalized lethargy has set in. But I am glad we are back and can share a virtual cup of coffee. (By the way, isn’t that a great looking cup of coffee I had with some friends? I just couldn’t resist taking a cell phone photo. It tasted as good as it looked).

One of our big events recently as been shopping for a wedding dress. Although we took lots of photos, you’ll see none here, as that is not MY story to tell. But it has been fun. The selection has been made and the dress ordered. Since it comes from Spain, it will take 6 months and I will pick it up in the US to save more than half the price. That was very much a “girl” event. “No boys allowed”.

I have begun teaching my oral cultures class for the missionary “radicals”. These young people go and live among the culture in places where there are no Christians, in a radical lifestyle to reach the unreached. I have had two classes and tomorrow I begin to really work on the practical part of learning to tell the Bible stories, not analyze/preach. They seem a pretty agreeable group, but still I hope to see more fire from them.

On the art scene, I have been watching the most interesting BBC documentaries on the private lives of masterpieces. I am just mesmerized. It is just so fascinating. If you ever get to see these documentaries, don’t miss them. I am showing you a couple of my current projects, that I hope to get back to and even finish. The Green Lady is in colored pencil and has oh so many details, but is actually fun to work on. It’s a picture my sister asked me to do. I am still struggling to master colored pencils. They are a slow, exacting and unforgiving medium. I have also returned to graphite (pencil) and am working on these tulips, as a part of a series. I am planning to also do two other versions of the tulips. Probably water color and pastel, perhaps acrylic and frame them all together. I have been working quite some time on the graphite version, but it will serve as my study for the others, so it is time well spent.

This weekend, João is leaving me to preach about 10 hours north of here, back in Espírito Santo (Colatina). I was also invited to go, but just couldn’t find the energy or will to travel that far especially by car, although now he is planning on going by bus. I don’t like travelling and my LEAST favorite mode is by car. I would enjoy accompanying him, but I still prefer to stay in my little corner of the world. I was going to attend a conference later this month for pastor’s wives, but also opted out of that as I hated the prospect of bus trip – and having to make a transfer and move about in unknown territory. I am getting old and fearful I suppose. I am certainly not adventuresome anymore. This Sunday morning I will be preaching, for the first time, in our church, so I am studying hard for that. It’s a great responsibility.

So there you have it. A couple of weeks wrapped up in a couple of paragraphs. It’s nice that things are fairly calm and I plan on keeping them that way!