Get some clothes on…

October 23, 2015October 23, 2015 Shirleyjdietz1 Comment

Get some clothes on.

I taught my children to get dressed fairly early on in their childhood, thinking it would serve them well in the future. Sure enough, to this very day they almost always get dressed at some point in their day and everyone is glad because of it. The training has been worth it. It had purpose behind it. I hoped that they would be able to function well in society and not have to waste time in adulthood over issues so elementary as clothing. (I’m not saying that they don’t grimace at some of those early pictures and say “Mom, how could you let me wear that?!”)

Why did you let me dress this way, why? (You were learning...) — Why did you let me dress this way, why? (You were learning…)

I’m thinking about the word discipline, and the hard times we go through. If God has us in his sights, he promises that we are going to be under discipline. He says it’s his fatherly duty, like any parent who teaches a child something in order for them to make it through life. I’m sometimes tempted to substitute the word “punishment” for discipline, but punishment is only one element of a much larger picture. I wasn’t punishing my daughters in teaching them to get dressed. But interestingly, it may have felt that way to them at times.

I’m going through some hard times lately. Almost on a daily basis there is something happening that could be described as painful – physically, emotionally and/or spiritually. I have to ask myself if I’m being punished or trained. Either way, I’m told by the entity I consider to be my father that it is because I’m loved and he wants me to be ready, calm and peaceful, and productive in the future. He tells me I will think it is painful, but that he wants me to be encouraged by it because it WILL have good results.

When hard times go on far longer than I would think necessary for effective discipline, it’s tempting to think there’s no point to it, no loving father behind it, probably no end in sight. This point of despair and giving up is exactly what I am being trained to beat. To be an overcomer, means I’ve had practice dealing with things that are hard to overcome. It’s hard to wait. I can get really tired of words like patient endurance and long suffering. That’s why the words jumped out at me this morning, “you have not yet resisted to the point of shedding your blood”. Oh, yeah.

I’m just saying that having this perspective from a source I take to be credible, actually does encourage me and make me feel like I am loved even in a hard place. I’m not expected to always solve the problems I’m facing. I don’t have to figure out what’s going on. All I have to do is acknowledge that a capable God sees and is at work in my situation. I get to be expectant, cooperative, alert, watchful for that purpose that might be behind it all. I’m learning to get dressed for the future – a good thing.

*My credible source this morning was the word of God, a letter written to Hebrews, chapter 12 and verses 4 – 11 . These people had it rough too and God was encouraging them through their pastor, a man named Paul.

All in the Details

October 10, 2015October 10, 2015 Shirleyjdietz1 Comment

Details, details

I know what a gateway and an alcove is. I have an idea what a portico is. Parapet, maybe? But really, trying to come up with a picture that looks like a building from the description in Ezekiel chapter 40, I just can’t do it. They are all mentioned over and over again, complete with measurements, in all four quadrants of the compass, and oh, throw in several sets of stairs, some courtyards and miscellaneous openings too.

Mom and I were sitting in the airport restaurant with some time to spare and this chapter was today’s reading from the Old Testament, NIV Bible. What was troubling to me, was verse four of the same chapter where our prophet Ezekiel was told that all this detail was important for some reason. He was supposed to “listen closely and pay attention” so he could tell people everything he saw. Trying to figure out stuff like this has always been part of what makes Bible reading problematic for me.

Later, on the way home from the airport, I started thinking about it again – which is always a good thing to do if you have asked God to help you understand something. Here was a man who had a vision of some kind. It could have been a dream, but I don’t think I’ve heard of anyone dreaming with this kind of detail and then remembering it. He’s inspired to record it and it is somehow preserved for a loooooong time for people to read later and wonder about the detail in it. I know people who would say there is great significance in all the measurements and numbers and that may be. For me, what jumps out is that God was clearly caring about a lot of details.

You know, just maybe he wanted us to know that about him. Maybe he is a “detail guy”.

Perhaps, when he’s asked to help plan, he is able to arrange events and time them so that over the summer I am able to travel four different areas of the world with just enough energy and finances to suffice.

Perhaps he is able to move people in and out of my life to allow for me to be helpful, but not overwhelmed by all the stress and travel.

Perhaps he can bring me together with family members for some significant relational time, even though the arrangements are complicated.

Perhaps he can make possible a stay at a cottage by the beach for mom and me, when my remodel project isn’t finished yet.

Perhaps he can handle a delayed flight (maybe he even arranged it) that ended up with mom getting a better non-stop flight home, with the window seat she kind of longed for. And maybe he put the right person in front of us, apparently waiting for us, who was able to come up with that idea and make it happen. (Thank you Delta!)

I wanted more pictures of mom and me together and we had time for one more lame “selfie”. (Mom says I don’t really look like that. Would someone please take some candid pics of us doing something besides looking at a cell phone camera?)

And how we enjoyed the extra time that allowed us to eat a leisurely breakfast together and read Ezekiel 40. I’m just sayin’, God is pretty detail oriented and this is not the first time I’ve noticed.

26 things I’ve learned by age 26

September 22, 2015 ShirleyjdietzLeave a comment

These good things to have learned ring true not just at 26 (try 62…, okay 64) so I’m reposting the list for my own benefit as well as yours. Please read, think, live them out.

Mind – a four letter word…

August 22, 2015August 22, 2015 Shirleyjdietz3 Comments

I happened upon lindaghill’s Stream of Consciousness Saturday with the word “mind” as a prompt. http://lindaghill.com/2015/08/21/the-friday-reminder-and-prompt-for-socs-august-2215/ I have not linked to something of this kind before so we’ll see how it goes.

What it brought to MIND was the way people around me seem to be in fear of losing theirs. One example is the husband, who is always shaking his head over something he’s forgotten he did. He makes notes at work so he can look back and remember. He looks at the notes and can’t believe he wrote them.

So I forget things too, and I have to say I forget things more than I used to. Sometimes I am talking and I know what I intend to say but I can’t think of the word I want to use. I can try to say the thought in a different way, but I want that one word. I know I’ve used it many times and it is a friend of mine but it won’t come out. I used to never remember the word for this awesome flower, hydrangea, and I would mull it over for a couple hours…” what is that word, what is that word, I think it starts with C, no J, no G, no…” and then I fixed the problem by calling it water flower because I can associate water with hydro and *presto!* it pops into my MIND.

And I have trouble remembering what kind of dog Charlie is. I can always remember terrier but not the specific kind. Conquered that too, it’s Wheaten. And he is the color of wheat so will I forget it? No, it just takes me a couple seconds to remember what to call his color. He is not a Beige Terrier, or an OffWhite Terrier. I’m confusing myself.

And so what if I remember to lock the door but leave the key in the lock on the outside. I don’t know how a person does that but I’m sure it’s because I get distracted with all the things on my MIND.

I have had several clients with Alzheimer’s and that is indeed something to fear. Whatever it is that messes with their minds is really an enemy and I have deep compassion for people who lose family members to that disease. My mom always says that she hopes if she gets it she won’t be upset because she won’t remember being any other way. I hope if I get Alzheimers I will do it in a happy way, and everyone I am with will be like meeting a new friend every time I see them. That would be lovely.

Hey we all forget. And we forget more as we age. But we don’t forget everything and I’m praying about it, thinking that it’s just one more thing under God’s control. If I’m his servant, then I’m his problem and he can figure out what to do with me. I don’t MIND.

Maybe you would like to do a SoCS post? If so, here are the rules and the link to use is in my first paragraph.

1. Your post must be stream of consciousness writing, meaning no editing, (typos can be fixed) and minimal planning on what you’re going to write.

2. Your post can be as long or as short as you want it to be. One sentence – one thousand words. Fact, fiction, poetry – it doesn’t matter. Just let the words carry you along until you’re ready to stop.

3. There will be a prompt every week. I will post the prompt here on my blog on Friday, along with a reminder for you to join in. The prompt will be one random thing, but it will not be a subject. For instance, I will not say “Write about dogs”; the prompt will be more like, “Make your first sentence a question,” “Begin with the word ‘The’,” or simply a single word to get your started.

4. Ping back! It’s important, so that I and other people can come and read your post! For example, in your post you can write “This post is part of SoCS:” and then copy and paste the URL found in your address bar at the top of this post into yours. Your link will show up in my comments for everyone to see. The most recent pingbacks will be found at the top.

5. Read at least one other person’s blog who has linked back their post. Even better, read everyone’s! If you’re the first person to link back, you can check back later, or go to the previous week, by following my category, “Stream of Consciousness Saturday,” which you’ll find right below the “Like” button on my post.

6. Copy and paste the rules (if you’d like to) in your post. The more people who join in, the more new bloggers you’ll meet and the bigger your community will get!

7. As a suggestion, tag your post “SoCS” and/or “#SoCS” for more exposure and more views.

8. Have fun!

Willingness to be interrupted.

August 18, 2015 ShirleyjdietzLeave a comment

I’ve thought about this same thing many times, particularly in this day and age when everyone’s eyes are on their cell phones. Ashley Faith is a friend of mine who does a nice job of laying it out there. I’m happy to be reblogging her post.

Willingness to be interrupted..

A Lighthouse

July 13, 2015July 13, 2015 ShirleyjdietzLeave a comment

I’ve had a love of lighthouses for years. I know it’s a common obsession that many people have. Souvenir shops anywhere near water have lighthouse books, pictures, figures, night lights, calendars, you name it… I’m not quite that bad, having only six or seven collectibles on that theme that I treasure for one reason or another. Most of my fascination with lighthouses is the underlying message that they stand for, that of caring enough to warn. There are many known dangers in our world and we have a desperate need for lighthouses of all kinds, not just those on the water. To me, lighthouses stand for that larger picture.

Lately I was able to visit the Alki Point Lighthouse. It’s in Seattle and I’ve tried to tour it before but was never there on the right day. Tours are on the weekends between 10 am and 3:30 pm, whenever a group collects, and on my most recent visit I was able to connect with one. The lighthouse is fully automated now, even to the changing of light bulbs, but the tours are conducted by a small cadre of Coast Guard Auxiliary who proudly usher people around and explain the historical aspects.

Alki Point juts out from West Seattle into Puget Sound near shipping lanes and early on the need was discovered to have a warning there. It started with one landowner who decided to hang a lantern on a pole each night – probably got tired of cleaning up his beach after shipwrecks. The land was eventually purchased by the government. As the story goes the price was $9,999.99, the amount that could be spent without legislative approval at that time. The property now has two residences that house Coast Guard officials and their families, the lighthouse and small storage buildings. It is fenced with a security system.

Some of the history was given to us in the parking lot before we headed down to the lighthouse itself. The rest of the tour was a guided explanation of equipment on the ground floor and a self guided trip up the stairway to the observation floor. Here are some of the highlights for me.

The Fresnel lens which was a great breakthrough in technology for lighthouses

the classic spiral stair... — the classic spiral stair…

one of the two houses, formerly for the lighthouse tender, now for a Coast Guard 2 star Admiral and his family.

I had to put this pic in - although I know this plant (Dusty Miller) I have never seen it flower before. Who knew? Must be the salt air... — I had to put this pic in – although I know this plant (Dusty Miller) I have never seen it flower before. Who knew? Must be the salt air…

The Hidden Forest

July 12, 2015July 7, 2020 Shirleyjdietz1 Comment

It’s right in the midst of a city and thousands go past it every day without even seeing it. It’s Schmitz Park in West Seattle and it’s one of the first places I walk when I visit my daughter. One of the entrances to this park is on the hillside above her house. The wide path passes under major streets as they descend to the waterfront. At other points it is high above the city looking out over the sound. But most of it is in the midst of an old growth forest full of clear springs, lush vegetation and towering trees. A lot of the paths are well traveled and I meet a lot of others walking their dogs or on bikes. Gradually the paths narrow and get steeper, and less maintained. Trees fall across the path and are left there, either because they are too difficult to remove or because they are intended to be a natural barrier. When Charlie the dog is with me, I have to lift him over some of the log jams, and the climb makes us both breathless. If we are persistent we come out on top of the ridge overlooking Alki Beach, almost in someone’s back yard. Then we take the easy way down, on the streets where the view is not obscured and we also have beautiful yards and gardens to look at. Take a virtual walk through this beautiful place with me…

Trees soon cover the path with shade and silhouettes

The ground is usually damp with seepage from the many springs and books.

Old growth of several different kinds of trees can be seen...

Towering is a word that comes to mind often

And emerges here... outside the forest in a residential neighborhood clinging to the side of a ridge.

A whole different knd of beauty is on display all the way to sea level.

Leaving Kep: The Cambodia Saga

July 3, 2015 ShirleyjdietzLeave a comment

Last Day in Cambodia – Thoughts in the Car

We had another gigantic breakfast buffet at the Secret Restaurant this morning before leaving Veranda Natural Resort. We are now in a rented van driving to Phnom Penh where we will spend a few hours before boarding our flight home. It is still raining.

Moody, persistent, wet weather... — Moody, persistent, wet weather…

The sky is crying and just won't quit — The sky is crying and just won’t quit

We were told that there has been no rain and the land was in drought condition until last week when this new weather pattern started. The countryside we are driving through is sodden, flooded, covered in mist. Periodically, I take out my camera and get some shots out the side window. There are rice paddies with lots of water in them and rice in various stages of growth. Sometimes a person will be visible planting rice or working with a cow or two pulling a plow through the water, but most people must be inside somewhere. The people on the road are wearing raincoats or they are wet.

I am sitting in back with the luggage. Julie, Trish and Bora are sitting ahead of me where Bora is entertaining them with tales of her life in Cambodia. The Hamilton family is in the next row. MacKenzie is not feeling well and they have put her in the middle where she can look out at the horizon in front to offset any car sickness. Mike is up front with the driver. In Cambodia you don’t jut rent a van. You rent a van and a driver, which ensures the van gets returned to its home and you get to your destination in one piece, I guess.

I’m feeling a bit “out of it” today. In spite of my aromatherapy massage yesterday, I don’t feel well groomed or like I’ve been taking care of myself. I’m all out of clean clothes. I can stand it but don’t know how it will affect those around me during the long flight home. I’m not used to seeing myself in as many pictures as I’ve been in lately, and frankly it’s alarming me to see how I look. I’m older than I thought I was. I need to go home and lose some weight.

Did I say the kids are affectionate... yes. — Did I say the kids are affectionate… yes.

The children I’ve been with are affectionate kids – lots of hugging, hand holding, arms around my shoulders or waist – but they are also very curious. They always find the mole on my upper arm and can amuse themselves touching it for minutes at a time. They also run their hands over the bulges around my waist, or what used to be my waist, and find that very interesting (???). It’s not that all Cambodians are skinny because I have seen some that aren’t, but most of the Asia Hope people are slim. Add to this the fact that my feet and legs swell in this heat and you have me feeling very puffy and large when I’m around them. Even though I’ve come here four times now, I never seem to have the clothing thing right either. I need some more quick dry things that I can keep clean. I need to bring a little laundry soap with me.

Emotionally, I feel a little isolated. There is no one on the trip who identifies with me in age or has need of me in any way. It would be a lot worse if I didn’t have Julie with me here because we have done a lot of things together, but she has also made a lot of friends closer to her age. Does everyone have these attacks of pity where they feel absolutely no one is interested in them? Probably. I’m used to them and am just working on giving it to God and asking him to change me.

There is love that is bigger than feelings or circumstances.

A Day to Rest: The Cambodia Saga

July 1, 2015July 2, 2015 ShirleyjdietzLeave a comment

Tuesday in Kep

Assortments of fruits, everything Westerners have for breakfast (everything, really) plus all the Cambodian favorites

How blessed we were to have a full day of rest before the long flight home, and doubly blessed to have it in such a beautiful, interesting place. I had imagined myself just sitting somewhere with a beautiful view, writing and reading all day. That is very close to what happened with a few other additions, the first of which was breakfast buffet. All I can say is, American hotels, you have been put to shame. Most anything a person could think of wanting for breakfast and a whole bunch of things you wouldn’t think of – all are available on this buffet. Fresh crepes and omelets are cooked to order. The staff is there anticipating needs.

It was a rainy day, of course, so it was easy to spend time on our patio, organizing pictures and catching up on blog posts. And soon it was time for lunch (I know, eat, eat, eat…) Julie and I did a light lunch of shakes and french fries. We sat visiting with some other team members until it was time for our massages. This year french fries were the “go to” comfort food at all our usual eating places and I think there is something really different and good about Cambodian french fries.

Very skillful at massage, professional and very quiet... (do not speak English) — Very skillful at massage, professional and very quiet… (do not speak English)

the interesting ingredients for a two hour facial

We went together to the massage room where two lovely ladies put us on our tables and went to work on us. I had an aromatherapy session and Julie had an option that included a facial. However since we were only a couple feet apart I could hardly keep her from breathing my lemongrass scented air. The warm, scented oil was what was rubbed everywhere on me except my head so I came out very lubricated. Julie said her face felt really good after the facial. I have never had two full hours of massage at one time so this was a real treat. I am full of painful spots so didn’t fall asleep but I have heard that others do.

V Chen, a young lady who is a doctor, joined us in the afternoon. She and Bora are good friends and they both volunteer their time for our medical missions which is why Trish invited them to come to Veranda. We hung out at the Infinity Pool, taking pictures and talking until it was time to go to dinner again at Secret Restaurant. And again, after dinner was cleared away, we played the card game. No one knows exactly how it is spelled but it sounds something like “tajeet”. Any number of people can play and it gets pretty silly. It is a fun game and I guess I would play it again, but it also is a game where I got caught looking pretty slow and dense – a perfect example of why I usually say I hate games. But I will play.

Fortunately the game ended suddenly with a blast of wind that nearly blew all the cards off the table and rain that dampened us all. We went to our rooms to prepare for departure in the morning and to get a night’s sleep.

Saturday in Kep, Cambodia

June 23, 2015June 23, 2015 ShirleyjdietzLeave a comment

It is another blustery day with constant wind and a grey sky. Humidity is high. We have a free breakfast cafeteria with our room and it was pretty good, with some Western style food as well as the numerous concoctions to put over rice.

I am not planning to do much today. I was taking the stairs down to breakfast and stumbled, injuring my right foot a bit. The steps are slippery, black marble and the stairway is not lighted well. The steps are not regular either, the bottom one before a landing was triangular and I missed it altogether. Buidings here are such an interesting mix of sense and nonsense.

Another issue with the hotel was the use of the pool. This place was chosen specifically because of the nice pool that the children would be able to enjoy. Last year there were two drownings here and the government closed them down for a short period of time. When we got here and wanted to have the scheduled swim time with the dorm students, we were told that the pool was being chemically treated and would not be available for the whole time we are to be here. It’s very possible that the management was a little fearful of having a lot of children using the pool and made sure it would not be available. We are negotiating a refund since they knew the pool was to be the main attraction for us.

At lunch, discussing the needs of Asia Hope homes with director Savorn

I was not hungry but lunch was the next thing on the schedule. We went in the Asia Hope van to a restaurant in Kep, getting a ticket along the way for going the wrong direction on a one way road. People are often trying to wave us in to their beachside cabanas and eating places and we ignore most of that but this time they were also trying to tell us we were going the wrong direction on the road. Who knew?

Julie and I were sitting at the same table with the director of Asia’s Hope, Savorn, and his wife Sony. This was a good time to discuss the funds that I had collected to donate and to decide how to use them. Savorn thought it was important to get water purification systems in each of the houses and so far only two had them. I had enough to purchase one and that was what the money will do. It will go in PE5 and be shared also with PE4 until they can purchase one too. I think Jack would have been glad to see his donation used this way.

Despite wind and rain Cambodians who come to the beach, come to the beach.

Later: I was not planning to do much today (see paragraph 2 for proof) but just because I brought my swimsuit and shorts I decided to put them on and ride the bus to the beach with all the children. The public beach is only ¾ mile away and it is the only water option since the pool is not available. This resort town is on the South China Sea and the recent stormy weather has brought in some sizeable waves. It was in fact raining the whole time we were at the beach, but those who thought it important to remain dry stayed in the bus. The ocean was warm and most of the children were soon playing in the waves and having a great time. It was impossible to get only part way in so I was soon completely wet and had children hanging on each arm, jumping the waves with me. Later I got concerned about four or five of the boys who were bobbing around farther from shore. Rather than count heads each time they appeared between waves I went out and swam with them.

We were too wet to ride the bus back to the hotel so quite a few of us walked back, barefoot, in the pouring rain. No one had towels to dry themselves and we were a very bedraggled looking bunch. But everything we do with the kids serves to bond us to one or the other of them. They learn more about us and how we care and we learn more about them. It works.