Relationships

Why are Relationships so difficult? They require so much humility. Allowing the other person the freedom to be themselves, as long as their behavior is appropriate, not just what you want or need them to be? And in the fuzzy areas, who gets to decide what is appropriate?

The relationships in my life bring me the greatest comfort and the greatest agony felt by the human heart. How is it that the Bible says, Jesus knows how we feel? Did He allow Himself to be so vulnerable with His friends, even before the agony of the cross, that He felt the pain in relationships I now feel? Oh Jesus, I'm sorry you felt that way. The only good thing is knowing you truly understand me. But could you please take the pain away?

Citrus Belt Quilt Guild

Today was our monthly Quilt Guild meeting.

Last year I worked so long and hard,

and this year I've done nothing. Nothing!

Our speaker today was Linda Schmitt.

A real artist.

Here are some of the quilts she brought to show us.

A little girl in Paris.

The front of a Porche Quilt for her husband.

This is the back of the same quilt!!

A girl on a bridge.

Imagine Peace

Is my dream dying?

Yes, my dream of teaching ESL is dying.

This morning I discovered Redlands Adult school got a last minute grant to teach ESL (English as a Second Language) this fall at the nearby high school. And it's free to the students.

Our program required they buy their book, because we have no funding help. But $25 is a huge sum when you are out of work or poorly paid. So I had to call all the students who wanted to sign up with us and tell them. It's only fair. The school district has better classrooms, and it's free. Better for the students.

I'm glad for them. I really am. But how can I feel so generous and selfish at the same time? I wanted to teach them. I was so ready. I thought the Lord had opened a door for me to do this. But I have to do it His way, not my way. Perhaps a totally different kind of door will open. I've always liked the song from the Joseph opera, "When God closes a door, He opens a window." It reminds me of Noah inside the ark also.

It makes me so sad because I keep getting calls from people who want to learn English, and I have to refer them to the school district. God will make me happy again. Soon, I hope.

Interesting this should happen the day after I taught a Bible lesson on Naaman to the children at Micah House yesterday. Naaman was an important man who had a problem he could not solve. He had leprosy, but when he discovered there was a man of God who could bring him healing, he wanted to be healed in his own grand, important way, not go humbly dip himself into the Jordan, not once but seven times! How humiliating. But when he did it God's way, he was healed.

I really like the part of the story about the little Israelite slave girl who served in Naaman's house. She probably wasn't even allowed in his presence, but she managed to tell his wife about Elisha back in Israel. Even though she wasn't where she wanted to be, she was a witness.

She gave important information she knew to someone who needed to hear it. That's what witnessing is. We as Christians have important information and are called, by God Himself, to tell that information to those who needs to hear it.

I'd like to meet her in heaven someday, and tell her how much she has encouraged me.

Dance the night away...

Tonight was our first dance lesson at the nearby college. There were 100 people in the class so it was easy not to stand out. A relief! But after men and women learned our steps separately (we women must do what the men do, but backward and in heels!) we paired off in lines. Naturally, I went to Tom, but very quickly we all had to change partners down the long line. I thought, "Surely he'll never want to come back." But he caught on to the steps well, and I was hoping he enjoyed it.

We are required to keep a journal and go on field trips to dance clubs to watch and dance. The trips are not absolutely required, but highly recommended. On the way home Tom said, "I want to go to the dance club Friday night." Yes!!! He liked it!!!

Suzuki Training

Very early Friday morning, August 13, I flew to Sacramento for 5 days of studying with two Japanese teachers visiting from Japan.

I stayed with Nancy & Wayne, Tom's sister, and had a wonderful time visiting with them, whenever I arrived home late each evening. First there was a teacher dinner Friday night, then a 3-hour concert rehearsal Saturday night, then the 2-hour concert Sunday night.

Finally on Monday night we enjoyed a wonderfully delicious family meal together with Wayne's sister, Gaye & family, who were passing through taking their daughter Katie to college. They were happy to hear I will be back for two weeks next August for 10-Piano rehearsals.

What a blessed time with family and lunching at a delightful gourmet sandwich shop with such good piano girlfriends each day.

I even discovered that Rita was born in Davenport, Iowa! She is a year older than I, and was in that town the day I was born! And now we are friends. We both teach piano. In California. Following Suzuki philosophy. And we have studied together about once a year for several years. It really is a small world.

Ramadan

It's Ramadan, so Noor is fasting all day and only eating at night. So we are going out to dinner together before she flies back to Bahrain to spend most of Ramadan with her family.

How to park a car

Eric had such a clever idea. He put masking tape on the garage floor so I would know how far back and how far to the side to park in the garage. I cannot see the front or the back of the car when parking. I don't want to get too close to the garden utensils in the back and don't want the garage door to automatically close on the hood in the front. So I'm having difficulty judging where I am in the garage from the driver's seat.

I always pull in backward so I can pull out easily without swiping Tom's truck which is always parked outside. Don't ask why. Well, I'll say why anyway.

My story is his truck is too tall to fit under the door opener. His story is there's too much stuff on his side of the garage. Actually, we're both correct.

And I thought I was so clever in cropping out the stuff next to the car, then noticed it shows in the reflection of the fender. Rats!