The decor of our house these last few weeks has run chiefly to packing boxes, cheap plastic cups, dirty laundry, rafts of old newspapers and packing tape. Wait, I take that back. We never could seem to find the packing tape when we needed it.
Today was the official moving day, though we have been 'moving right along' for ages, it seems. Today we rented a truck and loaded all the huge things like pianos and couches and boxes of books and Megan's trees. It was hot all day, and the boxes were heavy, and things were confused and messy. But nobody broke a nail or dropped anything on their toe and the rain held off until we almost completely unloaded.
I went with the first trip over to the new house- just our van full of breakable stuff. The AC in the house seemed to have temporarily ceased for our benefit. The thermometer said it was 90 degrees inside and 88 outside (in the shade). So we sweated and grunted and moved furniture around and drank tea and apple juice and water and laughed at each other. We even had time to do some heavy-duty lying about before the rest of the Adams' Twelve plus one arrived with the moving truck. All together that would be- nine Adamses, three Murrays, and one Pass.
Kimberly and I spent some beastly hot sessions in the attic stowing nice warm things like winter coats and sleeping bags and area rugs. If it was 88 outside and 90, the attic must have been a 'cool' 100.
Thankfully, some relief came in the form of ominous dark clouds and rumblings among them. It started raining just as we finished up and headed back for the parsonage for dinner. But wait! Dinner deserves a whole blog of its own, or at least a new paragraph and maybe a title....
SOUTERN HOSPITALITY
Yes, my dear Northern folks, it does exist and boy howdy, am I ever glad!
Mrs. Turner, Blake's mother, got a bee in her bonnet a week or so ago, that we needed someone to cook for us on moving day and that she was the one to do it. She is past the age of cooking huge platters of fried chicken and mashed potatoes for 15 people, so she offered us (in detailed typed letter) the choice of pizza,
Chik-Fil-A, KFC, or some such fast food place. What a sweetheart! We chose pizza from Papa John's.
Like a general, she marshalled facts and supplies for the troops; she questioned us closely about date, time, place, toppings, etc. Most people would have been content to call the pizza place an hour or two ahead of time and tell them our address. Not she! Around 11 a.m. she called me from Papa John's to confirm topping choices, and well before the appointed hour (6 pm) she arrived on the doorstep with everything else besides the pizzas, which were to be delivered, and the kitchen sink. We were utterly overwhelmed. Here is the list:
Seven Papa John's pizzas,
two platters:
one veggie ( tomatoes, celery, summer squash, cucumbers, broccoli, cauliflower, carrots, and dip),
and one fruit (watermelon, cantelope, stawberries, honeydew melon, oranges, pinapple, and red and green grapes)
three gallons of tea (2 sweetened and 1 unsweetened),
two gallons of lemonade,
four liters of Coke,
and two bags of ice in a cooler.
Paper plates and plasticware, napkins, paper towels, paper table cloths, plastic cups,
two trash bags (with twisties to close them),
toothpicks,
and two small, cheerful flower arrangements,
oh yes, and 24 ice cream bars.
toothpicks, my friends!
and flowers!!!
why didn't she peel the grapes, I'd like to know?!!?
Thus the legendary Southern hospitality lives on... and we will certainly be living on the leftovers for days!
Or as Daniel so aptly said- "This is yummy beyond all reason!"
28.7.05
25.7.05
a job well done.
Am sitting in the kitchen on a stool, eating a purple ice-pop and contemplating the disaster around me. Megan is toweling her hair and giggling. It's after 11 pm and I have just completed my very first perm- on Megan's trusting head. :-)
There are curlers and curler papers and spray bottle and bottles of weird stuff that melts your hair if you leave in too long. The place stinks. I really don't know what possesed her to say I could do it! You should have seen the looks on Mrs. Murray's and Mom's faces when the walked in to see my curler job. It did look kind of odd. Besides there were too few of the curlers and they were too big and very much the wrong shape. So much for reading the instructions before we started.
But lest you think poor Megan is doomed to months of hideousness: the perm was one of those week-long things. That means if its horrid, she will only have to live with it for a week. One week of looking horrible. Shouldn't be too bad.
There are curlers and curler papers and spray bottle and bottles of weird stuff that melts your hair if you leave in too long. The place stinks. I really don't know what possesed her to say I could do it! You should have seen the looks on Mrs. Murray's and Mom's faces when the walked in to see my curler job. It did look kind of odd. Besides there were too few of the curlers and they were too big and very much the wrong shape. So much for reading the instructions before we started.
But lest you think poor Megan is doomed to months of hideousness: the perm was one of those week-long things. That means if its horrid, she will only have to live with it for a week. One week of looking horrible. Shouldn't be too bad.
19.7.05
"Home, James."
How lovely to have an airline system to deliver you almost directly into the arms of your family from all the way across the world! Not that I have anything to compare it with- such as months of steamer travel, or cramped quarters on the yacht Coronet- but still, I am grateful.
We got home on the 4th of July, spent a week at Fairwood at the Family Convention (which is a lovely way to transition between cultures), and then traveled down to Georgia, taking Andrea, Melissa, and Kimberly with us. Thankfully we had two vehicles because with extra people (and minus Rachel) we had an even dozen. The boys were banished to the car for the entire two days, and the girls spent the majority of their travel time sleeping.
The past week has been very interesting- a mixture of homecoming, socializing, shopping, getting over jet-lag, a yard-sale in our front yard, a contiually messy house, and the wonderful relaxed feeling of a semi vacation!
One afternoon we watched the Incredibles only to be interrupted by a thunderstorm. At the first crack of thunder we evacuated the living room in two seconds flat- in favor of a grandstand view from the front porch. Pretty quickly it was irresistable- "OOh look at that puddle! Wouldn't that be great to jump in?!" Forgetting the fact that half of us are in our mid-twenties and completly mature adults, we were all out in the front lawn completely soaked and completely happy. We ran around shrieking, splashed each other in the puddle, and collected good Georgia mud on our persons by sliding in a specially wet and slidy-looking spot on the lawn. Melissa wins the most impressive sliding technique award as well as the prize for the ugliest grass burns on her knees.
After that we all showered and got into warm dry clothes and finished our movies. Isn't the cozy feeling of warmth after a complete soaking one of the most delicious in the world?
Going from the brown and white color scheme of Jerusalem to the jungle-like green of Georgia is an incredible contrast. I don't get tired of looking at trees or seeing the rain come down... and imagining the time when Jerusalem will be as verdant.
Okay, the library loudspeaker informs me that the computer will automatically shut down in ten minutes. Better get off.
We got home on the 4th of July, spent a week at Fairwood at the Family Convention (which is a lovely way to transition between cultures), and then traveled down to Georgia, taking Andrea, Melissa, and Kimberly with us. Thankfully we had two vehicles because with extra people (and minus Rachel) we had an even dozen. The boys were banished to the car for the entire two days, and the girls spent the majority of their travel time sleeping.
The past week has been very interesting- a mixture of homecoming, socializing, shopping, getting over jet-lag, a yard-sale in our front yard, a contiually messy house, and the wonderful relaxed feeling of a semi vacation!
One afternoon we watched the Incredibles only to be interrupted by a thunderstorm. At the first crack of thunder we evacuated the living room in two seconds flat- in favor of a grandstand view from the front porch. Pretty quickly it was irresistable- "OOh look at that puddle! Wouldn't that be great to jump in?!" Forgetting the fact that half of us are in our mid-twenties and completly mature adults, we were all out in the front lawn completely soaked and completely happy. We ran around shrieking, splashed each other in the puddle, and collected good Georgia mud on our persons by sliding in a specially wet and slidy-looking spot on the lawn. Melissa wins the most impressive sliding technique award as well as the prize for the ugliest grass burns on her knees.
After that we all showered and got into warm dry clothes and finished our movies. Isn't the cozy feeling of warmth after a complete soaking one of the most delicious in the world?
Going from the brown and white color scheme of Jerusalem to the jungle-like green of Georgia is an incredible contrast. I don't get tired of looking at trees or seeing the rain come down... and imagining the time when Jerusalem will be as verdant.
Okay, the library loudspeaker informs me that the computer will automatically shut down in ten minutes. Better get off.
3.7.05
That's all folks... til next time.
It's 1:24 in the morning (my time), and the packing is done, the suitcases lined up by the door, goodbyes have been said, and I really should go try to take a nap until the sherut comes around 3:15. This has been the Day that never ends. And I am not helping things out by reading blogs and looking up the meaning of the name Liam (it's an Irish short form of William). This is the last time I'll post from Jerusalem, but of course not the last time I will post about Jerusalem! (Beware, folks!)
We have been running around like the proverbial headless chickens- grocery shopping, present shopping, finishing up work time, visiting neighbors, running to the office, cleaning, packing,... anyway that's all done now. And as Mom pointed out- we are standing with God to see his purposes done in this land (even if we don't have time to think about it). It has been hard to savor the last few moments because it all seems so mundane. I've done this before, I left before and came back. I really have had no sense of loss at leaving, no pangs of homesicknessbeforeIleave, no tears. Know why? BECAUSE I am coming back!!!! (No plans yet)
This is my home (Kate's Jerusalem), I love it, I get frustrated with it, I want desperately to leave, to be anywhere but here, but I know deep down inside that I'll come back. Of course I will- its a given. Even if I have to wait until the Millenium to return (which I doubt).
Okay, the combo of a heat and sleep-deficit induced headache, computer screen lighting, and the very heady smell of jasmine floating in the open window all compel me to stop writing NOW and go to bed! Or at least sweep the bedroom floor. It's very dirty. Good night.
I shall see all you lovely people in a little bit.
PS- Derrick I hope you bring your bike to Fairwood sometime during the week so I can admire it.
Lindsay- we will probably stay longer than two days. I'll try to get in touch with you about getting together.
Andrea and Fritha.... well, anyway, you know.
I am not going to bed!!! I think my fingers are stuck to the keyboard.
We have been running around like the proverbial headless chickens- grocery shopping, present shopping, finishing up work time, visiting neighbors, running to the office, cleaning, packing,... anyway that's all done now. And as Mom pointed out- we are standing with God to see his purposes done in this land (even if we don't have time to think about it). It has been hard to savor the last few moments because it all seems so mundane. I've done this before, I left before and came back. I really have had no sense of loss at leaving, no pangs of homesicknessbeforeIleave, no tears. Know why? BECAUSE I am coming back!!!! (No plans yet)
This is my home (Kate's Jerusalem), I love it, I get frustrated with it, I want desperately to leave, to be anywhere but here, but I know deep down inside that I'll come back. Of course I will- its a given. Even if I have to wait until the Millenium to return (which I doubt).
Okay, the combo of a heat and sleep-deficit induced headache, computer screen lighting, and the very heady smell of jasmine floating in the open window all compel me to stop writing NOW and go to bed! Or at least sweep the bedroom floor. It's very dirty. Good night.
I shall see all you lovely people in a little bit.
PS- Derrick I hope you bring your bike to Fairwood sometime during the week so I can admire it.
Lindsay- we will probably stay longer than two days. I'll try to get in touch with you about getting together.
Andrea and Fritha.... well, anyway, you know.
I am not going to bed!!! I think my fingers are stuck to the keyboard.
2.7.05
Good things
Well Friends, I am headed home in a couple days. My suitcases are mostly packed, my work mostly done, and I am so ready to be there. The past few weeks have been super busy. Our apartment turned into a guesthouse about 6 weeks ago. Since then part of our work time has been spent running it- cooking, cleaning, and staying up past midnight talking to them.
Okay, that last one was our choice! It has been fun, but staying up until 12:30 or 1:00 every night for a week does something unpleasant to my nervous system. As departure date got closer and closer, and my list of things that ABSOLUTELY MUST be done seemed to get longer, my nerves got more and more frayed. Last night I decided I would just not go to bed at all.
I thought that for all of 10 seconds before I remembered that it was Friday, which meant that next came Friday night, which was the Sabbath, and even if I wanted to stay up all night working I couldn't.
Praise the Lord for the Sabbath!
Two other things have come unexpectedly to temporarily removed Lisa and I from the pressure cooker of our last week.
Thursday afternoon our neighbors casually mentioned that the circus was in town. That was interesting, and I have never been to one, but now is hardly the time. Well later that afternoon I was informed that people were going and they were paying for our tickets if we wanted to go. Well that was hard to resist!
So off we went, and for two and a half hours reality and age were suspended. We laughed at the clowns, thought the horses were beautiful, gasped as the trapeze artist slipped and nearly fell, screeched when the jump-ropers jumped three-high (all in Scottish kilts), were astounded by the ventriloquist, ate popcorn, ate cotton candy, and were perfectly comfortable in our hard wooden seats.
Of course some things are different here- the barker barked in Hebrew (is that what he is called?), the people sitting next to us were Arabs, and religious Jews were scattered throughout the audience. The circus itself was Italian, but all the performers looked like they were Romany or Eastern Bloc.
Hey, for any of you who have seen "Wild Hearts Can't be Broken" remember the redheaded guy who was always trying to invent things, and finally built a metal ball-shaped cage in which to ride his motorcycle?
Well, they had one at this circus! They started with one person in it and worked up to three! That really was scary to watch.
Anyway, the circus was just what the doctor ordered, though personally I would never have thought of it! God does have a sense of humor.
The other suspension of worry came last night after sundown. We ate dinner with the neighbors, sat around talking and laughing with them, and then decided to watch Lemony Snickett's 'A Series of Unfortunate Events'.
This was one of those movies I had heard of but hadn't paid attention too. When it came down to watching it I vaguely thought I wasn't going to like it, or that the humor would be really crass, or that it would be stupid. But it wasn't! I loved it. It was clever and amusing and somebody must have had a lot of fun filming it. It was beautiful in a storybook sort of way.
So that long rambling is to say that I am so thankful to God for forcing us to relax and enjoy life instead of spending our last few days stressing out. Amen. Have a good Sabbath rest all of you, and I'll see you soon!
Okay, that last one was our choice! It has been fun, but staying up until 12:30 or 1:00 every night for a week does something unpleasant to my nervous system. As departure date got closer and closer, and my list of things that ABSOLUTELY MUST be done seemed to get longer, my nerves got more and more frayed. Last night I decided I would just not go to bed at all.
I thought that for all of 10 seconds before I remembered that it was Friday, which meant that next came Friday night, which was the Sabbath, and even if I wanted to stay up all night working I couldn't.
Praise the Lord for the Sabbath!
Two other things have come unexpectedly to temporarily removed Lisa and I from the pressure cooker of our last week.
Thursday afternoon our neighbors casually mentioned that the circus was in town. That was interesting, and I have never been to one, but now is hardly the time. Well later that afternoon I was informed that people were going and they were paying for our tickets if we wanted to go. Well that was hard to resist!
So off we went, and for two and a half hours reality and age were suspended. We laughed at the clowns, thought the horses were beautiful, gasped as the trapeze artist slipped and nearly fell, screeched when the jump-ropers jumped three-high (all in Scottish kilts), were astounded by the ventriloquist, ate popcorn, ate cotton candy, and were perfectly comfortable in our hard wooden seats.
Of course some things are different here- the barker barked in Hebrew (is that what he is called?), the people sitting next to us were Arabs, and religious Jews were scattered throughout the audience. The circus itself was Italian, but all the performers looked like they were Romany or Eastern Bloc.
Hey, for any of you who have seen "Wild Hearts Can't be Broken" remember the redheaded guy who was always trying to invent things, and finally built a metal ball-shaped cage in which to ride his motorcycle?
Well, they had one at this circus! They started with one person in it and worked up to three! That really was scary to watch.
Anyway, the circus was just what the doctor ordered, though personally I would never have thought of it! God does have a sense of humor.
The other suspension of worry came last night after sundown. We ate dinner with the neighbors, sat around talking and laughing with them, and then decided to watch Lemony Snickett's 'A Series of Unfortunate Events'.
This was one of those movies I had heard of but hadn't paid attention too. When it came down to watching it I vaguely thought I wasn't going to like it, or that the humor would be really crass, or that it would be stupid. But it wasn't! I loved it. It was clever and amusing and somebody must have had a lot of fun filming it. It was beautiful in a storybook sort of way.
So that long rambling is to say that I am so thankful to God for forcing us to relax and enjoy life instead of spending our last few days stressing out. Amen. Have a good Sabbath rest all of you, and I'll see you soon!
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