Grandpa

My grandpa will be 93 years old next month. One thing that I like about being in America is that I get to see him. He still makes me smile. Now he is in an assisted living home. My mom works at the home a couple of days out of the month. But she visits him regularly. She does his laundry, shopping, doctor's appointments, etc. She and my dad have done so much for my grandpa. What a great example of honoring your parents.

My mom and I visited grandpa yesterday. He usually has a puzzle on the table that he works on for a little bit each day. I put a few pieces in. And he always tells me to get in the second drawer down and get a breakfast bar. He gets one or two a day and never eats them. So he saves them to give to his visitors. So grandpa was eating his lunch in his room while we visited and he wanted me to eat a breakfast bar. And he wanted me to take another one for later. Then he said, "Take two. You don't want that one to get lonely."

So we were talking about bananas. He gets a banana or two every day. He tells the nurse that his banana will be lonely unless he has another one. So some of the nurses bring two bananas automatically now. Then he said, "I don't really like bananas." I thought that was really funny. I think he is trying to get his money's worth out of the home. Or maybe he just wants to give them all to my mom as a way to pay her for her kindness. When I am 93 years old I hope I am just like him.

Half Way

Yesterday we were picking up some home school materials for Micah's 5th grade year. For some reason I started counting how many years of school he has left. Then it hit me. He only has 8 years left of school which means he could move out then, which means we are half way through our time with him at home. OH MY WORD! It makes me want to hold him tight. Maybe I will hold him back a year or two in school so I will have him with me longer.

The Runner

Yesterday I ran on the treadmill for a record time of 12 minutes. Yes, that is right, minutes not miles. This may seem pretty pathetic if you keep in mind my profession as a personal trainer and a gym owner. I taught aerobics for the past few years too. So why is it that I can only run 12 minutes? The answer is that it is boring. I don't quit because I am dying (although I am at times), I quit because I am just bored. Maybe if I had a t.v. to watch I would be able to run for hours. But I don't. I have a radio station that has way too many commercials and not interesting talk, so I get bored. But I am still very proud of my 12 minutes.

Thankful for Steve

As we are almost to Father's Day, I want to take a moment to tell you how great Steve is. He is so gentle and patient with Micah. He takes him out to do fun stuff together. Steve has been a great example of reading his Bible and praying. He buys different Bibles for Micah, hoping to find one that Micah enjoys reading. He buys clothes for Micah too. And Steve is a big softy. Whenever they go shopping together, Micah always comes home with a treat. You are the best, Steve!

The Christmas Trip

When I was young, our family would drive 8 hours to my grandparents home for Christmas. One cold Christmas trip, we had no heat in our van. It was a camping van, which means it only had the two front seats and then a bed in the back. We would put in two lawn-chairs for my sister and I to sit on or one of us would sit on the engine cover in the front, middle section of the van.

Well this trip was through the snow and ice of the Gorge area. We always left at o-dark-thirty so we could get there early. Since we had no heat, my mom, sister and I got to snuggle together on the bed with our warmest sleeping bags. My dad wore his orange snowmobile suit as he drove.

And Mom and Dad, you continue to wonder why I think our lives are like the book Glass Castle.

Available on Netflix

Ishaa Ishaan is an 8 year old whose world is filled with wonders that no one else seems to appreciate; colors, fish, dogs, and kites are just not important in the world of adults, who are much more interested in things like homework, grades and neatness. Ishaa just cannot seem to get anything right in class. When he gets into far more trouble than his parents can handle, he is packed off to a boarding school to be disciplined. Things are no different at hsi new school, and Ishaa has to contend with the added trauma of separation from his family. A new art teacher infects the students with joy and optimism and breaks all the rules of how things are done by asking them to think, dream and imagine. All the children respond with enthusiasm except Ishaa. The teacher soon realizes that Ishaa is unhappy and sets out to discover why. With time, patience and care, he ultimately helps Ishaa find himself.

Death

Last night we watched the movie "Faith Like Potatoes". In the movie, a lady dies and God brought her back from the dead. Also in the movie a little boy dies. He is not brought back to life. I imagine that the death of a child is the WORST pain someone can go through. My friend, Christy, had a child that died. To watch her go through that pain was so sad. But she has done amazingly through it. The growth in her life, her faith, her whole attitude, was amazing.

I was reminded today of a death in my life. Nothing like having a child die, but still painful. I have not done well with it either. Two years before our gym was closed, it died in my heart. Because of some very hurtful things that people did and said, it killed my dreams. I know that the people didn't intend to have this effect on my life, so I don't hold anything against them. But I haven't figured out how to come back from the dead.

I realized that the hurt didn't just cause my dream to die, but it killed something else inside of me. I use to think that I could do anything I set my mind to do. Now I have no self-confidence. I doubt that I can do anything great at all. And I feel like my desires have all died.

Sounds like I need to go see that counselor again, doesn't it? Well don't worry, I will set up an appointment today. I guess if I were to look for a bright side in this post, it is that I have something to work on in my life to become whole again. Oh boy!

More Clothes

We just got back to a visit with Steve's grandparents. The same grandma that gave me her hand-me-down underwear a few years ago. She always seems to have a pile of clothes for me to go through. I usually take them all. Partly I take them because it is a way for her to feel good about giving things away, and partly because I like the clothes.

This time I got 4 shirts and one pant/shirt set. They are all nice quality. The only problem is that they really look great on an 82 year old and not so hot on a 39 year old.

We are missing India. Micah is missing it the most. Yesterday was he breaking point with being in America. And it didn't help that I showed him pictures of his friends.

We have been here in America for two months. I think these have been two of the rainiest months for Oregon/Washington in years. And in India it is the hottest summer since who knows how long. I am thankful to be here instead of there because of the heat. But we miss our friends and our life.

So last night, poor Micah cried for 45 minutes because he misses his friends. He is counting the days until we will get to be back there. The only problem is that we don't know for sure when that will day. So we prayed. We prayed that God would provide for all that we need to return.

Today Micah was able to Skype with his friends for a half hour. It was great to see and hear them. I am so thankful for modern technology. And mostly, I am thankful for friends.

Dan Rather: Pornland, Oregon: Child Prostitution in Portland

Dan Rather: Pornland, Oregon: Child Prostitution in Portland