Frost on the Window...inside

The weather continues to chill...us...

Last night at bedtime I told Dad, "Honey, I'm not sure I'm cut out for this cold in the house stuff." He laughed and said, "Don't worry, I think there's only be four more months of it!"

We've had emails from The Old Place saying..."Turn on your heat!" But it's just not like that...Let me explain...

No one here has their heat on, and certainly not constantly. They all still have windows open and they remain bundled up at all times. I was comfortable for two days in a row...I wore my thermal underwear and socks continuously and seemed to feel warm enough. But, laundry must be done and it's hard to keep everyone in long underwear constantly, so we sometimes slip into our old way of thinking about being "inside" and try to wear just one layer. Sometimes I catch a child trying to go about in simply their pajama shirt, without any pj bottoms. We must reform this thinking.

We have turned on the heat from our AC/Heating units twice, each for about 30 minutes to knock the chill off the room. As I'm writing at 7:12 and there's frost on the inside of my window, we're about to have a third incidence of heater usage. But I look at this unknown climactic future like this...

When in labor with a child, especially on my first baby when I believed in the illusion of pain relief (did not work for me and caused me to end up on the c-section table as it does with many women), I had never gone through labor entirely and wasn't sure if I could "make it." With all the horror stories about labor that you hear (now that I've done it three times I'm appalled at the things women tell other women about an awesome experience that simply takes a great deal of work and dedication in surrender to the process), those horror stories about labor are kind of like the things we keep hearing from our colleagues here characterizing the winter ahead. Cold, miserable and barely able to function would sum up the predicted future for us by them. So, without having made it through our first winter, we're really reluctant to use the "pain relief" ie...the heater. I'm constantly considering "What if it gets really cold/bad like they say and we've already used the magic bullet of heat and we find it's not enough to get us through?!" In labor I kept delaying the utilization of the pain medication for fear I'd 'really need it later!'

So I sit here, with cold fingers stiffly working the keys of this lap top...

Some of you have asked about food here...

We continue to adventure well outside of our previous experiences. The chicken feet some time back started a new chapter that now includes pig mouth and intestines. We are thrilled every time we can cobble together some Western-style food. We can find some great things like Bisquick, spaghetti sauce and noodles as well as refried beans and tortillas. Though they are crazy expensive we appreciate any meal we make that includes them. During her last visit to us here, my mom Gramma J, brought all sorts of seasoning packets for chili, tacos etc. We've nearly gone through all of them as they are frequent requests by the kids.

Last night we entertained another family that lives here in our building. Their three children are students at our school and their father is from South America. They apparently really enjoyed the "Impossible Cheeseburger Pie" I made (my friend at the old place Kim W is now screaming in horror that such a recipe is being used in my kitchen...by the way Kim...I could REALLY use some Cream of Mushroom soup!) We also used a few of the precious, and I mean precious, toll house chips in a Blondie Brownie recipe I fashioned for dessert. The family raved and raved and the mom, ate 3 before we'd finished our green tea!

Dad found me a big toaster oven some weeks back and it may be the only appliance I'll ever use up...it's awesome!

As now it seems we're finally going to begin using this apartment for fellowship with neighbors and new friends, we're trying to get ourselves together so that we're not totally undone when another dinner invite arrives at the door. Though our days are long, we're finding it thrilling to bring people over for dinner, usually 2-3 nights per week. So much is accomplished in relationships around a table with food. I'm no fantastic hostess, but I see how opening up our home brings in stimulating discussion that bears fruit. It has been a good reminder to me, at let it be to you, that whatever we do, He can use it in a mighty way. Every act that serves, engages, or relates to people is a method to reach deep into their lives and share the good news. And we mustn't travel around the world to live to be used in that way!

Had a thrilling conversation with a local lady here who is like-minded. She wanted to hear, through and interpreter, when I'd come to know DAD. She listened with rapt attention when I told her though I was raised in the Farm, and made a decision some 23 years ago, that I truly began to experience change my life in accordance with the teachings some 5-7 years ago. She was so curious how I could have possibly heard the message so long before and yet not lived like it until many years later. She proudly told me that she had trusted Him 7 years ago and that her life had never been the same. Her face was aglow when she relayed the story to me. How encouraging it was to me to hear her story!

Aware that Fall is going on at The Old Place we're all feeling homesick. Some for salmon run fishing, others for pumpkin patches and potlucks after Sunday meetings...

Magpie said to me yesterday when we were washing dishes..."So Momma, it's Fall back home and our people are probably getting ready for Thanksgiving...wonder if the turkeys are already for sale at Hggn?"

Ah the things that mean home to us...who knew...

Must go...must drink hot water...