November restaurant pick

We are on the 11th month of trying out new restaurants (one each month).  This past week we invited our friends, Dave and Marilyn, and Dave's dad, Elmer to go out with us.  They suggested :

They had never tried this one here in Wichita, but had eaten at a Shorty Small's in Branson. 

 

A little unique kind of place.

 The menus were on a newspaper. 

Pulled pork, shrimp and chicken alfredo were the items we ordered.

In the past few years, Elmer has translated the Bible into Low German, or Plautdietsch, as well as the Through the Bible radio program.  It has brought many people to Christ!

Our meal was very delcious, and the company wonderful!  We talked almost non-stop all evening and had our share of laughs.  Elmer told us about dust bowl days back in his childhood.  We treasure our friendship with this very special couple and with Elmer.  So grateful for God's guiding Dave to pastor our church many years ago and we are excited to be a part of the "family" with them!

Cleaning

I must admit that one of my least favorite jobs is cleaning the bathrooms, which is what I did today. 

Cleaning the mirrors, wiping down the counter and sinks,

 

scrubbing the shower

 and the tub

and of course the toilet.  I saw a video on housecleaning once that said if you would do 5-10 minutes a day (much like the maid at a hotel), that it would be not so bad.  But, it takes me 5 minutes just to clean the mirrors.  I DO NOT like cleaning the bathroom.

It would probably help if I didn't have so many nicky-nacks to clean around. 

But I like my pictures of the ocean where I grew up, the shells and family pictures of trips to the ocean.

Being November, the month of Thanksgiving, I have been trying to give thanks each day.  I've been posting those on Facebook. 

So, turning my negative attitude into a positive, I got to thinking, at least I don't have to go in a hole outside!




This photo below is the kind of bathrooms I learned to go on.  We had a western one in our house, but generally these were the toilets we used in Japan.

I hear that today they have real modern style ones,

complete with padded, heated seats,  and water sprays and blow dryers to clean you. And all of this is activated by the touch of a button on a remote control type panel.

Here are some other rather unpleasant toilets.

So, even though I do NOT like to clean my bathrooms, at least it is a very, nice one!

A little ceremony

We had a small private burial for Aunt Millie today.

  

 Al read Scriptures.

Dad prayed.

And I cried.

Reflecting and looking at relatives' stone.

It was Veteran's Day so there were several flags out.

We found an interesting one burial plot - this is a common grave.  Anyone who wants can just add their cremains here.  All on top of eachother.  I think it is a rather deep hole.

 This is the memorial stone and the names of those who choose the common grave are listed on the back.

John 11:25

Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. Whoever believes in Me will live, even though they die.

Romans 8:38,39
I’m convinced that nothing can separate us from God’s love in Christ Jesus our Lord: not death or life, not angels or rulers, not present things or future things, not powers or height or depth, or any other thing that is created.

This week

This week I voted.   The location we go to vote is at our church.  Although personally it didn't turn out the way I wanted, I am glad we live in America where we have that opportunity to do so.  There are too many countries where tyrants rule and there is nothing to be done about it. 

Ultimately God who is the One who has the final say.  He holds the future in His hands so we can trust His care over us.  Times might get tough - we don't know, but we can have peace no matter.  He is the Mighty King, Ruler of Everything.

"He controls the course of world events; he removes kings and sets up other kings."   Daniel 2:21

Tomorrow is Veteran's Day and I want to thank our guys for fighting for our freedoms!

I saw these planes fly overhead and thought it was just cool!

I went shopping in Wichita with my daughter and 2 of her girls.  What a fun time!!

Claire is just old enough to sit in a seat with lots of padding!

This week we had dinner with our good friends, Dave and Sarah.  The sun was setting as we arrived at their place.

 Their home is so very warm and welcoming!!

Dave says he was serving "Field and Stream" - steak and trout.  Oh Yum!!

Thanks guys!!  They have been friends for many years.  We were neighbors back at Quail Creek.  We have lots of fun memories and now Sarah and I lead one of the young moms' Bible study together.

After church today, we went to Hesston to watch these guys.  Sat with friends from church, Tim and Dorla.

Looking forward to another good week!

Mi casa, su casa

hospitable - 1a: given to generous and cordial reception of guests  b: promising or suggesting generous and cordial welcome  c: offering a pleasant or sustaining environment  (the word hospital comes from the same root word)

This past weekend I had such wonderful company!!  Christina's family from Texas came again!  We love to have guests come and stay.  It saves them hotel costs and I want my home to be a place they can relax and enjoy themselves and have a good night's rest. 

Christina's family knew we were going through a trying weekend with Aunt Millie's funeral and they took time to comfort and to pray with me.  I just LOVE these women!!

* * * * * * * *
Many, many years ago, as a young mom, I remember reading a book called "Open Heart, Open Home" by Karen Maines.  Here is a quote from that book:

“We think in terms of entertaining as a woman's chance to demonstrate her skill and the quality of her home, when actually entertaining has little to do with real hospitality. Entertaining says, "I want to impress you with my beautiful home, my clever decorating, my gourmet cooking." Hospitality, however, seeks to minister. It says, "This home is not mine. It is truly a gift from my Master. I am His servant, and I use it as He desires." Hospitality does not try to impress, but to serve.


* * * * * * * *
My mom was the hostess with the mostest and I think I learned about hospitality from her first.  We had company at our home a lot in Japan.  Mom would dig out her china and we learned manners from her.  What fork was for what, etc.  Below, we are eating a Japanese meal though.  They love to serve sukiyaki!

Sometimes missionaries from other countries would be passing through on their way back to the States or to Canada.  Often times it was people from America touring Japan.

Sometimes it would be a world traveler coming through our town.  We spotted foreigners (gaijin) a mile away!  In our part of Japan, we gaijin were an oddity.  Mom would make sure to invite them over for dinner and the night. This was Fritz, from Germany.  He told us tales of his travels through India and around the world. 

 A couple of times mom invited the whole school over for the weekend.  We had a church bus for awhile and we were able to all go to the Cactus Gardens on the Nichinan Coast.

When we came to the States, my parents became host parents for a college student from Ethiopia who was attending Bethel College.  Mom still has this huge ostrich egg that she gave us.  We learned that Ethiopian food is VERY spicy!!

And Grace Community folk, do you recognize this couple with their children?  They visited us in Japan and then also when we moved to Pretty Prairie.  Hint:  they go to China every summer to teach English.

Isn't this a fun 1970's picture of Jim and Shirley??

1 Peter 4:8-10

Most importantly, love each other deeply, because love will cause people to forgive each other for many sins. Open your homes to each other, without complaining. Each of you has received a gift to use to serve others. Be good servants of God's various gifts of grace.  

Farewell, Aunt Millie!

We had our memorial celebration of Aunt Millie's life this past weekend.  On the table we put pictures of Millie and Uncle John who passed away some time ago, and a picture of my Dad's 3 sisters who are now in heaven.

The plaque says "Sei gefreu bis an den Tod, so will ich dir die Krone des Lebens geben."  Offb.2,10

"Be faithful even to the point of death and I will give you the crown of life."  Rev. 2:10

That verse marked her life - her faithfulness to the Lord.  

The Lord went before me and graciously orchestrated everything to fall into place for a service just like Aunt Millie would have wanted.  Ruth Miller called to ask if we wanted her to play the piano (she was incredible!!  Aunt Millie had asked her ahead of time if she would do this), Pastor Mace officiated, Adam sang Aunt Millie's favorite song "Jesus Paid it All"and also gave a wonderful sermon just like she wanted, a granddaughter, Tina, read the obituary and I was able to give my reflections of her life without breaking down.

You, Lord, are all I have,

and You give me all I need;

my future is in Your hands.

How wonderful are Your gifts to me;

how good they are!

I praise the Lord, because He guides me,

and in the night my conscience warns me.

I am always aware of the Lord's presence;

He is near, and nothing can shake me.

And so I am thankful and glad,

and I feel completely secure,

because You protect me from the power of death.

I have served you faithfully,

and You will not abandon me to the world of the dead.

You will show me the path that leads to life;

Your presence fills me with joy

and brings me pleasure forever.  ~ from Psalm 16

My cousin Sandy (right) and my Dad's only remaining sister, my Aunt Betty with Uncle Bill.

This is my Aunt Millie's family and my cousin Tom (beside Sandy).  May God bring comfort to them.  Aunt Millie prayed for each one every day.

I am standing on the seashore.

A ship at my side spreads her white sails to the morning breeze and starts for the blue ocean.

She is an object of beauty and strength and I stand and watch her until at length she hangs

                like a speck of white cloud just where the sea and sky come down to mingle with each other.

Then someone at my side says:

                              'There!  She's gone.'

Gone where?  Gone from my sight that is all.

She is just as large in mast and hull and spar as she was when she left my side,

      and just as able to bear her load of living freight to the place of destination.

Her diminished size is in me, not in  her;

and just at the moment when someone at my side says:

                               'There!  She's gone.'

there are others watching her coming, and voices ready to take up the glad shout

                               'There she comes'

And that is dying.

~Charles Henry Brent