Paying it Forward

When our kids were small, my best friend from high school mailed a Christmas box to us that included this:

It's been so long that I can't remember if it was her, or maybe her sister, who made this advent countdown calendar for our family. In any case, it's been up every Christmas since then - no one can remember a Christmas without it, even now when we have teenagers/almost only adults in the house.

Fast forward to last Friday. Claire and I were shopping in a little town nearby and found this oh so sweet Christmas train.

I set it on the counter after asking how much it was, sure that I supposed to buy it, but wasn't sure for whom. As I walked around the store, all of a sudden, I had a light bulb (aka: Holy Spirit speaking to me) moment.

Cece and her family! (Brian and Aleisha Stephens serve in JV with us on the Bteam - also parents to the twin boys I've written about, Gabe and Alex).

It was soooo much fun to take it over there and let Cece be the first one in the family to open one of the little doors to see what was inside (gummi bears and other assorted treats). She is just the cutest...melts your heart, she does! :)

Years from now she might not remember who it came from, or even when it became a part of their family's Christmas tradition.

But it makes me happy to think I passed on a loving tradition to Cece, her brothers and parents that my friend Karen passed on to us so many years ago!

See here for Claire's take on the story.

Caleb's STUŽKOVAK!

Friday night was a significant event in Caleb's life.

STUŽKOVAK!

Pronounced "stushkovack.", it comes from the Czech word for ribbon "stuha". This party for the fourth year high school students is to get pinned with their official ribbons celebrating their upcoming maturita (graduation oral exams.)

Held in the large hall of a hotel down the valley, teachers from Caleb's high school, BMA, sat at their special table...

The ballroom was packed with parents (even though you can only see a few here, 160 people were there for the party!)...

And other students and alumni from BMA, gathered as well.

Then the special program, prepared by the class teacher and the students, began. 

There were special words and gifts to each of the teachers (who walked the red carpet to receive them!)...

Then really fun dances by the fourth year students!

As well as funny skits!

Finally, it was time for the "knighting" of students with the special sword (no idea where it came from but it looks "Lord of the Ring-ish"!), the pinning of the ribbon, and the putting on of the sash that declares each student is a "maturant" - a graduating senior!

The class gathered for a photo (thanks to Claire, who was up in the balcony, for capturing all of these great photos!)

And then the two hour program was over...each student now officially in the season of studying for those huge exams that will come in May!

Seems like it wasn't that long ago that Tyler was having his pinning ceremony...and now it's already Caleb's turn three years later! Seems like the blink of an eye.

There was a huge buffet afterward of every imaginable Czech delicacy. The desserts were on another table altogether!

Caleb with some of his friends from BMA...Filip on the left is a fellow fourth year classmate. Noah and Tomas are in second year at BMA.

And finally, our dear Jirka - long time tutor for the Patty kids. He started with Caleb in 3rd grade so this year marks 11 years of doing homework, preparing for tests, getting help on papers, speaking Czech and getting help with Czech grammar! So thankful for his input and help all these years.

And so begins the heavy studying season for Caleb!

Unexpected Morning

Yesterday morning I woke up at 4:15 to see Caleb off to Krakow where he was planning to take another round of SAT's.

I climbed back into my warm bed, snuggling down for some more hours of sleep while I drifted off praying for a safe trip and good tests for him.

Half an hour later, the phone beside my bed rang.

"Mom, I just filled up dad's car outside of Frydek and now it won't start - it's making weird noises."

Handing over the phone to Dave, I listened in as they talked through what the options were. Not many.

Within moments, Dave and I were up and out the door, headed to the gas station where he was stranded, the clock ticking towards the time he needed to be there.

In the end, we decided wisdom was for me to drive Caleb to Krakow in my car. Since we didn't know what was wrong with his car (though it started with a push), he was now in danger of not making it there in time, and I knew the way (he'd been there, but never driven it himself). So he and I pulled out of the gas station and hurried on our way.

We arrived at 7:45, just in time! I dropped him off and drove away with a prayer that in spite of the stress of the morning, he'd do well.

As I left from the remote location of the school that hosts the test (see here for what happened last time we were there!), I was also praying for anyone who was lost and needed help getting there like last time, that I'd see them and be able to help.

Sure enough! About five minutes later, a taxi was stopped in the middle of the road, apparently asking a man on the side for directions. I just knew it was a student bound for the SAT's!

I pulled into the oncoming lane, beside the taxi, rolled down my window and asked, "Are you looking for the SAT's?" The girl and her mom in the backseat both cried out simultaneously, "YES!!" I answered, "Follow me".

So once again, I got someone to the SAT just in the nick of time!

I had to laugh to myself as I drove off, imagining the conversation in the taxi as they followed me: "Who do you think that is? An American lady, driving a Czech plated car, in the middle of nowhere in Poland, pulling up beside and asking if we were looking for the SAT's?? She must be an angel!"

HA HA! Nope...just a mom in the right place at the right time.


Caleb said afterward that he felt good about the tests - didn't even feel tired because he'd been able to sleep the whole way there while I drove!

We relaxed with yummy holiday lattes at a McCafe before making the two and half hour drive back home.

200

Last January I made a New Year's resolution. I wanted to write 200 blog posts this year.

Today is my 200th post!! I hit my goal a whole month early! A few thoughts from me to you on this day:

• First, thank you for visiting my blog this year, giving me inspiration to keep writing.

• It's been fun to track where all you're from...99 countries so far. I even had someone visit from Cuba last week!

• With people visiting from so many different countries, I often wonder how you got to my blog. If I could wish for one thing it would be comments letting me know how you found it if you don't know me personally!

• This is not the end! While I haven't set a new goal yet, I know I'll keep blogging.

• The main reasons I blog regularly? 

I don't want to forget all the ways God showed Himself real in our lives this year...

I don't want to forget all the ways I've seen, touched, heard, tasted and even smelled the goodness of God along the way...

And, I want to remember life as it is today, soaking in the goodness of God in every detail!!

I'll end this 200th post with a video that I wish I'd made! It captures something of why I decided to blog 200 posts this year...I don't want to miss out on life itself.

Thanks so much for coming here to read my thoughts, musings, beliefs, tips, reflections, opinions, hopes and dreams. My prayer continues to be that my blog would be a blessing and encouragement to enjoy your God-given life as it is TODAY!

Priceless

On Tuesday night, Dave drove to Brno to speak for a group of Czech college students.

After meeting at the offices of the ministry organization he was there to speak for, Dave followed someone to the university location for the meeting. He parked behind the guy who led him there, on a small side street.

Held in a lecture hall at the university, the meeting room was full of students, many who were there for the first time.

Dave spoke on having a healthy relationship with your parents as an adult. It was designed to show the non-Christian students the practical nature of the Bible on a relevant topic that they're facing. Dave said he had a great time speaking, with good interaction afterward with students.

He stayed for an hour and a half after the meeting talking with them, then went out to get in the car and make the two hour drive home.

But the car was gone.

After walking up and down the block, trying to remember if this was really where he parked, a woman from the apartments facing the street put her head out the window and said, "I think your car was one of the ones that got towed".

Turns out there had been a hockey game at the university. Many cars were parked on the small side street. While there was NOT a "No Parking" sign anywhere, all the cars were parked up on the sidewalk in order to leave room on the street for other cars to go by.

But, come to find out...if you park up on a sidewalk, you need to leave at least 1.5 meters (4 feet) free on the sidewalk for people to get by. Good to know!

Someone from the apartment buildings had called the police, who came and ticketed all the cars parked up on the sidewalk. It's not a big fine for this offense.

However, for whatever reason, a little while after the police ticketed everyone, a tow truck came and towed away all the cars that were still there, including Dave's!

The cost of a tow truck coming to pick up your car is, as Dave found out, not a small one.

After paying the bill, Dave finally had his car again and drove home with a lighter wallet than what he had gone there with.

Yesterday, Dave got a letter from the organizer of the meeting with an update about conversations believers had with their non-believing friends afterward.

One young woman trusted Christ the next day!

Parking ticket - $10.64
Tow Truck - $102.15
New Believer - PRICELESS!

Free Tree: Part 2

On Saturday, Dave and Caleb had to do some trimming on our "free tree" to get it in shape for bringing inside.

It started out much bigger than we thought it was when the forest guy cut it off the big tree. It needed a little help to get ready to fit in the house.

 But eventually the guys did their chainsaw and trimming magic and it was ready to come inside.

There was a moment when I thought, "It's too big!"

 But it turned out perfect - way to go guys! We're ready for Christmas now...a whole month early!

Claire has some more photos of the transformation of our house if you want to check them out!

Come, Follow Me

This morning in our Bteam meeting, Dave led us in a study of Matthew 4:18-22 where Jesus calls his first disciples.

"Come, follow me," he says, "and I will make you fishers of men".

I was trying to imagine what that call was like for Simon Peter and his brother, Andrew, for James, and his brother John. The text goes on and says "At once they left their nets and followed him."

I ask myself, "Would I follow that quickly?"

On one hand, I have. Twenty seven years ago I heard that same call from Jesus, "Follow me". I haven't turned back on that calling since then.

And yet on the other hand...I think following Him is a daily, hourly, minute by minute calling. Am I quick to follow without any hesitation in my everyday life?

Honestly, one of the clearest examples right now of pure, obedient response to 'calling' is, strange as it may sound, by our dog.

It doesn't matter where she is...out in the field, on the other side of the house, or in another room...when I call out, "Kaylee! Come!!" She responds with bounding enthusiasm and comes immediately!

My neighbor stopped by yesterday morning to tell me Kaylee was out on our little road, which is like a really long driveway. There is no traffic except for our cars and the social services woman who brings lunch to our neighbor every day. But our neighbor was still worried and wanted to know if I was worried about Kaylee.

All I had to do was call out, "Kaylee! Come!!" And in an instant, there she was, skidding from around the side of the house, and up to my legs with pure joy at having been called. I know that she will respond that quickly nearly every single time I call out to her (it may not be 100% of the time...but it's close!).

When I think about Jesus calling out to me, "Connie! Come!", I want to be THAT fast at responding. With joy, with unfettered exuberance like Kaylee.

...happily at my Master's feet, willing to do whatever it is that he is asking.

As a side note...I was interrupted while writing this post and had to unexpectedly go down to town to pick up Claire who finished school early.

Normally Kaylee is happy to go along on a car ride, and did bound down the stairs following me as I got my coat on.

But after we walked outside, heading for the car, she suddenly stopped on the front porch. I called out for her to come, but she didn't! I called out numerous times, even walking all the way to the car to see if it helped to have me out of eyesight. Not a chance. She remained on the steps.

Who knows what was going through her head...did she know I was writing a blog post about how obedient she is! :) Ha! I ended up putting her back inside the house and going down to town without her.

Her lack of response gave me pause for thought, "Do I do that???" Do I ever hear Him calling me, but sit on the porch for whatever reason may have popped into my head, unresponsive to His calling??

Perhaps I do. I want to be more thoughtful about this in the coming days and make sure I'm the 95% Kaylee, and not the 5%!