Missing Daddy

H.J. Gulledge -"Jimmy" to my mom and their friends. Daddy to me. This week, five years ago was his last week on this earth. He was in a coma, so we couldn't speak. The last thing I spoke to him about was in the emergency room as he was having tests. The next day, he was gone - his mind was gone.
Yeah and I still really miss him. He was a grumpy old man and I loved him so much. He was a good daddy, one who would sit on the front porch with me when I was a moody teenager and ask "what's wrong," or "how are things going?" He would drive all the way home on a work day to take me out to lunch. Somehow, over the years, despite all my mistakes, he conveyed to me that I was the apple of his eye. He loved Scott like his own and was so good and encouraging to my sons.
Yet it was my dad's death that propelled us forward into missions. I could have never left him or my mom while he was still struggling with Alzheimer's. I just hope he is looking down and is proud of us. I got really lucky when they were handing out moms and dads. It took me a while to truly appreciate them, but they are golden.

Absolutely Soaking

I am resolved to walk as much as possible - for exercise and to save fuel. so I have been walking Peter to school, even in the rain. Yesterday I had a nice gentle rain that stopped by the time I got to his school and on the way home it stopped altogether and the sun came out. Lovely.

Today I started out from home in a fairly determined drizzle, but about half way there it started coming down harder. At Peter's school, just as he came out, it began to rain hard and hail. We only have one umbrella, since I cannot find our other two, but we both had on rain jackets with hoods. I really enjoyed walking in the rain, surrounded by joyful children, happy to be out of school, and happy to be running in the rain. This being England, I was certainly not the only one walking my kids home. We were splashed by cars going by on the big road and just soaked by the time we got to our house. It is about a 20 minute walk at a medium pace, but I can make it in 15 minutes if I need to. It sure did help the cup of tea taste really good when we got inside and changed.

So Tracy and Laura, get as much rain stuff as you can. You will use it. I am hoping to get a pair of waterproof pants soon. And get lots of boots - all kinds of comfortable boots. You will wear them from September to June.

Groovy hair, after all....

Oh yeah, my hair was perfect for Spain!!! Just wash and go. I took my dryer and never used it. I swam every day with the boys. Loved it. It is growing. But, horrors, my friend - Lisa - who cuts it is going to India to work with the orphans for four months. I will have plenty of time to let it grow!

Blessings

We got back from our annual WEC/Betel conference in Spain this past Saturday. It was our second year to go, so this time we knew most of the people and knew what to expect. We stay at Betania, a Betel owned conference center that is mostly like a camp. We sleep in rooms crammed with bunk beds. The boys all sleep together in a big room that has 23 bunk beds. It is like a big sleep over for the week. We hardly see them as they play with their friends from Italy, Czech Republic and Spain. There is no a/c, and even though it is hot during the afternoon, it cools down around 10:00 p.m. My favorite part is hearing each center report on how they have done the previous year. We hear story after story of God's provision as our centers grow and expand. India has spun off into a center in Mongolia which is doing well. India also has two houses for orphans now. Germany started a new center in Berlin and was given a house to open a women's house. Cool stuff.

We have been blessed this week with a new car. A Toyota van - seats 8 - just in time to pick up Josh as he is arriving from Seoul to spend the next six months with us. So now we have room all six of us, plus two. We can give Brian ( our Scottish guy who lives with us and cannot drive) rides without breaking the law. Yea! The van was donated to be used in Betel. God is so kind to us.

Short hair, peanut butter and why do people leave?

I succumbed and asked Lisa to cut my hair short. Shorter than I have had in over four years. I was thinking how easy it would be to care for, how I would look more "Up-to-date" (groovy) and how I could make it funky with gel or wax. But now that I have done it, I am afraid - that I look like a man, or my mom, or just lots less feminine. I think I will like it in two weeks. Just call me Dan.
A sign that we have been in England a long time is that my children are now eating English peanut butter and liking it. English peanut butter is less smooth and sweet than say, Jiff, or even Walmart's Great Value brand. I used to either ask visitors from the US to bring us a big jar of Jiff or I bought some at Aldi's that was kind of close to the American kind. But now they are not even asking for American peanut butter, they are just eating the Sainsbury's store brand as if that is all they have ever known. Also, all of them drink their hot tea with milk. What's next?
Haggis? Steak and kidney pie? Black pudding?
Life in Betel means that there are seasons of people coming and people leaving. Lately, people are leaving the program for some sad reasons. One just said that she wanted the things of the world more than the things of God. One stole some money. Some just want to get high or drunk again. It is always hard when people leave. You laugh with them, you eat meals with them, you pray with them, and then one day, they just walk out the door. Most of the time, I don't get to say goodbye. That makes me sad. Our director wisely says that we must love the ones that are with us, the ones that God has given us for this moment.

My hair is still short. I'm going to go have a cup of tea.

Daisy Boo

I know that if there is ever a drought in England, all we will have to do to call down rain is hang clothes out on the line to dry and start our little charcoal grill. Works every time.

Otherwise, we did have a nice day. We were a particularly idyllic and wholesome looking family as we cycled to the local canal, walked along the side and picked blackberries. At one junction we came up at a bridge, at a country pub where people were sitting and walking around with their pints of ale. I spoke with one man who was standing at the bridge. He had not heard of any other type of missionaries other than Mormon. I explained that we were not Mormons, we were Presbyterians. He seemed to accept that well. He went on to tell me that he did not believe in the trinity. It was about this time I noticed that he was a little sloshed. So I decided to go find the kids. He cheered me on as I left in a very friendly manner. I hope he did not fall into the canal after we left.

But now we are home and because of the abundance of water that insists on falling from the sky, (because we lit the grill) we have to pan fry our pork chops. Pete (big Pete, not my Peter) is roasting peppers and chicken in the oven and they smell really good. As he says, " It's the business!" We are also debating the viability of a year old Christmas pudding that he found in the back of the lower cabinet in our kitchen. Bonn Appetit!

Sidenote: did you know that one of Jamie Oliver's daughter's name is Daisy Boo? I love it. He should have lived in Alabama!!

Visas

We got our visas!!!! Wow. We went away for the weekend to a Betel house in Nottingham and when we came back on Sunday evening - there was the package. sitting on the table in the hall, waiting for us. Three more years - big wow. We are happy and releived and a little stunned. Stunned, because, we feel that this is still God's will for us. So far from home, family and friends.

But we are relieved that things will go on - like the boys schooling. This will be the first year in four years that Paul will go to the same school two years in a row. From the time he was 10 until now he has gone to a different school each year. First year: Minnesota; next year: Philadelphia; third year: Alvechurch middle school; fourth year: Henley High and now he is returning to Henley High. He will be able to complete Henley High as long as we don't do something stupid to get us kicked out to the country. Christopher will start with him in Henley High this year. Can you say two train fares??? Peter will return to his primary school, for the first time, without Christopher. Now I have to dash around and finish buying all the bits that they need for school. It is not a matter of school supplies - those are mostly provided by the schools. It is all the specific stuff you have to have for their uniforms. Blazers with school crests, ties, the proper shoes, and two full P.E. outfits ( a winter one and summer one). The P.E. shirts must be bought from the school with the school logo embrodiered on front. I even have to buy Henley-in-Arden High school gym socks!!!! Crazy eh?

But, this is what we have prayed for - that God would either keep us here or send us elsewhere. So here we stay. The guys in the house were pleased - chuffed - as they say here. Things are going well in our house. The guys are getting along and dare I say it ---- maturing!
Ken is doing really well. We are pleased (chuffed) at how well he is doing. Praise God because I don't want to have to choke any of them.

So, wow. I am going to go have a cup of tea and watch the rain.