Botanic Gardens - Reflection

I like who I am here.
I like wandering around with only my thoughts in my head.
No children complaining, asking for things, fighting.
No washing to be done, clothes to be folded and put away.
No dirt staring at me from the floor, blaming me for little shoes worn on the carpet.
No dust floating along the floorboards, waiting to be swept away, taunting me with how long I've let them stay.

Just me and my thoughts,
a bird who lands lightly in my path,
a chipmunk evading my camera,
in the corner of my eye a white butterfly.
I love wandering down the path, going wherever I want to, at my own pace.
Turning the corner and finding a surprise.
Something new I haven't seen before - a flower, a sculpture, a hidden path.

I love the little signs along the way.
I can ignore them with no ill feeling, or I can stop and read them.
They are only there for my good. Not to bring confusion, pain or disappointment.
A gentle voice which helps me appreciate the textures and colours,
or gives me tips for how to prune roses, for when I have some,
telling a story of the plants growing there.

I love the gentle sound of water flowing, the art of a fountain large or small,
the refreshing burst into the air, and free fall that will not hurt.

I think about the thought and care that is behind each tended garden.
I love the architecture that makes your raise your eyes to see the grander vista,
then lets you rest your eyes on the beautiful detail of a single flower. The silent Companion walks with me, and I am grateful that He brought me here.

The beauty captivates me and fills my soul with happiness and peace.

Good news

Scott had an amazing week this week. He went for a job interview with Don Carson on Monday, and found out later that same day that he received the job. It is working as an assistant for Carson, 5-10 hours a week. He will mainly help with grading papers, and doing research in original languages. He starts in about three weeks, after German is finished.

Then later in the week he found out he has been accepted to deliver a paper at an evangelical conference held at Rhode Island (near New York). He still has to write the paper, but this is a great opportunity for him.

All in God's grace!

Summertime

Summertime is an amazing phenomena here in Chicago. After hibernating for the winter, everyone comes out to play. There are free music concerts going on all over the place. On Wednesday I packed a picnic for the girls, and we went to the local park where they had a children's singer playing the guitar. The girls loved it. People are obsessed with going to the swimming pool. They always ask me if I have my pool pass yet (which I don't, because I'm not that obsessed). You have to buy a pool pass from the local park district to go to the pol. To go to the beach you also have to buy a pass, which costs over $100. We haven't been to the beach this summer.

Favourite food for summer is definately BBQ's, mainly hotdogs with flourescent green relish (not sure what's in it). Next is ice-creams.

Sport is huge. Kids are booked into baseball teams from 5 yrs old. There is practise during the week, and a game on the weekend. Lots of families can be seen riding their bikes (called "biking" not "riding"). They have a little wagon on the back for little tots to sit in. Luckily it is very flat around here. In the evening you see Dads playing basketball, or throwing the baseball with their kids - just like TV.

Fashion: flip-flops (don't dare call them thongs!) pretty much all the time; nearly every woman's foot that I have seen has red nailpolish on it; tye-die t-shirts for the men and kids; of course, baseball tops; matching accessories.

Summer camps - all of the kids on our street are going to summer day camps, so my kids see them less than they did during the school year. Dante is looking forward to going back to school so he can catch the bus with his friends again. Dante is also going to a summer camp and loving it. He has swim lessons everyday, and very proudly told me how he jumped off the diving board the other day and didn't need help to get to the edge. The 'camp counsellors' are uni students, and lots of fun.

Apparently the weather has been pretty mild. It has only just started getting into the 30's, and I don't think has gone over 35. The main difference to Australia is that there are a lot of thunderstorms, and lots of rain. The local district has a siren that goes off to warn of lightening - just in case you are in a swimming pool or playing golf. Funny thing is that they still go off during the night. I can tell that I am still very much an Aussia, because I still get very excited about the rain. Wish I could send it down south.

Scott has been missing much of the summer fun because he is still doing his German intensive. He is enjoying meeting some new students who have arrived at Trinity, and has a new friend from New York called Jake (who very helpfully fixed our shower the other day). Tomorrow he has a job interview with Don Carson to be a research assistant - not everyday that happens to an Aussie. Unfortunately, he hurt his back the other day rescuing a falling chest of drawers (thanks to Angela), and has been on valium, so I hope the interview goes OK.

Scott and I went to see the batman movie the other day. Americans are more vocal during movies - quite funny sometimes. And they clapped at the end. A lot of the movie was filmed in Chicago, and you can see some of the beautiful architecture. Tomorrow I am taking the girls to see "Kit Kitteridge" and American doll girl movie. As you can see - summer has so far been full of adventure. I'm sure there will be more.

Dante's Birthday Party - Now he's 7!!!

What to blog

OK, I have been encouraged after reading my friend's blog to do some more. Sometimes it feels like there is nothing particularly interesting to blog about. Also, I have now lost my camera. But here are a few things we have been doing lately:

• Scott got 86% for his first intensive German course, which is a great effort considering all the help he had to give me at home during that time;
• We went to a church camp with our neighbours. It was with the Chinese church, and while we expected to feel a bit out of place, we actually felt really comfortable and very welcomed. There were lots of young families, and the girls and I have already been invited for a subsequent 'playdate'. The camp was at a 'college' (ie. university campus) in Wisconsin, so now we have experienced a little bit of college life!
• When we got home we found a huge branch lying on our front lawn. We think the tree got hit by lightening.
• Last night we saw our first fireflies! This was fun, after having read about them in books etc. There were only a couple in our back yard, but they do really shine brightly
• Currently we have Nathan Fong from St Mark's staying with us. It is great to have an Aussie to chat with, and hear all about his travels. The guys went to the city yesterday, and when they got off the train to come home, a huge downpour started. They were soaked when they walked in the door.
• Dante is totally obsessed with Pokemon. He is also very happy with a Star Wars ship his uncle David sent him. Have I blogged about his party yet? I'll have to check.
• I am still obsessed with the Chicago Botanic Gardens. I try to go once a week - for exercise - but I end up stopping to take so many photos I don't know how good the exercise is. Also I don't know what to do with all these photos!
• Scott and I are still having ice-skating lessons, and finally building up some skills. It's harder than it looks!
• We have a guinea-pig called Ash (from Pokemon)
• Today is 4th of July! Not sure what is going to happen. Maybe I should go and buy a disposable camera

Thanks for reading my blog. Please leave a comment so I can be encouraged that it is worthwhile.