House

Ani and Brian are beginning to shop for a house in San Francisco. So I am drawn back to our own first house shopping not so long ago. When we still lived in Spain, I would often have dreams in the night-- Larry and I were walking through large, old houses, searching for one of our own. But as the sun rose, I'd always wake up to our 7th floor apartment in the city. Then when we came to live in California, my dreams were literally realized. Larry's aunt unexpectedly left us enough money to afford a down payment and within days were we found our very own house--providential! We filled it with hand-me-downs from family and friends--the old owners sold us 3 couches for $100, we found a used table at Pottery Barn for $39, odd beds from friends and a rocker that we had given away when we went overseas found it's way back to us. My favorite story of God's provision, were the bookcases I loved in a catalogue but were too much ($$) to buy. Then one day I was taking my Grandmother to a Walmart near her home and there was an outlet store next door with the exact same bookcases at 1/3 the price! A piano my folks no longer needed, a desk from Larry's parents garage... A lady I'd never met from church heard about us and dropped by our blue lamp. Bit by bit our house became a home and I love it so.

I have some favorite spots in the house-- on the tiny office sofa, looking down the hall over the bookcase out the back window toward the maple tree... or coming in the front door to be welcomed by the green of the yard through the big wooden window. Standing at my kitchen counter with dinner brewing on the stove.

Mostly I love the house when it's filled with people, like in a couple hours when my Monday Bible study friends arrive, everyone telling stories over mugs of tea, always a blessed time... or on Tuesdays when the young moms group comes and we share our lives and laugh (I mean laugh!) together. Last week week when friends came for Sunday night soup and Saturday night banana pie and a rousing game of banan-o-grams. And it's always a lovely joy when my kids are around the table, with the grandparents for a meal together.

I was watching HGTV this week at a young woman shopping for a house in Portland. She said she wanted a house she "could hug." Sounds corny, but I do love my huggable house. And I thank God for all that he has provided in giving us this home and all that is in it...

Happiness

Last summer for my stay in China, I packed a book, "The Geography of Bliss" in to my reading bag. The author, Eric Weiner, traveled the world, starting at a happiness research center in the Netherlands to study the happiest places on earth. His sometimes wise, always witty description of his journey takes him down rabbit trails of money, success, health and family, but doesn't come up with the ultimate formula for happiness. He tip toes around the facts he gives that religious people/people who worship are happier, but doesn't give that much credence. A thought provoking book...

Last week Larry shared a David Brooks article (NY Times) about happiness. He wrote that people who are married have a happiness boost that equals a $100,000 pay increase. He said people who have a group of friends they meet with once a month (or more) are 50% happier than whose who don't. He continues on with more research to finally conclude that it is the people in your life that engender happiness.

Which reminds me of the idea Chuck Swindoll used often when he was at the church-- The only two things in life that are eternal are people and God's word-- We should invest our time and energy in those two. I can't forget that at my father's funeral 1,000 people came to honor the time he had invested in them. That, for me, was a picture of a life of godly happiness.

Maundy Thursday

Last night another Maundy Thursday service-- my step into the holy days. The prayers, the music, the worship was rich, beautiful and true. The sacrifice of my Lord was real and eternal--those years ago, now and forever. How can I be so blessed? God have mercy.

Saint Andrews Church with Paul. Sue, John, Patty and David.