IrishOboe

To celebrate the last days of Jimmy’s time in Europe, and with the hope of meeting again soon back in the states, we went to Luzern for some mountains, lakes, and Swissness.

I miscounted last update.  I didn’t have six weeks, I had five.  Now I have four.  As much as I can’t wait to see family at the Maggie P. and watch my best friend get married, June 26^th is coming too quickly!  It’s okay.  Really.  It just means I have a whole month to enjoy this paragraph in my life.

The gem of a story for today is a lesson in why I must learn Swiss German, otherwise known as “dialect.“  The background information you need for this story is that Swiss kids grow up speaking dialect and don’t usually hear much High German until they hit school at about age six.  Thus, I am acutely aware that when I speak German to the neighborhood kids it can sound as strange as when I tell them off in English (yes, I’ve done it once).  Today as I walked to the tram for my fiddle lesson a trio of girls from about 3 to 6 years eagerly greeted me.  I’d said hello to them before, but this time curriosity got the better of them and they came running up to me.  Here is the dialogue with my thoughts in italics.

Hello all!  The old Janet is back!  Her struggles are far from over, but praise God her feelings are back to their giddy selves.  Thanks for bearing with me, praying, and sending notes!  Aunt Sarah sent an update with a love note from Billy. J  Aunt Prudence sent a note with a gift from Jay’s store.  They stories never end, and what did he find in the dump this time but a five Euro note in a new shirt pocket!  I’ve been advised to go eat ice cream in Germany, a command which I will happily obey.

This weeks highlights . . .

Inspired by the experience of being listened to I went to Bible study determined to listen to others.  It might not have been so noticeable to others, but I had a small, but decisive victory in restraining my tongue and opening my ears.  I am eager to continue the challenge.  It was a blessing, though I still caught myself eager to jump in quite convinced I had something very important to say.

I woke today thinking of the character of God.  His faithfulness, his goodness, his sovereignty, his love.  I do so nearly every morning, but this time God blessed me with being able to feel it deep in my aching heart.  I have never doubted it the past few weeks, but the feeling of joy has been elusive, which is unusual for me.  Feelings are fickle, but I am grateful for this moment of rest against my struggles.  My heart is glad and my feet are light.  It’s like a film has been lifted from my soul and I know I am with God.  Tomorrow the struggle might return in fresh strength, but that makes today’s blessing of a peaceful heart all the more precious.  Thanks to all who are praying for me.  Everything is surely in God’s hands!  We are surely able to do that which the Lord calls us to do!

“'That I will,' answered Curdie. He did not say, 'If I can'; for he knew that what he was sent to do, that he could do.” – The Princess and Curdie

I am reading "The Princess and Curdie" by George MacDonald with a friend and this time around I am recording quotes that I like.  There are too many of them, but they all make me think.  This is for my reference, but also for anyone who is interested and likes to reflect.  Discussion is welcome.

I took notes on our vacation to France, but it has been more than a month so I’m sure to have lost the ability to write about all the charms of the trip.  I’ll do my best to remember my version without cheating by looking at Mom’s.

Listening is a skill, a discipline, and I’m only beginning to train myself in it.  This is an ode to the listening ears I encountered today.  I mention the people of today by name but this is a thanks on behalf of all, to all those who open their ears and simply listen.

I know it is Mother’s Day, but my today was a mini-Christmas for me.  We didn’t sing any Christmas songs in church, but not a one made me giggle.  The sermon was simple but direct and sometimes that’s the best way to hear God’s call.  The Lord calls me back from my idolatry every Sunday, and this Sunday was blessedly no exception.  It is always such a joy to enter the week reunited with Jesus.  I keep praying I fall away less and less!

Boy, do the weeks fly by!  I’ve finally decided that I want to and can justify coming back for more school.  I was having some serious doubts, but the Lord opened my eyes to alternate perspectives and I feel confident that it will be a productive and valuable three years if I come back.  This makes it easier to live here now since in my mind I am coming back.  So, hopefully I stay stable until the audition and either go on as planned or cry my eyes out and prepare to be in the place God wants me instead.  Life sure isn’t as simple as it looks, but I supposed everyone has to learn that at some point.

Hurray for short weeks!  Of course, I can’t complain about the work that I do during the week, but it was wonderful to have Monday to do my own work on my own time and Tuesday was just one of those special days.  A genki crew from BCF set out for a hiking trip in the Jura Mountains.  It was perfect weather: sunny and cool with a slight breeze.  The fields were bursting with tall, bright green grass and wild flowers.  As we walked along we enjoyed the shade of the forest or threw the Frisbee in the open fields.

Andy B., I now bestow the honorable title of "Andy" upon you since you have been so devoted to my blog.  So as to avoid confusion, my dear brother Andy F. will now take on a last initial.  I still think fondly of him and I was reminded of him today on the tram when a nice old man's cell phone rang with:

dah-di-dah-dit dah-dah-di-dah  dah-di-dah-dit dah-dah-di-dah

Classic.