Stranger in A Foreign Land

A stranger in a foreign land, that’s who I am this month. I don’t know the language, the transit system, the dishwasher, or even the toilet.  The last time I had to make this many adjustments, I was a ten-year-old child in the Philippines.  Nothing is remotely the same as my home in Texas. A quick trip to the grocery store this afternoon involved a brisk four-block walk in the snow to buy and sack our groceries in bags we supplied. On the return trip I learned to walk as far away from the road as possible. That lesson was reinforced by a total dousing by a passing bus.

I’m not the only one making adjustments. My daughter, Megan and her husband Ben had their first child in Budapest last week. My airline ticket had been purchased for months, but the little guy came a week early. I missed his birth by four days, but I'm here now and making up for lost time.

Ben never changed a diaper before Grant was born.
He figured it out with common sense and some pointers from the internet. He pretty much takes care of all diaper changing duties and considers it a great source of father/son bonding time. Who am I to disagree?

Megan takes care of all nutritional needs

and likes to dress her new doll.

We equally share the opportunity
to adore this sweet baby boy!

Ben and Megan chose to have a home birth assisted by two midwives. A pediatrician made a house call to evaluate the baby and gave him a clean bill of health. The lactation consultant also made two house calls so the family didn't have to leave the house. However, when a little jaundice showed up, everybody bundled up for a trip to the pediatrician for a blood test.

Ben and Megan don't own a car and utilize public transportation.
Little bear got his first trip in a taxi. Bless his heart,
we stuffed him in his snowsuit and buckled him in.

His bilirubin was high, but not so dangerous that it required treatment, still it did require another visit to the pediatrician and blood test the next day.

Once again, he was wrapped up tight. This time in his stroller.

and took his first tram ride.

This week has been full of firsts or all of us. My children’s language teacher generously provided a crash course in Hungarian, just enough for me to be polite. My name, “Lace” translates in Hungarian to “Csipke”. It’s exciting to be able to introduce myself in Hungarian, however that is the extent of my interaction in a musical, but difficult language.
I'll let you know how it is going -- Sziasztok! Csipke.

Life of the Party or Christ-like?

Happy New Year! Have you made your New Year Resolutions? Mine always seem to be connected with my mouth. I have difficulty not just with what goes into my mouth, but what comes out of it. I came across this journal entry from April 2009, which describes my struggle:

"I love to be the life of the party. I want to be the person everyone wants to sit next. I try never to be boring. I may be naughty, but never boring. Being Christ-like is most difficult for me in the midst of Sweetheart’s business associates. As a corporate wife I feel a social responsibility to be entertaining hopefully, in a charming and funny way. Unfortunately, I’ve been known to succumb to caustic quips on face and fashion, or the cheap tricks of sexual innuendo and flirtation to obtain this goal.  While it may be entertaining, it is not Christ-like.

God promises to do a work in my heart, but I know I make His job easier by avoiding alcohol.   I love a glass of wine. It relaxes me. My body flows to the rhythm of the music, my stories are livelier, and the world looks a little rosier. Regrettably, consumption of two or more glasses of wine turns my dancing into booty-shaking, my foot invariably finds my mouth in conversation, and by the end of the evening I am morose. Sleep eludes me as I replay each poor choice with regret and condemnation. I commit to change these behaviors and ask God to put a watch on my tongue that I might not sin against Him.

My first test came quickly. Sweetheart and I flew to Eden Roc Resort & Spa in Miami Beach for a convention where the best in the company were rewarded with four days of free food, booze, and swag.

From the moment we checked into our well-appointed hotel, free alcohol was available. Mojitos were offered at registration. A lunch buffet arranged around a pool included three open bars and stations to make your choice of fresh fruit smoothies (with or without vodka) or frozen coffee drinks (with or without a liquor).  I dodged the first bullet by asking for water.

After a nap and in-room movie, it was time for four hours of uninterrupted temptation. The opening reception consisted of buffets and bars set up around four pools. Again I dodged a bullet by drinking water with my meal. I savored a delicious frozen strawberry daiquiri Popsicle for dessert, but it didn’t cause me to join in the synchronized swimming. Likewise, the salsa dancing instructors carried on without my assistance. Instead, by the end of the evening I was deep in conversation about God’s unconditional love with a woman I had never met before. Within fifteen minutes of our introduction, she was confiding things in me she had only told her husband.  It was exhilarating to be able to reassure her of God’s love and mercy. I had no trouble going to sleep that night. I owed no one an apology.

• All things are legitimate [permissible—and we are free to do anything we please], but not all things are helpful (expedient, profitable, and wholesome). All things are legitimate, but not all things are constructive [to character] and edifying [to spiritual life]. Let no one then seek his own good and advantage and profit, but [rather] each one of the other [let him seek the welfare of his neighbor]. I Corinthians 10:23-24.
 
• Summing it all up, friends, I’d say you’ll do best by filling your minds and meditating on things true, noble, reputable, authentic, compelling, gracious-the best, not the worst; the beautiful, not the ugly; things to praise, not things to curse. Put into practice what you learned from me, what you heard and saw and realized. Do that, and God, who makes everything work together, will work you into his most excellent harmonies. Philippians 4:8-9.

“Father, put your arm around my shoulder and your hand over my mouth.”