tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-213931172011-12-16T11:42:26.038-08:00shawnalynehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09296247271977590236noreply@blogger.comBlogger3801100tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21393117.post-52874219776679040222011-01-27T21:44:00.000-08:002011-01-27T21:46:49.189-08:00

This blog has moved to: www.sparrowtracks.wordpress.com

shawnalynehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09296247271977590236noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21393117.post-6612607280817862782010-11-26T21:12:00.000-08:002010-11-26T21:13:15.684-08:00

I’ve written about it before, the dull ache that grips my heart right before Thanksgiving and doesn’t let up until January 1. There’s something about the holidays that accentuates grief and loss.Some years are better than others. Ramona Glory’s presence ushers in profound joy, but even little sweet pea can’t fill the empty place at the table.And she wasn’t meant to . . .I’ve come to embrace the

shawnalynehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09296247271977590236noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21393117.post-7052933240465669652010-07-27T16:10:00.000-07:002010-07-27T16:13:09.804-07:00

I am moving this blog to Wordpress.com. If you enjoy my blog, you can follow me there.The address is: www.sparrowtracks.wordpress.comSee you there!Shawn

shawnalynehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09296247271977590236noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21393117.post-29750509878536360582010-07-27T14:34:00.001-07:002010-07-27T14:34:50.448-07:00

I ran for about 20 minutes straight today and I’m guessing I did about 2.75 miles. My foot was still a little tender from the rock bruise (note to self: don’t run on gravel trails), but I decided to go for it. If it wasn’t a good idea to run on a bruised foot, I’m sure my body will let me know . . .Anyway, I’m certain I didn’t break any speed records, but I did complete my three mile loop in

shawnalynehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09296247271977590236noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21393117.post-55579509232101758992010-07-26T09:14:00.002-07:002010-07-26T09:18:09.501-07:00

Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us. Hebrews 12:1I often ponder this verse as I'm plodding along. The part about perseverance has been particularly helpful, encouraging me to keep on keeping on--both with my running and my

shawnalynehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09296247271977590236noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21393117.post-10762245930808715492010-07-26T09:14:00.001-07:002010-07-26T09:15:19.920-07:00

Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us. Hebrews 12:1I often ponder this verse as I'm plodding along. The part about perseverance has been particularly helpful, encouraging me to keep on keeping on--both with my running and my

shawnalynehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09296247271977590236noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21393117.post-29546823018826085632010-07-17T12:09:00.001-07:002010-07-17T12:09:53.912-07:00

Every so often, I run across a supplement or herb that positively impacts my life. Last year, I discovered l-theanine (or nature’s xanax, as I like to call it). I am still taking it to reduce anxiety–with blissful results!This year, I stumbled upon taurine. Like l-theanine, taurine is an amino acid, produced by our bodies. Taurine deficiency has been linked to migraines, insomnia, depression

shawnalynehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09296247271977590236noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21393117.post-66500604445517212532010-07-12T07:51:00.001-07:002010-07-12T07:52:21.106-07:00

transition: the act of passing from one state or place to the nextI realized this week that we've been in transition for over a year now. In terms of housing, ministry andtransition community we are still "passing from one place to the next."That's a long time to be in transit. In fact, I got downright cranky about it a few days ago."What am I supposed to do while we're waiting ?" I whined to

shawnalynehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09296247271977590236noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21393117.post-50895557183570437462010-06-24T06:50:00.000-07:002010-06-24T06:51:49.090-07:00

The older I get, the more I realize that there really is no division between the sacred and the secular. God is in everything--even real estate--if we invite Him.A few months ago, I wrote about the difficulties I encountered in having new glasses made. As the months blurred by--with no specs in sight--I began to realize that this was not just about my vision--it was about seeing the situation

shawnalynehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09296247271977590236noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21393117.post-11418204995950386402010-06-15T21:45:00.001-07:002010-06-15T21:46:20.294-07:00

I turn 54 on Friday. Senior discounts are just around the corner . . . as is the amazing title of "grandma."One gift I give myself every year is the luxury of looking back over the previous 12 months and noting achievements and milestones. This has been a particularly blessed year!Greg and I married off our two remaining daughters and found out that we're going to be grandparents this fall! I

shawnalynehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09296247271977590236noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21393117.post-91700214636336802602010-05-30T21:31:00.000-07:002010-05-30T21:35:15.594-07:00

May God bless you with discomfort at easy answers, half truths, and superficial relationships, so that you may live deep within your heart. Amen.May God bless you with anger at injustice, oppression, and exploitation of people, so that you may work for justice, freedom and peace. Amen.May God bless you with tears to shed for those who suffer from pain, rejection,starvation and war, so that you

shawnalynehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09296247271977590236noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21393117.post-57654220813262675092010-05-28T07:39:00.001-07:002010-05-28T07:40:18.372-07:00

I don’t have many memories of my childhood, good or bad. Except for Memorial Day, which my family always spent in Macksville, Kansas (population 310. It increased by 7 when our dusty station wagon drove into town).The trip from Topeka to Macksville was usually a sweaty seven hour drive through the Kansas heartland. This was in the days before video games, Ipods, VCRs, even tape decks, so my

shawnalynehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09296247271977590236noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21393117.post-78588034420461441292010-05-25T09:04:00.000-07:002010-05-25T09:05:49.025-07:00

The book I'm currently reading, "The Hole in our Gospel" has been quite sobering. And eye-opening. The author basically describes poverty as a lack of not only material goods--but also a lack of options. The truly oppressed have little opportunity for choices.Think about all the choices I've made today--and I've not yet crawled out of my warm bed to dress and start the day. I chose what time

shawnalynehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09296247271977590236noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21393117.post-10252187162841369702010-05-15T12:48:00.000-07:002010-05-15T12:50:21.063-07:00

Yellie graduated last night with a Masters in TESOL (Teaching English as a Second Language). There were only two who received diplomas in that field, the first graduates of Multnomah's TESOL program. She already has a job teaching English to immigrants in her neighborhood. In fact, there are jobs waiting for Danielle all around the world . . .It's kind of funny that Danielle picked a degree

shawnalynehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09296247271977590236noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21393117.post-54849405358989996392010-05-09T07:01:00.000-07:002010-05-09T07:04:21.250-07:00

I first posted this five years ago on Mother's Day. A few of the particulars have changed--for starters, all my children are now married. Candyce is in Uganda instead of Tblisi (although she's still encouraging me to adopt orphans), Lindsay lives in Portland now (thank You, Lord!) and Yellie is giving me my first grandbaby in September.But the sentiment remains the same . . .Danielle reminded me

shawnalynehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09296247271977590236noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21393117.post-67202604658960285602010-05-05T21:03:00.000-07:002010-05-06T07:45:14.052-07:00

Does slugging your spouse in your sleep constitute domestic violence? A co-worker told me today that an Oregon man was recently carted off to jail after beating up his wife while he was deep in slumberland.This grim news confirmed the wisdom of my purchase yesterday--two twin beds from Mattress World. This long-debated decision came after a rather violent episode in our bedroom earlier this week.

shawnalynehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09296247271977590236noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21393117.post-8567872148768540882010-04-29T18:59:00.000-07:002010-04-29T19:00:09.396-07:00

To be certain of God means that we are uncertain in all our ways… We are uncertain of the next step, but we are certain of God. As we abandon ourselves to God, do the task He has placed closest to us, He begins to fill our lives with surprises – Oswald ChambersThis quote encapsulates our lives right now! I don’t think I’ve ever felt as certain about God’s faithfulness–and as uncertain as to what

shawnalynehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09296247271977590236noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21393117.post-50483896672266704642010-04-27T08:42:00.000-07:002010-04-27T08:44:43.312-07:00

My hands are speckled with paint as I type. Blue paint, actually, the color of the summer sky. I just finished brightening up the downstairs bathroom with the cheerful color. I prayed for the next owners of this wonderful home as I painted, remembering how smitten I was the first time I walked into the house. The arched doorways and wrap-around porch reminded me of my great-grandmother's house

shawnalynehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09296247271977590236noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21393117.post-88255709721028611672010-04-08T16:41:00.000-07:002010-04-08T17:31:43.631-07:00

I've never really sponsored a child before. Year ago I succumbed to the pressure of an emotional missionary pitch and "adopted" a child in some faraway land. I thought it would be a good project for the girls and me--to develop relationship with and encourage a needy child from a foreign country. That lasted about three months, I am ashamed to say. But it was hard to feel like we were

shawnalynehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09296247271977590236noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21393117.post-11773943757591907582010-04-04T12:39:00.001-07:002010-04-05T07:39:53.737-07:00

I took Greg's suit and dress shirt to the cleaners yesterday. Even though he'd only worn the shirt twice, the collar was deeply stained by his sweat and the red African earth."Hmmm, we don't have much luck removing spray-on tan," the owner clucked, shaking his head over the soiled collar."It's not spray-on tan," I assured him. "Just good old African dirt.""We don't see much of that here," he

shawnalynehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09296247271977590236noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21393117.post-1875886666269547852010-03-30T13:06:00.000-07:002010-03-30T13:28:27.460-07:00

We are back in Portland--arrived home yesterday about 2:30. The flights back were long but without incident until the short jaunt between Seattle and Portland. Poor Greg lost his cookies due to the turbulence; and Horizon lost our luggage somewhere between those two cities. Go figure . . .I was sweating when we left Entebbe Sunday night (after spending a wonderful day with Cameron and Jennifer

shawnalynehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09296247271977590236noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21393117.post-12301901777045458132010-03-27T22:17:00.000-07:002010-03-27T22:34:30.471-07:00

this will be brief, as I'm packing up and getting ready to go to Streams of Life church to hear Greg preach. But I want to get some of the wedding highlights down while they are fresh in my mind . . .Just getting ready was a trip! Candyce and Jacey had to be at the salon at 6:30 a.m. yesterday to get their hair done. Africans don't like doing mzungu hair, so give themselves plenty of time for

shawnalynehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09296247271977590236noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21393117.post-60317869018218379522010-03-26T00:19:00.000-07:002010-03-26T00:54:17.067-07:00

The rehearsal was quite the hoot. Was originally scheduled (by Jennifer) to start at 2:00, got postponted to 3 and eventually got underway around 4:30. TIA! (This is Africa)Jennifer did a wonderful job overseeing the event. She reminds me of Lindsay, very good at organizing and motivating people. She'd grab an empty water bottle and pretend it was a microphone and greet the invisible audience

shawnalynehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09296247271977590236noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21393117.post-30450879935338015542010-03-25T00:04:00.000-07:002010-03-25T00:31:10.535-07:00

Greg refuses to blog, but I thought I'd relay some of his impressions in today's post. Yesterday as we were walking through the Mengo district (kind of like a suburb of Kampala), he commented on the smells of urban Africa."There are three dominant odors," he remarked as we stepped across a gutter filled with trash and muddy water. "Garbage, burning garbage and exhaust."Despite the fact that

shawnalynehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09296247271977590236noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21393117.post-57192584847799348572010-03-24T00:44:00.000-07:002010-03-25T00:37:46.079-07:00

Robert, our driver, was wearing an odd-looking tie yesterday. It wasn't a tie, really, just a tie-shaped scrap of fabric he had pinned to his shirt. "What's with the tie, Robert?" I inquired."Oh, it is to show that I am of the Baganda tribe," he explained. He then told me that the "tie" was made from the bark of a tree which is used by the Bugandan people. The material was kind of a cross

shawnalynehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09296247271977590236noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21393117.post-85656465237517471542010-03-23T10:29:00.000-07:002010-03-23T11:04:31.026-07:00

So, Danielle isn't due until September, but I met my African grand daughter today. It was kind of a miracle--we didn't really know if we'd even get to the orphanage on this trip. But Candyce and Steven were busy this afternoon and Robert wasn't, so we made the 45 minute drive to the orphanage in Seeta this afternoon.Betty, the director of Adventure village, met us when we arrived and gave us a

shawnalynehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09296247271977590236noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21393117.post-18918171281706142802010-03-22T08:13:00.000-07:002010-03-22T08:50:25.931-07:00

So, Candyce tells me she's getting a kick out of showing us around Africa. Since it's all new to us, it reminds her of the first time she came to this continent.But mostly, I think we just make her laugh.Take, for instance, the fact that I tried to wear shower shoes to church yesterday--which would have been the worst fashion faux pas imaginable. I was actually kind of dressed up for me--in a

shawnalynehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09296247271977590236noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21393117.post-81705900437346520792010-03-21T08:31:00.000-07:002010-03-21T09:06:04.333-07:00

Well, here we are, smack dab in the middle of our stay in Uganda. The plane trip here was just that--a trip! We changed planes in Seattle and Amsterdam--our three hour lay-over in Amsterdam was extended by another two when we had to change planes because the first one we boarded developed a fuel leak. We watched two fire trucks pull up as they unloaded our luggage--and were meekly herded to a

shawnalynehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09296247271977590236noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21393117.post-1865969534659760902010-03-14T19:11:00.000-07:002010-03-15T08:46:48.265-07:00

The closer it gets to our departure date for Africa (which is tomorrow), the more conflicted I feel. For one thing, I am still sick. And if you read my last blog, you know that I do not like to suffer. Being sick is bad enough in your own home--but having to travel across the planet with a hacking cough and inflamed sinuses does not sound like a good time to me.Or for the person next to me on

shawnalynehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09296247271977590236noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21393117.post-78933557200994815692010-03-08T20:44:00.000-08:002010-03-10T19:41:11.767-08:00

I do not suffer well. Especially when it comes to physical discomfort. Pain is not my friend.People who tolerate pain well mystify me. I have a friend who never takes anything for pain--not even an aspirin. I offered her an excedrin a few years ago after she mentioned she had a killer headache."No thanks," Kay replied. "I don't like to take pills. Just pray for me."Pills that take away pain--and

shawnalynehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09296247271977590236noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21393117.post-69159169316569713212010-03-04T19:49:00.000-08:002010-03-06T21:18:30.894-08:00

. . . I watched helplessly as paralysis ambushed Greg's body, immobilizing him from the neck down. We were in a hotel room in Hood River (not far from the place we are staying tonight). As we waited for the paramedics to come, we both wondered if he was going to die.He'd come successfully through neurosurgery--a cervical laminectomy--just 10 days before. He felt so much better after the

shawnalynehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09296247271977590236noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21393117.post-53686527538891823552010-03-01T07:35:00.000-08:002010-03-04T10:27:11.970-08:00

I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well. My frame was not hidden from you when I was made in the secret place. When I was woven together in the depths of the earth, your eyes saw my unformed body. All the days ordained for me were written in your book before one of them came to be.

shawnalynehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09296247271977590236noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21393117.post-62888548590059468192010-02-21T14:07:00.000-08:002010-02-21T18:52:30.032-08:00

I am almost finished reading a book that I cannot recommend. Seriously, I am still having nightmares from the horrific violence. "A Long Way Gone," by Ishmael Beah, is the first-hand account of a young boy's experience as a child soldier.I admit I skipped over the more graphic parts of the book, where Ishmael describes the brutality he witnessed and experienced in unflinching detail. But I

shawnalynehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09296247271977590236noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21393117.post-34418972444262782482010-02-17T21:52:00.000-08:002010-02-18T08:28:58.395-08:00

I just returned from a whirlwind trip to California. Mary Ellen, my mother-in-law, had triple bypass surgery on Tuesday, so I flew down to be with her and my father-in-law, Bob.I always have adventures when I travel. I've come to expect it, and I was not disappointed on this trip. My early morning flight on Monday from Portland to San Francisco went as planned, but my connecting flight to Fresno

shawnalynehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09296247271977590236noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21393117.post-19122757279329819312010-02-13T07:06:00.000-08:002010-02-13T07:42:02.417-08:00

I got a call from Virgil yesterday--my longtime friend from a tiny Native village in Alaska. He checks in with Greg and me several times a year. The last time he phoned, it was to ask my advice about marrying a certain woman he'd met at the Red Dog mine (where he works). I am not prone to give advice on such matters--I just asked him some questions and talked a bit about the Genesis Process. When

shawnalynehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09296247271977590236noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21393117.post-42784699680942534362010-02-12T13:25:00.000-08:002010-02-12T16:08:01.426-08:00

I haven't stopped blogging because there's nothing going on in my life--au contraire!Sometimes it feels like God pushes the "high" button on my life's speedometer and it's all I can to to hang on. Life happens--and changes--so quickly that I can't even begin to formulate my thoughts before everything transitions again.I'm not complaining--much of what's happening is amazing! We are making plans

shawnalynehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09296247271977590236noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21393117.post-56528939791584827882010-02-06T17:12:00.000-08:002010-02-07T07:25:20.205-08:00

This is my very first--and perhaps last--food blog. Even though I've come a long way since my jello (sorry Krispin) and rice-a-roni days, I would much rather grow, can or dry food than cook it. But inspired by Julie and Julia and cheered on by my family, I decided to tackle Child's famous boeuf bourguignon. I mean, how difficult can a beef stew be to make? It can be quite difficult, I discovered.

shawnalynehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09296247271977590236noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21393117.post-67344040458716380042010-01-27T16:00:00.000-08:002010-01-28T17:17:51.997-08:00

Remember those weird pictures (stereograms) that were popular a few decades ago? At first glance, they appeared to be brightly colored geometric designs. But if you looked at the patterns long enough, slowly a dinosaur, dophin or waterfall would materialize.At first, I could never see the hidden pictures. I'd squint and strain with all my might, but squiggly lines were all I could see. But then a

shawnalynehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09296247271977590236noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21393117.post-26834552778025286992010-01-24T22:31:00.000-08:002010-01-24T23:05:33.478-08:00

So, I am wearing my (kind of) new glasses as I type. My vision is improved, but still not perfect. But I think this is as good as it gets for me . . . at least for now.When I went back to my eye doc and complained about the fuzziness in my left eye, he patiently took all the measurements yet again. Yes, the prescription and prism were slightly off in the left lens, he agreed."But I think it's

shawnalynehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09296247271977590236noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21393117.post-65968747144278136492010-01-15T07:02:00.000-08:002010-01-15T07:03:59.018-08:00

January 13, 2010The Morning After - Earthquake Haiti 2010 The sun is about to come up. The aftershocks continue. Some more noticeable than others. There is no way to even begin to share the things we’ve heard and seen since 5pm yesterday. To do so would take hours that we don’t have to give right now. Some of them feel wrong to tell. Like only God should know these personal horrible tragedies.

shawnalynehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09296247271977590236noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21393117.post-6942598976104432010-01-10T06:30:00.000-08:002010-01-10T15:25:42.559-08:00

Over the years, we've been blessed by a steady stream of folks who pass through our lives--and stay at our house. A friend actually asked me yesterday if Greg and I were enjoying being empty nesters--and then stopped and laughed."You really wouldn't know, would you?" she observed.But hospitality is one of our gifts and it's a happy choice we've made over the years to open our doors to those God

shawnalynehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09296247271977590236noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21393117.post-18320741807917545612010-01-05T08:14:00.000-08:002010-01-05T09:18:46.070-08:00

I got ahead of myself a few days ago (as I am prone to do) and announced that my new glasses were finally a perfect fit.Not so much . . .After five days of wearing them, I developed a non-stop headache, eyestrain and an aversion to reading. While it's true I could see better overall--I had more clarity than with my old pair of specs--I felt like I was always straining to focus. My optician had

shawnalynehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09296247271977590236noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21393117.post-57921615488689483592010-01-01T12:54:00.000-08:002010-01-01T14:44:34.489-08:00

I think there's something a little prophetic in the fact that I received my new glasses on the cusp of the new year. After six months of problems, delays and multiple changes, I finally am able to see clearly. Both up close and distance. I can read the street signs when I'm driving now. I can recognize the people waving at me across the street. I can blog without squinting and see the 800

shawnalynehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09296247271977590236noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21393117.post-84932818135519385712009-12-24T07:02:00.000-08:002009-12-24T07:06:06.433-08:00

BELLS ACROSS THE SNOWO Christmas, merry Christmas,Is it really come again,With its memories and greetings,With its joy and with its pain!There's a minor in the carolAnd a shadow in the light,And a spray of cypress twiningWith the holly wreath tonight.And the hush is never brokenBy laughter light and low,As we listen in the starlightTo the "bells across the snow."O Christmas, merry Christmas,'Tis

shawnalynehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09296247271977590236noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21393117.post-13603313703935817732009-12-21T09:01:00.000-08:002009-12-21T09:35:46.650-08:00

Krispin, my son-in-law, asked me what my favorite Christmas carol was last night. A good question. For me, however, the answer seems to change every year.As a young child, my most beloved Christmas song was "Angels We Have Heard On High." While that might seem like a rather lofty song for such a young soul, it delighted and transported me as I belted out the chorus."Glo-o-o-o-o-ria! In excelsis

shawnalynehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09296247271977590236noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21393117.post-90547477466296410082009-12-18T08:06:00.001-08:002009-12-18T08:46:25.168-08:00

So, the same day I stayed home sick and read about the gift of poverty, I received another present from the hand of God. And this one was a little easier to open . . .I perked up as the day went on, and by mid-afternoon felt good enough to get out and do some Christmas shopping. Greg said he'd go with me, but went and grabbed the mail before he got in the car. I sorted through the pile of

shawnalynehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09296247271977590236noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21393117.post-2564645891380259372009-12-13T17:25:00.001-08:002009-12-14T07:39:56.288-08:00

So, you may think this sounds crazy--and perhaps it is--but about three weeks ago, I thought I heard the Lord say, "I'm giving you the gift of poverty."My first response was, "But I didn't ask for that!" My second reaction was to pretend I didn't hear Him.Like that would work!The day after His announcement, our Honda CRV refused to shift into reverse. The transmission had been making a cranky

shawnalynehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09296247271977590236noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21393117.post-40503649819189152682009-12-06T01:06:00.000-08:002009-12-06T14:12:30.632-08:00

Candyce called from Africa and woke me up last night. It was about 11:30 pm Saturday my time--for her it was Sunday morning. Even though we separated by a great span of time and distance, our hearts were snugly connected during that brief conversation.I sat in my bed, shivering in the Portland cold, while Candyce described the intense heat she was experiencing. I felt I could almost reach out and

shawnalynehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09296247271977590236noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21393117.post-34310407100931233562009-11-27T08:23:00.000-08:002009-11-27T10:10:53.932-08:00

My friend on the mountain died this week. Ken stepped out of his earthly tent and was clothed in immortality early Monday morning. His train to glory finally left the station.I was always struck by the peace that surrounded Ken as he faced his imminent departure from this life. Only once did he express agitation over his condition. And that was in the context of how it affected others.Ken slept a

shawnalynehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09296247271977590236noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21393117.post-20508331633479380752009-11-20T15:23:00.000-08:002009-11-22T08:02:20.868-08:00

For whatever reason, I don't remember much of my early years. But every now again, something will jog my muzzy brain and a childhood memory will clearly surface. I experienced such a jogging yesterday as I was cutting up old books to recycle into journals.The book I'd chosen was filled with old classic poems and bits of prose--and I was carefully extracting samples to put in the journal. Some I

shawnalynehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09296247271977590236noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21393117.post-28201437664813163252009-11-16T08:05:00.000-08:002009-11-16T19:07:34.379-08:00

About a month ago, when I was visiting my sick friend up in Welches, I felt prompted to read Psalm 139. Ken sleeps most of the time I'm there, so I usually bring my Bible and have a leisurely "quiet time" while he's resting.I flipped to the middle of my Bible and began to read one of the most beloved and oft-recited portions of scripture. I didn't get very far, because when I reached verse 5, I

shawnalynehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09296247271977590236noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21393117.post-47013655877299088612009-11-11T06:56:00.000-08:002009-11-11T07:23:57.005-08:00

You may or may not be interested, but here are some things I've learned about MSG in my recent research. I've suspected that I'm MSG-sensitive for years, so have been trying to figure out how to avoid the tasty culprit.1. MSG, monosodium glutamate, is the sodium salt of glutamic acid, a non-essential amino acid. Too much of this substance in our bodies can be toxic and people have differing

shawnalynehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09296247271977590236noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21393117.post-6610180486671740432009-11-07T19:37:00.000-08:002009-11-07T13:12:23.029-08:00

recycle: to undergo reuse or renewal; be subject to or suitable for further use (Random House dictionary)I was into recycling before it was hip--although I didn't realize what I was doing back then! My initial experience with recycling involved garage-saling with a quirky young man from our first youth ministry. Randy invited me to tag along with him and his grandma one Saturday morning as they

shawnalynehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09296247271977590236noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21393117.post-24034659545885433742009-11-03T06:51:00.000-08:002009-11-03T07:26:59.599-08:00

So Candyce drove a van full of DTS students to Estes Park, CO and back to Salem this past week. And I was really snxious about it!You'd think after all that girl has been through--the land mines, the LRA gunfire, the refugee camps, the malaria--I wouldn't think twice about a cross-country road trip. But for some reason, I felt compelled to pray--HARD--and it turns out there was good reason!For

shawnalynehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09296247271977590236noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21393117.post-73147245162399462612009-10-22T20:07:00.000-07:002009-10-23T07:07:48.808-07:00

Not long after Jonah died, Greg and I went to say goodbye to a friend who was losing her battle with cancer. Edith had drifted into unconsciousness shortly before we arrived and didn't wake up again. Not on this planet, anyway.Her family had all been summoned and now gathered in her room. Some hung back, but others pressed in and patted her sallow skin, stroking her hair and murmuring sweet

shawnalynehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09296247271977590236noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21393117.post-69239875160004436692009-10-19T07:26:00.000-07:002009-10-20T07:52:30.989-07:00

I've heard some differing perspectives on divine healing over the years--from "God's will is for all sickness to be healed," to "God doesn't heal people today." Somewhere in-between those extremes, I have developed my own theology of healing. It's pretty simple: I pray for healing and leave the results to God.I have witnessed at least two miraculous healings within my immediate family--the

shawnalynehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09296247271977590236noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21393117.post-58855222645884532492009-10-10T09:15:00.000-07:002009-10-10T09:22:45.352-07:00

Lately, I am just so tired.It could be the fact that I am living in a dorm with 27 (count em) 27 other girls (ALL of whom wake up at the butt crack of dawn to take showers, and blow dry their hair, which ends up sounding like a steel train colliding with a van full of howler monkeys, if I'm honest.) Or, it could be the fact that I am staffing a missions school which requires ALL my time, energy,

shawnalynehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09296247271977590236noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21393117.post-76281482896539595452009-10-07T19:49:00.000-07:002009-10-09T21:33:45.274-07:00

Our cat, Chairman Meow (affectionately dubbed Shere Khan by Candyce) has a new favorite pastime . . .. . .watching baseball on the big-screen!Greg and the cat will sit riveted for hours, watching the stupid game. Chairman doesn't seem to care for the Food Network, Deadliest Catch (you'd think he'd find all that seafood somewhat interesting), the evening news or even football. Just baseball . . .

shawnalynehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09296247271977590236noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21393117.post-54535540454171848622009-10-04T08:00:00.000-07:002009-10-04T08:08:27.497-07:00

I've learned some cool concepts while visiting my friends on the mountain. A few weeks ago, K. taught me the wonderful phrase "dei volente." It means "God willing" and was often used by godly men of old to close their hand-written letters. During this crazy, transitional season of our lives, "God willing" is becoming our signature as well. Greg and I have learned, on a daily basis, that His

shawnalynehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09296247271977590236noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21393117.post-80098019158762871792009-09-29T06:44:00.000-07:002009-09-30T06:26:56.088-07:00

On Mondays, I've been driving up the mountain to spend a few hours with a friend who is dying. His wife has to work and feels better is there's someone in the house with K. So I hang out for a bit, make a pot of soup and chat when he feels like talking. I head back down the mountain shortly before his hospice worker is scheduled to arrive.My friend--and his family--have thanked me profusely for

shawnalynehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09296247271977590236noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21393117.post-24527202062775245942009-09-24T18:58:00.000-07:002009-09-25T08:21:10.054-07:00

I got a phone call from my friend Virgil yesterday. He lives in a small Athabaskan village off the road system in Alaska. I met Virgil in the early 90's when our family was ministering in his village. He became a believer--and a good friend--during that time and we've stayed in touch with him ever since.Virgil now knows the Bible better than I do, has the biggest personal library of Christian

shawnalynehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09296247271977590236noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21393117.post-39749892382892451022009-09-19T07:58:00.000-07:002009-09-19T08:33:54.619-07:00

I just returned from a very intense week of training for the Gensis Process. I learned about such things as survival lies, FASTER scales, double binds and the limbic system. (I you want to know more about these matters, I'd encourage you to explore the Genesis website: http://www.genesisprocess.org/).The limbic system fascinated me. This part of the brain controls all automatic responses and

shawnalynehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09296247271977590236noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21393117.post-67065247438820527732009-09-07T23:54:00.000-07:002010-02-25T20:04:43.504-08:00

With my little harvest drawing to a close, my energies have turned from growing food to preserving it. So far, I've put up 2 dozen jars (of various sizes) of freezer jam--blueberry, blackberry, raspberry and peach. I've dried 4 quarts of tomatoes (and thrown half of that away). I've frozen countless bags of peaches, corn, green beans, beets, berries and roasted tomatoes and peppers. And I've

shawnalynehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09296247271977590236noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21393117.post-87554352251681933332009-09-03T16:27:00.000-07:002009-09-03T21:03:17.804-07:00

I saw an intriguing bumper sticker recently. It was the Christian fish, the universal symbol of the Christian faith, in an obvious state of decay. My pulse quickened as I walked past the offending bumper. But oddly, I wasn't offended and my heart raced at the realization that the bumper sticker is probably more prophetic than most Christ-followers would admit. I don't know if you've noticed,

shawnalynehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09296247271977590236noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21393117.post-28065303653993856432009-09-02T17:11:00.000-07:002009-09-02T17:40:41.890-07:00

So, the dried tomatoes in the jar look inviting, do they not? To the contrary--I just discovered today that I turned an innocent batch of vegetables into a toxic colony of micro-organisms.And to think I was going to give them to the people I love as Christmas presents!Just when I'm starting to think I've discovered my inner domestic goddess, I am humbled (and slightly terrified) by the

shawnalynehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09296247271977590236noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21393117.post-16789093708019861482009-08-31T22:06:00.001-07:002009-09-01T07:33:33.270-07:00

One of the highlights of my day is when I saunter out into my backyard and reap from my bountiful tub 'o grub. I usually bring in a colander filled with several varieties of tomatoes, peppers, pears, strawberries, basil, etc. It makes my heart so happy!A few days ago, when I was plucking some golden-ripe yellow pear tomatoes from the vine, I noticed that there were only a few green fruits left

shawnalynehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09296247271977590236noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21393117.post-62261748036159070052009-08-30T21:07:00.000-07:002009-08-31T08:33:36.060-07:00

we were in a car accident that changed our lives forever. I've already written about the tragedy that took our son, Jonah, and I won't go in to that today. I want to write about the ways God is still using our pain to comfort others.Twenty five years later We got up and drove to church in Estacada today as if it were any other Sunday. We walked into the foyer and Greg was greeted by a nice man

shawnalynehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09296247271977590236noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21393117.post-43094753209245656092009-08-28T14:26:00.000-07:002009-08-29T07:02:53.619-07:00

Kudos to my in-laws! I don't even like to use that term because they've been like parents to me since I married into the Strannigan clan. Not only have Bob and Mary been consistent models of the Christian life; they've also invested a lot of love, time and prayer in me.And they've gifted me with every cooking-related item you can image!In my present state of domestic enlightenment, I look back

shawnalynehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09296247271977590236noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21393117.post-82416882392398470822009-08-24T07:59:00.000-07:002009-08-26T07:22:08.904-07:00

Remember that funky "game" from the '70's--The Ungame? Instead of being your typical competitive game with winners--and losers--the Ungame fostered conversation, listening skills and creative expression. The Ungame was, for competetive types, an "out-of-the-box" experience. It forced all who played to look at games in a new and different way: instead of competing, players connected. It

shawnalynehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09296247271977590236noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21393117.post-64261050284013494342009-08-19T17:44:00.000-07:002009-08-20T06:56:56.213-07:00

Greg and I summitted Mt. St. Helens yesterday! It was way, way harder than we'd anticipated (thanks to Joel's sketchy memory), but we conquered the volcano! In retrospect, I wish I'd done a little more research on the logistics of the hike. But then maybe I would have chickened out. And now I can mark one more experience off my bucket list: I climbed a real mountain!Here's a description of the

shawnalynehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09296247271977590236noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21393117.post-38975171969496703722009-08-16T07:01:00.000-07:002009-08-17T07:29:06.627-07:00

Yesterday, while I was getting a lavender massage (a Valentine's gift from my husband), I found myself daydreaming. Not about romantic candle-light dinners or traipsing through lavender fields in the south of France . . .No, I was actually worrying about the future, my mind totally disengaged from the soothing treatment my body was experiencing.Until the Lord whacked me up the side of my head . .

shawnalynehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09296247271977590236noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21393117.post-21107653987843705552009-08-09T21:35:00.001-07:002009-08-10T21:18:20.180-07:00

I love it when Greg reads to me before we go to sleep. We started the tradition during our first year of marriage--we get all tucked into bed, turn out all the lights except for the bedside lamp, and Greg reads until one of us can't keep our eyelids open anymore. A great way to end the day!Lately we've been reading from an old favorite: A Tale of Three Kings by Gene Edwards. It's the

shawnalynehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09296247271977590236noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21393117.post-40167098321529414532009-08-07T07:00:00.000-07:002009-08-07T07:05:59.223-07:00

I'm having such a blast harvesting from my gardens these days! I still can't believe I didn't discover gardening sooner.But it dawned on me recently that my lack of interest in growing my own edibles probably stems from my ambivalence about food in general.I've had a love/hate relationship with food since childhood. Early on, I equated being fed well with being well-loved. I remember spending

shawnalynehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09296247271977590236noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21393117.post-78636911448003490392009-07-28T22:43:00.000-07:002009-08-01T06:44:34.292-07:00

Since we returned from Alaska, some of the hot job propects Greg had before we left seemed to have cooled a bit. And there appear to be few viable offers out on the horizon . . .I, being the mature woman of God that I am, plummetted instantly into panic mode. I tried to take Greg with me, but he decided to keep his eyes fixed on the things above (that would be God) and not on the things of this

shawnalynehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09296247271977590236noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21393117.post-30661275986569823252009-07-26T15:12:00.001-07:002009-07-26T15:28:06.197-07:00

. . . the beautiful hearts that beat behind these precious faces. . . the incredible pain that shapes the daily lives of these little ones. . . the amazing hope that carries them on. . . the love that the Father has for His Native children. . . and the wonderful plans that He has for them!

shawnalynehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09296247271977590236noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21393117.post-22503246615870353962009-07-15T09:37:00.000-07:002009-07-26T20:58:21.194-07:00

I got invited to the funeral this week, so I decided to go. Most of the villagers, plus several dozen friends and family members from neighboring villages, trickled into the Community Hall during the heat of the day to say goodbye to Flora, an elder who'd passed away from a lingering illness.It wasn't the first Alaskan village funeral I've attended. Years ago, when we lived in Anchorage, our

shawnalynehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09296247271977590236noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21393117.post-1417830671583310362009-07-12T22:27:00.000-07:002009-07-26T21:01:06.744-07:00

Well, we are back in the village again. It's the hottest weather we've experienced during our visits--upper 80's today! And on the Yukon, it feels about 10 degrees hotter than it actually is for some reason. So we are hot and sweaty but rejoicing in the fact that mosquitos hate hot weather more than we do!There has been a lot of activity since we arrived. I was awakened at 1:30 this morning

shawnalynehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09296247271977590236noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21393117.post-25340698205579163102009-07-08T01:09:00.000-07:002009-07-09T11:04:14.825-07:00

I tend another garden at a plot graciously provided by a church up the street. A few months back, a handful of hopeful gardeners put up fencing around the plot, tilled up our little bits of earth in our appointed spots, planted our seeds and starts and watered and waited. Yesterday it was more like I waited and watered.While the community garden was well-designed in most aspects, we've had

shawnalynehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09296247271977590236noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21393117.post-52975877942333635592009-07-06T16:59:00.000-07:002009-07-06T17:28:24.809-07:00

No, this isn't a misspelled tribute to Michael Jackson.It's my apology to beets . . .I cooked my very first fresh beets tonight and they were muy delicioso! How fresh were they, you ask? Freshly plucked from the Tub O Grub just minutes before I plunged them into boiling water.It doesn't get much fresher than that!They were baby beetlets, perfectly sized for instant gratification. Thanks to my

shawnalynehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09296247271977590236noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21393117.post-71153034039641590072009-07-02T00:36:00.000-07:002009-07-02T01:33:44.847-07:00

Yellie and Krispin brought the Somali girls over for a swim and to work in the garden last night. I taught the girls how to hoe weeds, thin carrots and fill a watering can from a mud puddle.They taught me about the epicurian delights of giraffe.Halima, Ndfia and Habiba are only now beginning to talk about their experiences in Kakuma, the Kenyan refugee camp where their lives began. Recently

shawnalynehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09296247271977590236noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21393117.post-45293534809149365512009-06-28T21:11:00.000-07:002009-06-29T08:35:38.813-07:00

"Let everyone be quick to hear, slow to speak and slow to anger. For the anger of man does not achieve the righteousness of God." James 1:20 My head is in full compliance with this awesome Bible verse . . .But some days my heart wants to punch a few lights out!I knew I was in a bad place a few weeks ago when I was out sanding our back deck. At one point, I found myself day-dreaming about

shawnalynehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09296247271977590236noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21393117.post-84610401501073713232009-06-25T19:30:00.001-07:002009-06-25T20:25:49.962-07:00

This might come as a shock to some of you . . . but I almost gave Scout away last weekend.The night of Lindsay's wedding, I had all of Scout's earthly belongings packed up and loaded in the back of my sister's car. I had bequeathed my spazzy little Scout to Shannon and her family, to live out her dog years in Missouri. I had been stewing and praying about it for days and felt it was the right

shawnalynehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09296247271977590236noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21393117.post-11279844573861028072009-06-22T08:18:00.000-07:002009-06-22T09:18:34.199-07:00

There are so many amazing stories to tell in conjunction with Lindsay's wedding! But I think my personal favorite is the tale of the tardy hairdresser . . .My mother-in-law, Mary Ellen, and I now have a tradition: we go get our hair "done" the morning of the wedding at Sunrise Hair Salon. The beauty shop is just down the road from us and we really liked the way our hair turned out for Yellie's

shawnalynehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09296247271977590236noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21393117.post-66171786942419758122009-06-21T15:52:00.001-07:002009-06-22T08:18:22.991-07:00

Wow, two down and one to go! I think I'm getting the hang of this wedding thing. This one went off pretty flawlessly, and I offer my thanks to the Lord and all my friends and family who helped. And I can't imagine anyone else on the planet having two such amazing son-in-laws! Here are some pics for you to enjoy!

shawnalynehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09296247271977590236noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21393117.post-70412298982581567392009-06-19T08:09:00.001-07:002009-06-19T08:09:32.512-07:00

Lesslie Newbigin - The church is the pilgrim people of God. It is on the move – hastening to the ends of the earth to beseech all men to be reconciled to God, and hastening to the end of time to meet its Lord who will gather all into one.

shawnalynehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09296247271977590236noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21393117.post-79861881512012158992009-06-16T19:10:00.001-07:002009-06-16T19:32:10.695-07:00

1. If a plant doesn't thrive, you can compost it. There's no failure in gardening, just recycling!2. Thinning plants is a good thing. I resisted this practice at first, feeling like a murderer of beets as I plucked their hopeful little roots from the garden. But now that they are maturing, I can see that the veggies that had a little space of their own are much happier. The "more the

shawnalynehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09296247271977590236noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21393117.post-5016614089398663182009-06-13T07:04:00.000-07:002009-06-14T20:39:18.578-07:00

Greg and I do a lot of premarital counseling. We use a curriculum that attempts to cover all the "hot spots" of marriage, including sex, money, extended family issues and conflict resolution.Inevitably, no matter how deeply in love the couples are, they discover things they didn't know about each other. Cultural background, family traditions, expressions of faith . . . these and many other

shawnalynehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09296247271977590236noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21393117.post-21173405220803783022009-06-11T19:09:00.000-07:002009-06-12T08:25:39.881-07:00

This has been a really strange and stressful season of our lives. For starters, Greg resigned from his job last week--without a clue as to where our next adventure will be. But I will blog more about that in another post. For me, things got really weird about a month ago when I went in to get the results of my second adrenal test. If you've followed my blog for a while, you may remember that

shawnalynehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09296247271977590236noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21393117.post-26193661616842106652009-06-08T15:51:00.000-07:002009-06-09T07:06:47.574-07:00

So far, the great tub 'o grub experiment has been wildly successful! There have been a few failures, of course:I lost all my first batch of basil because I put it out way too early . . .My radishes came out bitter and gnarled as a tree root. My friend at NW Organic Farm told me that root veggies need sandy (or clay) soil to develop properly. The lovely organic compost that fills my hot tub was

shawnalynehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09296247271977590236noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21393117.post-75387477321638682132009-06-01T17:37:00.001-07:002009-06-01T18:00:56.395-07:00

I'm not much of an event planner--and I really don't enjoy going to showers or other parties where you are forced to play stupid games and make inane conversation--but I had a blast at Lindsay's bridal shower last night. The cool presents she got were definitely eclipsed by the love poured out by family and friends.Even though having to plan Lindsay's shower gave me a few panic attacks, I felt

shawnalynehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09296247271977590236noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21393117.post-89263158246022610552009-05-27T21:12:00.000-07:002009-05-27T21:22:49.989-07:00

Our plot at the community garden is looking quite edible these days (even though Danielle didn't think our little space looked as "put together" as some of the others. But our veggies are bigger!) Val and I have planted corn, onions, beans, tomato and pepper plants, cauliflower and broccoli. Tonight, we took the Somali girls to the plot and they each planted a row of carrots and then watered

shawnalynehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09296247271977590236noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21393117.post-41325731710815543202009-05-23T13:09:00.001-07:002009-05-23T16:08:47.821-07:00

First, on Wednesday night, Candyce came home, malaria and all! It was sooo good to wrap my arms around her neck and kiss her Africa-browned cheek. We went for a burger at Red Robin--her favorite--listened to as many amazing stories as she had energy to tell and then tucked her into bed.The stories from the refugee camp at the Congo/Sudanese border were the most fascinating. God taught Candyce

shawnalynehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09296247271977590236noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21393117.post-32320952410817281882009-05-20T19:01:00.000-07:002009-05-20T19:02:05.198-07:00

from our trip to Central Oregon . . .

shawnalynehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09296247271977590236noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21393117.post-32983999791753924932009-05-06T20:37:00.000-07:002009-05-06T21:02:51.185-07:00

I woke up Monday morning with a fever. While I have my share of aches and pains and health issues, I rarely experience an elevated temperature--my "normal" reading is usually a few points below 98.6. So being feverish and all, I cancelled all my appointments for that day and climbed back into bed. As I drifted in and out of sleep that morning, Candyce kept coming to mind. In fact, a very

shawnalynehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09296247271977590236noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21393117.post-14690578492762624752009-05-02T07:29:00.001-07:002009-05-02T08:09:08.692-07:00

this post will be a scattered rambling of recent events . . .Hiked to Angel's Rest yesterday, which is a rock outcropping overlooking Columbia Gorge. Beautiful day, lots of people out soaking up the sunshine. A chippie tried to lure Scout to her death at the top, but in all we had a lovely hike. My knees didn't hurt at all and this time last year I thought I might have to give up my favorite

shawnalynehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09296247271977590236noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21393117.post-90508869180757063312009-04-25T16:43:00.000-07:002009-04-26T07:49:45.923-07:00

No parents ever expect to bury their children . . .That thought struck me, as it has so many times, as I carefully arranged pinwheels around Jonah's grave under the warm Sacramento sun.But 25 years after putting that first pinwheel in the ground, Greg and I are at peace with God's timing. Jonah's short life served an eternal purpose that we will fully understand one day. Although we are often

shawnalynehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09296247271977590236noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21393117.post-58277067009697395222009-04-20T06:46:00.001-07:002009-04-20T07:38:51.660-07:00

We finally heard from Candyce. After 11 days of silence, my cell phone rang while I was walking with a friend. I could tell by the crazy number it was from Africa so I answered, leaving the amazing conversation I was having with Linda to be continued another day.It was Candyce! She called to say they'd been kicked out of the refugee camp on the Congo/Sudan border (for Congolese people fleeing

shawnalynehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09296247271977590236noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21393117.post-37741955334134772612009-04-09T14:32:00.000-07:002009-04-09T15:29:59.944-07:00

I just returned from my annual trip to the coast. I usually take four days and hole up in some friend's beach cabin and press into Jesus. I do lots of reading, praying, worshiping . . . and of course, Scout and I take lengthy walks on the beach.And did I mention shopping? It's good for a girl's soul, right? Anyway, as much as I prefer a good thrift shop, I was in need of a dress for Lindsay's

shawnalynehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09296247271977590236noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21393117.post-45794133450314415022009-04-05T07:08:00.000-07:002009-04-05T07:41:09.511-07:00

Yesterday, my friend Val and I showed up at 8 a.m. at the community garden plot to help put up a fence around its perimeter. We met Mitch, the garden organizer, and turned in our application for a 15' x 20' plot. We opted for the biggest size available, since our two families, Danielle and Krispin and the Somalis will all be sharing this space.We met lots of interesting folks as we cemented

shawnalynehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09296247271977590236noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21393117.post-47479605528678825502009-03-30T06:32:00.000-07:002009-03-30T10:14:11.628-07:00

I just got a note on Face Book from my friend Kristin--she finally made it to Alaska after being stranded in Portland for a week! Kristin, who is a single missionary and lives in a remote village in AK, was in Oregon for a wedding and Greg and I met up with her at the airport last Monday to have dinner before she headed back to the Great Land. But Mt Redoubt, a surly volcano situated along Cook

shawnalynehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09296247271977590236noreply@blogger.com0