Nancy’s Kitchen

Richard and I are reading a book by Richard Twiss entitled “One Church Many Tribes”. It is most interesting as we learn more of our Anglo-American culture and more of the Native American culture. At times we find ourselves in grief and abhorrance of the things our Anglo ancestors and predecessors, innocently or not, have perpetrated on the Native American population. (I noted that these kinds of abusive behavior is not limited to Anglo-Americans. It happens all over the world.) Other times we find ourselves receiving encouragement and a greater understanding of the potential of good interaction with and acceptance of different cultures. I need to spend more time now processing what we have been reading, finding out where we “fit in” to the overarching picture of God’s Love and Redemption for the world. Thanks for “listening”.

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When we reject the Author of morality and character, morality and character in our society will decline and eventually be extinguished like a candle snuffed out, resulting in personal and societal chaos and dictatorial governments.

Lord, forgive us for rejecting You.  Come! Rebuke the leaders who put on the appearance of “good” but reject the Only One who is truly Good.

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I’m reading John Eldredge’s book, “Waking the Dead“. You can’t read this book too quickly. You have to take it slowly and let God talk to you. You have to soak it up in His Presence. It is a warm and lovely book. It is not sappy or trite or a quick-fix book. It is encouraging and full of hope.

This is not a book about raising the dead. It is about letting ourselves awaken from the dead, finding our whole heart, fully alive. It is worth the time and quietness needed to read it slowly.

Here is the ISBNumber: 978-0-7852-8829-9 (paperback). List price is $14.99. I got it on sale at Harvest Company for $10.99.

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  I turned 60 this year (2007). I just held my sixth grandchild. I have raised three sons and I would compare them to anyone else’s…and win! I have struggled and fought to see who I am and what I am to be when I grow up. And you know…I found it…I am going to be me!

I know that may sound silly but living it has been anything but silly. I thought I had to do something to have value. You know…write a book, perform before many people, be an influencial public speaker, what ever it took to get recognition publicly. Yet through the struggle I have found that I have a big heart and I care. I care about the poor, about Gypsies, displaced people, about being able to reflect what I believe about God, His son, Jesus and the purpose He has for my life.

As I have worked to find myself, I have attempted to listen and follow what I have heard God say to me and been confirmed by several independent sources. I have gone to Eastern European Gypsies in Greece, Romania, Bulgaria and Turkey; I spent six weeks learning to teach English to speakers of other languages; took sign language classes so I can “speak” to two of my granddaughters.

Over all this time God has lead me and continually encouraged me that I was moving where He wanted me to go. Looking back at my footsteps I see that teaching my children was out of love. Going to Russia with Steve’s family, our oldest, to adopt their second daughter was out of love. Three trips to the Gypsies were out of love. Going to South Africa and assisting in a hospice for AIDS patients was out of love. Spending my time in Texas to learn to teach English was out of love. Supporting women locally with various life issues is out of love.

I have been made to BE in love. There are many scriptural references to loving the lost and BEing a light. As I read them I hear God gently encouraging me to see that this is who I am, this is who He made me to BE, this is who I like to BE and feel most comfortable BEing. I am beginning to REALLY like me!

This is the basis of my next step. I am going to Israel and Palestine in February. My group will do some sightseeing but our purpose is to serve and feed and pray for poor Palestinian refugees in refugee camps, and persecuted Palestinian pastors and leaders. I will BE loving them. We will host and lead conferences in Bethlehem and Jerusalem.

Before I made this commitment I discussed and prayed with Richard and I sought other counsel. It surprises me that I am not alarmed by news reports. I am doing what I am made to do…BE! You are part of my family. I am asking for your prayers, letters of encouragement or warning, and requests for pictures I can take for you while I am there!

I leave you with one of my favorite quotes:

“And now Lord, with your help, I shall become myself.” –Soren Kierkegaard

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A friend (thanks Norma!) sent me this article to help me understand better the Palestinian Refugee situation. To respect copyright, I do not want to reproduce the article here, but I encourage you, the reader, to check it out. It is of moderate length, and well worth the time and thought to spend on it.

This photo really caught my heart and helped me to see perhaps through my Daddy-God’s eyes a bit more. I have spoken of going to Israel and ministering in the Palestinian Refugee camps by taking God’s Huge Love. This lady’s image will be my focal point as I reach out to other women in the camps. She will be my motivation and inspiration.

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Last night, Sophie did not get to sleep until well after 1:00 a.m.! Needless to say, Steve & Jodi are TIRED today!! One of the other adoptive families here left today for Moscow for the visa for their new daughter. They left toys and food for us to use. I’m sure we’ll pass on what we have left also to other adoptive families. Passing around the blessings.

Among those toys were a good supply of Play-Doh and a child’s weaving kit for potholders. Addy and Sophie both enjoyed the Play-Doh immensely, a nice quiet activity to relax with. After lunch, when Sophie went to rest, Addy wove a potholder of her own pattern with only a little help from Grandma to get her started and to help finish up. She had a good time and worked hard! Her comment at the end was that her eyes were really tired! She is very proud of her creation and told her mommy that she can use it in our hotel kitchenette since we don’t have any provided by the hotel.

Now everyone is resting and eagerly looking forward to going home and getting back into a more normal routine. Things will change for the AZ Ivy’s as they work Sophie into her own place in the family. Such a nice thought!!

Today Sophie is adding “cracker” to her ASL vocabulary. Although she does not have Language (as opposed to “a language”) yet,  she can certainly process and learn!!   She is a delightful child and is daily relaxing more and more into her new family.

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Sophie has been with us since mid-afternoon of Friday, November 2, 2007. She is now using ASL signs for “more”, “please”, and “cookie”! She is beginning to use these spontaneaously. This morning, she climbed up on a chair at the table, signed “cookie”, then reached over and got one all by herself! YEA!!! This evening, we were watching a children’s movie, eating popcorn, and Sophie (who discovered she really likes popcorn!) reached over to me, touched my arm, and signed “more”. With coaxing, she will also sign “please” very readily. She is very delighted with herself, and so is her Papa!! At supper, she signed both “please” and “more” and he taught her to do a “high-5”. She had lots of fun doing this with a good s-l-a-p! with her daddy!

Also today, she saw something on the bed that she wanted. She could not climb up to it because of the slippery bedspread, so she climbed into a nearby overstuffed chair and flung herself over onto the bed!! Later, we had pulled the chair up next to the bed for her to sit in while watching the movie. Addy was lying on the bed right next to her. Sophie climbed out of the chair, over Addy’s legs, then turned around and dived over Addy’s legs and the arm of the chair and landed nose-first, laughing, in the seat cushion!! She loved climbing and running and laughing!! I think she will really do well in her new forever-family! ☺

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October 28-29-30, 2007 On our way to Vladivostok, Russia to get Sophie! Left Phoenix, AZ at 6:50 p.m., Sunday, Oct 28 Left L.A. at 12:10 a.m. Monday, Oct 29 (left the gate) for a 12-hour flight. 10:15 ?? (a.m./p.m.) South Korean time Crossed the International Date Line during the night… 3 hours left to get to Inchon, S.K. – 2:13 a.m., Tuesday, Oct 30 Portsmouth, VA time – 1:13 pm, Monday, Oct 29 Phoenix, AZ time – 10:13am Monday, Oct 29 Estimated Arrival Time – 5:07 a.m., S.K. time Adelina is a very good traveler!! She’s flown enough in her two years in our family to know what flying is all about! At 6 years old, she wants to wear her back-pack and pull her own suitcase. This was a very late night for her, but she did really well. She is enjoying imaginative play, so she contented herself for good periods of time playing with a miniature castle and its people, horses and carriages. Of course her excitement for this particular trip kept her active and at times really trying for her also tired parents! I think God blesses Grandmas with an extra dose of patience and the pleasure of being Grandma and not primary care-taker (which helps the patience considerably!). We spent the night – a very long night, indeed – watching movies (my choice was “Gone With The Wind”), having dinner, and settling down toward sleep. Adelina fell asleep first. When Jodi was done with her movie, she let Addy have 2 seats to sleep in and Jodi spread out on the floor between the rows of seats. Steve & I continue to watch our movies, then he slept, and I finally finished my movie, an extra-long movie. It was about 5 a.m. Phoenix time. No, I have no idea how I did that – unless it was the “No Jet-Lag” pill I took before leaving L.A. So at 5 a.m., I took a sleeping pill and soon fell asleep. I slept for about 5 hours. Once we land, we will rent a shower at $10/half-hour. I’m looking forward to that. When we arrive in Vladivostok, we will go to our hotel and rest from our travels. Steve & Jodi will prepare to meet with the adoption agency tomorrow to prepare for court. The court appearance date has been moved from Friday at noon to Thursday at 4:00 p.m. We’ll get to see Sophie tomorrow morning. We’re all very excited! When we arrived at the hotel and were checking in, Addy started asking, “Where is Sophie?” We had to tell her that Sophie is still at the “Baby House” and we will see her tomorrow. She was OK with that. Now, Steve, Jodi and Addy are out playing on the playground which has a TIRE SWING and a TEETER-TOTTER!! Things you don’t often find on a playground in the States. Addy is also learning that just because she’s warm inside does not mean the weather is warm outside. Quite a change from Arizona!!

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Hi All, Here’s a .pdf copy of my returning newsletter with some photos. I hope you enjoy it and join me on my next trip in person or virtually.

Back FROM the Gypsies - 2007

Blessings! Nancy

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Class was absolutely terrific!!  Our teacher is full of vitality and enthusiasm!  I expect to learn so much in this class!  Oh, yes.  ASL is her first language, so that adds a great dynamic to this class.  Reminds me of the TESOL method I took earlier this year.  Just jump right in and start using the language!! 

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