June and July SunFun
Prayers and Praises
June started off with Sofia’s birthday party and getting used to the idea of her turning double digits. Why does that seem so much older so quickly? Not only did we have a bumper crop of black raspberries, but we also found that at the sledding hill (the area I’ve been calling that since I was like 5 years old) there are bunches of wild black raspberries! How delightful to jog (or, as Jessica has learned to ride her bike this summer) and ride our bikes to. The girls had a wonderful time at music camp, and Caid had his performance of Beethoven’s 9th while I was in Brazil with our amazing team. I was able to be home for Sofia’s actual birthday (something I missed the last couple of years, being in Brazil) and then we packed up for Connecticut.
While I was gone in Brazil, Caid finished his first color-coded schedule (I was very impressed), and continued to schedule in Connecticut, meaning we were able to put together many moving pieces and visit quite a few family and friends. Our favorite time was having a full kitchen and all the amazing food for the 4th of July cookout. Flying out of Connecticut was cheaper than Indy, so we flew to Florida and enjoyed some time with our friends, the Francas, and a four night Disney cruise. The pictures show it better than I could say, and we are so incredibly grateful for these memories we created. We returned to Indy with a week left of summer break as Caid starts July 28th. When we look over this summer break, we are overwhelmed with gratefulness and smiles. There were no big issues that came up, and we were able to focus on the magic of being together and this big beautiful world that reflects our amazing God.
Interweb Reads
Things about Immigrants: Conversation guide: how to talk to your family about refugees (CWS Global), What have we gained by turning immigrants who came legally into undocumented immigrants? (Neighbor Notes), “Alligator Alcatraz” turns our neighbors into punchlines (Neighbor Notes), Isaiah 6:8 is not about immigration raids (Neighbor Notes), Finally! Some possible immigration solutions! (Neighbor Notes), How do we love immigrants and keep our country safe? And is that the right question? (Neighbor Notes), Crops are rotting in the fields, and history is repeating itself (Neighbor Notes), “I have the baby in the car” (Neighbor Notes)
Other things: My response to: “It’s not the Government’s job to help the poor—It’s the Church’s!” (Benjamin Cremer), Raising kids in bleak, infuriating times (Courtney Martin), a Juneteenth reflection (Benjamin Cremer), Why Pro-life Black Christians rejected Pro-life politics (Christianity Today), One person’s compassion is another person’s coddling sin (Benjamin Cremer), Caring without Crashing (Benjamin Cremer), A writer’s job is to bear witness (Marilyn R. Gardner), Congress restores PEPFAR funds in last minute reprieve (Christianity Today), To change your mind is freedom (Lauren Pinkston)
Missionary stuff: When I can’t hold home together (Velvet Ashes), Plot twist: Turns out, Tanzanians are happier than Americans (Amy Medina), Staying in ministry after spiritual trauma (A Life OVerseas), Unsullied Joy (Marilyn R. Gardner), Are you ready to welcome new missionaries…again? (A Life Overseas), Rediscovering Home: when the familiar feels foreign (A Life Overseas), On airports, moral dramas, and expansive places (Marilyn R. Gardner), Write an “I’m From” poem (Marilyn R. Gardner)